Superb! (via The small picture - Views - livemint.com)
Indian cinema, last ten years - Part 1
Its been raining incessantly for the last five days, which essentially implies house arrest. Apart from trudging with the dog to the ‘movie empire’, I have generally just spent hours on work, taxes, color correcting my film, sipping red wine and watching as much ‘Indian’ (and foreign) cinema as I possibly can.
Indian cinema is going through a new era of transformation, led by the highly stylized works of contemporary directors like Anurag Kashyap, or the superb productions by Aamir Khan’s production house, and recent works of well known directors like Hrituporno Ghosh.
Over the next few posts, I am going to list some of the Indian films of this decade that, I believe, are subtly transforming the industry into a space where creative films like Shaitaan can now get nationwide showings.
Directed by Anurag Kashyap, Dev D is his contemporary take on the famous Devdas novella originally written by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, and probably the most innovative adaption of the original tale. Superb.
Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, and directed by newcomer Abhinay Deo, this film reminds of the all-too-familiar ‘toilet explosion’ incident caused by the bellies too unaccustomed to Indian food. It might be just me, but its hard to comedy scripts this right.
Directed by Sudhir Mishra, the movie is set against the politically charged backdrop of 1970s India, during the time of the national emergency, and tells the story of three youngsters whose aspirations are intricately intertwined with the social upheavels of the time. Probably one of best depictions of the Naxalite movement I have seen on film.
(More in the next batch)…
Bangalore after four years
Quite a lot of stunning changes. The buses are great to sit and read in. The roads are drastically better. However, bars closing at eleven makes it a no go for survival.
Ramdev Says He Wants To Raise Nationalist Force
Under attack for his proposal to raise an armed force, Baba Ramdev today said he was not trying to train terrorists or Maoists but only wanting to set up a “nationalist” force.
“I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists. I am only developing a nationalist force. It is for self-defence,” Ramdev, who is continuing his fast against corruption, told his followers at Patanjali Yogapeeth here.
He was reacting to a volley of criticism on his plans to raise a 11,000-strong force to deal with police and anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption campaign.
Oh boy, oh boy. There we go again. Step into the dirt, and you are synonymous with it.
India is shining… yes… but gold’s reaching the wrong hands
This is a well-known fact - yet I feel compelled to write about it again. Its one of those topics I have always been interested in - on how simple government policies can affect the fate of millions (urm, billions, I mean).
In one of the recent mails from National Election Watch, I noticed the following statistics.
- 139 candidates (32%) with self declared pending criminal charges contesting in the fifth phase of Bihar Assembly Elections.
- 75 candidates out of these 139 have declared serious IPC charges like murder and attempt to murder charges against them.
- All major parties have given tickets to candidates with pending criminal cases. RJD – 65%, JD (U) – 59%, BJP – 54%, INC – 40%, BSP – 40%, LJP – 33%.
- 297 candidates (67%) have not declared their PAN card details.
Yes, they are quite stunning. However, its interesting to note that electoral policy does allow criminals to stand for election. The electoral law’s policy on criminals is as follows… (i) criminal accused even if charge- sheeted and undergoing trial can stand for election irrespective of how serious the charge is (ii) Candidates convicted of communal and social offences shall be disqualified for six years if punished by fine; and if imprisoned further six years from release. (iii) Candidates convicted of profiteering, adulteration of food and medicine or under the Dowry Act shall be disqualified for six years from release if convicted for more than six months (iv) Candidates convicted of any crime for 2 years or more shall be disqualified for six years from release (v) Candidates who are sitting MP’s effectively continue as MP until the final appeal to the highest court through an MP’s loop-hole. Would be interesting to know how many countries are so liberal in their policies. Search “can criminals contest elections” in Google, and see what you get back. Two countries take up most of the results - India (highest) and Nigeria.
Mysore Station (via Rick Elkins)
