"Jayaho"

You want to take slum tourism? Simply buy a ticket to "Slum dog Millionaire" .There no debate like depiction of slum life is good or bad? It is neither good nor bad. It exists. We have to acknowledge the fact. You show it or hide it, it is your choice. If you prefer to show you must have your own reason. Any western producer has his reason to so. It is place where he is scared to death to watch "people living like animals and dying like insects." That is a different world altogether. A potential breeding ground for flesh trade, goondagiri, every thing under the sun which we can call illegal and uncivilized. Do we have to go to Dharavi to watch all this? No need. Every Indian has a passing glance of slum in every corner of his country.

Dharavi may be the one of the biggest slums in the world. (I do not know). What all we get to see there not new to an Indian. It is neatly packed and sent in a gift box to a western audience. It could be undeniably shocking experience to them. Rags to riches, brotherly sentiment, love, song, dance on railway platform, police third degree, all the underline themes are repeated more than thousands of times in our mainstream cinema. Sometimes with little glorification , some times more insight. But our cinemas don't' go to Oscars. So they don't' get awards. Necessarily "English" is your window to the outside world. More over we always have commercial success in the back of our mind.

Why are we celebrating a British film? Most of us are questioned. It is all about India, enacted by Indian actors, based on Indian theme,Indian music, with Indian masala. What is foreign about it? Yes, it is Danny Boyle. He is the only factor which makes it alien. Shaky cameras (probably off the trally) I was told it is a new technique, frequent black outs, hazy pictures, even the slum exposure was not definite and clear. Certainly it is way of filming by a Westerner. But to an Indian it is more or less like documentary. Mediocrity in narration is efficiently substituted by good screenplay. Latika (Freida Pinto) looks refreshingly sweet. Dev Patel, looks, tastes, and smells like British. Hey boy! You look good. Learn some Hindi. Probably you have a slot in Bombay.

We watch television every day. But how many of us really know who has invented it? Like wise a tea boy he must have seen revolver. But knowing the inventor's name is far fetched idea. Similarly Big Ben, Benjamin Franklin, easy computer handling, I think it is truly beyond a tea boy.He seems know of dollar more than a rupee.Is it? I do not know. Unless he is a part of slum tourism meant for a white man. There you can catch that it is not by an Indian. However painstakingly you cinematize it, the ethos get missing. It happened even with Richard Attenburough , Why with only Boyle?

Many view it as a triumph to Indian way of making films. Sentiment, songs and dance, masala sprinkled story line, are they going to make big in West? I think they are not. Still many plastic surgeries are required. Inconsequential stupid dance and songs are not going to appeal to the Western audience in any case. They have many bands who do that for them. Similarly our home grown bands are not going to make it big as long as Indian cinema goes strong. None of our producers eye Oscars, but it's whooping millions box office money that may lure them. Make a movie in English and dub them for Indian audience, any way pictures are shot in either South Africa or Kenya. They even dare to erect a temple near pyramids and make their Saree clad mother pray for her son. What difference it is going to make?

Dismal performance by Anil Kapoor, however he is trying to be happy with awards, is overshadowed by Irfan Khan's simple matter fact approach. The little children who acted (?) or lived are so cute and there lies the brilliance of a director to have shot them in their best, unlike beyond the age talking kids in our regular dossiers. If any one of them make big in Bollywood really it is rags to riches story.

The much awaited song "Jayaho" comes when you are about to leave the theatre in disappointment of not having it. It is one amongst Rahman's regular haunting numbers. Like "Chakde India" has become sports anthem, this can become our brand India celebration anthem.

I had to wait outside the theatre till show opens. There I saw a women washing her utensils at the road side sewage leaking pipe or drinking water pipe. Children were ready with their plates for a hot rice which is on the stove placed on a foot path. They do not know that such a picture is made about them. They do not bother to see it too . But you can unfailingly see them lining up for one megastar movie with costly designer dresses, heavy jewellery, posh bunglows, expensive big cars and collar up bold challenges thrown towards rich. Dreams are being sold to them in large quantities. Movies are escape routes to them from their miseries. What is for them to see in slum dog? They live in it.

