Three events close to heart

Finally seems like we have rains in and around Pune for which we were waiting desperately. On this beautiful Friday evening watching rains over hills behind my office between two meetings over a hot cup of tea... (Resolved to avoid kanda bhaji lets see how evening turns over)


I missed out on commenting on three events which are close to heart and related to heart literally in one of them. Let’s start with that one. Heart in this event was that of Uddhav Thakarey. Howsoever outsiders love to hate Thakarey clan; they won’t understand how much they mean to Maharashtrians especially those in Mumbai. I am not being biased or crying victim here, Maharashtra is victim of its own success. The democratic and modernist thoughts in Maharashtra are thanks to some visionary leaders like Tilak, Agarkar, Phule, Ambedkar, and yes Savarkar (thats another topic). The cooperative movement, which has now being milked by all and sundry, actually in its formative days brought prosperity, water and parity to the hinterlands. The industrial policy of state was matched by no other state. Of, course the differentiating factor was presence of Mumbai in Maharashtra. And thats where the paradox is. Mumbai is in Maharashtra but Maharashtrians are outsiders in Mumbai. And i know i will invite wrath of many who will conveniently put pan Indian spirit. Read my leaps i am Indian first, but I need my state and city to respect my local identity (which is subject of ridicule in mainstream media), i love my mother tongue and i also feel justified in limiting unrestrained, unorganized and unsustainable growth thanks to all and sundry pouring in my cities. No complains on equal opportunities but dirty politics played by ruling combination has impacted my state. Be it commercialization, irrelevance of higher education, disaster in basic rural education, non investor friendly environs, corruption, uncontrolled civic growth, lack on emphasis on infrastructure, damage on environment, casteist social structure, vote bank politics and favouritism to elite. Thus its important to get out of this twelve year rule of DF govt. And unity in opposition is key. Though i like Raj Thakaray , but always felt that personal egos don’t matter over collective evil. Though much cannot be made out of hospital visit due to heart problem of Uddhav Thakaray, but if this picture can be extended to political reality, then it can really make difference

Next event uncommented was reinstallation of King Federer at Wimbledon. I have been watching Wimbledon since that epic 80 final between ice Bjorg and hot Mac. That was classic. Bjorg retired and Mac ruled 81, 83, 84 (excluding great match in 82 when Connors won). Then came in young boom boom unseeded Becker ruling 85 and 86. In 86 we had our own Ramesh Krishnan reaching quarterfinals which i think was a great achievement than winning doubles grandslams by current players who chose to fight with each other than play tennis or just be glammer dolls (only repect paes for Olympic bronze).  Becker caught imagination and heart with his dives and power play. Pat Cash a one year wonder came into limelight in 87 just to cruelly destroy dream of Ivan Lendl who never won wimbledon. Over a turbulent period when Berlin wall was broken, cold war end and USSR dissolution, rivalry of Edberg and Becker was so intense that first weekend of July was much anticipated. I used to like Edberg so much that i had his poster on my study desk. Those were JEE, 12th days. In those days we used to get only semis and finals telecasted on DD amidst interrupting news. Unknown Stich prevailed in 91 coinciding with my surprise academic success, and then came days of satellite television when all matches were telecasted by star with Vijay Amritraj commenting. Agassi completed career slam in 92, and then came reign of King Sampras. Starting in 93, 94, 95 he did hat trick with no competition. In 96 when i got my first job there was a blip in SF against Krajichek who later won. Normal service resumed in 97,98, 99 and 00. Those we days when my professional life and personal life took roller coaster ride which settled in 00. 01 was landmark year. A youngster with headband from Basel, played match of his life against sampras and beat him. The baton was passed and era changed. Eventually that year Wimbledon was won by Goran who was famous for his service and a wild card entry. Such was the year when Riya was born! 02 was Hewitt’s year when rains prevailed. Then the reign of Federer started. This player is complete player and an artist. You just love to watch his sublime play. He set hand on trophy in 03. There was no challenge in 04, 05 , 06 when roddick failed to compete. These were great times when Indian story bloomed and sensex reached 20000. In 07 buoyed by success on clay Nadal created a threat which he materialized in that epic final in 08. That was when recession started looming for all of us thanks to subprime crisis. In 09 finally roddick delivered epic final in which Federer prevailed competing 6 titles. Then there was a drought and everyone thought Federer’s reign had ended. Nadal in 10 and thanks to incredible year Djoikovich had in 11, claimed the trophy. This year is again special especially when Euro zone crisis hit the economies, Indian story had paralysis but sure there is a hope as Federer reclaimed his no1 . Having seen wimbledon so long first time we had a local boy in final.World now has some hope. Hope is close to heart as this player is.

