Pleasing everyone, is a task that cannot be done...

I know and live this statement so very well indeed. When you try pleasing everybody, you usually end up pleasing nobody at all including yourself. Oh well, everything in good time.
What I feel like and what I would actually do is two totally different things. It just isn't in me to run. Part of my problem I guess, I have to face it full head-on.

A serious problem with trying to please everyone is that you might be forced to abandon you ideals. Stooping down, as it were, from the bar you’ve raised for yourself just to make someone else happy will only makes you unhappy. In other words, there will always be a price to pay when trying to please everyone.

I just wish I could somehow solve all the problems and conflicts that I am encountering. Furthermore, solve all these with the least amount of trouble and pain and hurt if preferable. Many at times I feel like running away, but that isn't even an option anymore. It never was I guess.

I realised that if my best isn’t good enough for some people, bluntly speaking: that’s their problem. I can’t punish myself for that. I have decided not to waste more time and energy (because I have none to spare) in feeling bad because I can’t make everyone happy. Coming to terms, accepting things as they really are, actually helps. I just had to let go of the wishful thinking.

I’ll be happy with this truth:
Although I can’t please everyone, I can always please SOMEONE.

Is it the beginning to complete bifurcation of the country???

It is a sad time for India, going down a very bad path. As we keep dividing the country along state lines, I remember only one lesson from Indian history: be wary of "divide & conquer". Either its riots, divisions of states, complications like agitations against non-“Marathi Manoos” in Maharashtra or political controversies; India seems to be creating hurdles for its own development and progress.

And now, the oversimplification of the Telangana issue is ridiculous. It is wrong to divide the country on the basis of language, religion, or dominance of some caste. Division should have been purely on the administrative grounds.

Granting of Telangana is no solution, whereas it will be the root cause for developing fissiparous tendencies all over the country by interested political groups. If political parties do have political will, they must discuss this issue threadbare to assess the pros and cons dispassionately and then only move forward. And when there is a clear divide between the various political parties over the issue, such a big decision cannot be taken stand alone. The only persons to benefit from division are those who will become, ministers, chief minister DG police, & Chief Secretary & head of other departments. Rest everybody will be loser.

One must agree that the deprivation of opportunity and development cause separatism than any other reasons. If a geography is constantly ignored for whatever reason, then a revolt is bound to happen. But dividing into separate state is not the solution for underdevelopment. The whole world is worried about economy, climate, jobs, infrastructure, technology and future prospects; and look at us we are worried about forming a separate state. Instead, let’s try to fight the underdevelopment, get rid of the naxalites and create a healthy environment.

Some argue that what are the grounds on which we created Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh, that Telangana doesn’t satisfy. But if we go by the same logic, after creation of Telangana, what are the grounds that we can deny separate states for Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand or Coorg to be created? Their protests and agitations have also become.

And suppose, we still succumb to this demand and Hyderabad will go to Telangana. The question remains that why all the development in Andhra Pradesh should be taken straight away by the new state? What would be left in the remaining AP? Everyone has been immersed in developing Hyderabad, that most other cities seriously lack the resources.

Though the Constitution created the federal-like set up with three layer governments, in reality, the bottom layer - so called "Panchayat Raj" - has already vanished purely because of corrupt political atmosphere in the country. It means people lost voices in their own administration, despite India technically called a democratic nation! But is fasting, protesting and demonstrations a way to get things done in a democracy? The sovereignty and unity of the nation is at stake.

Thinking about it, my family and relatives agree that my house should be a separate state and I don't understand why the Govt. of India should object to this genuine demand. In fact, our neighbour works hard and earns more, which is something we cannot bear. I want my house to be made a separate state and the government should send me funds for development directly; if not, I will retaliate.

All I can say is that any decision taken in a hurry in such a scenario, by accepting the demand for a separate state, will give rise to a sever crisis and confrontation against the Law and Order of the country. It will set a bad example for the youth, to take the reins of violent protest to get the demands met.

Is the breakdown of our national unity nearing?

An end to the bad-luck with movies..2012 and Paa...

Finally, my uneventful binge watching boring movies ended with ‘2012’ and ‘Paa’.

