Many of you people must have already watched this movie and so am I; personally I’m happy with the arti-facts shown in this movie. Reading my initial line might make some of my friends from Media industry angry but I would request them to read my complete article.
To initiate, first of all I would write my own perception and there after I would move towards the movie.
Whole world knows about the power of media; they have the strength to create an opinion, they have the power to change a complete option/perception about a person/topic and above all they have the stamina to reach within every one’s home.
However, as always said, great power brings greater responsibility but I think (you all would also agree with my opinion) media somehow isn’t able to play a greater responsible role. Please note: here I’ve mentioned the word ‘greater’ – the part till now media is playing is somehow ‘OK’ but at sometimes I find something really very silly on their part. And as I always say for this I’ve my own reasons, I am just listing a couple of examples:
Media Commercialisation: I know to drive any industry ‘money’ is an important factor but I also know that it is not important to such an extent for which all the news channels are competing with each other.
It has happened to me very often (around 80%); when I switch on my T.V. to watch news – I get to see advertisements on the entire news channels. This doesn’t stop – at several occasions I had waited for 10 mins approx. but failed to hear single news.
There is a perfect dialogue of Mr. Amitabh Bacchan in the movie, “the main objective of media should be to bring real/actual news to the people and money should only be a mere way to do it but today media’s main objective has become to make money and news has become a way to do it”.
Disgusting shows: I totally fail to understand as to why a show of “future foretelling” could be a part of news channel. Why a documentary is required of what Salman Khan wears at night/morning whatever. Why to re-narrate a musical/comedy show again when they have already been aired on their respective channels.
These types of show not only create dis-interest of people towards the news channels but it also creates a negative image towards them.
Sensationalising idiotic news: Can a dog and a cat being together could be a breaking news, a monkey playing with a cub could be a breaking news. I mean these are just a couple of examples but if I’ve to list then I can give 100 of such examples. I don’t think I’ve to explain much about it.
Now about the movie: probably it seems, every time media exposes to other people but this time Ram Gopal Verma is exposing Media. But the movie is not about media bashing – it’s about the media vulnerabilities, it’s susceptibilities, it’s compulsion and greed.
This film shows the conflict between the business sensibilities against a person who listens to his conscience and how does a person compromise with his conscience for the survival in the Media industry. It’s a kind of slow movie and it might just stun viewers with it’s griping drama set in the live-by-the minute world to T.V. journalism.
About the audience: all in all – this movie is not full of fun and frolic moments. Thus, the viewer who can bear a realistic drama (though in slow pace) should definitely like this movie and other may have their own reservations for this movie.
I’ve never done this before but if I’m asked to rate this movie out of 5 Stars (I’m sure which I’ll never be) then it would be ‘***/*****’.
Though I’ve never played critics part for the movies but I now think I should give it a try at least.
Would request to all my dear readers to leave your comments (+ive or –ive) as it always encourages me to write more and it helps me to synchronise my vision with you all.
With lots of love……………
Upendra
To start - I am personally happy with what has happened in IPL auction for the neighbouring players. I may be sounding a bit of arrogant and against the mission that Times of India is carrying forward for the peace in between two countries but for this I’ve my own reasons.
In Short, I would like to write my reason and rewind a short story what happened months back:
It has already been a perfect strategy of our neighbour to impose a proxy war on us such that the blame does not go on them and we (India) on the other hand succumbs under the International pressure resulting no retaliation.
This is being carrying on for the last 50 years, and it was repeated again on 26/11 – hand full of terrorist tried to invade Mumbai. Clearly after investigation (this included FBI from US) and Geo news channel - it was proved the terrorist were from Pakistan. But from day 1, Pakistan refused it’s role in it and always reiterated the statement, “people involved in this attack were not from their country”.
OK dude – after this statement all proofs after thorough investigation when handed over to Pakistan in the form of Dossier. The proofs were so evident and so strong that this country was not in a position to deny – thus here what a new statement was rolled out, “the people involved in the attack were from their country but they are non-state actors and Pakistan is not responsible for them and has nothing to do with them”.
Agreed friend, if you call them non-state actors then based on the proofs given, please hand over the convicts and perpetrators to us so that charges on them could be resulted into the conviction. Here comes again a perfect stupid smartness of Pakistan – even though the people are non-state actors but as these people belong to their country the trials would happen in their own country and for that more proofs were demanded from India.
