Haider is a ‘Bang Bang’

Movies are a time to celebrate. Be it happiness, grief, anger or your life, it is the perfect medium to exert your mind.

For lesser people who remained at their cities, without having the chance to go out for an escapade, two cinemas that caught their imagination. Haider and Bang Bang. Two completely different movies from the Bollywood but, oh boy, are they not entertaining within their own paradigm? Completely engrossing.

Watching Haider was easy. It was Vishal Bharadwaj, a Shakespearean play, Gulzar lyrics and history repeating itself, after successes of “Maqbool” and “Omkara.” It’s an easy job. What I liked most about the movie, it was the beautiful portrayal of humdrum Kashmir, like back alleys, at a time when going was getting tougher. Being a child that grew up in troubled Assam during 1990s, it was a deja vu for me. VB is known for making ‘beautiful boys’ to act. In ‘Omkara,’ it was Langra Tyagi as enacted brilliantly by Saif Ali Khan. And, so he became a man. In ‘Haider,’ he tried to do that Shahid Kapoor. Did it work? I think it did to a considerable level. But, yes, it was not a ‘WOW Shahid’ feeling that I got. It was a job well done. For the performance of others, they did what they knew best. Kay Kay, a slimy petty opportunist but God fearing uncle; Tabu, in her classical expression of torn between her love for two men in her lives and that feeling of being helpless, Irfan Khan, with a shawl of mystery around his character and a dark glass that he put to cover the ugliness of his character, were brilliantly captured at the hands of VB. The music was exceptionally brilliant. That soft touch of Pastu, when those Kashmiri musical instruments and hymns are injected here and there, help you to relish the Kashmiri delight. The drama was engrossing. The subtle layers of the movie were smartly described by VB. The scene of flirting between Haider’s mother and his uncle, just aftermath of his father’s disappearance, left Haider on the other side of the veil realise his loss. He seemed to knew all along but never removed that veil. But his father’s disappearance, his hero, gave him that excuse to pull down that veil. He did but he could not stop loving her mother. So much for VB, to give his critics to run for their money. He delivered Haider. Almost.

What I found shocking that cinema could not reach to people, who were watching it in a plush cinema hall in the national capital of Delhi? It was a really sad sight when people started clapping, some of them, at the torture of Kashmiri people by armed forces. It depicts how ignorant some people of the society are about the hardship that some of their brethren had to undergo at the behest of the defence forces. Of course, AFSPA is Chutzpah because most people does not care. Because, they have not lived inside of it, breathed under an open sky with chains on their minds. There have been incidents that a piece of cinema, Haider, has created rift between friends and split them in to groups like liberals and nationalists. Oh god! For the love of god, can you beat this? Why is it that we cannot take what the gist of the movie rather than pricking our brain about the stage? ‘Chutzpah ho gaya yeh toh!’

To beat the Chutzpah, we decided to Bang Bang our lives. I desperately wanted to get back mainstream. The ‘Bang Bang’ was a perfect escapade. I am not here to offer my critical points about Bang Bang. But its a ‘Paisa Vasool’ masala movie. We should not, or we deserve to, to criticise about ‘Bang Bang’ when we miss the message from Haider and read the address on the envelop. Bang Bang had everything. The superbly beautiful landscapes, eye candies Hrithik and Katrina, superb music and really groovy tunes, action sequences that are well executed and to top it all, we had Danny Dengzongpa. He played the age old villain, that I miss so much from Bollywood. The villain is bad. There is no question of black and white. And, I thank for making my life simple. He kills his brother and his brother avenges. Loved the plot. Just the perfect cinema to watch with your beloved on a relaxing Sunday evening. She won’t complain because she will drop her jaws at Hrithik’s sexy incarnation. Oh boy! Katrina, this is the best. Just stick around. That much will work for the guys. And yes, the songs do not bore me. They actually make me sit up. With eloquent dancing by flamboyant Hrithik and lass Katrina, I wonder if I shall ever be able to dance like him. At least, in the next life? Please. And yes, I can ignore those ad plug ins within the cinema if the director delivers what he promises. Bang Bang is a no brainer, slouch back and hooting kinda cinema. That was promised and that is why.

‘Bang Bang’ gave the audience to chat, talk, hoot, whistle, munch in popcorns, play around, romantic cuddling, emotional atyachar, and even fight for getting late on a Sunday cinema date. I just hope that they, the Bollywood, stick to this level of commercial cinema and do not torture us with Om Shanti Om or the forthcoming, Happy New Year.

Go ‘Bang Bang’, if this is what you want.

12 Years A Slave – Making people with heart bleed!

It is painful.

However old it may be, the story still pains. So, does the brilliant portrayal of the pre-civil war Americas when being ‘nigger’ can warrant you nothing better than the life of a ‘baboon’, or mostly worse than that. The question of liberty and equality, as prescribed by the nature, remains a unknown and unwanted mystery for Solomon Northup until he was kidnapped, tortured and sold as a slave. As a spirit that he was and not someone who ‘ain’t got the stomach for a fight;’ he declared “I don’t want to survive. I want to live.”

As an eloquent violin player, Solomon Northup, played by Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor for this role, lived happily with his small family as a ‘free man’ at Saragato, New York. Soon he would be kidnapped and transported to the South where he would be sold in the market. That the men and women can be traded as goods in the market is perfectly shown by director Steve McQueen. Freeman, who is the trader of slaves, parades his slaves naked in front of potential buyers, ask them to perform, show their teeth for their perfect health or even jump and run. The cinematic excellence can be measured when you shockingly walk with the potential buyers and see them bargain.  

This is a cinema that bleeds your heart. As they bled by those whiplashes befallen upon their backs, as they are made to dance at night after a tiring day at the behest of a drunk cruel, as they sing on the death of a peer, you bleed. As a benign buyer of slave, Ford bought Platt, the new name forced upon Solomon, along with a mother, Eliza, who was to be separated from her children. As she cried aloud on the separation of her children, Platt started playing his eloquent violin. It was horror. You feel the gruesome cry of mother for her estranged children and an urgent need to play down that voice by the soothing sound of Violin played so urgently by Platt. The sequence ends when Mistress Ford seemingly empathizes with Eliza, upon her arrival at the estate, and says, ‘something to eat and some rest; your children will soon enough be forgotten.’ Eliza would soon to be drag out of the estate, for she kept weeping for her estranged children, as she cried for Platt who went deaf upon hearing her crying help.

