Casino Royale - Royal case-no

I am not a huge fan of Bond movies but I like them. They are a couple of hours of "fultu timepass". So if I get a chance - I rarely miss them. Now after a long time a real opportunity came - three married guys - one of them me, plan for a movie - that too a james bond movie - and the icing on the cake - without our wives. wow college days are here again. So how would you feel when you sit through a love story in this situation - no don't look at your desktop in amazement. Just sympethise with us because thats what happened to us - a life time opportunity wasted really over a over priced coke and a few sweet corns.

Actually its a good movie except that it rubs the James Bond fans the wrong way - yeah really. Let me explain. what do you expect of a bond movie?? No, tell me what ...... some great action, a superbly intriguing plot, great ladies, lively kisses, blinding pace, imaginative futuristic gadgets, and a high action climax. The bond movies carry a certain positioning with an opening action sequence setting the pace followed by the main body the building of the plot culminating in a thrilling grand finale - oh.. it feels so satisfying coming out of the movie hall feeling like you just went through two hours of adventure ride.

Here is the catch - casino royale turns out to be great bond movie in the first half and touching love story in the second - the carefully built positioning over decades is lost in an hour or so. The first half is really promising - rivetting actually. The movie opens with a great human chase which is amazing, super human still believable. The plot thickens and you are glued to your seats as the world of terrorism, its financing and its money flows unfold in front of your eyes. The idea of it being all a casino - a game of who is a bigger bluffmaster is actually quite appealing. The editing in this part is crisp - that lets the movie glide through smoothly.

Catrino murino - the new bond girl has a stunning entry and you expect a lot of steam on the screen - but then you have to do with just some good looking shots - otherwise she proves to be a very ordinary choice for a bond movie girl. Her characterisation is weak as well. So all in all a disappointing package here.

And she takes you into the second half full of expectations - but alas the movie takes a different turn - Bond seems to have finished his task and is all set to return after transferring the money that he wins in the game stripping the portfolio manager of the money he laundered from terrorists - But then our very smart bond who never trusts anybody - least of all sexy looking girls gives the code to her new lady. Then bond resigns (yeah !! really) because he would rather live a cosy family love life with her new found. Ofcourse she betrays her after this it appears to be a truly Indian Love story.

Why it will finally turn out to the viewers that though she did betray bond - it was to save his life. Yes !! she traded the money to save him and in the bargain she scarifies her love (does that sound familiar to everyone in touch with the bollywood). And icing on the cake who tells bond this fact - oh his so professional motherly boss (God save me). Now what bond goes in search of the woman, finds her - a whole building collapses somewhere in venice (which means you are in deep water) - bond's new yummy is in that building trapped in the lift - he tries to save her - but in the true bollywood style she is too embarrassed and so bids a last sorry and refuses to be saved. She dies - bond is broken and he will take the final revenge. I might sound sarcastic on a good movie actually - but hell - this was supposed to be a James Bond movie - the name was bond - James Bond.

The movie has its great moments - I already told you about the chase at the start. The game of poker at the casino is delicately done and is gripping. Another sequence which I will remember as much for the imagination as for the gadgetry use, is when bond is given some chemical under deception - he realises it and quickly moves into his car - plugs into some gadgets and voila - his head office control recieves data on his health condition - he is getting a heart attack - it is announced. Now very steady instructions are given to bond on what he should if he is to be saved - he tries to follow them and simultaneously the heart arrest is getting severe. As an audience you know he will be saved, and suddenly machines show zero heart activity before he can press the final switch. Everyone in the hall is surprised - bond is dead and the out of nowhere our yummy indian looking dame comes and does the last job ....... Funny actually no - I am telling you this sequence was actually done well.

Our new bond is handsome, a good actor, and lives upto the expectations that I have of a bond. Everything about the movie is good (even the second half if you are prepared to watch a love story) except that it seems to have been directed by two directors changing gaurds after the interval. The action that has been the hallmark of bond movies is missing - badly.

Dhoom-2 ..... Whatever

My 4 year kid watched Dhoom a couple of years back when he was just two plus years old. He adored the movie with its bikes and songs. He remembers that entire movie - frame by frame. I must confess that I too, liked the movie as an entertainer which flied into the world of fancy without losing that quintessential touch with the real world.

It was almost two months back - that my kid started pestering me with his wish to watch Dhoom-2 (second dhoom is what he named it). So when the movie was finally released I bloody well ensured that we have the tickets for the first week itself. While the kid is not complaining too much - I am thoroughly disappointed. May be my expectations from sequels was too high (specially after Lage Raho Munna Bhai - my review here) but I give a thumbs down to this part-2. No dhoom what so ever.

Some great stunts, excellent cinematography, sexed up ladies, exotic foreign locations, imaginative technology is what this movie is about - thats all. The fine details of a plot that captivated me in the first part were sorely missing. So what went wrong??

Too much of technical wizardry and super action - its good - but that becomes the focus of the movie. Not the plot - never mind the utter lack of continuity - or the sheer illogicality of it all thats happening infront of you. The movie starts with a super stunt. Our new conman parachuting his way to the top a running train carrying a priceless gem packed "Mukut" kept quite conspicuously on a pedstal in a train compartment guarded by two guards at the door - he takes it away - fighting the guards on (where else) the top of the running train and then uses a skate board (or was it surfing board) to slide over the sand of the great desert to god knows where. Very convincing indeed.......

Weak characters (unlike the prequel) dot the movie. Lets take them one by one - Just out of nowhere you have a Mr. A - the perfect thief - seen by no one as he is a master disguiser (and the disguise he takes are actually phenomenal) leaving his signature (an A) on the world for nobody knows why. Oh spare us because the same guy is going to later go weak kneed in front of a sexy "Bambiya Chorni". Rithik is sincere as always and very intense. He carries himself well in the character, except that the character looks very human in picturisation but he does everything thats superhuman.

