Saturday, October 22, 2005
Friday, April 08, 2005
Sessionals over....finally!
The 16th sessionals of my B.Tech course got over today. Should be the last ones hopefully. Still can't stop thinking about the futility of it all. What rocket science does the university teach us in 4 months that it requires to test twice a semester?(+ the end sems!)
anyways, went for a movie afterwards. This one had been up for some time - "My Brother Nikhil". A well made film, must say. Though i personally feel that more could have been said through the movie, but a notable attempt nonetheless. Its set in Goa around the time of 1989-90 and is about the changes in the life of a person that come with the revelation of the fact that he is HIV+. The way he is mortified and ostracized by the people around him is depicted prominently throughout the film. The film succeeds in portraying the shocking ignorance about the disease that people had at that time. The scene when he jumps into the pool, only to see other swimmers rushing out of it, is quite striking. He is subjected to numerous other ordeals by his friends and family alike. This is when his sister and his boyfriend fight for his cause and succeed in getting him out of the subjected isolation and bring him back to the society. The movie continues showing his efforts to regain a place in the society. However, his health continues deteriorating and he dies in the end.
Apart from the social message in the film, what struck me more was how the relationships were portrayed. The relationship between Juhi Chawla(sister) and Sanjay Suri(Nikhil) covers most of the storyline, as is expected from the title of the movie. But the friendship that Nikhil and Nigel(Purab) share, is shown equally distinctly and beautifully. Although, another issue like homosexuality was involved, I feel, the director succeeded in taking the focus off it and show the solidarity that they shared with more prominence.
Goa is shown beautifully. Especially the seaside by the night. Some scenes were really a visual treat to watch. But here again, it has been masterfully set to act as the backdrop to the story not interfering with it at any moment.
In terms of acting, Sanjay Suri has done a decent job, though he appears to falter in some scenes. However, the work of Juhi Chawla and Purab were really commendable. Overall, I found that movie conveyed what it had to convey and is reasonably fast paced contrary to what is expected of similar films.
anyways, went for a movie afterwards. This one had been up for some time - "My Brother Nikhil". A well made film, must say. Though i personally feel that more could have been said through the movie, but a notable attempt nonetheless. Its set in Goa around the time of 1989-90 and is about the changes in the life of a person that come with the revelation of the fact that he is HIV+. The way he is mortified and ostracized by the people around him is depicted prominently throughout the film. The film succeeds in portraying the shocking ignorance about the disease that people had at that time. The scene when he jumps into the pool, only to see other swimmers rushing out of it, is quite striking. He is subjected to numerous other ordeals by his friends and family alike. This is when his sister and his boyfriend fight for his cause and succeed in getting him out of the subjected isolation and bring him back to the society. The movie continues showing his efforts to regain a place in the society. However, his health continues deteriorating and he dies in the end.
Apart from the social message in the film, what struck me more was how the relationships were portrayed. The relationship between Juhi Chawla(sister) and Sanjay Suri(Nikhil) covers most of the storyline, as is expected from the title of the movie. But the friendship that Nikhil and Nigel(Purab) share, is shown equally distinctly and beautifully. Although, another issue like homosexuality was involved, I feel, the director succeeded in taking the focus off it and show the solidarity that they shared with more prominence.
Goa is shown beautifully. Especially the seaside by the night. Some scenes were really a visual treat to watch. But here again, it has been masterfully set to act as the backdrop to the story not interfering with it at any moment.
In terms of acting, Sanjay Suri has done a decent job, though he appears to falter in some scenes. However, the work of Juhi Chawla and Purab were really commendable. Overall, I found that movie conveyed what it had to convey and is reasonably fast paced contrary to what is expected of similar films.
Monday, March 21, 2005
The country shall go to the dogs
Witnessed a rather interesting conversation in the bus the other day. The bus had been standing at a stop for more about 15 mins, enough to arouse the grievances of many of the people sitting around me. That somehow seeded their critical thinking and before the bus started, the discussion had shifted to India.
