Posted on: June 18, 2008 - 1:47 am
Prateeksha, Mumbai June 17/18, 2008 1:39 am
I never imagined so many would be affected by my thoughts of DAY 55. I never imagined so many would send reassurance and understanding. Maybe I should have kept it to myself. Maybe I should not have given impression of an issue so personal. Just maybe I should have kept quiet and reserved. In the media interviews today this was exactly what they referred to time and again. What happened to you ; you were so humble and non aggressive ; we see you now as an attacking strong individual, quick to redressal and reform.
There will never ever be an adequate answer to the media. When one is humble the complaint is you do not open up. Your interviews are so predictable and politically safe and correct. Now that there is no perceived humbleness the refrain is why are you aggressive.
It is not a genuine concern that is expressed towards your change of attitude - they could not be bothered. It is an opportunity to question. Why, where, how is really not relevant. What is relevant is what comes across as good readable copy.
The other more surprising, or rather intriguing feature amongst reviews is the diverse and contrary opinions expressed by them. One will trash a film and give very articulate and logical reasons, with instances on the script, as to why they did not like it. Fair enough. But the very next critic praises the film and shall quote the very instances the earlier had mentioned, as being the reasons for its success. The ratings vary from not even worth one to three or four. One says do not even go anywhere near it, the other persuades you not to miss it.
I would imagine it would be a terrible task for any cinegoer if their attendance at a theatre were to be guided by reading reviews.
But I must hand it to the media that despite their difference in opinions on matters common, they stand by their remarks and are never afraid of being labelled bias or unbiased. For my recent release there have been several examples, which I store, where negativity has not prevented them from finding out for themselves and coming out stating positive or, conversely where positivity has not influenced their decision for a negative remark.
I had always believed and to some extent still do, that there exists an unwritten code of conduct amongst the media. They will not attack competition and not name fellow journalist even if he belongs to same or rival organisation. Of late though I find a greater openness. A willingness to criticize and a desire to counter an opinion or stand taken by another in the fraternity. This is most welcome and honorable within the ethics of free speech and democratic debate. One wonders though whether this comes about with greater understanding or the other more feared reason - competition !
I quote below an sms received by me from a senior journalist yesterday - for ethical reasons I have blanked the names :
“Dear Mr Bachchan saw a piece on__ and__in today’s__here in__. Not sure if its been used in__. Not saying this because we’re competitors in a market, but it almost validated the point about a media ‘agenda’ in some quarters you have spoken about. Everyone reports on things, we often do as well with points of view that are not necessarily always to your or anyone else’s advantage. But I found this story on’_____________’, rather inexplicable. Reminded me of the point you’d made during the interview you gave me, almost validated it, so felt like sharing the thought. _______ _____”
Much love and apologies for this late posting - its been a hectic day. Tonight later, more !
Amitabh Bachchan
Hi,
Congratulations for SARKAR RAJ!!
Cheers,
Poonam
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AMITABH BACHCHAN
U R LIKE MY “DADA”
I KNOW IT MAY HURT U THAT I CALL U DADA….BCOS U R VERY YOUNG AS U WORK..
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i like ur persnolity nd ur voice
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Hello Mr Amit,
You shouldn’t feel bad about what you wrote on day 55.I feel that everybody is free and has his own opinion.Just like you did you expressed a thought of yours and as usual people responded to it.It’s just because you are a celebrity ppl like to put you down or find an excuse to trash your image but what they forget is that you are a normal human bieng and you do normal stuffs and you eat drink and sleep just like anybody.Anyway I love what you write on your blog.It’s just like reading somebody day to day diary.I must say I laughted and also pulled funny faces while reading what you wrote.It’s funny how you mix seriousness and lightness together which makes your blog so nice to read.I hope to be entertained more by your thoughts.Good night .If ever you want to comment on what I worte you are free to mail me at :rachnaramman@hotmail.com
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Main ek adana gujarati apka adna sa fan hu main aapse ek sawal puchna chahata hu agar aap permisson de to main puchunga .sir main to bhagwan se aapke liye ek hi prathana karunga . NA IJJAT DE NA AJMAT DE NA SURAT DE NA KIRAT DE HEY BHAGWAN AMITJI HAR BURAI SE LAD SAKE UTNI TU UNHE SHAKTI DE
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I dare repeat about this photo.PLEASE change it.The best part of your face are your eyes ,honest and sad.
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My request as an avid fan is not to allow media influence your blog writing. I simply feel media should keep out of discussing your blog details. It is between you and your fans. Media completely turns the facts into drama !
Would like to know what your definition of a good time? Do you take vacations? Is it even possible to find privacy for vacations? Feels as though that might be almost an impossible task to allow yourself ability to go somewhere without being followed…
Have a beautiful day. Wanted to watch the Unforgettable Tour but getting a seat in the first 20 rows costs 2000-5000 K !!!! And everything else is too far for my taste. Will have to do with a video watching later..
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hmmmmmmmmmmm…………..back again.. missed last couple of blogs… life got busy… releases…& crunches…….good u have time for others to express urself… i m not quite sure.. what has been written…that posted so many comments… n since i love to live in presence.. i m not browsing history…till someone says to me… For time being.. i read ur blog.. but what caught my eyes are these…. “In busy life when did i get time to sit n think what i did , said and followed about goods n bads.”………Keep blogging.
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Hi
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Well…Mr Bachchan…
going through your posts for a month now, has made it somewhat clear to me that there is now this almost tangible antipathy between you and “media’ at large…although i struggle to find anythign in your conduct which might have precipitated it….the only thing i can think of is that , maybe, you chose thepath of self imposed restraint far too long to abandon it later
Best of luck,
Amrit.
