Subrat | PassionforCinema

Unlike a lot of people here on PFC, I am more a consumer than producer of creative output. That

Subrat's Blog

29
Arriving at Originality
Ratiocination While watching Kaminey, I arrived at a flawed definition of originality. Any work that can inspire an imitation is original. Two corollaries follow: 1. Any work that doesn’t inspire imitation isn’t original 2. It is possible for an imitated work to inspire another imitation, in which case, it becomes original Yes, I am in a mathematical state of mind...
by Subrat at August 20th, 2009 at 05:08 am
21
Joginder and I
I was traveling the week of June 14 so I missed the news. When I got home and indulged in my usual practice of reading every copy of newspapers that I missed, I found a snippet tucked away on Page 10 that read ‘Actor-Filmmaker Joginder Shelley passes away’. I scanned the 24 hours news channel for tributes and found none. I don’t think ‘Ranga Khush’ meant anything...
by Subrat at August 8th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
13
Iran, Contradiction and The Taste of Cherry
It didn’t surprise me when I read that Neda Agha-Soltan, the woman shot dead in the protests on the streets of Tehran last week, was dressed in a pair of jeans and sneakers under the black cloak. It summed up the contradiction that is Iran. A contradiction that flummoxes the most astute observers of the Persian state. And, maybe, a contradiction that helps explain that...
by Subrat at June 24th, 2009 at 12:06 am
13
“Jee Haan, Behanon Aur Bhaiyon”
This morning I woke up to Ameen Sayani’s voice. I thought the clock had turned back by a couple of decades. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. But, then, it was his voice. The ‘jee haan, behanon or bhaiyon’ caricaturized by so many pretenders over the years seemed original. Unmistakably so! I looked around to find it was my music system. And, it came back to me. A couple...
by Subrat at April 18th, 2009 at 01:04 am
55
Nau Do Gyarah and how to escape boredom
Somewhere during Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Aamir Khan and Pooja Bhatt end up in an abandoned barn (or was it a garage), while escaping the clutches of the private jasoos duo of Rakesh Bedi and Virendra Saxena. There’s a radio playing in the background and through the crackle you hear Kishore’s voice singing ‘Hum Hain Rahee Pyar Ke, Hum Se Kuchh Na Boliye’. Aamir...
by Subrat at April 4th, 2009 at 03:04 am
34
Why we love vigilante justice and ‘Mcidealism’?
For a generation brought up on sms poll as the ultimate tool of democracy (there’s an Abhishek Bachchan ad for a mobile service provider which reinforces this notion), politics is a distant spectacle. An arena littered with trivial television debates, occasional scandals, cronyism and ideological bankruptcy at its basest forms. On the entertainment countdown for...
by Subrat at March 20th, 2009 at 06:03 am
17
Outsider and other random thoughts
It’s remarkable that I turned out to be an optimist in my later life. To help you understand how early the cynic in me had taken roots let me take you back almost twenty years. The daily routine at my school required one of the students to read out a five minute capsule of news at the school assembly in the morning. This meant that the hapless student had to badger...
by Subrat at March 7th, 2009 at 11:03 am
20
Oscar Awards Ki Amar Dastaan
I have long been hearing that this year’s Academy Awards will have an Indian tadka. But I was a disbeliever. How do you say that, I would ask? And, I would be given the story of how Rahman and Sukhwinder will kick-off the show with ‘Jai Ho’, the fact that the mostly India cast would walk the red carpet and that Resul is tipped to win. I would hear it...
by Subrat at February 22nd, 2009 at 02:02 am
11
Dev.D: Desi Alienation
As part of the rites of passage in an engineering school in India, I read ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ in the mid-90s. As had (and I realized this later) an entire generation done before me possibly in the same rooms that I occupied. And very reassuringly, I found out a decade later, Holden Caulfield had held his ground in those rooms against the onslaught of a...
by Subrat at February 7th, 2009 at 07:02 pm
21
There’s No Business Like Sanskriti Business!!