I don’t know if torture can have this impact. The film wrenches your soul as someone would lock a person in chains and then beat him until his bat breaks and still beat him. You don’t see ‘meat and blood flow’ but your mind screams as Platt exchanges his blood stained badly mutilated shirt for a newer one. For Edwin Epps, the ruthless ‘nigger breaker’ cotton grower ‘master,’ is caught in a dreadful situation when he cannot escape from his weakness for his slave ‘Damned Queen’, Patsey. He was so envious or possessive about owning her, that she would strip her down and tied onto a tree to be ruthlessly whipped. However, he could not. He had Platt to whip her and whip her so hard that you see the sprinkle of blood spit out of her back at every whip. You feel her agony, or may be your mind resists to it, as she cries at every whip splitting her smooth back into tatters. The torn flesh of her back, the tired sound of crying, the soul wrenching pain that Platt incurs as he beat her, these are moments when the pain that you get is resisted by your soul. Closing your fist, it refuse and wants to rebel.

The movie is not only seen but its felt. Not many movies can do that. When you see Platt staring at the light with not a single utterance of word for almost five minutes, you feel the ignominy and sting of his helplessness. When you see Platt remains hung with his tip of foot on a slushy muddy land, you feel death every second as an ordinary day is spent around you. He lives through the day, the afternoon and the evening hanging before he is being rescued. What is staggering is the hope that a man condemned by fate still holds! Platt steals a piece of paper, creates and sharpens a pen, and discovers his own ink with blueberry. This is hope that leads him to experience deceit once but freedom at another time.

‘12 Years A Slave’ is not just a movie but an emotional journey for anyone, with their heart and soul intact, who would not know about slavery. It is not just about a person but tragic evidence of a merciless, barbaric and inhumane blot in human civilization. The metaphoric Platt is at last reunited with his family but he is old now, a grandfather with a grandson.

The movie is metaphorically encapsulated in this dialogue of Solomon on the occasion of his reunion with his estranged family that was “I apologize for my appearance. But I have had a difficult time these past several years.”

From Ayurveda to an Immune India, via Chywanprash!

It was around November, 2007 when the feeling of missing an early morning flight made me sit up the entire night. While I sipped tea at regular interval so that I stay awake, then I realized that winter has set in. The nip in the air was a little more than pleasant. My fragile immune system, thanks to my unhealthy lifestyle, gave up its fight against cold too soon. The quilt that I wrapped around me was of little help as I felt the cold creep inside me. A methodical chaotic lifestyle has resulted weak defense in my body. I realized how important is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Now, like a typical managerial straightjacket that I lived my life, I started to break it down – step by step. What is the problem? What is the source? What are the readily available solutions to address this? And, how do I employ counter measures to defend & strengthen my fragile immune system? The allopathic medication was good that gave a swift impact. The culprit was confused weather of not-so-warm-yet-not-so-cold. But, will it sustain your health with all the ills of the modern lifestyle?

I was all shook up. The first of all, I started to follow old treatise of “early to bed and early to rise”. The next in the scheme of thing was to do some kind of physical exercise regularly. Trust me! It works like a wonder. It may be a struggle at the beginning but if you make a start, it will show you benefits. The Lodhi Park is such a delight to jog in the morning as I look forward to this time of the day. The collateral benefit of jogging allowed you to make friends who are dead serious about living healthy. As conversation often stirs up in those long laps of short & heavy breaths, I stirred up the classic debate: new versus old.

As a contemporary corporate south Delhi-ite, I put up a stage for the modern energy drinks and advocated heavily for allopathic medication even for cold. A candid confrontation was put up by an elderly gentleman, who argued how age old traditional Ayurvedic herbal substances, with proven medicinal benefits, can help the body to regain strength and fortify its immune system. This is when I realized the power of our culture & decided to learn more about these medicines. I always heard about the benefits of Ayurveda from my elders but wondered if they will be easily available in urban India.

With this doubt in mind, I spoke to my cousin doctor. He laughed and gave me an answer in a name that I have heard since my childhood. He said, “Your answer is Dabur Chyawanprash. It is very good as preventive ayurvedic jam that helps in boosting immunity to prevent like cold, cough etc.” Amazed that I know about this brand but never realized that it is Ayurvedic. It is indeed a simple yet effective solution for an ayurvedic product with proven track record that is easily available. I tried to browse more on internet and found that Dabur’s chyawanprash actually is the market leader with almost 70% of the market. I was amazed at how such a health enriching product is available in my nearest cornershop but I never realized. When I studied more about it in www.daburchyawanprash.com, I realized that the Dabur Chyawanprash is enriched in Vitamin C. Often termed as ‘elixir of life’ in Ayurveda, it is rich with natural Ayurvedic items like Ashwagandha, Asparagus, Bamboo manna and many other important herbs that help in healthy metabolism. Its rich anti oxidant properties help your body to brace up for day to day health challenges. Known since the time of classic Ayurvedic treatise Chakra Samhita, this semi solid paste formulation has withstood innumerable challenges for thousands of years.

Today, we work late, party even later. Our atmosphere is polluted and we live amidst greater health risks as our bodies are exposed to flu & harmful bacteria. As the modern medical science is working hard to stem the new age diseases and health challenges, I think if we can reap the benefits through products like Dabur Chyawanprash that are easily available at any market in India at a reasonable price, then we can actually look at an Immune India.

Empowered with my new found knowledge about Chyawanprash, I bought my first Dabur Chyawanprash from neighborhood corner shop. The first benefit of this wonder is its beautiful and aromatic flavor. As foodie, I always cherished food but I think this is the first time that I cherished the taste of Chywanprash, a medicinal product. The good faith, which Dabur has earned over the years, was reinforced once again when I tasted Dabur Chyawanprash.

As their dedicated website says “Dabur Chyawanprash’s magnificent brew of Ayurvedic herbs strengthens the body’s natural defence mechanism by increasing your NK cells (Natural Killer Cells) three folds. NK cells assist in fighting with virus and bacteria in your body, thus giving us increased immunity from various infections.”  And, how I am impressed! The scientific studies have confirmed Dabur Chyawanprash’s immunomodulatory and anti allergic potential. As I started to have it regularly, I felt the difference in me. With a regular life of healthy home cooked meals, regular regime of physical activity and regular intake of Dabur Chywanprash, it has not only improved my immune system manifold that was reflected in my ability to withstand the sudden weather changes and corresponding virus, flu & infection. The After all this, I became the latest convert of Dabur Chyawanprash and since then it has been an integral part of my immunity.

The positioning of the Ayurvedic medicines has been a challenge to get a foothold in the huge young & urbane population market. As we evolve as a society, it is important that we package things with contemporary ideas. The marketing strategy of Dabur Chywanprash in this regard has been very innovative. By employing contemporary popular icons right from Madhuri Dixit to Amitabh Bachchan, from Indian Cricket Captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni to Bhojpuri starlet Ravi Kishen, it has not only tapped the different tiers of markets but also made Dabur Chywanprash as a contemporary medicinal product without any side effects.  The smart contemporary packaging of an age old time tested Chywanprash is the simple yet ideal mean to reach out to Common young people and provide us an Immune India.

