Slumdog Hysteria

Slumdog millionaire has become super popular now with 4 awards at the Golden Globes. I have not seen the movie yet, and so will not write anything about that.

Regarding the nominations and awards, I think the award for best original music to A.R Rahman is something that did India proud. I would not say, from what I heard on television, that this was A.R Rahman's best score, but at an international level, probably this was one of the best by him. H Sridhar needs a special mention for this was one of his last albums.

Somehow, I fail to understand why the Indian media is going gaga over Slumdog. Why is that we take pride in something that we have not done? Just because it was made on India? Or is it because it had Anil Kapoor and a bunch of other Indian actors? A.R Rahman is one good reason, but I do not see the soundtrack available in Indian market (Update: It got released last week, after the awards). What are we feeling great about? Something that we have not even heard?

The movie is neither produced nor directed by Indians. It was setup in India and it does not even give out a rosy picture of Mumbai/India. It talks about an impoverished guy who has no desire for any riches attending the "Who wants to be a millionaire?" show. Would this movie have gotten this much popularity and quality if it had not been for Danny Boyle? I doubt it. Coming to think of it, I was wondering how this movie would have been if it had been directed by Karan Johar or RGV (hmmmm ...)?

It's well known that a movie showing non-prosperous side of a nation always sells. City of Gods (thanks Prasant for pointing this out), Blood Diamond, Motocycle Diaries, Salaam Bombay and the list goes on ... I do not recollect seeing one Hollywood movie which programs the movie around a prosperous India. Impoverished India sells. Remember the movie "Armageddon"?

What are the other things that we take credit for just because the person involved was an Indian? Sunita Williams and Manoj Shyamalan to name a couple.

Slumdog Millionaire may be a great movie and may go down in history as one of the best movies made on hope and compassion with India as backdrop.

Something to leave you to ponder about (I am not endorsing it) would be a sketch I spotted on Mutiny.in.



I will come back after I see the movie ...

Ignorance

Was watching Jay Walking on Jay Leno show today:

Jay: You are?
ABC: I am ABC

Jay: What do you do ABC?
ABC: I am a college student ...

Jay: OK. Have you heard of Somali Pirates?
ABC: Yeah ... I think so ...

Jay: Here is the question ... Somali Pirates is:
a. Rock Band
b. Actual Pirates
c. Football team
ABC: errr ... Football team ...
(Stumped !!!!!!!!! ... I lost it here)

Jay: Oh! How did they do this year?
ABC: They did well I guess. They are pretty famous right?

Such is the ignorance ...

People who do not know, please read about Somali Pirates.

An Evening Out

We went out to the Industrial Exhibition in the evening. In Hyderabad, this is an annual event.

The first impression was - "This is huge".

But as we wandered around the place, I realised, "There is NOTHING for men". I would have appreciated if there were some decent stalls for gadgets, tools, electronics or books. Handloom and handicraft stores were all over the place. Women felt like a kid in a candy shop when they moved towards the accessories (ear-rings, bangles etc..) section.

I also noticed a bunch for burkha clad women walking around in groups hand in hand. Puzzling thing that struck me was, if one of them stray out of the group, how would the others even find that person out?

I am forced to assume that they have a way of finding out by looking at the fingers or by smell of the other.

Continuous walk for two and half hours was no joke. Best things for me were:

1. Seeing my wife so happy to be in that place
2. Pop corn and cotton candy
3. The moon in golden color just after sunset ...

Wish I had my camera with me ...

Disgusting

S**t Senders.com

One word ... disgusting !

Raju - The New Johny

Ran in to this hilarious post ...

...
Raju Raju? Yes, papa.
Missing assets? No, papa.
Unnecessarily trying to acquire a real estate company to save your skin?
No, papa.
Okay, show me your balance sheet!
Ha ha ha.
...

Read the post by Sidin Vadukut (popular by the name Domain Maximus in the blog world) for more fun ...

A Thing From The Past

Would these qualify as ancient form of pole dance?

(15th century carvings - pics taken at Vittala temple in Hampi, Karnataka)

Macbook Wheel - Notebook With No Keyboard

Innovation getting better ...

- No keyboard
- Hummingbird battery that powers the laptop for full 19 mins before it needs to be re-charged

What's puzzling is how to type using the wheel to scroll to each alphabet. Looks cumbersome ....

Will wait for the next generation ...

Pls don't allow your wife to watch Ghajini

Received via email from JNK ...

Next Generation Farting !

This one happens to be the #1 App on iTunes Store ...



On a related note, I ran into this post on Geek and Poke:


Still interested? ... Go to iFartMobile.com

"We recognize that it’s just a novelty app, but don’t we need more laughter in times of economic crisis? We think so."