Rahmanization

Youngsters go gaga over his beats. Middle agers go mad about his heart touching solos. Old nod to his semi classical numbers. It is none other than A. R. Rahman, fine amalgamation of western and Indian music trends. Hindi belt of India came to know of him only through "Roja". Much before that the south tasted and loved his unique blending style. His tunes echoed and rocked the whole of south India. In a way in his earlier scores had more of southern spice but became more universal after his debut in Hindi films.

Reportedly worked with maestro Ilaya Raja initially but went on making his own brand ever since he arrived on Kollywood (Tamil cinema) as a director. By the time he tasted all India success he has already put his indelible stamp on southern music. He can be called a trend setter. Many music directors who came after Rahman like Deva, Harris Jaya Raj, Yuvan Shanker Raja, had no other choice but to imitate his style and some of them even excelled him while making few albums but certainly lack his unlimited talent.In Telugu Koti was the first director who had to transform and later who ever has entered like Chakri, Devi Sri Prasad, micky J.Mayer followed the trends already set by Rahman though apparently they look some times drastically different.

Hindi film music had it's own stalwarts dating from C. Ramachandra, Noushad and Madan Mohan who gave simply marvellous classical tunes, to ever experimenting sweet Shankar Jaikishan, unforgettable Sachin Dev Burman to cranky talented R.D.Burman, melodious O.P.Nayyar, occasionally brillian Kalyanji Anandji , and simply superb Lakshmi Kant Pyarelal. In a era with rising stars Nadeem Sravan abruptly disappearing, Anu Malik reigning, HariHaran troop was struggling to achieve, Jatin Lalit throwing scanty memorable numbers, a star rose in a Hindi music horizon called Rahman.The whole of India bewitched by his "Roja". He went on with his journey with "Dil Se" "Lagan" so on so forth.

In an environment where movie success is obviously linked to it's musical hit, Rahman carved the fate of many mega super dupers with his enthralling music scores. He became a much sought after director, and music rendered by this little master is a prestigious prerequisite for high budgeted cinema. Many new debutants like Pritam, Himesh Reshamiya , Shanker Eshan, Ismail Durbar,Vishal Shakhar name any, they followed the trend set by Rahman in some way or other. No body can stand apart and say it is my kind of music. Only one who dared to say it, was Raj Kamar(Tamil) who wanted to reinvent melody in film music, but eventually faded into oblivion.

In the process the sound classical base of Indian cine music died it's natural death. The imposingly sounding western notes and strange chords have become the part of Indian movie music . In Rahman era, singers sadly lost their identity and some times illustrious singers too had to be contended with group singing. Yet, to sing with Rahman is an honour for many. Lyrics totally lost their relevance, many are lost in either too much noise behind or too soft humming which barely are audible.Technique reigned high than voice culture and authenticity. Mediocre singers reached their heights, and many popular singers were side tracked . He ushered an era where monopoly of popular singers came to an end. Melody in a way is reinvented with western fragrance, but in it's Indian way, lost it's glory.

Rahman never stopped with just music direction in Indian soil. He persued his never ending journey for excellence in western music world. Had he ever wanted, he would have made his millions sticking to Bollywood . But his insatiable quest for music drives him all the time for newer exploration. He is rare one who is committed to achieve perfection and on perpetual mission for learning. He is on his constant move for greener pastures of knowledge than to stop on reaching a top. Nothing seems to stop him. Many artists who were rarely gifted were doing so in olden days, but it is hard to find one in this new materialistic world without yielding to alluring big money. To day if he is earning money it is only a byproduct of an activity which he is enjoying to do.

To a person of his talent Golden Globe is an honour. His nomination for 3 categories in Oscars is the ultimate any artist can dream. One has to bear in mind that he won it for his fine juxtaposition of Indian Bollywood (?) music with western music. To make further on truly western plank he has to shed his local hues more and fine tune to western cadence. Fusions are instantaneous success and their stint is shorter than purest versions of long lasting delving western melodies . He is more than just a movie music director. Movie is only a mediumof his musical expression.

Music is an experience. Rahman is a gifted child who experiences it with his soul.

American Dream

Of late I have been pointed out by my daughter that my writings are turning too journalistic in tone and tenor, the language being too twisty and oblique. Perhaps yes, I'll try to make them as simplistic as possible. For people who are accoustomed to making somersaults even simple stright walk may look difficult.

