Love In Bollywood

Team This post has been published by me as a team member of The Blue Ink Society for the SUPER 6 round of Bloggers Premier League (BPL) – The first ever unique, elite team blogging of blog world. To catch the BPL action and also be part of future editions and other contests, visit and register at Cafe GingerChai



                        
The clinking of glasses, rustling of newspapers and gossip interspersed with an outbreak of loud laughter. Manoj, popularly known as Munna Chaiwala had started another day with a clang of the ladle against the walls of the blackening vessel and brewing sweet Adrak Chai. This life would have been a mundane routine for most Chaiwalas but not for him. His Shankar Vilas Tea Stall stood right across the road from Yash Raj Studios. There was enough Filmy gossip in the air, to keep him grinning and his heart thumping with excitement. Like at many other occasions, once more the paparazzi stood near his counter. One of them lost between the glamorous lines on page 3 of the morning’s Mumbai Times.
Tarun was standing there admiring his article on pg. 3 with his name in the byline and scouring the rest for some news from Bollywood that he didn’t want to miss out on! They were all waiting outside Yash Raj Studios for an entry into the promotional event of ‘Badmaash Company’. Tarun sipped on the cutting chai from the quaint short glass and wondered whether he would be lucky enough that day to have a quick tête à tête with Shahid Kapoor. That would boost his career in another direction!

Folding his newspaper back Tarun looked up at the lanky and tawny Munna in his late 20s’ dressed in a simple white, sleeveless vest, worn over a checkered Lungi, wrapped tightly around his thin waist. The heat from the boiling cauldron on the stove had left beads of sweat on his temple and as he wiped it off with the back of his hand, Munna’s eyes met Tarun’s.

“What do you add to this tea, Munna? It’s addictive!” Tarun poked fun at the ever-grinning Munna to get a prompt retort back “LOVE!”
Munna was famous for his sense of humor and ready wit. Also his immense love for Bollywood went unhidden.

“You are truly affected by Bollywood aren’t you? This love you speak of. Have you experienced it for yourself Munna? These sets at the studio are so colorful, I’m sure you must have come across more than one love story sparking off here!”
Tarun needed to while away some time, so he tried to make conversation with Munna.

“Bas kya, saab!” replied Munna smugly.

There was hardly any hero from Bollywood whom he’d not served his Masala Chai. And neither did any hot gossip ever escape his ears. Munna knew their stories In & Out, True or False!

“I have even found my own love at that very studio!”
Munna seemed to be in an exceptionally peppy and talkative mood this morn’ and had come forth with an update on his own love life.

Breaking off to pour the Adrak Chai into a kettle, Munna instructed his attendant to carry it into the Studios along with a tray of empty glasses to serve it. Replacing the wet rag perched on his shoulder with a cleaner, dry cloth, Munna returned to Tarun’s end of the stall, humming, “Teri kaali ankhiyon se jind meri jaage,
Dhadkan se tej daudu, sapno se aagey…”

“ Aaah, you surely are in love, my man!” laughed Tarun. He was amused, imagining Munna in love with one of the glamorous Bollywood heroines.

“ That’s my favorite subject you are raising, so I warn you, if I start talking it’ll take some time to wrap this conversation off!” laughed Munna.

Tarun refused to let go off the subject. The journo’ within him was yearning to hear a love story from the horse’s mouth.


“Tell me more about your lady love now, my man! Who is she?”

And Munna began to narrate his tryst with love in Bollywood.

“That day instead of Bholu I went to serve tea on the sets of Om Shanti Om. Which fool lets go off a chance to see Shahrukh Khan in person? They were shooting for the famous Dhoom Taana Ta Dum Ta Na Na Na song. Deepika, tall and lissome walked onto the sets in an Indian Desi Apsara Avatar.”

“And you fell in love with her!” rebuked Tarun at the highly predictable story being narrated.


This comment was however lost on Munna. He had already travelled back in time to the elaborate sets with huge, larger than life Tablas, like in old movies. Smoke, flowers and Apsaras in colourful garments and beautiful jewellery danced about. Deepika as Shanti Priya was dancing and preening before the camera. The song in the background went Kaise? Nainon Se Nain Milaooon Sajna, Kaise? Mein Aise Na Ghabraoon Sajna?”


“Everything was so beautiful, dream-like and romantic!” said Munna, trying to describe the joy he had found in being at such a glamorous setting.

… And you were smitten, right?!” Tarun snapped at Munna in disappointment that it was yet another obsessed fan narrating his hopeless love story!

