In Bangalore for the last couple of days, I discovered the wonderful world of travelling by the air-conditioned Volvo buses that the State Transport runs through the city. Right from the first moment I spoke to Ramesh and Vandana, my friends who put me up (and put up with me), I was told by Ramesh that I had better take this 'red colored Volvo bus with the number 335E'. I was skeptical as ever. A bus? No, I'd rather take the auto I thought. 'No, the bus is simpler,' insisted Ramesh. I had my doubts and much as I tried not to talk about my modes of transport in Bangalore, Ramesh kept insisting that I take this 335E. He told me so may times that the number, the route, was imprinted in my mind.
But before that, another bus-ride that amazed me. The Kaleshwari bus that took me from Hyderabad to Bangalore, landed up at Hebbal, on the outskirts of Bangalore by 530 a.m. We had started from Lakdikapul in Hyderabad at 1030 p.m. and the distance to cover was about 580 kms. With a half hour stop thrown in, the guy made it in six and a half hours! Can you believe that? Yes, some part of the road is now six laned - especially the part from Hyderabad to Jadcherla - but still.
I got off at Majestic, walked over to the bus stand as Ramesh had told me to, warding off auto drivers who wanted to take me to a hotel, especially since I had a lot of time now, having arrived so early. I walked to the bus stop, spotted 335E right away, got into it, saw another couple of buses waiting behind and wondered at this prolific service. It cost me 35 rupees to get to HAL, and I was there in about 30 minutes. By auto that would have cost me more than a hundred bucks with a bumpy and noisy ride of at least 45 minutes. That afternoon when I had to go to Richmond Circle I got into another 335E and I was there in a jiffy. No more autos for me after that.
These buses are heavenly and completely marginalise the need for an auto rickshaw. They are fast, they are air conditioned, they have lovely seating, they are very comfortable to sit in, they play the radio and they are cheap. No noise, no pollution, no haggling. Someone told me that other states are copying this model as well and they should. Hyderabad should instantly get one right now. These buses have made long distance travel so comfortable and I'd take them anytime over rickshaws or even the metros since they stop wherever.
Back to the buses! How I wish I could take the 335E back home with me!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Mahesh Raje - Cricketer And Successful Lawyer
I remember Mahesh Raje, now an established lawyer in the city circles, as a well mannered, diffident, bespectacled young lad who could bat well and bowl his leg spinners to good effect back then in 1986 or so. Mahesh was one of the few youngsters who showed much promise in his really young days – the Under 12 onwards and when we heard of him, we already knew of his exploits at the junior levels. He was a serious student and was academically inclined as well, which not many cricketers were, which set him apart from the rest of the rowdy bunch. But the years that I knew him well were the years when we played for the Osmania University. One year in particular, the 1990-91 season.
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| Mahesh Raje and I in his office |
Osmania University had not won the South Zone championship for almost ten years despite being one of the strongest sides and this was a stigma we carried. In fact one of the strongest sides was the one led by Swaroop, in 1986, which had 8 members from the Ranji pobables – Swaroop, Ehtesham, D. Suresh, Abhijit Chatterjee, Zakir Hussain, Srinivas Chakravarthy, Vidyuth Jaisimha and myself. Ramana Murthy, who later went on to perform so well for Hyderabad for many years including the final which we won against Delhi in was also in the team. That team was so good that they were already planning to book our tickets for the Rohinton Baria tournament even before we played the South Zone! Selection issues, infighting and bad blood within the team due to a few members, were the root cause of the team never delivering to its potential right from 1984 - the first year I represented the University. And it was only in 1990-91, under the captaincy of my good friend, Vijay Kumar, did we win the South Zone trophy in Vishakhapatnam.
It was my last year in the campus, my second year of MBA. I was not too keen to play anymore, having played five years for the University already and not looking at furthering my cricketing career in anyway,but Vijay asked me to and so I went. Mahesh Raje, a close confidant and ally of Vijay right from their younger days, was part of the team. Also present were Masood, Riasat, Moheb Ali, Bansi, Srikant Iyengar, Karthik, Harikrishna, Akram Quadri, Ayub - a team with a mix of experience, youth and some odd balls. We had to win five games to win the trophy.
