Buck The Trend, Please!

Been a while since I visited my blog and wrote something. Much as I have this desire to write regularly and share my thoughts with people known and unknown, I dither and let it pass. Also, the last few times I wrote it was all about somber matters. I didn’t want one more of the same kind again. And desisted penning notes about many such happenings. I itched even to write about events occurring in my ow life too - but they aren’t great shakes either. 

So, to lighten the mood I want to look at movies (what else?)! We keep movies relevant even when we aren’t watching - by creating a boycott trend! 

Growing up, most people from my generation and older, wouldn’t have any bigger entertainment than going to movies. And sure enough we watched movies in troves - and droves. We loved our movies where the hero triumphed over the villain mostly. Realistic fare wasn’t for us - it was for the pseudo-intellectuals - we would turn up our noses! Sure enough the greats like Satyajit Ray or Girish Kasaravalli weren’t our favourite directors. We rooted for the likes of Manmohan Desai and Vijay and V. Somashekhar (in Kannada; fill in with names from your language). 

But then, as we grew older (and possibly had seen enough of the same being recirculated as new movies) we started appreciating the auteurs - generously also helped by the dawn of television and access to quality English movies that would be telecast usually late in the night. 

This growing up also made us realise how clichéd were some scenes in Indian movies (possibly in all mass-entertainment movies across the world). And yet they would find being repeated movie after movie. You’d know the scene from a mile (or two) away. Like a climax set in an airport. Hero/heroine running and beating all odds to reach, the flight taking off, s/he collapsing on a chair dejectedly and bursting into tears, only to realise the hand of the ‘true love’ on the shoulder - and yet this never went out of fashion. The same scene can be reimagined at the railway station too (or even on a bus a la 'Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin').  Or, the scene where the police comes after everything is over; promptly, the hero (or someone else) asks the police to arrest the culprits.  Like the police always wait for the orders to arrest! And, we haven't even got to the point where the hero bashes up a multitude of villains, and they all fly in the air - and yet, keep coming back for more of the same treatment! 

If one wants to make a list of such scenes and sequences that have been done to death, and yet film-makers can’t but repeat them, we would come up with a long list for sure. Here are some of mine for such a list. 

1.  Let's dream a dance! 

Raj Kapoor introduced the dream sequence in his movies back in 40's and Indian Cinema was transformed forever.  

Remember the sequence from any movie where a lead character dreams of singing a song with their love? In countless such scenes, you’ll have a group of girls readily willing to blend in the background and dance - most times, wearing hideous clothing. I can understand the hero or the heroine dreaming away. I can understand even a romantic interlude. But what are these chorus dancers doing in the scene? Is this a dream sequence or your inner demons manifesting? I haven't known any living person who imagines to romance while others are gawking and serenading alongside. It's another matter altogether when we question the very presence of songs in movies!

2. Matching Step for Step!

Yet Another related to the song-and-dance tropes in every movie. Have you ever wondered how everyone who gets to groove knows the steps already and are in full sync? The hero and the heroine don’t seem to miss a beat as they join a hoard of dancers and jive away. Even the most intricate choreography is a breeze! Every Indian movie is an example of ABCD - anybody can dance, and how! To this day, it trends - the latest example is that of RRR! It's another matter that many of these songs become chart-toppers, exposing the logical limits of the audience!

Thankfully the 70s are over - and the trend where every family seemed to have its own song, and sang it often enough to ensure even kids remembered the tune, and lyrics.  So, when they would grow up - after the fateful events of murders and separation - they would sing it to reunite with their remaining family members, and take revenge against the baddies!

3.  'I stalk; but you don't!'

Rich hero and poor heroine (or vice versa) is the norm in every (other) Indian movie. In most cases, the hero stalks the heroine, teases her, borderline abuses her, teachers her how to behave as a woman, and makes her believe that it’s love. Yet, when his sister falls for a guy in the same movie, she of course is wrong and is bringing down the honour of the house! Or, when the bad guy does the same routine as the hero with the heroine, he gets bashed up! There are enough movies that also give messages that women love being teased - immortalised through dialogues and songs. It's like women crave for attention.  And, even negative attention is better than no attention. Duh!

