Lie often told eventually becomes a truth- Said by V Lenin.

Last time when I saw “Delhi-6″ and then to some extent “Mumbai Meri Jaan” where rumors took shape of facts, I felt that the filmmaker actually picked facts and tried to say-what he felt. Nowadays, we do not look informative and public interest programmes or capsules too often, forget about being creative enough. I came across a video -perhaps produced by the FTII guys- which I liked a lot and have faint memories of watching them on our B/W Binatone TV at home. It came on Doordarshan. With Diwali just around the corner rumors mongers can just be on prowl. Beaware of them and do not let rumors get in your head.

I can also relate rumors with unpolished and non-credible news coming through wires. It reaches TV stations and news hungry editors without confirming the veracity or source of the news is ready with a 3 minute breaking news kind of an arrangement to feed we-the-people.

I know I deviated a little from my topic but this is also which I wanted to express, somehow.

Please do watch this Video

It’s hard to find solace when your idols are cracking up. In my view, that’s exactly whats happening for many Indians who admired Tharoor.

The headline news across Indian media channels on 8th Sep, ’09 had one thing to talk about as breaking news – about India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s ‘eviction’ order to the country’s two top politicians, Shashi Tharoor and S.M Krishna. They were allegedly ordered to vacate the 5-star suites they are occupying in Delhi for over 3 months. The media report stated that both the politicians have been occupying the suites for over 3 months.

Shashi Tharoor, who has been using Twitter to engage in dialogues with a staggering number of followers, found himself flooded with countless tweets. His followers wanted his views on the report.

Despite my admiration for Tharoor as an intelligent thinker, writer, and leader, it came as a real dampener to read how he dismissed the issue as a ‘non story.’ His rationale is that he did not spend the taxpayer’s money or use any government privilege.

When the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh is advocating austerity day after day, this act of ostentation, whether its Tharoor’s pocket money or property money, is insulting. Pritish Nandy rightly stated on Twitter that the issue is not where the money came from but why the act of ostentation took place.

Next, Tharoor’s excuse of not staying in Kerala House, on Twitter, was that it lacks two things – a gym and privacy.

You don’t really need to stay in a five star hotel suite just to get a good gym facility, do you?

About privacy, I feel outraged that someone like Tharoor lied. It’s a very private, exclusive space for celebrities and political leaders at Kerala House. The accommodation is truly king-size luxury at little or no price at all for the elite circle that stays there. The state’s most popular Ministers, actors, and celebrities enjoy their privacy there. It’s like living in royal grandeur and splendid isolation.

That’s what makes Tharoor’s statement such a blatant lie. The fact that he lied is what angers those who follow him with respect. Sure, politicians insult our intelligence all the time with the most creative excuses, its no big deal, really.

Maybe we would have respected Shashi Tharoor if he had been honest about the whole deal. Of course, no politician is perfect in any country but from Tharoor, we made the mistake of expecting a little more. We saw his entry into politics as a better chance to believe in the political high class once again, based on a mistaken belief that perhaps good, intelligent leaders are back. What we’ve got is suave lies, and that is not fair.

Like a consolation prize of sorts, Tharoor stated that he visits Kerala House to meet and talk with people. Maybe someone needs to remind him the only people in Kerala House are celebrities and Ministers. To meet people, Tharoor needs to step out of his 5 star suite with its gym and privacy facilities and visit his constituency for a change. There are a lot of people out there who are living in an unenviable state of austerity. Maybe Tharoor the suave politician needs to step out of his fancy political suit to recognize this fact.

A minute ago a white coloured government van appeared and some officials reprimanded children who looked like beggars standing near the corner of the street, what they said was unknown to me.

Location: K.G Marg (opp British Council) near a Juice Stall

Beggar one: Ab kya hoga (what will happen now)

Beggar two: Jo hoga dekha jayega (Let time decide our fate)

The Minister for Social Welfare, Law and Justice Department has vowed to make Delhi free from beggars by 2010. Keeping the Commonwealth games in mind, Delhi has to be a world class city and that is only possible after the eradication of these blots of the society. Two mobile courts now have been pressed into action to catch person found begging and citizens are also encouraged to help courts catch and rehabilitate them. Under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, the mobile courts heralded by a judge can punish serial offenders’ and/or up to 10 years imprisonment in one of the three remand rooms. Punishment to young children can be relaxed (they will be sent to juvenile homes or rehab), quotes a senior government official.

