Meri aawaz suno.. listen to my voice.. its the best! thats what every individual thinks now a days.. at least the ones that go on all sorts of reality shows and contests that claim that they will make you the voice of nation an idol that can be looked upon.. etc. etc... but they ppl who are chosen as the best.. are rarely the best.. 'coz the contests are looking for well in one word.. and "all rounder" someone who looks good, who can sing well, who has the attitude and who can impress the crowd with talk and walk! wow! thats a lengthy list.. but who is like that..well thats what I ask.. but ppl who come for the contest.. and mind you every one of them.. thinks and oozes confidence.. but how? I remember after years of practice in on an instrument, I was still nervous to go in front of an audience.. and that is to say that me and the instrument worked like.. clockwork!
Huh but the confidence is certainly deceptive! Ooze confidence but no talent.. the coming up of Sanjaya in the American Idol goes to prove "talent? woh kis khet ki mooli hain".. or for that matter the winning of debojit over vineeth in sa re ga ma pa or winning of sandeep over karunya.. honestly speaking karunya had the talent.. but not the looks.. and Lord knows how many karunyas who are probably dark, short or stubby are working in the background as chorus singers or worse are working as software engineers.. crying out every minute for recognition as a person with one talent.. not many.. not a superman!
Talent searches earlier used to be concentrated on one person achieving something great in one area..TSE exam searched for the ones talented in areas of Math or physics or general knowledge.. not all at once.. and singing competitions looking for singers.. but the reality shows these days look for so many things in one individual.. that the effect is muddy! the person ultimately chosen is so-so at everything.. not great in everything.. he/she can certainly dance, sing, look good, talk the talk and walk the walk.. but only 20 to 50%.. not 100% in everything.. where as a person who is really talented is conveniently ignored giving him a title of an incomplete person! where as he/she is one complete in the true sense.. as there is that 100% in one dimension, in one area.. and he/she excels in it.. the rest are all mere details..
Does that not sound unfair? ignoring the talented to take up a person who is mediocre in all things? Jack of all and master of none? The pathetic part is that all these talent shows are being judged by public votes and its really sad that the general crowd now roots for mediocrity rather than the talent power house.. and they name it the "idol" and expect people to bow down and respect it! Injustice at its peak I say.. u listen to the singers who are selected in indian idol 2 and decide for urself
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Ab Nazaare Hum Kya Dekhen..
What would be the best way to spend a Saturday night.. Partying.. going to the Royals game? Alas.. not one of these proved a lucrative enough cause .. and so I browsed and browsed until I came across this "free event" .. and no they were not giving away free food.. Hmm not that cheap.. It was a dance and story performance by a popular troupe choreographed by Doug Varone, who apparently has 38,700 Google search results.. hmm I thought.. might actually prove a good diversion from the mundane bowling and pooling.. and drinking and 'merrying'..not that I do all of that.. but still.. a dance performance seemed far more interesting... And so I call up.. and confirmed my spot in the crowd.. And surprise! got the front row seats.. well not quite..it was in the third from the stage.. but hey.. who's complaining.. as long as I get to see the performance..you know how it is these days with free events can't ensure anything!
And so i spent an hour dressing up.. for all I am worth.. and went to the center.. to treat my eyes to the "Dense Terrain" the latest of their dances. The hall is house full... except for the 7 seven seats beside me. Hmm.. conspiracy theory.. the universe always conspires to take away all good looking guys away from me.. now a days it seems to be conspiring to take away even people sitting beside me :) Oh well that's a different route..
And so it started.. the performance.. a video projected up on the milky white screen.. and lights dimmed out.. and close up image of the mouth of a bearded guy appeared on the screen muttering some mumbo jumbo.. hmm I thought..not a very sightly scene.. but I waited.. with baited breath.. for something to happen.. but nothing did and for a whole 3 minutes that frame was nearly still.. except for the mutterings.. which were quite meaningless.. and I had the strange feeling that its gonna be a loooong free event!
