Zelig - Movie Review

Woody Allen's movies always make me wonder why I had not thought of those ideas before. Almost always. And I wish to get ideas as crazy and yet so true about our lives as he does, I'd consider myself fortunate. Zelig, a mocumentary made by Woody Allen in 1983, is one such idea.

The entire movie is shown as a documentary based on the life of one Leonard Zelig (Allen) who lived in New York in the 1920s. This man's greatest claim to fame is that he changes his features to look like any group that he joins - he physically changes color, features, shapes - and earns himself the sobriquet the 'Human Chameleon'. Why he does that is found out later by a psychiatrist Dr. Eudora Fletcher (Mia Farrow) who finds that this man's incredible need for approval makes him actually change himself to fit in with the group he is with (including becoming a fat man in a bunch of fat people and a black man in a bunch of black people). The doctor and patient get closer and fall in love and she treats him successfully - only now the human chameleon has very strong opinions about everything else and is highly intolerant of other people's views - a complete opposite of what he was earlier and ends up beating the doctors who come to review his case. Their crime - he does not agree that it is a fine day as one of them thinks. Popular as he becomes with all this going on Zelig is suddenly slapped with cases of bigamy, paternity, fraud etc by several people, acts that he had undertaken in his many roles unknowingly earlier. But just before his sentencing for these crimes, Zelig disappears. Dr. Eudora Fletcher finds him sometime later however, standing behind Adolf Hitler in the WW II footage and goes off to Germany to rescue him. Her presence knocks him back to his senses and they dash off across the Atlantic in a plane. But Eudora who can fly has fainted and Zelig is the only other occupant. Zelig who is now back to his need for approval stage, transforms into a pilot in the presence of the other pilot and flies across the Atlantic in a plane that is upside down. The two get a heroes welcome.

A person with a need for approval so strong that he actually changes himself physically to fit in? What a wonderful idea. And the way Allen shoots the entire movie as a documentary is amazing - the newsreel quality of the 20s, the placement of Allen beside historical figures like Hitler, Al Capone, Babe Ruth, Lindbergh is superb. And to do it in 1983 is even more mindboggling because it was apparently ten years ahead of such technological advances in film making. To conceive, laugh at and pull off such an idea that probably laughs at all of humanity and its need for approval, Woody Allen soars far above and apart from other film makers. Truly there can be none like him. The movie is worth a watch for its sheer novelty, a mocumentary, black and white mostly, interspersed with colour clippings. But if you're looking for straight entertainment, perhaps not the one for you (but this is like a documentary isn't it?).

The Paradoxes of Life - The Surrender Paradox

Taking complete responsibility of one's life, one's happiness, is possible only when there is complete surrender.

Responsibility is often mistaken for control (and total responsibility is often mistaken for total control). But control by itself indicates an insecurity, a rigidity that cannot allow the others, the external factors, the process and people, to function at its best. Because we want things to happen only in one way we miss out so many better ways in which they can happen.

Total responsibility is about not blaming anyone else. Surrender is about not blaming yourself.

The best results then are obtained only when there is a total surrender. Be fully responsible for your actions and yet, totally surrender to the process, to the changes. Guaranteed happiness.

Music - Kenny G and the Romance of the Saxophone

For all of us musical philistines the first sound of the saxophone is very seductive. This is the kind of soft, romantic music one hears in the soft hallways of five star hotels, of air conditioned places, the sound that seems to belong to sunsets and beaches and so on. It was truly exotic to hear that sound.

So when I first heard 'Songbird' by Kenny G in the later 80s, it was truly an awesome experience. I had heard this music before, many times, its a popular piece of music and I was so glad that I finally discovered the maker of this wonderful piece of music. I tarted connecting the music, the instrument and the wonderful mood it evoked. I bought myself many Kenny G cassettes and loved listening to all of them but the 'Songbird' remains an all time favorite. In isolation, with dim lights, a drink in hand, leaning back against the wall and letting the music seep in. Or with the kind of company that equally enjoyed the music in isolation. 'Songbird' filled many moments of isolation with peace, romance and love. For that, a huge thanks to Kenny G. A link to the video of the song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlfnedlb7iU

Why Dhoni Must Remain As Captain

The ongoing call for sacking Dhoni as captain in Tests is a reaction that we have often seen and heard. Many of our ex-cricketers, fans and so called experts come to the fore the moment the Indian side loses a few Tests and calls for older players to be dropped and radical changes made all over. Some people want the entire system to be changed, some want the captain changed, so want the sponsor changed - some change must be made to appease them. I do not understand these knee jerk reactions from these people.

