Mithai ki bahaar,

Sankrant ka tyohaar aane ko taiyaar.

Thodi si masti, thoda sa pyaar,

Badhayi ho aapko SANKRANTI ka tyohaar !

HAPPY MAKAR SANKRANTI !!

HAPPY LODHI !!

HAPPY PONGAL !!

January the 14th ! A festive day. In the North and in Punjab and in the South. And greetings galore for the occasion. SANKRANTI !! Change ! Change for better times and days. For coming out of the past with fresh vigor and mind. For peace, for consideration, for giving, for healing, for holding hands, for communicating. And for wishing the goodness inside to spread.

I got caught up with issues and comments yesterday and overlooked the night before that and the early day after the night before. Er..umm.. confusing ? Not really.

The premiere of Chandni Chowk to China and then after, the train to Paris !

Akshay had called from Toronto and knowing I was in London invited me to attend the premiere. I had agreed. There is always so much apprehension prior to such occasions. Public occasions !! What to wear, what to say, how to go, where to go…

Can I not be quietly taken from the back door somehow and seated in the theatre without all the other fuss. In the dark preferably. No sir !! We shall arrange everything and come and get you and it shall be an honor to receive you at the red carpet. And you will have to come on stage sir, say a few words, bless us and be with us throughout.

Deciding on some of these factors can take most of the day at times. It did mine. By the afternoon Akshay called again. He has been traveling through Continents and now reaching a figure of 175 interviews on the trot. Come by 6:15 pm sir. I shall be going a little ahead and shall receive you. OK !!

Dressed and clothed and covered adequately for the cold. In the car at 5:45 pm and ready to move with efficient CJ and the security crew. Everyone looking sharp ! In the vicinity of heavy police patrolled Leiscester Square Empire within minutes. Surprisingly ! Mobile tones incoming to CJ who drives and Yousaff who guards. Teji here ! From the agency that is running the premiere ! Don’t leave till I tell you to. Akshay and Deepika still to leave the Hotel for venue !!

Oh ! Alright CJ ! Drive me around. London by night. By cold grey night. Not to busy. Lit up in varied forms. Great structures of architectural excellence, historical, cultural, administrative, political.

Mobile tones ! Teji again. Do not, repeat do NOT come as stipulated by 6:15. Better 6:30. Ok !!

More streets, more architecture , more lights !! More mobile tones !! Teji !! Make that 6:45pm . We are not ready yet !! Ok !!

CJ !! Stop ! I’ve seen enough architecture. Park in the alley behind theatre, I shall sit and ruminate and go in when called. Fine sir !! Something to drink ? No, thank you. Just keep your mobile on for Teji !!

Teji again !! What ? Battery run out ? Should we come in any way ? No, no, no wait !! I’m picking up colleagues mobile !

Two minutes later, mobile tone !! Leave ? Ya ! No, stop stop !! Another 5 mins ! Ok leave now ! NO DON’T !!

What the _ is going on ? Thats Yousaff at 6′5″. There are two Teji’s now ! Both a foot away from each other and both asking Yousaff when you coming and NOT to come. Yousaff’s head now getting red. Yousaff’s head now breaking out through moon roof of CJ’s Bentley. Yousaff angry ! Yousaff very angry. CJ and rear occupant very quiet !!

FINALLY !! COME ! COME ! COME !

OKAY ! COMING ! ALMOST THERE…

And slam ! Into the red carpet and cops and barricades and fans and screams and waves and smiles - Pooja Srivastava Bannerjee of DAY 264 Response 156 hope you are observing - and autographs and photographs and photographs and photographs and … BLINDNESS !! FLASH BLINDNESS !!

Now voices from oblivion almost ! Here, here.. look here you three, into the lens here, face this way sir, can you get closer, more, Deepika in the middle please, put your arm around her, more pleasant, smiles please… hey ! I’m not in the movie, they are…( FLASH !! FLASH !!) to the power of infinity !!

Electronic media bites, quotes, questions, more waving ( PSB !! you with me baby !!? ) more flashes, flashes… can’t see a thing. No, thats the way to the toilets sir, this way up the stairs to the lobby, thank you.

