Futi Filmistani

Night had fallen. The street lamps glowed lazily over Ayeshaa theatre where the ‘Jade Buddha’ and ‘Ramu’ waited in silence. They were a decoy for the person most unwanted by friends.

The guy came riding his Honda Eterno. It was a rare coffee night out with friends. “Hi guys!” and then he spoke his signature sentence “Hey Ramu, u got the movie named….?”

Movies, parties and backing off from risky things at last moment. That’s ‘Futi Filmistani’ in a nutshell. With his electronic beggar’s bowl-an eight GB Kingston pen drive, he frequents the residence of anyone who can give him a movie, a computer game or a good software application. This man is officially rejected by friends. He is not a part of our group. Unable to find a different group, he pressurizes some of us to accompany him to multiplexes for a movie or two. The tolerant, calm Jade Buddha, a stressed out Ramu and me are his main victims.

One night, we had planned a trip to some place and were counting on Futi’s presence. When he learnt that it would take until 2 am to return home, he was mad. Still we took him with us. All was well until Futi got a call from his home and suddenly started screaming “Ab meri futi…baba meri futi (now I am busted….I am so busted!). He took his bike and frantically rushed home alone in the middle of the night. From that day on, he bears the nickname Futi.

Futi is actually a guy with a golden heart. Having tried his luck enough in education, he joined his dad in their hotel and catering business. It is difficult to assess him because he seldom talks about serious things. I have already mentioned the three things on top of his agenda. He is seen helping his dad in his work but is known to leave it halfway. Pure of heart and deeply emotional, I see him everyday dying to recruit friends. Not us, friends in general. His generosity provides a glimpse of his high end lifestyle. Very few people know that Futi is a man with a full wallet and a pro at handling business. He has cooked and fed the customers at his restaurant without anyone’s help.


Sometimes I think he is a child who has forgotten to grow up. Let me get this clear. At some point of our life, we are all influenced by movies. Again, all of us have understood where fantasy stops and reality begins. Futi is a young adult caught up in the mentality of a teenager. He knows about business, cash management, he has the capability to take risks and get through. The only thing he has always feared- yes I am using the correct word- feared, is taking responsibility. People have hinted time and again but the hints have failed to reach him. His parents taunt him all the time and he finds solace in movies.


Warm at first, friends started avoiding him as they got busy in their careers. A distressed Futi then turned to our official spiritual guru the Jade Buddha. Not for a way out of his immaturity but because he thought he could easily subdue JB into wandering with him. I had just left MA and was pondering over my future. A cunning JB directed Futi to me and got himself out. Being Futi’s next door neighbor, I couldn’t get rid of him. I told him I had my audio studio to run. Futi however found that I entertained friends better then I treated him. To control his discontent, I agreed to give him a treat at a local ice cream parlor. The party was full of surprises. Not for him, for me. There, Futi gave me an offer to invest Rs. 5000 in the share market. A movie addict talking of share market? I was shocked.

Then came another shock. While his dad ran the restaurant, Futi had expanded their business into dealership in cashew nuts. He did not hang out with friends because they were nocturnal creatures and he had a shop to open every morning.

He knew that his well doing restaurant might go to his brother currently pursuing commerce in higher secondary school. The cashew business was his alternative. A third shock. He knew! The movie-talk was a deception. He left his restaurant neglected to secure his cashew deals. His brother would have to deal with the turmoil in the restaurant. He was quietly testing the share market for capital. Global economic downturn meant availability of shares at cheaper prices. Bleed now, gain later.

He was not a bumbling movie addict; he was a brilliant market analyst.

The guy I thought was a cat, is actually a tiger.
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