Amitabh Bachchan.
A phenomenon. A legend. A school.
And also... a human being.
Well folks, he is, after all, a human being. But how many of us realise that? Especially after his masterly performances in Baghban, Black and Sarkar, of late.
Can you imagine.. a man who is in this industry for the last more than 35 years ... has acted in more than 90 films ... has carried almost all those 90 films on his strong & broad shoulders ... still has the power to push 3 of his last 10-12 films into the top five of his career? Okay there might be many Doubting Thomases on my ratings .... but atleast you would accept Baghban, Black & Sarkar amongst his all time top 10 - performance wise? Figuring in the list would be Zanjeer, Deewar, Agneepath, Kabhie Kabhie, Abhimaan, Silsila and a few more.. to each his own. Thank you Mr Bachchan - for setting the standards in hindi film industry - real High.
Who can forget the versatility portrayed in various Immortal Super Entertainers like Namak Halal, Sholay, Hum, Amar Akbar Anthony, Lawaaris, Sharabi, Aks, Don, Kaalia, Khuddar, Mili, Shakti, Nastik, Anand, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam, Trishul, Kala Patthar, Chupke-Chupke (though it was more of a Dharmendra movie than an Amitabh movie but nevertheless, his innocent comedy was a highlight) Akhri Raasta, Mr Natwarlal, Mohabbatein, Coolie, Bunty aur Babli, Shahenshah, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Mard, Naseeb etc.... the list goes on ... there would be many that I have missed but then his achievements are so much! Thank you Mr Bachchan - for giving us such clean, diverse & wholesome entertainment for all these years.
Then there were lesser mortals like Aankhen (akshay kumar, sushmita sen, paresh rawal), Major Saab, Kaante, Waqt, Toofan, Jadogar, Ajooba, Ganga Jamuna Saraswati, Lal Badshah, Kohraam, Ek Rishta etc. Okay .. even this list isnt small but then this fades in comparison to the good ones (hits or otherwise). Moreover some of these were really bad films that even an Amitabh Bachchan could not save them. Thank you Mr Bachchan - for reminding us that you after all - are a human being and should not fight for an unworthy cause.
Apart from his movies there is this huge success story called Kaun Banega Crorepati! Few would doubt that with KBC - Amitabh redefined Indian television. KBC was no doubt India’s take on Who Wants to be a Millionaire but my question to every critic would be - why couldn’t anyone else do it ... and who else is worthy enough to sit on the Hotter-than-the-Hot-Seat? I cant believe ’’Who wants to be a Millionaire’’ can be too much better than our own KBC. And now there is KBC-Season2 coming in August!! Thank you Mr Bachchan - for redefining the Indian Television - and taking it to the level of international programming.
Plus .. the advertisements .. critics say that is for the money .. but then again.. why not anyone else? Why are the famous-&-infamous Khans, the Viveks, the Hritiks, the Johns, the Rampals not seen even half as much as Amitabh Bachchan on TV? If Mr Bachchan wants to make money out of ads, who doesn’t? Its just that they do not have as many takers!! Knowingly or unknowingly, he has pulled out the customer from his bedroom and sent him to the retailers to buy and in effect has helped mobilise a whole economy! How else could you expect Cadbury’s to revive its Sales figures so fast? Within 6 months of the Maharashtra fiasco Cadbury’s was back on top of the country’s chocolate sales figures - Amitabh Bachchan was their brand ambassador after all. Thank you Mr Bachchan - for making television more commercially viable for the programme producers, the advertisers and the broadcasters.
Add to all this the immense energy he exudes on stage - yes ... live Stage Shows like the recent IIFA Amsterdam. Did you notice him dancing in tune with his Son and Aishwarya? The words he speaks, the steps he dances ... you are forced to sit down and take notice... Mr Bachchan is on stage. Thank you Mr Bachchan - for telling us that age does not matter - its the spirit that counts.
Spare a thought .. just think about his contemporaries - Vinod Khanna (now MP), Rajesh Khanna (now ex-MP), Shatrughan Sinha (now MP), Vinod Mehra (no more), Rishi Kapoor (almost retired?), Dharmendra (almost retired or an occasional forgettable movie apart from production), Jitendra (basking in his daughter - Ekta’s glory) .... anyone else? Thank you Mr Bachchan - for telling us in person - where there is a will there is a way.
Imagine the boost his endorsement provided to the Pulse Polio Programme of the govt. I would not hesitate in stating on record that a very major chunk of the success of the program is his. Had it not been for him, the plan, like all other plans would have gone unnoticed and less than half as successful. Thank you Mr Bachchan - for helping making India a Polio-free country.
Its not just about his movies or fame or popularity or fame ... its about his overall personality, his aura, his image, his reputation - that of a legend, a friend, a respectable elder, an reliable man - the real Indian Idol. Thank you Mr Bachchan - for being there.
Ladies & Gentlemen - Mr Amitabh Bachchan.