4.  "Uncle! It's time to learn!"

The comedy tracks - especially in South Indian movies - involve a bunch of friends of the hero. The hero thankfully has become younger over time - but the hero’s friends will be in 40s and still his classmates in college. Also, they get manhandled, abused, spat at, by the hero and they still adore him like an angel. Audiences laugh all the way back home, at jokes that are misogynistic, homophobic, and generally problematic. Producers laugh all the way to the bank, happy that they can possibly repeat all of the gags in their next, safely. Logic and sensibility being the casualties in the process. 

5.  'Maa....'

The strongest sentiment in any given movie is the mother and her relationship with her son - invariably, the hero.  He does anything to keep the promise he made to her when he was a 5 year old kid - even build empires of vice! Even after she has passed away and moved on to another world, mother holds sway over the hero and every action of his.  This trope can hardly be questioned or criticised - because mom is the biggest thing in the world, in India.  The two latest blockbusters - Bahubali and KGF - hold candle to this sentiment in the best way! And, let's not forget that this was equally strong back in the days too - Deewar anyone? 

I just listed five of the most oft-repeated threads in movies, that I believe need a long break.  What are your pet peeves that you think need to be given a burial soonest? 

The Bluster of Boycott

The trouble with China has had its worst flare up in over 50 years.  We have lost 20 brave-heart soldiers at the LAC in Ladakh.  Unconfirmed reports suggest that there has been loss of lives on the other side too.  What sets this flare up is the brutality of the killings - use of barbed batons and boots to assail and pushing them down the ravines - showing a sadistic side of the enemy. 

The government and the Armed Forces are grappling with the problem, and are at the negotiation table with the Chinese side to resolve the impasse.  Internationally too, the face-off has caused ripples - and criticism of the Chinese hegemony and high-handedness.  India rightly has rejected the offers of mediation by other nations. 

Naturally most Indians are upset at these developments.  There are frequent calls to ban Chinese goods, give up Chinese apps, even Chinese food, and so on.  Stories on the net show people burning effigies of Chinese leaders (a faux pas from Assam showed North Korean leader's effigy being burnt), destroying Chinese made products. WhatsApp forwards are countless that tell us what are Chinese apps and how we could replace them with apps that are non-Chinese/Indian. Even traders associations have given calls to stop imports from China.  Some stories of government contracts awarded to Chinese firms being foreclosed, new contracts being reworked to avoid Chinese grabbing them have been reported too.

Of course the calls for banning anything Chinese are impractical and beat logic.  There is an iota of Chinese left in us no matter how much we would remove.  We can ban the goods now, but can we give up everything we have already bought and destroy them? Can we dismantle all the networks that we have installed in the country through Chinese firms? So many new ventures (and old) have Chinese investments - PayTM, Ola, Swiggy, Flipkart, to name a few.  In all possibility, you are reading this on your Chinese-made phone.  I have typed it on a Chinese-made desktop even though the firm is American.  And, those mobiles sold with 'made in India' label are either Chinese-owned or import electronics from China.  Our dependence on China is not just limited to electronics but extends to what is hoarded most by Indians, gold.  Even the kites that are flown during festivals, lights lit during Deepavali, come from China.  

Even if we succeed to ban and boycott Chinese goods, and end up destroying everything that has come from China, how can give up those that are part of our everyday life? Rice, the staple food of most Indians originates from China.  The morning tea that invigorates everyone has its roots in China, and was brought to India by the British.  The many kind of silks we pride in - Benares, Mysore, Muga, Kanjeevaram - are made possible because of silk that was discovered in China.  History and quiz buffs would also point out that paper printing and currency too have their origins in China. 

And, how easy it is to give up Chinese cuisine? Maggi noodles is everyone’s staple. We have even transformed our own recipes and made them oriental. From Chinese masala dosa to Chinese bhel. Invention is the key here. 

