Naina Gupta's Blog, page 3
February 16, 2012
Indian Soaps Annoy Me
I know what you're thinking.
Well actually I don't ... however as part of writing the book, I made myself watch a number of Indian soaps. Yes I have made fun of them over the years, but this time I really needed to watch them in order to make my soap in my story as (and I use this word loosely) 'realistic' as possible.
When I was ill earlier this year, I watched them to (loosely using the word again) 'entertain' myself. I have some real bug bears about them. I shall burden you all with my annoyances. I actually wrote this when I was ill and cut off from the outside world (internet included), so some of the storylines are rather dated. So now I present to you.
The Things that Irritate me the most about Indian serials...
Smothering mothers. Mothers who think they always know what's best – sometimes at the expense of their families. When their offspring (I won't use the word children here, because some of these people are in their twenties and thirties) disagree with their parents they sulk until they get their way. If their children would have thrown a tantrum like that, then these parents probably would have given them a slap and told them to grow up, and that is what these smothering mothers need.
Another example. A woman reluctantly allowed her daughter to go to a friend's birthday party. While the girl was at the party, her mother followed her to the house, and waited outside in the car with her husband's brother (her husband was actually ok with letting the daughter go). She saw the flashing disco lights from outside, and the fact that someone was delivering alcohol. She went into the house, stopped the party and yelled at everyone for not having a wholesome time for this girl's birthday. She yelled at her daughter for dishonouring herself. In fact, the daughter had actually spent most of the time in the corner feeling akward, but so what if she wanted to dance and enjoy herself? It's that kind of parenting that leads to extreme rebellion. In my opinion, that smothering mother should have just trusted in her job as a parent that her daughter would have done the right thing and not drink if she didn't want to (she didn't by the way). But the idea that she had burst into someone's birthday, gave a lecture and dragged her daughter out of the house was just plain wrong.
That leads me on to the blatant sexism. There was a woman who was having a problem with her pregnancy that may have require a caesarean section, which is scary enough. Her mother-in-law refused to allow an operation, and her reason was that the pregnant daughter-in-law will not enjoy being a mother as much if she doesn't go through the pain. That is bad enough, but as soon as her son, the father of the child, wants to put in his two cents on the matter, he is told by his mother and his aunt that these are 'women's matters' and because of that he is not allowed to have an input in the decision making process. Those lines just made me so bad. It's his child too, why is he not allowed to have an opinion?
This was just one example. Another time a woman was upset about what was going on with her son, and her husband was trying to comfort her. She told him that he wouldn't understand loving a child because he is not a mother. It is such an old fashioned portrayal of family life, that a father is just an idiot and wouldn't understand any emotion because he never carried a child. He is a human being, and therefore has the ability to sympathise and empathise.
Slow episodes. The dialogue is so long and drawn out that it just gets annoying. There was tension in one family and so everyone said quips to each other and then there are periods of staring at each other and suspenseful music. I watch the whole thing and, at the end of the half hour episode realise that the entire episode revolved around the family eating lunch. Zero progress.
Over-dressing. It is not unknown that the people in these shows dress like they are dressed for a wedding just to walk around the house. Maybe the producers are trying to make everything more glamorous, but when the women go to sleep in a sari, all their jewellery and a full face of make-up ... it is just wrong and uncomfortable. I can't even walk up and down stairs in my Indian clothes without worrying about my outfit coming apart, how do they sleep for eight hours?
Sexual tension. Yes that exists. From watching Western programmes, even the most prude individual can have the attitude of 'why can't those characters just find a room and get it over and done with?' There was a period of time with a guy and a girl who wanted to be with each other but wouldn't admit it out loud because he was with someone else. Entire episodes revolved around putting them in some situation where they would have to have some kind of physical contact and then they would stare at each other for about 10 minutes. For example, she was hanging something up, slipped on the footstool and fell on top of him. Finally at some point they almost got together: he walked towards her and she was staring at him as she backed up towards the wall. He touched her face and slowly they were moving closer to each other and were about to kiss. Then her phone rang. How clichéd! They ended up realising they were being stupid and stopped. Since then, his live-in girlfriend (who lived in a separate floor of the house he shared with his family) has broken up with him after realising he doesn't love her. This was the woman he proposed to, just to make the other girl jealous. People want them to get together? I just got fed up with their story. The guy is an idiot.