The performers did eventually come.. and voila.. they crawled on the floor like babies.. they jumped up and down.. rather unsymmetrical and sat on chairs.. I picked my brain as much as I could.. to see if I could make any sense.. and then the saga went on and on.. with more people crawling jumping sitting and the in the background the image changing.. the bearded man apparently grew tired of just muttering so he started scribbling.. on walls.. and yes again meaningless stuff.. to the more intellectual people those scribbling may have looked like hmm lets say wavelets.. but to me they were nothing more than black marks on a good nice wall.. and then the artists left the stage..Perplexed.. I sat there.. and then the the performers arranged the chairs as they would be in a classroom.. Ah.. I thought, now finally I see a formation.. a symmetry... some things up.. and what do I see.. well nothing! the person in the video is now lecturing the people sitting on the stage.. I think to to myself.. there's got to be something I am missing in this.. then they all leave the stage except fr two male artists.. and they performed what I would call the jumping homo jelly beans! Arghh.. I was already getting frustrated.. when these two went away and and another two came in.. this time. a woman and a man.. and well they did the same things! hmm.. I thought.. can't they get any more creative? Whats the point?
They went off.. and then came walls! wow! that was something! artists pushed the "walls on wheels" to the center of the stage.. and well there is the bearded guy..."Surprisee!" well not really.. but still he was there.. and well from what I saw coming for the next 15 minutes.. it looked like either he dropped one of his lenses and was searching.. or had completely lost his marbles! And I was losing my patience..
And after that the show ended.. and all clapped..hmm .. what was this? it was not even a dance for Pete's sake! a story my foot! there was none.. what's the point..as these were reeling in my mind..a voice came from behind me.. "There got to be an explanation.. I just don't know what and where" it was an elderly gentleman.."I know!" I exclaimed.. happy that some one else at least thinks like me! Hmm I thought.. a crazed out middle school teacher with students perhaps I thought and I voiced my opinion.. the old gentleman agreed! and I walked out.. thinking.. wow! that was some performance.. with no ballet.. not much symmetry.. no great costumes..(it was there final dance rehearsal before there went out to ticket buying public.. that's why it was free)...no story.. even if there was, there was no point..in telling it.... Rahul of DTPH had better ideas even if it was a sickly sweet love story! overall it was a big flop show! and while I was trying to come out of the room.. a guy beside me said "you know I could have gone to the royals game.. see what you've done.. now I am depressed!" to his wife.. hmm I thought.. we'll looks like I am doing better than that! Hats off to creativity!!! But I have seen and been in better ones!
And so i spent an hour dressing up.. for all I am worth.. and went to the center.. to treat my eyes to the "Dense Terrain" the latest of their dances. The hall is house full... except for the 7 seven seats beside me. Hmm.. conspiracy theory.. the universe always conspires to take away all good looking guys away from me.. now a days it seems to be conspiring to take away even people sitting beside me :) Oh well that's a different route..
And so it started.. the performance.. a video projected up on the milky white screen.. and lights dimmed out.. and close up image of the mouth of a bearded guy appeared on the screen muttering some mumbo jumbo.. hmm I thought..not a very sightly scene.. but I waited.. with baited breath.. for something to happen.. but nothing did and for a whole 3 minutes that frame was nearly still.. except for the mutterings.. which were quite meaningless.. and I had the strange feeling that its gonna be a loooong free event!
The performers did eventually come.. and voila.. they crawled on the floor like babies.. they jumped up and down.. rather unsymmetrical and sat on chairs.. I picked my brain as much as I could.. to see if I could make any sense.. and then the saga went on and on.. with more people crawling jumping sitting and the in the background the image changing.. the bearded man apparently grew tired of just muttering so he started scribbling.. on walls.. and yes again meaningless stuff.. to the more intellectual people those scribbling may have looked like hmm lets say wavelets.. but to me they were nothing more than black marks on a good nice wall.. and then the artists left the stage..Perplexed.. I sat there.. and then the the performers arranged the chairs as they would be in a classroom.. Ah.. I thought, now finally I see a formation.. a symmetry... some things up.. and what do I see.. well nothing! the person in the video is now lecturing the people sitting on the stage.. I think to to myself.. there's got to be something I am missing in this.. then they all leave the stage except fr two male artists.. and they performed what I would call the jumping homo jelly beans! Arghh.. I was already getting frustrated.. when these two went away and and another two came in.. this time. a woman and a man.. and well they did the same things! hmm.. I thought.. can't they get any more creative? Whats the point?
