North East India?

A lot of you (mostly from the subcontinent) may be watching this program on Zee TV called Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. For the uninformed (I don't blame you) this a musical comptetion on TV where viewers get to choose their favorite singer.

Of late there has been a big hue and cry about the leading vote getter, Debojit. The issue, according to many, is that he is getting most of his votes from just one part of the country (the north-eastern part of India). It went to such an extent that in one episode three of the runner ups (till that stage of voting) staged an apparent walkout in protest. They were allegedly being threatened by ULFA to leave in order to ensure Debojit's victory. That begs the question: doesn't ULFA have anything better to do? Do they hang up their guns every Friday night, light a bonfire in the jungles of upper Assam and switch on their TV to watch who is winning this stupid programme?

Methinks that at the core of this issue lies the generally flawed perception of what is India (or atleast what it should be). North east India does not count as India in the minds of many people. Where were all of you when winners of Indian Idol and yet another stupid reality musical on Sony had winners completely based on regional votes?

May be thats why we have so many terrorists coming from that part of the country - you don't like them, why would they like you?

Curb your enthusaim folks, show some restraint - just like you want to stand up and be counted allow the others to be counted too. As for Debojit, I never voted for him but I will now just to prove a point.

Rang De Basanti

I saw Rang De Basanti on the 29th of Jan, 2006, a far cry from my desire to see it on the day of its release. The theatre that I go to was sold out by the time I reached the ticket counter. Anyway, its taken me about 2 weeks to find some time to write about the movie.

Immediately after I saw the movie I thought it was great. Even after 2 weeks I have similar feelings. The fact that the feeling has persisted over two weeks which is a really long time for someone like me could mean something - but then again this is just me.

The best thing about the movie, I thought, was the juxtaposition of the past and the present. Before 15th August 1947 we wanted to free ourselves from the Brits - now its the turn to free ourselves from the morons who rule us. At times you could hardly feel the difference. I always believed you are who you elect - yes, we are a bunch of morons.

The other thing that struck me was the fact that we have directors who are willing to take on the establishment and we have an establishment which is willing to let the country see its flaws. There is hope that one day we could have some real freedom of expression.

One more thing. Can Menaka Gandhi not back off once in a while? Whats her problem? Is she not able to appreciate the difference between art and reality?