Drama Rama Telangana

I have never wanted a split and prayed that even when (if at all) it does happen, it shouldn't spill on to the streets. Coz that will only result in bad-blood, wounds that will take forever to heal and too much unpleasantness.

After a volatile 11 days, full of fasts-unto-death, suicides, suicide attempts, bandhs and rallies led by students, Chidambaram announced yesterday at 11.30 PM Govt's decision to kick-start the process of state division.
KCR calls off hunger strike. So-called celebrations ensued.
Cut to today morning and the whole state wakes up to a series of crazy events unfolding.
MLAs, MPs and MLCs from Andhra and Raayalseema, across the board from all parties - Congress, TDP and PRP resigned. Students took to the streets and bandhs were called.
93 MLA's quit protesting Govt's 'yes' to a seperate Telangana state.
Makes me go.. you asked for it bro!
If KCR's hunger strike, burnt RTC buses, student protests are taken to represent public opinion and manage to succesfully arm-twist the Govt into granting a state, then its only a matter of time before the other side shows it is capable of all these too.
If OU can students can go on rampage, then so can AU and SVU students. If KCR can go on a hunger strike(in other words.. plain black mail), so can others. If you can burn buses, stone shopping malls and raze down an innocent man's hotel, so can they. Its crazy. Stupid and dangerous.

A special mention about Chandrababu Naidu. When an all-party meet was called just a day back.. all the political parties announced that they were in favour of passing the Telangana resolution. And today Babu wakes up to find his party half-empty.
To turn around and accuse the congress for not taking consensus is so mind-zapping.
If it shows anything at all, it is this - that ALL the parties including the Congress failed to read what was going on in their own backyards.

The ensuing weeks promise full-on political action. As if having a badly divided Andhra Pradesh was not enough, requests for some 9 new states have comeup. In such a bind - what will the Congress do?
I would have been rubbing my hands in anticipation were it not for all the voilence and high passions involved.
But wait.. is it really as simple/convoluted as it seems? Or are there time-tested political brains at work behind the curtains and pulling the triggers and whilst we simple mindedly get all worked-up about it?

I need the guts...

To quit,
sans the comforting security of a back-up plan or a better offer.
Guts,
to jerk off the notion that - holding on is being strong.
Clarity,
to believe that I am not being foolish.

all in a day's work

Towards the end of the trailer there is a shot where Auro looks up, says Paa and then lets a shy ha-ha escape his mouth. Thats it. It was in those 3 seconds that Balki sold me the film. I fell for it and booked the first available tickets.

Balki got the childhood part bang-on. Auro is endearing because he is just what you'd expect a 12 year old to be. Progeria, the medical condition that Auro suffers from is just incidental and as explained by Balki himself, was used as an excuse for the role-reversal of father and son.

So Auro is a happy and much loved kid, surrounded by people whose treatment of him is not coloured by his condition. And this allows him to be a regular, confused, little-spoilt, witty, popular at school, awkward kid about to step into his teens. What fun afterall, is a kid who can't throw a good tantrum!

The kids at school are potrayed as uniformly accomodating and loving of Auro. Yes, all of us are aware that kids in school can be really cruel. But it is quite charming of the film to retain this innocence.

There are unnecessary subplots like Abhishek's rant against the media that just doesn't work. And I found the movie a little slow. But what lingers in one's mind after stepping out of the theatre is the good stuff.

1) Amitabh as Auro.

There is just nobody else like him and I doubt there will ever be. His persona and acting prowess aside, the man inspires awe just for having retained the hunger and drive fit for a 20 year old, after all these years. He has such magnificient roles written for him, especially in his second innings - Mohabbatien (if for nothing, atleast for being his big comeback), Sarkar, Nishabd, Cheeni Kum, Black and now Paa. Each time he essays a superb role, I am entertained yes, but I also feel very happy for him. The guy must be having the time of his life. To have somebody say that of you, and after a career spanning decades and seeing dizzying heights of stardom - is so rich and wonderful. What a Man!

