Bollywood's uncalling

I was just going through some of old ranting on my blog. Oops I have never broached tinsel world so far, how I could miss that. Time to give a serious thought to not so serious business. Dreamy world of cine business has nurtured some and destroyed many.
Score of people migrate from different parts of India with those dreams in eyes and nothing else to support them and eke out a life of miseries, They get exploited end up there day on streets and god forbid sometimes they end being casualty of drink and drive rage of so called celebrities. Sad but true. How many SRKs get born who have no godfather in this bitchy world, they are few and far, where fame and money is mirage.Oops I bungled up once again; let the dreary world be kept aside.
Let go of harsh realities, we all love to waltz in a dreamy world, a perfect world where you don’t have any hassles, where you keep cooing into ears of your sweetheart without even knowing of Iraq, Afghanistan or you blink rising- you blink falling sensex..Where you fly into rage the moment you see someone treated in a wrong manner where truth, integrity and honesty still are marks of a true man (read hero). Where you are pint sized and can still floor 7 ruffians twice your size, something would befuddle a certain Mr. Darwin. Where Maa is always teary eyed and gets emotional in no time. Where all of them are still saath saath hain and every one is goody two shoes in a joint family Where girls are as dumb as they come, never questioning their pati parmeshwars’ motives and obey to all whims and wishes of their in laws. Well versed in laws of gyration, they do this art well and rather well in showers installed by producer with a lovely cotton saree draped around(this is done before marriage, how this art is forgotten while taking 7 chakkars of agni maharaj still baffles me).

But then times are changing now in bollywood as well. Old formulae have been kept aside and newer ones are cooked up. People are lapping up serious and conventional issues and daring directors are given opportunities. Still, to this day it remains a place where mediocrity rules. Pretty mediocre actors are made great actors. And decent ones attain demi-god status. An actor’s son is a born actor and bound to be good. He/She is not supposed to live miserably in acting schools of Pune. All he/she needs is a dancing session by Shimak Davar(or whoever he is), fab body(athletic for men ,sexy for ladies , they are for public display afterall) and choco looks. Whoa and you have recipe ready for serving a perfect star, which a hungry/mindless pack of cine goers would gorge on. As I said times are changing and now for every dumbo kereena there is one Tabu and every equally idiotic bobby/sunny is countered by shreyas. There are few saving graces here too. And Amitabh stands tall among debris(literally).Good that they have few good men in show business, truly a bitchy world which still fascinates us.

Learning the intricacies of sport german way

Time to fall back on sports, now time comes to write something about players who made game grander and made me look forward to their jalwa on and off the court.
Oh list is long (should be for a sports freak like me). When I was born, my parents had
bought a wallpaper of star all rounder Ian Botham and when I showed first sign of identifying folks around me, Bothy became one of us . But Bothy though became my first connection to sports action, He wasn’t the one for whom I glued to my Idiot box. First and foremost name that comes to mind is of a German fraulin who made tennis a gorgeous game. One who defeated might Navratilova at Wimbledon and let me swoon over her at tender age of seven, whoa sound unbelievable. She was and till day remains my favorite sports person. She has it all beauty, brains, courage and never say die spirit. One Miss Novotna came to know of her such spirit hard way on a July day at Wimbledon in 1993. Yeah, fraulin is Steffi Graf... A lady who let many hearts go flutter with every move of hers. Her forehand was just awesome, wish she could have been blessed with a wonderful backhand as well say la Henin. And she could have been better at red courts of Paris where she lost to Sanchez quite many times. She could not beat Margret Court’s record haul of 23 major singles and that is something I bet must rankle her even today.
1988 was her dream year, I had not switched to tennis big time then and she had completed a golden slam (4 majors and to cap it off Olympic gold medal in a single year).
In French open she had destroyed Natasha Zareeva 6-0 6-0 in final something which shows at that time she was in her own league. There she was, always tossing ball very high in air as to bring a whiff of rain with it when it kissed back the earth. And poor opponent survived for another split of second (ah ball has to still land at earth) but then diva was just delaying the inevitable for her mere mortal opponents. She mostly handed them a merciful kill at net. No ifs and but she used to waltz at court and put her opponents past their agony quickly. Hmm guess it’s sounding more of an obituary kind of thing , so let’s stop here . Saw her playing against Davenport at hollowed courts of Wimbledon , what eventually turned out to be her last hurrah. God was American on that day, lady was vanquished by Davenport and I surfed the channels to hear of Indian conquest of Tiger Hill by Indian Jawans. So the day could have been just perfect but Davenport chose otherwise. Tennis would never be same without smiling fraulin.

