Three Idiots, Caution; Jerks & Idiots Next 340403 Square Miles

An idiot produces bunch of idiots, contributing to the idiot population in villages, towns, cities, and successfully creating Idiotistan. Sounds familiar, isn’t it? At times I look at various academic institutions; only one thing comes in my mind “idiots manufacturing factories”. There may be exceptions but majority is producing parrots, good at remembering. I had been reading since childhood that our mind is a thinking device not a store room and I still believe it. Lately I came across an interesting movie “Three Idiots”, Aamir Khan is the lead cast, displayed diverse and humorous performance. Plot is borrowed from Five Point Someone-What not to do at IIT, written by Chetan Bhagat, one of the highest selling English novels published in India. Movie brilliantly depicts the family pressure, when it comes to a child’s career, forcing a kid to study Engineering vis a vis perusing his heart’s desire, be it photography, sports, music. It is so true, if one listens to heart, there won’t be any regret and career would be like hobby. In our society, even at brilliant universities, students are pressurized to memorize and live under the pressure of so called GPA. Even most of the teachers believe that they know everything, if someone challenges any thought or idea; it generally hurts teacher’s ego and end up taking revenge.  I still remember, at university I had always been one of the top students, asking questions and challenging was part of my academic pursuance, rarely cared for GPA, one of the teachers got offended with my challenging thoughts and he ended up failing me, first time ever in my life. I challenged it and got away with it. So called educated lot lacks basic social consciousness, esp. business graduates in my circle are like corporate zombies, hardly knows about Pakistani society, not much about indigenious people, history and geography . They prefer cramming books to graduate and earn a living, no need to have social consciousness, prefer having dinner with friends than buying a book. I seriously get disillusioned to see educated lot when they act uncivilized all around. Be it teachers, society or even parents, no one likes questions, challenging thoughts is considered rude behavior. You end up hearing sentences such as “How dare you challenge your parents’ ideas? “Tumhein abhi dunya ka pata hee kia hay??” How much have you seen the world? How many books have you read? At times I look back at colonial societies, I find, academic system in Colonial India was designed to produce low level clerks. Slaves or subjects had no right to challenge or question masters? Similarly such behaviors became part of family value system. Another interesting thing I came across was that in colonial societies, language was one of the tools always used for exploitation. Persian was the language of Kings & Queens & Darbar’s but common men used to speak native languages so was the case with English. Even today, language is used to exploit or keep majority under privileged, one may not deny the importance of English but it is used as entry barriers. Societies prosper and grow with the power of ideas and quality of thought, it is the mind that makes the difference and thoughts lead to prosperity. There is a famous saying “An idiot is a genius to another idiot”

The Kite Runner; Stealing is the only Sin????

 I came across an interesting movie/novel, following words made me think about the whole concept of morality. Conversation between child and father conveys a universal message; "Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that? "When you kill a man, you steal a life," Baba said. "You steal his wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?" Think about it.

Slumdog Millionaire; Visually Dazzling Movie; Hardship, Triumph and Love...

I was surprised to see a British Director Danny Boyle came up with awesome Mumbai slum stuff, using the underdog tale cast. I would recommend to all my friends, it’s visually dazzling hmmm thematically conscious both entertaining and powerful. It is an audience-pleaser with a story arc right out of the Arabian Nights. An impoverished orphan through pluck and determination fights for a fortune and the woman of his dreams. But this fable unfolds in a very real place — the mean streets of modern India — and the obstacles of greed, lust, cruelty. Young Jamal handcuffed to a chair in a police interrogation room where a detective tortures him with fists and electric shocks. The cop believes that Jamal, the longest-standing contestant on India’s version of the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” has been cheating. He cannot believe that this uneducated “slumdog” could have answered all those tough questions without help. So Jamal tells his story, illustrating how coincidences in his life have providentially come together to provide the answers he needed. He also gets his lost love, never gives up, it is destiny that he had to reach….i wonder, is life all about written destiny, hard work, money or luck.

Movie was released by end Nov 08, hardly in one month, overall business on box office was USD 19.5 mill, also chosen one of the top ten best movies of the year 2008. Prestigious critics "Rotten Tomatoes" rated it 8.2/10. Its worth watching……..strongly recommended.

Truly Fallen in Love With Hindi Music

I used to be the last person to crave for Hindi Music. Lately, I have developed the liking for the Hindi music because few of my friends are into Hindi music & movies; they influenced me to at least listen to it. I started playing Hindi songs while going together out for lunch, mainly on Fridays.

Lately, during my stay at LUMS ‘My University’ dorm, I started downloading the random latest Hindi movie songs; I discovered something interesting about the music. It has truly transformed, all the way from cool lyrics and melody to fusion music along with global inspirations.

I can easily see, Dhol, Tabla, Guitar, Sitar along with western electronic instruments all fused together. Arabic music to party and club music all bundled together.

Song such as No body Like You of Mission Istanbul is an awesome fusion, English tune fused with Hindi lyrics. Similarly, Tujhay Aksa Beach Ghoma Doon of God Tussi Great Ho is a mixture of Rap music fused with Hindi. Rangelli Rat song of Money Hay Tou Honey Hai is Dhol fussed with range of instruments. Hope instrumental of same movie gives altogether different feeling. Tali, song of Ugly & Pagli “sung by Mika Sing”, fused with PUT YOUR HANDS UP is as good song as any party one & it makes one dance, like anything.