Hampi In (Few) Photos

This was our road trip from Hyderabad to Hampi in Karnataka, India. It is around 900 kms up and down.











 

 



Check my Flickr Album ...

Year 2008 in Words

I did this last year(Year 2007 in words). I am going try to do that again.

Terror
Barack Obama
Economy Meltdown
Mumbai
Delivery
Travel
Condemn
Kasab
Sarah Palin
AK 47
Taj & Oberoi
Singur
Achutanandan & Dog
20-20
Bomb Blast
Yahoo
Beijing
Tibet
Olympics
Chiru
Change

Some more, but those are ones that I do not want to put down here ...

State Of Mind

Miserable. Depressed. Helpless.

Introspecting ...

Is this what I am made for?

Is this whats supposed to happen to people?

One life ... One chance ...

Viewing life through lens

Almost 6 months back I discovered that I loved photography ...

This is how it all started. We had a trip to Kerala and I ran into this DVD which I never thought, would turn things around for me ...

It was National Geographic's The Photographers ...

It changed the way I look at places, people and life. I bought Canon DSLR - EOS 400D and 55-250mm IS lens

For the readers, please go through my Flickr album and leave your comments ...

Plea By An Indian Muslim

I was reading Tejaswi Rathore's post on IBN Live blog. It is very touching.

"I am angry... but I am scared to express my anger any more. I have given up. I kneel, I bow, I break, I loose, I beg... let me lead a normal life... a common life. I just want peace... at any cost. Now I don't care how. I want a safer tomorrow. Please."

But something that caught my eye was comment by naazakmal (an Indian Muslim - I do not know even the proper name) on the post:

"I am an Indian Muslim. And every time there is an attack of this kind, I want to shout out to my compatriots, please ,terrorism has no religion. Don't stigmatise us , for the heinous crimes done by a few insanely driven bigoted Muslims!

I love my India and I love Islam. It is not a faith which teaches violence,as the Quran says that the taking of even one innocent life, is like killing of all humanity.I am proud to be Indian, a land where all faiths and cultures have lived peacefully for centuries,but for selfish war mongers who have tried to wedge a rift between us ,time and again !

These acts are abhorrent and condemnable, done by misguided youth, who have fallen prey to an extremist mindset. This has given rise to a false perception by other faiths that Islam is a violent faith, so much so that, nowadays, many times,on the silver screen or the big screen, the bad guy, is the bearded , vile looking Muslim villain! My husband has a beard, for God's sake, and he won't even hurt a fly!

I appeal to all Indians, that we stay together at these trying times of communal barriers of hate, anarchy and violence. That Muslims speak out and condemn these dastardly acts. And finally, please,don't let the peace loving Muslims have to bear the brunt of it all, be it in the form of silent hostility or mistrust!"

We call ourselves secular, but honest expression of feelings by this person and 1000 others like him/her go unheard.

And then we have the leadership who understand that the source of the issue, primarily is because of our porous borders, but fail to take action.

God save India ...

What Does Shivraj Patil Have To Say?

It is so unfortunate. I woke up today feeling miserable and reading the newspaper just made it worse.

Mumbai attacked.

I am waiting for honorable Home Minister, Shivraj Patil to come out with his statement about the incident.

Here is a background ...

Jaipur: "Their aim (to create communal disturbances) has been thwarted. The people of Jaipur have not allowed their nefarious design to succeed,"

Bangalore: "... such incidents will not deter the government from pursuing its policy with anti-national elements in a resolute manner."

Ahmedabad: "... anti-national elements have been trying to create panic among the people in our country"

Delhi: "... the government has taken a series of measures recently to beef up security in Delhi. Whatever more is required to be done will be done expeditiously."

Tripura: I could not find it ... :(

Assam: "... these are cowardly acts perpetrated by the elements which do not want peace to prevail..."

Mr. Shivraj Patil,
There it goes again. It has happened again and it's even worse this time. What do you have to say? I can't wait to hear. Appeal to people to show solidarity and answer terrorists by getting back to normal life and forget about 1000's of lives that shattered.

Be in-sensitive? Not react?

Dear Ministers/International Leaders/Politicians,

I am waiting for you to condemn the incident, so that I can go back to sleep peacefully and feel less miserable.

******************************

Update:

"Before I could reach there, the terrorists who had attacked one of the hospitals, the Cama Hospital, had left and those who attacked the railway station had also left," Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.

Patil, who condemned the attack as an act of cowardice, said the country would remain strong even as the terrorists attempt to weaken and create difficulty for the citizens.

