'The queen of America had come' and Laura Bush debuts on Indian telly: PICTURES

Rediff ^ | March 02, 2006 | Rediff

[CarrotAndStick]

Laura debuts on Indian telly

Vaihayasi P Daniel in New Delhi | March 02, 2006 16:21 IST
Last Updated: March 02, 2006 18:17 IST

She was very friendly. Great fun. It was just like the visit of a friend," says Niret Alva, president and executive producer, Miditech Pvt Ltd, of his meeting with US First Lady Laura Bush on the sets of the Indian version of Sesame Street, Galli Galli Sim Sim in New Delhi on Thursday.

After the American first couple's visit to Rajghat, the American President set out for Hyderabad House for his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Laura Bush struck it out on her own and headed across Delhi to Noida to tape a segment of Galli Galli Sim Sim, which is being produced by Miditech in conjunction with Turner Cartoon Network.

In the segment, which was filmed on Thursday, the children are told to welcome a special guest who is Laura Bush.

She spent an hour on the elaborate and very colourful Indian sets of the popular American television show for children, meeting four of the main characters (Chamki, Bhoombah, Achoo, Googli), the children participating on the show as well as the technical crew and doing the shoot.

Says Alva, "Laura Bush and (Children's Film Socierty Chairman) Nafisa Ali taught the kids to count from one to five on this segment. The episode was in Hindi but Laura Bush, of course, spoke in English. She talks very well because she has a background in education."

The visit came about because of Laura Bush's involvement with the Sesame Workshop in the US. "And then she had a very good experience on the Egyptian sets of Sesame Street (in Cairo on her visit to Egypt in 2005). When they knew Mrs Bush was going to be here the Sesame Workshop invited her on the Indian sets. And she was very happy to come to our sets. There was huge attention to details in the organisation of her visit. And fantastic security arrangements," says Alva.

Galli Galli Sim Sim focuses on a typical Indian street scene with the four Indian-style Muppets. According to Alva, Laura Bush was very enthusiastic in her participation in the market scene and enjoyed that part immensely.

She was accompanied by her personal staff, Jeannie Mulford, the wife of US Ambassador David Mulford, and White House photographers for the visit which began a little after 10 in the morning.

The encounter began on a formal note with everyone wishing her namaste and she doing the same, describes Alva, but quickly became informal and friendly.

Says a Miditech manager,"It was a very structured visit and the Secret Service men had come to plan the visit. It was two minutes for the introduction and four minutes for make up etc. We were very aware that she was the First Lady, but she was very cool, very unhurried. Her manner was very soothing, very free. She was smiling always. And she did her segment in just two takes and took photographs."

Laura Bush distributed gifts to the folks on the sets -- badges signed by her husband, White House pens, paperweights. "It was very touching," says the Midtech manager.

Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AFP/Getty Images

[Peach]

I thought you would all enjoy seeing these lovely pictures and hearing how young Indian girls so favorably viewed our gracious First Lady.

[Hildy]

You know you're jaded when you see an inoccuous headline like this one, and just assume it's a negative article about our wonderful First Lady. Glad I was wrong. But sadly I was surprised...it's not the norm.

[Peach]

Thank you so very much for posting this beautiful thread.

[steel_resolve]

Best. First Lady. Ever.

[CarrotAndStick]

You're all welcome!

[adam_az]

Just imagine if the tide had turned and it was Theresa Heinz there.... Hahahaha.

Yeah right. She'd be at the mountain home in Ketchum eating gin soaked raisins by the fire.

[in hoc signo vinces]

And how...what a complete opposite of the Hildabeast, Laura Bush is.

[Cicero]

Yes. "Queen of America." It's really touching to see that phrase used entirely in innocence and admiration.

[geezerwheezer]

Mrs. Bush is one classy lady, and she done us proud!! ;0 )

[adam_az]

"Best. First Lady. Ever."

Well, the title "First Lady" didn't exist until after Martha Washington's death. In fact... it didn't come into use until the late 1870's!

Martha Washington, for example, was called "Lady Washington."

[llevrok]

Mrs. Bush is one classy lady, and she done us proud!! ;0 )

And I don't mind saying, (IMHO), a bit of a babe too.

[Peach]

Thought you might enjoy these pictures and comments by the young girls who so enjoyed the First Lady's visit.

[ohioWfan]

Oh, this is just beautiful, Peach.

There has never been a more lovely, nor gracious representative of the United States than Laura Bush.

We are truly blessed! God has given us a great gift in this woman.

Thanks for the ping!

[ohioWfan]

Thanks for this absolutely lovely article.

There's so much ugliness on FR these days, that this is a breath of fresh air!

[Just A Nobody]

Thank you for this wonderful post about our First Lady.

I have appreciated the work all of you have done to keep us posted on this historical trip.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The names of all children along with details like father's name, home address, date of birth, colour of skin had been sent to the US embassy and identity cards had been issued to all children by Prayas. The staff were given security clearance by the Delhi police and had to wear IDs bearing their names, blood group, date of joining and addresses.

Odd. I guess (hope) it was simply a security measure to try and avoid a fake id/bait and switch problem?

[CarrotAndStick]

Yes.

[CarrotAndStick]

You're welcome!