Tweet or Text

One of my friends commented on facebook, “this is most shared video amongst my friends”. I congratulated her on this feat and suggested to put it on resume. Before I begin, personally I don’t have anything against the social networking world/arena/sphere/geography. Really don’t know how anybody wants to define it. It is a great way to connect. I have found schoolmates, friends, love, lost love, found love, have done and used it for all the practical and not so practical things (actually more for it).

Aamir Khan is not normally found in news too much. Except around the release of his movie, he virtually pastes his name, his movie’s name on every wall, street, road, lips of India. But for the past some time, he has been in news for joining twitter. The news reads, Aamir Khan decides to join twitter.

The media frenzy has little or no job, hence they try to make a BREAKING NEWS of any monkey climbing the wall or even falling from it. Aamir Khan’s twitter joining/commencement/launch date was even more anticipated than any of his movies. People lose jobs/stature due to twitter. Big B was the most busy actor till recent and now he is persuading his community (Bollywood) people to join Twitter. As long as Big B is concerned, he never uses a product is he is not endorsing it. He is endorsing all the things that are required in daily life.

Media stays on job for following Twitter of celebrities. The name, profile pic, mahurat of first tweet, every silly aspect, which Aamir otherwise may not have thought for movies even. “Twitter ka baadshah kaun”, we will hear this news and analysis, few months down the line.

Aamir Khan got 37,500 followers on his first day of tweeting.

This morning he joined Twitter officially and said in his first message: "Bhala gardish falak ki chain deti hai kise Insha, ganimat hai ke hum surat yahan do-chaar baithey hain. Esp for you sir. Love. Thanks for the warm welcome guys. Love. Aamir."

Amitabh welcomed him saying, "Thank you Aamir... You give more due than I deserve ... Happy Tweeting ...."

In this narrow world, where SMSes have replaced letters. Tweets are replacing the real touch of a human being.

Raavan – Why and How of it?

I know it’s too late to actually discuss about the movie, “Raavan”, especially these days when the highly anticipated are doomed in three days (maybe first date or during pre-release even) and the much celebrated last 10 days. But still its better to let out the autopsy report after all the dust has settled.

As the saying goes, an exceptional filmmaker is granted pardon for one exceptional blunder of his career. But its still hard to digest, when you name, Mani Ratnam.

Honestly I was not so bored as everybody was while watching Raavan. Not because I have spent money and we should try to enjoy the movie. Every movie has something or the other to offer. In case of Raavan, it was Santosh Sivan’s work. The way he has shot the visuals of the movie even if Abhishiek sliding down the mountain goes out of the frame is worth it. Just enjoy, we only dream about such visuals and places. When you visit, it’s never so enchanting or out of the world, so definitely a high point of the movie.

So the big question is, Why was Raavan made at the first instance? Everybody said before the release, it’s the career defining film for the first couple of Bollywood. It’s definitely career defining movie, I hope they make more sensible choices in future.

Yesterday watching a repeat telecast of IIFA awards and Amitabh was receiving award for Best Actor for his role in PAA. How many great actors in Bollywood have won a Best Actor award without a trophy like actress in their arms in movie? Leave aside SRK, Aamir, none. Actually barring the two, hardly others get a chance. Amitabh Bachchan out of his magnanimity in 1991 or 1992 gave his Best Actor award to the other nominees in Best Actor category and told the baton should be handed over to the next generation. Not that he is less magnanimous or his craving for awards has increased. Its perhaps the first family of Bollywood should only get such awards, since the next generation is not taking the responsibility (the son), hence the elderly has to take the charge (the father). In Bollywood, its not your work or the character you have played, but rather you and your out of the movies personality should exhibit that yes I do deserve an award. The big award winners are always in media circles for most of the things which are not related to movies.

I can bet on it, the best villain award for 2010 goes to Abhishiek Bachchan husband of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (former Miss World) and yes he is still son of Amitabh Bachchan, the lead actor of Bollywood.