Ram Leela goes Ruptured Lola!

If he thought of doing a Vishal Bhardwaj, then he fell flat on his face. The latest colourful cinema from Sanjay Leela Bhansali is nothing but a pathetic display of brilliant photographic frames, loud & not necessarily good music, incessant violence without any sense, style or substance, a love story gone completely wrong and vibrant colours. The took too much from Bhansali and I think it received little from the Bhansali of Black or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. My suggestion is to save some time & money, divert your effort to watch another movie or just lay back in the arms of your loved one. Trust me, you’ll be more in love than you ever will be after this pathetic adaptation of Shakespearean classic play Romeo & Juliet.

Courtesy Google

For a story to start, it has to have a start. The Ram Leela did not have one. Once upon a time, there was a holi celebration where she kissed him with colour and they fall in love. At a time, when films like Ishaqzaade by Habib Faisal, that is more or less have similar story lines, were made at a more dramatic yet pragmatic milieu, this Bhansali movie is shame on today’s film making culture from Bollywood. The biggest pull of a romantic play is the romance between the protagonists. It is flirting, the beautiful unease, the dreamy stares, the painful aloofness that made it beautiful. Sadly, these essential ingredients are given a complete overlook by Bhansali. It does not have romance but its is pitted as a romantic movie. That is the pity.

What is good about the movie is the frames! He has good eye for colour, for beautiful frames. But where Bhansali flops are editing and story telling. The romance of the movie never started for it to end. The plastic smiles, those dispassionate kisses, those distasteful acting by the Ram & Leela did their best to usurp the happiness of the viewers. Don’t be surprised if you see people leaving at the intermission not to return to their seats to watch the later part of the movie. I came back just to see how bad it can be. Is it so bad that it is good? Sadly, it isn’t.

The grand sets, vibrant colours, songs for each and every occasion made the lives of viewers pitiful. The viewers love songs when they arrive at the right juncture with apt timing. If you are bombarded with songs at every five minutes (it happened twice in this movie), then you will sunk inside your palms as you have no place to escape. The movie maker should note that romance is not about bootylicious heroines, topless heroes and smutty witty one liners. Even if it is for commercial reason, then it is to be weaved into a story for the viewer to enjoy it. Jumping the gun, wielding the gun and pulling the triggers at every turn of moment won’t get us an action pack. The worse was pathetic acting by leading actors (?) of the movie; Ranveer Singh (a sexy body does not imply good acting) and Deepika Padukone (some acting apart from joyful display of beautiful skin)

I wonder if Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to do what Vishal Bhardwaj has already done beautifully. They both adapted western classic plays by William Shakespeare (read Othello and Macbeth by Bhardwaj and Romeo & Juliet by Sanjay Leela Bhansali), Indianised the theme, Bollywoodised the movie & produced a product they deemed fit for commercial success. One important thing to note is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali also directed the music of the movie. However, Bharadwaj edged out Bhansali in all of the departments, hands down. The Bhansali should do movies where he can do justice rather than trying to do more than his might.

If you are looking for an one line review of the movie, then this is what I have to say: If you are planning for Ram Leela this weekend, then save some money and time. This is Classic Bollywood trash with no sense or sensibility in what is an adaptation of Romeo Juliet. Disgusting!

Overhaul Education: For a better & secure Tomorrow!

Speed is everything today. We are running a mad race today to catch something. We know that because we are told to catch that thing. But the sad part of the story is that we don’t know why we catch something particular but not something else. Metaphorically, the science has made our lives so simple that we want to complicate it now. We are hard pressed for time as we fail to secure time to do the basic things in life; like breath without fear, dream without anticipation and love with conditions. As Gandhiji said, ‘there is more to life than increasing its speed.’ Do we care to listen & understand it? Ailing South African revolutionary leader, Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The tragedy of life is that not many of us appreciate the value of education today and the very philosophy that education tries to imbibe into a person. The philosophy of reason and logic are the ulterior objectives of any education that help to quench the natural human inquisitiveness about the unknown. As we fail to understand the power that education has to bring changes in the world, do we see cracks in our social fabric that is crafted with innumerable years of human experience? I think we do.

A typical middle class family from relatively poorer eastern part of India lives a dream to catch something. The baby enters the earth with that very urge to catch something, he’s grown up in the cocoon of competition, he’s trained hard to fight to stay ahead in the competition, and finally he catches that something. But, all his life, he has known only one thing that to catch something! Once he gets his engineering or medical degree, because it is only thing to catch as rest are mere options, he turns to catch his next something, and then to next. He gets old catching some things, growing old accumulating something without really enjoying any of his prizes because he does not know how to relish them. He was never taught to.

The Indian education system remains largely the colonial heritage of past century. The legacy of joining, for lack of a proper word, the rat race and bestowing the winner with the trophy is essentially sums up our education system. It is classically based upon the carrot and stick policy. Never a sincere attempt was made to move over from this bequest but efforts were initiated & hastened by society to perpetuate it even further. For lack of a system to relinquish such obnoxious and obsolete education system, today we are facing a system of cut off in the recent Delhi University reaching 100%. The severance from the realities of society and time has made it an elite model, rather than an ideal universal model. The incapacity of the regional universities to learn new things, explore novel ideas, deliberate and imbibe them in their education process has led to their tragic decay in importance in the present education scenario. The intelligentsia of such universities forgot the very basic of education which Albert Einstein quotes as ‘the most important thing is not to stop questioning.’

Are we asking the right questions and making the right echoes in the society? The growing vacuum of brilliant minds moving away from the state should have been regarded as a state disaster. However, the way the educational bodies are encouraging and paving the way to excel in these rat races to secure an admission in the elite university, it is far from identify it as a crisis. Having lost its teeth to mismanagement, lethargy and archaic operation, then the Universities bask in glory of the past. They effortlessly forget to improve the education, relinquish colonial educational hangover and imbibe a tradition of inquisitiveness, invention and innovation in their academic lives. Sadly, this has not been forthcoming. There has been marked improvement in the infrastructure of education institutions in Assam today. The government on its part has made a remarkable thing by introducing Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) for recruitment of teachers. Many other innovative schemes like mid day meals, bio metric card system, digital classes & libraries, setting up of newer educational institutions etc are laudable and indeed a lot has been done to improve the infrastructure of the educational institutions.