Slamdog Millionairs

I really never wanted to write now. But it is the startling revelations that came across compelled me to ventilate my strong indignation towards the things that surfaced. It just looked like a logical epilogue to my "How strong are we?" written in November08. I advise people to watch "Battle Ready?" in CNN IBN, to have a glimpse of our ability to face any eventuality given the present context of mounting tensions across the borders.

Precisely it is about our war preparedness. It is not exhaustive nevertheless fit enough to send chills to spine. We have to hang our heads in shame while going through the details of our military capabilities. A nation of 1.2 billions need to know the pathetic condition of our defence infrastructure. A classic illustration of mismanagement and inefficiency coupled with corrupt mindset. A colossal political apathy. .It is hard to belive that any country could be so callous about the security of the nation. Perhaps all our netas are in mistaken belief that some God will save the nation in the face dangerous wars.

Do our boastful challenges, loud noises about war are genuinely supported by a superior combative power? Most of our equipment dates back to second world war II, only 7 out of 16 submarines are operational, 97% of our defence equipment is vintage, L 70 Battle guns are 34 years old, we do not have full scale fire power, shortage of air fighters and remaining Mirage 2000 very badly needs upgrading. With existing committed and loyal cadres reaching retirement age, there is a shortage of 11000 officers with only 50% seats in NDA are being taken by freshers. Repleting forces due to low morale and no suitable financial rewards, so on and so forth. I did not say it, these are media findings supported by retired army senior officers. What are we doing? What is our feel good factor? Poor is happy with it's subsidies, middle class is happy with its celebrities, rich is happy with it's Dubai shopping, politicians are happy with their power games. Every body is happy in this country. Some may brand me as overtly obsessed with these opinions, but I can not but feel sad about my country which is so ill equipped to face any eventuality.

Naipaul!! Where are you? when I saw your "India: A wounded civilization" I thought you are not connected with India as your identity was lost in Trinidad. You wrote "No civilization is so little equipped to cope with the out side world. No country was so easily raided and plundered, and learnt so little from it's disasters". Taliya !! Underline the words 'learnt so little from it's disasters' . Have we learnt any lessons from your humiliating defeat in 62 war in the hands of China? How can you ignore a fact that our gaint hostile neighbour China, an all weather-friend to Pakistan, is all set to become second larget economy and beeming with largest army in the world. We were too complacent with our19 71 win over Pakistan and subsequent chota mota war likes. Our leaders hyped the Kargil over looking Jawan's need for suitable boots in a hostile terrain. To day our bullet proof jackets are hardly bullet proofs, our guns are hardly fire power. We must pat our own shoulders for showing exemplary patience with this rotten system which can hardly take care of it's citizen's fundamental need for security . I think this is ultimate. No other country in the world in my opinion is so casual about it's defence.

Poverty, stunned growth, population, illiteracy, communalism, stupidity, any thing can be forgiven, but not this crime.

Meltdown Blues

Ever bustling Ameerpet wearing a deserted lookwith few shutters down, many coaching institutes having second thoughts about their continuance in the business, right from the xerox shop to sweet seller swallowing the bitter pill of fall in demand, finally the cloud has descended on Indian soil. We fondly hoped that we may remain unaffected but things worsened and we too were dragged into the dirty game of bungling fortunes. We were the most affordable knowledge banks for all the fresh emerging software packages. Projects available for amounts as petty as thousand bucks with source code, Hyderabadis are chockingly surrounded by proliferate institutes and fluttering training certificates. Right from DOS to IBM Main Frames any thing can be learnt in these narrow lanes, with only qualifying parameter is your ability to push your vehicle into these crowded streets.

The genesis of the problem is one crappy financial document floated in the financial market to establish one's financial credibility. Some where the chain breaks with suspicions growing about the financial worthiness of the next door company who go in bizarre mortgaging, the following vestibule ( a chamber or channel opening to another) is suddenly constricted putting a grinding halt to the smooth movement of fiscal system. All of a sudden we get to see a vacuum with overwhelming sense of insecurity. There started this long fiasco of fall outs in the market. After few days crisis deepens , with far reaching repercussions showcasing true setbacks rendering difficult to break, now the world is seized with phenomenal recession probably worst in hundred years. Evidently the so called world leader can unleash a catastrophe to the world, naysayers hold doubts about it's ability to reconstruct it when required in the larger ambit. It cast the doubt on the concept of market economy itself, driving few to reinvent Carl Marks once again. The very phenomenon which bragged it's success, left every one inspired to open their economies including die hard fans of Mao, gave an occasion to many to rethink how far this unregulated economy is good to the people in the long run.

