Tribute to their Versatility & Zest

They slogged for years & worked places, Life was about quarters and the year-end,

Time came to pack bags, ride into sunset, The known roads were taking a big bend !

From young 21, to retired at 60 & now 70, Creates confusion& a problem of plenty,

Memories happy and sad, follow after us, We chased time, now hours crawl slowly,

The years have revealed late blossoming, Of innate talent buried in files & folders,

Artists, painters, writers and cool singers, Emerging on new, resurgent shoulders,

Mellifluous, classical Natraj mesmerises, Grover’s renditions are so soul uplifting ,

Bhakey’s pen and his brush weave magic, Niladri’s intellect shine from his thinking,

Bada (RK)Sinha retains his zany humour, Anil ji always there with his ‘ChalteChalte’,

Mahajan ji keeps up with the cricket chats, Mahnot recalls ‘Lucknow Ke Woh Raaste’  

This Group of ’77 isn’t an old man’s refuge. It’s musically vibrant, lively, witty& young,

Happy to be part of batchmates of 50 years, Who love a good joke & are always on song !

Somnath Sinha

When we were really young and there was no social media to enlighten us on things like relationships, it was our seniors and family elders who were to be emulated in matters of propriety and good manners considered as important as achieving academic excellence, that spoke of breeding and cultured background. Only Grand-dads could use expletives !  

As far it appeared to us, our own grand-parents, parents, uncles & aunts (both paternal and maternal) shared bonds that looked long lasting and solid but never flashy and were somewhat akin to Test Cricket of the colonial era. Showing any form of affection for spouses and better/worse halves was quite rare for our grandparents down to all the married joint family members living under the same roof. Leave PDA (that’s – public display of affection) I can’t recall my parents or family elders ever held hands in public !  

Today such things would sound archaic but then they had intimacy with its own charm – unspoken & unsaid for those daring to express were told ‘what will children think’ ?! In our childhood visiting our ‘mamar-bari’, spending time with maternal grandparents was fun. Dadu was full of beans with all his grandchildren sitting at his feet, I can’t recall him ever having a conversation with Grandma. When they visited us in Lucknow in 1972 to attend our parent’s Silver Anniversary, we sang a film song that has two young lovers thinking of old age together. Dadu loved it so much that he made me write the lyrics !

My parents came from a literary background and both loved classic novels and music. Mom was 19 when she got married and came to settle in Lucknow and in keeping with traditions here, she would at times address Dad as ‘Sinha Saheb’ like others. Once Dad forgot something and Mom sent him a note which began ‘Respected Mr.Sinha..’ To that Dad’s formal reply came ‘Revered Mrs.Sinha..’ which caused much amusement to us all. A public act of intimacy, if at all was Dad cleaning his glasses with Mom’s sari’s pallu…  

Another case is of an elderly couple in Allahabad whom we admired for their wonderful understanding, the bond always understated. Once Aunt fell ill and the two NRI sons rushed from UK and expressed concern over their Mom’s treatment to their Dad. To all this Uncle remained stoic and said ‘Don’t worry, your Mother means a lot to me too !’ Seniors in 1960-70s would spend decades together without proclaiming their devotion. Love was tough to be expressed in mere words, but when true, it was more easily felt !

Versatile, multi-faceted singer and stage artiste par excellence, Amit Kumar has a few things in common with us : he’s just 71 ( born 3^rd, July,1952), energetic, youthful, hugely talented, full of beans and zany humour and is a die-hard ‘bhakt’ of the great Kishoreda. The most significant difference from ordinary music lovers and legion of fans is that he’s the elder son of the legendary singer from his first wife, Ruma Guha Thakurta and is a very renowned singer and artist in his own right with many chartbusters to his credit.

The onerous challenge of carrying on the legacy of legends ( Big B, Gavaskar, Md. Rafi to cite examples) falls heavily on their progeny but Amit has been a revelation and a great survivor in the cut-throat Bollywood music industry. As per tradition he was expected to carry on the mantle of his Father’s phenomenal body of work, but as Amit has shared in progs. his own Dad insisted that he evolve his own style rather than become his clone.       To his good fortune the great RD became his mentor and launched his singing career with a bang with award winning hit numbers from ‘Balika Bodhu’ and ‘Love Story’.

