Quote of the day

"This system is new for all of us. Now that we have played one season in the new format, next season we will play better."

-- Sourav Ganguly, reviewing the Kolkata Knight Riders’ performance in the IPL

Heh!

Slum tourism

Last Sunday, The Times of India carried this very interesting piece on slum tours (Dharavi through a peephole). It came as a shocker. It raises a lot of issues about such tours and their feasibility. Is it simply tourism or voyeurism -- into poor people's lives? However, one thing is for sure. It'll give you jitters. It'll lay bare the naked truth about all the development taking place in the middle-class India. How sensible are we to the realities of life? We can't live without such people. We need them to wash our clothes, utensils, do odd jobs for us. But we don't want them on the city scape. We would like them to go, live somewhere far from the locales of the city. Howsoever far that may be or howsoever painstaking the daily travel may be, it's not our headache. Read this piece to get shocked.

Related stories:

1. Slum Visits: Tourism or Voyeurism? (Link)

2. Slum tours: a day trip too far? (Link)

FESPACO -- the pan-African film & TV festival

This week, the Alliance Francaise of Madras showcased a selection of award winning African movies. FESPACO, the Pan-African film and television festival, is the biggest, regular cultural event on the African continent. FESPACO was started in 1969, and is held every two years. At the end of the festival the grand prize of the mythical Yennenga Stallion is awarded to the best film. The Alliance Francaise of Madras in association with the Indo Cine Appreciation Forum presented four of the films that have previously won this prestigious award. I could see only two of them due to my engagements elsewhere -- Ali Zaoua & Sarraounia.

Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets

It is a 2000 Moroccan crime drama film directed by Nabil Ayouch about the homeless street children, who steal, fight, even kill for the sake of survival. It has won numerous awards, including the 2000 Stockholm Film Festival and 2000 Amiens International Film Festival.

Ali -- the movie's central character, Kwita, Omar and Boubker, are street children who wander the streets of Casablanca, sniffing glue. Ali is killed in a stone-fight by one of members of the rival gang, headed by deaf and dumb Dib. Now, the 3 remaining friends do whatever they can to give their friend a burial like a prince.

They even arrange for the robes of a sailor as Ali wanted to be a sailor who wanted to sail away to his fictitious island of two suns. Interspersed with rib-ticking dialogues and performances from the kids, some of whom are real life street urchins, and some thought-provoking scenes, the movie is a beautiful depiction of the street scene of Casablanca. It reminds me of the innocence found in most of the Iranian movies. However, the movie doesn't tell us what drove the kids to such a state in the first place. But it's definitely worth a watch.

Sarraounia

This 1986 film from Mauritania, by Med Hondo, is a powerful story about the historical Queen Sarraounia, a great leader of the Aznas' resistance against the French in 1899, after many other tribes had succumbed to the attack of the colonizing soldiers. It starts with an old man asking his friend to look after her daughter Sarraounia. The foster father not only looks after her, but also teaches her to use various weapons.

It reminded me of Chinua Achebe's much acclaimed novel, Things Fall Apart. The European armies invade Africa, trying to spread their empire, are faced by a determined tribe of Sarraounia. The movie was intense and slightly long. Sarraounia's role as the warrior princess could have been given more air-time. But with its beautiful traditional music and visually appealing shots, you'll not forget the movie for a long time.

The film, touted as 'the first African epic' by Le Monde, was featured at festivals in Montreal, San Francisco, Berlin, Moscow, Atlanta, and London, and won several awards at the annual African Film Festival at Ougadougou.

Other movies

The remaining two movies which I couldn't see were:

1. Tilaï (1990) from Burkina Faso, directed by Idrissa Ouédraogo

2. Guimba the Tyrant (1995) from Mali, directed by Cheick Oumar

East Germany's Ampelman

Read this nice piece on how a beloved relic of the former East Germany, the jolly Ampelman has guided children across the road since 1961.

India recycled

Read/see this interesting story , in pictures, of how clothes donated at UK charity shops can end up half way across the world, among pavement traders and tailoring shops in India, as well as the contrasting flow of recycled silk saris to the UK.

