Day 473: Publicity, Movies, Chai, Life

So publicizing a movie, even if it is only of the Mausams scale, is still quite a lot of work! I spent a few good hours working on separate customized notes to different media folks, answering a chunk of pending emails, writing to those friends and acquaintances whom I have not contacted yet regarding ticketing etc. But what was fascinating was that I didn't realize how the time passed. I was so engrossed in it that I skipped lunch and when I looked up at the time, I realized that it has been a few hours already. So that means I enjoyed the process thoroughly.

Then I decided to watch a couple of movies - I did a repeat viewing of Arabikatha (Malayalam) - one of the nicest, simplest, sweetest, most innocent pictures I have ever seen. Sheer brilliance. The next was The Great Indian Butterfly - an arthouse cinema but still with the support of a significant production house. That was different and interesting too.

So I was already pretty satisfied with my life on a Sunday.

Then the hubby, who had been out the whole day on work, came back home and suggested that we get dinner at some nice place to compensate for his absence on a Sunday (yeah... sweet, I know ...but may I point out that it was also because he didn't wanna watch the film Saat Khoon Maaf with me and instead wanted to watch cricket. So.). Accordingly we went to Shahi Maharani. After a decent dinner, we had their specialty... the most amazing Masala Chai. Yummmmm.

I felt life couldn't be better.

Then I came back home and my editor who was online, told me some stuff about Mausams that made me feel reassured about some problems that were beginning to crop up. The issues were beginning to worry me a lot but after the chat with him, I felt that the situation is under control.

With that I was convinced, yes... life can't be better.

527 more to go.

Day 472: Puppies, Babies and Munnis

5 March, 2010

It was a packed Saturday. I was on the go from morning till late at night.

It all began with a quick photoshoot in the morning for which I had to get properly dressed and look more decent than I usually do. Objective was to have a decent picture to be sent to a magazine that would be featuring the Mausams story.

Then we went to the Mausams leading lady's house to see her new puppy. Had a great time there with other Mausams cast and crew folks who had also attended this big event. I must also make a special mention of the fascinating sight of my hubby hopping and skipping to avoid the pup going "Easy dude! Easy dude" throughout.

Then we went to a dance studio where the hubby's colleagues had gathered to learn Bollywood dancing for an upcoming offsite of theirs. Apparently they had decided that I would be the most suitable person to be their dancing coach, so I tagged along as well. The song they chose was the biggest items number of recent times - Munni Badnam Hui. Needless to say, I had the most wonderful time watching a number of Chinese folks as well as my hubby wiggle their hips to the song! And it was wonderful to be dancing after a long time as well!

Then we had visited a close friend's newborn baby. He was a peaceful child, hardly ever crying and not making a fuss when strangers picked him up. Just the kind I don't mind being around. So had a good time there as well.

This was then followed by the movie Tanu Weds Manu (which was entertaining enough) and a quick visit to Clarke Quay to pick up some supper. There we met a few of the inevitable NUS crowd and had a quick catch up with them. Quite fun as well.

So there we go... busy day but lotsa fun!

528 more to go.

Day 471: Premiere Night Sold Out!

4 March, 2011

As of today, Mausams first night of screening, the one and only premiere night in Singapore, is sold out. It's gonna be a big night, to say the least. Excited!

529 more to go.

Day 470: A Suburban Evening

Today somehow both the hubby and I found ourselves back at home early in the evening. There was no yoga, no work be it on the film or anything else, no meeting friends, no running errands, nothing. Instead we had the whole evening at home without much to do.

So we did what couples in the suburbs are supposed to do. We cleaned up the house a bit...there were bags that were still unpacked after our holidays, there were letters from months ago that still remained unopened, there was stuff in the fridge that had not been touched for quite a while (yuck, I know) etc. We cleared all of it.

Then like a good suburban couple, we walked to the nearest mall, had dinner, walked around the neighbourhood a bit, and then got back home. A bit of T.V., a bit of reading, a bit of catching up on Facebook and other such chilled out activities continued.