But, did we miss the brief? Do we need physical assets or do we need human assets that result from a vibrant educational environment? As the Chief Minister set 2016 as the deadline to improve educational scenario, it will be interesting to know what we are trying to achieve here. Are we trying to regain the lost glory of the state language? Or, are we trying to find confidence in the student of a vernacular medium government secondary school? Does the creation of new universities in the recent past will bring about a sea change as teachers teach a subject? Or, do we recognize the increasingly diminishing importance of the state language and initiate steps to promote it, quite like the promotion of the national language? Can we bring back glory to our state level educational institutions so that students don’t need to go outside for study? Are we bold enough today to recognize that brain drain is huge issue for the future of our society? Do we appreciate the grave danger that future possesses of an intelligentsia less society if the educational exodus from the state is not checked? Can we expect our respected intelligentsia to stand up and vouch for a system that promotes inquisitiveness rather than simply ‘hoping for betterment of education?’ Are we ready to initiate a process of believing in education and its inherent philosophy to bring light in the dark?

If the government and we are talking about these questions and many others, then I think Chief Minister is thinking in the right direction. However, to bring such a metamorphosis in next three years looks impregnable, I think it is important for the polity and society to set realistic set of terms & a meaningful pursuit to achieve logical conclusion. The society is standing today at a peculiar crossing point. We are confused. We don’t know where we are, where are we travelling to and why are we travelling that way. People, who imposed faith in their land, society, culture and customs, are afraid to hold on to their ageless traditions as they are deceived politically and historically. The economic realities are pushing the society further to abandon them so that they can adapt to a certain short term arrangement that will get them economic rewards. But as human history tells us the real wealth is customs, traditions, social practices, languages and pride. Change remains the spice of life and education brings change in the society. An overhaul of education is the need of the hour and not to think of ways and means to increase marks of the students of the state so that they can get admission into the elite universities outside. Then, I hope to see cut off for subjects in our educational institutions scroll down in the ticker of at least our regional channels.

Dead Men’s City: Are we still dead to be alive?

When I chose the title “Dead Men’s City,” I was both skeptical and scarred to use it. But, in the hindsight, I think just apt and perfect for the situation. As a human being, I am ashamed of what has happened in Guwahati just a year ago, as we conveniently forgot about it. A girl was assaulted and molested by a bunch of hooligans in the heart of the city. Yes, the law took its course, thanks to endless social scrutiny through the eyes of media, at national level. And, there goes a media channel and, an array of media stories to follow, to air this gruesome act. Yes, you will agree, as like any reasonable person, that the sense of justification and reasoning of airing such a video only displays the lowest journalistic ethos like getting the prized byte from a victim who gets molested in front of the crew as they remain busy covering it.  But, we should not ignore, especially in a consumerist society, which the media, that it is a reflection of the society that we live, is driven by market forces and people find it amusing (?) to watch such barbarism on television channels. There is a sense of urgency in this particular incident. While the justice has been delivered in this case with such swiftness (in a matter of months, that seems impossible to dream), is our justice system only lends its importance to those matters of excessive public scrutiny? Yes, I can understand the motives of the politicos or the bureaucrats as their ulterior motives can be understood. Are we heralding an age where justice is delivered and not delayed? People may have their own judgment here without a lesser intelligent citizen opining on their behalf. We heard it. We know it.

Now, I have a very unusual or, if I can use the word, controversial question to it. Like Ceaser, we, the society of righteousness and crusader of wrong, may claim & exhort ‘veni, vidi, vici.’ But can we really? Why is it that we woke up then? Why is it that when the incident was shown on national television that people were hitting the street to demand justice, and not before when it was repeatedly played in regional channels? Why we are not shammed to death for any other, unreported incident but widely known among people, cases of molestation? People have been questioning the ethics of the media. This is good. But are we questioning our own sense of morality and ethics? Do we question our conscience when we may have ignored such an incident happening when you were travelling late in a city bus, or a lonely road in the afternoon, or in a dark alley in the neighbourhood? Did you stop, raise a protest, took it up with the law? Can we lay hands on our souls and tell the truth to our own self. You got your answer & I got mine. That is where we can call ourselves as hypocrites, and no. I am not saying that I am not a hypocrite. I am you.

Thanks to media, we are seeing the exposed value system of our society. We are only shouting our voice when we were shammed in public. We have lost our face and we are facing questions from people who would haunt us for our boasting claim to fame about women dignity in Assam. However, we also knew that this is not entirely true. With those disturbing images doing rounds across the country and the world, we are running for covers, from pillar to post. We don’t know how we will continue to live in the fake blown-up-beyond-proportion ego of culture and social identity that is long dead. We are still drawing inspirations to boast about a cultured society from a bunch of sacred heroes who are increasingly getting diminished from the moral map of the present society. As we tried hard to escape from our gory, ugly face, did we try something in last twelve months to improve these scars? Like rising a voice against any injustice & taking it to its logical conclusion or helping a destitute to preserve its honour & dignity, even when there is no pressure of ‘social conformity.’ I did not. Did you? Or, you are me!

All that we love to do is to jump the bandwagon and remain loyal to the ‘way of social conformity.’ As we increasingly compromise our own identity, I wonder if we, as a society, will have another hero in near time. It’s appalling that we are starving for heroes and we shy away vehemently to ignore such a reality. We love to live in a world of myth and materialistic bling. We are hardly bothered about what goes out there as long as I am ‘safe.’ This atypical idiosyncrasy of the present society has led me to question us. Where do we stand as a society? Why did we fail as a fertile society that stopped producing heroes from whom we draw strengths to fight? As we cling on to those legends from yesteryear, there is an urgent need for newer heroes in our lives. Someone contemporary, someone who instills life, someone whom we can feel! Are we ready to find that person? Are you ready to become that person rather than being someone with a job in MNC, a trophy spouse, an iPhone, a Sedan and a flat in the Millenium City blessed with an unknown old age death with no ramification? Do I at least want to try? Do you?

Till the time, it was not aired in the national television; this incident has not insulated such a reaction. Because we love our fake identity and take magnanimous pride in it, this incident shammed us or we are shammed because that the lie that we live in is exposed in front of the world. The foundation, the mascara and the kajal of the society were washed away by this tragedy and the aging wrinkles and horrific scars of our society lay exposed. We don’t know what to do or how to go back to our old fake self. We are challenged by an array of questions. Are we bold enough to lend our ears to these pressing questions & try to look for an answer? Are we ready to have our guts back to fight for our own glory & honour? Am I?

Consumerism and materialism has so much consumed our society that even our values and reputation need to be kicked hard so that it can wake up. Today, sadly, even one’s individual self respect and ethics are driven by market forces. Because, it will have negative impact on the overall reputation of the society we should now join in. All that we care about today, is a good mark-sheet so that one can get admitted to Delhi University (Let the Assam education system go to hell), get a job in an MNC (let the entrepreneurial kick die), get a trophy wife (who cares about love anymore, we need someone who can mingle with my social class), get a hatchback, midsize or sedan (because it’s not only about commuting anymore) and a home as early as possible (because I can move to a bigger house on a bigger loan on a later date). In our mad rat race, we forgot to think about our surrounding and ignore the catastrophic implication that it may have on our individual personal lives, our own identity (provided we have one) and an honour (if we care to own it). Am I thinking the way it should be or am I the only one? Are you thinking alike?