2012 is a big, splashy and loud movie, more exhilarating that anything I had experience before. The movie portrays the year 2012 as the end of the world. For some, the story would be an example of idiocy, but it can be seen as a possible future outcome of happenings like solar storms, global warming, etc.

The problem with the movie is that it straight away jumps into the core issue without a build-up. It uses an ancient Mayan prophecy to establish the doomsday scenario. With some complains that it is a preposterous film, there's enough cheese here to satisfy the wildest of action movie buffs. Massive explosions, colossal waves, flipping cars, tumbling trains, cracking and drowning cities improbable escapes, mammoth sized arcs, it’s all there. It’s irresistibly entertaining.

But Paa, for me, is the star of the year. Yet another blockbuster from the Big B, it is a simple film told in the most simplistic manner.

Auro is a 13-year old progeria patient, a disease which causes accelerated ageing. Defying his looks of a 65-year-old, Auro is the same naughty 12-year old boy, who runs around, asks for piggybacks and plays in puddle. Auro has completely percolated down into Amitabh; it is only the vulnerability of the character that touches you, not the trademark baritone voice of Amitabh. It is indeed a casting masterstroke. Vidya Balan plays single-mum Vidya, who raises Auro with some help from her mother, after dumping her selfish boyfriend in college, when he suggests an abortion. Amol (Abhishek Bachchan) is not ready for marriage; he is keen to follow his father into politics. Years later, Amol, who is now a Member of Parliament, accidentally meets Auro at a school event, both oblivious to the fact that they are father and son.

Contrary to what the film’s marketing conveys, Paa is actually a mother-son story. The first half of Paa unfolds breezily, with witty dialogue and clever scenes. Even in delicate scenes, the obvious pitfalls have been avoided, that come with stories about characters suffering from grim conditions.

The only problem in the movie is an embarrassingly scripted tiff between the politician Amol and the media. Other than this, the excellent prosthetic make-up, dazzling cinematography and shooting score make Paa and easy, enjoyable watch. The movie clearly establishes how Indian film industry is trying to push the boundaries to a different level. Amitabh surely is going to bag awards for his brilliance in ‘Paa’.

Theatre vs Cinema..Brief Candle...

There has been a great change in people’s way of entertainment. To my mind, today most people prefer going to cinema or clubbing than spending a weekend watching a theatre. I can’t say that I am a theatre goer, but I am very much fascinated by the live performances and appreciate their talent a lot. I believe, the only thing that can popularize dramatic art is our passion for acting alive, our passion for pondering over our feelings and life problems, which theatre actors can make us do playing this or that character just before your eyes. It's a great experience to feel vividness and energy of actors who act for a limited audience. Theatre will be inferior to movies (in terms of its popularity) as long as we are not accustomed to experience the greatest feeling of being involved into the storm of emotions shared by the public in the auditorium.

Nevertheless after a long wait, I watched a play in Prithvi Theatre Mumbai. The last time I went there, I failed to get a ticket. But this time I reached well in time.

I witnessed the ‘Brief Candle’, a play directed by Lillete Dubey, starring well-known artists like Suchitra Pillai, Joy Sengupta, Amar Talwar, Zafar Karachiwala, Satchit Puranik and Manasi Parekh. The story goes like...

Avedna is a hospital and hospice for cancer and the terminally ill. The founders have requested for a cultural event on founder's day. Dr. Dave, Shanti and some of the terminally ill patients feel that a play written by an inmate who died of Aids related cancer will be an ideal choice. The play is a farce with some extremely funny situations revolving around a hotel room near the airport. As they rehearse the play, the actors discover similarities between themselves and the characters they are playing. It is clear that the dead playwright is speaking to them. The metaphor of arrivals and departures for life and death leaves them with a reflection of their own struggles and needs.

It is a poignant, tale that is also humorous and moving.

Awful Movie Spree continues..Tum Mile and Kurbaan...

After watching three bad movies on my last stay here in Mumbai, spanning Acid Factory, Surrogates and Blue, my awful movie spree continued with Tum Mile and Kurbaan. Tum Mile was absolutely pathetic, while Kurbaan at least gave me some return for my money.

Trapped in the deluge of 26 July, 2005, carefully navigating around half-submerged vehicles and dodging death on the flooded streets of Mumbai, Tum Mile is intended as an emotional drama about how a life-changing event makes Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan realise that they've always loved each other.

