CLAUDE RIA
WRITINGS - GESCHRIEBENES - ECRITS
=> News - Neuigkeiten - Nouvelles
=> F&S - english version
=> F&S - deutsche Version
=> TEMPTATION RELOADED in Dubai
=> INDUSTRY & TALENT
=> INFLUENCE & INSPIRATION
Guests - Gäste - Visiteurs
Linkliste
 

Copyright : Claude Ria

F&S - english version

F&S - Exposé

  Following the masala-style of Hindi cinema by using a mixture of forms of expression, the author Claude Ria paints the portrait of a woman in the second half of her life who lives an adventure in more than one way. Through her eyes, Claude Ria takes a look at an enclosed area, the part of India or better said, Mumbai, around and in front of Mannat, Shahrukh Khan's mansion.
 
In an interview that also serves as a preface Claude Ria explains:
 
"Sometimes you meet people who inspire you. And sometimes, the inspiration is such that you cannot avoid acting on it…. In my opinion, the way you go is often more important than the destination."
  
Content:
 
The first-person narrator, living in Mumbai, comes across an elderly woman from Europe who tries during several weeks to meet the famous Indian actor Shahrukh Khan for only fifteen minutes. She wants to talk to him about a project she thinks about: writing a book about him!
Not a biography, but a book dealing with his influence on people, among others on his fans. The concept of her book would need some support from his side – the reason why she needs to explain him her project.
 
The narrator learns - during interviews with the woman and through her diary she writes during her stay in Mumbai - about the problems the woman has to face as well as all positive experiences. Alone, without any connections to the film industry or influential people and with little means, she tries in a very personal way to reach her goal. Moving mostly in the same area, these parts of Mumbai become a kind of home for her. The numerous encounters with inhabitants of Mumbai and with fans of Shahrukh Khan counterbalance the tough moments she goes through.
 
The narrator cannot remain distant observer or critical questioner. Subtly first, then more and more consciously, he lets himself being dragged into a world he until then had looked at with a mocking eye: the world of the admirers and fans of a film star and unconditionally loved idol.
 
In addition to her “Mumbai-diary”, the woman passes the narrator a copy of a book called “Circle of Love”: a collection of stories titled "Shahrukh and I" where the authors write about Shahrukh Khan's influence on their way of thinking, acting and living.
 
Initially, the narrator only wanted to write an essay about the encounter with the woman. After having read the “Circle of Love” and the woman's diary he decides, however, to write a book, in which he wants, among others, to track the path, the woman takes for connecting different worlds.



 



If you like, you can read a tiny excerpt of the book

"Something is dying in me", I feel glancing over the spacious entrance hall of the Taj Lands End. It does not help telling me that losses are part of life; my intelligence cannot deal with the decline in my energy and creativity. How do you rationally tackle the loss of someone who shared your life in an essential way, whom you love? I force myself up from this inert state and saunter to the facilities. Washing my hands, I look at my weary face. I am tired. Deciding to take another coffee and then drive back to my office – perhaps some random element will provide me with some inspiration – I return to the Atrium lounge. There she is! I'm sheepish! I totally forgot about her! She is rummaging through her haversack. I am rooted to the spot considering turning away when she looks up and sees me. She smiles warmly.
I had noticed her during a press conference in Europe although her appearance was far from impressive. She is petite, slightly plump and proudly wears her age on her face. But her inquisitive eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she spoke. With each query, she managed to draw serious attention. Her research was detailed, her questions insightful and curious. She was genuinely interested and unlike a lot of scribes, she listened. I spoke to her briefly after the conference giving her my e-mail address. I forgot all about her until I heard from her a couple of weeks ago. She wanted to meet me and I mailed her back promising to do so. Of course, I couldn't… or rather I didn't. Just one of those things you do when you are pretending to be busier than you actually are.
Now she sits here in the Atrium lounge of the Taj Lands End greeting me warmly. I apologize profusely and try to drown my shame. She makes it worse by being amazingly generous and not holding my guilt against me as a weapon. In her mail, she wrote about a project she was hoping to realize in Mumbai. I had displayed my interest and now I ask her to tell me all about it. "Everything?!" she smiles. "How much time do you have?" Thinking of the minimal attraction my office offers at present, I am inclined to give her all the time she wants.
She narrates animatedly and vividly, with obvious enthusiasm. I am wonderstruck at her tenacity and perseverance for a job so simple. "Why didn't you call me for help?" I cannot help but ask. "I did not want to use you. It was my job. I had to do it," she answers matter-of-factly. The response moves me much more than anything had in the past few months. I don't know when I last felt so strongly for a cause that a shortcut didn't even cross my mind. Her project may not change the world at large; it may not mean more than a few printed sheets, not represent much for most, beyond being an interesting anecdote but for her it mattered. And for me her story is the random element which wakes me up. She inspires me. After giving it a brief thought I ask her if she would like to go into more detail; I would like to write down her story. She nods, surprised and pleased at the same time. We make an appointment to do an interview in my office. I did not imagine that it would be far more than one interview.


 







 
 
Diese Webseite wurde kostenlos mit Homepage-Baukasten.de erstellt. Willst du auch eine eigene Webseite?
Gratis anmelden