Save yourself. Will you?

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I seldom blog these days. Not because I do not have the time to. But because I do not want to talk about something gibberish and buffoonish - things which do not merit a blog. Or even a thought. Like, the SRK versus the Sena controversy. Or, maybe the innings defeat of the Indian team in the hands of the world's number one team. Or the "tigerish" and "terry-ish" escapades of a few legends of the fall. Worthless, I feel. They do not deserve our mind space, at all. This blog is about you, me an all of us. For the last few months, I am watching a few things with utmost curiosity and intrigue. There seems to be a sprint for brands and people akin to pick up a cause. AIDS was one. Global Warming was second. Then came religion and moral policing. Then came....

Slumdog (movie of the) Millennium !

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I have been a huge Oliver Twist fan when I was a kid. And this movie just reminded me of my kiddy days. And no, this is not why I called it "my movie of the millennium". There is a lot more to it. But for starters, it is Oliver Twist, re-packaged and re-told! It's a simple plot - boy loves girl but he loses the girl; then he fights his way through to get his girl back. While he does all this, he becomes rich from rags. Simple, hai na? But then, there comes the drift - the clutter-breaking aspects come in with the sub-plot and the narration. And the attention to details and to the nuances. And the camera shifts and the angles. And the background score. And a lot more. Slumdog Millionaire is based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swaroop and it....

Commercialization of democracy

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I don't want to add to what already has been said or thought or spoken. I just want to share my views. My thoughts. My action points. I just want to put an END to this commercialization of democracy - one where everything is done for publicity, promotion and hype. We need to come out of that mode first. And that too, urgently. Let me explain. While the firing was taking place at Taj and Trident, the media did an excellent job in reporting the whole incident to the nation. Overall, the media acted quite responsible in showcasing the whole plot. But then there were major guffaws - like the 5 minute coverage on pigeons near Taj being shot at, the sms poll on a certain TV channel asking people to text if they thought there were 10 terrorists or 20 and a very senior and....

IPL makes you poorer!

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The ad in the newspaper caught Mr. Chatterjee's attention immediately. The ad read: "Jump the queue! Watch Channel X and you could play for Australia or England or Pakistan in the forthcoming World Cup. Live your dream!" Mr. Chatterjee pondered - he was 51; has already taken a VRS from his comfortable Government job, had a beleaguered, nagging wife and ran a PCO. His son was settled in US of A, married to a Jamaican girl. His post-independence engineering days were filled with profound and hefty books and notes and tutorials. Then he got married to his dad's old friend's youngest daughter. And then, he got his job, to which he stuck on to till he retired. He lived his job-life signing yellow, papers carefully folded in files and visiting factories for inspection of materials and scraps. And now, suddenly, thanks to BCCI,....

Have some guts

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Why the hell should we keep mum to this monopolistic, bully-like behaviour? Why? BCCI just cannot come up with brilliant permutations and cry "Eureka" every time they walk out of the selection meeting. It is time that, in this nation that howls of democracy and in the recent times, where the RTI Act has been imposed, BCCI coughs up clean. They should attach a rhyme or a reason to every person they select or omit. Even if it is the Captain. Or the so-called sacred Gods - Sachin, Sourav, Dravid, Laxman and Kumble. And I demand that. Give me a reason BCCI for dropping Sourav Ganguly from the ODI series in Australia? A little bird comes and tells me that Ganguly's appreciation for the opposition and their gritty nature did not go down well with the board, when the team was embroiled in a fight with them. ....

Ban me!

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Golfer (in India): Hey buddy! I read your book the other day. Nice book. I am a big fan, mate! Writer (in India): What the hell? Please don't read my books. Only writers and non-celeb readers can read and appreciate my book. Apparently, we live in a democratic nation where one has the freedom to do a lot of stuff which is not criminal in the eye of the law. Like, you can elope and marry your childhood sweetheart if you and your beloved are over the age of 21. But still the Cheeranjeevis and Todis of the world will usurp the law. Like, you have the freedom to protest against any illegal activities. Yet, Nandigrams and Godhras will always flare and no one will notice the wrongs done. Like, one has the right to love and live. Yet, Madhumitas and Sashis will keep falling prey to the murky....

Mujhe uncle mat bolna!

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Last night my uncle hit the bed vowing that he will hit the gym like a sucker, first thing in the morning. He said he would work out like crazy; build biceps and triceps and all those ceps that one can possibly build; have well-toned muscles all over and then....then what? Ermm..look good? Naaah...he looks quite good for a 40 year old, anyways, I thought. Then do what with those bulging biceps? Fight out the goons who tease young lasses near the women's college? Well, can he actually do that against a bunch of gun-wielding goons? I mean he would want to but is it practical? Or should he apply to one of those auditions for K-serials that keep flashing across the tube these days? At times, I dream of the real thing happening to him - like what had happened to Tom Hanks in "Big". After....

Hi..I am a Professional..

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Everyone is this country is suddenly talking about 60 years of independence. And also about sex education. But this article is not on sex education or on 60 years of independence. But it has everything to do with sex and education. And independence. And prostitution. At the very onset let me declare - am one of those very few people who favor prostitution. But unlike the most of all who agree with me, I do it not for the pleasures in my pants. Prostitution is the world's oldest profession and laws prohibiting prostitution may well be the oldest example of government regulation and government (sex) discrimination. In a free society, however, all such laws are inappropriate because they violate the basic rights and liberties of the individuals involved. I favor prostitution because it is like recognizing it as a real profession. And it is time....

Will you sleep with me?

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I used to laugh at all the jokes that me and my friends used to share amongst us. Whenever one of us asked the other for a favour, one of the others would immediately retort with a sly smile, \"Turn around and bend down, buddy!\" And then the other day, when I was on my way to the office, I heard on the radio Sonu Nigam shout out, \"I will take him to the cleaners. I will not tolerate any man asking for sexual favors from me. Ditto for women.\" And I promised not make a joke of this ever again. You never know, someone might actually take me to cleaners one day! I know I might sound like a freak but I cannot stop my mind from working this out. Is casting couch is a necessary evil\" Let me try answering this. If it did not exist, then....

Youth You-can!!!

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The world is closing in Did you ever think That we could be so close, like brothers The future's in the air I can feel it everywhere Blowing with the wind of change... - Scorpions When I was a teenager, I always admired my seniors. The so-called "youth" of that era always left me in awe - they wore loose-fitting denims; they listened to Bryan Adams; they chewed gums in front of their folks; they studied only after midnight and they ordered Pizzas. They were my icons - my pin-ups. I wondered if ever I could be like them. Then, I do not know what happened and the "youth" in India changed. Changed forever. It was like moving from a good, ol' Amby to a Phantom, Yes, the fissure was so deep and so wide. Today, India makes an appearance in nearly every debate across the globe.....