Crash downs are more evident in developed countries with resulting lay offs, credit crunch, low imports, cost cutting measures, followed by corrective rate cuts, bail outs, and stimulus packages. In developing economies the growth will be staggered with already not so impressive industrial growth all together coming down to meagre 2%, present exports further sinking to a new low, market experiencing liquidity problem, real estate coming to all time slump, job market appearing morbid. But strangely layoffs don't happen so easily, as we are capitulate with strong labour favouritism. Still firing is treated as end of the world to a person dislodged. Hire and fire is yet a new concept to the large number of corporates in India. Bail outs just do not happen. Spending still goes strong for wedding, functions, jewellers doing mega business . Our need to do certain things in certain fashion no matter what happens to the world out there, is really amazing.It is just one instance to quote that we are hardly effected by changes that take place in other parts of the globe. It is a pointer to our singularity than to our insensitivity.

As a result of global meltdown IT which brought money as well as recognition to our country has suffered a great deal.Satyam saga added to it's woes. The young IT professional whose gross annual income inevitably crosses his father's life time toil, at the moment is at the cross roads with cut down perks, trimmed down pay pockets, and doubtful increments. Many youngsters who partied with compulsive obsession now prefer to stay at home and spend time with family.New year bashes greatly reduced to peaceful prayers and meditations, women who preferred take away parcels learning to try their hands in cooking, children who go to expensive play schools confined to grand parents and nannies, brand conscious postponing their shopping spree, reputed restaurants who were inviting their guests as per the waiting lists wearing deserted looks, beauty saloons and sweet shops doing only one fourth of their previous business,the blues have truly descended on IT sectors as well to the people who cater to their needs. "Savings" a strange word, which never struck with these young professionals inclined to spend as there is no tomorrow, is hitting hard in their minds leaving them to leaf through various savings schemes offered by public sector banks.Is the trend reversed now?

The unprecedented incomes, the changed lifestyles, spending habits, consumerism have changed the demographic patterns of the people of urban middle class in India. Cost of living reaching a new heights with many neo rich emerging, the gap between the higher income groups and lower income groups widened. The fact of India becoming a bipolar world is presented to us in the most naked manner. The one half of India enthusiastic, literate, high earning, enjoying all privileges money can buy, the other half ill informed, ill fed, ill fated who languish in hopelessly tormented part of the land. The most heart rendering fact of our living is that, unfortunate portion of the population is still cursing their fate and not pointing fingers towards the privileged for their misfortunes and jealous to the least. That is the forbearance that was inherent in our cultures which prevented these millions from exploding.

Oh mother, You created these differences, still you made these people so high in their happy quotient , I bow to you for ensuring strange but lasting relationship between these dissimilar twins.

Asatyam called Satyam

Corporate India had a beating. It is reportedly the biggest ever corporate fraud in India. Ramalinga Raju had lied. Lied to the stock holders, lied to the employees, lied to the government, and finally lied to the people of India while taking awards for corporate governance.What made him to so? It is not that he is making losses while doing the business. It is because hugely funds were diverted. No body continues his business for a long time incurring losses. But he did it thinking he would make them up by earning in some other place. He can be falsely be identified as looser due to global financial meltdown, though not in the direct sense. The golden goose which he trusted crumbled like a pack of cards due to world wide recession. The goose is the real estate. Born and brought up in agri rich coastal Andhra we have to finally conclude that he truly had not shed his feudal shrouds, and continued with his love for land.The bubble busted and he does not see any body to lend him crores to run his show.

This is not the culmination of affairs overnight. He has been doing systematically over years. What made him to disclose the facts deliberately at this point of time?. It is simple understanding that he is choosing a lesser evil. No doubt there would many more startling discoveries as they unfold. Our great Indian enthusiasts are too good at hounding a declared criminal as lone sinner on the planet, with governmental agencies in a hurry to clean their dirty hands, banks too worried about their money, politicians too hasty to clear their election prospects, police too anxious to prove their mettle. Till such time every thing around them is heaven.

