This is all about a name, my name. One might well ask," What's in a name? ". To me, my name is everything.This might not have the same effect as I had felt a few years ago. There was a time when I didn't like my name. The only reason was that it was uncommon,...rather very unpopular. No one outside my circle of friends knew the name. They would just frown their eye-brows on hearing my name and would just leave the place. Of all the names I had heard then there was one, and only one popular name. Raja/Raju. Back then, the heroes in most movies had this name. Rajnikanth, Kamal hassan, Sivaji ganesan, MGR, Chiranjeevi, Amitabh Bachchan.. and so on. Name a hero, and I can name a movie in which they had this famous name. Mine wasn't like that. I didn't know of any celebrity with this name. I was looking at all possible opportunities to change my name to something very popular.One of my cousins was born then. When there was a ceremony to name the newly born son, I wanted him to be named "Raja/Raju", but it didn't happen.
CELEBRITY AT LAST:
I was told that there was a movie bearing my name acted by one of the superstars I had mentioned above. I was feeling elated when I watched the movie. The hero, a Central intelligence Officer, looked very dynamic in his role.He tried to retrieve a stolen rocket which could be used as a threat to our nation. I liked it so much that I forgot the uncommonness of my name. From that day, that was my favourite movie. But, as we grow, when we realize this world, a few things reprise their roles in our lives. I realized that the movie had nothing for me to be proud of. It was just a fictional character, and there was no one, flesh and blood, before me. The search was still on.
A TEMPORARY SOLACE:
If you had asked any normal school kid a few years ago about their favourite sport, the answer would be cricket. Kids these days have taken more to video games and computer games . It was different then. I too had started playing gully cricket during World cup '96. But alas, there wasn't anyone in cricket too, bearing my name. But, you could not have foregone cricket for anything. When the world cup came to an end and a new squad was picked for the England tour, a few names hit the head lines. Yes... I had found an opener, a right handed batsman from Punjab with the same name. Success at last, and he was my favourite cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar. But the joy was very short-lived. The opener lost in the race to the coveted post of an Indian opener and finally faded out of the limelight after playing a few series. However, a few years later, I came across a foreign player with the same first name. He was of Indian origin but played for England. My strong patriotic intentions did not let me go behind this person.
SCIENCE, AT L(E)AST!!!:
Friends from the same system of Education as I was in would easily recollect reading a subject called General Knowledge. It was an interesting subject which would not demand you to solve any complex problems or memorize any equations. This would just demand common sense even during the time of examination. If you are curious enough to learn the subject before hand, then this subject never would never let you down. It was this subject which introduced me to a great scientist who was born almost 70 years ago. This scientist, a leading person in Space research made me proud again. But again, I was feeling bad that he wasn't around any more when I realized the fact.
MOVIES AGAIN!!:
The same silver screen which gave me some hope when I was a kid came into my picture(!) again. This time it was an actor, a hero with my name. Eventhough his first film as hero in தமிழ் wasn't a great hit, I was hopeful of some fame. He made a comeback again working under a big banner. This was from the production house of the great Amitabh Bachchan. He played the second hero, as people would say because he never married any heroine in the movie. I would spend my nights dreaming myself in his shoes, hoping for the same hairstyle and body when I grew up past my teens. But he grew, made money, bigger money, got a national award for himself and acted in films directed by most-sought directors. I was happy too and started following his films whenever reviews were written for his films.
THE AWAKENING!!!:
As time passes by, new beliefs creep in to our selves. That was when I realized that the actor had shared only his on-screen name with me and had a different name at birth. I couldn't welcome this piece of information, but I realized that my name was chosen to be the on-screen name of a person who wanted to be a celebrity. Mine was a famous one, famous enough that an actor would re-christen himself with my name. Then, I ended my search for celebrities bearing my name. I realised that to become a celebrity, you need not share your name with one, you should strive to be one of the kind. After all, your name is the first thing your parents give you, and it is the only thing which comes with you even after you cease existing.
I shall continue with more details regarding my fascination towards names.
No comments:
Post a Comment