1. Powerful is not always righteous. In fact, powerful is seldom righteous.
2. Popular media tends to align with the more powerful and becomes the mouthpiece of the powerful. The media that doesn’t, perishes. It is the pure, simple, natural order of things.
Combine 1 and 2, what do you get? What if everything that has been portrayed to us as righteous and just is actually malicious but powerful (and hence the authors’ favorite)? What if what they hail is powerful evil and what they condemn is powerless good?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
There's a Possibility
When you want something real bad, like you can't do without it, you gradually begin to see signs which say - it belongs to you. And this happens even when you start off with complete despair, with the knowledge that it does not belong to you and you will NEVER get it. But you keep hanging around. You unknowingly lead yourself to believe that there's a glimmer of hope, however tiny however far it does not matter. There is hope.
This is a bad situation to be in. The gap between reality and your wishful thinking keeps growing. The worst part is, you know it. Yet you refuse to accept.
I don't know the way out.
I think I now know this song.
There's a possibility
There's a possibility
All that I had
was all I'm gonn'get
This is a bad situation to be in. The gap between reality and your wishful thinking keeps growing. The worst part is, you know it. Yet you refuse to accept.
I don't know the way out.
I think I now know this song.
There's a possibility
There's a possibility
All that I had
was all I'm gonn'get
Saturday, December 11, 2010
All those who search for meaning in life somehow lend credibility to the existence of God. Here's why.
A scientific mind (who I assume likes to explain everything without involving God) would argue that the only essential parts in the life cycle of an organism are the ones that help it survive and propagate as a species. These basic functions are the usual eating, sleeping, taking a dump, reproducing, and protecting the young ones from danger. The only 'purpose' in their life should be their survival. Indeed, most of us believe this to be true for bacteria, ants, birds and lions. But when it comes to humans, well, then it becomes a different ball game.
If the science that applies to bacteria, ants, birds and lions applies to humans too, why should they bother about anything other than the basic survival functions? Why should humans search for meaning in life and not just be content with simply surviving the 60-odd years they're alive for? The fact that things like love, hate, pride, respect, honesty and jealousy - things which can only be felt and do not exactly relate to survival - exist, and sometimes become more important than survival itself, indicates that there's more to the human life form than the question of survival.
This is where I lose the plot. If human species is different from other life forms in terms of survival being the sole/central purpose of life, then who/what caused it to be this way? God?
A scientific mind (who I assume likes to explain everything without involving God) would argue that the only essential parts in the life cycle of an organism are the ones that help it survive and propagate as a species. These basic functions are the usual eating, sleeping, taking a dump, reproducing, and protecting the young ones from danger. The only 'purpose' in their life should be their survival. Indeed, most of us believe this to be true for bacteria, ants, birds and lions. But when it comes to humans, well, then it becomes a different ball game.
If the science that applies to bacteria, ants, birds and lions applies to humans too, why should they bother about anything other than the basic survival functions? Why should humans search for meaning in life and not just be content with simply surviving the 60-odd years they're alive for? The fact that things like love, hate, pride, respect, honesty and jealousy - things which can only be felt and do not exactly relate to survival - exist, and sometimes become more important than survival itself, indicates that there's more to the human life form than the question of survival.
This is where I lose the plot. If human species is different from other life forms in terms of survival being the sole/central purpose of life, then who/what caused it to be this way? God?
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
"His ability to be detached.. to look at everything objectively.. no emotions. He will always perform well.."
"By not getting attached isn't he missing out? On life?"
"The things he will achieve. The things he dreamed of. Vineyards. Greece. Alaska. He'll be very rich."
"Will he enjoy these things alone? Will he not want to share? How he felt in Alaska? How was the Greek yacht ride?"
"If he thinks about sharing right now, he won't probably achieve any of this. He'll break down."
"And if he sets out alone, knowing he can't share what he goes on to achieve, will that be achievement at all? Will he not lose the drive and just.. quit?"
"He does realize it won't mean much alone. But what else is he supposed to do?? He can control objects. He can't control how people think."
"This is sounding like a loser's memoir. What if someone reads?"
"Like he cares?"
"Will he ever be at peace? Not haunted by past? Not haunted by how things could have been?"
