Dear Vishal Dadlani, it's too late to quit!

Dear Vishal,

Like millions of your fans, I have been following and loving your work since 'Wo pehli baar,' 'Allah ke bande,' and of course, post 'Jhankaar Beats,' my love for your music was cemented forever. Needless to say, equal credit for the music also goes to your partner-in-crime, Shekhar Ravjiani, as well, but let me save that fanboy story for another day, and immediately get to the point.

Artists who have a vested interest in mainstream Hindi cinema have been forced to keep mum about their political opinion. Then there is another breed like me, who for the longest time either thought politics was either boring or too uncool to even care a damn. Despite the fact that I am an educated Indian, I still don't have a voter's ID, and I haven't cast a single vote yet - I am 36 years old.

I know it's a shame, but you, Vishal, shook me up when you first rose up, and voiced your support for  AAP. Suddenly you made me realise that it is okay to have an opinion, and it is even better if you stand up for what you think is right. There have been many leaders and legends who have been saying this for ages - the same words of wisdom coming from you, made it relevant for many like me.

Anybody who has been following your work and thoughts, on and off social media, will know that you are a bloody hardworking guy, who takes time out and stands for anything and anybody that / who stands for what's fair, reasonable, logical and right. You have been the person who has wit, sarcasm, and a sane (sometimes insane) of putting your thoughts across, irrespective of the outcome.

Your fearlessness has been an inspiration for many like me, who would have otherwise kept shut and go on with their lives. It is all thanks to you that today, I have got to a point where I voice my opinion (on and off social media) and faced the ire of trolls and bhakts, who surprisingly / shockingly existed in my friend list. If not for you and your unique ways to take down your trolls, I wouldn't know how to deal with them - I have learned so much from you.

When I read that you are biting the dust, and crawling back into the voiceless zone, I felt let down by my hero - seriously let down. You have been giving hope and voice to millions like me, and now MY CLIENT WANTS CELLO TAPE BACK. Fuck you, for leaving us all mid way. I really hope you rethink this decision and continue to be the awesome person that you have been. If you decide to go mute, I am sure I will never cast a vote ever in my life.

Just a reminder:

Random musings after watching Saket Chaudhary's Shaadi Ke Side Effects

Given the fact that I have still to complete the two scripts that I have been paid to write, I have no business to be writing this piece. In fact I have no business to be watching films at all. There is so much to write and very little time. But practicality has never been one of my virtues. So, if you have paid me to write your film and are seething in anger, reading this, kindly accept my unconditional apologies.

My bond with cinema has been very strong. Being a shy introvert guy with self-esteem issues, cinema has been my guiding force in life. When my friends in school had already enrolled for various coaching classes to become an engineer or an entrepreneur, I enrolled in cinema. Having watched RGV's Satya, I decided to become a gangster like Bhiku Mhatre. Owing to the lack of facial hair & a baritone voice, I settled at being a copywriter after watching Sujoy Ghosh's Jhankaar Beats.

A few years later, I watched Saket Chaudhary's Pyaar Ke Side Effects. After Jhankaar, PKSE was my refresher course of falling in and out of love. Between these two films, I was armed to deal with anything that love had to offer. Not to forget Anant Balani's Mumbai Matinee. Before you mean people start making jokes about me being a 30-year old virgin, let me just thank Mr. Pritish Nandy. I owe you a round, kind sir!

Given this back story, I was obviously looking forward to Shaadi Ke Side Effects for more reasons than one. To quote a famous mathematician (who is also my part-time rugby trainer), “Nothing is certain except for death, taxes & marriage.” I am yet to make any sense of what Mr. Dhanasekaran Kuzhandaisamy Sokkalingam meant when he said that, but I think it is profound. If Anupama Chopra, my erstwhile most favourite reviewer, could rate Gunday over Highway… you get the drift?

Coming back to Shaadi Ke Side Effects, I don't really want to ruin it for you by telling you the plot points, the storyline or any of that. Let me just tell you, if you have just been married, about to marry, divorced, are in love, or planning to fall in love, enrolled in the gym to lose your tummy, watched porn, got drunk & cried yourself to sleep on 14th Feb, or had a morbid dark childhood that involved you eating soggy Parle G biscuits dipped in strawberry-flavoured milk, you will connect with this film. Okay, I could be wrong about the Parle G bit, but the rest is correct.

Shaadi Ke Side Effects is a modern day take on life after tying the knot just like Pyaar Ke Side Effects was a modern day take on life before tying the knot. Many of my friends got married not very long ago and whatever few interactions I had with them, I could almost see playing out in SKSE. One of my best friends, Ashish Shrivastava, was recently blessed with a baby, and I could see him in the character played by Farhan Akhtar. The character played by Vidya Balan reminded me of another friend, Payal Shishodia. Now that I have defamed my dearest friends, let me order some beer… Hahaha

Now my own marriage isn't very far off either. Watching Shaadi Ke Side Effects has prepared me for the trauma and grief that awaits me. Before inviting the wrath of Rani (my better half-to-be-after-my-first-film-goes-on-floors), let me just say that I am sure my journey will be happier. I am not very sure about becoming a father at this moment, but I think I will be a good husband. How difficult is it anyway?