Everyone knows how many times proofs were handed over to Pakistan and till now what has been done from their side. All this drama for demanding proofs and trials were just a time pass as they knew that as the time would pass all these reactions would fade away automatically.
And I think this anticipation wasn’t wrong though. As time progressed, the grievances every Indian had in their hearts began to melt down (we have almost forgotten the days we’ve seen in the past). To draw a bridge in between the two countries Times of India also started its Peace mission, organising concerts in between the artists of the two countries.
But my question is why it is required and will it change anything? Haven’t this been done is the past and that to a much larger extent and has it changed anything? Will this concerts and collaboration ensure that such type of attacks will not happen in future?
Recently a statement has come from Pakistan, “they cannot guarantee if the attacks like 26/11 will not happen again”. Again it’s very simple to understand - if they will not act against them then they will never be in position to guarantee, as still the Lashker, Jaish-e-mohammad are still active within their territory.
Trust me guys I’m very much happy what has happened in IPL – it still shows that some way or the other we’ve managed to retain the pain of 26/11 in our hearts. It is very simple to understand the theory of “Give and Take”. If Pakistan would have shown it’s eagerness to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 to conviction then probably the relation in between the two countries would have been much different/better.
But as they’ve shown absolute reluctance in it then it’s fine with us – life continues, we’re on the path of becoming an Economic power and we’ll continue to do so but for us they hardly matter anymore. As rightly said by Modi in his interview –“Pakistani players not being selected in IPL is not an issue and it is not to be discussed any more, and we owe no explanation to them”.
These are my thoughts. Dear readers, I would like to know your thoughts as well, please do leave your comments (whatever you feel like) as it would help me to introspect myself also to understand if my thinking is right.
Cheers!!!!
With lots of love…………….
Upendra.
Hello to everyone, it’s LOHRI today (13 Jan 2010) and wish everyone a very happy Lohri in this New Year.
For each festival there is a story behind. Initially I also did not know why this Lohri festival is celebrated (mostly in Punjab itself), as I’ve just come to know about it – it would fair by all means if I share the same with you guys.
Story Behind it -
Dulla Bhatti, was like Robin Hood who rob the rich and gave away the looted articles and money to the poor. The people of the area loved him and respected him but in the eyes of the Govt. he was a wicked person.
The story is Lohri word is derived from the word LORI. The Lori ( the song which the mothers used to sing to get their infants sleep). It is the festival we use to celebrate for the welfare of our children as during Lori period usually mothers bless their children for their well being.
The Lohri is being celebrated to remember Dulla Bhatti person like Robin Hood.
The tale is:
A person had two daughters called Sundari & Mundari. Both were exceptionally beautiful. The person got his daughters engaged. As the celebrations of marriage of the daughers were going on. The father got message from their would be inlaws that we shall not get our sons married to your daughters as we have got the message from a powerful person that if you get your daughters married then we shall kidnap your daughters.
On getting this message, the father of the girls went to jungles in the search of Dulla bhatti (King of Pind (Village) Bhattian) who was put to mughal king for revolting against him. As Dulla Bhatti, like Robin Hood robbed the rich and gave to the poor. So, the people of the area loved and respect him. Lastly he found out Dulla Bhatti wala and told him the tale that my daughters will be kidnapped and I am here to get your favour.
Dulla Bhatti who was basically a very nice person, assured the man that He will adopt his daughters and will do the Kanya-dan (wedding rites). Dulla Bhatti promised the man but he was nothing to offer to his adopted daughters in wedding as he used to distribute what ever he had to the poor the same day.
He called the village persons and requested them to contribute something for the wedding of his daughters. The village men contributed about Rs.1/- each for the wedding.
The song sung at the time of Lohri:
Sundar Mundariye ho!
Dulla Bhatti wala, ho!
Dulle di dhi viahi ho!(Daughter of Dulla got married)
Sher sakar pai " {He gave kilo of sugar as a gift to everyone on the marriage of his adopted daughters}
Dulle da salu pata ho! {The honour of Dulla get questioned}
Salu kaun samete ho! {Who saved the honour}
Chacha Churi kutti ho! {The uncles (Village persons) Churi (the mixture of Sugar & Flour wheat, corn, peanuts, popcorn, sweets made of til-chirva, gajak and revari (sesame and jagery) means prepared dishes for the wedding party.}
Dulle di dhi viahi ho!
