A Tribute to the Ever Green Star....... Romancing Life Forever

“Hai Apna Dil tho Awara” (movie Solva Saal), these words were slightly inquisitive to me as a child and I vividly remember listening to this in the tape recorder. My maternal aunt, who used to hymn this song repeatedly, played the record many a times. I didn't know who the actor was and what was the song all about. I was three or even four and till date, there are glimpses of me holding onto our drawing room sofa and above me was the cassette player. Few years later, I got to know the actor being Dev Anand and my aunt was just one among million fans of his.

Interestingly enough, as a eight year old kid, the movie I enjoyed watching was ‘Awwal Number’ not because of the story but because of the cricket in it. I lived my school years watching his movies sporadically as and when it appeared on television, until one fine day....

That particular moment happened sometime in 2000, as I was looking for some old classics, I found this CD. Mohd Rafi and Dev Anand and thus started a special journey. ‘Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hai.....’

I had three weeks before my final exam and I was hooked to this song. The movie was Guide and it starred Waheeda Rehman alongside Dev Anand. R.K Narayan had written the novel and Dev Anand had produced this movie which was directed by his younger brother Vijay. Looking back, the curiosity of Guide took me deep into my hobby of researching movies. Prior to this, I knew facts of some movies but never went a step ahead in knowing the intricacies of it. I wanted to know why such a song existed in the movie Guide. Why is the title of the movie ‘Guide’? Why not any other Hindi name? 

With such heavy thoughts, I was not entirely focused on the upcoming exams. While I was solving problems in the college library, and while picking up books, I saw the novel ‘Guide’ lying on the table next to a rack. Instead of two books of mathematics, I took one and other being ‘Guide.’

I so wished Guide to be part of my English class, it would have helped me reading and look like a stud in front of my English teachers (mostly they were females). But my thirst for knowing more about Guide overpowered any such thoughts and seamlessly, I began reading. The story of Raju, the Guide his encounter with Rosy, the dancer and her recluse husband Marcos and Raju’s friend Gaffur, the driver; I could visualise why such a song would have been written. I felt at the end of Guide, it wasn't just about Raju I wanted to know, it was about the man and his movies that brought ‘Raju’ to the screen. Like a good boy, I finished my exams and then started my quest on knowing more on Dev Anand movies.

My mom was a kid and really young when Dev Anand was at his peak and hence my information was limited, nevertheless she provided a lot of facts concerning him. It so happened while spending post exam holidays with my grandparents I got to know more about my grandpa’s fascination for movies and wanted to know more about the movies he used to watch and in particular about Dev Anand. 

Just to give an idea, my maternal grandfather is a great conversationalist and let it be any topic, he would have his opinion and always in a way the other person would want to hear. He made people laugh while conversing and yet he provided man important details; I really like that thing in him. 

We started our conversation on movies and by that time my quotient on Old Hindi movies was getting enriched with many internet researchers and by reading backdated issues of Filmfare (I used to subscribe them) and the introduction of Star Gold channel on television. I was fifteen and few months older by this time as I went about watching his movies and collecting all his favourite songs.

His movies echoed something new each time since his debut in 1946. After his debut in ‘Hum Ek Hain’ he had to wait a good two years before he was toasted as the next big thing. The 1948 movie ‘Ziddi’ made him an instant superstar and raving on the success, Dev Saab got into the movie production business not surprisingly the production name was Navketan International was formed in 1949-50. Navketan means ‘newness’.

He was successfully paired with established actress Suraiya and even was left heartbroken when his proposal was rejected by Suraiya grandmother because of religious issues. Dev Saab and Suraiya made seven movies together and all were a success at the box-office. The last of the seven movies was released in 1951.

I remember watching the movie ‘Taxi driver’ on a Sunday morning long time ago. I was fascinated by the movie titles he came up with, especially the English titles. I am not sure if this was due to his heavy Hollywood influence or his background in English literature. Nevertheless, his titles were unique to the movie generation of the 1950’s and next. House No. 44, C.I.D, Paying Guest, Love Marriage, Jewel Thief, Gambler etc. It was during the filming of ‘Taxi driver’, he got interested in Mona Singh aka Kalpana Karthik and married after the movie got released. The pair went steady till date.

