Farouk Gulsara's Blog, page 2

Of honour killings!

Aakrosh (Outrage, Hindi; 2010) Director: Priyadarshan https://sanjaymehta.me/2010/10/16/pri...-
ajay-devgan-tight-and-powerful/

I thought honour killings and caste discrimination were a thing of the past. One would say the story behind the story was topical when this movie was made, when honour killing was a frequent occurrence, especially in northern India and the northwest region of the subcontinent. 

I remember reading about the time when EV Ramasamy visited Malaya back in the 1930s. He reminded the Tamil immigrant workers in Malaya to leave behind all the bad practices that they acquired from India. Caste, gender discrimination, superstition and fatalism should not be brought to their newfound land. He encouraged the Indian ladies to emulate the local ladies, don a sarong and be mobile. 

In the 21st century, we do not see caste playing a significant role in the day-to-day life of Malaysian Indians. On the sly, however, people may identify with the region their ancestors came from and their spoken language. Being in the minority, they lack the clout to influence major decisions in the country on a larger scale. Social media, instead of creating a borderless one world, only helped to subdivide them into small groups that scream to find how people are different from others.

This movie had so much promise when it cast some of the most money-spinning actors at that time, including Ajay Devgn, Vinod Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Paresh Pawar, and Reema Sen. The theme was something very current at the time. There was a flurry of killings of young people along the line of honour killings. 

It tells the tale of two CBI officers who were sent to a small town to investigate the disappearance of three medical students. The town is controlled by the local strongmen, who also work closely with the local policemen. They run it as if it were their own property. Cases are not investigated, and evidence is swept under the carpet to protect the crooks. One of the missing medical students was in love with the chief's daughter. As the boy was from a lower class, the father thought it befitting that he should be killed and the case be squashed.

Unfortunately, this film did not perform well at the box office despite the strong cast and gripping storyline. Probably the audience had seen too much corruption in the system to be awed. The theme of honour killing had already been in the headlines much too much to excite the general public. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The State has its responsibilities too?

Janaki V vs State of Kerala (J.S.K, Malayalam, 2024) Wri tten & Directed: Pravin Narayanan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23458804/I heard about this film even before its release. Thanks to the free publicity generated by its legal entanglements, even those least interested in watching the film found themselves eagerly awaiting its launch. Sometimes, one wondered whether these legal disputes were self-inflicted. With so many films being produced in India nowadays, without such spicy elements, some movies might simply go unnoticed. There are only so many hours in a day!

The main issue the complainants had with the film was its title. It was initially called 'Janaki vs State of Kerala'. In the story, the protagonist, Janaki, is raped. Therefore, naming a rape victim after the revered goddess Sita is disgraceful, according to the plaintiff. Janaki is another name for Sita, Lord Rama's consort and an avatar of Goddess Lakshmi. To make matters worse, the officer who helps her navigate an uncooperative police system and formalities is Muslim. The legal expert who carefully examines the facts to prove her innocence is Christian.

The courts considered their plea and chose to insert a 'V' after Janaki, the character's father's name, Vidhyadharan. That move soothed everyone. So simple.

Every Hindu has a name that may be linked to the 330 million gods in Hinduism. How can a person bestow a name without invoking any of the deities?

An IT professional visits her hometown to attend a religious festival. She is sexually assaulted by an unknown individual and cannot remember the incident because she was possibly drugged. When her father tries to report it to the police, he gets caught in a stampede at the station during a separate protest related to another case involving a Bishop. The evidence is inconsistent, suggesting a possible unseen influence from above. Janaki became pregnant, likely as a result of the interaction.

The film highlights a very relevant point. Law and order services are established in the country to protect its citizens. Citizens, through the democratic process, periodically elect their preferred government to maintain peace and order. When the State fails to provide the promised adequate protection to its people, is the Law responsible for addressing or fixing the consequences of their failure? Just as the State endeavours to defend the voiceless and marginalised when they are wronged.

Towards the latter part of the film, when her case finally reaches court, Janaki is already seven months pregnant. The perpetrator is eventually identified. Through her solicitor, she demands that the State of Kerala absolve her of all mental trauma and public humiliation of being an unwed mother, all due to their incompetence. She requests that her fetus be surgically removed and placed under the care of the State from the neonatal stage until the child reaches 18. The courts agreed, which I thought was quite far-fetched. But that is poetic justice for the masses.

P.S. In my twisted mind, I wonder. Just because the rapist turned out to be a lowly loafer who is a nobody, did Janaki demand the termination of the pregnancy? If he had been the son of a millionaire or someone with deep pockets, would she have decided to keep the baby? Just thinking.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Of Venus and Asuras....