Sanu de lohri. " Give us donation".
A few years back children had been moving form door to door, singing the Dulla Bhati folk song and used to clebrate just to remember that Dulla Bhatti wala had done a benevolent job with begging for the wedding of his adopted daughters. Though he can get her married with a looted amount as well. But he preferred to get them married with alms.
So, this festival is celebrated in the memory of our hero every year on this auspicious day of Lohri by singing and dancing on this noble cause.
Why people dance around the Fire?
At the time of marriage of Sundari and Mundari Dulla Bhatti wala had did a yagya. In which the fire had been lit and the prayers had been made about the long life of Sundari and Mundari. As fire is associated with concepts of life and health. Fire, like water is symbol of transformation and regeneration.
On this occasion, people offer peanuts and revari (sesame and jagery) to propitiate fire as a symbol of the Sun God.
People also celebrate this festival where there is a birth of a newly born baby and also by newly married couples.
I request you all my countrymen to loud their voice against female foeticide problem. The counting of the girl children is going down day by day. If we continue to get the girl child aborted then how we will get our sons married.
Give the girl child the right to say Mama to her mother. Don't kill her. We all especially the Punjabis will repent later on if we continued to bear the stamp of KURI MAR- Murderer of Daughters.
I on this occasion congratulate you all and wish that - we should follow the footsteps of DULLA BHATTI. WHO DID A NOBLE CAUSE AND WE REMEMBER HIM FROM THE LAST SO MANY CENTURIES. AS THIS IS THE TALE OF MUGHAL REGIME.
So, by saluting the deeds of Dulla Bhatti , I congratulate all my country men on this festival of Lohri.
NA MARI, NA MARI, NA MARI, NA MARI MEINU MERIYE MAYEIN! Don't kill me, Don't kill me, Don't kill me, Don't kill me my mother.
With Love ..............
Upendra
Breaking news, confidential resources has confirmed – much hyped and overrated RECESSION (which almost ended way back but was being kept alive by our so called reputed corporate organisations) is on the verge of its ending and would no longer exist.
Here the topic “Recession over; Race session starts” is to compare about the situations faced in the past and future waiting ahead. It would not be a surprise for anyone of us (referring to all the software engineers/employees hit by recession) thinking to switch our jobs, thus I’ve used the terminology ‘Race Session’.
Obviously, the recession has pushed our career 2 years back both professionally and economically and I’m sure no one would be able to forget the trauma, fatigue and jeopardised career that one may have gone through this period of time.
During this phase when we were facing tough times, there most of organisations were seeking this period as a time of opportunity and tried (but actually) made the most of it. At one hand when they were busy in FIRING its employees/slashing their salaries there at the same time on another hand we all were always bothering how to retain our jobs.
Every day on new channels we used to hear, so and so organisation fired their number of x no. of employees. The process that came out for laying out were also quite interesting, as in some organisations the employees were told in advance to search another job in next couple of months while some organisations simply mailed it’s employees to submit their access/identity card straight to the admin dept. and collect their re-leaving letter.
I remember in my younger days, i.e., when I was in 10th and 12th standard, I used to hear about “Software Engineers” – they have good package (packages varying from 25 to 30 lacs per annum), they carry good life style, they often go to abroad on the company’s expenses (the same vague information aspired me to become a Software Engineer else I would have been a Doctor at least). But it’s a truth of life - what you always plan may not be actually what you are destined for in real life, as just see the irony - in this recession period, the highly paid employees were among the most endangered species and were close to extinct.
But with one point everyone would agree, basically all the engineers are quite high in their spirits (24X7) as even in this situation we’ll find a way out to cheer ourselves. Emails in between the colleagues within the organisation and across different organisations started to float for finding alternative solution if job is lost, some suggesting to open a tea stall in front of the office, some showing that our own project manager has started a bakery shop, some showing our Tech. Lead has already started the Pan Masala shop in front of the office gate (innovation is not a restraint for Engineers at least).
