Just after Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars today, a friend and I got into a debate on whether the movie won solely because it had a "gora" at the helm of affairs. While my friend believed that it had all to do with the colour of one's skin, I begged to differ. If it had to do with whether your skin was the right shade, A R Rahman did not stand a chance for 2 Oscars he won, neither would Resul Pookutty have been so lucky.
I still have a slight problem with the movie being called an Indian movie. It was neither produced nor directed by an Indian. Sure, the far-from-the-limelight co-director is Indian and so is the theme of the movie and so is a majority of the cast, but then so was Richard Attenborough's Gandhi. Now that isn't being called an Indian film.
Manoj Night Shyamalan's Sixth Sense is not an Indian movie despite being directed by an NRI, neither was Shekar Kapur's Elizabeth movies. So why then are we vying for the Indian tag for a movie that was written by an Indian but which took a firang to make. Moreover, the film has not been nominated in the "Best Foreign Film Category", but rather in the other popular categories.
Make no mistake, am over the moon about us finally being recognised on the international arena. But then this could have happened years ago had we had a board that could decide on a movie that truly represented what Indian cinema was about. While Tare Zameen Par was an excellent movie by Indian standards, its subject line was something the rest of the world dealt with in the 60s and 70s. So in all probability they must have thought we were retards who had not understood the intricacies of a learning disorder.
We have a board that sends only Hindi films and that too crocks of poop like Eklavya and Paheli, all in the name of representing Indian culture. So now when a movie like Slumdog Millionaire has a kid literally jump into a crock of poop, we automatically claim the movie for our own. What happened to all the culture worshippers now...
We need to stop trying to ride on the success of foreigners. We are making films that are better than a Slumdog Millionaire. It is our own people who prevent it from being showcased on the international arena.
But through it all I truly applaud A R Rahman. He has done the country proud and finally put us on the international cinematic map.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Indian traveller
I am sure that there are a multitude of Indians for whom globetrotting is like a second skin. These people are the polished ones, who represent our country and our culture really well. These are the people who have an intelligent repartee to those set of foreigners who actually ask us "where we park our elephants?" (Believe it or not, my friend who freelanced as a tour guide for visitors from cruise ships was actually asked this question).
But unfortunately these guys are just a drop in the ocean. They form part of a minute fraction of Indians who actually know to conduct themselves on the foreign arena. Here is a sample of the kind that really represent us.
A young newly married couple (no it doesn't matter whether they were north or south Indians) came to the reception of the hotel I was staying at. The man bellows for a room and was informed that he would have to put down a deposit. To which the man takes a 100 USD note and flings it onto the receptionist. He then asks what comes "Free" with the room. As it goes breakfast and cocktails are free for the room he has rented. Since it was evening the man thought that it be pertinent he ask for something in place of breakfast since he had already missed it.
So the receptionist replies sweetly that the water in the room and the sachets of tea and coffee were complimentary. Next the man asks for a room with "a good scenery" since the couple was just back from Bali and the view he got was bad for a price that was too high.
Its sad that such uncouth people actually represent our country in this manner. We went to a massage parlour and the owner by way of conversation said that most of the Indians walked into his parlour and the first thing they asked for was discount. And they never ever thanked the staff for their courtesy. When it comes to Indian shoppers, the first word on the tips of their tongues are "discounts". I mean if you are walking into a store that is already selling you stuff at a 10 per cent discount, what more do you want. We need to understand that street shopping is in designated places in foreign countries, not in the big stores where fixed prices are exactly that - fixed.
Another friend was also talking about how difficult it is for an Indian coming to Singapore to rent a flat. He says the best way to do this is to go through an Indian agent, who will find you a flat that is owned by an Indian. A Singaporean will almost never rent out a flat to an Indian simply because we don't know how to maintain it.
The impressions we make on the international front are really pathetic and the sad part is that it reflects badly on the small minority that do know how to conduct themselves
But unfortunately these guys are just a drop in the ocean. They form part of a minute fraction of Indians who actually know to conduct themselves on the foreign arena. Here is a sample of the kind that really represent us.