"Go on, paint your rosy picture. Truth is, even you don't know how things could have been. And you, just wait and watch. Look at where he came from. Look how far he has come. Look where he'll go from here. You just wait and watch."
"By not getting attached isn't he missing out? On life?"
"The things he will achieve. The things he dreamed of. Vineyards. Greece. Alaska. He'll be very rich."
"Will he enjoy these things alone? Will he not want to share? How he felt in Alaska? How was the Greek yacht ride?"
"If he thinks about sharing right now, he won't probably achieve any of this. He'll break down."
"And if he sets out alone, knowing he can't share what he goes on to achieve, will that be achievement at all? Will he not lose the drive and just.. quit?"
"He does realize it won't mean much alone. But what else is he supposed to do?? He can control objects. He can't control how people think."
"This is sounding like a loser's memoir. What if someone reads?"
"Like he cares?"
"Will he ever be at peace? Not haunted by past? Not haunted by how things could have been?"
"Go on, paint your rosy picture. Truth is, even you don't know how things could have been. And you, just wait and watch. Look at where he came from. Look how far he has come. Look where he'll go from here. You just wait and watch."
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, May 29, 2009
The List
Ok, Computer. I had planned to keep this to myself. However since I realize you're gonna be my closest pal for quite some time to come, not that you haven't already been for the past decade or so, I think I'll share this really personal stuff with you.
It is a simple list, so don't expect too much excitement. More so, the order of listing is least important.
It is called the "Things To Do Before I Die" list. Here goes:
(Note: Things marked by an 'x' in the end have been accomplished.)
- To own a collection of all Tarantino movies and screen them back-to-back over a weekend.
- To buy a Ferrari convertible and drive it in the rain. With the roof retracted.
- To gift my dad a Fat Boy Harley.
- To jump into the plunge pool of a waterfall from a cliff at least 70 feet high. Ok, 50 feet.
- To go to the Amazon rainforest.
- To send an anonymous gift to a pretty girl. (x)
- To catch a fish, preferably salmon, and cook it for lunch.
- To meet Sachin Tendulkar.
- To download and see all naughty videos of the female celebrities I like. (You'd already know this, Computer, wouldn't you?) (Eye-winking smiley)
- To do a wine-tasting tour in Bordeaux.
- To ride a scooter in Tuscany.
- To get drunk and sound the huge rusty bell hanging atop my college's tallest building. (x) (Ok, getting drunk was not part of the plan, but it still counts.)
- To eat pizza in Pisa. (x)
- To learn how to cook pasta. (x)
- To open an Italian restaurant, much like The Big Chill, Delhi.
- To ride a horse in Arizona.
- To learn horseriding.
- To construct a crude raft and ride it gently down a stream. (Maybe I can catch my fish, preferably salmon, en route.)
- To get a preposterous haircut and flaunt it in office. (x) (It was Ghajini.)
- To meet Trey Parker and Matt Stone and hear their views on religion.
- To convert at least 10 ignorant, unaware losers into South Park fanatics. (Almost there..)
- To take a cruise vacation. (x)
- To get a haircut in every country I visit. (x till now..)
- To sail in a yacht from Greece to Venice.
- To learn French and try its magic on an American girl.
- To face a storm on high seas. (x)
- To spend a week in the Himalayas doing meditation with a random sage.
- To spend a month in a European village doing nothing. (x)
Ok, Computer. This will be all for now. I'll add more later. And, keep this to yourself.
It is a simple list, so don't expect too much excitement. More so, the order of listing is least important.
It is called the "Things To Do Before I Die" list. Here goes:
(Note: Things marked by an 'x' in the end have been accomplished.)
- To own a collection of all Tarantino movies and screen them back-to-back over a weekend.
- To buy a Ferrari convertible and drive it in the rain. With the roof retracted.
- To gift my dad a Fat Boy Harley.
- To jump into the plunge pool of a waterfall from a cliff at least 70 feet high. Ok, 50 feet.
- To go to the Amazon rainforest.
- To send an anonymous gift to a pretty girl. (x)
- To catch a fish, preferably salmon, and cook it for lunch.
- To meet Sachin Tendulkar.
- To download and see all naughty videos of the female celebrities I like. (You'd already know this, Computer, wouldn't you?) (Eye-winking smiley)
- To do a wine-tasting tour in Bordeaux.
- To ride a scooter in Tuscany.
