Friday, January 30, 2009

Leave-taking

My heart clung to the emptying room while I held you close,
And I was true in my heart as I trudged that night with unwilling steps.
And then the cab moved through ever-stretching roads,
Taking me away from you, and I boarded the train
And moved on.
And then I watched the moving hands of time impatiently
And longed to reach my destination.

And now I am home and settled, and quite at ease,
But at that hour of leave-taking, I hadn't wished to come.
I did not want to leave you, mother, but it's true I'm glad home.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Too much Butter

In a befitting farewell by his home association, Bengal's prodigal son Sourav Ganguly was on Sunday presented a golden bat at his felicitation here as a poignant show of nostalgia marked the two-hour-long programme.

As the former Indian skipper was presented with the bat made of one kg gold worth Rs 25 lakh, confetti was showered amid a dazzling display of fireworks in the Cricket Association of Bengal function 'Celebrating a legend'.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest of the function West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty described Ganguly as a 'Dhruv Tara' (the guiding star) and compared him with the warrior Arjuna who battled all odds in the Mahabharata...


Don't get me wrong, people! I have been a Saurav-Ganguly fan since 1996, I have spent countless nights praying in bed for his century, I have crossed the decibel limit a thousand times(and am still prepared to do so)defending him against nasty critics-the Chappell -legion. But frankly, I don't see the idea behind gifting him 1kg gold in this recession-hit market - yeah, I'm talking money, because remember, it's ultimately the tax-payer's money that is being spent. The State Government has always gone overboard with Ganguly even during his playing days- why should we pay for the necklace of his wife and the Chinese doll of his daughter which the CM once gifted to them? Of course Ganguly deserves to be honoured, but surely a less 'golden'token would have sufficed? And where were these people between 1992-1996 when Ganguly was struggling to make it back to the team? Interestingly, the minister who compared Dada with Arjuna today was calling him mere "puffed rice a few days back." And that was another Extravaganza on public money. What is the net result of Maradona coming to India to wave at a few people and then depart with his appearance fees as far as the basic condition of Indian football is concerned? Nothing. It all amounted to a big zero. And a noted Indian athlete has commented how 16 modern tracks could be built, and poor junior players given new shirts with the money that was splurged on Maradona. Once Abhinav Brinda won the gold, state governments were competing with each other to give him money. Why? It was not that he needed the money? Nor did Ganguly. Why don't they spend the money on budding players, on pre-Olympic trainings? But what's the point? That won't win them votes. Our leaders care only about celebrities they can utilize and no more. The result, as they say, is one side of the bread is so damned buttered that it nauseates.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Movie Review: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi



I think this is my first full-fledged movie review. I would have liked to review a few other movies I loved(I have mentioned some of them in this review), but as usual I felt lazy about blogging and typing and...oh, whatever, let's get to Rab ne Bana Di Jodi. The story isn't quite( to quote a part of its catch-line)"extraordinary", we know what is going to happen before we are halfway through, but the treatment, the approach make sit special.The best part of this movie is its extreme feel good spirit that allows you to come out of the hall thinking that the world is not so terrible a place after all, and that a movie can work wonderfully without any violence or vulgarity or twisted issues, depending on simple, basic human emotions instead. Another good thing is what SRK has said in an interview is that the songs do not stop the movie- and that is the way songs should be picturised in movies and in recent times, I have seen movies where the songs are used to push the story forward, like certain songs in JodhaAkbar(mindblowing songs, those, by the way), songs in Taare Zameen Par(what a movie) and a couple of songs in Jab We Met(another simple lovestory). The acting is superb, not just the trio of Khan, Sharma and Pathak but also the sideline people like Sahni's office colleagues, the Sumo wrestler and the Punjabi man hosting the contest with a Japanese fan in his hand, the owner of the garage etc. etc. Vinay Pathak is superb and Anushka Sharma is so fresh she never seems to be acting. I find her prettier and more expressive than SRK's last debutante leading lady, namely Deepika Padukone. I hope she will do many more good roles in the years to come. As for Shahrukh, people are saying that Sahni was a better avataar than Raj and that the latter is too loud, but I think Sharukh has done both roles wonderfully without remotely appearing the Superstar in either case. Sahni of course is very endearing, the way he says "love ho gaya" or "lighting up your lives ji", the way he places a rose and then replaces it, the way he gazes adoringly at the yellow tiffin-carrier... but Raj is great too- he is loud because he is meant to be loud because he does not really fit into the role he is trying to put on. His sigining of dialogue-"Hum hai rahi..." and the way he says it absolutely rocks. The comedy is great yet not overdone, and the song with the five girls is a great tribute to Hindi film music. But more than any of the songs, I loved the Haule Hauel music at different moments of the movie. A friend told me that the moment of Taani's realization at the Golden temple was stupid, because had she gone there with her dance-partner instead of her husband, she would have seen God, and by default her love, in Raj. I don't think the scene is that literal, though. Taani did not pray to be physically shown the person she loves, she prayed so that God would make her realize the love that was already in her heart, she wanted direction to understand who she really loved. Sahni walking forward after she opens her eyes was more for the audience's benefit than for her own, and well, it makes the scene more filmy that way. Aditya Chopra has done a good job. I like this movie better than Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

I look back...


In anger at all the terror strikes India suffered this year, especially the one in November.At Singur and Nandigram.I look back in anger at all the deaths of average Indians like you and me who fell to politicians and their clout, their greed, their egotism in all parts of the country, from cities to villages. I look back in anger at the communal hatreds fanned by opportunists for their own evil profits. I look back in anger at the smoking ban so brazenly being flouted everywhere and nothing being done about it. I look back in anger at the sheer mismanaged and ill-spent "Maradona dhamaka".

On a more personal note, I look back in anger at the unfinished Metro expansion. Another year of promise gone, and I am still having to resort to a 3-break journey everyday. And I look back in anger and increasing frustration at a lot of my CU hours. I look back in anger at the cars, buses, tempos, lorries that honked their way this year through Kolutollah Street and promise to do the same next year, and the next year, despite it being situated between a hospital and an educational institution.
There are other feelings too:
I look back with terrible longing to my last months in college. I look back with nostalgia to all the get-together and movie-outings and mall-hopping I did last year with friends and family.

A Happy New Year to all of You.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

It is gone in a blink!


Is it really the end of December? Where did all the months go? The year seems to have started only yesterday! Like every other year, of course! I am having a mixed time this season, happy with friends, frustrated with university and I hope the New Year may prove more enjoyable for me as well as all of you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! Wash your socks and clean the chimney,'cause Sana Claus is coming to town!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Mumbai attacks






I had a friend in Mumbai. Thankfully she was safe and we could contact her. Others were not so lucky. And I saw a white pigeon flying by the burning Taj, flying for safety, perhaps. Looked a Prometheun fool to me. I was also wondering where the self-styled protectors of 'Marathi' Mumbai were- hiding, possibly, as 'Indian' commandoes and soldiers gambled their lives to save others. And when would our politicians wake up- after the whole country is taken over?

Monday, September 29, 2008

Time of the Mother


Nothing hot and happening, really, except the weather. Its either very hot, or it rains so badly that I have to swim in the streets. Well, College Street is flooded anyway if there's a wispy cloud in the sky, I suppose I just have to get used to it. University sucks. Just thought I would wish you all a Happy Durga Puja and Eid Mubarak as well.

Live happy. Live well.