Quo Vadis?

Sarkar was watched in PVR Icon on the first day unexpectedly due to some free tickets that I got. This movie came through the plagiarism controversy and i missed the credits so saw only AR Murugadoss claiming the story. The movie is from the Shankar school of film making especially the first set like Gentleman, Mudhalvan etc and it is all about the ever utopian dream of one man who cleans up the mess that we live in, in dramatic instant noodles style. There are no reveals but it is safe to say the hero will make a big change in only 15 days. What did i like: - The plot - Few bits and pieces here and there - Pappa (no reveal) - The references to real life thrown liberally around and which keep you thinking and often smiling - Yogi Babu, wish he were utilized more - Its a decent no-brainer masala movie What I hated: - The opening is dumb, in an attempt to build up the character as a ruthless corporate raider, it assumes that the audience is dumb and will fall for a bui...

There are two shops where you seldom question the bill as much as you would in normal circumstances and it now appears that you rightfully should since it is your money. The first instance is at the medical shop and the next is the jewellery shop. You would have noticed that in both shops you will have the seller making a lot of complex looking calculations before they give you the price in a piece of paper. This was quite common before the demonetization and in most mom and pop type of stores. In this post I will restrict myself to the latter the jewellery shops because they seem to be taking up a lot of newsprint space these days. So I have observed during our rare visit to the jewellery store after shortlisting the piece and observing the sticker on it the sales man promptly pulls out a paper and proceeds to furiously calculate some figures. Upon the first set he will proceed to do some more calculations while the buyer in the meanwhile will be torn between looking at the s...

Yesterday when I was waiting at the famous SRP tools junction there was a group of transgenders who were asking for alms. I usually look away as they can be a little pushy and it can be quite uncomfortable in trains but this time I saw one person who approached my car asking for alms. I picked out a 10 rupee note and gave it to the person, the person asked me for a 1 rupee coin. I was confused and said I did not have coins. The person asked the others in the group if they had a rupee to give me. I was confused even more when the person said that the rupee is for me. Thoroughly puzzled I found a coin which I handed over. This person bit the coin almost like athletes bite their medals these days and asked to see my wallet.  Then the person put the coin in my wallet and said do not spend this and walked away with a blessing that I should live well. This short interaction disturbed me: -           These people are outcasts and ...

Conversation 1 “So why do you go on this pilgrimage?” “It’s because my favourite God is there!” “Really, then what about the places of worship nearby?” “They are there but my favourite God is there and since childhood I like going there” Conversation 2 “So why are you going on this pilgrimage?” “I am going to see God there” “What do you mean you are going to see God there? Is not God everywhere?” “Yes but this is special” “So where do you see God?” “Inside the sanctum” “But that is an artist’s personal idea of God and how can that be God” “That is God!” Conversation 3 “It is the time to wake up God” “Are you serious? You are going to see a ceremony to wake up God?” “Yes, it is very special, they have songs and chants for this, it is a great experience” “I would be very worried if God were to sleep, what will happen to the world at that time?” “God is in control always” “So why would God sleep?” How little we know about God, how often w...

The extended weekend has ended and people will be getting back to work. Though Holi is not a big celebration in Tamilnadu except for small pockets it is not unusual to see people celebrating the festival by playing with colours and looking extremely silly to those who do not celebrate this spring festival. These days celebrating festivals have taken a new dimension: wake up, since most festivals have a religious angle pay obeisance to the Gods, indulge in the hallmarks of the celebration like making the pongal, bursting crackers, having good food and then these days settle down in front of a TV to watch a block buster movie from one of the many cable television channels that vie with each other for the bigger hit. Just look back at how we used to celebrate festivals when we were young, I am reaching out to Xennials or the Millenials those born in the ‘80s and the ‘90s. Back then the anticipation for the festival was a large part of the festival itself and the planning woul...

On the eve of January 26 th some thoughts were in my mind. Idiots are now painting patriotism in varied colours in a way the fathers of constitution never imagined. In case you wondered in no particular order: -           I can speak English, French, Tamil or any language, I am an Indian -           I can eat meat or I may choose not to, I am an Indian -           I can follow any faith or be faithless, I am an Indian -           I can be political or apolitical, I am an Indian -           I can be from the minority, I am an Indian -           I can be different, I am an Indian -           I believe that unity in diversity is the fabric of our country, I am ...