Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Cinematic Brilliance or Failure ?
It is not everyday that a boy meets a girl at a deserted small railway station in the hills. It is not everyday that the boy musters enough courage to talk to the girl in their first ever meeting, and also bring a smile to her face. It is not everyday that the a girl requests a stranger ; who has offered to bring stars, moon, etc and win forts in her honour ; to bring a cup of tea for her. It is not everyday that a love story ends with this, and a remarkable cinema begins.
Mani Ratnam's bollywood disaster was the first Indian movie to burn the British box office charts. It is often that a commercial disaster goes on to earn a lot of critical acclaim (Jaane Bhi Do yaaron is one of the best examples to the rule) and Dil Se met with the same fate. It's stupendous cinematography, strong performances, titillating music and Chhaiyyan Chhaiyyan was the talk of the country, but not enough to bring the masses to the cinema.
Masses or no masses, I loved the movie so much that i have so far watched it more than a couple of dozen times, sometimes barely able to open my eyes from the early morning laziness or the latenight sleep. It has always energised me, inspired me to strive for excellence in my work.
I would like to mention a few arguments as to why the movie did not appeal to the majority of the Indians. First, it was not a movie with happy ending, that of course may not be a valid reason, as there have been a plenty of sad movies that went on to become popular with the audience. Second reason could be geographical and regional dis/non/un-placement of characters, meaning audience were not able to place the story in the correct city. The audience seem to have been unsure if the story is about Nepal, Assam, Leh-Ladhak or Delhi. The editing of the movie has been blamed by some of the popular critics, though i beg to differ and like to think that it was superbly edited.
The reason that i can think of is that, the movie neither had moments where the audience could stand on their feet and clap, nor were there any moments where one needed a hankerchief to wipe ones tears. It was a subtle movie, i guess in 1998 it was about time we watched one.
It had lots of subtle moments like when Amar and Meghna talk about the three things they like and three they dislike, under the moonlit-cold night. And the disappearance of Meghna the next morning with some words dropped on the sand, "Kuchh Log, ret pe likhe naamon ki tarahan hote hain, Hawah ka jhonka Jinhe Urwa deta hai". (Not the) Best possible translation, " Some people are like names written in the sand, who are blown away by the wind".
These are aesthetically appealing shots, that need some amount of patience and a taste for slow cinema, to appreciated. Imagine an on-your-feet-applauding-cheering audience watching Orson Welles' "The Trial", I bet they would be disappointed by the entire twists and turns, and the arguments.
Mani Ratnam's bollywood disaster was the first Indian movie to burn the British box office charts. It is often that a commercial disaster goes on to earn a lot of critical acclaim (Jaane Bhi Do yaaron is one of the best examples to the rule) and Dil Se met with the same fate. It's stupendous cinematography, strong performances, titillating music and Chhaiyyan Chhaiyyan was the talk of the country, but not enough to bring the masses to the cinema.
Masses or no masses, I loved the movie so much that i have so far watched it more than a couple of dozen times, sometimes barely able to open my eyes from the early morning laziness or the latenight sleep. It has always energised me, inspired me to strive for excellence in my work.
I would like to mention a few arguments as to why the movie did not appeal to the majority of the Indians. First, it was not a movie with happy ending, that of course may not be a valid reason, as there have been a plenty of sad movies that went on to become popular with the audience. Second reason could be geographical and regional dis/non/un-placement of characters, meaning audience were not able to place the story in the correct city. The audience seem to have been unsure if the story is about Nepal, Assam, Leh-Ladhak or Delhi. The editing of the movie has been blamed by some of the popular critics, though i beg to differ and like to think that it was superbly edited.
The reason that i can think of is that, the movie neither had moments where the audience could stand on their feet and clap, nor were there any moments where one needed a hankerchief to wipe ones tears. It was a subtle movie, i guess in 1998 it was about time we watched one.
It had lots of subtle moments like when Amar and Meghna talk about the three things they like and three they dislike, under the moonlit-cold night. And the disappearance of Meghna the next morning with some words dropped on the sand, "Kuchh Log, ret pe likhe naamon ki tarahan hote hain, Hawah ka jhonka Jinhe Urwa deta hai". (Not the) Best possible translation, " Some people are like names written in the sand, who are blown away by the wind".
These are aesthetically appealing shots, that need some amount of patience and a taste for slow cinema, to appreciated. Imagine an on-your-feet-applauding-cheering audience watching Orson Welles' "The Trial", I bet they would be disappointed by the entire twists and turns, and the arguments.
Anyways, the question i began with remains unanswered, in the interest of (my) time i will end it by saying that, The Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Watch it, if you can !!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
What now ?
This is a question that I have been asked so many times that if i start counting, i would spend as many days as there are in a week (that's still a lot). The first time i asked this question to myself was, when i had beaten the record of the top guy of my batch in primary school in all subjects. The answer i gave to myself was "Keep Going".
