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iView Author:
Arun Prakash (New Delhi, India)

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Mr W.Kumar travels to Bollywood,the year 2028, Part 3

‘ Kahani abhi baki thi’

‘Kahani abhi baki thi’

This is the next part of the article - Mr Writer Kumar,an aspiring Bollywood writer finds out that he has travelled in time to the year 2028.

Writer Kumar and Shanti Devi walk out of multiplex 54,having checked out the latest releases on an AUDI-HOP tour ticket and are now on their way to view a film shoot
featuring Shahrukh Khan.
As they step onto the escalator to go across to Marriot Hotel ,Kumar is overcome by a sudden feeling of despair.
He halts on the overbridge and tells himself ‘ what the hell is going on? What am I doing here….in Mumbai….in 2028?

A few hours ago he was travelling on the Rajdhani express from Delhi,eager to arrive in Mumbai and attempt to establish himself as a writer of Bollywood movies.He recalls
meeting the very friendly and exuberant Suresh Kapadia,the T.T examiner on the train with whom he conversed for a few hours.

“Hey dude…Kumar” Shanti Devi walks over to where Kumar is standing .
“What are you thinking about?” she asks.
Shanti Sighs and continues”Lovely evening is’nt it….its going to be a wonderful night too…..come on,lets get over with this film shoot and go to my apartment”
She pulls Kumar and they hurry down the escalator.
“Shanti…” pants Kumar as he tries to keep pace with her”whats this movie that Shahrukh is shooting for?”
“Its a Bollywood-Hollywood coproduction,big big budget movie,lots of CG effects…..”
“Wow,you’d expect all that in a movie associated with SRK….Whats the title of…”
“CHAK DE AMRIKA”
“Chak de America…..did I hear that right”
“No,its Chak de Amrika….thats the way its spelt on the promos too,here and across the globe.Kumar……don’t tell me that you are’nt aware about the influence of Indian
movies and languages on the rest of the world?”
“Of course” replies Kumar indignantly”I am aware…of all this….tell me Shanti …is this movie inspired by Chak De India….that was a great hit last yea…years ago”
“Oh,Kumar, thats a classic”Shanti replies.”I first saw it as a three year old”
“Yes,I imagine you were three years old when it was first released….I was…older”.

Kumar keeps quiet for a minute,then asks Shanti Devi
“So,Shanti, whats with the Americans….have they gone down in the world rankings in Basketball or Baseball…or..let me guess…they’ve taken up to playing cricket…and Shahrukh is their coach…”
“No,silly…its not a sports movie.I told you,na,that SRK plays a young army captain…he’s the guy who inspires the Americans in the war against terrorism”
“War against terrorism….you mean…its still on?”
“Dude…Kumar..stop saying ’still on’all the time….don’t you get the news?”
A man standing behind them steps forward” Excuse me,if you have a problem accessing news channels you could consider subscribing to our News All Day multimedia channel.We’ll offer you a free three month trial period too……your name and mail ID please”
Kumar gapes at the man.He looks at Shanti and says “Can’t we speak in a public place without being pitched for a product?”
Shanti giggles and says ” everyone is selling something nowadays….remember I tried to sell you the SRK channel…when I met you on the beach!”

