A movie review

Saguni. With a captivating,political title, it was a Tamil movie, I am seeing after a long time. Expectations soared high with my friends convincing me that Karthi is an intelligent actor who chooses his films smartly. With all these thoughts, I expected the film to a mass political thriller. But the film failed to live up to my expectations. No doubt, it was a fantastic movie plot and the casting was terrific with most of the big names roped in. But then, screenplay did not carry the movie forward and that left an impression that all the characters were not at all utilized to the fullest.

Cast:

Karthi was is usual self, in portraying the role of a young man, making political moves to save his ancestral property. With Santhanam as his buddy, they have tried to tickle our funny bones and have been fairly successful. The heroine of the film, apart from the songs, has a much lesser role and appears in the movie for a lesser time when compared to Andrea and Anushka, who appear in unwanted and totally unnecessary guest roles. Roja,Radhika and Nasser, appear intermittently, when the screenplay sags and try their best to revive it. Kiran and Prakash Raj also play important roles, but as you've guessed by now, there is no coherence in the way they appear and no taut screenplay to offer their roles good scope. In short, a fantastic plot and apt casting, terribly wasted due to lack of imagination in screenplay.

When Karunanidhi failed and where Mulayam passed...

The recent political developments in Uttar Pradesh showcases, in a fantastic manner, precisely the differences between Mulayam Singh Yadav and Karunanidhi. Mulayam won where Karuna lost.

To start with, there are many similarities between Mulayam and Karunanidhi. Both have been very strong regional leaders and have, on many occasions, dictated the terms at the centre. Both fight against women chief ministers who chose to remain single and with whom both of them do not see eye to eye. Both have extended families, occupying primary party positions. Both have always played the minority card (Mulayam – Muslim, Karuna - Dalit) to garner votes.

So where did Karuna lose and Mulayam win?

MK, was always behind power. He could not control himself from relinquishing the chief ministership. He has been at the helm from 1967 and recently lost the election to his arch nemesis Jayalalitha. The way he became the chief minister, after Anna’s death and the steps that he took to thwart MGR’s plans are part of folklore. It is precisely in this move that Karuna failed. Now, he has his 2 sons who can’t stand each other, his daughter, his grand-nieces and his grand –daughters and grandsons who have become power-centers inside the party. Had he made Stalin (his son who is seen as heir-apparent) the chief minister when DMK came to power the last time, things would have been definitely different. The ugly family politics, that has now come to be associated with MK’s family, would not have come out in the open. Now, with reformed Jayalalitha (that is what everyone believes after the ouster of Sasikala) in power, and another four years to go, and with MK’s health condition, it is not sure if he could contest the next election. Only until MK is active, will DMK remain a force to reckon with. Even if MK is active and DMK wins the next election, the party would not fade into oblivion, only if MK relinquishes his dearest chief ministership and appoints someone as CM. Only such an act would send a strong message to the existing power centers in the party.

Mulayam,on the other hand, was shrewd, to make his son the chief minister, when his party won fabulously. He had a tough job, in convincing his brother and other senior leaders, but, he made sure the power remained inside his house. When looking at the cabinet closely, it can be easily ascertained that while Akhilesh is the CM, the cabinet is full of Mulayam loyals, right from Azam Khan to Raja Bhaiyya. It’s a win-win situation for Mulayam, where he has retained power as well as made his son CM ahead of his brother and other party seniors. If he had not done that, Mulayam would have become another Karuna.

Its another sad note that politics is a family business. You can read that here.

Pairs

Rahul Dravid announced his retirement last friday and as expected tributes started to pour in from all corners of the globe. As echoed by most of the people, test cricket is not the same anymore, at least to me. I have followed Dravid's career,right from the time he made his debut, to his first test century against South Africa to his last series in Australia. To put that in a single sentence, I've grown with Dravid.

All the posts,while showering him encomiums, mentioned he was an unsung hero, over-shadowed by Sachin's exploits. Reading this makes it hard for me not to ignore the comparison that pops up in my mind.

Rahul Dravid --> Sachin Tendulkar and G.R. Viswanath --> Sunil Gavaskar

The similarities are many. To start with,the former in both the cases were from Bangalore while the latter were from Bombay. Sunil and Sachin were/are always superstars in their playing days. For a cricket and cricket-statistics obsessed nation as ours, Sachin and Sunil, represented the best of India to the world. They were world record holders for their centuries and runs scored and we remember them more for their records than for their game. This is in total contrast with what we associate with Vishy or Dravid. They were always the unsung heroes, more in the 'firefighter' mould, saving the team most of the time from the blushes. We remember them not for their records, but for their game.

The whole world waits in bated breath for Sachin's hundredth hundred. The whole world wrote about Sachin and his deeds, on his reaching the 10,000th run. But for Dravid, there was a line about him reaching the 10,000 run landmark. Press and the media spoke of Sehwag's runs when Dravid scored his 10,000th run. Considered by many as Dravid's best, his score of 180 against Australia in Kolkata, is remembered more for Laxman's heroics and the series for Harbhajan's wickets.