Couple of years back, Abhishiek said, paa got an award, maa got an award, I was nominated; I would have been good had I got an award even. I truly and with whole heart sympathize with you Abhishiek. When you are brought up in the setup where only receiving awards and adding honours is the need and purpose of your existence. It definitely feels bad. Even I am undergoing similar type of circumstances, my brother and sister always agree with my father and I am the one, who is always arguing and add to the fact, they always scored good in academics and I was always floundering.

Everybody in the Bachcan family has been awarded Padma Shri, except Abhishiek Bachchan. Going by the profile of the family, isn’t it justified and time for the junior AB to be awarded few or most of the stupid Bollywood awards and followed by the big Padma Shri award in 2011 or maximum by 2012.

Some people have already started crying for what?
For his stupid, uniconic and very useless and superficial act of Beera. The most boring and disturbing element of Beera was his trademark bur-bur-bur-bur or bak-bak-bak while shaking his head, which is like a necessity to be provided to any villain in a Bollywood movie. Gone are the days, when Mogambo would say, “mogambo khush hua”, everybody would get sad on hearing about his khushi. Children living in villages, towns and cities actually feared the Gabbar of Sholay. That was where Mr. Mani failed, casting the Bachchan scion as the villain, a villain never deserves a sympathy. Even if he deserves, it is for his situations and not for his way and means. Beera got it all. Ram and Sita were like unfit blocks disturbing the Raavan. Even the actress was convinced with the villain. The hero, the quintessential good man of Bollywood movies was lost looking for his place in the script. Perhaps that’s the reason it was named RAAVAN and not Ramayana. For the audience, the real RAAVAN still is Mr. Mani Ratnam.

Real life vs. Virtual Life

“I am working on my autobiography”, reads my Orkut profile. Some other random different words for my Facebook profile. The question to be asked, how real our virtual world is, especially in comparison to the time we are dedicating to it these days. There are people who have transported themselves to the virtual world and isolated from the real world. Real world is scrawny, bad and real, it tells and reflects about the real you. But the virtual world is all about the good things about you and in this world. Virtual world comes with no caveat. No bars hold/held, you can do anything you wish to do, they way you wish too. Remain anonymous, even if it is hidden, who is going to find out.

We can do anything with words and with the picture pasted on the computer but not to real life people. At times, it does help us in identifying with ourselves but more or less, it may not be the case for the most. We may not like few people, which is human nature, so we stop interacting with them or perhaps ignore them. But in virtual world, even if somebody is irritating or real boring, we know its just the picture. I had a friend, who was always discussing about his blog and the opinions that his followers framed for his post. We should take and respect opinions about yourself, whether good or bad (most of the times, its good in virtual world) but without ignoring the real opinions. He was concerned about their opinions and not mine to stop living in the dream.

With the advent of Twitter, things are getting more out of hand. Priyanka, Shahrukh, every other celebrity in the world to connect to their fans. But in real life, if any of their fond fan turned friend via Twitter turns up at their door, he/she will be labeled stalker and handed over to the police. Amitabh’s FMxt is always welcome, everyday he is thanking and praying for somebody or the other. A real, noble gesture from the face of Indian Bollywood, albeit on a virtual world. FMxt exists on internet. Is it perhaps the disconnect only, which connects people? On the contrary, in IPL, the ones who twitter have lost their jobs. The seemingly disconnect between real and virtual world is diminishing. People are writing ‘WILLs’ for their digital assets.

The whole online game is very infectious and contagious. I know, we have stopped remembering or memorizing things, want to find some information, Google it. When were you born? I need to Google and check. Online diaries, reminder notes, digital birthday calendar, birthday reminder, online wishes, the world is corresponding through waves and not through emotions or feelings.

