Firaq

“Saat Suron main itnee Taakat Kahaan, jo inki nafrat se lad sakein”

I not only watched this movie because it won several awards or it was of my interest but moreover because it was directed by Nandita Das.

The movie is based on Gujarat riots. The unfortunate yet true post Gaodhra genocide is portrayed in a very decent manner through two isolated segments of good/bad Muslims & good/bad Hindu. It focuses not on showing violence but more of emotions and one’s psychology at a given point of time.

The movie starts on a slow note , but gains pace as it depicts mixed emotions of fear, hatred, anger, suffocation, disparity, revenge, aloofness, concern, curiosity and above all the pain of alienation from your own country.

The blank face of a lost orphan child touched me deep. I felt the confusion surrounding Sanjay Suri and was by the depth of Nazruddin Shah’s musical score that made everything appear meaningful.

In February 2002, I was in the same country, in fact adjacent to the victim state. Chilling my teenage with the excitement of Valentine’s Day, in my very own world. And today I get goose flesh not because I get to know all this, but to realize how emotions have died, how humanization hardly exists.

Nothing has though changed much; an old Narendra Modi is replaced by a young Varun Gandhi.

It’s strange & in fact suffocating to see criminals as leaders of our nation, proudly taking pledge and appealing for “say no to criminals in politics”, & we being too fond of their progress stories.

We have seen a surge in demands for implementing the provisions of 49 O in our election voting procedure. But i fail to understand that why do we need to demand an option as “none of the above” in our voting ballet?

Than what is the use of being a part of the democratic structure, which can’t provide us with a set of true nation leaders from a lot of one of the world’s most populated countries!

Definitely we have come too far.

The not so Big Picture

It has been quite a many days now watching the election bulletin on news channels, segregated columns in journals, proving this being the biggest elections so far.For me this one is the second election, I’d be chasing and the improvement can certainly been seen on the following grounds-

Film stars have now sorted a back up profession, once they realize they are old enough to take it and can have black & white multiple accounts.
(Sanjay Dutt’s recent “Dutt yatra” sawaari took 3 crores for decoration)

Politicians like Raj Thackrey are enrolling themselves for voice modulation & oratory skill classes, after facing a major threat of inferiority from youngsters like Varun Gandhi, who have successfully adopted the “instant” mantra.

Bollywood is moving slow not because of the recession but because the stars are been signed for election campaigns, the locations are been pre-booked for rallies, printers are very busy and that has resulted in bigger deals for dress designers & music directors.

The target audience this time has shifted to young educated elite class rather than the illiterate ones, and so the 'salespeople' of various parties are being seen outside several colleges tracking students.

From 1 kg rice to villagers, it has now switched to 1 laptop to freshers & and hwo knows may be a Nano next time.

Also no effect of the economic slowdown is visible on politicians for they are spoilt with several opportunities in hand by the newborn baby parties and certainly better packages.

Kasab will be well groomed by the next elections to participate, but the fight is still on between S.P. & B.S.P. to decide who will takehim in .

This is the modernized version of the political scenario today, where showing off seems the ultimate goal, a party is projected no less than an attractive commodity, and of course politicians are one of the most expensive hero’s.

It won’t be a nightmare, if the next time we see Rakhi Sawant dancing on Advani’s head, or elections being postponed for IPL.The western policies of election campaigns are being adopted by the same set of leaders who claim that they can die to save their Indian Traditions.

Today for exercising our own right we need an advertisement. High time we should realize it’s on the stake of our money, our right & above all our security.

Jai Ho!

Realizations...

Too start with a cliche-Small things give big you happiness but when you are surrounded with all kind of happiness, small never remains that small!

It’s after staying alone & commuting for hours in local transport that I developed this habit of ‘pondering’.

Thinking over the fights that daily happens either in bus or train, over issues which never require raised voices makes me remind of the days when I fought with my friends, and simultaneously makes me realize fighting is so simple & resolving equally difficult.

When a man in his 40’s get off his car in the mid of a jam to control the traffic singlehandedly makes me realize that not everyone in this country just sits and blame.

When a woman standing next to me in bus shifts herself to give me a comfort zone were no man can by mistake lean on me, makes me realize how my parents protected me in 22 years without letting me know.