They went off.. and then came walls! wow! that was something! artists pushed the "walls on wheels" to the center of the stage.. and well there is the bearded guy..."Surprisee!" well not really.. but still he was there.. and well from what I saw coming for the next 15 minutes.. it looked like either he dropped one of his lenses and was searching.. or had completely lost his marbles! And I was losing my patience..
And after that the show ended.. and all clapped..hmm .. what was this? it was not even a dance for Pete's sake! a story my foot! there was none.. what's the point..as these were reeling in my mind..a voice came from behind me.. "There got to be an explanation.. I just don't know what and where" it was an elderly gentleman.."I know!" I exclaimed.. happy that some one else at least thinks like me! Hmm I thought.. a crazed out middle school teacher with students perhaps I thought and I voiced my opinion.. the old gentleman agreed! and I walked out.. thinking.. wow! that was some performance.. with no ballet.. not much symmetry.. no great costumes..(it was there final dance rehearsal before there went out to ticket buying public.. that's why it was free)...no story.. even if there was, there was no point..in telling it.... Rahul of DTPH had better ideas even if it was a sickly sweet love story! overall it was a big flop show! and while I was trying to come out of the room.. a guy beside me said "you know I could have gone to the royals game.. see what you've done.. now I am depressed!" to his wife.. hmm I thought.. we'll looks like I am doing better than that! Hats off to creativity!!! But I have seen and been in better ones!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin...
Yesterday I was watching this terribly depressing movie.. Provoked.. which has Ash in it playing the role of the lady who changed the entire outlook towards women and oppression in the world of jury - Kiranjeet Ahluwalia. But the main thing is after seeing a photo where a Dalit woman is being hit with a bamboo stick on the road, the stuff shown in the movie seemed a little pale.. which is probably not fair.. but I tend to think if the beat up his woman on the road, then think of what happens inside. And then as the protagonist says in the movie .. the woman is expected to shut up and take it all for the sake of a false honour in the society. Why us? why should the woman take all that? Why should we swallow our self esteem and pride.. and be like a doormat to the man? Sleep with him.. else be raped..and this is the very person who promises to honour you and love you for not just this but the coming few lives even.. If you think these things don't happen any longer.. and this was an incident that took place oh so long ago in 1989 ..think again.. in fact look again.. there are very few women who are actually happy with marriage.. and most of them are the people who understand each other and not treat each other like objects of play.. be it normal or sadistic.
If its not physical abuse.. in bed or out.. its mental tension.. all over the place.. stifled with thoughts about him, his ego, his approval..its like what Tabu says in Astitva, In being Mrs Aditi Shrikant Pandit.. just the Aditi got lost somewhere... and while there are billions of women identifying themselves with the statement.. there are hardly any men willing to accept it even, let alone get the same feeling..would it not be nice if a man came up and said.. I lost my identity being your husband.. but never..even if they feel that their ego would stop them from uttering a word.
Well having said all that.. I still believe there are decent husbands in this world.. who view their wives as companions and not sex toys.. and there are a lot more who think the world about their wifes.. its the ratio that matter.. this versus that.. and of course the torturers win! You'd be surprised at how many of them are the educated lot who think that their education gives them a right to dictate terms in their spouses life and decisions.. I agree there should be mutual consent.. but then imposing ones ideas and decisions or for that matter even opinions is not a birth right! Hmm.. come to think of it.. its better that one stays single... than lie on the bed with a man who neither thinks not behaves in a civilized way, with move love and affection than ego , arrogance or passion.. and stare in to the ceiling or the revolving fan and think...Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (There is no end to this night)
If its not physical abuse.. in bed or out.. its mental tension.. all over the place.. stifled with thoughts about him, his ego, his approval..its like what Tabu says in Astitva, In being Mrs Aditi Shrikant Pandit.. just the Aditi got lost somewhere... and while there are billions of women identifying themselves with the statement.. there are hardly any men willing to accept it even, let alone get the same feeling..would it not be nice if a man came up and said.. I lost my identity being your husband.. but never..even if they feel that their ego would stop them from uttering a word.