Last event is death of first superhero Rajesh Khanna to double up with death of legendary Dara singh. I am great fan of Rajesh Khanna be it for his music. But influence of Aanand cannot be rule out by my heart. I am sure i will rerun the movie today, amidst this weather.....

SCB to DKB

Indian public senses have changed from independance till today. No i am not starting favorite topic ridiculed by PL in Mhais. "It was different in preindependence days" starts a local politician to all travellers in that ill fortunate bus in Mhais...

But what really amazes me that Delly Belly is appealing to audience. Its a shocking film. Very entertaining and realistic though. The youth in the films talk same language as youth of today. After reconnecting with youth in trek this summer i can appreciate it more. Its the same way we used to talk at IIT though we were not sexually active as the hero here being left at kgp amongst batch of 35 boys and 6 girls. The graphic nature of film shocks and people can identify. Plot is hilarious and non issue but the film hits you in every frame. Period not a classic by any means neither a landmark film. But a film which you cannot watch with family. A film of todays generation and drives on their cool quotient. and the song DK Bose epitomises care a damn attitude of film makers and audience
In preindependance days S C bose (SCB)had garnered entire nation's imagination by means of sacrifice, values and struggle. Entire generation was working towards idealistic goals. They beleived that new dawn will arrive with independance. Whole society will develop. That was language of youth those days.
We lost the way in between due to false socialism policies and corruption. Globalization was inevitable after liberalization. and todays generation is product of that process and Delhi belly represents that. I am not judgemental by pointing out difference of values but am amazed by forces of change.....

3 Idiots and Me

Once upon a time everyone amongst us was in college. We had great dreams, some unique vision about our life. We went into the world from the college with great enthusiasm. We made random decisions which after 10-15 years have made us reach where we are now. Life has taught us some hard lessons; life has been very generous sometimes. Life has given some really beautiful moments and some very challenging. But we have enjoyed the journey. But again college days really were the best days of life. Why all this thoughts?
Reason: I happened to come across a cult movie released very recently 3 Idiots. In the movie the main three (or 4 if you consider the comedian colleague who is modeled on to most of us who are in rat race) protagonists meet 10 years after graduation. Movie took me back to those days. I am of the opinion that each one should have at least a year of hostel life to make their education complete. It invokes bonding which we have seen that run through lifetimes. We were also subject to intense academic pressures but also enjoyed a life secluded from world (we being stationed in remote town as per Jawaharlal’s Nehru’s vision of IITs). We had our friends, hostel mates, seniors, juniors as a part of extended families. Thankfully in those time internet was just newly launched and only computer exposure was in labs. We had many extra curricular activities. We enjoyed a lot and suffered a lot through hardships like lack of basic amenities like toilet, water. We had to eat refugee camp food etc. But we then enjoyed it. It taught us perspective. Education was good: definitely it taught us to manage things in life irrespective of whether you know the subject or not. Some topics really made us interested to know the subject. That’s not what is called excellence but effectiveness. That’s what makes even elite Indian institutes to churn out good managers, good performers but very few original scientists or innovators. They have to go out of Indian systems to enable them with those skills. But mere mortals like me are happy to be part of this great Indian dream. Our vision was to create new Infosys but not Google…
Coming back to Movie review, it’s a well made movie. It runs through cliché and predictability why typifies Bollywood. But it excels in performances and sheer new idea of story. It tries to address a problem but that is hardly any novelty. We already knew that we cannot create Nobel laureates within IITs. It has general appeal as it touches each one of us and taking back to our college days. Each one of us had faced academic, family pressures. Each one of us had those peculiar professors. Good marketing, presence of Aamir khan, great directorial touches has made it cult movie like sholay, ddlj. Movies has some really funny moments: Virus speech, Chatur speech, induction motor start, many more.. Movie also sends a good message that what matters is journey and not the end. Success will follow you pants down if you enjoy your journey.

There is hue and cry about the fact that movie glorifies ragging and also has resulted in few suicides. I think its bit too harsh on the movie. I agree movies do inspire reaction in real life from immature audience but that’s a problem for all movies as a media form of expression. It’s our value system that is at fault. There are far many catalysts than movies which influence us.
For those who have seen engineering and hostel life from inside will find it more appealing. Movie will surely be the reflection of own experiences. That’s what makes this movie more effective.

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.