KANK

Finally caught Karan Johar’s last release – the so called bohemian Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna. The movie is definitely a move away from his excessively traditionalistic plots rooted deep in time honored idealism (read K3G). Kudos to Johar for bringing through an unorthodox theme without the moralistic hypocrisy that Indian movies are typically subject to. Sadly the movie lacks the trademarked Karan Johar class. Everything right from the half-baked, sometimes corny sub plots to the ill-sketched characters brings down the movie. The worst of the lot is the eccentric character Dev (Shah Rukh) who is ridiculously over the top and at times borders on lunacy. But I feel the actual bane of the movie is the complete lack of chemistry between the lead actors. The music is a respite but everything else is in dire want of substance.

Deepawali Blues

Yet another sizzling, crackling diwali come to an end and yet again I heave a sigh of relief. The festival of lights has always been a cacophony of sound and fumes to me. Now, I have nothing against the festival as such. In fact, being born on a deepavali day and also being named after it does give it a special place in my heart. But the manner in which the firecracker revelry is carried on does drive me up the wall. Sadly enough Diwali always leaves me with reminiscences of loud crackers splitting my ears. As a rule I choose to shut myself up during this gala ruckus. This time though I dared to venture out with an assortment of crackers and a couple of restless cousins. The half hour I spent amongst the festivities was enough to make me affirm that I will never again dare to leave the safe confines of my house during this season. Being in such close proximity to all those little kids going crazy with their horde of hydrogen bombs, atom bombs and god knows what else, made me truly comprehend the actual hazard that the revelers, onlookers and passers by are subject to. The numerous social messages on safe celebrations seem to be falling on deaf ears. Makes me wonder if the government should step in and bring about some regularization. Some nations do have strict rules that prohibit purchase and bursting of fireworks without the supervision of adults. This thought passed my mind as I stood watching my cousins. But taking a good look around made me realize that such a regulation in our country it would never serve the purpose. Its not just teenagers but also many adults who behave like absolutely ignorant imbeciles. My heart lurched on seeing a little kid, not older than a year, running around barefooted with sparklers in both hands, apparently under the supervision of so called adults. One little slip would have injured the child badly.

I have lost count of the number of rockets that skewed dangerously close to onlookers. Needless to say the manner in which crackers were continuously being burst on the road even when there were people and vehicles passing through. Yeah sure, so what if there is biker coming through. There’s no need to warn him about the lighted cracker lying a few feet ahead, is there? Whatever happened to responsibility and accountability? The statistics on accidents during the diwali season no longer surprises me. Makes you wonder, have we become so mesmerized by the brilliance on display to care about human lives. The pyrotechnics get wackier each year, enough to make up my mind to stay within the precincts of my home every diwali

A Few Moments More...

The fragility of life is rarely realized till death rears its ugly head and snatches it away from you. It leaves you with the bitter comprehension that nothing lasts for ever. Time spent with a loved one will never come back. Leaves you with nothing but long lost memories of warm scented summers spent together. Grief alone sinks in the harsh realization that its now too late…too late to say the things that were left unsaid…to late for the moments of togetherness that were so yearned for …too late to give back even a bit of what was received. All that is left now is the agonizing image of a pale figure between hospital tubes…an image that will be imprinted onto my heart for ever

life is like an ice-cream...slurrrppp it up before it goes splat in your face!!!