We planned each game – a small brains trust comprising of Vijay, Mahesh and me, sitting in some seedy bar in Vizag. Every evening, that was the feature, as we planned to take it match by match only, and not go too far ahead. We planned our bowling, our batting our strategy in those balmy December evenings and went through the tournament just as we planned. A tight first game against Kerala University, an easy second game, a thriller against Bangalore University and a semi final I do not remember, but the final we beat Madras University comfortably – and almost ten days later – we were all celebrating in the Ramakrishna Beach, some of us drunk to the gills (I was really celebrating and even gave a rousing slurring speech to the team). The record was finally set right and it is one of the happiest moments of my cricketing life.
I kept meeting Mahesh on the campus. By then he was orienting more towards academics than cricket and after completing his graduation from Nizam College, he got into the Law College at Osmania University. Soon after he passed his law exam, I heard that he was practicing and that impressed me. He was as serious about his practice as he was about anything else. I met Mahesh a couple of times, called him for the book launch, but he was busy in his world of criminal and civil cases.
So it was a great reunion after so many years, to see Mahesh again, with the same smile on his face. Now a successful lawyer with his own practice, Mahesh looks very much the content professional who knows what he is doing. He showed me his office in the High Court, where he sits as a Director on the Advocates Co-operative Bank. We recounted our old days, had some chai, and promised to meet again soon. With Vijay of course!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Why KBC Is Like Life
I love Kaun Banega Crorepati's format. I think it is the best representation of life because you have all the choices with you all the time. From the start to the finish you decide what to do, how to use the resources at hand, how much risk to take and how much to lose. There is no one to blame. Or pat on the back. But yourself. That is a bit like life. All else that helped you till then, only helped. You are the one who is playing the game. So take credit.
From choosing to play the game till the time you quit or lose, you take responsibility. Only the ones who desire to compete the most get a chance to get in. The ones who are most prepared get to the hot seat. And from there the most judicious, aware and clear thinking ones, the ones who do not take their eyes off the ball just because it appears easy, the ones who weigh their pros and cons carefully, they go the farthest.
Again, the ones who use their lifelines well, the right lifeline for the right question, go further than most. Many go out of the game without using a lifeline, foolishly saving up lifelines. The smart ones use all lifelines upfront if need be - they know that it is important to get ahead more than saving up their lifelines. So in life, it is better to use help, money, resources when you need it most. First try every way to tide over the crisis, reason with each question, prod the anchor and if you still cannot find any clue, go for the lifeline. I have seen some smart cookies use up all three lifelines before the fifth question but go pretty far later. It is more important to show up without anything tomorrow - than save up stuff for later, losing everything in the bargain.
At all stages, all options lie with you. Play. Leave. Risk, Play safe. So stop complaining. Stop blaming. Imagine yourself out there in the KBC blaming your teachers, your parents, your friends, your team, for your performance - that is how foolish you look when you blame anyone in life.
Desire gets you ahead. Awareness gets you further. Courage sustains your belief. You play only those which you think is under your control. You leave all those that you cannot play without control. And mostly, the ones who get away with the big purses are the ones who quit when they are ahead of the game.
And then you realise, that win or lose, it is after all a game, But it is important to play the game well, to the best of your capabilities, whatever they are, so you can earn a good night's sleep. At the end of it all, you take from the game as much as you give it.
From choosing to play the game till the time you quit or lose, you take responsibility. Only the ones who desire to compete the most get a chance to get in. The ones who are most prepared get to the hot seat. And from there the most judicious, aware and clear thinking ones, the ones who do not take their eyes off the ball just because it appears easy, the ones who weigh their pros and cons carefully, they go the farthest.
Again, the ones who use their lifelines well, the right lifeline for the right question, go further than most. Many go out of the game without using a lifeline, foolishly saving up lifelines. The smart ones use all lifelines upfront if need be - they know that it is important to get ahead more than saving up their lifelines. So in life, it is better to use help, money, resources when you need it most. First try every way to tide over the crisis, reason with each question, prod the anchor and if you still cannot find any clue, go for the lifeline. I have seen some smart cookies use up all three lifelines before the fifth question but go pretty far later. It is more important to show up without anything tomorrow - than save up stuff for later, losing everything in the bargain.