Romancing in Saudi Arabia

Love is universal, they say. It can happen to the toughest as also the cruelest. It has no rules, no bars. But not in the Arab world. Read this fascinating account of forbidden romance in the land of the Arabs where the young Saudis are vexed and entranced by love's rules.

--

Nader al-Mutairi stiffened his shoulders, clenched his fists and said, “Let’s do our mission.” Then the young man stepped into the cool, empty lobby of a dental clinic, intent on getting the phone number of one of the young women working as a receptionist.

--

Enad al-Mutairi, left, shared a light moment with family members including his cousin Yousef al-Mutairi, right, 22, at his grandfather's
house in the village of Om Salem. Like many Saudi families, theirs is large and insular, and they have spent virtually all of their free time together since childhood.

In the West, youth is typically a time to challenge authority. But what stood out in dozens of interviews with young men and women here (Riyadh) was how completely they have accepted the religious and cultural demands of the Muslim world’s most conservative society.

--

“If you want to know what your wife looks like, look at her brother,” Nader said in defending the practice of marrying someone he had seen only once, briefly, as a child. That is the traditional Nader, who at times conflicts with the romantic Nader.

--

Soon his cellphone beeped, signaling a text message. Nader blushed, stuck his tongue out and turned slightly away to read the message, which came from “My Love.” He sneaks secret phone calls and messages with Sarah. When she calls, or writes a message, his phone flashes “My Love” over two interlocked red hearts. “I have a connection,” he said, quietly, as he read, explaining how Sarah manages to communicate with him.

--

Saudi traditions do not allow for romance between young, unmarried couples. There are many stories of young men and women secretly dating, falling in love, but being unable to tell their parents because they could never explain how they knew each other in the first place. One young couple said that after two years of secret dating they hired a matchmaker to arrange a phony introduction so their parents would think that was how they had met.

[This is a part of the 4-article series, Generation Faithful. Read all the articles here: 1, 2, 3 and 4.]

Enna rascala ... mind it! -- Dhoni style

M. S. Dhoni, captain of the IPL Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing DLF Premier League, does an SRK with this new Pepsi ad.

The ad starts with a voice: 'Dhoni, from Jharkhand'. But Dhoni, all transformed into a Southie star (cricketer) replies: 'Aieah! Yumm (Y)Ess Dhoni from Chennai ... mind it! (amazingly rolling his tongue).' Then he continues: 'All you fast bowler rascals, I have the bat, though you have the balls.' And what follows is the typical Rajnikanth fare.

The ad is for Pepsi's current campaign of Youngistaan and ends with Dhoni smilingly saying: 'Maaiiind it!'

A hilarious ad. Enjoy.

The Lives of Others

Last week, I saw 'The Lives of Others' (original German: Das Leben der Anderen) -- a wonderful German movie, which won the 2007 Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language film. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (what an interesting name!), this movie is set in the East Germany (GDR) of 1984 when idealism and socialism ruled the roost. It somehow reminds me of 1984, George Orwell's acclaimed novel about life in an authoritarian regime.

Ulrich Mühe as Stasi (GDR's secret police) Captain Wiesler (Code name: HGW XX/7) and beautiful Martina Gedeck as the playwright Georg Dreyman's lover and a renowned actress Christa-Maria Sieland are just superb in their roles. Moreover, Martina is more than a treat to watch. Dreyman's role is played by Sebastian Koch.

The movie is a fine balance between emotions and thrills of life. It captures those turbulent times (5 years before the breaking of the Berlin Wall) in a fascinating way. One could not live even his own life in a peaceful manner as almost everybody was kept under the eyes of the Stasi, Ministry for State Security. By listening to people's conversations and their mannerisms, each one's fate was decided -- whether the person is reliable or not.

Wiesler is asked to spy upon the lives of the playwright Dreyman and his lover Christa-Maria. In the process of observing their lives, Wiesler himself gets absorbed and even plays an active part in trying to alter some situations. However, what causes this stern and authoritarian Captain to soften up, is not told clearly in the movie.