Making a foul cry about the 53000 employees of Satyam (doubts casting even on these numbers) slashing their credit limits, demanding additional collaterals or guarantors for their housing loans, people are getting too panicky. Certainly it is not the end of the world for these young trained professionals.

Frauds, manipulations, bribes, back end cuts, are regular practices in our business world. No one is really interested to set them right, as they too get their piece of cake. To a great extent Indian corporates are family businesses. They are run with their family members forming majority of board of directors with addition of one or two well known outsiders effortlessly passing resolutions to suit their convenience. When they plan to go public to swindle public money they go with inflated balance sheets which are more simple than cooking a Maggie with mushrooming charted accountants found every corner of the street. Share holder's meeting are rituals. If one concerned brave heart dares to question them he is snubbed by the company appointed or hired men sitting in the venue. Finally every thing is fine till they turn their boards. Financial Corporations, infrastructure corporations run into reds with so many their internal functionaries hand in glove with the defaulted companies. Many consortium of banks survive by providing for losses each year hoping to recover their money by selling the mortgaged mutilated properties, in practice many pose multitude problem while liquidating them. The promoters already make their money back in their first year of gong into public it self . Virtually they make no losses. None of their private properties can be attached. This is the story of medium sized corporate India who turn coats.

In this case of Satyam the auditors of the company Price water coopers' role is highly questionable. Non existent cash and bank balances of 5040 looks silly to my simple mind, as no entrepreneur would like to keep idle funds amounting to crores in the banks with each rupee un utilised is equivalent to incurring that much loss to him. Accrued interest of 376 crores, debtors of 490 crores, can not be certified without verifying the records of market credits and banker's interest certificates and statement of accounts. Every account looks so bizarre making it unbelievable that it could be cooked up so well without the knowledge of the any member of the clan except Raju. Diversion of funds, unethical practices are part of corporate governance in India. Statutory auditing is the only way to check these undesirable trends. ICA need to be more strict in cancelling the licenses of the practitioners who lend their supporting hand to such corporate crimes.

What would be the impact of the Satyam debacle on IT Corporate of India? Perhaps the other three IT majors may get the benefit. It can also boomerang. Unquestionably it did a damage to corporate India. That too it came in real difficult times. As IT sector is facing the wrath of global recession coupled with apprehensions about the outsourcing policies of new government in US, they may need to go an extra mile to prove their credibility and innocence to the world at large. So far they have been enjoying a blissful distancing from the governmental regulations, due to riches it brought to the country, as well due to it's technicality which is beyond the comprehension of the rusted governmental bodies. Now it is more vulnerable and it has to preserve it self from the system which is more known for it's breaking than making.

From the incidents happened, it is very clear that we have not become global players yet. So highly acclaimed fourth largest IT giant is falling like a "Baniya Dukan" tracing it's roots to West Godavari Coastal Corridor rural mind set of petty business with a small mind. We have to go a long way learning lessons of professionalism with broader global out look and rules of fair play.

Vintage cars

The lights go off to flash back within a minute. Fire works lit up the sky. Loud music pears the ear drums. Balloons bursted "Happy New Year" lowd cheers, many hugs, followed by kisses and foot tapping. Another year passed with a bang. What is all about a new year? I do not think any of us are seriously concerned. People take another opportunity to celebrate, take a dip into free flowing 'high spirits' to wake up with hangover on the next day. Just another page in a new calender. Another day with innumerable to follow the suit . Life doesn't change a bit. Old timers always found in search a pen and paper to scribble important things , often write the dead year while casting the date. The smell of a new diary is breathed deep while flipping the stuck front page. But for many young either their mobile or P.C is ready to shows the date accurately. They do not find the need to write any thing at all . Gadgets do all the needful job.

Carried away by the need to take a resolution, many good things are thought off with a fond hope to adhere but few to stay on. Many new years are celebrated in succession. Years scurry with rapid speed. Infants grow into adolescents, teens into thirties , thirties into middle ages and there on, into crippling old ages. Life keeps changing. With ever changing times newer thoughts, newer trends, newer needs, hold up denizens. Mind sets take a radical change. New generations find a different set of needs, styles and values. Old stick to the ways they were brought up, cherish what they saw, uphold what they imbibed,rever what they valued, continue to love what they liked once. They find extremely difficult to see through changes. Young see it as generation gap.