1. Alu in my Parantha Is Portuguese legacy That’s against Bharatiya Sanskriti 2. Tourist raped In Pushkar Must be the Pub culture 3. Women, remember Their speeches are inflammatory And you, inflammable 4. It’s illegal To light a cigarette Torch a bus instead 5. Cabinet Ministers Don’t have work Pranab’s playing a single-hand 6. Fictitious people Are...
by Subrat at January 31st, 2009 at 03:01 pm
54
This is what Danny Boyle was thinking
A couple of weeks back I had a conversation with a friend currently stationed in one of the non-descript mid-west towns. After a few abuses and other pleasantries were exchanged, our discussion turned to Slumdog Millionaire. When I told him about my fondness for the film, the abuses turned into torrents. From the screenplay glitches to the human excreta to gratuitous show...
by Subrat at January 26th, 2009 at 12:01 am
39
Chandni Chowk to China: A Question of Answers
India is the flavor of the season currently. And keen on adding tadka to the flavor, Rohan Sippy, Warner Bandhu and Nikhil Advani bring India’s first transnational film, ‘Chandni Chowk to China.’ Many among you have written to PFC imploring that this important milestone needs to be rigorously analyzed. Bowing to popular demand, we sent a note to Professor...
by Subrat at January 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
4
The fall of the mighty – Nixon, VP Singh and Satyam
As Frank Langella fills up the screen – the camera capturing every single twitch on his face, his upper lip speckled with tiny sweat droplets and his voice turns to a guttural rumble – he almost becomes Nixon. And, for once, you understand the man – his unfulfilled desire for greatness, his need for redemption. Not sympathize, just understand. Nixon’s...
by Subrat at January 11th, 2009 at 12:01 am
14
Whither Patriotism?
Non-state actors. That’s the term that wins the prize for the most innovative use of English for the year 2008 for me. If I were on a film festival jury, they (non-state actors) would have won my vote for the ‘Best Acting Performance (by an ensemble cast)’ by a wide margin. However, I am worried, as well, by their emergence and the possible fallouts....
by Subrat at January 4th, 2009 at 12:01 am
29
Ghajini: Another Question of Answers
This week we had Aamir Khan’s Ghajini hitting the screens across the country. As usual, our readers have a huge number of questions regarding the film. As they say in government organized functions, it is our ‘proud privilege’ to have Professor Armando Trilokesh Minimovich Yadav (Prof. ATM Yadav) among us to answer these questions. Prof ATM Yadav holds...
by Subrat at December 25th, 2008 at 06:12 pm
20
A Tale of Two Families * How our sabhyata is surviving?
This week reaffirmed my faith in the Bharatiya sabhyata and sanksriti (s&s) and I thanked Ravi Chopra and Suraj Barjatya for being such stellar custodians of them. What would the state of our society be without them and their movies? And, of course, the most important question of them all – are we paying adequate respect to them here at PFC? To the last question...
by Subrat at December 19th, 2008 at 05:12 am
107
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: A Question of Answers
There’s a lot that’s not making sense in the world around us. This Friday, YRF, keenly aware of the zeitgeist, slip in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (RNBDJ) on their unsuspecting victims. We, at PFC, have been inundated with questions from readers who have been wanting to understand the various psycho-emotional subtexts in the film. After much persuasion and veiled threats,...
by Subrat at December 12th, 2008 at 08:12 pm
15
The White Tiger, How to make a successful ‘crossover’ film and a personal recommendation
We haven’t spoken much about Arvind Adiga’s ‘The White Tiger’ on PFC pages. Adiga’s debut novel won the Man Booker prize with what critics have termed as its unapologetic expose on the reality of modern India. It’s been variously called dark and humorous in its ability to tell the story of its protagonist who straddles across the class...
by Subrat at November 15th, 2008 at 05:11 am
20
Global Financial Crisis Aur Hindi Film Industry
With a slew of big releases planned for next three months, it almost seems that the Hindi film industry is showing no impact of the financial crisis that has engulfed the world. While the impact of the financial crisis on other sectors in India like Banking, Realty and IT has been covered widely in media, there’s been limited focus on its impact on the entertainment...
by Subrat at October 31st, 2008 at 04:10 am
7
Ghost Ghost Na Raha * Ramsay’s Six Feet Under aka Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche
Call it destiny. The greatest betrayal in my life, ironically, took place at the same location which gave me such joy – the cinema hall. It happened on one afternoon about a decade and half ago when I had gone to watch Ashaant. Ashaant? What do you mean? How can an average Akshay Kumar and Vishnuvardhan movie betray you? As Manoj Kumar in Clerk, his face covered...