Those are my bug bears for this post. I am sure there are more, but this post is giving me a headache.
Those of you who made it to the end of the post without wanting to punch the computer screen ... congratulations. Have a cookie =D
Well actually I don't ... however as part of writing the book, I made myself watch a number of Indian soaps. Yes I have made fun of them over the years, but this time I really needed to watch them in order to make my soap in my story as (and I use this word loosely) 'realistic' as possible.
When I was ill earlier this year, I watched them to (loosely using the word again) 'entertain' myself. I have some real bug bears about them. I shall burden you all with my annoyances. I actually wrote this when I was ill and cut off from the outside world (internet included), so some of the storylines are rather dated. So now I present to you.
The Things that Irritate me the most about Indian serials...
Smothering mothers. Mothers who think they always know what's best – sometimes at the expense of their families. When their offspring (I won't use the word children here, because some of these people are in their twenties and thirties) disagree with their parents they sulk until they get their way. If their children would have thrown a tantrum like that, then these parents probably would have given them a slap and told them to grow up, and that is what these smothering mothers need.
Another example. A woman reluctantly allowed her daughter to go to a friend's birthday party. While the girl was at the party, her mother followed her to the house, and waited outside in the car with her husband's brother (her husband was actually ok with letting the daughter go). She saw the flashing disco lights from outside, and the fact that someone was delivering alcohol. She went into the house, stopped the party and yelled at everyone for not having a wholesome time for this girl's birthday. She yelled at her daughter for dishonouring herself. In fact, the daughter had actually spent most of the time in the corner feeling akward, but so what if she wanted to dance and enjoy herself? It's that kind of parenting that leads to extreme rebellion. In my opinion, that smothering mother should have just trusted in her job as a parent that her daughter would have done the right thing and not drink if she didn't want to (she didn't by the way). But the idea that she had burst into someone's birthday, gave a lecture and dragged her daughter out of the house was just plain wrong.
That leads me on to the blatant sexism. There was a woman who was having a problem with her pregnancy that may have require a caesarean section, which is scary enough. Her mother-in-law refused to allow an operation, and her reason was that the pregnant daughter-in-law will not enjoy being a mother as much if she doesn't go through the pain. That is bad enough, but as soon as her son, the father of the child, wants to put in his two cents on the matter, he is told by his mother and his aunt that these are 'women's matters' and because of that he is not allowed to have an input in the decision making process. Those lines just made me so bad. It's his child too, why is he not allowed to have an opinion?
This was just one example. Another time a woman was upset about what was going on with her son, and her husband was trying to comfort her. She told him that he wouldn't understand loving a child because he is not a mother. It is such an old fashioned portrayal of family life, that a father is just an idiot and wouldn't understand any emotion because he never carried a child. He is a human being, and therefore has the ability to sympathise and empathise.
Slow episodes. The dialogue is so long and drawn out that it just gets annoying. There was tension in one family and so everyone said quips to each other and then there are periods of staring at each other and suspenseful music. I watch the whole thing and, at the end of the half hour episode realise that the entire episode revolved around the family eating lunch. Zero progress.
Over-dressing. It is not unknown that the people in these shows dress like they are dressed for a wedding just to walk around the house. Maybe the producers are trying to make everything more glamorous, but when the women go to sleep in a sari, all their jewellery and a full face of make-up ... it is just wrong and uncomfortable. I can't even walk up and down stairs in my Indian clothes without worrying about my outfit coming apart, how do they sleep for eight hours?
Sexual tension. Yes that exists. From watching Western programmes, even the most prude individual can have the attitude of 'why can't those characters just find a room and get it over and done with?' There was a period of time with a guy and a girl who wanted to be with each other but wouldn't admit it out loud because he was with someone else. Entire episodes revolved around putting them in some situation where they would have to have some kind of physical contact and then they would stare at each other for about 10 minutes. For example, she was hanging something up, slipped on the footstool and fell on top of him. Finally at some point they almost got together: he walked towards her and she was staring at him as she backed up towards the wall. He touched her face and slowly they were moving closer to each other and were about to kiss. Then her phone rang. How clichéd! They ended up realising they were being stupid and stopped. Since then, his live-in girlfriend (who lived in a separate floor of the house he shared with his family) has broken up with him after realising he doesn't love her. This was the woman he proposed to, just to make the other girl jealous. People want them to get together? I just got fed up with their story. The guy is an idiot.
