Nandigram, Singur - the place to refer to
Posted On Sunday, March 25, 2007 at at 01:30 by rk rishikesh sinha
Nandigram and Singur, unfortunately, are the two places in India, in the recent times that have hogged headlines for becoming the epicenter of political vendetta. These two places in West Bengal that were unknown to the psyche of the common people is now in news for all bad reasons, becoming the battleground for many parties.
People are flummoxed so are the main political parties of the state and the center on the events that were sequentially turning up in the two places. With the involvement of politics and business, all coming with their own version and speaking the same language of growth and progress of the effected people, the whole episode has now become more complex and caricatured.
The West Bengal government so to catch up with the industrial developments that had swayed in the other states, though lately wants to accelerate industrialization in one stroke by clutching big chunk of lands from the farmers and giving it to business houses. Such acquisition by the government in the name of development is not a new affair. In the past and still the trend is followed by the governments to acquire lands for developmental purpose. That we all know.
The question is – in this purchase exercise that was followed in Singur and Nandigram what went wrong and where? Is it government’s initiative to buy lands for the private parties or its adamant stand to defend its policy to develop Special Economic Zones?
Why people in these two regions, though fuelled by the parties like Trinamool Congress, are fighting tooth and nail not to surrender their land?
Why the developmental pill offered by the government does not sway people to swallow? Is it because the antidote of politics prescribed by the Mamta Banerjee to the people is more powerful than the government’s pill?
People are flummoxed so are the main political parties of the state and the center on the events that were sequentially turning up in the two places. With the involvement of politics and business, all coming with their own version and speaking the same language of growth and progress of the effected people, the whole episode has now become more complex and caricatured.
The West Bengal government so to catch up with the industrial developments that had swayed in the other states, though lately wants to accelerate industrialization in one stroke by clutching big chunk of lands from the farmers and giving it to business houses. Such acquisition by the government in the name of development is not a new affair. In the past and still the trend is followed by the governments to acquire lands for developmental purpose. That we all know.
The question is – in this purchase exercise that was followed in Singur and Nandigram what went wrong and where? Is it government’s initiative to buy lands for the private parties or its adamant stand to defend its policy to develop Special Economic Zones?
Why people in these two regions, though fuelled by the parties like Trinamool Congress, are fighting tooth and nail not to surrender their land?
Why the developmental pill offered by the government does not sway people to swallow? Is it because the antidote of politics prescribed by the Mamta Banerjee to the people is more powerful than the government’s pill?
These two places, no doubt, have added a new page in the so called manufactured development carried out by the government by taking away covertly or overtly lands from the farmers and peasants.
HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT LTD
Posted On Sunday, March 11, 2007 at at 02:31 by rk rishikesh sinha
“Milli, tum kab milogi…Milli”! I am not saying. It is what Kay Kay Menon says to Raima Sen in the movie Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. Menon plays the role of Partho Sen, a typical half-sleeve shirt wearing Bengali husband and Sen plays the role of a newly married wife.
The film - directed, screenplay, story and dialogue - by Reema Kagti is filled with many known and unknown bollywood actors like Diya Mirza, Ranvir Shorey, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Amisha Patel, Karan Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Vikram Chatwal, Sandhya Mridul, Kay Kay Menon and Raima Sen, but despite having all these actors in the story, it fails to strum any strings of the moviegoers, whether it was in he front of story build-up, climax, songs, photography, direction and camera. In every parameter, the movie is flop, awry.
One wonders, from the beginning to the end, what the director wants to deliver, what exactly she desired to cater to the audience. So, one finds scattered story plots, which were unnecessary, unwanted and could be edited nonchalantly, leaving no effect on the movie. With all these story pop-ups, simply, it turned out be a torturous treatment - at least for me.
The story ends up autobiographical in nature, of course for personal viewing and for hungry for entertainment cinemagoers. Nowadays people are smart and intelligent, so I am, not swaying with the director’s craftsmanship.
The dimly – lit, air-conditioned multiplex with every comfort was giving out an impression of an inferno, as people are being given punishment for buying high-cost tickets. And I was among those being punished like a hell.
The movie is so convoluted; it turns out to be churlish. I stopped grinding my brain and allowed it to go to sleep, mute mode.
Well, there is mantra, if someone really wants to blithely enjoy the movie, start comparing the actor’s role with their previous roles. You can enjoy, I promise, but to not that extent that you have anticipated.
About Raima Sen, she has been successful to steel the thunder from the other actors. Hers role was meaty, touching every corner of a newly wed boudi (only for me). The movie has very well depicted about the culture vulture Bengalis, their only-god-knows inhibition and reservation, free of cost advisable nature, their critical bend of mind enquiring about everything under the sun and the fishy character layered with secrecy. For Bengalis, any trivial looking thing or incident is a classified top-secret. Hey! I am not a prejudice; these are all dried barren facts.
