Conrad Rooks' 1972 adaptation of Herman Hesse's cult novel "Siddhartha" was screened at the recently held Osian Film Festival and the film's leading lady Simi Garewal re-lived the magical movie experience

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Simi's rendezvous with 'Siddhartha' team
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Conrad Rooks' 1972 adaptation of Herman Hesse's cult novel "Siddhartha" was screened at the recently held Osian Film Festival and the film's
leading lady Simi Garewal re-lived the magical movie experience.

"I can't believe I met my Siddhartha co-star Shashi Kapoor after so many years...how many years? I don't know! Shashi has become a recluse. He was so warm. When I
told him I hadn't seen him for decades he told me he doesn't miss my 'Rendezvous' ever," Simi told IANS.

"It was wonderful to catch up with him and a film, which means so much to all of us who were associated with it.

Simi was surprised by the overwhelming response "Siddhartha" received even after so many years.

"At the screening there was no room for people to even stand! I didn't know there were so many people who still remembered the film. In the brief speech that Shashi made
he called himself a cradle-snatcher because according to him I was just a baby when he did 'Siddhartha' with me. So sweet!"

On Sunday evening, Shashi and Simi were felicitated at a surprise get-together. "Siddhartha" director Conrad Rooks could not attend as he reportedly refuses to leave his
adopted home in Pataya, Thailand.

Rooks' first wife Pamela, who made the film "Dance Like A Man", has been in a coma for many months now after a car crash.

Simi, however, recounted her experience while shooting the film.

"I've worked with masters like Satyajit Ray, Raj Kapoor and K.A. Abbas. Conrad Rooks was an altogether different experience. He got together a cast and crew focused on
Buddhism. We all completely believed in what he was doing.

"And how wonderful that I got to work with Ingmar Bergman's permanent cinematographer Sven Nykvist! He photographed the film and me so beautifully."

The screening made her relive 30-year old memories associated with the film.

She sighed in recollected pleasure and said: "Do you know 'Siddhartha' was shot at the bird sanctuary in Bharatpur? We had such great times doing the film. Do you know it
was supposed to be made with Amitabh Bachchan instead of Shashi Kapoor? I recall one evening when Conrad kept referring to some guy he had signed. I couldn't figure
out it was Amitabh for the whole evening that me and the director spent together."

There was a huge controversy surrounding "Siddhartha" when Simi sued a magazine for printing a bare-torso picture of hers on the front cover.

"I guess that was a mistake. I over-reacted. By drawing attention and subconsciously fanning the controversy I ended up having flocks of people seeing the film for all the
wrong reasons. But today 'Siddhartha' is on the curriculum of several major universities in the US. That really makes me feel good. We made the film with our heart and soul.
It was a unique experience."