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One can imagine how this must affect you - being constantly in the limelight. What can one say - we live in a virtual world. You must feel like an animated character in a game - trying to defend yourself, not knowing where the next attack is coming from and yet you are expected to be the quintessential hero.
That being said, i’m sure everyone in the media must feel the need to ‘generate news’ rather than ‘report’ it - just look at the competition! One can’t really blame them - but one can definitely empathise, with you and with them.
But at the end of a long, hard day,please don’t let this bother you - ‘cos come tommorrow and there will be more to handle. Its just another day at the office!
Take care and have a lovely evening
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did you get a chance to see dasavatharam?
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great going….
seem to be an intelligent person..
have always been isnt it?
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Hello sir,
Hope u are doing good and fine. This photo of yours is awasome. Who choose the picture for your blog? you or anyone else….anyway….as I am you big fan of u let me tell you one thing Take very well care of your hands. They are not looking very good in his photo. Actally being a big fan of a celibrity made a kind of attachment. So when i saw your hands it really hurt me a lot. Although you have hectic schedule and lots of work to do but still you need to fetch some time for yourself.
Thanks and take care
Praveen
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funny na ….u must have offerd us ur finger, we have snatched the whole hand and are heading towards sitting on ur head…..we ask, u give,,,u give so much , we still ask for more…for more….
still u say u r over whelmed…n give us more.
regards
divvy
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Hello dear Big B,
thank you for your new Photo on the Blog. Its great…
Can you tell us more about your Tour?
Please come to Germany!!!!!!!!!!!! We german fans love you very much.
You are a wonderful person. I wish you all the best.
Lovely greetings
Carina:-) Your greatest fan from Germany
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Hai Amitji,
Really good one.yes the paining thing about the media is that off late media has been very biased.Like the boxofficeindia.com they write all shit about your film and very contrasting stories regarding the box office success of your films.I don’t understand as to what they get out of it.I don’t they expect some money to write good things about you.I know that you will never bribe a media person so that they write good things about you.Nor else i don’t understand as to happens with these guys off late to write only negative things about you,your films and your family.The only thing is the more they write bad about you and your family people start confirming that you doing really fine and also as these days they use this word “Rocking”.
Good luck Amitji,
May god bless you with good health and good wealth.
Still i feel that you should have come out of the car and spent few mins with the public of Hyderabad who were waiting for you for hours together nor else you should not have allowed the times of india to give the advertisement that you will be in PVR by 7.00 pm onwards.Sorry sir, i don’t like to say these things but there were so many people who were literally waiting for a glimpse of yours.I could come up to your car and see you since i dared lathi’s of police but so many people who were very excited to see you couldn’t.Some even cursed you which i felt very sad.They just can’t understand how busy you will be.But they thought you were arrogant and which you are not so i felt very bad and thought like if you have come out of the car and waved your hands for few seconds it would have been very good.Let that be but take care of your health sir.
May god bless you with good health and good wealth
My hai to Abhishek
with love
KITTY
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HALLO SIR,
HOW R U? U R SO BUSY WITH YOUR DAILY LIFE N U STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE THIS BLOG, ITS AMAZING. SHOOTING, REHERSAL, INTERVIEWS, TRAVELLING N ETC. AND U STILL THINK N WRITE UR BLOG ? THT ALSO U HVE TO B SURE NOTHING IS WRONG. U R REALLY GOD GIFTED MAN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU . THANK YOU. KEEP WELL.
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Hi Mr.Bachchan,
I cant help but think this thought today. How can you let the media affect your life like this? Its understandable if you`re reacting to a film review or what the media thinks of your performances.Because you`ve put in efforts which you`d like people to appreciate. I can relate to tht. But to be affected by what they say about how you talk and what you talk about and what your thoughts are and if they are any good!!! No Way!! How can you allow anybody to affect the way you think and behave and live your life? How does it matter what anybody but your close family thinks and says about you?? Is this the price you pay for being a public figure? You give up your life???
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Everything has become about money. In order to sell, you gotta report juicy gossips and have vulgar pictures. The media reporting has turned into tabloid reporting. I mean, here in the US, instead of reporting about the number of people being killed Afghanistan and the genocides happening in different parts of the African region, CNN was covering Paris Hilton going to jail and when she was being released. Or what Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears latest antics are.
The media can be biased. We have channels here that are obviously pro-Democrat and pro-Republican. Fox Network is one example who is pro-Republican. They smear the Democrats non-stop and praise Bush even though he really has not done anything for the Americans in the past 8 years that he has been in the office.
Some reporters are driven to malign people/personalities for many reasons but I feel that if you are in the media, one should always remain unbiased to keep its integrity. But the competition is so tough that sometimes, even the most honest man can stoop to the lowest level.
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Dear & respected AMITABH sir,
most respectfully i beg to say that i m your fan, and u r my ideal.sir u r like the god for me.sir my father is also tall as u and my mother is also like JAYA Aunty, my big sister name is also shweta as like your daughter.Since my child hood i have still been your big fan. sir my mother and my aunts had studied with the DABURS, in Faizabad.
Sir, now-a-days our family condition is very critical,due to unexrected rsasons. sir, we want your help, if u really wanted to do so.
Good evening sir.
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Mr. Bachchan,
please tell Aishwarya to do Sriram Raghavans film. He’s a up and coming director.
Thank you. Love your family. Cant wait to see the tour.
love,
aly
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no sir .. pls spk your mindd…u r article was nicee…
our regard to you as always..
~ raj
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Dear Mr.Bachchan.