And Abhay Deol’s role, those who have seen his debut film Sochha Na Tha, where he makes a full circle to fall in love with a girl with whom he later marry, this movie has stretched his post-marriage image. Buck up Abhay…come out from the image of playing such roles which are pathetically interwoven in and around marriage saga. Make some good attempts.
The film - directed, screenplay, story and dialogue - by Reema Kagti is filled with many known and unknown bollywood actors like Diya Mirza, Ranvir Shorey, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Amisha Patel, Karan Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Vikram Chatwal, Sandhya Mridul, Kay Kay Menon and Raima Sen, but despite having all these actors in the story, it fails to strum any strings of the moviegoers, whether it was in he front of story build-up, climax, songs, photography, direction and camera. In every parameter, the movie is flop, awry.
One wonders, from the beginning to the end, what the director wants to deliver, what exactly she desired to cater to the audience. So, one finds scattered story plots, which were unnecessary, unwanted and could be edited nonchalantly, leaving no effect on the movie. With all these story pop-ups, simply, it turned out be a torturous treatment - at least for me.
The story ends up autobiographical in nature, of course for personal viewing and for hungry for entertainment cinemagoers. Nowadays people are smart and intelligent, so I am, not swaying with the director’s craftsmanship.
The dimly – lit, air-conditioned multiplex with every comfort was giving out an impression of an inferno, as people are being given punishment for buying high-cost tickets. And I was among those being punished like a hell.
The movie is so convoluted; it turns out to be churlish. I stopped grinding my brain and allowed it to go to sleep, mute mode.
Well, there is mantra, if someone really wants to blithely enjoy the movie, start comparing the actor’s role with their previous roles. You can enjoy, I promise, but to not that extent that you have anticipated.
About Raima Sen, she has been successful to steel the thunder from the other actors. Hers role was meaty, touching every corner of a newly wed boudi (only for me). The movie has very well depicted about the culture vulture Bengalis, their only-god-knows inhibition and reservation, free of cost advisable nature, their critical bend of mind enquiring about everything under the sun and the fishy character layered with secrecy. For Bengalis, any trivial looking thing or incident is a classified top-secret. Hey! I am not a prejudice; these are all dried barren facts.
And Abhay Deol’s role, those who have seen his debut film Sochha Na Tha, where he makes a full circle to fall in love with a girl with whom he later marry, this movie has stretched his post-marriage image. Buck up Abhay…come out from the image of playing such roles which are pathetically interwoven in and around marriage saga. Make some good attempts.
In Honeymon……he plays the role of a latent, deceptive superhero, though entertaining, it fails to cow the audience.
About the handsome, muscular, cute face Arjun Rampal, it would be much better if I say – I See You (his first directorial film). So unlucky hero, despite having everything i.e no khot (weaknesses) that a girl would look forward to in her Mr. Perfect, his stars are falling and diminishing. That’s the reason; I am not making any attempts to plug my khots.
Winding up the story, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd is story about 6 married couples cavorting and revealing in their honeymoon period. Beware of gays while you are engrossed in watching the movie. After all, the story is also about gay people.
SPARE TIME FOR WOMEN
Posted On Friday, March 09, 2007 at at 03:23 by rk rishikesh sinha
Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists of principally in dealing with men. – Joseph Conrad
The International Women’s Day on March 8 passed as usual, without much hype and hoopla, and fanfare as we all witness in and around us on ‘V’ (Valentines) Day. For million of women, urban or rural, besides being the basis of a family, strength of the community and the essence of the future, must have been grappling for a secured sphere in the men’s world of hegemonic tendencies and machismo.
What we all have seen on this very day – a full page advertisement with close – up photographs of political leaders coming in the last page basking schemes, laws and legislation for the protection of women and major policy initiatives undertaken by the government.
Can’t the concerned ministry could carry out a front full page advertisement as we all see in the consecutive days in our so called national dailies. The truth is: government could do, perhaps much better execute, but sorry it is again the XY chromosomes factor dominating the XX chromosomes.
If there have been a genuine concern, the X, Y, Z ministries, companies, forum or organization could have for a sake run a hour- long programme in television and on print. But we all end up seeing full page advertisement of companies in print and in the television.
The open secret is that like V Day craze with potential market orientation, the women’s day doesn’t come even near to it. A particular day’s success and failure is coherently directly related to market. And the thumb rule is that forces of market always rule, so are the media. Something that we all must accept or acquiesce. As we all know, governments are synonymous to problem; if there is no problem, there would be no government, they are intertwined and interchangeable.
Coming to media which is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy, as far as my experience goes is not much better place for them. In television, where the pace of work is staggeringly fast, it is a common feature people falling over their colleagues. But the question is ‘how’ people fall over other, say to a lady colleague.
The whole nation awakes and sleep with the chubby angel faced news anchor. But how many of us know while being smilingly delivering the news, the mental agony the news anchor is undergoing. She is being rebuked, insulted by her immediate senior, and it goes uninterruptedly when we all are glued to the live news. That’s the beauty and strength of women, despite juggling between the two worlds – visible and invisible as in tv, she excels.
