Life... Predictably Unpredictable

Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

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Location: Alexandria, VA, United States

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Hey people,

I came across this while reading an article and thought its worth sharing with all. Take Care.

Watch your thoughts...They become your words !!!

Watch your words...They become your actions !!!

Watch your actions...They become your habits !!!

Watch your habits...They become your character !!!

Watch your character...It becomes your Karma !!!

Monday, November 07, 2005

Hey guys,

I recently saw the movie, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara ( i guess i am way back on the new movies but still...) and I was totally bowled over! It really made me sit up and look at Cinema as an individual's ''Medium" of Expression of ideas, thoughts,emotions, feelings,passion and many other nuances of Human Life. This is what i feel about the movie (though i really am not able to express a couple of things well, i feel). Do let me know whats your feedback on this movie if you have seen it. Else...watch it ASAPP..
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Forgetting Father : Unforgettable Film

A brilliant masterpiece with primary focus on human relationships. To be more precise, a father-daughter relationship. Jahnu Barua tackles a very delicate issue of a person suffering from frequent memory lapses which eventually aggrevates to an extent where his family just can't stand it. A very innovative and realistic story which everyone from the common man to a conman can relate to. It takes a lot of guts to produce such a movie and kudos to Anupam Kher for that. It is clearly evident that only people who are passionate about meaningful cinema can actually star,perform,produce,direct and basically associate themselves with such a movie.

It is not surprising that this movie didn't fare too well in India as it lacks masala,sex/sleazy content, loud or jarring music and has no exotic locales. But this movie has something which not many other films have. It has a defined storyline and a script to follow and refer to at any point of time. The scenes between urmila and her younger brother have been handled very well. It clearly portrays the differnce in the attitude and restlessness of the new generation. The father-daughter emotions have been brought about beautifully by anupam kher and urmila. The humane side of urmila is evident from the fact that she can't take the behaviour of her father but still wants to stand by him out of respect for his sacrifices all his life. A gesture which glorifies the Indian Culture something which can be seen only in India.

Rajat Kapoor is impressive in his limited role but the movie is all about Urmila's simutaneous portrayal of a loyal daughter,helpless sister, doting girlfriend and a very sensitive but yet sensible individual representing the woman of today's world!!!

The movie proves why Jahnu Barua is a 9 time national award winner and why Actors like Anupam Kher should start producing films on a regular basis: to take the art of filmaking beyond the horizon and to ensure the audience start looking at cinema with more respect and not just as a mere source of entertainment.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Identity

" The whole city was tense and there was heavy security at the train stations.We were shit scared until we got home. Man, Life is so unpredictable!!!" These were the precise words of one of my collegues at work who travels frequently to New York City. He was in the city when the red alert was sounded and was in the train when he heard of the news. I understand the palpitation and pumping heartbeats but coming from a country like India, i just could not help laughing. I agreed with him on one thing though i.e The only thing predictable about Life is it's unpredictability.

September 11 was an eye opener to not just United States but to the world. But i always fail to understand why weren't the March'93 blasts in bombay an eye opener to the world about global terrorism? In the US, any petty security threat gets hyped to such an extent that the whole country goes berserk as if all hell has broken loose! i really wonder how would these pople or their leaders survive in a country like India. The day after the March'93 bomb blasts, all schools and offices reported full attendance. i rememeber an article in the Times of India after the blasts that took place near the gateway of india. They displayed photographs of gruesome bodies lying around near a burnt taxi (on the day of the blast) and the next day the same venue had the hawkers and other petty shop keeprs doing usual business as if nothing had happened!!!

I surrender to this very spirit of Bombay and it is not jsut restricted ot the financial capital of India. it is an attitude and spirit highly contagious all over the country. If thats the case, what prevents us from being a show stopper!! I am aware of the problems like population,corruption,poverty etc but I feel if we have 50 million people creating issues for us, we have the remaining half who can provide us with a solution. If not a solution, at least an appropriate alternative. Each day before i go to work, i question myself, why am I here? wha tis the driving force that makes me stick her? why do i prefer being an SSN number in the US instead of being myself with an individual identity in my home country. The most common answer would be a sophisticated lifestlye, money and the usual materialistic things. But are we so weak that we have given in to a few green pieces of paper with the photographs of dead US presidents on them? I am sure each one of us realizes and thinks like this at least at some point of time. It just about holding to those thoughts and realizations and going all the way. Kudos to all those who have made the transition. I really wish to get inspired from them and undergo the transition.

The most ironical part is that I am of this view and opinion especially when I am working in this country myself. I am not writing this to convince anyone to get back but probably trying to convince myself and realize with each thought that in life, there is really no place like home!!!