Wise Monkeys

I’m going to start with a usual disclaimer- I don’t know about economics. 

Like others, I thought on Nov 8th, that this situation will become normal in 2-3 days. But the very next day, I felt the impact in the name of a medical emergency. I had money, but I couldn’t take it from my account, or if I can take, it was very meager considering the bill to be settled in the hospital. Fortunately, after two days, my bank raised the swipe limit and it was breather. So I had a “minor” inconvenience.

Is there a minor and major inconvenience? And don’t say I might have handled situation in different way, your suggestions are in hindsight. And, don’t suggest others to go cashless or mobile money. You cannot dictate on how I use my money, especially when I pay taxes and whatever I have is hard earned white money.

And you bhakts, few months before you were chasing around beef, how come you people suddenly became economics expert. A courageous move, is not necessarily a right move. On top, the courageous move is not planned well. With daily one announcement, people like me had to do ATM hunting even after almost two weeks of the so called demonetisation. 

"A courageous move, is not necessarily a right move."

Simple analogy (Which I made after reading or hearing so many talks\texts)- You have a one wheeled cycle (which is the economic system), the spokes in the wheel are the currency. There are 100 spokes on the wheel, which supports the system. You remove the 86 spokes instantly (86% of 500/1000 denomination), which you assume are bad spokes. Then you install half-spoke a day and that too with all the hiccups. How will the cycle run or can be used?

There are lots of monetary economic literature available, newspaper are churning up columns. Our government is living in hope and prayer. Even if govt succeeds in its objective, people had suffered or at least I suffered your notion of “minor” inconvenience.

Remember, our economy succeeded recession, when globally it affected other countries. So if we succeed this, then it will be because of the resilient of the people (Success is getting back to normal. Not the cashless, eradicate black and counterfeit money).

The Burning Question !!

I don’t know how I landed in this place. Somehow they got hold of my number and called me for an interview. They were offering a position called as “political analyst”. It is a recently started news website, which is run by the expats who used to work for a leading English newspaper. They wanted to see my political thoughts, I said “frankly speaking, I don’t any idea of the present-past-or-future politics”, but they said “we the people don’t care”. I said “I don’t know neither the left, nor the right or the center of it”. The interviewer got irritated and he yelled “the buck stops here” and continued with the burning questions.

Interviewer :- Question No. 1 – According to you who is the worst Prime Minister India ever had?

Me:- (Silence)..hmmm

Interviewer :- OK. I’ll give you options- (a) VP Singh (b) Narasimha Rao (c) Nehru

Me:- There is no Modi in the options?

Interviewer:- No, he'll be available in the next question. If you want I will give a fourth option which is (d) None of the above.

Me:- Let me skip this and take the next question.

Interviewer:- Next question No. 2- According to you who is the best Prime Minister India ever had?

Me:- You have options or can I choose according to my wish?

Interviewer:- Your options are (a) Modi (b) Modi (c) Modi (d)..

Me:- (Interrupting) I will go for option (d) None of the above

Interviewer:- The fourth option (d) is All the above. Do you want to go with “All the above”?

Me:- I’ll skip this question and move to the next.

…........

..........

…..

The interview went on for an hour. They will let me know the result in a week for the next round!!

20 Years of Internet in India

Today as we celebrate 69th Independence day, this day also marks the 20th anniversary of public internet access in India (VSNL opened Dial-up lines). It all started in August 15th, 1995 when the dial-up lines were leased at huge price. 

For a guy who was then in a little town like me, it took some time for me to access it in the name of internet cafes. In fact it took years. It was then the year 2000. My UG mate, Evan, who took few of us to a browsing center in Dharmapuri, as he had already got some hands to the internet. There were four of us and the cafe was almost 5x5 in size. We had to wait for our turn as there was only one computer and it was occupied by some fellows who were glued to the screen!. Being in 2nd year CS graduation, computers were not new to us, in college we were feverishly working on programming languages (FoxPro, COBAL...), but internet was all new.

We created email ID's in usa.net (I felt as if I became an American!). We used ask our friends about the websites (email web client) they had email account and next time when we visited the cafe, we created an account in the new website. Yahoo was a rock star, since it had everything in it, they called it as portal. Indian version of it was Rediff and Indya. It didn't take long for Tamil Cinema to weave a story along the Internet (Kadalar Dhinam), the cracking dial-up tone, became a BGM for a song (Oh Maria..).

AltaVista was my first search engine, but before I got used to it Google swallowed the market. When the Dial-up cafes made way for DSL (Brand Dishnet by Sterling). They also came with a book written by Sujatha (Veetukkul Varum Ulagam) on the internet concepts in Tamil and there were other Tamil computer magazines which had exclusive columns on internet. I had a handwritten database of websites in a diary- the pages were marked alphabetically. Slowly the internet was occupying our life, and I was not an exception. Good or bad, it was all there available.