When a roadside hawker calmly gives some free sandwiches to every passing cop, makes me realize of how patience comes by position.

When a father of a kindergarten student participates in racing competition to see his kid feeling proud makes me realize of the times when they still feel proud in spite of me feeding them in an old age home.

When I compliment my maid for the ‘gajraa’ she wears, makes me realize how a compliment makes someone’s feel elatated for the whole day.

When my mother waits outside the gate, on the day of my arrival in spite of knowing that the train is late, it’s then when I realize no one else can do that anymore, & that is how I label curiosity and unconditional love.

When small things make me realize that I wish I couldn’t have done that, I start questioning now, what earlier I use to assume, but If I would have questioned before, I wouldn’t have realized to explore assumptions.

Though these things aren’t something new or bizarre, but we tend to realize them pretty late in life and especially when we are left with no options. May be I am realizing it today because I get that time to observe the world and admire the beauty, and I find myself lost & blank.

There is a phase when you are surrounded with people & you struggle hard to figure out your identity but I find this ironical that you are alone now yet struggling to figure out your identity.

There is a slight difference between realizing expecting & accepting where realizing grades the highest.

(JLT) Just Like That:

Mumbai teaches you new lessons everyday, some good some bad, some with a reason, some without any, but what ever they are you tend to remember them forever. One such incident happened with me this Sunday morning when I was taking a local train from Cherney Road station to Dadar station.

I got my coupons punched from the machine counter and thereafter took a train & got down at Dadar station respectively, Where a Ticket Checker asked for me and my friend’s tickets, I showed him the tickets but as per him the tickets had wrong entry of timing, which showed I had punched them 4 hours before and were no more valied.

I told him the whole panorama, but the irony that thousands make the same set of excuses daily, made him immune to my 'excuse' as he termed it.

After some mintues of 'talk', the TC told us to come to his ticket office crossing the bridge, where this kind of scenario was normally seen. In the backdrop of my my fading patience to their casual reaction, the argument started heating to a higher pitch than the normal. In the mean time many people caught in similair situations came and went, some were guilty some weren’t, but who cares, giving money could be the simplest and in fact the only available option than taking their nonstop ‘bhaashan ‘!

For clarification I asked them to call the other station & figure out about the non functioning machine, but there phone couldn’t connect, so the functional conditions could be well understood.

I asked him about the left over option apart from paying the fine. Filing the complain was all he said and I expected. We thought to go with it. The more i asked him to hurry up with the formalities, the more he opted for casuing delay. The dreaded lethargy, stereotypical of a government employee.

The small room was packed with masters dealing with 2-3 cases simultaneously. A kid is crying, a poor lady begging, a student negotiating and our Ticket checker relaxing.Nothing could work politely or rudely, nor could his nor does mine ego satisfy.

The one liner argument of mine of not checking the date after punching & his station machine not functioning went on.

Though my ego won in the end by hook or crook, but the point still remains the same, who was at the fault? Me who got the right ticket for the right station or the railway authorities whose machines were improper? Would anyone if not me would have taken the ache and torture to fight uselessly for two hours in the mid of a filthy room for an issue like this? Paying 250 was really a good option. And this is what corruption is all about.

I have written my complain to www.consumercomplain.in , hoping when live moving authorities couldn’t listen, may be a mail could.And this is what optimism is all about.

Consumer Society bigger than all!

It’s been 15 days now of the recent devastating terrorist attack that happened on the heritage building of the Taj and at various other places.

There was something definitely very different about this episode in spite of not being “the worst”; there have been various before, but this for a change provoked every stratum of the society.

A hit on the rich class’s life, middle class’s emotions and of course the third segment is forever involved. The crucial reason which give a different take to this whole chapter from every aspect, is the 24/7 revolution of the electronic media, which made us watch a continuous live war tagged with several emotions, which were never so seriously felt before, also helped us being judgmental, and reminded our responsibilities.

Some compare it with the 9/11, for the visuals laid a greater impact in our mind alike this one.

Now let’s take over the cribbing part, cribbing over the system, cribbing over the politicians, cribbing over the Media, cribbing over Pakistan, cribbing over the celebrities in fact also cribbing over ‘us’ the aam janta. People stood united to crib. But shouldn’t we?? Haven't we taken the oath officially in front of the whole nation to take care of the citizen’s security?

