On Apr 20, 1974, news of Awtar Kaul’s dramatic death had spread in the film and art circles like a wild fire. Especially owners and staff of Samovar and Gaylord were badly shocked, since they knew Awtar, as a bright new filmmaker and as their regular visitor. Everyone had something to talk about him. Conversations heard on ‘Apr 19’ became the backbone of the story ‘what might have happened.’ After these ‘snippets of conversations’ of his friends and people from these establishments were pieced together, there emerged a believable story line, with a time line of, not more than 12-14 hours.

First piece from Arab Bungalow (Patel home):

Apr 19, 1974, morning. No one can have any idea exactly what time Awtar left home. Getting out could not be seen as an unusual activity for paying guests of the Patel family. Arun, his roommate too was a busy person by then. He may or may not have noticed him leaving. People go out for work, for fun, for a date or meetings… So his leaving home that day could not be seen as anything special - except that, that late morning Awtar went out for the last time.

Second piece provided by conversations at Samovar:

It is early afternoon, may be just before lunch, when Awtar got there. As Samovar staff knows their regular customers very well. Awtar would be talking about his film, its production, actors, future plans, his frustrations… to his friend Butani, a young independent journalist. She must have been scribbling all the details on her writing pad for press. It would be understood that they spend too much time at that restaurant or at some stage, may have gone away somewhere else. Their relationship was understood to be more than interviewer and interviewee. They met quite often and were together for long hours.

Second piece from a bar:

This is the most important piece of conversation that comes from a painter who narrated it to the cinematographer, Bir. This painter was a part of the group of at least three people, he himself, Awtar and the lady journalist Butani, who were carrying on from their lunch date at the Samovar. They were at the Ritz bar for a drink… after a while as they loosened up, the lady got too emotionally aggressive towards Awtar and let out steam. Due to this loud display of frustration from the woman, the painter now becomes familiar with the tangle between the two. Not only the painter; but ‘memory water marks’ of the scene are left on the staff of the bar too. Later these marks will turn into conversations for completing the story line…

In the end things become a bit calm. The group finishes wine and dine. They pay up. Awtar and the lady offer to drop their painter friend at his residence. He accepts. They take a taxi and head towards ‘White House’ at Walkeshwar via Marine drive.

Closing conversation:

Geography: The painter lived right down where the sea touches the wall of the apartment building. Situated on the right, at the lowest edge of White House, from a distance it looked like a studio apartment or even a garage. But for a painter like him, it must be a beautiful place to live, having unrestricted view of queen’s necklace, the sea and its proximity.

Painter: “After not so comfortable evening at the Ritz, Awtar and Butani came to drop me. They walked me right down till the last point. Nice of them. As I started a short walk to my house, they waited looking at me. They were being really very kind to me. It was a dark, no-moon night. Sea too was extremely noisy and rough due to peak of high tide. Tall waves were banging on the boundary wall of the building. I went inside my house but decided to keep the door open until they went away. I could see both of them talking to each other. Their actions were a bit heated now. I knew they had been having very bad emotional tiffs. I was changing and doing my usual chores. I thought they may be wanting to spend some more time with each other to thrash things out. I went in the toilet. When I came out, they were still there, but now the girl was standing on the parapet, screaming and gesturing towards Awtar and sea. She was throwing her arms all over! She seemed very very agitated. I was alarmed. Thinking of the neighbors getting disturbed, I decided to go out and cool them down. As I turned back after picking my keys, I saw Awtar standing on the parapet, in place of the woman! He was screaming his lungs out looking towards the sea with outstretched arms. I knew worst had happened!  She had jumped in the swollen sea. As I got closer, I could see her being tossed up and down by the waves. Fearing for him, I moved towards Awtar to pull him down to safety. Due to the din, quite a few neighbors had woken up and were standing in their balconies. One of them threw down a nylon rope. I advanced towards Awtar to grab his shirt to bring him down. Just then the waves tossed the woman closer to the wall… and he too jumped down! He caught hold of her. In desperation we threw the rope for them. The girl had stopped trying to save herself. She had lost strength and was floating helplessly. Awtar was holding the rope; but he too was no match for the power of the sea. The waves banged him on the wall many times. They had separated now. Rope was of no use. Someone called up the fire brigade. Waves were now carrying them away from the wall and perhaps towards Chowpati beach. They seemed to have lost consciousness…

It may be a little before midnight, when I lost sight of them due to darkness and growing distance.”

