WE IDIOTS !

As usual, my morning started with me, my newspaper and a hot cup of tea for company. Panchu, (for readers who are not in the know, Panchu happens to be our trusted pariah dog, who has a mind of his own and makes no bones about speaking it out), was spread like a frog on the carpet beside me.

Suddenly I could hear Panchu say, “So Master, what are they saying about the film ‘3 Idiots’ today in the newspaper.”

I answered, “Panchu, the paper is saying that ‘3 Idiots’ is the top grosser amongst all the films relased till date. As I was pleasantly surprised to hear Panchu ask me that, I asked, “Hey, you too are following news of “the biggest hit” till date?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” answered Panchu, “I am fully aware that inspite of the so called inflation and the middle class tightening its belt, ticket sales of ‘3 Idiots’ have created a record of sorts” Panchu remarked. “Not to forget the controversy and ill feelings surrounding the film regarding Mr. Chetan Bagat, the writer of the four year old ‘Five Point Someone’ book, on which this film is supposed to be based on.”

“Who cares, Panchu! And what controversary you are talking about” I said.

“Chetan Bhagat has turned out to be the biggest idiot albeit a clever one at that” I continued. “He had sold the rights of his novel to the film makers and as Mr. Hirani himself read out from the contract that Mr. Bhagat signed, which clearly mention that they had purchased the rights of the novel and they have complete authority to alter the text to suit the screen. They also had a clause which mentioned that Mr. Bhagat’s credit would be in the end rolling credits. So, why did Mr. Bhagat create so much drama post the release and that too a bit late seems absurd.”

“See, it must be all a public relation exercise, Master. You should also learn some tricks like these. No wonder you are not getting anywhere in you film career”.

Now! Now! Panchu, please, I don’t want you to educate me on how to further my career in films.”

“But Master, don’t you see, this publicity business was orchestrated by both parties”

“I doubt that Panchu, Mr. Chetan Bhagat is already a well established writer, maybe not a very good one at that but he is very popular nonetheless. Also, Mr. Vinod Chopra, Mr. Rajkumar Hirani and Mr. Aamir khan are much decent and intelligent film personalities to resort to such publicity gimmicks. In fact, they were pretty confident of their film and its merits from day one. Have you forgotten the previous two hits from Rajkumar Hirani?”

“Oh, yes! yes!, how can I not forget his earlier films” remarked Panchu.

“Munnna bhai made all of us start loving our neighbourhood don and Lage Raho did so much for Gandhian values, even Gandhi would not have been able to do that himself, if he was yet alive.

“Yes, I do agree Master, but don’t you think, this time they all have gone a bit too far. Making a mockery of our prestigious educational institute, digging fun at the middle class status of one of the primary characters and the pathetic condition of his sick father was really not very healthy. And, what have you to say about the so called hilarious speech scene enacted by that character ‘chatur’ where the word ‘chamatkar’(miracle) is replaced by ‘balatkar’ (rape) and the whole speech takes on a different meaning altogether. I remember all the audiences were in splits though during that scene. The audience is becoming a nation full of idiots I say.”

“Oh, come of it, Panchu . It was meant to be just a joke including the Sanskrit language bit he talks about later in that same speech.”

“Joke?” Panchu growled, “how can one joke about something as serious as ‘rape’, its just not done Master. As film makers, I feel they should have had some conscious there. They could have altered the use of that particular word and yet make it as hilarious as ever. Resorting to something as horrendous and tragic as “rape” and laughing away to glory was not expected from Mr. Hirani”.

Now my tea was getting cold with this heated debate. I looked at Panchu and saw his “all ears” expression, so I got up and hopped into the kitchen to make some more tea.

“Well, have you finished master?” Panchu asked, “Not yet” I said. “I need to take break”.

“OK, I will take a leak then” said Panchu and darted out of the house.


I N T E R M I S S I O N


Moments later, I settled in with a fresh cuppa hot tea and Panchu joined in after relieving his bladder.

