Me, mad about the movies? Really!!

Fond memories are what they say stay with you, while the rest of the memories just wither away with time. Most people remember memorable holidays, achievements, happy moments with family etc. etc. but me?  Surrounded by over 15 cinema halls in the area where I lived what else could it be but - films and films and films...

Every weekend it was a fight to the finish with my dad for a film vs a film.  Let me explain. It was those days when "A" certificates were given to most English movies, even our 007 and if dad wanted a date with mom on a Saturday evening to the movies then he better agree to a date with his three daughters on Sunday. Otherwise there would be one foot raised across the jamb of the main door to our house not allowing them to leave...and yes, that was me. The terror who got dad to actually tear the tickets once.  Dad's favourite (sis Ruby, you know it is true) I got my way all the time.  Each and every cinema hall has a memory connected with some film or the other so let me share my tryst with the movies at some of them.

My childhood was spent in Khetwadi and within 10 minutes of walking was surrounded by Super, Shalimar, Dreamland, Novelty, Apsara, Imperial, Swastik, Naaz, Minerva, Opera House, Roxy, Alankar, Ganga Jamuna, Majestic, Central and the very quirky Diana. Oh yes, there were also those three-four not for family audience type theatres too like the Taj and Edward. 

Let me start with my pet peeve. Dad and his loosing tickets... and believe it or not, it was always those of Dev Anand films. He lost Johnny Mera Naam tickets, Tere Mere Sapne tickets and then he even lost Jewel Thief tickets at the gym. I remember the day we stood inside Alankar theatre near the door and watched Jewel Thief till Dev Anand sang "Yeh dil na hota", while Dad went searching the dark with the manager to see if anyone was sitting on our seats (oh yes, he remembered the seat numbers for sure). Sadly, someone was occupying the seats...... so well, we returned next day to see it. Surprisingly though, we would always ended up seeing his movies twice and even thrice.

Here is where I need to mention the most amazing theatre of all called Diana. Diana stood at the foot of the bridge on the corner of Tardeo and when all the movies had run their silver or golden jubilee course or otherwise, they would return to light up the Diana screen. Yes, those were the days when movies ran to silver and golden jubilees and there were many weekends, when there were no more movies left to see. That's when  Diana came to our rescue and it did not matter if we had already seen the movie earlier.  A second round of the same movie within a few weeks never hurt us, the Dudhmul family.  It was my job to run up the stairs to the balcony, lie down on its wooden seats and spread myself across five seats, cause there were no seat numbers.  Here is where Dev Anand entertained us many a times making up for lost tickets.

Naaz, the cute theatre that stood in the lane between Imperial and Swastik, has a birthday memory and an angry memory. In 1970, Mastana was released. It was one of those days when Dad said it was houseful and I argued till he challenged me to book tickets for my birthday. Off I go to the theatre and stand in the line and ask for tickets, but it is really house full.  Believe me when I say that 15 year old me stood there at the ticket window begging "Uncle, it is my birthday and I want to see the movie". Voila, it worked because those were the days when the theatre would keep two rows for whatever reason for themselves. Triumphant I walked home with the tickets and shoved them under dad's nose. On the other hand, mom threatened  to punish me for what I don't remember by not taking me to see Ganga Ki Lehrein one afternoon, but of course, mom being mom forgave me. Here I must fast forward to say sorry Mom  for not getting her to see 'Prem Bandhan' of her darling Rajesh Khanna. You see, I hated Rajesh Khanna (sorry!!) and after all I was pregnant and having lost my first child, Mom was trying hard to keep my mind off by taking me to the movies.  All films done and it was down to Inspector Eagle and Prem Bandhan..Inspector Eagle won.... but next when it was time for Prem Bandhan, it was not to be because just as we were leaving, I took her to the delivery room instead of the theatre.

Dreamland and its Bluff Master, 1963.  Rainy season time and there is Pran pulling Saira Banu with a whip around her waist in a song and suddenly out of the blue in the dark, a shoe goes flying at the screen. My poor dad died a thousand deaths looking for the shoe that I had flung at Pran.