Vidivelli (விடிவெள்ளி, Morning Star, Tamil; 1960) Written, Directed: Sridhar
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431188/Thanks to SK for keeping me informed about this a long time ago. On a clear morning, if we look into the sky, we can see planet Venus. It appears as a bright light that does not flicker, unlike a star, and has a yellowish tint.

In Tamil, Venus is called Velli (வெள்ளி), and sometimes Sukhran (சுக்கிரன்) in Vedic astrology. Sukhran is a deity in the Navagraha system, associated with beauty, wisdom, love, and wealth, and is a guru to the Asuras. Therefore, Friday (Vellikizhamai, வெள்ளிக்கிழமை) is connected to Sukhran and the planet Venus.  
Asuras are not inherently negative characters, as we have come to understand. In the earlier Vedic scriptures, Asuras are depicted as powerful forces comparable to the Devas. Over time, in Hindu writings, they became synonymous with uncontrolled senses and powers. Paradoxically, on the other side of the Sindhu-Saraswati civilisation, among the Zoroastrians, there is a blurred distinction between good and evil. Ahura, as in Mazda Ahura, the primary Deity in the Zoroastrian religion, is an Asura (pronounced Ahura).
Vidivelli translates to 'morning star', i.e., Venus, which is visible before sunrise, poetically representing a positive turning point in life, the light after darkness.

This obscure film escaped the notice of most Tamil cinema enthusiasts. Although Sridhar released many innovative movies addressing compelling social issues, this particular film seems quite uninspired. His major hit as a debut director was 'Kalyana Parisu' in 1959. Most of Sridhar's successes came afterwards - including Nilavu (1961), Nenjil Or Aalayam (1962), Kattallika Neramillai (1964), and Vennira Aadai (1965).
It tells the story of a brother stealing a necklace to give his sister as a dowry. Although he feels guilty about the whole affair, he feels compelled to do it because he believes it is his duty as the elder brother to provide for his younger sister. As fate would have it, the brother secures a job with the very same people he had stolen the necklace from. Neither party realises who they are dealing with.  
The sister is happily married and was showing off her necklace one day when her husband realised that there was a photograph of a young man in its locket. The husband suspects her of infidelity and chases her back to her mother's home. The emotional brother now has to prove his sister's loyalty and admit his own crime. Things get complicated when the brother falls in love with his boss's daughter, from whom he had stolen the necklace, and her father is not too pleased with her choice.
Amongst film circles, this movie received much admiration for its direction, storyline, and stellar cast. The benchmark for the commercial success of any Tamil film is its ability to run in cinemas for over 100 days. 'Vidivelli' achieved this.

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Parenting Tips from a Quintessential Nerd

https://borderlessjournal.com/2025/09/15/parenting-tips-from-a-quintessential-nerd/

The question is, why are we here? What are we doing, and what is expected of us? Is the purpose of our existence merely to continue the propagation of the species? Is there a higher calling to elevate our souls? Can we correct our karmic order to a better footing? Unfortunately, if only we knew where we went wrong last time, we could fix our past mistakes. Sadly, we do not. Is our presence on Earth to raise our species a level higher, whether intellectually or technologically, than a generation before? Is there a greater plan in the pipeline, to consume more and more, heading towards entropy? The less wise among us will be sure of their existence, convinced that this is a testing ground for more magnificent things to come.

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Just another day...

Ek Din Pratidin (Bengali, A Day Like Any Other; 1979)
Written & Directed: Mrinal Sen

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079098/Most reviews will say that Mrinal Sen was among the first to address the topic of a working woman. It is not solely about empowerment but also connected to many societal expectations. Much is expected from a working woman that is not demanded from a working son. Nobody worries if the son comes home late or does not return home. A woman who returns late into the night is automatically assumed to be involved in something sinful. No evidence is needed; the evil eyes immediately take it to be so.

This film accurately depicts all the challenges a close-knit middle-class family faces when their working daughter, who is incidentally the sole breadwinner, fails to return home until late at night. Residing in a rented estate where interactions between neighbours are inevitable, the situation can become more distressing when well-meaning comments appear harsh, inadvertently adding to the tension and confusion.
Kollywood films often focused on this issue, albeit in a more dramatic manner, as they were produced for mainstream Tamil cinema rather than more artistic ones like this. Off the top of my head, I recall Arangetram (1973), where a lady is praised highly when she contributes financially, but is discarded quickly after discovering the nature of her work. Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, released in 1974, also addressed the same situation, where all the family burdens fall on the working daughter, while the brother lounges around. Still, the mother tolerates the useless son.

