The new name of Nonsense - Ghajini!!

Warning: Watching this movie can cause severe head damage. Viewer discretion is advised. Only people w/o brains shall be able to suffer this cavalry. Incase you survive, you will beg to be a patient of anterograde amnesia so that you can forget this ordeal.

What happens when you blow up a balloon off its limits? It bursts. And that is what happened with my expectations with Ghajini. If you have to look at your watch seven times during a movie, believe me, it's not good for the movie! Half the way through the story, the director actually goofs-up with amnesia and anterograde amnesia! The songs all work in conjuction in slowing down the pace of the already sluggish film. Sometimes, it gives you a feel that you are watching a B grade South Indian film instead of a Hindi one. Rab ne bana di jodi, which till now I considered as  purely idiotic, lest funny, now appears as a box office  blockbuster. Aamir khans growls, just like his family pack body are all plastic. He is brilliant actor, I agree, but he fails to get into the mould of an action hero. 

For people who have already seen momento, the ghajini affair won't even be tolerable. The acumen that the plot of momento possesed is altogether missing from ghajini. After a point it becomes a hero-on-a-vengence-for-lovers-death movie that you have seen a zillion times. The disease itself is unconvincingy potrayed, as if Aamir is selctive of when to forget and when to not. The entire story is fairly predictable. Aamir's way of wrecking havoc over his enemies is indigestible. Asin is good. Jiah, as usual, boring. Aamir echelons lower than the DJ of Rang de Basanti.

The beauty of Momento was its simplicity and intelligensia of the plot. You could easily identify with Guy Pearce's forgetful character, which is not the case with Aamir's. The fim is salted with some cheap comedy with a Shahrukh look-alike which might impress the Reserve and First class audience. A.R. Rehaman's music is a BIG loser. You just can't believe that this is the same person who did the orchestra of Slumdog Millionaire. You won't even understand a word of Prasoon Joshi's lyrics. 

The only impressive scenes are Asin's brutal murder and the penultimate action scenes, because they were done without any gore or blood. Overall, Ghajini fails to impress; rather depresses. Don't waste your money on Ghajini as I did by going first-day-first-show. In the theatre Amir was tearing off his clothes, and outside the theatre I was tearing off my hair!

(..............And which type of person wears muscle clinging short shirts in the corporate world, please clarify!)

 I'll rather suggest to beg, borrow or steal the DVD of Slumdog Millionaire and watch it. Change my name if your heart doesn't jump out with joy after watching Slumdog.  

Sire, it is not a revolt - it is a revolution!

I wanted to write this blog post on 16th november, the day of CAT, describing the Cat-astrophe. But due to some rasons, followed by a terrible turn of events, I wasn't able to do so. For 3 days, I, you and all our countrymen were under siege - the siege that engulfed Chabad, Taj and Oberoi.I won't talk of the facts and figures, as they must be pinned to your memory by now. I am not a bureaucrat or advisor who wants to advise the deaf indian government on what it ought to do, and what it did. This is just the voice of a common Indian, of what he wants to see, of what his newfound bloodthirstiness is about, and  also, of what he can, and will do....

We are thirsty - thirsty for the blood of those who were responsible for the annihilation at TAJ, thirsty for the blood of Afzal Guru, thirsty for the blood of Lashkar-e-toiba and thirsty for the blood of terrorists and those breeding them. A debate's raging in the nation. For the first time people are explicitly vocal against politicians in a unanimous voice. They want immideate results! 

               Sire, it is not a revolt - it is a revolution!

For me, cleanliness and revolution start at home. Today, I was thinking of what I, as an unarmed common man, can do to combat terrorism. The media and newspapers are busy dissecting the political, beureaucratic and intel. failures, but I am concerned with me, and the 1 billion people with 2 billion eyes, and what they can do.Indians are known to be submissive people, they aren't born-fighters (and when they do, they fight for all the wrong reasons.Eg. The NaistoNabood Sena). We will need to progress from "Dehal gayi Mumbai and Seham gaya Bharat"  to "Badla legi Mumbai and Khoon ke aasoon rulayega Bharat." We need to act, and act fast. To aid this these are some of my thoughts: 

1>A PSYCHOLOGICAL mentality, similar to Cold War Soviet Union, or present day Israel -"Remain Vigilant at all times". The armed forces should train people for this. We should know a way to spot the unusual among the usual. The terrorists had videotaped Taj, Chabad House and many other spots in Mumbai. Assume someone vieotaping your home - you WILL enquire him. Assume someone videotaping your country - you now NEED to enquire him.

