Movies in 2005

I know it’s been donkey’s ages since I last posted a blog, but I have very good reason for this long pause. Since I’m on a sabbatical from work, I’m simple going all out with being the laziest person on the face of this planet. But its not like I’ve not done anything at all, I’ve watched a lot of television to make up for the last year, seen loads of movies too.
So, the topic for this blog is going to be movies. Let me begin by saying that all that I am about to convey, reveal, whatever, comes from the bottom of the heart of a true movie buff. And I am completely shattered to announce that the Indian film industry has completely gone to the dogs!!!

It had been months and months since I’d seen a decent movie. I was scared to open the film listing because all I saw were adverts for b-grade semi-porno type of flicks or the usual run of the mill crap. But one day I simply could not resist myself and decided to catch something called garam masala. Well, it said Akshay Kumar and John Abraham, the trailers didn’t look that bad although not too promising either. So off I went, saying to myself well, maybe this is one of those no-brainers, the leave-your-brains-at-home kinda stuff. Boy was I wrong. It was actually leave-your-whole-god-damn-body at home kind of utter crap. Waste of money, mind and mood.

A few days later I suffered from temporary amnesia and actually walked into a theatre screening a…yeeeeesh…Kareena Kapoor film, Kyon Ki. Big mistake, huge, and I mean the kind that does irreplaceable damage to your faith in making a reasonably decent choice. To spare you the details, I came out of the theatre in a semi-comatose state.

It was a horribly sad, dry spell where movies were concerned, Hindi or English. A few weeks later, my brother and I found ourselves wandering around the mall. Let me assure you, it was him, he had not seen any movie in a long time. So, he dragged an extremely unwilling soul to watch Shaadi No. 1. For the sake of decency, I am not going to use any profanities here, but trust me, I not only used up a lifetime of profane words that day, that too not in any one language but in Hindi, English, Marathi and a few other foreign language x-rated words, which, trust me again, come in very handy some times but also came this close to committing hara-kiri, pulling out my hair and gouging out my eyeballs with my bare hands.

Yes people, the movie WAS that bad.

So now we’re in 2006 and what lies in the offing for us moviegoers is as good as anybody’s imagination. Rang De Basanti seems to be something that everyone has their hopes pinned on for some good wholesome entertainment. Hmm…need I remind you guys about Mangal mangal mangal mangal…

Alright, I’m not trying to rain on everybody’s parade but just that we shouldn’t expect more than what might actually be in store. Yes, the music is great, check it out for yourself. Rehman rocks!! Rather let’s pray that at least some movies take us by surprise and don’t leave as bad a taste as that left by most of 2005. Cheers!!

Open your eyes and get real

Third world countries, like India, are often looked down upon by the rest of the so-called advanced people more often than not for their lack of progressive thinking than their outdated technologies and working styles. But I beg to differ. And I can elucidate this by the following example.

I mean what do you call the endless, obsessive, bordering-on-insanity kind of dependence people seem to have on looking gorgeous in today’s world? The possible reasons: the portrayal of the perfect looking woman (or human form in general) in media, which is highly warped anyway; the self proclaimed beauty experts; beauty magazines; beauty pageants; cosmetic giants trying to make money by selling unreal ideas…unblemished skin???...fair skin??? I mean if nature intended us to be a certain way, I’m sure there must be some darn good reason for it. I’m not against grooming oneself and trying to look your best. But I’m definitely against trying to look anorexic or ghostly pale.

On a recent show of Oprah, she’d invited people who were clearly in need of psychiatric help. For no apparent reason, each one of them seemed convinced that they were the most ugliest and unattractive people on this planet. No amount of plastic surgery, nose jobs, breast enhancements and body and face lifts were enough to meet their perception of perfection.

The above example was of course from the United States. Back home, in India, in a country that is considered not-so advanced, we continue to suffer fools by the dozen. Today, more than one national TV news channel had their cameras fixed on a man—an astrologer who has apparently been accurate on his predictions most of the time—who had predicted his own death to occur between 3 and 5pm IST. From 9am in the morning, he’d parked himself in a small temple while camera crews covered the event and people from far and near towns flocked the place to see him die.