Martina Gedeck & Sebastian Koch in 'The Lives of Others'

The events of the movie are layered upon the viewer and he doesn't feel loaded by them. This gradual build up of drama and emotions is one of the strong points of the movie. The closing scene of the movie is really touching. The times are post-Berlin Wall and Weisler, doing some small jobs, sees a novel published by Dreyman and purchases it. On asked for an option to gift-wrap it, he replies: "No, this is for me." It is one of the best scenes I've seen of late.

The music of the movie is worth mentioning. It's an elixir for the ears. There's a piece of Beethoven - Appassionata about which Dreyman tells Christa-Maria that Lenin once said of it: "If I keep listening to it, I won't be able to finish the revolution."

The movie has strong after-effects and you continue to think about something even on coming back to your home (in fact more so then). All-in-all, a must watch.

Nudes disrobed!

Disrobing in front of strangers, lying to friends and family, not being able to celebrate the excitement of being immortalised by art. It’s just another day at work for Mumbai’s nude models, finds Labonita Ghosh in this worth-reading urban tale.

“What would my neighbours say if they knew that I sit naked for hours in front of people young enough to be my grandchildren?,” says Arai Shankar Naidu, a sprightly grandmother-of-two and a full time nude model for JJ School of Art.

Framed Desire (2006) -- Anita

Pangea Day

Yesterday, while watching Star World (after ages), I saw this show and just could not change the channel because the show was just so engrossing. I later found out that it was the inaugural Pangea Day. And believe me, it was a fabulous showcase of some of the best short films from across the world – all packed in a 4 hours show. It was just so beautiful. Films from Iran, Egypt, France, Australia, Mozambique, from everywhere -- truly a treat.

About Pangea Day

Pangea Day was an international multimedia event conducted on May 10, 2008. It was coordinated from 6 locations – Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro – in 7 languages – to produce a 4-hour program of short films, live music and speakers. The program was broadcast live across the globe from 1800 to 2200 UTC, culminating in a global drum circle, symbolizing the common heartbeat of the world. According to the festival organizers, "Pangea Day plans to use the power of film to bring the world a little closer together."

Pangea Day originated in 2006 when documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize. Jehane wished to use film to bring the world together.

Pangea from the Ancient Greek pan, meaning entire, and gaea, meaning Earth was the supercontinent before each of the component continents were separated into their current configuration. Used in this way it is meant to imply the "connectedness" or unitary nature of all people on Planet Earth. [By the way, Nokia was the global partner of the event – Connecting People!]

The films

Pangea Day was a celebration of the power of film. It featured films that were funny, sad, gorgeous, stark – and powerful. Voices that had never been heard before. Things many had never seen. Scenes from worlds few had visited. A cross-section of our amazing, complicated, noisy, beautiful world.

The films in this program were chosen by Pangea Day's panel from more than 2,000 submissions and a long roster of curated suggestions. Together, these films moved us, frightened us, made us laugh and smile, and helped us feel closer to the world.

Learn more about Pangea Day films.

The speakers

In between the films of Pangea Day, some astonishing speakers talked about our world in surprising ways. From Jordan's Queen Noor to former boy soldier Ishmael Beah, from journalist Mariane Pearl to planetary explorer Carolyn Porco, we heard powerful stories and mind-expanding new ideas. And in one unforgettable moment, two historic enemies met on the Pangea Day stage.

Learn more about Pangea Day speakers

The music

The music of Pangea Day came from Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil, rock stars Bob Geldof and Dave Stewart, and the elegant and soulful Rokia Traoré – plus underground Iranian indie rockers Hypernova – and a few surprises.

Learn more about Pangea Day music.

In the end

Well, I just loved the concept. And some of the short films shown were truly outstanding. You can check out the Highlights from Pangea Day here.

Keep smiling!

Source: Wikipedia & Pangea Day Website

AXE Cottage -- Help the ladies out, will ya?

AXE Canada has just released a new commercial to promote the exclusive 'AXE Cottage'. As we can see on the website, this cottage is full of women, but there's a lack of men. And that's where the AXE buyer comes in. He can win a trip to the cottage, together with his buddies, and help all these lovely ladies out. Nice!



