That face which is bright like light- Shah-e-Noor!

It was the time when I graduated from Kanoria, Jaipur, completing my English Honors with Psychology. Kuch toh karna tha! Journalism was not very famous in those days, but because I had the privilege to be born as a journalist’s daughter, I did have the guts to give it a shot. Well, I have a lot to talk about PAPA, but trust me- it requires a separate article. So, right now, I will come back to what I was up to. 

2005-2006 were the years I spent learning TV Journalism in Asian Academy of Films and Television, Noida. A year of sheer, learning, passion, path finder, personality development and what not. I wanted to fly. Had dreams. I wanted to bring forth those unsung people/situations, who are the real heroes in life. Well, things took a turn, priorities changed. Years passed. 

As they say- You can definitely suppress hunger but can’t eradicate it completely. I still nurture the dream I had seen years ago. 

Shah-e-Noor was the first step in this direction. It had to come first on YouTube.

Completely unaware (back then), about how my Docudrama would look like, I was desperately looking for a subject. Had no idea that I would find it roaming on the road, picking some needfuls out of the garbage heaps, to be sold later. Shah-e-Noor’s family was a little unreceptive in the beginning, but gradually gave up to my constant insisting powers and some cash bribe. Yes, I’m guilty!

Finally the day arrived when me and the assigned team reached our destination. It was a treat for all of us. The people who were shooting, the people who were being shot, and the spectators, drooling over the fact, why aren’t we on the camera? Everybody saw us in awe. Things were completed in a day. I had the script crisp ready. Shots were smartly captured by Bhushan Mahadani, my chief cameraperson. Editing was to be done by me and Inderpal Singh.

A major part was still missing, who is going to be the voice of my docudrama?? This was the first time I was introduced to Voice Over culture. I remember our dean, Suresh sir repeatedly telling me, “Kaam Karo, Kaam Karo, Apni Awaz Par Kaam Karo, Bahut Achi Hai”. God Bless his soul. 

There were other students, who made their non-fictional short films too, but I do not remember anybody’s evidently, may be due to the self- obsessiveness of my work, or may be because none was as good as mine. I really do not remember. What I remember – I was expecting Shah-e-Noor would be appreciated by the concerned people, And I might end up receiving the Best TV Journalism and Mass Communication Student certificate. Obviously it did not happen. The Title very unanimously went to Tushar Kavalekar, Best Student 2005-06 Batch. It did not hurt me at all. But now when I write this memoir, I truly feel- I deserved it.