Saturday, January 26, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Inkaar - Film Review and the questions it raises
Inkaar is not a stellar film. In fact, as pure cinema, it will make no history. and box office records show probably not even a present. So why is it being reviewed?
Its being reviewed because one thing, and that one thing only, stood out. Loud and CLEAR.
When the lady announces her decision to accuse her boss of sexual harassment, the way she is treated:
The Super Boss: Business compulsions. Why are you doing this? we have done so much for you.
FEMALE Colleagues: Just sleep with him and get it over with.
Fiance: Why dont you quit? (Her response? I DESERVE This. why should i quit? Why indeed?)
Fiance: OK, u had a scene with him, dont think i dont know. (So, if i had a "scene" with him at one time, he can harass me now?)
Fiance: Its embarassing. I have clients in these locations. They will hear and its embarassing for me. (Really? Your fiancee getting harassed is not an embarassment, but she reporting it is?)
And this is painful because its REAL. Because when women around us talk about dowry harassment, eve teasing, office politics against them, sexual harassment, street harassment, we look away. even today. we wish they would come to terms with it and not speak so much about it. we wish they wouldnt demonise the people closest to them - their families - parental or marital. We wish it away. Like most other negative things.
So, look deeeeeeep inside you and tell me, how will you respond if you know of a female colleague you know accuses someone in office of sexual harassment? For the record, lets make her someone who is hot looking, dresses well, and does not mind speaking her mind - even (hawwww!!) even around men. What will you say - to her, and in your head??
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Its being reviewed because one thing, and that one thing only, stood out. Loud and CLEAR.
When the lady announces her decision to accuse her boss of sexual harassment, the way she is treated:
The Super Boss: Business compulsions. Why are you doing this? we have done so much for you.
FEMALE Colleagues: Just sleep with him and get it over with.
Fiance: Why dont you quit? (Her response? I DESERVE This. why should i quit? Why indeed?)
Fiance: OK, u had a scene with him, dont think i dont know. (So, if i had a "scene" with him at one time, he can harass me now?)
Fiance: Its embarassing. I have clients in these locations. They will hear and its embarassing for me. (Really? Your fiancee getting harassed is not an embarassment, but she reporting it is?)
And this is painful because its REAL. Because when women around us talk about dowry harassment, eve teasing, office politics against them, sexual harassment, street harassment, we look away. even today. we wish they would come to terms with it and not speak so much about it. we wish they wouldnt demonise the people closest to them - their families - parental or marital. We wish it away. Like most other negative things.
So, look deeeeeeep inside you and tell me, how will you respond if you know of a female colleague you know accuses someone in office of sexual harassment? For the record, lets make her someone who is hot looking, dresses well, and does not mind speaking her mind - even (hawwww!!) even around men. What will you say - to her, and in your head??
.png)
Sunday, January 20, 2013
If The drunk named movies ..
There is a facebook group called "The Punnery" . Yesterday, one of the posts asked.. what if drunkards named movies.. the answers were so awesome i took special permission to post them here.
These are answers only from those who have given permission to reproduce their comments on the blog.
If drunkards named movies...
Anurag Singhal:
And what would remain unchanged?
These are answers only from those who have given permission to reproduce their comments on the blog.
If drunkards named movies...
Anurag Singhal:
- Beer Zaara
- Soda Akbar
- Hum Tunn
- Rum de Basanti
- Kabhi whiskey kabhi rum
- Rub Ne Pila Di Thodi
- Talli Six
- Whiskeya
- Hum Talli Ho Gaye Sanam
- Ek Tha Bagpiper
- 7 Ghoonth Maaf
- Mere Brother Ki Bottle
- Maine Neat Kyun Piya
- Boozi-gar
- Jab we Drunk
- Miller Ki Raat
- Beerta (Veerta)
- Abb Tumhare Hawaley Liver Saathiyon
- Paani Kam
- Scotch-lay
- Peena teri galee mein
- Ajab Tharre ki gajab kahaani
- Life in a Mai'khaana
- Tunn'u weds Maddi'nu
- Wake up Piyakkad
- Kyunki Saas bhi kabhi Bavdee thi
- Toddy'Guard
- Gin'gham
- Bevda Rathore
- Khol Dhakkan (Bol Bachchan!)
