Random Expressions

This post has no form or purpose, and should be taken as an idle chitter chatter -a conversation with my fellow readers. And like all good conversations, let’s start with the weather. The intolerable cold wave has passed away; like always, the mercurial downswings kept the fires of the press media burning as they kept informing us on the plummeting temperatures; the race for breaking records was on by the weather gods. Now if only our cricket team could emulate that swiftness - in reverse, that is, for they are already dipping where run rates are concerned!

The days are pretty warm now, but the evenings can be quite chilly.

Media

The media has much to cheer these days. First, Ash-Abhishek gave enough fodder to the grist mill, with their innumerable poojas and hawans and whatnots. Then, they finally acquiesced and gave more bytes to them with their impromptu (?) engagement. One full page was devoted to this news item (along with several related articles) in a national daily (and I am not naming it because historically it has a reputation of sending legal notices to bloggers not that my blog is very popular, but still why take the risk? I am sure everyone would guess which one I am talking about). Today, they carried a feature on how Ash’s community would celebrate the wedding, replete with all possible details down to the last ceremonial custom that they would observe. It remains to be seen whether a more cosmopolitan Aishwarya follows the traditional method or not. Perhaps it will give some litigator reason to file yet another sham PIL. A list of such cases was published in the same paper, and I found that the only worthy article in the entire bulk that got delivered in the morning!

The second debate on is about Big Brother and the alleged racial attack on Shilpa Shetty, which has pushed Rakhi Sawant and her shenanigans, in the show’s Indian avatar, on the back-burner. I haven’t seen Big Brother but from what I have read I couldn’t really see too much of racialism there, but then I could be missing out on something. However, I don t find it too surprising after all this was the same country that romped all over the world usurping territories under the guise of “white man’s burden” to cleanse the “lowly black people” . When we haven’t been able to wipe out our obsequious mentality for six decades, it is impossible to imagine they would come out clean from their centuries of cardinal carriage. Since Shilpa Shetty is a celebrity, and was on television, so it makes good news, but I think every ordinary person also gets subjected to this sometime or the other -subtle or overt- in any foreign land. Some years back there was a film on it too ( I - Proud to be Indian) but since it starred Sohail Khan, I guess no one really bothered to watch it.

What amuses me no end is the way we screw up our noses, when we have perfected our very own brand of racialism: casteism!

So what s my take? Ekdum neutral! While I wouldn t bet a penny or paisa on Shilpa Shetty’s acting talent (except for a riveting performance in Phir Milenge, she has done nothing very worthwhile), I am pretty sure that she is an intelligent girl who would have known what she is getting into. Having seen quite a bulk of Bigg Boss, I realize that that in this game the tools of attack can be anything personal, racial or anyother!

That’s all from TV!

Films

On the film front saw Guru on the first day of its release! I tried writing its review but couldn’t complete it. The reason being, while there is nothing really overtly wrong with the film, somehow I found something essential missing in the film which didn t make me gasp in admiration. Perhaps, the glossing over the finer details was a prime reason. However, the movie becomes worth a view due to some sterling performances especially Abhishek Bachchan, who breathes a potent energy into the character of Gurukant Desai (The film carries the obligatory disclaimer about it being a work of fiction, but we all know better!). Even Aishwarya looked good in her supportive role. But the other two performances that kept you hooked were of Madhavan (very underrated in Hindi cinema) and Mithun Chakravorty (why did he waste those years doing inane B-grade films?)

One film magazine that usually has good fare to offer (again not naming it since it belongs to the same group) would have us believe that Vidya Balan is the next best thing to happen to cinema. Frankly, I find her very thanda and lacking screen presence and no better than a Gracy Singh! In Guru, she has a wishy-washy role, but she acts even as if she is making some ehsaan on the director! Let s hope she improves, after all it takes just Ek do teen steps to transform a girl-next-door Abodh girl (who once played sister to Meenakshi Sheshadri, of all people!) to become a national sensation that made every lusty Dil’s dhak dhak proclaim ke maar daala! . But then, Madhuri Dixit was well, Madhuri Dixit! And I hope she makes a comeback soon.

On cable, I saw a re-run of Chandni Bar good movie but extremely depressing. Also saw Maati Maange Khoon, on which I have already written in the previous post.

Personal

On personal front, I made a quick tour to Delhi for a family function on Sunday. It was bitterly cold, but was amazed to see the tenacity of ladies flaunting their skin, sarees and saaj-singaar sans any shawl or woolen wear. Even in my suit and with two large Bacardis down, I was shivering.

The return trip was slightly eventful. My car, which is bursting at its seams due to over-abuse, protested loudly and screechingly literally! Suddenly, I found myself enveloped in a loud din and was shaking vigorously. The right-hand rear tyre burst itself, taking along with it my drowsiness and balance. Fortunately, the highway was empty, and there was no vehicle behind or on the sides of mine.

I had a spare tyre, but to my horror learnt that the tool-kit was missing. Since we were just on the outskirts of Palwal (a small town en route), we managed to find a tyre-wallah to change the wheel. Honestly, I was a bit shaken by the whole experience and drove at a saner speed after that. Also, I have to now loosen up my wallet to purchase another tyre!

Careerwise, things are ok nothing too luminous about it. While I made the big shift, I couldn t really carry on with something that I would have loved to do. So I continue to lament, crib, grumble alongwith day-dream, but essentially do nothing about it, and tuck myself cowardly behind million excuses and mundane reasons. It’s like being a stuck record, which looks as if it is moving, but is in reality jammed in the same groove. I am not sure if I will ever do something that truly excites me. I don’t think I will ever have the courage to break the glass ceiling. And let me be candid enough to admit I get these thoughts only when I am alone. Sigh!

Technorati : Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Big Brother, Bigg Boss, Rakhi Sawant, Shilpa Shetty

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 18th, 2007 at 4:54 pm and is filed under Film Reviews, Gossip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.