It’s sad to hear that this last posting landed you in some kind of “troubleâ€. I personally and I can only speak for me didn’t find anything about the post of “DAY 55†which would make it necessary for you to apologise for.
You know, it is always like that (with media guys or even the people around you) if you don’t say the things that might suit them you will have to take nasty things they will say about you.
But just if you say things that they want to hear they will still find things on you that they can complain about.
And you still want to be able to look in your mirror, without feeling bad. So I guess the only way out of this dilemma is to stay true to yourself.
And the topic you spoke about yesterday is very, let say inconvenient. People normally don’t like hearing things that point out weaknesses or grievances. If we are honest neither you nor I like that, do we?
But if you say that you get so many responses to that topic you can also see that you must have touched the people, that you are not the only one feeling like that.
And at that point I just want to thank you for sharing such deep and personal thoughts with your reader here on your blog.
Take Care.
Greetings from germany
Sandra
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Sorry Sir, to remind you those days of financial Crunch due to ABCL. we all know it was very tough days for you and your family. I need to know, what took you out of all your difficulties? How did you manage? which pooja or worship helped you in your difficult time? because me and my family members are seeing the same difficult days as you had seen… need to know..please answer…..
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Amitji,
Yes we all are worried and concerned about u,
but pls. do not stop expressing your thoughts.
take care ,
have a nice day tomorrow.
jai
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Just wanted to say that you’re a very nice person with very good qualities and you set a very nice example on people who look up to you! I’m learning a lot through your blogs. Don’t ever change.
All the VERY best in everything you do.
Best Wishes,
Praniti
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Hello Mr. Bachchan
If media now says that how come you are quick to redressal and retort and react to everything which is reported in media where is the humble Mr Bachchan. Just quote Mark Twain who said ” Dont be so humble you are not that great” and so you decided to follow it!
And if one understands his quotes which are witty yet with a lot of wisdom behind them.. they will get the point..hopefully :)) This is a modern medium which has provided you with an alternative to independently air your views as you choose to rather than be caged in the usual yawny same old interveiw questions so just continue doing that. Let them do their job and now you also use their medium ( media) to reply. After all look at the bright side you can write like them, they cant act like you. So you are one up even if that may not be your intention to upstage. But well you see the point.. Dont think too much. Cheers!!
Regards
Hemangi
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Dear Mr Bachchan,
Good evening sir. Hope you are well - I know you’re still rushing here and there with your busy and hectic schedule. Please look after yourself.
I absolutely am loving this picture of you - it’s trademark Amitabh Bachchan!!! Sunglasses and white suit!!!
Please don’t apologise for sharing the thoughts of yesterday with us all - it was touching and it got all of us fans thinking!!!
Have a good rest of day and go to sleep early!!!!!
Lots of love to you,
Falguni xxxx
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Dear Sir,
You are right to be perplexed and almost driven to incomprehensibility about the way a simple sentence can be deciphered in so many different ways… leading sometimes to opposite conclusions too!!
You say that there will never be an adequate answer to the media. But i wonder, does the media need an adequate answer or… does it just need an answer which can be interpreted according to the personal quirks of the writer?
Isn’t it amazing (it can be frustrating too!) how each individual human mind can interpret things so differently…. perhaps that’s what makes us human… a homo sapien.
Many seem to have been affected by your thots on DAY55. But that was one post i loved. It came so deeply from the heart. I wish people would really understand what u are trying to say…. and actually give some serious thought to the issue.
Looking forward to your next post….
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Dear Amitji,
You are looking Great in this Suit. You always do.
REGARDING YOUR TODAYS AND YESTERDAYS BLOG : I think, you cannot make everybody happy. So you must live the way you are. Whatever you are doing and making you happy, you must do it specially when your conscience is allowing you to.
I follow the simple rule, if somebody has misunderstood me, its his karma, I should not dwelve deeper in such thoughts. Let time tell them what you are.
REGARDING YOUR CURRENT MOVIES : I wish to see your most powerful form in some movie. Maybe something like Deewar, Trishul or Agneepath. Someone who is smarter than the smartest, someone who is human but has force greater than the demons. Someone who has done mistakes and knows he’s on wrong path but is sure to reach the right destination.
I think you are the only actor in Hindi Film Industry who can do this with greatest justification. My expectations from you is too much that is why except for the performances and the ambience, I did not like Sarkar and Sarkar Raj.
I think the last movie in which you were great was Chini-Kum.
Thanks & Regards,
Anand Sachdev
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Sir,
This is Romil,a graduate from allahabad univ..i”ll not say that m a big,n crazy fan of urs bcoz thats obvious.Sir but truly i am touched by ur response today{18-06-08}.Recently i had lost my dad, which was very shocking to me as i loved him the most and now when he is no more i had totally lost faith on god, the reason behind is that before this incident i was too religious and daily in my prayer i asked god to give him the longest life he can,but this didnt happen. So ,Sir i want your help..i know that these incidents wil not move you much as he was nothong to u but as i have seen u in iterviews, i am quiete sure that u will suggest something to me.
regards to
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Love n Respect ABJee……
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Dear Sir,
Few technical points I want to rise regarding blog:
1.The colour of the font is grey which is difficult to read easily. It strains on eyes as other blog readers have also mentioned. Kindly make it dark black in white background.
2. SMS arrow directions are opposite. Right arrow should be for next SMS and left arrow should be for previous SMS. Here it is opposite.
3. It should stop at last SMS. Here it is continuously going on.
4. Your digital signature is missing many a time.
5. “Leave a reply†boxes should be only on day – main page, not on next post (SMS) page.
Just consider, please!
Bye,
Sanjay,
Rajkot.