I kept up with my own stupid idea and "kept going", until others started asking me, "My boy! What now ?". I said, "Medicine", I wanted to keep up the family tradition of hydrogen peroxide, antibiotics, cough syrups, hot water fermentation, fight against homeopathy and raising the allopathy flag. By 1990's somehow i developed an antipathy towards medicine, the number of years in study, and the mindless rote method of studying and delivering the knowledge fueled my (insensible) antipathy.
At the next given opportunity i said, "IAS." These are the three letters far superior than 'ILU' in the large expanse of our country. If God ever takes the form of human, he would be a civil servant (paradoxical !). Their power is unmatched, their stature is unparalleled and their general knowledge is sweared by. One could probably collect a handful of civil servants and run them in a GK race, this might generate a lot of money. But then regretfully dawned the era of political subordination of the civil servants and it seems what remained of them was just the latter word.
By now i was at a stage where the seriousness of "What now ?" increased hundred-fold and my seriousness had taken a flight of its own. With the world domination by Walmart and Pepsi and other multi multinationals, I had decided to join the bandwagon and ride the wave. It was "MBA", "IIT" and consequences. Two years of toil and sweat, going through the books because they were being published. But of course my seriousness and ambition had just begun its flight and so i managed to chip in a lot of fun and weekends off during the two years, with life saving results.
"What now ?" St. Stephen's came to my rescue and said to me, " Son, no need to rush through anything, just take it easy and take your time to decide what now. " So i went on with a whole list of "What nows ?", "Film Making", "Writing", "Journalism", "Advertising" and other trivialities.
And so I took my time and his time, and here I am in my last year of PhD. The only thing that kept me going through these years was Mathematics. This was one true friend i had and the only reason i could keep up with "What nows ?".
"Anyways, seriously arjun, What now ?!! "
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Run Arjun Run !!
Long car rides on a bright sunny day through the numerous villages and open fields scattered on the banks of national highway 24 seem to ever-fascinate me. On more than one occasion have I dreamily entertained the thought of just getting out of the car and run through the fields for no simple rhyme or reason.
I can always make up a reason for this thought, say to touch the horizon, but giving such a reason is worse than revealing none. The spirit of free man in me always takes over my dreams (or day dreams) and pushes me to think and act as if the world has no limitations.
Now of course running through the open fields without any reason, do not indicate crossing any trifling limitation.
In symbol, the above paragraph indicates all the wishes i have, all my likes and dislikes that i want to pursue, which so far have been neglected. I spend everyday contemplating their[my imminent wishes] necessity, my laziness and my incompetence. Is it possible for me to just run to them ? I wish.
Not very insightful ? Well who said it would be.
I can always make up a reason for this thought, say to touch the horizon, but giving such a reason is worse than revealing none. The spirit of free man in me always takes over my dreams (or day dreams) and pushes me to think and act as if the world has no limitations.
Now of course running through the open fields without any reason, do not indicate crossing any trifling limitation.
In symbol, the above paragraph indicates all the wishes i have, all my likes and dislikes that i want to pursue, which so far have been neglected. I spend everyday contemplating their[my imminent wishes] necessity, my laziness and my incompetence. Is it possible for me to just run to them ? I wish.
Not very insightful ? Well who said it would be.
Eat like a Mathematician
Lately i have been eating like a student of a business school. They admire the fastness of the fast food, the economies of scale and the consequential affordability. They eat keeping their retirement plan in mind and healthily-ever-after-attitude. Whatever be the goal, healthy eating is the way to success of mind, body and soul.
Mathemaiticians, whenever they eat, eat the best. Their diet, naturally, comprises of fresh fruits (especially apples), juices, salads, cold sandwiches, white meat and loads of coffee (ouch!). It is just not the menu but also the time of their meals which leads to their sharp minds.
Juicy hamburgers (fozen stuff always leaves some water), grilled chicken and french fries is the worst invention (or discovery) of mankind. And i have rediscovered it so many times myself, without learning an important lesson. That i, as a Mathematician have no retirement plan, and so i should train my body for the long journey and not look for the short term gains. Anyways the fried stuff is disturbing my study habits, sleeping schedule and giving me a paunch. So i can bypass the philosophy and cut the crap from my diet.
The above paragraph is not copyrighted, so please feel free to share the above view with friends and family and encourage them to eat healthy. And my business school friends: Eat busy.
Mathemaiticians, whenever they eat, eat the best. Their diet, naturally, comprises of fresh fruits (especially apples), juices, salads, cold sandwiches, white meat and loads of coffee (ouch!). It is just not the menu but also the time of their meals which leads to their sharp minds.
Juicy hamburgers (fozen stuff always leaves some water), grilled chicken and french fries is the worst invention (or discovery) of mankind. And i have rediscovered it so many times myself, without learning an important lesson. That i, as a Mathematician have no retirement plan, and so i should train my body for the long journey and not look for the short term gains. Anyways the fried stuff is disturbing my study habits, sleeping schedule and giving me a paunch. So i can bypass the philosophy and cut the crap from my diet.
The above paragraph is not copyrighted, so please feel free to share the above view with friends and family and encourage them to eat healthy. And my business school friends: Eat busy.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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