The most glorious memory of them all is the "Mera Naam Joker" premiere at Novelty. Mom used to work at the bank on the first floor of the theatre building and Novelty had a huge footpath outside the theatre which we could overlook.  The day of the premiere the entire bank staff, including me, stood watching the unbelievable galaxy of stars walking into the theatre name it they were there, waving out to us each time we screamed their name.  Of all the stars that shone that night, I can still see in my mind's eye the most beautiful Helen in a golden saree with her golden hair in a high hairdo standing next to Dharmendra and Dara Singh for a very long time waiting for someone...I ran down to the foyer much later and saw Randhir Kapoor standing at the ticket window and shoved my autograph book in his hand. While this remained a fond memory, there was one very embarrassing one too at the same theatre.  I had started working, in fact my first job, and a friend and I got passes to the premier of "Majboor". In all my glory, I was there in a beautiful purple floral saree and then the movie ends...I rush to get a closer look at the Amitabh Bachchan walking out and then it happens, just as he is within arm's reach...the saree pleats come off as my foot gets entangled in them...need I say more!!!  

Opera House is where musical programmes also happened in the mornings and my dear Pesi Kaka always took me and I have autographs of Mukesh, Manna Dey, Juthika Roy, Chandru Atma, Geeta Dutt. Chitra Dutt...so it is no big surprise that I am still at it till today with selfies...(by the way I also have autographs of the likes of Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatughan Sinha, Jeetendre, Nitin Mukesh, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Asha Parekh, Jaoften ya Bahaduri, Yash Chopra, B.R. Chopra to the stalwarts like Mukhri, Nana Palsikar, Agha, Paintal, Ramesh Deo, etc. etc.... and surprises of surprises a forgotten autograph of Kalpana Iyer, who I met just recently (amazing)....okay, I am going to stop gushing now... but now you know now for sure why I am the way I am...

Opera House too has one embarrassing memory. The movie "Khamoshi" which mom took me to see along with her office friends. I had decided not going to cry and why should I, after all they are just acting and "they must have had a coca cola after the shoot" (my exact words to mom), but damn, the flood broke at the end when Waheeda Rehman turns mad and Rajesh Khanna beats the door to say he will wait for her. National Anthem begins (yes, it used to be played at the end of the movies then), the lights come on and there I am standing sobbing my heart out only to be dragged out to be admonished by my mom.

Many many more memories are coming flooding back as I am writing this....such as my little sister slipping on mud at the corner of the lane just as its time to reach the theatre to watch "Spy in Rome" at Imperial, or taking villain Ramesh Deo's autograph on the back of the ticket coming out of Majestic theatre after watching "Shart" , or watching "Do Dooni Chaar" at Swastik or pushing dad to take us to see "Jawani Diwani" at Ganga Jamuna in our dirtiest clothes straight from a picnic to Juhu Beach (oh yes, Juhu Beach was a distant far out picnic spot for us and today I live close by). I even remember once dad bought tickets by mistake for "Sinbad, Alibaba, Alladin" and "Raja aur Rank" for the same day-same show and we stood near Super Cinema deciding which one to see and thereafter dad went and sold the other tickets and bought it for another day......Not to forget those Indo-Pakistan war,1971 days when our windows were fitted with black paper and sirens stopped us from venturing out and forced us to switch out lights....we were at "Naya Zamana" in Roxy when the siren rang and I remember being scared as the screen blacked out till the siren rang again.. Marathi films were not my dad's cup of tea so I must thank my Pesi Kaka for taking me to see all the Marathi movies of those stalwarts right from Dada Kondke, Jayshree Gadkar, Nilu Phule, Ashok Saraf, Arun Sarnaik, Raja Gosavi  and more...

The film industry has always mesmerised me especially the hard work that goes on behind the scenes on the sets. I love to watch how it happens.  I have been on many sets and my craze started way back from 1969 on the sets of "Piya Ka Ghar" at Raj Kamal Studio on 19th June 1971 to be precise (I have the entire cast's autographs and even Dilip Kumar, B.R. Chopra, Yash Chopra who were shooting Dastaan there too). I recall Anil Dhawan had just one line to say and that too he fumbled many a times, by which time I knew the dialogue and the action required of sitting down at that precise dialogue. I remember thinking to myself that I could have done the shot as required by the director.  No wonder I prayed to become a film actor at the Haji Ali dargah that year but for God's own reasons it never got fulfilled (ahem, a few short films done recently though...so maybe there is hope still)... Oh yes, that being said, it is very clear that from that day till date, I am not shy of walking up to any of the stars..... after all what worst, they can only refuse!!!

