Music is the wine that fills up the cup of silence

I heard this quote recently... How true it is!!
What more do one want beyond soothing music in silence?

Taare Zameen Par - an admirable stuff

I am back to blogs after a long break with a brief review on Taare Zameen Par, an old but my recent movie. This is a story about a dyslectic kid whose life transforms after meeting his dedicated teacher.

The storyline goes like this; Shunned at his school for poor grades, derided by his classmates and rebuked by his father, Ishan Awasthi (a dyslectic kid) becomes an unsolvable problem for his parents who then pack him off to a boarding school. A former dyslectic and a temporary staff of the school, Ram Shankar (Aamir Khan) identifies the kid's problem and ultimately helps the kid to find himself.

Unlike other commercial movies, this one drives home a strong message of empathizing with the kid. It makes one realize that some of the renowned geniuses were once scoffed at, but the world had to bow down to their intellect later. Apart from the sensitive story, this movie is treated with intense sensitivity and maturity that the viewer is dumbstruck.

On face-value, Taare Zameen Par seems to be a kiddie film in the beginning, but as the story unfolds, you realize that the story delves into the mind and heart of a kid, his interests in colours, fishes, dogs, etc. The narrator opens the cards at the very outset, when you realize that the kid is just not interested in books/studies. Amidst all these, the narrator have not failed to emphasize the point that treating a dyslectic kid doesn't call for a special school or an exclusive environment rather a normal environment with a lit bit of extra attention.

Taare Zameen Par belongs to Master Darsheel Safary. A performance that make the best of performances pale in comparison. A performance that deserves brownie points. A performance that'll always come first on your mind the moment someone mentions the movie name. A performance that moves you and makes you reflect on your growing years. A performance that merits a special award.

This movie reminds me of Rain Man, a movie on autistic man, an another masterpiece.
Kudos to Aamir Khan for an extraordinary work of cinema that is a sacrilege to miss.

Recent books on my shelf

It is after three months I stepped into the literature section of my college library. The books I am quoting here are few among the long list of books that I was hunting for.

Ice-candy man by Bapsi Sidhwa.
Even after watching the movie '1947 Earth', I was not inclined to read the book based on which the movie was taken. It was only my unsatisfied need to watch the movie 'Water' by Deepa Mehta, got me acquainted with Bapsi Sidhwa's writing. I could see the characters performing in front of my eyes when I read her work. This made me to hunt for her books. The list continued with 'Crow Eaters' and now 'Ice Candy man', the book based on which the move '1947 Earth' was taken. According to me, this is a rambunctious novel that portrayed the partition of India and Pakistan along with a beautiful story line. The book unveils the characters, their opinions, conventional thinking etc through the eyes of the Polio attacked girl-Venny. A simple story line but beautifully blended with politics and violence. One of lines like; 'one day everybody is themselves - and the next day they are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian' forces the minds of the readers to think beyond what is written. Though this book reminded me of many other books like Freedom at Midnight , Riot etc, but this touches the reality in a unique way. Genocide, Political clash between Hindu, Muslim & Sikh, etc that surround the partition were put in words in a flawless and a unfussy style. Kudos to Bapsi Sidhwa for creating her throng of characters which literally paints the microcosm of a Pakistani society for the readers. The naked human emotions that this book touched is quite adorable. And this book is a cherishable one...

In cold blood by Truman Capote
Capote is another legend who created a special audience for himself. Through very few works of his', he attracted the rational minds towards his work. This is my fifth book of Copote after 'Breakfast at Tiffany', 'Complete short stories of Capote', 'Music for Chameleons' and 'A Christmas memory'. In this non fiction 'In Cold Blood', Capote narrates the multiple murder of a family in Kansas in 1959. Though the finale of the case is made known in the very first page, the author has succeeded in making the flow with a gripping suspense. Astonishingly, this book creates a sympathy for the murderers even after giving the intricate details of the gruesome murders. The unique look at the crime and the convincing writing instigated me to pose various questions on Crime, Punishment, Good, Evil to myself. The intimacy that the author have attempted to create between the readers and the murderers Perry & Dick brings in sympathy. Furthermore, the interwoven themes like abandonment, homosexuality, loneliness and reversal of child / adult roles etc is a typical Capote's style. In short this book is slow but dense in reading.

