a two year haitus...no noice, not even a whisper...where have you been all this while Harneet...must be absorbed in your work, working day in and day out, no time to connect with friends and relatives...bull shit...this is just not you...what have you made yourself into...come out of slumber buddy...be what you are, do what you want to do...come back...

Taare Zameen Par- A heart touching story; another great performance by Aamir

I was listening to viewers feedback on some channels during the first week of release of the film. I heard them saying that the film is not good, they didn’t quite like it as it did not had any comedy, the film is good for kids as it is about kids, is not to the liking of teenagers etc etc. And that made me think, how materialistic as a society we have become. We have forgot to appreciate social issues which are staring us in our faces. We want masala, we want item songs, we like skin shows. Materialism has taken its toll on us. We don’t want to look at social issues until they affect us in some way directly.

In my opinion Aamir and kid Darsheel have delivered a truly riveting performance. Aamir has brought to light a disorder which can effect any kid. How many of us have evn heard of it before. It’s a brilliant effort by a seasoned actor to raise awareness about the social issue. There are few other things that struck me after watching TZP.

First is that in this competitive world parents badly want their kids to do well. Too much of expectations from children draw them to depressions. Often we read in newpapers about kids ending their lives. Do the parents understand the capabilities and mental make up of their kids before setting expectations. Is it justified to burden the kids with expectations of doing things which one could not do in his life.

Second is about our education system. Is education all about imparting the bookish knowledge to children. Is the overall development of kids not more important that just giving bookish knowledge to ensure that they pass the annual exams

The last is that in todays world everyone is chasing their dreams and riches. Its becoming hard to find time for families, kids and parents. Things don’t look to be changing anytime soon. Although we all are conscious of these facts but don’t do much about it.

Thank you Mr.Khan for leaving us with a fresh provocative thought with every movie of yours.

15 mins of Stardom

" Agar aap apni chotti ko agle round mein dekhna chatte hain to please mujhe vote kijye, sms 'xyz' to 52323 (If you want to see me in next round pls vote for me, pick up your phone and sms ........) ". Welcome to the world of Reality shows. The oft repeated line is the vote appeal from the contestants. The package on offer has all the trappings of a successful bollywood formula. It has music, dance, performance, entertainment, melodrama, fight between judges with a doze of celebrities and bollywood Stars thrown in. Not to forget the mega bucks involved in the process.

From a humble start with Channel V girl band 'VIVA' and KBC, the reality shows have come a long way. Today no broadcaster(TV channels) ,who means serious business, can live without these reality shows. It has become a formula for generating high TRP's(viewerships) and raking in big mollah. The result is that today there is a reality show on almost everything whether its music, dance, quizzing, cricket, loosing weight, 24x7 peeping into the life of semi-celebrities (big boss) and now the search for the next leader for India (the Lead India show). On the 21" screen(the idiot box, ur television) are young and the old, coreographers and the singers, rising and the fading celebrities. No one has been spared, not even the kids.

What does this constant doze of reality shows does to the contestants. One good thing it does is that it gives a larger platform to show the talent to the world. But actually it is only 15 mins of fame and stardom. What lies beyond this make believe world of reality shows is not so good. The reality show starts with a lot of euphoria. The broadcaster puts mega bucks behind the promotion of the shows. Big brands are roped in as sponsors. While the contestants are on the idiot box, the world enjoys and makes them stars. One of them wins and the victory is celebrated with lot of hype. One more season of the reality show comes to an end with the promise of returning next year (only to be replaced by yet another one). The reality show soon fades away into the oblivion. the contestants and the winners too fade away from the memory of the public, who sometime back used to adore them.

The sucess in the reality show is not a guarantee for the success in future. Its not a passport for the entry into the big bad world of celluloid and entertainment. Outside the studio is the struggle to proove oneself all over again. Some of these guys are really talented. i only wish if the broadcasters who are raking all the mollah on the back of these talented people also do something to promote them, so that they are not lost in the wilderness.

taking India global - the cultural perspective

"Wish u merry Christmas" read the message in my inbox. Oh ya, that reminds me its Christmas time. it's that time of the year when we look forward to Santa Claus with all the gifts that he has for us and the jingle bells. There is so much of fanfare all around. you just have to walk into the Malls or any of the Star (and non star) hotels to see the upbeat mood. everyone is celebrating. There are christmas parties and christmas special shopping (it will make your pockets lighter by couple of thousands though). It's festivities all around.

But it makes me wonder, why do indians celebrate christmas with so much of pomp and show, atleast in Metros and other bigger cities and towns (not that i am against any religion or festival, i party myself too). i don't remember ever receiving message in my inbox for Janmastami or Ramnaumi or eid for that matter. The only other festivals which come closer to the level of celebration is Diwali and to some extent holi. What is about christmas that make us merry. Is it something to do with, that the most powerful and the richest nation of the world is predominantly Christian and celebrates Christmas. Is it yet another import of the west on the east. With 1.02 billion(and counting) Indians and the NRI diaspora across the globe, why have the Indian festivals not become the global festivals. Why a Diwali is not celebrated with as much fanfare in West.

This is not to say that we should not celebrate when the world is celebrating, but its about taking the Indianness global. Its about not only importing their culture but also exporting our Indian culture. Then only will we be able to become truly global.