Those are my bug bears for this post. I am sure there are more, but this post is giving me a headache.
Those of you who made it to the end of the post without wanting to punch the computer screen ... congratulations. Have a cookie =D
February 11, 2012
The London Underground from a Shorter Perspective
I have recently had to re-acquaint myself with the morning rush-hour over the past two weeks. I would firstly like to point out that I love London transport. While we do have our problems (do the words we are waiting around on this platform 'to regulate the service' sound familiar?) you could walk around anywhere in London and never get lost because there is always a station somewhere.
However when you stand at a pretty unimpressive 5ft tall, the following can happen when you are on a very crowded train/station ...
Never being able to see the board that tells you when the train is coming, and therefore having to ask a tall person nearby what it saysBeing knocked over by people wearing over-stuffed rucksacks when they get on the train Never being able to reach the overhead bars when you don't have a place to sit - the alternatives are tip-toeing or over-stretching your armsYour face being at exact arm-pit level of taller commuters who are able to hold on to the aforementioned bars (extra bad during summer-time)The top half of your body being pushed further into the carriage so your feet are in a completely different location to the rest of youAll of this is true, and none of this is exaggerated readers :'(
How about you. If any of you are short, do you encounter any other similar problems?
And for the rest of you ... what are your transportation annoyances?
However when you stand at a pretty unimpressive 5ft tall, the following can happen when you are on a very crowded train/station ...
Never being able to see the board that tells you when the train is coming, and therefore having to ask a tall person nearby what it saysBeing knocked over by people wearing over-stuffed rucksacks when they get on the train Never being able to reach the overhead bars when you don't have a place to sit - the alternatives are tip-toeing or over-stretching your armsYour face being at exact arm-pit level of taller commuters who are able to hold on to the aforementioned bars (extra bad during summer-time)The top half of your body being pushed further into the carriage so your feet are in a completely different location to the rest of youAll of this is true, and none of this is exaggerated readers :'(
How about you. If any of you are short, do you encounter any other similar problems?
And for the rest of you ... what are your transportation annoyances?
February 9, 2012
A Lovely Surprise
This morning I checked my email, checked my blog and found this wonderful suprise waiting for me...
A Great Review from Meredith at her Blog 'Fairy Tales and Cappuccino'
The lovely Meredith has been spotlighting blogger friends and their books and this week she chose me - yay! And thanks to that review I have a few extra followers of my blog.
So I would like to publicly thank you very much Meredith for your review of my book! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
A Great Review from Meredith at her Blog 'Fairy Tales and Cappuccino'
The lovely Meredith has been spotlighting blogger friends and their books and this week she chose me - yay! And thanks to that review I have a few extra followers of my blog.
So I would like to publicly thank you very much Meredith for your review of my book! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
January 26, 2012
Interviews and Reviews
Today I provide you with two links...
Here is my interview at Novelkicks, talking about my book and the writing process.
And here is a great review of The Bollywood Breakup Agency at the Bookworm's Lair. Check out their blog, The Bookworm is a newbie to the blogging world and got into contact with me just to tell me they liked the book, so I am putting up a link so that you all can pay them a visit.
I'm doing my best to catch up on all your blogs now. This may take a while.
Here is my interview at Novelkicks, talking about my book and the writing process.
And here is a great review of The Bollywood Breakup Agency at the Bookworm's Lair. Check out their blog, The Bookworm is a newbie to the blogging world and got into contact with me just to tell me they liked the book, so I am putting up a link so that you all can pay them a visit.
I'm doing my best to catch up on all your blogs now. This may take a while.
January 19, 2012
Cut off from the World
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN ON 10/1/12
What do you get if you cross the flu, a broken phone, and bad Internet?
Cabin fever, that's what!
I have had the flu since before Christmas so I can't go out. I have had to use a phone which doesn't connect to the Internet, and I have a bad network so I can't even connect to the Internet, and I can't even blog. I am currently writing this on the 10th of January, on my umpteenth day off work, and without proper Internet for about a week.
So how have I coped in this Internet and technological age you ask? I have read a lot; with the Christmas money that I received I got one of my brothers to go out and buy me a kindle and (God bless unlimited 3G) I downloaded a lot of free books, mostly the classics, so my quest to become a much more well read person is on its way. I am 51% through Dorian Gray at the moment. I found that I have read a lot more quickly than when I take out those tattered old books from the library. This is coming from the person who checks through every copy of the same book in the bookstore and tries to find the one with the least amount of creases and dog ears.