I am an ISO 9001:2008 certified dish washer and some people actually think I write good poetry. My sense of humour… hmmm let's not even go there. As they say in Portuguese, let leaping dogs lie. Also, I suck at remembering dates, but each date is a date, isn't it? Wait that didn't even make any sense. May be I could wax eloquent about my sword swallowing skills. No? Ok.

I am good at saying 'sorry'. With or without meaning it. And I have stopped lying entirely. May be I am lying about that, but what the heck. (That is SKSE in a nutshell)

I must say, what timing Mr. Saket Chaudhari - I fell in love during PKSE, now getting married post SKSE. You will go to hell if you ever make Divorce Ke Side Effects. Enough of this shit, bro. Make something else, na… A murder mystery perhaps. Throw in a divorce angle and BINGO your trilogy is complete! I think it is a damn good idea! Dear Saket, if you are wondering how to get in touch with me for any reason other than hurling abuses at me, please drop in a line in the comments section!

I think I should get back to writing my own scripts, now that I have got this monkey off my chest. To the rest in Ramgarh & thereabouts, I just have to say that give Shaadi Ke Side Effects a chance. Just like you took a chance with your girlfriend who is now your wife / your girlfriend who is somebody else's wife now. To quote the famous mathematician (who is also my part-time rugby trainer), Mr. D. K.  Sokkalingam, "Risk toh Spiderman ko bhi lena padta hai." (Loosely translated - conditions apply.)

I leave you with a song from Shaadi Ke Side Effects, which is basically a poetic way of saying sorry.



Thank you.

Love, Magik.

59th Filmfare Awards: A night to remember

Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho toh saari kaynat tumhe usse milaane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai’

- Om Prakash Makhija

I couldn't believe my ears when Rani told me that she will get me a pass to attend the 59th Filmfare Awards. She said it very casually, as if it didn't mean much. For me, it meant as if I am going to be at the shoot of Sholay. Or perhaps, being present while 'Aane wala pal' is being recorded. Rani has seen enough and more of such events to care much. For me it was a first. My heart was beating in my eyelid. I couldn't sleep a wink for a week or so. I had stopped eating. I was imagining what I would do there, what I would wear, will I make it past the security or not and so on…

Way back in 2009, when I was to attend the premier of Sankat City, my friend Kartik Krishnan had told me, "Nobody gives a f about what you wear, nobody gives a f about who you are." Though I was armed with that wisdom, I was worrying about I am going to wear that evening. On a normal day I don't give a f about what I am wearing because I know that nobody gives a f about me. Okay, Rani does chide me at times, for the torn jeans and crumpled tee that I step out wearing. Here I was looking at my princely collection of four white shirts and trying to decide upon one.

The choice was simple, the one that took the least effort to iron. Once that decision was made, I was worrying about my look. I told Rani, "I want to look like a badass gangster with a heart of gold." Don't ask me what that means. I am still trying to make sense of what I had said. For the first time in my life I requested Rani to apply makeup on my face. I was doing everything that I never do till I am too drunk.  Hair, makeup and all the razzmatazz taken care of. I remember telling Rani, I know all this is stupid and vain, but I am born for this shit. She nodded in agreement.

 So I step out of my home all set to blow air kisses and sign autographs & the sole of my shoe pulls a fast one on me. I never wear that shoe, but for a few rare occasions and on that fateful evening it decided to ditch me. To show me that I am an idiot. To put me back into place. To make me taste humble pie. I wanted to die. Then I decided it would be simpler to just change the damn shoe. It struck me that if I changed the shoe, I will have to change the damn trouser too. A fine gentleman and a great actor-singer, Ayushmann Khurrana was waiting for me, as I was supposed to tag along with him.

Time was running out and some quick decisions had to be made. The shoe, the trouser, the jacket and everything had to be re-coordinated. It took me 3 minutes to ruin everything that Rani had done to style me. In my new avatar I was now looking like a broke journalist-turned-drug peddler-turned-wannabe neta-turned-disaster gangster. You can see the pic if you need evidence. (I am the white shirt guy, the suit wala bloke is Sujoy Ghosh, who made Jhankaar Beats.) Post that disaster management, I hop into Ayushmann's car a little away from the venue. The first thing he tells me is, "Bro, I think it's a 'formals only' event." I felt like dying again, but I tell him, "dekhte hain yaar."

The moment we reach the venue and step out of the car, we hear mad cheering & hooting. It strikes me that the adulation and love was for Ayushmann & not me. I eat humble pie with both my hands again. What happened next just froze me. I was following Ayushmann & Rani into the venue & sweet mother of Rajinikath, I landed up being seated in the 4th row closest to the stage. Imagine a rookie like me, who still has no IMDB page or anything, lands there. I went numb. All kinds of stars, superstars and the ilk were all around me. My brain didn't explode and I quickly realised that one needs to have a brain for it to explode. Jaan bachi to laakhon paaye.