After PG, job search (posting for job) was easy by a click of the button using job sites (Clearing interviews were a mountain). Yahoo job forums such Chethana was a cornucopia of jobs, but still had to rely on Wednesday Opportunities by The Hindu!. My entire career, even till now is been knitted around the internet. I spent my initial months to help assist faceless people to install modems and routers, while I haven't actually done it in real. Switching jobs and companies, but still internet is there with me. Like me, for most of my friends, internet has become an unavoidable part of our work. I won't say we are indebted to it, because it is all part of the evolution.

It is astonishing to see how we have evolved all these years, from emails, chats, wikipedias, eCommerce, blogs, social networking, videos, torrents to wicked WhatsApp on mobiles.

I still turn-on the wifi with the same kid-like enthusiasm which I had years before and I’m sure this will last forever.

**Above image by the blogger

Kissa Kursi Ka (India, 1977)

This week we are observing 40th anniversary of the Emergency (India), which was imposed by Indira Gandhi government in 1975. There are only handful of films which talked about the black pages of India. One such film, which not only took a direct dig into the Emergency, but also made a satirical political film, Kissa Kursi Ka. Kissa means story (tale), Kursi means chair (Seat of power or throne). The film is directed my Amrit Nahata, who was a Congress MP then, later he went to Janata Party which was the torch bearer in opposing the Emergency under Jai Prakash Narayan.

As far as I know, political satire is a very rare genre, the one I had seen is a Tamil film by an comedian turned political commentator Cho Ramaswamy’ Mohammaed bin Thugluk, which was released in 1971, way before the Emergency.

As the name suggests, Kissa Kursi Ka is all about catching and keeping the power on ones hold. This takes the plot directly from Indira Gandhi, who was to hold the power to safeguard her PM position. Let me not go into the political events of 1975, but just talk about the film. 

**Spoilers Ahead**

The film is set in a fictional country call Jan Gan. Meera and her boyfriend Gopal on a chit-chat in a party strike an idea to make someone as politician and then make him\her the President of Jan Gan desh. After a brief search, they find Gangu, a dumb street vendor who is selling a medicine named sanjayveni. With all the misdoings of Meera, Gangu becomes the President. Gopal cautions Meera that Gangu might turn as monster, which eventually happens. Meera lose her grip on Gangaram (Gangu), who takes directions from Deshpal his secretary. Shabana Azmi is called Jantha (which denotes the public in Hindi), she is disabled to speak. Her visits to Gangaram are prevented by Deshpal. Ridiculous ideas are implemented by the government- Killing rats to prevent those eating grains. Mass execution of rats takes place. People are given incentives to kill rats. An unnecessary war is fought with the neighboring country called Anderinagar. At one point Deshpal sexually assaults and kills Janta. Terrified Gangaram finds it and asks what have you done? Deshpal replies “What I did to her was all what you did to the people of this country”. As every film, the villain Gangaram and Deshpal find their end.

The film is not short of songs. At given intervals the songs appear is various major Indian folk\classical styles- Odissi, Bangra, Bharathanatiyam, which lyrically represent the unfolding story.

After forty years, even now the dialogues will still hold good for the current politicians. The film was banned and its original tapes were burnt by none other than the second son of the Mrs. Gandhi, for which he was sentenced to one month prison post Emergency. This film can be put in the lines of religious satire Life of Brain and Kubrick political satire film Dr. Stranglove.

The full film is available in YouTube, taken from a Zee TV telecast.

Picture Links and other links-

http://homegrown.co.in/understanding-indias-dangerous-history-of-film-censorship-and-its-implications/

http://www.filmykeeday.com/movies-that-were-banned-in-india/

Modi 365 (plus or minus)

Last week, newspapers, television, social media and my barber- everyone was talking about one year of Modi government (Amma beat him badly when it came to the front page advertisement in all newspapers across the country). Everyone gave their report. All went to its length and breadth from his foreign visits to the Land Acquisition bill. 

My barber kept the blade on my throat and asked “How did you feel about Modi’ one year government?”. I became speechless!

He didn’t wait for my reply. He said “Amma vanduthanga illa, innemel all will be OK”. Apparently, he didn’t get the difference between the central and state government. 

So what did this middle class private sector working guy got from Modi? Of course, one cannot expect anything direct from the government, but still I want to list the changes this government did to me. This is strictly personal, I’m not going to say anything on what this government did for others (poor, rich and NRI’s).

