congrats, Shaharyar saheb, you deserved it!

I am immensely happy to see the report today that Shaharyar has been selected for 2008 Gnanpith Award, the most prestigeous literary award given in India.

Only yesterday, I had quoted a couplet from Shaharyar's lyrics he had composed for film Gamman. The song has been sung in a dozen different ways by India's top musicians and each version evokes sublime feelings about life at large.

I feel obliged to present the whole poem in this blog.

Seeney mein jalan aankhon mein toofaan saa kyoon hai
Is shahar mein har shakhs pareshaan saa kyoon hai
Dil hai to dhadakney kaa bahaanaa koi dhoondhey
Patthar kee tarah behis o bejaan saa kyoon hai
Tanhaai kee ye kaun see manzil hai rafeeqon
Taa hadd e nazar aik bayabaan saa kyoon hai
Kyaa koi nai baat nazar aati hai hum mein
Aaina hamein deikh ke hairaan saa kyoon hai

Congratulations, Shaharyar saheb, you deserved the award!

why does aamir khan click?

Indian mainstream film industry passes through periods of highs and lows. Of the hundreds of films released every year, only a few are 'box office hits'. Various producers-directors have tried to unravel a formula for success and many have succeeded too by using their own or copied formulae. However, one producer-director-actor stands out in terms of all the three segments: making money, direction and acting. Film after film!

One of the biggest positives in Aamir Khan is that he does not copy. As Aamir has been reported to have said once, his formula is that he has no formula. Not only that, he has a craving to do something new, something differently.

Another big quality of Aamir is he does not hesitate to share his gains. Unlike others, he has not been utter greedy, whether as an actor or as the producer. This keeps the budget low and keeps the distributors happy.

As an actor, Aamir is a perfectionist. The way he puts himself into the role is amazing.

'Last but not the least' as they say, is Aamir's jest for life, his passion. He seems to enjoy making, directing and playing role in films for the hack of it, not for money - not at least when he is on the job. He must definitely be thinking money as a producer, but when he is not in the process. This enjoying the process even more than the end product is, I feel, drives him to do things differently.