- To get drunk and sound the huge rusty bell hanging atop my college's tallest building. (x) (Ok, getting drunk was not part of the plan, but it still counts.)
- To eat pizza in Pisa. (x)
- To learn how to cook pasta. (x)
- To open an Italian restaurant, much like The Big Chill, Delhi.
- To ride a horse in Arizona.
- To learn horseriding.
- To construct a crude raft and ride it gently down a stream. (Maybe I can catch my fish, preferably salmon, en route.)
- To get a preposterous haircut and flaunt it in office. (x) (It was Ghajini.)
- To meet Trey Parker and Matt Stone and hear their views on religion.
- To convert at least 10 ignorant, unaware losers into South Park fanatics. (Almost there..)
- To take a cruise vacation. (x)
- To get a haircut in every country I visit. (x till now..)
- To sail in a yacht from Greece to Venice.
- To learn French and try its magic on an American girl.
- To face a storm on high seas. (x)
- To spend a week in the Himalayas doing meditation with a random sage.
- To spend a month in a European village doing nothing. (x)
Ok, Computer. This will be all for now. I'll add more later. And, keep this to yourself.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
My LOST Theory: Post Season 5
Once upon a time, long ago, two people found (or maybe created) an island with special (electromagnetic) properties. One of them was Jacob, a good person who dressed in white to symbolize goodness. The other person's name has not been revealed yet. Let's call him Blackie, based on the way he dresses, symbolizing evil. Jacob and Blackie have supernatural abilities - probably they come from a different planet than Earth. Clearly their views don't concur and Blackie has a constant urge to kill Jacob. However he can't - there's some limitation on his part, or maybe there are 'rules' as they usually say. Blackie needs a 'loophole' in the rules to kill Jacob. Perhaps get him killed by a human?
Now Jacob wants to pass on the custody of the island to humans. Blackie does not like this idea. (He tells Jacob that they come, they fight, they corrupt.) Jacob has faith that if a good leader is identified and correctly advised, it should not be a problem. So he somehow directs a ship called Black Rock to the island, say somewhere in 1800s (going by the type of sail-ship they showed in Season 5 finale). The crew of Black Rock goes on to discover the island's wonders, starts living there and we now know them as the Others/Hostiles. Jacob creates an advisor named Richard who is probably an android, so he doesen't age.
Things go on smoothly till a team of scientists stumbles upon the island. They want to experiment and so they set up camps and begin the Dharma Initiative, somewhere in 1950s. The aboriginals (Others) find it an act of encroachment. The two groups fight and eventually settle for a peace deal demarcating their territories on the island.
In 1978 (let me call it the Old 1978, since 1978 happened again later with a different set of happenings), the Incident happens when the Dharma folks drill into a massive pocket of energy. All metal objects start flying into the drill-hole. The scientists somehow contain the facility and build a hatch over it where a button needs to be pressed every 108 minutes to keep the energy from building up and releasing.
Then the 'purge' takes place when the Others attack the Dharma people and kill them all using nerve gas, with the help of Benjamin Linus. All this while, the system of a leader advised by Richard is continuing in the Others' camp and Ben is identified as the leader after Charles Widmore who is then banished from the island. Meanwhile Desmond Hume lands on the island during his yacht world tour and is left in the hatch pushing the button by the then-in-charge of the button.
Then in 2005, Oceanic Flight 815 crashes on the island when Desmond fails to push the button. The survivors (Losties) remain there for a few months after which six go back to normal world and cook up a story that everyone else died in the crash.
In the next 3 years the Oceanic 6 lead an uneasy life and finally decide to try and get back to the island by boarding the Ajira flight in 2008. I guess that Blackie could have a hand in convincing the Oceanic 6 to go back - this could be the loophole to kill Jacob and run the island on his own terms. On board the Ajira flight is another group, led by Illana. Oceanic 6 and Illana's group probably do not know about each other though.
Meanwhile during the 2005-2008 period on the island:
Locke and Sawyer part ways. Ben moves the island but the island keeps going back and forth in time till it finally settles down in New 1975 after Locke tries to put the dislodged wheel in position. Locke gets transported to 2008 to try and convince the Oceanic 6 to return. Sawyer & co. land up in the Dharma initiative and spend a peaceful 3 years till New 1978. Rose and Bernard also end up in New 1975 but unlike Sawyer & co. who joined Dharma, they lead a retired life. Jin who survived the freighter blast in 2005 also hops in time with the island and ends up in New 1975, separated from Sawyer and Rose. So essentially, no one was on the island during 2005-2008.