They made me to get the long awaited Aadhaar card. They took away my bio-metrics (finger print and retina scan). I assume it is now in an American cloud. My face in the card looked like my “onnu vitta sithappa”. I already have a bunch of identity and address proof, now Aadhaar card adds to the list. 

They made to link my LPG connection to my bank account. I still couldn’t understand, earlier I used to pay Rs. 400. Now, I’m paying Rs. 600 and Rs. 200 is transferred to my bank account. If you are going to transfer back the Rs. 200 to me, why did you collect it from me? On top, I receive an SMS from my LPG dealer to give up the subsidies, which will help for building the nation! How do I know if my Rs. 200 is properly spent for nation building?.

The usual raising of the income tax slab was not done in this budget. This was much awaited, which would have impacted directly our pockets. Instead Modi said we have to take a bitter pill. There was decrease in corporate tax and he gave a sugar candy to them.

Apart from the above there is price rise for both daily commodities and fuel. 

Let us see how my money is spent indirectly. Why such fancy campaigns like Swachh Bharat and Make In India. This things exists only in paper and TV commercials.

After this government came into power, every day, someone gives controversial statements, about what to eat, what to wear, where to pee, where to spit, how many children to have, what to read, whom to pray… All this news fills my daily paper. I’m forced to read it and I get disturbed. 

Oh forgot about this fortnightly talk. “Mann Ki Baat” is magnificently scripted by the verses from the Napoleon Hill, “You Can Win” kind-of thoughts specifically targeting the youth (read future voters). Why can’t there be a “Mann Ki Baat” targeting the government officials, MLA’s, CM’s, MP’s, parents, teachers, newspaper boy…

So how did Modi government impact you? Let me know.

**The above Modi mask image is by the blogger used only for illustration purpose.

** Newspaper Image from Twitter.

Bharath Stores (India, 2012)

இதை தமிழில் தான் எழுதவேண்டும். என்னென்றால் இது இந்தியப்படம், அதுவும் நம்ம பக்கத்து மாநிலம் கர்னாடகாவிலிருந்து வெளிவந்தப் படம். பொதுவாக சமகாலத்து நிகழ்வுகளை படமாக எடுக்கமாட்டார்கள். எதற்கு வேண்டாத தலைவலினு. இல்லனா ஒரு ஜனரஞ்சகமான படத்தை எடுத்து அதுல தொசை மேலத் தூவுன மொளகப்போடி போல ஒரு சமகாலத்துப் பிரச்சனையா பூசுனாப்புல சொல்லிட்டு போயிடுவாங்க. ஆனா Bharath Stores நேரடியா கதையோட மையப்புள்ளியில் டிராவல்லாகுது.

பெரிய shopping complex மற்றும் mall-கள் வந்துவிட்ட நிலையில் சிறிய மளிகை கடைகள் என்ன ஆகும் என்பதை ஒரு கதையோடு சொல்வதுதான் இந்தப் படம். (Written & Directed by Sheshadri)

பாரதியும் (Sudharani) அவள் கணவரும் (Gurudutt- கமலின் கலைஞன் படத்தில் வரும் வில்லன்) ஆமெரிகாவில் இருந்து பெங்களுருக்கு வருகிறார்கள். பாரதி கோவிந்த ஷெட்டியை (Dattareya) தேடி வருகின்றாள். பாரதியின் தந்தை கோவிந்த ஷெட்டியிடம் பட்டக் கடனை அடைக்க வருகின்றாள். கோவிந்த ஷெட்டி Bharath Stores என்ற மளிகை கடையின் முதலாளி. ”Bharath Stores bus stop”-பை கண்டுபிடிக்கிறாள், ஆனால் அங்கு Bharath Stores கடை இல்லை. அக்கம் பக்கம் விசாரித்தாலும் யாருக்கும் தெரியவில்லை. ஒருவழியாக கடையில் வேலை செய்த சந்துரு மற்றும் மஞ்சுநாத்தை (இந்தப் பெயர் இல்லாமல் கன்னடப்படமே இருக்காது!) சந்திக்கிறாள். அவர்கள் கோவிந்த ஷெட்டியிடம் வேலை செய்த அனுபவம், ஷெட்டியின் குடும்ப சர்ச்சை மற்றும் கடையில் எப்படி வியாபரம் படுத்தது என்று கூற, கதை கடந்த காலம், நிகழ் காலத்திற்க்கும் மாறி மாறி பயணிக்கிறது. ஷெட்டியை பாரதி சந்தித்து கடனை திருப்பிக் கொடுத்தாளா என்பது கதை.

