“Ektara bajaile mone poira jaay…ekdin BANGALI chilam re!!”

This post has its roots in that feeling of guilt which makes a strong appearance every time I sit down to watch Zee Bangla SaReGaMaPa. The tagline that goes with the programme is “Gaane Gaane Tomar Mone” and with that they claim that they have found a way into our hearts through all the songs on offer. And I must admit that this programme has not only won my heart but it seems to have found a certain whip of dominance in my head with which it lashes out at every other musical alternative in there. Now the question is what a feeling of guilt has got to do with a mere programme on TV? It is neither a sweet nor is it a chocolate that the Doctor had asked me to stay away from and I failed to resist the temptation. Will explain that "guilt" bit of course but there is something else that precedes guilt and hence needs to be addressed first.

Yes, before guilt, there is a great deal of embarrassment that one has to deal with as one goes blank when asked to sing a couple of lines in his or her mother tongue. Not being confident with one’s vocal skills is alright; not remembering any songs is acceptable but consciously ignoring one’s roots is where GUILT & SHAME come in. Today when I tune in to this programme and watch young guys and girls unravel the rich jewels of our culture and language, I kind of feel like kicking myself. As I look back to my school years, I can vividly recollect that image of myself on stage and getting appreciated for Bengali recitations. I used to be so enthusiastic with the cultural stuff that even a back row position in chorus was an exciting prospect to me then. And yes, then there was that bit about being a “Bangalir bachcha” as well and so expectedly my sister got a Harmonium as a gift and I landed up in a tabla class. I liked the instrument and loved Zakir Hussain's Tajmahal tea commercial as well but it was too much for me to walk past my cricketing gang during Sunday morning “primetime” and do “Tere kete dhinna” for a couple of hours. After a year or so, Baba realised that I was more of a Faaki-baaj Hussain and that was the end of my tryst with tabla. For some reason, I gradually withdrew from the cultural activities in school and never got back that old zeal. In short, I lost a part of myself to the boring routine of a student life.

Further, nineties was not the best time for a kid to get introduced to Bengali cinema. We were that generation which found itself in the midst of mediocrity and between two extremes; genius of Uttam Kumar and the brilliance of new age Bengali cinema. Black and White stuff didn’t appeal to kids like me, “Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne” was the lone bright star to fall back upon and most irritating aspect was that almost every second Bengali movie seemed to be soaked in what I call “Baba go-Ma go Glycerine". My only memory(from what I happened to watch then) of a Bengali cinema of that decade was of perhaps Victor Banerjee tearing up a saree and tying it up on his head before he goes hunting for the bad guys. I almost became allergic to Bengali songs and cinema since that point due to wrong impression. 

That was also the time when WWF, Bollywood Masala, 365 days of cricket and Friday Fury invaded our living rooms in a big way. As for audio media, we just started sailing in the vast ocean of Kishore Kumar’s hindi collection and then there were Sanu and Udit hits as well. Whatever hindi audio cassettes were bought home, all of those belonged to me in letter(This cassette belongs to Ayan Goswami and no one else) and in spirit while the Bengali ones were my sister’s property. I became very meticulous while switching channels as well and knew which channels to avoid. English songs or drama came knocking much later and that was the final blow of the hammer that broke all my ties with Bengali songs or cinema. Not that western music influenced me highly but it was "cool" to be in sync with your peers.

It was only when I started working in Hyderabad that the "Bangali Chele" inside me woke up and this was thanks to a small silly revolt in my hostel room after finding my roommates from South exhibiting obvious bias while switching channels. That was like getting to taste my own bitter medicine. And then came that day when I created a folder called “Bengali songs” on my PC. One or two songs every now and then started trickling into that folder followed by a couple of movies directed by Aparna Sen. It was a pleasant change that somewhat transformed my opinion of Bengali entertainment industry. Ghar ka matlab Be-Ghar hoke hi pataa lagta hain!!

