By Mushtaque B Barq
Never underestimate the strength of willpower. The knock on the door of life is sometimes too loud to ignore. Perfection is a citizen of the ether as a sensitive mind constantly has a second idea to make it happen. I, too, heard a knock at the door by accident. It wasn’t a prank from the wind, but a plain command to follow. Then I found myself in the Doordarshan Srinagar studio with a sophisticated roof and a series of cameras with a set that would have attracted any eye, not to mention the one who had never witnessed such arrangements behind the curtains. My classmate, who had gone too far just after matriculation to realise his dream of transforming his raw grey matter into a much needed creative mind in the field of film editing, introduced me to Mr. Tanveer Hussain Mir, an ace producer in his office after a gap of almost 25 years. The moment was beyond words. A boy of 16 was now on the chair, meeting another on the opposite side. Things took a U-turn as expected, with informal greetings, hugs, and the recollection of the past. Just after the informal session, things turned serious. I was offered to host a talk show that had turned many people back to TV screens. I couldn’t believe that my face would be captured in the frame. Finally, I was escorted by one gentle man, Mr. Umer Hajji, to studio number 2. What lured me was the set that was ready. In the dark background with two mega-sized flower vases, a multi-coloured floor with God knows how many flood lights glaring at them greeted me. The set attracted me at first for the reason that I had never seen such things on display before. In the dark background, the set was the centre of attraction, and I, for instance, thought it was meant for some grand discourse, but within a moment I was asked for feedback. I was delighted to notice that it was the set meant for Baat Se Baat Nikle, for which my face was found apt to be framed as the host. I was informed by the Producer that the set had its own story. For him it was a symbol of nostalgia and for me it was a stage set for the memories to get a fresh look. I had a nervous spell that I couldn’t control, but in the business of life, one learns to mask anxiety, and I did what was required. It’s worth mentioning that on-set appreciation may go a long way, and I was amazed by how nicely the entire crew collaborated. Many skilled individuals contribute to the show on the screen; whether it’s a sweeper, a light man, a camera guy, a set designer, or someone else, they all deserve to be recognised for their crucial services.
As soon as the guest for the programme made his entry, the makeup artist did his job, which was to add another layer to the already layered face. I expected things to take 30 minutes to conclude, but what I saw was much above my expectations. It all began with lights. Everyone was on hand to adjust the barndoors of the massive floodlights that hung from the ceiling. One man was in charge of the rest. After a frantic 20-minute wait, the lights eventually came on, and the set looked like something I’d never seen before on the small screen. Following the lighting exercise, the sound crew set up microphones and placed them in strategic locations to record what was needed. My left ear was fitted with an ear plug, which seemed like an added load on my already overburdened self. I was met with a guttural growl. Mr. Tanveer was giving instructions while a sound engineer was checking the sound quality. Mr. Tanveer was encouraging me through the EP, and his words were effective because I was able to put my nervousness behind the camera, which was beaming at me amidst a rain of light flashing onto my well-dressed face. I felt how difficult it is to work wherein perfection is a protocol. Perfectionists are never satisfied creatures on earth and they know how to derive the best of you either by using their highly charged verdicts or by adjusting those harsh gestures on their faces, which even cameras would find hard to capture. I realise how all these perfectionists work and get the desired results from bits by synchronising the rest of the proceedings before putting them before the audience. For that half-an-hour show, I wonder how many people were on their toes trying to make it happen. The cameramen, the floor managers, the lighting crew, the recording engineers, the other panel members, and the host on the set, with their rope in the hands of the producer at the panel, make everyone do what they are meant for. A close-up shot, a long shot, and what all the screen demands.
Baat Se Baat Nikle is a well-crafted programme attracting the public’s attention by highlighting the contributions of the artists, scholars, poets, authors, entrepreneurs, film-makers, actors, and the rest of the top crust of humanity. It is an unscripted programme wherein a guest shares his or her opinions and experiences of both professional and personal achievements, as well as some lighter and more serious moments in life. Mr. Tanveer, the producer of the program, has a wonderful creative team to work with. Production of this sort has not only introduced the aforesaid affluent tier of society to the younger generations but has also updated them. Let us pray that on the sets of Baat Se Baat Nikle, Mr. Tanveer will be able to invite all those who have been living under the tag of ‘Unsung Heroes’ to let their contributions be appreciated and recognised by the nation. The necessity of the hour is to bring the national heroes and outstanding brains who have been nurturing our nation with their abilities and creative abilities into the public eye. This programme is available in two versions: one that focuses solely on the contributions of young people in their fields, and the other that includes legends to make it a complete package for a society that values and recognises the contributions of its legends as well as upcoming young and budding heroes. It’s possible that Baat Se Baat Nikle will lead us forward in time to see more people share their trials and triumphs.
Mushtaq B.Barq is a Columnist, Poet and Fiction Writer. He is the author of “Feeble prisoner, “ Wings of Love” and many translation works are credited to the author like “ Verses Of Wahab
