Faridoon Shahryar's Blog


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Steve Jobs, Abba's Advice, Silly Awards Season

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is an extremely engaging book. 'Addictive' will be the right word. The man behind 'Apple' was such a fantastic artiste that it simply mesmerises you. The book is such a glorious read as it also celebrates Jobs' shortcomings (he had many of them). But his sheer passion for thinking differently, getting a great team together to create revolutionary products like iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTunes, giving birth to great movies through Pixar and his sheer will power to rise above all odds is hugely inspiring. He was an indomitable game changer. Will try and write more about the book in detail.

Well, everyone is doing post mortems of the year gone by. Hmmmm, for me 2011 has been the finest year of my life. It has been tough but hugely rewarding. On work front, my interviews have improved by manifolds. My interviews have been widely applauded, and I shall continue to improve my skills.

I was in Aligarh recently. Abba asked me to do an impromptu interview with a noted Hindi writer Prem Kumar who is writing a book on Abba, 'Baaton Mein Mulaqaton Mein Shahryar'. Interview went well and Kumar Saab was visibly impressed. By the end of it, Abba pointed out a mistake and asked me to work on it. I truly admire and thank Abba for this attitude. He is not one of those parents who'll blatantly praise or promote their children out of blind love. He prefers to iron out my mistakes rather than making me complacent.

The awards season will soon start. I find it damn silly and boring. Yes some of the performances are nice. But that's about it. I am thinking of ways to do something different to make our videos at Bollywood Hungama much more interesting. We really slogged hard on producing fine year end special features. The response has been fantastic. We plan to produce many more videos. They will shun gossip and make 'fact based' content look extremely appealing and palatable.

That's it for the time being. Wish all of you happy new year. Enjoy. Be happy. And be yourself, come what may.

7 comments:

  1. Always good to hear from you. And your interviewing skills are on track. Have always found them engaging because you dont ask the same lame questions everyone else does to the point of being boring. I can imagine those you do speak to find it rather refreshing that you might know something. Keep up the excellent work..my friend

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  2. Thanks a lot Margaret...you've been hugely inspiring and encouraging all through the year...

    Thanks Farhan :)

    Cheers

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  3. Always glad to be of any help..and I dont blame you for your sentiments about awards..just another 'commercial' endorsement for other peoples reasons :-P but thats the way of the world..always the best my friend

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  4. Thanks Margaret... much appreciated... :)

    Cheers

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  5. As you know my favorite interviews are the ones with Salman. I have loved your apporach with him ever since I first saw you interview him.. I remember thinking "Finally! an interviewer with some brains, that doesn't ask the same questions and especially the ever dreaded.. 'so when are you getting married' one." You have impressed me from the very beginning and I too think that your interviews have just been better and better! I so look forward to more in 2012. I have also admired that I have hardly ever seen anything you have reported without you first making sure it is fact and not just rumor. This is so important and it's nice to know I can count on and trust you for accurate information. And last but certainly not least, on a personal note, I think you are one extremely talented and generous guy and appreciate your kind nature. I look forward to more songs, poems, and posts from you!
    Wish you all the best in the new year!
    :) Paula

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  6. Thanks Paula :) it is always great interacting with you. Hope 2012 is great for you and your family...

    Best wishes!!!

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