The Three Little Masters of India

Sachin Tenulkar, AR Rahman and Amir Khan. Something about the three that sets them apart. a part from their short stature that is. Their striving for excellence, their single minded dedication to their craft, and their standing apart from the crowd. The only area where Amir differs from the other two is in display of modesty and not being dragged into controversies related to competitors. You try to talk to Tendulkar about Dhoni or Rahman about Nadeem Shravan or Himesh Reshamiya or whoever; they brush the questions aside withpolite, politically correct answers. That is partly because Rahman and Sachin are so sure of their place in history that doesn’t have to bother. Amir is obviously a little more insecure. With Amir slowly getting his due recognition that should change.

Since the achievements of Sachin and Rahman is easy to see, let me do a bit of explaining about those of Amir. He has been a bit of a late bloomer, starting to discover his rhythm from Sarfarosh and Ghulami and coming onto his own with Lagaan. What a journey it has been sincethen1

The modern Hindi film industry can be effectively divided to pre and post-Lagaan. Imagine what the film achieved. an Oscar nomination (and pretty close to a win) with a film that was not an art-house fare like Salaam Bombay, nor a humanistic dram alike Mother India, but a rollicking entertainer with song and dance! A period sports film that was 3and half hour long! And it worked and how! It led to more periodfilms like Bhagat Singh films and Jodhaa Akbar, and more sports films like Chak De India. It awoke the West to Bollywood. In the same year he came out with Dil Chatha Hai. A true cult film if there wasone. This was the precursor to all those hip youthful movies that the gen-x audience love. From Salam Namaste to Rock On. He makes MangalPandey with an art house director like Ketan Mehta and it gets arecord opening. Next he comes out with Rang De Basanti, allowing himself to be cast as one among three, with no explicit romance, no lip-sync songs, and it becomes a super-hit and the film for thepolitically conscious youth. Fanaa is not a particular good film, yet it gets a record opening and helps him reinforce his box office status, allowing him to make Taare Zameen Par. Again what a film. a film with a child hero, with dyslexia as the them! How many could even spell the word before the film? A film which features a painting competition as its climax, a film where Amir himself appears at the half time. Made under less than ten cores it nets more than 60crores. it's a film that is seen by thousands who never watched a Bollywood film. It is used as case study by NGOs and health care professionals. Oh, before I forget, it was his directional debut as well. Soon after he produces, Jane Tu ya Jaane Naa. With two virtual newcomers on a shoestring budget with a new director. The film bowls everyone with its charm, emerging as the most loved film of 2008. Grossing more than two and half times its sizable opening week figures. Towards the end of same year he comes out with Ghajini, a film with violent action, a film that most people predicted would keep the family audience away. No such luck. The film took a record opening till date 50 cr approx for a 7-day week. And a mind boggling total of 115 crores. A film that had a director and lead actress totally new to Bollywood, a theme that many considered risky. Yet Amir made t work. The people who dont see the mark of a perfectionist even in a commercial venture like this will never understand Rahman or Amir. For a sufi it does not matter if it is a Lattoo or an Arziyan, Papu Cant Dance or Kehno Ko Jashne Bahara both demand total devotion, and both can test your ability as an artist. Successes like Ghajini are no accident. Every arc of the script has been carefully structured. The choice of Asin as the heroine, the styling of Amir's appearance, his acting which is mostly silences ( when did you last see a Hindi film actor speak so little in a film?) , the use of songs like Kaise Mujhe Mil Gayi.. all these are careful choices. Choices only a master of his craft can make. And next he has lined up 3 Idiots, a film whee at 43, he plays a college student, and I will betby last wretched rupee he will pull it off. And his forthcoming productions like Dhobi Gaat and Delhi Belly will have the nation talking about them, discussing, debating. Because make no mistake,Amir' films have impact far beyond the box office ( Think Lagaan, think Dil Chahta Hai, Think RDB, and think TZP). and with Ghajini he has shown that he can play the box office game as well as anyone else. Actually he does not have to play the game, like Rahman he can swim against the stram, march to his own tune, make the films that he believes in, give them his best, and the box office will take care of itself.

Little Masters, keep going on. The journey of a pioneer is that of a loner. So don't worry about what others are saying or doing,. You just keep going on your chosen path. Follwers, admirers and co-tarvellers will come along.