The simple joys of life were the most enjoyable and the most enduring.

Now with each member setting about his or her work in different directions, in different locations, in and out of the country, that spirit has travelled too ; far and away. The simple joys of life now come with great apprehensions. What to do, where to go, who will be there, what will they say, what will we say … just an entire library of questions and more questions … I miss those days and long for them to reappear … will they ever ..?

I think communication access and the speed with which it keeps invading our existence is largely responsible for that missed Sunday. Conversation has been replaced by the TV. In company we tend to talk less and look for the silences to be filled in by programs on the television or the activity of the mobile. And soon when most of what we want will be accessible on this phone of ours, we shall distance ourselves even further. Is that what modern invention is deliberately wanting us to do ? Isolate us and keep us pinned to these gadgets. Keep us within the confines of our homes and cutting out the desire to travel move and discover, since all of it can be available to us in the palm of our hands !!

I begin to read the scripts now mounting up by my desk. I begin to see visually the various presentations so meticulously prepared by prospective makers. We never had these facilities before. There was trust and belief in the makers. There was a sense of awe in their decisions and concepts. There was no question of asking them what they were making. There was just a keen desire to be associated with those great minds. To allow them to carve out your creativity for you. I still live in those times and conditions. I see the enthusiasm of the young makers, their desire to succeed, to do something different. I see their respect and submission to seniority and their dreams and I do not have the heart to disappoint them. Declining their offers is a pain. And so many a times I concede. Concede to the affection and greeting that they bring along, and not the content. Many among you advise me to be more selective and careful in my choices. But how can one be selective without spoiling some enthused individuals dreams. Tough call. So I accept without a care for its consequences. At this age its God’s grace that I still get some work coming my way. To be selective there would drive them all away, would it not ??

A point of view .. thats all …

Whilst others make up their minds about me, I make up my time in catching films on the box. And sifting through channels I bump into ‘Suhaag’ and ‘Suryavansham’ and Robert Downing Jr’s ‘Sherlock Homes’ by Guy Ritchie. The trailors of some of the coming events look awesome too - Ridley Scotts ‘Robin Hood’ and the Iron Man series next. There was also a visit to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ after many months, in fact not since last year and Singapore had I visited this program. But no matter how long you may remain away from them and no matter when you join them again, its always so easy to get back to the story even though you may have missed many in between. Thats the strength of a master serial.

So … you may have imagined by now that there are many hours being spent in front of the idiot box. And so till the IPL starts its catching up almost on all that has been transpiring in the world of cinema and television.

And yes … for those that were sitting in anticipation of that filming in the USA … bad news. It may not happen there after all. Raj Kumar Santoshi has had a rethink on some aspects of the subject and now feels it should be based out of India. But do not despair, I am certain there will be others, and many others, that shall be wanting to shoot out of the country and then there can be scope for a compensation.

Meanwhile, the preparations for the recital at the Ballet Theatre at the Champs Elysee in June moves ahead. A selection has been made of the poems of my Father that shall be recited and its French translation takes shape. Within a week the creative director from Paris shall arrive and we will start discussing details. I am curious to know what the reaction of the French shall be to poetry of my Father. Poetry that shall not be in their language.

It seems there are several organizations now that wish to invite me over to other cities in India after the Pune episode. This bodes well. It rekindles my faith that poetry is not dead and that literature and art and culture still remain an intrinsic part of our body polity. This is exciting and I do look forward to these visits to limited destinations, with limited audiences for the furtherance of my Father’s works. I reckon they shall be filled with some very heavy and large doses of nostalgia.

Mumbai Indians just won ! And are now the first team to have reached the semi finals of the IPL3. The tension mounts and exciting cricket, promises to be occupying our minds even more than what they do now.

My mind though wishes that it could be occupied with the love and affection of my readers .. I have not a moments doubt that that is what all my extended family shall wish and comply with ..

love you dearest ones … and love you more ..

Amitabh Bachchan