After the death of RD in 1994, Amit distanced himself from film music industry citing lack of talent and opportunities and almost went into hibernation for a few years. Like a champion who’s innate talent never goes away, he made a huge comeback with stage shows, live performances and radio programmes across the globe, where he recreated in his inimitable style the innumerable true stories and anecdotes that surround the genius of Kishore & his amazing zany ways, apart from bringing alive the great singers’ music. 

Though fans like us have followed Amit’s progression as a versatile singer and his range in embracing music of all types (including Western and of course Bengali) there is one song that’s rarely heard but some rate as one of his best efforts. He sang the heart-rending ‘Har Ghadi Dhal Rahi..’ in film ‘Saaransh’ ( 1984) picturised on an old school teacher (Anupam Kher) who’s suffers the pangs of bereavement on the death of his son.

Rock on Amit Bhai ! Here’s my musical tribute to you.

With sobriquets like the ‘Wall’, ‘Mr Dependable’ and one of the ‘Fab Four’ (of the earlier two decades !), Rahul Dravid, legendary cricketer with classical copybook batting style & sheer tenacity (also brilliant wicket-keeper/super slip fielder!) simply belongs to highest pedigree of Indian Cricket and the media, rightly built a ’larger than life’ image of him , which he has actually shunned and ducked away from, just as he did with bouncers !  

As he retires from his momentous stint as Head Coach from the victorious Indian Team that lifted the World Cup T20) after a long wait of 13 years, there are heartfelt tributes and paeans of praise pouring in from almost everyone in the cricketing fraternity and the media, we fans can only applaud from a distance but those who’ve had the smallest interactions will apart from his cricket glory, know him as a perennial ‘Nice Guy’ !  He exemplifies that despite fame, talent & success, one can still be humble & unassuming !

During my overseas stint in Nairobi, Kenya during early 2000, the Indian Team led by Dada Ganguly played the Champions Trophy where all the teams participated. We as ex-pat officers got a chance to interact with the Indian players in the High Commission & it was a lovely experience. While it was difficult to elicit any response from Sachin & Dada, Kumble joked with my young son when I said he had makings of a leg spinner but it was Rahul, warm and chatty, as we talked about his very successful stint in County Cricket !  

Much later for a span of  few years in mid 2000, Rahul Dravid was appointed the Brand Ambassador for our Bank (BOB) for his ‘dependable’ qualities so important in banking. In all those years, I worked in different offices and branches in Mumbai and would get opportunities to see him deliver talks on various forums. With his penchant for perfect straight drives, he was always a straight talker with keen sense of humour but would never exude his exalted status. Dravid was as we all felt, a ‘Gentleman’ and a ‘Legend’ !  

We hear that young Dravid, Rahul’s son is turning out to be a promising cricketer and is already playing in the domestic circuit. What he and we all must learn from Rahul Bhai is apart from being really good at what you do, it’s important to be a good human being !  

( PS : Pic is Dravid and Dada in Nairobi with my son, Srimanto, then 13 years old )

It was the all important Finals of the T20 World Cup in picturesque ‘Barbados’ and rains were predicted but what turned out was from a script by an ace sports drama writer that was worthy of an Oscar ! Call it a heart-stopping cliffhanger with Hitchcock’s masterful suspense and climax it had all the elements ! By the evening end, it was incredible story of our ‘Magnificent Eleven’ who just refused to give up the ‘Cup’ like recalcitrant boys !

We were ready with snacks from 7 pm our time to watch the favourites India cross the line this time, yet bit wary of  the ‘Proteas’ challenge. India started with some sparkling fours from ‘out of form’ Virat but then two wickets fell cheaply including prize one of Rohit. Great rearguard action from Virat and Axar and audacious shots by Dube helped India to post a slightly above par score of 173 and the big Finals was set up nicely !

