Escapism

What's the name of Hillary Clinton's autobiography?

What's the name of John McCain's Bangladeshi adopted daughter?

What cell-phone does Barrack Obama use?

What did John McCain say about his Internet use?

Which state, for that matter does Hillary Clinton represent in the Senate?

Of which Ivy League university is Barrack Obama an alumnus?





Why do i know the answers to even half of these questions?



Doesn't it seem strange that sitting thousands of "miles" away, we (that is to say, some of us)

follow the American Presidential elections so avidly?

In this day of globalization (forgive the cliche, please), you might argue, no, not at all.

But wait, my question is not drawn from a lack of awareness about the www or the free press in general (aided magnificently by cutting edge technology).

Instead, i refer to the tendency (at least) i have acquired for being attracted to the unreal.
Is it that western politics, sports, books and what have you, have simply replaced Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and their ilk?

Is this a refuge? An escape from my own real world, only masquerading as general knowledge?

More on this later...

Trying to emulate Mayank Shekhar

After much deliberation, i thought i'd write a movie review (always wanted to).

The choice of the movie wasn't very difficult, so here's my take on Shekhar Kapoor's MASOOM-

This poignant remake of Man, Woman and Child (much more poignant than the original, if truth be told) starts off with the "happily ever after" family of D.K (Naseeruddin Shah), his wife(Shabana Azmi)and 2 daughters. All is fine until a mysterious letter to D.K blotches the hitherto rosy picture.

An illegitimate son, a chain of lies on all fronts, acceptance of reality and finally, compassion and the triumph of maternal instincts bring this tale to an end.

Here, i must remind the reader that i am writing my review of the movie; it is not my objective to narrate its script in detail.

Shabana Azmi, as the quintessential affluent housewife suddenly faced with adultery and deceit is outstanding, to say the least. In fact, the other performances are scarcely less so. Jugal Hansraj is the very picture of innocence (remember the title ?). His hurt expression when his step mom refuses to tend to a wound is one that would evoke abject pity from the most stone-hearted person in the movie hall.

The artless natural camaraderie that develops between the kids surfaces openly in Lakdi ki kathi... On the other hand, a desparate family man, with the dread of a wrecked home constantly on his mind ruefully sings Tujhse naraaz nahin..., while a woman disraught by the knowledge of her husband's infidelity croons the same as she tries to find a way to keep the family together.

A decision is reached ; the boy will have to go back. The girls are sorry to lose their charming new buddy, he is miserable at the thought of losing the only semblance of a family he has left.

Scared, wanting only to be loved and wanted by the man he now knows to be his father, he tearfully departs.A typical railway station scene follows.The end, predictable.

That, however, is immaterial.I found, on reading what i've written so far, that i have not done justice to Naseeruddin Shah. His is a beautifully sketched character caught in a trap by his long forgotten past, that of a decent, sensible businessman, a doting father and husband.Aware of his family's claims but sensible that the son's need is probably greater, D.K is overcome by guilt and seemingly impossible obligations - a very complex character played with N.S's usual consummate skill.

What strikes me the most about this movie is the subtlety and maturity with which the story has been depicted.There is quite a number of films that deal with the same topic but none (among those i've watched) can match the realistic scenario that Masoon paints.The fairness shown to all the characters, the absence of the blame-game and dividing the world into black and white are some of the extremely rare and commendable features of Masoom.

So, moral of the story: Watch it!!