Here is an incident which really jerked and jolted me, and I still feel pity of myself. It was my first stint in my professional career in tv. I was struggling hard coming in terms with the tv scriptwriting and with the related peripherals involved. With the responsibility of putting live news on air, virtually on a single day I was made a man from a novice, greenhorn student, who has just taken birth from the mass communication classes of the university.
Hardly one month had elapsed from the day of my joining, what I saw, I still fail to forget. The senior video editor was callously rebuking, threatening and insulting the lady librarian, who was in responsibility of the thousand of cassettes, in front of all junior and senior people, as he has found out a soft target to show his male machismo of power and ‘tv’ ego. For a moment, I thought, someone will come forward. But no body stepped in. From haywire a thought crossed my mind that was surely in the capacity of myself being a man, I can request him to lower down his loud and shriek voice. But, the very thought remained a mere thought, devoid of action. The very next day, she left the job and nobody cared to inquire about her. She lost in the pace of work schedule.
Just ponder on this real story. How many of such similar incidents takes place in our working environment, they are hardly reported. Just think for an moment the mental agony she would have suffered. Think, but also act.
The International Women’s Day on March 8 passed as usual, without much hype and hoopla, and fanfare as we all witness in and around us on ‘V’ (Valentines) Day. For million of women, urban or rural, besides being the basis of a family, strength of the community and the essence of the future, must have been grappling for a secured sphere in the men’s world of hegemonic tendencies and machismo.
What we all have seen on this very day – a full page advertisement with close – up photographs of political leaders coming in the last page basking schemes, laws and legislation for the protection of women and major policy initiatives undertaken by the government.
Can’t the concerned ministry could carry out a front full page advertisement as we all see in the consecutive days in our so called national dailies. The truth is: government could do, perhaps much better execute, but sorry it is again the XY chromosomes factor dominating the XX chromosomes.
If there have been a genuine concern, the X, Y, Z ministries, companies, forum or organization could have for a sake run a hour- long programme in television and on print. But we all end up seeing full page advertisement of companies in print and in the television.
The open secret is that like V Day craze with potential market orientation, the women’s day doesn’t come even near to it. A particular day’s success and failure is coherently directly related to market. And the thumb rule is that forces of market always rule, so are the media. Something that we all must accept or acquiesce. As we all know, governments are synonymous to problem; if there is no problem, there would be no government, they are intertwined and interchangeable.
Coming to media which is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy, as far as my experience goes is not much better place for them. In television, where the pace of work is staggeringly fast, it is a common feature people falling over their colleagues. But the question is ‘how’ people fall over other, say to a lady colleague.
The whole nation awakes and sleep with the chubby angel faced news anchor. But how many of us know while being smilingly delivering the news, the mental agony the news anchor is undergoing. She is being rebuked, insulted by her immediate senior, and it goes uninterruptedly when we all are glued to the live news. That’s the beauty and strength of women, despite juggling between the two worlds – visible and invisible as in tv, she excels.
Here is an incident which really jerked and jolted me, and I still feel pity of myself. It was my first stint in my professional career in tv. I was struggling hard coming in terms with the tv scriptwriting and with the related peripherals involved. With the responsibility of putting live news on air, virtually on a single day I was made a man from a novice, greenhorn student, who has just taken birth from the mass communication classes of the university.
Hardly one month had elapsed from the day of my joining, what I saw, I still fail to forget. The senior video editor was callously rebuking, threatening and insulting the lady librarian, who was in responsibility of the thousand of cassettes, in front of all junior and senior people, as he has found out a soft target to show his male machismo of power and ‘tv’ ego. For a moment, I thought, someone will come forward. But no body stepped in. From haywire a thought crossed my mind that was surely in the capacity of myself being a man, I can request him to lower down his loud and shriek voice. But, the very thought remained a mere thought, devoid of action. The very next day, she left the job and nobody cared to inquire about her. She lost in the pace of work schedule.
Just ponder on this real story. How many of such similar incidents takes place in our working environment, they are hardly reported. Just think for an moment the mental agony she would have suffered. Think, but also act.
BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI KNOT
Posted On Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at at 03:53 by rk rishikesh sinhaBride and bridegroom were both anonymous and so were their parents; not because they have any reservation about their marriage itinerary would be made public, visible from any part of the world. The truth is: I don’t know the either party. Despite not knowing the actors, who were object of cynosure for all the visitors present on the fateful day, I could confidently declare that they both belongs to Bishnupriya Manipuri (BM) community.
Hardly, it has ever happened that a simple looking marriage go for occupying ones brain’s space. But, there exist such marriages where we go uninvited like unsolicited spam into the marriage inbox, and the memories powered by real time instances remains crept in our mind. So, this was the marriage which I will ever hate to forget.
