If God was a Banker

These debutant writers are just too good!
Read 'If God was a Banker' by Ravi Subramaniam if you don’t get what I am saying. Dealing with the corporate issues which are closely related to personal issues like our own set of values, beliefs and ethics, the book is a quick read and is not too taxing on the brain. Written in extremely simple language and in a casual style of dialogue, you can actually relate to the characters.

The book is not extra-ordinary. He delves much too deeply into the business of banking with too much emphasis on the banking aspects and techniques. To an outsider who is not fluent with it may find it boring and for an MBA or an insider it would seem too trivial and definitely too simple for understanding. But, every book has some or the other negative points. That doesn’t in any way, undermine the book in totality. The friendship between the two ladies, the contrasting nature of the two lead fellows, the day to day conflicts that each professional faces in his day at office is well-portrayed.

Wouldn’t say much because it would be a pleasure to read the book if you don’t know a lot about it. It’s a good read. It’s pretty small so even if you don’t like it, you won’t regret wasting too much time on it.

Killing Music

I am sure many will disagree with me on this, but I simply dislike the Jai Ho Remix of Slumdog Millionaire by the Pussycat Dolls!

She has ‘revamped’ it. Why Nicole, why? People revamp things that are not good in the first place. So, by revamping, you give it a new, a better look. The original was awesome just the way it was. All the more, the video is not entertaining. Nicole Scherzinger looks awfully thin, more on the anaemic side. Mind you, I have nothing against the singer or the band. I am, in fact, a fan of their songs. I can’t help tapping my feet while listening to the songs with lively beats and superb dance steps. In the remix of Jai Ho, it seems more like she is doing aerobics

Where is the age of originality? Why are people not making their own songs and instead remixing them? I, personally, am dead against remixes. My blood boiled when a beautiful, slow and romantic song like Woh Lamhe of Zeher was remixed and it ended up completely opposite!

I wish music directors would stick to their job of MAKING music and not RE-MAKING it...

The White Tiger

I just read The White Tiger by debutant writer, Aravind Adiga (ya, ya, the same one that was all over the news for winning the Man-Booker prize winner). I liked it. The book is in a form which is the easiest to read-a letter form. Right from the beginning of the book, you know what the story is but how it unfolds page by page is fascinating.

There are some urgent issues dealt with such as the corrupt ways of dealings that exist among the elite classes and the obvious division between the haves and the have-nots. What makes it a good read is that it has been portrayed in a sardonic voice with ample wit.

With some brilliant facts, classic humour (sure to make you chuckle), simple yet effective language and a look at the world from the eyes of a driver, the book is a thorough entertainer.

The White Tiger is Balram who has grown up in the Darkness, which signifies the poor India where education is not given importance and the most urgent thing to do is to start working immediately. When you start working, you are supposed to give all your earnings to your elderly (who are always waiting for the month-end). Balram, is neither interested in working on mundane tasks nor is he interested in giving away his pay. He has dreams. All of us have. But what he has that perhaps, only a few of us have is a determination to achieve it. He has to drop out of school so he learns through experience. He eavesdrops on conversations, he is ever alert and inviting to every new piece of information he can get hold of.

He learns driving and goes to the city of New Delhi with his master whom he respects tremendously. He befriends the city, he listens to the roads, he develops a special bond with the profession. Fortunately, ambition takes the better of him. He kills his master. Yes! The one whom he respects tremendously and he very well justifies his act as that of a ‘social entrepreneur’.

The white tiger is a rare species. Balram is one, too. And just like the ferocious tiger, Balram too wants to break the bondages and escape from the cages the society has drawn for him and become something on his own, do something what HE wishes to do.

There are some things which I particularly liked about the character. The fact that he kills his master is not because he hated him (there is not a single sentence in the whole book where he bad-mouths him). In fact, the killing represents the killing of the system that his master represents (that of corruption and lies and falsehood). Also there is a nice relationship brought out between the driver and his car (yes, you read it right!). How the driver grows on every interaction with a new road and how gradually he becomes possessive of the car. His car.

Balram is a good guy. What is brought to light is that he becomes corrupt not because of his life in the Darkness, but because of his growth in the Light! I particularly liked it because generally all the crimes are accredited to poverty and lack of comforts. In this case, it was the prosperity and the way the rich live their lives that led Balram into becoming something that he wasn’t.

Education made him corrupt. Knowledge made him corrupt.

Some nice sayings I came across...

What’s written in brackets is me thinking aloud

No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission (How true, we are indeed the masters of our own destiny)

The best way to escape a problem is to solve it! (Now, why didn’t I think of that?!)

He who laughs....lasts (How true!!!!)