காலப்போக்கில் மாற்றம் இன்றியமையாதது தான், அதை எற்க மறுத்தவன் அழிந்துப்போவன். ஆனால் அரசாங்கமோ பெருநிறுவனங்களோ மக்களின் மீது அவர்களுக்கு தெரியாமல் ஆசையை விதைப்பது அந்த மாற்றத்தை வேகமடைய செய்து மனிதர்களின் மனித்தன்மையை இழக்க செய்கிறது.

எல்லா சிறு மளிகைக்கடைகளும் பாதிப்பு அடைவதில்லை, ஆனால் மால்களின் காட்டாற்று வெள்ளத்தில் Bharath Stores போன்ற கடைகள் அடித்து செல்லப்பட்டிருப்பது உண்மை. 

Retail, wholesale, packed foods, IT மற்றும் பெருநிறுவனங்களில் குடுக்கப்படும் food & grocery coupon, விளம்பர உக்திகள், credit card, தேவையற்ற பொருள்களை வாங்குவது போன்ற எல்லாவிதமான நவீன கலாசரங்கள் பற்றியும் கதையோடு சொல்கிறது Bharath Stores.

Torrent-ல் இருக்குதா என்று தெரியவில்லை. எப்போயாவது DD National, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha அல்லது DD Bharathi போன்ற TV Channel-களில் பார்க்கலாம்.

YouTube Trailer

To Err is Human. Keep Calm & Accept it ?

This was a closely watched case, not only by common people, but also by most of the politicians, because they have their own similar cases against them. 

Given such a magnitude of this case, should the Karnataka Court could have be little careful. 

They messed up with Bhavani Singh. Supreme Court messed up more, by removing Singh. 

Acharaya was reappointed. He was asked to give a 50-page written argument (For such high profile case!!) and that too he was given just one day time. He just gave 18-pages of argument? He didn't go back to Supreme Court to ask for more time? 

And, finally, the judgement- Jayalalitha Vindicated, saying the parties (Jayalalitha & Others) had only 8.12% disproportionate asset while comparing to their income. Meaning, their income was Rs. 100, but they had Rs. 108.12. As per a previous Supreme Court judgement, the 8.12% is under the acceptable limits! The permissible limit is 10%.

Did the numbers were wrong or was it a typo?

Justice Kumaraswamy took the loan taken by the parties as their Income (Michael Cunha didn't take it as their Income). There is a noticeable mathematical error in the sum of the Total Loan.

Check the screenshot from the judgement (Page. No. 852), marked in red is the revised.

So the balance loan is Rs. 4,67,46,000/- and not Rs. 18,17,46,000/-

Taking this Rs. 4,67,46,000/-, when calculating the Total Income, we get Rs. 21,26,65,654. Check the screenshot from the judgement (Page. No. 913), marked in red is the revised.

Now, there is a small math which is calculated in the judgement (Page. No. 914) to get the ratio (8.12%). Check the below screenshot, marked in red is revised.

We get 75.76%. Which is way about the 10% permissible level.

Now could this be a typo, Did they fail to add an extra "0" in Ex.P1027. Let us check. Change the first loan amount as 15Cr from 1.5Cr. Bingo, we get the Total Loan amount as Rs.24, 17, 31,274. Which exactly matches Justice Kumaraswamy’ numbers. Check the screenshot (Again from Page. No. 852).

This is fine, after all this is a typo, to err is human. 1000 pages of document, full of numbers, 4 months deadline to complete the appeal. Now, let us go back to John Micheal Cunha judgement to see was it 15Cr or 1.5Cr? Screenshot from his judgement (Page No. 992)

It is 1.5Cr. I'm confused. I leave it to your discretion to decide which is correct and which is false.

Reference Judgements

John Cunha - http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/02136/Jayalalitha_Assets_2136932a.pdf

Karnataka High Court-  http://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/noticeBoard/CRL-A-835-838-2014.pdf

Bettada Jeeva (India, 2011)

Language: Kannada | Director: Sheshadri | Year: 2011

The title is translated in English as “Man of the hills”, but it could have been “The Life on the hills”, because although the film portrays about the human emotions, it equally talks about the life of the people living in the Western Ghats of South India. 

The story is set in pre-independence India. Shivaramu (Suchendra Prasad) is a young freedom fighter, who is propagating Gandhian thoughts is on a run from the law. He loses his way in the woods while travelling, he then with the help of the tribes land at Gopalaiah’ house for a night stay. 