2) Vidya as Auro's mom and Arundathi Naag as Vidya' mom.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Vidya tells her mother about her pregnancy. I also liked the little details like how Vidya always sits in the same little corner in her veranda whenever she is troubled. And she looks absolutely stunning in the movie.

3) Auro's best friend Vishnu.

His frustrations about his father, studies and everything else. The kid is totally adorable. Vishnu's character gives some of the most funny moments in the movie.

4) The Gum Sum Gum tune in the movie - trademark Ilayaraaja.

pet insight

Past and Failure have been subjected to unspeakable abuse since the beginning of time, in the hands of 'Quote' makers. My heart really goes out to these two.
The first email I usually check daily is inadvertently titled - 'Thought of the Day'.
And today it says "You can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures."

We've heard countless others proclaiming the importance of learning from our failures and past mistakes.
Makes me bang the desk infront of me and go... One doubt Adhyaksha!

To learn from the mistakes and still practice the indifference preached by 'let go of your failures' - How easy is it?
Tell me whether to care or not. Don't ask me to indulge in the subtle dance of not knowing how far to go and when to hold back.

a spoonful each of all my favourite ice cream flavors

To know yourself too well is not quite that 'swell' as they make it out to be.
Makes us overtly accomodating of our own failings. Me thinks.
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Everything is forgivable but miserable cowardice.
Accusation of every other weakness; you can wriggle out of, with manageable damage.
Not this. It offers no such comfort.
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You don't always fight. The blood doesn't always rile.
Sometimes when you are slapped in your face,
all you do is retreat. Wide eyed, shocked and in surprise regret.
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Currently Reading...
Neither Here Nor There - Bill Bryson
Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
India After Gandhi – Ramchandra Guha

Recently Read...
Notes from a Big Country - Bill Bryson
Nine Lives - William Dalrymple
City of Djinns - William Dalrymple
The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown
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Discovered a taste for Travel Writing. Liked Bryson and Dalrymple very much. Both of them inspire me.
I was introduced to Bryson's work by a friend with - A Short History of Nearly Everything (ASHNE). I had enjoyed it immensely and on being asked how I liked it, I said "It's like someone gave me a spoonful each of all my favorite ice cream flavors".
I have come to enjoy his travel writing even more. I wish I could match his wit.
Wit, hasn't got much reputation as an acquired skill, has it?

all by myself...

To savour a virgin, unspoilt beach. To have it all for just the 3 of us.
To not have another living soul for miles around and to really have it just for yourself.
All of it.

Check. Strike that down the list.


Pichavaram is home to one of the largest Mangrove forest in the world and a spectacular beach. A 5 hour drive out of Chennai, it is a must on every 'to-do' list.
Photos might not fully capture the splendour of the beach, but they still are some of the best we have clicked.. and here's hoping that they succeed in enticing you into going there!
The boat ride doesn't render itself very well to photographs. If the experience has to be captured then a video is the best bet. 1 2 3

Lots be said and some cool tips to be given. But I will save that for the Travel blog that we are planning - IC and I.
There!! I have made a public commitment. Now the blog can't wait long.

One masala dosa and your fav Manna Dey number

Weren't we talking about Brazil and da Silva in the last post?!! Well, we have reason again to talk about them. Brazil's Rio de Janeiro won the Olympic 2016 bid.
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What is your list of fav Manna Dey's numbers?
Mine is here:
-Laaga chunari mein daag, chupau kaise
-Zindagi kaisi hain peheli haaye
-Chalat musafir moh liyo re pinjrewali muniya
-Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum tum mile tho
-Aye mere pyaare watan, aye mere bhichde chaman
-Ek chatur naar karke singaar
-Yeh raat bheegi bheegi
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Winter Light
The Ten Commandments
2001: A Space Odyssey
Gone With the Wind
Quick Gun Murugan
Talking of QGM, how can one not mention - One tumbler whiskey, one masala dosa. Mind IT!