A young newly married couple (no it doesn't matter whether they were north or south Indians) came to the reception of the hotel I was staying at. The man bellows for a room and was informed that he would have to put down a deposit. To which the man takes a 100 USD note and flings it onto the receptionist. He then asks what comes "Free" with the room. As it goes breakfast and cocktails are free for the room he has rented. Since it was evening the man thought that it be pertinent he ask for something in place of breakfast since he had already missed it.
So the receptionist replies sweetly that the water in the room and the sachets of tea and coffee were complimentary. Next the man asks for a room with "a good scenery" since the couple was just back from Bali and the view he got was bad for a price that was too high.
Its sad that such uncouth people actually represent our country in this manner. We went to a massage parlour and the owner by way of conversation said that most of the Indians walked into his parlour and the first thing they asked for was discount. And they never ever thanked the staff for their courtesy. When it comes to Indian shoppers, the first word on the tips of their tongues are "discounts". I mean if you are walking into a store that is already selling you stuff at a 10 per cent discount, what more do you want. We need to understand that street shopping is in designated places in foreign countries, not in the big stores where fixed prices are exactly that - fixed.
Another friend was also talking about how difficult it is for an Indian coming to Singapore to rent a flat. He says the best way to do this is to go through an Indian agent, who will find you a flat that is owned by an Indian. A Singaporean will almost never rent out a flat to an Indian simply because we don't know how to maintain it.
The impressions we make on the international front are really pathetic and the sad part is that it reflects badly on the small minority that do know how to conduct themselves
Mourning our loss of potential
Am now back in Bangalore after a week in Singapore. I went there once before when I was kid (hehehe, will not specify how many years ago. I don't want to feel old). Of course there are many of you out there who have travelled much more than I have, but then hey!!! this is my blog and so I get to say what I want right?
No point in raving about the cleanliness of the place or the fact that even the trees on avenues seemed to have some order to the way they are placed. What really amazed me for one is the traffic sense of the country. Not once, throughout my stay there did I see a single traffic cop. The roads are manned completely by signals and not once.... and I mean it... not once did I see a person speed past a red light or move onto the pedestrian crossing when the light for the walkers was green.
What amazed me even more was the fact that even if there was a free left which allowed vehicles right of way, they would stop in a line to let the pedestrians cross. You could literally close your eyes and walk when you see the green light and know for sure that you will not end up in pieces on God's lap.
The roads don't have a single pothole (but then I guess the craters of the moon are an Indian road side specialty). And you can actually get fined for going at a lower speed (there its around 80 mph) in most places. You can cover a distance of 10 kms in as many minutes. The public transportation in terms of the bus, MRT and the taxi service is not only cheap, it is also reliable, thus reducing the need to own a vehicle.
This in turn has reduced vehicular traffic and thereby pollution, traffic jams, road rage and so much. And all this is because, the tax rates are high and you know that they are being used for the betterment of the people. In our country all we know is that most of the taxes go in lining the pockets of our leaders.
My colleagues and I were constantly discussing the fact that our country will most probably never see this kind of progress, simply because they say the problem is too deep rooted and the population too vast. But all it takes is for each person to feel that they should do they duty to the country. Following simple habits can lead to a larger change. As utopic as it sounds, I feel that each state has a likelihood of being like Singapore. While the planning can take place at the central level, the execution should take place at the state. The underlining factor should however be that the political honchos should start doing it for the people.
No point in raving about the cleanliness of the place or the fact that even the trees on avenues seemed to have some order to the way they are placed. What really amazed me for one is the traffic sense of the country. Not once, throughout my stay there did I see a single traffic cop. The roads are manned completely by signals and not once.... and I mean it... not once did I see a person speed past a red light or move onto the pedestrian crossing when the light for the walkers was green.
What amazed me even more was the fact that even if there was a free left which allowed vehicles right of way, they would stop in a line to let the pedestrians cross. You could literally close your eyes and walk when you see the green light and know for sure that you will not end up in pieces on God's lap.
The roads don't have a single pothole (but then I guess the craters of the moon are an Indian road side specialty). And you can actually get fined for going at a lower speed (there its around 80 mph) in most places. You can cover a distance of 10 kms in as many minutes. The public transportation in terms of the bus, MRT and the taxi service is not only cheap, it is also reliable, thus reducing the need to own a vehicle.
This in turn has reduced vehicular traffic and thereby pollution, traffic jams, road rage and so much. And all this is because, the tax rates are high and you know that they are being used for the betterment of the people. In our country all we know is that most of the taxes go in lining the pockets of our leaders.