The elderly couple- Goplaiah (Dattatreya) and his wife Sankari (Rameshwari) live in the midst of the forest, along with few people. They have their own farm. Situation arrives when Shivaramu had to stay with them for few days. This gives an opportunity for Shivaramu to know about the couple, their runaway son Subbu, who they believe is in Bombay. He comes to know that Subbu like him (Shivaramu) has left his parents to take part in the freedom struggle. By seeing the emotional sufferings of the elderly couple, who are unaware of the whereabouts of their son, Shivaramu decides to get back to his own family. Sankari also asks Shivaramu to find their son, since he too is travelling to Bombay. Did he find is the climax of the film?

The synopsis of the film made me to watch it, since most of the pre-independence set films are either patriotic or political biography. Very few films touch the human emotions of that period. 

Other touch points in Bettada Jeeva are the life of the people in Western Ghats of Karnataka- Their culture and attitude towards the then on going freedom movements. Gandhiji is almost an outsider to them. The people never care who rules them. The film on its way of pitching the human emotions, also talks about environmental issues of deforestation. But nothing gets preachy.

இணையத்தை காப்போம்

66(A)-யை இந்திய சட்டத்தில் இருந்து நீக்கிய இந்த நிலையில் இப்படி ஒரு தலைப்பை கண்டு ஆச்சரியப்படுவீர்கள். ஆம் இணையத்திற்கு ஆபத்து வந்துள்ளது. எப்படி? பார்ப்போம்.

சாமானியனின் குரல்

இணையம் சாமானியனின் குரல். நாம் post-பண்ணும் ஒவ்வொரு tweet-டும், Facebook-ல் இடும் status message-ம், what’s app-ல் அனுப்பும் மொக்க jokes-ம், Youtube-ல் பார்கும் video-களும், இப்படி எல்லாவற்றையும் “0” அல்லது “1” அடக்கி சேமித்து (Store) ஒர் இடத்தில் இருந்து இன்னொரு இடத்துக்கு மாற்றலாம் (Transfer). இதையெல்லாம் பண்ணுவதுதான் ISP (Internet Service Provider)-களின் வேலை. இவங்க வேற யாருமில்ல.. Airtel, Tata, MTS, Reliance.. போன்ற தொலைப்பேசி சேவையை (TSP- Telephone Service Provider) கொடுக்கும் நிறுவனங்கள். இவர்களை (ISP & TSP) கட்டுப்படுத்துவது TRAI (Telephone Regulation Authority of India) என்ற மத்திய அரசின் அமைப்பு. இப்போ பிரச்சனையே TRAI கொண்டுவரப்போகும் OTTS license முறைதான்.

OTTS என்றால் என்ன? யார் இவர்கள் ?

OTTS – Over The Top Services.

இணையத்தில் எந்த வளைதளமோ (website) அல்லது mobile application-னோ நாம் மேலே பார்த்த 0 அல்லது 1 தகவல் பறிமாற்றங்கள் அதிகமாக நடத்துறாங்களோ, அவிங்க எல்லாம் OTTS. 

OTTS உதரணங்கள்- YouTube, FaceBook, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, Vimeo, Instagram,  Wikipedia, Flipkart, Snapdeal...

இப்படி அடுக்கிட்டே போகலாம். TRAI சொல்லுவது- இப்படிப்பட்ட OTTS-கள் இணையத்தை உபயோகப்படுத்தி அதிகம் சம்பாதிக்கின்றனர். இவர்களுக்குள் பெரும் போட்டி நிலவுது. மேலும் இவர்களால் பாரம்பரியமாக தொழில் நடத்துவோர் பாதிக்கின்றனர் (Airtel phone-னை விட்டு Skype-ல் கால் செய்வது). அதனால் TRAI ஒரு சில கட்டுப்பாடுகளை கொண்டுவர நினைக்குது.

யாருக்கு தீங்கு ?

இதனால் யாருக்கு பாதிப்பு. வேறயாரு நாம்பதான்!. ஆமாம் நுகர்வேர் (consumer) மீதுதான் இது விடியும். எப்படி ?

50-ரூபாய் கொடுத்து 100-சேனல்கள் (cable-லில்) பாத்துட்டு இருந்த நம்பள எப்படி 100-ரூபாய்க்கு 50-சேனல்(DTH) பாக்கவெச்சாங்களொ, அப்படித்தான் ஆகும் இணையம்.

1 GB data-க்கு Rs. 250 + Google-க்கு Rs. 50 + Facebook-க்கு Rs. 100

அல்லது

1 GB date-க்கு Rs. 250 + Whats App-கு Rs. 50 + Skype-கு Rs. 50

இப்படி பிச்சி பிச்சி packages வரும். நாம்ம ருசிகண்ட பூனைங்க சும்மா இருக்க முடியுமா ? வாங்கியே ஆகணும்.