Talking of the chorni - a smalltime thief - our own damsel aishwarya - helps the master seluth trap Mr. A in exchange of not reporting her petty crimes in the police record - by actually teaming with him in the game of international conmanship. And then ofcourse she falls in love with the Mr. A and forgets about the cop. The super cop - the smartest in the race lets her go with the guy without any tab on her, naively believeing that she would press the button of the transmitter at the right time for what..... so that he will nab the thief right during the act???

Another entry to the star cast, the sexy Bipasha is one more super seluth who does everything (ie. dance, wear biknis, look sexy, even practice shooting in a range, flirts) but catches thieves. Bipasha's was easily the weakest of the character - almost no soul only body - literally. Bipasha tried hard but really she was let down by the script and the director. Her connection to the prequel is ridiculous - whoever thought of the idea of her being introduced as a makeshift affair heroine for the hero - while his wife is pregnant is simply empty of ideas. To top it all she is suddenly removed off the scene to be reintroduced in the later half as her own dumb sister (double role) in brazil who loves Indians but can only speak English. Are you already confused and crazy don't be there is lot more. Watch it.

The two likable characters of the prequel Uday chopra with his twisted approach to English was a reprieve but just so. He is not in his elements - he is just good. Frankly he recieved more footage then his character deserved - with a full song put in for him with that english "Escuse me to please" jarring again and again. So in a yashraj movie a chopra gets more footage is any news? ... when at other places the editing is so crisp that you tend to miss the link. This means everytime there is a sequence with uday -- the movie drags - otherwise it wihzzes past. You feel like enjoying a jerky rail ride.

The cream of the starcast is the junior-B. The more I see him the more I am convinced of him being the next shahrukh if not theBig-B himself. Controlled, intense using every moment he has to the fullest - you sit through the entire movie for him and in some pieces for rithik (that is ofcourse if you are not a die hard fan of Aishwarya who after Bunty and Bubli has started showing flash as if there is no tomorrow).

The list of negatives go on - the music is a BIG disappointment specially after a hit parade in the prequel. Only "crazy kiya re..." will live a few weeks. Rest is, at best, very average. Editing is simply bad. The kiss between ash and rithik being talked about so much is at best perfunctory and has no intensity. Ash is so obviously uncomfortable that there is no love lost between the kissers (forgive the lingo here). Also that old sequence of single bullet six shots one you and one me is too cliched to be of any use really.....

On the positive side - watch it for its stunts and high tech imagery. Also watch it for super sexy clothing that is donned by the star cast. Its actually good - always sexy never cheap. Ofcourse watch it for Ash and Bip - both at their gorgeous best. Watch it without brains - just two hours of rivetting visual action - don't ask for content.

So what does banners like yashraj do when they know that the crores that they spent are not well spent - they spread canards like this on almost all dailies worth their salt. Ofcourse after a yashraj movie launch you do not see any negative reviews in the media for a week - so I wish a lot of people read mine.

From a viewer like me its a no-no. I sincerely wish that viewers do not line the movie just because it is a release from one of the best marketers in the industry. Because if it happens to be as big a success as it looks like it might - then we are in for more such stuff being offered to us in the name of great cinema. So viewers please say no to this one.

The power of an idea

I am sure Prof. Madhukar will pardon me for copying even the title of his inpiring post on this year's noble prize winner for peace (actually the post is on his grameen bank story rather than him) some quotable quotes from his excellent post

"Poverty is not caused by people; it is caused by the system. "

"You take the best seed of the tallest tree from the most fertile forest, and plant it in a small flower-pot. The seed does not grow into the tall tree..." not because the seed was bad, but because it got planted in the wrong place."

"poor are "credit-worthy" .....the commercial banking establishment is not "people worthy"

Do read the piece

Darling........Darjeeling ......- Part I

A couple of months back I visited Darjeeling, Gangtok and ___________. The place was heavenly, if you are a nature lover. I cannot express it in words and so expect a series of photoessays - of the journey. Enjoy with me


Off to vacations - after a long time and mootably a well deserved one. My kid is full of anticipation and is enjoying the train.

New Jalpaiguri after an arduous still an enjoying two day train journey - thankfully our taxi is waiting for us. Everyone is a bit tired and no one is interested in anything but reaching the hotel. Even the hunger, borne out of the not so appetising breakfast, lunch and dinner regimen of Rajdhani express, plays its part in increasing the weariness and peskines.






The Journey to Darjeeling however revs up the spirit as the weather gets more pleasent and immense beauty of nature with the lush green surroundings and an air quality that relaxes us.

The hills and the valleys : they are awesome - the first streak of delight on the faces of our kids appear when the toy train peaks out of the thick wood and coos to attract attention. Even we grown ups feel like (and do) yelling in delight with our children. Tired bones being forgotten already.


The first of the umpteen natural water falls that will enthrall us over the journey (beware you will get bored of the numbers). But the first one was a bundle of joy. We stopped our taxi and just stood facing it - taking in the freshning drops that suspend in the air and fascinated by the sheer volume of water that flowed casually in front of us.


And then as we climb higher the clouds descend on the road - simply. You open the window - forget the AC and just let the touch of those clouds make you feel ------well on cloud nine. No, we are not tired anymore. We are just ecstatic.

My kid is now glued to his window seat watching those gentle clouds - feeling them and wondering at the marvel thats nature. He has forgotten the tiring journey that he has just had and his peskiness at my inability to offer him a nice place to sleep is dissolved - he (and all of us) are looking forward to a gret time ahead.

