Phir Kabhi Na Mile Aisa Sur

Republic Day came and went with its usual "patriotic" fervour of "patriotic" movie telecasts on south indian channels, particularly the ones in Singara Chennai. We could have as well gotten along with a normal holiday, with heavy lunch, a super slumber, and four hours of glued TV watching. But then there had to be a change in the routine. And this was beautifully thrown in by the hype that Phir Mile Sur Mera Thumhara created.

I wanted to know, quite desperately how it was, after seeing some initial reactions on twitter. I go to youtube ( we have "CAS"te system in Chennai even in this millenium), do a quick search and stream Part 1 of this song. And at the end of the 8 minutes, I was left wondering How the heck does Shilpa Shetty feature anywhere in the context of National Integration in any remote context. But turns out I was mistaken. Infact a lot of people are. This new version of the original soulful Mile Sur Mera Thumhara is the integration of all bollywood actors in a single 16 minute video. So what if this supposed to be the sequel of a beautiful song that took the nation by surprise ages ago when technology was totally analog. So what if the theme is national integration. In 5 minutes video time, the original managed to show (then) present day achievers, some common people, some common people's occupations, superstars(then) from bollywood. It also managed to show fleeting scenes from every state in India - TN,AP,K,Ka,Mh,Guj,Raj,P,UP,O,WB,As,Manipur or Nagaland Or Tripura, (not sure about Bihar).

I wish the producers of PMSTM will find better things to do, and do them in better ways atleast in future.

Not intending to watch part2 of PMSTM. Ever.

Winds of Change

Winds of change blowing strong
I know not how and what will go wrong

Is this a passing phase? my mind asks
Why do you fear? my friend asks

I wish I could hide
Like a snail would in its shell
Until changes the tide
And time gets well

Should I let go?
Should I hold on strong?
Multitude of these questions
Continue to throng

My brain's going wild
My mind's eternally a child
In between these two
Very poor is my plight

Shall I Move away
To places unseen
For only when there is dust
Is a beam of sun light seen.

But Change is Constant
Constant is Change
If this is reality
Why is it so strange?

This is dedicated to Divya aka Kutti Pisasu, who (like me) is feeling topsy turvy about everything around her.

Why Narendra Modi should not become Prime Minister of India

I have great appreciation for Mr Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, India. The media and hence a lot of people give the colour of religion, autocracy, and too much control. So much that they provide automatic prime time coverage for him, without him moving so much as a finger for it.

So, do you think all that is false, is what you might want to ask me. My answer is simple. What the media reports I have not seen/experienced. Nor has anyone I know closely. And I firmly believe this - as much as it tries to position itself as the torch bearer of truth for the common people, the news media industry in itself is a sort of a racket considering its eternal quest for sensational news. And when I see good work being carried out successfully in whatever little measure, I believe that one should appreciate it, understand how it has succeeded, take cues from it and move on to apply it in one's own life and works.

So when I try to analyse Mr.Narendra Modi's profile as chief minister, as administrator of a state, I give the news media's information a benefit of doubt and take it that this man has failed on certain counts. But after that, he has also succeeded on certain counts. And I want to emulate the right things that he has done. And I believe everyone should do the same. Complain, crib and cry over his mistakes. But after that if you dont learn from his successes, then you have succeeded in one thing - in failing to make a rational observation.

And if we say that Mr.Narendra Modi should become Prime Minister of India next, it means this - We promise to be inefficient cribbing people, who know to complain and blame, but do not comprehend the word "action". Its like promising to yourself that you will certainly look to appoint a person to flush your toilet, rather than just extend your hand and turn the lever.

Come, and be the force that should take India forward. 
Think about it.

PhotoCredit - http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-takes-charge/1/