With passing days, we will get back to the machine that we love to log on to, and keep on doing things that were being done. We will post a “RIP” if some elderly looking gentlemen dies without recognizing the contribution that he had towards the society. This is how we remain true to the ‘Conformity Movement’ and we will come out on the street wearing black T Shirt (because we love Metallica) only when it’s not too shiny or hot to walk out, is a Sunday and more importantly our fake image is not tarnished and our dirty liens are not washed in front of the nation. Otherwise, we are doing just fine and we are happy with the shopping malls, swanky cars and bikes and five star hotels. Who talks about Assamese language, or its identity? Face of protest? Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha, Ambikagiri Raichowdhury? Who are they? They are passé. We are talking about the changing the world, bringing communism by wearing black, man! How about Ernesto, oh! Sorry! Che! Gueverra? He is kind of cool to be worn. But, what the heck? We aint grabbing national headlines for any wrong news now. So, let’s just sit back, sip my beer and watch my EPL & La Liga matches! We are happy till our shallow selves are covered. Am I? Are you?

Are we living in a Dead Men’s Society? I am. Don’t know about you. Just pinch yourself and you will get your identity. I knew that I am a dead men before I pinched to realize. Did you?

For beloved Tapan Khura: A Tribute

“He not busy being born is busy dying”

Popular American songwriter Bob Dylan once sang this to inscribe the true meaning of being born throughout the life rather than being busy dying. Life for its innate nature has spectacular virtues. The catch is to be born throughout one’s life to experience the novelty that it has to offer. Many of us remain busy to pursue larger goals in life. There is nothing wrong in it but, at times, we may fail to rejoice at the brilliance of our lives, of the people around us, of the society that we live in, the small celebrations in our daily lives and the unknown. There are only a few amongst us, who are always busy being born, rather than busy dying. Not many of us know how we can strive to born innumerous times before we die. Arun Saharia, fondly known as Tapan, is one of them. Tapan Khura always lived to born again as he celebrated youth by remaining forever young at heart.

His 72 years story in his heart was alive till the time he died on April 24, 2013. Always opened to newer shores, newer dreams, and blue skies, Khura knew how to breathe the fresh air, celebrate his experiences and make merry with memories as he stayed forever young. Born into a vibrant family and a progressive neighborhood in Laban, Shillong, he was a person with whom we lived their childhood, in a time that was devoid of materialistic bliss of today, and a time that was struggle at every turn of the day, and may be a time when people truly smiled.  And, he recounted how they celebrated the buying ofa  ticket to cinema by selling old newspapers, how they let their dreams fly sky high with their kites, how they run amock in the neighborhood with their sling shots, how they would celebrate the Durga Puja at the illustrious & historical Laban Naamghar, his stories from his days in St. Edmund’s College in Shillong or Regional Engineering College in Rourkella, his arguments as a senior technocrat & learned man or a man of his generation debating why new is better yet old is gold. I tried to live that innocence through his eyes, which lit up when they show me those lost frames from their childhood; through his engaging voice, that egged me to leap in joy with excitement like that small boy in him. His rich generation taught us this craft of busy being born and we shall continue to celebrate your life, your smile, your voice, and your memories.

A people’s man, Tapan Khura was always to be found among people: talking, sharing, experiencing. His humane touch was felt, deep and wide, when he left us recently after illness. The love that he invested among people, the care that he provided to people, the moments that he shared with people came back to comfort his beloved ones during this critical hour of his departure. For his immaculate ability to swiftly tell the day, date from a particular year, for his spick and span intelligence, for his beliefs in logic & reasoning, for his advocacy of shedding age old superstitions, he taught us how to celebrate life. A heavenly soul, a smiling face, a fruity voice, our tall & handsome Tapan Khura departed from the physical world.  But, yes, you have born again. You are inside us with your stories, with your arguments, with your experiences, with your beliefs; for your love for us, for your blessings for us. You are inside our hearts; nice and warm. We knew that you will born again even after your death in our thoughts, our memories enriched with your story. Death is the final reality but life is the truth that we live.

Tapan Khura, you are busy being born again as you never knew to die. ‘May you stay forever young!’ 

FDI in retail & Assam!

Renowned American economist

Famous American statesman and economist, John Kenneth Galbraith once quoted that ‘in economics, it is a far, far wiser thing to be right than to be consistent.’ And, this exactly describes what is missing from the present economic condition of the state of Assam. We may crunch all the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and draw a picture to suit the perception. But, will that be a right step to be counted as a wiser thing to do? Are we questioning the macro policy framework of the state and its course of direction? It is a crucial time for an honest self introspection given the scenario that the state is planning to open up to foreign direct investments in retail sector in to the state. As the debate on the ethics, sense and logic of FDI in retail rages on across the country, it is time to ask ourselves, the people of the state, to reason and debate about the implications of this scheme in the milieu of our economic reality.

The Economic Survey of Assam for year 2010-11 states that the state’s GSDP grew at 7.4% as against 8.1% in the previous year. The Survey further points out that the secondary sector is expected to remain low as against 2.9% in 2009-2010. The tertiary sector that comprises of ‘trade, hotels & restaurant, transport by other means & storage, real estate & business service and communications, banking & insurance, social & personal services’ is set to grow slower at 10% in 2010-11 as against 12.2% in 2009-2010. The primary sector was expected to grow faster at 6.1% in 2010-11 as against 4.2% of the previous year. Now, without further dissecting in to the definitions of the various sectors as identified by the state, we can summarily conclude that except for the primary sector, the other two important cogs of state income, secondary and tertiary sectors, are facing pressure to sustain a positively increasing rate of growth.

Public discourse

Now, there have been debates and deliberation on the model of growth for the state. As we can understand from the statistics, the largest chunk of the growth pie comes from the tertiary sector. If we dissect it, it will be clear that most of the items included in this segment are demand oriented. That means it grows when demand is there. However, to maintain a demand at the right spot, there is an enormous need to sustain a favourable supply side. For an equilibrium matrix of market stability, it is pertinent that the effective demand is maintained to ensure effective supply and vice-versa. The challenge that the Assam is facing today is it’s over dependence on demand side economics and much lesser importance towards supply side of economics. This puts the state economy in a skewed or lopsided form which is never ideal.

