Friday, February 27, 2009

Hopelessly Waiting for Godot

Elections are coming. No leader to look forward. Ruling party is unacceptable. Alternatives are non existent. Threat is by antinational red agenda, social justice cum secularist champion bufoonery, eternal opportunists, region before country leaders of regional parties to seize the moment and emerge as leader on same lines like the Humble farmer prime minister we had.

No one to look forward to for aam admi, nationalists and real janta. we as a nation are hopelessly waiting for Godot. Yada yada hi dharmasysa....

Will my wishes be granted?

Traahi maam Traahi maam.. avtar gheshi deva...
But as a typical indian i am waiting for someone to help me and i have been told that god helps those who help themselves....

Monday, February 9, 2009

slumdog review by ignorant.

i need to know if i missed any point while watching slumdog millioniare. For an ignorant soul like me, its quite possible.
Whats so special about the movie. A good movie, nice premise of corelating facts about indian life with millioniare show. These type of corelation has been done umpteenth time in novels, movies (though with different events etc) , can provide you with list starting with Midnight children, rang de basanti, waiting for Godot, many many more.. Selected each form novel, movie , drama.
camera work, visuals are excellent. Acting is ordinary (anil kapoor impresses only in one shot), dev patel is horrible, irfan khan is nothing special. Music: A R Rehman has done better work for sure many many times. Direction is good. Story has a flaw of being unrealistic in the Qs and As association with past life. Ofcourse one can give artistic freedom to author of novel but not convincing in cinema which is a different medium. Its about story telling necessarily and metaphors add to the value but cannot be movie itself. Though experts can disagree..
and one line about depicting poverty in India. I feel thats beyond a point. There is a reality which needs to be addressed. To credit of film it remains unjudgemental in not singling out india for that. It also shows call centers, cosntruction economy. Justs points out paradox. Its not about western perception of india. there are ills in every society and i believe many film makers have tried to capture thoses throughout history of cinema.
and about hype around the film: I think i have missed the point. or its a plain commercial gimmick very succcessfully done.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Why NOT??

last weekend i attended HRD session. There was an exercise played. The task which took initially 30 secs was finally done under a second after say 6 attempts. In each attempt a new target was set (by team of around 15), new ideas thought and implemented. the task had no limitations as to how they should have been done. (so long as tennis balls touch each participant and reached the inititater of throwing sequence). At the end of first attempt, trainer asked if this can be done below 15 sec, everyone felt difficult.
but with new ideas and execution it was done below 1 sec. Thats what removal of constraints can do. everyone talks about dhirubhai school of management. we got a new rule 'Why NOT?'
what stops us from winning, what stops us from growing, what stops us from fulfilling dreams. The self imposed barriers of hard work, inertia, fatalistic approach.
Before the training someone had asked me
why dont I attempt to lose 10 kg? I told it was impossible for me as i am a foodie and cannot diet. Now even if someone asks why dont i attempt six pack abs: I will say Why Not???
same in business, same in personal life.. challenge thy limits (which most are mental demons)
I had earlier written about Sehwag, he thinks about winning why not???
good session. Need efforts, discipline, team work to make things possible.
I am sure each one of us has come across self imposed barrier.
ask why Not??