Shanti Devi and Writer Kumar walk into one of the banquet halls where the shoot is taking place.As Kumar surveys the hall he notices an object flying across the hall towards him.He ducks,but by then the object had changed its
flight path.
“Sir that was a Remote camera…R-CAM…we call them” says a man standing next to Kumar.
The man introduces himself “I am a crew member sir.Do you want to be showed around the sets?”
Kumar quickly nods his head” Yes…yes…show me….I’d like to get acquainted with the latest in film making technology”
The man smiles politely and says “Sir,you just encountered the R cam.Its used for overhead or aerial shots.lots of
other applications too”
Kumar notices a panel of tiny coloured lights.
“What are these?…..And where are those big lights normally seen on sets?”
“Those sir are LED Lights.The light they emit looks ordinary but they illuminate our shots very well.They have replaced those big lights you mentioned and are energy efficient too.”
The crew member continues “Sir,you see those camera’s.They are all digital camera’s. We don’t use film any more….We also use 3-D cameras for certain shots……
Look at that green screen at at the end of the hall…… You will shortly see Shahrukh sir standing in front of it for a few moments.We’re shooting a few closeups today”
They walk around the set.
Kumar asks”How much of a part do computers play in film making nowadays..”
“Almost entirely,sir…..Before I tell you more you’ll have to pay me five thousand rupees for this guided tour of the movie sets….”
“Guided tour..?”
“Sir,you asked to be shown around,didnt you?”
“Yes..but..”
“If you want we can adjust this amount in the fees….”
“Amount…fees ? ”
“You can enroll for our 8 day film making course.On completion you could apply for the job of an AD in our production house”

Shanti Devi appears”Dude….Kumar….where have you been? I’ve been searching for you. Lets go to meet Shahrukh”

They walk towards the green screen.Shahrukh is not be seen.
Kumar peers behind the green screen.Shahrukh is seated on a stool there.
Kumar stares.
He continues staring for almost a minute.
Shanti hisses”Stop staring dude…”
“Shanti, he looks exactly as he was twenty years ago. Infact,he looks younger!
How does he manage it?”
“Anti-ageing therapy….its very expensive….besides that….he has a very strict fitness regime….and on screen the special effects take care of his youthful looks…..stock shots of his old movies are also used….the viewer would’nt know, ofcourse”
“Shanti, I must join that film making course…..got to catch up with the latest..”
“Yes,you’ve been sleeping for years”

Shahrukh is engaged in conversation with a man seated next to him.
“Hey” shouts Kumar”I know this guy….He used to be a prolific blogger on PFC..”
“PFC again, Kumar? Why are so obsessed with PFC?
Anyway, he’s the director of Chak de Amrika”
The Director ( NAME : withheld ) gets up and walks over to the set.

Shanti Devi and Writer Kumar walk over to Shahrukh Khan.
“Hello Uncle” Shanti greets Shahrukh.
He turns towards a middle aged man sitting besides him,winks and says
“Hey,she called you uncle”
Everyone standing around laughs.Shahrukh stands up and hugs Shanti Devi
“Hi,Shanti Baby,how are you? Hows your channel doing? you guys don’t leave me alone for a minute even..”
He notices Kumar.
“Who’s this smart young man,Shanti?”
“He’s a friend of mine….he’s a writer too…calls himself Writer Kumar”
Shahrukh lifts an eyebrow.
“Writer…hmmm….don’t come across many nowadays.Why don’t you consider being an actor…its easier, young man”
Shahrukh offers Kumar his hand.
He peers at Kumars shoes.Everyone around
also stare. Kumar looks downwards hesitatingly.
“These sneakers you’re wearing…they’re vintage stuff,man….where did you get them from?”
Kumar thinks for a while and answers “They belong to my dad.I found this pair lying packed and apparently forgotten ….he bought them in 2007,I think”
“Yes,I had a pair like these once…..they don’t make stuff like this anymore”

Shanti steps forward “Shahrukh Uncle,would you like to hear one of Kumars script”
Shahrukh looks at Shanti,smiles and says “Well,I can’t turn down your request”
He then addresses Kumar “Young man, can you narrate it within three minutes?
You could speed mail me the details later….O.K…start now”
“YES SIR” exults Kumar.
He tells himself ‘ this is amazing! the first script that I am asked to narrate is to Shahrukh Khan’
He starts speaking,his voice wavers.
Shanti grasps his hand,her eyes on Shahrukhs face.
As Kumar narrates his script Shanti watches Shahrukhs expression undergo a series of changes.From a benign smile to a look of mild surprise,then irritation,and finally settling into a deep frown.
She lets go of Kumars hand and steps back.