“Look here Panchu, why don’t you look at the brighter side of the film. Leave aside the controversies and the ‘what they should not have done in the film’ angle, what should be lauded is that the film tackles lot of issues and problems like educational reforms need to be done, pressure and stress needs to be eased off, hard work and merit will always be rewarded rather than praying to gods n goddesses, one should always explore towards innovation and not follow rigid age old patterns, never to lose hope and always expect and will for the best to happen, follow your passion and interest and one can surely make a great career out of it. In fact, the scooter powered flourmill, a cycle powered horse shaver and exercycle-cum-washing machine shown in the film has brought to notice all the innovative ways in which one can do constructive things, also prompting Mr. Vidhu Vinod Chopra to quietly announce a fund for three real life brains – a Kerala teen, a UP barber and a Maharashtra painter whom inspired Rancho, the character Aamir Khan plays in the film.”

“So, Mr.Chopra is after all not a very bad person that he is made out to be. Besides shouting at and being rude to reporters and journalist, he is also known for doing good deeds like this.” Panchu commented.

He further added, “I do agree master but somewhere the film leaves you with a note of discontent. I don’t buy it when the film tells us that our education system at higher levels is idiotic. Also, not everybody can be a genius like the main character in the film, Ranchordas Chanchad. For everybody else, one does need to put in tremendous amount of hard work and Rote learning.

“Panchu”, I interrupted, “You need not take the film too seriously. Just laugh it off like all the millions of audience have done here in India and now even abroad. That’s the reason the film is a resounding success.”

“Yes, yes, I know that, even Aamir was heard saying ‘ I have no idea how to describe what is happening, some suggestions and explanations PLEASE’

“That’s coming from Aamir Khan?” I asked.

“Yep, Master. Can you believe that?”

“Anyways, Panchu what I say is, the film is enjoyable and much better than all the mindless so called comedies running at multiplexes. Yes, I do see your point of argument that it could have been handled with much more sensitivity and yet retain that same amazing humour for which Raj Kumar Hirani is famous for. For reasons best known to them, they have taken a different route yet proved to be hugely successful and popular.”

“Good for them, Master. Now, I just want to ask you when will your film get ready and attain this kind of success and popularity.”

“I am still working at it Panchu. You just need to wait and watch and I am sure you will be the first one to see it”

“ and yes, when you do, please go easy on my film, critically I mean” I added.

“Now, that’s an idiotic thing to say Master” replied Panchu and spread out lazily on the carpet.

Nano

Global carmakers thought it was impossible for us Indians to give the world a global car, meeting global safety and emission standards at an irresistible price tag of Rs.1 lakh. Undoubtly the world’s cheapest till date. The nearest international competitor for the Nano is the QQ, made in China manufactured by Chery Motors

On January 10th, this year this impossible dream became a stunning reality when Mr. Ratan Tata unveiled the Tata Nano at Delhi’s 9th Auto Expo.

Big Deal! Most critics might guffaw but what makes Nano a small milestone in the automobile history in times of soaring oil prices and climate change is its fuel efficient 623 cc rear mounted petrol engine which will deliver (as mentioned officially) a 20 km per litre equation. It is also Bharat Stage III (Euro III) compliant and can meet tough Euro IV norms when finalized. Tata Motors has applied for 34 different patents just for this car. They say the Nano though is very compact, has 21 percent more space inside than the Maruti 800.

Finally the message that is delivered to all is - we can and will design/deliver automobiles from start to finished product and even make it affordable to the masses. In fact once Nano revs into the showrooms it will invite a completely new set of customers. The mushrooming Indian middle class in absence of a good public transport system will quickly grab this opportunity to own their personal form of transportation.
All the biker’s will now possibly graduate to ‘nano’owners.. This has already scared the enviromentalists and the socially awakened people. Considering more than a million two wheelers per year hitting the road, chances of even 30-40 % of these switching to Nano owners is a cause to worry naturally.

