• Cinema

    Slumdog Millionnaire

    I finally watched Slumdog Millionnaire. Last week. Only, I have not had the time to blog about it. Let me take a deep breath before I give my opinion. I did not really like the movie. It was believable. It was certainly not overplayed, like some of the reviewers said. It showed the “murky underbelly of Mumbai”. But, it was still optimistic. In spite of  all these positives, it did not work for me. Maybe because I expected a lot more. Maybe because I expected profound thoughts and perhaps some solutions to the problems plaguing the country. But, on the whole, the movie was a disappointment.

    I might have liked it had I not built so many expectations around it. It is a good movie, but as Lekhni points out, there have been better movies. She lists Swades, Chak De and Salaam Bombay. I would list Pithaamagan, Sethu and the numerous Balachander films alongside. Or Mr. and Mrs. Iyer.There are too many good movies around to cite them all. Unfortunately, Balachander is never recognized for the legend that he is by our pan-Indian, let alone foreign audiences. Makes me wonder why.

    To conclude, Slumdog is a movie I would watch once. It drags in some places. The casting of Lathika did not impress me. Nor did the interminable questions and police torture. But, I would not complain because I know it’s reality. I was also left wondering how someone who has grown up in the slums of Mumbai has a better accent than most well-educated Indians. In all, it would be a huge bonus if it did go on to win the Oscars. But, I don’t think I would be too surprised if it did not. I can’t judge because I haven’t seen the other entries for the awards.

    Finally, I read that article that explained why Slumdog could only have been made by a foreigner. I don’t agree. Anyone could have made it. It only got noticed because a foreigner made it. Anyway, I am glad that our very own A R Rahman finally got some recognition. Three cheers to that!

  • Feminism,  Personal,  Religion,  Society and Institutions

    Of I-pills and fast women

    I am laughing rather hysterically making mom wonder if I have finally lost my sanity. 🙂 Our dear Mr. Kamat, who went around talking Hindutva crap on comments to my previous posts left a couple of more messages. In the first, he wonders if I am going to keep I-pills handy, because I am a fast woman and cheating is easy.

    But, wait a sec. Just why is the I-pill so bad? It’s a contraceptive method, like any other. And why is the use of an I-pill considered the hallmark of a “loose” woman? I don’t get it at all. And yes, if I am really characterless, wouldn’t I be so stupid as to not use regular protection? I am insulted! I have enough brains to decide what to do with my life.Sadly, this comment is not directed at me alone. Theer is a deeper malaise. One that equates sex with sin, love affairs with pre-marital sex and pre-marital sex with characterless behaviour. Why can’t people understand that to love is not a sin? To express that love physically much less. They just don’t get it do they?

    Also, the pill is supposed to be taken by women who cheat. But why? Why can’t I be married and happy, but not want or have kids? Why do I not, as a woman, have the right to my own body. People like Kamat, or Muthalik or anyone else don’t get one point. A woman is an individual in her own right. She is in control of her body. She has the right to decide when and with whom to sleep. She can also decide on whether and when she wants kids. Why is using an I-pill bad? I don’t think it is. Do you?

    Edit: Missed out a word in that last paragraph. It made it seem like I was supporting children having sex! Sorry for the mix-up. 😛

  • Blogging,  Feminism,  Religion,  Society and Institutions

    Some randomness

    For those of you who did not notice, there was a rather interesting discussion on my post on the Mangalore attacks. All I will say is this, I simply don’t care what people think. I am what I am, bigoted or fanatic or feminist, the tag makes no difference to me. And anyway. I got fed up of all that Hindutva crap and finally blacklisted that guy. On that note, I am wondering. Should I go out with b/f on Valentine’s day, so that I can conveniently blame my wedding on a couple of right-wing fanatics? Lol. I wish. Will be back with a better thought-out post on Hinduism as I understand it. But, for the moment, I risk being out of touch during the day. We are migrating to a more secure server at work and won’t be able to access the Internet during the day. One of the disadantages of working for a bank. 😛 See you soon!

  • Blogging

    Please read my comment policy

    As I reminded my readers once before, I have a comment policy. Please read it again. I am blacklisting Kiran, who commented incessantly on the previous post, and created, or attempted to create religious animosity. I repeat, if I find your comment insulting, or spreading racial, religious, ethnic or caste hatred, I will NOT hesitate to delete it. At the risk of being labelled as Barkha Dutt II, (as she did) I will still go ahead and do what I threatened. I am leaving the comments by Kiran on the previous post intact, because I want my readers to know why I took such a decision.