In reply, SA started looking a bit shaky losing their Captain Markham but soon Decock and Stubbs took control with some lusty hitting but it was big-hitting Klaasen who was ominous with his awesome striking and along with Miller, all our spinners were getting hammered. At half way stage – a sinking feeling SA were running away with the game. So distraught were we with the onslaught, that I was chewing fingernails in despair in front of the TV & Tandra refused to watch further and retreated to the prayer room for hope !  

But when there’s such huge yearning to succeed even the Gods smile and miracles start to happen fast. Rohit still keeping a steady head despite all odds stacked, got dangerous  Decock trapped on the leg side, blazing Klaasen in a real mad rush to wrap up the game (equation was just 30 in 30 balls with 6 wickets in hand) edged one behind, Bumrah bowled magical two overs, Arshdeep kept his nerve in his, Surya brought off a stunning catch on the ropes to send Miller when 16 runs were needed of 6 balls. Hardik in the final over kept great control to let India snatch victory from jaws of sure defeat ! Rarely in a match have there been so many heroes, all chipping in in every which way they did.

Finally, while the nation exploded with joy and fans celebrated all across there were high emotions running in the players many of whom broke down and even the sedate Coach Rahul Dravid joined the boisterous festivities on the field. There was utter euphoria of India lifting a T20 WC after 17 years and the poignant announcements from two modern day legends Virat and Rohit retiring from T20 format, riding away into sunset in glory. For Dravid, one can feel the poet’s words ‘Gods in his heaven, all’s right with the world’ !  What a perfect fairytale ending for us all…   

Another WC Final, another venue and another time Team India has made the arduous climb to the top but the crown is yet to be worn ! A billion ardent, zany, overexcited fans not just here but across the globe, are egging on the ‘Men in Blue’ and for two men at the helm of affairs, Coach Rahul and Captain Rohit, possibly the last hurrah of two legends ! A win in the Finals at the iconic Caribbean ‘Barbados’ grounds will send us into tizzy of wild celebrations. After all, this is one national issue where everyone cheers in unison across divergent lines and ideologies !

Since we are hyper expressive, emotive and sensitive about our cricket icons and their form, there is concern for King Kohli’s loss of that ‘talismanic touch’ and instability at the top order though ‘Hitman’ fires on undeterred. The redoubtable all-rounder, Jaddu is not quite looking himself and though he’s got intent ‘Dube’ doesn’t inspire confidence. There’s a limit even to the ‘SKY’s wonders. Luckily Hardik has overcome his IPL woes. It’s Bumrah’s consistency and guile of Kuldeep & Axar that’s really come to the party !   

While our media dwells extensively on our strengths and records and creates cacophonic hype in the build up to the Finals, the Proteas almost maintain a stoic silence about their great run to the Finals and their chances today. Rohit, the astute leader, surely realizes the batting firepower that SA possess, Decock, Markham, Klassen, Miller for starters & all-rounders to boot. Their spinners outfoxed the valiant Afghans in the Semis and it’s also a first shot at the WC for the Proteas, who haven’t dropped a match in this WC !

The background for a heady contest is mouth-watering this Saturday evening, provided both play to potential and there are no huge hiccups. I remember, a few months back we had gone for a film ‘Laapata Ladies’ with no expectations but it was such a lovely treat. We’ll follow the same approach for today’s Finals. Yes, there’ll be prayers on our lips for the ‘Men in Blue’ !      

‘It’s Complicated’ (2009) was an ‘adult comedy’ we enjoyed watching few years back. It wasn’t too wild for us seniors looking for fun specially as it’s cast had super actors, Meryl Streep and Alex Baldwin in light hearted avatars of different genre. The former plays a divorcee with grown up kids and runs into her ex-husband at their son’s graduation ceremony. As they are now divorced and he has re-married since then, problems and complications arise when the flame is reignited and they amazingly fall in love again !

Recently we came across ‘Do Aur Do Pyaar’, film on ‘Hotstar’ which seemed interesting and I felt may have been inspired from the above rom-com but hasn’t been much hyped considering that quite a few engrossing web-series have caught people’s viewing time. Importantly it has Vidya Balan & cool Pratik Gandhi (of ‘Scam’ fame) in lead roles and it deserved a ‘dekho’ ! The two share great chemistry & in hilarious ways, kick up a storm !