The craze has continued even after marriage where with my equally film crazy in-laws family I would be at the Ambar-Oscar-Minor theatres every Friday night without fail watching the latest movie.  Of course, my craze continues till today and even more so thanks to my best friend YouTube...I am done with most old movies of 1950s to 1970s with not much left to devour now but the search is on way back to the times of Raja Harishchandra, the first known feature film made in India and I will go on and on and on because I am just one mad filmy keeda with a voracious stomach for meeting the stars and revelling in entertainment industry from days gone by to eternity..... and living in hope to be up there on screen some day... even if as I joke, just to open the door to say "saheb, aap ko koi milne aaya hai"

Dementia, Alzheimer's and my tryst at film making!!!

"Dementia, a condition that frightens many enough to shove it under the carpet and when it affects a loved one...even more...." are the opening lines that I wrote for my film titled "Selfless Soldier - Sailesh Mishra" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aETnPu2FFXk). For a long time, I had been enamoured with the thought of making a film on Sailesh Mishra's  passion but it just did not seem to materialise.

Then one fine day, YESiAmTheChange happened. I decided that this year, come what may, I was going to participate in the Yes Foundation's YIAC 101-Hour Social Filmmaking Challenge, 3-minute short films on social causes. I entered myself for the NGO category and hoped that the topic would be just what I wanted it to be. I had the thoughts, the director's vision (ahem!) and the storyboard ideas ready in my mind to tweak based on the topic, but I knew I would need someone to capture my vision and put it on screen. I decide to take the plunge by writing a small note on all my whatsapp groups asking for production assistance at minimal cost. I get a call from Drishti, who listens patiently to me saying, "I have this awesome friend Sailesh and I want to make a film on the work he does as part of a contest. I want to showcase his dedication for Dementia and Alzheimer's", to a response, "Hiraji, I think you did not recognise me. I am Drishti, Sailesh's daughter"... and I wished the earth had opened up and swallow me.  That indeed was an unbelievable intervention by God himself for me and the beginning of a wonderful relationship with Drishti, her friend Amritraj Esakkiappan and their newly founded company called "The Photomist" (https://www.facebook.com/photomist/) that started the morning, the topic dropped into my mail box wee hours on 9th September. The topics were "Responsible Citizenship" or "Specially Abled"... and I chose "Responsible Citizenship" and we were ready to get going.

My long standing friendship with Sailesh had already created an awareness and interest into doing my bit for the cause for long now, so when I went to A1 Snehanjali at Nalasopara and Rajodi to record scenes I had in mind for my film, I sort of knew what to look for and what to expect. I knew that Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and what are the problems that come with it, but then I met Mary Aunty who kept holding my hand to ask "what will they do to me" and my heart cried.  Everyone knows that the person affected by the disease retreats into a world of his own and the world she/he creates that has no place for reality or the present.  Most of the times, the memories that remain are those that are long past gone but seem like today. Mary Aunty obviously had been hurt enough sometime, somewhere in her life and that bit of memory has remained with her, which is never going away.  At first she refused to touch the casio, but then suddenly got up and played the 'happy birthday' song for us on the casio. Sadly, it caught us by surprise and we could not capture that moment on film. On the other hand, there was ever smiling Kusum Aaji (as she is fondly called) who remembered only the happy days at her home and kept inviting me home. My most favourite Hussaini Uncle, held on to a doll and kept telling me "he is a good boy most times" as I sat there talking to him.....and not to forget Bhaskar Uncle, Peter Uncle, Hariprasad Uncle, Meera Aunty and others there who stole my heart.

The environment there was calming, beautiful and green and the peace that came over me being there is unexplainable. It was no wonder therefore that the elders there are happy living in their own little world amongst nature in the loving care of the caregivers. As the day progressed and the more time I spent there, I realised that just reading up about the disease was so academic and clinical. Watching them trying to communicate with us made me realise human contact, a hug, holding the hand is so necessary that since that day at A1 Snehanjali, I have been hugging my daughter more each day. 

Not to forget first and foremost, the fear of Dementia which scares us and I admit that I am one of those who is frightened too. Everyone according to me should visit once and I promise that you will come home with a lot more patience and understanding for elders. I can't explain what went through my mind, as I watched the elders and the caregivers at the assisted living elder care home that day. There was not much that I could do but to hold their hands and talk to them hoping that they were understanding me. That being key, it made me wonder how a family remains sane dealing with this unfamiliar, dark and unknown world of their loved ones, especially the children in the family. When it is not easy for the adults, I cannot even imagine what the children must be going through. 

