If Breaking News ‘ Shine Ahuja accused of rape’ is the current favorite of television channels, always hot in pursuit of sensational bytes that may help transmogrify their vapid fare post election, its no surprise, when little seems to catch the viewers fancy.
My reaction..disbelief> cynical wave off> piqued to know the truth and nothing but the truth. Somehow frenzied hurling of invectives at an accused, categorical accusation blatantly vitriolic, a tendency such as this is avoided stubbornly. One cannot live with the guilt of having jumped the gun even before the courts verdict of indictment and uncaringly irresponsibly, insensitively go hammer and tongs at our fellow beings. It speaks poorly of our humanistic attributes,. Lets not be the first to cast stones..but the last.
At the outset, I confess that somehow this episode leaves me in serious doubt. (more…)
On a Goa beach, one lazy evening, with the sun in its glorious best, displaying brilliant hues, the sea energetically washing frothy waves ashore, a soft breeze bringing in refreshing salty spray ,life seemed calm, harmonious, almost perfect..when all of a sudden I heard the loud wails of my 6 year old son ( this was many moons ago). Hubby and me rose from our comfortable love seats, rushed to find a Japanese girl, maybe 10 or so, literally mauling him, throwing sand directly onto his face targeting his eyes. (more…)
Kaveetaa Kaul
Published in Mumbai Mirror
Read this post at Merinews
Posted at Rambhai
Perforce one is subjected to a media frenzy over politicians antics. Taking center stage once every five years the garrulous species having sharpened their claws , honed their insolently obdurate personalities with well oiled platitudes and winning comments, they awaken each morning presumably armed to their teeth with practised machinations eagerly awaiting the glare of lights and the whizz of a camera, while we the susceptible, confused, vulnerable often cynical audience watch on…(hopefully) unmoved. (more…)
Sometimes inadvertently one recalls moments from films that seem to have been deeply ingrained in ones subconscious. Not necessarily those that inspire , yet they have made a dent. On the other hand there may be songs that leave one numb with emotion or romantic to the core, as the situation may be, when one listens to them. Sadly, most of these on screen leave you numb..this time sans emotion. Their picturisation is bereft of a modicum of innovation. They just dont live up to the promise of the music and lyrics. My list of favourite songs hence will differ hugely from the list of favourite song picturisations. (more…)
Freida Pinto Slumdog Millionaire actress- photograph by Ryan Martis
So Slumdog Millionaire has achieved a wondrous feat..nominations in 10 categories by the piously revered Oscar jury and won 7 (updated)! What a celebration of misery.
That India, specifically Mumbai has been portrayed belly up, replete with gamines bathed in poo, eyes gorged out by devilish beggar mafia, frenetic religion dominated outbreaks and filth, shot through hidden cameras, as revealed by Danny Boyle himself, is but a miniscule detail. Dont be silly ..stop fretting! We ought to kick our feet, jump sky high in utter glee now that India has been finally acknowledged by the divine Oscars as a country that is deserved of existing on the cinematic global map…
Residents of a nearby slum demonstrate outside the office of Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, one of the main casts of the movie �Slumdog Millionaire,� demanding that the name of the film be changed, in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Two dozen slum kids carried banners of protest Thursday, saying they were not slum dogs and demanded a change in the name of the award-winning movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” (AP Photo)
Srk and sex sell in India..true. RNBDJ a glaring example of the formers star value , the latter pervades every avenue of marketing. What is the sine qua non for global success..Indias poverty. Ask Mira Nair (nothing personal…she is one of the most talented Directors of Indian origin..read review of Namesake) Now Slumdog millionaire. Oh I know the snort that greets such averments by the liberal brigade who are stridently invading every media channel proclaiming, democracy, freedom of expression, truth-portrayed and all of that. I snort back in answer. (more…)
Aditya Raj Kaul sent me this poignantly moving piece . Yes it is time we were awakened from our slumber and reminded of the grim reality. Kashmiri Pandits mercilessly terrorised and compelled to evacuate their homes while the administration sat back quoting incapability. The numbers of Pandits were not as many to evoke a nation wide stir. Wonder what would have been the situation had Muslims been made to scurry away from thier home towns! We all know the answer.
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- By Aditya Raj Kaul
I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day
What hours, O what black hours we have spent…
- Gerard Manley Hopkins
19th January 1990. Kashmir was breathing still; Kashmiri Pandits lay hidden like frightened pigeons in their own nest. Today on behalf of my fellow brothers and sisters, I wish to revisit the pain of my separation from my own home 19 years ago, when the cruel hands of Allah-Wallahs butchered members of my community for being idol worshipers, for rejecting the call for unholy jihad and for siding with their own nation India. (more…)
