In an article of his, the founder of Isha asks why would Kids in India sing a rhyme to chase the rain away when rain is what we need . This shows our madness in following "english" culture irrespective of whether its applicable or not.. He also explains that English kids do have a reason to, cuz its very rare in their countries to see sunshine.. Why should it be the same here.. forget about rest of the factors.. even the countrys economy is dependent on the rains.TN has been in dark for quite sometime due to lack of rains at the right time and do we want our kids to chase rain away..
Right from childhood I have been warned not to get wet in rain.. when I dared to, I found out how much I had missed until then. Feeling the rain connects me to Nature and the Creator than ever and the bonding strengthens my love for them.Just like how the earth blooms on the receiving the rains.. so do we human beings.. It just that we have disconnected ourselves with nature so much offlate that we tend to miss the inherent beauty and wonder in it.
Rain has always been favorite to people related to art and entertainment. There are lots of lovely songs written on rain.. One of my favorite in terms of both lyrics and music( my Darlings of course) is "Sakkara Vaagamo" in En swasa Kaatre". Sadly, many movie makers have used the rain to either accentuate the contours of a scantily dressed female character in the movie or make her cling on to the hero on the strike of thunder.I dont know about the rest of the audience but it seems ridiculous to me.Rains evoke a lot more feelings in a person than just romance or lust. Its unfortunate that we have been focusing only on those.
I also remember reading this -The saddest quote by the funniest man ever born, Charlie Chaplins-“I love walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying”. Pain or pleasure be it whatever.. I usually sense my hidden and dormant emotions surface when I watch the rains or when I occasionally dare to get drenched . Rains bring out memories..they whisper a lovely song by your ears, they listen to your hearts cry, cajole and console you.While the rains usually evoke the spiritual side in you and make you realise your self as a part of the whole ..they also bring innocent smiles .. especially the ones in summer that come along with a rainbow and the sweet and unique smell. A real feast for your senses. Whenever I smell them.. I get this strong urge to taste mud(%&^&^%!!!) but my brains tease me and I stop with a steaming cup of tea and the hot tasty bajjis my mom makes. At those moments is when I realise that best things in life come free.. without demand..like the rain and Moms love. Thats when I wonder ..Can something be so simple yet feel so good..Why do we complicate our lives chasing things out of our reach.. chasing mirages and materials.. and the more we get the more we want..
Kids these days grow with an aggressive attitude. Survival of the fittest is the motto and they are required to destroy anything that comes in the way to get what they want. Parents teach their kids to dance, sing, swim, study only to compete and make money. How many teach values.. to "live" life and enjoy the beauty of the simple and sweet packages that come along with it. How many say.. " Kiddo.. here comes the rain.. Lets go get drenched.."
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Mahathmas Mystery Monkeys and Movies
I had a strong urge to write about the movie Taare Zameen Par when I saw it first. I hadnt as I wasnt sure if my words could express what I felt and two.. I am not competent enough to review a movie. However I did suggest to whomever i spoke to( rather strongly.. I remember literally forcing the SlipTrip man) to watch it in the theaters. This is the first and only movie that I have watched thrice in the theaters.
What is making me write about it now? Well, I usually follow Saregamapa on Zee TV and this time the guest on the show was Aamir. I am not a person who confuses the reel heroes with the real ones.. But this man has become an exception. I would even vote for him if he chooses politics!! Until this happened, I have refrained from liking or disliking a person I haven't met or known in person except for one person.. the Darling of my heart AR Rahman.I am surprised to know that Aamir is close. Through out the show I found myself smiling at this man on screen either in appreciation or admiration. He didnt crack jokes..neither was he quick witted or spontaneous like Shah rukh or say Salman. Still there was a sincerity about whatever he said and did.
One another factor that I was able to relate to .. He seems to be a person who always looks at perfection and keeps doing a self assessment. To be able to do that.. he needs practice/rehearsals on everything he does, to improvise. He is not spontaneous enough to link to the participants quickly or even take compliments from them and react. Two participants mentioned very emotionally how they were able to relate to the movie and his reaction was hardly anything but a shy/happy smile . He was very conscious of his extempore performance. He played the drums on request from a Judge and sang Ay.. Kya bolti tu but did mention hat he might spoil the effect the song had on the audience earlier when the movie was released. I should rather be seeing this as a flaw.. (I was really upset with our Superstars stage presence at an Award function of NDTV, when he had to answer questions from Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan) Surprisingly I wasnt able to in case of Aamir.. That is when I realised it was due to this movie he has given us.If this man can deliver something as good as TZP on his debut what more do we need to admire him.