Back in the studios, the anchors had a field day debating over the prediction with other astrologers and psychologists, playing the guessing game, all in an attempt to keep the gullible public glued to their channels. At about 4pm, the man got up, spoke a few words, and walked away to his own room. I say the man probably wanted to attend to natures call and could not wait until 5 o’clock.

Will someone please tell me what’s going on? Why are people so blind and prone to falling prey to unrealistic expectations and claims? Why is the regular man on the street—regardless of whether he/she belongs to an advanced of backward nation—unable to see that it is only the media or the cosmetic company or some self-proclaimed god man trying their luck at more-than-fifteen-minutes of fame? Food for thought I say.

Bappa lives in the hearts of Mumbaites

So it’s that time of the year once again when people from all walks of life, so long as they are Mumbaites, step across the boundaries of religion and come together to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. One must be here (in Mumbai/Bombay) to completely understand and feel the festive fervour and celebrations that go on for a good 10/11 days. This year, once again, we were lucky enough to be a part of this joyous and uniting festival. We had our own Ganesh Puja for 1 and 1/2 day and when you go for the Visarjan, it’s an altogether different experience. It’s like the entire city, the traffic, the pedestrians, the shopkeepers, people in their balconies, the guy in the Mercedes as well as the beggar and just about everyone is invited to be a part of the revelry. Shouts of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" never seem to drown; everyone seems to be at their best behaviour. If you want to know what I mean, try cutting a lane on an ordinary day at the risk of receiving a few swear words. But on this day, people will only be polite and humble as they collectively take part in saying goodbye to their beloved lord for the year. As he slowly becomes a part of the vastness of the Arabian Sea, his devotees crane their neck to catch a last glimpse of their lord. And then, they go back home, a little sad, but with a lot of hope that next year he will once again come home and pay them a visit. "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!"

Mall Mania

Alright, I have got to get this off my chest, as many times as possible in fact because it is truly disturbing. For all those who still live in Bombay are well aware of the recent mushrooming of malls all around the city. Yes I love the really good ones myself but we have one coming up at every nook and corner, practically growing right under our feet. It makes you wonder do we really, truly need all these malls. Particularly, since it all seems to be happening in such a haphazard manner. Have we not seen how the outdated infrastructure of this city creaked and groaned under the pressure of nature’s fury on the 26th of July? The drains failed to do their job, the rivers over flew (The Mithi river is a golden example) and not to mention the communication lines and power supply that went dead. Nobody stops to think for a moment about how every upcoming centre of attraction is going to cause traffic jams near schools, hospitals and other places where people really need to be, on time. So much chaos and unnecessary destruction of life and property, all because no one really wants to keep a check on this haphazard growth. God forbid, if another similar incident were to take place in the future, how is this city going to survive it?

The Spirit of Bombay

How many times have we heard this before, when this city rises tall in the face of calamities such as bomb blasts, riots and the more recent rain bashing. So when the so called spirit of Bombay is applauded, it makes one feel utterly proud of belonging to what is made out to be this great plethora that is the milk of human kindness. But what happened last weekend has really stirred up all sorts of emotions and forces one to think. A city that was once considered one of the safest for women, witnessed a gruesome murder in broad daylight and barely anyone tried to stop the assailant. Why? Where was the spirit of Bombay then? Where were all those people who saved others from drowning, from starving in a difficult time merely days ago? All this really leaves me wondering as to what is really the true colour of my city.

Bombay, My City & Life as I See it

So Here I am friends, my first blog posting. The weekends round the corner and soon it will be over too, blissfully unaware of how much it is looked forward to each time. The last one was a long weekend, with the Indian Independance Day. I saw Mangal Pandey, still trying to figure out what these guys were doing since four years and what was all the hype about. Well, good luck to all Aamir Khan fans, better luck next time.So this place, in case you're wondering what's it all gonna be about. Well, lots of things, you can count on that. What's happening in Bombay (yes, I'm gonna continue calling it Bombay so sue me), what's new and nice, what I have been upto, movies I see, music, books I read, and of course what I think about it all. Gonna try try and keep it interesting, of course any and all criticism, opinions are most welcome.So keep checking in, I intend to update the postings as frequently as possible.