The storyline of ‘DADP’ is even more convoluted than the Hollywood comedy, if one were to compare, but as Hindi movies go it’s contrived and far-fetched but real in parts depicting the dysfunctional state of marriages and how young couples can’t seem to cope with it. Here too, both partners have started cheating on their spouses and lead separate love-lives but continue living under same roof, waiting for divorce to come through.

Fate intervenes, they decide to visit Vidya’s parents to attend her grandfather’s funeral. In the austere precincts & her father’s unrelenting ways and family rituals, Vidya’s love for the man she ran away from home to marry, blossoms again as they revisit places they knew during courtship days & rekindles romance that made them do outrageous things. When they return home, it’s love of old times, banter and enjoying each other’s presence –but they have to resolve the commitments & promises made to their other partners !

 The film belongs to the redoubtable Vidya Balan who puts in a spirited performance as emotionally soft, professionally competent dentist, dysfunctional in her relationships. But Pratik Gandhi almost steals the show as the laid back, disheveled Bengali guy who is non-aspirational but whom women love to love and possess despite all his vulnerability.

The dialogues have cracking humour in quite a few sequences that’s reminiscent of the English film we mentioned. Interestingly, akin to many working pairs, the two address each other by the surnames ‘Ganeshan’ and ‘Banerji’ that’s pretty cool ! Special mention be made of  Ileana D’Cruz & Sendhil Ramamurthy who are the remaining two parts of the rectangle but with their own charming angles. ‘No bed of roses’, this style of modern living !              

‘Khamoshi’ (1969) is an old classic with thespian actress Waheeda Rehman in the lead role and Rajesh Khanna in one of his sensitive portrayals as a mentally disturbed young  man jilted in love. It was a remake the old Bengali hit film ‘Deep Jele Jayee’ (1959) with superstar Suchitra Sen in the role of a nurse in a mental hospital, who’s asked to pretend to be his lady love to draw her patient out of his acute depression. Strong emotions are aroused of passion & guilt as characters struggle with new hopes of finding love again…

While the film was directed by Asit Sen, it’s beautiful music was a collaboration of two masters, composer Hemant Kumar and writer, Gulzar. The film for cinematic reasons was to have a soulful song picturised on the hero but the locale had to be outdoors (and not in the hospital) as conceived by the makers. It was visualized as a song sung in the boat (with the lead players) over the River Hoogly in Kolkata and sound effects of waves splashing the oars and choir music in the background gave it an ethereal effect. They’re  drawn to each other & lyrics juxtapose their feelings with memories of their past love.

The song was based on the famous raag ‘Yaman’ that’s been a favorite of composers. The interesting part was choice of the singer who’d bring the real emotions and depth of feelings to such a song and while there were choices, Hemantda felt that only Kishore could do justice to the number with his mellifluous voice. It was picturised on Rajesh Khanna, who was on his way to stardom with his many hits. ‘Woh Sham Kuch Ajeeb Thi..’ is a one of the finest romantic film numbers, rendered with understated eloquence and serenity – it’s a song that’s a ‘thing of beauty and a joy forever’ for old music lovers.         

We possibly open and close doors countless times a day but if not done rightly, they can spell trouble and lead to bigger problems. Left unlocked there can be a break-in but in some flats that have self locking main doors there’s a different challenge. The keys if left inside, the owners simply can’t get in until the duplicate keys arrive or locksmith comes to the rescue with his tools. Metaphorically speaking too, when we thoughtlessly shut the door on someone’s face, it may signal the end of the relationship with that person !

We’ve all grown with Alibaba’s adventures and the riches he stumbles on to by uttering the two words ‘Open Sesame’ !  Such stories  have signified that ‘opening doors’ are like the opportunities that come in life and must be grabbed. Symbolically too, no door can  open without the right key. In school we recall that in our time we had small guide books (also called keys) that gave model answers and tips on how to crack the examinations. Be it the aim of landing jobs, selling goods & services, arranging marriages & in business right reference, guidance works. Today, ‘Networking’ is known to help open many doors.    

