My watch is 10 minutes advance. People fail to grasp the necessity of this habit. But it keeps me ticking, giving me a sense of being ahead with the rest of the world by 10 minutes. Although I am fully aware of this fact, somewhere my subconscious has registered it in a unique, mysterious way. Every action, intuition and move is enchanted by this deceptively trivial fact. How?
I would force - unknowingly - my mind to act now which it could have waited 10 more minutes for. I can plan for future unwavered by the fear of being too late to commit because I have 10 minutes lead to the rest of the world anyway.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
आ चलें धूप की खोज में...
A film must touch you; it must sit within your soul and have conversation with it. A film must portray reality; a film must inspire us without being pedantic. It must teach us not preach us. The characters in the film must look into your eyes and share their agony and pleasure with you and when they do that they must not look merely the characters of a show. They must be as real as the person sitting next to you.
If you think that this is an impossible task and there are more possibilities of eggs falling on the floor and not breaking than making such a film, then you should watch "Taare Zameen Pe". You might change your opinion about the life you lead and people you like (or dislike). On one hand we have a miraculously simple story, one which might trick you to believe that not more than a 1 hr documentary could pretty much summarize the idea, on the other hand we have the creative genius of TZP writers and director to come up with so many layers in the story that you will end up relating with it in the most unique and peculiar way. You will feel that it is inspiring you in a way which only you could understand. I ended up feeling that life after all goes on and one's biggest inspiration is within oneself. I realized that when the laughter cannot contain pleasure one often has to resort to tears lest your heart might explode with triumph. Triumph of a boy who steals one day from the school to learn about life what no modern education system could impart in a lifetime. Or the triumph of a teacher against the common notions of society, where intelligence quotient is measured in numbers, where no less than extra-ordinary scores are given the due recognition; everything else is conveniently ignored with a justifiable need-of-the-hour argument. The policy of elimination than selection, you see.
I would rather not delve much on the technical aspects of TZP; needless to say that film has lived most of its life in being the most supreme work of an accomplished artist. The dialogues are apt in most of the situations, although with a slight whiff of over projection on certain occasions but these are pardonable mistakes given that the film has so boldly questioned the very essence of bollywoodism. We have to ask ourselves these questions, how long are we going to continue to make films serving as junk food for the masses? How long are our films going to act like song-churning vending machines? You put a coin and get a song.
TZP is also peculiarly noticed about its music, the sacred cow of Indian cinema. It takes the film to another dimension where the lyrics are vintage Prasoon Joshi, blissfully unconventional in portraying the essence of youth in modern India. A few animation spots in the films are very creatively used, especially when you see the musical notes complementing the "play of colors" in the child's beautiful mind. The film is a creative marriage of all cinematic brilliance and a deceptively simple art of story-telling.
And of course the holy grail of TZP is the much concerned, often misunderstood even discounted despair and agony of a dyslexic child. The films’ biggest achievement is the inconspicuous manner of bringing to forefront the issue and not for one second preaching about it. I hope it strikes the right chord with the parents who constantly push their children beyond reasonable limits. It might sound wishful to expect that the film might be the stepping stone for our educationists to shape up the future education system and that the film might turn a few tables in this bureaucratic quagmire called India. The film teaches us the real meaning of cinema and life and many things can be changed with that knowledge.
If you think that this is an impossible task and there are more possibilities of eggs falling on the floor and not breaking than making such a film, then you should watch "Taare Zameen Pe". You might change your opinion about the life you lead and people you like (or dislike). On one hand we have a miraculously simple story, one which might trick you to believe that not more than a 1 hr documentary could pretty much summarize the idea, on the other hand we have the creative genius of TZP writers and director to come up with so many layers in the story that you will end up relating with it in the most unique and peculiar way. You will feel that it is inspiring you in a way which only you could understand. I ended up feeling that life after all goes on and one's biggest inspiration is within oneself. I realized that when the laughter cannot contain pleasure one often has to resort to tears lest your heart might explode with triumph. Triumph of a boy who steals one day from the school to learn about life what no modern education system could impart in a lifetime. Or the triumph of a teacher against the common notions of society, where intelligence quotient is measured in numbers, where no less than extra-ordinary scores are given the due recognition; everything else is conveniently ignored with a justifiable need-of-the-hour argument. The policy of elimination than selection, you see.