Twelve Vans are already at work in Delhi - to catch the beggars. After the catch, the destitutes are sent to about a dozen odd beggar homes- its capacity- 2200. Roughly there are about 60,000 beggars inside Delhi and around a quarter of them are less than 18 years of age. For Ankit it is hard to believe a beggar free city, ” not possible.” It should be noted that the Delhi government had started a DIAL 1098 save a child beggar programme for the citizens, but the veracity of the helpline is yet to be ascertained. Apart from a traditional practice in India, begging today is an organized industry which prefers to remain underground. True that some of the poor souls are naturally disfigured but others have the ability to cash-in-sympathy. A beggar in Delhi makes about 100 -200 INR per day whereas, more than what an unskilled laborer earns. “Catching the beggars on the eve of Commenwealth games is not the solution, driving poverty is.” Piyush says.

India is home to more than 1.01 million. The Social Welfare department promises to make Delhi - a beggar free by 2010, it still lacks a comprehensive scheme of sorts for their betterment. Priya says, “It is an industry, an organized one. I would like to see them selling stuffs on the roads.” Most of the beggars in Delhi come from the lowest strata of the society. Here education, literacy and health becomes a non-essential requirement and surviving with a hungry stomach becomes a little more important than kitaabi baatein (bookish read non-practical stuffs). According to reliable statistics 90% of beggars in Delhi are from our own self proclaimed BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh).

Some NGO’s are working towards betterment of these poor souls but a cohesive plan need to be laid out. Rony believes that the beggars should start selling government made products. What about utilizing this huge manpower into a government sponsored self help employment schemes or even better turn them on to the list of unskilled laborers?

Arunesh gets sarcastic, “I have never thought about them.” True, all of us have never consciously thought about beggars we come across almost everyday. I get moved sometimes, when I see an aged man or a greying woman seeking alms. I wonder, where will the mobile vans take them away or for that matter put them?

Shoe, shoe what to do, what to do, gleefully shoot and un-do

The shoe has proved pricey for Congress candidate for Delhi. He gave up. A few months back an Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi threw a shoe at outgoing US president George W Bush . That shoe is in high demand. Zaidi has proved a good Samaritan, at least for Turkish shoe company Bayden. In a time of recession the company has created employment for scores. According to confirmed reports
UK and American markets have the highest demand for this brand. Which is now known as ‘Bye-Bye Bush’ – see company’s official website -

We looked at the video where the placid Chidambaram jerked his head to give way to the sports shoe Reebok trainer, if I am not wrong. Quite much in contrast with the Iraqi scribe Zaidi if I talk about speed and distance. This type of protest is bad in taste, I am sure you agree with me. This kind of protest has occurred for the first time in India, earlier it was joote ki mala ( shoe garland – a ritual practiced in India and elsewhere symbolizing dissent towards an individual). Similar incidents have happened in past, the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao face a similar situation during a speech in Cambridge University early this year. However, the Israeli ambassador to Sweden was unfortunate, he was meted a similar treatment while giving a speech in Stockholm University. The shoe hit his stomach.

Leaving the later two incidents, I have a question, where does the basic objective of a journalist of being neutral and objective reporting with an unbiased nature goes? I know that this is a one off incident but throwing a shoe during a press con at your minister takes a lot of courage and job loss too. For the sake of this fraternity I do not wish an incident like this happen any more. If it happens it is sad!

It is intermission and I am still waiting for the story to kick off. Considering the movie was supposed to be about the most lively part of my city, it can’t get worse.

Filmed on the setup of andarun shahar, ‘Delhi-6′ is seen from the eyes of Roshan Mehra [Chchota B (when will he grow up?)]. While Mr. Siddhu Khiladi did a Chandni Chowk to China last month, Roshan moves from New York to Old Delhi with his grandmother (Waheeda Wasted Rehman) and an accent (that pisses you off throughout the movie). Don’t worry. I am not going to reveal the story. The film does not have one. So, AB(CD) and grandma receive a grand welcome from their neighbors, known and unknown. Director Rakeysh Mehra tries to repeat Rang De’s mixing concept by playing with the backdrop of Ramlila, but fails to execute the magic.