Lyrics are rather meaningless but tune and fusion beat is a good respite on crazy and crowded Karachi roads, loud music makes the overall journey painless.

Same Culture & Same People....Yet Divided..Why????

I am glad that I got an opportunity to watch an Indian movie, "Singh is King" in Lahore. It is not that I loved the plot or the cast of the movie. Similar cultures across the border always make me think, why South Asia could not become an economic unit. Anyways, this movie is all about Sardars “Indian Punjabi Folks in Aussie”; good part was watching it in Pakistani “Punjab”, on contrary watching it in Karachi may not have been so fun. Movie is light entertaining, hmm rather stupid one but I always feel the difference in overall culture of Punjab vis a vis Karachi or my cultural background “Baluchistan”. Lots of hilarious scenes, sentences and words in the movie, all seems so similar that I get to hear everyday at LUMS. It makes me think hard, if I start noting the difference and similarities between India & Pakistan, I end up with big list that may provide a rationale to support the economic integration of Sub Continent. In Pakistan it is general belief that Civil Military Bureaucracy mainly comprised of Punjabi & Urdu speaking middle class having deep anti Indian FETISH.

So many similarities, yet forced to live with minor “self created” difference. I wait for the day when Indus Valley Civilization gets connected with Ganges Valley Civilization, it is natural connection, and one can not separate the rivers, mountains & cultural similarities yet flourishing inspite of Iron Curtain.

Another Quality Movie; R A M C H A N D P A K I S T A N I

Last month peace niche screened the Ramchand Pakistani intro along with the short film ‘The Beauty Parlor’ followed by Q&A with Mahreen Jabbar at T2F.

I liked the Ramchand Pakistani plot based on true story, of course Nandati Das is the main cast, and how could I miss the movie. It has been released in US; hope to see it in Pakistani cinema soon.

‘Ramchand Pakistani’ is derived from a true story concerning the accidental crossing of the Pakistan-Indian border during a period (June 2002) of extreme, war-like tension between the two countries by two members of a Pakistani Hindu family belonging to the 'untouchable' (Dalit) caste, and the extraordinary consequences of this unintended action upon the lives of a woman, a man, and their son.

The film portrays the lives of a family that is at the bottom of a discriminatory religious ladder and an insensitive social system, which is nevertheless tolerant, inclusive and pluralist. The irony is compounded by the fact that such a family becomes hostage to the acrimonious.

We just ignore that two Macho State dominated by Chauvinistic ego backed by power politics extremely affects the lives of ordinary people living on borders…….i think Mahreen has made a good effort.

Nadita’s performance seems to be strong and moving…..

Courageous Mira & Interesting Interaction in Karachi

Mira Nair, is one of the lady ‘Harvard Graduate’ I always admired, simply because of her bold and courageous thoughts.

My first interaction with her was during her last visit to Pakistan in 2007 at a local hotel and she mesmerized me a lot, awesome thought and bold lady with a charismatic dominating personality.
Her initial documentaries showed her eclectic thoughtful influences, first movie I came across was Mississippi Masala about an Indian family in US.

I like the way Mira, in her movies depicts sex and humor in thought provoking context.
Of course, my favorite movie Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, a provocative movie set in 12th century India also directed by Mira, so is Monsoon Wedding.

I was glad to interact with her hubby Mahmood Mamdani ‘an African guy teaching at Columbia University’ and their teenage son…..last night her appearance in Coffee with Karan reminded me of my past interaction with her, wish I could meet her again.

Festival De Cannes is Coming Up ...Aishwarya is Still Coooool

Cannes Film Fest is one of the leading global film festival....its European response to US Oscar......the Official Selection consists of about twenty features in Competition, about twenty films selected at Un Certain Regard, films Out of Competition or in Special screenings, a programme of shorts in Competition and the school films of the Cinéfondation.

Few years back we saw preety Aishwarya "Mrs Bachchan" promoting lavish love story Devdas and Bride and Prejudice. She will also appear with Steve Martin in next year's "The Pink Panther 2" and her role would be L'Oreal.

Let see who is going to win the Cannes...this time.

Believe you me she is still gorgeous even after getting married to Abhishek.....she appeared along with American actress Eva Longoria, to the opening night ceremony and the premiere of the film Blindness.....

Sleeping with the Enemy !!!

It is one of the worst ever choice one could opt for ...that is SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY.....I am not talking about the famous Julia Roberts Movie.........Ironically Pakistan's leading political party historically had brutal encounters with pakistani establishment and today it seems they are not willing to annoy establishment.......

It is ironical in the extreme, nay a tragedy of unimaginable proportions, that the Pakistan People’s Party which has suffered by far the most at the hands of the establishment — its founder cruelly murdered on the gallows, his daughter cruelly assassinated in broad daylight, Asif Zardari himself locked up for years on end, its workers lashed mercilessly — is playing right into the hands of its mortal enemy. Ours is an ill-starred country, folks. Mainly because so few of us stand up to be counted. So serve us right I suppose.

Let us see how long the honeymoon period is going to last and sleeping with the enemy would go sour.........

Whole situation reminds me of Faiz Ahmed Faiz poetry......Ham Bhi Dekhein Gay...Lazim Hay Kay Ham Bhi Dekhein Gay.....

Let us see, what is being tested in Pakistani political laboratory in the midst of double digit inflation, poverty and hunger...... & what would be the fall out.