Sojourn In Singapore.
My holiday in Singapore is coming to an end. I am going back to India,on 26th February 2013. I had come here in December 2012, on 1st December to be precise.
I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Singapore this time. I will be carrying back vivid memories of my stay here for the past 10 weeks. The morning walks around the Condo, " The Eden " ,
the serene sounds of water flowing and dripping down from the Swimming Pool and the inflow of water into the pool by way of fountain springs and a waterfall in one side, gives me immense peace of mind and a pleasant feeling of undisturbed calmness in the mornings after my walk. I sit by the pool side for about 10 minutes, after a 30 minute brisk walk around the condo. It is so invigorating to the mind and body.
The outings I had to the Changi Village Indian Temple, a Ramalayam, book shopping at the Kinokunia, in the Takashi Maya Mall on Orchard Road, the site seeing at the Esplanade by the night, the films I saw in the Tampines Golden Village Multiplexes, the Lectures I attended on Srimad Bhagavatam at Clementi, at the residence of an affluent Family of Indian ( Vijayawada ) origin, for 5 days, were all, most satisfying to both the body and the Spirit.
The films I saw at home in the downloads of old English Movies was another pleasant experience. When it rained incessantly and going out of doors was impossible, Movies on the Video circuit were the natural option to spend time. Movies of 1960s like " Operation Crossbow ", " 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ", brought back memories of those classic movies and those Actors and Actresses, who enacted their characters so flawlessly and efficiently with dignity and poise, that you could hardly believe that they were acting their roles.
And the last movie I saw was the famous 1953, classic, " The Roman Holiday ", starring Gregory Peck, and Audrey Hepburn, who was introduced in this movie. The story of a Royal Princess who goes out of the Royal Protocol and roams around Rome as an incognito commoner, for 24 hours, but goes back to her normal life in her Royal Family, to uphold the tradition of Royalty in her country, is depicted, superbly, by the Director and the Stars. The last scene where the Princess holds a Press Conference is so moving and touching that you just cant believe your eyes as you see the Princess express her emotions in her eyes and face when she has to face the journalist who shows her around Rome when she goes out on her adventure to roam around as a commoner. The dignity and poise she displays in conducting the Press Meet and the way the " Gentlemen of the Press ", conduct themselves in asking questions, is some thing this generation Press Corps, must see and learn.
Talking of Audrey Hepburn, reminds me of the interesting story of how she was to do the role of the Flower Girl in Bernard Shaw's famous play " Pygmalion ", which was being made as a Film called " My Fair Lady " in mid 60s, in place of Julie Andrews, who was doing this Play on the Broadway Stage for more than a year by then. Every one expected the producers Warner Brothers who made this film to cast Ms. Andrews for the principal role of the poor Flower Girl, Eliza Dolittle. But Warner Brothers took Audrey Hepburn for the role which was a big surprise for every one. And for Ms. Andrews it was a great shock and disappointment. They say she almost went into a depression. To cheer her up, 20th Century Fox, promised her to produce a big Musical, casting her in the pivotal heroine role, to offset her disappointment of losing the My Fair Lady role.
And, Yes, they made the film " Sound of Music ", an all time super hit of a Musical, which had Romance, both teen age and middle aged ones, suspense, a gripping story and all time, hit songs. Most importantly seven young children played a great part in the success of this movie, with the all time favourites " Doe Ray Me ---- doe a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun,----" , and "one little bird popping upto say Cuckoo ! " and the last line sung by the youngest child in the cast, " the Sun has gone to bed and so must I ". These songs were a real match to the My Fair Lady songs, like " All I want is a room somewhere ---", " The rains fall mainly on the Plains of Spain,------- and where are the soggy plains ? --- In Spain in Spain " ! And both Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music turned in Oscar Winning Performances. I am not sure whether they got the Oscars for these films. But they were both stunning performers.
Such were the Movies, the competitive Spirit between Producers and Stars and the quality of Cinema we saw in the Fifties and Sixties. Those days will not come back. Those films will not be made again. Those Stars will not come again.