In my short movie research history, I can say no one has been given such adulation in spite of how movies performed in the box-office. Since 1971, he made 33 movies (latest being ‘Charge sheet’ which released in Sep 2011) but none hit the top mark. But yet, he went on..... Reminds me of the line ‘Mein Zindagi ka saath Nibata Chal Gaya’ from Hum Dono, the very same song I remember my granny hymning while cooking my favourite dishes. She gives a smile and has her own memory of Dev Anand. She remembers ‘Hum Dono’ a lot, which happens to be one of the first double acting movies in the Indian movie history.

Widely termed as the Gregory Peck of Bollywood, he had created his own niche in the movie industry. Be it dialogue delivery, the head nods or the style with which he went about making movies; it was creative in motion. He introduced the gangster movies to Indian audience, the first stand out romantic hero of Bollywood, an experimenter having many pot-boilers to his credit and the songs. Oh yes, the songs that will remain forever with ages to come. No wonder he chose the title ‘Romancing Life’ as the name for his autobiography.

He is no more and the great towering personality of positivity has left the world. Dev Saab known as the ‘ever green’ star was always full of life, a life filled with optimism. Again my mind goes back to the movie Guide and I remember the line, ‘Aaj phir Jeene ki Tamanna Hai’ (I would like to live again today) and it was how he lived his 88 years living each day. 

My Thoughts on Freedom on 'A Wednesday'

At first go, it seemed like – Man, I should have watched it when Saagar’s (a good friend of mine from college) mom recommended me this movie way back in 2008. Since that day, I never really bothered to watch or think too much about the movie. I was on my way to higher studies and this movie never crossed my mind until few days ago when I saw a status on my wife’s Facebook wall. The status read this way - “I was watching A Wednesday some days back and loved it for the sheer cheek of Nassiruddin Shah as a common stupid man! I think now we need more and more of them!!”

I didn’t look at the reviews and neither I knew what the plot was.  All I knew; it had Nassiruddin Shah and his role was really good as told by Saagar’s mom. After reading the status last week, I got interested and I decided to watch this movie. Sheer coincidence I chose a Wednesday to watch this movie.

The screenplay was quite impressive and I liked the flow with which the movie moves ahead and concludes. No songs and that’s a plus in such movies and there wasn’t any violence in the story. It was artistic and movies are all about communicating one’s stories and this definitely did.

To add my personal view, somehow I always got a feeling while watching the movie, the stupid common man played by Mr. Shah isn’t a terrorist nor does he have grand plans to upset the normal public life. It was his way to deal with the justice. “We are resilient by force and not by choice” and frankly this line quite sums it up the voice of a common man. We live in a country where a common man is suppressed to make his choice, by and large forced to make a living. The patriotism in us isn’t just talking about injustice; it is about making a difference and showing the way.

I read a quote yesterday – “An activist is not a person who complains about the surroundings being dirty, an activist goes about cleaning them”. This very act of his seems foolish to most of us when he could have led a less stressful life by not getting into it at all. This quote summed up as to why the protagonist, the unknown caller calls himself as a ‘stupid common man’.

  

I have been asking this question since my college days to myself – “What it takes to lead a better life?”  Over a period of time, I have come to understand that, the answer lies within us. Only I can define the better life I want to have and for that, I need to get to know my inner self and where it wants to be. This I believe is an on-going process and will only get better with time. If I am not happy with the surroundings I am in, all I can do is, change it and hope for a better tomorrow.

We fought for our freedom and finally a date was chosen, 15^th August to celebrate our freedom. But deep down we all agree with ourselves we are far away from freedom. And what is the meaning of having freedom? It is to live by choice and not by force.

To be free isn’t just having a corrupt free government, it goes beyond it. Although it isn’t easy for me to accept this wholeheartedly at times, but the truth is, each individual gives his/her best act based on his/her set of beliefs at any instant of time. In an ideal world, everyone can do anything and yet no single individual will suffer. This is the definition of freedom according to the ideal life. In practical terms, what (freedom) seems like a panacea may actually be a potion that would stop our evolution as a human.

I am attached to a lot of people, things etc unless I get rid of each and every one, I may never be able to attain freedom. Or is it a restriction I am putting on myself? Well it is all about my choice. I just have to accept the fact that, I just have a place in this world and I have a role to play. And at the same time, acknowledge the fact there will be others with their own set of ideologies living around me. There will be a clash in some way or the other from time to time. That’s the very essence of work in progress.  On the other hand, there will be some wonderful moments. Important is to strike a balance according to one’s idiosyncrasies. Understanding oneself seems the most effective solution according to me. It is by far the best homework to understand others.