At the end of it all, when the film was edited (a big thanks to Drishti and Amritraj) and uploaded, I knew that I had fulfilled a promise made to myself long ago. Whether I win or lose the contest, it just does not matter anymore. I just revel in the thought that there will be a panel of eminent people on the jury and others at the YES Foundation, who will see my film. Maybe, just maybe the film will touch a heart and there will be someone out there who will reach out to Sailesh, as there is so much that needs to be done, so much more to be brought to the forefront and addressed. My friend and lone unsung soldier, Sailesh who is doing just that, on his own steam, needs to be recognised and supported. He truly understands the challenges and emotional needs of these elders and their families enough to continue to pursue his passion and dream of an elder friendly world. I, on my part, will continue to support him in my own little way and that goes without saying. His mantra "the silver-haired are not retired but rewired today and deserve to enjoy their second childhood”, is actually my mantra of life today. 

Background score in films- it matters !!

I accidentally pressed the mute button! And the TV went silent........ only action, no sound......and it was then that I realized what sound meant to a film and even more what background score meant…It brought back a memory of a film with the most unusual background score. Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja, a 1975 film with Biswajeet as the hero, fighting Shatrughan Sinha the villain. Those were the days when the words Dhishoom & Dhishkyaun a punching sound effect was used in fight scenes and the sounds were clearly dubbed by a human.  However in this film the filmmaker decided to get unique. After all Dhishoom, is a sound when you hit with your hands, so he thought what should be the sound effect if you are kicking the villain with your shoes…and so there goes Biswajeet to the man-made sound of “Boot, boot” ……and goes on to alternate between Dhishoom and Boot Boot. I almost collapsed in my seat laughing. No, I am not lying cause I never ever forgot this!!!

Like a good comedy, I do believe that timing is everything. It is the background score that makes you ready to feel and anticipate what we can't see yet and then our imagination begins to take flight and makes up the rest. The score send chills down the spine making the hair stand on end as the different sounds, like that of thunder, a creaking chair, or footsteps on wooden staircase, which of course by themselves are not frightful but when combined with these effects manipulates the mind to anticipate and maximize the terror unfolding on screen. This in itself then becomes another ball game.

Those were the days when sounds of walking down a staircase for example, were made by people stomping their feet or coconut shells cut in half and stuffed with padding used to make horse hoof noises in a recording studio. Then there also came Hitchcock's deadly film “Psycho” that changed the sound of horror music, and the famous stabbing shower scene became a must in every horror film made in Bollywood. I remember one such funny shower scene from Purani Haveli or one maybe its another Ramsay Bros film (I forget the name but the not the scene) which I must share. Of course its a shower scene where the deadly half-cut hand comes crawling out of the batroom drain to the clanging of the drain cover, crawling across the floor, until it strangles the bathing beauty (ha ha ha)!!! With every moving scene background score became relevant whether it was the traffic noise, a running train, a screeching car, slamming of doors, swishing of curtains, gunshots,  rain, thunder, lightning especially those for the fight and rape scene so Bollywood.  Sholay is perhaps the best film to understand background score. How can one forget that outstanding scene where Gabbar kills the family and Master Raju stands turned to stone with the swing swinging to and fro as Gabbar rides his horse downhill with the clip clop sound creating  a sense of one actually being there and feeling the pressure and fear? Or when glass bottles are broken for Basanti to dance on or the very first scene when the train pulls into the station? Without these crucial background noises, our films would feel unnaturally quiet and feeling-less. And who can forget that piano, a permanent fixture in the haveli, playing ominous tunes in the dead of night or the tinkling sound of the chandeliers swaying back and forth. Who can forget the empty swing of the film Mahal or the white saree-woman walking around the haveli with candelabra in the hand to deadly background scores or songs. On the other hand, there was also the sweetness of the flute? Remember Rajendra Kumar in Geet or Jackie Shroff's Hero, where the flute is suggestive of the love between him and the heroine.

I for one always felt that one of the major reasons for the failure of any film was ineffective background music. I for one, yes, pay complete attention and appreciate the sounds in film and am always aware when the soundtrack fails the scene and never forget it either…… but other film-goers I am sure, most likely, don’t even notice and probably not care either. If they did they would realize that it plays a huge role in creating the entire ambiance of the films. It is the soul of the film and carries the story ahead and merges with the story. Just imagine scenes without ambiance sound. Take a few of films for example. Can you imagine Dhoom without its dhoom dhoom and bikes roaring sounds or even Jaws stalking the waters without that deadly music build-up or imagine Sholay’s scene between Amitabh & Jaya without the mouth-organ playing or the very silence before AK Hangal says “itna sanaata kyon hai bhai”. Most filmmakers know this and use it to their advantage to heighten drama.

