Thursday, November 1, 2012

To Yash ji, with Love.


Since months now I did not get the opportunity to blog. With assignments lined up, creativity was messed up! But when I heard the news of Yash Chopra's sad demise, I could not help writing about him. A little tribute to the legend through my small piece of writing.



I was about to sit for my daily prayer when my friend rushed in. Her cell-phone, the tool for her twitter updates, was in her hand and she wore a shocked expression. “Yash Chopra just passed away”, she uttered. I stopped short, mirrored her expression, and stupidly asked, “How come, his movie was about to release next month?”
I’m not that stupid generally. It was utter shock that made me ask such a question. What I meant was, you were so fit and healthy, happily directing movies, and then you suddenly left this worldly life into an another extension. Yashji, ever since my memory has developed into a substantial form, I remember the definition of ‘romance’ through your movies. In 1995, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge released, I remember distinctly how the movie’s lovey-dovey craze rolled over the whole nation; what I don’t remember is how many times have I watched that film! The love, the emotion, the action quotient, and the family drama- the movie was a perfect amalgam of everything. And then came Dil to Pagal hai in 1997, the movie’s music was an instant hit with my mother, and it didn’t fail to attract a seven-year-old girl like me. I used to dance to the tune of ‘The Dance of Envy’ and sing ‘Dil to Pagal hai’ song 24*7. You gave music and romance a new definition, and that’s the definition I still acknowledge till date.
When you declared that you were retiring from the film industry on your 80th birthday this year, it gave me a jolt. The 54-year- long glorious career would finally come to an end. Who would make romantic movies now? I was even more anxious and equally thrilled to watch your next flick- Jab tak hai Jaan. It pains me to think that you would not be here to see the box office success of this movie (and I’m sure this movie is going to be a blockbuster hit since it’s in limelight now).

 I started falling in love with Shahrukh’s acting with your movie Darr, and I started believing in hard-core romance after watching Chandni and Silsila. The elegance of Sridevi in Chandni, the ‘Angry young man’ look of Mr Bachchan in Deewar, the sugar-sweet romance of Shahrukh in DDLJ, and the seriousness of Anil Kapoor in Lamhe- it all came out from the mind of one brilliant man, and that’s you, Yashji. Speaking of films, one can never forget your association with Switzerland- I cannot even count the number of films that have sported Switzerland’s background. Be it the crystal white snow or the long stretch of tulips, be it the country-side roads or the snowy mountains, your films have invariably captured the beauty of Switzerland.

The newspaper spoke of dengue followed by multiple organ failure as the cause of your death, since then, the thought of ‘dengue’ sends currents of goosebumps in me. Had the female mosquito Aedes never come into existence, the dengue virus would never have spread; or had there been a treatment to this deadly disease, you would be alive at this very moment. So many if’s and but’s… I wish one permutation or combination worked here! Perhaps then, at this moment you could be thinking of some new story idea or helping your son Aditya with a new project. Yashji, you gave Bollywood a different identity. Romance would never be portrayed in the manner your films did.
When people said the King of Romance passed away- they were indeed true. No one can ever surpass your directorial skills in terms of hard-hitting romantic dramas. It is not surprising that BAFTA awarded you its lifetime membership, which is an absolute honour since you were the first Indian to receive it. My salute.

Your fan,
Tabassum.

 
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