Being receptive and being prepared are two different ball games altogether for this year; when I watched Zee Bangla SA RE GA MA PA for the first time, I was so overwhelmed that I almost had tears in my eyes. It shook me completely and I realised what I had missed over the years. I watched the second episode and the GUILT only grew stronger. Then came third, fourth and today it was the nth episode and every day these guys have managed to make me fall a little bit more in love with Bengali music. When I introspected as to which element in this TV show moved me so much, I could only find one answer and that is BEING TRUE TO ONE’S ROOTS. As one of the lines from Ashim Sarkar and Rishi’s Kobi-Gaan claims, FOLK IS TRULY THE MOTHER OF MUSIC. We cannot actually begin to appreciate global music without appreciating the tunes that are so close to our heart and home. If you watch this programme, you will find that the producers sincerely dig deeper into our cultural roots, pick various unexposed facets and present it in such an innovative way that the impact transcends across ages and borders. The old Bengali songs that I would have never touched suddenly seem so fresh and fantastic. Old wine in a new bottle actually works if the wine tastes awesome and the bottle itself grabs eye-balls. Here, I have to praise the contestants as they perform more like seasoned performers while the musicians create magic effortlessly every day. All the artistes go about their business with a smile in their faces and that is the best happiness index certainly. This is by far the best musical reality show in India. Truly, Gaane Gaane Amaar Mone..!!

I might not have taken tabla seriously but I simply love the instrument and can’t stop tapping on the table or even the TV remote while I am listening to songs. That was a miss and I regret it. Funnily, I haven’t played a game of cricket as well in a long while. Wish I was this wise as a kid. Nevertheless, I no longer have a narrow approach to music and not being able to remember the lines of a Bengali song is, I guess, ACCEPTABLE. For now, I would sign off by wishing for myself a gift wrapped box of CDs of all the performances of this season of Zee Bangla SA RE GA MA PA. Well going by the readership, I am forced to croon- Jodi tor daak shuney keu na aashey.. tobe ekla cholo re!!!

INDIA'S DAUGHTER...a sad case of lost opportunities!!!

"Three things that never come back:

the spent arrow; the spoken word; the lost opportunity"

-William George Plunkett 

At the very outset let me make it clear that I have not watched the controversial documentary by Ms.Leslee Udwin. However, I also wish to highlight that I do not give a damn to those who keep saying that only those who have watched the video can understand the point of view being put across through the film. I feel I do not need to watch a video to understand how screwed up we are as a society. The nation wants to know, not what Mr.Arnab Goswami wants to preach, but where is the link to the banned video. Only if the nation desired to know how the daughters can be protected or more importantly, how sons can be brought up with right moral values.

With the likes of Meryl Streep apparently agreeing to attend the US premiere of the documentary, it would not be a surprise if the filmmaker walks away with an Oscar next year. One country's shame, another country's fame. And unfortunately if that happens, Indian Government should also get the Academy Award for the Best Supporting Role. By choosing to ban the movie, it has only managed to fire the engines of curiosity all across the world. Anti-piracy law has not been able to put a stop to the illegal download of movies(ask Mr.Akhilesh Yadav..hehe) and so there is no way that Indian Government could have controlled unauthorised online consumption of this product. India is not North Korea or China unless of course there is a definite policy shift towards that kind of CLAMP DOWN CULTURE. Myopic vision coupled with knee-jerk reaction on the part of the Government has ensured that India becomes the laughing stock of this world. It was anyways bad when the Indian newspapers headlined India as a "Nation of Rapists" and now we are a "Nation of Idiots" as well.

