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Posted on: Jun 15, '08

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Today is Fathers Day and I dedicate this Short Story to my father Late Anant Marathe. The story is largely based upon his life as a child who had to begin working at a very tender age of eight. I don’t wish to reveal anything further, please read on…

Standing behind the pillar, looking at the boys playing Gilli-danda, he seemed engrossed. Body almost arch-like, taut with anticipation and anxiety written all over his face, his figure looked like a statue. As if until some moments ago, he was one of those figures carved on that pillar and just for a minute, had separated himself from the others, to see it all himself in real life.
He had the urge to join them but decided otherwise. For him it was all work and no play, making him the only earning member of a family of six at such a tender age. He knew the boys, why, one was from his class itself. As he was about to turn, one of the boys saw him and shouted,

"Look at that sissy! All he does is play Bhatukli with his sister." And began to laugh and make fun of him.

“And he plays husband to his sister, haha!” another boy quipped.

“Doing what? He cooks rice for his wife…”

“No, he cleans grains of rice, his mother works at my house na…helping son, haha!”

The mocking retorts faded in the background as the boy seemed not to listen to them. He bit his lip with anger and a tear escaped his eyes but he brushed it aside and slowly began to walk back home.

The sun, with all its rage, was shining brightly above him. Anant looked up and faced straight in to it. He was fascinated to discover that he could stare at the sun unflinchingly. But soon realized why. Each day, he was used to facing the arc lights at the studio. It made him feel better. Those boys out there couldn’t have managed to do that.

He vividly remembered the first day his maternal uncle took him to a film studio. A few days ago, one of their neighbours had casually mentioned that Chhaya studios, a leading film company was on the look out for a young boy who has good speech, looks and sing too. Apparently they were not happy with the ones who auditioned.

Those days, it was difficult to get people to work in films, as films were tabboo. So when the boy said yes to act in films, even his mother was surprised. She took him close and patted his back. He, like many others, didn’t know what films were all about. And he didn’t care either. All he wanted to do was earn some money, so his Mother didn’t have to slog at other people’s house.

The huge gates of the studio dwarfed the figure of the boy. Holding on to his uncle’s hand tightly, he walked through the gates and in to the world of make-believe for the first time in his life. The whole atmosphere amused him. Sets being built, people in funny looking costumes scurrying by, an Elephant walking slowly in the distance, it all seemed a little weird for an eight year old.

They entered the set of a house, where the shooting was in progress. Walking through the maze of electric wires and cables, they managed to reach the director.

Waiting for his attention, they looked around. A song was being enacted. Musicians seated on a trolley were playing the score and the Heroine was singing her lines. The boy was amazed to see this. His eyes twinkled with anxiety. The funniest part was that the same line was done over and over again! After some time the Director seemed happy with it and the shot was okayed, much to the relief of the boy and his uncle. Now they would be called to meet him.

“Picture mein kaam karega?” Taking one look at the boy, the Director said. The boy could understand only two words, picture and kaam. He nodded a yes. He was then taken to a man who would teach him to deliver dialogues. And another man, a Masterji, would teach him to sing.

Tags: father, story

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thepatriot2008 said:

Chandra I'm glad I know you

autograph pleeeeeeeeeez!

You have a great command over the language....like always a fantastic writing and much deserved tribute to a father from a son!!
God Bless!!

November 25, '08

oliveintl said:
wonderfull.... Actor's son on FROPPER... Hey then I need your autograph..... You are a powerfull person Yaar...

Very nicely described.... and those days actors were not payed as heftily as they are paid now...

June 20, '08

tenjade_destiny said:
chandra..i am just awe struck, the way u have written this, in such a literaly and refined way....beautiful words and use of such superior imagery..

"he was one of those figures ........real life." forces to imagine the things in real....in spite of being only an excerpt only from your life, i can see a completion in this post, the way u have captured an entire phase of ur dad's life so gracefully....it is really very stimulating piece of write up...loved reading it

June 19, '08

whirlwind2000 said:
Sorry for thelate comments !! but better late than never !! You need not always have to tell a great man's story for others to learn ! The struggle and the fight for survial which our previuos generation did we can learn only from the life stories of people like your father!! They did a lot of sacrifices to make our life easy !! It makes me feel so good that you had the courage to pay you tributes to him and share it with all of us !! Like father like son !!

June 19, '08

Latav2063 said:
Wonderful post. A fond tribute to your father.

June 18, '08

Sunshine_Is_Here said:
Hey, What better gift to ur dad than this write-up by u Chandra...Wouldn't he swell with pride up there...!! And the story, awesome stuff my dearest friend...would want to read the concluding part also ! I can see ur hold on words gets tighter and crispier with each n every post that u put up...am glad for ya.

June 17, '08

notjustart said:
Thanks Nova...I am not getting enough time to write the remaining part though!

June 17, '08

Novacaine said:
Hey this is so nice! You are a very good narrator, Shekhar. Keep it up

June 16, '08

notjustart said:
Yes, my Dad was an actor. He has acted in over 250 films. He passed away 3 years ago. Thanks for your comment brains...If you get to see SHAHID by Manoj Kumar, you will see him in the film as Rajguru. He won accolades from Late Lal Bahadur Shastri at a specila screening.

June 16, '08

BrainyBakra said:
So nice. Is your dad an actor??

Wonderful !!

Those begin too early, become masters in their trade.

Nice post, Chandra, Happy fathers day to you.

June 16, '08

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