Ek Din Pratidin provides an hour-by-hour account of what the family experiences when a working daughter fails to return home at the usual time. Initially, the family assumes she is working late, but when a call to the office goes unanswered, anxiety begins to grow. This was a time when even having a landline phone was a luxury, so forget about mobile phones. Father waits at the bus station to discover she was not on the last bus either. Meanwhile, neighbours offer support, but some of their remarks only make things worse. The brother reports the matter to the police and also checks the hospitals. There was a minor scare when someone matching the daughter's description was found seriously injured, but it turned out to be someone else.
The real reason why she is missed so dearly gradually becomes apparent. The family discusses the rent payments, the education of the younger children, and how they rely on the daughter's income. Meanwhile, the unemployed son just runs around but isn't really contributing much to the family's daily expenses.

The missing daughter finally arrives unceremoniously. Nobody questions why she was late. The daughter is surprised that everyone is waiting up for her. Meanwhile, the landlord insists that the family vacate their room. The colony is for decent people. The whole fuss about the missing daughter suggests she is somehow wild and sinful.

 

The film won the 1979 National Awards. In an interview, the director, Mrinal Sen, was asked why the reason for the protagonist's absence was not revealed till the end. He replied that his film was to highlight the insecurity of middle-class life and the claustrophobia of middle-class morality. The reason for her absence is irrelevant. Not all working women are financially independent. The burden of family responsibility is placed upon them, and she is caught in an emotional trap. 

At the end of the film, a new day begins, yet for the mother of the previous generation, it is merely another day spent doing the same chores: cleaning and cooking. Nothing truly changes. Despite the modern world around her and the liberties the new era offers to younger women, she, like many others, remains caught in the monotony of another ordinary day.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Same Script, Different Backdrop!

The Ugly American (1963) Director: George Englund
https://www.excaliburauctions.com/auc...---
the-ugly-american-1963---uk-quad-film-poster/?lot=41051&sd=1 This film was regarded as Marlon Brando's favourite, but unfortunately, it was made when Brando's movies did not sell well, as they failed to engage the American audience. The ending of this film reveals everything; this was how the American public saw it: too preachy. As the American Ambassador delivered a long, verbose speech on TV, viewers simply switched off the TV halfway through his speech.
The message behind the story was genuine, but those in power were not willing to admit that foreign policies were the leading cause of most international conflicts. At a time when Hollywood was producing films that praised America as the saviour of the free world, this was a new perspective. When John Wayne's westerns justified the invasion of Native American lands and the killing of Native Americans, this was different. During World War II, it was necessary to portray the Axis Powers as the axis of evil; however, in the Vietnam War and the resulting unnecessary casualties, the public began to question. Why interfere in fixing a political situation in a country that does not want help? Was the desire to save the world from communist ideology so intense that it justified the collateral damage?
Thai ScriptThe story recounts a fictitious nation called Sarkhan experiencing civil unrest. The citizens are dissatisfied with their Prime Minister and hope to bring about change. The northern part of Sarkhan (North Sarkhan) has adopted communist ideology, strongly supported by China and the Soviet Union. This references the Vietnam situation. The Americans, along with the ruling government, are constructing a new highway. The people believe it will not benefit them and openly voice their resentment. There have been a few explosions and killings. The American ambassador (played by Marlon Brando) is determined to continue, as it serves their interests in keeping the communist North in check. All these details mirror what was happening in Vietnam.
Vietnamese - New ScriptFor the keen-eyed, it is evident from afar that the shooting took place in Thailand. The protestors' placards all display Thai script. As is well known, Thai script is quite distinct from Cambodian or Vietnamese. The Thai and Cambodian scripts both evolved from the ancient Khmer script, itself derived from the Pallava script of South India, which is rooted in the Brahmi script. Historically, the Vietnamese used Chữ Nôm with Chinese characters. Still, later Chữ Quốc ngữ, a Latin-based script introduced by Portuguese missionaries, became the standard for both public and private communication.  
Vietnamese - Old Script60 years later, in 2025, the world remains burdened by the interference of major powers in the local affairs of smaller nations. In the post-WWII era, the Cold War was a significant factor. The self-appointed leader of the free world, the USA, had to ensure that the communist influence was reined in. Now, geopolitics and the need to provide the uninterrupted availability of supplies of power, minerals and trade are the main reasons. Come to think of it, it was the same when the European East India Companies first set sail to the spice islands. One went the wrong way and insisted it had reached India and started calling the Natives of the New World Indians!
P.S. Surprise, surprise. There seems to be a subtle link between the people leading the Gen-Z revolution in Nepal, Hami Nepal, and the US-funded NGOs.  