July 19, 1974, 5pm, ground floor of Arab Bungalow, Khetwadi main road, Girgaon, Bombay.

The day did not seem to be any different from earlier ones. Land lords of the large place, Patel family was going through its usual lazy chores. Jayantbhai, Bhabhi and Ba (grandmother) were sitting on the floor, as usual. Kids were back from school. Their servant Tukaram, brought tea from the kitchen for all of them.  Arun, one of their paying guests was also hand over a cup. Between four people there were three different kinds of cups. Nobody in family think about it. Arun also did not seem to care. He was happy to be relaxing for a day from his grueling shooting schedules. Arun’s room partner Awtar Krishna Kaul, producer-director of an under production film titled, 27DN, had left before lunch to meet friends. His regular time-pass adda used to be Samovar at Kala Ghoda. It was the meeting place and savior for so many people of this city, who were either jobless, between jobs, strugglers, starry-eyed, writers, painters… People would order a cup of tea or a beer and stretch its contents to hours, unless suddenly a waiter slides the bill in front. With experience most of them knew when to renew the order well before a waiter got restless…

At 7pm Jayantbhai proudly switched on his Hitachi B&W TV, a star attraction for many. It made a regular gathering of about 15 guests feel very special, watching Chhaya Geet and other weekly movies. Those days it was a huge privilege to be in front of a TV. At 7.30pm Hindi news was scheduled. Jayantbhai and Arun would be anxious to watch it, because of the newsreader. She was a very pretty, young, dusky belle Smita Patil…

Among other political headlines Smita announced that national awards for films have been announced. Arun being a film person got interested. Later giving details of various awards, she said Awtar Krishna Kaul’s film ‘27DN’ had won national award in the best Hindi film category! Suddenly a spell of utter disbelief fell over everyone. Jaws dropped down. How could something so special happen to someone living right here inside their home? Their own paying guest? Might be a mistake. But when a clipping of the film was shown, the emotions tuned into a high-pitched excitement! Arun especially was so ecstatic. After all he was an assistant recordist in that film! Patel family boasted to all the TV watching neighbors that the news of the award was about their paying guests. Arun became an instant hero among them. Jayantbhai boasted, ‘Awtar has gone out right now… he and Arun live in that room there…’

As the national award news sunk in, something had to be done to celebrate it. They decided to organize a grand party to announce the news to Awtar and then celebrate with him. Arun and Jayantbhai went out and got a bottle of whiskey and a rum from a wine shop near Dreamland cinema. On their way back they picked up lot of snacks, like assorted bhajia, gathia, batata wada etc go with the drinks…

Awtar was still not back. Therefore, everyone used the time to organize glasses, put extra bottles of water in fridge and took out nice plates for snacks. It was past 8pm. He had to be back soon. Arun decided that they all go and watch TV again to watch the English news bulletin too (mainly to reconfirm). Normally, Arun and Jayantbhai would pour a drink around 8pm. So, 9pm was quite late. Unanimously they decided to clink the glasses at 9.30 and keep waiting for Awtar. With noisy cheers in the name of Awtar, Arun, 27DN and National award, this small group of friends took their most exciting first sip…

At 10.30, Ba (grandmother) peeped in asking has he not come yet. Arun said, ‘no.’ She said, ‘he also must be drinking somewhere like you all. Do you think he doesn’t know about the news?’ That put a different perspective in everyone’s head. ‘Yes’ all felt, he could be knowing and may be celebrating with people of his own status. Everyone felt that whey should stop making noise and go out for dinner, as the family had to sleep…

Arun took the main door key from Tukaram before going to sleep. In case Awtar arrived too late and too drunk, he would open the gate quietly…

3am, Arun thought he heard a tap on his room door that in fact ajar. He thought Awtar is here finally. But it was Jayantbhai, who was shaking him. Arun thought he wanted the door key, but he said there was call for him. Call? At this time? Many quick ‘dark’ flashes crossed his mind. His father, mother, accidents god knows what. Arun was just about 23 years old and he was shit scared of getting a bad news from his family. In his drunken sleep Arun asked who has called? Jayantbhai said ‘call is from the police station and they are talking all crap. I don’t understand what they are saying.’ In the darkness Arun got up in his underwear and walked to the phone in outer verandah. ‘Hello’ he said. Caller voice identified itself as a police inspector. Arun said, ‘yes, I am Arun Sharma’ and in few seconds he sat down on the floor while listening to the cop. The receiver slipped from his hand and he passed out…