The Tata’s have mentioned though that the ‘Nano’ does not have an A/C or even a radio, forget power steering. But saving grace like slick stylish seats and all steel monovolume body make the Nano a triumph of sorts. If an towering personality like Mr.Ratan Tata can easily fit into his own creation effortlessly then for us lesser mortals of average heights it is big enough.

But what seems to be of paramount importance to know for all of us is that Ratan Tata’s
Nano is a concept started as a social issue and not as business or philanthropy ( Ratan Tata’s own words). He had put his faith in a young and dynamic team. The team behind nano is in the age group of 30 – 35 years. If one has followed the business graph of the Tata’s then it is clear that the Tatas had gone through good and bad times. They are a business group who always gave a lot to charity. They are not in the company of others who break the law and encourage corruption. Rest of the business fraternity always thought they were foolish and suicidal not to be a part of that clan.
But India has changed for the better. The new India comprises of strong, bold and a vocal middle class that is becoming more honest above else and that has contempt for the same old sleazy politicians and shrewd capitalists of old.
When we see Ratan Tata refusing to pay bribes, refusing to be wooed by dirty politicians and refusing to bend the rules and still taking the Tatas from strength to strength, still buying the world’s best companies and still reinventing the rules of the car industry, well then we know that there is a better world. It is possible to be honest and principled. And still beat the rest of the world.

That’s the strength of the new India. And for all you know the young and the new India will go for the Nano despite some of its flaw.

Khajuraho thru my Nikon

Ram V Sutar

I have been part of a shooting crew for the last one month in khajuraho and every morning when we travel from our hotel to our office, our car takes a turn around a very beautiful sculpture. Each day I find the sculpture more interesting.

So one Sunday, which is our break day, I ventured on my own and studied the sculpture carefully. I realised that beautiful sculpture was of an artist carving on a stone and the credit for that beautiful piece of work belonged to Mr. Ram V Sutar.

I am sure lot of people especially the young generation do not know who Ram V Sutar is. It makes interesting reading to know more the man and his work.

Ram Vanji Sutar was born in a poor carpenter family in village Gondur, district Dhulia of State Maharashtra in India. He was a child prodigy as an artist who soon got noticed by his guru Shri Shriram Krishna Joshi who was instrumental in him joining Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Ram V Sutar always excelled in this institute and graduated with the Mayo Gold medal for modelling. Ram V Sutar has over the years mastered stone and marble sculpting but he is more passionate about casting in bronze and many of his famous works are in bronze.

He was also involved in the restoration work of the sculptures at Ajanta and Ellora, Aurangabad.

What amazes me is the uncanny perfection he achieves in proportions whenever he executes any of his works be it the Chambal Symbolic monument at the Gandhi Sagar Dam or the heroic size bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ram V Sutar has been a receipent of many prestigious awards notably the Padamshree conferred on him in 1999.

Khajuraho

When I got a chance to work with an UK crew on a television serial, I agreed instantly. Apart from the fact that I would be working with the best technicians from India and UK, one more thing which made me say yes to this project was - it was gonna be majorly shot in Khajuraho, a village in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of Delhi, the capital city of India.
I had never been to Khajuraho before but heard so much about the place especially the temples and the erotic sculptors on the temples.
It is almost a month now that I am in Khajuraho and i am loving every moment. Work is hectic but challenging. But Khajuraho is a fascinating place. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture.
They say there were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 22 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 8 square miles.
The temples are a fine example of Indian architectural styles that have gained popularity all over India and abroad. They were rediscovered during the late 19th century and the jungles had taken a toll on some of the monuments. When I visited the temples, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the erotic sculptors one kept on hearing about was a misnomer. Yes, the temples do have some erotic carvings on the outer walls.
Local Old folks say for seeing the deity, one must leave his or her sexual desires outside the temple. Hence, these carvings but they constitute only 10% of the sexual themes. But there is more to Khajuraho if you honestly ask me.