2>A NO-NEGOTIATION policy against terrorists - It's easy to say, but hard to achieve. I know what I am asking, I am asking you (touchwood! it may never happen) to leave hopes for any negotiation, in case your near and dear one's get in such an ugly situation. This did happen in the IC814 hijacking case, and we had to let go of three dreaded bastards because of it. This one policy will work towards our benefit in the long-term. It will act as the womb of the "fighting-spirit", that I am talking about. People will experience that fearlessness, the same courage that American civilians showed on 9/11 onboard the United 93 flight preventing it from crashing over the White House, because they will not have an option. There will be blood, but all those people would act as a warning to the terrorists - BEWARE! We can Fight, and We can Kill. Secondly, this will also prove to be a deterrant for hostage situations, because if such a policy is in force, the very purpose of holding people at ransom is defeated.

3>Compulsory MILITARY Training - Basic combat moves will help people with their reflexes. If, by chance, you as a hostage, get hold of an AK or even a knife, and have an advantageous position, you should atleast know how to use it. You should know where the Gun's lock is, or how a knife is held and on which part of the body should it be targeted for a sure-shot kill.

4>TERROR for TERRORISTS - It may sound inhuman, but terrorists should be promptly and PUBLICLY executed. Terrorists can take to anything, but not humiliation. They should be executed in full media glare, so that a prospective terrorist should think twice before venturing in any destructive activity.  

People now want to see pro-active actions rather than re-actions. Unfortunately, the government has not been able to give even a proper reaction. The days of political apathy and dilly-dallying are over.People want to see PoK, if not Pakistan,  bombed. We want slain terrorists. 200 people have been killed in the mayhem, don't we have the right to kill one Afzal Guru??

I would like to end this with an advise for those terrorists,

                   If you are a terror to many, beware of many.......

MNS - Did somebody just say Maharashtra NaistoNabood Sena??

                     Mi Marathi, Assi Punjabi, Main Hindi.......and on and on and on! People just find out newer and newer ways to arouse Sentiments of Mass Destruction. "United we live, Divided we fall" sounded so good in our schools, but as they say, it's easy to say and harder to achieve. In their lust for power toreros like Mr. Raj Thackray and all other pseudo Sons of Soil, subject people like us to a bullfight; a bullfight of hatred, jealousy and destruction. And the most heart-breaking part is that "educated people" like you and me, happily become an element of this maelstorm. (Yes, I am pointing towards those blogs and articles that justify these awakening activities going on in Maharashtra.)

                   

                     The what-so-called "awakening" of the Marathi Manoos credited to the Thackray clan who ironically enough, themselves belong to Madhya Pradesh (land of "Hindi people" as they put it), are actively squelching the spirit of people and the peace of our country.In this era of globalization common people like you and me are being segregated on geographical issues and used as pawns to fight each other. Subconsciously or consciously, we are being subjected to prepare a perfect recipe for a doomed state. Remember, how we criticize and mock when Shia and Sunni Muslims fight with each other. Today, I want to ask you the same question- "Are we any different?"

                  

                    Lots of students today go to U.S. for higher studies. One Soumya Reddy is shot dead and we swarm the United States with questions over security. U.S., a place where people from a different race; a race where many have a hardcore notion of superiority over Indians, is expected to congenially accomodate Indian students, giving them all superior comforts. Doesn't this sound bullshit? When you are not ready to live in peace with your fellow countrymen, men of the same race and similar culture, how do you expect people from a different race to pleasantly welcome you, when you are also being preffered over jobs that morally are their right. Salute them that they still give you a warm reception at their gates. Many would think that they do it because we pay them, but your chips dear, cannot rule on public sentiment. Learn something from them.

                        If Raj Thackray would have devoted half of his energy in driving out Bangladeshis instead of Biharis, the poor Indians would have hailed him as their God.In the bloodbath that these politicians initiate, nothing happens to them.Only innocent biharis, marathis and chattisgarhis suffer.Only people like Rahul Raj and Dharamdev Rai are lynched.

                      

                        Lastly, a message for all the Radical thinkers who think that North Indians have encroached upon aamchi Mumbai. Socrates once said:

     "Field and trees teach me nothing but the people in a city do."

