Can we pass on the 'moral science' to our kids?

I still remember those slim, rectangular books that had the pictures of Gods and Angels. I remember, how they spoke about the virtues of life, taught us  what is right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies. ''To err is human and to forgive is divine''-they used to read and we used we say in unison-those were the books of 'Moral Science'.
     At home parents used to teach us to speak the truth and to be good always, to be giving and forgiving. Even those fairy tales, which we listened with utmost silence as our Grand parents narrated them with alacrity, creating pictures in front of our eyes and as we slept we dreamt to be one of those noble kings, when we grow up, spreading the goodness around, felt so true and beautiful. Those were the stories of honesty and truthfulness, of virtues and tolerance and of forgiveness and all of them had one ending--Truth always wins, overcoming the evil.
     But now after  26 years of my life, when i look back at all those moments i feel so futile about the stories. The world that we our parents tried to show us, perhaps never existed and if at all it existed it was a 'neverland' that is still to be discovered.
   I have always felt the hardest thing in this world is to be a parent. Growing up your child into a nice human being who can face the world and move with his or her head held high, well, not all parents can do that. I really wonder how difficult it would be to be a father or a mother--always answering the innumerable questions that the inquisitive mind of the youngs are clouded with, saving them from the worldly evil forces, nurturing them everyday with diets of nobility, instilling in them the confidence so that they can take on the world in the future. It is difficult, but our parents managed it.
  But can we do it with same amount of efficiency? can we conjure up images of the same wonderland in front of their eyes? can we still impart the lessons of virtues of life? Honesty, truthfulness, tolerance, forgivenss and hardwork--won't all these things sound alien to them? Will they believe us? perhaps not.
   The world is shrinking so fast, thanks to globalisation. Today we are exposed to every little thing in this world and that too just at the click of the mouse. We can see, listen, and say whatever we want. Our life is no more ours, it is a public property. Even without your knowledge there might be a peeping tom around exposing ur personal life to the world.
  In this overt world, can we succeed in showing them a rosy picture of the world? I don't think so. But does that mean we shoud give up? No.
  In this 'maddening' world, where everyday truth dies an unceremonious death, where honesty and hardwork are ravaged by the power and money clout--it is important for the parents to teach their kids to be tactful, they should know the art of manipulation so that he or she can protect themselves from vices and demons of the world, they should be shown the real picture. It is important to instill in them the art and tenacity to fight with the biggest monster-the 'self' coz if they can win over it, they can rule the world.
  Don't try to change the society, no one can change it-these are bookish things that should remain confines to the boundaries of books only. If you want to change anything then change your attitude towards life, whenever your belief shakes and you start to fumble take the course of your life in your hand. If you can protect yourself from 'the demons of the world' then you can change the world---these is the truth of the present world and that's what the parents should teach their wards.

A day in Choton's life

Have a look at this short film. I shot it during May, 2013.

Dancing to the tune of 'Ojha'

A documentary on ojha dance, a traditional form of art which is on a decline and soon may cease to exist.

Lootera is a visual treat!!!!

In his world,love speaks in whispers and murmurs and expresses itself in silent glances. In his world darkness and shadows are as beautiful as peeping sunshine through the window panes. In his world love is pure and pristine like the virgin nature and also helpless and painful like the shedding leaves of the trees. 

Vikramaditya Motwane takes the audience to that world where once silence spoke a language. With cinematographer Mahendra J. Shetty, Vikramaditya shot his ambitious 'Lootera' like a beautiful painting, while Amit Trivedi instilled life in it by his music and background score and he deserves kudos for his renditions. 

The cinematography and music makes the film a delightful watch. In terms of acting, the lead pairs Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha put their best and their portrayal was subtle and apt. 

Ranveer has left behind his street smart act behind in most parts of the film, while Sonakshi's transition from a love struck girl in the first half to a hopeless n depressed lady in the second half is well acted. Their acting is fresh and though there is no flaw in their acting but probably two more experienced actors could have taken the film to an altogether different level.

Despite Ranveer and Sonakshi's love story, there was something missing in the bonding that they shared on screen. Ranveer could not bring the pathos of the character in the final phase of the film. Rest of the cast has too little to do but they fit in nicely. 

The filmmaker dares to tread a path less travelled and leaves a mark behind. He didn't ever try to impress the audience and stayed true to his craft till the end. In short, after Udaan, Vikramaditya has proved once again he is a master story teller and with Lootera he surely has sealed his place among the elite directors of the new generation. In times to come, a lot would be expected from him.