In 2008 the Ajira flight crashes on the island. Illana's group, Ben, Sun, Pilot and Locke's dead body land on the island in 2008, while Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sayid land on the island in New 1978. Blackie takes the form of Locke and gets Jacob killed through Ben. The aberration of Alex that Ben sees in the temple is also created by Blackie to convince Ben to follow Locke (i.e. Blackie in the form of Locke) without questioning. (Perhaps the clause is that only a former or current leader can kill Jacob.) Jacob dies in 2008.
In New 1978 the Losties work together to prevent the incident from happening by exploding the hydrogen bomb, just when the incident was gathering momentum. In my view Miles' statement that perhaps the hydrogen bomb IS itself the incident, is wrong, because metal objects started flying into the drill-hole before the bomb exploded, just like it used to happen when the button was not pressed in the hatch, and secondly Miles' father would have died in the explosion, making him incapable of recording the Dharma instruction tapes. So I guess things could be changed and they were changed. The island is annihilated and Oceanic Flight 815 will land in LA in New 2005.
Now Jacob wants to pass on the custody of the island to humans. Blackie does not like this idea. (He tells Jacob that they come, they fight, they corrupt.) Jacob has faith that if a good leader is identified and correctly advised, it should not be a problem. So he somehow directs a ship called Black Rock to the island, say somewhere in 1800s (going by the type of sail-ship they showed in Season 5 finale). The crew of Black Rock goes on to discover the island's wonders, starts living there and we now know them as the Others/Hostiles. Jacob creates an advisor named Richard who is probably an android, so he doesen't age.
Things go on smoothly till a team of scientists stumbles upon the island. They want to experiment and so they set up camps and begin the Dharma Initiative, somewhere in 1950s. The aboriginals (Others) find it an act of encroachment. The two groups fight and eventually settle for a peace deal demarcating their territories on the island.
In 1978 (let me call it the Old 1978, since 1978 happened again later with a different set of happenings), the Incident happens when the Dharma folks drill into a massive pocket of energy. All metal objects start flying into the drill-hole. The scientists somehow contain the facility and build a hatch over it where a button needs to be pressed every 108 minutes to keep the energy from building up and releasing.
Then the 'purge' takes place when the Others attack the Dharma people and kill them all using nerve gas, with the help of Benjamin Linus. All this while, the system of a leader advised by Richard is continuing in the Others' camp and Ben is identified as the leader after Charles Widmore who is then banished from the island. Meanwhile Desmond Hume lands on the island during his yacht world tour and is left in the hatch pushing the button by the then-in-charge of the button.
Then in 2005, Oceanic Flight 815 crashes on the island when Desmond fails to push the button. The survivors (Losties) remain there for a few months after which six go back to normal world and cook up a story that everyone else died in the crash.
In the next 3 years the Oceanic 6 lead an uneasy life and finally decide to try and get back to the island by boarding the Ajira flight in 2008. I guess that Blackie could have a hand in convincing the Oceanic 6 to go back - this could be the loophole to kill Jacob and run the island on his own terms. On board the Ajira flight is another group, led by Illana. Oceanic 6 and Illana's group probably do not know about each other though.
Meanwhile during the 2005-2008 period on the island:
Locke and Sawyer part ways. Ben moves the island but the island keeps going back and forth in time till it finally settles down in New 1975 after Locke tries to put the dislodged wheel in position. Locke gets transported to 2008 to try and convince the Oceanic 6 to return. Sawyer & co. land up in the Dharma initiative and spend a peaceful 3 years till New 1978. Rose and Bernard also end up in New 1975 but unlike Sawyer & co. who joined Dharma, they lead a retired life. Jin who survived the freighter blast in 2005 also hops in time with the island and ends up in New 1975, separated from Sawyer and Rose. So essentially, no one was on the island during 2005-2008.
