The seven 'sur's left out again!

I was quite excited yesterday prior to a press conference which was to launch the remake of the legendary DD song Mile Sur Mera Tumhara Sur. This one is called Phir Mile Sur. And what is recommendable is that a private channel decided to make this rather any efforts from DD. But then all expectations turned waste as I along with some other fellow media personnel were made to witness the song for the first time, outside people who were associated with the making. This one turned out to be nothing more than a grand PR campaign for that channel and the telecom company involved in the name of showcasing national spirit.

I am so mighty disappointed that I don’t even want to give them a little credit publicity in my blog. And trust me I have every reason to be upset. In my humble opinion, this song not only brings shame to the old one but also makes a fun of national integration. It ends up being nothing but a celebration of film stardom. As a friend remarked, “The video did to the song what al the DJ dolls do to our golden oldies!”

And being from the North East of India I have more reasons to complain. I fail to accept that some 15-minute long song about the Indian spirit failed to give more than a few seconds to the seven states of the North East. A couple of fleeting visual of Mary Kom and one line from a terrible shot Bhupen Hazarika is certainly not the best way to show this important part of India. I consider it nothing less than an insult. I would have never found it as appalling if I didn’t see most other states given such prominence.

What’s worse is this song is aired proudly on some channels on a day we call our Republic Day – the 60^th anniversary of the day when we turned republic, with a complete constitution. A day we are supposed to remember our nation’s achievements and stand in unity. Wonder why then, do I feel still left out of what we call the mainland India. Are you really considered Indians as yet? Many of my friends say North East is very much a part of India as much as any other state. But I still wonder if this is just them or do every one else think the same way. I hope they do… because we celebrate every spirit of India – be it cricket, Bollywood or the national holidays.

Another friend tries to correct me. “It’s not jus the North East. It has very little to with the Indianness at all... The video has 90% only of Indian actors... It’s sad to know that only the cinema industry represent us (INDIANS)... There was so much expectation I had from the video but was let down with most of it... I felt there was nothing in the video which showcased the entire INDIA, which also includes REGIONAL,” says this guy from Tami Nadu. Well my dear friend, without meaning any disrespect, at least you had each state represented from down south!

Somehow this reminds me of an incident that happened to a friend of mine while we were studying in Bangalore. A traffic police stopped his bike and asked for his license. When he was shown the license the officer asked back “This is Assam license. Show me Indian license”.

There is a definite anger. A frustration!

Interestingly today being January 26, there are all these films, with some patriotic bent, being played on TV. Bose the Forgotten Hero, Gandhi, Mountbatten the last Viceroy of India, Lage Raho Munnabhai… Strangely this also makes me wonder why has never been a film made on any heroes from the NE. Worse, while we study about everything for Chalukyas to Vijayanagar to Mughals to Pritviraj Chauhan to Shivaji, none outside has ever read a chapter on Lachit Borphukan or Ahoms or other kingdoms from the NE.

As I watch Gandhi… I feel an urge… an urge to create tell people that we exist. I was never a great fan of Gandhi let me tell you. He gave to Indians the idea of ‘bandhs’ as a form of protest after all. But there were certain things that are inspirational about him, even on this date.

Gandhi said – “treat us equal”.  I ask for the same! And I call my friends to tell everyone they know the same. Let’s turn some heads. And next time attempts like Phir Mile Sur are made they don’t miss out on these seven states – what’s good a rainbow with the seven colours?

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New and old

The room was almost empty. Apart from those papers that have been such a part of Bhaskar’s lives… they were still lying around as usual. Some in folds some just sheets… some written some not. And they moved along freely as the fan whirled on at top speed. He had been nearly a vagabond to the world for the last eight years. But deep within he knew how much he hated shifting.

Bhaskar has always like customizing things wherever he stars for an extended duration. Though his room would appear a mess to an outside for him it was in perfect form. He knew exactly what made him feel like home in that chaos. So leaving such a customized establishment for something new was never too easy. Without a doubt on this he was feeling as miserable as the kid who is taken away from him home for the first time. 