Well having said all that.. I still believe there are decent husbands in this world.. who view their wives as companions and not sex toys.. and there are a lot more who think the world about their wifes.. its the ratio that matter.. this versus that.. and of course the torturers win! You'd be surprised at how many of them are the educated lot who think that their education gives them a right to dictate terms in their spouses life and decisions.. I agree there should be mutual consent.. but then imposing ones ideas and decisions or for that matter even opinions is not a birth right! Hmm.. come to think of it.. its better that one stays single... than lie on the bed with a man who neither thinks not behaves in a civilized way, with move love and affection than ego , arrogance or passion.. and stare in to the ceiling or the revolving fan and think...Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (There is no end to this night)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Yeh Jo Hain Zindagi
Hmm.. continuing on the last post.. there have been several things happened last week that made me think about the civility in people.. My dad used to say "Common Sense is the most rarest sense found in a man" well I agreed at that point, but lately I have come to think of it as Civic Sense is the one that is the rarest well the last post I said how I had to keep quiet and grin despite the loud music.. coz it was someone else's property.. well now the someone else comes to my property and does not pay heed to my choices and restrictions.. comments on how my paintings look and how my educational institution is and that our country's army is not fit to go to war!! Huh I think.. how dare he does that, despite the fact that he knows half my family is from the defense forces.. well well.. according to me anyone who thinks that fighting for the nation is trivial and peanuts they should be asked to undergo a compulsory training in those harsh environments.. the soldiers are with constantly vigilant at the borders of the country protecting it with their lives and thats the cost they pay for us to breathe free air.. just because we are no longer on our motherland does not mean that we can look down upon their efforts and their supreme scrifices!
How insensitive can a person be.. I agree that everyone is entitled to have his/her opinions but there is a place and time to voice it and and then of course call it your opinion.. don't declare it as though its the universal truth! Especially not when there are people around who can take it very personally. There is a limit to how much of the other person I can take, especially if the person means no more to me than a acquaintance turned friend.. for the past one year.. it definitely calls for more politeness from the other quarter. Is it so difficult to think before you talk.. actions and words have a lot of importance .. and they can be misinterpreted very easily.. in such a delicate web of society if a person decides to rip apart the thin lines that bind us by speaking the wrong things in front of the wrong people and at a very wrong time.. then what more can one say... except that its a pitiful situation. But then.. I still kept quiet.. after the noisy lot left, I came back and thought.. why did I keep quiet.. I should have told something, he needs to be at least apologetic about it.. if not anything else..but then I did not.. 'coz it just seems so rude.. and as my mom says "Athiti devo bhava" .. A guest is like God.. do not ill treat.. and so I keep mum.. but then swords are crossed.. either he learns manners or quits talking.. If the cost of friendship and entertainment is restriction of choice and comments on personal achievements be it myself or my family.. then that is not worth paying.
There are some rules in life that people should follow if they want to live in a society comprised of different people with different cultures, tastes, and backgrounds. I don't say sacrifice your choice of things for the sake of being a social being.. but then don't hurt others sentiments by your words.. the universe always conspires to bring back the good/evil you do unto others.. some day you're bound benefit/regret what you've done..
Alas, this is life (yeh jo hain zindagi) .. and these are the kind of namoonas (characters) you see day by day!
How insensitive can a person be.. I agree that everyone is entitled to have his/her opinions but there is a place and time to voice it and and then of course call it your opinion.. don't declare it as though its the universal truth! Especially not when there are people around who can take it very personally. There is a limit to how much of the other person I can take, especially if the person means no more to me than a acquaintance turned friend.. for the past one year.. it definitely calls for more politeness from the other quarter. Is it so difficult to think before you talk.. actions and words have a lot of importance .. and they can be misinterpreted very easily.. in such a delicate web of society if a person decides to rip apart the thin lines that bind us by speaking the wrong things in front of the wrong people and at a very wrong time.. then what more can one say... except that its a pitiful situation. But then.. I still kept quiet.. after the noisy lot left, I came back and thought.. why did I keep quiet.. I should have told something, he needs to be at least apologetic about it.. if not anything else..but then I did not.. 'coz it just seems so rude.. and as my mom says "Athiti devo bhava" .. A guest is like God.. do not ill treat.. and so I keep mum.. but then swords are crossed.. either he learns manners or quits talking.. If the cost of friendship and entertainment is restriction of choice and comments on personal achievements be it myself or my family.. then that is not worth paying.
