I haven’t seen a film in 50 years: APJ Abdul Kalam

He was here on a hop-in-hop-out tour of Mumbai, a book launch one night, followed by at least four events packed into a single day, but ex-president Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, shakes off the brunt of the schedule, his trademark locks rising above a cheerful demeanour that belies his age. “You know, I started early at nine am,” he smiles, referring to his day out.

What seems to have erased any hint of his arduous schedule is Kalam’s own sense of belonging here. “Mumbai is such a heroic city”, he says leaning forward with a twinkle in his eye, adding, “It reminds me of something my teacher taught me. She said, ‘If you choose to embark on complex missions, there will also be complex problems, but you must learn to be captain of them, overcome them. The people in Mumbai are like that,” he added.

But what made the trip extra special for Kalam was his friend, Rusi Lala (the official biographer of the late JRD Tata), who recently released his own autobiography. “I had to be here for someone who has put faith into so many people,” he said. Kalam, a best-selling author himself, admits it left him delighted. “I have orbited the sun 77 times, not yet 78, mind you, and here I am, celebrating this 81-year young scholar.” Lala’s book, The Thread of God in My Life, “Moved me to tears,” admitted Kalam. “I read it from eight in the night to three in the morning at a continuous pace.” 

As he partook of a simple cup of chai with his idlis and sambhar, clearly the vestiges of his presidential responsibilities have receded, allowing him more time to engage in more preferred pursuits. “Well, I still teach, and then I enjoy my music too – it really puts me in high spirits. I’m especially fond of Carnatic music. It elevates the mood when you are feeling depressed.”

It’s also known that one of Kalam’s favourite pastimes is to pluck at a veena. “I had learnt it long ago, but I haven’t been able to practice much,” he confesses.  But while he may engage in other astral pursuits, Bollywood stars haven’t managed to make an impact on Kalam yet. “I haven’t seen a film in 50 years,” he declares.

In a day’s work
Inauguration of St Xavier’s Malhar conclave
OPPA  symposium at ITC Grand Central
Inauguration of Indian Music Academy Forum 
Speech at Veermata Jijabai Tech Institute