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Mr.Bachchan I have been blogging for one year and trust me your thoughts are stripped down and laid bare for the world to read.I am a simple commoner you are Big B! I can imagine how you feel.
The degree of misinterpretation can be heights on a blog!But I am sure that you have more well wishers than anybody else on earth so you will get a great deal of positive opinions to your thoughts.
But I have realised the best is to continue being yourself, and continue blogging with sincerity ,which shouldn’t be hard for a person like you.
Coming to the media, you cannot impress everyone can you? Remember that stones are not thrown at a fruitless tree!
I also read a few days back that blogging works wonders on your health
)
So here’s to wishing you lots of happy blogging(daily) and a healthy healthy life ahead ( And also hoping that you will check out my blog too
TaTa!
-
http://justguru.blogspot.com/
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Dear Amitji
I m pleased i m first one today to comment……….plz continue writing whatever u feel is like …media will be media….they will not change….We love u…for ever……may be the image ur last blog projected was not digested properly by some people ….because ur off screen image is that of a very gentle & diplomatic person…..but in ur last blog ur onscreen image (angry young man type) was showing….its human nature to get surprised by change of image in a person…if a person is always happy & friendly & one day such a person is angry & gets abusive …that will always be found repulsive by others ….don’t worry be happy….
love u always
shabbir
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Hello Mr. Bachchan,
i think you should NOT be reserved and keep quite about any matter because of certain people’s judgment!! people always talk and its not only in your profession but every one’s life. it is good to be yourself than just being goody goody because of fear of what people think. and you can be aggressive when you are in a mood to be so…
so don’t worry. you should talk from you heart with your fans and tell what you feel each day. I guess that what your blog is meant for!! we understand you are also a human being and you can have the days when you feel negative towards certain people and you have a right to express yourself. don’t feel apologetic and hide your feelings. even when people talk about you to be perfect, i tell them Amitabh too is a human. why are you expecting him to be perfect every day every minute and in every movie? so good days and bad days, we must accept and carry on with our good work and good friends. and you have Millions!
love,
one of your first fans from Anand days till today.
JM, Kenya.
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My privilege to be writing the first comment for today’s post.. it’s been a while since i’m reading your blog and i must say it has been very philosophical (and true) of late. Needless to say I’m a great fan of your acting, plus these thoughts have made me a fan of your great thinking too.
You are one of the best actors i’ve seen. God bless you.
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i did not understand wht u wanted to say.
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its so expressive….waiting fr nxt…
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Good evening…well every individual has a right to express his views….so in a sense ur right in expressing ur views……but if ur a celebrity then it all spices up…n every one is just waiting 2 have a piece of u…but always remember there is someone somewhere who is happy and appreciating wat you do……so for that person dont change ur attitude…
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hello Amitabh ji,
Thank you for those lines by Harivanshrai ji. Hope to see more of those.
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My second piece on Sarkar Raj (I posted the earlier one also on the IBOS site and then over here as well; this should be taken in conjunction with that one, I didn’t want to put this up earlier so as not to reveal ’spoilers’, I have posted the link for the older piece at the end of this current one. Anyone who has still not seen the film and does not know enough about plot details should not read this current piece):
http://www.ibosnetwork.com/newsmanager/templates/template1.aspx?articleid=21410&zoneid=1
Abhishek’s Death and Another Sarkar?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - Commentary
[These scattered reflections are meant to accompany my earlier more schematic piece on the film, also available on this site. There is repetition in one instance here as I relate to the film's most significant moment twice in somewhat different registers.]
1. Just before the interval an explosion occurs in which Shankar Nagre’s wife is killed. This is a wonderfully choreographed scene. Shankar Nagre is simply thrown back by the impact and lies down in stupefied fashion. In the meantime Chandar helps him up but once again he can only stare into space. He realizes the enormity of what has happened but remains motionless, in total shock. Meanwhile Subhash Nagre comes racing out on one of the upper storeys of the house and when he guesses what has transpired has horror writ large on his face. This scene establishes a symmetry between Subhash Nagre’s ’scream’ (though he does not actually make any sound) and Shankar Nagre’s frozen posture. A kind of diagonal could be cut across the screen at this point going from the older Nagre on the balcony to the younger one below. As the two cut statuesque poses of different sorts there is mayhem all around. The fire and the frantic movement. Eventually Subhash Nagre has a heart attack and the scene freezes completely. Varma takes the audience into the interval.
2. A tour de force moment when Shankar sets out to rescue Somji. He bangs his jeep against an electric pole which creates a short circuit. In turn the sparks light up all the surrounding trees. Varma switches to an aerial shot and the viewer witnesses an apocalyptic moment with the whole scene resembling an inferno. There is smoke all around in the darkness and eventually Shankar and his men emerge from it on foot. Shankar holds a showel, suggesting his most elemental self, and brutally hits anyone who crosses him. Towards the end he kills the supposed perpetrator of the kidnapping and Varma cuts to a closeup of a faintly unhinged Shankar. That darkness is Shankar’s ideal home and he revels in it.
3. The erotic is laced with death. With impressive economy the director suggests a romantic angle to the Shankar-Anita relationship. There are some hints of this even earlier in the film but in that final sequence the two share there is a beautiful moment when the two protagonists simply touch each other’s hands. One is completely absorbed in this moment when a shot is heard and Shankar falls to a series of bullets. It is a grand death sequence, recalling that moment early on in Agneepath when Vijay Dinanath Chauhan’s body is riddled with bullets. Varma handles the entire sequence in very operatic fashion. Shankar falls trying to save Anita from the bullets and for one short moment there is also great anger on his face, that he was attacked in this fashion. His body cannot sustain it any more however and he slumps to the ground.