At all stages, all options lie with you. Play. Leave. Risk, Play safe. So stop complaining. Stop blaming. Imagine yourself out there in the KBC blaming your teachers, your parents, your friends, your team, for your performance - that is how foolish you look when you blame anyone in life.
Desire gets you ahead. Awareness gets you further. Courage sustains your belief. You play only those which you think is under your control. You leave all those that you cannot play without control. And mostly, the ones who get away with the big purses are the ones who quit when they are ahead of the game.
And then you realise, that win or lose, it is after all a game, But it is important to play the game well, to the best of your capabilities, whatever they are, so you can earn a good night's sleep. At the end of it all, you take from the game as much as you give it.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Anjali, And The Magic Wand of Happiness
The other day I asked Anjali what the secret of her happiness was. She instantly pulled a smile on her face and batted her eyelids. As simple as that huh. Pull a smile on your face and bat your eyelids. Good. Maybe it is worth trying. Smile - even if you don't feel like it. Sometimes it helps, because you fool yourself into being happy from a space where you fooled yourself that you are unhappy. Really, the things we are unhappy about!
I forgot about our little conversation and went back to doing something else, reading and watching television at the same time when she popped up in front. She was waving her wand at me, something which I did not realise, and I asked her to move aside as she was obstructing my view. 'But nanna,' she said, rather miffed at my behaviour. 'I am making you happy with my magic wand.' Wow! Where did you get that from? 'Mamma told me that I can do anything with my magic wand so I decided to make you and mamma happy with his magic wand.' Now that was most unexpected. But children do come up with the most unexpected things.
As adults we'd first disbelieve the magic wand and its powers. We'd disbelieve that anything can ever make us happy. We'd be happy wallowing in our pool of unhappiness that makes us feel so important, so heroic. We'd tell the maker of the wand that he is a fake, a fraud, that his promises are useless. We'd not even touch the wand because God knows what it might bring - it might even bring happiness! Oh my God, that would be a disaster. And then, if ever there was reason for us to believe in the magic of the wand, I wonder what we'd use this wand to do. And to whom.
It's so simple to be like the child. And believe. In magic. In happiness. In our unlimited power. And in the simplicity of things. To all of you then, a magic swish from Anjali's magic wand, so you are all happy right now. Smile!
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| Anjali and the magic wand going to a Halloween party |
I forgot about our little conversation and went back to doing something else, reading and watching television at the same time when she popped up in front. She was waving her wand at me, something which I did not realise, and I asked her to move aside as she was obstructing my view. 'But nanna,' she said, rather miffed at my behaviour. 'I am making you happy with my magic wand.' Wow! Where did you get that from? 'Mamma told me that I can do anything with my magic wand so I decided to make you and mamma happy with his magic wand.' Now that was most unexpected. But children do come up with the most unexpected things.
As adults we'd first disbelieve the magic wand and its powers. We'd disbelieve that anything can ever make us happy. We'd be happy wallowing in our pool of unhappiness that makes us feel so important, so heroic. We'd tell the maker of the wand that he is a fake, a fraud, that his promises are useless. We'd not even touch the wand because God knows what it might bring - it might even bring happiness! Oh my God, that would be a disaster. And then, if ever there was reason for us to believe in the magic of the wand, I wonder what we'd use this wand to do. And to whom.
It's so simple to be like the child. And believe. In magic. In happiness. In our unlimited power. And in the simplicity of things. To all of you then, a magic swish from Anjali's magic wand, so you are all happy right now. Smile!
Trip to Istanbul and Finland
Given below is an account of Mangala tai's trip to Istanbul and Finland in 2009. She is a great traveller and has been to some pretty exotic places in the world. This piece is something she wrote at my behest - just to give an idea of how she went about it all. Thanks Mangala tai.
The Mumbai Helsinki ticket via Istanbul by Turkish airlines cost Rs. 29, 836/-
Visa for Finland ------Rs. 4, 800/ -
Visa for Turkey Rs. 2200/ -
Traveling time to Helsinki 10.30hours
Stay as Helsinki
At Helsinki we stayed in a youth hostel—ladies dorm 20 euro pax per day for bunk bed. You can have kitchen facility,linen,towel. Common bath and toilet for ladies. If you are a member of youth hostel you get a small concession for your stay.
