Ever since my friend Mahesh succumbed to Cancer , I have not had the inclination or should i say courage to watch a movie that has cancer as its central theme…..even Philadelphia kind of got me all soppy – that was not because of Tom hanks or Denzel.

I had the chance to facilitate and train in Ahmedabad yesterday and we passed the campus of the famed Indian Institute of Management , my memories went back to my interview for admission and the manner in which a Prof Meenakshi Mallya ( i think i have the name right? ) cornered me and of course thankfully refused me an admission. Thankfully because it gave me my life’s loveliest two years …. listening to mahesh play and of course my friend T.T.Srinath sending me up on Stage for the first time ( I did get on stage in my school days though) to play a small sketch based on “the tea house of the August Moon”.

I was also remembering how I cycled to Mahesh’s house, in the lane next to ACM Rakeswari Kalyana Mandapam, when in my 8th standard with my new BSA Aristocrat bicycle , the coverage of the article in a Tamil magazine on Mahesh and his group “Versatiles” – called Kalyanaththil Come September ( Come September in a Marriage), the practice sessions in that house behind Nageswara Rao Park – they were trying to get Solitary Man going…..and friend ramaswami Subbiah was also going…his own way. Much to mahesh’s chagrin. Great times.

Well we had even greater times in those wonderful musical evenings at my place and the memories as years rolled on and alcohol clouded were a bit dimmer than the school/college day memories.

In the seminar i had been exhorting people to unblock their minds, remove bias and prejudice, overcome irrational fears and face life square on. Hence, when I got back home past midnight – terribly long hopping flight from there to chennai – I decided to watch – “The Bucket List “…..

Boy what a film and what performance. That settled , self assured , dignified performance from Morgan freeman and that flamboyant , leery , devil may care one from jack Nicholson. No , I did not cry for I was just so enthralled at this display of histrionic brilliance that I did not feel anything else but a deep desire to applaud genius.

My friend mahesh too had a Bucket list of sorts…only this was to his friends after he kicked the proverbial bucket…..to do ‘something’ for the Cancer Hospital in Adayar. I am so proud that his friends have all done him proud – The Mahesh Memorial Paediatric Ward was inaugurated and is doing well – Kudos to Chithra and the other Trustees of the Mahesh memorial trust………

For those who want to listen to what the Big B had to say about the Trust I give the link to my you tube posting of the “kaun banega Crorepathi” episode that Mani Ratnam , another friend , was able to get going for us to raise funds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqV6gL7zzYo

I have posted a few snaps we took during those great music sessions………check out PICASA

http://picasaweb.google.com/mohanraman/MaheshAndMusicalEvenings?feat=directlink

Well mahesh….your Bucket is nicely full my friend…… while many of us dont seem to realise that we have to get our respective bucket list ready….and pray that we are able to inspire our friends the way you did with aplomb and ease.