This continues the Varma tradition of principal protagonists being killed suddenly when one least expects it. This happened with Bhiku Mahatre in Satya (in a scene that pays homage to LA Confidential), with Malik in Company, and now most dramatically with Shankar in Sarkar Raaj. Because the latter’s death is also tied up with questions of inheritance. Subhash Nagre has now lost both his heirs (Vishnu and then Shankar) and needs another one. Despite his professed regret over Shankar’s death he is survivor enough to summon his grandson as the film closes. To have Abhishek Bachchan playing this grandson in the new sequel (allowing a certain Hindi film license) would be a masterstroke. Perhaps Varma already had this idea and therefore keeps Sarkar Raj open ended. The ‘woman’ becomes crucial to the new sequel as well as she will presumably nurture the next generation. But Varma’s succession story has always depended on the non-diegetic angle as well. The successor of Subhash Nagre hence always must be (following Varma’s logic) always Abhishek Bachchan, in spirit even if he is not exactly the same character. To have a different actor play the part, as has been speculated in certain quarters, destroys the entire premise of the Sarkar saga also being a Bachchan saga.
4. In the film’s penultimate sequence Bachchan performs a kind of penance before a picture of his son. Varma dazzles. He juxtaposes the image of Abhishek in the picture with the reflection of Bachchan’s own in the glass of the frame. Until Bachchan starts wiping the surface of the picture and he becomes separate from the latter he almost seems embedded in the frame. In other words both father and son are equally images on the ’screen’ of the picture frame.
5. There is always a movement that the Sarkars must complete to master the challenges that arise each time. The Sarkar mansion is one of order. Outside lies the city and anarchy. The Sarkars are always vulnerable when they venture outside. Subhash Nagre can be attacked, Shankar Nagre can be killed. Of course the brother Vishnu functions as a virus, the only one who can bring death to the father precisely because he is an ‘heir’. In the current film the trusted Chandar performs the same function. This time the heir himself is the target. Subhash Nagre it should be noted would not have saved himself in Sarkar were it not for Shankar’s interventions each time but he is by extension also unable to rescue Vishnu. Whether he would have agreed with Shankar’s fratricidal move or not the decision has been taken out of his hands. In Sarkar Raaj he is again unable to save Shankar. He is a colossus in revenge but unfortunately for him he is again a bit too late.
6. The ‘Gandhi’ of this film, also the film’s ultimate puppetmaster, lives in the rural ‘real’. The Sarkars this time go outside once again but not just into the city but the ‘native’ heartland. At a key point the vehicles are framed through a wild outgrowth with lots of thorns. Varma perhaps intends a powerful critique. Rao Saab is political through and through without seeming so, master of the situation without appearing so. Shankar has the initial intuition right away. Subhash Nagre has it with respect to Hassan Qazi who is not at all the man in control of things. When Shankar disagrees with his father and suggests that ‘everything is personal’ he knows more than his father that everyone who is not with them is really against them. This is why Shankar is never comfortable with any of the central characters of the film whether it’s Chandar or Rao Saab or anyone else. With the exception of Anita with whom he seems to bond with instantly. Given the arc of the story his intuition is correct even here because Anita becomes devoted enough to the family to even eschew her own and eventually become the maternal figure (presumably) who will nurture the next Sarkar.
7. Abhishek Bachchan has some very subtle moments. As the clan is driving to Thakarwadi Chandar excitedly tells Shankar he owns all that land. The latter can barely bring himself to register with a half-nod that he has heard what the former has said. Another nod occurs a bit later when Anita draws water and asks him something. He’s on the phone and this time registers a rather warm response. When Anita first meets with father and son to discuss the Shepard Power project there is a closeup of Shankar’s face and his eyes pretty much roll around the scene. He senses something. Later on he is not happy to touch Rao Saab’s feet. In the following scene more suspicion. Intuition again.
Shankar lives in the shadows, he is the truest creature of darkness in the film. He is very rarely associated with light of any sort whereas Bachchan is often framed with streams of light emerging. Even Shankar’s apocalyptic moment in the film occurs in complete darkness. But he is also most like the Greek hero given to a sense of fate. His lines in the film are sparse but also border on the homiletic and even the visionary. This is especially apparent in the exchanges that punctuate the Jhini Jhini song. Perhaps there is too much of the messianic in him to be the survivor that his father is.
8. Amitabh Bachchan emerges God-like on the balcony. He waves with his hand and in this motion is contained the essence of this great actor. The movement of the hand suggesting frailty but also great command. It is a paternalistic gesture. When Shankar then emerges he is far more perfunctory. These ceremonies are not to his taste.
9. Why does Shankar Nagre die? Varma in one sense marvellously subverts the logic of the earlier work. No matter how grand a presence a Sarkar can also be ‘felled’ with bullets by someone nameless and faceless. To reiterate, something similar happens in Company where someone really lower down on the ‘pecking order’ despatches Malik. In Satya Bhiku Mahatre is killed in a sudden and totally shocking moment.
