Went to a DVD library to rent out a movie yesterday evening and ended up bringing 'The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button'. Now after having completed this two and half hour movie I must say it was one joy ride worth not missing. The entire story with every emotion of human life embraced in it makes up for ones cravings to watch a quality movie.
Everything in this movie right from script (adopted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald) to dialogues to perfect delivery of scenes by actors of the likes of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett have taken it to a class of its own altogether. One very interesting reason why most including me have watched this movie is because of its Oscar glory in 2009. Now after having watched two highest Oscar winners of 2009 'Slumdog Millionnaire' and 'The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button', I now believe that Slumdog was simply overrated vis-a-vis the latter. With due respect to the makers of Slumdog, one thing that takes the cake out of its way is the intricate decipherment of every aspect of ones birth till death that is otherwise shadowed in our subconscious alacrity.
From a rather deemed intellectual point of view some may argue that there is something to be learnt from everything. But either in an ignorant or a snobbish manner most tend to dismiss eternal statements many make and that is where this movie beautifully conveys the importance of Human Life in probably or perhaps one of the most spectacular ways possible. If not more there are at least few dozen instances and dialogues in the movie that uphold one or the other fabric of life and relationships which act like the source of constant inspiration and direction to tread the remaining life.
Few of my favourite dilogues from the movie are as follows;
Benjamin, we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?
Life can only be understood backward. It must be lived forward.
Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.
For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Mourning Stephan Gately's Death
Back from a drive with my friends and incidently switched on TV...and guess what! 'We miss Stephen Gately' was getting flashed on News 9 with 'Words' playing in the background. What a shock to have heard this news. Somehow missed this news in Print and TV earlier, but really aghast to know the lead singer of Boyzone is no more alive.
This year surely is one among the many black years in the history of music. First MJ and now Stephen's loss is highly dissonant.
Thanks Stephen for giving some wonderful music for us to cherish forever. As they say you never know when one is gone...I pray to almighty that may the loss be for the better and may your soul rest in peace.
Love you forever. Your 'Words' will never be forgotten in this world.
This year surely is one among the many black years in the history of music. First MJ and now Stephen's loss is highly dissonant.
Thanks Stephen for giving some wonderful music for us to cherish forever. As they say you never know when one is gone...I pray to almighty that may the loss be for the better and may your soul rest in peace.
Love you forever. Your 'Words' will never be forgotten in this world.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Zhansi Ki Rani Lakshmibai: Pride of Every Indian or Rather Every Human
I was browsing channels few hours ago and incidentally came across a title of one Zee TV sop Ek Veer Stree Ki Kahani...Zhansi Ki Rani, literally translating into 'story of a brave woman....Queen of Zhansi'. We all have heard and read about Lakshmibai from elementary school level but little did we know then that personalities like hers have actually shaped and have sown a seed of new wisdom for us to follow even when the British are no more around. In spite of being habitual of paying no heed to Zee TVs and Star TVs for their saas-bahu kinda serials, this time I decided to hang on for few minutes to see what this serial is all about. As many of such history inspired TV dramas are preposterous in nature for not stating the history as it is, this one seemed a fairly less extravagant effort in portraying the life of a legend called Zhansi Ki Rani.
Few scenes in the 30 minute serial were perhaps so appealing in nature that it even made me question could these incidents shown be real? A quick googling later helped me understand that in fact the very nature of Lakshmibai's life, account by account is an intriguing narration in itself.
That's when I decided to know more of her larger than life persona by reading her biography on http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/jhansi/index.htm And as author N S Ramaprasad has rightly put it in the prelude "She was the queen of a small state, but the empress of a limitless empire of glory."
The inspiration from this moving introduction was far more than just convincing for me to spend my last 45 minutes in reading her small yet highly significant life story. As is being shown in TV and as present in her biographies one thing that catches ones attention is how she had shown a character of 'patriotism, self-respect and heroism' par excellence from her pre-teens. Hence as we proceed through the pages the things become more and more clear that her childhood marriage to the King of Peshwa, early demise of her husband, denial of travel permission to Varanassi by British to shave her head, even the death of her infant were not mere facts of an unjust Almighty but a means of self discovery for Lakshmibai to take reigns of Zhansi one day and live a life no one in this world has ever lived...though only for 22 years.
I urge everyone to go through the biography of Lakshmibai and take part in process of self discovery. We may no longer have colonial powers around but dominant ills like dowry, rape, domestic violence, infanticide, foeticide etc are still looming large going by disgusting national statistics, we need 21st century Zhansi Ki Rani like Lakshmibais who will stand the test of time and fight the menace.