With respect to freedom, all I can say from my experience is that; there will be brief moments in life where our mind will think, our heart will feel things without any notion of fear. Such a condition to me is freedom especially in the world we live. How long it lasts? I do not know but I can safely accept the fact that I look forward to such moments more and more.

‘A Wednesday’ is a 2008 thriller movie made in Hindi. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, this movie was well received by the audience due to its brilliant story and a well twisted ending. The cast apart from Nassiruddin Shah includes Anupam Kher, Jimmy Shergill, Deepal Shaw and Aamir Bashir in supporting roles. 

My short Independence Day Speech

You know whenever I read about our Constitution; it makes me wonder, as to what is independence? Was it just a day? Or was it a starting point of something significant? What has happened to India isn’t just the result of India but also a combination of the inconsistencies across the globe and co-incidences?

Irrespective of how we have come along these 64 years, I still can say, India is its own competitor and one needs to look in before looking out. I never realized much about being an Indian when I was in India, because I didn't quite realize what it feels and over the last few years, whenever I am outside of country, my passport (which is the defining factor mostly) speaks a lot and then we meet people. Many are informed about India through different opinions and all I add is another opinion from a Indian perspective. Believe me, there are several perspectives to a particular thing just like we have several Gods and Goddess in our mythology. We fight to prove our perspectives are right, but I guess I realized that's the beauty of the country I was born.

"All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything." - Swami Vivekananda

India over the years has made people give their opinions and that I feel is a freedom of speech. So in that sense I am independent to give out my opinions. That's fine until now. I sense we need to move ahead and take a step forward with conviction that action speaks louder than opinions. I believe we are seeking to be independent more than ever before, at least in my generation of living. We the people haven't realized the power of the government that is made by people alone. We need to understand the importance of being a drop and its contribution to the ocean. I seek our country to be more self aware and for that each individual to be self-aware before going out and condemning things.

Like Swami Vivekananda said - "The goal of mankind is knowledge... now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge."

India is merely a geographical land if we remove the masses from it. So in that sense I have to think of the power we people hold. We can accept, we can change and at times we can hope for the better.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies" - Shawshank Redemption

Connecting Dots of One's Life

Life is a series of dots that we hop or connect during the course of our stay in this world. Each dot represents a momentary feeling that makes us go to the extremes in the emotion quotient. At the same time some are balanced emotional diet to live with.

It’s been a series of dot trips I have had over the past few years; and each represented a significant milestone in some sorts. Not sure how, but somehow I have left a particular dot with some confidence that one day this dot did help me complete the picture. I am no harbinger to pin point exactly how or what significance each dot holds at the moment; bluntly confident enough to say it will for sure.

I quote this line and sometimes did use previously – “The world we live is cynical” if not, at least the events that occur makes us believe it to be cynical”. Yes some part of it is from the movie ‘Jerry Maguire’ and rest is based on my experience. It is our confidence, beliefs, choices and opportunities we make out of things that life dishes out each day, determines the level of cynicism we end up living with.

I ask myself why I chose this particular field. And to be honest, I am not confident in saying this is where I will be in ‘X’ number of years. But the inner fire ignites and gives me a feeling; I will reach that point in life, however unclear it seems at the moment.

How do I identify that particular dot in my life, if I ever to reach in the future? Guess it is all related to my present and to an extent my past life. I cannot change my past but can always look at my present in a different way and move on with it. It isn’t a crime to get stuck with a particular dot, but failing to make an attempt to move, in order to get to the next dot is a crime. Well that’s how I choose to look at it.

Learning from my past, all I can say - There will be the feeling of being on top of the world which is associated when I do reach that dot. That particular day, I can visualize and even go on to say eloquently about the different dots of my life and how relevant it has been to get to that feeling. Till then, I say to myself - “Keep on hoping from one dot to another; you never know when you actually hit that feel good factor button inside us”. Ultimately it’s all about hitting the feel good factors on more occasions at our dot stops.

P.S – I do not know to define the ‘feel good factor’. So it is better left to one’s interpretation.