“Yes! Exactly behind Deepika, dancing amongst the extras in the background was an extremely beautiful girl with doe-like eyes. Our eyes met and my heart began to sing along with the song,
Mrignayanee Tu Na Jane, Prem Kitna Mere Maan Mein Hai.”

Munna had caught her kohl lined eyes taking a quick look at him, more than once. And his heart melted with glee! Then she’d get back to the dancing, with full concentration. She completed the dance routine so effortlessly, gracefully and flawlessly that Munna’s heart was rolling at her feet.

“I wished the director hadn’t called out “CUT!” I could go on watching her like that forever and ever but he did and the show ended! I wanted to go up to her and tell her that it was she whose beauty had it all.
Tere Rang Mein Hai Roop, Tere Roop Mein Hai Dhoop
Ye Dhoop Hai Anoop, Gori Yeee!”


“Wow, now you are talking! Munna you are indeed a true romantic at heart! So, did you go and express your feelings to your lady love?”

Munna enumerated how in the days that followed he had started visiting the sets of Om Shanti Om himself. He had also befriended the spot boy in hope of getting some information about that particular girl from the dance troupe but to no avail!

The next song would be shot in another couple of days but nobody had any idea whether the same troupe was hired. News was that there would be only gori mems in the next song sequence. Just when he was about to lose all hope, Munna spotted the same curly haired petite dancer again at the sets of Dard-E-Disco. The happiness in his heart knew no bounds!

He returned to the sets with rejuvenated interest and with bigger kettles of piping hot, sweet, kadak chai! Munna Chaiwala also declared that the tea was on the house, especially for all the background artists in appreciation of their hard work and talent. He hoped that this trick would make her sit up and take notice of him once again. It also meant more access to the green rooms where he had more chances of getting a closer glimpse of her.

However unfortunately she was dancing at the sets again by the time Munna had arrived with the tea. He had to wait and watch!
The Dard-E-Disco song was a miracle! It was as if Javed saab had not only written the lyrics for Shahrukh Khan but it also fit his story like pat!

Woh haseena woh neelam pari,
Kar gayee kaisi jadoogaree!
Neend in aankhon se cheen li hai,
Dil mein bechainiyan hai bhari ….

Munna had felt the love and longing for this beautiful girl tug at his heart with every word being crooned…
Dil mein mere hai Dard-E-disco, Dard-E-disco, Dard-E-disco...

“Like our pakka Bollwood hero I was ready to take on anything to get to her, to let her know that I was in love with her.
Lamha lamha aarmano ki pharmaish thi
Lamha lamha jurrat ki aazmaish thi..”


By now Tarun had been taken up by Munna’s love story and was dying to know the climax of all the buildup.

“So what happened finally? Did you meet with her? Did you tell her?” Tarun enquired anxiously.

For a flickering minute Munna gave a despondent look but in the very next moment that grin came back. With a note of positive hope in his voice Munna replied,


“ Itni shiddat se maine unhe paane ki koshish ki hai
ki har zarre ne mujhe unse milane ki koshish ki hai!
Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho toh poori kaynath tumhein usse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.
Kehte hain ki filmon ki tarah hamari zindagi mein bhi end tak sab theek hee ho jaata hai.
Happy is endings
Aur agar theek naa ho toh woh THE END nahi.
Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!"





The Image in This Post is a Teamwork by THE BLUE INK SOCIETY

Comments

Phoenixritu said…
My favorite dialogue coupled with such a filmy love story. Me likes :D
T F Carthick said…
Nice simple story. After serving us Chinese Tea, your now serving us Desi Masala Chai.
Rumya said…
Loved the Style of Writing and The way you have tackled this topic. Its an amazing read!! You have the MASTERY over Beautiful Descriptive Language!! And it flows smoothly like a river!! Simply Loved it!!! Especially since it had a streak of Humor in it too!! Excellent!!

