Prelude?

I decided to get on to this blogspot stuff (don't ask me the nitty-gritties) as one news story of mine (mera number akhir mein aya) made more news than I'd ever imagined!

On March 25, 2006, the newspaper i work in, DNA (Daily News & Analysis-latter half is often missing) published-along with some other newspapers- that the Mahrashtra govt had once again given a green signal to the Peddar road flyover.

RECAP! - Yeah i didn't much care for it...coz we-as in Bombayites-had seen it five years ago how the govt declared we needed a flyover at Peddar road in order to curb traffic ...But imemdiately after the announcement, India's Nightingale, Bharat Ratna, as in Lata Mangeshkar-urf-Lata 'didi' screamed stop press! She was upset, the traffic noise & air pollution was causing her pain and she would lose her voice if the darn flyover came across her flat!

Well, meanwhile we had a flyover across Mohd Ali Road, as in the lovely JJ flyover. Sadly the faint quickering voices of majority Muslims were silenced with 'development' and city's need for flyover argument. They silenced their fears with hopes of better & smoother future. That somehow was true, except that now when u pass by or rather fly across the bridge at JJ, one can say 'salam walekum' to all the residents & ask what's cooking with them!

A similar story or more nearer is the example of residents staying across the Sion flyover. Most can jump into their houses if they attempted...new feat, say wot?

But here we had a lady whose voice is most precious to us, no doubt, and had threatened she would lose it...so our state govt got into action...which is? Just sit back and let the events unfold. Somewhere there was a feeling that the Democratic Front govt would not get re-elected in 2004. But they did..so once again the same chief minister and the newly appointed state public works minister gave a green signal to this impending project. Meanwhile, Lata's sister Asha threatened to settle down in Dubai. She told this to Ambarish Mishra from Times of India & then she flipped-flopped & cooly denied the news.

Now cut to the present- On March 25, I was asked by my editor to get the reaction of Lata Mangeshkar "come what may." He asked me to pick my note book & rush to her residence at Prabhu Kunj. I just sank with a lump in my stomach....I was NO cub reporter that I was being asked to go...then i just called the one & only Indu who i just bank on for anything to do with films...

If i'm blunt..Indu's icing on the cake! She was like.."u know me na neeta, I'm not in sync with Lata types..." (I just luv her) but she suggested I go to her boss's cabin & take the screen world book which have all the names & nos of film personalities.

Now begins my true story...At 4:17:48 pm, I called on 2351...landline of the Mangeshkars..the younger sister Usha answered. When i introduced myself she just rattled off like a Dombivili fast local...she merely voiced her angst & ire at the minister who had taunted the 'BIG people.' She was interrupted twice by the 'didi.' I finally overheard her saying "stop this banter i will only talk to the person." She said "namaskar !" & for a full second i was voiceless...tongue-tied & struggled to speak..she immediately said "me lata boltey."

Till that moment i was expecting things like "sorry she can't talk," "why have you called us to bother us," etc, etc. I was even prepared for 'didi' to change her voice, (as is her skill...she's known to change her voice & say "lata didi is not at home")....I NEVER imagined that the nightingale, singing queen would talk to me directly!

Recollecting myself i re-introduced myself. After a small pause she chatted & told me how life would become painful with the flyover. I asked her what can I publish to attribute to her (aquote) & she said i should write, "All people need to come forward and take stand on this, no one individual can do anything. I will talk to the chief minister but we will have to bring a stay order on this flyover & we will need to consult our lawyer first."

She even asked me if i had spoken to their lawyer Mohan Jaykar (yaya same...husband of Smita Jaykar). I told her that he was on some case in the Supreme Court & he wasn't answering my phone, but i had smsd him. I asked her if she wanted Mohan's number, and she pronto said, "me kashala karu tyana phone, tyana sanga mala phhone karayala." This call lasted for full 5.13 minutes. After which i spoke to Veena Singhal (president of Peddar Rd Residents' Assn) & Milind Deora for their reactions.