Source: Martina Zavagno

Bas 2 minute!

Most of you who have grown up in 80s and 90s would be familiar with one of the most useful inventions made in the history of food – especially for bachelors – guys and gals alike. Yes, I’m talking about that loyal yellow packet peeping out from one of your kitchen drawers or shelves – Maggi instant noodles!

Unlike in relationships when you start taking your partner for granted you may end up on the losing side – with Maggi, you can be rest assured. Maggi has formed an unending, loyal relationship in almost each bachelor’s life even though we don’t realize the importance of this heavenly snack, which doubles and triples its job by not just acting as an in-betweens but also as a trustworthy companion for breakfast, lunch and dinner and oh those mid-night cravings.

I stand in gratitude to a noble man named Julius Maggi, who was the founder of Maggi Company in the year 1872 in Switzerland – though the Maggi noodles came some time later.

It has saved one too many from numerous crisis situations by acting as the noble saviour. When you doubt your cooking abilities or feel too lazy to get up and cook something elaborate, what comes to mind first? Think Maggi – and it’ll be there – bas 2 minute! (It takes a bit more than 2 minutes though – but hey, who’s complaining!)

Even the dhabas lined outside my hostel in Delhi have mastered the art of cooking Maggi and we sometimes zero-in on a dhaba who makes the better Maggi . Every other evening, post classes, Maggi remains my favourite.

Recipes

Although Maggi Noodles page on Wikipedia lists down more than 20 types of formulations, my personal favourite remains Maggi Masala – some things are best left original. You open the packet, break the cake into 4 parts, put them into boiling water, add the taste-maker and start stirring (the contents of course). And voila! In about 2 minutes or 4, if you’re like me (I like to give some ‘extra time’), it’s there – the fruit of labour, your very own yummy noodles now smartened up to take a lovely shape! If you like, you can sprinkle some oregano on top of it, like I used to do when I was in Pune, to make it taste even tastier. Right Akshaya?

And oh, I like it sans any vegetables or elaborate recipes – it’s meant to be simple, without any pomp and show, so keep it simple stupid (KISS principle)! Besides that I love it if there’s a little (mind you just a little) water left in the noodles. Umm ... I can smell it!

Maggi also demonstrates with great efficiency how coiled things in life ease out when put in boiling water.

Marketing Gyaan

What Xerox is to photocopier and Colgate to toothpaste, Maggi is to noodles in India. And this is no idle boast. “Indians eat most Maggi noodles in the world," said ex-Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India, Carlo Donati, not too long ago.

It was Donati who brought the instant noodle brand to the country during his short stint in the early 1980s. Maggi went on to create a whole new product category and caught the fancy of kids across the country in no time. It made the phrase ‘Bas 2 minute’ iconic. It wooed mothers with the promise of ‘fast to cook and good to eat’ snacks. It added that bit of ‘different’ to the popular ketchup. And offered 'health bhi, taste bhi' through its no-MSG soups.

To conclude

Well, nobody can truly measure the and express the impact of Maggi on a bachelor’s life and one blog-post is just too insufficient for that. It is just a small way to pay my tributes to one of the most important foods of a bachelor’s life.

[Oh! My roomie has woken up and is going to the kitchen. I ask him, lunch plans? With a grin on his face, he replies, Maggi!]

My father's suitcase

I haven't been moved so much, of late, as I was on reading the 2006 Nobel lecture by Orhan Pamuk. Read the full lecture here.

Excerpt:

As you know, the question we writers are asked most often, the favourite question, is; why do you write? I write because I have an innate need to write! I write because I can't do normal work like other people. I write because I want to read books like the ones I write. I write because I am angry at all of you, angry at everyone. I write because I love sitting in a room all day writing. I write because I can only partake in real life by changing it. I write because I want others, all of us, the whole world, to know what sort of life we lived, and continue to live, in Istanbul, in Turkey. I write because I love the smell of paper, pen, and ink. I write because I believe in literature, in the art of the novel, more than I believe in anything else. I write because it is a habit, a passion. I write because I am afraid of being forgotten. I write because I like the glory and interest that writing brings. I write to be alone. Perhaps I write because I hope to understand why I am so very, very angry at all of you, so very, very angry at everyone. I write because I like to be read. I write because once I have begun a novel, an essay, a page, I want to finish it. I write because everyone expects me to write. I write because I have a childish belief in the immortality of libraries, and in the way my books sit on the shelf. I write because it is exciting to turn all of life's beauties and riches into words. I write not to tell a story, but to compose a story. I write because I wish to escape from the foreboding that there is a place I must go but – just as in a dream – I can't quite get there. I write because I have never managed to be happy. I write to be happy.