And if you don’t have an online presence, you are dumb, stupid and ostracized from this world. People frown at you. There was a time, when people dialed everybody’s number and could write our phonebook front to back. We actually remember the other person’s voice, sounds and now, the cellphone beeps the person’s name. Simple, we don’t remember our home number even or surprised at times, when our parents call from PCO (one in million times) or from their colleague’s/ friend’s and we ask, who is it?

There are certain boons or perhaps the reason for its popularity. The speed with which this medium carries information to one and all. One of the mobile phone companies, is advertising, yesterday was so 317 Updates ago?

I’d suggest to everybody, stop dreaming, start LIVING.

Until then, BrB.

My Name is Khan (or whatever)

In Bollywood, if you name ShahRukh or Amitabh Bachchan in the interview or any view/idea to the media, you can be assured of additional space in the media. Some of the people, do try to name them. As part of the glamour industry, we understand that you need to create furore (negative or positive) by our continuous presence in media circles. But the politicians stooping to such low levels, especially when we have names like BalaSaheb getting into such murky affair is really shameful. BalaSaheb is a very respected person and politician, though as person that may be doubtful, but still. For all his insecurities and the ramblings, we should discount his age and the fact, that one of the powerful and invincible person (read person not as person) of Mumbai has been licking his wounds due to betrayal by his own nephew. Bala Saheb is an immensely talented and much better entertainer than Shah Rukh Khan. Read his comments in their party magazine, Saamna, the thoughts are indeed very refreshing jokes vis-à-vis the double meaning jokes that we cherish these days. Shah Rukh cannot never pull such kind of entertainment for his audience.

Karan Johar, the producer of My Name is Khan ensured to his audience and the fans of SRK that adequate security has been provided at all the 63 cinema screens across Mumbai, which will be screening My Name is Khan. Mr. Johar, you can go to police but cannot talk to BalaSaheb. You guys are at war with him, why should the audience be victim? We are neutral, neither supporting nor opposing. Bala Saheb possesses his own unique way of looking at things. Amitabh Bachchan apologized for a small remark by Jaya Bachchan in an informal gathering to Manse (MNS, lead by the child prodigy of Bala Saheb). Why cant Mr. Khan apologize to Bala Saheb?

I know SRK does not owe any apology to Bala Saheb. What he felt and said as a team owner and not as Muslim, Indian, Pakistani, entertainer. Bala Saheb, perhaps, believes that SRK is part of Congress and if he apologizes, he would feel Sonia has apologized to his Laughiness (a new word replicating the stature of Holiness/Highness). So much property will be destroyed and an atmosphere of hatred, fear and insecurity will be created for satisfying the ego of Mr. Bala Saheb.

Bala Saheb may be fuming why the movie is named, My Name is Khan. Unfortunately, Bala Saheb, you or you dumb shreds had no role in 9/11. Otherwise, the movie could have been titled My Name is Bhatwadekar/ or something like that.

In the meantime, SRK instead of promoting his film, is unperturbed to show and communicate his Indianness and he is not a Pakistani. I can’t imagine if somebody asks me to prove, I am an INDIAN, why I am Indian, how much I am Indian? Honestly, I don’t have any answer for that. Perhaps, my birth certificate, if you believe it is true and correct. But SRK hats off to you, he is really trying to pull this off.

From where the whole idea started? SRK commented on the exclusion of Pak players from IPL auction that he would have liked the presence of one or two Pakistani players. Inn comes Bala Saheb to invigorate our Indianness and our security issue and is helping us in believing that SRK is a traitor and not an Indian. So what even if he is not? What is Shiv Sena going to make out of it? Shiv Sena stands by and to protect the Mumbai and the Marathi manoos. You cannot prevent your own farmers from committing suicide, what is the point of saving them from whosoever they feel is threatening, frightening them. Mumbai, for God sake, only Thackeray possess the sensibility to destroy Mumbai. Mumbai is not a place or geography. It’s a spirit; it’s the benchmark, which means India for zillions of traders and business travelers. We are talking about making Mumbai, a cosmopolitan, where people of all spheres and walks of life, religions and nationalities, co-exist to create unique phenomena.