When my eyes stopped burning and my muscles stopped aching, I played a lot of Nintendo Wii. I am no better at it now than when I started. Although I have unlocked a lot more exercises on the wiifit.
I tried to do some writing as well, but unfortunately when you are doped up on flu medication (some of which made me drowsy for up to three days at a time) it makes it very, very difficult to think straight and be creative in any way.
And on a really trivial note – I couldn't even enjoy the smelly bath stuff that everyone gave me for Christmas because of my bunged up, really red nose.
It's funny how we writers are so reliant on the Internet. Well I am – it is my only way to communicate with other writers. You have no idea how much I wanted to talk to you, and just read all of your blog posts and see how you were doing and just empathise with you all but I just haven't been able to. I have missed talking to all of you so much. I have just about sent an email here and there, but all I have wanted to do since being stuck at home for two weeks is blog and talk to you guys. *sigh*
UPDATE 19/1/12: I'M ALL BETTER NOW!!!
So tell me guys, how do you cope when technology goes wrong?
What do you get if you cross the flu, a broken phone, and bad Internet?
Cabin fever, that's what!
I have had the flu since before Christmas so I can't go out. I have had to use a phone which doesn't connect to the Internet, and I have a bad network so I can't even connect to the Internet, and I can't even blog. I am currently writing this on the 10th of January, on my umpteenth day off work, and without proper Internet for about a week.
So how have I coped in this Internet and technological age you ask? I have read a lot; with the Christmas money that I received I got one of my brothers to go out and buy me a kindle and (God bless unlimited 3G) I downloaded a lot of free books, mostly the classics, so my quest to become a much more well read person is on its way. I am 51% through Dorian Gray at the moment. I found that I have read a lot more quickly than when I take out those tattered old books from the library. This is coming from the person who checks through every copy of the same book in the bookstore and tries to find the one with the least amount of creases and dog ears.
When my eyes stopped burning and my muscles stopped aching, I played a lot of Nintendo Wii. I am no better at it now than when I started. Although I have unlocked a lot more exercises on the wiifit.
I tried to do some writing as well, but unfortunately when you are doped up on flu medication (some of which made me drowsy for up to three days at a time) it makes it very, very difficult to think straight and be creative in any way.
And on a really trivial note – I couldn't even enjoy the smelly bath stuff that everyone gave me for Christmas because of my bunged up, really red nose.
It's funny how we writers are so reliant on the Internet. Well I am – it is my only way to communicate with other writers. You have no idea how much I wanted to talk to you, and just read all of your blog posts and see how you were doing and just empathise with you all but I just haven't been able to. I have missed talking to all of you so much. I have just about sent an email here and there, but all I have wanted to do since being stuck at home for two weeks is blog and talk to you guys. *sigh*
UPDATE 19/1/12: I'M ALL BETTER NOW!!!
So tell me guys, how do you cope when technology goes wrong?
December 24, 2011
Festive Photos
Well readers I promised you a picture post, so here I am. Photos of Christmas around London.
A decorated window of Selfridges in Oxford Street and one of the Christmas trees by the entrance
The Oxford Street Christmas lights and some of Regent Street too.
Some of the decorations inside the Disney Store
Selfridges lit up beautiful and purple
A Christmas tree in Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly
And some of their in-store decorations and window displays with the 'Showtime'Theme.
And with that I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
A decorated window of Selfridges in Oxford Street and one of the Christmas trees by the entrance
The Oxford Street Christmas lights and some of Regent Street too.
Some of the decorations inside the Disney Store
Selfridges lit up beautiful and purple
A Christmas tree in Fortnum and Mason, PiccadillyAnd some of their in-store decorations and window displays with the 'Showtime'Theme.
And with that I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
December 21, 2011
Book Review!
Curse my temperamental internet that never allows me to post when I really want to. I have had this problem for the past two weeks, and I only have a small window of opportunity that lets me blog, so here is a short one.
Here is a great review of the Bollywood Breakup Agency by the lovely people at Trashionista
After the first review, it was nice to read some positive thoughts on the book.
And in other news, my next post before Christmas will be a picture post :D
See you on the other side.
Here is a great review of the Bollywood Breakup Agency by the lovely people at Trashionista
After the first review, it was nice to read some positive thoughts on the book.