The problem is there's not enough drama in the screenplay to begin with. The first half of Tum Mile is spent setting up the relationship between Emraan and Soha, who play Akshay and Sanjana, a struggling artist and a successful journalist in Cape Town. Over the course of an hour we watch as they meet, fall in love, squabble, and ultimately part ways. Post-intermission, the action shifts to Mumbai where the couple is reunited years after calling off their relationship. With a convoluted story, poor photography and special effects, and uninspired leads, Tum Mile put a hummable show.

The other flick ‘Kurbaan’, noticeably, is set on the same plot of ‘NewYork’. However, it has been a more compelling and convincing version. With a credible performances from its leads and a comprehensive screenplay, the plot holes in the film are overlooked.

Avantika (Kareena Kapoor) teaches at the university and falls in love with colleague Ehsaan Khan (Saif Ali Khan). The duo marries and shifts to New York City. There Avantika becomes witness to some terrorist operations in her neighbourhood headed by a Muslim fundamentalist (Om Puri). Soon she realizes that she is a pawn to a huge conspiracy. She secretly seeks help from a television reporter Riyaaz (Vivek Oberoi) who attempts to infiltrate the terrorist outfit to foil their big plan.

The flaw with Kurbaan, however, is that it can't decide if it wants to be a serious film addressing a burning issue, or a commercial potboiler set against the backdrop of terrorism. Kurbaan starts as a love story, swiftly changes identity to a social film and keeps the viewer engaged throughout with its thriller treatment. Sensibly the romance is kept short and succinct without losing out on the chemistry of the characters. Once the terrorist activity comes to forefront, the love story is given a backseat as the story intends to highlight and discuss serious issues related to global terrorism.

Amidst all this, Kurbaan is a one-time watch, which you can’t remember later, but can’t regret either.

Truth or Happiness?

There is so much truth to the statement that truth or happiness, but not both. Since we encounter occasions where mostly truth and happiness do not go together, should one seek truth or happiness, is a question hard to answer. It requires a cognisant decision to be made as to which direction does one consider important – truth or happiness.

There is a quote that “The Truth shall set you free”. However in no shape or form does it say that happiness comes along in that freedom. And a learned person said that Wisdom is a burden if it does not make you free. This statement actually brings out the ultimate fact of life that we seem to overlook today. It essentially implies that wisdom is of no use if it is directed towards just imposing what is right or just finding what is right and not applied towards finding happiness for self and others.

This is completely true, I believe. I have been on the wrong path many times. My intention often turns out to be "find what is right", instead "let’s be happy". My experiences in life now say that – happiness is the better path, looking from the holistic point of view.

For example, I had already mentioned numerous times that a substantive answer to address most of the problems is having “No Expectations”. Now I want to also take another example, "Judgement". These days I have gotten stronger opinions about morals and right doing, as I now look at behaviour from a very keenly observant point of view, and find many "wrong" intentions in daily normal behaviour. For me, "ego" also falls in the wrong category, and this is one of important reasons why I find all behaviour "bad" these days. However, I do find the right ones, don’t worry. In fact I find more right ones than bad ones than many other people do, and hence I consider myself close to many people.

But I recently found that it was not helping me. Judging everybody was taking me nowhere. I needed to like the people as they are. Even though they are bad, they always have a good side, if not apparent, sometimes we need to dig it out from them. And most people need love and love can be the means of relationships. (These days, when it is becoming easy to live, people are more tending to not needing love with other people, but I am sure, if they have the proper experience, they will ultimate realize it regardless of how individualistic they are).

And then, when I found somebody who was really not understanding how things work and his/her lack of empathy was causing trouble for everybody, instead of finding solutions to the problem that lead to peace and happiness for all, my ego and anger started rising and I started finding ways which gave support to them (ego and anger) instead, causing bad consequences. However, hopefully I have realized soon, and I can swerve the future.

Finding truth in world, and living with is almost next to godliness now. Sometimes, living in a myth or amidst a false belief is essential. What I consider important is that we don’t lie to ourselves. And then everything is on track.

Let us all be successful in finding joy for everyone. Let was walk vehemently on that path, with determination to never fail.