Friday, April 20, 2012

Amitabh Bachchan ‘frustrated’ with frequent stomach pain

Amitabh Bachchan 'frustrated' with frequent stomach pain

Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan may have returned to work after his two abdominal surgeries, but pain isn't leaving the megastar. The veteran suffered stomach pain again during a dubbing session for Ram Gopal Varma's Department.

Big B, as Amitabh is fondly called by his fans, says the constant pain is frustrating. "Six am up to dub for Department, but stomach strain while doing that brings back shooting pain… So frustrating," the 69-year-old tweeted early morning on Friday.

Amitabh, who has been battling with health issues for long, was operated at Seven Hills Hospital in February. He was on bed rest at home for a while post his stint at the hospital. But was back to work for the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) in Chennai earlier this month.

He is currently dubbing for Department, which also has southern actor Rana Daggubati and Sanjay Dutt in pivotal roles. However, due to his excruciating stomach pain, he says he is unable to give his 100 percent to work.

"The dub of a film requires great effort to catch the right tone and graph of the scene, done some many months ago. In the dark and stark confines of a dubbing theatre, with just a microphone as your co-artist, it does become quite a task," he posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.

"But with an injured belly and one that has suffered many, it does take its toll. So somewhere in the middle of my effort at 7 am for Department, that sharp pain, which seems like someone slid a knife into you, returns," he added.

Department is set to release on 18th May.

IANS

You, Mr Bachchan, are really a champion'

Last evening, Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with yet another award. But that was not why Prasanna D Zore came back impressed.

Dear Mr Bachchan,

I want to thank you today, but not because you have played a stellar role in helping eradicate the scourge of polio from India.

It is true that the millions of parents who heeded your advice to give their infants do boond zindagi ki (two precious drops of the polio vaccine) cannot thank you enough. In recognition of your contribution, the Rotary Foundation honoured you as Polio Eradication Champion on April 19, which also happens to be the birthday of one of its founders, Paul Harris.

I am expressing my gratitude to you today for mentioning the unmentionable. Something that speaker after august speaker chose not to mention, even as they showered praise upon you for being the mascot of India's polio eradication drive.

One is not saying it was intentional.

It is quite possible they were so overwhelmed by the occasion, and by your presence, that they forgot to mention the stellar role played by thousands of unknown, unseen, unheard of individuals in the battle against polio. But then, they didn't fail to mention the generous monetary contributions made by some individuals to help fight polio.

Money does play a huge and beneficial role when it comes to fighting debilitating diseases; these donors must be commended for their generosity. But so must the army of people who take these vaccines to children in India's jungles, mountains and hostile environs.

Thank you so much, Mr Bachchan, for bringing it to the notice of the world, and to the elite gathering you addressed yesterday, that the feat of having just one polio case in the last 15 months wouldn't have been possible without the diligent effort put in by the hundreds and thousands of men and women who toil through the length and breadth of India to administer those two precious drops of life.

Thank you, Mr Bachchan, for sparing a thought for these unknown, unseen, unheard of souls.

Thank you for being the voice of the voiceless.

Thank you for giving due to those who are not as omnipresent as you are, but deserve to be equally commended.

This is how you praised their effort, all the while humbly underplaying your own contribution. Thank you so much for that.

I must say that I am least deserving of (this honour)... but I feel that it is not just one person's contribution. There have been many workers who have gone onsite to villages, to rural areas and have insisted that this campaign be followed through. So I want to applaud those workers that have gone out on the field... (Watch Amitabh Bachchan's speech ).

When Amitabh Bachchan speaks, the world listens. And records. And plays it again on again on the airwaves. The message reaches the target.

And that is why, I thank you, for not getting overwhelmed by those words of praise and sher-o-shayris (poetic eulogies) when you rose to accept the honour.

It takes a real hero to stand committed to a cause, play an important role and yet attribute it to a collective effort. Your words, when they reach these toiling health workers, will go a long way in fulfilling your wish of not seeing a polio case not just in 15 months but for ages to come.

You, Mr Bachchan, are really a champion.