The people engaged in the discussion were mostly middle-aged enjoying every bit of what was being said. As I have often seen around me, ‘Corruption’ and ‘Cricket’ are two key-words in India on which anyone and everyone holds an opinion. Somehow, here too, India was being held synonymous with the former term. Usually, such instances are meant to be taken with a pinch of salt. But, it made me wonder what image the common man has of his country. The sense of pride is always given a past tense with sentences like ‘In our times’, ‘the system has degraded’, ‘the conditions have worsened’. Words are spoken without thinking, and usually the ignorant lot of the people, safely takes a popular stand and so, gets away with it.
I had always agreed with people saying that our country needs a revolution. But I also feel that it has come in a way. This is the era of the growing countries, and India in a way seems to be paving the way. We have freer trade as compared to 25 yrs ago when we followed a protectionist approach. The GDP is growing, so are the job opportunities, where are we degrading then ?
Politically, I agree the situation is still grim. But, soon, with economics dictating the terms, politics would have to follow. There’ll barely be any room for corruption. Also, with freer and more competitive media, scams and frauds are tough to keep under the carpet. In a way politics, by the sheer nature of it, could never be sanctified completely(Mahabharata wasn’t a completely clean epic either), but with everything under tough scrutiny and under the public eye, it can be confined to a tactical sphere with minimal negative effects on the country’s growth.
Even in terms of arts and culture, the country seems to be recognizing its own distinct flavor. The age of New Wave Cinema that saw a rather humble beginning in the 1980s seems to be catching pace. Sufi Kalaam and Classical music is finding new audience. Everything traditional and Indian now is considered aesthetic and has a distinct charm attached with it. As it’s said, India is suddenly in fashion!
Where we do lack is in the ignorance of the people towards the change. I feel we all see it around us, but somehow don’t acknowledge or realize it, while sticking with our prejudices. India is predicted to be the third biggest economy by the early 2030s. By those figures, we are living in the best of times. As it’s idyllic to see your country among the superpowers of the world, but its more blissful to be a part of the generation that led it there.
The people engaged in the discussion were mostly middle-aged enjoying every bit of what was being said. As I have often seen around me, ‘Corruption’ and ‘Cricket’ are two key-words in India on which anyone and everyone holds an opinion. Somehow, here too, India was being held synonymous with the former term. Usually, such instances are meant to be taken with a pinch of salt. But, it made me wonder what image the common man has of his country. The sense of pride is always given a past tense with sentences like ‘In our times’, ‘the system has degraded’, ‘the conditions have worsened’. Words are spoken without thinking, and usually the ignorant lot of the people, safely takes a popular stand and so, gets away with it.
I had always agreed with people saying that our country needs a revolution. But I also feel that it has come in a way. This is the era of the growing countries, and India in a way seems to be paving the way. We have freer trade as compared to 25 yrs ago when we followed a protectionist approach. The GDP is growing, so are the job opportunities, where are we degrading then ?
Politically, I agree the situation is still grim. But, soon, with economics dictating the terms, politics would have to follow. There’ll barely be any room for corruption. Also, with freer and more competitive media, scams and frauds are tough to keep under the carpet. In a way politics, by the sheer nature of it, could never be sanctified completely(Mahabharata wasn’t a completely clean epic either), but with everything under tough scrutiny and under the public eye, it can be confined to a tactical sphere with minimal negative effects on the country’s growth.
Even in terms of arts and culture, the country seems to be recognizing its own distinct flavor. The age of New Wave Cinema that saw a rather humble beginning in the 1980s seems to be catching pace. Sufi Kalaam and Classical music is finding new audience. Everything traditional and Indian now is considered aesthetic and has a distinct charm attached with it. As it’s said, India is suddenly in fashion!
Where we do lack is in the ignorance of the people towards the change. I feel we all see it around us, but somehow don’t acknowledge or realize it, while sticking with our prejudices. India is predicted to be the third biggest economy by the early 2030s. By those figures, we are living in the best of times. As it’s idyllic to see your country among the superpowers of the world, but its more blissful to be a part of the generation that led it there.
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