And then to his (& ours) delight - we encounter the toy train. The driver of our taxi - a simple and a very nice person - was quick to get off the taxi and was stopping the train. Why we wondered? and then we realised - another taxi was parked just round the curve of the road by a careless person very close to those rails - a possible accident averted. But then for us it was wonderful - everyone wanted a utilise the opportunity to get the first hand feel of the train.




The train finally leaves and so do we in opposite directions - promising each other another, more intimate meeting - soon.

Finally, we arrive at our hotel - its about evening and our hotel is a outside the main city thats darjeeling on an isolated peak which is quiet, surrounded by clouds and, if my use the word(s) - intriguing and mysterious. The likes of what you see in ramsay brother movies - which if you see from a distance look like haunted cottages.
However, the lobby and the entrance did give it a look of a professional and well managed abode. So, its time to rest - or is it? Well kittu (our kid) surely knew what - as soon as he enters the room finds the bed to his liking and off he goes.

We had a delightfule dinner - after some rest in the cosy rooms.

Enjoyed some celebrating with a small band put by the hotel in the evening - played "antakshari" with other tourists - and with dreams for the next day slept well.


I take the first break, will continue with my musings on a place that I loved as much as I did when I had toured Kashmir several years ago.

Be with me and enjoy the nature's marvellous creation. Will be back

Whats happening??

There has been unrelated incidences off late in one's life that results into this rather negative title to this post -

First - Officer.. Officer...,
The phone on my table rings, as it does almost every five minutes, and I am told by our front desk executive - that a certain Income tax inspector wanted to meet me. I enquire what he wanted, knowing fully well the reply I would get - that he wouldn't tell and would meet only the director of the company. So I walk down to meet him.

We settle down in a cabin. He asks "Where is your company's bank account?" (I assumed that he meant in which bank) - He gets the answer - idbi bank. He enquires - "and your personal account" (I was about to demand his id card but thought better) and replied - "Same bank". He suddenly changes track getting more friendly - "well main yeh sab bateen karne nahi aya (I'm not here to talk about all these) apse ek kaam tha" He pulls out a reciept of a student who had booked a seat in one of the forthcoming batches in our training institute and says - "Yeh ek paan wale ki bacchi hai - ise 50% discount kar dijiye (She is the daughter of a paan wala. Give her a 50% discount)". I was taken aback at the bkuntness of the process to say the least.

I quickly recover and suggest to him that 50% is a very high figure. He is no mood to listen to my explanations of why. He fires - "Dekhiye mein to aapse kisi aur tarah se baat karne hi nahi aaya tha? Aapke area ka kaam mein hi dekhta hoon. Itni chooti si request hai" (See I did not come to you to use my influence. Your area is under my scrutiny in the dept. Its a small request)...................................

Second - for a mere .....,
I am driving back home after a hard (really) day's work and am enjoying Jagjit's voice over the car stereo looking forward to a round of chess with my recently retired dad. A police man on a bike (Khakhi Dress with two red stripes on his side) interrupts me and asks me to take my car to the side of the road. I comply, get out of the car and ask what the matter was. He instructs - "Car mein baithe jaiye. (Please sit in the car)" I did. He followed - in the seat next to mine.

He says "Bhai Saheb!! Gaadi kaise chala rahe hai" (Mr. Look at the way you are driving?). I was a little surprised and retorts "Kyon (what happemed)" He tells me that I was talking on my mobile and that i was not using the seat belt. I retorted - "No, I was not talking on my mobile". He ignored my retorts and said - "Aap behka nahi sakte - Palasia par latest machine lagi hai - aapka picture aa gaya hai mobile par baat karte hue. Drive chal rahi hai - hamari puri team baithi hui hai (You cannot dodge. At palasia we have a machine which taken your picture talking on mobile. There is a drive on- an entire team is present)" Now I felt a little irked.
(yeah !! Someone telling me that Indore traffic police has smartened up and has put surveillance equipments - wow!! - that provides wrong information. Am I such a dumbo by face --- really....)
However, I wanted to get rid of him - I said "Sorry". He immediately softened up and to my utter - complete - unbelievable surprise - said smilingly - "Theek Hai !! Jo aap ki iccha ho kar do. (Give whatever you wish to)" Not that I was not anticipating his tactics to generate some underhand income - but even for me - it was too blunt an approach....... and I was now angry.

I replied - "Why". He smiled (his consistent smile that of a salesman talking to his prospective customer was too much for me to take - but he was police... right) - "Bhai saheb - Chitti to 350-400 rupeye ki banegi (I cannot translate that - all he means is that if I choose to be leagally charged for the alleged breaking of rule - it will amount to at least 350-400 rs.). I said but what gets charged for not using the seat belt is Rs. 100. Pet comes the reply "Par aap mobile par baat bhi to kar rahe the (But you were talking on your mobile too)" I retorted - I have not talked on my cell for the last hour. He says "Aapka photo aa gaya hai (You have been photographed talking on the phone)" I challenged him to show the photograph to me. Reply - "Woh aapko thodi dikhayege (That will not be shown to you)". I was now red with anger and asked him flat - "Aapki team baithi hai na - usme magistrate bhi to hoge. Unhe to dikhayege. Chaliye mujhe unse mila dijiye (Your team is sitting there. Isn't it? There must be a magistrate in the team. You will atleast show the photograph to him. Take me to him."

Now he changed gears yet again. "Aap kyon baat ko itna bada rahe hai? Ham to din raat chourahe par khade rehte hai. Kabhi aap aap phas gaye to aapki help hi karege. Jo bhi aap ku marji ho de dijiye. (Why do you want to go to that extent. I generally stand on these squares. If you get caught somewhere - I will help you. just give whatever you feel like).......... Bribes are now begged for....