I would rather not delve much on the technical aspects of TZP; needless to say that film has lived most of its life in being the most supreme work of an accomplished artist. The dialogues are apt in most of the situations, although with a slight whiff of over projection on certain occasions but these are pardonable mistakes given that the film has so boldly questioned the very essence of bollywoodism. We have to ask ourselves these questions, how long are we going to continue to make films serving as junk food for the masses? How long are our films going to act like song-churning vending machines? You put a coin and get a song.
TZP is also peculiarly noticed about its music, the sacred cow of Indian cinema. It takes the film to another dimension where the lyrics are vintage Prasoon Joshi, blissfully unconventional in portraying the essence of youth in modern India. A few animation spots in the films are very creatively used, especially when you see the musical notes complementing the "play of colors" in the child's beautiful mind. The film is a creative marriage of all cinematic brilliance and a deceptively simple art of story-telling.
And of course the holy grail of TZP is the much concerned, often misunderstood even discounted despair and agony of a dyslexic child. The films’ biggest achievement is the inconspicuous manner of bringing to forefront the issue and not for one second preaching about it. I hope it strikes the right chord with the parents who constantly push their children beyond reasonable limits. It might sound wishful to expect that the film might be the stepping stone for our educationists to shape up the future education system and that the film might turn a few tables in this bureaucratic quagmire called India. The film teaches us the real meaning of cinema and life and many things can be changed with that knowledge.
A short stint
Have you ever wondered that the formation of a baby in mother's womb is a not merely a physical process. It is almost mysterious even miraculous that a life is is formed out of a very scientific beginning. A life which has psychology, emotions, spirituality and a complete sense of wholeness. We all learn mostly from our surroundings, relationships, all of which adds a dimension to our personality but whenever we look within ourselves we learn that there is something in us which is truly ours, which was not inspired by anyone else. It belongs to us, and us only.
In most difficult times we usually come to terms with this inner beauty of ours. When I speak to someone who is in despair and wants my succour I try to connect to him through this inner feeling of mine. Once, when I was very small, a visitor came to my place for a glass of water. It was a hot summer day. I could feel the heat in his dark skin made even darker by the fiery sun. A drop of sweat rose from his petals. When he asked for water, I looked at him and realised the urgency within a matter of micro-seconds. There was a real connection established between the two of us for that brief moment.
In most difficult times we usually come to terms with this inner beauty of ours. When I speak to someone who is in despair and wants my succour I try to connect to him through this inner feeling of mine. Once, when I was very small, a visitor came to my place for a glass of water. It was a hot summer day. I could feel the heat in his dark skin made even darker by the fiery sun. A drop of sweat rose from his petals. When he asked for water, I looked at him and realised the urgency within a matter of micro-seconds. There was a real connection established between the two of us for that brief moment.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
No-holds-barred
Just an idea which struck my mind. My writtings and words are tame compared to the no-holds-barred forcefulness of my self-generated vision. Is it a syndrome which every amateur writer suffers from?
I really don't know...
Helping hand
My company invites NGOs to set up regular stalls at the premises for the display of the handicrafts, posters and other works produced by the poor and children. I really appreciate this gesture on the part of my employer. Its a such a relief that being a company of foriegn roots, they do well to understand the responsibilities towards the society they are a part of. This leads to an idea that somewhere in their heart they know the meaning of helping others, especially the unprivileged.
However there is no denying the fact that there is actually a motive of establishing a corporate image, one which knows its duties towards the society and mankind. This has several wider benefits (not a part of this discussion) for any organisation striving for a firm foothold in the minds of people who matter. Employees, for example, will find a great motivation to serve an organisation which has a social tint in its future goals. After all it gives them a sense of patriotism, social service leading to several other euphoric sentiments which all add up to their work and productivity towards an organisation.
Having understood this, the model just discussed is actually a give and take. I am serving you because in return I will get something. And the relationship is mutually beneficial. Please note that nowhere I have suggested the possiblity of this model siezing to work if the take part is removed. For the sake of hypothesis lets assume that take part is removed and the social services which we discussed before do not lead to any benefit in terms of employee motivation. Can this model sustain itself under the circumstances?