Now, the question arises – how could I dare to go like the spam in the marriage inbox. Simple, I am a Bishnupriya Manipuri, a certificate in itself to peek into and trespass any social or private congregation. And a marriage comes as the most haunted or hunted place.
Usually, I dislike and abstain myself from attending birthday parties, marriages or any event where known or unknown people assimilate. I hate, as much, if possible I will not go to my own marriage.
The repeated, compulsive persuasion by my friend Biswadeep took me to the marriage venue. The persuasion honeyed by ‘the first marriage in Delhi by BM community’ indeed helps me to melt. For a moment, my inner self which always crow about to go down to history; almost enthused me to witness such historically important (read red latter day) event. Thus ending up in the list of faceless, countless visitors, who had emptied their rubbery stomach much early.
The marriage which ran till 2 o’clock, I was constantly thinking – if I were the great writers like RK Narayan or JB Priestley- I could have been able to pen down the comical plot developed in the venue.
It was possibly the first BM marriage (as per the record in my life time I have attended 3 BM marriages and 5 non BM marriages) solemnized at the temple in the space starved city, Delhi; after array of legal formalities and the blessings of a non – BM Brahmin were completed.
I feel pity for the Brahmin institutionalizing the marriage in the eyes of GOD. Just think – what would he be thinking about us? Phas Gaya (trapped)!? Unaware of the language, customs, and our genetic gene, which we all do carry, in his style of ritual was busy in completing the on-hand work. Sorry, Shastriji. You fail to come to our standard Brahmin living in our decrepit village.
And about those called or uncalled guest plus children, the climate and the sama that they unconsciously built-up was more funny and at the same time amusing in nature। One could have find in the air streams of languages, English, Hindi, Assamese, BM, Meitai, Bengali and what not. The conundrum was such that it made me thinks twice, even thrice before I uttered a word and fell in conversation with a person opposite to me.
Hardly, it has ever happened that a simple looking marriage go for occupying ones brain’s space. But, there exist such marriages where we go uninvited like unsolicited spam into the marriage inbox, and the memories powered by real time instances remains crept in our mind. So, this was the marriage which I will ever hate to forget.
Now, the question arises – how could I dare to go like the spam in the marriage inbox. Simple, I am a Bishnupriya Manipuri, a certificate in itself to peek into and trespass any social or private congregation. And a marriage comes as the most haunted or hunted place.
Usually, I dislike and abstain myself from attending birthday parties, marriages or any event where known or unknown people assimilate. I hate, as much, if possible I will not go to my own marriage.
The repeated, compulsive persuasion by my friend Biswadeep took me to the marriage venue. The persuasion honeyed by ‘the first marriage in Delhi by BM community’ indeed helps me to melt. For a moment, my inner self which always crow about to go down to history; almost enthused me to witness such historically important (read red latter day) event. Thus ending up in the list of faceless, countless visitors, who had emptied their rubbery stomach much early.
The marriage which ran till 2 o’clock, I was constantly thinking – if I were the great writers like RK Narayan or JB Priestley- I could have been able to pen down the comical plot developed in the venue.
It was possibly the first BM marriage (as per the record in my life time I have attended 3 BM marriages and 5 non BM marriages) solemnized at the temple in the space starved city, Delhi; after array of legal formalities and the blessings of a non – BM Brahmin were completed.
I feel pity for the Brahmin institutionalizing the marriage in the eyes of GOD. Just think – what would he be thinking about us? Phas Gaya (trapped)!? Unaware of the language, customs, and our genetic gene, which we all do carry, in his style of ritual was busy in completing the on-hand work. Sorry, Shastriji. You fail to come to our standard Brahmin living in our decrepit village.
And about those called or uncalled guest plus children, the climate and the sama that they unconsciously built-up was more funny and at the same time amusing in nature। One could have find in the air streams of languages, English, Hindi, Assamese, BM, Meitai, Bengali and what not. The conundrum was such that it made me thinks twice, even thrice before I uttered a word and fell in conversation with a person opposite to me.
Besides all this, if something I was missing a lot and craving for it miserably, desperately the whole night, it was “ti te aamar ……ugor…..(You are my…..realtive’s ….) phrase”. I suppose, everyone was feeling the same. So, an old lady while taking dinner broke the silence and asked me “baba ti te kumper go (From where are you) ”. There is no prize for guessing she was successful in making the hereditary chain of my family.
And without the mentioning of girls, the mere description of marriage does not hold water. The marriage seems absolutely insipid and dull. They were really looking damn beautiful, charming, attractive deaf and dumb girls.
Coming to boys, though I interacted with every bachelor except two or three (I have forgotten their names) they were indeed smitten by love bugs especially towards those wearing saree and salwar kameez. Believe me, boys kept their liked/loved secret as girls keep and protect their feelings. The secret was close to their heart.