என்ன ஆகும்?

- நுகர்வோர் அதிக பணம் கொடுக்கவேண்டிவரும்

- இணையத்தை உபயோகப்படுத்துவோர் குறைவார்கள்

- தகவல் பரிமாற்றம் குறையும்

- இணையம் சார்ந்த தொழில் தொடங்க முன் வர தயங்குவார்கள்

இணையத்தில் நல்லது, கெட்டது இருக்கிறது, சுதந்திரம் உள்ளது, தெரிந்து கொள்ள நிறைய தகவல் உள்ளது. TRAI எல்லவற்றையும் கட்டுப்படுத்த நினைக்குது. இது மத்திய அரசின் மறைமுகமான கட்டுப்பாடு.

இப்போ என்ன சட்டமா வந்துடுச்சி ?

சட்டம் வரலை. ஆனால் இதை சட்டமாக கொண்டுவர TRAI ஒரு கலந்தாய்வு அறிக்கையை (Consultation Paper) வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த கலந்தாய்வு அறிக்கையில் 20 கேள்விகள் கேட்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அந்த கேள்விகளுக்கு யார் வேண்டுமானலும் பதில் (மறு மொழி) TRAI-க்கு மின்னஞ்சல் அனுப்பலாம். 

கலந்தாய்வு அறிக்கையை download செய்ய- http://trai.gov.in/content/news/71241_0.aspx

TRAI மின்னஞ்சல் முகவரி – advqos@trai.gov.in

அனுப்புனா என்ன ஆகும் ?

நம்ம ஊருல புதுசா தொழிற்சாலை வைக்கனும்னா எப்படி ஊரில் உள்ள மக்கள் கிட்ட கருத்துக்கேட்பு கூட்டம் நடத்துவாங்களோ அப்படித்தான் இந்த 20 கேள்விகளும். TRAI-கு மின்னஞ்சல் அனுப்ப கடைசி நாள் – 24/4/2015. April 24th 2015.

மேலும் படிக்க

http://netneutrality.in/

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-importance-of-net-neutrality/article7065661.ece

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality_in_India

http://scroll.in/article/717663/Double-standards:-Facebook-and-Google-are-happy-to-support-net-neutrality-in-US-but-violate-it-in-India

** Image from Internet

Last lines from the captains

44 days of sheer pain is over, now people can concentrate in their work, oh wait. IPL is on its way. No, I’m not going to subscribe for it; too much of cricket is not good for health. To wind-up the cricket season, here is an imaginary dialogue given by the captains of the World Cup participating countries. Some are serious, some little funny and some political.

1. Michael Clark (Australia) – We didn’t sledge. Did we?

2. Brendon McCullam (New Zealand) – The final should be played in New Zealand.

3. MS Dhoni (India) – We won’t take it back.

4. AB DeVillers (South Africa) – Rain Rain Go Away

5. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – We have a mystery bowler, so mystery that we didn’t make him play.

6. Jason Holder (West Indies) – Curtly Ambrose was our bowling coach. Believe it!

7. Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) – Our team is a best fielding side. Rahat Ali you are fired.

8. William Porterifield (Ireland) – We beat West Indies or West Indies lost to us!

9. Eoin Morgan (England) – I’m not from England, I’m from Ireland.

10. Elton Chigambura (Zimbabwe) – Brendon is leaving Zimbabwe, a spot is free, anybody to take?

11. Mohammed Nabi (Afghanistan) – Bullets, Tanks and Cricket Balls

12. Khurram Khan (UAE) – We are World XI

13. Preston Mommsen (Scotland) – Oh! Did we play in this World Cup?

Did we miss someone, yes here he is...

14. Musrafee Morthaza (Bangladesh) – That was a no ball! Right? Please..

Predicting World Cup Semi-finals

The much anticipated and dragging ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is coming to end this week, with just three matches left to play, could we see a new winner ? Yes, there is a 50% chance, because one of the two finalist will be a sure first time finalist, either South Africa or New Zealand.

So, who is going to play a spoil sport for the new finalists, it will be either Australia, who had licked the ICC World Cup inch-by-inch or two time winner India, who is desperate to get it back again (Looks like they are screaming from the top of the high-rise #wontgiveitback).

What will happen in Eden Park ?

I assume New Zealand has the edge of South Africa. NZ like India is on a continuous winning trout and I’m sure the momentum will swing their way. I was hoping that both the team to meet in the finals, but they are now in Semis. After all the quarterfinals were one-sided, we can expect the semis to tough and close matches. 60% chance for NZ. South African pacers won't trouble NZ batsmen, but Vettori will be always a trump card for NZ bowling. Expecting some firework from ABD.

