The cup that brewed a storm…

So finally something to break the silence!

Yes, yes we did it!

The Cricket World Cup excitement caught the entire nation in a whirlpool of enthusiasm and this feverish excitement was contagious enough to affect me too. My stance on cricket has varied between unaffected ignorance and annoyed irritation. The fanaticism with which the game is followed has been unnerving but the Saturday that was April 02nd was a day I would excuse the loud crackers and the joyous cheers – I couldn’t help but smile at the ardent fan following the game and the masters of it enjoy! (I actually live tweeted the last few overs – change of heart…err no not really!)

But then, let’s stop at that. What’s with the waiting helicopters, the real and replica cups, and ofcourse Madame Poonam wanting to strip.

Each one is welcome to do what they want, but at what cost and whose cost?

The millions worth of gifts presented – the lavish treatment – where does the buck stop, where do you draw the line? You want to dismiss it as mere cynicism, so be it. The fact is we are a developing nation and yes, by all means we should felicitate the victorious and those who make us proud but how much is the question. If this is about encouraging sports, then why only Cricket?

(And now I duck as the cricket fans throw brickbats my way.)

[Image Source: Google Images]

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Prom Dresses

In the interim…

Diagnosis: Rare syndrome. It primarily affects the cranium, the cardiac muscle, and the overall skeletal system. The key symptoms of the disease include buoyancy of the skull, solidity of the spirit, listlessness of the spine – often manifested in the form of general inability to focus on tasks at hand, no clear vision of the future, writer’s block, perceived loss of dexterity of the limbs at all times of the day and night, forced hallucinations, weak will to fight it all and a strong inclination to do nothing at all.

There seems to be no clinically proven cure for this extreme medical condition.

In progress:

• Formulating a routine to factor in time for physical exercise
• Taking a break – Bangalore and back – Visiting Delhi and the US in the coming months
• Chilling out with friends in the middle of stressed out work weeks – Have been doing the casual shopping trips and the eat outs – also have hit the pub more times in the last month than I have done in years together

Suggestions and recommendations welcome. Won’t exactly murder you for playing doc!

P.S. Not announcing a hiatus. One of those phases when meaninglessness rules and most things (and most people) seem to exasperate the life out of you.

Will be back sooner than you know.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Who’s the fairest of us all?

Oh yes, this is one of the innumerable posts that lament the Indian obsession with all things white and pure or to put it more squarely – with “fair” skin!

It is chronic – this flaxen mania. From pregnant women forced saffron or kesar down their throats so that they give birth to vanilla babies, never mind the dark genes that run in the family – to nauseating matrimonial advertisements wherein a “fair” alliance is sought - gori is often written in brackets for most of these ads up north (of India) to explicitly state that they are not looking at any other kind of fairness in the wife-to-be.

Thanks to Fair and Lovely, white skin soon became the sure shot route to success in all aspects of life for a girl – career included. Recall the ads where a girl could become an air hostess, doctor, businessman, model, dancer etc. just by lightening her complexion (and as if that is possible)!

In this age of equality how could the double X chromosome warriors be left behind, and thus heralded the age of Fair and Handsome – brutally murdering the Mills & Boons romance of the tall, dark and handsome knight!

What irks me the most is the hypocrisy of the people advertising for these products. What about all the tall claims that beauty is not skin deep and dusky being in?

I was extremely disappointed when SRK, John Abraham and Shahid Kapoor signed endorsements for skin-whitening creams and lotions. If supposedly educated and influential people do not take any personal responsibility towards changing the dysfunctional social mindsets, how is a change in the positive direction to come about?

In this regard, the news article here about Ranbir Kapoor refusing to do a fairness ad campaign was heartening, even if I am not sure if he’s actually taking a stance or if this is just a publicity gimmick or if there is a time/price issue involved.

This is not just about endorsing colas or clothing, this is about endorsing biases, and irrespective of how indecent is the amount you are offered, "colorism" or racism/bias based on color of skin is something we need to stand against!

Darrrling…7th khoon kaunsa tha?

Yes, before I get into commenting on the movie, I really want to know which was the seventh murder or sin that is referred to in the title - the intermission (after 3 husbands) says “4 more to go” and yet the second half shows only 3 kills! I am not exactly dumb but a little confused here...

At the risk of spoiling the plot a wee bit for those yet to watch the movie – 6 husbands are murdered. The seventh husband is Christ but he is not a victim as such – so not Suzanna’s sin really – Then does she kill herself – is suicide the seventh sin she confesses to? Or is the director just trying to be a smart aleck leaving the audience with a talking point!

Those who have watched the movie, please care to explain and those who haven’t please care to watch and then care to explain :D. Why should I be the only one losing on my Sunday peace?

7 Khoon Maaf is sort of a black comedy that charts the lethal pursuit of love by the main protagonist – Suzanna. While she has the option to step out of the relationship in each of her marriages, she chooses the more macabre way to end her woes – murder of the husbands. Priyanka Chopra is compelling in her portrayal as the psychotic dame with blood on her lips – disillusioned in marriage, hopeful in her cheery optimism, and dexterous in the execution of the murders.

The director has been largely successful in making a film that is shrouded in macabre from the beginning to the end. The excellent camera work is a must-mention!

The dialogues bring out the shades of grey in each character fairly well and in a sense lead you to the fatalistic finality of the dark plot that Ruskin Bond has quite eerily put together. Having said that, the first half remains more engaging and racy than the second.

All the men have done a good job in giving Suzanna the key motives for murder – fine performances.

The background score fits well with the morbid theme providing the audience with that creepy anticipation; and the hugely popular Darrling is so apt and addictive! (I just can’t get over it. YouTube link here)

What of course is lacking in the movie is the fact that it remains hugely unconvincing as far as the story telling goes – the ready availability of accomplices, the all too obvious traps planted – and the whole logic that a single woman would be wedded to the choicest of scoundrels in one lifetime is a little skewed!

Thus, making the movie a could-be-super-engaging blood thriller - but nor does it fall to the depths of an insipid mediocre flick. This one’s quite deftly crafted and though is bone-chilling only in parts, it is watchable.

If this movie is not a crowd puller, blame the orthodox Indian masses. 7 Khoon Maaf does not cater to any of the regular expectations that the audience have from a Bollywood release. It does not try to engage the emotions of the viewers – it leaves you out in the cold – the horror unnerves you but there is no overt attempt at evocation of feelings of empathy or sympathy.

In that sense, there is no realism – there is an emotional disconnect, which lets you watch and appreciate the story at a creative, fictional distance.

(Image source: Google Images)