On the other hand there are certain peculiar problems with this move in Sarkar Raaj. For one there is the entire diegetic/non-diegetic angle played out in Sarkar. The film promises a succession. The current film gives us the successor. Shankar Nagre runs the show. But at a key point he is killed. His death seems more than a little unjustifiable in terms of the narrative. The Godfather is about the education of Michael Corleone. Therefore everyone else can die but not he. It is his character through which things are refracted all the time. It is a linear narrative. Sarkar Raaj though combines with the earlier film to produce a circle. The story begins with Subhash Nagre in Sarkar and ends with the same in Sarkar Raaj. This is entirely justifiable and in some ways makes for a richer narrative. But the flaw here is that the question of inheritance is still central to the film. This is why Subhash Nagre summons his nephew at the end. The film could have ended with Shankar Nagre takeing care of his enemies and then dying at the climactic moment. But there is no meaning attached to Shankar’s death. The events in both films upto this point have depended on the non-diegetic angle, the succession story. The audience is there to witness Shankar Nagre’s reign not Subhash Nagre’s. Again in the other vein they are there to see Abhishek ‘be’ the ‘angry young man’. They are less interested in seeing what they already know — that Amitabh Bachchan is the ultimate ‘angry man’ at any age. When Shankar takes revenge at the end of the first Sarkar there is an element of the new to it. When Subhash does the same at the end of the current film it is simply repetition. But also Varma has not made the film about Amitabh Bachchan either. There has always been an alternation between father and son. To be fair to Varma he does devise a grand death moment for Abhishek paying ultimate homage to the father’s career. But he forgets the masala lesson as it were. The hero’s death is always cathartic. Even Satya and Company indulge in this move with a bit more justification. First off Bajpai does not operate in the symbolic universe that Abhishek does. Secondly the film is Satya’s story even if Chakravarthy the actor is completely swallowed up by Bajpai the performer. Bajpai is the engine for that film and when he is shot one is reminded that ‘all the rest is silence’. Company also somewhat implausibly marries masala conventions with a kind of nihilism in the second half to produce Buddhist Chandu and warm-hearted Malik. Since the film eventually becomes a moral tale Malik’s death and Chandu’s lifelong incarceration become linked. The second half fails the promise of the first one to a great extent but the death moment nonetheless fits in. Sarkar Raaj follows neither course. Of course there is an odd inversion of Satya in another sense. The garrulous Bhiku is avenged by the silent Chakravarthy but the silent Shankar Nagre is avenged by the loquacious Subhas Nagre.
Sarkar Raaj therefore subverts Sarkar beautifully. But it perhaps does so at the cost of deconstructing the earlier film. Sarkar Raaj should have ended with Subhash Nagre. The limits of his power are revealed to him. He has lost both his heirs. The circle is complete. He is all powerful once again but he does not have a legacy. When he then asks for his grandson this is a rather interesting move to the extent that it illuminates Subhash Nagre’s character. But what does it add to the narrative? One notes the feminist angle at the end with Anita in the iconic Sarkar position asking for a cup of tea. She is the one who will presumably nurture the new Sarkar. The only way to rescue the franchise now from what might be considered these two contradictory logics is to have Abhishek once again play the grandson. With Aishwarya Rai as a kind of foster mother. To sound a bit like Yoda this restores the balance. How? Perhaps the next Sarkar is the wisest, the most temperate of the three. This because he has a powerful male influence but also an equally powerful female one in Anita’s character. The non-diegetic angle is also reinvested in. Because Amitabh Bachchan can then once again end up with the perfect heir in Abhishek Bachchan. This is the only way to provide a coda to the story while at the same time keeping the charge of each installment alive. There is something of a transitional quality to the current film’s narrative. It will take an even richer film to complete the trilogy and it cannot be done with any other male star. To begin with one cannot think of another young star other than Abhishek who can combine his acting abilities with his screen presence. Even leaving aside the non-diegetic angle such is needed for the actor to be credible against the titanic Amitabh Bachchan but also the rest of Varma’s often remarkable supporting cast. Finally there is Aishwarya Rai now, much underrated as an authentic screen presence, at least in this current stage of her career.
The ball is now in Varma’s court. Can he rise to the challenge? Shankar Nagre’s death can yet be invested with meaning. If the director so chooses. The stakes in any case are high. An inferior work with poor casting choices could really damage the Sarkar franchise which has really produced a second, stronger film to follow up an effective but less interesting first one.
10. The film might be called ‘Shankar Nagre’s Apotheosis’. Varma should remember this. It is Shankar Nagre’s tale with a powerful Subhash Nagre coda. Much as the latter’s way survives so must the former’s.
[the older piece: Ramg Gopal Varma’s ‘Heart of Darkness’ / http://www.ibosnetwork.com/newsmanager/templates/template1.aspx?articleid=21394&zoneid=1
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DEAR SIR,
HOW ARE YOU SIR?SAW SARKAR RAJ FOR THE FOURTH TIME. TERRIFFIC.TAKE CARE SIR WILL WRITE AGAIN.
BEST WISHES AND WARM REGARDS
HIMMAT SINGH GREWAL
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Hi Mr. Bhachan,
Nice to write to you knowing that U will read this comment.
I am a fan of UR entire family. One thing I have observed & felt bad is the way Jayaji is completely ignored. U, Abhi & Ash are always together attending shows, doing films etc etc but jayaji is never found nearby. Even during the wedding of Ash & Abhi only U were visible everywhere. She has been your most tolarent wife in UR good days & bad days. How can you treat her like this.
When are U going to release the wedding pics of Ash & Abhi. Do not forget that whatever U are today is because of we fans. We have every right to see the pics.
More later. I hope to get reply from you.
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dear sir,
you dont need to apologise though i miss reading your blog if it is not posted , but we can understan and will always love you
renu
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There is neither this world nor the world beyond nor happiness for the one who doubts.”
Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed.”
One gradually attains tranquillity of mind by keeping the mind fully absorbed in the Self by means of a well-trained intellect, and thinking of nothing else.”
“The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.”
“One who has control over the mind is tranquil in heat and cold, in pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonour; and is ever steadfast with the Supreme Self.”
“Perform your obligatory duty, because action is indeed better than inaction.”
