Rhythmic Rain...

Thursday, March 31, 2005

Page 3

I just watched Page 3. It was a really eye-opening film. I was really shocked to realise what a protected shell I have been living in.

The movie was basically structured around a page 3 journalist. Konkona Sen plays Madhavi, an intelligent and genuine journalist, who covers socialite parties, becomes unsatisfied with the pointlessness of the stories she is made to write. Wanting to make a difference through her writing, she convinces her editor to give her a different column. Now, as a crime journalist, with the help of a colleague, she uncovers a huge child abuse story.

That’s the peripheral story. What gets portrayed in the movie however, is the hard truth of the life of the rich and famous. Every time a story would break exposing anyone, money would exchange hands, a few phone calls would be made and a retraction would be printed, or an apology made. It felt terrible to watch how a stars son’s birthday party made headlines, while a good book or a homeless child shelter would go unnoticed. Every possible distressing thought – betrayal, suicide, attempts at suicide, child abuse, drug use, abortions – was all packed into a 2 hour film. It’s not like I didn’t know such things existed, but all of it thrown at you at one go…

The film, as a film, of course was amazing. Konkona Sen did an wonderful job – as usual. Nice soundtrack, nothing remotely fake about the characters. It was a very real and well made film, I thought.

What disturbed me most though was how the movie ended. All the gory details shown to us, nothing happened! None of the guilty were exposed…those with money continued to get away with, murder…and the innocent who are victims of their ways are ultimately forced to change! That’s what made me wonder about the point of the film. After all, nothing was solved. It seemed a bit harsh a movie to be solely for awareness.

I think that every child – or teenager in my case – at one point at least, has this fantasy of doing what he/she loves on a stage, adored by people. I have secretly always thought about how great it would be to be all glitter and gold, singing, dancing or acting my way through life…and loving every minute of it. This movie crushed that fantasy. I don’t know if that is a bad thing or a good thing. No matter how big the passion, I don’t think I – or anyone for that matter – can be expected to handle that world. I hope that I am lucky enough to stay as far away from it as possible.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Lyrics - Whatever Happened To Them??

Have you noticed that songs these days are so…wrong? It’s like all originality has died! There are either remixes…or elocution teamed with very intelligent usage of rhythm! Musicians seem to have forgotten good old melody! Anyways, it is more lyrics that bother me.

Lyrics nowadays can be nice…but for fun! None of them seem to actually make sense these days. The king of all lyrics has to be Cat Stevens! I love the song ‘Longer Boats’. Though the beauty of the lyrics in that song lies in its implications. Another song whose lyrics I really loved was ‘Boxer’ by Simon and Garfunkel. These are both old songs, but look them up sometime! The lyrics really are beautiful.

“I am just a poor boy and my story’s seldom told
I’ve squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises.
All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.”
(Boxer, Simon and Garfunkel)

I have rarely come across lyrics that I can relate to! I did come across one today though. It is kind of depressing – before people start yelling at me for liking them – but they are SO true!!

“Such kehe raha hai deewana
Dil, dil na kisi se lagana.
Jhute hai yaar ke vade sare…
Jhute hai pyar ke kasme!
Maine har lamha, jise chaha kise pucha,
Usi ne yaaro mera dil, toda, toda
Tanha, tanha choda!”

Ok…very depressing! But it’s a nice song! (Sorry to those who didn’t understand the quote above…I’ll explain it to you if you are really interested!)

I wish that along with melody and harmony, beat and rhythm and dance music, lyrics of songs would make more sense. How long can someone listen to swearing anyway?

Monday, March 28, 2005

Passion-able!




I’ve spent the last few days at the India - Pakistan cricket match! Seriously, watching a match on TV and actually being there are so completely different! I was sitting in P4…the Desimator stand (!!), SIX feet away from Irfan Pathan! My thrill on seeing a cute player aside, what hit me most was the power that passion for cricket brought together SO many people! There must have been at least 20 thousand people there. I myself saw businessmen, artists, drummers, auto-drivers and students! God knows how many other kinds of people were there! And somehow, when a wicket fell…it didn’t matter squat who was who! A Pakistani wicket was a Pakistani wicket and that’s all that mattered! Suddenly, these prim and proper businessmen in their suits and ties, had the tri-colour painted on their faces, and were on their feet cheering Kumble right on! And just like them, even our stand security guards shared that same thrill!

It’s really only that kind of passion that brings together so many people! It’s not just restricted to sports, nor only to India. Be it a single interest, a single cause or even one country helping another out during a time of need, the only thing people of a world this big have in common is passion – in anything! Being diverse and multi-cultural is all well and good…but it’s important to remember that intrinsically, as people, we are all really the same.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Back With A Bang

Oh my God
They are actually over. All that work…and its now finally over!
I don’t want to talk about them though!! I have so much to be happy about right now!!

Happy Thing Number 1. My board exams are over!! I am actually wondering what my new purpose in life is going to be!! I feel kind of empty! I finished the last paper with about half an hour to spare…and I was looking around the room – trying to find a glimmer of ANY sort of emotion that it was over – and all I could think was “Man! I am NOT going to miss this place!!

Happy Thing Number 2. I have been free only 8 hours…and I have already had so much fun! Spent the day with friends – late lunch, shopping, bowling and archade-ing! I’d forgotten that being with Rati and Su doesn’t always mean Math and Physics!!

Happy Thing Number 3. The internship in Singapore worked out!! I do have to work…but I get to work for 6 weeks in a top-level biotech firm in SINGAPORE! I am going to part of a “computational structural modeling” course…don’t ask, I haven’t found out yet…all I know is that it has something to do with protein structuring…!! Call me a dork…but I’m excited!

Happy Thing Number 4. I can actually sit down with my Mom and Dad for reasons BESIDES doubts I need cleared! (Though my parents have been absolute Angels during these past few months!!) We actually have other things to talk about besides exams!!

Happy Thing Number 5. I have something fun planned everyday! Starting today…duh. And I get to watch the match tomorrow! I hope we kill them…though 300 something for TWO??? Gah…

Happy Thing Number 6. I actually can get back to blogging…! Something new to post tomorrow…and seeing my new competition…I wonder if my ‘points’ will make any sense!