Sometimes, one must patiently wait for doors to open for civility demands that no one enters without knocking. Gate-crashing and barging in is not likely to get great results. While at work, to be kept waiting to be called inside by the Boss for a firing or news of a faraway posting causes stress. Awaiting one’s turn for the promotion interview outside the board room door was always unnerving and we’ve been through the jitters. But it’s uncanny that good news overcomes closed doors, loyal friends will rush in to say ‘Mithai Khilao’ ! Once when my Big Boss got promoted, his cabin was kept open the whole day !

Fascinatingly for doors, the sounds they make, change with age too. New house has ones that swing noiselessly. After few years (wooden) doors start to sag with weight ! In older homes, the doors and gates have a familiar screech and clang that inmates know. These sound effects have been put to great use in films, specially of thriller and horror genre. In a suspense film, the old door will creak eerily and never open full till pushed.. but in horror movies there’s  something ominous behind that door that’s remained long closed. Mansions will have secret doors that lead to alleys and passages providing escape routes to the hero/heroine being chased by alien creatures, bad guys or the sundry villains !   

‘There are more things about doors that we can think of ’ to borrow the Bard’s lines. By holding the door open to someone we are showing them that we want to make their life a little easier. It’s graceful and shows that today even if chivalry is retired it’s not dead. As the vintage song goes ‘Mera dar khula hai, khula hi rahega..’ It’s a lyrical message to one’s paramour or friend, that they’re always welcome to share his hearth and home !

It’s so heartening that now virtually every family member (father, mother, siblings) has a day allotted when they’re recognized and celebrated for the sterling qualities they’re supposed to possess. On Father’s Day, even one’s ‘Old Man’ or ’Pops’ as some Senior Dads are sweetly addressed by their progeny, stand a chance of getting some honour as do younger one’s with tech savvy teenaged kids who are real netizens ! Because it’s the day for honoring one’s father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society. This year, it happens to fall on Sunday, the16^th of June. 

So what’s special about this guy called ‘Dad’ that must be talked about. I’ve read a line that kind of explains it – “ It’s easy to be a father, difficult to be a Dad’ which seems to convey that despite being the ‘Family Chieftain’ he tends to remove the hierarchy gaps and treats others as independent units. More than that, daughters, long after settling into domesticity often claim Dads are their real ‘heroes’ and sons strive hard to move out of their big shadows and attain the respect that they once earned. Many of us, now grand-parents, haven’t been able to figure out what makes for a real ‘Daddy Cool’ !  Lives of great men do provide us role models but there is no one size that fits all and in the general scheme, ‘Fathers’ being only human, come in many shades with all their achievements & failings !

Also, there’ve been film-makers and writers who provided us with lovable ‘Screen-Dads’ and many of us found our own fathers in them. A big favourite of our times was ‘Dadamoni’, thespian actor, Ashok Kumar, who’d essayed many a memorable ‘Father’s role’ and more so in films of Hrishikesh Mukherji (like Aashirwaad and Mili etc). I’d chose the fun-loving and affable character he plays in ‘Khoobsoorat’ (1980) as most endearing. A powerless Family Head subservient but loyal to his wife, the matriarch and the family that she controls with discipline. He joins hands with new entrant Rekha in a cultural uprising against his wife’s strict regime, to ensure unfettered joy (‘nirmal anand’) for all ! .   

While Hollywood movies have had their share of immortal fathers on their big screen (including the many wonderful versions of ‘Father of the Bride’), one film that overwhelmed for its adorable humour & pathos was Robin William’s ‘Mrs Doubtfire’(1993) that became a super hit across the globe. It’s the story of divorced actor without custody of his three children who tries every trick and decides to get entry into their house disguised as an elderly housekeeper to be able to spend time with them. Robin in an unforgettable role,makes you laugh and cry in his amazing portrayal as ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ !   

Let’s not be judgmental. Most Dads are ordinary men who turn weak with love & emotional ‘atyachar’ but become protectors, heroes for their loved ones when challenged ! Happy Father’s Day to us all !

(PS : Picis of our Dad with Dadamoni at his residence in Mumbai in 1979-80s )