An Extraordinary Leader
Considering the fact that Dhoni has been the only Indian captain who has won two World Cups, in the T20 and 50 over format, won an amazing number of matches in various formats of the game, taken the team to leading position in all formats of the game, and has proven his calm and composure in winning games for almost all the sides he has played for, there is no doubt that he is an extraordinary talent as a captain, a leader. To lead a side that is packed with several battle scarred seniors, the Tendulkars, Sehwags, Dravids, Laxmans and many more, and bring them all to rise above their own issues and contribute to the team's good calls for great man management skill. It is a rare talent and one that must be nurtured.

Man Manager Par Excellence - Belief in Self and Team
Dhoni may not be technically the most astute captain. He may not be the best strategically, even tactically. His field placements sometimes bewilder everyone. His choice of bowling changes also. But what he has in ample measure is belief that he and his team can pull it off in any situation. This one factor more than makes up for all his other shortcomings. He strides around as if he knows exactly what is going to happen and dares the opponent to go out and get that victory if he so badly wants it. He throws the ball to the Rainas, the Yuvrajs, the Joginder Sharmas and the Jakatis and they all bowl like champions. Half the side gone and some young upstart like a Kohli stands up. The youngsters and the senior players are given the space, the confidence, the responsibility and they all perform. They never appear under pressure. That is his one quality that makes him far superior than any technically better qualified, strategically superior player, because Dhoni can pull it off on the field, in the heat of the moment, while all else can only justify later what went wrong in flowery words.

Others Don't Compare
To me the others don't compare as captaincy material. Tendulkar is too intense and puts immense pressure on his players. It is only recently that he is letting go and letting them be. Sehwag leaves it too much to the players to figure it out for themselves which will never work in a big match like the World Cup final or semi final or a quarter final even when the players look to the captain to hold their belief. Dravid is too caught up in his own game, his own insecurities to rally all the others around him - he believes in doing his job well and anything beyond that adds to the burden on his shoulders. Laxman is also in the Sehwag mould, though in a less abrasive manner I'd suspect, more leaning to the Azhar style of captaincy that at this level everyone should know what they are doing - something I never subscribed to because at every level there are players who need to be told. The only one who comes close to matching Dhoni is the intense, fiercely competitive Kohli, who knows his own mind and more importantly knows what he wants - to win. Yuvraj's captaincy has been exposed in the IPL.

Needs Support
Dhoni is a young man. These players play under tremendous pressure of not just the games but hectic schedules that drain them a lot. They require a lot of support in terms of mentoring. Something that Gary Kirsten did so effectively. If there is a problem with the team it must be shared by the supposedly expert support staff because this is almost the same team that did the country proud just a few months ago,. Two series down and we already want long standing changes including sacking all the seniors, all the rarest talent and replace them. With whom?

Coach and Support Staff to Blame
To me the problem lies not with the players. They have become defensive and that reflects their mindset. Now this is an area that the Coach and the many support staff need to figure out and get it right. Duncan Fletcher is the one to gun for if he is not able to get it right. Player fatigue, fear, confused mindset - it all shows in the players performance. The support staff needs to pull up their socks and get their act right - make the atmosphere conducive for the players to perform at their best. I have not heard a word yet from Duncan Fletcher and I'd like to hear his take.

Don't Kill the Talent, Support It
Dhoni is not the only one in the team. Agreed we have lost two series and in bad fashion but that does not mean we replace and kill whatever talent we have. Captaincy is also a confidence issue. by constantly pulling out the plant and examining its roots we will kill it. Let it grow, let it find its space. See if something can be done to help the team find a better atmosphere. I have not heard a single creative, supportive, value added suggestion by our so-called experts except go back to lamenting the bad system, arrogant players etc. Come on guys back off. Dhoni is still your best bet in all formats for the next three years, until the Kohli's are ready. Give him the support, examine the support system, examine the hectic schedules they play in and let them be. Is there some kind of a counseling or brainstorming session that the captain can go to in his off days and meet some experts at the NCA? Or is this an are no one knows anything about? Can't something be done to ease this tremendous strain from the young man's shoulders?
It's time to nurture and support. To see if there is someway he can find out what he did right and what is going wrong. In any case Dhoni is still too fresh off some amazing wins to be written off so early. I'd trade these two series losses for the World Cup win anyday.

A Nation That Is Happy With the Mediocre

But I'd like to see more constructive stuff coming out from these ex-cricketers who have not achieved an iota of what Dhoni has. As a nation we are always in a hurry to bring down anything that is progressive. We can't seem to wait to stop all progress, call for changes that will make us regress many years. Clearly we are comfortable with the mediocre, with the non-achievers, because they make us comfortable. They do not show us our own mediocrity. So when an icon shows signs of weakness, we are in a hurry to tear them down and beat them down so they never get up.

