Gerald D'Cunha

  “Values aren’t buses. They’re not supposed to get you anywhere... They’re supposed to define who you are.” Jennifer Crusie   I n his last episode of KBC, I saw Amitabh Bachchan calling on stage his loyal hair-stylist, Deepak Sawant, and speaking about him (Deepak Sawant) very emotionally. It was, most probably, Amitabh Bachchan’s last KBC episode. Considering his age (83), I don’t think, he might take up a high-pressure assignment like KBC anymore. But, who knows about tomorrow? During more than half-a-century of his career – from acting to hosting, from voiceovers, commercials to trying his hand in politics and business – I have seen, more than once, Amitabh ‘stepping aside’... calling it a day... only to reinvent himself – and make a triumphant come back! And, through it all, there was one man in his life who stood behind him, like his constant shadow – and, that man was Deepak Sawant... Yes, though thick and thin, as it’s said. In professional life, Loyalt...

“When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.” George Lopez   R ecently, when Amitabh Bachchan ended his 17 th season of KBC, I went into a reflective mode: “What a man! What a man!”... Yes, I kept saying this to myself. I had first read a small article about this tall, awkward-looking newcomer in the Hindi filmdom in an unknown magazine in our school library. I must’ve been in my 8 th   standard, and Amitabh Bachchan must’ve just completed his first film, ‘Saat Hindustani’... Yes, Amitabh was just one of the ‘seven’ actors in this K. A. Abbas film. But, somehow, I fell in love with this lanky star and kept following his career path – almost every milestone, every crossroad – his ups, his   downs... his rise and fall, and again his phoenixlike rise... This, once awkward-looking man, when he concluded his latest KBC season, was an incredible magnet -   yes, even at 83! Now, why do I remember Amitabh Bachchan in my today’s Post? A n...

  “Some days, there won’t be a song in your heart...                                                     Sing anyway.”         Emory Austin   F inally, my wife and I decided to watch ‘Kantara – The Legend... Chapter 1’ in one of the local multiplexes. A couple of days ago, our son insisted, that we should watch it in NMACC’s IMAX screen to get the full movie-experience. But, my wife and I were against that idea, and, finally, last afternoon, without pre-booking our seats, we both landed at the ticket counter of a local multiplex. “Sorry Sir, all sold out,” the young man at the counter said. Helplessly, we called our son. “Let me check,” within in minutes, our son booked online at IMAX Wadala (Now, Miraj Cinemas)... We reached there an hour before... When the movie started, it was a full-house! A s I ...

  “So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings.” J.R.R. Tolkien   S taying relevant till the ripe age of 80 – and be able to continue doing what you are passionate about, that too, remarkably well, and, that too, in a cut-throat glamorous industry -   is not possible for any one, unless he or she is an Amitabh Bachchan! When Amitabh turned 80, on this October 11, I wanted to write something about him. But, then, what is left ‘new’ to write about this ‘One-and-only’? Whatever I wanted to write had been already written by countless number of his admirers. I, myself, have written about him so many times in my past Blogs… So, what is new, now? Nothing! E very time I feel tired – both physically and mentally – I look up to Amitabh Bachchan. Every time, I feel scarcity in my mind – that, I may not be able to find ‘work’, earn my daily bread, manage my home etc. – I look up to him. Every time, my boat gets caught up in a storm, every time I hear...

“A large oak tree is just a little nut that refused to give up." David McGee I t’s said, that an Oak tree lives far longer than the gardener who plants it. In fact, that is merely an understatement… For, an average Oak tree may live for 200-300 years, it can also live over 1,000 years! Yes, that’s why they are legends – who have been glorified by poets, songwriters and story-writers. But, think about it: does not the life of an oak tree begin just the way the lives of other trees do? There is something in the seed of this tree that makes the tree live an enduring life… Just as there are horses which are meant to run a long-distance race… Yes, the Lambi race ke ghode ! As Amitabh Bachchan, 77, (and several members of his family) are in the news today after they have been tested Covid positive, the imagery of an Oak tree and a Lambi race ka ghoda , suddenly, flashed before me… I have been a massive fan of Amitabh Bachchan. I was a high-school ...

“The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work… It’s already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” Michelangelo O ne of the amazing mysteries of life is the beauty of what we create. It’s said, “Everything that we create in life, we create twice: once, inside the mind, and once, outside.” This means, that everything is already there in the thin air… everything – beautiful buildings and beautiful books… movies, poems, songs, music, software, machines, automobiles, clothes, commercials, every product and every service on this earth. Yes, it’s all there… just like the simplest solution to the toughest mathematical-problem… Just like a continent, even God! Everything is there already concealed; we just need to ‘uncover’… The beauty of this uncovering is called ‘Creation’! Well, if a mystic is to read what I have just said, he may simply laugh at my ignorance. I hear him shout, “My friend, in life, yo...

“May the gratitude in my heart kiss all the universe.” — Hafiz A mitabh Bachchan, at 77, is one of the busiest persons in our entertainment industry. There is no sign of slowing down, leave alone hanging his boots. Today, after receiving the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the most enduring superstar of the Indian film-industry thanked the government, Information & Broadcasting ministry and the jury members of the National Film Awards for naming him the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient. He added, “God has been kind. There have been blessings of my parents, the support of the directors, producers, co-actors from the industry, but I am most indebted to the love and constant encouragement by the Indian audience. That’s the reason I am standing here. I accept this award with utmost humility and gratitude,” he added. My post is not about Amitabh Bachchan… It’s about you and me. You and I have come this long, many o...