The school boy enthusiasm drastically differs from all seen and experienced passivity. Alluring undefined future gives a bountiful call to the young. Places, money, power, new relations, achievements, thrill an youngster prompting him to explore. Sparkling teeth, glowing skin, bountiful hair, agile body, perfect digestion, boundless zest, loads of curiosity, exploding energy, dreams, love, passion, anger, naughtiness, they denote God's human creation at it's best. "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heaven"(Words worth). Calling grave yards, retirements, ill health, lack of productivity, desertion, short but insipid future, insulin, hypertension, clutched knees, palpitations, be league the old and tired. They feel rarely wanted. Failing health make them insecure. Most admired fathers, most wanted mothers of their youthful years suddenly find themselves unemployable. They don't fail to see an undercut in their authority.They start living in the pale shadows of their glorious past. It is a drama that is being replayed from time immemorial. It is as real as old leaves from a big tree diving to the ground giving way to the tender sprouting.

"Get me one ticket" my great grand mother asked the gate keeper of a theatre pulling her white cloth on her tonsured head. He rose up and offered his stool to her in the first place, stammered " I think you came to the wrong movie grandma". "Why do you think so?" "Because it is an English movie" My granny said in a hoarse tone " What do you think? I know that it is an English movie. If you want I can tell you the story..." she narrated for a minute. He appeared to have regretted for watching the movie for the past fifteen days without making a head and tail of it.Finally she concluded " Elizabeth Tailor(?) is very beautiful you know, I came to see her." "Wait a minute I'll get you the ticket" he ran away. That was magnum Opus Cleopatra. Many around must have despised her for not chanting Ram Nam sitting at home. Many find hard to believe that old were ever young in their life time. It is almost perceived as though all these people were born with grey hairs and sagging skin. We gleefully accept new trends with regard to young ones but confine old to the patterned demeanour. We expect them to renounce every thing they come across. Any deviation attracts all the attention in the world.

I was never a part of the joint family culture.Much before my time it breathed it's last. Still old were all around in the form of grand parents preferring to stay with their sons, or rather forced to stay so. Children were the best beneficiaries from them. They always found a cushion in the form of their obese grandmas, had a shoulder to cry, identify a target to ventilate their anger. These Grannies are occasional money lenders, story tellers, secret divulgers, teachers of divine chants, Amruthanjan massagers, pamperers and spoilers .They provided shielding to children from parental abuses. They had ample of time to spare to them.Rest of the family were occasionally tired of these old with their constant preachings, insistence, demands. They quarrelled yet shared.They were treated as indispensable part of the family. Never alienated in the name of generation gap. They were old bricks in the holistic familial structure composed of many new, strong and small bricks.

With the social and economic changes on avenue old people belonging to the middle class are seen turning affluent, wearing expensive sports shoe for their lonely walks, using sleek mobiles to chat with their remotely placed beloved, dressed in designer tees bought from far away lands, driving big cars presented to them, living in palacious banglows built by their children with a hope to come back, joining in expensive 5 star hospitals where attendants are not required. They are like vintage cars which are serviced regularly, painted polished and preserved as precious show pieces with regular large doses of foreign remittances.

Some vintage cars are shut in their garages for fear of maintenance, eventually rusting and collapsing. They are like oldies who are finding their ways to old age homes. Identified as odd pieces in the plush heavenly apartments, as they do not know how to keep their bathrooms clean, arrange their shelves, hardly able to communicate with their English speaking grand children, find it difficult to relish the outlandish recipies prepared at home, they have hardly anything common with their children in their scheme of things. No one has time or inclination to read their minds and mend their ways.No university is teaching us the precious themes like 'empathy' 'patience' 'generosity to a fault'. Even modern writer like Stephen Covey often refers that happiness is home made. I do believe that to a great extent the choice lies with us whether to be happy or unhappy. If lending an ear is conceived to be self effacing activity, equal amount of anguish is on offing for us in disguised form. The problems are to be treated as dead ends of the street, offering no way out. Solutions are better arrived when people got to put up a fight against them, than to find out an escape route which demands no serious effort from their side.

Very few vintage cars are truely being used for a regular ride and are in true working relation with the users, loved, tamed and occasionally kicked.