Similarly, we only know of the 34 centuries, Sunil Gavaskar scored. When asked about Vishy, what comes to mind is his game against West Indies in Chennai. His fighting knock,against the best bowling attack in that time is all we remember.

Also,we know more tales from childhood of these superstars than that of our unsung heroes. We know,how Gavaskar was saved by his uncle from being swapped when he was born or how he broke his mother's nose. We know what Sachin did in school with Kambli or the way he played his cricket near his locality. But we know nothing about Dravid's or Vishy's childhood cricketing exploits. They were,of course,overshadowed by the superstars in their own team.

The similarities may not cease here, but they would always continue to surprise me and would make me wait for the next such pair to arrive. After all, history repeats itself.

What next

Probably for the first time in my life, I feel I don't know whats my target is. Ever since I have tried to realize myself, I have always worked towards something. There was always this question of 'whats next?' that has pushed me, guided me and forced me to choose paths. Be it my early days of school, where I had to work towards achieving good grades, be it the high school that made me want more and aim for better colleges, there has always been a target to achieve. Even after college, when I was employed, I was always a fish out of water, with me working to secure myself a college of great reputation for my higher studies. It was getting into the company of my dreams once I was in grad school, that became my target. Now that these things have been achieved, I am terribly confused. I feel like roaming around unknown territories, getting into uncharted waters,blindfolded. I think I need to be patient at this juncture.Once I take up new challenges arising out of my job and I think I can regain my normal self. Or is it that we have been brought up in this way, in a world full of competition that we tend to forget what we love and start loving what we do? This thought has been lingering in my mind, bothering me and would bother me,I suppose, until I realize what my next target, towards what that I need to work on. I pray, hopefully that this day comes soon.

Independence Day

One of the biggest grouse this year is the loss of a public holiday as our "beloved" Independence day falls on a Sunday.I think its necessary for us to really reconsider this holiday of ours. It has become so customary what a public holiday would be like. Most people are glued to their idiot boxes, with special programs in every channel which use these occasions to garner high viewership to promote themselves. These holidays came into effect to make people understand what these occasions really meant. But none seem to understand its value. Independence day and Republic days have become so stereotypical. Be it the opposition bashing speeches after flag hoisting or the programs aired on TV with just a half hour slot for some patriotic songs to "celebrate" the occasion close to dawn when none would be awake. Independence day is perceived only as another special Sunday. Hence its better to work on these days to contribute to the country rather than lazing around as we have failed to understand its very essence and will never bother to understand it in the future.

Notes of a simple devotee

Anybody coming to Sri Parthasarathy swami temple after a couple of years would find a sea change in the environment and in the surroundings of the temple. To start with, a whole array of new flex banners of the deities adores the walls of the temple obstructing and covering the intricate murals on the walls. To a devotee like me, things like these are a huge turn off and take away a feeling of spirituality that you generally associate with any temple.

The second major change that one notices is the wooden steps connecting the temple. A temple is a place that provides you an ambience that is complete with peace and tranquility. But then, the constant movement on the wooden steps takes away the peacefulness completely.

The third major factor is the lighting. The entire temple is peppered with high intensity focus lights that makes the entire place bright. But they are everywhere and too much of them spoil the atmosphere and make the entire place look artificial. Usage of such high intensity lights not only irritates the devotee by blinding the eyes but also has a huge environmental impact and also consumes lot of power. Also the usage of similar lights while the deity is taken out on the streets has the same impact.

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The fourth noticeable aspect is that there is a huge influx of cheap plastic covers that fills the entire temple. Though the temple makes every effort to make the place clean, it is still unable to stop the growth of plastic covers.

The last two factors have a major environmental and economic impact. When the whole world is concerned about global warming and spread of toxic plastics, we at such an ancient temple have forgotten our ancient best practices of using tree leaves and cloth bags to carry stuff to the temple. Also the usage of low intensity lights would not only save expenses on current charges but also contribute to a pleasant ambience that would help in providing a conducive atmosphere for every devotee.

I would only want the temple authorities concerned to take necessary steps in doing away with such unwanted and unnecessary stuff that makes the pilgrimage to the temple to look like a picnic.

Women's Bill

Lot of hue and cry have been raised over the 33% reservations that was passed in the RAJYA SABHA alone. The woman's bill does no good to the womenfolk of this country. By bringing this, I strongly feel that they are limiting themselves to 33%. I accept there aren't many women in Indian politics. But thinking that this bill would change that would only stay as a hope. For, Lalu Prasad has already shown the way by making his wife the CM of Bihar when he was forced out by a judgment. Rabri, till date does not know anything, by her own admission and she was just a mere puppet in the hands of Lalu. If people supporting the woman's bill call only this as empowerment, then this truly is an empowering moment.

P.S The bill was not passed in Lok Sabha. For it was traded to gain support against the Cut motion brought in by BJP.