- Don of Beerbar
- Tunna Bhai MBBS / Lage Raho Tunna bhai
- 3 Drunkards
- Piyakkad-e-Azam
- Ham hain Rahi Bar ke
- Pirates of the Curry Beers
- Kyunki Main Booze nahi chhoDta
- Albert Pinto ko Tharra kyun bhaata hai?
- Ram teri Ganga Tulli
- Jab We Tunn
- DaruKaJosh (Sarfarosh)
- Hamara Drink Aapke Paas Hai
- Phir teri Daru-Party yaad Aayi
- Pati Patni Aur Vodka
- Tequila No 9211
- Rum Bin
- Ek main aur ek Daaru
- 1857: A Pub-rising
- Naache Angoori (Nache Mayuri)
- Jhooth bole Pauwa baante
- Salaam Khambey
- Kashmir ki Tulli
- naach bottle naach!!
- Gin'nie in a bottle!'
- When Sally met Tully!!
- Peeo aur peene do!!
- Behoshi!!
- Theke pe theka!!
- Happy hours!! (i think, for Happy feet.)
- Jab daaru liya toh darna kiya!!
- Tharrabaaz!! (remember Jaanbaaz?)
- Peeke'zaa!!
- Woh 7 Tunn!!
- Peg'am!!
And what would remain unchanged?
- Hangover
- Cocktail
- Pyaasa
- Do Aankhein Barah Haath
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
exile
मुझे जाना था
तुम से दूर
और उस से भी पहले
अपने से दूर
एक दिन
इस मिटटी को बचाने के लिए
एक खुशबू को मैंने गिरवी रखा
और गिरवी रखी चीज़
कहाँ वापिस आती है?
आज परदेस में धुल फांकता हूँ
और सोचता हूँ
जिस मिटटी को बचाया था
वो भी सींच कहाँ पाया
और जो खुशबू छूट गयी
उस की भी अब आशा क्या
i needed to go
far away from you
but before that
i had to
leave myself
one day, to save my body
i pawned
the scent of my heart.
and who has ever retrieved
a thing once pawned?
today, as i roam the streets of a land not mine
i wonder
the body that i tried to save
could not be nourished
and my soul
is also
forever starved.
तुम से दूर
और उस से भी पहले
अपने से दूर
एक दिन
इस मिटटी को बचाने के लिए
एक खुशबू को मैंने गिरवी रखा
और गिरवी रखी चीज़
कहाँ वापिस आती है?
आज परदेस में धुल फांकता हूँ
और सोचता हूँ
जिस मिटटी को बचाया था
वो भी सींच कहाँ पाया
और जो खुशबू छूट गयी
उस की भी अब आशा क्या
i needed to go
far away from you
but before that
i had to
leave myself
one day, to save my body
i pawned
the scent of my heart.
and who has ever retrieved
a thing once pawned?
today, as i roam the streets of a land not mine
i wonder
the body that i tried to save
could not be nourished
and my soul
is also
forever starved.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
नया साल
नया साल है तो
लाजिम होगा
कुछ नयी बातों का तकाज़ा
कुछ नयी शुरुआतों का ज़िक्र भी होगा
कुछ छूटे साथियों की याद आयेगी
वक़्त गोल पहिया है
कहाँ इसका आगाज़ , कहाँ अंजाम
किसी ने एक दिन रुक कर
एक जगह पहिये पर
एक काली बिंदी लगा दी
तब से हम सब
नया साल मनाते हैं
On new year's eve
there are bound to be
resolutions
missing of friends
lost along the way.
Time, is an endless wheel
where is the start, or the end
of the earth's revolution?
someone stood, at one place, one day,
and put a tiny marker spot
on the wheel
And that is how
we came to celebrate
The New Year.
लाजिम होगा
कुछ नयी बातों का तकाज़ा
कुछ नयी शुरुआतों का ज़िक्र भी होगा
कुछ छूटे साथियों की याद आयेगी
वक़्त गोल पहिया है
कहाँ इसका आगाज़ , कहाँ अंजाम
किसी ने एक दिन रुक कर
एक जगह पहिये पर
एक काली बिंदी लगा दी
तब से हम सब
नया साल मनाते हैं
On new year's eve
there are bound to be
resolutions
missing of friends
lost along the way.