One day I remember one of my friends (one of the endangered species) called me and asked me if there is an opening going on in my company. Not with much of surprise and amazement I asked why? What happened in his company? He told me, there are only few highly paid people in his organisation; all of them have already been laid off. And yesterday itself his BOSS was also been fired and while going his BOSS has told him “ALL THE BEST”. (Intelligent man I must say, he got the hint).
This could be quite funny I must say but its seriousness could only be understood by a person who has gone through its enigma. I take myself, working in my first organisations HCL Technologies Ltd - I never feared of being fired as there was no terminology existed before recession started. An employee was only being terminated or asked to leave in extreme situations (for e.g., Integrity issue, Discipline issue etc.), I never feared of fighting with my Managers or Team Leads in front of anyone if I’ve to.
But in my current organisations this perspective was totally changed. Soon after I joined my current organisation I saw that in batches employees were being asked to leave the organisation. It was first time when the fear of being laid off cropped up in my heart also; employees were laid off regardless of their performance and tenure within the organisation.
Here, one of the most important fact (may or may not be noticed by you guys) that all this slow/melt down also impacted marriage aspects, as for every parents; Software Engineers were the most lucrative and preferred product (son in law) for their daughters (because high salaries, good life style and bonus points if he is on site abroad or already settled there). Just to reiterate that here just the highly paid Engineers were the preferred ones.
But we always forget, “Change is the order of Nature” and this time Recession brought this change. All the happening going across the globe changed the mindset of parents/guardians also, as they started considering the Engineers with medium salaries as one of the good product for their daughters. They were forced to do so because the highly paid Engineers were no longer available and those were there in the market they were already married 3 or 5 yrs back.
Anyways back to our IT Industry, amid all these proceedings - eventually started lots of gossiping among all of us, I used to gossip a lot among our colleagues/friends about the spread sheets. I used to throw rumours, ‘I’ve seen the HR spreadsheets and tell them that their names are in it’– indirectly telling our colleagues they are being fired, I make them to speculate who would be the next.
I used to enjoy in spreading the rumours and let other to speculate but one day we all received an email by our Group Head, it was sent to HR and cc’ed to us (incidentally our names was not taken off from CC tab), this email contained a xls sheet for the overall performance review of all us.
I opened the sheet, there were three colour codes mentioned: Green, White and Red. Few people names were appearing in Green, few were in White and few (including mine) were in Red. Seeing this made my mind totally blank – I got absolutely sure that in the next batch I would be the one to get out. Suddenly one of my friends came in to discuss about the sheet and started to congratulate me, I thought he is properly taking a nice revenge for what I’ve done to him. I asked him seriously not to do this idiotic anymore as I’m not in a good mood. I think he realised why I’m upset and asked me to see the xls sheet properly once again. When I saw the sheet again I came to know why he was congratulating me, as the names appearing in Red were for the excellent performers, names appearing in White are the average performers and the names appearing in Green are for the non-performers.
This was a sigh of relief for me but also a point of realisation - the distress probably I’ve caused to others. May be a joke could be an entertainment factor for me and for others but the person who is targeted is distressed and from here I stopped making joke or spreading rumours for anyone.
AT LAST, now finally as the year 2009 has ended the so called recession has ended – statistically is already proven and the year 2010 would bring the peace of mind for all of us and also it is expected that IT/ITES would grow up to 15% to 20% altogether.
Definitely, everything contains good and bad in it. This recession brought a storm in all of our life which is bad but the good about is that it has brought learning for us. We now know better how to survive in adverse situation/conditions. Before recession, we lived the life expecting that the coming days would be even better than today but never gave a thought what if it is not the situation. This phase has compelled us to think and plan better.
In the New Year, my advice would not to be to again start a race of switching and changing organisations but would be to grab the opportunities (no matter if it gets in the same organisation or in a different organisation) with both hands. Bring back the respect and honour of an Engineer which is somewhere lost and definitely if an organisation fails to deliver this please switch/change as soon as possible. From now on rather than following a casual approach we need to plan ourselves better and give our life and career new meaning and a new edge – people smiling/laughing at us had to shut their mouth and indeed for all the parent/guardian Software Engineers would still remain a lucrative product.
With lots of love…..
Upendra
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