Will, Defiance and A defiant Will

The doors were bolted,
the breeze,stranded in courtyard.
But chimes still ring,
with heavy beating overcast.

Lost to destiny,
A sound plugs can't hide.
The monsoon has arrived.
The acidic rain will bite.

The roof,
plastered last season.
But alas! I know,
the ceiling will indulge in treason.

The will is so defiant,
It will leak.
Rain will chafe the heart.
Drenched heart will tweak.

A Quatrain of Dejection

With teared up heel on desert sand,
His limp deformed his tired shadow;
And with the wind piercing his mortal self.
The vision Contracts, falling in narrow.

Slumdog Indian; Is it??

The claim is coming thick of finally placing India on the centre stage of world cinema with Slumdog millionaire. I haven't seen the movie yet but will see it.

But as much I appreciate the presence of a large Indian crew in making of a worldwide acclaimed movie, I am still quite sceptic of calling it anything near to an Indian movie. True,the movie is inspired by an Indian novel. But going by that standard every third Bollywood creation should be notified as a Hollywood movie because of the penchant of Indian filmmakers to Lift the western Ideas from a Hollywood DVD.

The cast is Indian, but it have to be if the movie is to be placed in India. They cannot have a 'gora' running down the slums claiming as an Indian. We are way too different.

(This remind me of the great ability of Indian filmmakers in past era who easily gave a twisted accent and a golden wig to make an Indian actor as foreigner.To Great Indian mass, you can offer anything on the platter and they will gulp it. But I agree time has changed).

So, even If the characters are predominantly Indian and the spirit of movie, as claimed by Danny Boyle, is of Mumbai, it leaves little for India to be over the moon. The Director and production is British. The screenplay writer is British.The male protagonist or in a more filmy lingua "hero" of the movie is British. The movie is a British movie and the truth is, it's a movie made by a British with his sensibilities. And I have severe doubts that had an Indian with his sensibilities, made this same movie, would it have caused such a stir worldwide?

And their is nothing to feel small. The rush for Oscar is out of my understanding. We have an artistic and eclectic Cinema. But our sensitivities are different from West. It's not necessary they understand us. They may find the dialogues which have us rolling on floor as mundane. To have recognition from them is of course better but expectation is futile. For it is in no way a measure of our greatness or dexterity in the art and entertainment of cinema.The truth is we should stop lamenting for OSCARS and make some Indian awards of the reputation of Oscars. And to achieve that, first of all we have to make them transparent. But surely Awards or no awards, with the current trend Indian movies are and will go great guns. It seems Industry has come to age. And I hope and deem that in coming time Indian Movie Industry will give stiff resilience to the domination of Hollywood.

But, For Rahman, its a true achievement. He has over the time given some great music and the Globe is a justification for that. I keep my finger crossed, that on Feb 22, he have something to cheer.

Moreover, a different section also claims that the movie has shown the underbelly of dirty-murky Mumbai. Well if the plot is set in such a place I think you have to justify by going into slums. And all those who claim this is not true INDIA, must make me understand how much 'TRUE' India they see in Mr. Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam or KKHH or Chopra's Mohabattein or DDLJ . I can bet no part of Chandni Chowk in Delhi is like shown in K3G at any time of year( with a bunch of 100 trained dancers exploding the scene in a jiffy) and I have never been to any village where farmers are singing in Unison with Girls waving sugarcanes and persons happily swinging on a overcrowded bus's roof. Actually Danny has put a step ahead than his Indian counter parts in going and shooting into the real places that story demands. It's true that it shows dirty India but may be the story is about dirty India. A movie about vibrant India will portray upsurging India. How can you have all of the India in some cinematic shots. We cannot capture whole of a person, leave alone a nation and that too a nation like India.Even the thought is preposterous. And if Dirty India sells, then there is much too it than just a movie.



So, stop criticizing or being too ebullient and accept that its a nice foreign production placed in India with substantial Indian contribution. But sadly I find only that much to rejoice.But the hype will drive me to theaters to watch it for sure.

--NERVES--

A stupid sense has caught me in.
My legs have frozen up with this din.

A horn just blast up and a vehicle passed;
I tremble backwards, I am not so fast.

The “Nerves” have caught me, froze me still,
The fear has revolted against the will.

The highway is dark; now only that I can see,
The headlights seem to cast silhouette over me.

And I know I have it in me to get over par,
But every try is resisted by invisible bars.

I know these bars are nothing but the “NERVES”,
Hidden inside the brain; under these muscular curves.

Just for a second if I can shove up my verves,
Burst with all intent and crush up these paralyzing nerves.
I will be on the other side of this highway.
Just a burst! Or for too long here I have to stay.

~Betrayal~

In the night, the sky was dark and grey.
The storm was approaching; was not far away.

And today, in this night, I was called on the bridge.
The winds were icy; I felt that I will freeze.

As I was moving on, a fright just seized me.
“What if she doesn’t turn up to meet me?”

Ah! How patiently had I waited for this night!
How my eyes had wept to get her sight!

And how impatient I am today?
Nothing can stop me; neither storm nor quake.

The moon looking like the face tried to play hide and seek.
The clouds favoring me showed what I wanted to see.

When I reached bridge, she was there.
Her face shone and her skin was fair.

I reached her and touched her;
The emotions choked the words.
All that could be heard was a murmur.

She smiled and felt shy,
No gestures I possessed for reply.

Then she came close,
I felt the air out from her nose.

And then I embraced her.
I saw a dark figure in the light of moon;
But closed my eyes; taking that hug as a boon.

Suddenly, I felt great pain.
I tried to take her away, but all was in vain.

Again she gave the kiss of death;
Again I agonizingly gasped for breath.

Then, I pushed her aside;
And saw the cunning smile that she couldn’t hide.
But by heavens! I was still alive.

I stood still and looking at her thought; for my whole life
I could have died at the slightest indication of her eyes.
Still she stole the thing which was hers, not mine.

Ah! Again much higher pain;
But from where was it gained?
I turned back and saw my friend;
And realized that is my end.

MOONSTRUCK

The days are so dull; nights are bright.
I can’t see; there is too much light.

Why it happened to me? Is that my luck?
Why I wake up all night? Am I moonstruck?

In the dark, solemnity surmounts;
Bawdy voices, freaking sounds
Blood stained cry; red star in the sky.
I am loosing hope with a pathetic smile.

Still bantering with ruins of my dreams
feels like music, these astringent screams.

Nakedly standing in the front of mirror;
I brazenly gaze the wounds on the figure.

Charlatan, am I?
To myself and the world outside.
Are my thoughts arcane?
Will they go in vain?

Chasm is wide;
These fears will never hide.

In front of mirror everybody will remain naked.
Even if the world praise; soul will castigate.
Forever! Forever!

~A Parting Song~

Make things beautiful even at worse of times;
Sing your songs even as you go out of rhymes.

Not everyday there will be rain;
Sometimes smile will be replaced by pain.

It doesn’t matter how many times you hug me;
But refrain yourself from saying the final goodbye.
You really have to live for each moment;
And in love, for nobody you have to die.

The tides of time can take us far;
I’m not good swimmer and can get drown.
But hey! You swim to the shore;
Because you have to find out jewels many more.

Life is beautiful; if this you have understood;
Then I have achieved what I thought I should.

Never cry for me, if I am not with you;
Hold me in your heart as grass holds dew.
No matter if I vaporize as the life’s heat increases with day;
I will always leave you fresh, happy and gay.

Promise me to smile always and feel the world’s beauty;
With my sight deep inside your eyes; it’s now your eternal duty.