The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
This is the one of the very few compulsive reading of a contribution to the society. This book is a bold and a persuasive work that compels the readers towards various aspects of sexual life. The very beginning explanation the author gives for the 'Eunuch' word is not as 'castrated male' rather it is the women who is castrated. The terms like "Cherchez la femme", the expression used in the search for a female scapegoat, were put in an extremely striking way. The line like 'Sex for many has become a sorry business', is an audacious statement but a fact few will dispute. The aspects like sexual disabilities, monogamy, polygamy, homosexuality etc, that the author talks about are stimulating. Usually, books that are narrative like this talk only on ideologies but always lack gripping. But the author have attempted to make the same interesting in a cohesive and an uninterrupted way like a novel. Even in the mocking statements like 'Psychologists cannot fix the world so they fix women', the author invigorates the minds.
Though it took a hell lot of time to complete this book, I am extremely elated for the thoughts that it had invoked in my mind. No wonder when one the comments about the book read as "... brilliantly written, quirky and sensible, full of bile and insight".

LETS TALK (on) RASHOMON

I recently saw an old Japanese movie Rashomon and I've attempted to ink my thoughts about the movie here. I was astonished to see such a novel idea behind the movie that too in 1958 - the primitive age of Japanese cinema.

The one line story of the movie was that four people recount different version of the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife. The first appreciable thing was that the conventional practices were not followed. For instance, the unreal part of the story usually will not be enacted by the actors on screen but may be stated as a narration by any character. It was amazing that this convention was broken. Though I can’t stop myself from appreciating this but I also feel that it would have befuddled some of the viewers. The next appreciable thing was that, on hearing the storyline, whatever conjecture the viewer thinks could be possible regarding the crime, was handled in the story. Wasn't that good enough to claim this one as a masterpiece?

This story reminds me of another film – Lets Talk by Boman Irani. This film handles a family problem in different perspectives. The story line goes like this......After few years of marriage; husband loses interest in his wife and behaves indifferently to her. This makes the lonely wife to have an affair with another guy. Now the wife unveils her affair to her husband. This was the situation that's handled in 7 or 8 different ways. Each view shows different emotions and reactions of the couple based on the circumstances. I am sure that everyone will react to this situation in any one of the stated views. This movie is a standing proof that with just two characters, wonders can be made on the screen.

In short, both the movies do have a similar crux, but handled in different ways. One handles the crime from other peoples' perspective while the other makes you to spot yourself among the stated characters. I enjoyed both.........................

Feminism and Me...

When I was reading a book few days back, a small paragraph twitched me towards quite a few things and things still rankle my minds with the antithesis of right and wrong. I am putting all of those and my personal opinions in black and white here.

It is true and unfortunate that certain women are still being oppressed in many aspects. The prevailing male chauvinism (I am not using this word loosely) drives me up the wall. Gang rapes, Domestic violence, unfair Islamic & Iranian laws, etc..etc.. This list never seem to end. But why? Can't women be treated in a way similiar to men? Is there any unsaid rule that 'Male are Superior' (I dont mean anything Physical here)? Is it because men were seen as the one who supports the family (blah blah...) this superiority ego prevails? Is chauvinism conforming sexism? I feel like stoning the person with these beliefs to death. (I cant help being harsh) Is this feminism? Am I a feminist? I dont have an answer for these two questions.