Travel - local
There is a Helsinki card___option for 1,2,3 days. We bought for 3 days for 52—euro. This card entitles free travel in local tram, bus, ferry& entry to museums. You can get free city tour on Helsinki card, but you have to book in advance.
Airport to railway station
About two and half hours, with audio tape and optional language from Helsinki airport to city railway station. You can go by Fin Air bus for 6 euro or take a city bus for 4 euro. You can take your luggage by city bus.
Places to visit
If you want to see the city leisurely you need at least 3 days. We visited Front, Rock Church, Esplanade park, Uspenensky Church on the hill near the harbour. Senate square, library, Statue of Nicolas the II. We visited Soumelina Fort in the afternoon.
We had been to Alwar Altos town for a day. It was a 3 hour train journey from Helsinki. From Helsinki it is overnight train journey.
To eat
You get plenty of fruits, vegetables, salads, variety of breads, cakes variety of fish, meat.
Or you can have food in a restaurant. There are food stalls at harbour front too.
Rowaniemi__ From Helsinki it is overnight train journey.
We stayed in hotel, it was 30 euro pax per day with breakfast. From city station you get a bus
to city center at half an hour intervals or you can walk - it is about 1 and half km.
Lapland Tour
We had booked Lapland tour for 125 euros. It was for about 5 hours, and included pickup from hotel, boat ride to Reindeer Park, visit to Lappish family, lunch with them, visit to Santa park, meeting with Santa and back to hotel.
This city is in the center of Finland and it is on Arctic Circle.
Turku__stayed in youth hostel, 22 euro pax perday, no bus from station to hostel, we walked down. You can have a taxi but we did not travel by taxi so cannot tell the fare.
Bought a city card, do not remember exact charge but around 20 euro.
Free city tour of about 2 and half hours,with live guide. Free travel by bus and entry to museums.had a guided tour of Turku museum on city card.
If you want to see the midnight sun you should visit from 21 June to 10 July. If you want to go for skiing and sledge rides then from Nov to march.
We visited from 6 Aug to 15 Aug , it was summer time, pleasant climate, around 16 to 20 cs. People are helpful and speak English,clean, green and blue country
Getting the Finnish visa__-It takes almost 10 working days, they do not have visa office in Mumbai. You have to submit confirmed return ticket, confirmed hotel reservation, railway tickets, health insurance, last 3 years IT papers, if you are on leave, a letter from the office. First you have to appear for a interview by appointment, submit all the papers and after their approval send it to their office in Delhi..
Turkey
If you want to save on hotel and commuting cost, stay in the old city, around Sultanahamat. All the monuments are at walking distance. For all the monuments you have to buy tickets except Blue Mosque. There is always big queue, so start early. We stayed in hotel for 25 euro pax per day for attached room, including breakfast.stayed for 5 days so had 1 dinner on the house.
You can have good lunch/dinner for about 10 to 15 Turkish lira. Veg food is available. Fresh as well dry fruits,fruit juice icerem, Turkish sweets yogurt ,buttermilk coffee is available.
Tram and bus service is convenient, metro is also there but we did not travel. From airport to city you get a minibus for 10 euro may drop you to your hotel on request.from city to airport 4 euro.
We visited Dolmabachi palace, Topakapi palace, Blue mosque, Aya Sofia museum, Bosforus cruze, Grand bazaar, Spice market and Yerebatan Sarai.
We traveled by Turkish airways so we had a stopover at Istanbul.
Getting the Turkish visa__confirmed return ticket, IT papers, hotel reservation, health insurance, you get visa in Delhi in 4 working days.
I spent around Rs. 85, 000/- for 10 days in Finland and 5 days in Istanbul, minus shopping.
My trip to Finland and Istanbul
Mangala tai a.k.a. Bhavana Apte
Some bare facts The Mumbai Helsinki ticket via Istanbul by Turkish airlines cost Rs. 29, 836/-
Visa for Finland ------Rs. 4, 800/ -
Visa for Turkey Rs. 2200/ -
Traveling time to Helsinki 10.30hours
Stay as Helsinki
At Helsinki we stayed in a youth hostel—ladies dorm 20 euro pax per day for bunk bed. You can have kitchen facility,linen,towel. Common bath and toilet for ladies. If you are a member of youth hostel you get a small concession for your stay.
