There is a happy anticipation of this weather in all. The oppressive heat has taken its toll and the earth needs to cool down. The plants and trees need to smile again. Special foods need to be cooked again. And as it ends, the festival of Ganesh and thereafter Navratri and Dushehra, Diwali and the new year all follow rapidly, bringing happiness and cheer among us. Rain !! Such a savior. Songs written on it. Indian classical has ‘ragas’ composed on it. Some ‘ragas’ so strong in performance that if sung or played correctly can bring on the rain so they say. Much like a western classical opera’s high notes could break a wine glass with its pitch of sound.

So the water proofing shall be on test again. Shades and covers to protect homes from the onslaught are up, lined as they are with plastic sheets to keep the water away from sensitive areas. An sms joke starts doing the rounds as the rains start up - ‘time to put away all else and pull out the rubber dingy’s for travel’ - a sarcasm on the water logging that shall invariably take place when there is a heavy downpour.

Time to take those long drives on Marine Drive and Worli sea faces for the hot and freshly prepared, ‘bhutta’, or corn on the cob. And closer home the ‘pakodas’ with a hot drink, a curl up on a comfortable couch and either a book or the Tv by your side.

Abhishek came in from Istanbul late in the night, his film wrapped and over - GAME ! Produced by Farhan Akhtar and directed by Abhinav Deo. He now gets into promotional work for ‘Raavan’ along with Aishwarya as soon as she returns from Paris after attending Rolland Garros French Open Tennis. She is the brand ambassador for Longines the main sponsor at the game and has a mandatory appearance to make.

Nadal wiped out Soderling in a fantastic display of clay court tennis today in the final, regained his lost glory from last year and is now among the record setters at this venue. Five times winner as compared to four from some other greats. Many are perhaps unaware that I was for a time in the national coaching scheme in Delhi, just before joining University. Played and trained under some of the stalwarts of the game at the Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur Coaching Scheme at the National Stadium, until university class timings prevented me from going any further. Now, I enjoy the game on the television and on occasion have had the opportunity to attend some of the great venues - Wimbledon, Rolland Garros, US Open. Being at these historic places is an altogether different experience. You cannot compare it with any other.

For long, questions have been raised in public, private and in media on the excessive presence of film celebrities on social sites, internet, brand advertising, television and a host of other facilities, other than what their profession takes them through. There is concern among them that our value and worth is being diluted by involving ourselves in such acts and that the much protected and prized mystique has fast eroded.

Stars and actors were introduced to the audiences through film. The first impressions were unnatural. Large screens, darkened theaters, and acts being performed that were the epitome of fantasy. There was a mystery around these exalted bodies. But now, say the purists, that has disappeared. There is too much effort, to be seen and known in the public sphere by the celebrities through mediums like the net and mobile and Tv.

The argument is valid and pertinent too, but does not satisfy me. I argue that the entire market of connectivity and mediums has changed exponentially. Even if we tried to keep secluded, the presence of Tv and other facilities would make sure that we failed. The presence and the power of these information mediums is so strong and so ‘every where’ it would be impossible to keep them at bay. The question is not how you are presented, but how many times you are presented. The value of the visual, of the word, of the presence of the celebrity is such an integral part of the mediums commerce, that it would be impossible to put curbs on it. I think such a vast apparatus would, even without moving an eye lid, remove any traces of the so called mystique that most of us are being accused of losing.

Move with the times. Get followed. Get filmed. Get talked to. Get opinion from. Get your privacy invaded. Get spoken of, not spoken to. Get going !!

Even if you did not want it, you would get it. Its all about how you market yourself. It has become the bigger tool, if not the biggest. 10% talent 1000% marketing and you are through. In my most formative years in the Industry I shunned every advertising offer. For me my creativity, the little that I possessed, needed to be kept in pristine condition. But look at me now - advertising, film, tv, branding, mobile, internet, blog, moblog, twitter, Bachchan bol and soon the visual connect. It is no wonder then that opinion makers start screaming and screeching on an issue like this when it comes up. But it is unavoidable. Even if you did not want it, the sheer inescapable compulsion because of its presence through invention, would compel you to be a part of it. Willingly or unwillingly you will find yourself on that bill board - ready to market your product, or be the cause of propaganda through activist aggression.

Good night ! I am being stalked !

Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Zibbu, our very committed FmXt from Jaipur celebrates his 37th birthday today. We wish him all the best . Happiness success and good health. He compares this his 37th year with our 37 years of marriage and marks it as a happy coincidence.