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I happened to come across a news item on TIMES NOW news channel which is as disturbing as the carnage that shook this city a month back. In the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh a leopard accidently strayed into a village (presumably on the periphery of a sanctuary) in search of livestock or water. The animal after it was confronted with human populace was beaten by villagers till it lay dead. Then someone pumped in a bullet on a dead leopard just to make sure the poor ‘beast’ doesn’t get up and walk again.  

more on  Writing – Non Fiction Page

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to read more click on the page – ’11 Weeks’ – the film shoot. Part-1

Café Leopold

Leopold is where the mayhem seems to have started on the fateful night of 26^th Nov. The terrorists fired indiscriminately before hurling a grenade in the popular joint frequented by westerners, the office crowd, and the youngsters.  The terrorists left the scene creating chaos and panic on the streets and dead bodies strewn around in the café.

No sooner had the carnage ended in Mumbai, Leopold was back in action. No alterations or changes were done in its otherwise simple décor or style – it opened just the same way as it was on the night of 26/11 with the embellishments of bullet marks on the wooden pillars & shattered glass panes.

When I arrived there in the evening around eight the café was almost packed.  I somehow managed to get hold of a table. Everything seemed normal. The crowd was mostly Indian; having beer after office. Initially I noticed nothing amiss. As I settled down and glanced around I noticed the bullet marks and the two round holes on the Café’s glass façade.

Everyone who was present there seemed to have just one resolve – get the fear out of their mind.  The place looked lively, contrary to what I expected before I stepped in. it was an encouraging sight because collectively we managed to defeat the purpose which the terrorists wanted – fear.

As I pulled my haversack aside to take my camera there were few curious glances. With the permission of the café staff I took few pictures. A group seated few tables away waved and called me over. I was wondering if something had irked them. They lifted the table cloth and showed me a small pit right under the table. I looked on – blank. ‘Grenade!’ one of them pointed. This is the spot where the grenade had exploded after being lobbed in. With a sense of defiantness they raised their beer mugs and drank. It was a moment of fearlessness – an antidote to the venom of terror.

I am waiting for a divine intervention for an end to all the problems in J&K that has been raging on and off for last 60 years. Just two months back when I was on location reccee with my Director, things seemed hunky dory. There were so many tourists in the Valley that we had to wait for our turn at the famous Vaishnav dhaba near the Dal Lake. Pahalgam and Gulmarg were teeming with tourists queuing up at the ropeway to reach the snow clad mountains.  There was something festive this summer. Now, there is chaos abundant.

I am unable to shoot a film which promotes harmony and peace. What irony! I feel sad as a DoP; the director feels worse.  

Like mortal human beings we are just waiting for the people to get tired with their anger so that peace gets a chance again. Just wait.

These pictures were taken during monsoons in 2003. the cloud patterns often cast interesting lighting patterns over the sea. It is a pity that most negatives were spoiled after manual processing. these are the four which have survived.