In 2008 the Ajira flight crashes on the island. Illana's group, Ben, Sun, Pilot and Locke's dead body land on the island in 2008, while Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sayid land on the island in New 1978. Blackie takes the form of Locke and gets Jacob killed through Ben. The aberration of Alex that Ben sees in the temple is also created by Blackie to convince Ben to follow Locke (i.e. Blackie in the form of Locke) without questioning. (Perhaps the clause is that only a former or current leader can kill Jacob.) Jacob dies in 2008.
In New 1978 the Losties work together to prevent the incident from happening by exploding the hydrogen bomb, just when the incident was gathering momentum. In my view Miles' statement that perhaps the hydrogen bomb IS itself the incident, is wrong, because metal objects started flying into the drill-hole before the bomb exploded, just like it used to happen when the button was not pressed in the hatch, and secondly Miles' father would have died in the explosion, making him incapable of recording the Dharma instruction tapes. So I guess things could be changed and they were changed. The island is annihilated and Oceanic Flight 815 will land in LA in New 2005.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Advertisements
I really like some advertisements. These include (non-exhaustive list; i'll keep adding more):
Sony VAIO Pocket PC: This girl stuffs the netbook in her jeans' rear pocket. As she walks, the netbook starts sliding out. She stops and stuffs it back in. She starts walking again and the bloody laptop starts to slide out again, inch by inch. And guess what - they never show the girl's face. The camera just follows her from behind as she walks. Guess the auditions were for the baggage and not the looks!
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAobCRxbbmo
Bajaj XCD 135: Two lovely sisters are engaged in a nasty catfight. They thrash, kick and throw each other around - in one sequence you almost wish they made out. Eventually one of them goes out cold, and the 'winner' puts on her jacket and moves out the front door. A man is waiting outside, on his XCD 135 bike. As they zip off, the bike's features are narrated - "135 cc. Great pickup. Alloy wheels. Disc brakes. But only one rear seat."
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ld-9qOO3BA
Tata Safari DICOR: This ad was MADE for me. With shots of a man on a vacation, in the middle of nowhere (snow-covered mountains, tall cliffs, underwater caves, volcanic hot springs, jungles, waterfalls, what not), with no second person in sight, it asks a fundamental question - "If you looked back on your life, what would you remember? The corner office? The corporate powerplays? The VIP lounge? What would you remember?" Safari DICOR. Reclaim your life.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8SelN6U-4
Sony VAIO Pocket PC: This girl stuffs the netbook in her jeans' rear pocket. As she walks, the netbook starts sliding out. She stops and stuffs it back in. She starts walking again and the bloody laptop starts to slide out again, inch by inch. And guess what - they never show the girl's face. The camera just follows her from behind as she walks. Guess the auditions were for the baggage and not the looks!
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAobCRxbbmo
Bajaj XCD 135: Two lovely sisters are engaged in a nasty catfight. They thrash, kick and throw each other around - in one sequence you almost wish they made out. Eventually one of them goes out cold, and the 'winner' puts on her jacket and moves out the front door. A man is waiting outside, on his XCD 135 bike. As they zip off, the bike's features are narrated - "135 cc. Great pickup. Alloy wheels. Disc brakes. But only one rear seat."
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ld-9qOO3BA
Tata Safari DICOR: This ad was MADE for me. With shots of a man on a vacation, in the middle of nowhere (snow-covered mountains, tall cliffs, underwater caves, volcanic hot springs, jungles, waterfalls, what not), with no second person in sight, it asks a fundamental question - "If you looked back on your life, what would you remember? The corner office? The corporate powerplays? The VIP lounge? What would you remember?" Safari DICOR. Reclaim your life.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8SelN6U-4
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Irony
And the Pakistan captain comes to the dias and says..
"I want to thank all the players, the supporters, and the Muslim religion people of the world for their support.."
And then, two minutes later, Irfan Pathan comes to the dias to claim the Man of the Match award for India.
Cricket is such a beautiful game, when you try to mix religion with sport, only funny situations result.
"I want to thank all the players, the supporters, and the Muslim religion people of the world for their support.."
And then, two minutes later, Irfan Pathan comes to the dias to claim the Man of the Match award for India.
Cricket is such a beautiful game, when you try to mix religion with sport, only funny situations result.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Do we like the same books?
I just noticed something about social networking sites recently.