To me Dhoni is still doing a good job. Fire the Coach for non-performance and get a new one if you have to fore someone.

The Color of Paradise - Movie Review

Stunning.
This is a movie that has been on my desk for months together now. Sagar had given me this DVD along with a bunch of other Irani films but for some reason I postponed watching it. When I saw it today, I could not but help wondering at the film making ability of the Iranian film makers, Majid Majidi, in particular. To take a simple theme and play it upon your heart strings so well, so deeply - its the work of a master. Never will forget this movie, ever.

'The Color of Paradise' is the story of a blind boy Muhammad who studies in a school for the blind in Teheran. On the vacation break all parents come to take their children except his father who comes late, reluctantly. Muhammad knows his father does not love him and feels that he is a burden to his father. The scene when he runs to his father and says 'I thought you would not come' had me - and I cried. The duo go to their village where his two sisters and granny live on a farm. Muhammad's father Hashem now wants to marry again (his first wife is dead) and starts the proceedings with a girl's family around. Meanwhile Muhammad is having a great time with his sisters and his granny and even goes to their school and impresses everyone with his knowledge and skill with Braille. But Hashem is ashamed of his blind son and thinks it might impede his marriage plans, and one day when the granny is away, takes his son to a blind carpenter and leaves him there. When Hashem returns he finds his mother is leaving him; she dies eventually, worrying more about her weak son and less about her blind grandson. Her death is seen as ominous by the future in laws and they call of the marriage. Hashem brings the boy back but on the way back home the boy and the horse he is sitting on, fall into the river. Hashem waits for a moment, not sure if he wants to rescue the boy who is drowning but finally decides to save his son. But it may have been too late. Never have I prayed more that the last scene would show some sign of life in the lifeless boy's body. And for making a movie like this, Majid Majidi, I salute you.

This movie killed me. I cannot even try to describe the emotions that it took me on in its simple story, in man's quest to find love from those who somehow refuse to give it to them. The blind boy, his father, his granny, his sisters, his teachers - that is about the entire cast. The movie is shot so well that it does appear to be paradise, every shot is so visually arresting that it sinks into you. But the story in itself went deep into my heart and my soul and I felt for the blind boy and his wanting to be with his sisters, his granny, wanting his father's love. It seems so pointless, so sad, to want love, to feel equal. to want to try so hard to be like so many others. Majid Majidi, take a bow. Muhammad and Hashem and this movie will remain forever with me. Truly master class. If I could think of one story like this, in its simplicity, in its human drama, I'd consider it a huge achievement. And if you have not seen this movie don't even think twice, watch it. You've seen nothing if you haven't seen this.

Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You - Marcus Chown

Or so I thought when I picked up this book (Quantum Physics Cannot Hurt You, Penguin Books, Marcus Chown, Rs. 450) to read. At 158 pages it did not look like it could harm me really so I plodded on hoping to be able to be better off on subjects such as the Theory of Relativity, Gravity, Quantum Theory, Atoms and so on. But sadly, despite the chatty language Marcus uses, the Quantum Theory whizzed past and I gave up. I do not think I can speak with any authority on it yet which has more to do with my capabilities than Marcus Chown's. Clearly I am not yet ready for Quantum Theory.

What got me to try this book was the cover which looked like a 'Quantum Theory for Dummies' one. But they really must have had some more evolved dummies in mind. The back cover is very interesting though and hooks you. Stuff like 'the entire human race would fit in the volume of a sugar cube' (that's how empty we are), 'we age faster at the top of the building than at the bottom' and 'every breath we take contains an atom breathed out by Marilyn Monroe', does make you want to figure out how and why but save the first, the other two are still gobbledegook for me. It is not very comforting to think that we are breathing in atoms breathed by dead people however attractive they may be.

But I am a better man still, for having read the book. I understand the small world or 'Small Things', a world that lives in these atoms that make up everything in the Universe a little better, the world of the 'Big Things' such as the planets the Universe and why they behave the way they do. Again, it reiterated to me that Einstein's genius, his creativity, has much to do with courage. He would apply the grandest of his thoughts to the Universe, beyond what one could conceive and that to me is interesting. It does show that to create something path shattering you need lots of courage, even to think. That's what creativity is about, it looks like.

The Paradoxes of Life - The Resist-Persist Paradox

This is something I read in a book - perhaps in Louise Hay's 'You Can Heal Your Life'. What you resist, persists.

So the thing you don't want the most, the thing you resist the most, will always follow you. Never leave you. Until you stop resisting it.

Accept it and it goes away. Simple as that. Flies, mosquitoes, people, situations - accept.
Don't resist.