First Option....

Sunita Mishra of New Delhi based magazine First Option ( http://www.firstoptionmag.com/) decided to call me the next best option in her life..... journalistic life that is....(unfortunatly!) Here is the link to the interview.....www.firstoptionmag.com/temp/26.zip

ps: I know, I have been writting too much about my life lately. Trust me, in my life - I am the best thing that is happening at this time. However I promise not to write anything more about myself for the rest of 2007 even if I end up signing Rahul Bose as the main lead for Tarkash.

Peace...

an un-deserved honor ....

A. Parvez is my senior and an excellent poet whom I met at the Premier Doosra Kinara couple of months ago. He had heard about me from common friends but we never met in person until that day. He came and hugged me as if he had known me for some time...

Since then we have met a few times. Recently at a gathering he SHOCKED me by reciting a poem in my honor. I was humbled, speechless and stunned in that order. All I could manged to say to him was that I will respond to this when I am normal.....

Here are a few of his couplets..

Baat Samjhenge Sabhi Dil ki Zaban Kehtaa Hoon
Is Bhari Bheed main Auron Se Juda Hai Shahid

Hansti Aankhon main Chingari bhi Dekhi Main ne
Bas Zara Tez Hawa aur Shola Numa Hai Shahid

Tere Maathe ki Ye Tehreer Padhi hia Main Ne
Laakh Jhutlao Magar Mera Khuda Hai Shahid

and my favorites ones...

Dua Hai Ke Tere Khwabon Pe Pehraa Na Rahe
Maslahat Wakt Ki Tu Odh Ke Sota Na Rahe...

Aye Khuda Dard De is Ko, to De Lazzat Bhi...
Sirf Jazbat ko Geeton Main Purutaa Na Rahe!

I don't think I have done anything at all to fire up a poet's imagination. I want to do good, but we ALL have those intentions and I ain't no special. However, I will say this either I am doing something RIGHT or I am a damn good actor....

God Willing, We will find out!

Allah Calling....my first film!

Allah Calling is my first film which was completed in December 2005. There was a technical issue that prevented me from releasing it. It is a single scene no-cut 3 minute short with a surprise ending.

I am very proud of it - may be more than Doosra Kinara in some ways. It explores the fundamental rights ie life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as guarenteed by the Constitution of the United States of America against terrorism and its aftermath ( all in three minutes!).

It has an old guy as the central character. Rafiqi arranged for the Japanese tourists but we could not find an old man. Last minute everyone looked at me( read an old man!!).....and I ended up playing that role.

My ruthless philosopher "Jadu" Shipman thought that we need to get it out as it is a great film with a powerful message. I might re-shoot it in February along with "a Jihad of my own". The only difference would be to replace me with a real old man who can act. ( There goes my one more chance of acting in a film!).

28 November

Main Paa na sakaa kabhi is Khalish se Chutkara
Woh Mujhe Jeet bhi Sakta tha, Jaane Kiyoon Haraa?
Kisi ki Aankh se Tapka tha, Ab ek Amanat hai
Meri Hatheli pe Rakah hua ye Angaraa...

(Javed Akhtar - Tarkash)

The nature of things to come...

It will not be too long before these services are availed by folks living in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and so on....

Taare Zameen Par...

Main Kabhi Batlata nahi
Par Andhere se Darta hoon main Maa
Yun to main Dikhlata nahi
Teri Parwaha Karta hoon main Maa
Tujhe sab hai Pata - hai na Maa...

Jab bhi kabhi Papa mujhe
jo zor se jhua jhulate hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Souchon Yehi tu aake Thaamegi Maa
Un se main ye kehta nahi
Par main saham jata hoon Maa
Chere Pe Aane Detaa Nahi
Dil hi Dil Ghabrata hoon Maa

Main Kabhi Batlata nahi
Par Andhere se Darta hoon main Maa
Yun to main Dikhlata nahi
Teri Parwaha Karta hoon main Maa

Tujhe sab hai Pata - hai na Maa...
Tujhe Sab hai Pata - hai na Maa..