I really haven't understood the term Feminism or Feminist in totality. I believe in Women's equality and am strongly against discrimination & oppression of ANY SEX. If ONLY THIS means Feminism, then I am a feminist. I have also faced many questions like, 'Being a male, are you not ashamed to raise your voice against male chauvinism?'. The only answer to this question is, 'N-O. NO'. Patriarchial thinking brings in the aspect of 'women being treated as sex object' and having a feeling of possession over the object(women are considered as an object unfortunately). This thinking has to be the first thing to be driven out of the society.

But, Is feminism male bashing? What do anyone get in bashing the other. One may only get a sense of satisfaction in abusing the other(even happy for scolding the other for his/her unbearable opinion). But is it fruitful? I dont think so. I personally consider that feminism has got nothing to do with female power and doesn't call for superiority of female sex over men. Chauvinism cannot be fought with chauvinism.

Feminism is like a religion where you believe both sexes are equal and follow the same in practice. The need of the hour is not to prove who is more powerful or who can abuse the other more? It is a high time for a balance. Will Patriarchy, the one that had gathered so much mass till today, give way for this equality thinking? Other banal arguement include, 'Women are instrumental in holding their place in the society and have strength to fight back patriachy'. (I dont agree with this...) This closeted ideas have to be broken first and the patriarchial dictatorship have to be eradicated from the society.

Also being a feminist is not a one to boast? It is as if boasting that 'I am a normal person'. The tralatitious acceptance of male domination might make a feministic opinions different, but really not a one to boast.

By talking of women being treated as inferior and getting less for what they bargained for, stresses the point of inequality further. Talking of men suffering & women prevailing or women suffering & men prevailing all just add weights to the opinion you are arguing for. For every suffering sex, there are many silent suffering opponent sex individuals side by side. Women being illtreated and men bullying have to change and the strong acceptance that everyone is equal should be there. Discriminate a person for the brain he/she has and not by gender. It shows the weaker part of a human.

Law have also been discriminating... I understand that women were oppressed mostly than men, but what if a man is harassed by a female? Is there a legal remedy?

To the lighter side; 'Is disliking Hon. Prathiba Patel an act of male chauvinism?' If so, then I am a Male chauvinist. I dislike her not for the gender but :)

Bent out of shape..

“Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.” This recently read quote instigated the following..

The things with which I get bent out of shape:

1. Waiting in the queue at the cash machine
2. Getting disturbed while reading the backcover of a book
3. Mispronouncing my name
4. Swearword - F**K
5. Pseudo Americanism
6. When people say that I speak aloud
7. Fake smile in a shop worker
8. Half cooked chicken
9. Adding tomato sauce for a Pizza
10. Explaining all these in a blog :)

Future of India ?????

Are these smiles of Victory or Disdain? Or just a big question mark for India's future?

Genius left unnoticed

No words to fill the space... just tears.

Is President Elections getting murkier?

President elections and controversies about the candidates have taken over the headlines in most of the papers of late. The sad part is that this time, the post of President have become more politically centered with controversial back stabbings and incessant personal slurs. Do these things make the president elections more murkier? Why does the election for the post of President, THE MORAL ICON OF INDIA, getting into a heated debate this year? Is it because that the candidates nominated by the Political parties are not worthy enough?

Congress upfronts Ms. Prathiba Patel, backed up with leftists (CPI). Have the congress done due diligence when they came up with the name? Many allegations have come up against her after the nominations? Furthemore, the opinions and ideas which the candidate makes about Spirituality, Pradah system, Family planning, God talking to her, etc are horrifying. Is the nation ready to project a person of this sort as a moral icon? Is congress trying to fill another post with a rubber stamp person? Is the general election that is coming not far from now has a role to play in this President election too? There seem to be a high possibility that the coming general elections end up in a hung parliament situation. Do congress upfronting a President from its side with backing ups from parties like Lefts etc is to take over the control? These questions which Congress alone have answers for remain unanswered to the public.

