a story

Dream of a great movie


(A story by alok nandan dedicated to a young unknown director)
1
Ranjan was a young and ambitious director. Anyhow he managed to get work with an unknown director. He was asked to assist him. And he was doing his job well.
One day when he was busy with his schedules, a young blond actress came to him.
''Excuse me, I am Puja'', her musical voice struck against his ears, and he glanced at her face, full of life and energy.
'Yes, I m Ranjan, what can I do for you? ', he said gently. He was always gentle to girls.
'I have come here for the audition, as I have been informed by the agency. And asked to report you.' , she proclaimed confidently. 'Anyway meet my friend Neha. She has desire to see the film world so why I asked her to come with me, although she is school going girl', She said him, denoting to a tender age girl with observing eyes.
'Hello,' Ranjan greeted her politely.
'Hello', she responded with her weak but charming voice.
'Would you mind to face the camera now, I want to look your appearance on the screen, If you please.', Ranjan requested her.
'Sure, but you must provide me the script. '
'I have no script. I just want to see your fundamental appearance. So whatever you have to perform, you do… there is no bondage. Did you get what I said.'
'Let me try.'
Puja changed her place and came in front of the camera. Meanwhile, Neha was observing everything very keenly as if she was in a wonderland. She was more interested in Ranjan' work. He was handling the camera perfectly around Pooja.
'Light, sound, camera', He said emphatically, looking Pooja through camera.
Puja started,' How can you love me while you have no job, no work, no identity, no wealth, no property….It is not a film…it is a real life…and real life moves around wealth…What will I get loving you…only poverty and shame…I want a perfect life….and an artist like you can never give me a good life….So please …don’t chase me…otherwise I don’t mind to go to police…'. With this dialogue she performed well.
'Good, You have ability to perform freely. I like it. According to our script you are fit for Rajia, a young pragmatic girl who understands the reality of life. I will recommend you for this role .'
'Its my pleasure…Anyway who is the director of this film, can I meet him? ', she knew very well about the importance of a director and the place of an assistant director.
'He is busy, let me ask him first ', said Ranjan, closing his camera.
'I, too, want to handle camera, if you don't mind', Neha, requested Ranjan.
'Pardon', Rajnjan glanced at her childish face. 'You want to face the camera ? '
'No, I want to work with the camera like you', she said emphatically with her weak voice.
'Not now, Anyway what do do ? '
'I am schooling.'
'Then first complete your study and then think about anything else.' suggested Ranjan
'Every one teach me lesion, no one wants to understand me and my mind, you too ', she seemed possessive and complaining at he same time, and it was surprising to Ranjan as first time he was seeing her.
'It is not everybody's cup of tea. I will salute you if you do your best in your study.'
'I do not need your suggestion. I know my way very well.' Somewhere Neha was angry and she did not mind to disclose it. In fact she did not know her changing mood and whatever she was doing she was doing under the influence of an unknown passion. Pooja, who had made her mind to meet the director, come close to Ranjan, and looking into her eyes said to him, ' In fact I have to go somewhere, if you can manage it today…do you get what I say? '
'Well, I have just seen you performing, and I do believe that you are perfect for this role. so please let me talk to the director first. If he asks, I will call you ', said Ranjan, not getting his point.
'I want the meeting today, why don't you understand? ', said she, coming more close to him. ' And you know very well that you can do something great in this regard.'
'Let me try ', He said and advanced to the door.
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2

'Why don't you want to meet the director?', Neha asked Pooja.
'It is director who gives you chance to act, not assistant director', answered Pooja.' And I want chance, I have to prove myself. I had spent more than three years in an acting school. but when I came in Mumbai I had to start from beginning. I act well, I know, but don't get chance.'
'Do you think he will arrange the meeting? ' questioned Neha.
'Let us see.'
'But I don't think. He is not a good man. '
'…Because he does not allow you to touch the camera '
'I don't care…I am going to handle the camera.' Neha advanced to the camera, and tried to open its lock and after unlocking it successfully she looked into the viewfinder and said loudly, 'Light! Action! Camera! '
'Hey, What are you doing? ', Poja asked her with surprise.
'Don't you see I am a director, Just act..do it… it will be a great fun..' Neha said confidently and it had some effect over Pooja and she started acting again.
'Hey, Krishana … I am not your Radha…so please don't flurt me …And what are you doing in this Film Industry… and specially here on the set…Anyway If you have come…Please take me as Arjun… as that Arjun who was not ready to fight…and tell me how to fight in this film world … your words might be considered a golden words for those struggler who are coming here from far and wide.
…Lord krshana…tell me ..please tell….
'Miss Pooja! The direction is calling you ',Ranjan coming into the studio, said to Pooja who was acting before the camera that was being handled by Neha. Neha looked to Ranjan while Pooja went out of the door quickly.
'You know what I think I do', said Neha, with weak but confident voice.

