#kasme vaade

  On location Film City ,  Mumbai               July 11 , 2012  for July 10, 2012             Wed 11 : 50 AM for Tuesday

  It pours with monsoon flush outside … inside at the helipad of Film City in secure artists van, they give me time for it to clear before I shall don the School master’s attire to be in the company of some of the popular and greats from the Southern Film Industry !

There is with me a feeling of incompleteness if I am unable to connect with the Ef, by the end of the day. Last night then, despite having lost the Post and despite having worked at retrieving it for most part of the early morning – I mean really early morning – and surprisingly finding the tech team awake and helpful at that unearthly hour, I have since experienced a vacuum, which I do hope I shall be able to fill, within the next few hours as I write out another Post.

Is it just me or all those that reach the 70’s, that fill themselves with nostalgia at the drop of a weathered hat ! These days wherever I go there is a tendency that grows within to start remembering the times of the days past. Strange ! Guess it comes with age. Better spell it out before its too late.

Here at the helipad of Film City, a region in the heart of Mumbai, one would or rather could never imagine the green and the forest and the tranquility that prevails within minutes of the ‘concrete jungle ‘ an oft used clichéd terminology for the metropolis. But this where we have been for now almost 30 years ; the location being inaugurated by me when there was just a single floor built.

At the helipad I remember we were the first unit to shoot – the climax of my film ‘Kasme Vaade’ – and people ridiculed or were most cynical of the potential of a spot such as this, debating who in their living senses would want to drive out to this remote area to shoot a film, and that the idea of a studio was the biggest mistake the Government of Maharashtra was making. But … all have been proved wrong. Today Film City is perhaps the only studio available and in existence of some worth in the city. Laboratories, film schools, outdoor facilities – one large piece of vacant land being named as ‘Kaalia’ maidan, for it was for the first time the jail set for my film ‘Kaalia’ was put up here – Tv programs, media company’s … you name it they are all here. Along with, some wild life that strolls in casually, scaring the living daylights out of all of us. We’re talking leopard and cheetah !! 

There is another break in the work … rain has taken over again and happily has given me opportunity to write in and express my regret and apology for last night.

The new platform has been received with accolades and its fair share of brickbats, which is customary. Hopefully with the tech team sitting with me each evening we shall gradually address all the issues and suggestions – some of which have already been incorporated – in order to make life as comfortable and exciting as possible … !

They call me for the shot now and I must leave .. we have many big stars from the South, with me today … and keeping them waiting would be rude.

I shall attempt to put in some more relevant pictures and if possible, another voice message .. !!

Love to you then …

Jalsa , Mumbai              July 10/11, 2012                  Tue/Wed  3 : 35 AM

At work at helipad Film City .. nostalgia ! I as the first to shoot here when the city was inaugurated by me .. climax of 'Kasme Vaade' ..

Love to all