The foremost point that Congress brings in favour of its candidate is that, after 60 years of independence India need a Woman President. And for this foremost reason, the choice no. 7 Ms. Prathiba patel have seem to be pulled up to the first choice.
And this positive point have covered most of the allegations against her family. Is India in dearth of grand ladies to nominate for the President post? Further to this, congress backs up saying that the canditate have no role to play in any illegal activities which are refuted by RBI and various parties. This extended for many unleashing comments from the opponent parties. But why does the CPI backs up a person with so many allegations? Will there be a smoke without a fire? And the fire in this case seem to be the post of Vice President. Are people made fools with these political chaos?

Banks run under the name of Patil going bankrupts after issuing loans to their own family members is not trifle thing. Further criminal allegations that seem to revolve around Ms. Patil can't be taken as trifle when she was in the responsible post to control? Further to this, havent these controversies creeped in when she became the Governor. Was it not properly brought to public in a national level?

Then comes Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat upfronted by NDA. Mr. Shekhawat who was a party member until two weeks back have suddenly turned out to be a Private and an individual canditate. Is this a political trick?

Ultimately Mr. Kalam, the one considered as people's president, and his works in the noble chair are left unnoticed in this chaos.

The effective point is 'Isn't President post is above all political issues?'. Should the conventional act of Political party voting for a president prevail further? Can't this convention change and step into a new system of selecting a person without a political party tag attached? Not necessarily an academician or noble laureate should be nominated for the post. But an untainted person with a fair knowledge of legislation can be projected as a moral icon.

Let us wait till the President election to know the moral image of India.

SIVAJI - an extravagant crap

Sivaji, the recent over-hyped movie, has been released and churning money everyday (A Rajini movie as expected). What is really there in this movie for an extravagant expenditure and tons & tons of people falling for it? I really dont know the answer.

Story goes like this.. A software engineer returns to India from the US with enormous amount of money to start an university to serve the public. Compromising on his principles, the protaganist bribes the government officials to clear the hurdles. Subsequently, the hero goes bankrupt and disinters the black money from billionaires. Converting this black money into white (a thought provoking process ofcourse), he fulfills his dream. To add spices to this 4 line story, the hero dies and comes back to life in a different identity to kill the antagonist.

Amidst this, the hero falls in love with a common girl and marries her. Shreya has done a goody goody role in dancing with the Superstar for alluring tunes and shedding some tears in few scenes. Also Rajni has tried to attract the mass with his inane comedies in the first half of the movie. Enough dissapointments for someone who expects a unique stuff (like Mudalvan etc).

Shankar, a high budget director, have maintained his trend with a skyrocketing film budget. Extravagant expenditure on song backgrounds, costumes, etc etc. Rajini's young makeover is noteworthy, especially the tonsured makeover. When the audience are getting used to his old age looks, this movie has broken the preconceived images.

In general, the movie has quenched the thirsty fanatics of Rajni. And as usual, Rajni has attracted the crowd with fierce action movements and unreal gravity controlled camera sequences. But this movie doesnt deserve an extreme hype that was given.

In short, sivaji is an stereotypical Rajini movie garnished with extravagant expenditures.

Phony Cinemas

I was just wondering how herculean would it be if I happen to watch a person thrashing almost 20 brawny individuals in reality. Sounds cinematic..right.. It is possible only in cinemas. A lean fellow knocking everyone who stands against him, an age old person smacking down muscular men in no time, what not..everything is possible in big screen for a simple reason of emphasizing a heroic image. Telugu industry seem to be a king and a trend setter for these.

Tollywood, an industry new to me (saw few telugu movies of late), is no different from the commercial Tamil movies but I found it more repulsive when it comes to these unreal and unimaginable action sequences which were aggrandized to a great extent. Gravity controlled shots, heroes flying in unwonted gestures, smashing a whole city in no time, totally unaffected even after stabbing with a poisonous knife, what not.... Everything for a single reason that hero is always unstoppable. Even he is a human right....Do directors think public will accept anything when a tag named "ABOLISHING EVIL" is attached? Are they aware that these unfathomable actions at times became hilarious? (Vijayakanth's and Rajinikanth's movies)

It is high time for a dose of reality. I do accept that a commercial movie can't be taken without a wild and violent action scenes. But that shouldn't mean everything should be unimaginable. Action sequences can be handled with a tinge of reality.