Now, attending the marriage seems a complete reverie for me. It was full of fun finding myself in the same breed of people. Well. MAY GOD BLESS THE COUPLE. Anyway, the dinner was hot and tasty, the last word as one could expect from an uncalled visitor.
And without the mentioning of girls, the mere description of marriage does not hold water. The marriage seems absolutely insipid and dull. They were really looking damn beautiful, charming, attractive deaf and dumb girls.
Coming to boys, though I interacted with every bachelor except two or three (I have forgotten their names) they were indeed smitten by love bugs especially towards those wearing saree and salwar kameez. Believe me, boys kept their liked/loved secret as girls keep and protect their feelings. The secret was close to their heart.
Now, attending the marriage seems a complete reverie for me. It was full of fun finding myself in the same breed of people. Well. MAY GOD BLESS THE COUPLE. Anyway, the dinner was hot and tasty, the last word as one could expect from an uncalled visitor.
Holi Hai!
Posted On Monday, March 05, 2007 at at 00:13 by rk rishikesh sinha
‘Holi Hai’! Baki sab maf. Holi - the only festival in which one gets the freedom to get naughty. You smear on others, then hug and start playing together. The ritual that is usually followed.
In this festival, one comes out from his or her imposed shell. One starts smiling on strangers and on neighbours, to whom you have hardly cared due to scarcity of time or with your indomitable ego.
The mere feeling – how it is played and how it starts rolling, gives us a true and sweet aspect of the festival, Holi. The festival makes one person to take a step and the collective steps of many, colours everyone’s life. It is not the simple colour you smear on others that excites us, but the ‘collectiveness’ in one purpose that accelerate us.
Holi is also the only day to impose yourself on others. You use every ruse; use every weapon available in your armoury to attack on others. It may be your bare hand, basket full of water, pichkaris or balloons filled with water, which comes as a weapon of mass destruction.
This weapon keeps on changing with the place, the locality and the lane where it is played. Places where space is abundant and surface is plain, pichkaris and bare hands are the best options. Participation in such virtual war zone reminds me of my days in Guwahati (Assam) and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir). Whereas other weapons like pichkaris and balloon filled with water, first time I experienced it in Delhi.
In the space starved city like Delhi where buildings are glued to each another, attacking with balloons is very easy and efficient war technique. The zone appears as a theatre of guerilla warfare, you don’t know the position of the attackers. At the end of the day, it is full of full of fun and excitement. It seems, the opposite building starts talking in the language of colours, otherwise the same building give us the stubborn impression.
So, haven’t you ever felt while playing Holi the whole day, you have transpired your feelings and give them an open invitation that you are human and not an alien living in a far place that is light years away. Happy Holi! Just you think over it.
In this festival, one comes out from his or her imposed shell. One starts smiling on strangers and on neighbours, to whom you have hardly cared due to scarcity of time or with your indomitable ego.
The mere feeling – how it is played and how it starts rolling, gives us a true and sweet aspect of the festival, Holi. The festival makes one person to take a step and the collective steps of many, colours everyone’s life. It is not the simple colour you smear on others that excites us, but the ‘collectiveness’ in one purpose that accelerate us.
Holi is also the only day to impose yourself on others. You use every ruse; use every weapon available in your armoury to attack on others. It may be your bare hand, basket full of water, pichkaris or balloons filled with water, which comes as a weapon of mass destruction.
This weapon keeps on changing with the place, the locality and the lane where it is played. Places where space is abundant and surface is plain, pichkaris and bare hands are the best options. Participation in such virtual war zone reminds me of my days in Guwahati (Assam) and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir). Whereas other weapons like pichkaris and balloon filled with water, first time I experienced it in Delhi.
In the space starved city like Delhi where buildings are glued to each another, attacking with balloons is very easy and efficient war technique. The zone appears as a theatre of guerilla warfare, you don’t know the position of the attackers. At the end of the day, it is full of full of fun and excitement. It seems, the opposite building starts talking in the language of colours, otherwise the same building give us the stubborn impression.
So, haven’t you ever felt while playing Holi the whole day, you have transpired your feelings and give them an open invitation that you are human and not an alien living in a far place that is light years away. Happy Holi! Just you think over it.
Nishabd
Posted On Sunday, March 04, 2007 at at 02:15 by rk rishikesh sinha
A man aged 60 falls in love with an 18 year-old girl; is the tagline Ram Gopal Verma’s Nishabd is carrying as a publicity stunt. If this tagline is for the cinemagoers to head towards the cinema halls, then it is OK and justified. But people who have accidentally or willingly came across this advertisement are intrigued and confused; they wanted to unravel the truth. They are asking, how a man (read old man) could fall in love with his grand-daughter’s age girl? How a star like Amitabh Bachchan afford to lead such a role? What Ram Gopal Verma is trying to capture through this movie? Array of questions like these are being bombarded, but unfortunately there is no answers to these questions.