“A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return”
There has never been a time when you and I have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these changes.”
Fear not what is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed.”
“Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart - a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water - I accept with joy.”
“Death is as sure for that which is born, as birth is for that which is dead. Therefore grieve not for what is inevitable.”
“Unnatural work produces too much stress”
People should work out thier day to day karmas and not worry about tomorrow.
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Dear Sir,
Much to the contrary of the subject of movie critics, I never find myself going to watch a movie just because the movie critics “recommended” or vise versa. I have found in many occasions that some of the comments are totally baseless. When I went to see Yuva and later on Doom 1, the reviews were brutal, however, the movies proved to be otherwise and later Doom became a big hit. To me in case of Yuva, the critics totally missed the outstanding performances by Abhi and Rani. I mean after all who makes “them” the media the judge of what we like or what we disliket? Although everyone’s taste is different but don’t we as public deserve the right to make our own judgement? So let us be….
Arazoo from Toronto, Canada
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Namaskar GURUJI,
!! ABOUT THE UNFORGETTABLE TOUR 2008 !!
Please consider Atlanta,GA location in USA because it is the biggest center for southeast USA and can cover all southeast states.
There are lots of Indians( and south Asians) in southeast USA and most concerts come here and always do well.
There is no nearby location for your concert. All locations are very far from here like New York,Atlantic City,Houston,Los Angeles,San Francisco.
So please consider Atlanta,GA,USA so the concert evenly spread out in the USA.
Not considering Atlanta,GA means you are missing out a big chunk of US audience.
I hope you will read this.
As always,
Aap ka subhchintak
Neal
USA
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Dear Mr Bachchan Ji,
many thanks for the blog.
Regards
JS
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Dear sir, two things which i would want your views on ,
1: There Should not be anything so important in life , from which you cannot walk away in 3 mins flat.
2: Progress is possible only when there is deviation from the norm.
Both these phrases seem to have a great impact on me, i am sure that with your experience , i would be able to find some peace.
Sir,besides this , i am extremely thrilled at the thot, of being able to converse with you, it thrills me beyond imagination that you would read my thots and reply to me. thank you in advance sir, good night.
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Sorry on behalf of every one us…
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Dear Mr. Bachchan….
Did the reporters actually said….”we see you now as an attacking strong individual”.
How laughable!
It takes no strentgh to retaliate! It takes a lot of strentgh to keep quiet!
Any can give an answer. And most will give a very quick feiry one if cornered or provoked. Is there really a strentgh in that?
My reasoning would tell me that these journalist are not getting what they want from you when you keep quiet. No good juicy stories for them to sell tommorow! So to try, they are using the subtle but could be affective approach…
….”we see you now as an ‘ATTACKING STRONG INDIVIDUAL’”
An attacking strong individual! Ha! ha! ha!. Anyone with half a brain can work that one out!!!
The question is will you fall into the trap?!
Or will you keep this Godly virtue to “Keep quiet” at the appropriate time???
Will the lion roar and devour? Or will he rule his domain in dignity, quietly observing, bemused by it all. Hmnn….
Rose C
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We try to be mature reader next time…
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Hi Mr Bachcan,
I ‘ve come to to a realization that anytime I go against my instincts and follow other people perspective or advise I ran into trouble. I will rather follow my instincts, and if I fail,will blame no one but myself. I will be happy to live with my failure that was caused by me and not through any other influence.
I have a saying from my elders “anything you do human beings will find something to say about it’. Sir, just be yourself, follow your instincts and be true to yourself. As you always say ‘ you abide by your 3 Cs”. The media and people will always have something to say or an opinion about you, never relent but be true to yourself.
On a happy note, I have just got my ticket for the Atlantic City show. I hope to see you guys on August 9th and have a rollicking time of my life.
God bless you and your family.
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Hello Amit Jee,
I have never read through so many cine magazines in last one week and I can definitely say that the views of the most of the media towards BO report on one of your recent release is pretty biased. I am not against healthy criticism but there is more than that. If you go through the different magazines, you will notice. I live in US and this is the first time I have done extensive research and now I am not sure who is telling truth and who is lying. I am not sure what they will gain by falsifying. But by doing so they have lost the creditability.
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Amitji,
You just can’t stop your obsession with analyzing / criticizing the media through your blog. Most of your posts touch on this topic in some way or another.
Well, as long as it gives you satisfaction, please keep it going. But besides venting, I don’t see what good this will do for you or anyone else.
Anyway…what do I know, I am only small potatoes
Regards,
Abhishek
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amitji
aaj ka photo bahut manmohak hai. naye shabdo main sexy .us par bacchan ji ka muktak sone par suhaga.
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Namaskar GURUJI,
I wonder how many hours do you sleep ???
Please let me know,Will help me for my studies.
Your student,
Neal
USA
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Sir,
Your film Sarkar Raj was good, so is your photo in that suit! You look great!
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Sir give me your mobile number please..:)
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Dear Bachchanji..
Watched Sarkar Raj last weekend. Was not disappointed. All the three of you have done well as expected. Congratulations. The talk about the sequel is interesting. I hope you will oblige to carry forward the legacy of Sarkar. Hritik is a good idea..but how about having Aishwarya take over from you?? That would be interesting…a female sarkar and a gutsy one at that! Times have changed for women.
Your tour is coming up and I hope you will take care of yourself what with all the hectic travel and schedules!!
Will pray for you and your family…
Wishing you all success!
Warm wishes,
Nisha
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Hi Mr. Bachchan
Ur image on the blog today is awesome. I got floored after seeing it ! though m also missing the SARKAR RAJ images…
As you mentioned that u did not expected the kind of reaction that people showed for ur comments on day 55, but it was really very thought provoking.