"Munna's heart was rolling at her feet!!! " made me LOL!!! :D

ATB!!! :)
magiceye said…
WAH WAH WAH!!!!
This is absolutely brilliant!!
The imagery was so evocative it was like watching a short film itself!!!
Superb!
Sree said…
Hehe...poora filmy hey post! Total OSO effect! :P
Masstttt :D
Loved Munna's confidence in his quest! :)
Aah Ritu Di, you were the first to review my piece and build confidence in me, then and Now tooo..Thanky..Hugs
Hey TF,
Last time i remeember you'd relished the tea..Did you like the Desi one as much, now??
Hey Rumz,
Treasure readers like you who read into my story and catch the mood in which I'd written, perfectly.
Am LOLing too...
Thanks for such generous praise!
Welcome MagicEye..
Is this the first time you visiting here 'Yaar!'?? :)
Glad you enjoyed the story..
And such a fantastic complement.
Am pocketing that with a bow!
Thanku..:D
Are you an SRK fan too Sree?
If u enjoyed the OSO effect u must be..:D
HAPPY you felt it is Bollywoodish..:D
Anonymous said…
Bravo!!! :)
It's so masala!
It's a true bollywood story indeed. And I love Munna's character. :)
Anonymous said…
picture abhi baaki hai vibzy ;) :D
tru blue bollywood ishtyle :)
ekdum dhinchakk bole tho jhakaaassss :P
Pushpz said…
nice take on the bollywood theme..u handled it so nicely... :))
Neha said…
I am not an SRK fan :)

but I liked your post..good luck girl :))
PNA said…
If u would have mentioned Aamir Khan even once I would have did a jig here and danced and sung ;) But u didn't Vibs.. hmmmm at u for that :P

Had major fun, was looking out for ek chutki sindoor, rambabu or was it shambabu.... I saw the film is super fast forward mode, but loved the all actor song :):)

Lovely will be back for more
oh! b/w good luck for BPL
HI Niveditha,
welcome to my blog.
Glad you enjoyed the Masala remix..:D
@ Megzzzz: Kaha lagi hai is baar? Cafe Ginger CHai main! :P LOL..Thanku Megzuuuu..Phultooo dhinchak tere influence se..;) :P
@Pushpee: Glad you enjoyed it dear. HopeI can dish out tastier stories in the future..Do come back to try them..:D

@ Neha: SRK fan or no fan, you enjoyed my post..THAT is what's imp. to me..THAnku soooo much.

@PNA: Amir Khan will appear in the next story so keep watching my blog! ;)
Glad to know u had fun. That ek chootki sindhoor did cross my mind but didnt want to go near an overkill! SO dropped it..+ the plot didnt need a thorough study of OSO..focused on my Chaiwala's tale instead...:P
Looking forward to your reviews of my posts in the future too..:D
Thanks a ton!

@
Great post. Loved it. And the last lines never fitted in so perfectly before!
Karthik said…
No matter what topic it is, you are able to weave a story around it, aren't you? And that too, so fast!
Kudos, Vibz! Soopar, like I've already said it.
The best part is the climax. Like Saurabh said, those lines have never fitted so perfectly before. That's the heart of the story, in my opinion.
The language, the subtle humour, dialogues are all so well placed.
Perfect execution of the topic. We are gonna win. :))
Nethra said…
I was expecting to read a non-fiction post, but it was nice to read a fictional post on Love in bollywood. It was so bollywoodish. :)
Bikram said…
Nice one .. I loved it ... enjoyed reading it .. wish i can write as good :)


Now hope the judges too look at it with my eyes and we got a winner yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy :)
Bikram said…
Yayyyyy .. Now thats what a article is .. Nice one Vikhzzzzz
fingers - hands - legs ALL Crossed here :) ALL THE BEST to the BLU INK SOCIETYyyyy
Shilpa said…
Post poori filmy hai... :)
Nice one... Liked the ending...
Er. said…
Nice post. Liked reading it!

PS: I am a SRK fan! :P
T F Carthick said…
Each has it own place, the exotic Chinese green tea has a class of its own. The Desi Masala Chai has its own rustic charm.
@ Suarabh,
Hey, Thanks for that beautiful complement. Are u at BPL too?

@ Karthik,
Thanks for being such a wonderful team mate Karthik. You are the best critic any writer could have as a friend. It is a learning experience everytime you comment on my stories.
This time you have told me that the punch of the story exists in the subtle humour...

Hope I can work along your guidelines and improve with every story I write..:D
Thankuuuuzzz
Anonymous said…
That a sweet filmy love story :) Narration was really good. Liked your take on this topic, was really different :)
Anonymous said…
Mwaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh to this post.. hugs babe, great work.. :)
aayanman said…
I think the post conveys your sense of excitement while composing it. The flow has come out quite well.
Good stuff.
That a sweet filmy love story :) Narration was really good. Liked your take on this topic, was really different :)
Nice post. Liked reading it!

PS: I am a SRK fan! :P

Popular posts from this blog

Tell Me A Story- Book Review

Yakshini: Book Review

Escape