Prasanna D Zore

I tweeted earlier of ‘the return of the pain

Jalsa , Mumbai               Apr  19/20 ,  2012                      Thu/Fri  12 : 26 AM

 


Dearest Ef … there is something that needs to be put on record ! Each time there has been query, or suggestions asked, there has been a rush of ideas and comments that come in. To me they seem like several hands that stretch out to help a drowning man. Thank you for all that you suggest and inform. I am certain that one or more of the several ideas that I have received shall work out in such positivity that the work that shall be required by me to undertake, shall become simpler and a great deal more efficient !!

 

I tweeted earlier of 'the return of the pain', which for some odd reason sounds magically close to a large and popular Hollywood extravaganza venturing out as a sequel – an act, that seems to have reached mammoth proportions, not just in the western film fraternity, but one that has been substantially prevalent here in our Indian world of cinema too.

The dub of a film requires great effort to catch the right tone and graph of the scene, done some many months ago. In the dark and stark confines of a dubbing theatre, with just a microphone as your co artist, it does become quite a task. Repetitions to get the exact form, may sound easy, but they are not. The strain as we speak comes on to the stomach, as we all know. But with an injured belly and one that has suffered many, it does take its toll. So somewhere in the middle of my effort at 7 am for 'Department', that sharp pain, which seems like someone slid a knife into you, returns. And then remains. I do believe that the process of repair in that sensitive area is taking place, but every time fresh nerves muscles and whatever else there is in the body, tries to adjust to the foreign body that has recently been invited to the party, it shows its anger and possessive character. The pain that emanates is not, the pain. It is an allegory for a human reaction that bleeds with jealousy !!

I do understand the concern that this causes among many, but I merely share with you to keep you informed. I need not. Perhaps I should not. But I do know that the Ef would look upon it compassionately. Yes, I shall take care and follow appropriate measures to not do anything that would aggravate the situation. But rest assured, this is a long haul and incidents like this shall keep occuring.

 

The Rotary International, UNICEF and several distinguished dignitaries set up today an evening to felicitate yours truly, as the Champion for the cause of polio. As the UNICEF ambassador for this, it was mandatory that I attend. So at a dignified and respectful function in the evening, among laudable speeches of praise, my work and contribution towards this malaise, was given recognition. The speeches were most humbling and the evening, one of great pride, for as I had mentioned sometime ago, India for the first time did not record any cases of polio in an entire year. The Rotary organisation had a celebration too – 144 years ago, three gentlemen sitting by a fireside in one of their homes decided on the concept of the Rotary, and today April 19th was the day it was instituted ! I was most obliged and honored to have made a small contribution towards the eradication of the dreaded polio virus in our country. But the task is not over. We need to continue to work to see that we maintain these levels of achievement. According to world health authorities, a nation can only be declared completely polio free if it does not register a single case for three consecutive years. I do sincerely hope we can achieve that. Some of our neighboring countries still report polio cases and the fear always remains of an infiltration of the virus beyond the borders. And this would need attention and work. Pakistan and Afghanistan are two such regions and we must all work to see that both these countries are made completely free of this dreaded virus !

 

I spent some time with my computer expert to learn a few tricks of the trade and discovered to my horror, that I was ignorance personified in the various facilities that a lap top provides. Inventions and inventors have developed to such a degree that today when we face a problem, we feel safe in the believed fact, that somebody somewhere must have already found a solution to it and that we must have access to it – preferably on the press of a button ! Perhaps we rest with the fact that about 200 qualified geniuses, must have taken care of the 7 billion that inhabit this planet. And hence better to leave it to their judgement than try to reinvent. I am not certain whether this is such a bright thought. Most large and successful corporate businesses that have ownership by individuals, have always subjected their progeny to work their way up from the grass root level, than to walk into the head chair of succession, and function. Yes the next generation is there to inherit what this generation shall leave behind. But some where I feel, a sense of adding your own worth to the worth of what came to you on a silver plate, needs to be executed.

 

Abhishek and Aishwarya celebrate their wedding anniversary tomorrow April 20th, and it seems like yesterday when we were in the midst of all the rituals and celebrations for it. Time has flown by, additions have taken place, who shall very soon grow up to face and receive the inheritance of the elders. I pray and hope that we give them the comfort of their need after we are gone. And I hope and pray that they shall bring pride and joy to the legacy of my Father !

 

Calmness, patience, and the strong will, to overcome all that may ever be of trouble to you ..

