Friday, July 27, 2012

A sip of aerated water, a warm piece of the biscuit

London , UK              July 26, 2012           Thu  8:45 PM GmT


A sip of aerated water, a warm piece of the biscuit that contains the hyper ingredient, a quiet room, disturbing hiccups jerking my system after each drop of the sip and a barrage of emoticons bouncing in unison in this the most sensitive portion of my body – the brain !

Among the millions that wait in anticipation for the start of the London Olympics 2012, I find myself in great eagerness and resolve. Eager to spend hours of restful time in front of replay and slow motion imagery of sporting achievements, with a resolve that nothing but nothing shall take me away from it ! I also find myself in invitation to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay in the city of London, to bear the honor of holding the symbol of what this event stands for.

Sebastian Coe, or more correctly Lord Sebastian Coe, that heads the Olympic Organizin committee sends me a formal letter and I readily agree. Sebastian Coe has been, quite the champion in his own right in the 800 meters track event and I have been a great admirer of his athleticism. I did have the opportunity to see him tilt the scales against his arch rival Steve Ovett in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 at the Collesium, and what a moment that was. So this great sports celebrity invites me, I come to London and have just returned from a most memorable experience of my lifetime – carrying the Torch and running with it for some distance. The torch has been meticulously designed in a metal that can take the pressure of a live flame, its grill like appearance that has 8000 circular designs on it, is the 8000 miles that the torch shall travel in Great Britain and … the 8000 bearers of the torch that shall run with it to its final destination inside the Stadium built for the occasion of the 2012 Olympics.
This has been a singular honor, a moment of great pride not just for me, but the entire nation and I am truly humbled. In many ways it has reflected the spirit of the Olympics, that of creating a platform where talent from across the world comes together in a spirit of togetherness and camaraderie, to share harmony and peace, leaving behind all those elements that divide us and tear us apart !

What began as an event to exhibit a superiority of physical strength, speed and greater height, gradually has converted itself into a more moralistic stance – that of friendship, honor, peace, fair play. This is now no longer just a four yearly exercise in events that measure physical capability, but one that has become a movement which symbolically portrays the more finer elements of society and their rightful existence.
When different communities come together in a spirit of sportsmanship, they bring with them not just their ability as athletes, but bring with them a desire to compete in an atmosphere filled with value. This is most appreciated. And this is what I have liked the most.

Thank you Olympic Organizing Committee for your generous invitation. Thank you Lord Sebastian Coe. And most of all thank you City of London for your warm and generous welcome this morning. A day that shall remain etched for life.
My thanks go out to members of the Ef that have turned out in support, giving moral courage to an otherwise butterflies in the stomach situation ! And of course my endless gratitude to all the millions that have seen and felt the pride that we all have for our Country. Your words of encouragement and the patriotic flavor that it emanated has and will be always special for me. Thank you !!

My love and admiration always …


Amitabh Bachchan

So the excitement of the surprise is over

London , UK         July 25,  2012         Wed  9 : 12 PM  GmT



So the excitement of the surprise is over – the very prestigious Olympic Organizing Committee, headed by its Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, that amazing athlete of Great Britain, who I saw winning that historic moment in the track event for the 1500 meters at the Los Angeles Olympic – sends an invitation to be a part of the Olympic Torch Relay tomorrow as the flame passes through London, on its final journey into the Stadium for the Opening Ceremony, London Olympics 2012 !!
This is an incredible honor, humbling and so full of pride and emotion. A moment that fills me with all that reflects the spirit of the Games – a certain respectability and dignity that it offers, to all people and communities of the world, to come and compete in their respective skills in an atmosphere free from discrimination. To acknowledge not just respective talent, but to also demonstrate, equality, and democratic secular belief. A belief, practiced despite its destruction all around us in a world overflowing with violence and assertive practices.

Uniformed in the dress code of the Olympics and briefed on protocol and procedure, I am asked to cover a distance of 300 meters at Southwark in the Borough of London starting around 10:50 AM – a moment to be hopefully remembered by the grandchildren.
The run may not be possible keeping my surgery in mind, but there shall be effort made to move as close to it.
Much of the Ef and others on the networking sites have already been informed by certain official announcements, and I am happy that they are as happy and excited as I am.

As I write my thoughts for the DAY, I play the television before me and watch with amazement a coverage of the relay of the torch through Great Britain. It is a most emotional site to see the quality of those chosen to be a part of this run. There are athletes, now aged and barely mobile that have brought great fame and achievement for the country in past Olympics. Little children that have contributed in some way to society and its environs. Older men and women, contributions from whom can never be replicated, and several more. A sight that brings a nationalistic upsurge of what their country means to them, and how greatly they admire contributions made by these special citizens. So impressive !!
The media through various channels that exist here in London, has been calling in and I shall be with them as soon as my portion of the event is over. This once there shall be no hesitation in sharing our information with them. Moments such as these should all be documented in its purity, for future generations to absorb and comment !