The mere thought that a man of 60 could fall in love, indeed shocks us, as we usually do not accept or see in our society. The role played by Jiah Khan is challenging and thought provoking. Our natural reaction to the movie’s concept is covert, layered with self-doubts. An older person could fall in love with a girl much below his age. The practice is rampant in India, and there is nothing wrong to react erratically. It is a fact that we all must accept. We are giving a reserved reaction since pre-marriage love is unknown to us. On the other hand, we all have seen post-marriage love irrespective of the age. A movie is a movie and it has to be taken in that spirit.
On the question of Amitabh Bachchan playing the role, the answer lies with him. Bachchan himself said in his one of the interview: “gone are the days when the responsibility of running a movie actually was with him, but now it is on khans brother – Salman, Shahrukh and Aamir.” He said “the transition period has come in Indian cinema, new stories, new plots are being discovered. It’s a challenge and at the same time an opportunity for an actor to play as possible diverse and different role.” And for Bachchan, the time and age is at his side.
Ramu’s Nishabd actually breaks the Yash Chopra’s style of film making. In his film, one could see beautiful, breath-taking scenery with hero and heroines dancing around trees, making the audience unaware of the little things what normally a person do, like from does he get money. On the other hand, Ramu’s movies make oneself grounded to the real world.
Before Nishabd’s story is forgotten in the flurry of hindi movies. It would be wise decision to watch it and appreciate Jiah Khan and Bachchn’s new avatar. Love is possible.
The mere thought that a man of 60 could fall in love, indeed shocks us, as we usually do not accept or see in our society. The role played by Jiah Khan is challenging and thought provoking. Our natural reaction to the movie’s concept is covert, layered with self-doubts. An older person could fall in love with a girl much below his age. The practice is rampant in India, and there is nothing wrong to react erratically. It is a fact that we all must accept. We are giving a reserved reaction since pre-marriage love is unknown to us. On the other hand, we all have seen post-marriage love irrespective of the age. A movie is a movie and it has to be taken in that spirit.
On the question of Amitabh Bachchan playing the role, the answer lies with him. Bachchan himself said in his one of the interview: “gone are the days when the responsibility of running a movie actually was with him, but now it is on khans brother – Salman, Shahrukh and Aamir.” He said “the transition period has come in Indian cinema, new stories, new plots are being discovered. It’s a challenge and at the same time an opportunity for an actor to play as possible diverse and different role.” And for Bachchan, the time and age is at his side.
Ramu’s Nishabd actually breaks the Yash Chopra’s style of film making. In his film, one could see beautiful, breath-taking scenery with hero and heroines dancing around trees, making the audience unaware of the little things what normally a person do, like from does he get money. On the other hand, Ramu’s movies make oneself grounded to the real world.
Before Nishabd’s story is forgotten in the flurry of hindi movies. It would be wise decision to watch it and appreciate Jiah Khan and Bachchn’s new avatar. Love is possible.
Congress fail is BJP win
Posted On Saturday, March 03, 2007 at at 21:57 by rk rishikesh sinha
The pressure that was built up in the three regions Uttarakhand, Punjab and Manipur, after the declaration of results, now seems calm and has lowered down. In the assembly election held in this three states, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) came out as a single largest party in Punjab and Uttarakhand, while in Manipur Congress managed to occupy maximum seats.
The picture that is coming out from the three states is that in Uttarakhand BJP leader and former Union Minister, B.C. Khanduri has been appointed as Chief Minister; in Punjab, the doyen of Indian politics, Prakash Singh Badal will hold the key of the government; in Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh will play his second innings in this north eastern state.
In the assembly results of the three states, the combined alliance of the Akalis and BJP, of the 117 legislative assemblies in Punjab, it garnered 48 and 19 seats while Congress got 44 seats. Election held in 71 assembly seats of Uttarakhand, BJP acquired 34 seats, 1 seat short to make clear cut majority government. In this newly built state, Congress end up with 21 seats. While in Manipur, Congress limps back to power with 30 seats, 1 seat short to make government.
CONGRESS DEBACLE IN PUNJAB
After the debacle of the Amarinder Singh’s Congress in the state, party heavy weights, despite showing development in the last 12 months, cites shooting prices of essential items, anti incumbency factor and rampant infighting, are reasons that had costs them dear .
Moreover, missing cohesion between Amarinder Singh and his deputy Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, some relate as the reason for the slip in the assembly election. The abrasive method followed by Amarinder to punish opponents by opening cases is also considered another reason which alienated voters against him.
CONGRESS DEBACLE IN UTTARAKHAND
Animosity between former CM ND Tiwari and state party chief Harish Rawat over the chief ministerial berth sank the boat of the party in the state. Tiwari’s refuses to campaign demanding post CM plans for him is one more major reason for the party’s sinking. Lal Bhatti culture along with ever-increasing prices of the essential items added fuel to the voter’s disenchantment, making them going against congress.
