Ruskin in movie theatre after 25-year hiatus

Tony Tharakan

Thanks to the InternationalFilm Festival of India, writer Ruskin Bond came out ofhibernation to watch his first film in a movie theatreafter 25 years. Incidentally, his choice - 'The Blue Umbrella' -which premiered here yesterday was director Vishal Bharadwaj's screen adaptation of a short story writtenby Bond himself.

"It's after 25 years that I found myself inside amovie theatre. Although an avid film buff, I live inMussoorie where there are unfortunately no theatresnow," the 71-year-old author said today. 'The Blue Umbrella,' slated for a May 2006release, is set in Himachal Pradesh and revolvesaround an eleven-year-old girl's quest for a lostumbrella believed to have magical powers.

"The film is based on a story I wrote 20 yearsago. I knew some children there and wove this fablearound them," he said. "The umbrella is symbolic of what people want inlife. It's about how human generosity ultimatelyovercomes greed," Bond added.

However, this is not his first tryst withBollywood. Back in 1980, his novel 'A Flight ofPigeons' became the basis for Shyam Benegal'sacclaimed film 'Junoon.' But Bond may not have to wait too long for anotherrendezvous with the desi box-office.

"Vishal has evinced interest in making anotherfilm based on one of my horror stories. But right nowhe's busy with his film on Othello," the author told PTI. The only point of contention seems to be whetherBond's stories are scary enough in the 21st century.

"It's funny how children come up to me and saythey don't find my horror stories scary enoughcompared to the stuff they see today," the authorsaid. Although Bond hasn't been able to catch up onother films at the film festival, he's happy that IFFIis being held here.

"This would give me an excuse to come to Goaagain," he said. Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1934, Bond has writtenover a hundred short stories, essays and novels. His first novel 'The Room On The Roof,' writtenwhen he was seventeen, garnered the John LlewellynRhys Memorial prize in 1957. The acclaimed author alsowon the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992.