I have posted too, the promos that depict the temperament of the forthcoming KBC and do hope to have some comment on them. Rehearsals for the oncoming season shall have to begin as soon as I get back. The apprehension if all shall work out fine, keeps bothering the psyche. But really the greater the apprehension and uncertainty, the more valued, and in greater control we all feel. It is the fear of failure and rejection that keeps one going embarrassingly close to what many wish to achieve.
I shall concede this argument. Surely I am out of my depth here.

The promos for KBC are in Hindi and shall be of some problem to the non language speakers. But they are propagating the belief that knowledge and knowledge alone can provide for you the right you so richly deserve. A young man deprived of his correct position and a young lady that has excelled in her studies, but is discriminated against, are the topics for this campaign so far. There are more that have been shot and I shall endeavor to put them up to you as soon as they are ready !

I should try for a good nights rest if I am to hobble my way onwards in a jog for the run, which I believe may take me longer than what is expected and programmed.
May the moral support you give me remain with me with your blessings and love ..

Amitabh Bachchan
ps : a fine and talented director writer BR Ishara passed away this morning early. He was innovative and fresh in his direction, his stories and in his presentations. He directed and wrote ” Ek Nazar ” with Jaya and me - a simple story, narrated in style with some excellent music. Our prayers and condolences to Rehana Sultan his leading lady of many films, whom he married later …
till very recently he would send me a note on something he appreciated in my work !!

A moment to be remembered by the grandchildren": Big B blogs about carrying the Olympic Torch

A moment to be remembered by the grandchildren": Big B blogs about carrying the Olympic Torch
NDTVMovies.Com | Thursday, July 26, 2012 (New Delhi


Amitabh Bachchan, who wrote earlier about taking the sunshine with him to London, will be part of the final leg of Olympic Torch Relay. He writes on his blog:

"So the excitement of the surprise is over - the very prestigious Olympic Organizing Committee, headed by its Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, that amazing athlete of Great Britain, who I saw winning that historic moment in the track event for the 1500 meters at the Los Angeles Olympic - sends an invitation to be a part of the Olympic Torch Relay tomorrow as the flame passes through London, on its final journey into the Stadium for the Opening Ceremony, London Olympics 2012 !!

This is an incredible honor, humbling and so full of pride and emotion. A moment that fills me with all that reflects the spirit of the Games - a certain respectability and dignity that it offers, to all people and communities of the world, to come and compete in their respective skills in an atmosphere free from discrimination. To acknowledge not just respective talent, but to also demonstrate, equality, and democratic secular belief. A belief, practiced despite its destruction all around us in a world overflowing with violence and assertive practices.

Uniformed in the dress code of the Olympics and briefed on protocol and procedure, I am asked to cover a distance of 300 meters at Southwark in the Borough of London starting around 10:50 AM - a moment to be hopefully remembered by the grandchildren.

The run may not be possible keeping my surgery in mind, but there shall be effort made to move as close to it.

Much of the Ef and others on the networking sites have already been informed by certain official announcements, and I am happy that they are as happy and excited as I am.

As I write my thoughts for the DAY, I play the television before me and watch with amazement a coverage of the relay of the torch through Great Britain. It is a most emotional site to see the quality of those chosen to be a part of this run. There are athletes, now aged and barely mobile that have brought great fame and achievement for the country in past Olympics. Little children that have contributed in some way to society and its environs. Older men and women, contributions from whom can never be replicated, and several more. A sight that brings a nationalistic upsurge of what their country means to them, and how greatly they admire contributions made by these special citizens. So impressive !! The media through various channels that exist here in London, has been calling in and I shall be with them as soon as my portion of the event is over. This once there shall be no hesitation in sharing our information with them. Moments such as these should all be documented in its purity, for future generations to absorb and comment !

I have posted too, the promos that depict the temperament of the forthcoming KBC and do hope to have some comment on them. Rehearsals for the oncoming season shall have to begin as soon as I get back. The apprehension if all shall work out fine, keeps bothering the psyche. But really the greater the apprehension and uncertainty, the more valued, and in greater control we all feel. It is the fear of failure and rejection that keeps one going embarrassingly close to what many wish to achieve. I shall concede this argument. Surely I am out of my depth here.

The promos for KBC are in Hindi and shall be of some problem to the non language speakers. But they are propagating the belief that knowledge and knowledge alone can provide for you the right you so richly deserve. A young man deprived of his correct position and a young lady that has excelled in her studies, but is discriminated against, are the topics for this campaign so far. There are more that have been shot and I shall endeavor to put them up to you as soon as they are ready !

I should try for a good nights rest if I am to hobble my way onwards in a jog for the run, which I believe may take me longer than what is expected and programmed. May the moral support you give me remain with me with your blessings and love .."