Production

The supply of side of economics would mean creating assets in the economy that would generate income for the state. For example, the state production of oil and tea, state’s primary capital goods for decades, and its trade with rest of the world fetches the state income, making the state rich. However, of late, the demand side of the economy, for example real estate, hotels & restaurants, large retail outlets etc; has overshadowed it so much that we are now dependent heavily on import of goods & services. Since we have not created enough assets for meeting the demand of the local economy, the rising demand is met by produce from outside of the state.  Quintessentially, because of poor foresightedness or lethargy in drafting a policy model to diversify the economy, we remain vulnerable to outside support & trade and sitting at the risk of becoming a dumping zone.

Why is this discussion necessary in the wake of the state government decision to open up to FDI in retail in the state? Because, FDI in retail in the state won’t set up manufacturing units that will produce products here, generating employment and sustained income stream for the state, but will bring it from outside and sell it here. In terms of employment, we will have a few persons buying and selling those products rather than a few farmers, engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, economists, social scientists along with backward linkage employment working towards creation of wealth of the state. Due to their strong logistical prowess, it makes much more economic sense to this Global Multi Brand Retail Outlets (GMBRO). The proceeds of this will fly out of the country. FDI in retail is a liability of foreign exchange as the profit or returns it generates will have to be repatriated.  It’s simple business. You invest in something to earn returns. The arguments that such retail FDI will generate employment and wipe out middleman from the system is again questionable. The Indian retail market is estimated at US$ 400 billion that provides employment to 20 million people. For a GMBRO like Wal-Mart, the company turnover is US$410 billion but it employs 2.1 million people.

Market consolidation by GMBRO

The concerns raised by many over the fate of small traders are well founded.  A New York Times report has exposed as how Wal-Mart has captured nearly 50% of Mexico’s retail market in a period of 10 years. The business model of these stores involve waging a price war, aggressive pricing to destroy the local market, at heavy losses for a few years. Once the local competition is annihilated, it will consolidate the market and bring in a monopolistic power ensuring predatory pricing. The present set of middlemen in the market will be replaced by a fancy and systematic set of well oiled professionals like quality controller, standardiser, certification agency, packaging consultants etc.

There are strong arguments that the primary producer and end users will benefit from such scheme. The agriculture in US got government support worth US$ 307 billion for next five years. Another US study has showed that the net income of farmers in US have come down from 70% in early 20^th century to less than 4% in 2005. It is true that these GMBRO will work on a razor sharp pricing model, essentially basing their pricing on their sophisticated and supra efficient logistics management. However, the argument that the agriculture will be standardized with such logistical management minimizing the loss of perishable goods and bring in efficiency in crop management.

The point where it fails to make an impression is the fact that FDI in storage is already allowed and hardly any foreign money has come in. This also validates the fact that technology benefit that is hoped out of this policy is highly susceptible. What is interesting is that every minute, a farmer in Europe quits farming. It is quite well known that some of the biggest GMBRO like Tesco from UK, Carrefour from France and Metro from Germany etc. have strong presence in the European continent. Ironically, Wal-Mart struggled recently to open up its store in Brooklyn, New York in USA due to popular protest against setting up such shop.

Protesters in New York take to the streets against US retail giant Walmart

The inflation will be checked, it has been argued, if FDI in retail is allowed. In the short run, yes, they will go for aggressive pricing to kill the local competition. It may incur huge losses in the process. However, why would a commercial enterprise incur such huge losses? The answer lies in their model whereby they will start a monopolistic predatory pricing in the long run. It will slowly leech from its customers which will have no other stores to turn to.

FDI in Retail

A kind of veiled Monopoly will be in place and monopoly by a commercial enterprise is never a good idea. Similarly, these GMBROs will weed out smaller buyers of agricultural produce from buying from the farmers initially. Once the network is established, they will act as a Monopsony (a market situation of one buyer against many sellers) and the situation is not ideal for sellers. With such powers, the sellers will lose their bargaining power in front of their monopsonist.

Market Consolidation

If they remain true to their business model that they have followed in other parts of the world, then the state of economy of Assam may stand vulnerable given the fact that we are not a strong supply economy. What essentially it means, that they will bring in goods from cheaper destination with a set logistical management process like China; sell it here, earn their money, pay up to keep the Chinese industries running, rake in the profit to the coffers of these GMBRO.  Recently, a British Member of Parliament, David Amess was quoted in the media, to have said, FDI in retail “literally change the fabric of life in India.”

Assam is one of the poorest states in the country.

Out of cash!?

The performance of indicators of agriculture and allied sectors as well as manufacturing sectors has been dismal when compared to other developing states from eastern India like Bihar, Chattisgarh or Jharkhand. According to Planning Commission data, growth rate of GSDP in agriculture sector for 2005-06 to 2011-12 for Assam is 3.99% as against 17.07% in Bihar, 10.85% in Mizoram, 9.55% in Arunachal Pradesh, 8.69% in Chattisgarh and 8.94% in Jharkhand. Similarly, the growth rate of GSDP of Assam in Industry sector for 2005-06 to 2011-12 stood at 2.67% as against 16.73% in Bihar, 13.07% in Mizoram, 10.14% in Arunachal Pradesh and 9.37% in Chhattisgarh. Assam has only edged Jharkhand in this segment at 0.69%. The states that are opposing FDI in retail are some of the best growing states in the country like Bihar, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka among others.

Rework economic model of Assam

Assam needs a serious re-look at its economic model of growth. It should understand its long term implication of a certain policy before jumping guns to join the bandwagon. It has been long time when we took serious steps to set up new industries to prop up the supply side. The aging tea industry, which is struggling with flagging global market, and a state run hugely loss making oil industry are the only two core sectors. We have missed the IT revolution due to our frail education system at that time, we missed auto revolution, we missed green revolution, we missed white revolution, and we missed opportunities to augment other manufacturing or service sector growth stories. And, this has impacted immensely on our economy.

Infrastructure Development

Right now, the focus of the government should be to create assets like roads, power projects, accelerating on the strong points and build capacity on the weaker points of the economic assets. The initial boost to this has to come from the government and once some capability is established, the private sector investments will follow. History is a great teacher and, if we care, we must learn from it. Industrial revolutions of various nations used the same model. They developed their resources by mobilizing resources, invested in the technological advancement & application and then strategizing their management practice for maximum benefit with active government support. For example, England, during it’s hey days, developed its industrial base, e.g. textiles of Manchester, captured markets like colonies in India and America, and then established trade with them without letting the domestic industries to grow.

By allowing GMBROs in poor states like Assam, the state is allowing foreign shops to come to reap profits and take it back, crush any local entrepreneurial venture and killing the local industry, undermining the aspirations of local sons & daughters of the soils to think beyond a 9 to 6 run-of-the-mill job, and exposing our economic sovereignty to a foreign commercial entity, and thinking aloud, that may conjure to lurk for political mileage and sovereignty eventually. One cannot rule out as history has examples that are not that old to forget. Whither Assam thinks beyond and ahead, and dare to dream more, it should not brush aside such stark objections. It should rather concentrate on building competency and muscle to outwit the global competition by not becoming a dumping ground and bring in consistency between supply side and demand side of the economy.