We take pride in our exports to the world.  Buddhism went from India to China.  Scholars from China came to study Buddhism during various historical epochs.  We beam that karate originated in India.  So did badminton, which today is dominated by the Chinese in the world.  We beam that plastic surgery has its origins in India. 

While the public reaction is natural owing to the aggression of the enemy, it is not prudent. Protests against Chinese action is valid and justified.  We could take as many rallies against it and burn effigies.  But inciting action in trade may not be in the right direction for the country as a whole.  We today have a trade deficit of over $50 billion with China, and only recently have our exports started expanding.  As wise men say, we should learn to keep politics and business separate.  We are bound by WTO in international trade practices.  And, going against those practices would be detrimental to the country. 

External affairs and foreign policy are best left to the Governments to deal with.  The governments have their own mechanisms, thinktanks, advisers, ministers, et al, to advise and act.  And, they would have the best interest of the nation in their minds while dealing with the aggressor.  We might have our opinions and critiques; but they are best for arm-chair discussions.

What we as citizens can surely do though is: encourage elimination of apps and products that are of no use.  Like many kinds of plastics.  Like the environmentally unsafe diyas and kites. And industries could change tack, and get into using recycled resources.  Plus invest in their own R&D to reduce reliance on external help.  It is time to think positive and invent new ideas.  And, give a pause to the negative emotions. 

Games and Players..

Kashmir's burning and for a change it's national news again. Unfortunately this time the controversy sure is going to have serious ramifications within the country and CAN see a further polarisation of the two religions. All thanks to the pesky Amarnath Controversy.

Before I'd delve on my opinion on the controversy itself, I'd want to talk about the talk show I watched on NDTV 24X7 yesterday night (hosted by Barkha Dutt and which saw participation of Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Mirwaiz Omar Farookh, Saifuddin Soz, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Prof Sadhu). Some of the REAL moments of the show include:

1. Mehbooba Mufti referring to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi as the Prime Minister of the Country. And, her 'my father, my father' utterances. Sheer nonsense.

2. Omar Abdullah raving and ranting against Rudy and his party and ticking off that the National Conference or Kashmir need not learn tolerence from a party that created the Ayodhya disaster. But, where were Omar Abdullah's senses when he was happily a Minister of State for Foreign Affairs under Mr. Vajpayee? Grazing the grass in his lush golf course?

3. Mirwaiz Omar Farookh admitting that there's concern among people that there's a larger plan by India (and Indians) to change the demographics of Kashmir! Incredulous also since the Separatists (the Mirwaiz being one of them) have categorically told that the stir in Srinagar will continue UNTIL the land is NOT denotified again. Who created this feeling among the Kashmiris? Was it not done by the Separatists?

4. Rajiv Pratap Rudy tried his best to look anguished and every possible thing. "Oh, how Hindus are being persecuted in this country and Kashmir is no exception" seemed to be his stance.

5. Saifuddin Soz seemed more bothered about how to save the Congress government's ass in Kashmir than resolving the controversy.

6. Prof Sadhu of Jammu University (and a Kashmiri Pandit) seemed to be the ONLY sensible voice among all the debating parties. And, as Sadhu pointed out, the issue should have been debated by the public and NOT politicians. It also was made very evident that each political party is playing these divisive cards because it's election time now

I have always had a deep sympathy for the Kashmiris who have been fighting the cause of their independence. It's not that I am anti-Hindu or anti-India. Neither. But, it's what an ordinary Kashmiri wants. My opinion on this was influenced largely by my interaction with my (erstwhile) Kashmiri students and (later during my service, with) the army officers. However, these latest round of protests surely made me question if my sympathies were in the right place.

One, the protesters attacked the yatris. Two, slogans in support of Pakistan rent the air (all shown on TV). Three, intolerence seemed to be the buzzword of the protesters (and the instigators), regardless of what they said to the media.

In all, the political parties (including Congress) seem to be giving the next elections away to the BJP on a platter. And, the Kashmiri Muslims are helping their cause now. The Party has got a new religious issue that can be flogged to generate votes, come September (I think the general elections would be declared by then).

(I wanted to call this 'Games Politicians Play' but have stayed clear of it)