By:
Subhash
K.
Jha,
IndiaFM
Tuesday,
October
17,
2006
Post
his
birthday,
Amitabh
Bachchan
looks
back
on
the
legion
of
honours
that
were
bestowed
on
him
in
the
past
few
days.
A
rather
subdued
birthday
for
you
this
year
Subdued
in
what
sense?
Birthdays
are
just
another
day.
I've
never
looked
at
them
as
something
unusual.
It
was
the
day
I
was
born,
and
in
that
respect
it's
a
special
day.
My
mother
is
in
hospital
and
a
dear
friend
Lalit
Suri
passed
away.
In
fact
I
was
at
the
funeral
the
day
after
my
birthday.
But
I
don't
want
to
categorize
it
as
subdued.
So
was
it
a
day
well
spent?
I
was
with
my
mother
and
the
rest
of
my
family
during
most
of
the
day.
I
liked
that.
Then
some
friends
dropped
by
for
dinner.
Is
family
the
most
important
component
of
your
life?
That
happens
to
be
the
case
with
everyone,
doesn't
it?
You've
doubts
about
that?
Did
you
ever
think
what
life
would
be
like
'When
You're
64'?
Just
because
the
Beatles
sang
a
popular
song
about
being
64,
it
isn't
a
benchmark.
64
is
just
an
age.
One
looks
at
it
as
another
year
in
one's
life,
nothing
more
nothing
less.
What
a
birthday
gift
France
has
given
you!
I'm
quite
surprised....and
honoured.
I'm
grateful
to
the
French
government.
And
I'm
thankful
to
the
film
industry
and
all
my
colleagues.
I'm
not
worthy
of
such
recognition...It's
most
undeserving.
It's
my
job
to
do
whatever
I'm
asked.
It's
up
to
institutions
to
award
and
reward.
Whatever
is
given
to
me,
I
respect
it.
But
if
such
honours
don't
come
my
way
I
wouldn't
brood
about
it.
When
and
how
will
you
receive
the
award?
Well,
the
representative
from
the
French
embassy
has
come
to
me
and
given
me
a
letter
from
their
Ambassador
informing
me
that
the
President
of
France
has
asked
him
to
convey
that
the
Legion
has
been
given
to
me.
Now
a
time
and
venue
for
receiving
the
award
have
to
be
set.
You're
the
second
Indian
after
Satyajit
Ray
to
get
the
Legion.
Does
that
mean
you're
seen
as
the
torchbearer
of
Indian
cinema
abroad?
I
think
it's
a
sign
of
the
acceptance
of
our
escapist
commercial
mainstream
cinema
abroad.
The
mainstream
cinema
was
ostracized
and
ridiculed.
But
now
there's
a
huge
amount
of
acceptance.
That's
quite
obvious
from
the
fact
that
I
see
an
almost
50:
50
ratio
of
Indians
and
non-Indian
whenever
our
films
are
screened
at
festivals
and
other
events
abroad.
I
was
talking
to
someone
who
has
just
returned
from
Australia.
He
confirmed
that
there
was
a
huge
turn-out
of
non-Indians
for
Indian
films.
It's
a
really
healthy
trend.
Speaking
of
Satyajit
Ray
you've
been
associated
with
him
in
the
past...
Yes
I
did
a
commentary
for
his
Hindi
film
Shatraj
Ke
Khiladi.
Manikda
(Ray)
was
known
to
Jaya.
She
worked
with
him
in
her
first
film
Mahanagar.
Obviously
we'd
meet
quite
often.
We
went
to
his
house
several
times,
seen
him
at
work.
How
did
Satyajit
Ray
pick
THE
Voice
(yours)
when
it
wasn't
that
prevalent
?
Far
too
much
is
made
of
THE
voice.
Manikda
wanted
to
have
my
commentary
and
someone
suggested
my
name.
You're
now
considered
the
most
famous
Indian
in
the
world.
How
is
that
for
fame?
Firstly
it's
an
unwarranted
responsibility.
I
don't
believe
it's
the
truth.
However
people
have
the
right
to
look
at
me
however
they
want.
If
I'm
ever
asked
to
represent
the
film
industry
or
the
country
I'd
gladly.
I
hope
I
can
do
a
good
job
of
it.
Aren't
you
already
doing
a
good
job
of
it?
I
don't
know.
This
is
for
others
to
assess.
I'm
doing
my
job
to
the
best
of
my
abilities.
Yes,
I'd
like
to
see
our
country
make
inroads
into
the
world.
I'd
like
the
world
to
look
at
India
with
more
admiration
and
compassion.
Each
one
of
us
is
an
ambassador
to
India.
And
it's
our
duty
to
further
the
cause
of
our
motherland.
How
do
you
rationalize
the
kind
of
success
that
has
come
your
way?
I
don't!
I
feel
I'm
leading
a
normal
life.
You
don't
think
your
success
is
phenomenal?
I
don't.
I'm
not
a
party
to
all
the
wonderful
honours
and
recognitions
that
come
my
way.
These
are
devised
by
institutions.
I
just
go
to
work
every
morning
like
any
human-being
and
come
back
to
be
with
the
family
in
the
evening.
What
I
do
with
my
work
is
in
my
hands.
What
happens
outside
my
orbit
of
work
isn't
in
my
hands.
I
am
in
control
of
my
creativity-at
least
I
hope
I
am.
The
rest
are
peripherals.
I
may
be
a
victim
of
some
of
the
things
that
happen
to
me
from
the
outside.
But
I'm
certainly
not
their
architect.