CONGRESS IN MANIPUR
The stability factor of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) of Okram Ibobi Singh, remaining in power uninterrupted, led voters to swing towards the alliance between the congress and the CPI .The pre-poll arithmetic of the Federal Party of Manipur merging with the Revolutionary Peoples party to form MPP failed to encash the regional tone over the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
CONCLUSION
The poll results means a lot for the political bigwigs: congress will not able to play freely over the President’s post; left parties are likely to get more assertive and ask for policy ‘correction’; congress will loose the maneuvering space in the government, above all BJP definitely got a new lease of political life and momentum. At the end of the day, congress has to introspect within, and ponder over the reasons, before it is too late.
The picture that is coming out from the three states is that in Uttarakhand BJP leader and former Union Minister, B.C. Khanduri has been appointed as Chief Minister; in Punjab, the doyen of Indian politics, Prakash Singh Badal will hold the key of the government; in Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh will play his second innings in this north eastern state.
In the assembly results of the three states, the combined alliance of the Akalis and BJP, of the 117 legislative assemblies in Punjab, it garnered 48 and 19 seats while Congress got 44 seats. Election held in 71 assembly seats of Uttarakhand, BJP acquired 34 seats, 1 seat short to make clear cut majority government. In this newly built state, Congress end up with 21 seats. While in Manipur, Congress limps back to power with 30 seats, 1 seat short to make government.
CONGRESS DEBACLE IN PUNJAB
After the debacle of the Amarinder Singh’s Congress in the state, party heavy weights, despite showing development in the last 12 months, cites shooting prices of essential items, anti incumbency factor and rampant infighting, are reasons that had costs them dear .
Moreover, missing cohesion between Amarinder Singh and his deputy Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, some relate as the reason for the slip in the assembly election. The abrasive method followed by Amarinder to punish opponents by opening cases is also considered another reason which alienated voters against him.
CONGRESS DEBACLE IN UTTARAKHAND
Animosity between former CM ND Tiwari and state party chief Harish Rawat over the chief ministerial berth sank the boat of the party in the state. Tiwari’s refuses to campaign demanding post CM plans for him is one more major reason for the party’s sinking. Lal Bhatti culture along with ever-increasing prices of the essential items added fuel to the voter’s disenchantment, making them going against congress.
CONGRESS IN MANIPUR
The stability factor of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) of Okram Ibobi Singh, remaining in power uninterrupted, led voters to swing towards the alliance between the congress and the CPI .The pre-poll arithmetic of the Federal Party of Manipur merging with the Revolutionary Peoples party to form MPP failed to encash the regional tone over the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
CONCLUSION
The poll results means a lot for the political bigwigs: congress will not able to play freely over the President’s post; left parties are likely to get more assertive and ask for policy ‘correction’; congress will loose the maneuvering space in the government, above all BJP definitely got a new lease of political life and momentum. At the end of the day, congress has to introspect within, and ponder over the reasons, before it is too late.
The juggling figures of Union Budget 2007-08
Posted On Friday, March 02, 2007 at at 00:48 by rk rishikesh sinha
- There Finance Minister P Chidambaram ignites the Union Budget for 2007-08, here it catches fire in the news room, irrespective of the fact what they are taking it seriously may not be fully or partially comprehended by the general public.
Caught by the infamous bug inflation and the recent setback it had faced in the Punjab and Uttaranchal legislative elections, for the Finance Minister surely it was not an easy walk.
The budget primarily outlayed hike in the agriculture (Rs 8558), health (Rs 14,363) and education (Rs 28674) sectors. Defence got Rs 96,000 allocation in its kitty. Again, it is all about nerve wrecking figures. Just take this budget as the budget allocation as we all see and witness in our homes.
Here is the glance of the Union Budget 2007-08
PERSONAL AND SERVICE TAX RATES remain the same.
INCOME TAX EXEMPTION THRESHOLD increased by Rs 10,000 for all assesses, giving a relief of Rs 1000.
EXEMPTIVE LIMIT on banking cash transaction tax for individuals, Hindu undivided families raised families raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
SENIOR CITIZENS - Exemption raised from Rs 185,000 to Rs 195,000, giving a relief of Rs 2,000 in income tax.
- Deduction in medical insurance premium under section 80D raised to Rs 20,000.
Senior citizens who are house owners can get monthly income mortgage.
THE CORPORATE WORLD
Corporate tax rate remaining same
Surcharge on income tax on all firms and companies with a taxable income of Rs 1 crore or less to be removed.
DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION TAX RATE raised from 12.5 % to 15% and to 25% on dividend paid by many-market mutual funds liquid mutual funds.
In addition to all these addition and subtraction, an allocation of Rs 500 crore for the Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in Delhi was earmarked. Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Pune next year got mentioned in the budget with Rs 50 crore earmarked for it.