The ban by the Government itself is silly and the logic given by the spokespersons really baffle me. According to them, the words of the criminal are more infectious than the Swine Flu and can cause an epidemic. They gave zero stars to the film because they didn't like such content. How can a filthy Rapist be shown as being remorseless?? A nice question indeed. A remorseful Rapist is a Saint and then the movie is ok for nationwide release. We have grown up on diet of Hindi films which by default had the element RAPE in the chemical composition of a VILLAIN. Of course, the HERO got to kill the Villain at the end to get rid of the evil. That was okay as the RIGHT finally prevailed over the WRONG so what if every Indian(including kids) were exposed to things like RAPE, MURDER, & ROBBERY. Considering there was only one channel those days, I think many of us turned out to be quite alright. So, listening to the Criminal doesn't influence one to follow in the same footsteps for he/she is not Osho. Nor does Crime work on the model of Network Marketing. If your value system is good,virtues in place and brain intact then even Satan cannot lead you astray.

Without trivialising the issue, I would like to draw a parallel here with the use of anti-smoking disclaimers in movies that had been ordered by the Government. They wanted to ban smoking on screen but finally diluted the stance to allow the release with such disclaimers. Those messages make people cringe in their seats and therefore leave an impact on the minds. Would the Government have given a Thumbs Up had the documentary carried additional footage of strong messages of public outrage against such heinous crimes, criminals and mindsets including that of the defence lawyers. How about a few minutes of Mann Ki Baat on Gender Equality by the Prime Minister adressing the society through that film?? How about the voice of the mothers?? How about a pledge by the Police authorities and Aam Aadmi to be the 24X7 custodians of India's daughters?? The idea should have been to get the message across through this documentary that going forward this nation would be more responsible towards its daughters and NO ONE SHOULD DARE TO HARM THEM. This is where the Government lost an opportunity to mobilise public opinion and set the ball rolling towards transformation of the civic society. This is where "Minimum Government and Maximum Governence" was the perfect panacea to the ills of the society. Showing direction to the society so that children are brought up with right values is the job of the Government and so far the Report Card (for sixty seven long years) is a cause of serious concern.

What irks me is that why couldn't any Indian filmmaker or Indian news channel come up with this documentary. Well, I am not endorsing the creative brilliance here but as an Indian, I am saddened to see a foreigner coming to India and mustering the courage to do what her Indian counterparts perceived as unthinkable. Now a few journalists are damning the work of the filmmaker almost as if she is more evil than the Rapist himself. Is it a case of sour grapes?? The Nation wants to know. I really loved the social experiment that NDTV had carried out through a wonderful series by the name "WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE?". And they did air a special show on the documentary which kicked up a storm indeed. The media got caught up with the content of the film while ignoring the two real questions that have to be answered by the nation-What could we do to change the mindset of people like Mukesh Singh?? If learned lawyers talk like the uncivilized then what way our Education System needs to be reformed?? Indian News Media lost an opportunity to do mature journalism.

The filmmaker lost an opportunity as well and cannot escape as a victim of the political censorship. The case is sub-judice and so local sentiments had to be respected as a responsible filmmaker. Right to Expression should not be taken for a license to fly into a country and recklessly turn a sad event into a story to win applauses. In the west, law is so intrusive that a mother cannot even slap a child to discipline him or her. Ms.Leslee Udwin, thank your lucky stars that you are in a wonderful country like India where you are sitting pretty while the entire nation is quibbling over the mess that is your creation. I said we are a nation of Idiots and that includes a moron like me who is typing away at this hour as if you are waiting for this piece of brilliant writing....hmmm. What I find wrong with your action is that you were indifferent to the plight of the girl and the sentiments in this country while filming. You could have easily approached the Government and Civil Society to make this a piece of social project much beyond the mere statement of facts. What Mukesh Singh thinks is not important to us for every criminal finds some reason to justify the crime. What he thinks would have come out in the trial as well and but you have given him a stage to shamelessly showcase his dangerous thoughts. India is none of your business and that you have proved it by being so cold and reckless in your approach. As for the legal wrangle that you find yourself in along with BBC, that could have been easily avoided had you taken the stakeholders on board.

To sum up, as much as we have reacted to INDIA'S DAUGHTER, the movie; I hope we start caring for INDIA'S DAUGHTER, the girl child and all the women. We owe it to Nirbhaya. On that note, Happy Women's Day(belated I guess) to all the SANIAs and SAINAs. 