At MCG ?

This is “the final” before the final. India to take on Australia. 50-50 chances for both the teams. But considering the previous matches, I can give a +5% advantage to India. Australia Vs Pakisthan- Aussies would have lost the match, if the catches were taken. The batting is a weak card for Aussies now. Whereas for India, any weakness haven't been exposed yet. 

Nail biting matches ahead on 24th and 25th March.

Fifty Shades of Saffron

May 26th 2014- Since the day BJP lead Narendra Modi took office in Lok Sabha, day-in-and-day-out some big mouth politicians or people who perceived as Hindu sympathizers are coming up with innovative ideas and garb-talk to seek or divert people’ attention from actual issues. This has become a trend, every day when you turn the newspaper; some kind of gibberish is said by someone wearing a saffron-outfit. Giving an opportunity to our prime-time news anchors to scream in our TV. 

You might argue, that it is their freedom of speech, so is mine to list them out,

Statue for Godse - This came from the forefathers of BJP, the Hindu Maha Sabha. The perpetrators of MK Gandhi want to glorify the killer. 

Hindu women should have five children – This suggestion was given by a Member of Parliament, Sakshi Maharaj from BJP. 

Ban Cow slaughter in pan-India - Although the President of India approved the 1970’s bill from Maharastra, the central govt. is now considering the ban on cow slaughter throughout India.

Importance to Sanskrit – Central govt. makes a way with plans to revive a dying language (Hardly 10000 people speak Sanskrit), but in the expense of other languages.

Using Hindi in Social Media – Looks like Pon. Radhakrishnan is having hard time in Delhi, since he doesn't know Hindi. Someone should educate our lawmakers that Hindi is not a national language; in fact India doesn't have a national language. 

Remove Gandhi Jayanthi from Goa Holiday calendar – This was later said as typo. There are so many typos in this BJP led government. Government of typos.

All Indians are Hindus – Time and again, someone will garb this statement, starting from a Facebook Hindu fan boy to Subramanian Swamy.

Banning books – No one should speak against religion. If someone writes about it then it will be banned. Even if the book is not published in India, they will make it to publish and ban it. 

Banning movies – There is more than banning movies. In a recent move, CBFC has given a list of objectionable words. The words as like fuck, bastard, asshole, screw, haramzade… 

Christmas - Dec 25th as Good Governance Day – This is a ‘happy birthday’ for AB Vajpajee, so BJP want to celebrate it as Good Governance Day. This is like how Nehru and Ms. Gandhi gave themselves Bharat Ratha!

Mother Theresa Insulted – Insulting people who are already in their grave is a pass time for this saffronies. If her ultimate motive was to spread the religion, so be it, at least she was not spreading the hatred. 

Curbing Internet Freedom – Government might be planning for free wi-fi zones, we should use it only to share our selfies, but we shouldn't voice against the government.

Attack on media – The government will use the media for their propaganda, but if the same media voices an opinion which is not in sync with the saffron principles then they will be attacked. This is almost a norm for all parties, irrespective of who is in the power.

Hindu Rastra. Akanda Bharath – Time and again, these self-motivated groups have this agenda. They keep saying that the land from Afghanistan to Burma constitute of Akanda Bharath. Do these people know that there are national boundaries? The pity is when Kachathevee was given to Sri Lanka, these same group remained mute spectators.

Ghar Wapasi - You convert 1000 people, I convert 2000 people. Re-conversion has to be left to the individual’ decision, but not forcefully (Irrespective of any religion).

Kangaroo Science – Interplanetary Planes were in India before 7000 years. This was said by our own progressive Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this year Indian Science Congress!

Boycott of “Khan” films – Sadhvi Prachi, another “poster person” of these kinds of statements calls the youth to boycott “Khan” films. If she is so concerned, she should say to boycott “mind-less” movies, rather than just to corner “Khans”.

Delhi elections – The low point in any Indian election, the BJP went on with poster war to criticize its opponent by their caste. Direct attack on personality, which was usually seen in regional elections were staged in Delhi by Modi himself.

Increase in Saffron brigades – In Tamil there is a saying “Thadi eduthavan ellam thandal karan”, like wise if one wears a saffron colour cloth, then they are the savior of the Hindu culture. The raise of the fringe group is evident.

Removal of the word “Secular” from Preamble – This was again said as “typo”, when there was an advertisement on Republic Day. Later, even the cabinet ministers started to voice their opinion on removal of the word “secular” from the constitution.

Denigrate Nehru – If you want to attack someone’s principle, then the best thing to do is to make personal attack. Denigrate their personality and rewrite the history. 