On an emotional but logical end note, her biography has once again after many days has made me ponder on after all what is it that people like Lakshmibai, Jeejabai, Onake Obavva, Tipu Sultan, Bhagat Singh....Maj. Sandip Unnikrishnan and many such souls are made of. Circumstances, values, or what is it that has defined their conscience far outweighing their own will to live for themselves like most of us do.
Few scenes in the 30 minute serial were perhaps so appealing in nature that it even made me question could these incidents shown be real? A quick googling later helped me understand that in fact the very nature of Lakshmibai's life, account by account is an intriguing narration in itself.
That's when I decided to know more of her larger than life persona by reading her biography on http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/jhansi/index.htm And as author N S Ramaprasad has rightly put it in the prelude "She was the queen of a small state, but the empress of a limitless empire of glory."
The inspiration from this moving introduction was far more than just convincing for me to spend my last 45 minutes in reading her small yet highly significant life story. As is being shown in TV and as present in her biographies one thing that catches ones attention is how she had shown a character of 'patriotism, self-respect and heroism' par excellence from her pre-teens. Hence as we proceed through the pages the things become more and more clear that her childhood marriage to the King of Peshwa, early demise of her husband, denial of travel permission to Varanassi by British to shave her head, even the death of her infant were not mere facts of an unjust Almighty but a means of self discovery for Lakshmibai to take reigns of Zhansi one day and live a life no one in this world has ever lived...though only for 22 years.
I urge everyone to go through the biography of Lakshmibai and take part in process of self discovery. We may no longer have colonial powers around but dominant ills like dowry, rape, domestic violence, infanticide, foeticide etc are still looming large going by disgusting national statistics, we need 21st century Zhansi Ki Rani like Lakshmibais who will stand the test of time and fight the menace.
On an emotional but logical end note, her biography has once again after many days has made me ponder on after all what is it that people like Lakshmibai, Jeejabai, Onake Obavva, Tipu Sultan, Bhagat Singh....Maj. Sandip Unnikrishnan and many such souls are made of. Circumstances, values, or what is it that has defined their conscience far outweighing their own will to live for themselves like most of us do.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sexuality Through Our Myopic Lenses And Beyond: Scrap Article 377 In The Country
References: The Economic Times and Deccan Herald
Who established heterosexuality as the only 'natural' means of expressing your sexual orientation? A question mainstream social India has no answer for but is thriving on the basis of this myopic assumption. Right from the time one is born society imposes on you a belief that the only natural instinct of a man or a woman in this country is to find a soul mate of the opposite sex. Your schools, friends, parents, movies, government and everybody else believes it and so are you expected to believe it.
Not that am trying to defy the age old myth mainstream Indian population holds by saying we are utterly incorrect in our assumptions but today the times are different. The onset of globalization along with the free media in this country have given us enough instances to count on the definition of what each of us believe of those who think otherwise about heterosexuality as the only 'natural' thing. Because of the wisdom our values and the very culture, that everyone in this country seems to own and understand, have given us it is seemingly becoming obvious that somewhere by imposing this myth onto ourselves as the eternal truth we are doing injustice to the very spirit of human life.
Nobody has the intrinsic right to define what ones sexual preference should be and especially in the context of the world rising to the occasion and understanding this and thus scrapping their laws that once identified anything other than heterosexuality as the crime. Not to look for away, Delhi High Court's phenomenal verdict on PIL filed by Naz Foundation is a first towards correcting the historical injustice the Article 377 was exhibiting. What is highly appreciable is the detailed painstaking effort the duo of judges have put in while decriminalizing consensual sex between people of same sex.
Thankfully at least in Delhi today proclaiming one’s sexual indentity as a gay or lesbian is not a taboo (not that it is any important but as a matter of equalty) and individuals can lawfully make the decision of choosing their partner of any sex. All this means only one thing, even though Article 377 once criminalized homosexuality, the fundamentals on which constitution is based honoring the right to equality and freedom is above all worth admiration.
As Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Ajit P rakash Shah, who gave the verdict along with Justice Muralidhar, said "moral indignation, howsoever strong, is not a valid basis for overriding individuals’ fundamental rights of dignity and privacy. In our scheme of things, constitutional morality must outweigh the argument of public morality, even if it be the majoritarian view.”
It is always true that human perceptions or beliefs are formed and influenced by environment, consisting of upbringing, education, exposure via reading, media, and existing beliefs among people that get imparted to during our interaction. It is quite understandable then that people confide themselves in social values even though at times overriding the principles of equality as in this case. As Dr Ambedkar wrote it “Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated. We must realize that our people have yet to learn it.”
It is then in the interest of all us that society as whole opens its eyes in the midst of our divergent views upholding the basic thread of our culture of being inclusive to diversities.
Who established heterosexuality as the only 'natural' means of expressing your sexual orientation? A question mainstream social India has no answer for but is thriving on the basis of this myopic assumption. Right from the time one is born society imposes on you a belief that the only natural instinct of a man or a woman in this country is to find a soul mate of the opposite sex. Your schools, friends, parents, movies, government and everybody else believes it and so are you expected to believe it.