Travel - local
There is a Helsinki card___option for 1,2,3 days. We bought for 3 days for 52—euro. This card entitles free travel in local tram, bus, ferry& entry to museums. You can get free city tour on Helsinki card, but you have to book in advance.
Airport to railway station
About two and half hours, with audio tape and optional language from Helsinki airport to city railway station. You can go by Fin Air bus for 6 euro or take a city bus for 4 euro. You can take your luggage by city bus.
Places to visit
If you want to see the city leisurely you need at least 3 days. We visited Front, Rock Church, Esplanade park, Uspenensky Church on the hill near the harbour. Senate square, library, Statue of Nicolas the II. We visited Soumelina Fort in the afternoon.
We had been to Alwar Altos town for a day. It was a 3 hour train journey from Helsinki. From Helsinki it is overnight train journey.
To eat
You get plenty of fruits, vegetables, salads, variety of breads, cakes variety of fish, meat.
Or you can have food in a restaurant. There are food stalls at harbour front too.
Rowaniemi__ From Helsinki it is overnight train journey.
We stayed in hotel, it was 30 euro pax per day with breakfast. From city station you get a bus
to city center at half an hour intervals or you can walk - it is about 1 and half km.
Lapland Tour
We had booked Lapland tour for 125 euros. It was for about 5 hours, and included pickup from hotel, boat ride to Reindeer Park, visit to Lappish family, lunch with them, visit to Santa park, meeting with Santa and back to hotel.
This city is in the center of Finland and it is on Arctic Circle.
Turku__stayed in youth hostel, 22 euro pax perday, no bus from station to hostel, we walked down. You can have a taxi but we did not travel by taxi so cannot tell the fare.
Bought a city card, do not remember exact charge but around 20 euro.
Free city tour of about 2 and half hours,with live guide. Free travel by bus and entry to museums.had a guided tour of Turku museum on city card.
If you want to see the midnight sun you should visit from 21 June to 10 July. If you want to go for skiing and sledge rides then from Nov to march.
We visited from 6 Aug to 15 Aug , it was summer time, pleasant climate, around 16 to 20 cs. People are helpful and speak English,clean, green and blue country
Getting the Finnish visa__-It takes almost 10 working days, they do not have visa office in Mumbai. You have to submit confirmed return ticket, confirmed hotel reservation, railway tickets, health insurance, last 3 years IT papers, if you are on leave, a letter from the office. First you have to appear for a interview by appointment, submit all the papers and after their approval send it to their office in Delhi..
Turkey
If you want to save on hotel and commuting cost, stay in the old city, around Sultanahamat. All the monuments are at walking distance. For all the monuments you have to buy tickets except Blue Mosque. There is always big queue, so start early. We stayed in hotel for 25 euro pax per day for attached room, including breakfast.stayed for 5 days so had 1 dinner on the house.
You can have good lunch/dinner for about 10 to 15 Turkish lira. Veg food is available. Fresh as well dry fruits,fruit juice icerem, Turkish sweets yogurt ,buttermilk coffee is available.
Tram and bus service is convenient, metro is also there but we did not travel. From airport to city you get a minibus for 10 euro may drop you to your hotel on request.from city to airport 4 euro.
We visited Dolmabachi palace, Topakapi palace, Blue mosque, Aya Sofia museum, Bosforus cruze, Grand bazaar, Spice market and Yerebatan Sarai.
We traveled by Turkish airways so we had a stopover at Istanbul.
Getting the Turkish visa__confirmed return ticket, IT papers, hotel reservation, health insurance, you get visa in Delhi in 4 working days.
I spent around Rs. 85, 000/- for 10 days in Finland and 5 days in Istanbul, minus shopping.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Novel Writer Versus Movie Director - An Old Story
Another controversy we get to see is that about writers who are unhappy with the way the films based on their novels turn out. Most times they are disappointed and make it pretty clear to the director and the producer that it is not what they have written. Some big names downright refuse to accept any such deal unless they see the script and approve of it. Enough to say that the writers are rarely happy with the way their work turns out.
