To Subhash Ghai

Dear Subhashji

I was watching Ram Lakhan today for perhaps the 18th time and I said a few silent thanks to your parents that you were born. But in the same breath, I also said a few silent prayers to God, imploring him to get you to stop directing movies. I know this sounds like an oft-repeated account of fall from grace, but for me, an ardent SG admirer, your last few movies collectively is not a fall. It is more like a vertical plunge into the deep seas of disaster. And I have not even seen Yuuvraaj ( whichever way you choose to spell it).

My earliest memories of the silver screen are certainly not from your films, they are dominated by a tall man, who I believed , much like most of my generation, could bash up any number of men and do anything under the sun. But my first interaction with the LP record was at a public function in a far-flung suburb of Bombay where I grew up. I would stand next to the man operating the machine; he would ever so gingerly place the needle on the rotating disc time and again. Only to play one song. It went 'Om Shanti Om'. A few years later, I happened to watch that song on TV and was floored by the sight of a man dancing on a giant disc. And I was totally taken by the entire movie. Of course, I had no idea who you were then, I was not even 10. Then on a dark cold night, as a part of 'four-movies-all-night-on-the-new-sensation-called-VCR' at another roadside function (sigh! the begining of the end of projection on white cloth at public functions), I saw a movie with a rough looking bearded guy on a bike with a few cronies around, singing 'Ding Dong, Oh Baby Sing a Song' to a nymph-like girl. That I was taken in enough by the bearded man to iron in his shoddy image through a sticker on to my school shirt, only to be sent back promptly to change the shirt is a separate story. But I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. And I heard your name for the first time. Of course, I had earlier heard of 'Krodhi' and Vidhaata'; 'Saat Saheliyan' was talked about in hush hush tones all around, I had no idea why. And 'A Aa E Ee..Udibaba' was the No.1 on Binaca Geetmala forever.

A few years later I saw Meri Jung and I knew that the country was fortunate to have you as a film maker. Karma was an enthralling experience, I became a thorough patriot overnight and 'Dil Diya Hia Jaan Bhi Denge' continues to bring a lump in the throat over twenty years later. And when I saw 'Ram Lakhan' I swear I would have stuck your poster on any of the only 4 walls in our modest abode, had such posters been available then. I think the uproarious multiple intervention of 'My Name is Lakhan' is one of the brightest ideas in Indian cinema.

And then I saw Saudagar at a night show in a dingy theatre in a small town in eastern India, in the middle of my engineering days. It was the first time in my life that I had slept during a movie, that too after paying for it! But maybe I was really tired. A one-off mistake I thought and I wrote it off. And then in the middle of all that real-life-villian hoopla, Khalnayak happened. I saw it in the same dingy theatre and was shaken to say the least. I certainly dont think it was the theatre. Much as people seemed to enjoy it, I was shocked and scared. Was this the man who gave us Kamini and Thakral and Dr. Dang and Bhanu-Bhishamber and Sir John, such well defined villians? Was this all he could muster with such a strong title? Was this the begining of the end?

I tried to ignore Trimurti, after all you had not directed it, but I for the life of me can still not understand how you let that one come out. I have the greatest regard for the late Mukul Anand, but surely, it was your creative vision? What a waste of such a casting coup.

In the next few years, fortunately I became a 'Shah Rukh fan' to put it crassly and did'nt mind Pardes at all, though everybody around me was deriding it no end. And somewhere I was relieved that you had regained your magic touch.

But maybe this was a one-0ff. Taal had me flummoxed! I saw it twice to actually believe that it was as bad as it was. And I was then convinced. That it was not the begining of the end. It was the end. A vey sad one at that. The less spoken about Yaadein, the better. And speaking of Kisna is an insult to your past glory, it really is. As I said earlier, I did not venture anywhere near Yuuvraaj. Not because I didn't have the time or the inclination. But because I really can not tolerate any more insult to the man who I once idolised. I dont care what roles Sachin Bhowmick or Javed Akhtar or Dr. Reza or Farrukh Dhondy had to play in any of your cinematic victories and defeats, for me a Subhash Ghai film is just that. A Subhash Ghai film.

Subhashji, I asked God this morning. I now humbly request you. Please stop making movies. Go right ahead and produce and encourage talent and make Mukta Arts a global player and all that. But for the sake of your past, please think about the future. Please stop making movies.

And yes, the next time Ram Lakhan comes in for a rerun, put my name down for a 19th viewing...