Third - Babu-dom-dum
After a hard days work I decided its time to get back to home early and walked down the steps of my office - and I noticed a chauffeur ambassador with a yellow light on top entering the gate. The gentleman on the backside of the car had a wireless in his hand and he got down from the car as if he is there for an official purpose. He approached me and said in an almost derogatory manner - "Kyon kaun hai yeha ke Director - jara unse kaho nagar nigam se Mr. X aaye hai. (Who is the Director of this place. Tell him Mr. X from Nagar Nigam has arrived).

I tell him that I am the person he is looking for. He suddenly waters down (and I wonder - do I not look the grade) and says "Mein X Nagar Nigam ka removal officer - aapka area mere under mein hi aata hai. (I am mr. X - removal officer from Nagar Nigam. Your area falls under my jurisdiction)" I enquire as to what he wanted. He assures me "Are mein yeha nagar nigam ke kaam se nahi aaya (Oh !! I am not here for official work). Actually my son wanted to join your institue, so I thought I will meet you once. Free mein nahi hoga - bas jo bhi discount aap karte hai woh de dejiye (Don't give it free - just provide discount)" Artfully he adds - "nagar nigam mein kuch kaam ho to bataiyega (Tell me about any work you need done in nagar nigam)".....................

End Note
What does one say except repeat the title of this post - Yeh kya ho raha hai ?? Whats happening? Why me?

Picture Courtsey : http://www.ipxsystems.net and http://www.fotosearch.com/

Lage Raho Munna Bhai aka Rang De Basanti

Watched "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" yesterday. Although, I do not write film reviews but this movie made me write one.

Like most others in the country, I had adored Munna Bhai MBBS. The Movie - was not an original idea. It was inspired by one similar hollywood movie. But the inspiration was well developed and suitably indianised. In fact one cannot use the word copy in this context. It was brilliant execution, in my view.

I had also appreciated the genius of thought in the Aamir khan starrer - Rang De Basanti (RDB). The idea of gelling martyrs of the yesteryears with generation-x of today was brilliant. The entire movie was executed with great finnese, as well.

So when I sat through the sequel of munna bhai - it did not take great intelligence to understand that the inspiration for this movie was RDB. Like the first time the inspiration was worked upon very well and so one does not feel bad at all shelling out a fortune to sit through this simple yet touching movie, however it remains an inspired movie to say the least.(Spoilers ahead if you haven't watched the movie already).

Its a neat copy of an idea - simple too. What did RDB do? It took some heroes from our freedom movement and weaved an artful story of how their passion and depth of thought can influence our so called spoilt brats of generation-x. It was a successful idea and worth copying. So what do you do? You dig out another freedom fighter as your protagonist. Now when the original had already picked up the more aggressive heroes of the freedom movement - who should be your obvious next pick - who else but Gandhiji - the one and only who represents the other philosophy.

What else can make it unique? RDB was a serious movie - so you keep the brand Munna Bhai alive by weaving it with a funny (really) theme. You can ofcourse not make a comedy of Gandhiji in this country and so the movie is with a serious message - and I must say, the movie succeeds in sending that message bang into your head. The simpilicity with which it makes Honesty still the best policy - is touching, inspiring, commendable and what does one say....... eye opening.

Some of the sequences are just too good - one cannot but associate oneself with the characters quite closely. Some of my favourite - the one where Munna Bhai offers an apology to Circuit - excellent dialogues, super delivery. Another one when the Munna Bhai's crush invites him to deliver a lecture on Gandhiji at her old age home and Circuit tries to avoid it finally losing the battle - excellent sense of timing by Arshad. Then the impossible sequence when Munna Bhai directs a depressed young man to share truth with his father - through the medium of (yes believe it) radio (do you again remember RDB - see I told you so) - the sequence ended up becoming quite believable - thats a huge achievement. Even the sequence when Munna Bhai goes on a satyagrah was carried out well.

Of the cast - Sanjay Dutt is better than he was in the original Munna Bhai, Boman Irani makes his mark yet again - fluent, flawless and with ease he carries some of the toughest characters that bollywood has to churn out. He deserves another series of awards for this role. Vidya Balan is like a gust of fresh air - charming and very authentic in her role - also effortless, she is a good actress. However the best of the lot is - Arshad Varsi. An actor whom bollywood has not yet utilised. The character of Munna Bhai will be simply devoid of any attraction without this yet another spectacular performance by Arshad. He has that sense of timing and expression which makes him a natural at comedy.

The editing is great - you are rivetted to your seat from the word go. The pace is fast enough to gloss over some obvious loopholes and before I talk about them let me commend a very well written script which makes the this movie very very effective.

Talking of loopholes I was rather amused that, circuit who generally would find a great funny way of cheating his way out of any situation for Munna bhai, could not think of a creative solution to Munna Bhai's problem of delivering a lecture on Gandhiji at an old age home. Remember the way he helped Munna Bhai top the PMT exam, or the way he helped him get an exclusive "body" for his practicals at the medical college, or the way he helped generate immediate logistic support to the whims of Munna Bhai - in the first version. In this one what idea does he come up with - a Library carrying literature on Gandhiji - for Munna Bhai to read. Somehow it simply does not go with the theme or the overall plot. Also the sequence in which Munna shares the truth about himself with her love - the reaction and the instant breakup should have been developed a lot better. The music is better than the last time but not outstanding. However the picturisation of "Lage Raho ..." was marvellous.

All in all - very good value for money. A surprisingly good sequel. Go ahead and watch it.

PS. Photograph Courtesy http://www.apunkachoice.com

Musings from a Pilgrimage - II

This is a continuation of a post that I wrote several weeks back. Read the first part here for the context.

