Of words and actions

Last couple of days had 2 experiences which were really interesting and felt were worth mentioning as well. One was about a book that I am presently reading – Year of Intern by Robin cook and other was an interview on a Youtube channel of a director. 

I have read many of his novels, but this particular novel of Cook had a different feel from beginning page itself. The foreword by Cook mentioned that the entire novel was written from inside a submarine and probably was one his earlier novels. Initially I couldn’t put a finger on it but when I realized that the first chapter went never ending, finishes at 102 page, something struck. Whenever I write blog posts, I just keep typing whatever comes to mind. Never ever had I any thought of converting any of the stories into books or even to write one for that matter from scratch. But realized that, if at all I had tried my hand, the end result would’ve been something similar. The novel that I am reading is just half way down and rest of the half is split into couple of more chapters. But still, one basic change from other books that I could notice was, the lack of editing or probably something to that effect. It was unlike his other novels, where The first chapter usually will start with someone dying of a disease. This was more like a diary that went on and on and beyond a point wasn’t even sure if it was all happening on same day or over a period of time. By the time the second chapter came, titled day 172, was even more confused. But the point being, it made me realize, even for such a great novelist like Robin cook, it is the presentation that matters alongside the content. In my stories, whatever little I’ve posted here, the way it spilled over into next post was sheerly based on my mood at that point to ramble on more. It made me realize how important it is to have some edit and proof read the content. You may’ve masterful piece of a story, but if not told interestingly, it just waste of good effort.

The same point was reinforced from the Youtube interview of VasanthaBalan, a long time associate of Director Shankar. He had been part of 3 super hits of Shankar, Gentleman, Kadalan and Indian. When he started his career as an independent director, his first movie was an utter flop. One could hear the anguish he went through and the stinging feedback that were given on him by his friends and peers and when he started mentioning the efforts he took on the next 4 years in molding himself into preparing his craft, one could hear his pure unbridled passion. The way he explained what went behind screens during filming of Veyil, his super hit movie, it was as if a movie in itself was getting narrated. In fact, his story between Album, his debut movie, till Veyil, could make a decent enough movie. His meteoric rise as a great director with Angadi theru and his deep down fall of flops in Aravan and Kaaviyathalaivan could make an awesome prequel. It was a great lesson for anyone trying in movie industry that despite being well connected and having been trained by a master successful craftsman, despite having good literary background and control on his story telling skills, people still fail. 

Even for the best of people, they do fail and the way they come out of it is by learning and learning alone. The failures are not just one single stepping stone to success and they are strewn everywhere. Not giving up and trying the hell out afresh is the way to overcome.