I am not good at analysing a movie at all angles -talk about its techincal superiority or directorial touch.. still I can say that TZP is the best by all means of the movies I have seen offlate. The story, cast, music n lyrics( simply superb),dialogues, the script, the colors, the costumes - the lady who play Aamirs pal looks fresh as a flower with beautiful same time decent attire..Even the names chosen for the characters are unique and thoughtful. You cry and laugh and react to every single action of every character in this movie. I happened to watch it with my Parents once , with my my friend and her husband and then with my sis and mom again. All of them enjoyed it. There is no age limit or range for liking this movie. I have seen Mothers shed tears on watching or hearing this wonderful song Maa.. and so have I though I am not one yet. It brings out the Mom in every woman and what else can stand proof for the movie being good. Than anything else it highlights the positive side, speaks about the forgotten values of human bonding and emotions in this fast competitive and materialistic world
I have always felt that a movie has to portray all the good things in the world .. and deliver implied messages in a pleasant manner as against those that show violence and are sleazy and shocking in the name of reality, especially the psycho movies. It brings out the hidden emotions and the animal in people who otherwise see it as uncommon and try to suppress them. We are what we see hear and say. Isnt that what our Father of the Nation suggested through the Three monkeys.. that if we do not hear, see or talk evil, we ourselves shall be spared all evil.Its time that the entertainment industry took some responsibility for the societys wellbeing and not cleverly use the chicken egg concept to say we are showing what is there already and what is liked..Few of them claim that they leave it to the audience to take what is good and leave the bad behind.. If all a max percentage of human beings are capable of doing that.. the world wont be what it is today. If not all atleast a percentage of movies that each person makes, does and distributes should belong to a socially responsible or atleast pleasant and decent category- movies that are good to hear see and talk about and not evil.
I was really happy to hear that TZP is Indias official entry into the Oscars. This movie has proved wrong that a good decent make devoid all the regular conventional masala wont be a commercial success.. I am not sure if it will win an oscar but it already has according to me.
What is making me write about it now? Well, I usually follow Saregamapa on Zee TV and this time the guest on the show was Aamir. I am not a person who confuses the reel heroes with the real ones.. But this man has become an exception. I would even vote for him if he chooses politics!! Until this happened, I have refrained from liking or disliking a person I haven't met or known in person except for one person.. the Darling of my heart AR Rahman.I am surprised to know that Aamir is close. Through out the show I found myself smiling at this man on screen either in appreciation or admiration. He didnt crack jokes..neither was he quick witted or spontaneous like Shah rukh or say Salman. Still there was a sincerity about whatever he said and did.
One another factor that I was able to relate to .. He seems to be a person who always looks at perfection and keeps doing a self assessment. To be able to do that.. he needs practice/rehearsals on everything he does, to improvise. He is not spontaneous enough to link to the participants quickly or even take compliments from them and react. Two participants mentioned very emotionally how they were able to relate to the movie and his reaction was hardly anything but a shy/happy smile . He was very conscious of his extempore performance. He played the drums on request from a Judge and sang Ay.. Kya bolti tu but did mention hat he might spoil the effect the song had on the audience earlier when the movie was released. I should rather be seeing this as a flaw.. (I was really upset with our Superstars stage presence at an Award function of NDTV, when he had to answer questions from Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan) Surprisingly I wasnt able to in case of Aamir.. That is when I realised it was due to this movie he has given us.If this man can deliver something as good as TZP on his debut what more do we need to admire him.
I am not good at analysing a movie at all angles -talk about its techincal superiority or directorial touch.. still I can say that TZP is the best by all means of the movies I have seen offlate. The story, cast, music n lyrics( simply superb),dialogues, the script, the colors, the costumes - the lady who play Aamirs pal looks fresh as a flower with beautiful same time decent attire..Even the names chosen for the characters are unique and thoughtful. You cry and laugh and react to every single action of every character in this movie. I happened to watch it with my Parents once , with my my friend and her husband and then with my sis and mom again. All of them enjoyed it. There is no age limit or range for liking this movie. I have seen Mothers shed tears on watching or hearing this wonderful song Maa.. and so have I though I am not one yet. It brings out the Mom in every woman and what else can stand proof for the movie being good. Than anything else it highlights the positive side, speaks about the forgotten values of human bonding and emotions in this fast competitive and materialistic world
I have always felt that a movie has to portray all the good things in the world .. and deliver implied messages in a pleasant manner as against those that show violence and are sleazy and shocking in the name of reality, especially the psycho movies. It brings out the hidden emotions and the animal in people who otherwise see it as uncommon and try to suppress them. We are what we see hear and say. Isnt that what our Father of the Nation suggested through the Three monkeys.. that if we do not hear, see or talk evil, we ourselves shall be spared all evil.Its time that the entertainment industry took some responsibility for the societys wellbeing and not cleverly use the chicken egg concept to say we are showing what is there already and what is liked..Few of them claim that they leave it to the audience to take what is good and leave the bad behind.. If all a max percentage of human beings are capable of doing that.. the world wont be what it is today. If not all atleast a percentage of movies that each person makes, does and distributes should belong to a socially responsible or atleast pleasant and decent category- movies that are good to hear see and talk about and not evil.
I was really happy to hear that TZP is Indias official entry into the Oscars. This movie has proved wrong that a good decent make devoid all the regular conventional masala wont be a commercial success.. I am not sure if it will win an oscar but it already has according to me.
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