(The article was published in The Assam Tribune on 24th December, 2012. Please visit this link to view the published work: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/showpage.asp?id=dec2412%2C6%2C420%2C111%2C993%2C933)

FDI in retail & Assam: Published in The Assam Tribune on 24th December, 2012

 

Skyfall – for love of Bond!

Invincibility is passe. Being human is in fashion.

Skyfall exhibits a perfect fashion statement. The atypical Bond movie with super sexy gadgets & gizmos, lass beauties with an evil touch, an impeccable Bond, an always good M, an old Q, a car that will make you go weak on your knees and likes are missing. And, that is with pleasure! It is getting in sync with the changing facets of spy movies that are being made in the recent past. Bond is gelling with more sense than he ever has! Apparently, the Bond franchise understood that it makes perfect business sense to make the Brit spy more real like Ethan Hunt or Jason Bourne or even Nathan Muir. Skyfall just makes that statement it is in the same league and it has moved away from the flimsy Bond films of yesteryear! Brit spy just shrugged his shoulder with American counterparts from Langley.

His name is still Bond. James Bond. And, M still ask him, “What took him so long?” Yes, the subtle elan of Brit wit that was overpowered by an Yankee flavour is rescued in Skyfall. With perfect suiting as ever, Daniel Craig wears some of the finest suits in the film. The girls, which may not as over powering as in other Bond movies, still make a mark as we see our new Money Penny in Naomi Harris and French beauty Bérénice Marlohe dying for Bond, even as he fails to kill her. The subtle steam of romance is very elegantly portrayed.

Yes, with 50 years with Her Majesty’s Secret Service and with 23 films under his belt, Bond is getting old. He is fragile, both emotionally and physically as never before. He is not only romantic, as he was in Casino Royale, but he is also emotional about his childhood, his parents, his relationship with M, his home; Skyfall.

Another refreshing facet was the new Q! Young, smart, geeky, intelligent, the character of Q gets a complete revamp. He may not believe in smart toys that Bond movies are famous for but he knows what he is doing. Until once! Silva fools him once but he bounce back quite astutely. Ben Whishaw, as Q, has refreshed the idea of techno genius of MI6.

Judie Dench, as M, makes an poignant exit as Bond’s boss for seven movies. She remains a brute, no nonsense, headstrong M that earns her the adjective of ‘bitch’ by none other than James. But, she knows why he is the closest one. May be, Raoul Silva was another one. Two rats that survived in the island! But, she was reminded how her sins scratches heart with every step that she take. Until, Bond tried to save her but failed as she died in his arms seeking an answer to a question that she has been asking him all along. ‘What took you so long’

The film revolves around relationships that M shared with both her agents, 007 and Silva, the disgruntled ex MI6 agent who was abandoned by her in the past. Silva, played by ‘brilliancy guaranteed’ Javier Bardem, is again subtle in his brutality. The cyanide story and its result makes you question about M decision. He is brilliant for what he has done but I felt he could still be exploited for some more intensity, some powerful drama!

Bond is old, fragile, hurt, failed. He died, and come back to life. His emotions resurrect as he watch his favourite takes a hit. M ask him to take the tests seriously and he does, unlike old James. He appears and he fails, miserably. He shoots and misses the target by more than what is acceptable for a OO agent. But, for the love of Bond, M presses James into service to go after Silva. Eventually, Bond plays Silva’s cards and almost lose control of the game. And, then he excuses himself to the beautiful homeland, Skyfall. Scotland!

The hand to hand fight, the fall off the moving train into the gorge, the conventional and traditional means of defence, the fight with his James’s father shot gun against an army of machine gun wielding of Silva. He fights smartly, valiantly, prudently, and yet, eliminates Silva in the most conventional style. The weapon that was chosen to eliminate Silva was awesome and as common as usual. The drama and simplicity excited an ardent Bond fan who is used to suave, sophistication and sexism.

The cinema-photography by Roger Deakins captures the exquisite pristine beauty of Istanbul, damp London, dark shade of Scotland, oriental Macau and splashing Shanghai. It was a delight to watch frame after frame.

And, for me, the icing on the cake was this! James Bond tweaks in the goldfinger as he drives down Aston Martin DB5 across the beautiful landscape of Scotland. Priceless!

Watch it for your love for the Spy who loved you, thrilled you, let you live! His name is Bond, James Bond.

 

Redefining Moment with Cinema

Cinema has been an important instrument of personal growth and challenges. I always try to face a situation and interpret as how would I react to a certain peculiar situation. Life is a big teacher and cinema is a lesson that teaches us many things in life. Joy, sorrow, introspection, identity, journey are some of the most important aspects that has stirred me. The recent challenges in my life, an emotional struggle with life and within myself, have questions. The answers to these questions are easy to come by if you accept it and harder if you decide not to accept the truth and rather fight a myth.

Last fortnight, I had the privilege to watch a few beautiful movies that stirred my soul, and asked me tough questions. Osian Cine Fan Festival held recently at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi provided a perfect escape sojourn from the humdrum mayhem of a mundane metro life. It exposed my inabilities, my inexperience,  my myths and truths that I decide not to embrace. I was numb as I sit back today and try to unlearn many things. Life throws whatever comes its way and we are sometimes clueless as how we would react to it. Of course, we are good in ‘celebrating’ happiness, joy and festival. But, are we really celebrating? We often lament that we are naive when it comes to sorrow, pain and myths. Are we stepping a step at a time?

Life is short and it’s full of spectacle, both dark and light. Sometimes, we know exactly what we need to do to live more and die a little less. Les Miscreant e (The Miscreants) taught me that life may have challenges and threats, if you consider death as a threat, but you never stop breathing. This movie challenged the methodology of violent protest as against the sustenance of a cultural protest. The latter method is more critical in bringing changes where it matters: within one inner self. It makes one think as why is he doing it. The sound of drums of echoes louder than the sounds of gun shots as the rhythm is closer to the heart. Its not about the cultural resistance that we face or impose, as a social entity or being part of a ‘responsible society,’ but its about seeing the rational behind a particular voice, understanding the tone and replying in a language which is lasting, impressive and heart hitting, if not changing at least.

And, as we breath, we forgets to respect it. The freshness in a breath is something going elusive. We talk about it, we write about it but we do little about it. Its how you react rather than how you want others to react. We live and we eat but we litter too. That is a tragedy that is slowly but very stealthily seeping into our daily lives.  “The Orange Suit”  is an Iranian film that wants to instill that sense of cleanliness in your lives, both internally and externally, as well as clean up the litters that makes one’s lives horrific. It questioned me: why do I not clean up myself; i.e. spiritually? How can I achieve inner peace if there is dirt in me? And, if you keep your surrounding environment clean, it helps one to enjoy positive energy and how it can help one to improve one’s solitary journey onto life. The film challenged the protagonist and showed how his unanswered, or questions which he did not face, were answered when he tried to find answers of his relation with his son and wife.

