Charlie Chaplin turns 116 in a Kutch town

There's not much to see in Adipur. But today, this prosperous outpost in the Kutch desert, about 20 km from the Kandla port in Gujarat, comm...

There’s not much to see in Adipur. But today, this prosperous outpost in the Kutch desert, about 20 km from the Kandla port in Gujarat, commemorated an event most of us didn’t even know about: Charlie Chaplin’s 116th birthday.

Late in the evening, 56-year-old Dr Ashok Aswani, president of the town’s club of Chaplin addicts, Charlie Circle, culminated four days of celebration with a cake-cutting ceremony for The Tramp, before settling in with neighbours and friends to watch Gold Rush for the nth time.

Yesterday, the children had yelled, ‘‘Charlie aave che (Charlie’s coming),’’ as robust youngsters in Chaplin taches and bowler hats strutted through the tiny city.

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Yes, Charlie Chaplin left the world 28 years ago, but these weren’t times for commiseration. The celebrations brought thousands onto the streets as Adipur broke out into a kilometre-long parade complete with lookalikes, camel carts and live bands.

Sixteen children, from six to 16, in mini bowlers and suits, did the ‘‘post-wedgie’’ Chaplin walk in 35 degree-plus heat. But the commotion had a slightly less reverential aspect as well—Australian documentary film-maker Kathryn Millard had arrived with a three-man crew to shoot the Indian arm of her film Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie.

Millard, a Sydney-based film researcher, has spent the last five years working on a documentary on modern interpretations of Chaplin. Adipur’s Charlie club is the only Indian entrant.

So, whereas in most years April 16 might have been a quiet affair, it had all the markings of a veritable religious event this time. Parents, whose association with Chaplin mania began and ended with just saying his name right, bought their kids to participate for the watching cameras.

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Charlie Circle began 30 years ago with Dr Aswani, a local Ayurvedic practitioner and former FTII student, plus confirmed Chaplin fan: “I worship him.’’

The club and its members circulate Chaplin movies and hold extensive mime sessions several times a month. The result is that in this town even a few six-year-olds know the plot of classics such as Gold Rush and Modern Times. “In Chaplin’s movies, even if there are fights, they laugh and get over it,” said 13-year-old Kajal Thakkar, one of three female Chaplins in the procession.

As for Adipur’s funny weekend, Pradeep Joshi, a founder member of Charlie Circle said: ‘‘There’s simply no one like Chaplin.’’