Welcome Back Guest!
  • Share It
  • Del.icio.us
  • Twitter
  • Digg It
  • Furl
  • Mangolia
  • Newsvine
  • Readit
  • Stumbleupon
  • Technorati
  • My Yahoo
  • Google
  • Live
  • Favourites
  • Slashdot
  • Facebook
  • Simply
  • Mixx
  • Myspace
  • Email this page
 

Plz read this article"I cried 'Laletta' and he turned to look at me"


 


  • jumin1986

    Rank:Member
    Total Posts:79
    Location:India
  • Posted On: 13/Oct/2010 15:8:7
    Plz read this article"I cried 'Laletta' and he turned to look at me"
    WE all have our favourite stars ... some love sporting heroes and for others it's music-makers or celluloid sensations who get their spines tingling. The question is; how best to portray our adoration if we are ever blessed to meet them in the flesh, writes Shilpa Chandran.

    My all-time favourite actor was coming to town and the editor had pencilled me in to cover the story.

    The day arrived. Thursday, October 7. South Indian superstar Mohanlal was booked to unveil the 42nd global store of renowned Indian jewellers, Malabar Gold, its first store in Bahrain.

    As brand ambassador, the actor accompanied top officials of the company for the opening, which was held at the Gold City in Manama.

    As thousands of fans gathered outside the store I avoided the crowds and made my way to a specially arranged press conference at the Gulf Hotel where the company had promised to outline its expansion plans and give those with gutsy determination the opportunity to get up close and personal with the actor.

    GulfWeekly photographer, Jayson De Leon, sales and marketing director Susan Tealby and I had tried to reach the store but failed miserably because of the crowds.

    But avoiding the mob meant a long and lonely wait. If it was tough getting in, it was certainly difficult getting out.

    So we waited for Mohanlal and waited ... An hour and a half later the delegation finally arrived after navigating its way through to the hotel. Not knowing the VIPs had arrived, I left my seat in the press conference hall for a glass of water.

    My timing was perfect. The door was open and our eyes met. Mohanlal was looking straight at me.

    Like a flustered schoolgirl my knees started knocking, I forced a meek smile and walked back to my seat hoping that the room would stop swaying.

    I sat down with a silly grin on my face and waited for Mohanlal and his patrons to be led to the stage.

    Silence prevailed as the main guest took to the podium. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop. All eyes were on him.

    Mohanlal may not be considered a drop-dead gorgeous Brad Pitt look-alike but he possess a charming style and oozes a captivating charisma.

    At 50 he has proved time and time again that age does not define the X-factor.

    When the event was over, everyone rose to take group pictures. I moved closer to the stage to have a word with him before he left.

    He exited the stage and as I watched others shake his hands and take pictures, I stood numb, not knowing what to do. In a voice that was barely even audible enough for me to hear, I called out to him a few times -'Sir, hello'.

    He didn't hear me. I began to panic. He was leaving the venue right in front of me and I still stood devoid of the photograph which I had planned to get framed and put on my wall.

    I was stuck behind his delegation and, in desperation, I searched the crowd for some way out. I slowly began walking with the crowd and still calling out to him, 'sir'.

    Someone in the crowd called out - 'rush, or else he will leave' and THAT was all the encouragement I needed to collect my nerve and make my move.

    Nudging everyone out of my way and with my right hand stretched out, I called loudly: 'Laletta'!

    'Lalettan' is a term of endearment used to refer to Mohanlal by his fans - Lal, from the latter part of his name and 'etta' or 'ettan' meaning brother in Malayalam.

    It worked. He stopped and turned back and by then my extended arm had also landed on his shoulder.

    The scene had all the ingredients of a climax-filled Bollywood box-office smash. I froze as I suddenly felt a billion eyes staring at me! I asked him in Malayalam - 'can I please have a picture with you' for which he smiled and nodded.

    What happened next was a blur as my heart began racing.

    I had practiced this scene all my life - what would I tell Mohanlal if I ever met him? Should I tell him how important I felt that we belonged to the same district in Kerala or that my grandfather and his father were colleagues at some point in their lives or that I use lines from his famous films everyday in all my conversations with friends?

    Instead, I blurted: 'I am such a big fan of your work'.

    I still can't believe that is what came out of my mouth after having practised this moment for most of my life.

    I don't have any complaints, however, because in response to my comment, he replied in his shy manner with a mischievous smile that we all love him for - 'thank you'.


  • dikkammayi

    Rank:Member
    Total Posts:275
    Location:India
  • Posted On: 13/Oct/2010 16:45:23
    Congrats Jumin
    I am glad for ur success in meeting Lalettan. I know it was a moment to cheer on. Best wishes Friend. And thanks for sharing this with us...

    ......DikKamMayi

  • jumin1986

    Rank:Member
    Total Posts:79
    Location:India
  • Posted On: 13/Oct/2010 19:39:0
    Reply
    Sorry brother this is not my experience,this is Shilpa Chandran experience


  • vshekar

    Rank:Member
    Total Posts:391
    Location:India
  • Posted On: 14/Oct/2010 8:53:52
    Juminey makkaley kollada nee...
    Jumin nice work. I felt very nice reading this article, happiness filled my mind i dont know.Again a good work.keep it up.

    with lot of fun and love only, vishnu
start new topic 
Time Now: Thursday, March 28, 2024,10:16:50 PM




rss RSS