Action and  emotions are entwined and when the score is used skillfully it can cover up for a lot in a film, but some of the film makers just ignore that aspect using ready made ghise-pitte tracks used for hundred years or totally mismatching the scenes........ and yes as I said before, I do notice.  If film makers realize that there are more like me out there paying attention to the background score of every scene then maybe, just maybe, they would treat  background music with a bit more of seriousness for the entire film. After all the background music can make or break the best of a film if not used effectively in a film.

Fitness...living it king-size

I have always wondered what the future will hold for if I continue living the life the way you do. Things are not the same anymore, right from the way people behave with each other, towards nature, the food chain, even the air we breathe. As for me I am just a few years, if not a few minutes, from disaster. I have thrown away the key and closed my eyes to worrying if I will live through the next day. Why? Simple I am living life king size each day!!

All around me people are pumping away their physical self and even their diet is causing the food chain to worry about their own existence. There are of course others who just lack the drive, ahem a bit like me, not really caring when a film star turned size 0 or 6 packs. Mujhe kya karna hai..as if Karan Johar or Abbas Mastaan or Sohail Khan are  waiting around the corner to sign me on with Amitabh Bachchan…(kaash!!!)..

Anyways, it may seem a bit silly to most as to why I don’t care as all around us the war cry of “staying healthy and fit” rings. Pray, why ? for what? After all its just this one life na…Char din ki zindagani...and besides these days I am singing “Teri hai zameen, tera aasma..tu joh chahe toh hame rakhe..tu chahe toh hame mare…..so is worrying going to help…Yeah yeah, I know if I take care of myself then I can live a healthy life and maybe live longer and not suffer…..is anyone out there giving me a guarantee??? No na, so then why can’t I believe that if you have the will to live, the will to be happy, the will to do good for others then the body is healthier than any of those you put posters up in your room.. Can I then counsel others to make their life more fulfilling? Is this the question also ringing in your mind, then it’s time for  Ma Hira  to guide you? Hey who said I have to practice what I preach. Preaching is an art and not many can do that remember. I can always preach but not practice. So lets take this one step at time. Taking the first step is always the toughest and giving up? That’s easy. So do I exercise..yes..I went for Shaimak Davar classes for over 14 years and enjoyed every class..made new friends…loose weight?  Nahin re..that did not happen at all. Naturally because I was in the highest of spirits and happy…So  do I jog? Of course, each day 5 miles...in my dreams of course!!!!..Forget about how many minutes of exercise people tell you that you need and just fit in as much as you can into your day. It’s your body and your heart and no matter how you get it, whether by just sweeping the house or watching television, aarey believe me, any physical activity will help de-stress, burn those unwanted calories, and will definitely make the heart race like a big drum…pant pant pant….…Sleep well because it’s proven that that lack of sleep increases hunger pangs and trigger overeating. On the other hand, leave the eating of nutritious meals once in a while with the family over fun conversations about each other’s boring boring daily routines. Okay that does it..enough about the healthy lifestyle gyaan… Let me share what makes me tick and stay upbeat and content. Its finding happiness in achievements of others, it’s all about laughter, positivity and being there for my dear ones be it friend or family always in whatever they want to do. I am happy when my husband sings on stage, I am happy when my friends come with me to encourage him, I am happy when a friend gets a big role in a film or serial, I am happy when someone achieves something they wished for. Even thought I am still struggling with starting a second innings and no one is helping!!! hmmmm! So be it. The key to good health is simple..finding happiness in every little moment of your life..Most importantly, whenever with friends, don’t be afraid to laugh out loud. Who cares if those sitting on the tables around you give you the “you manner less people” look.  Obviously they have not yet learnt to laugh or live life or don’t have mad friends like I do.  Hastu ha,lifestylesr daam..khushiyan ya gam.. Remember the saying “two men looked out of the prison window. One saw mud the other saw stars”.  So if you are already doing that..yeah and more power to you! If not, then why wait? Spread the smiles and watch them come back right at you!! Death will come but once. Life is a breeze..blow along!!