Looking around his room he recollected all the moments he had spent in the room. Well… some of them actually considering he was never known for a great memory. Some good, some very bad! Memories of chilling with friends, memories of being soaked in water as the bathroom pipe leaked… memories! The bags were packed and yet there was something that he knew he was missing.

Bhaskar went up to window, looked out and found out just what he was looking for. It was there lying on just out side the window. His cycle pump! A smile found its way out even the depressed soul that he looked. He definitely could not leave that behind. Not when he had packed stupid things open coffee packs! This pump was important. Heck with the fact that he didn’t have the cycle anymore… but he still needed the cycle pump. He would want it at his new place too… just for the sake of keeping it… for the sake of memories. It was from her after all. It was a gift back when Bhaskar still found time and spirit to ride his cycle. Cycle may have gone but pump served as a recycle… blowing some fresh air into depraved brain. He picked up went down and put it in the waiting taxi.

There was a smile. He knew the new place would not be as new after all. He would have company from his older surroundings. 

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What Rajnikanth can do...

Something I got in mail. Thought it could make you smile :)

Please be very attentive, else Rajnikath will never forget or forgive you...           

1. When Rajnikanth enters a room, he doesn't turn the lights on, he turns the dark off.
2. When Rajnikanth looks in a mirror the mirror shatters, because not even glass is stupid enough to get in between Rajnikanth and Rajnikanth.
3. Brett Favre can throw a football over 50 yards. Rajnikanth can throw Brett Favre even further.
4. The last digit of pi is Rajnikanth. He is the end of all things.
5. Rajnikanth does not know where you live, but he knows where you will die.
6. Bullets dodge Rajnikanth.
7. A Handicap parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Rajnikanth and that you will be handicapped if you park there.
8. Rajnikanth' calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd, no one fools Rajnikanth.
9. If you spell Rajnikanth wrong on Google it doesn't say, "Did you mean Rajnikanth?" It simply replies, "Run while you still have the chance."
10. Rajnikanth can do a wheelie on a unicycle. 
11. Once a cobra bit Rajnikanth' leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.
12. When Rajnikanth gives you the finger, he's telling you how many seconds you have left to live.
13. Rajnikanth can kill two stones with one bird.
14. Rajnikanth was once on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and was the first to spin. The next 29 minutes of the show consisted of everyone standing around awkwardly, waiting for the wheel to stop.
15. Leading hand sanitizers claim they can kill 99.9 percent of germs. Rajnikanth can kill 100 percent of whatever he wants.
16. There is no such thing as global warming. Rajnikanth was cold, so he turned the sun up.
17. Rajnikanth can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
18. Rajnikanth has a deep and abiding respect for human life… unless it gets in his way.
19. It takes Rajnikanth 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.
20. Rajnikanth once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"
21. In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Rajnikanth could use to kill you, including the room itself.
22. Behind every successful man, there is a woman. Behind every dead man, there is Rajnikanth.
23. Rajnikanth destroyed the periodic table, because Rajnikanth only recognizes the element of surprise.
24. Rajnikanth got his drivers license at the age of 16 Seconds.
25. With the rising cost of gasoline, Rajnikanth is beginning to worry about his drinking habit.
26. The square root of Rajnikanth is pain. Do not try to square Rajnikanth, the result is death.
27. When you say "no one's perfect", Rajnikanth takes this as a personal insult.
28. Rajnikanth makes onions cry
29. Rajnikanth can delete the Recycle Bin.
30. Ghosts are actually caused by Rajnikanth killing people faster than Death can process them.
31. Rajnikanth can build a snowman out of rain.
32. Rajnikanth can strangle you with a cordless phone.
33. Rajnikanth can drown a fish.