Jayantbhai was shaking him up. Arun had gone to sleep again sitting on the floor with the receiver hanging near his face. Jayantbhai put the phone to his ear and kept it down. Slowly both realized what had happened. Around 4am a police jeep noisily stopped near the gate of Arab Bungalow and two cops shook the collapsible gate. Arun was awake now and was dressed in pant shirt. Entire Patel family was awake too. Arun stepped out. He said, ‘I am Arun Sharma’. He was made to sit at the back of the jeep. They drove to Nair hospital near Bombay central station. Arun followed two cops to a room where a police inspector was sitting. ‘Come in’, inspector duty said and pointed him to a chair to sit. A green curtain was drawn at his side. Inspector held a small telephone diary in his hand and was going through it. Arun knew it belonged to Awtar. In a moment inspector got up smartly and said, ‘come’, drawing the green curtain aside. They both entered. There he was. On the stretcher was Awtar in his familiar red kurta. Inspector asked, ‘is he Awtar Krishna Kaul’. ‘Yes’ Arun mumbled moving closer to him. He noticed many bruises and cuts on his forehead and face. Arun went closer to him and lifted his hair from his forehead to see if there was any other major hurt. Perhaps he wanted to touch his face and hair. He also became very angry with Awtar. ‘Why’, he thought, ‘what was the need to be so rash in life?’ They both moved out and sat in chairs. Arun had never felt an emotional tide of that magnitude in his life. He was just 23 then. Deeply shaken from inside he had managed to stand steady through it.

Inspector narrated his version. “Awtar’s body was seen floating in the sea at Girgaon Chowpati at around midnight. Fire brigade was called and with great difficulty they fished him out. You see it is no moon night and high tide was at its peak. He was rushed to Bhatia hospital, closest from there. He was alive then. For some reason they refused admission. Then he was rushed here; but was declared dead on arrival.”

For the police, identification of the body was complete. Arun was free to leave. He came out and same jeep dropped him back home.

Everyone was awake. Arun sat with them. Bhabhi made some tea. Arun narrated what he saw and reproduced inspector’s version of the incidence. Nobody knew how to react to this sudden reversal in fortune.

Arun could not sleep in the room, next to Awtar’s empty bed for many months.

Shooting of 27 DN started on Aug 19, 1972 at Malad's Mudh Island, with scenes between Rakhee and M K Raina.

