Bala – the name that will forever be associated with laughter and memories of a dear friend who had a zest for life, even in the face of adversity.
As I watched the movie Bala, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a hilarious incident that occurred many years ago. I was visiting Charak Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai with two of my colleagues, Dr. Seetharam Prasad and Dr. Anirudh Tripathi. We were waiting in the lounge when the receptionist asked us to meet either Subramanyam or Balasubramanyam, who were heading the marketing team. Both men were present in the office that day, and I was confused about how we would identify them since they shared the same name.
But Dr. Tripathi quickly came to the rescue and said, “Jisko bal hai wo Balasubramanyam, jisko nahi hai wo Subramanyam,” which roughly translates to “The one with hair is Balasubramanyam, the one without is Subramanyam.” We all burst into laughter at this comical introduction, and it set the tone for the rest of the day.
Over the years, I stayed in touch with Balasubramanyam, and every time he called me, he would introduce himself as “Sir, I am BalaSubramanyam, remember, the one with hair.” It became an inside joke between us, and we would always share a laugh whenever we spoke.
Sadly, a few years ago, Balasubramanyam passed away from cancer. I spoke to him once I heard about his illness, and even though his voice was weak, his spirit was still as strong as ever. He made the joke one last time, saying, “I am bala sir, even cancer could not take away my bal.” We laughed together one more time, and that was the last time we shared a laugh.
Although Balasubramanyam is no longer with us, his love for hair and his infectious sense of humor will always stay with me. The sight of people with voluminous hair always triggers memories of Balasubramanyam and how he taught me the significance of humor in uniting people, even during difficult moments.
