Crossroad

  Diwali has always been an occasion to celebrate with your near and dear ones. However, as the flight tickets cost did not suit my meagre financial allowances, my holiday plans went kaput. But as they say, there is always light at the other end of the tunnel, my thoughts were interrupted by the loud ringing phone. It was my Praveen’s call. Well, he had a plan already made out for diwali holidays; a visit to his native village nearby. So, I and another of my financial constrained friend, Anuj, decided to accompany Praveen (PD) on a two day trip: The trip to Kondetu village. Praveen (PD) left a day earlier due to some prior  engagements. We boarded the already booked KSRTC bus, which as expected was running one and half hour late within Bangalore! Nevertheless, this delay failed to dent our high spirits, firstly because we were going as a guest/ mehmaan and secondly because we were not paying for any of the trip expenses. The whole trip we assumed was being planned and pa...

Raju’s life changed with the entry of a film crew in their dingy abodes which was searching for some talent; slum talent, a life the crew was unaware of. Naturally the Englishmen found the suburbs perfect for shooting and started search for a local talent. The drunkard father, sensing a chance of minting money, took Raju for audition. His selection was a foregone conclusion because; firstly the role did not demand much and secondly the fan-following he garnered in the slums impressed the Englishmen. The director happily agreed to have Raju, and the slum cheered. Nitty-gritty of the deal was taken care of and our slumdog Raju was set for a cinematic experience. Raju hardly cared for the money; frankly, he had no idea what money meant. The only thing that mattered in his life now was, “Lights, Camera, Action”. The next 2-3 months Raju spent with the film unit which sometimes would travel to the nearby cities. He cherished every moment spent with these unknown people and thoroughly enjoye...

In the dingy suburbs with cloistered colonies, surrounded with dirt and waste dumping grounds, lived Raju! The budding child actor was although unaware of the potential that lay within. Being a typical slum dweller, he had a rather ramshackle living. His abode lay in one of the numerous convoluted pathways that may appear as a cobweb for us city dwellers. So what was peculiar in the life of this slum-dweller. Actually nothing! A normal day in Raju’s life meant waking up after mother’s chordless continuous rants, carrying out ablutions around the railway track, washing himself in the lone hand-pump that existed and running to school. Well! School was a new entry to the daily chores… only after mid-day-meal scheme and guarantee of books and school uniform was given by the government. So no prizes for guessing the amount of passion these children had for studies, the passion also made stronger by the fact that only two teachers existed in the Class1-4 school. Let’s leave the school in its...

A lovely bungalow stacked among the palm meadows and lush greenery greets your eyes. The rocky landscape visible from the backyard makes you long for a stroll on the hilly terrain. The red-brick padded pathway covered with over bearing trees leading to the main gate and the exteriors of the bungalow made of shining embroidered teakwood. The birds chirping in the background while you adore the panoramic sunrise view, with a beautiful lady and a sip of coffee. My heart is at peace…suddenly I fall down from the bed…it was a dream. A dream that has given me many sleepless nights, a dream that has become a motivation for hard work, and above all a dream which I am desperate to achieve. But right now I am living in Bangalore, the IT capital of India and being an anonymous Software Engineer slugging it out daily in peak traffic(jams). My house, actually apartment, boasts of cemented four walled exteriors with two small balconies. One showing the room view of adjacent apartment’s second floor ...

Cultural invasion was what I talked about in a previous post. Lets take a break and have a sneak peek into our fashionable trendsetter junta. Please do not think about our “pink chaddi” campaigners because I consider them vulgar and LOOSE woman.(just incase you thought they were trendy). I would devour into the latest (maybe old for some) fashionable concept that brought revolution in fashion industry. From Dhotis to Trousers From Trousers to Jeans From Jeans -> Worn Jeans -> Torn Jeans -> Low Waist Jeans or rather No Waist Jeans etc. etc. Scene1: That sexy girl with a gentle walk and dimple smile walked elegantly past me…and swept me off my feet. I, as if in a trance, blindly followed her to CCD. My heart bounced…just then she sat… and my heart bumped! “Oh God!! Don’t show me your ass! Don’t show me your ass” Scene2: That cool hunk with a solid built and a perfect height made us gasp. We thought what an unimaginable blend; until he bent! And we said “Oh God!! Don’t show me yo...

Kudos to Danny Boyle for directing such an awesome movie, the director, beyond any doubt, deserves an Oscar! Like most of the Indians, I came across “Slumdog” after the Oscar nomination was declared; and like most Indians, my heart swayed through pangs of varied emotions. PAIN being most prominent! Although Oscar nomination for Rehman and Gulzar soothed my nerves; the feeling was short lived as I began to ponder over the reasons for movie’s international acclaim. Disdainfully and heartbreakingly I uttered : “Slumdog” is what the world wants to see; despite country’s achievement in various fields by leaps and bounds”. But haggling and criticizing is not my cup of tea. By the way, what type of movies from Afghanistan and Palestine are we interested in? Aren’t they related to Taliban, Hamas and interspersed with killings, pain and suffering? Similarly, India has its own TRP: “Slumdogs”, an amalgamation of Slums, Riots, Beggars, Underworld and Dirt!! Great going Danny, you sure know what, ...

It’s been long since I had watched a real good movie. So few days back a friend suggested “Death at the funeral”. For sure the name wasn’t interesting enough for a comedy movie. Well I decided to give it a try as I had nothing else left for the weekend. Here I present a small narration of this beautiful piece of comedy a true moviegoer’s delight! The movie is about the son, Daniel, belonging to British upper middle class who wants to give funeral for his father. The funeral day starts with the wrong coffin being brought to the house. Well, the mismanagement is set right swiftly by the coffin bearers but it sets the stage for the things to come. So we have Daniel’s wife, more concerned about the advance required for a new flat. His spoilt brother, Robert, who pretends poverty when asked to share funeral expenses, even though he is a well read novelist. Daniel’s mother who while in grief never misses a chance to taunt her daughter-in-law. And if these characters were not enough to grasp ...