Afrin asked me to write the story. I had no clue who Harsha Chemudu was. It had been one week since I joined the mediahouse and not one story of mine had come in print. I was feeling restless.. Afrin forwarded the links to the YouTube video The Viva, and asked me to prepare for the interview. My first story...
Harsha Chemudu was a tall, fat and dark guy, with a child-like grace. As he came for the interview in the office, and we waited in the meeting room, he was very polite and wore an aura of innocence -- just the opposite of the big bully charactor in the video. The 13-minute short film directed by his childhood friend Sabarish, in which Harsha and others have acted, had gone viral in two weeks after it was posted. Harsha was the one who fared the most after the video's success, since he landed up roles in about five movies, or so he claimed.
So, in front of me was the boy I have to write about. As I watched a beginner's politeness in him, I could see that he was keeping caution to be grounded, to not let the sudden attention get into his head. His good nature was genuine. Now, that wasn't what I was expecting after watching The Viva, albeit only its beginning. I was expecting someone who would tickle my funny bones with stunning jokes. A professional comedian, not a polite boy. Because I hardly knew Harsha Chemudu.
For the interview and for the photoshoot, I wanted him to feel at ease and loosen up a bit. I tried to joke desperately and pulled his legs, but it did not find success. Harsha did not open up completely.
I was half way through the interview, when Sabarish, the director of The Viva, arrived. Harsha referred to him as "my director". During the interview, both of them took turns in answering my questions. It was as if I was interviewing both of them, not the one on which the Spotlight (Our column) was on. I clearly knew the duo had mistook the story to be on the success of the video, not on Harsha alone. But I couldn't tell Sabarish that I wanted Harsha to speak. Sabarish had stoic eyes, like that of a person who would easily be wounded, but wouldn't want to show. I was a long-term friend with a director-aspirant who had eyes like that. I knew the struggles of a director-aspirant. So I connected instantly. Both of them, the childhood friends -- together in rain and shine, or so they appeared -- had a gala time telling me their story.
What came in print was about Harsha alone. Sabarish was cut off. Before winding up the interview, Harsha had told me that his parents, after his sudden fame online, had told him that whatever he do, it should be with Sabarish. I surmise it is because Sabarish was the instrumental force behind Harsha's success. I felt bad. But there was nothing I could do, except to feel for the friends.
To add insult to injury, the story was a bloopers' galore. There were two factual errors I could point out after the first reading. And a third one later. The worst boo boo was in the strap under the headline -- that Harsha was the brain behind the video. I wanted to go bury my face somewhere. But, that were the antics of a newcomer in the field. When you sail through for a while, you get adjusted to such embarassments.
I was getting ready for the office, when my phone beeped. "If Harsha was the brain behind the video, then who am I? Cameraman?" Sabarish had messaged. I could understand the pain behind each and every word. I replied him saying I myself am sorry about the error. There was no reply. I called him, he did not pick the call. I left it there and moved on. I had work to do.
After three or four days, he messaged me enquiring why did I call. I rang him up. He did not pick the call. He messaged me asking me to sms him. I was offended. I did not reply. After some hullabaloo in this manner, I got through to him. "I understand," I told him. "But I can compensate. You continue your good work. I will feature you one day in the same column." He was placated, or so I thought.
I wanted to feature him. I meant it when I said it. Though I wasn't sure then if the 'story idea' would be approved or not. Long after that, I kept wondering what drove me to give him the word. Did I owe it to him? Did I have to own it up as a big mistake? What made me make the promise? May be its that he reminded me of my director friend who was struggling to get a foothold in the field. May be its that I have a conscience. May be its that I am hurt because that message was the lone feedback I got for my first story, or any story till now for that matter.
Harsha Chemudu was a tall, fat and dark guy, with a child-like grace. As he came for the interview in the office, and we waited in the meeting room, he was very polite and wore an aura of innocence -- just the opposite of the big bully charactor in the video. The 13-minute short film directed by his childhood friend Sabarish, in which Harsha and others have acted, had gone viral in two weeks after it was posted. Harsha was the one who fared the most after the video's success, since he landed up roles in about five movies, or so he claimed.
So, in front of me was the boy I have to write about. As I watched a beginner's politeness in him, I could see that he was keeping caution to be grounded, to not let the sudden attention get into his head. His good nature was genuine. Now, that wasn't what I was expecting after watching The Viva, albeit only its beginning. I was expecting someone who would tickle my funny bones with stunning jokes. A professional comedian, not a polite boy. Because I hardly knew Harsha Chemudu.
For the interview and for the photoshoot, I wanted him to feel at ease and loosen up a bit. I tried to joke desperately and pulled his legs, but it did not find success. Harsha did not open up completely.
I was half way through the interview, when Sabarish, the director of The Viva, arrived. Harsha referred to him as "my director". During the interview, both of them took turns in answering my questions. It was as if I was interviewing both of them, not the one on which the Spotlight (Our column) was on. I clearly knew the duo had mistook the story to be on the success of the video, not on Harsha alone. But I couldn't tell Sabarish that I wanted Harsha to speak. Sabarish had stoic eyes, like that of a person who would easily be wounded, but wouldn't want to show. I was a long-term friend with a director-aspirant who had eyes like that. I knew the struggles of a director-aspirant. So I connected instantly. Both of them, the childhood friends -- together in rain and shine, or so they appeared -- had a gala time telling me their story.
What came in print was about Harsha alone. Sabarish was cut off. Before winding up the interview, Harsha had told me that his parents, after his sudden fame online, had told him that whatever he do, it should be with Sabarish. I surmise it is because Sabarish was the instrumental force behind Harsha's success. I felt bad. But there was nothing I could do, except to feel for the friends.
To add insult to injury, the story was a bloopers' galore. There were two factual errors I could point out after the first reading. And a third one later. The worst boo boo was in the strap under the headline -- that Harsha was the brain behind the video. I wanted to go bury my face somewhere. But, that were the antics of a newcomer in the field. When you sail through for a while, you get adjusted to such embarassments.
I was getting ready for the office, when my phone beeped. "If Harsha was the brain behind the video, then who am I? Cameraman?" Sabarish had messaged. I could understand the pain behind each and every word. I replied him saying I myself am sorry about the error. There was no reply. I called him, he did not pick the call. I left it there and moved on. I had work to do.
After three or four days, he messaged me enquiring why did I call. I rang him up. He did not pick the call. He messaged me asking me to sms him. I was offended. I did not reply. After some hullabaloo in this manner, I got through to him. "I understand," I told him. "But I can compensate. You continue your good work. I will feature you one day in the same column." He was placated, or so I thought.
I wanted to feature him. I meant it when I said it. Though I wasn't sure then if the 'story idea' would be approved or not. Long after that, I kept wondering what drove me to give him the word. Did I owe it to him? Did I have to own it up as a big mistake? What made me make the promise? May be its that he reminded me of my director friend who was struggling to get a foothold in the field. May be its that I have a conscience. May be its that I am hurt because that message was the lone feedback I got for my first story, or any story till now for that matter.
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