Film making in India

Hi there,

I had a friend-cum-cousin coming home this week. I used his arrival to sneak a movie. We chose a very popular one; the one running with packed houses.

After being seated and having watched it for the first 30 minutes, I could not control the urge to go home. I could not believe the levels to which film makers need to stoop to play to the galleries. As the ubiquitous "Love" needs to duly attended, close to 60% of the film's duration had been spent on "paving the road" for the protagonists to fall in love with each other.

Can't two characters of the opposite gender stay as normal individuals? Why should "Love" be hammered into their heads (and into those of viewers' as well)? Aren't there other things to focus, save a forced episode of "Love"?

The film maker had, of course, attempted to do something different, but in the mission to "playing-to-the-galleries", the unique attempt had become stale and insipid.

But, initatives such as this were completely absent until now. Though I get bored to watch the over-dominance of "Love", I am fairly confident that the days of "Love" being the sole theme of Indian movies are numbered.

I am eagerly awaiting the birth of the new era where our protagonists have better things to do than merely sing songs in exotic locales.

Thanks

Vijay

Eyes washed by tears

Hi,

I enjoy traveling in India for the experience it brings to me.

Last week, I took the local train. I traveled in the lowest possible class in the train to know people. Being the least expensive of all classes (of travel), the compartment was crowded, with no seats to spare. To my side were two college kids talking about things that interest them.

One of them mentioned that his family had to starve yesterday, and went to bed without having the supper. He also added that his dad borrowed from someone he knew to feed the family that day morning. His friend, who seemed better off, offered to buy a cup of tea (from a passing vendor). The young man who had starved promptly refused. His reason: "A packet of milk - containing half-a-litre - is sold for 6 bucks. Buying a small cup of tea for 6 bucks is unthinkable and is atrocious".

Isn't it true that only eyes that are washed by tears can see things clearly?

Vijay

Shed all insecurities

Hi,

This week again, I could create some spare time to read some stuff. Looks like a History bug has bitten me! Hence could not help reading some yesteryear stuff.

I had stuck with Shirer this week as well. But, this time is about Hitler. The power-craving mind of Hitler had its own insecurities and comforts that led to the enormities of the Third Reich. The third Reich must have been governed by some of most insecure persons the world has ever witnessed. Insecurity is the mother of fear and other vices.

It makes more sense for folks in power to come out of all fears (shedding all insecurities). If not for sake of the present generation they rule, at least for the future generations that would read about they ruled through history books.

Thanks


Vijay