Look for opportunities, not guarantees (Ya, if it was guarantees we are looking for, we would be paying a high price!!!)

Whose Shoe is it anyway?

With the shoes rapidly becoming the most sought-after accessory, the common blogger is blessed. In view of so many events revolving around the traditionally not-so-important shoes, how can a blog be complete without a mention of it?!

So here I am, with my share..

It’s hilarious. It really is. Humiliating as it may be, it sure provides a dose of entertainment for readers. With Jarnail shoo-ing Mr. Chidambaram and now a retired school professor throwing his valued possession on Mr. Jindal, I am looking forward to tomorrow’s newspaper to read about the next target.

On a serious note, it’s time to do some serious sole searching. Why are we constantly and foolishly aping the West? If we have to, why aren’t we taking the path of progress? Instead here we are, indulging in these shoe games. Mr. Chidambaram pardoned the journalist-shows a big heart but then what makes you think that it’s not gonna invite another round of shoe-attack on you, Mr. Home Minister? Jarnail had no evil intentions (so, he says) and he claims that it all happened in the heat of the moment. Fine, as you say but this is totally unacceptable behaviour from a journalist!

We are in deep mud if this is the system of protests common man is going to take up in our civilised society. Soon, before we even know, this is going to become an approved medium of riots and goondaism. Democracy is disappearing and we are slowly stepping into a new stage of anarchy where each one will bring up his own technique of fighting an issue.

I think now before we enter a rally or an address from a politician, the police is going to frisk us for pointed objects, liquid, guns and ammunition, eggs and tomatoes and yes, of course, shoes!

An overdose of over-reaction, isn’t it?

Twinkle Khanna ‘supposedly’ did an indecent and an immoral act by unbuttoning her husband’s jeans in a Fashion Show. The social committees created a huge hue and cry about the whole incident and they arrested one of the actors (who was released on bail very soon, of course) and the other is out on a shooting but he has dutifully promised to surrender when he comes back. What they did, wasn't so indecent considering the way it’s made into an issue but then again, it would have been a better option if they would do it behind closed doors of their bedrooms. The whole hotch-potch was definitely not needed.

If that wasn’t enough, Preity Zinta blasted the media for falsely reporting about her split with Ness Wadia and her link-up with Vikram Chatwal. With a phone call made to Zoom specially to show her concern over the whole thing and a special write-up in Bombay Times to verbally spite the media, she sure has all the attention she wants right before her IPL stunt. The media, no doubt has infiltrated certain protocols of privacy, by making her life an open book. But I just want to inform Ms. Zinta that we are simply not interested. The newspapers are flooded with your news but we simply read the headline of the article and overlook the rest of it. Because, seriously we do not care about your life, we have our own set of worries to take care of. So don't overreact so much, please.

Mayawati and Maneka Gandhi felt left out. They thought that these celebrities are stealing away all their attention when they should be the ones actually getting it before the elections. So, here we are with another controversy and a war of words to read up on. With one accusing the other of not being a good mother and not being able to raise her son effectively, it was quite a read on the front page of every daily!

Overacting is the certainly the unavoidable in-thing. First, it was movies..now it is reality!

Roadies Top 4...gets interesting

Roadies this weekend (Sunday, March 29, 2009) was good fun. The first task which was the money task was good to see but the immunity task wasn’t!

The first task where they were testing the contestant’s strength by asking them to dive again and again from a height was taxing. At the same time we came to know how smart Paulomi and Sufi were (read: not smart). The scene where Palak tried doing various stunts and ended up falling badly on her back was awesome. The way she said “naanimaa yaad aa gayi” was funnier. Natasha seems to be a no-nonsense girl who doesn’t think too highly of herself and tries to maintain her dignity on the show (regardless of what she has been before on the show). But that in no way means that she is a good performer, no sir! Palak is all mouth. Why is she not getting out of the show yaar?! The second task was also fun but I seriously pray for the contestants’ well-being because they are being pushed to new horizons each episode. Poor guys!

The vote out was awesome till we knew that Palak was getting voted out. But the twist made everything sad. Sufi was a good guy and a brilliant performer. I don’t think it’s fair at all to send him out just because Palak has a grudge against him. Frankly speaking, I think the show is rigged and they just don’t want Palak to leave the show because if she is out, there won’t be any tears, any drama, any betrayal, any bitching, any backbiting-in short, there won’t be any reason for people to watch the show. Palak is the TRP puller.

Keeping aside her topic, I am amazed at the way Paulomi reached the top five and now the top four! How? Why? When? Did we miss something? She is not a performer at all, she plays safe each time by not taking any side, she is dumb and she thinks she is very smart and she is not at all a Roadie’s material. Doesn’t Raghu feel ashamed that the quality of Roadies is put at risk when people like Paulomi reach the top five among the good ones? I like Nauman, as in, he is a good performer. He has always given his best and he has no air about himself, he is level minded and I still respect him for his first out-a very dignified exit!