Not that am trying to defy the age old myth mainstream Indian population holds by saying we are utterly incorrect in our assumptions but today the times are different. The onset of globalization along with the free media in this country have given us enough instances to count on the definition of what each of us believe of those who think otherwise about heterosexuality as the only 'natural' thing. Because of the wisdom our values and the very culture, that everyone in this country seems to own and understand, have given us it is seemingly becoming obvious that somewhere by imposing this myth onto ourselves as the eternal truth we are doing injustice to the very spirit of human life.
Nobody has the intrinsic right to define what ones sexual preference should be and especially in the context of the world rising to the occasion and understanding this and thus scrapping their laws that once identified anything other than heterosexuality as the crime. Not to look for away, Delhi High Court's phenomenal verdict on PIL filed by Naz Foundation is a first towards correcting the historical injustice the Article 377 was exhibiting. What is highly appreciable is the detailed painstaking effort the duo of judges have put in while decriminalizing consensual sex between people of same sex.
Thankfully at least in Delhi today proclaiming one’s sexual indentity as a gay or lesbian is not a taboo (not that it is any important but as a matter of equalty) and individuals can lawfully make the decision of choosing their partner of any sex. All this means only one thing, even though Article 377 once criminalized homosexuality, the fundamentals on which constitution is based honoring the right to equality and freedom is above all worth admiration.
As Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Ajit P rakash Shah, who gave the verdict along with Justice Muralidhar, said "moral indignation, howsoever strong, is not a valid basis for overriding individuals’ fundamental rights of dignity and privacy. In our scheme of things, constitutional morality must outweigh the argument of public morality, even if it be the majoritarian view.”
It is always true that human perceptions or beliefs are formed and influenced by environment, consisting of upbringing, education, exposure via reading, media, and existing beliefs among people that get imparted to during our interaction. It is quite understandable then that people confide themselves in social values even though at times overriding the principles of equality as in this case. As Dr Ambedkar wrote it “Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated. We must realize that our people have yet to learn it.”
It is then in the interest of all us that society as whole opens its eyes in the midst of our divergent views upholding the basic thread of our culture of being inclusive to diversities.
My Wish List For Better India, Better World :
- Child Rights
- Orphan Rehabilitation
- Empowerment Of Women
- Regulation Of Sex Trade
- Decriminalizing All Sexualities
Friday, June 26, 2009
Deepest Condolences To MICHAEL JACKSON
Many come and go, some make us laugh, some make us cry, and some make our lives more colorful. Michael, though you existed somewhere in this world till 25th June 2009, made my days more meorable with your cherishable music. I can't forget the beautiful songs composed that connect me to my soul. It is disheartning to realize that you are no more alive among us physically. With deepest sorrow I pray in almighty that may your soul rest in peace and our love be with you like a guiding angel. Lastly your music still rocks and will continue to rock as long as mankind will be alive.
I will miss you...Let your music 'Heal the World'.
Love,
Indraneel
I will miss you...Let your music 'Heal the World'.
Love,
Indraneel
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Manjunath Shanmugam Integrity Award 2009
You are invited to the presentation ceremony of the Third Manjunath Shanmugam Integrity Award. This award honours and encourages those who are working to uphold the values of truth and honesty in Indian public life. The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rupees One Lakh. Please show your support by attending.The award is in memory of Manjunath Shanmugam, a young Indian Oil officer and Alumnus of IIM Lucknow, who was murdered in the line of duty while fighting corrupt practices. The Trust fought the case successfully, with all 8 accused found guilty: the main accused given the death penalty and the rest, life imprisonment.The distinguished Award Jury comprised Mr. Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief of Indian Express and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Express Group, Mr. S. Gopalakrishnan, CEO and M.D. of Infosys Technologies Ltd, Ms. Rama Bijapurkar, a recognized thought leader on market strategy and consumer issues, all eminent citizens of our country.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009
Time: 4:00pm - 4:30pm: Registration and Tea /Coffee
4:30pm - 6:30pm: Event Please be seated 5 minutes before the Programme starts. We are following a strict time schedule
Venue
IIM Bangalore Auditorium
Chief Guest
Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Ms. Aruna Roy
This is an open event. However, we request you to register and kindly confirm your presence, to help us plan for the event. While entering the IIM Bangalore campus on the day of the presentation ceremony, please carry a printout of this event or mention the name of the event to the security.
To learn more about the Manjunath Shanmugam Trust, please visitwww.manjunathshanmugamtrust.org
RSVP: Ms Aqhila Banu 080-32518394, or mst2009@kestone.in
Looking forward to your participation,
The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)