I don't understand this at all. Firstly, when they sell the rights the are aware that the story will be adapted to the demands or the vision of the movie maker i.e. the director. The director will focus on the issue or the core that best represents to him or her the spirit of the movie and goes about with it in the way he wants. After all, no one has agreed to make a movie exactly as the book was written - and this is the first thing that a writer must understand when he signs off his work. That this will be adapted into a totally different medium by another person who looks at it through his vision. Which in effect means that it is now the work of the director and not that of the writer anymore. So please sit back and enjoy what the director makes of it. It is his work from now on so. Get it!
However if you do not agree with this and feel that as a writer you will protest and make a fuss and not agree with what the director is doing (and have a special vision for the movie as well) I suggest that you please go write the screenplay and direct the movie as well. If you cannot, please chill and enjoy a creative work based on your work.
I view the current adaptation of my book 'The Men Within' into a Telugu movie in this sense. The movie is entirely Mohana Krishna Indraganti's work and he deserves all credit for viewing it the way he did, for etching out the characters, detailing, scenes and weaving a visual story that entertains in every sense. It is tough work, this direction business, and I do not see myself doing even a fraction of what Mohana Krishna did in the past one year or so for all the millions in the world. Writing the story, adapting it into a taut screenplay, checking locations, narrating the story to the lead actors, casting more than 60 characters, shooting through the summer heat of 45 degrees without losing it, managing your crew, handling crowds of 600 plus junior artistes, directing and getting the best out of an adolescent bunch of kids, checking out lyrics, music composition and God knows what all I missed - and all that, with a huge smile and a ready joke.
'When I speak into the mike,' Mohana Krishna says, fully aware of his responsibility, 'everyone draws energy from the way I sound. It matters how I sound - energetic and in control - and that sets the tone from the first shot in the morning at 7 am or the last shot at 6 pm'. I think we all sailed through this project for the past six months so easily, thanks to Mohan's easy going nature and good humour. And any aspiring directors out there who were part of that shoot can straight away copy Mohan for the way he handles people, the way he handles egos and for bringing the best out from everyone around without getting into their space.
Anyway, to get back to my original track, this is entirely Mohan's vision (visualising the whole movie, scene by scene and making it as he saw it in his mind - truly stumps me). I am really curious, honored and excited to see what this talented film maker has made for all of us to watch from 'The Men Within'. I'd say that it will be a cinematic experience that will do justice to this young director's abundant potential, enhance his reputation as one of those to watch out for, and will make many film makers and viewers sit up and take notice - beyond far horizons.
More on Mohan later!
I don't understand this at all. Firstly, when they sell the rights the are aware that the story will be adapted to the demands or the vision of the movie maker i.e. the director. The director will focus on the issue or the core that best represents to him or her the spirit of the movie and goes about with it in the way he wants. After all, no one has agreed to make a movie exactly as the book was written - and this is the first thing that a writer must understand when he signs off his work. That this will be adapted into a totally different medium by another person who looks at it through his vision. Which in effect means that it is now the work of the director and not that of the writer anymore. So please sit back and enjoy what the director makes of it. It is his work from now on so. Get it!
However if you do not agree with this and feel that as a writer you will protest and make a fuss and not agree with what the director is doing (and have a special vision for the movie as well) I suggest that you please go write the screenplay and direct the movie as well. If you cannot, please chill and enjoy a creative work based on your work.
I view the current adaptation of my book 'The Men Within' into a Telugu movie in this sense. The movie is entirely Mohana Krishna Indraganti's work and he deserves all credit for viewing it the way he did, for etching out the characters, detailing, scenes and weaving a visual story that entertains in every sense. It is tough work, this direction business, and I do not see myself doing even a fraction of what Mohana Krishna did in the past one year or so for all the millions in the world. Writing the story, adapting it into a taut screenplay, checking locations, narrating the story to the lead actors, casting more than 60 characters, shooting through the summer heat of 45 degrees without losing it, managing your crew, handling crowds of 600 plus junior artistes, directing and getting the best out of an adolescent bunch of kids, checking out lyrics, music composition and God knows what all I missed - and all that, with a huge smile and a ready joke.