I've been receiving all these "Shelfari" invitation emails from my acquaintances. The first ones to send the invis were all girls. Now this is new, since it's generally guys who go on to invite and add girls to their lists. Next in line were the people who.. well.. live on the edge. They've been hanging around with girls for so long that they've developed a noticeable femininity of character. Yes you got it.. the Karan Johar types. And finally came the real men. Now I've been trying to guess what kept them from going on their usual invi-spree for this yet another social network.
So finally I came to the conclusion that girls are more eager to build friendship networks, but they do need a solid premise to do that. Discussion on books is one of such premises, and how they've pounced on it! I'm sure if Orkut gave you such a reason, apart from the cliched "Here for: 1) Friends 2)Activity partners 3) Dating men/women/children/blah blah.. ", it'd be a much bigger hit in terms of girls taking the initiative.
Am I right, or am I right?
I've been receiving all these "Shelfari" invitation emails from my acquaintances. The first ones to send the invis were all girls. Now this is new, since it's generally guys who go on to invite and add girls to their lists. Next in line were the people who.. well.. live on the edge. They've been hanging around with girls for so long that they've developed a noticeable femininity of character. Yes you got it.. the Karan Johar types. And finally came the real men. Now I've been trying to guess what kept them from going on their usual invi-spree for this yet another social network.
So finally I came to the conclusion that girls are more eager to build friendship networks, but they do need a solid premise to do that. Discussion on books is one of such premises, and how they've pounced on it! I'm sure if Orkut gave you such a reason, apart from the cliched "Here for: 1) Friends 2)Activity partners 3) Dating men/women/children/blah blah.. ", it'd be a much bigger hit in terms of girls taking the initiative.
Am I right, or am I right?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sarkar | The Godfather
I'd been wanting to highlight the similarities between the Bollywood flick Sarkar (Director: Ram Gopal Varma) and the original Hollywood movie The Godfather (Director: Francis Ford Coppola), but was lazy enough not to do it.
I just came across a news article on indiatimes.com (dated 21 August 2007) which does the same and is surely an interesting and informative read for the layman. Here I'm producing the same for interested readers:
“… While there is little information on the back story of Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan) he has a similar reputation as Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Both of them are perceived to be kind and generous individuals who strongly believe in staying honorable even though they indulge in illegal activities. Both of them also survive an attack on their life when they refuse to make a deal on moral grounds. Sarkar and The Godfather refused to use their power for a drug deal.
The son Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) undergoes a similar transformation like Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). While Michael returns to his family from the military service following the end of World War II, Shankar comes home from studying in the United States. Shankar and Michael go from being unlikely candidates to mob bosses of the respective families. Neither of them plan on getting into the ‘family business’ but are forced to due to the prevailing circumstances.
Both families also have a Judas among them as Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon) is similar to Fredo the elder brother of Michael. Both of them betray the trust of the household simply to attain more power. Vishnu takes on the personality of the hotheaded Sonny Corleone since Fredo was shown to be the weak-willed one. Both of them are killed on the orders of their younger brother (Shankar and Michael) when it is found that they betrayed the family. “Never go against the family”, says Michael Corleone.
The gangs of Sarkar and the Godfather share an uneasy relationship with the other gangs of the city. The other gangs refuse to abide by their ideals and want to overthrow the family’s rule. This causes a gang war to erupt with the destruction of all opposing gangs. Both films show the deaths of other gang bosses towards the end of the film. Interestingly both films end with the patriarchs playing their grandson while this is the scene where Vito Corleone gets a heart attack and dies the Sarkar is shown to survive. ...”
Hmm! So this pretty much sums up what I intended to highlight.
I just came across a news article on indiatimes.com (dated 21 August 2007) which does the same and is surely an interesting and informative read for the layman. Here I'm producing the same for interested readers:
“… While there is little information on the back story of Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan) he has a similar reputation as Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Both of them are perceived to be kind and generous individuals who strongly believe in staying honorable even though they indulge in illegal activities. Both of them also survive an attack on their life when they refuse to make a deal on moral grounds. Sarkar and The Godfather refused to use their power for a drug deal.
The son Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) undergoes a similar transformation like Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). While Michael returns to his family from the military service following the end of World War II, Shankar comes home from studying in the United States. Shankar and Michael go from being unlikely candidates to mob bosses of the respective families. Neither of them plan on getting into the ‘family business’ but are forced to due to the prevailing circumstances.
