Connections with Strangers

Have you ever thought how really close we feel to people on the screen that we've been watching for a long time? You practically think of them as part of your family. I remember, about a year ago, during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa (which is amazing, you must visit), Reema Lagoo had come for a movie screening. Now, come on, we all know Reema Lagoo from her countless roles as a mother in the Barjatiya movies and her role as Kokiji in Shreeman Shreemati. That's what we all grew up on. So, I looked at her and felt an instant connection. As if she's someone I meet on a daily basis (Have I begun sounding weird already? Ah heck! I don't care). And strangely, I felt like she should reciprocate. Not a rational thought, obviously. Since she didn't know me from Adam! I mean, we'd never met. But, I had met her so many times. On the screen.

Which brings me to the point of this post. We see these people on celluloid and have these connections with them. And they feel like they are part of our daily lives. But they're not. They're just part of a make-believe world. Inside our minds. And we spend hours on them. Researching them. Their families. How they are related to each other. What they looked like when they were young. All that. And now's the time I'm going to bore you with a for example.

For example (hehe), do you know that Sharman Joshi (well, I've seen him on stage before he entered Bollywood, there I go again, see what I mean?) and Ketaki Dave are cousins. And there's two lesser known siblings they have called Manasi Joshi and Purbi Joshi (of Comedy Circus and crappy Himesh Reshammiya movie fame), who are also actors. And they have other branches and tributaries of that family that are not that famous, but they're all actors. Now, that's one family of actors. There's more. Many more. Lets speak of Dina Pathak, Supriya Pathak and Ratna Pathak. All stellar performers in their own right. So, Dina (god bless her soul) is the mother of Supriya (Hansa from Khichdi, did you know she once starred opposite Hugh Grant? details here.) and Ratna (Maya Sarabhai of Sarabhai v/s. Sarabhai). And Supriya is married to Pankaj Kapur (Karamchand Jasoos of the Doordarshan days and more recently known as the father of Shahid Kapur) and Ratna is married to Naseeruddin Shah (don't you just love the purity of performance of this actor?). I could go on and on.

I could go on and on like this about movies and actors from movies who make you feel like you know them. And you want to keep finding more and more about them. But never try to meet them in person. It'll be a bit of a disappointment (refer aforementioned encounter with Reema Lagoo). That is exactly why I wouldn't want to meet Ratna Pathak or Supriya Pathak in person (you know I'm dying to meet them at the same time)

In the end, I'll leave you with this video of Supriya that I've been ODing since the last few days. Can you believe its the same girl who plays Hansa in Khichdi? (And no, its not the Masoom song)

And thus, comes to end another pointless post.

Where is the joy?

Is it me? Or are people actually irritating. I mean, I'm not a misanthrope or anything (or am I?), but then beyond a point, I just can't seem to tolerate certain people. Well, its not the people per se. But the way they behave. I mean, come on, you're out of college now. Please behave like you are civilized. Is that too much to ask from a grown up adult? Or am I just a boring old man?

Just today we were having a conversation with a certain someone on whatsapp about how we both are starved for intelligent conversation. Meaningful dialogue. I have been crying about the same thing. And I was shocked to see that the certain someone was speaking the exact same language. Well, this rant has been going on since we were in Goa. At least there we had Mr. G, B&B and the rest of the troupe (O, I shouldn't forget good Doctor, who's adorable, but in his own little world, which is also adorable). Over here, there's nothing. Nobody. Zilch. Zero. Shunya. And the other night. We took AJ to Nerd Nite. There was a lot of potential to connect to intelligence there, right? But then we didn't even strike a single conversation with the so-called intelligentsia. Why? Diffidence? The fear of rejection? Or am I just too proud to approach someone. I mean, come, I am soooooooooo intelligent. Shouldn't it just flow from my visage and shouldn't people just gravitate to me? Wasn't that how it was supposed to play out? Oh sorry, I think that was a dream.

So, another meaningless rant today, born out of the frustration that we are going through. There aren't any outlets. There isn't any joy. I mean, I could've talked about the helicopter ride that we went for. Or the other nice stuff that we have been doing. Like attending weird American documentary event with free popcorn at Ushahidi / ilab or attending Nerd Nite at the Boulevard Cafe. But no, this post isn't for them. Its just a paean to the frustration that we so love to love.