Further to this, when such a movie is a box office hit in one industry, the same thing is carried over in the name of remake. Vijay, Simbu, Jayam Ravi, etc.. are branded as commercial heroes and are well known for their remakes & adaptations. Very few good movies are remade in other languages that too only after adding spices in the name of fights, hero introduction, mass attraction. (Manichitrathazhu remade as Chandramukhi with too much extra spices). A successful monetary return after the release of a stereotypical movie is good enough criteria for a remake. Are the directors running out of fresh stock and innovative storylines? Do they think they can't attract crowd without a stereotypical framework?

These questions remain unanswered as usual.

- Diwakar

Water – a disturbing stuff

I recently read this book “Water” by Bapsi sidhwa (a gift to me from my friend), a novel based on the movie script of the veteran director Deepa Mehta.

Set in 1938, the story follows the life of an eight year old widow Chuyia who was abandoned and discarded to the widows’ ashram after the death of her senile husband. In the ashram, Chuyia gets acquainted with many widows. The author creates pasts for all her widows and tries to project the way they were treated in that period through the eyes of this young girl.

Apart from the focus on the life of widows, the author also talks about various forbidden affairs, eunuchs, untouchables, Gandhian principles etc. Besides being a gripping story, the plot deals with a subject that of the oppressive hold tradition has on women, in this case, religious tradition. It tells of oppression and the constraints that govern even a girl-child’s life in a patriarchal society.

Water concludes with the flicker of hope. As Gandhi's train passes through the village, the prospect of rescue from punishing Hindu traditions seems conceivable. Modern India has journeyed far since 1938. In Water, the author honors the awful fate of those once left behind.

I really wonder why the hell was the shooting of this film on location in Varanasi was stopped. Just because violence broke out, including an attempted suicide by a Shiv Sena activist, the government issued an order to stop the movie. Does projecting the life of widows, who are ill-treated by the society is condemnable? Why is that when Deepa Mehta attempts to portray something about women, it is apposed? When the Government of India allows all the cheap movies why is it a controversy when it comes to “Fire” or “Water”? Why is it that these kind of movies been used as a prop to galvanize anti-muslim and anti-christian religious fervor?

Though I couldn’t watch the movie, I am bit satisfied that I could read this book at least. I am also hunting for the book “Cracking India” by Bapsi Sidhwa, the book based on which the movie “Earth” was taken.

Cherishable Waynad

Life is pretty different when one steps into the working environment after a carefree college life. How enjoyable will it be when few college friends rejoin for a trip to an immaculate location? Thanks to Waynad - the place which brought back the enthusiasm and the bliss of my college days.

It was not easy to unite people for a fun trip. Right from wheedling to chiding, what not in the process? Excuses, excuses and excuses. Excuses in the name of work, in the name of training, in the name of money, in the name of family and in the name of CAT. From eight the number came down to five and the fine day of departure was on Thursday (my last working day).

The train was scheduled to reach Calicut at daybreak on Friday. But will it happen with our Indian railways? Never. So the train was late as usual. The moment we stepped into Calicut, the bells started ringing in our stomach. So after our brunch in a small hotel, we were heading towards Waynad. As such we were jabbering and giggling during our drive, which was doubled when we saw the way our driver accosted to enquire about the route. “chuk-chuk” is his famous phrase I think.

Wynberg resort is the secluded location that we chose to stay for the next three days. Who will have a reluctance to stay in a tree house? Our tiredness and leg pain after sitting in a cramped position in the cab went unnoticed the moment we saw the resort. To describe the resort in few words - Green ambient, few rooms amidst the bushes, small pathway leading to each house, silent environment. Wow, an awesome place. Two houses were allotted to us - a tree house and an igloo.