Books my favorite indulgence

This one on books, my favorite indulgence. I can’t deem it my hobby as I feel hobby is not something which is pampered by you. Books on other hand have been always pampered by me. I have given them my time as well as money in ample amount and what have they given me , ah yeah a much needed fun, an escape from harsh reality and an opportunity to indulge myself in a wonderland, Alice could have understood me.
Well they provided a much needed break . Came as a whiff of fresh air in monotonous world. I started with those good old Russian books, with lot of Ivans and Alyona
With Vovas and Anushkas thrown to good measure. Vova was a terrible child who did not like any thing, had a penchant for creating ruckus and complaining to no end.
Russian version of Calvin one may say. Russia disintegrated and Russian books vanished into thin air, I too was growing up and parting with those old books was not that painful.
I now started with some light books, Enid Blyton and famous four captured my heart for a while , then I graduated to sport biography. Sunny Gavaskar remained my favorite author, dad always asked to give Cardus a try. I am glad that I did, though it was after some time. A lot of water has flown under the Ganges by then. Iraq was hounded by Senior Bush, India had tryst with Mandal Commission, Rajeev Gandhi was assassinated
And by then Tendulkar has attained demi god status. But I read Cardus finally and read of Ranji Singhji ,blue eyed boy (blue blooded as well)attired in silk Flannels , his late cuts used to leave Yorkshire dumbfounded . Then maturing (read puberty) process dawned. Started with Sheldons ,sounds ironical maturity and Sheldon, can’t be spoken in same breath, I know that. Left Sheldon aside and gorged on Grishams and Cooks for a while. But then I started what perhaps is read by every teeny bopper today, Ayn Rand and her “The Fountainhead”. Agreed it was revolutionary book which aggressively supported US led philosophy and without naming once mad a veiled attempt to attack Communism.
But so did George Orwell and his was never thin veiled with his sharp biting humor he meant to offend communism where it hurt most , their ideologies and their practices.
Coming back to Rand, her book is exceptional but to tell that individualism is the ultimate path to success and working you way in a group breeds mediocrity is tad too harsh. In a practical world, her theory of living all by your self, swearing by your ideologies and give a damn to those who put your life in misery just doesn’t seem to fit.
I don’t see and Roark and Dominique around who can lead lives all of their own without getting slightly influenced by whatever goes around. Ended up many night arguing over characters of Fountainhead, and it was fun to argue with your friend over Roarks, Toohys and Dominiques and finally come to conclusion that we can continue this argument for another day. In between I read DH Lawrence, His Sons and Lovers was interesting. The
Story of miner moved me, the protagonist was a bit grumpy sometimes , didn’t handle his relationships very well, was a kind of weird person, but still I loved him. Had a big debate with a lady on orkut few days back and she had all her sympathies for the lady love. As I said curt he may sound, but his was a character you are force to have empathy for. Back to Orwell, 1984 was a classic, a kind of negative utopia where he has gauged it correctly how in future thoughts would be influenced and controlled. Government’s half of problems would be solved if it can influence people’s feelings and thoughts.
Orwell’s stance has always been against communist ideologies and this age defying book was published way back in 1948. And yeah people generally switch to Orwell with wonderfully crafted book Animal Farm, a book which stamped his genius and wit in world of literature. A good book to get hooked to Orwell and then serious ones follow the suit. Then there is his compilation of essays a good one to get a know how on politico scenario prevailing during his times. And yep how can I forget a certain Mr. Rohinton Mistry someone whose parsi centric stories are quite sentimental and a throwback on good old times. Yeah his stories build up slowly but you tend to get engrosses in it.
How can I forget Family Matters a book “which literally moved me to tears”. I could feel myself in place of Nariman or Yezaad and could feel the pain. Coomy was painted as someone who hurt Mr. Vakeel most, still she to was never an object of despise.
You tend to love such characters and come to understand that no one is evil/saint; it is conditions and prevailing scenarios which bring out a hero or villain out of us.
On a parting note I would say all these authors have given me many sleepless nights , in case of Mistry solace while boarding a crawling bus on Hosur Road.