Jammu & Kashmir elections – Will do whatever it takes for power. This has been the mantra for all the political parties and BJP is not shy of doing this, but to what extent. Align with someone (PDP), who has almost an opposite ideology. 

The count is not 50, but I believe by end of this year we will get 50 saffronic shades. Again, BJP is not directly responsible for all remarks, but when they are in power the saffronic groups gets a leeway.

**Above Image by the blogger

Aval Appadithan (1978, India)

Director- Rudhrayia | Starring- Sri Priya, Kamalahasan, Rajanikanth | Language- Tamil | Country - India | Year - 1978

The film starts with Arun (Kamal) handling a camera, seeing from the viewfinder he speaks to his audience, he says “kojam left’la thalli nikkanum..ok”. As the film progresses, we realize the importance of the opening scene dialogue. We see liberal ideas flowing all the way throughout the film. 

If you translate the title Aval Appadithan in English, it becomes, “That is how she is”, which by itself comes from a male, meaning these are the words uttered by a male. Shouldn't it be “Nan Ippadithan” (I’m like this)?

If you get a chance to see this film in a TV channel, most probably, there are chances that you won’t see the full film, the scenes will be choppy and the dialogues will be muted. First time, I saw this film in a TV broadcast; it was hard to follow due to the self-censorship of the channel. Later, I had to rely on YouTube to catch the full version (Hope it was un-cut).

The irony in this world is, if one talks on what s/he feels, they are branded as liberals\leftists and an individual should always belong to a group. Individualism is lost. Everyone has to go by the books. Laws are not meant to be broken, so why do we have words like “amendments”.. “change”..? 

Back to the film, Manju (Sri Priya) is an out-spoken character, because of her previous bitter experiences; she hates the men-folk and can get the wrath of the men easily by talking-open (that’s how she is portrayed). Arun, who has a chance to work with her and tries to understand her, he goes on or tries to propose his love to her. Thyagu (Rajanikanth), who is her boss, tries to woo her for sex. 

Thyagu, want to use and throw her. His world views are like a normal man, who doesn't want to think beyond their needs. Arun, although liberal in his thoughts (at one point he reveals himself as communist- Not all communists are open-minded), he tries to restrain himself to understand Manju. Whereas, Manju complicates the plot in the end. Did Arun & Manju get together?

Illayaraja Music- There is three songs in the film, very apt to the situation and meaningful. Background music, I cannot reproduce it in my words, you have to see\hear for yourselves. For instance, when a character in the film is in a doubtful state, they show the doubtful expression, at the same time, the background music too reflects the same mood.

Ananthu, for whom, the film is presented makes a little cameo- the voice of Arun father.

Also watch it for- witty, straight-talking dialogues. It’s famous, live-recording, documentary style scenes- Arun interviews woman from the different sections of the society. 

Rudhraiya, the writer and director of this film passed away recently (2014, November). 

If you are whining about Tamil films are only song-dance-fight, then this film is for you.

Bye Bye CIFF

Chennai International Film Festival got over on December 25th, but I’m updating this column late, because I had to travel for a long weekend (Got to give some excuse for being lazy!).

The last day, which was my 4th day in the CIFF. Having already seen 5 films in the festival, I thought of making the money worth spent (Rs 500 for the pass). This was not strictly on ROI, but to make use of the opportunity and see as much films as I can, else my main source is torrents. 

I had a chance to catch two films on the last day. Behaviour (Conducta), a film from Cuba. A film about a young boy and to-be retired teacher. The boy, who is having behavioral issues, due to his family condition is given support by the teacher, who in-turn makes him to realize his responsibility.

The next film was from Serbia, Monument to Michael Jackson. A light comic story of a man who proposes an idea of having statue of Michael Jackson in their town to get tourists.

Having seen two back to back films, we (Me, Mahesh and Bragadeesh) were hungry. The nearby eateries were crowded, so we had to skip the 4:30 PM show. We took refuge inside EA.

In spite of Mahesh reminding about the CIFF booklet, I missed it. When we went back to Woodlands the front office was closed and all the staff were busy for the closing ceremony. 

Overall, my first experience was good. Sacrificing (sleep) for an art always satisfies the soul!. I dont have any qualms about the event, some said last year there were 8 screens, whereas this year it was only 5. I sticked to Woodlands and didn't take chances in hopping theaters (Chennai Traffic!).

Next year, if I’m available in the city, I’ll surely visit CIFF-2015.

Previous CIFF-2014 posts

My Day 1- www.teashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-first-day-in-film-fest.html

My Day 2- www.eashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/12/potti-maaripochi-in-ciff.html

My Day 3- www.teashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-day-3-at-ciff.html