Late 90's were quite interesting years. The whole of India, under the LPG effect ushered in by Manmohan Singh's economic reforms, was reeling under the "i am the best" 'nasha'. Shahrukh was the universal heart-throb impersonating that intoxicating feel. Well, i had the (mis)fortune of detesting those kind of mannerisms as acting.
In every hearty/heated debate about Bollywood, it used to be my lot to defend the diametrically opposite mode of acting, the flair of Amir Khan's subtle and perfect characterisation. Thus began the "pehla khumar" that continues to last forever.
Well, those days i had to defend a lot of great's. I used to be the defending attorney of Madhuri Dixit against the fans of Karishma Kapoor, Kajol and Juhi Chawla. I used to read up (given my abysmal ignorance of cricket!) and defend Sachin Tendulkar against the bhai's of Azharuddin! As a Maharashtrian, moreover, it had to be my regional pride! Well, once i defended the Thackeray brand of "amchi Mumbai" by learnedly countering how Telangana people were obsessed with "hamara Hyderabad" at the cost of the Coastal Andhra people!
As far as Amir Khan goes, i suppose, that "pehla khumar", that hangover for his sophisticated yet effortlessly natural acting style, continues for most of us, and despite all sorts of controversies. He is very much the mainstream actor, and yet he has the finesse of the actors from parallel cinema like Om Puri and Nasiruddin Shah. He becomes the character. I need not even name the films to prove this opinion of mine.
His use of the television for sensitising the common man through a programme like "Satyamev Jayate" revealed how charisma and stardom can be positively employed. His contribution to the 'Pani Foundation' was efficient as well.
Much water has flown under the bridge thence. As Amir was yet again the talk of the town today, here is this toast to that "pehla khumar"!
Pratima@"Some memories are unforgettable, remaining ever vivid and heartwarming," says Joseph B. Wirthlin.
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