NEERJA- story of India's Braveheart

The much-acclaimed and much-appreciated movie, 'Neerja', based on the true story of the courageous 23 year old air hostess Neerja Bhanot, who died on duty trying to save the lives of hundreds of her passengers during a hijack - is simply beyond any critique or review.

Stories like these when retold and re-enacted for cinematic viewing, cannot be judged using the usual parameters employed for movie reviews. Yet any story has to be well told to leave a worthwhile impact. And this one succeeds to the hilt. The direction, cinematography, acting, and other departments have excelled in bringing alive an otherwise forgotten story of a real-life heroine making it a compelling viewing. Sonam and Shabana Azmi do ample justice to their roles and give restrained performances which stop the movie from degenerating into a shallow melodrama. Sonam's father's angst and pain are so understated yet so tangible! The in-flight ordeal of the passengers and crew at the hands of four hyper and agitated terrorists transports you back into those tortuous hours of uncertainty and impending gloom. The ending wasn't really a surprise but still brought tears to the eyes. 

One can only salute the young lady who displayed such a remarkable presence of mind, an exemplary agility, quick thinking, selflessness and spirited valor in those crucial, trying hours. In this age where the media focus is more on silver screen stars' shenanigans and politicians' tug-of-war, not much attention is paid to real life heroes who mostly go unsung except for a sporadic loud applause which dies down soon after the gallantry award felicitation. 

It is in this context that 'Neerja' comes like a much-needed shot-in-the-arm to revive the jaded and cynical public mindset and infuse a hearty respect for those who in their, unfortunately, short mortal lives, lived a lifetime. Always hoping that the youth of the nation emulate worthy role-models like Neerja who went down stoically while saving human lives (irrespective of their religion and nationality), rather than perennially attack the nation guns blazing and sully the spirits of all those who lost their lives in their line of duty, at the borders and beyond.

Blusters And Blisters

There is a marked difference between expressing general dissent on state policies and deliberate and pre-meditated efforts towards disgracing the nation publicly. As also between being anti-establishment and being anti-national. You can espouse anti-government slogans, lambast corruption, slow economic growth, regressive social policies, even go ballistic on intolerance charge but for heaven's sake how can these 'youth' (most in their late 20's and 30's ) be allowed to chant 'India murdabad' and similar diatribe with media in full attendance and not expect some sort of backlash. If this doesn't call for universal condemnation in the strongest terms I wonder what provocation is required to awaken one's dormant patriotic instincts. I say dormant because most of the educated middle-class and upper-class populace tread on caution and neutral grounds in such matters. We leave the dramatics to the other half which occupies the political centre stage either by holding offices of power or the huge number of wannabes and no-gooders jostling all their lives for five minutes of fame translating into a 5-year stint in politics if they are lucky. They are the ones calling the shots in our democracy by being its visible face. Generally, the sensible reaction is to mostly ignore or generously condone unsavoury public demonstrations which make us uncomfortable. However at times, diplomacy and complacency ought to give way to a more serious and systematic approach to tackling distastefully provocative actions by youthful minds which should ideally be brimming with positive outlook and hopes for the nation. 

Even if the JNU students are given a benefit of the doubt that they do not actually mean or stand by all of their dramatic outbursts that fateful day. Then that in itself is a grievous pathetic commentary on student politics in India; sloganeering for cheap titillation and not any genuine passion for the cause in hand. And is India's pride so cheap and marketable that it can be prostituted by a bunch of buffoons? Did the government overreact by arresting and pressing sedition charges on them? Maybe. Did the students cross the line of tolerance (that dreaded word again)? Most definitely YES! Freedom of speech and expression ( misused blatantly and ever-so-often) is a salient feature of a democracy. But every freedom brings an equal amount of responsibility along with it. Both go in tandem and can only then create a peaceful symphony of a civilised society and a responsible state.  

"Sedition charges are ridiculous", "hot-headed youths treated like terrorists" etc are the baffling responses by the self-anointed saints of India. Equally uncalled for is the right wing's demands to crucify the 'traitors' publicly. Extremely polarised views are being expressed with equal intensity. Quite clearly, the hardliners and liberals are walking a tight-rope in India, battling out the rights and wrongs based on their subjective interpretations and individual preferences. The moot point is that no matter who wins the battle, the idea of India and the spirit enveloping it cannot be compromised. That, my dear friends, is utterly non-negotiable. 

