It’s OK if you laugh at me, Saibaba helped me tell an imaginary story in my first video narration

Sairam friends,

Believe it on not, the fact that I repeatedly wrote in my previous few articles that I wanted to make videos for Sai is actually inspired by a dream Saibaba blessed me with 3 weeks back. It was like I see a old Saint who hugs me and I give him a flask of Coffee. The inherent meaning of the dream I know was Sai’s blessings to create a digitally transformed StarSai.

I wrote about it in these articles –

Saw an old saint hugging and blessing me with light

As the sunlight plays hide and seek, I love to fly

Watching Videos at work

I watch several videos on Technology, Business, Startups, Conferences etc at my work place. One of this guy often used to come near me and said “Wish I do your job?” I laughed at him and said “I too don’t feel comfortable watching videos often but there’s so much to learn.”

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said this in his first email after he became a CEO

“I buy more books than I can finish. I sign up for more online courses than I can complete. I fundamentally believe that if you are not learning new things, you stop doing great and useful things. So family, curiosity and hunger for knowledge all define me.”

I don’t know how long I can take such freedom to watch videos as I wish but wish to do it as long as I am allowed it. On few occasions, my access was cut but I fight for it as it that’s my birth right. People might think I am not working but to me, that’s work. Honestly. What I do when I am not reading or watching these videos is simply time pass. he he….

I did all I can to make the management get some video tutorial subscription paying monthly fee. My expectation was that there must be weekly sessions atleast for few employees who like to upgrade themselves but it did not happen. Once again, I tried to do it this week but people don’t understand me. So I kept calm.  Most IT organizations are creating dull heads who only know about their project and their task. What if a farmer knows to seed but don’t know when and how the plant will bear fruits?

In one of my recent mail, I wrote this

“We might do a major mistake which has failed many corporates – “Working in Silos”.

The knowledge base and decision making process must be equally shared among all the employees which is possible only if everyone goes through some basic learning curve. Not all, in every team has time for this but this is need of the hour if our vision is to transform ourselves as a Digital Services consulting company.”

There is a reason why I share this official information on StarSai which I don’t wanted to reveal. There’s always a connection in Sai’s dreams.

Further, It’s not enough if I expect others to change. I myself have to change according to the trend. Sai was guiding me in the process as he wanted me to go beyond simply telling my life stories…he he.. He gave me a clear sign that he wanted me to try making videos, speak about his glory and also make some inspirational videos. I am not a professional but I have some experience and wanted to use little I know for Sai.

Anyway, Let’s get back to our business.

Sai’s business. The business of blessings!

That’s what my sweet Sai does. Day and Night he thinks about you but you never know. Tears emerge in my eyes now because none of us including me forget that Sai has to take lots of efforts and work really hard to fulfill our desires and also take us in the right path. He works hard so that each and everyone of us will be immensely blessed.

How I did this simple video narration?

The past few days, I practiced to speak because my accent isn’t good. Many times, people ask ‘What you said?” even when I speak clearly. I used to choose a good ebook on Business or Entrepreneurship and read it aloud. I irritated my friends saying “I am practicing to be an Youtube star” and enjoyed it. I like annoying people. Only then, we will get their attention and they will speak to us..he he..Else, I get bored.

There are 2 ways I can narrate. One is by being very matured and say things but in this video, I choose to speak like how we tell stories to children. I like the way the narration happens in “Dora”. I used to speak to my sister’s daughter Katya. My Sis used to shout at me saying “She’s grown up. 9 years old and you speak to her as if she’s a kid”. Anyway, I like speaking to Katya about the Deer which came near her home to drink water, the Rabbits in the neighborhood, the new dolls she got (Pandu the Monkey as we named it is our favorite) , the experience during her bicycle ride with her father etc.

Steal it! Let’s do it

Have you read this book by Richard Branson – Screw it! Let’s do it.  A very inspirational book if you are into entrepreneurship. Similarly, my first video project is all about stealing. I purposely did that way since Sai blessed me with a dream of the song “Chori chori jab nazrein mili”. I wanted to do things secretly and also sneakingly.