'When I speak into the mike,' Mohana Krishna says, fully aware of his responsibility, 'everyone draws energy from the way I sound. It matters how I sound - energetic and in control - and that sets the tone from the first shot in the morning at 7 am or the last shot at 6 pm'. I think we all sailed through this project for the past six months so easily, thanks to Mohan's easy going nature and good humour. And any aspiring directors out there who were part of that shoot can straight away copy Mohan for the way he handles people, the way he handles egos and for bringing the best out from everyone around without getting into their space.
Anyway, to get back to my original track, this is entirely Mohan's vision (visualising the whole movie, scene by scene and making it as he saw it in his mind - truly stumps me). I am really curious, honored and excited to see what this talented film maker has made for all of us to watch from 'The Men Within'. I'd say that it will be a cinematic experience that will do justice to this young director's abundant potential, enhance his reputation as one of those to watch out for, and will make many film makers and viewers sit up and take notice - beyond far horizons.
More on Mohan later!
Article in the Indian Express - November 14, 2010
The following article appeared in my Sunday column 'Un Intended' in The New Indian Express.
RABID FANATICS FOUND IN VIRTUAL SPACE
Harimohan Paruvu
I observed a curious phenomenon that I’d like to share in confidence. The normally shy, peaceful, taciturn fellow countrymen who surround us everyday, appear to have a secret side to them that’s highly vocal, communicative and articulate. To experience this development, there is no better place than the internet, where several of them seem to be lying in wait, itching to say something about everything. I discovered this development quite by accident when I read a nice article about a holiday resort and wanted to congratulate the author. My eye caught the first comment that said ‘Nice article’. I looked further below - there were nine pages of comments. So many? Wow. That’s expressive! That was when I saw the second comment.
‘These places are run by rotten people with lots of money and nothing to do,’ stated Angry112. ‘There is no hope for us as long as we have corrupt leaders.’ What’s this, I wondered. I scrolled down. ‘All lowly backward @@## like you deserve only such things,’ said Hotheaded271. To which Angry112 replied. ‘You worshippers of @@##. They should bomb you and your community off this planet so we never see your ##$$ faces again.’ To which guys from various parts of the world replied. ‘You son of a @@#$$ we will get you and your government for this. And the resort fellow as well.’ My head started spinning. Who were these people with these funny names?
A voice of reason rang out. ‘Please guys,’ pleaded Sanevoice76. ‘Can’t we discuss things normally? This is a harmless travel article’. I breathed a sigh of relief. Too soon! Redhot59 replied. ‘Bomb this @@##$ and his family as well.’ That caused Sanevoice76 to drag five generations of Redhot59’s family into the discussion, with special mention of their severely impaired mental abilities! Stiff911 appeared with great deals on Viagra and Loverboy69 sent links to amorous young ladies. Lovemyland116, who wanted a separate state for himself, inserted 25 emphatic slogans in capital letters. When Pagaldeewana451 asked if anyone knew his favorite heroine’s mobile number, Badrelation34 needlessly insinuated that these @@## actresses hitched themselves to the holiday resort guy types. The next comment was good enough to start World War III. It was complete mayhem.
Breathing heavily, I checked other articles. Articulate chaps were commenting voluminously on Obama’s visit (American conspiracy to enslave us), beautiful models (we know how these @@## get the job), cricketers (traitors), fashion (killing our culture). Any topic, and there were hundreds of anonymous people ready to tear it apart, kill one another or bomb one another. I logged off before someone tracked me and held me responsible for any of the things these guys might start - like initiating World War III, promoting communal hatred, illegal drugs and terrorist acts.
But who were these chatty chaps? No one I knew was like this. Warily, I tested random people in coffee shops and cyber cafes to gauge general reactions to holiday resorts and Obama. Everyone smiled and nodded, but no opinions came forth! Try as I did, I couldn’t get a single belligerent opinion; everyone went ‘good, good’. That confirmed my fears. We’re besieged by foul mouthed enemies provoking a war, or worse, we’re surrounded by a bunch of opinionated schizophrenics who parade as gentle souls in the real world but transform into rabid fanatics in virtual space! I am no psychologist but I’d wager that there is a lot of suppressed anger and concealed desire out there. It would be good if some brave soul wrote an article about it. And posted it on the net. (Anonymously, would be safer, I’d think.)
To view all articles of 'Un Intended' follow this link:
http://expressbuzz.com/searchresult/harimohan-paruvu
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