A friend of mine is a director of cinema. On May 5, 1995, he had a film releasing in Mumbai theatres and decided to have a bash to celebrate. Unable to have it at his place, we had the party at my home. Drawing up numerous guest lists, with a zillion changes, the names of even those unknown became familiar to me.As guests started to pour in, my friend started to introduce me to a very pretty girl, "This is Anupama and her brother". "Of course we know each other," the bearded brother interrupted, "we did a film course together." I grinned and intoned blythly, "Of course! How are you? What have you been upto?" The truth is, and he doesn't know this to date but now will, I didn't recall him in the least! Needless to say that I spent most of the evening not knowing his name. I went on to discover that we had been part of a working group of five and had made our diploma film together. An unforgettable film I might add, because we created a near riot by having a chap streak through the canteen of a Jesuitcollege in Mumbai. They almost shut the course down! And we never got to possess a copy of our own film, either. Yet it remains, I recalled the others, but not this chap Vikram. Perhaps it was the beard?Catching up on his life he went off to the US ages ago, studied further, worked as a computer programmer and had just written his first book, soon to be published. In the next few days we met up several times, and went on to become the closest of chums. We are chums in the most childlike connotation of the term. Vikram is a person with an enormous appetite for life and people. Anything goes. That's what I like about him, apart from his obvious brain. Take him to a sleazy bar or a high society do, he is comfortable at both. We land up doing the maddest things together and find fun in it all.The book was released later that summer. It went on to win him the Commonwealth prize. Vikram Chandra became known and celebrated as a writer with talent. I used to tease Vikram that his popularity with women hadeverything to do with his winning the prize. And that he should make the most of it before his `bhanda broke' with his second book. (Un)fortunately I had to eat humble pie. Love and Longing in Bombay received the Commonwealth Eurasian prize. He does it yet again. Could he get more convincing? Peeking into the third book he is writing, I find Vikram getting increasingly cinematic in his style. For example, his first novel had long, constructed sentences, even spanning three pages. His second, much shorter ones. In the third, his style is very visual and almost staccato in parts. The story moving really fast.Guess what this man's dream is?To write a great Hindi masala film, an unbashed admirer of popular cinema. Considers Govinda a terrific actor, has got into many an argument with people who are often astounded at his view. Considers Sholay one of the best films ever made. And in between books, he is writing that ultimate script!Such a long journeyThis story isabout a family I visited a few weeks ago. Their third born, a 11 year old, was sitting forlorn, in a corner. She was being punished. No one had spoken to her for four days. Later that night, the family was going out to dinner, she was not. Her crime? She did badly at her exams. I thought she must have failed. No, they said, she had come third instead of first. She had lost her rank! Familiar isn't it? Amazing how folk drive their kids to be brilliant, when they are no Einstien's themselves. What about people like Milind Gunaji or Sanjay Maroo? Milind Gunaji. Known profession: Actor. Unknown: Engineer, state-level sportsman, model, a trekker who has now brought out a book on his travels through the remote corners of Maharashtra. He discovered places that do not exist on the map! So, in his book he actually draws them with distances and travel details. Apparently, he was a nightmare for his parents because he never seemed to settle at anything.Sanjay Maroo comes from a traditional, Marwari family, wasmarried quite young, runs a business. Yet his joy (apart from his family) and success come from his other life. Music. As a drummer he has played with leading Rock and Jazz bands. Last week, his album of Hindi pop released in the market. Tu Hi Tu, features him doing just about everything, composer, singer, drums, keyboard, you name it!Beyond the paleAnd then there's Mr Chandra. Does a course in film, earns a living in computers, writes great books, and now teaches at George Washington University in DC. What do you make of it? How can one not but admire the sort of person who strives beyond the straight and narrow.
