Director

Disclaimer: Inspired from certain personalities but mostly a work of fiction.

The room had not been cleaned for atleast a week, dust had gathered in the corners and there were some biscuit covers lying around. It was a typical bachelor’s abode, with a dusty bed, bags in all corners gathering dust, clothes over flowing from the hangers and a laptop which most of time doubled up as a music station. Amidst all the chaos, he sat pleased with himself, immersed in thought, unmindful of the noise created by the TV running in the other room or his roommate washing clothes in the bathroom. He had got his latest script ready and the joy it gave him knew no bounds. Every time he completed a script, it gave him a high, a sense of satisfaction of having given birth to a new plot. Something that would one day entertain so many and become part of the folklore. This was part of a cycle that got repeated every few months, a feeling of optimism and hope that one day all this would play out in the big screen and then the doubt, on the feasibility of all his dreams, his ambition, his love. But then the decision had been made long back, he wanted to become a director. And all things that happened between now and then were just stepping stones. Even his current job was just to make sure that his family was secure and insured for the future, when he would take the plunge. Right now it was the stage when everything seems to work out perfectly in tune with his dreams but deep down he knew this wouldn’t last.

He had been through the lows far more than the highs. But it was not a decision taken in a flash to be given up easily. It had grown on him gradually, from the numerous films he saw, the interviews of directors, watching hours and hours of all these. He got fascinated by the art of film making, the manner in which he could control the destiny of a character, decide what course the script was to take. It was an addiction for him and there was no cure except to fulfil his dream and bring his thoughts on screen. He had wanted to study film making but then due to various other commitments and pressures he couldn’t, but then that did not prevent him from learning the art using the net as his class room and the ‘youtube’ videos as his lectures. He read a lot on his own and unknown to even his roommates had won many a screenplay writing competitions. He would suddenly vanish one weekend and just send a message saying he was going to some place, initially pissed off, now his roommates have got used to this and never bother him with the interrogation sessions. They know, he will blurt out on his own within a few days; he was not a good liar.

There had been plenty of prestigious places and people, whom he met, and everywhere he left an impression but he used to question himself, “to what end?” people liked his work and saw immense potential but were never really ready to go further than that. A director had remarked that he had not seen enough in life to become a film maker. He had badly wanted to join the director as an assistant but this remark left him shaken. But he continued with what he did best, writing script after script and improving his skill. He never liked writing cheesy romantic ones or full blown action stuff. His scripts were realistic and a snapshot of life rather than a tool to convey a message or propagate a philosophy.

Years rolled by and his friends and roommates where well settled in professions of their choice and most were married too. He was still in the job and marriage had never crossed his mind. He had still not fulfilled what he stated out to do. Not that he did not try, but everywhere though people liked his script, were never willing to go the distance with a guy who had no prior experience in film making. He was so pissed off, and used to wonder why it was mandatory that a person should have roamed the city penniless and suffered periods of starvation to become an assistant to someone? Can’t there be a person who has made sure that his family does not have to feel the pinch when he starts doing what he loves, become successful? Is it only people from families with film background make it big despite being filthy rich and the rest have to be sufferers on whom luck suddenly shined? He was losing hope and also his temper in the process. He had started losing focus and was an emotional mess. He was on the verge of giving up his quest, when a chance meeting with one of his old roommates changed things for ever.

All his friends got together and decided to produce his venture jointly. There was tremendous rebellion in most of their homes. “Why do you want to put your life’s earnings into something so risky? What about the savings for the kid’s future? The dream home we planned will now remain a dream forever? Are you nuts?”These were the volleys they had to encounter but they never deterred for they believed in his abilities and knew he would never fail. This was his passion, his life and when one puts his everything into what he believes, he would succeed sooner or later. The finance was arranged within a few months, pulling few strings, borrowing from banks and virtually putting their livelihood at stake. Cast was chosen from theatre and friends, technicians were aspirants just like him. It was a gamble, a very big gamble.

The camera rolled and obstacles came hurling like a thunder storm. But one by one all of them pitched in and unfastened all the knots.

One fine Friday, the screen of the biggest multiplex in town started beaming the image of a room that had not been cleaned for atleast a week, dust had gathered in the corners and there were some biscuit covers lying around. It was a typical bachelor’s abode, with a dusty bed, bags in all corners gathering dust.....