Have we got that money making power? We are purchasing a product that requires guarantee!!But unfortunately we are completely unsecure, so taxes & votes for what?? Where no life is valued. Whom to blame? The intelligence system! Who is too accurate to inform even the suspected time apart from the other details, The General Manager of the Taj! Who refused to ask for the sniffer dogs, for the carpet will be soiled and the guests will be disturbed.

The Politicians! Who were looking for a similar break? Or, we ourselves? Who have finally lost both faith & hope.

A conference of the World Diamond Merchant & also Economic Excellence Award was scheduled at Oberoi’s on the 28th November 2008, to be addressed by our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan singh. As per the Prime Minister’s security conduct, the place is supposedly be sealed with security two days prior, but apparently no doubt is left for our security anymore…. In spite of knowing to be on the top target on the terrorists list well in advance, Taj & Oberoi refused to give a layout to the commissioner Krishna Kumar.

Now why is this news away from the ever 'attentive' media, in this cribbing session, can be easily realized by all of us. After all apart from the money makers no one is left so ignorant anymore.

Fashion- a review

Attitude, style, gay designers, limelight & above all being on the top is what Fashion all about.

Tall models ramping on the stage with the only expression of confidence trying to make a difference was all that was portrayed in Madhur Bhandarkar’s recent off the track release ‘Fashion’.

Model Geetanjali Nagpal’s story was reconstructed on actress Kangna Ranawat, which needs no words to describe in terms of acting. She performed as if the role was completely meant for her.

Main lead Priyanka Chopra because of her “goody” actress image wouldn’t have suited the character as much, but her acting skills proved the myth wrong. As per Mr. Bhandarkar’s inside out of the Fashion world, the story seems to be very much obvious in every industry but the platform, music, faces, glitz made it simply larger than life.

The charm of the movie could be only experienced on the silver screen because of its constructed showbiz. The page3 faces, designer wears, parties gave it a complete original look.

The story of a small town girl was very well taken care of, along with other stories going hand in hand which showcased the up’s & down’s in one’s life, filled in with all sorts of emotions which consisted of love, betrayal, competence, jealousy etc. providing a complete entertainment.

Overall, the sync of sound with cinematography, dresses on models, blank emotionless faces were well portaryed. All this captured every aspect of the fashion industry.

Bhandarkar style was portrayed to the best, apart from the film industry business, the coming up fashion week hopefully will witness a hike too.

The Hero Makers!

It was 31st of October, known as peace day, but unfortunately nothing what can be called peace was seen as news headlines.

With an initial protest against North Indians in the starting of the year, leading to a man loosing his life, The Raj Thackrey episode completely shattered my mind, for the story of publicity was no more let it go types.

Having an option of Delhi & Mumbai as two metros to move out for studies, my parents were too keen to opt for Mumbai amongst the two, & the reason being, ‘it’s a safe city’. After shifting their, it was nearly every alternate day, that they use to call me, for there’s news flashing on television. MNS (Maharastra Navnirmaan Sena) members burning postures , hitting Taxi’s and the never ending dadagiri.
Though it never affected me, because generally it’s under poverty line people, who cannot afford to hit back & can just take it with no options in hand.

I never wasted my time thinking about the various publicity stunts that captured the daily front headlines, but media was the main ingredient to make Raj Thackrey, The Raj Thackrey, whose image was portrayed not less than of that of the Prime Minister, may that be in terms of his security or the way everything gets hindered with the slightest disturbance in his policies.

Actually a handsome personality is all what is required to just hit the chords of the target audience & rest can be taken care of gradually. An aggressive leader is the demand of the day that is what even forced the Jet employees to approach a person like him.

Agenda setting is in the hand of the story makers or the story tellers, and unfortunately the masses are in the no option zone. Young Politician like Rahul Gandhi on the screening of blockbusters like Om Shanti Om or Rock on, doest makes it that big; But Raj Thackrey definitely makes an extra large difference for the same situation, which can be indeed captured for an hour’s news feature.

I still remember Salmaan Khan being in limelight for quite a sometime for his wrong deeds, but a bit bad & some better is enough for a clean chit, to play with the usual diehard emotional audience.
And so, no wonder a zero today can be a hero tomorrow, all blessed by the bios communicators.