Peaceful. Quiet. Calm. Lovely.

530 more to go.

Day 469: Mausams & People!

2 March, 2011

Is it OK if I have nothing else to talk about other than Mausams for a few days? Because really, it seems to be bringing too much fun into my life right now!

Until now, my life was revolving around it but in a very different way. I was just continuously working on it with its fair share of ups and downs coming my way. Sure, that was fun too but now that the work is pretty much done and the screenings are about to begin, it's a totally different kind of fun!

Every other person I bump into asks me about the movie ...my team is taking initiative to do publicity on their own without me having to coax and cajole.... people are messaging me about it, calling me about it.... some are sharing the links to ticketing and trailers with their friends.....everybody is just so nice and kind and so very supportive!

It's like I can't possibly express how grateful I am for all the positivity flowing in! I want to give everyone one huge hug and say a long "Thank Youuuuuuuu"! That's not possible but here is a virtual one nevertheless! God bless!

531 more to go.

Day 468: Mausams Ticketing Begins!

1 March, 2011

It was just as well that I did not panic yesterday. Because things automatically fell into place today and looks like we will be screening my first feature film Mausams from 1 - 11 April 2011 at the Arts House in Singapore! The venue sponsors worked some magic and got the ticketing to commence without further delay.

So yes, Mausams ticketing has begun. I guess there is no turning back now.

Big day.

Phew!

532 more to go.

Day 467: Happy First. Panic Next. Or Not.

28 February ,2011

Eventful day, really.

For the first half of the day, I was feeling rather good. My HR manager had decided that I should present the film trailer at the monthly category-wide business update meeting. Initially I was apprehensive (almost embarassed actually) to talk about my film at that venue where everyone else would be talking business! But then I thought what the heck, let's see how it goes! It's free publicity after all!

So I did take the trailer there. My slot in the whole agenda came right at the end. I gave a quick background to the whole film experience and then played the trailer. It was my first moment of truth with a whole bunch of people (about 80 of them I think) sitting and watching and reacting to a part of Mausams. I must say they took to the trailer rather nicely. At the end of the presentation, I wanted to remind everyone that there would be tickets coming up soon but I realized that it took quite a long time for the applause to die down and for me to get a chance to say something. I am not sure whether the same thing would happen for the film, but as for now this made me really very happy.

Then came the panic part of the day. We had submitted for the film's censor certificate and are still waiting for the final rating. Initially the understanding was that we could proceed with ticketing etc., but the rating should be available before screening and we should be well in time for that. However, yesterday the bomb was dropped that even ticketing will not be possible without the rating being published!

That was a total disastrous situation. If we wait for the rating before ticketing starts, it means ticketing will be delayed which in turn means the publicity can't start on time which in turn means, in a nutshell, I won't be able to sell many tickets. Needless to say, I was upset. The only solution seemed to be pushing back the screenings. But that was easier said than done because so many cast and crew had friends and family flying down for the premiere and to change everyone's plans so last minute wouldn't be easy.

The panic lasted for about 5 minutes. Strangely enough I calmed down. The frustration evaporated and my brain started functioning in a chilled manner. Another option soon presented itself in my mind. I considered the idea of a closed door premiere - which means the close friends and family get a private screening which wouldn't need any censorship ratings and then we push back the rest of the screenings to the public post the ratings are out. That was a good solution really, because then all the special guests from abroad still get to watch the film on a big screen without having to change any of their plans and we get around the rating issue too.

I must say I was relieved. There was a solution after all. I would go to the extend of saying that I felt pretty pleased by my brainwave.

But more than that, I felt pleased that I could think through the situation calmly. I could have let the panic eat me out and make me cry and make me once again think that this film was the worst idea ever. Instead, I chose to sit down and think about it rationally.

Am not sure why I behaved in such a wise and saintly manner but for today, that was special.

533 more to go.