My colleagues and I were constantly discussing the fact that our country will most probably never see this kind of progress, simply because they say the problem is too deep rooted and the population too vast. But all it takes is for each person to feel that they should do they duty to the country. Following simple habits can lead to a larger change. As utopic as it sounds, I feel that each state has a likelihood of being like Singapore. While the planning can take place at the central level, the execution should take place at the state. The underlining factor should however be that the political honchos should start doing it for the people.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Am coming home !!!!
I haven't been on my blog for a week simply because I have been in Singapore, lugging around a laptop after having left the charger back home. Yes intelligent tinged with the utmost sarcasm is the same thing that crossed my mind. But now I am at a friend's place, on the last day in town and I finally have access to the Net.
What will follow in the blog for the next couple of posts will be what I call the Singapore Jaunt series. I am not really going to rave about how beautiful or pristine the set up here is but rather I want to draw attention to the simple ways in which out spectacular country would actually improve - be it in traffic management, pollution control, respect for people, freedom in its true sense and so much more. I look forward to writing them and I hope you agree with the points I have to make.
What will follow in the blog for the next couple of posts will be what I call the Singapore Jaunt series. I am not really going to rave about how beautiful or pristine the set up here is but rather I want to draw attention to the simple ways in which out spectacular country would actually improve - be it in traffic management, pollution control, respect for people, freedom in its true sense and so much more. I look forward to writing them and I hope you agree with the points I have to make.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The all-knowing aunt!!!
The All-Knowing Aunt (AKA) can be captured best at family weddings. Right from the time I have been able to understand a part of the intricacies of a wedding, I have noticed that it is not the father and mother of the bride who will be at the helm of affairs. Rather it is this AKA who will be bellowing orders, putting people in place, telling one and all how the ceremony should be conducted (sometimes she even tells off the priests involved). She is the one who knows the exact way in which the pallu of the saree has to be draped, how many flowers right down to the petal have to be on the garland or in the hair of the bride.
So much does the AKA assume power that almost everyone in the family too looks up to her for advice on even the smallest of issues. And God forbid you decide to cross paths with the AKA... you are in for a whole range of scowls, disapproving chuckles, I-told-you-so looks and more.
If you are among those who haven't yet encountered the AKA here are ways to spot her at the next family wedding.
1) She will be in a saree that is several notches grander than the mother of the bride
2) She will be the one who is frantically waving to waiters/priests/food bearers and even the couple themselves.
3) She will be the one hovering close to the pandal/dias holding trays of flowers/rice/gifted envelopes.
4) She will be the one who tries to get into all the photos
5) She is the one you will spot all over the wedding hall. It reaches a point that no matter where you look, she will be there.
So much does the AKA assume power that almost everyone in the family too looks up to her for advice on even the smallest of issues. And God forbid you decide to cross paths with the AKA... you are in for a whole range of scowls, disapproving chuckles, I-told-you-so looks and more.
If you are among those who haven't yet encountered the AKA here are ways to spot her at the next family wedding.
1) She will be in a saree that is several notches grander than the mother of the bride
2) She will be the one who is frantically waving to waiters/priests/food bearers and even the couple themselves.
3) She will be the one hovering close to the pandal/dias holding trays of flowers/rice/gifted envelopes.
4) She will be the one who tries to get into all the photos
5) She is the one you will spot all over the wedding hall. It reaches a point that no matter where you look, she will be there.
Are we really regressing?
In all the brouhaha that surrounds the Mangalore pub incident and the moral policing that seems to have our country in its grips, I wish to digress a bit. We all keep talking about how, with such incidents we are going back to the stone ages and are becoming neanderthals all over again. But if you really go back in time, you will see that women actually had much more freedom back then, than they do now.
Sure you would counter it by saying that Indian society was not that liberal. But then think about it, even if women were kept in seclusion, it was because they were respected for being women, not because people were scared that they would spoil the sanctity of society or breech the line of male perverseness. This was on the royal front.
On the more local fronts, the status of homemakers was a hallowed one - now being a housewife is equated with being dumb and not having much else to your credit. In the days of the Raj - men and women did socialise together, they did enjoy a drink or two together. Inter-religious alliances though not commonplace were not really frowned upon.