Now I come to real basis of my argument. Yesterday I went to visit a lower class township, better known as a slum but a miniature one. We were looking for a maid for our house and what better place to start than a slum? And again I was not disappointed with the visit. But little I knew that this short visit was going to put a lasting impression on my mind. We asked a lady who was a inside a small window less, underlit hole. She told us to go to the township behind. Then appeared a man next door, who was listening to the conversation. He intervened and said, "You can find "Chhaya" in the town down this road.". We started to go. He stopped us and said, "Wait, I will solve your problem. I will come with you." He went ahead and showed us to a place where we could find a maid. He even called somebody and explained the situation. The lady he introduced us to was more than willing to take up the job. We got busy in negotiating the work, meanwhile he slipped away. I noticed his absence after a long time. I even forgot to thank him. He was not expecting me to give any thing to him. He came out and helped us for no reason at all. It still wonders me...
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Cry of the Gut...
Man is an animal. No, not only socially, not only biologically, not only figuratively but in every essence of the word. I had this knowledge previously but a startling, heart-choking reminder of the same was waiting for me when I was with my wife at Khandala railway station yesterday morning. We were having breakfast in a group of 30 – 40 people, hence food was served in bulk and a lot of leftover was also there.
A family was having its morning meal nearby. The head of the family, a frail, too old for his age guy was with his only son and wife. The meal comprised of stale chapattis and some dry stuff to eat along. The man was constantly pushing his wife and son to go to the group leader nearby and ask for some food. Somehow he didn’t have the courage, or had too strong a self-dignifying sentiment, which didn’t allow him to go and beg for food himself. But his stomach was crying too and he couldn’t tolerate so he kept chiding his wife for not having the guts to go and ask for any left over food. Then his son entered the scene; he had a school bag. His father literally jostled him to go upfront and beg for food. The man almost threw his son into our group and cried out that gut wrenching cry, Jaa…
A family was having its morning meal nearby. The head of the family, a frail, too old for his age guy was with his only son and wife. The meal comprised of stale chapattis and some dry stuff to eat along. The man was constantly pushing his wife and son to go to the group leader nearby and ask for some food. Somehow he didn’t have the courage, or had too strong a self-dignifying sentiment, which didn’t allow him to go and beg for food himself. But his stomach was crying too and he couldn’t tolerate so he kept chiding his wife for not having the guts to go and ask for any left over food. Then his son entered the scene; he had a school bag. His father literally jostled him to go upfront and beg for food. The man almost threw his son into our group and cried out that gut wrenching cry, Jaa…
That one word summarized the plight of all his life, what his life was made of, what that-almost-reduced-to-bone man faced every day.
All the talks of personal endeavors, ambitions looked so meaningless to me in that one moment when the life of a man was simply reduced to managing one meal a day (with only partial success). Do I care about any spiritual fulfillment? Or Do I care about whether I am able to pursue my faith to God Almighty when life has been so cruel by not even offering me enough food to survive, my most basic right.
Anyway, the boy came back empty-handed. His father gave him a very ugly reprimand. The boy revolted menacingly, after all he never wanted to go beg for food in the first place. And as my wife commented later that it was something which he must have been taught in school that one should have esteem to live a self sufficient life and not befall to such a degree that begging is the only option left to survive.
The man’s wife was a mute observer; she wanted the boy not to steam up the situation lest they will have a quarrel in a public place. She urged the boy to keep his mouth shut. She had a moaning look in her eyes.
The man took out a bidi, lit it, took a puff, jumped to the rail tracks and started walking towards his home wherever the hell it was.
Preconceived Notions
We all have them. If we are aware of them in us, we think we can defy them and free our minds of all the subjectivity. But why does every single act of being unmindful of them fails so invariably? Consider this, if I think that my friend has written a piece of work, and I have a notion that has always undermined his capabilities, then my mind will always be able to find faults in his writings. And my mind will always forge out an argument that can belittle his work to some extent. In fact, why do critics have so many opinions? The answers can be found in the fact that they make opinions based on historical data, hence a plenty of room for preconceived notions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