However, what hurts the most is a false image of one of the most historic places in the world. From the very first scene, the area is depicted as a storehouse of chaos. Till the end, the film doesn’t go beyond narrow kuchas and cycle-rickshaws. In contrast to the title song that talked of the city as one with two hearts, the place appears heartless. In the last fifteen minutes, the script mentions (thrice) that the essence of the place are its people. I wish we could see THAT Delhi-6. The steadiness of Purani Dilli, which is much more appealing than its commotion, is not captured by the camera. Instead, the film repeatedly mocks the life of the city. The manner in which the screenplay turns into a spoof about issues like superstitions, mob mentality, family traditions and communalism is unbearable.

The lead actors add to the misery of the viewer. Pawan Malhotra (the younger Sharma), Vijay Raaz (thullaa) and Divya Dutta (Jalebi) put up good performances. Rahman’s superb music (that inspired me to go for the movie) is a misfit to the standards of the film. Don’t make a Kaala Bandar of yourself by going for the movie. Instead, I recommend spend 3 hours wandering on the streets of Delhi-6. Taste the real life of Old Delhi. With the delectable offerings, those 100 bucks will be more than paisa-vasool.

Rating:*1/2

I read somewhere that “the year 2009 will be a golden year in Indian cinema”. I do not really disagree with his statement. This remark comes from one of the most proficient script writer turned film maker in today’s time.

At Dev D, Love, booze and court dance was subtlety replaced by Sex, drugs plus rock n roll. The plot of the film stood at Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s Devdas where a post colonial weak kneed, drunkard Zamindar spends the rest of his life in a menace. Unbelievable acting, by the lead protagonists and great music score by a rookie. This coke snorting, use for nothing fella, bundles out cash after cash. Visits Old Delhi’s underground garage and ultimately finds himself at peace with Vodka and Leni. I was fuming at the director that how he can make a film of this nature, the same time dumbfound to see actor Abhay’s performance, brain cracking. During the film and after the film (I was not able to watch the last 20 minutes, I left the hall) me within, was asking continuously, how can children or men for that matter be so restless, wayward, lifeless, careless and errant? I felt like straightening him up, with whatever means i can. I came to know that the other woman’s character (Leni) was borrowed from the infamous DPS mobile phone girl. However, nothing of similar nature happened after that, or maybe I don’t know. What is the point in making a full length feature film out of in hindi and dishing out for public consumption? People may disagree with my thoughts, don’t really care. Again, I should give credits to the director and the actor who permeated so well inside the skin of the character that he was able to emote, so well.

After what has happened at Mangalore early this month. I don’t mind watching Dev D with the factions of Sri Ram Sena. Rather I would love to hear what they say. Dev D should be a valentine treat for them.

In the end I would say, Dev D had everything but life.

Hi, I wanted to share some pictures shot last year. Extremely grateful to my bosses for giving me an opportunity to maintain this hobby. Thank you all for reading!

A temple at Gopeshwar

Alaknanda at Srinagar (Garhwal) The river near this sleepy town gave a surreal experience

An Ashram

Near Auli

Barrage near the National Park

Feels like god- Owner’s pride

Chowringhee- Vintage beau

Church - Delhi-6

Downtown Rishikesh - The city still has a relaxed feel

FRI- The Forest Research Institute, Dehra Doon - One of the best buildings, I’ve come across. An architectural delite

A Monkey

An evening by the river - Random shots

Outside a temple- There are more takers than givers

Red Fort - Will remain our forté Red Fort - Will remain our forté

Rishikesh - Always a home

The Vagabond

Smoke pillowing out of a factory - The factory chimney at the backdrop of a sunset

Sunrise - 1st Jan 09The set-ting

A place near Dehra Doon

The Girl

River Ganges -'pure'

Wait - Ain't long

Bullet yogi