Time, is an endless wheel
where is the start, or the end
of the earth's revolution?
someone stood, at one place, one day,
and put a tiny marker spot
on the wheel
And that is how
we came to celebrate
The New Year.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
The need to play "Little Daddy"
i was at the toy store today, picking up my son's xmas gift. i went past the "little mommy" series of toys, and realised, suddenly, that there are no "little daddy" toys anywhere. We inculcate nurturing in the play of our girl children - across the world. But not in the play of our male children.
In that, we assume that male children do not have a "need to nurture". The need to love is as natural as the need to be loved. The need to nurture is as natural as the need to be nurtured.
At night, as my son sacrifices his play time to "put me to sleep" - patiently lying down and waiting for mater to relax, i wonder whether that assumption is true.
The need to nurture exists in everyone, and to tell a child that his need to nurture needs to be left unacknowledged, and, worse still, needs to be denied, is doing something very wrong for our male children.
We tell our male children that their only needs are need to win, need to conquer, and need to race. These needs we acknowledge in the toys of our children - racing tracks, ninja swords, aeroplanes. But the need to love and nurture.. the need to play "little daddy" - where did that go? Why do we laugh at sons and boys who even EXPRESS that need, in the form of a hug or caring for a younger child, et al? But are perfectly comfortable with a girl child who displays nurturing behavior? Hell's bells, we even encourage it.
So, what kind of hypocrisy makes us deny a basic need in our male children, while accepting and applauding the same need in our girl children?
Has anyone wondered, the difference it would make, if boys played "little daddy"s in their growing up?
In that, we assume that male children do not have a "need to nurture". The need to love is as natural as the need to be loved. The need to nurture is as natural as the need to be nurtured.
At night, as my son sacrifices his play time to "put me to sleep" - patiently lying down and waiting for mater to relax, i wonder whether that assumption is true.
The need to nurture exists in everyone, and to tell a child that his need to nurture needs to be left unacknowledged, and, worse still, needs to be denied, is doing something very wrong for our male children.
We tell our male children that their only needs are need to win, need to conquer, and need to race. These needs we acknowledge in the toys of our children - racing tracks, ninja swords, aeroplanes. But the need to love and nurture.. the need to play "little daddy" - where did that go? Why do we laugh at sons and boys who even EXPRESS that need, in the form of a hug or caring for a younger child, et al? But are perfectly comfortable with a girl child who displays nurturing behavior? Hell's bells, we even encourage it.
So, what kind of hypocrisy makes us deny a basic need in our male children, while accepting and applauding the same need in our girl children?
Has anyone wondered, the difference it would make, if boys played "little daddy"s in their growing up?
Sunday, December 23, 2012
synergy
they are all still there
all the things
that went into
making
our love
but now
they dont add up
to that thing
called love.
the children in my class
ask about "synergy"
i want to
explain this to them.
all the things
that went into
making
our love
but now
they dont add up
to that thing
called love.
the children in my class
ask about "synergy"
i want to
explain this to them.
Why a Delhi woman must have a pre approved gun licence
I have lived in Delhi for 9 years. in these 9 years, i have been married, changed jobs, and also had a baby. I have driven the car at any time of night or day. The Other was a very concerned spouse, and i would tell him, "You should be very scared of someone who is not scared of death. Bring it on. "
Friday night, i was too scared to drive out in Delhi at 2130 hours, with a tentative return time of 2300 hours. For the first time ever. Because i wasnt scared to die, but i was very scared of being in a hospital like that.
The sheer outrage at being scared lasted 2 days. Then this morning, i got up and knew exactly what i was going to do. I am going to apply for a gun licence. Then, i am going to invest in a small automatic pistol with silencer. Then, i am also going to invest in shooting lessons.
When they ask me why i need a gun license, i will tell them this:
In this city, your police stands up and declares that it cannot protect women after dark. Now, there is proof that it cannot protect women even in broad daylight. If you cant protect me, i have a right to protect myself. In fact, the police should pay for my license and pistol because i m making their task easier. i am doing what they are supposed to do in the first place.