Rimko u r there?
in Afg...?
8:20pmRima
hi arun uncle
8:21pmArun
hi
8:21pmRima
yes
i am in kabul
i am in kabul
8:21pmArun
how does it look as first exp?
8:22pmRima
war torn
everything broken
damaged
8:22pmArun
oh even the city?
8:22pmRima
lots of military
it looks like parts of kashmir/the pahadi region
yah, kabul
8:22pmArun
ok
damaged so much / sad
8:22pmRima
the afghans are STUNNING , Men especially
so so good looking.
8:23pmArun
actually women too but they cover so much
8:23pmRima
yah, some afghan women are pretty
not all.....
but all the afghan men look good
without exception, literally
8:23pmArun
r they friendly or undoubting?
cool
8:24pmRima
very very friendly
8:24pmArun
vow
8:24pmRima
soo hospitable, simple
8:24pmArun
grt
8:24pmRima
people
8:24pmArun
hope u r clicking pix of those frndly people
i wanna see
them too
8:26pmRima
i have not clicked that much yet.
coz our movements are so restricted
im in a armoured car
bullet proof car
all the time
i go to work and I come back.
last night I had a scare
8:26pmArun
what
8:27pmRima
you know the UN has cleared about 6-8 restaurants that expats community can visit
8:27pmArun
do u hear gun shots etc in distance?
ok
8:27pmRima
and all the restaurants have disguised entrances, so keep it quiet and underground away from the taliban
8:27pmArun
hmmm
8:28pmRima
so last night my colleagues were going to this restaurant
and I joined them later around 9.30
i called for the car to drop me, and so we went on our way
and we suddenly stopped at a checkpost.
8:28pmArun
ok
8:29pmRima
we've been given security briefing that there are many checkposts and so we must not get off, the driver
ad the body guard will deal with it.
8:29pmArun
ok
8:29pmRima
so i just stayed quiet, saying my prayers
then the guard opens my door and asks me to step out
8:30pmArun
;-/
8:30pmRima
i hesitated but I had to, so I did.
then the guys at the checkpost aasked me to enter a room
8:30pmArun
OMG
8:30pmRima
i thought this is it, I am going to be arrested and taken away in my second day
8:31pmArun
haan
8:31pmRima
then I stepped into the room ( by then I was shaking), it was a small room
8:31pmArun
Rima is no longer online. The following was not sent:
ok (send as a message)
8:32pmRima is online.
8:32pmRima
then I stepped into the room ( by then I was shaking), it was a small room
one guy was there with a desk and chair
and he looks at me up and down and asked me if I were afghan
8:32pmArun
u were in burqa na?
8:33pmRima
i said no, he asked if I have a passport, I showed him my passport and then he asks me to step into a
door.
no no, in kabul u don't have to wear a burkha, but u have to wear long kurtas ad shalwars or pants
underneath and u have to cover ur head with a head scarf
8:34pmArun
ok
then?
8:34pmRima
then i step into the next room, that room is much bigger and it has a "charpai" u know those beds u have
in dhabbas in punjab
8:35pmArun
haan
8:35pmRima
I just started crying, i thought i was going to get raped and killed or sold to the taliban !!!!!!!
by then I was really trembling
then suddenly the man screams loudly and another door opens
8:35pmArun
my god rima...
8:36pmRima
and one man comes out and says okay, you have been cleared for security and u can enter the restaurant
!!!!!!!!!!!
I was shaking for the next 2 hours
8:36pmArun
so this security post was for restaurant?
8:36pmRima
Apparently this restaurant had been under attack by the taliban in the past coz its only for foreigners and
they had increased security
and created the entrance like a check post
i had no clue
no one informed me at work
8:37pmArun
oic
8:37pmRima
i was terrified all evening after that
8:37pmArun
thank god
yaar
8:37pmRima
yah, so all restaurants apparently have this sort of entrance and disuise
8:37pmArun
u had dinner?
8:38pmRima
i was alone for the first time in the car yesterday and its only my second day, so don't know much
was really frightening
8:38pmArun
i m sure
8:38pmRima
i can laugh about it now, but it wasn't funny yesterday
8:38pmArun
no no even i cant laugh about it
after hearing it from u
Rima if u got things to do u can carry on

Rima is no longer online. The following was not sent:
because i m at home just chatting with u (send as a message)
8:40pmRima is online.
8:40pmRima
yah
so its scary
in many ways
im nervous to go anywhere alone
coz u just never know
they think i am afghan every where
8:41pmArun
but my dear u r not supposed to go alone na
8:41pmRima
if i dont open my mouth, everyone talks to me in dari or pashtu
but the advantge is that almost every afghan speaks urdu and hindi
8:41pmArun
oh strange
8:41pmRima
so its perfectly fine
most fled to pakistan during the taliban and returned after 2001
and they all watch hindi movis
so they have a pakistani accent
most afghan
8:42pmArun
really?
8:42pmRima
so it feels like home
yah
8:44pmArun
rima sushila says hi to u she is with indu
in pune
went for 2 days
8:44pmRima
oh okay
yes, I was talking to mamma on skype
last evening
and sushila aunty just reached home
8:45pmArun
oh ok / what r ur hotel rooms like?
8:45pmRima
so i talked to her little bit too
8:45pmArun
how many of u in a room?
8:45pmRima
im staying in a guest house uncle
8:45pmArun
ok
8:45pmRima
the compny has 2 guesthouses
about 3 floors, 6 rooms in the house
in each guesthouse
we have a common dining, kitchen
and we have a cook who cooks for us dinner
8:46pmRima
breakfast nad lunch we eat at the office
8:46pmArun
ok good / this comp is urs or company's
8:47pmRima is offline.
8:50pmArun
rima chalo byee u take care i love you
8:51pmRima
okay uncle lots of love xoxoxoxo
talk to you soon
i'll try and take photos