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February 10, 2004

Hints for a political commentary

Hints for a political commentary

Someone in my shoutbox asked if would write political commentaries. I would love to write politics but during the last few years, too many politicians whom I personally believed to be ‘nice guys’ ditched us too badly. When politics by itself is a very dishonest science(!), I think writing a political commentary is also a very dishonest art. You can never be right / honest / unbiased.

If I were to write a bashing political commentary, here are a few hints. We will build the Ram Temple in Ayodhya reads a recent headline – The elections are fast approaching – India shining is a myth.

What do you say?
February 5, 2004

The End of Live Broadcasts

The End of Live Broadcasts – The Nipplegate

First things first. You and me cannot sensationalise the event anymore. Already it is the most argued and commented incident in the media.

It is estimated that eight nine million people saw, the super bowl and before many could have a clue of what they witnessed, the incident ended. It is the biggest search in the internet replacing the 9/11 incident. The worse thing that it has created is that the introduction of five second delay in the broadcast of the grammy awards this sunday in CBS.

Justin Timberlake accidentaly ripped Janet Jackson’s top resulting in a controversial incident. You know what. As a result, CBS network has introduced a 5 second delay in the live broadcast of the grammy awards. In no time llive shows might be long gone history. This 5 second delay might be legitimised in the coming days and the 5 seconds would give enough time for the TV producers to censor if anything unexpected happens, like this.

I am not sure what would be the case of Cricket telecasts. If the 5 second delay is implemented then only when Sachin returns back to the pavilion, we would see Sachin facing the outside off-stump ball from Brett Lee. Poor us.
February 1, 2004

How India became the capital

How India became the capital of the computing revolution :

This is a story about the global economy. It’s about two countries and one profession – and how weirdly upside down the future has begun to look from opposite sides of the globe. It’s about code and the people who write it. But it’s also about free markets, new politics, and ancient wisdom – which means it’s ultimately about faith.

Daniel H. Pink writes in this wired article, The New face of Silicon Age, about the changing phenomenon of outsourcing. Wait. You don’t have to think that this is yet another outsourcing information overload. The issue of outsourcing has been handled in a very unbiased way. Some might feel the bias being dealt with subtelty. But at this juncture of sheer biased articles from the international media, this is a very rational summary about both sides of the coin.

Though it is very descriptive in content and not totally analytical like economist types, this article is sure to open up a whole new world of truths. Atleast it attempts to do it.

A must read if you are in anyway involved with this outsourcing issue or not. Also read The Indian Machine by Chris Anderson, Editor in Chief of Wired.

Link Via : Living in India.
January 30, 2004

Strings, Euphoria and lil bit

Strings, Euphoria and lil bit of Patriotism
(Title inspired by Chennai Blogger Meet 2004) :

On the republic day, the Open Air Theatre of IIT Madras took a hop for 3 hours. Strings, a guitar specialist band from Pakistan performed as a part of the Saarang 2004. Like Saiyoni fame Junoon ( not the DD megaserial), Strings have a distinct aura around them. Dhoor, their hit number was amazing. It takes a lot of attitude to perform in India on the republic day and these guys are definitely not short of that.

Then came running with the indian flag around him was ‘Euphoria’ Palash. Popularly known as Polly, this doctor-turned-pop artist, was with a white sleeveless banian and an unbuttoned shirt which seemed to fall off any time. From then for the next 2 hours he and his euphoric band kept the 8,000+ audience at their feet. So as he came running with the flag and started Jana Gana as the first song of the day, IIT rose up and stood unmoved. Polly continued to sing A.R Rahman‘s Vande Matharam. So did the crowd. We’ll keep the argument surrounding A.R.R’s Vande Matharam and patriotism to the next post. As you can imagine the decibel levels of thousands of collegers shouting at their alto voices, Vande Matharam. A spirit of patriotism swirled across us and it was a definite goose bumper.

While other bands keep singing their own compositions, Euphoria just bothers about keeping the audience happy. Their mantra is just hit numbers. Some interesting numbers they played includes Scorpion’s With or Without You, Queen’s We will Rock you, Bon Jovi’s It’s my life, Shankar Elson Loy’s Dil Chahta Hai and ofcourse ARR’s Dil Se Re.

With just a handful of albums and numerous hit within those albums, the future awaits Euphoria to create wonders. And they can really do it.

Observing Saarang :

a) Guys seemed totally geeky and girls, very freaky.

b) The Alpha and the Omega was found roaming around and I bumped over him on the second day.

c) I missed JAM finals in which I think Suds was also a jammer.

d) The Crossword show called Crossie seemed pretty much easier than I expected. Not that I crack crosswords with my left hand but I aint’ bad also.

e) Hutch introduced the public mobile phone booth. So the hutch guy outside would be sitting with a mobile phone in his hand. If you want to make a call to your honey or to your nanny, you got to pick up the mobile and get into that mobilephone sized booth, talk and give it back to that hutch guy. Good Idea, wrong execution.

f) Radio Mirchi was trying to do something very different with a couple of RJs(Radio Jockey). It was fun to see the expression of RJs from a transparent booth where he/she was talking with that same FM supersonic speed.

g) A chap who was standing beside me during the Euphoria show was replying to SMSes with full swing. While Phalash started to sing It’s my life, he was jumping heaven high and still typing sms in his mobile. I had no clue what was he trying to do. But thats the spirit of Saarang.

h) Finally, the sillier one. They sold pure mineral water with some added color and code named it as Pepsi for 15 bucks.
January 29, 2004

Kovil Movie Review

Kovil is that kind of movie which you would like to see in doordarshan as a sunday movie. Chandamama type villages called Pulliyangkulam and Vepangkulam have religious boundaries and two youngsters of different religions fall in love which eventually brings war and peace to these villages. Like Kathal Virus, this movie has been misplaced in the history. It is kind of a commercial story that could have been a silver jubliee hit, two decades back. But at this era of crossover films, the way in which the movie is presented blows the old trumpet again.

Saami director Hari’s ability to race the script has risen the expectation for this Simbu starrer. But it is right on the director’s part to try various styles before settling down. Kovil is scripted in a very patient manner which disturbs one’s patience. But Hari manages to bring in some relaistic touch with such a pace to the movie. Also I am not sure if it is fair to show a character of a particular religion to be very fair and the other one belonging to a different religion as a fanatic.

Simbu has managed to do a clean job without yapping too much. He has clearly downplayed his Little SuperStar image which gives some confidence for his future producers. If he can etch such good roles, he could mould himself into the next new line of heroes. Though at some emotional scenes, his body language is similar to his dad, this kid has a long way to go.

Harris Jayaraj needs to be blamed for duplicating his effort. The situations and the songs are similar in Saami. You can even blame the director for that. But having composed Collegeukku Povom song very similar to Kamban Engu Ponaan song is unacceptable. Even if you listen to it for the first, you can just humm the original song.

Hints for a political commentary

The End of Live Broadcasts

How India became the capital

Strings, Euphoria and lil bit

Kovil Movie Review