Bala Saheb, also alleged, his party will attack Australian cricketers for attacking Indians in Australia. My only stand, if they (Australian, Pakistani, American, Indonesian) attack anybody (India, Afghanistan, Japan, Veitnam), it’s a news, a blunder but still I can attack and threaten anybody, anywhere.

My humble request to Bala Saheb, to focus on the protection of his Marathi manoos, by undertaking something productive for them and leave the larger national issues, esp. issues pertaining to India. Nahi to, aapka bhatija, aapka bacha-kucha bhi lae jayega.

PAA – Movie and Thoughts

Everybody is talking about how fantastic the film is. Amitabh Bachchan crosses yet another milestone of his life, experiments and shows his brilliance and knowledge in the field of acting and wants to say, whichever few honorary and felicitation awards are left in few countries he has not visited should gift him one. Some of them are dejected to know that they didn’t find Amitabh Bachchan in the movie. It was the character ‘AURO’, who got all the space. An actor wins the brownie points, only if he allows the character to supersede his persona and image. I’d say Amitabh Bachchan has given one stellar performance. You don’t talk about Amitabh Bachchan after leaving the halls but about the wittiness of the AURO. While I was entering the hall, I told my friend, the name of Amitabh Bachchan helps in creating hype. They could have put on the make-up on any other actor. But the makers had to show the hands and arms of an old man. Of course, you could have applied old skin patches on hands and arms too. AURO had to maim the behavior of a child and the body language of a child and an old man. It is extremely difficult to project for an actor. Probably somebody as experienced as Amitabh Bachchan could have handled it with elan. If we keenly observe the designing of character ‘AURO’, he acts and behaves with a child’s mind and yet he is mature as he is shown physically. AURO makes Vidya Balan and Abhishiek Bachchan seem like a supporting cast. The poster of the PAA features only the character, AURO. Abhishiek Bachchan has a bigger role in terms of his importance in the film. AURO’s maturity came in handling and making his parents come together. He does not say Abhishiek, father since he met him inspite of knowing the fact. A child longs to say MA and PAA. AURO gets to say ma but not PAA. What a moment they have captured to justify the brilliant title? Without revealing further details, I would like you to go explore the same in the movie.

Balki has cracked a whacker with his second film. We should not forget he is an adman and he delivers stories in less than a minute’s time. It is difficult as a writer to get into the child’s mind. And at the same time, he has touched upon an upcoming issue in Indian society. In 1980’s and 1990’s, there was huge movement against anti-abortion and people marched through streets to tell the Govt in USA. about passing anti-abortion laws. The slogan ran, “It’s not a CHOICE, it’s a CHILD”. Going forward, when Indian economy and society is opening up by breaking the shackles of the past, these issues will gain more importance. To abort a child is equivalent to murder. I read a quote around at SV Road, Bandra, “A child gives birth to a mother”. Had this movie been made, fifteen years back, people would have rejected it.

Balki has dealt with some other issues in the movie. They make us lose the plot of the movie. Some of the issues handled are the development of Mumbai’s slums, a foreign educated politician wanting to transform India, giving one hand to media. It is neither effective nor consequential. Probably the whole sequence should have been tightened.

Many people forsake lives of children who are born abnormal. It would not try to be figurative on this topic. Its personal choice because at later stages, it becomes extremely painful for parents and the child. Vidya Balan had to raise this child. It was not the question of the child, it was the question of her existence for which she has struggled, fought and left her love. Vidya is sensational in the movie, she performs her role effortlessly. Middle-aged ravaged roles suit her. She should not try to look young and sexy. Keep it Simple Vidya.

Should we watch the movie or not? Go and explore for yourself the brilliance of Balki, the cinematography, music, the look, feel and the appeal of the movie.