Both families also have a Judas among them as Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon) is similar to Fredo the elder brother of Michael. Both of them betray the trust of the household simply to attain more power. Vishnu takes on the personality of the hotheaded Sonny Corleone since Fredo was shown to be the weak-willed one. Both of them are killed on the orders of their younger brother (Shankar and Michael) when it is found that they betrayed the family. “Never go against the family”, says Michael Corleone.
The gangs of Sarkar and the Godfather share an uneasy relationship with the other gangs of the city. The other gangs refuse to abide by their ideals and want to overthrow the family’s rule. This causes a gang war to erupt with the destruction of all opposing gangs. Both films show the deaths of other gang bosses towards the end of the film. Interestingly both films end with the patriarchs playing their grandson while this is the scene where Vito Corleone gets a heart attack and dies the Sarkar is shown to survive. ...”
Hmm! So this pretty much sums up what I intended to highlight.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Talk Spirituality, Talk Olympics
I am back from a trip to Vaishno Devi and I have a suggestion for the Indian Olympic Association.
Though the purpose of the trip was not the least to promote the (futile?) cause of India winning medals, flowers and stuffed toys at the Olympics, but far from that to clear my Balance Sheet with Almighty and begin afresh with my sins.
To the uninitiated, Vaishno Devi is a holy shrine for the Hindus, located in the Himalayan zone of Jammu and Kashmir. Reaching to the shrine doors takes a considerable amount of character and fitness - not everyone can walk 14 kilometers on the tough mountainous terrain, take a bath, say prayers, and walk the 14 kilometers back to earth.
But everyone can fancy the spiritual satisfaction of attempting to experience the Divine. Which is why several people find employment in facilitating these people’s wishes. And which is where my suggestion for the Olympics originates.
I talk about the porters who make a living by carrying just about anything on their backs - from luggage to the children of pilgrims to the pilgrims themselves. Those who find it difficult to walk the distance, happily mount the palkis carried by these porters on their shoulders, all the way up to the Divine doors. And because this is their source of bread and butter, the exercise has gelled into their lifestyle and a bare-foot climb, leave alone walk, is no big (or)deal.
Now for my suggestion – if, once in four years, we relieve the porters of their “holy duty” and send them over to the Olympics, we have more than a fair chance of striking it rich there. Come on now, think of all the Kenyans winning the marathons – the poor people are accustomed to walking miles for basic amenities out there.
So now you see, I am good at coming up with answers from scratch. However, I find myself at a loss when I ask myself -
“If just one arduous trip in a lifetime to such shrines is believed to change one’s fortunes, then why are these children of lesser Gods doomed to a life of hardship and misery even after making countless such trips?”
Amen.
Though the purpose of the trip was not the least to promote the (futile?) cause of India winning medals, flowers and stuffed toys at the Olympics, but far from that to clear my Balance Sheet with Almighty and begin afresh with my sins.
To the uninitiated, Vaishno Devi is a holy shrine for the Hindus, located in the Himalayan zone of Jammu and Kashmir. Reaching to the shrine doors takes a considerable amount of character and fitness - not everyone can walk 14 kilometers on the tough mountainous terrain, take a bath, say prayers, and walk the 14 kilometers back to earth.
But everyone can fancy the spiritual satisfaction of attempting to experience the Divine. Which is why several people find employment in facilitating these people’s wishes. And which is where my suggestion for the Olympics originates.
I talk about the porters who make a living by carrying just about anything on their backs - from luggage to the children of pilgrims to the pilgrims themselves. Those who find it difficult to walk the distance, happily mount the palkis carried by these porters on their shoulders, all the way up to the Divine doors. And because this is their source of bread and butter, the exercise has gelled into their lifestyle and a bare-foot climb, leave alone walk, is no big (or)deal.
Now for my suggestion – if, once in four years, we relieve the porters of their “holy duty” and send them over to the Olympics, we have more than a fair chance of striking it rich there. Come on now, think of all the Kenyans winning the marathons – the poor people are accustomed to walking miles for basic amenities out there.
So now you see, I am good at coming up with answers from scratch. However, I find myself at a loss when I ask myself -
“If just one arduous trip in a lifetime to such shrines is believed to change one’s fortunes, then why are these children of lesser Gods doomed to a life of hardship and misery even after making countless such trips?”
Amen.
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