Amitabh Bachchan's Official Blog

DAY 1605(i)

Windermere City in uso A Sept 8/9 , 2012 Sat/Sun 12:05 AM

September the 9th and the birthday of SHAMS .. happy birthday dear girl, all the best wishes in song, riding a tanga, whip in hand “Mard tangewala, main mard tangewala”, not to forget the Speedo !!!

Time spent with the son, timeless. On set for a while to greet and meet unit in all its efficient working and the talent. Going about the streets of windows with wares in decorated forum, some US Open and the impending storm warnings around NYC, ending the day with a group of cast and crew at dinner in the italiano. Laughter and wit, film and religious philosophy, makers of eminence of times gone by, incidents of incidence, light rain and it romanticism, and finally to Blog and Twitter and FB and mail and mobile …

Time spent with the son, timeless. Praise from co stars of his upbringing, his demeanor and his presence. A swell in the chest of pride. Character and attitude be forerunners of all that professionalism entails. Selection and success, fame and attention, popularity and stardom, could mean little in value, if character of goodness in human be not present. As a parent that could be all and all that one longs for to be acknowledged in their progeny.

Two tornados hit NewYork at Queens !!! That is one of the most unusual and alarming weather conditions heard in a while. A phenomena usually connected with the mid west, to appear in the Apple … that is serious environmental change. I do hope and pray that all are safe and out of any damage. Global warming, changing conditions were not after all, just idle gossip. Its relevance felt now almost in some part of the world constantly. The prophets of doom would be rejoicing in their predicament. The world order changers would be taking up challenges. Would humanity do their bit too ?? Time … long time ago … was given through warning. Heed or be subjected to that which is often not seen !!

As one reflects in isolation of that which we must be aware of or influenced by, we discover that our own acumen has been re evaluated when in the company of those that have educated themselves through the years and continue to do so. There is much to be gained and known. There is much to be educated of. There is much to absorb, much to learn.

And I wonder. With all the sensitive talk of cinema and its fineries, its delicate artistry in content, its international appeal and presence, how did makers like Man Mohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, who, with all due respect were perhaps never exposed to such creativity, continue to attract the millions with their works on film ?? How is it that when history shall be recalled in India about exceptional film, that their names shall come out with certain prominence.

Perhaps the ‘finer’ and greatly more tasteful works, according to a certain cinema elite, shall never have the kind of presence and longevity, that the more popular excelled in. Will this form educate or will it be the other way round - that we shall be educated by the people. Much has been argued on this. An educated class shall defend the more that is considered ‘finer’, for they shall have the learned mind to savor. The so called ‘lesser’ community will and shall always be by the side and not too far behind of the more populist brand. Its identity more appealing to a class of people that remain in majority.

If it may be required to disallow such process, then educate those who would be exposed to material that needs education to comprehend. To leave it to the content to fulfill that desire would be futile. It is an argument that has been prevalent from the time the intellectual encountered it from the festivals and events of coffee table debate and discussion. In the early years of college and university, the years of a freedom of independent thought, it was considered an ethical and ‘done’ process of just sitting about in moments of spare, to merely debate. Debate on any topic. To speak up as it were from the oppressive pressures of rigid public school education. Perhaps more importantly to be looked upon as one of greater intellect, merely because you were able to hold a social evening together purely on the strength of words. Words and expressions spoken with such aplomb, that they would to a bystander, seem almost god like and heavenly. Sense and application be damned.

The coffee house culture, that group of care free countenance, cigarette and alcohol in hand, unkempt facial growth, perhaps dark glassed even in the darkest of nights, incense burning sticks in hand, speech in reserved impressive tones, seemingly meaningful, an attraction in particular for the female species who always loved that bespectacled poetic form or aberration, words and thoughts flowing about life, philosophy, inner meaning, depth in understanding, impressionist impressionism and all other manufactured isms in the making …

How on earth would they fare or even begin to appreciate Desaiism and Mehraism. The AmarAkbarAnthonyism and the Muquaddarism, the three tubes of similar genetic blood from three different individuals - a medical unrealistic wonder - flowing simultaneously into the Mother form with boundless applause from the paid audience, or the devotion of the one that gave admiration to his ‘memsaab’ from his days of employment under her ???

I do not have the answers. Perhaps the intellectuals and thinkers do. Their distinction of class with the bourgeois - a characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes. Or in Marxist content, upholding the interests of capitalism; not communist, a society taking for granted the sanctity of property. Or … none of the above at all. Perhaps one built by their own building - high walled, secure, moat surrounded and certainly not impregnable !

There were attempts in the early years of my presence in the filmdom, of co existence - the populist with the realist ; ironically within the covers of the same media conglomerate - the FilmFare !! The film reviews were cynical, sarcastic and most derogatory content wise, to the one, while in complete praise of the other. Further anomalies ordained. Perhaps for the very first time in its history of Indian Cinema, awards were instituted under its name, an obvious plagiarism of the Oscars ! The reviews carried desultory remarks of particular film in each issue. Yet the same film won all the recognition or reward, a synonyme for the Award !

For some reason, perhaps of guilt dichotomy, the management decided to exercise its most powerful weapon, the power of the media, and changed the format. Class and realisticism, the ‘art form’, the art cinema would get prominence, over all else. Fine. No issues. Except … and a very big except … the star system attached to the popular, found it being alienated and not worthy of attendance as mere dressage for the event ! They minused themselves from such ceremony. Being invited to ‘give away’ the award to another fraternity member, did not suit their creative countenance. Their absence became a commercial disaster for the event - an event that survived on sponsorship. The gutka, facial creams, chocolate and other off the counter consumables, wished their products to be ridden along with their popular star. The ‘gutka’ , now a banned item, became an equal and important name change of the Award. And … the popular star system and film was rejuvenated ..

So effective was the change that now there are five or six plagiarized versions of the Oscars, all vying for star presence, time and performance presence, around the months of January and February, generally. Some finding the crowding difficult to negotiate, have shifted location, internationally. Different vocations, different languages through the presence of immigrant populace, now find favor. Television, radio and music find a door as well, as do the tempting sponsors - managers, directors and owners of which find favor of ‘giving away’ the award to the winners on stage ; a mandatory requirement for the deal !! In all fairness though the other cinema has also been incorporated as the ‘critics choice’. An apology really, but present there all the same.

Realism and populism now co exist in almost equal measure. This is good. The other cinema has slowly also discovered its value, albeit in smaller numbers, but there all the same. Some of the recent film releases from R Balki, Sujoy Ghosh, Anurag Kashyap, Shoojit Sarkar, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dibanker Banerji et all … have made and are making a call heard by many. May they continue to flourish !

Delicacy and its artistic demand shall always have presence. So shall the popular. They are different communities, but they co exist and they must. When communities come together, a strange feel of strength invigorates us. May this strength be ever present in all vocations of our existence - cinema, sport, politics, society, nations !

When we shall hold together our hands as one, then shall the power of the oppressor be wiped out. Value not the desire to eliminate him that flows against, hold him instead and walk with him … even if you have to walk alone !!

Amitabh Bachchan