Tree house in which we stayed:

What more do one want rather than a good homemade food, pleasant ambient and friends around? But we decided to go for an outing on all three days and to enjoy our nights in the resort. So we visited few tourist spots like a temple, a cave, a dam, boating and an adventurous jungle safari. Thinking that he is a professional photographer, one of my friend took over the job and one more with a head strong notion that he is an ad-model, started posing for all the photographs all through the outings. But it was fun always.

Amidst the pestering of one of my friend to get back to Chennai in the mid, one lousy meal outside a temple, prolonging tiresome car drive, we enjoyed. Enjoyed as if there is no tomorrow.

This is the gang that went to Waynad :) From L to R - Vivek, Ananth, Myself, Vijayagopan and Shankar

Though we had a great time all through the trip, a small voice was keep on saying that, this will be a last trip together for all of us. In the name of marriages, higher studies etc twists and turns do happen in each and everyone’s life. But will it stop us from going for a trip like this again? Hope for the best. Willfully leaving the adage incomplete.

A white rainbow

Who has the right to strip off the jewelry and forbid the widows, the unfortunate victims of circumstances, from wearing bindi and colored clothes? Is the ancient custom responsible for marking these victims 'inauspicious' or the blind followers of certain dogmas? Why are these individuals refrained from attending various occasions? Just because a female lost her husband, does that mean that she should keep a full stop to her happiness? The heartbreaking fact is that this scenario prevails even in this century. Is it believable that there exists a place that is full of ostracized widows? Vrindavan, the land of lord Krishna, is popularly known as the land of widows.


White rainbow, the film by Dharan Mandrayar, handles this social problem in detail. Dharan describes Vrindavan as the place deprived of happiness and colors.

“ Na koi kushi…
Na koi rang…
Sirf safedh our dukh…………….”

The movie moves around four widows, the dynamic Priya, the senile Roop, the disfigured Mala and sexually exploited Deepti. Upon learning of her husband’s sudden death, Priya miscarries her baby; her tragedy compels her to move to Vrindavan where she meets Roop, Mala and Deepti. On seeing the way the widows are treated, she attempts to bring in some change in the lives of these socially deprived women. And, in the process, their transformation takes hold.

Having this as the theme, the movie unveils various hardships faced by the widows and the abysmal life they lead. For instance a visual in which an old woman sitting outside the stinking gents’ loo for just pouring water mars our heart saying that this is the reality. Issues like Sexual exploitation, physical brutality, social inauspiciousness etc were also handled appropriately. Finally the movie ends with the belief that the society will accept these women. In a nutshell, this is the movie to instigate some thought about the deprived widows in the minds of the people.

Quick facts: (source-Hindustan Times)
- According to the 1991 census there were 33 million widows in India
- In the age group over 60 years, 64% widows have a pension of only Rs 100-500.
- There are around 16,000 widows in Vrindavan alone.

Orkut-ting..................

When I thought what to write as a first blog, i received a scrap entry from a friend which made me write something about Orkut.

Orkut- the recent network service that has almost created a revolution among the youngsters in this internet world. Is Orkut- a boon or a bane? For a person like me, a bench sitter in a mechanical company (though may sound new- but true), its a boon. What can i do other than orkutting?

Wickepedia says that "Orkut" is named after its creator, Google employee, Orkut Büyükkökten. What should i call him? - an altruist, a social worker or might have been a bench sitter himself. Scraps, communities, fans, hot list, crush list...what not?? In short, orkutting has become a part of life..... the next thing to browse after the mailbox.

Furthermore, playing frivolous games like a kid and vaunting by having higher no of friends..wow what can bring in such a pleasure? When my smart friend received 80% sexy rating and the other one with 100% sexy has ragged him to an extent that the former started bribing people with alcoholic drinks for the sake of the rating. Isn't this interesting.

So let us continue orkutting ......................