All in all, the only thing disappointing in this episode was that Palak didn’t leave the show. And to make things worse, Sufi got out. What a guy he was! A true Roadie.

Oh God! Yet another award!

Priyanka Chopra is gay and happy. She has received the Nielson Box Office Award in Hong Kong for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Asian Cinema’. Goodness gracious!

What contribution? She has just been in the industry for just about five years and she has given 20 flops as against 5 hits in her career. Well, that IS a contribution, for sure!

She was adorable in Bluffmaster. She sizzled the screen in the item song of Billu Barber. She looks glamorous and really beautiful in Dostana. Her acting is top-notch in Fashion. The list ends here. What about her pathetic role and overacting stunts in movies like Plan, Kismat, Asambhav, Karam, Blackmail, Yakeen, Aap ki Khatir, Salaam-e-Ishq, Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho, Chamku, Drona?

Mind you, I have no animosity against Priyanka. She is indeed very beautiful but when it comes to her acting, I cannot say so. She has been accredited to a whole lot of flop films. And the hits that she has given are multi-starrers so we can’t give her ALL the credit. She just happened to make the right choices. Good for her!

Anyway, the whole point of me writing this is not to undermine her efforts and hard work, but it is just to point out the superficiality of each award. Every now and then an award is given to random actors and actresses. Well, I may be a little biased towards the ceremonies because I expected A Wednesday to grab all the awards this year but alas, it didn’t get the credit it deserved.

And the award goes to...

Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar won the Padma Shri award from the President of India for their contribution to Indian cinema. Yeah sure!

Aishwarya is nothing more than a pretty face but I wonder what has been her contribution to the industry which is more than what any other actress has done. Well, I don’t have an answer. So I conclude that the country has a policy of awarding all the actresses chance by chance. So this year it’s Aish (without any valid reason), next year it’s gonna be another such actress (again, without a valid reason..) which will make me write a post definitely next year.

So, till next year on the Padma Shri...

Vote with DNA

DNA, 1st April 2009 issue, Page 11, the advertisement on the bottom right.

It goes like this-
You can’t stop people with criminal records from contesting at the elections. But you can surely be informed about the backgrounds of your local candidates. Read our perspective on Elections in the section Vote ’09 with DNA and you will know the chaff from the rice. That should help you decide who to vote for.
Make the informed choice. Vote with DNA.

A very intelligent ad. And it points out certain facts about our helplessness to not be able to stop criminals entering our country at a high post.

M'am, what are you thinking?!

Anjali Waghmare is the lawyer appointed by the jury to fight the case of Ajmal. For those who need a reminder, Ajmal is the fellow who was an accomplice to the Mumbai terror attacks which took place on 26th November 2008. The jury wants to assign a lawyer to him because that’s the law of the country. India has strict and rigid policies where every accused gets a chance to have a fair trial and a chance of being pardoned if the lawyer is good enough to defend his or her case properly.

India is a very nice country where criminals and terrorists can come in dozens and kill as many Indians as they wish and spread as much terror as they want AND still be relieved that they will get a lawyer, full protection and an opportunity to be condoned.

I don’t understand this policy at all. And what’s more-I don’t care for it! Anjali Waghmare claims that what she is doing is for the good of the country. Could you please elaborate, Mrs. Waghmare? What good will it do if
· You lose the case and it will put a ‘lost case’ stamp on your career
· You win the case, you will also win another round of the Shiv Sainiks to your house with perhaps, a larger mob..
What are you thinking, m’am?

As for the Shiv Sainiks, for once, I am all for you. I am on your side. Somebody has to talk sense to these goody goody people who always think for the better of everybody irrespective of their motives and cruel intentions.
On top of it all, there are critics and editor’s suggestions saying that strict actions should be taken against the unruly and rowdy crowd. They are unruly and they are hooligans, I don’t deny that. But why don’t they see the bigger picture? Rather than criticizing the jury, the laws of the country, the lawyer-why are they targeting the Shiv Sainiks? Just because they are an easy target and because they have past records of such gunda behaviour?

As for the government, please think about the money and manpower that you are dedicating towards the protection of the sole captured terrorist. Think of all the opportunity costs. You are spending your days and money and all your thinking capacity in thinking about which clandestine place to move Ajmal next to. Don’t you have any other work to do? Don’t you want to divert those policemen and money to better causes-protect the country and even if not that, give those good men a break? Why should they dedicate a few good years of their life to put their life in trouble to ensure the protection of this mass murderer?