And in other news, my next post before Christmas will be a picture post :D
See you on the other side.
December 9, 2011
Good Week, Bad Week
Hello all,
It's been a mixed week in terms of the book.
Good Week:
Here's me being interviewed at Trashionista
Bad Week:
And here is a very bad review (with spoilers) at Chicklitplus
It's been a mixed week in terms of the book.
Good Week:
Here's me being interviewed at Trashionista
Bad Week:
And here is a very bad review (with spoilers) at Chicklitplus
December 1, 2011
Happy December
I thought I would do a different post today, something that has nothing to do with the book for a change, as I have been doing a lot of that lately.
Things I am looking forward to ...
Ice Skating Winter WonderlandChristmas lightsChristmas CarolsSnow (providing I don't have to travel anywhere)
What I am not looking forward to ...
December just reminds me of when I used to work in retail, and as soon as the first of the month hit us, all we would hear was Christmas music. I am no Scrooge, I like this time of year, but there is only so many times I can hear the same songs over and over again, and I only used to work part time.
Not only that, every year we are bombarded with adverts for CDs that contain the same songs, and every year they tell us it is the 'only Christmas album you'll ever need'. So why oh why do they sell that same CD every year with the same songs on it? Surely the people who would have wanted to buy the music would have bought the music by now.
So tell me ... What are you and aren't you looking forward to this December?
Things I am looking forward to ...
Ice Skating Winter WonderlandChristmas lightsChristmas CarolsSnow (providing I don't have to travel anywhere)
What I am not looking forward to ...
December just reminds me of when I used to work in retail, and as soon as the first of the month hit us, all we would hear was Christmas music. I am no Scrooge, I like this time of year, but there is only so many times I can hear the same songs over and over again, and I only used to work part time.
Not only that, every year we are bombarded with adverts for CDs that contain the same songs, and every year they tell us it is the 'only Christmas album you'll ever need'. So why oh why do they sell that same CD every year with the same songs on it? Surely the people who would have wanted to buy the music would have bought the music by now.
So tell me ... What are you and aren't you looking forward to this December?
November 30, 2011
Tweet for Me!
"The Bollywood Breakup Agency out today http://tinyurl.com/d8cz78e Retweet & win free ebook http://tinyurl.com/ctxrebj if Bollywood makes Kindle Top 100"
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The book is out today yaaaay!!!
Tweet the phrase above, put it at the end of your blog posts, or even just repost it on your Facebooks and 'like' Prospera Publishing and you'll win a complimentary ebook of Naked in Knightsbridge.
And if you're blogging .... here's the blurb
When party-loving Neela Solanki rejects yet another loser in the long line of potential suitors who keep turning up in the 'good' room, her traditional Indian parents finally take decisive action. Fed up with her persistent refusal to provide them with a son-in-law and grandchild, the Solankis confiscate the phone, car and credit cards they pay for, and give her one last chance to comply before she is kicked out of the house.
Desperate for cash, Neela starts up a secret business breaking up the engagements of those trapped in the unstoppable force that is an Indian marriage arrangement. Add to that an addiction to Indian soap operas, being stalked by the latest loser's father, a jilted ex and a love interest from an unlikely source, and Neela finds life is about to take a turn she never expected.
To all you wonderful people out there, PLEASE take the message and pass it on!!!
Let me know when you do it!
The book is out today yaaaay!!!
Tweet the phrase above, put it at the end of your blog posts, or even just repost it on your Facebooks and 'like' Prospera Publishing and you'll win a complimentary ebook of Naked in Knightsbridge.
And if you're blogging .... here's the blurb
When party-loving Neela Solanki rejects yet another loser in the long line of potential suitors who keep turning up in the 'good' room, her traditional Indian parents finally take decisive action. Fed up with her persistent refusal to provide them with a son-in-law and grandchild, the Solankis confiscate the phone, car and credit cards they pay for, and give her one last chance to comply before she is kicked out of the house.
Desperate for cash, Neela starts up a secret business breaking up the engagements of those trapped in the unstoppable force that is an Indian marriage arrangement. Add to that an addiction to Indian soap operas, being stalked by the latest loser's father, a jilted ex and a love interest from an unlikely source, and Neela finds life is about to take a turn she never expected.
To all you wonderful people out there, PLEASE take the message and pass it on!!!
Let me know when you do it!
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