So can we possibly say that our society is going back in time. Its actually entering a phase that we have never seen before. Mentalities seem to have shrunk to very narrow proportions. The perverted minority seem to have a stronger hold than the educated minority simply because we have a majority who sit on the fence when it comes to taking a stand.
Sure you would counter it by saying that Indian society was not that liberal. But then think about it, even if women were kept in seclusion, it was because they were respected for being women, not because people were scared that they would spoil the sanctity of society or breech the line of male perverseness. This was on the royal front.
On the more local fronts, the status of homemakers was a hallowed one - now being a housewife is equated with being dumb and not having much else to your credit. In the days of the Raj - men and women did socialise together, they did enjoy a drink or two together. Inter-religious alliances though not commonplace were not really frowned upon.
So can we possibly say that our society is going back in time. Its actually entering a phase that we have never seen before. Mentalities seem to have shrunk to very narrow proportions. The perverted minority seem to have a stronger hold than the educated minority simply because we have a majority who sit on the fence when it comes to taking a stand.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Twisted morality
Valentine's day is not in Indian or rather the SRS version of the Indian culture. Since the members of the "hallowed" and hollow organisation has not really seen the world beyond their dirt-ridden front doorsteps, we could grant them the ignorance of knowing that the world has evolved a great deal since the stone ages.
What I would really like to know is if the SRS is trying to state that Hindu culture actually represents the whole of the "Indian" culture. The last time I checked, my Christian culture was a whole lot different and I am sure so is that of the several communities that form a democratic India. And we all have been living quite happily thank you very much.
Let me try and talk in your language... and no offence to any of my friends.
I am a Christian from Mangalore married to a Brahmin Konkana from Kerala. I respect both religions equally and completely. When I got married I put mehendi on my hands which is essentially a muslim custom, largely used in North India. I am sure there is not one Hindu wedding that does not have mehendi as part of their ceremony. That's not part of your culture - you want to stop that?.
Some of the top colleges in India belong to Christian outfits.... why do your Hindu brethren fall over themselves to get admissions here. Can't you cater to their needs?
Take some of the hospitals too... Why do you want treatment at hospitals that are not promoted by those that follow the "Indian" culture.
If you are worried about the youth following Valentine's Day and getting morally corrupt why aren't you waging a war on
1) Drug peddlers whose main source of income as youngsters (many drug peddlers follow your own breed of "Indian culture"
2) Why aren't you making a noise about corruption among the police that has led to thousands of atrocities against women go unheard of ? (hell these guys are most of the time the criminals themselves)
3) Why don't you catch hold of pimps who would sell their mothers and children for a buck? (prostitution is not in any humane culture. No woman would voluntarily live such a life)
I guess since it has been proved that a majority of people who constitute such groups are illiterate and cannot hold down a decent job, they get paid by power hungry politicians to run such campaigns. At least the money is coming from somewhere for these people.
It does seems strange doesn't it that till the pub incident in Mangalore - there weren't any real raised voices about women/pubs/indian culture put together. But as soon as it happened, you had the culprits out on bail. Yeddy condemning the "plub" culture, Nirmala Venkatesh actually blaming the victims and a host of politicians waking up to the "pub culture". It looks to well orchestered.
We live in a democracy... the central government in power too has not right to dictate what I want to celebrate and what I can't. Valentine's day falls under the purview of being perfectly legal. So who in the world gave you self-righteous people the right to intrude in my life.
The fact that Muthalik has been quoted in the media saying that his members will create havoc on V-Day and nothing has happened in terms of his judicial custody just goes to show that people like Yeddy don't have a backbone. Their rule is completely dictated by anti-social elements who have their brains and their rear ends constantly forgetting their rightful places.
I hate to think what this country will be like when my daughter grows up
What I would really like to know is if the SRS is trying to state that Hindu culture actually represents the whole of the "Indian" culture. The last time I checked, my Christian culture was a whole lot different and I am sure so is that of the several communities that form a democratic India. And we all have been living quite happily thank you very much.
Let me try and talk in your language... and no offence to any of my friends.
I am a Christian from Mangalore married to a Brahmin Konkana from Kerala. I respect both religions equally and completely. When I got married I put mehendi on my hands which is essentially a muslim custom, largely used in North India. I am sure there is not one Hindu wedding that does not have mehendi as part of their ceremony. That's not part of your culture - you want to stop that?.