There are some rules in life that people should follow if they want to live in a society comprised of different people with different cultures, tastes, and backgrounds. I don't say sacrifice your choice of things for the sake of being a social being.. but then don't hurt others sentiments by your words.. the universe always conspires to bring back the good/evil you do unto others.. some day you're bound benefit/regret what you've done..
Alas, this is life (yeh jo hain zindagi) .. and these are the kind of namoonas (characters) you see day by day!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Dum lagake...
Is it necessary that one has to try hard to fit into the good books of another.. How important is it to "be nice" ? I have a lot of friends.. who love heavy metal.. and make the car a disco type environment when going on drives... but I am quiet as a church mouse at that point... and let it out when they are in earshot.. hmm its their car, their wish.. its civil to shut up.. and bear.. and there are many more instances like that... so the question is.. is it fair that I be subjected to this torture as a compensation for their friendship? They are all nice people, but for this one thing.. and couple more perhaps.. nothing I can't grin and bear...and there I go again.. pushing myself into something I don't necessarily have to put up with!
Well its a wonder sometimes how many things I get pushed into.. education.. hardly ever had a choice.. even if I was given one.. I'd choose the one that fits best into the society.. Engineer.. doctor..all thats there...pushed into relations because I can't say "NO". And I am very sure I am not an isolated case.. there are many like me who feel that in the deemed and esteemed eyes of the society and circle of friends you should be so-and-so and have so-and-so qualities.. Hmm why the society and friends you may ask.. but the fact remains.. although we have an identity of our own, we still are are apart of a bigger game here.. and well lets face it loneliness is something that is fatal..slow poison as they say.. I have not met a person in life with no human interaction for years together.. you have to have someone.. alas you never find the perfect one.. the one that adjusts to all the stuff that u do.. its give and take.. hmm but then again, how much can u give and how much can u take.. thats how much you have to "push" yourself..
Take for instance the current youth, the gen X ..(I belong to gen W) they feel the pressure on them to change themselves into style gurus and popular divas to fit in.. else they are afraid of being left out..and as a result, the ages of tradition and culture is being washed away.. all thats left is "fit in" culture.. which is hip-hop and glamor and highlighted hair. I agree you can change yourself and make over... but only if you wish to.. not because some x,y,z on the road wishes so..let alone friends..how does it matter if you are overweight or underweight.. as long as you are healthy.. but nay.. society is for those who can wear the stylish clothes ..rather fit into stylish clothes.. so what if I have to become anorexic for it.. or resort to eating fatty food..
But alas.. sense does not prevail when we take decisions that affect our life for the "appeal" of others.. but then again.. we all do to an extent wish that you be known amongst the people around you as the sweetheart! and so you push yourself..Dum lagake ...
Well its a wonder sometimes how many things I get pushed into.. education.. hardly ever had a choice.. even if I was given one.. I'd choose the one that fits best into the society.. Engineer.. doctor..all thats there...pushed into relations because I can't say "NO". And I am very sure I am not an isolated case.. there are many like me who feel that in the deemed and esteemed eyes of the society and circle of friends you should be so-and-so and have so-and-so qualities.. Hmm why the society and friends you may ask.. but the fact remains.. although we have an identity of our own, we still are are apart of a bigger game here.. and well lets face it loneliness is something that is fatal..slow poison as they say.. I have not met a person in life with no human interaction for years together.. you have to have someone.. alas you never find the perfect one.. the one that adjusts to all the stuff that u do.. its give and take.. hmm but then again, how much can u give and how much can u take.. thats how much you have to "push" yourself..
Take for instance the current youth, the gen X ..(I belong to gen W) they feel the pressure on them to change themselves into style gurus and popular divas to fit in.. else they are afraid of being left out..and as a result, the ages of tradition and culture is being washed away.. all thats left is "fit in" culture.. which is hip-hop and glamor and highlighted hair. I agree you can change yourself and make over... but only if you wish to.. not because some x,y,z on the road wishes so..let alone friends..how does it matter if you are overweight or underweight.. as long as you are healthy.. but nay.. society is for those who can wear the stylish clothes ..rather fit into stylish clothes.. so what if I have to become anorexic for it.. or resort to eating fatty food..
But alas.. sense does not prevail when we take decisions that affect our life for the "appeal" of others.. but then again.. we all do to an extent wish that you be known amongst the people around you as the sweetheart! and so you push yourself..Dum lagake ...
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