The Home Minister had condoled the loss of lives, including top ranking police officers, in the attack and said their sacrifice would inspire the rest of the force to do their duty more resolutely.

Mr. Patil, It is so unfortunate that you could meet them in person and adivce them not to give Mumbaikars excruciating pain and why peace shall prevail in the country.

GROW UP ! Citizens have lost their patience. DO NOT PUSH IT OVER THE EDGE.

-------------------------------------------------
Update (Nov 30): Shivraj Patil offers resignation and resignation accepted. PC Chitambaram takes over.

How convenient? No need to repair damages caused. Step down, go home and relax and leave it to PC Chitambaram to handle.

Moment Of Truth

Of late, I am able to come home at a decent time (Not able to reach before 8.00 pm though). As a result I get to watch reality shows on TV. It has always been a discussion point, but the recent one on Star World is "The Moment Of Truth".

Do you think that you are smarter than your parents?
Have you ever made a sexy video?
Do you sabotage your rivals at work?
Do you fantasize about cheating on your spouse/partner?
Will you leave your husband for your ex-boyfriend?
Do you have any secret that could end your marriage?

These are questions that you are asked and you cannot afford to lie because there is a polygraph attached to you to find out if you are lying or not. The key is to be honest. Weigh your personal life with the $500,000 that flashes on the board and eventually you will get it if you tell the truth all the way upto the 20th question.

What has humankind come down to? Shows like these are demeaning and disgusting. I can understand why FOX Network floated this show. It reflects in their escalating TRP. But what I do not understand is why people would show up in these kinds of shows and ruin their lives?

For instance, in the recent show that got aired, a lady was asked (Husband is in the studio) if she holds any secret that would end her marriage. The answer was "Yes" and the polygraph said "true". Her husband's face turned red, blue and yellow. The next question comes - "Do you think you will be married to your husband for the rest of your lives?" (She answered "Yes" and she got it right and won $100,000) However, with everything in life at stake, why would people take this risk for a stupid show. Maybe the money.

This will piss off one set of audiences who look forward to meaningful and thought provoking entertainment whereas it will satisfy the other set of brain dead morons who like to take a peep at people's misfortunes and then laugh at it.

Harthal.com

While browsing Desi Pundit, I ran into a site called Harthal.com. Now that we are talking about harthals, we cannot move further on this without mentioning Kerala - God's own country which has gone to dogs off late.

Last year, off 174 weekdays, the state had seen 89 strikes which brought the state to a stand still (Check this)

It is highly advisable to go through harthal.com before you plan you trips to Kerala or you might just end up being stuck at a bus station or railway station.

Save Kerala Initiative gives an insight into the teething issues in "GOD's own country". Kerala does not have politicians, it has dinosaurs. In their struggle for power, the "left" and the "right" have forgotten what is right and what is wrong.
I still do not know why "literate" people elect these scum bags over and over again and then suck up to the morons sitting in the administration to get things done.

God save Kerala. And not to forget, check out harthal.com

Why are you not jumping the signal?

Last week I was out with a real estate broker to find a place to shift. The reasons for shifting are many. That is not the point here.
I reached Kothaguda chowk and stopped at the signal after seeing it red. (I stick to the rules of the road). This broker who was sitting on the back seat, goes - "Chale jao sir. Koi police nahin hai. Bindaas chale jao". I do not recollect what came to mind at that time, but then after crossing the signal,

Usmaan- "Kitne saalon se Hyderabad mein ho saab?" (How long have been in Hyderabad?)

Me - "It's been 5 years"

Usmaan - "Fir signal pe roka kyon?" (Then why did you stop at the signal?)

Me - "Red signal mein stop karna hai" (You have to stop at the red signal)

Usmaan - "Woh theek hai saab. Yahaan pe logon ko signal thodne mein mazaa aatha hai. Kaun signal follow kartha hai saab? Jahaan pe U-turn nahin lena hai, wahaan pe U-Turn lena hai. Jahaan pe one way hai, wahaan pe wrong side mein chalana hai. " (That's ok. People have fun jumping signals here(HYD). Who follows signals? You have to take U-turn where U-turn is not allowed. You have to drive the wrong way if it is labeled "one-way")

The scariest thing this 70% of people in Hyderabad feel the same way. I do not think there is slightest chance that the traffic sense will get any better. Roads are going to remain crowded and the condition of roads is going to remain as is.

Dreams

Rough night.

I hardly got sleep yesterday night. I could see dark clouds turning into fireballs and then falling on earth. It was engulfing everything on the way. My car got burnt.

Wonder what this means when you "interpret dreams". My wife says, it is all because of work and stress.

I am so looking forward to Sep 30.

Open Source == Communism?