In this article, I would like to queer into the whole precept of my brother, Munna Nawaz, and his fetish and undying love for Bollywood movies. We were studying in Bishop Cottons’ School, Bengaluru, I in the girls’ school, and my brother in the boys’ school, way back in the 1970s. At that time, the actor comedian, Mehmood, was a rage since his two sons were students in the boys’ school.
The Principal at Bishop Cotton Boys’ School (at that time) announced that the movie, `Kunwara Baap’ would be shot entirely at this school for which they definitely required 'extras'. My brother, who had a fancy for appearing in movies, immediately gave up his name. My brother used to tell me that for days on end, the grounds were filled with the movie production unit who were shooting scenes until they turned out perfect. Finally, when all the re-takes and editing was over, the movie was released in theatres, it being a critically successful movie since it had a `feel good’ concept which tugged at one’s heartstrings.
My brother and I went for the movie, with my brother bringing binoculars (thankfully not a telescope!). As the movie began, we were riveted to the screen to follow the gripping tale of a boy who is crippled and yet gets adopted. When my brother appeared as an extra in one of the scenes, he whipped out his binoculars and flung it at me, shouting, “Take a look at me, fast. This is my moment in the sun”.
My brother’s tryst with movies did not end there. In the year 2003, Rajkumar Hirani directed the movie, `Munnabhai, M.B.B.S.’ followed a few years later by `Lage Raho Munnabhai’. Movies do mention before the credits that resemblance to any person in real life is entirely co-incidental. However, the movie’s main hero, Sanjay Dutt, had a similar attitude to my brother who was also mischievous but basically good at heart. My brother, who is an NRI, happened to visit India during the release of this movie. He told me, “Heera, everywhere I go, people keep calling me not Munna, but Munnabhai. So, before I was your brother, now I’m everybody’s brother”!
Since blood is thicker than water, I daresay that in the absence of my parents (both of whom expired), my brother is the next closest of kin. He was the perfect son to my father, and now with his wife and son in tow, he is the perfect and most loving father to his son, Grigoriy. And may I add, with tears in my eyes, he is also the best eldest brother one could ever have, for he has left me valuable lessons for a lifetime, proving that he is and will always be the one and only `Munnabhai’.
By Ms Heera Nawaz, Teacher Co-ordinator, Cambridge School, K.R. Puram, Bengaluru.
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