I remain as ever with affection and love …

Amitabh Bachchan

I have spent a great amount of time reading and assuaging the contents of the Blog

Jalsa , Mumbai                       Apr 18/19  ,  2012                       Wed/ Thu  12 : 50 AM

 

I have spent a great amount of time reading and assuaging the contents of the Blog and the other social mediums, not just for today but for the years gone by and have reached a conclusion ..

The respect and honor you give me is unparalleled. I need to constantly keep working on not just myself but on what I believe in and what, with due respect, others believe in too. There is such a huge contribution of sentiment and literate observation through this portal, that I fear sometime what else can be done with it. Done not in a sense of expanding it deliberately but, in wishing that somehow this platform could become the harbinger of deeds that most individuals, citizens lack. The lack of education for all among those communities that have no avenues of acquiring it. The lack of basic medical facilities, that plague almost all those that come from humble means and need attention. The lack of legal and accountancy knowledge, in order to make the common man more aware of his or her rights … and so much more …

 

I think of this often and I think of how a beginning can be made. Perhaps some of you can make suggestions. I did attempt this when I was legally elected to a forum on which democratic principles are mandatory to follow – the Parliament. And I did begin certain medical facilities with the help of my own personal funds. But it came at a time when there was political vulnerability. Not being conscious of this phenomena, I failed to envelop myself with the rhino skin that was the adequate requirement, and withdrew. I do now, from free will. Free will when criticized shall have no bearing on me. Those that bark, bark so because that is all they are capable of. And some of them frankly, make quite a good living out of it. You can still get to a destination by walking on the wrong side of the street, provided of course you are cautious not to get hit by on coming traffic. And better still, if you are able to convince those that legalize the event, that you were right and the other wrong. Which I might add, is sadly what most that do not follow principle , do.

The other side of the story, often takes time. And if within that time, the wrong doer can summon up enough courage to be convincingly distracting the truth, you are well on your way to eternal forgiveness and nirvana.

I do not wish or hope to achieve nirvana. It is an abstract hypothesis. But my conscience is unaffected by this exultation. If that remains in order, I shall accept it as one that came from within my own truth. I would shudder to give it a title. Titles are the weakest manifestations of those of intellect, that dwell on this false hope that they are of intellect and sage mind !

Words constructed in description of such, are a convenience of communication. They do not impress me. The deed does. But not when it carries the burden of illustrative rendition. Do not dear Lord, burden me with the weight of interpreted translation. Let it be !! Let it be !! Let it be !!

 

In thought and desire and in loving exasperation …

 

Amitabh Bachchan 

That is part of our life. The Blog itself has been aloof from this with some deliberation

 Jalsa , Mumbai                    Apr 17/18  ,  2012                     Tue/ Wed  12 : 27 PM

 

The 4th birthday today the 17th of April … and it seems like just the other day we reached out to each other, in love affection and togetherness. We have grown from humble numbers to now in millions, from obscure remarks to serious debate, from existing humor to the history of specific issues. We have also formed a rather composite and evaluated family. Like all families we have been sensitive to each other. At times complimentary, and at times resentful. There have been moments when warring Ef's have begun to realize that the platform is bigger than individual battles. Ther have been times when associations have been formed which have remained lasting and firm.

We have expressed joy on some occasions and disgust or disagreement on others. That is part of our life. The Blog itself has been aloof from this with some deliberation. It cannot pass judgement on another. When it started it never laid any rules or regulations. Those that followed came with just one desire …. to communicate. They did not come here to settle scores, or challenge ego, or prove some undesired need. Love was and still is its main core and shall ever remain so. Peace at all costs is the only password. Disgruntled elements, must express yes. That is healthy. But to hold it against someone, is not what would please me. There are many that understand this and remain. Many do not and have left. The intellect of this medium could well be substandard. But we never professed that it would maintain certain levels of wisdom, judgement and wit. This is not some compulsory curriculum from an Ivy league institution. Let it remain so in its  innocence and guilelessness. Wisdom and intellect are welcome guests. But without any bindings.

 

Some Ef lament the fact that the attention span on Blog has been usurped by the association of the Twitter. No it has not. Were it to be so, a simple calculation would put matters to rest. 114 words cannot be compared to an average of 500, every day here. The warmth of this 500 is never going to be replicated in the 114. It cannot. It does not have the time and space. Irrespective of the odd hours that it takes to consume these discourses here, do appreciate that the consolation is in never bringing a single day of gap in our association. Is that indicative of a lack of interest ?

