Archive for April, 2009

Posted on: April 30, 2009 - 12:51 am

Comments: 597

Prateeksha, Mumbai                                                    April 29, 2009                                 Wed  11:54 PM

 

 

Doing nothing and sitting in front of the ‘box’ an entire day is a feat by itself and I just did it…. Ha !

Albeit a little frustrating, because the home team lost in the final moments. But today an entire day withered away in the name of IPL. Two games of equal interest and excitement. Lunch and dinner without moving anywhere, right in front of you and in front of the ‘idiot’ and many finger nails losing their bite - heart rates an all time high and all !!

What did we do when TV was absent from our lives ? How did we occupy ourselves ?

Its become our most earnest and sincere friend, this tube device. Nothing to talk about put on the TV. Waiting on something, put on the TV. All alone and no company, put on the TV. What’s the situation in the country, put on the TV. What’s the situation in the world, put on the TV. Weather, TV. Sport, TV. Film, TV. History documentation, TV. Want to get slumber, TV…

There is just no end to it. A boon in our lives. And pretty soon we shall be carrying it around with us on our mobiles  !!

 

So, yes a really lazy uncoordinated and mindless day. Allowed the brain to rest and recover. For a challenge tomorrow and hopefully many more tomorrows.

Abhishek won a recognition and left for Delhi. NDTV nominated him for the best Brand representative and rewarded him at a ceremony, for his campaign for IDEA Cellular and Motorolla. He seemed happy about it, as did his clients. And we feel happy for him.

Tomorrow is voting day in our part of the city and we are all geared up to be there and cast it. TV and print media are full of nothing else but possibilities and analysis on the prospects of various parties and candidates. I do not find that too odd. The elections in India make interesting information even in other parts of the world. We are the largest democracy in the world. We are among the two fastest developing nations in the world. We are among the very very few in the world that have not been as severely hit by the recession as others in the western world have. And come May 16th, we shall have a new Government for the next 5 years, so help me God. One never knows politics, entirely.

 

There has been talk among certain media of wanting to carry my blog in their paper. That I come to an understanding with them that I allow them to publish it exclusively. The deal being that the blog shall, as a result of the vast circulation of the paper, give me and my posts a larger reach to the people of the country.

I ask you .. put in your vote for this exercise and tell me whether this is worth considering. I shall not name the house of media that wishes so, for, that would be unethical and premature because the information has yet not come from them. It has come to me from those that contribute to it.

My own reading of the situation is that this would tantamount to parting with my exclusivity to another entity and in turn therefore preventing access of it to other houses of the print and electronic media. We also do not know how the house would exploit this. Or if it exploited it, what conditions would it put. There were accusations in the beginning from them that I was being paid to write. When the denial from me threatened to take  a more legalistic turn, their denial, a most apologetic denial, eventually came through. Today they are the ones that are instigating commerce into my blog. Strange are the ways of the world and of course of the media.

There is talk also of building ‘Star Diaries’ for the print media. A biweekly input from all the stars of their life and works during each day or week or month. I believe this is all emanating from the popularity that the blog from various stars is generating and the desire of the print to be in control of that as well. It is flattering to learn that an acknowledgement of independent internet, a medium I believe to be a most powerful one in the days and years to come, to be causing interest or discomfort to the traditional media.

‘Social and political life may soon be driven by the “network”‘ 

‘Top global public intellectuals, thanks to an online mobilisation of their followers, could use the  network not only to transform online publishing but also to redefine public intellectual life in a digital age.’ 

These are interesting observations that I have quoted from a recognized forum, a forum that has a certain degree of authenticity and stance due to the practice of conducting in practical terms what it preaches.

You, dear reader, therefore, are fast becoming the reason and the condition for this change. Your contribution is vital in the furtherance of our medium; started quite innocuously to connect with well wishers. So, reason out when you consider your response. Your decision could change many other decisions !!

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The Arc de Triumph photographed by yours truly during my trip there a few days ago. in Paris.. a symbol of honor to those that fought for the triumph of the good over evil. A symbol of remembrance and integrity. A landmark monument of identity and valor…

Symbolic… 

 

My love as ever,

 

Amitabh Bachchan

 

 




Posted on: April 29, 2009 - 2:35 am

Comments: 194

Prateeksha, Mumbai                                        April 28, 2009                                   Tue  11:56  Pm

 

” Yesterday I was clever. So I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise. So I am changing myself.”