“Stop…stop….Kumar” exclaims Shahrukh
He turns to the person sitting next to him and says in a low voice,
“Have’nt we made this story on screen before…”
“Yes sir,we have.Almost fifteen years ago”
“I remember….my first movie with your production house….KHEL KISMET KA……was the title,was’nt it?”
Shahrukh turns back to look at Kumar.
“Have you seen K3 ”
“You mean…K3G…I ha…”
“Not K3G…I meant K3…Khel Kismet Ka…”
Kumar shakes his head slowly.
“Young man….you just narrated the script of K3 to me…..Writer Kumar…..If you want to suceed in Bollywood today you’ll have to come up with an original script..”
Kumar is perplexed.He keeps standing,head down.
“Shahrukh sir….this was an original…..”
He stops,his voice is choked .There are tears in his eyes.
Shahrukh Khan stands up,walks up to Kumar and hugs him.He smiles and tells Kumar
” Young man,don’t let this bother you.If you are a good writer…as you claim you are…you’ll definately come up with an original script one day….make sure to show it to me first….I understand your….passion for cinema…..stick to it…..it’ll keep you going…”

Kumar turns around slowly and starts to walk towards the doors leading out of the hall.
At the door he bumps into a short elderly man.
“Sorry” says Kumar.
The man smiles,whispers an apology too and hurries inside.
Kumar keeps standing,a puzzled look on his face.
He shrugs his shoulders and trudges towards the lobby.He spots Shanti Devi
sitting on a sofa.He walks up to her.
“Kumar….dude…how could you do this?How could you pass off a script of one of the biggest hits of all times,as yours?”
“Shanti….I wrote this a long time ago….and since then I’ve been out of touch with cinema.Someone must have thought of a similar script….purely coincidental”
“Likely…Kumar…anyway…dude we’ll have to postpone going over to my apartment by a few hours….I’ve just recieved an invite to a party happening later tonight organised by the
producer of Chak de Amrika…..the entire Industry is going to be there….all the stars, directors,writers and you might even bump into some of your PFC pals”
Kumars face lights up.
“Sounds great,Shanti….I’d love to see the who’s who’s of the Industry in this year.
By the way I did’nt notice the producer on the sets… who is he…”

A man standing next to them replies “The man you bumped into on the way out”.
“That guy?” says Kumar”Hmm…he looked very familiar”
“Don’t tell me he was on PFC once…”Shanti laughs and says.
“No,I’ve seen him elsewhere….”
The bystander interrupts”He’s just a guy who got lucky…Khel Kismet Ka…..the title is apt for him”
“Interesting…Tell me more”
“This guy got hold of some writers scripts and became a producer…”
“No” butts in Shanti”Thats not exactly true”
The bystander sneers and says”So, whats the truth? You tell us”
“This guy met a writer on an Intercity train once….some twenty years ago.They talked,exchanged phone numbers.The writer boarded a local train and
then went missing”
Kumar is dumbstruck.He flops onto the adjacent sofa.
Shanti continues”The cops discovered the writers laptop and in one of the pockets of the laptop case they found a piece of paper with a mobile number scribbled….it belonged to a Railway T.T examiner.They handed over the laptop to him. This laptop contained a dozen odd scripts written by the
missing writer…the rest is history”
Kumar is breathing heavily.He wriggles to the edge of the sofa and asks Shanti”What happened to the writer?”
“He just went missing…anyway…this Railway T.T examiner became a producer….one by one most of the writers scripts were made into movies…all hits…including K3…”
Shanti continues”He has always acknowledged the contribution of this writer in the credits of his movies……..”
The bystander interrupts”Not any more….he now denies this story…he has become arrogant lately…”
Kumars voice is down to a whisper now.”Whats this producers name?”
He knows the answer,much before Shanti Devi and the bystander can reply in unison
“SURESH KAPADIA”

Writer Kumar turns his face away.He gets up and walks across to the far end of the hotel lobby.He stands in front of one of the large, darkened windows,staring at his subdued reflection.

Was this KHEL KISMAT KA ?

Kya kahani abhi baki hai………..

…….Does this story continue….?