so you want to be a writer?

- Charles Bukowski

if it doesn't come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don't do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don't do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don't do it.
if you're doing it for money or
fame,
don't do it.
if you're doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don't do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don't do it.
if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,
don't do it.
if you're trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.

if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,
don't be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don't be dull and boring and
pretentious, don't be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don't add to that.
don't do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don't do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don't do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

Sainath on the moral universe of the media

Yesterday, I attended a lecture by P. Sainath, given at the convocation of the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. The topic was ‘The moral universe of the media’. It was a very interesting and insightful lecture though a bit of rehash of what he says all the time – in his writings or otherwise.

Sainath, as usual, was at his witty best. He started off with statements by George Bush and Condoleezza Rice about how Asians esp. Indian & Chinese are eating a lot more, which is one of the reasons for spiraling prices of food the world over and how their middle-class population is higher than the entire population of the USA. He pointed out that they were still speaking in general about the Asians but our own agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has directly blamed the South-Indians for eating a lot of rotis these days which is adding on to the food crisis and inflation. All this happening in just over the last 6 months – they must be having an orgy of rotis I presume!

He talked on various issues. You can read more on it here.

Here are a few interesting observations.

1. Human beings & economists are contradictory terms.

2. Those who can’t – teach!

3. ABC and BBC of Media – ABC stands for Advertising, Bollywood & Cricket while BBC stands for Big Business & Cricket. These are the only preoccupations of media these days.

4. Indian media is politically free but chained by profit.

5. If excessive drinking is cause of suicide then there would be no journalists alive.

6. Be clever – don’t stick your neck out.

7. All your good ideas are boss’ ideas – always remember that.

8. M. K. Gandhi & B. R. Ambedkar – best Indian journalists.

9. Murray Kempton, Thomas Payne & Mark Twain – best American journalists.

10. Private-client treaty – In this, media companies acquire stake in large companies and assure them of continuous & positive coverage in their media.

11. (Condoleezza) Rice commenting on wheat!

12. Structural shut-out of the poor – when we refuse to talk to over 70% of the population by not having any agriculture or rural affairs journalists.

Let there be a blog!

Hi all!

As I take my first steps into the world of blogging, I just sit back and laugh at my procrastination. The idea of starting a blog came more than 2 years ago when I started writing a few reviews. However, like many of us, I too fell in the trap of 'perfecting' myself and acquiring more 'suitable' knowledge before leaping into the virtual world. I could not have been wronger! I'm almost at the same level (if not worse) or in the same position, which I was in then -- skeptical. However, I'm happy that suddenly something happened today and a voice came from inside to go for it. As they say, 'let there be light'. It said, 'let there be a blog'. And here it is. So, ladies and gentlemen, presenting before you the ruminations of a soul who has just started discovering the finer nuances of life -- each day.

The blog's title is an Italian saying -- 'Vive bene, spesso l'amore, di risata molto!’ which means 'Live well, love much, laugh often'. As you might have guessed, this blog is about life, love, joy, eating, drinking, travelling, people -- basically to fulfill the joie de vivre or a keen enjoyment of living (as my most convenient dictionary WordWeb tells me). This blog would also talk about the issues/topics governing our life -- without addressing them there can be no laughter or love.

As W. Somerset Maugham says, "The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill". I'm no artist -- not yet. However, I would produce -- I would continue writing, telling anecdotes, addressing your attention to things close to my heart -- making you learn and in the process learning myself from the same. I expect the support from all of you to make this journey a success.

Keep reading!