Sorcerers of World Cup Soccer

World Cup Soccer fever is beginning to catch on. Bleary eyed, I give a cursory glance at newpaper and only pleasant news which peeps out is the buzzing excitement awaiting the unveiling of Mega Show. All those histories and trivia related to WC soccer have surreptitiously managed to reach back pages of my morning newspaper
Oh so when did I see the first WC match , whoa no one would believe that it was at a very tender age when I saw Denmark vs Uruguay match in 1986 world cup.
I did not know soccer at all. Hmm let me recollect oh yyes I was there ‘coz my dear brother(My devil Cousin forced me to watch the match) and he asked me “Kyon rinku kya lagta hai kaun jeetega “ and poor me I did not know ABC of football and here I was asked to predict an outcome. He made the hydra headed looking problem simpler. “DekhDenmark ek goal se aage hai matlab who jeet raha hai, ab bol”. Now it was quite easy, “whoa Danes will snatch it away”, I blabbered . My Bro played along”ah right you seem to be right, since you don’t have much idea of soccer I will settle for Uruguay ok”.He said. “Why not” I jumped for joy. What I did not know that Danes were not equal to Uruguay , so indicated the history. But Danes, the underdogs(who won 1992 Euro Final too as an underdog), shocked Uruguay , they pumped 5 goals and letting only one in and so it was wonderful encouragement to my fledgling soccer following.
Well I remember few rushes of 1990 world cup, Careca,Shilachi, Cannegia, Mattahues ,Linekar , Milla and above all Diego Maradona. Well I am unabashed supported of Argentina and I think there were couple of matches to cherish in Italia 1990.
One was the big one Argentina Vs Italy. Two giants locked in a pulsating battle.
Italy drew first blood Shilachi getting better of Goykoshiva(donno if spelling is correct)
But Cannagia drew level in second half letting the ball squeeze past Walter Zenga who made a world record of remaining unconquered at goal post for longest duration.
Finally it all boiled down to Penalty Shootouts and Goykoshiva did it again, whoa Argentina managed to put it past Italy.Made it to final but lost it to Germans, Andres Breheme ‘s penalty could not be stopped by Goykoshiva and WC was lost.
That referee from Uruguay is still much cursed in Argentine households.
Well Maradona Refused to shake Hands with FIFA President and superhero limped out.
Ah 1994 was a damp squib, Brazilians won but they played pretty unlike Brazilians.
Carlos Parreira Team made it to the top with Dunga proudly holding aloft the much coveted trophy but it hardly enthused a soccer fan like me. Bulgaria was the emerging tem of this WC , shocking Germans en route to world cup semifinal where they were stopped by Baggio’s brace. Italy once again lost the cup courtesy penalty shootouts.
Something which they dubiously repeated four years down the line against France .
Oh Now enough for now the French and their zizzou deserve a separate chapter.
Signing it off for now, promising more on zizzou who did what Platini could not, letting les bleus kiss the WC trophy.

Falling in line fashionably

I was just flipping through an old edition of Outlook which has featured Manish Arora on its cover. Manish who? I thought. I am a man who belongs to old school of thoughts when it comes to follow things as fickle as fashion. Oscar Wilds has said Fashion is so useless that it has to be completely changed every six months , now a days every sixth day. Well blame it on my poor knowledge of prêt designs hogging the limelight. Yeah Manish is a famous designer and he was voted no. 1 designer by esteemed magazine. NIFT graduate Manish is held in high esteem in Indian fashion circles. Manish was followed by Bals and Tahilianies Vallayas and Rathores and a lady named Beri was snubbed for being overrated designer and some one who has scaled new heights all courtesy to her excellent business acumen.
Ooh fashion has become such a huge rage and I asked that blasphemous question Manish Who? I snubbed myself. Manish is well known for his wackiness and catching (read outrageous colors and lines). He designed T shirts with lines such as “Jack n Jill had sex’ and ‘Jab hum jawan honge’. Manish’s clothes have always been termed unwearablre and it was only during this time high powered jury did a kind of volte face.
So guys now time to get laid.(ooh ooh don’t get panicked Get Laid is Manish’s Men’s line)

Demon Of Plagiarism comes to fore

Last few days have seen authors courting controversy as the old demon of plagiarism has again turned its head. First it was Dan Brown whose book ‘DaVinci Code’ once again made headline, this time though reason was a bit unenviable. Readers practically gorged on this thriller and copies were sold like hot cakes.
Then came the rude shock as two authors claimed Brown’s lifting their plot. I am not a great fan of Mr. Brown’s writing style but it seems he does quite research on his subject, so as this plot thickened; I pursued it with much interest. Unlike Brown’s books which have so many twists, this real life plot was shorn of any climax. Brown was reprieved, authors cringed and filmmakers of celebrated novel heaved a sigh of relief.
So finally Tom Hanks can play Langdon and we can watch the movie version of novel and end up arguing with our friends on how movies generally don’t live up to expectations created by celebrated novels.
But teenaged Harvard hopper Kaavya seems to be less fortunate. After making a big killing( a record offer for a teenaged writer 5 lakh dollars for the fledgling writer to be accurate), she made another screaming headline. We felt Plagiarism has been buried but that was not the case. Lady ran into trouble as certain Jennifer(don’t know her surname nor want to know some editor of cosmopolitan) claimed and convinced that Kaavya has lifted many a passage from her book. Yeah, passages were disturbingly similar. So unlike her protagonist Opal poor Kaavya hasn’t got a life, she is embroiled in this ugly controversy at very outset of a budding career . Let’s see how many more such big names are there to crumble and who knows with active readers and hyper active media, soon our dear Austens and Shakespeares may be plagued by doubts of plagiarism.