PS: Advent of Democracy created another widow and another set of Orphans in Iraq yesterday. The father of these kids was a policeman and some criminals killed him along 8 others. This is a common scene in Iraq. However, what is uncommon is the sight of a woman praying right by her husband's corpse when her husband is about to be buried. Islam prohibits women to be near the dead body of anyone at this time. Appearntly, it was a small family and wife had to take up the responsiblity of giving a proper burial to her husband.

Please notice the absence of kafan ( burial shroud) on the dead body and presence of calmness in her demeanor indicating that she is a " Marad -Bacchi ( brave woman)" . If tommorow has to FEAR anything then it should fear this widow and those kids when they grow up.......

May God bless them with peace and guidance and these kids turn out to be Investment Bankers and Venture Capitalist.....

I will not be surprised if they don't....

Honge Kahin to Kargar!

Ye Dil hi tha jo Seh gaya
Woh Baat Aisi Keh Gaya
Kehne ko Phir kiya Reh Gya?
Ashkon ka Dariya Beh Gaya
Jab Keh Ke woh Dilbar Gaya
Tere Liye Main Mar Gaya
Rote Hain Us Ko Raat Bhar
Main Aur Meri Awaargi...

Ab Gham Uthayen kis liye?
Aansoo Bahayen kis liye?
Ye Dil Jalayen Kis Liye?
Yun Jaan Gwayen Kis Liye?
Pesha na ho Jis ka Sitam
Dhoondege koi Aisa Sanam
Honge Kahin to Kargar
Main aur Meri awaargi...


(Javed Akhtar - Tarkash)

(Photo courtsey:longlostphotography.com)

a man's life...

...unfortunately a bunch of us go thru life's motion believing that life is all about " Khao, Khujao and Batti Bujhao" ( eat - drink- and sleep)...

Pardon my french, but this is how apna Manohar describes it in his Bombaiyya language...

a Jihad of my own.....

Doosra Kinara, Festival bound...

Folks,
Doosra Kinara has been accepted by the Atlanta Indo-American Film Festival to be held from November 15 - 18 at Cinfeset of GSU, Emory University and Georgia Tech Theatre.

For more details:

http://www.iafs.us/AIAFF/Web/Forms/frmMovieScreenings07.aspx#5

Doosra Kinara will be shown at 7:00 pm on Friday November 16, 2007, followed by a Q & A session with the Director.

Be there...

ps: I personally would like to see someone give hard times to the director at the Q&A session. That jebroni has been getting it all easy for a long time now...

Picture...

Please ignore this....

I needed a URL of a good looking jebroni for something official. I asked Manohar for his photograph who refused and so did Mullah. I found this dude who ain't that bad looking either. Please ignore this post and bear with me...

Life...

A jebroni from Wall Street heard saying these lines after GOOG dropped $50...

Scarry thought...

Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati hai....

Raat Dhale Jab Tanhayee
Apne Ghar ko Jaati Hai
Jab Door Kahin Koi Shenayi
Wohi Prem Geet Dhoraati hai
Jab Neend Meri In aankhon se
Kosoon Door Chali Jati hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai..
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai..

Jab Suraj Ki Kiran mere Takiye se
Subah Jab Sar Apna Uthati hai
Aur Koi Ghadi Mere Kamre ki
Wakt Poore Saat Bajati Hai
Jab Chai Ki Piyali Chan Se Gir
Ek Lamhe Main Bikhar Jati Hai
Jab Car Ki Chabi Itne Sawere
Jaane Kahan Chali Jati Hai.?
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai...

Jab Dheere Dheere Chalti Hawa
Ek Lamhe ko Ruk Jaati Hai
Jab Bel Lata kisi Ped se Lipat kar
Jhuk Jaati Hai, Simat Jati Hai
Jab Bhanwara Ban Main Aata Hai
Aur phir Koi Kali Muskaati Hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai

Jab Jaate Suraj Ki kirnen
Kayi Rangon Main Badal Jati Hain
Jab Panchiyon Ki Lambi Kataren
Door Gagan Ud Jati Hain
Jab Din Ki Thakan Meri Ruhon main
Lamha Lamha Ghul Jati Hai
Jab Main Apne "Makan" Aata Hoon
Aur Duniya "Ghar" Ko Jaati Hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai


Aise Alam Main Uff Ye Tanhayee
Jab Roop Tera Liye Chali Aati Hai
Wohi hansi, Woh Ithlana, Woh Itrana
Bas Pehron Raat Jagaati Hai...
Main Us ko Bhi Khoob Chataa Hoon
Woh Bhi to Mujhe Bahut Chaati Hai..

Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai..
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai...

(C)Shahid Sayed, Nov. 4th, 2007@ 1900


(Pic Courtsey: nycaddict.com, myopera.com)

A few good men in America...

Poet and Philosopher Dr. Sir Mhod. Iqbal

I was invited by a literary organization to attend an evening of poetry and philosophy honoring Allama Iqbal in Atlanta recently. I showed up with Sandhya Bhagat hoping to hear some insights from the experts on Iqbal so that I could reduce my " Jahiliyat" to a minimum.

Well, the evening went well. The entire hall was full and had folks from all walks, all colors of life. One experts who flew in from Chicago came up the stage and began talking about Iqbal. About half way thru his speech, he deviated from the topic of the evening and began a tirade against some "other people" on the planet. I started getting restless.

Alvi Saab who were sitting beside Sandhya objected in a civilized manner but the speaker was in full flow and did not stop. And then Mushtaq and another jebroni broke all the protocols of the gatherings and gave their peace of mind to this speaker, finally running him off the stage.

The next item on the agenda was a humours " Political mushaira" which reduced tensions and brought audience back into the game again...I was happy people stood up to the hate speech and gave a befitting reply.

Iqbal's poetry is universal in nature and speaks for the downtrodden of the society irrespective of caste and religious affiliation. If one travels the world over, collects friends from all colors and races and nationalities one tends to think universal by default and Iqbal, who studied in England and Germany was no exception. ( Unless of course you eat, drink and sleep hatred).

Iqbal said:

Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas main bair rakhna
Hindi hain Hum Watan hai Hindustan Hamara!

I can not stand people who divide things, places and people among themselves. These are the people that have confined and copyrighted Ram to the Hindus, Jesus to the Christians, Moses to the Jews and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the Muslims only. They have even given identities to famous historical places along the same lines. This excludes a lot of us who do not believe in man made boundries of any kind whatsoever as this breeds ignorance and hampers establishing a heart to heart connection between 6 billion of us.

The bombs that are falling in Iraq today have hatred for "other people" written all over them. This has always been the case, but it's about time these stupidities are checked before they result in catastrophes like Holocaust, Hiroshima and Gujrat.....

BTW I went to the organizers after the show to confess that I was among those that misbehaved with the esteemed speaker and ran him off. I apologized for my actions and felt sorry for hurting the feelings of this senior gentleman.

But that night I slept so well....

The guy from Boston...

Mullah found another gem. Check this out.

I apologize for the "F" bombs this guy is going to drop, but if you ignore those and stay on the message - you are in for a f****g shock of your life!

I wonder if the Gates and Buffets of the World would thru in a few million dollars to these guys to come up with this kind of a video for all the countries represented by the UN.

Let some one present the facts to the masses about these so called leaders of the World and let the "informed population" decide who they want their representatives to be?. If they still chose these kinds of criminals, then they deserve to rot in a globally warmed, ubscrouplous, and corrupt to the LAST barrel of the oil world...

We owe it to our future generations folks.....

The Show did go on....

jo aankh hi sa na tapka to phir lahoo kiya hai?

The much anticipated Premiere is history now and its time to move on. However I do want to share a few moments that I found interesting.

I have had this feeling right from the very first take of Doosra Kinara, that while I am making it - someone is un-making it. I could not get a handle on who it was, but I saw things and programs messing up for no apparent reasons.

Well, whoever that was showed up with some conviction 10 days before the Premier threatening me with a law-suite and demanding that I remove a few scenes of a particular actor ...Else courts awaits me! If I were to take out those scenes that would be nothing substantial to show to the audiences. I did my home work and realized that I have not violated any one's rights and that court would agree with me. I chose not to inform anyone on the cast and crew about this development and went about my business as usual.