The voice may be small but cinematic expression makes sure that it is being heard in the right spirit. As the questions with regard to the identity of the feature film “As the river flows”  remains unanswered, I, as spectator, don’t have any inhibition in discovering that this is indeed an Assamese movie. The expression of an Assamese born and raised during the troubled years are said through this movie. This is what I wanted to tell and this is what any other rational and humane person from the land of Brahmaputra will tell you. The story revolves around a mysterious disappearance of a social activist and a friend’s effort, through his journalistic ethics, to find answers. His journey led him to believe in many questions rather than as many or far lesser answers. He found answers in many questions that remains unanswered. The love and hate relationship, the chicken and egg story, the beauty of nature and ugliness of society, the magic of culture and evil of distrust runs deep. And, one is never alone. Everyone is accompanied by a painful, often bloody, history with an urge to make amends that went awfully weird, wrong and wrestling between urge for change and power. This is indeed put up the question that we have been facing since a long time now and the search for an answer remains elusive.

To remain a living creature from a town by the bank of the Brahmaputra, the Local Kung Fu  is a piece of cinema that deserves a special mention. Carved out of a mere budget of INR 95 K only, this movie binds the influence of martial art comedy movies of Jackie Chan and combines it with some brilliant screenplay with awesome comic timing based on typical Guwahati city life and customs. What makes this cinema beautiful (apart from wonderfully comic scenes & timings) that it instills a sense of accomplishment by someone with limited resources and unlimited dreams. It is an effort that needs to be applauded much more than any other cinema because it gives inspiration to people who never thought that they want to do something like a cinema. It inspired critics to laud the effort put in creating such a wonderful cinema. It inspired me to try my Nikon D31oo to make a short 5 to 10 minute cinema. Experimenting with novetly! It inspired me to try a new thing in life, an unknown thing! Thanks Kenny for crafting such a wonderful cinema.

At this festival, we celebrate life, or at least its varied shadows. I saw the ruthlessness of life. The violent tragedy that may dawn upon someone, anyone. In a land where violence and terrorism goes hand in hand, the value of human life may be cheap. But, is the value of people missing high? In ‘The Repentant,’ a person deserts his terrorist group and joins back his family. He left it because of the death that loomed large following bombing in his hideout and depleted morale of the group. He deserts and come back to his home. But, “Karma” follows him and he has to fled to the town. There he experienced something that he never did. He gets attracted to the smaller beauties of life. But that was to end when his past life came back to haunt him once again. He met a pharmacist. It was a drama about how his information about his daughter would bring together three estranged characters together on a road trip right down to the heart of the disturbed land. I had goosebumps when the Mother cried and tried to wake her daughter who has been sleeping since five years. The Repentant knew where she was sleeping.

“Music makes the people come together”, Madonna once sang. This is the magic wand that would bind people who would love it together without adhering to political differences, religious differences, geographical differences or even age differences. During a brilliantly poignant musical documentary “El Gusto,” I felt why this is the biggest gift of god. Life is no more painful when you pick up your instrument of music and play it or listen to it. All your pains of yesteryear and many years, will die down and you will walk back to the time when it was just absolutely beautiful. All friends come together and sing a song for themselves, for their own selfish happiness. And, it works wonders. A beautifully shot and documented film that started with a Mirror. And, a mirror it was that would reflect the various faces of a society that was once together by the sole power of music. The music is known as “El Gusto.”

And, music that still rules this magnificent, rustic, raw cinema from Anurag Kashyap. It may have got the popular imagination but its worth its hype. For a hall that is packed with people, who were occupying anything that can be used to rest their bums and watch a non stop five and half hours of cinematic excellence from Bollywood from a long time. The dialogues, the pangs, the violence, the romance, the revenge, the gorgeous women, the superb actors, and a superb background made “Gangs of Wasseypur I & II”  just a superb experience. So much so that I was reluctant to spoil the mood of our very own “Tony Montana” of Scarface fame in this movie. The director also ensured that the red is applied gorgeously in the entire scheme of things. And, what a bloody messy affair it was! Faizal Khan (like Tony Montana in Scarface) would be drowned in marijuana but remain in perfect control about the gang politics. He remained fateful to his beloved and they remain in love as expressed by their gold rimmed aviators. The climax was expected but the angst of the revenge and gravity of the scene can only match the ferocity with which Tony Montana fought and died. Of course, Faizal did not die then and there. But, you never know! Nothing is ‘Definite!’  Does he carry on Sardar Khan’s honour forward? Well, of course, he does but life has its own plans. Avenging pride is one of them, and Faisal does that perfectly. Sardar Khan will be ‘Definite’ly be proud of Faisal.

Two movies that made me sit up and stand were Rituporno’s “Chitrangada” and Asish Shukla’s “Prague.” Both of them asked questions. As I ask myself, who am I, why am I, and why am I. These are some basic questions that we always ask and we wonder if we are doing right or wrong or are we just playing alike because others are. Are we really interested to know why we are doing something? Most of the time, we dont know. Chitrangada is inspired by the play with the same title written by Rabindranath Tagore and the director’s modern interpretation about it. It questions about complex emotional stress and how one’s own interests, desires and hopes are shaped because of some other exogenous factors. Why do we want to change for someone else when you really do not want to? Are we remain happy after going through such a change? Or, are we going to go back to listen to our own heart rather than someone’s else. Its a slow process of establishing the fact that not everything is alright when you are only listening to yourself. Or, you may be inspired by your situations. Life is complex but the basic idea is to keep walking. Talking to oneself, arguing with your alter ego and deliberate on something that you may or may not like are things that we all undergo. This cinematic expressions exposes our innate desires and how we struggle to keep pace with them. The plot of the film is based upon two persons in love but this should not essentially be locked in that premise. The idea is universal and every person with a brain that works right face these dilemmas in their life.

“Prague” is not just a wonderful city to live and breath but its also the name of the movie that enthralled both audience as well as critics alike. Its an interesting psychedelic struggle where a person wants to destroy something which he appreciates as much. Its a soul stirring and heart wrenching cinema that challenges the dark side in us and how we love to become evil even when we are in love. It tries to discover the darkest corners of one’s heart, suffocate your soul to find out who you really are, preserve your jealousy and kill your suspicion. And, you remain in romance with your dead. This is pure cinematic delight when it comes to experimental cinema in India. This is surely a notch above “No Smoking” or “Aks.” Go for it if you want to challenge yourself and want to know your darkside and be in love with your dead.