Some of the top colleges in India belong to Christian outfits.... why do your Hindu brethren fall over themselves to get admissions here. Can't you cater to their needs?
Take some of the hospitals too... Why do you want treatment at hospitals that are not promoted by those that follow the "Indian" culture.
If you are worried about the youth following Valentine's Day and getting morally corrupt why aren't you waging a war on
1) Drug peddlers whose main source of income as youngsters (many drug peddlers follow your own breed of "Indian culture"
2) Why aren't you making a noise about corruption among the police that has led to thousands of atrocities against women go unheard of ? (hell these guys are most of the time the criminals themselves)
3) Why don't you catch hold of pimps who would sell their mothers and children for a buck? (prostitution is not in any humane culture. No woman would voluntarily live such a life)
I guess since it has been proved that a majority of people who constitute such groups are illiterate and cannot hold down a decent job, they get paid by power hungry politicians to run such campaigns. At least the money is coming from somewhere for these people.
It does seems strange doesn't it that till the pub incident in Mangalore - there weren't any real raised voices about women/pubs/indian culture put together. But as soon as it happened, you had the culprits out on bail. Yeddy condemning the "plub" culture, Nirmala Venkatesh actually blaming the victims and a host of politicians waking up to the "pub culture". It looks to well orchestered.
We live in a democracy... the central government in power too has not right to dictate what I want to celebrate and what I can't. Valentine's day falls under the purview of being perfectly legal. So who in the world gave you self-righteous people the right to intrude in my life.
The fact that Muthalik has been quoted in the media saying that his members will create havoc on V-Day and nothing has happened in terms of his judicial custody just goes to show that people like Yeddy don't have a backbone. Their rule is completely dictated by anti-social elements who have their brains and their rear ends constantly forgetting their rightful places.
I hate to think what this country will be like when my daughter grows up
Monday, February 2, 2009
Circle of Life
... And the predictable has happened... the saffron brigade has got its way once again. All those goons including their leader are out on bail. Can political leanings get more transparent than this. So while those custodians of "our" culture are out plotting their next move to save us, I thought of digressing from all that is depressing.
When I was expecting Anoushka, sudhakar and I made a list of all the animation movies we wanted her to see when she got to an age where she could understand things. And so we invested in it all... Cinderella, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmations, Pooh and Friends...
When I put the first DVD for Anoushka she looked at it for a good 5 and half seconds and then turned her little bottom in its direction and went off. I was really upset when this happened... But I did not let go.. Ever so slowly her interest levels increased.... and I noticed that it was not so much for Cinderella, than it was for her friends, Jaq and Gus who were mice!!!!
In The Jungle Book, she was in love with Baloo the Bear and his antics and Kaa the snake and an absolute disciple of Colonel Haathi the elephant.
When I told mom this she told me that not too many years ago, these were the very same animation movies that I loved to watch day in and out (on VHS of course, I come from that era) and the funny part was that I loved those movies for exactly the same reasons. I loved it when people fell or made funny sounds and now all these years later.. it feels great to see my daughter love exactly the same things.
When I see her laughing for all those kiddie cute scenes, I feel well very nostalgic and very happy...
When I was expecting Anoushka, sudhakar and I made a list of all the animation movies we wanted her to see when she got to an age where she could understand things. And so we invested in it all... Cinderella, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmations, Pooh and Friends...
When I put the first DVD for Anoushka she looked at it for a good 5 and half seconds and then turned her little bottom in its direction and went off. I was really upset when this happened... But I did not let go.. Ever so slowly her interest levels increased.... and I noticed that it was not so much for Cinderella, than it was for her friends, Jaq and Gus who were mice!!!!
In The Jungle Book, she was in love with Baloo the Bear and his antics and Kaa the snake and an absolute disciple of Colonel Haathi the elephant.
When I told mom this she told me that not too many years ago, these were the very same animation movies that I loved to watch day in and out (on VHS of course, I come from that era) and the funny part was that I loved those movies for exactly the same reasons. I loved it when people fell or made funny sounds and now all these years later.. it feels great to see my daughter love exactly the same things.
When I see her laughing for all those kiddie cute scenes, I feel well very nostalgic and very happy...
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