AIRLIFT....lifts your spirits up

A gripping, taut and realistic recreation of a true event makes Airlift a cut above in the thriller genre. The massive air evacuation undertaken by the Indian government in 1990 to bring back approximately 1,70,000 of its citizens stranded in Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion was a story waiting to be told. The director, Raja Menon has done it quite capably through Akshay Kumar, our new age Manoj Kumar (minus his jingoism), vis-a-vis his recent spate of patriotic movies told stylishly in a mainstream cinematic context. 

Akshay is spot on as Ranjit Katiyal, the hard core businessman who is forced to remember his roots in times of crisis. Initially planning to flee Kuwait with his family, he is compelled to rise above his self-centeredness and help his fellow citizens after witnessing how helpless ordinary people are in the face of the tyranny unleashed upon them by Saddam Hussein.
His persistence, doggedness and resources help him set up a temporary camp and give shelter to a motley group of Indians, carrying along their distinctive problems and idiosyncrasies. Nimrat Kaur as Akshay's trophy wife complements his strength of character with her own when the occasion demands. She is a welcome change from the usual bimbettes routinely seen in Akshay's movies.

The narrative has a dark, sinister feel to it; the havoc created by war and a rogue nation creates palpable terror and an innate sympathy for the victims regardless of their nationality. The waiflike Kuwaiti lady hidden in the camp by her Indian maid is symbolic of this. Notable performances are by Kumud Misra as the dedicated Indian bureaucrat who facilitates the evacuation process by cutting through red tapes and dithering politicians. The talented Inaamulhaq portraying the shrewd, crafty Iraqi major evokes more guffaws than fear, majorly due to his quaint accent. A minor flaw in an otherwise riveting tale of a man's perseverance against all odds.

The movie does stray towards repetitive sequences at times and is low on entertainment quotient but then stark reality is seldom entertaining. However, after all the hard work that goes towards building it up, the climax in itself is a tad underwhelming. The accelerated homecoming process makes one feel relieved that the long drawn ordeal is over for the fellow Indians, but a bit shortchanged that the actual 'airlift' manoeuvres are swept in the air. 

Minor irritants apart, the movie is an ideal republic day flavour meant to be savoured by those looking for soaring stories of patriotism in times when the word 'Indian' and all that it encompasses is being redefined. 

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

This is the age of trolls, memes, controversies and parodies. 
As I sit reminiscing and reflecting upon the past few years, what strikes instantly is the gross invasion of an individual's privacy by digital gadgets. My life isn't mine anymore, free to live as I wish. It's bombarded by messages, beeps and notifications at ungodly hours and unmentionable places and time. The urge to check every single source of digital enlightenment belies common sense and borders on insanity and derangement.

 Facebook is fast becoming our alter ego and intent on making even strangers shake each other's hands. What started on an initial premise of reconnecting and sustaining social relationships has far bigger implications now on an individual's life. Its steadily attempting to become our guide, astrologer, clairvoyant, messiah etc.. Telling us the meanings of our name, our personal relationships' success meter, our future, our hidden desires, fears, even our death dates. Now seriously!! Even if most of us undertake such frivolity at face value, it takes the cake at the absurdity.
 The casual check-ins have become the norm, full-fledged family albums weighing down under the scores of likes and automated applauding responses from the viewing audience has become mandatory for some. Personal gratification no longer seems to be the primary motive behind any activity. Public display of one's lifestyle has become the order of the day. Even people who prefer to live their lives privately and quietly can't resist peeping into the badass and bindaas lifestyle of the other half. 

Over-the-top selfie craze is the 21st century's biggest affliction ; self destructive, insidious, and incurable. The preeners pout gloatingly, the fawning viewers clap gushingly while the cynics snort disparagingly. But none can match the intense indulgence of the ever spiralling selfie addiction. That you might well be posing for the last time given the risks sometimes undertaken for that perfect shot, is a question that never poses itself well enough to be answered. Therein lies the tragic pit of human vanity.

