So I’ve seen two performances worth mentioning in the last few days that I have been meaning to write about for a while.
Last week I finally managed to go for The Dark Knight and am I glad I caught it before it went off the theaters! The movie was fine, had its moments of brilliance and maybe an occasional low point here and there. But..but but but…and I am sure everyone has read and heard enough about him by now for it to be coming out of their ears but I can’t not mention it - the Joker was absolutely stunningly wonderful! I don’t remember the last time I saw a performance even close to what Heath Ledger has managed here, and I see pretty much all the movies out there. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Jack Nicholson did truly warn Ledger about the baggage that would come with accepting a part such as the Joker. A very tragic end to a truly superb actor.
The movie has probably forever changed the association one had with the famous words ‘You complete me…’ with the over-the-top corny Jerry Maguire sequence being replaced by the image of the white faced, menacing Joker.
The second performance that I wanted to mention is fortunately a lot more buoyant. I managed to succeed in conning the husband into taking me for the Unforgettable Tour performance at O2 here in London. We had great seats (even Shilpa Shetty’s sister who was a guest attendee had seats behind us heh!) and the show was enjoyable though such a contrast from all of the international concerts I have been to lately. Everyone was fine, particularly Abhishek Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty, who I thought was so much more entertaining than the other ladies who were part of the troupe. But the high point was obviously Amitabh Bachchan himself. I was amazed to see how nearly everyone who made up the 16000+ packed audience had essentially come just to see him perform, all the stars and actors of the new generation seemed reduced to supporting acts. Amitabh Bachchan was glorious in all he did, he sang many songs, he danced and almost kept up with younger cast members, he read Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetry and he delivered dialogues that left everyone moved to tears – yes seriously, I sneaked glances around when he finished the Deewar bit and people were actually crying! I’ve never seen quite the kind of standing ovation he received afterwards. If I haven’t said it before I’ll say it now – he totally rocks! I wish the show was longer than the nearly four hours that it turned out to be.
On our way back V sheepishly confessed to me that he hasn’t watched Deewar and I have a sneaking suspicion he hasn’t even watched Sholay though he wouldn’t admit it. I didn’t know people like that existed – you know those who haven’t seen Sholay. It’s a bit like growing up without reading Enid Blyton or Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys – I don’t know of anyone who grew up without them.
So anyway that’s that. I am on a spree it seems of catching these shows and stuff while I have the time now. Not that I am complaining one bit! :)
The week gone past was a big week in more ways than one. The BPO industry was shaken by the question of safety and security of employees, Shiv Sena saw the end of an era and the Indian squad walked all over the Lankans even as Ganguly was disgracefully ousted. However the news item that seemed to have taken center stage amongst all this was the return of Amitabh Bachchan from hospital after a grueling 20 day battle with illness.
In the past 20 days I have heard it said more than often that the Indian media has gone berserk with the coverage of AB’s illness. And in the midst of wondering if that indeed was the case, I would often find myself also wondering if there was any change in Mr. Bachchan’s condition. None of us who hold ourselves above such mass-hysteria generating matters would admit it, even to ourselves, but I am certain most of us did have that fleeting moment of concern and apprehension when we heard about Mr. Bachchan’s hospitalization. Probably not because we looked at him as our hero or god as was spouted by the multitude of TV channels. No - we deem ourselves to have been educated out of such tripe. But the passing anxiety was simply because he is who he is – Amitabh Bachchan.
By the time I was old enough to differentiate between the hero and the villain in cinema, Mr. Bachchan was well past his first innings in Bollywood. So I did not grow up idolizing him. Intermittently I watched some old movies of his and I liked them. But I never got the opportunity to experience the rage that he was in the 70’s and 80’s. And when he made his comeback in the new millennium and I witnessed the emotions he managed to generate in the Indian public, I was amazed yet delighted. For at the end of the day he is an entertainer – and he is good at his work. Well deserved success is a heady feeling not just for the receiver but also for those able to appreciate him. He redefined the Indian hero. And the proverbial man on the street latched on to him as his own returning champion.
Amitabh Bachchan is human. He has had his failings – professionally and personally. He has dealt with them as any human would do. He has succeeded at times, and at other times he didn’t quite manage to. And yet he is no longer just an actor in India. He is now an institution. He is an icon of heroism and courage to the millions of people who fight their own little battles every single day of their lives. He brings them hope. He gives them the strength to dream. He lets them see in him what is possible. So understandably it was difficult for so many people to see their hero suddenly collapse and teeter at the edge of life. For they are human too.
These icons of our age, or of any age for that matter, are social requisites in more ways than one. They are crafted and made by us for ourselves. We create them because we need them. Because even the most staunchly religious amongst us need at times a god of flesh and blood to look up to and say to ourselves – as long as he is there, tomorrow might be a better day. And that’s the reason Amitabh Bachchan is not only an entertainer – he is an era. And we have a right to know when he is suffering. So that we can pray to keep our faiths intact.
Yesterday I loved Manhattan more than usual. Yesterday I saw Shah Rukh Khan.
Some things would make you happy no matter what your age – they would bring the same joy if you were 10 years younger or 10 years older. And when you actually do cross paths with one of them – well – you feel exultant. And so did I.
I rushed from office when I heard he was shooting near my house by the Hudson. They were wrapping up and I saw him walk down and get into his car. And I saw him from a distance of less than a foot. I waved to him and he waved back. I felt joyful like a little kid. Not because I am a crazed fan. I do think he is great but I am not one of those star crazy people who live in the hopes of catching a glimpse of their favourite celebrity walking down the road.
But some things are symbolic. Shah Rukh Khan is similar – he embodies Hindi cinema for me – he became a star when I was growing up, he came out of nowhere and conquered the country, he proved that dreams come true and successes are not made in heaven but created by people, he established his own rules and had people playing by them. He brought hope to millions. And icons of your youth remain with you forever as the symbol of things that you went through as you were growing up. For this reason, seeing Shah Rukh Khan even today, when I am much older and, I like to believe, wiser, is still a big deal.
Besides, it is always wonderful to come across small things that make you happy unconditionally. All troubles were forgotten for those few moments, my day seemed brighter and the world seemed a more beautiful place. Which is always good.
The second performance that I wanted to mention is fortunately a lot more buoyant. I managed to succeed in conning the husband into taking me for the Unforgettable Tour performance at O2 here in London. We had great seats (even Shilpa Shetty’s sister who was a guest attendee had seats behind us heh!) and the show was enjoyable though such a contrast from all of the international concerts I have been to lately. Everyone was fine, particularly Abhishek Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty, who I thought was so much more entertaining than the other ladies who were part of the troupe. But the high point was obviously Amitabh Bachchan himself. I was amazed to see how nearly everyone who made up the 16000+ packed audience had essentially come just to see him perform, all the stars and actors of the new generation seemed reduced to supporting acts. Amitabh Bachchan was glorious in all he did, he sang many songs, he danced and almost kept up with younger cast members, he read Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetry and he delivered dialogues that left everyone moved to tears – yes seriously, I sneaked glances around when he finished the Deewar bit and people were actually crying! I’ve never seen quite the kind of standing ovation he received afterwards. If I haven’t said it before I’ll say it now – he totally rocks! I wish the show was longer than the nearly four hours that it turned out to be. 
On our way back V sheepishly confessed to me that he hasn’t watched Deewar and I have a sneaking suspicion he hasn’t even watched Sholay though he wouldn’t admit it. I didn’t know people like that existed – you know those who haven’t seen Sholay. It’s a bit like growing up without reading Enid Blyton or Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys – I don’t know of anyone who grew up without them.