A little less than an hour into the ceremony I began to get bored. I was tired of clapping. I wanted to go out and breathe easy. I felt like it was cheating. A guy like me can't be rubbing his hands gleefully sitting in the same row as Anupam Kher, Shabana Azmi and so many more. So I walked out of the audi to a better place. You guessed it, the bar counter at the venue. I realised the only people watching the ceremony were either those who were waiting to win an award or those who wanted to clap for the person who they wanted to win for whatever reason. The rest of the junta was at the bar counter.

Had a great time sipping fokat ka expensive whiskey with interesting people from the industry. The chakhna wasn't that great, but mere baap ka kya gaya? Had wonderful conversations, behaved like a fanboy, swapped cigarettes with Swanand Kirkire, spilled whiskey on somebody's expensive D&G suit, soaked in the feeling of being at the sanctum sanctorum of YRF Studios and behaved as if I owned the place. Super fun & I only have Rani to thank from the bottom of my heart & the top of my Patiala peg. Hopefully me & Rani will attend the 60th Filmfare Awards because our film will be nominated too!

That's something I have been 'maanging' from the 'kaaynat'. Sunn raha hai na tu? 

Amen.

Thank you, 2013!

What a spectacular year 2013 has been. Not that I made my first 100cr film, but still, have never felt in such a happier space before. Not that I live inside a cake, but you get the drift, na? All my passwords contain the four letters - R, A, N & I. My days begin with a goofy smile & end with aching finger tips. I am writing films & beginning to get paid (albeit thoda) to do so too! Who knew… Hopefully you'll read about my films in gossip mags sometime next year. (Many duas needed) 

Have an answer to the dreaded question, "arey, tum shaadi kab kar rahey ho?." I used to avoid people who used to ask me such questions. I used to not take such people's calls. I used to feel depressed. Not any more. This question excites me, makes me smile & makes me write even more. As a drunk Aamir Khan said in Mangal Pandey - The Rising, "Ab life mein settle ho jaana maangta." 

I don't throw stones at cats anymore. One of my friends told me, "yaar tu badal gaya hai, have never seen you like this." I don't listen to sad songs anymore. I have stopped watching 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham' altogether. I do, sometimes, listen to the 'Bole chudiyaan' song & do a little gig to it when not sober. I still watch Baghban sometimes & cry like a sissy girl. Somethings don't change. But hey, I haven't renewed my membership of the 'Dukhi Dil Association'.

I am broke most of the time, but I smile proudly as if I have just stepped out of my Audi Q7. I dream of going to Baku (Azerbaijan) & owning The Maserati Quattroporte GTS. I know it is silly, but I know it will happen. Because Rani tells me so. She is such a wonderful person, wonder why she sauntered into my life so late. Better late than never. Can't thank her enough. She makes the best Maggi in the world. The bread-butter-jam that she makes should be made the national breakfast, lunch & dinner.

HAHAHA. Just kidding. She also knows how to boil eggs. I taught her. HAHAHA.

Before she kills me, she makes the BESTESTASTIESTAWESOMEST Peshawari Dal in the world. I can kill for that. I can kick a puppy for that. 

Oh wait, I have stopped doing such nasty things. Sorry, Shaktiman.

Have met some really wonderful people this year… People who I will always love, care for and borrow money from (irrespective of me needing the money or not). Found new confidence in the fact that I can write an entire feature film in less than ten days, I kid you not. I barely thought of myself as a writer; but Rani thinks I write really well. So I write for her. I write for her belief that I can write. Most of my life I only thought the only thing I could do best was - drunk dance to 'Sapne mein milti hai'.

I have stopped 'un-friending' and 'report-spamming' people who don't like the films I love. I have learned to look past them. I just pretend they don't exist. I hope they catch cold. I hope a waiter spits into their soup or something. I know it is not a very good thing to do, par kya bachche ki jaan logy kya? Ek saal mein itna ich milenga. Hope this changes next year.

My first film to hopefully (Again, many duas needed) release stars Sholay, Jhankaar Beats, Satya & Old Monk. That makes me feel very happy. I always wanted my first film to star SRK, but I can live without that. Wonder what kind of reviews my film will get. Hope you kind people in Ramgarh will feel proud and cheer and clap when you see my name on the big screen. Hope Taran Adarsh gives it 3.5 stars. Actually I don't care about Taran and his slimy usool and adarsh.

A 3 star review from Rajeev Masand & Anupama Chopra would make me proud though.

Wonder if you all will  'un-friend' and 'report-spam' me if you don't like my film. Will you give me another chance to prove myself? I don't know about all of you, but Rani will. She loves me, na. Poor girl. HAHAHA.

Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas & a very many Happy New Year! Pray for me, shower me with duas, love and please lend me money when I ask you. HAHAHA.  I am such a cheapskate, na. Hope 2014 changes that about me. I also want to be all rich & classy like all of you. Amen.