                   Cities don't make people. People make cities.Mumbai did not make the Film Industry.The industry made it, what it is today. Also, it's a well known fact that Bihar and U.P. supply the best quality skilled labour. The lower class labour belonging to Maharashtra is known to be clumsy and lackadaisical. If you need evidence just try to find out what happened at Empress Mills, owned by Tata group, in Nagpur.

                    

                    And now we come to the Climax - for all the North Indians-Maharashtra-chhoddo people, I have some even more daring points to blow up your moral-right-over-mumbai arguements to smitherteens. RAMA and KRISHNA both were north indians. Rama was the suryavanshi prince of Raghukul, whereas Krishna was a Yadav from Uttar Pradesh.So, in case of moral rights, you (the radical beings) loose the right over god. Stop worshipping them and North Indians will kiss a good bye to Maharashtra.

                

                  Wait! Wait! Wait! It's still not over! Vithalla and Ganesh are still left.Lord Krishna, accidentally strayed into Pandharpur without the permission of Raj Thackray (I am extremely sorry on his behalf!) and stood over a brick, taking the name of Vithalla. He says he is very sorry and won't do it again, so please spare him and leave him. Also, geographically Ganesha resided somewhere in Kailash and was definitely not a marathi speaking native, so kiss him a good bye too......(No more Ganesh Chaturthi! Sorry to hear that!)  

                 You must be boiling by now, aren't you? Somebody just shunned you from getting close to that being, getting close to whom alone matters. This is how hate-politics is played. I don't want to hurt anyone's sentiments. I only want you to realize who the real enemy is. But if you still think that the Marathi Manoos' awakening is  necessary, then God please leave me deep in my slumber when "my" people begin to awaken!........Please!

Update: Where was Raj thackray and his naistonabood sena wahen Mumbai was bleeding???

We the People - And the "Kucch nahin ho sakta" syndrome.

                            How many times have you heard this pet hindustani paraphrase "Kya Karein???" a.k.a "Kucch nahi kar sakte" a.k.a "Kucch nahin ho sakta".Let me be more clear-cut, how many times have you uttered this.What!.....................lost the count, haven't you? Useless government-Kucch nahin ho sakta, exorbitant fees-Kucch nahin ho sakta, bad roads-Kucch nahin ho sakta, no electricity-Kucch nahin ho sakta, bomb blasts-Kucch nahin ho sakta........the list is endless.If you want an answer as to why India, after 60 years of independence and with an unparalleled storehouse of human resources, struggles to become a First World Country, just read the Italicized words carefully.It is because of you...............and me.....................and everybody around us, that we are in such a sorry state.Yet, after heartily slandering and blaming all the man-made and natural forces around us, we go to bed as a contented being-"Kya Karein, Kucch nahi kar sakte???"

                              The problem is in our outlook and to an extent in our social upbringing - An upbringing of escapism,hopelessness and adjustment.We have learnt that if the environment is not conducive then- step1>Stay calm, step 2> close your eyes, step 3> turn around and the final step> find the quickest way to the patliest gali to get out. OR. Single shot solution- adjust with them. Have you seen "A Wednesday???" Naserrudin Shah in his conversation with Anupam Kher points out a congenital discrepency in our charaters - We learn to adjust or adapt too fast.Electricity-adapt,water-adapt, and now bomb blasts-adapt.Change does not come till we desire it , and it's a popular notion that Indians are very resistive to change.Change is......errrr...............boooooooooooooooooring????? How about a story.Yes!,thats a good idea, let's see HOW THINGS CHANGE with a story instead of this insipid essay.......................hopefully in my next Blog post!

Story of the Indian Average II - The Six Stigma

                           Ever heard of Six Sigma,the worlds foremost certification for efficient management, I bet you have! We have something thats conversely true for the modern indian society- the Six Stigma-the worlds foremost certification for disparaging an individual from choosing careers that should not be chosen (Note:According to social status and demand).A typical scenario is like this:

Indian Average: "I wanna do M.A. in English Literature dad"

Dad:"Are you out of your mind! What will you eat? You are not that poor in studies that you need to go into arts."

Indian Average: "But I like studying English.Maybe I'll get to go to Oxford one day."

Dad:"bada aaya shakespeare ki aulad!(Look here comes the heir of shakespeare!)How are you gonna survive.Nobody will marry you.Ye ladka khandaan ka naam kharab karega.(This boy will spoil the name of the family) What will people say!"

Indian Average:"But......."

Dad:"You are going into Engineering and that's it.No more arguments."