On March 26, DNA carried Lata Mangeshkar's news on the front page. But wait, Subhash K Jha, the most trusted lieutenant of the Bollywood world also had a scoop...Lata didi told him she would leave Mumbai city & go if the flyover came up. Meanwhile i smsd mr jaykar & informed that Lataji wantd him to speak to her. Next four days were a roller coaster ride for Jha & Kolhatkar. People insinuated things abt me. Accused me of fabricating...but i liked the true Bombay spirit. People said, "Didi we will help you pack your bags."

Sorry...this whole speaking of angst...letting out one's ire has NOTHING to do with her singing, talent & what she has given to this country. NO one has doubted that. What we are discussing is the feeling of bond that the person lacks with the city. Sad that many people in this city have concerns & fears only to do with one's self & survival. All those who give talks about stop using more cars (read as in MORE) don't say they too are using at least one car. Whilst the rest of the poor Mumbaikars suffer in long drawn traffic jams from Worli till Kemp's Corner due to these persons' whims & fancies. We dispute the fact that a great individual thinks of only herself instead for the good of the masses.

Hello...aren't these the very people who will criticise the likes of Medha Patkar???

As the reactions began coming in regarding Lata Mangeshkar's news, madam suddenly got an attack of amnesia, so typical Bollywood...she put 'Henna' to shame! She just sent out faxes from her true friend, politician's office...outright denying she spoke to any media person! Outrageous... yes considering that it was none other than the Bharat ratna who has lied...she has stature, respect, was on a pedestal in all the eyes of all Indians....but why after four days deny something that did happen?

i'm a journalist. I outright had few questions...why did she not fax it? A billionairess doesn't have a fax machine? Is she being supported by the politican in this issue that concerns thousands of Mumbaikars?? No one wrote about this but the letter has been stored by many of my colleagues...

I'm paid well to report truthfully & i'm doing it till the last tee. I have a job & i'm clear i will report correctly rather than publish half truths for the sake of keeping good relations with anyone. i retrieved my call list from the computer & got a print out. Our sweet tele operator, Raju...thanks raju for saving my reputation! And my notes...my dirty old habit of writing down at the speed with wc a person talks...definitely helped.

My bosses didn't bat an eyelid, altho the reporter was already rolling her big fat eyes at me saying she was just alerting me that 'didi' was going on record to deny her conversation with me...hahahaha..what should i say?? Her politician friend's close aides asked me why i had published an article depicting her wrongly, how could Lata didi lie?

Excuse me? What does it take for anyone to lie? I strongly believe that it takes a lot to speak the truth! i informed them, "Why can't Lata be a liar? She is if she feigns ignorance of speaking to me even after giving me an interview." Its a matter of my reputation, credibility & reportage. her denial simply means she has labelised & maligned me for reporting truly...oh the next thing i know is I've insulted a Bharat ratna...didi...how could i bitch about her? How have i spoken such ill of such a great personality...

I want to kick ass...one needs guts & courage to stand up for what one believes in & sadly NOT all humans have it. However great & whatever the issue. We have time & again seen how great personalities, geniuses & highly talented people have fucked up publicly..whether it is owning up to an alleged murder of an ordinary citizen/an affair, financial/professional problems or simply sticking to what one has said.

A social/environmental/political issue is not everybody's cup of tea. More so the issue here is to do with Mumbai city's project. Can development can be stalled for one person? Do we forget the project-affected people in our poor rural areas that are left homeless & without any rehabilitation? And here we Bombayites suffer day-in-&-day-out waiting for minutes to get a clear road from Lotus cinema onwards down Haji Ali uptil Kemp's Corner. All because there is no flyover...Peddar road is where the rich people live with numerous cars (including the one who has objected)...

The story has created waves in the city...i got many a friend & peer calling me up & congratulating me...some colleagues bitched & sniggered, my bosses were proud of me...but really speaking the interview with Lata was something that just happened. It was sheer timing of the news...just that 'didi' & her fans, devout ones especially should realise that this is my job & profession. I love news & can smell it ahead....