THANK YOU FOR NOT KILLING US.............!!!

We all know about MIDAS TOUCH. Now, India is witnessing something that can be termed as MODI'S TOUCH. He is a very good orator if you discount the occasional factual errors in his speeches. This man's verbal exploits(ofcourse complemented by Manmohan Singh's Samadhi mode) captured the imagination of our countrymen and catapulted him to the much coveted address in the Raisina Hill. Off late though, Modi's touch has rubbed off on many of his colleagues but not everybody has the right character or conviction to speak what is good. As a result, lot many people associated with the ruling party are doling out utter nonsense for sound byte.

DEAR MILITANTS, THANK YOU FOR NOT KILLING THE FOOLS WHILE THEY WERE VOTING FOR CHANGE.

That is the message given out by the man who came in contact with Mr.Modi most recently; today to be specific. WOW...such an inclusive mindset of the new Government to begin the MUFTIDOM. Of course, he was misquoted like all the silly politicians usually are....hehe. They can't resist the temptation and speak their mind with such nonchalance that it stumps a common man like me. Mr.Modi, your name is getting dragged here because you are a beacon of hope for us and so while we would appreciate "DEEDS NOT WORDS" from you; we would also appreciate "NO WORDS, IF NO DEEDS" from the people who are remotely associated with you.

Today morning, as I was going through the ordeal of watching Pakistan fumble and stumble its way to a win; for half an hour or so, I managed to catch the press conference of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. And I was stunned to hear the new CM not thanking the electorate but choosing to thank the separatists and the militants for letting the elections happen. "Ooooof...yippee....I managed to cross the finish line or else I would have gone extinct in this political jungle". This unfortunate vote of thanks surely points to the desperation of this old patriarch of the PDP to get back into the game. Forget the personal ambition of a politician but as a so-called statesman and a Kashmiri at least, such statement could have been avoided. The media was quick to colour it as a controversy and air it to every Kashmiri house and the rest of the country. 

Today was supposed to be the watershed moment in Kashmir's political landscape. Years of cross border blood spill, militancy and misrule had pushed the state into the darkest depths of despair. So when the opportunity came, all the children of the magnificent valley came out in droves to make it a better place(sorry this MJ tune is playing in my head) . This led to the ouster of the incumbent party and Congress had anyways lost its edge. After a lot of deliberations, PDP and BJP joined hands to form a Government even though these two parties are like the two rails of railway track which never meet. However, just as two rails form an efficient railway track joined by common slabs, these two parties also seemed to have found an adhesive to form a partnership for the greater good of the state and its people. We applauded this rare show of political maturity and hoped that this alliance was all for governance and less for power.  

Today was the swearing in ceremony of this new Government.....today was the day of hope....today was the day to send all the right signals....today was the day to celebrate....today was the day to give out a tough message to all the negative forces in the region. Alas, what does Mr.Sayeed do??? He makes us cynical again. More importantly and most unfortunately, he walks out of the Oath taking venue and straight into the hands of the Separatists and the militants from across the border. P in PDP stands for PEOPLES and not PAKISTAN Mr.Sayeed. You have insulted the people of this country who braved bullets to vote for a better future. The resounding success of the election process is our victory and you needed to show(if not believe) your gratefulness to the people of Kashmir, to the Army and to the Democratic machinery at work in this country. Instead, you did the unthinkable.

I am sure this alliance will not be anything more than a fling and at the end of it, each will come out saying in true Bollywood style--"Naah..woh mere type ka nahi tha!!". Nothing productive will result out of this exercise for the man at the helm of affairs is addressing the other side of the Line of Control. Kashmir, according to me, can only prosper if BJP can get a full majority there while they are at the Center as well. Of course, Mr.Modi would need to rein in few of his loose cannons before all of that. God willing, MODI'S TOUCH will then transform into MIDAS TOUCH and Kashmir will be a Golden Valley again!!!