I am glad that u shared ur thoughts with us on a matter that could be personal but very effective for all of us
Take care
Love & regards
Anu Verma
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Dear Amitji,
ofcourse there is bias in media, it is so very apparent with Media always glorifying even the flops of you know who and not giving due credit to superb movies of yours. where does this bias comes from, I am not sure but ofcourse there is definitely an agenda here thats being worked around the clock to make sure “Bachchans” are always shown in poor light.
Bias in media is everywhere. Its a menace that needs to be fought aggressively, which you are doing by writing on your blog. May the Truth always prevail!
Anyways, heres an article from todays WSJ (it is about this great journalist and TV personality TIM RUSSERT who died on June 13) which I think you may find interesting. This article touches upon the topic of Bias in Media and gives an idea of how media manages news and tries to influence peoples minds.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121375187453382965-lMyQjAxMDI4MTEzODcxNTgxWj.html
Good Health Always
Monish Aggarwal
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Dear Mr. B,
Your blog Day 55 did affect most of us as we have never seen you in such a gloomy mood. Maybe it was the weather or some other thing that we do not know about. The mood seems to continue today, maybe because of missing an integral part of your routine, the gym.
Your fans have always maintained that you have been unnecessarily attacked by the media and the political parties. This trend somehow seems to have rubbed of on some of your fraternity members too. The hidden agenda, which the media has against you, has been taken a notch further. We at our group read a post that was extremely shocking. One of our group members came across Zee News where RGV was being interviewed in Hyderabad in English and the reporter translated it into Hindi for the wider audience. When asked about Sarkar Raj RGV said “very proud of the commercial success more so because of the genre the movie is…†This was translated by the Zee reporter as “I am not very happy with the film. The film hasn’t done much business…†Take this for a new low.
It is not the duty of the media to report the truth? One of the channels did that yesterday and hopefully all will follow.
You talked about the unwritten code of conduct amongst the media. They should have some moral values before they can follow that code of conduct. This is journalism at its worst. Hopefully they won’t set a new record. There should be an agency that can punish them for false reporting. They should be accountable for what they say. Our law provides us the freedom of press, not to be misused.
-Vikas.
Big B Yahoo Group.
Kolkata.
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This happens in case of celebrities like you. If you open your mouth they ask you why ? If you close also they question. Aesop’s tale of a donkey, a father and son illustrates people’s behaviour. And one thing that I observed is that there is meanness everywhere and people dont think twice before being mean to others.
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Do you realise that you have a symbiotic relationship with the media?? Your constantly taking jibes at them is quite inappropriate ‘coz you also use them to promote anything and everything you do. One must take the bad with the good…don’t you think? As far as critics having different opinions, isn’t art open to interpretation? Having said that , most of what you do is hardly “art”..its more formula! But, in any case, you don’t expect to appeal to just about everyone, do you? Every single blog you write is a feeble attempt to defend your thought process. If only you were honest enough to be percieved as the real you, I think a lot of your energy would then be focused on the beauty of the medium that you’ve been given and thus made far more “unpopular” choices , but true to the thread of your conviction. That in my opinion, would have made you a far more interesting actor!
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Dear Mr Bachchan
I have seen some of the reports in the media trying to prove that Sarkar Raj had indeed not done well. These guys seems to be sick and have a vested agenda. What is the problem with them? I don’t think they do this to anybody else. Why are they after you so much? I feel bad reading these reports and in really concerned about it. Vast majority liked the movie but why go after this like the way these vested interests have been. I have no answers, may be you could throw some light.
When these so called critics malign you like this, all your fans are terribly disturbed. In my opinion you should take suitable action with all your might against these people.
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you are looking very nice in this picture..:)
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Dear Amitabh Saheb
Day 55 - Reflections of your thoughts on actions
If we understand the eternal unity of the trinity of
Satyam - Shivam - Sundaram | Truth - Good - Sublime
then our actions centered on equanimity and compassion
always leads to Shanti | Peace as the ultimate goal of our actions!
I do not think we would satisfy neither theist nor atheist likes of
Richard Dawkins and ‘bright’ friends whose intellectual rationalisms
shroud their own realisation of sat - chit - anand conscious actions!
Perhaps the song penned by Jainnendra Jain for Raj Kapoor Saheb
for his film Satyam Shivam Sundaram elucidates on our actions:
satyam shivam sundaram | truth good sublime
ishwar satya hai | god is truth
satya hi shiv hai | truth is only good
shiv hi sundar hai | good is only sublime
jaago uthkar dekho | wake and arise to see
jeevan jyot ujaagar hai I light of life illuminating
satyam shivam sundaram | truth good sublime
ek soorya hai | sun is one
ek gagan hai | sky is one
ek hi dharti maataa | one mother earth
dayaa karo karo prabhu | may god grant compassion
ek bane sab | all come together as one
sab ka ek se naataa | all relate to one
raadhaa mohan sharanam | refuge of beloved to one
Satyam - Shivam - Sundaram | Truth - Good - Sublime
with love and regards from toronto
PS. more on site confusion of permalinks with moblog links later!
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amazin
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VERY TRUE!!!
“When one is humble the complaint is you do not open up. Your interviews are so predictable and politically safe and correct. Now that there is no perceived humbleness the refrain is why are you aggressive”
Warm Regards,
Bhavna
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Sir……It feels magical that I am able to converse with my idol (since childhood)….i still pinch myself while writing this piece…I hope you continue blogging and share your views on various subjects…I consider myself a very devout son and some of the experiences you share about your parents leave a lasting impact. Some