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Time to unwind?

The Naked Gun (2025)
Director: Akiva Schaffer

https://thatnerdshow.com/the-naked-gu...-
review-by-marcus-blake/Sometimes you need to break away from it all and immerse yourself in something away from what is expected of you. All the decorum, needing to behave in a particular manner and displaying an appropriate demeanour, can be quite tiring. This is the time we indulge in something stupid, something like slapstick or farce comedy.

One particular comedy in this genre that I enjoy is the ones made by Mel Brooks. 'History of the World Part 1' was not literary stuff. The moviemakers never had the students of history in mind for them to learn history. It was just a salad bowl of overlapping worlds, without considering anachronisms. Alexander of Macedonia appeared in the same timeline as Julius Caesar. 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082517/For so long, I thought that Alexander's horse's name was Miracle. I vividly remember the scene when some thieves, escaping from the Roman court and harem, get cornered. When they realised that their goose was cooked, one of them uttered, "Now only a miracle can save you!" Sure enough, a majestic white horse materialised out of thin air, ready to take them away. That was supposed to be Alexander's horse. History tells us that Bucephalus, Alexander's horse, was probably black, with indentations on the head like an ox.
Another memorable scene was when the thieves were hiding amongst the eunuchs. The king's men had an idea to weed them out. He summoned an exotic dancer to strut her stuff before he uttered his iconic line, "If all goes well, nothing should arise!" Sure enough, the thieves failed the test.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095705/
The 'Naked Gun' franchise has churned out three feature films, a TV series (Police Squad!) and even a computer game. Leslie Neilson used to appear as a spaced-out cop, despite being aloof of everything around him and causing destruction, he still ends up solving cases and gaining praises from everyone.

Neilson, who started his career as a serious actor, found his soft spot in the role of Frank Drebin, a clumsy police detective in the TV series in 1982 and on the big screen from 1988 to 1994. Neilson died in his sleep in 2010, aged 84.
The fourth instalment of the Naked Gun had been in the pipeline for quite a while. After much delay, it is finally out with, of all people, Liam Neeson, who is known for his characters as a no-nonsense scorned father whose daughter was kidnapped (in the 'Taken' series). This swashbuckling actually did a good job at deadpan comedy. His 'partner-in-crime' and love interest is 'Baywatch' babe Pamela Anderson, who proved that she is more than a red swimsuit donning lifesaver, running in slow motion against sunset coloured beach. The chemistry between the two is palpable. Liam is Leslie's son and is continuing his father's job of busting criminals.
A good vent. 7.5/10.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Watch your back!

The Little Thing (2021)
Written and Directed by: John Lee Hancock https://play.google.com/store/movies/...
The_Little_Things?id=2GatvdJUxY8.P&hl=en_AU
When we watch police dramas, the cases nearly always get solved, the perpetrator is caught red-handed, or they make a full confession. In reality, however, not all crimes are solved. Sometimes, the police believe they have enough evidence to prosecute the accused in court. Other times, cases go cold, or the accused will fight fiercely to clear their name. Occasionally, the accused die in custody due to the methods used to extract information from them. 
This is when things become complicated. The police will see it as the cost of doing business, the business of keeping the city free from crime. However, the public will not view it favourably. They will talk about police brutality, police ombudsmen, and suspensions. The party involved will feel vindicated, believing they were simply doing their job. That is when matters get complicated. Instead of diligently performing their duties, they have to cover their own backs and those of others as well. Everyone is seeking a scapegoat to absolve themselves of their own wrongdoings.
In this film, a seasoned police officer (Joe Deacon) becomes involved in an ongoing investigation into a series of highway murders of young women. Joe has a poor reputation around the county for accidentally shooting an innocent member of the public during an ambush. For that, he paid a steep price, remaining as a deputy sheriff in a small town. The coroner and his superior covered up his mistake. So when Sgt Baxter asks for his help, he agrees. The case leads them to a peculiar individual who might be linked to the murders. Unfortunately, they just cannot pin him down.
The main part of the story occurs towards the end when, during a game of mind, Baxter accidentally swings a shovel and kills the suspect. The problem is that there is no solid evidence linking him to the crimes. That is when Joe decides to bury the whole story.
The message in the story presents a philosophical dilemma. Should a person be punished for taking his job too seriously? If his work defines who he is, and he believes he should dedicate his life and soul to his vocation because it is his dharma, is it fair for him to be punished for being overly zealous? On the other hand, with great power comes great responsibility. In a world that demands transparency and where every move is scrutinised, one must be cautious. Deal with it.