I have this microphone we bought before 2 years as we wanted to use it while making a corporate film. It was lying there not being used by anyone because my budget for StarSai videos seems to be more than what my company could afford for their corporate film.. he he.. So I decided to grab it home. I can always buy on my own but this time I have rights to steal this. Because 2 years back, I contributed my personal microphone to office. he he…

It was Friday evening and I was waiting for my friend to complete his work as I enjoy speaking to him on the way to Saibaba temple where he drops me in his car. It was 7…7.10..7.20…and it seemed that he will never start. I was loosing patience because during weekends, my Mom too keeps hold of me saying something during weekends. My maximum time to be at home in tkhe evening is 6. After that, I can’t stay without going to Saibaba temple. I get restless when its getting late to see Saibaba. I do nothing there but don’t know why such a feeling.

Sometimes, I go to temple after its closed, stand outside the gate and worship. What do I get in this? Its really strange.

Edited some info I included here

On my walk back, my friend was asking how come I am devoted to Sai though he’s not a God. You see Sai is in human form. I told him that Sai is Samartha Sadguru, the one who is an incarnation and also self realized. I also have some experiences to love Sai so much.

Its hard to explain various incidents in which Saibaba showed his presence to my friend as the more he drives towards our destination, the lesser the time we have to speak.

I went to Saibaba temple, prayed Sai to make me do some beautiful narration and came home.

I will make you meet Shirdi Saibaba in 1891

I started working on the video narration.

I selected the following story I imagined and wrote before few days –  Come, lets talk with Stars

To avoid the noise getting recorded, I had to switch off the fan. Mosquitoes were biting. I had to bear. I beat the CPU of my computer twice with my palm to make the fans inside work silently. he he..Things are getting old in Sai’s little studio. I re-recorded until I was satisfied.

Editing 

I silently lit lamp to a Samadhi Mandir photo late in the night and filmed with my mobile phone. Previously, I took video of holy fire of Saibaba burning in Dhuni.

Music for the video

Youtube is very strict about copyrights. The Short film I made in 2014 got removed since I used Music from movies. So this time, I wanted to be careful. I tried to purchase music. It was little expensive for me. Kaasu kekuraanunga Saibaba. World doesn’t know this is a low budget production company. I wanted to buy a flute tune couldn’t afford. I already purchased an editing software. So I found a Virtual Keyboard online and composed a piano chimes myself. Indiala A.R. Rahmanku apram namma dhaan Baba. Forgive me for my stupid tune. To make it more professional, I have included sound effects of birds and river water!

Late night arguments at home

It was already 2.30 at night on Friday. I was not so energetic but excited that I am working on a video and wanted to complete it soon. My Father came to my room, saw me working on the computer and went back. With in 5 minutes my Mom shouted at me saying that my Father seems to get chest ache if I am not sleeping everyday like this. I was really annoyed and told them “Don’t put all this drama. Why are you not allowing me to do what I wish?” .

My Ma said I will spoil my health if I am awake every night like this. I told her “Your daughter has all the freedom for what ever she wants to do but I am not. I will die one day doing nothing.”

I shut down my computer and went to sleep blabbering how cruel they are to interfere in what ever I do. I told them, I can only work on this at night as in the morning it will be noisy.

Continued editing all the day

I woke up little late at 8, did pooja and happily started working. There were several arguments saying how irresponsible I am? Well. Am I? Agreed. I am a bad son for you. May be. You speak all that you wish when you are angry on me. I have no other go but to accept it.

Irrespective of several distractions my focus was on completing this simple imaginary journey.

I went to Saibaba temple in the evening, lit lamps and came back home.

Once again its going to be 2 o clock on Saturday night. We are fast approaching Sunday and I wish to lay down before my Ma or Pa wakes up again and show me their love about how bad my health will become if I am awake so late. I made a smaller version of the video just because I wanted it to get uploaded soon.

It’s here..

The way I speak in the video

If you closely observe, I spoke kiddish in several moments of this narration. I don’t wanted to make it matured because this work is for people who love Sai with a innocent heart.

This one is just for You.

Meet Shirdi Saibaba in 1891 – Let’s Talk with Stars 

Hey….We did it!

Sai did it.

I just tried my best but please don’t laugh at me. I had to do it because StarSai is going through digital transformation. We need to capture people’s heart by words,videos, images and music. We are getting there Sai.

We are on our mission.

I am with you and you are with me.

This alone is truth.

My Ma and Pa don’t know what I am doing but have always loved me immensely. Please make them happy. I don’t know how to answer them.

Lots more videos to be created…I am not letting you go.

Sai is not letting you go.

We’ll hook you from the bottom of your heart and tell you stories you have never heared before.

Love,

Venkat