That person realizing that I am not taking the bait, approached actors and crew with more allegations asking them to join in a combine law-suite. The jebronis on my crew without informing me, hammered this fella left and right reminding him/her abut the stupidity of this outrageous idea.

I was deeply hurt and angry at the Premier thinking that this person is right here in this hall rubbing shoulders with my guests, smiling, congratulating me on a job well done, yet feeling sorry for not being able to stop the Premiere. I tried to look calm and happy but from time to time I would feel sad, the picture above is from one of those moments.

Absence of loyalty in people makes me nervous. My first reaction to such events is deep sorrow and lingering grief. Trust is the most important ingredient in any relationship - everything else is pure accident. You can teach some one things and affairs but you can never teach loyalty - either you have it in your blood or you don't....

Nita, who could sense my condition from a mile asked me to "act" as I have so many guests to take care. This is the only Premiere I am aware of where the Director was asked to "act"! After the Premier and dinner Rafiqi asked me to meet him at the "Package Store" at Scott Blvd. (Package Store = Daru ki dukaan). I thought "chalo director to ban gyaa hoon ab ye Rafiqi kiya daru chalu karwayega?". Thankfully he returned from the store with a pack of Marlboro lights 100s. Rafiqi knows that jab mera dil jalta hai to main cigarette jalata hoon......sometime we jalao it together!

Anyways, the best of the best moments was when someone whom I never met before, and who had excused citing prior commitment showed up. May God bless " ApnaManohar" that he took pictures of most of the guests, that I was able to spot someone who was hiding in the back rows.

As far as the show -stopper is concerned, I think he/she misjudged my love for story telling and the reasons behind telling a good story like Doosra Kinara. I am not in it for bread and butter or name - "us ke liye purkhon ki ...." as Thakur said in Sholay. The first story that I wrote was against dowry system in India. The motivation for it came from a dead woman at a Morgue in JJ Hospital in Bombay.

I was in class X. A relative was studying medicine at JJ Hospital. He was showing me the morgue and how the post- mortem were done and I saw this pretty woman waiting to be opened up to find the cause of death. Silly doctors did not know that the causes of her suicide were not inside her body but outside in society. I have vivid memories of her face and her beautiful eyes that were left open (appearntly after the suicide fearing a police case no one in her family dared to close her eyes!) - staring at the opened door as if waiting for someone to show up........she was my first character, she was my first story!

The last story that I would like to write or the last film that I make will be against some social issue of the day. At least this is what I hope....

This is how it is the film lane....

Premiere through the lens of a Camera...2

From top:
- Rafiqi looking for a good pose....
- Sandhya, Giri and Gandharv...
- My all time supporters Shweta and Shuchi...
- That was Rafiq's idea.....( FYI: the guy in the poster is Rafiqi himself. He was a regular at the gym and I thought let me put his body to some good use!!)
- Nita, smiling as always...
- Apurva, a perfect showman....

Thats all folks - See you at the next Premier....

Premiere through the lens of a Camera...

1: We had a good time and hope to attend the premier for Tarkash soon....(Huma.Z.)

2: You have done great job in the short film Dusra Kinara,Your voice is just awesome,I love it. I am really impressed with your work, I think TARKASH will be a great project to begin with.

May lord give you lots of success in your every project.

Regards

RAJ.

3: Great Job Shahid ! We all enjoyed it very much - Dan Pass and Family.

4: Great effort, best luck - Nilesh Sharma

5: It was good film, at one point I got so emotional... Gaurav B.

6: Congratulation! It is a wonderful film...N @ Emory University

7: Shahid Saheb, Great effort! Please keep me posted of your future projects - Jalal Z.

8: Great Job ! - Pramila C.

9: Great Achievement! Keep up the good work. - Atal M

10: It was a great time. Your effort touched many hearts. Your effort was genuine and so was the reply. You have developed a good team. BEST OF LUCK.

K. Kumar

11: It was an awesome effort given budget and other constraints. You have many talents - just improve on selection of actors, crew and you would go places!
(Jane - Mullah's Brunette date)

12: What film?.....I was too busy enjoying your silky voice to notice anything else. Show me again....! - ( :)...)