 

We build. We exchange. We enhance.

Noting could give me more pleasure than this … eternally !

There is an admission now that bearing the pain does not have any other alternatives

Jalsa , Mumbai                Apr  16,  2012                    Mon  10 : 38 PM

 

There is an admission now that bearing the pain does not have any other alternatives. So one goes with what is prevalent and suggested. Which is why at times there is a keen desire to gather up the loins and stride out, with the resolve that ' pain yes, but what the hell'.

Many questioned the factor of 'sympathy', brought up in one of my blogs and twitter. A reference to one of my Father's famous poems. It questioned what he would do with your sympathy. There was no bitterness in what he expressed, but I feel almost a helpless compulsion to express that, which perhaps he had been hearing often. Far too many personal tragedies and its own manifestations resigned him to believe that this is what had been ordained for him. It is more rebellious than one seeking an answer. 'Pain yes, but what the hell'.

Yes I am poor and without means. Yes I have lost near and dear ones because attention to medicine was unavailable because of it. Yes I am deceived by friends, by well wishers, by envy and ego. So what does one expect me to do. Break down, dig my own grave and sink into it alive ? No ! he discovered that the will to stand up was defeating any kind of sympathy that could have come his way. His early publishers of his poems cheated him. In his dire need and circumstance, it came as a drastic blow. He never went back to them, but instead climbed up on his bicycle and rode down the streets of Allahabad telling each and every element he came across, that the publisher was a cheat. Every leaf, stone, tree, human everybody heard him repeating the same words – ' the publisher was a cheat' !. Within 3 months, the publishing house closed down ! 'Pain yes, but what the hell'.

You set about to serve the nation and the State which draws attention to its varied diversities, inheritance and archeological sites, never known, not just by those that stay beyond Indian shores, but by our vey own inhabitants. And politicians and spokespersons of political outfits find tasteless fodder to feed the millions, over its wrong. Six months later of silent perseverance in the direction stipulated, and the campaign has out beaten one that was conceived for the country, by those very individuals in power, and those that were critical and abusive relentlessly on my work. Not just that. It garners International recognition. Yes … ' pain but what the hell '.

A harmless remark, cut pasted by the electronic to cause trouble, activates a violent reaction from the protectors of the State. My house goes under attack, my film on release gets mobbed violently, publicity of my kin get torn and destroyed, black paint now disfiguring our portraits. I am asked to get out of my quarters and leave the confines of where I reside and go back to where I came from. I have not come from Timbuktu. I have not come from there. I have come from my own, and shall, despite a thousand attacks, remain in my own, my house my residence my region my country. ' Pain yes, but what the hell '.

An ill informed media accuses me singularly of bringing on the press ban during the Emergency in the country. They ban me. I ban them in return. But the years that they did not ever mention my name or acknowledge my presence, were the years of my highest grossers and biggest acclaim. They wrote against, they built the foulest stories, attempted the grossed of deeds to my nature and character. It only resulted in my coming out better and stronger. My ' Coolie ' accident occurred then and during that time. The will of the people and of the country compelled them to carry information about me. Many amongst them, felt it was not needed, but they did not want to hit a dying man. I thanked them for their sentiment, but to me it felt it was the perfect excuse to put me back in the barrels of ink they were wasting over me.

'Pain yes, but what the hell ' !!

 

The above, much like the tip of the iceberg, whose width and depth is unseen and unknown below the ocean, shall perhaps remain so in many of the more painful 'experiments with truth'.

' Pain yes, but what the hell '

But … must I seek the attention under bated breath and fallen face, in sympathy ? Must I beg for a reprieve, to narrate and dissolve all that transpired, and look for another forlorn face among the admirers or those that care to listen, into an abstract submission of a sentiment that shall never ever be able to relive or reenact what the other did or was subjected to ?

Sympathy ? For what ? What will I do with it ? The threshold of pain shall never match between another. How then could the attention towards it cause feeling ?

And so … Sympathy ! what will I do with it ?

Pain yes, but what the hell … infinitely better !

 

Amitabh Bachchan