3
'You are beautiful, but in this film you have to expose yourself, as it is the demand of the film… do you understand what I say ?', said, Thaper, the director, looking over Pooja's ups parts of the body.
'I don’t understand what are you saying?' resisted the young actress
'Don't worry, I will tell you everything…the camera will move around you and then stay over your…', he said to her, coming close. She felt uncomfortable.
'It is the film world and here give and take policy runs on. ..do you follow.'
'When you are going to sign me?', She came to the point.
'Everything will be done accordingly. 'Said the director.
' Mr.Thaper, I am not going to work with you…you know nothing of the abcd of a film..and people like you are representing the industry in wrong way…ok, bye.'
She did not wait for his answer and left the room.

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'What are you saying? ' Ranjan was surprised.
'He wants me. After making a real love he will sign me. I can do it, but I won't. I don't mind to change the partners, and I have done it regularly, even I cannot remember the name of all those, but above all, to me acting is everything…and I want to get a chance through acting ability, not through sleeping with such persons without my will' Pooja was confident, but somewhere something was burning inside her and its smokes could be seen in her eyes, full of tears and anger.
Ranjan felt uneasy, and looked around. The honesty of Pooja had touched him deeply and it seemed to him that his self commitment to films had been challenged.
'Let me talk to him', Said Ranjan.
'Ranjan,You are mere an assistant director, just do your work. I know you are doing best, and I, too. but those who are leading the industry have made some rules, and trying to guide the world according to there own ways', she said to Ranjan and then turned to Neha who was listening them talking. 'Neha, let us go.' Both of them left the place.
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4
'I am a great fan of Nepolian Bonapart…he is a classic…What a love letter he has written to her beloved Josephine! He was super!, … fantastic !,… marvelous ! he has many dimensions, multi dimensional personality he is !'
…Ranjan said, there was a bottle of Vodaka on a broken table, and it was half empty.
' Hitler, too, was great.', commented a young professional PR, a guest of the wine party, although everything has been managed by him.
'Don't talk of him now, Hitler, too, was a good lover. But he has different dimension. Nepolian is a classic…a man of revolution and a man of literature ' , Ranjan continued, the effect of Vodaka could be seen over his face and in his words.
'Don't talk about Nepolian', Objected a young lyricist.'Let us talk about a real love story… like..like…about the girl
who calls Ranjan at late night..what is her name…
'Neha', answered Ranjan. 'Yes, she calls me at late night. I have chided her many times. has a dimension but she is a school going girl.
'where she met you first? ', asked the young PR.
'While I was working with a bloody director, who was more interested in woman than the film.I left his film… saying, he would not be able to make a film…Is it the way of making a film? A film needs concentration and countless energy…One day I will show how a film is made.', He broke out as if some one has touched his emotion.
'You did a good work. Anyway tell us about Neha', the young lyricist stopped him.
'Neha ! ..yes…She is a mad girl…since the day when I first met her, she has been phoning me continuously. Even yesterday late night she rang me. I was in deep slumber. I was irritated, and told her not to phone me lately. Do you know what she said ? She said she would whatever she liked. My god she is crazy!'
'Somewhere you are attracted to her, don't you? ' asked the young PR.
'I have only one motive… I have to make a film. I have no time to fall in love. ', he proclaimed as if Nepolian Bonapart would do before his army.
Meanwhile his phone started ringing. He glancec at he screen and a gentle smile played over his lips, and his eyes started twinkling, as if they were full life.
'She is calling me,' he said. And with the sound of his words all the persons looked to him silently.
'pick it up', directed the young lyricist.
Under the effect of Vodaka, he pushed the green after activating the speeker, now the conversation could be listing by every and all.
'Hello,' her musical voice spread into the air.
'Hello', Ranjan said.
'You are angry with me?'
'No, why do you call me? I just want to know it. '
'I can't say it. its my will…why did not you wish me? '
'wish! For what? '
'To day is my birth day.'
'But I don’t know, how can I know it?'
'Yes, how can you know you. I have never tell you.'
'ok wish you very happy birthday!'
'Thank you'
'How old are you?'
'…………….'

'Helo..helo…'
'Now I have entered into the sweet sixteen. Do you understand the meaning of sweet sixteen? '
'Good night', said Ranjan and cut the phone.
'You are so fortunate that a sweet girl is loving you', said the young PR.
'Don't miss the chance.', provoked the young lyricist.
Ranjan looked to them and said with full confidence, ' I can't do this. I have to make a movie first… a great movie.'
Then he finished the glass with one gulp, although the her words were still ringing in his hers, 'Now I have entered into the sweet sixteen. Do you understand the meaning of sweet sixteen? '

story by alok nandan
alokred@yahoo.co.in