The budget as usual doesn’t come in sync with people’s expectation, it is understandable one possibly cannot keep everybody happy. For some, like Kumar Mangalam Birla, N Nilekani, Mukesh Ambani and Pawan Munjal, no doubts, the budget paints a rosy picture. But for Sitaram Yechury whose party is a component of the central government and Yashwant Sinha, former FM, the budget has failed to come to the expectation of aam aadmi.
The bottomline of the whole exercise is that market and the people would not even remember it in a few days.
Jade Goody a Winner, Shilpa a Loser
Posted On Thursday, March 01, 2007 at at 15:35 by rk rishikesh sinha
Two female celebrities, Jade Goody, the controversial participant of the Big Brother programme and Scarlet Johansson, actress of the Lost in Translation, are presently in India. Both these celebrities share something in common: both are not part of glitzy parties and are not facing media in press conferences.
No doubt, here in Delhi, media have highlighted their visit extensively. But this time it has been insipid, the tone and tenor that it had showed earlier is bit missing and it is different. The print media has abstained itself writing editorials and electronic media not running hour-long programme.
If we keep aside Johansson, Goody participation in the Big Brother show’s brouhaha where bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty also participated, and which had irked Indians for her racial remark made on her. Goody’s visit especially in India does carry meaning and substance. As per the newspaper report, her visit is private and not sponsored by anyone. She has kept herself away from bytes and quotes.
With the ambush-media campaign hardly there is any person who can’t narrate the whole episode which had circumscribed around Big Brother, Shilpa Shetty and Goody’s racial remarks.
Goody’s India visit throws open another aspect of her innate personality that we all have missed. Despite being voted out from the programme and facing ire from her own country which had almost axed her career. She cane to India notwithstanding to the fact that she might again have to undergo public scrutiny and turmoil.
The visit has unlocked her compassionate and receptive nature of her individuality. She has put forth the moral integrity and the boldness to face nasty questions. It is not as simple as it seems. For a moment, imagine if Shilpa Shetty would have been Jade Goody’s place. Can you expect the same steps as it is being followed by Jade? The answer would possibly be somewhere else.
She uttered all those disturbing words at the fit of anger against Shilpa. The circumstances that were prevailing in the room triggered her. This truth is as simple as it is. On the other hand, Shilpa sailing on the wave of racial discrimination not only have won the prize but saved her dying career.
Now, when she has came to India and busy in visiting deprived children, it was reported that the local residents of the school where she went, started rebuking her by raising derogatory slogans. To their belligerent ‘hai, hai’, she responded with a zestful ‘hi!’
We shouldn’t forget that Goody came as a visitor. And it is in our culture to perceive a visitor as a God. The utter reactions of the public demystify the thought we feel proud of. Can’t we consider and tag it ‘racial’.
Undoubtedly, she failed in the race of winning the game but she has been a winner, the ultimate winner in the game of heart. Har ke jitne wale ko baazigar kehte hein.
No doubt, here in Delhi, media have highlighted their visit extensively. But this time it has been insipid, the tone and tenor that it had showed earlier is bit missing and it is different. The print media has abstained itself writing editorials and electronic media not running hour-long programme.
If we keep aside Johansson, Goody participation in the Big Brother show’s brouhaha where bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty also participated, and which had irked Indians for her racial remark made on her. Goody’s visit especially in India does carry meaning and substance. As per the newspaper report, her visit is private and not sponsored by anyone. She has kept herself away from bytes and quotes.
With the ambush-media campaign hardly there is any person who can’t narrate the whole episode which had circumscribed around Big Brother, Shilpa Shetty and Goody’s racial remarks.
Goody’s India visit throws open another aspect of her innate personality that we all have missed. Despite being voted out from the programme and facing ire from her own country which had almost axed her career. She cane to India notwithstanding to the fact that she might again have to undergo public scrutiny and turmoil.
The visit has unlocked her compassionate and receptive nature of her individuality. She has put forth the moral integrity and the boldness to face nasty questions. It is not as simple as it seems. For a moment, imagine if Shilpa Shetty would have been Jade Goody’s place. Can you expect the same steps as it is being followed by Jade? The answer would possibly be somewhere else.
She uttered all those disturbing words at the fit of anger against Shilpa. The circumstances that were prevailing in the room triggered her. This truth is as simple as it is. On the other hand, Shilpa sailing on the wave of racial discrimination not only have won the prize but saved her dying career.
Now, when she has came to India and busy in visiting deprived children, it was reported that the local residents of the school where she went, started rebuking her by raising derogatory slogans. To their belligerent ‘hai, hai’, she responded with a zestful ‘hi!’
We shouldn’t forget that Goody came as a visitor. And it is in our culture to perceive a visitor as a God. The utter reactions of the public demystify the thought we feel proud of. Can’t we consider and tag it ‘racial’.
Undoubtedly, she failed in the race of winning the game but she has been a winner, the ultimate winner in the game of heart. Har ke jitne wale ko baazigar kehte hein.