The yatra continues. First signs of tiredness visible and the prospects ahead look scary. An arduous return journey of 25+ km on foot of which we might have covered maybe 20% by now.

But then the hill is beautiful, view awesome and spirits high. We go on and so does my musings.




A crash course in effective selling
"Identify a need, have a prouct to satisfy the need and then sell patiently but persistently". Thats what we learnt at the B-School. You learn this free on a pilgrimage to "Shikharji" from the Doliwalas. When starting for the Yatra we had booked one "doli" (More about Dolis and Doliwalas in my earlier post) and one person to carry my kid. My parents had assured me that they would cover the entire distance on foot. They were angry when I booked another person for the kid as they thought the lone doliwala was to take care of the kid.

As we started with the yatra however, another couple of doliwals joined us on the journey - just like that. We tried to ignore them, my dad anticipating what they wanted, even warned them that they might not get anything from us. They agreed but continued to give company.

Every time mom and/or dad stopped for a breath and they will softly mutter "Baith Jaiye Saheb - Thoda Aaram Hoga" (Please sit in the Doli, you will feel better). Mom first brushes them aside bravely. But as the "Yatra" progresses and she develops signs of tiring - she becomes more patient of them - muttering "baba, agar jaroorat hogi to bata denge - magar hamare bharose mat raho."(we shall tell you if needed, but don't depend on us). The first signs of tiring shown about three kms from the start.

They go on - but look at the face of my dad now. With the strength of a man knocking at the retiring age and the courage of a man who never needed any such support in the past, coming to terms with the fact that he might have grown old after all. The same hills that he conquered easily 25 years ago when they were more daunting - looked close but out of reach. He goes on - none the less.

And then the last nail in the coffin, a particularly steep strectch which also brings some stairs to climb and around 9:00 am in the morning - sun glows with its glorious bright rays - the first time since we started. We would call the weather pleasent had we not been sweating already because of the walk and now the heat was both pulpable and sapping.

I, my wife and my sister ensure that one of us is always beside each of my parents. We start suggesting gently - a saviour - the doliwalas. They also smelled the business and more importantly their real customer. They must have realised that the people who sit in the 'doli' eventually are not the ones who make the purchase decision. (How many times in our case studies at the B-School would this fact face us - I am not sure all of us remember that). So, they now mutter under my breath - "Babuji thak gaye hai. Unhe baitha dijiye - aaram ho jayega" (Your father is tired. Ask him to sit in the doli - he will feel better). I am also more tolerant of them now - realising fully well that we might need them soon enough. In fact, I signaled to my wife and she immediately discussed the possible charges in case they are needed.

Everything is ready - they do not haggle much on the price - they easily accept my offer of Rs. 100 to carry my dad to the nearest peak. So finally after travelling close to 7 kms my parents give in and both sat on different dolis and my mom as if to share the guilt takes along her grandson in the doli.

They took us to the nearest peak where the first of the temples (they are called "toonk"). Thats half way through - approx. 8 kms from the starting point. Now to visit as many toonk as is possible we were supposed to walk another 7 odd kms in various directions and then finally the descent back which will complete the near 27 kms journey. The doliwalas has been excellent marketers and they have won their trophy. They are almost confident that we will book them for the rest of the journey as well and I am not in a position to bet my money to prove them wrong.

Sure enough after our immediate stop I talk to them about the rest of the jorney. Once again without much negotiations I offer a rational model - half the price of regular and they do not take any chances lest I change my mind. Its smooth - perfect selling, even if driven by compulsions of roji- roti (daily bread).

Well my musings are not over but I am taking too much time to put them up - so I will write them one at a time. Wait for the next in the series.

Ciao

Eject-ucation

A couple of highly respected professor in a reputed college of Ujjain are beaten and humiliated.
One dies of the shock
The other feels so humiliated that makes an abortive attempt to commit suicide and then gets a heart attack.
A retired principal of the college also gets a heart attack after watching this on his TV screen through the local channels.
Whats more all this happened in the presence of Police who according to the eye witnesses did not take timely action to stop the excesses.
Practically everybody in the staff present was weeping due to the insult heaped upon them by Student leaders and shocked by the untimely death of the professor.

What do you think was happening? - some riot because of a scam in the college. Nah..... These were scenes from the student body elections in a college of a relatively peaceful city of MP . The only crime of the professor's, in question, was that they were discussing whether to call off the election on the demand of ABVP functionaries and they took some time in deciding either ways. Things became worse because hearing of the incidence the functionaries of NSUI who were agitating closeby on a completely unrelated issue joind in to attract their pound of attention on the issue. Read more here and here

The politicisation of student union elections is nothing new however each year the new depths it manages to find is - now getting dangerous. The unions are a tool in the hands of major political parties and their big men in the cities. It is ridiculous to see old guns in local politics taking part in the on-campus electioneering - trying to influence the official machinary one way or the other. And this is not just happening in Ujjain.

What happened further is frustrating. Almost anybody who has any political ambitions in the city or state jumps up to provide a statement that will help them get some newsprint wasted on them.

Some people in the administration get suspended.
An obviously shocked city protests in the form one of the most complete "Bandhs" ever thankfully not being incited by politicians.

Now what....? All the hype hides the fact that cleverly the administration has hidden the news that they have not been able to pinpoint the person responsible for the death of the professor. (It was confirmed later that he died because of the impact of one of the punches he recieved). Which means no one might get punished for the incidence.

Further update - The state CID has been asked to investigate and submit a report. Two key functionaries of ABVP have been arrested. But..... where is the evidence. Will key people be punished. The college has been reopened four days afetr the incidence. The staff is tight lipped (read frightened). It seems the transitory nature of public memory might finally bury the matter or will it - a couple of them have come out in the media and said what was to be said.

