Annie Zaidi's Blog, page 47
December 8, 2011
Love me tender?
There is a question I have been wanting to ask for a long time now, particularly of my filmmaker friends: Can you name ten tender love scenes from Hindi films made in the last five years?
Can you? Because I can't. I can't even think of even five. Of course, people's interpretation and judgment might differ, but when I say tender love scenes, the emphasis is not on love scenes. The emphasis is on
Can you? Because I can't. I can't even think of even five. Of course, people's interpretation and judgment might differ, but when I say tender love scenes, the emphasis is not on love scenes. The emphasis is on
November 30, 2011
Little green aliens
The crazy Mexican invader Krishen refers to was a plant that was deliberately brought to our desert (tossed out from an airplane, apparently). Perhaps, it was done with good intent. Some researchers and/or administrators may have thought: "Hey, some greenery is better than none. Why don't we bring in this super-tough Mexican shrub?"
And so they did. This new invasive plant took root, sure, but
And so they did. This new invasive plant took root, sure, but
November 29, 2011
aka Mera pyaara sukumar gadha
The next time we met, he talked about history. About long swathes of grass. About what it might be to look at the sky without tilting your neck backwards and how it might be if clear pools of liquid existed at the venue of our thirst, so we didn't have to push our tired bodies to the faraway ponds. He talked about taps and knowledge and fences. It is hard not to love one who talks like this.
November 23, 2011
What we get, we praise (sort of)
Thanks to Rockstar, I've been reminded of the one artistic element no artist can hope to control: the audience.
I was having conversation with a friend who didn't like the film. At all. He said I must have been in a sappy mood to have liked it. I pointed out that I'm always in a sappy mood. He insisted the film was not about love in any real sense - that the lead character was irresponsible,
I was having conversation with a friend who didn't like the film. At all. He said I must have been in a sappy mood to have liked it. I pointed out that I'm always in a sappy mood. He insisted the film was not about love in any real sense - that the lead character was irresponsible,
November 20, 2011
The killing of Valsa
The sequence of events seems hazy at this point. About fifty armed men showed up in the village. Some reports say she was killed in her sleep. Others say that some old women tried to protect her by hiding her under mattresses, but all houses were searched and after Valsa was found, she was either shot dead, or hacked to death (depending on which newspaper you read).
She was in Bachuwari,
She was in Bachuwari,
November 19, 2011
A man's worth: dowry redux
'So what are you worth?' I asked.
'Rs 50 lakhs,' he wrote back.
I tut-tutted: What was Rs 50 lakhs these days? Too late to 'improve' himself, he moaned, but he'd make sure his unborn sons grew up to deserve more respectable dowries.
It was all a joke, of course. The 'dowry calculator' was doing the rounds on Facebook and I urged a friend, a business journalist, to get himself 'valued' for
'Rs 50 lakhs,' he wrote back.
I tut-tutted: What was Rs 50 lakhs these days? Too late to 'improve' himself, he moaned, but he'd make sure his unborn sons grew up to deserve more respectable dowries.
It was all a joke, of course. The 'dowry calculator' was doing the rounds on Facebook and I urged a friend, a business journalist, to get himself 'valued' for
November 17, 2011
Paying for marriage, and how!
I find it hard to understand dowry in this great city where millions shove, spit and battle loneliness. That fellow whistling in the air as he rides the footboard on a train, scrutinising a girl in the next coach—is he wondering if her dad will pay for a Honda? Probably. How else do we explain dowry?
Over the past year or so, I've been forced to think a lot about dowry. Much has been happening.
Over the past year or so, I've been forced to think a lot about dowry. Much has been happening.
November 13, 2011
Promises, promises
Your MP (member of parliament) is not responsible for water, sanitation or gardens. S/he can spend Rs3.35 crore on your constituency every year. But it is not her/his job to ensure that sewage isn't leaking into drinking water.
Parliament's basic job is national policy. This may translate into roads and drains, yes. For instance, new laws can force urban residents to start composting or
Parliament's basic job is national policy. This may translate into roads and drains, yes. For instance, new laws can force urban residents to start composting or
November 9, 2011
Keenan&Reuben&Manu&Babla &, &, ?
In Howrah, Manu Ram and Babla Bera were stabbed for trying to protect a 14-year-old schoolgirl. To borrow the words from an oddly-named NGO website, 'eve teasing is an inseparable part of every girl's life causing much avoidable mental agony to her. This in turn adversely affects her family and her friends' (sic).
It not only affects family and friends, it also leads to tragicomic situations
It not only affects family and friends, it also leads to tragicomic situations
November 6, 2011
Accepted murder, proscribed fun
... this collection was written to address a specific aspect of young women's lives – the 'goodness' factor, with specific reference to south Asia. A story like Sujata does not qualify. Sujata might frighten us, but her morals/virtue are not being questioned (except by Kulin and he's such a sadist that his accusations are easily overlooked). That's the funny thing about our culture. It accepts,