by Subrat at October 17th, 2008 at 09:10 am
34
Hello, Review: “Bhagwan Ke Liye Mujhe Chhod Do”
“Hello” “Hello” “Hello” “Entertainment ki sabhi lines abhi vyast hain. Kripya thodi der baad koshish kijiye.” In the continuing series of scoops that we at PFC have been bringing to you, we present an exclusive interview with God himself. Yes, the antaryami is with us. PFC: You have never before granted an interview. So,...
by Subrat at October 10th, 2008 at 01:10 pm
32
Kidnap: A Test Of Character
Unknown to a lot of us, the Department of Comparative Cultures in the Inter-galactic University of Earth Studies based in Alpha Centauri keeps a close eye on the Hindi film industry by periodically sending their brightest students over to Earth. This weekend saw Kuda Vitaran Bojh Dohak – Prithvi (KVBD-P) aka Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Earth (or Wall-E)...
by Subrat at October 3rd, 2008 at 04:10 am
10
Lata @ 80: And Brightly Fades A Legend
In the widening gyre of material desires that threatens to envelope my everyday life, Lata offers me an oasis of serenity. To the Godless in me, she provides spiritual succour. Like she has provided to many millions before me and like she will continue to do for many years hereafter. Artists like Lata come once in a lifetime of a nation; they shape its identity, its aspirations...
by Subrat at September 28th, 2008 at 01:09 am
17
Hulla: Seeking That Elusive Balance
More competent people than me have spoken about the cinematic merits of Hulla and I have little desire to add to the cacophony. However, the response to Hulla only corroborated a trend of polarized opinions that we seem to be engendering especially when it’s about appreciating popular arts and cinema. It’s either unquestioning acceptance or outright rejection....
by Subrat at September 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
18
Yeh sub-prime crisis kya hai, yeh sub-prime crisis?
The last week saw our bai ask us for a loan of a million Indian Rupees. When the better half asked her for a reason, the bai talked to us about the liquidity crisis and how she has lost a significant part of her income kyun ki “bajoo waale ghar ke Tandon saab ka sub-prime crisis ho gaya.” It was early in the morning and I hadn’t yet had my cuppa of filtered...
by Subrat at September 20th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
13
“Aliens Are Deserting Us” * “Pardesi, Pardesi Jaana Nahin”
Considered by many as the foremost authority on mass media and its impact on aliens, Jan Bakuldas Kolesnikov Shukla, has spent the last year analyzing the trends in Indian media. His latest paper “Calvin Was Right: The Surest Sign That Intelligent Life Exists Outside Earth Is That They Have Not Tried To Contact Us” (published by the International Academy of...
by Subrat at September 13th, 2008 at 01:09 am
13
9/11: And How It Changed the Hindi Film “Aatankwaadi”
It’s quite interesting that in the week leading to the seventh anniversary of 9/11, we had three Hindi films releasing on the theme of terrorism, namely, ‘A Wednesday’, ‘Tahaan’ and ‘Hijack’. As Naseer’s “Common Man” ranted passionately on his helplessness, his supposed impotence and his desire to ‘answer’...
by Subrat at September 8th, 2008 at 07:09 am
26
Raah Pe Rahte Hain – Gulzar turns a truck driver’s ditty into a song of life
23 hours in transit! I step out of the airport with visions of my bed floating in front of my eyes. I take the cab and prepare myself for the 55 kms journey home at the crack of the dawn. The cabbie looks at me from the rear view mirror and I give him my address. That one look should have alerted me. No, he didn’t look like an RGV extra. It was the look of a man...
by Subrat at August 29th, 2008 at 03:08 pm
28
Film Stars as CMs! What’s wrong with the South? Or, will Chiranjeevi make a difference in AP elections?
“South has a propensity to elect film stars as their Chief Ministers.” - TV News Anchor, circa May, 1996 “Chiranjeevi is starting a new party; remember, South has a historical tendency to vote in favor of film stars.” - Senior Editor, prominent TV News channel, 2 weeks ago “Yeh film stars ko vote de dete hain. Aise state ka karoge...
by Subrat at August 15th, 2008 at 12:08 am
75
Janata is King? Stupid Majorityism
This is a self-admittedly elitist article. So, spare me comments about it being so. There is too much democracy all around us. The Janata is the Janardhan. The less talented singer wins the reality show; a government that, arguably, abetted crimes against humanity, wins a landslide at the hustings; a brain-dead comedy inspired from ‘Three Men and a Baby’ grosses...
by Subrat at August 8th, 2008 at 10:08 pm