And while we are at it, remember that government slogan - educate a man and u educate a person. educate a woman and u educate a family. The same applies to guns. Empower a man and u are creating one safe citizen. Empower a woman and you are protecting the family.
As part of a public safety drive, all women above the age of 18 should be entitled to a pre approved gun licence and the budget should come from the government, which collects taxes but does not do something as basic as physical safety.
I want to see the rape statistics once the men know all women have a right to carry a pistol. And use it in self defence.
Friday night, i was too scared to drive out in Delhi at 2130 hours, with a tentative return time of 2300 hours. For the first time ever. Because i wasnt scared to die, but i was very scared of being in a hospital like that.
The sheer outrage at being scared lasted 2 days. Then this morning, i got up and knew exactly what i was going to do. I am going to apply for a gun licence. Then, i am going to invest in a small automatic pistol with silencer. Then, i am also going to invest in shooting lessons.
When they ask me why i need a gun license, i will tell them this:
In this city, your police stands up and declares that it cannot protect women after dark. Now, there is proof that it cannot protect women even in broad daylight. If you cant protect me, i have a right to protect myself. In fact, the police should pay for my license and pistol because i m making their task easier. i am doing what they are supposed to do in the first place.
And while we are at it, remember that government slogan - educate a man and u educate a person. educate a woman and u educate a family. The same applies to guns. Empower a man and u are creating one safe citizen. Empower a woman and you are protecting the family.
As part of a public safety drive, all women above the age of 18 should be entitled to a pre approved gun licence and the budget should come from the government, which collects taxes but does not do something as basic as physical safety.
I want to see the rape statistics once the men know all women have a right to carry a pistol. And use it in self defence.
Friday, December 21, 2012
tu mere naal bai ke haan deya..
tainu labban gayi si ,
ko kaafraan te
mainu jaapda si
khaure tu kedi kand thalle
dabbya peya honvega
registaan te pahaad
main saare chhan aayi
pher tu
bistere de parle paase
bukkal paa ke lukkda labya
taan mainu pata chalya
koi beli
door jaan layi
ko kaafraan nai paalda
do dilaan de vichkar
jad registaan aa jaave
te seet di rajai vi
bada vadda safar laindi hai
te pher vi paar nahi hundi..
tu, mere naal bai ke haan deya,
methon meelon door lang gaya..
hindi:
तुम्हे ढूढ्ने गयी थी
बहुत दूर
मुझे लगा
पता नहीं , किस दीवार के नीचे
दबे पडे हो तुम
रेगिस्तान और पहाड़
सब छन आई
तब तुम
बिस्तर के दूसरी ओर
अपनी रजाई में मिले
तब मालूम हुआ
की दूर जाने के लिए
कोई दूरी नहीं ढूँढ ता
जब मन के बीच रेगिस्तान आ जाए
तो बीच की रजाई
बहुत लम्बा सफ़र पैदा कर देती है
जो कभी पार नहीं होता
तू, मेरे साथ बैठे बैठे साथी रे
बहुत दूर निकल गया मुझ से
ko kaafraan te
mainu jaapda si
khaure tu kedi kand thalle
dabbya peya honvega
registaan te pahaad
main saare chhan aayi
pher tu
bistere de parle paase
bukkal paa ke lukkda labya
taan mainu pata chalya
koi beli
door jaan layi
ko kaafraan nai paalda
do dilaan de vichkar
jad registaan aa jaave
te seet di rajai vi
bada vadda safar laindi hai
te pher vi paar nahi hundi..
tu, mere naal bai ke haan deya,
methon meelon door lang gaya..
hindi:
तुम्हे ढूढ्ने गयी थी
बहुत दूर
मुझे लगा
पता नहीं , किस दीवार के नीचे
दबे पडे हो तुम
रेगिस्तान और पहाड़
सब छन आई
तब तुम
बिस्तर के दूसरी ओर
अपनी रजाई में मिले
तब मालूम हुआ
की दूर जाने के लिए
कोई दूरी नहीं ढूँढ ता
जब मन के बीच रेगिस्तान आ जाए
तो बीच की रजाई
बहुत लम्बा सफ़र पैदा कर देती है
जो कभी पार नहीं होता
तू, मेरे साथ बैठे बैठे साथी रे
बहुत दूर निकल गया मुझ से
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