Saturday, May 19, 2018
Saturday, March 10, 2018
'Professor Shammi and Lady Asha' - The Documentary That Didn't Come True
Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh
Two of my favorite Indian cinema stars as a child came across my life in June of 2007 less than a year from my father's departure out of this world. His departure soaked me in depression from which I have not recovered till this very day. So every once in a while I get involved in fun and/or entertaining projects in an effort to alleviate my depression.
In that June, I read about Asha Parekh's receipt of an award in New York and the hotel at which she stayed. When I called the hotel, I was able to reach and talk with her. It was a wonderful surprise to know that someone I admired from childhood was still alive and active. I anxiously asked her about Shammi Kapoor and she gave me the good news that he was still alive and that she would give me his number if I called her when she returned to Mumbai. I was so appreciative when she gave me her number, so that I contact her and get Shammi's number from her.
In that June, I read about Asha Parekh's receipt of an award in New York and the hotel at which she stayed. When I called the hotel, I was able to reach and talk with her. It was a wonderful surprise to know that someone I admired from childhood was still alive and active. I anxiously asked her about Shammi Kapoor and she gave me the good news that he was still alive and that she would give me his number if I called her when she returned to Mumbai. I was so appreciative when she gave me her number, so that I contact her and get Shammi's number from her.
The rest of the story is too long, and so I will post its details in another post. But my later communications with both actors gave birth to an interesting and unique idea or project, which is to produce a documentary film on their life and career, and I even gave it a title, 'Professor Shammi and lady Asha'.
The above video is a shorter version of the video clip that was edited and posted on the INEAS channel on October 20, 2009. That original nine-minute video clip was produced and posted in celebration of Shammi's birthday (on October 21) and to promote the film project and welcome funding for it. But unfortunately, we heard from no one. The promotion part and some of my narration were removed, which made the above video shorter. When it was removed today from INEAS channel, it had 612,066 viewers. Also originally, there was no frozen images at the end of the video like you will see in the video posted here. Only two minutes of the final song, Aja Aja, which is one of my favorite old-time songs acted by the two actors, have been frozen. Please watch the song till the end, so you'll see the movements come back to life.
Even after freezing half of the song, it was instantly 'blocked worldwide' when I posted it on youtube! So instead, I posted the video here to keep a record of it. Watching it may alleviate your gloomy feelings.
Even after freezing half of the song, it was instantly 'blocked worldwide' when I posted it on youtube! So instead, I posted the video here to keep a record of it. Watching it may alleviate your gloomy feelings.
Below are the comments that were posted under the original video clip, not necessarily in order. The top two comments were replies by INEAS, the Institute that posted the video:
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