                              And then starts the vicious cycle.........a cycle than can stretch over 6 continents.I would be wrong in saying that everyone wants to go to America but a majority does.I don't want to criticize them, no, but I just want to know what they learn from America, rather, the Americans.They learn how to earn money,they learn to flirt,they learn to walk naked on beaches of Acapulco,they learn everything that they shouldn't, but are unable to learn what they should.They don't learn the feeling of respect towards their motherland,they don't learn to raise their voices against injustice,they don't learn to have social responsibility.Remember, that America too was once an under-developed country.They developed because of collective responsibility.In the past 60 years they have reached Mars .Even after 60 years we are still unable to wipe the tears of the poor.This is the principle difference between us and Americans.

                         Coming back to the Indian average guy and the Six Stigma.I call it a six stigma because our society tends to attach a social stigma with anything and everything.The first victim is you.If you want to pursue arts or any other hatke profession,the social reaction will be "ohhh him.......he is a good for nothing.......pursuing arts somewhere." (Another cultural learning we need from America is dignity of work and labour.)

                          With this we can understand the perspective of being average.We have to understand that everyone is a performer in one task but average in others.To get the best out of people we have to recognize their talent and not just degrees, a task in which we horribly fail.For developing a country we don't need intelligensia, but dedication.People caught in the wrong jobs or the wrong career cannot dedicate themselves for the benefit of the society.To an extent parents are also responsible for this.For social status and standing we tend to nurture and be nurtured by them, in a dream to get to foreign lands.If we want to see India as a developed country we have to stop this readymade outlook.Growth cannot be achieved in the lap of luxury.Go to the USA, Europe, Japan, etc........learn their qualities, learn the dignity of labour, learn how vocational courses can be more important than engineering or doctory,learn what social awareness is and apply it. If passion drives profession,profession becomes a bliss.True efforts never go waste and half hearted efforts never count.Unfortunately,the thing's bitter to speak and hard to achieve, but still not impossible.As an M.B.A aspirant myself,I have thought over the issue.It took 6 months and a job-offer rejection for me, to figure out what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it.

                                 Now is not the right time to disclose anything, but soon enough I will and believe me, the task may help us shape a better future.Stay tuned .Chow!

                

Story of The Indian Average

                         Many of you must be thinking about this silly name, "Me,Tea & Society", aren't you? This is not just a name, rather the definition of my life ......the life of an average person who's  shuttling between his dreams...ahhhh no!....not dreams...ummm....visions! yeah visions,this sounds good! so, shuttling between his visions, a sometimes friend and sometimes fiend society, and (his armory) cups of tea. 

                          This blog will give you  a peek into the life of an average person.........(average person??? Who wants to know about average people?) his thoughts, his ideas (afterall I am the writer of this blog).Well, my friend if you would have understood what average is, you would have become Gautam Buddha by now.He died, or should I say, became immortal teaching us the art of becoming average.Let's just try to have a look what the Indian Average is:

                          When you are in India, being average is as good as being dead.Every single person and every single parent views his son/daughter as the avant garde heir of their family lineage,(preferrably settled in America). People, like you an me, are sucked into a grotesque gruelling machine, known as "Career".I am not discouraging you to pursue a career....no! no!......not at all! What I am talking about, is the career that you pursue on behalf of your parents, and also for the society that you live in.

                          The typical life track for educated Indian teens, professed and implemented even before their birth is:

                       School->Junior college->engineer->MBA or MS ->America->Life Successful!                                             (If any Americans are reading this,probably now they will understand why every tom,dick and harry from India comes to their country for education.Note for Indians:Sorry mates, no offence!)

                          Why America???........well, you don't remain average after that.You become a Non-Resident Indian man. You get all the good girls to marry plus big dowry plus status plus resplendent visages of your parents, and that's so fucking cool! Afterall, for us (excluding a few imbeciles like me!) Money is God and America is Heaven,and we all want to leave for the heavenly abode,don't we?(LOL!)

                           What we forget, is that in this rat-race, we gain the world but we loose ourselves.The pursuit of intelligence makes us loose the innocence.In the world of cut throat competition we become a mercenary,who will slit the throats of anybody and everybody coming between him and his success, but it will be just a matter of time before somebody comes and slits his own throat.Rather than earn and learn we earn and burn, and the ones who don't are the imbeciles like the ones in the bracket.This is the story of the average Indian.........a good-for-nothing of the society.