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Merdeka!

https://www.facebook.com/bikebaju.off...Melburnians often claim they can experience all four seasons in a single day. It might start out sunny in the morning, then suddenly turn windy, cold, or rainy, with hail sometimes following soon after. Melbourne's temperate oceanic climate and its location, where hot and cold weather systems quickly interact, cause this phenomenon.

Well, we, weekend cyclists, experienced the same phenomenon during our small weekend ride. The temperature remained consistently above 25 °C, but we did endure the various climates one would encounter here in Malaysia. We are referring to the BB Merdeka Ride organised by a sports garments company in connection with Malaysia's 68th Independence Day celebration. Yes, we are 68 years old, but we are still struggling to find our way in the right direction. Rather than moving forward, we seem to be walking in reverse!
A ballpark estimate of 1,000 participants took part in this event. Participants could choose between a 50km or 100km fun ride; there was no pressure, no timing chip, but a 5-hour time limit. As it was Merdeka (Malaysia's Independence Day), the event started to the tune of Negara-Ku, at the Selangor Fruit Valley, a tourist attraction located near Rawang. We all regrouped at the Sekinchan Coconut Farm before returning to the starting point, covering 94km and passing through Bestari Jaya. Batang Berjuntai is the former name of Bestari Jaya. The name change, when translated, means 'a dangling trunk'. In 2007, the authorities believed a name change was necessary to avoid the graphic sexual connotations it might imply. 
Pitstop @ SekinchanThe different climates we experienced were like this. At 7 am, when we started, it was a little still and humid. It was about 25 °C. As riders began riding on the comparable flat terrain, the crosswinds provided a pleasant, cool sensation. The Sun decided to get up late that day. It was aware that many Malaysians would be out celebrating outdoor Merdeka festivities. From a humid environment, it became windy. The joyful ride, overseen by police and marshals, was smooth. We passed through scenic padi fields, serene rivers, and fresh morning air. The halfway point was at Sekinchan. A few stalls were set up selling light refreshments. The organisers arranged to provide drinks and bananas.
By 9.30 am, it was time to head back. The Sun slowly began to rise. It was mild, though. The ride home was more challenging, as everyone had clearly expended their energy. Most lacked the strength to keep up with pelotons that overtook them. Cramps started to appear. The sweeper vehicles were just waiting to pick up cyclists who threw in the towel, but many politely declined.
Back at the finishing point, all that was left were smiles, laughter, and congratulatory messages. Some lucky ones went home with goodies after winning at the Lucky Draw.

A weekend well spent.

 

(P.S. Why is it that every time the national anthem is played, my insides grow mellow, and my mind becomes all nostalgic with a hint of melancholia? Is that patriotism?)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Partners in Crime?

The Honeymoon Killers (1969) Director: Leonard Kastle
https://www.criterion.com/films/582-t...?
srsltid=AfmBOooBrXMILjkfWbYvLAPPpo9ZQUaj
ZxWi0VU1etpA94OFZeon-9jN

This film was originally intended to be directed by Martin Scorsese, but he was dismissed early in production. Another director, Donald Volkmann, was suddenly replaced after just two weeks of filming. Kastle, who wrote and developed the script, then took over as director. This obscure production is often praised for its realistic documentary-style filming and has gained cult status.

 

The story is based on a true crime from the late 1940s, famously known as the 'Lonely Heart Killers'. It focuses on Martha Beck, an overweight nursing sister who is also a single mother of two children (not shown in the film), each with a different father. Her friend recommends her to the local Lonely Hearts Club, where she meets a smooth-talking con man, Ray Fernandez.

 

Although Martha is a nurse, she seems to be emotionally quite immature. Ray, who is simply a con artist, was already married with children and expertly manipulates Martha. In the name of true love, he persuades her to pretend to be his sister while he continues his day job of deceiving lonely women for their money and jewellery under the guise of marriage. Martha becomes his accomplice and actively plans their robberies, which also involve murder.

 

It is believed they were responsible for up to 20 murders between 1947 and 1949, but three cases received significant news coverage. In the final murder, a neighbour reported disturbances at the house. However, in the film, it is implied that Martha herself called the police.

The couple was imprisoned at Sing Sing prison and executed by electrocution.

An intriguing black-and-white film set in a period when filmmakers did not rely on gore or Technicolour to emphasise horror.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.