My thought - with such incidences MP has taken an ugly turn into becoming another UP/Bihar. One expects the current CM to stand up to the challenge and ensure that the guily be punished. If the perpetrators of such brazen crime will remain protected our democracy will have taken a body blow.

I leave you with a sad heart and a suggestion from resident editor of Dainik Bhaskar "Write on the hands of the guilty - Maine Apne Professor ko mara hai (I have killed my professor)"

Picture curtsey www.naidunia.com

Bloggers blocked - a temporory solution

Hi ! If you are accessing the internet using one of the Indian ISPs, the chances are that you cannot see this and any other blog on the blogger.com

It seems that a selective ban on some blogs has enveloped the entire domain as the story here explains.

Till then you can use www.pkblogs.com to access any of the blogs (you will need to remember the name of the blog for that however).

For example to access this blog
1. just type in the browers addres field www.pkblogs.com/cool-discussions
{{I know it is foolish to publish a URL on a site which will need the same URL to acess but........ uhem ...... May be you are not in India and may be you will pass on the url to someone who wants to access it in India)}}
2. You can also subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box on the right column under the head subscribe t
3. You can also use www.bloglines.com to subscribe to any blog and keep track of new posts on the blog. If you find emails to your inbox intrusive this could be the solution.
4. As for my blog - you can also access its replica at wordpress the url is http://aks1208.wordpress.com/

One hopes that this horrible ban is removed soon enough - as of now it seems to be an error.

Happy Freedom of Expression to all fellow humans.

Bollywood in B-Schools

Bollywood has been an attraction to the young budding business managers at India's best B-Schools for years now. One fondly remembers a couple of special shows of Govinda flicks that the entire institute was treated to, as a part of fresher welcome ritual at the IIM Lucknow. The singing and dancing with Govinda in the Balcony of theatres was immensely charged and hugely funny.

However, oflate even the professor's at the IIMs seem to get inspirations from the movies. Prof. Prashant Salwan of IIM-Indore is writing a case study on krissh which he intends use in teaching International business and Marketing. Earlier the Amir Khan hit and oscar nominee from India Lagaan was used by Prof. Patnayak at IIM Indore as a case study.

While prof. patnayak used the content of the movie as a case to demonstrate leadership and team skills, Prof. Salwan seems to be more interested in the professional-commercials aspects of movies production, marketing and profitability.

Three things come to mind
1. The idea of using bollywood movies as case studies itself is a great marketing idea. Immediately media attention is available to such an unlikely marriage as entertainment and B-Schools. IIM-Indore has used the idea to get prominent and visible coverage in the media. This is positively a great brnading exercise for a budding IIM in its journey to become a matured and well entranched name in the minds of the target market.

2. I am not sure, but may be this idea could also find another utility - to get the B-School students interested in the class room discussions again. Increasingly I get a feeling talking to students on cmpus that they felt detached with the classrooms. Whats better then an idea that without doubt will appeal to students across the board.

3. Last these are sure signs of the Bollywood organising, operating and succeeding with a mindset of a professional industry. Beware Hollywood - here's your biggest challenge shaping itself up for the task.

Picture courtsey http://www.indiafm.com/news/2006/07/13/7436/

Why oh!! Why

Last night was a a very difficult one. Sitting in Indore, watching frame by frame coverage of the gory act of terror that unleashed in Mumbai and Srinagar was a traumatic and moving experience. Everyone was visibly shocked - benumbed. What could one say or react to when something so irrational happens.

Who is making a point and to whom by killing those who were killed last night??

If actually there is someone for whom this message was actually - Will it reach them??

What does India do? My angry suggestion - teach them a lesson. Its time we responded - may be in a George Bush - manner, wrong/irrational it may be but some action is needed that will deter the next generation of terrorists from attacking an Indian traget.

My suggestion seems to be something coming from the minds of the likes of Thackery, Togadia or Modi. But no, I am no fan of any of them. This is a cold blooded thought. We need to demonstrate that we will not be silent spectators to such dastardly crimes. If there is no action now - it can only encourage more such crimes and more importantly there remains a danger of Indians feeling. So prime minister (your home minister is not even someone who can respond to this) - don't sit back till the time you have hounded the brains behind this act. Identify them, chase them, book them, kill them if needed. Lead from he front - backdoor negotiations are all right - its time for some affirmative action.

Back into action

Well I was off again. This time to a vacation (yeah ! not to a pilgrimage in the name of a vacation). Come to think of it in an earlier post I said - "what the heck - lets go on a pilgrimage. As it is I need a long due and well earned vacation". Just the kind of thing my mom need to know I said.

Because had she known these lines of mine she would say - see your pilgrimage brought you the truly well deserved and long due vacation....

Well I was in Darjeeling for 10 heavenly days. Will put of a post soon. I still have to complete the second part of the "Tirth Yatra". So stay tuned.....

Rahul Mahajan - Trial by Media??

TOI edit on 6th june notes a fact in the ongoing case of Rahul Mahajan that instead of giving their story to the police the four young men involved in the case presented it to the media, first. The edit says

"While there is some justification for their act, it is a disturbing trend,
one that could lead to all kinds of distortions. Bypassing normal, well-laid-out
procedures cannot be encouraged."

Ha Ha..... a police that has lost all its credibility and hence trust of the country's people can only hide behind the fig leaf of well-laid-out procedures. No, I am not saying that their performace at cracking the cases is bad (that it is) but I am saying that their performace in conniving with the perpetrators of the crime is legendry. So what does the insecure do? They try and inform as many people as is possible. Thats the individual's best bet. And in the case in question the later developments proved them - ahem.... astute - if not right.