Hand shaking, still smiling, led into small mini seated theatre. Warner Bros., execs, production, distribution, marketing follow in. Pleasantries. Something to drink. Champagne ? No thank you do not drink ! Water ? No, when do we go into the theatre. In a moment sir, waiting on others to get in. Cast, crew, stage management. We are not on till 9 pm, still a while !!

9 PM !!!??

Jesus man !! I was told 6:15. No sir, relax take a seat. Akshay will be here soon. He’s finishing some interviews. Deepika is here. So kind of you to come today sir, means a lot. No its an honor to be here Akshay called I came. He’s from China, playing my Dad in the film, spent three months in Mumbai learning to speak Hindi, no dubbed voice. Warner Exec, pity Shantaram could not go ahead, we still have it and we shall make it. How’s Mira ? I don’t know if she will be doing it now, she’s making another movie. Johnny Depp is co producer, waiting on him to get set, he’s doing another just yet. Sholay is such a great movie. Funny thing. Every where you ask on Sholay they have all seen it minimum 8 times. I mean that is unbelievable for Hollywood. None of Hollywood can claim that. Not even Gone With the Wind and Casablanca !! You here for long. No, leaving for Paris in the morning for Salon du Cinema. Salon du Cinema ?? Warner Exec., now looking at me with renewed interest, admiration perhaps, and … what do you call it ? When you are not really interested in someone and then you hear something glorious about him and your expression changes. You know ? Like you move back a step to take another look ? That stuff ?? Ya !

Tuxedo gentleman in room - er.. mini theatre.. standing in for a bar. Mike protocol taught. And repeated, just so we did not get it first time. Lined up like school children, marched out and now at base of entrance to main event. Buzz of audience in anticipation. Move into the covered slope. Exec on stage.

Announcements, roars, pleasant words and compliments, into the seats finally - 9:15 PM !!

Would you care for some pop corn sir.. Lights dim.. show time .. CC2C.. ya, thats right, thats what we’ve come to see (C !! ) !!

Okaaayyy ! Train now !!

Early morning readiness and select packing. Smooth ride into St Pancras train station. No rush no bustle, almost no people. Polite and neat and clean environment. Quick check in, even quicker and polite passport immigration. Lovely receptionists to guide you into exquisitely designed waiting areas, better than waiting first class lounges at airports. And this is a Railway Station !! Ladies with large and affectionate smiles. Breakfast ? Papers ? Are you comfortable ? We’re from Mauritius, seen all your movies, great fans ! A photograph ? Yes of course !! African origin porter, who had till now looked and expressed at volume of luggage with that, why do I have to be doing this job, perks up. You.. you.. Amitab !! Oh.. my..good.. lord !! Wait I have to call my supervisor !! He even more exclamatory !! We are from Nigeria !! Oh, my God. So many movies of yours we have all seen. You responsible for my growing years. How much we learn from you. Man ! I am so honored ! Settle down sir, I will come and get you when its time to board train. Oh, my lord I cannot believe this !!

AB settling into well upholstered furniture in WI-FI lounge. We are still in Britain, but technically in France. French speech wafting through. The arrival of trains their departure, luggage control, platforms, EuroStar information through aesthetic audio systems. On with the lap top, open big adda, open comments, open PSB !! Samjh gaye na !!?? ( not using French or Spainish on reader advice - comprendes, compres..whatever ! )

Addressing lady of the PS and B by MacPro and… time to leave. Elegantly escorted by Nigeria, Mauritius and now en route by Morocco - all excited and in desire of photo-op. Done. In cabin. Seats around free and empty. Mauritius on board too seeking my needs and offering well mannered help. A slow push off by sleek 9006. Journey on !!

Dear me !! Its past 10:00 AM !! Interviews and meets start in half hour and I am.. yes.. still not out of night suit !!

Au revoir !!

Monsieur Amitabh Bachchan or Ameetaav Bacchaaan in keeping with the spirit of the moment. Merci !!