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Review: Accident on Hill Road

(Using this on my blog as it was not published on AOL since they were all on New Year leave. Never like things going waste)

Cast: Celina Jaitley, Abhimanyu Singh, Farooque Shaikh

Director: Mahesh Nair

Producer: Nari Hira

Rating: *1/2

If you thought Manoj Bajpayee's character was the strongest man ever in Bollywood film history when he was shot some 30 bullets in LOC and yet managed to kill all the enemy soldiers in front of him, think again! Or let's say watch Accident On Hill Road. You will realize Farooque Shaikh is 'the man'! The veteran actor plays a man who just refuses to die despite being run over by a car and then staying stuck on the wind shield of the car for almost a day with glass pieces piercing his tummy and draining him out of blood. For any thing else, please don't watch this piece of cinema!

Accident on Hill Road is a movie that could leave you crippled with the trauma it can give you. The film, remake of an independent film from US called Stuck and also based on a true accident that took place in the States some years back. However what the writer forgets is that remakes don't necessarily need to be a duplicate of the original. The characters need to be adhering to geographic specifications. Since when did a nursing assistant afford a mid-segment car plus accommodation in a cool place? And then this nurse goes out getting drugs for her drug dealer boyfriend! Funnier – where did they get lonely roads in the concrete jungle of mid-Mumbai Hill Road?

Accident on Hill Road fails on most counts of filmmaking. It is a bad example of screenplay, characterization and casting. It is almost irritating at times to see the way the characters behave – the desperation not coming across for once. The background music does not help and neither does the songs.

And with such huge issues, even the most sincere efforts of actors go waste. And they end up looking complete off track. Lack on effort is seen on part of the director. The careful director will at least take care of spellings on hospital boards. One of the signboards mentions a doctor as 'gastro entrolost' – whatever that means. There are enough such examples of lack of detailing shown across the film.

To be fair the thrill does grip you a few times but that's only momentary and the director wastes no time is disappointing us.

Overall the only person who probably benefited from this film is Abhimanyu Singh as he gets to romance a stunningly hot Celina Jaitley. Farooque Shaikh only stands to loose on the respect and name he has earned for himself over the years. Do yourself a favour – have a happy New Year without headaches!

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Time and again!

Another year! Time flies by really fast. Wonder why people are stuck to supersonic and hypersonic. I am sure the real challenge lies in making something that could take us across time.


That would be a tricky concept though. I don’t know if I would like to go the future. It’s anyway beaming right into us all the time. So much that it brings alive in us the escapist! I am not an exception as well. But yes, a time machine to go the past would be amazing. That would be nice to go back to the times I did my mistakes, not necessarily to correct them. But maybe laugh at them because I am sure I would have been no less than a clown in those moments. I am no better anyways. For some reasons though I have liked being a clown… call it side effects of taking the Raj Kumar song ‘Kehta hai joker saara zamaana’ too seriously. But yes ‘adha haqueekat adha fasanaa’!

Getting back the time circle, time traveling does fascinate me by unknown margins. Ever seen the American TV series Heroes? Oh boy that’s my favorite. I particularly like a character called Hiro Nakamura played by Masi Oka. Very interesting combination. Masi Oka, probably is till date, the youngest face to feature of the cover of Time magazine. He did it the age of 12. You can find more about it on Wiki. Why I said interesting is because when he grew up to be a part of the show, he was selected to play a character of a time traveler. Now you know why I like the character. He is kind of cool. Pity he is just a fiction. Pity he is not real. And pity how we still believe in superheroes.

The point remains. I still would like to be a time traveler. Maybe I could waste more of my time... have more fun. And yet go back and rectify things. Err… did this amount to another form escapism. Things don’t change do they? That’s the way things are and that’s the way you got to be happy. Accept it… mistakes happen. And we don’t get a chance to go back and rectify them. Rather enjoy what comes to us – be it another mistake or a heroic moment [non existent or rare ones]! But then… someone once said that I have an acceptance problem. I accept it!

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