 

 

Back home..! And what is it about home that makes coming back so fulfilling. You may not have the luxury of a Hotel, well equipped and well serviced, but when you step in you are in an environment that smells breathes and invites only a feeling of possession. This is my place. I live here. This is my family. My furniture, my environment. I rule here. I am comfortable.

 

There has been no time to recover from a rather turbulent ridden flight from London. It is not a happy sight to be thrown around in the middle of the night especially when you know that the moment you get off, you go into a somewhat heavy work schedule.

The press conference to announce the next IIFA. The Macau Venetian Hotel and Resort is what it is going to be. A small state by itself, even though it is controlled or technically controlled by mainland China, with a large tourist attraction.

Officials from either side. Managers of the Venetian, Government dignitaries from Macau. Sponsors and supporters and the large media - all eager to have a one on one even though the message to them has been one that has been generally spoken during the main podium speech.. Taxing but I oblige and disappear as soon a s I could to … yes… the IPL and most importantly the Chelsea, Barcelona game. Which incidentally has just gotten over !! In a draw 0 -0. Thank God !!

At the IPL, Mumbai got surprisingly beaten in a close finish, but the Delhi Daredevils  lost out to  the Rajasthan Royals in a superb display of aggression by Yousuf Pathan.

When you come back from a long stay out of the home, one of the qualities that the wife brings in is the quality of the best food in the world, simply because you have been starved of it for long. Its been a while to be at the dining table with all four of us there and looking at the conditions we propose to have dinner out as well. Moments like this can never get replicated and all of us grab it by the horns !!. Not literally though we, would be in for a rough ride had there not been a trainer. 

 

It must perforce be late now. I hear no traffic, no trucks and drivers, just no noise.

 

GOODNESS !! Its the 29th of April in the morning and the time on right hand corner of the MacBookPro says Wed 1:22 PM.

I am deeply sorry..!!

The jet lag converted me into a cerebral mess. Many believe that I already am one. I just reread the post that I should have posted last night and thank God for that, for, the material that I saw simply confirmed the fact of my mental illness. I had no idea what keys I was punching !! So now, I have judiciously deleted all that rubbish and am getting down to putting things down hurriedly so my continuity does not attract default.

Airports are a busy market these days. And airline staff ready to offer generous help in getting you comfortably on a flight are most endearing and kind. Kind enough at times to walk you past long lines of others in a queue. It embarrasses me to do that. I would rather follow protocol and discipline, but the staff is persistent. And I need to put on my most humble smile of ‘ I’m sorry guys, I am breaking systems here, but its not me, its them that is holding my passport and boarding card.’ Its been working quite efficiently so far, much to my dismay, but some curious looks are beginning to appear among those that wait in line. Many a times when I force myself into the discipline of the queue, the person ahead if he happens to be from country of recognition volunteers me forward. I resist that at times, but it gets a bit attention seeking to enact the ‘Lucknawi tehzeeb’ of ‘pehle aap’ at terminal 5 Heathrow, London !!

Will someone please explain the above to those from outside India ! Thank you. Do tell that great story as well of the 2 Nawabs at a railway station in Lucknow !!

So… while all this non conforming to regular routine is enacted, you need to go past asap. Primarily because you do not want to match looks with others as they express disgust, or the feared scream - “Oye, mister !! Get in line will ya !!. Invariably this occurs as you check in and then again as you go through security. Now.. a lot of the personnel handling security these days in most parts of the expatriate world are Indians or Indian film affected. They love to see you and express greetings, which is nice, but never fail to pull you aside for a body search if the beeper through the gate has gone off. Or.. if various red dots appear on the scanner through the belt as your briefcase goes through, they shall politely ask you to open the bag and when they have dismantled every bit of neatly packed papers, medication, stationary, wallet and on shall finish the exercise by requesting for an autograph. Which is such a pleasure and a relief as well.

Getting shoes, jacket and other bits and pieces that the scanner demanded, on again, is another exercise in ungainly behavior. And most of the mobile photography from ardent fans happen just when you are either struggling with the shoe or getting all the dismantled products of your case back in.. Argrrghhhh… 

But .. these are the joys of recognition. They must be endured and enjoyed. That’s what we worked for. And that is what we shall get.. Good !!

Alright.. we have serious compulsions now..

The wife and kids calleth for lunch.. and if I am not there in seconds, there is every likelihood of getting none.

Bye !!

My Love,

 

Amitabh Bachchan

 

 

More tomorrow.. and tomorrow and tomorroa