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‘Slumdog Millionaire’… why should India rejoice?

The print and electronic media in India seem to have gone into frenzy about the ‘success’ of everything Slumdog Millionaire at the Oscars. Some of them prefer to take this as a victory for Indian cinema.

How we just love to bask in reflected glory and try to believe that its our own!

But lets not forget, it is a British-American film with a story line set in Mumbai, as a result they could not help but involve Indian actors (including Indian-origin Britishers) and shoot it in India. So, it’s a non-Indian film which happened to have an all-Indian cast.

We shoot entire films abroad nowadays, especially in the US, but they are not called Hollywood films!.

Lets keep the reason for rejoicing in India, very straight – Slumdog Millionaire, a British American film has won awards, including the Oscars and has brought a reason to be happy for the six children who acted in it, they are the real stars of the film and recognition to Reesul and A. R Rehman. Though the music for which Rehman got his two Oscars for is not even of his average quality, forget his sublime and exhilarating stuff..

It’s a different matter that it took a British-American film to recognize A.R Rahman’s genius- maybe a case of white man’s burden…

I don’t think Slumdog Millionaire was ‘oscar stuff’. It is not an extraordinary film. There is no doubt on Slumdog’s quality as a film nor on the ability of its director Danny Boyle. But there were better films in the competition- better storyline, better treatment etc… but as the saying goes….every dog has its day…. this time it was Slumdog……..

Posted in Personal.

2009….Just Do It!

The new year has begun for me with a lot of promise and hope. Each new year like most of the people I too make some resolutions but with no promise to keep it, so this year I have decided to have No resolutuion …. just action — like the Nike punchline…. Just Do It!
Welcome 2009!

Posted in Personal.

Thank God for small mercies!

The other day I was watching a CNN Special Report, ‘ Scream Bloody Murder’, it showed stories of Genocide from Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia and how some courageous individuals did try to stand up against this henious crimes, and attempted to make the voices of those unknown sufferers heard by the world.
Living in a democratic country, I could not relate to such an anarchy that can lead to people killing each other because of their race/ ethinicity…..
I could not but help thinking about the terror attacks in Mumbai and the crisis thats faced by India. Gave me some solace that at least the systems here are not defunct, atleast we are not in the state of anarchy….. somewhere theres still hope.

Posted in Personal.

Happy Diwali

Diwali…
That grand festival of Lights, That ends evil after a protracted fight
When good with all its might, Leads us from darkness to Light.

That great festival of sound, When crackers and laughter abound
When crackers and sparklers light up the sky, When delighted children jump with joy.

That gorgeous festival of snacks and sweets, Where everyone enjoys a royal feast
When old and young with delight meet, With love and affection all hearts beat.

That gracious festival which celebrates victory, The ancient festival of myth and mystery
That is mentioned in both mythology and history, The festival that signals Triumph over Tragedy

Happy Diwali

Posted in Personal.

Chanakya’s Quotes

“A person should not be too honest.
Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first.”

“Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.”

“The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. If you cannot keep secret with you, do not expect that other will keep it. ! It will destroy you.”

“There is some self-interest behind every friendship.
There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.”

“Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions – Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”

“As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.”

“Once you start a working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and
don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.”

“The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.
But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.”

“A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”

“Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend.
Your grown up children are your best friends.”

“Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere.
Education beats the beauty and the youth.”

Posted in Personal.

Where are the dreams?

Everyone has a dream….. till the time they are young and the reality has not bitten! The first introduction to the dreamland is through Grandma’s tales (at least till my generation). Then comes the story books, followed by electronic media and now the internet.
While dreams are fueled left-rigth and centre till adolescence says good bye and youth sets in…..its equally funny that it hardly takes any time for reality to pinch the ‘balloon of dreams’. but still the shelf life of dreams is pretty much, what 20 years….
dream on……

Posted in Personal.

Happy B’day

Happy….. Hope …….. Fun

Posted in Personal.

Judge Not

I was shocked confused bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door, Not by the beauty of it all
Nor the lights or its decor

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp

The thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics
the trash

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice

Herb, whom I always thought
Was rotting away in hell
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine
Looking incredibly well

I nudged Jesus, “What’s the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here?
God must’ve made a mistake.

“And why’s everyone so quiet,
So somber? Give me a clue.”
“Hush, child,” said He, “They’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d be seeing you.”

Judge NOT

Posted in Personal.

A picture from Cambodia

morning_divya.jpg

Posted in Personal.

Lost and Found

First April: Lost my wrist watch
Second April: “Bought” it back.
Interesting, how human mind works!

Posted in Personal.