Posted on: November 25, 2008 - 11:47 pm
Ptrateeksha, Mumbai November 24, 2008/written on November 25, 2008
11:10 pm
Yes I know.. there has been a lapse. But the timings of my day and my work are quite quite absurd.
Night shoots always do this to all. You cannot rest in the day for the night and you cannot night shoot without rest. So basically one remains a zombie for an endless period of time. And one such zombie is addressing this post to you.
The day of 24th disappears in trying to organize a moment when I could put aside everything and set up for the night shoot, and before you know it, the shoot is upon us.
Its in the dock area. Dark and shippy.
I have been speaking about my work being full of nostalgia these days. And really what else can it be. 40 years is a long time in the same profession. People, locations and memories of them, keep coming back.
The location before coming to the docks has been the Ballard Estate and the region before the Asiatic Society. Long colonial corridors and the buildings reflective of the British Raj architecture.
Strange that I am here for ‘Teen Patti’.
I was here in 1974 for ‘Deewar’. The last run in the climax before getting shot by Shashi Kapoor. The iron gate which on collision had deprived me of my lucky badge – the number of my worker recognition when I had worked as a laborer - 786, still there after so many years. Not a scratch out of place. I walked past it. And all those lovely days when we shot the classic, came running by.
Yashji and his 100 decibel directorial commands, the egg and roti at the end of the shoot from nearby dhabas.. delicious, dropping in at friends in the middle of the night and getting them out of bed, banter and fun and very serious committed work.
At the docks ‘Deewar’ again. Same lanes by the port. The grilled barriers still the same. A bit dented over time but still there.
Madhavan, the talented, works with me. In between shots he educates me on his pets. His African Grey, the parrot, rare and the most intelligent after the dog and his qualities as a mimic. Even mimics his own master at the phone. Incredible. Must go and meet him sometime. His chow-chow, bushy and cuddly and child friendly.
I educate him on Shanouk, my Pirahna Dane.
And the night seems to pass off quicker.
I drive back late. Around 2-3. Mumbai does not sleep and does not allow others to either.
On the road there are some pleasant sights. Some not so . You wish for that magical wand to wipe out the filth, and poverty and pain and suffering. But the vastness of it crashes you down.
Once within the confines of your own home and its comforts all else that we witness outside disappears. How ruthless our minds.
I feed some poor and wanting before turning in. Somewhere it saves me from the guilt. Helpless, at least we dwell with the thought that at least something was done.
But there are mountains to be done..to be done..to be done..to be done….
My love
Amitabh Bachchan