Twitter consists of belligerent folks with overactive oestrogen levels and dormant grey cells because they shoot their mouth at the slightest pretext, more to catch eyeballs and elicit aggressive reactions than for any genuine feel for the topic in hand. Instagram and photo editors produce picture perfect portraits; glossy, unreal and fake but still garnering record breaking likes. Whatsapp is the little devil solely responsible for bringing long lost acquaintances and forgotten friends together but driving immediate families apart as they are too busy with online chatting to have any spare time for heart to heart talks with family members at home. Personal intimacies are being destroyed systematically by the social media, claim the detractors. Sensationalism rules the roost while sensitivity sleeps like a log. 

This digital onslaught on an individual's life is complete and absolute. Any personal preference to be a passive spectator and watch the circus from afar is scoffed at and one is pulled deep into the vortex of silliness and superficiality.
Hopefully in future, the novelty will wane off and the good old virtues of privacy and containment will come into action to balance this blatant in-your-face style of living. Till then the only choice left is to grin and bear and enjoy the show. Spectacular as it is, at times.

Review of novel...'The bestseller she wrote' by Ravi Subramanian

Romance is arguably the most popular genre to write a book in. Add a second potent angle, betrayal and/or revenge and you have a sureshot recipe for success.

The novel,' The bestseller she wrote',  taps the romance in a hip, contemporary setting between a married, successful banker who is also a popular author and his young, stunning and cunning protégé. Their relationship graph is developed on predictable lines. The protagonist Aditya is projected as a hotshot professional and a devoted family man who falls for the guiles of a young ambitious female Shreya without much ado. For an apparently smart man, Aditya appears dumb in his dealings with Shreya who always gets the last word. 

The author also fails to focus on any real conflict in Aditya's mind about going ahead in an adulterous relationship with a much younger woman despite happily married. He is too eager to form an extra-marital alliance with an overtly shrewd girl. Well, pretty is what pretty does. She betrays him without batting an eye. Feeling guilty and remorseful, Aditya begs for forgiveness from his wife who after a little dilly-dally takes him back like an 'Adarsh bhartiya nari'. Infact, stereotypical characters abound this novel which makes for a candyfloss timepass read but does little in uplifting it towards an engaging thriller. The twists and turns are conviniently contrived to push the story forward. 

 What if Shreya was a genuinely sweet girl really in love with Aditya? What would Aditya have done; who would he have chosen ultimately? Making the other woman appear scheming and manipulative is such an obviously easy way to chicken out of developing a complex emotional interplay between the 3 protagonists. Aditya's wife, Maya and best friend, Sanjay are mere caricatures with foreseeable actions and reactions. Even the backstabbing angle given to Sanjay seems forced as an afterthought. 

In the end, this novel maynot go down in the literary circles as the bestseller that Ravi Subramaniam wrote but definitely as a likeable, caramel-coated popcorn romance providing instant gratification. But does it leave a lingering taste? Read and decide.

Happy 2016 to all

Hi friends, 

The Wheels of Time move and bring on another year-

another set of hopes and aspirations,

another bout of challenges, 

another voyage of discoveries and revelations,

another round of trials and tribulations,

another galaxy of glories and achievements, 

another cluster of relationships and associations,

another bunch of joys and gaiety!

Here's hoping you stroll through this year, head high, spirits intact and soul reinvigorated......!

HAVE A GLORIOUS YEAR AHEAD..!

LOVE'S LABOUR ACCOMPLISHED

 Bajirao Mastani, truly a masterpiece. Brilliantly directed and exceptionally well-acted, the movie leaves you enthralled and touched to the core.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has mounted this historical love saga on a grand, lavish scale which is alluring by its opulence and captivating by its high octane emotions.
The three protagonists excel in their roles like never before. Ranveer singh is outstanding as Bajirao, the dynamic, proud maratha warrior who falls hopelessly for the heartbreakingly beautiful Mastani, portrayed aptly by Deepika who is pathos personified. Priyanka Chopra is a revelation as the aggrieved wife, Kashibai; regal and proud even when hurt and slighted by her husband's dalliance. The ensemble cast too has well supported this epic elevating it to a surreal level.
Every emotion, be it patriotism, regional pride, religious zeal, undiluted passion or single-minded devotion, is pitched to the right degree so that you swim with its flow but don't drown in any excesses. At the end you applaud the depiction of this tragedy in a celebratory manner by the maker. Take a bow, SLB !!!