Curious case of Edward Snowden

A man of conscience is paying the price for being a truth seeker. If only, life could have been like movies. Unfortunately, the real is very different from reel and so Edward Snowden has been stuck in the transit area of Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow), something like the character Viktor Navorski  (played by Tom Hanks), who gets stuck in the New York City airport for several months in the movie Terminal.

US intelligence services snoops on their European allies, a man of conscience spills the beans and he instantly becomes a political criminal. I wonder what would have happened if Snowden like, many others, would have 

just sealed his lips, killed his conscience and would have been a silent spectator. He would have been a happy man, living a normal life in some posh locality in the United States. Today, he is a hero for some, while a 

villain in his own country.

Snowden has written to 21 countries, including India, for asylum. A country which have given asylum to the Holiness Dalai Lama, Sri Lankan Tamil leader V Perumal and many others, India refused Snowden's request 

with record speed. Of course, India would eventually have to give him up someday even if it would have granted him asylum as it has an extradition treated with the US but what strikes one is the spontaneity with which the 

decision was taken, which clearly stinks of India's reluctance to not offend Uncle Sam.

It is funny that a country which considers itself much superior to any other nation and vows to uphold International laws, is violating all such laws blatantly. They talk of acting against 'cyber terrorism' 

but themselves hacks our computers, they talk of privacy and individual rights but then taps phones, they swear by friendship and then break trust. Clearly, Mr O is no better than Mr B.

Soon, it would be all over for Snowden. He will be either forced to return back to the US or extradited to his country, arrested and punished for speaking the truth and the world will go on. Directors will make films on his life, which will go on to win Oscars and Golden Globe awards and everything will be just like before. But in all this 

hoopla, truth and conscience will die a silent death once again.

What Raj Kumar Gupta can learn from 'Ghanchakkar'

From the high of 'No one killed Jessica', Raj Kumar Gupta hit a low with his 'Ghanchakkar'. Well, it did decent business in the weekend but the expectations (because of the publicity) was so high that it left audience confused and their hopes crushed. 

First things first, Ghanchakkar is not the worst film of 2013. It is much better than the matrix-inspired, logic defying action films which has nothing apart from a big star. It's comedy is subtle and much better than the slap-stick homophobic comedy movies which are released nowadays in the name of cinema. But then, Ghanchakkar missing the train because it somehow fails to tell a story. Audience are left waiting for a thrilling finale where all ends would be tied but what they get is a shocking revelation and a new character, who was no where in the scene for the first 20 minutes of the film. So can't blame the audience for feeling cheated but then I have felt worse sitting in a hall and for me it was just plain 'okay'. 

Raj Kumar Gupta might crib for his film got bad review and ratings, which impacted its success. But instead of crying over split milk he should try to understand why audience didn't like the movie, where did he go wrong. 

First, a film cannot win the heart of the audience (especially whom he is targetting) without a story. 
Second, if you want to make a movie with four characters, you got to write their story well, give the audience something to feel or connect to them.

Third, don't underestimate the intelligence of the audience, who have grown up watching thrillers -- films, books and TV series -- much before they learnt walking. So if you want to create confusion in the mind of the audience, make sure they are not able to guess the twists and turns or else you will hear yawns in place of gasps in theaters.

Fourth, a pair which has done well in one film, may not do well in another but still if you want to cash in on their chemistry then you have to give the audience something which is fresh. Vidhya Balan needed to put on weight for a reason in 'Dirty Picture' but in Ghanchakkar to play a nagging Punjabi wife with a heavy accent, she need not be a fat ass with an obsession for style.

Fifth, Never introduce a new character in the end if you can't justify it.

Things which you could have done right

First, you could have given the characters shades of grey. The characters were one-dimensional. I didn't understand why Emraan was sulking and angry right from the start and stays a ghanchakkar till the end. Probably, he himself could have turned out to be the master mind or probably, Vidya, though did good with her over the top clothes and "Haaaaaa" punjabi accent, could have turned up as the vamp if you could have justified it, made her role a little more meaty. Mr Gupta, the robbery scene was spot on especially due to the masks and secondly, the music was also apt for the film. 

Well, for someone who knows the difficulty in making a film, I might not have got bored but if you want a much wider audience and appreciation, its better you pick up your socks before making another film because you are one of the most promising filmmakers and but your transition into a master filmmaker will depend on how you can better tell a story. I for one, will be waiting for your next release and hope that you enthrall us the way you did with 'No one killed Jessica'.