Do we think that Apollo hospitals did not try to help mahajan get out of this?
Do we think that police was trying hard when they did not arrest Rahul long after drugs were talked about?
Do we think police would do the same had I, a hardly popular and surely not political figure, been involved in the case?

Frankly - I might be wrong with those questions, but media is ensuring at least that police will have to follow due process.

TOI in the same edit says

It could also muddy the waters or prejudge the case. More importantly, it
has the potential of trial by media — a dangerous trend.

Yep.. possible and yes it is dangerous. But, lets take this risk. Let some high and mighty be victimised by the sheer incompetence and corrupt behaviours of our policing system. May be then that will improve the police forces.

TOI says further

Media must not give into sensationalism and not do anything that could help
the accused. They need to cooperate with the investigating agencies and
intervene only when absolutely necessary to help the cause of justice. This is a
test case. The media must live up to the role of watchdog if they are to
continue enjoying public credibility.

Noble words those - hey but the credibility or the balance comes from the fact that there is severe competition in the media and its cut throat - so one major error and TRPs could nosedive.

No, I am not worried that they will go over the top - they might be derailed, carried away some times, even get corrupted occassionaly but they will check themseleves just in time - if they have to survive.

Why, the TOI edit itself is an example - who is it cautioning - the media channels who are getting attaraction of people. So tomorrow if someone there actually slips the credibility test - another TOI edit will mention "See we told you". The powers that be in the channel will then act - a few heads may roll or a few at least get the rap. So the next story is done better.

Similarly let another high profile case come and the police will follow procedures better and Doctors would learn to stick to facts better rather than try to drop some distortions. Free markets at its best.......

PS. Lookout for the police and Doctors also learn fast.

Funny Fanna

"When celebrities speak they must take a prepared punchline from those whom they seek to represent" sounds ridiculous to you ?? me too. But thats exactly what one of our rather intellectually bent media persons would want us to believe.

I am refering to a talk show we the people telecaseted on NDTV on 4th June. Brakha dutt as always was good and could collect a variety of interesting and informed panelists on the discussions. The context was celebrities involvement in issues of public interest. Obviously it erupts out the reaction in Gujarat on Aamir's film Fanna. Thankfully she also kept the discussion on course by discussing neither the film "Fanna" nor the "Narmad Bachoo Andolan" and kept the discussion squarely on the issue of celebrity endorsing issues and implications thereof.

Apart from the usual points about the fact that in a democracy everyone has a right to say what he or she feels about, and that the reaction to aamir's statements in Gujarat are obviously wrong. Almost all in the group seemed to agree with that. However two voices had some interesting points to make. The two voices were none other than Tavleen singh and Nalini Singh.
Nalini made the point that - celebrities need to appreciate that they carry great influence over the public and so they should be cautious about what they say on issues on which they know little about. Not much to disagree here but then to my surprise she ended up suggesting this - "see when Amitabh and Sharukh were given the line - Do boond Jindagi Ke (Two drops of life) - it worked just great for the polio campaign. Thats because - they did not need to know much about polio virus or the disease. Someone worked for weeks - may be a month and came up with lines that they could communicate well to people. Thats an effective way to take a informed and right thing to people." The message - Don't just go out there and speak soemthing that can affect such a large number of people, just like that.

Thankfully someone in the audience was moved enough to ask her point blank - "Does Nalini mean that what celebrities should do is utter prepared lines but never say what they feel in their own words? I am really confused is this waht she means".

Nalini - a professional as she is, remained composed and yet fiddled with words suggesting that this is like distorting what she said and went on to unconvincingly explain that what she meant was that there are so many crores of people out there who might feel and get affected by what the celbrities say and what I am saying is...........blah!!

And then there was the inimitable tavleen singh, columnist - who points out that celebrities need to be responsible for their statements. Sure, not many would disagree with her on that but then what do you mean by responsibility? she says something to the effect - if you have stuck your neck out stick with it. Specifically, in the context of Fanna controvesy - she is unhappy that aamir and company visited for half a day and made those, now historical, statements. According to her celebrities should own it up for long and be consistent about it. She took example of Shabana accepting an award from the world Economic forum when she had already raised her voice against them in a different context.

Well - what does one say. A good TV anchor has to find conflicting voices to bring to her show a variety of opinions. And some in media carve their presence by ensuring that they write or say which is different if not exactly opposite to what media is printing reams on. Both Nalini and Tavleen belong to that brand, whom I admire because they do bring some genuine nuances of the issue. But frankly sometimes this effort stretches into either trivialities or sometimes simply nowhere. Tavleen's issue though right are at the wrong time and hence belong to the former category while nalini belongs to the latter. An entire hour of time wasted on explaining to those two the simple irrelevance of their ideas in the current context - is a huge waste.

Musings from a Pilgrimage - I

Sorry for this hiatus – was really occupied with personal, professional and the spiritual. Yes ! I was out for a week on a pilgrimage (tour)

“Pilgrimage – now that sounds boring. And since when did you start paying visits to the deities?” Comments that I received when I announced my trip.

OK !! I have never been over the top with religion or any thing that remotely smells of the meta physicals. But, what the heck - I am OK with the idea of faith. So when my parents issued an emotional appeal (Well fine!! emotional blackmail) – I just said yes. Here was a long sought vacation which I was unable to plan somehow. And – it turned out to be quite a bit more than a pilgrimage – so this post promises to be much more then just a travelogue.

I might have never mentioned that I belong to a jain family – it seems so trivial but one realizes that one’s religion is very much a part of one’s identity. A visit to shikharjee - the place in question – thus is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to wash off all the sins that we might have committed in our lifetime. (some made me believe that actually it also takes care of sins that you are going to commit in our future…… I told you it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity). Eevry one was convinced that my kid is really lucky to go on such a “yatra” at such a tender age (four years).

I did not realize that we were off to such an important “yatra” of my life until I occupied my birth in the train. We were dropped by my uncle and family – sheepishly they took out a couple of garlands (the typical yellow genda – variety which one sees hanging at all flower shops) and we (I, my wife and the kid) were felicitated complete with the red “tilak” on our forehead. I felt like the sacrificial lamb being readied for the final kill. I recalled Haj yatris on railway stations being similarly treated and the fun I had watching all the drama – but never did I imagine that I will become the reasons for amusement of fellow passengers – Oh! God was it embarrassing.

I : Civil Sense ??
Anyways we left for an almost 36 hour journey in a train which will travel through so many corners of MP, UP, Bihar and Jharkhand that I never knew existed. After a long time I was on a long journey by Indian railways and that too sleeper class. I grew increasingly conscious of the fact that in brightly “shining” India – lack of civil sense remains a burning problem – a train coach which starts spanking clean from the origin station (no pun intended) becomes a mess with spits, wrappers, peels, dust, newspapers, water spills from water bottles to wash basins to even toilets. By the time our journey ends we just want a clean wash and sound sleep for the next day.

Another 25 km of taxi ride took us to Madhuban – a small town at the foot of shikharjee hills was to be our abode for the next three days. I was immediately attracted to the green hills that we were to travel the next day.

“Yatra Begins”
Well the D-day started at 4:00 AM – and how? Of course with a wish for a successful yatra in front of a deity named Bhomyaji – considered the paheradar (Guard) at the doors of the shikharjee. It is amazing to note that almost every God worth his salt (or his temple) in India follows the business/corporate culture of establishing a trusted guard notionally outside his abode taking care of his boss’s business and like every other office reaching the boss passes through their tables necessarily (Remember Hanumanji for Ram Temples, or _________ for Lord Shiva etc.)

I was told this incredible news that we are supposed to walk approx. 27 km (yes twenty seven) by the evening. The only destination that we could see was a one white temple on top of one of the highest peaks and gosh!! It looked far and high. I was ready to bet my money that this 27 km bit was an exaggeration by some over zealous “bhakt” and we started on an unending serpentine concrete road approx. 6-feet wide on a hill covered with thick green forest seemingly leading us to – well nowhere. I must say I really enjoyed the first km. Through the lush green dense forest at around 4:30 hrs. Not just me, to our delight even our four year kid was so full of energy and enthusiasm that he traveled almost the first km on foot.

II : Children of my country
Early on in our “yatra” I noted these young girls in their early school going age carrying something in nylon sacks on their heads, on those steep concrete roads. While I clicked a few snaps I asked one of them as to what is it that they were carrying. She replied simply "Itta" (bricks). I was taken aback, as if hit by those bricks she was carrying, by the casual manner she answered it – a look at the bag would reveal that each bag must have contained 6 or 8 bricks. I could not think of carrying a travel bag for long with me and here is a small girl almost one-third my age carrying brickload on her head climbing this strenuous mountains.

I was aware that we would be traveling on concrete roads - which they said has made the yatra much easier. My parents who visited the place about 25years ago remembers that it was once just a "kaccha" path through the dense forest – where even the mighty sun would rarely reach them. I was suddenly conscious of the fact that this concrete road that we were walking on was laid down on a bed of bricks carried by these tender shoulders at an age when the Indian government promises them compulsory primary education. Thats India for all of us.

III : Fellow Human Beings
Did you notice those “dolis” moving along with us – a strong thick wooden beam carried on their shoulders by two men with a swing like arrangement for one person to sit while they are carried by these two people through their yatras.

This is the only help available to carry out your journey if you are unable to complete the fete on foot. There are hundreds of such doliwalas swarming the place. They obviously cater to the peak time demand when this small town is full of “yatris”. At this time you just look around for a “doliwala” and at least 10 will approach you. If you have the courage and will to negotiate they will agree to half the price that they are entitled to. You would easily realize the sheer manual effort that is required in carrying a human being (50-70 Kgs on average) on these steep hills for 20 plus kms. And then it would dawn upon you, how inhuman it would be to negotiate a better price for their manual labour.

I was once in Calcutta (in the days when this was the name of the city) and saw human beings carrying richer fellow human beings on a hand pulled trolly (like a horse cart with a human being in place of the horse). If you feel that’s awful – this one is worse. I have always wondered how would one feel sitting in one of those carts (or one of these dolis) with the other human beings carrying you. At least I could not make myself sit even to try out this feeling.

IV : Faith
Faith is an amazing thing. It can move mountains – or it can make you climb mountains – literally. Here is my mother – she suffers from chronic troubles with all joints in her body and she generally avoids walking for long because the pain becomes unbearable specially the outsized bones of her toes. Any number of doctors could not convince her to go for a regular morning walk which they claim will keep her joints more functional. And here was she all energized and determined to complete a 25plus km journey through steep mountains in a single day and by now she has traveled about 8 km. She keeps saying no to our suggestions, requests, emotional blackmails to sit on a doli. How else can one define this seemingly unexplainable contradiction.

Here is another picture of faith – look at the frail beauty of this old lady whom I don’t know. Its hot summer of may and she travels all the way up here with her family (may be with the help of doliwalas) looking for what – God, Peace, Sense of conquer or just a need to tell herself that I am up and kicking.

The “yatra” continues and so does my musings. The post is turning out to be bulkier then I thought when I started. So More to come – wait for the next post – stay tuned.