'Demo'-crazzyyy

Everything was set for an interesting weekend because  one, Mumbai Indians had a do or die match to qualify for the semis which they miserably failed and, two, the election results of the biggest democracy was to be announced. I was up early as the vote counting process was going to begin at as early as 7 AM. The trend was being aired and every news channel was busy doing their own analysis showing how individual parties and coalations faired. UPA was leading as compared to NDA and the so called "Third front". One of my roomie, happened to wake up out of his long slumber and on seeing the analysis asked the bestest question, "Who the hell are UPA and NDA? where are Congress and BJP?".

By the end of day, 16th May 2009, the people of India had given a clear mandate to UPA. The right wing - NDA was left whining and the left wing - Third front was a disaster. UPA had claimed the centre. With absolutely zero knowledge in politics whatsoever I should be insane to even make an attempt to write this blogpost but I will continue. It has to be by far one of the satisfactory election result the citizens of India must have awaited.

BJP held on to its hardcore hindutva bandwagon and the Ram mandir issue. At the time when the global economy is in crisis and with unwanted instability in our neighbourhood perhaps BJP would have been better off to have given more space to progress and development in their propaganda. L K Advani's constant attacks on PM Manmohan Singh was always going to be futile as the latter's persona, without any doubt, demands more respect even from an apolitical person. BJP would have done themselves a great favour had they reprimanded Varun Gandhi for his anti-secular excursions and gained a bit of political mileage. And showcasing N. Modi as the future leader, even with commendable development work done by his government in Gujrat, would surely run some chill down the spine of minority communities for his alleged associations in post Godhra riots. BJP certainly lacked good national leaders, for once they might have surely missed the charm of Atal Bihari Vajpaye and shrewdness of Pramod Mahajan.

The Third front - CPI, CPM etc - right from its inception was dismissed by most veteran politicians and dreaded by industrialists.  Having done well in West Bengal and Kerala and largely dependent on regional politics, the Third front might have grown over confident for even thinking that they had an outside chance to form the government at centre. Even the investors were wary of left coming into power as they always have a tendency to oppose reforms and are anti-west which severely dents India's chances to progress when the world is looking more at globalization. The left parties parting ways with UPA can be considered as a blessing in disguise and augured well for industrialisation.

UPA's biggest gain was seen in the states of UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Rahul Gandhi has done some phenomenal work in last couple of years  and it paid rich dividends specially in UP and Bihar where the Congress decided to go alone without any pre-poll alliances. Laloo-Paswan combo was dejected by Bihar and SP and BSP had similar fate in UP. Their alliance with Mamta's TMC's did wonders in the left dominated West Bengal. MNS played spoilsport for BJP-Sena alliance by eating into a huge chunk of votes which was only welcomed by congress and NCP. Another major set back for left was in Kerala where they had a strong support. Manmohan Singh being projected as UPA's PM candidate was well received by the people of India. The urban India sees a lot of potential and has faith in his governance and the rural India was only acknowledging the loan waivers for farmers, free electric supply for families below poverty line, NREGA etc. Though many would question their resolve in handling Pakistan post Mumbai attacks specially the urban denizens but rural India was going to be least bothered as roti, kapda and makaan remains to be their priority.

Perhaps the biggest setback of Indian politics lies in regional politics. It can do good in assembly polls but certainly plays spoilsport in Lok sabha elections. Indian electorate can do good for themselves if they think about India in Lok sabha elections and their respective states while voting in assembly polls.

Its just a 'demo' crazzyyy ... the real experiment has just begun.

The Reel and Real 'Anand'

One fine day Kama dev, the God for sex or love, was out on his daily routine to strike his daily quota of human beings on his vehicle - the parrot. He carried a bow which was made of sugarcane and strung with a line of humming bees. Also accompanying him were his wife Rati, who symbolises passion, and his friend Vasanta(Spring) who selects for him the shaft to be used on the current victim. But to his dismay the weather god, whosoever he is, decided to play some pranks, in short do KLPD, with Kama dev. The weather god changed the weather where Kama dev had gone to hunt and filled the entire sky with dark clouds. Kama dev's visibility was reduced but he had a task of completing his daily quota of victims so that humans would engage into amorous acts. With deadline impending and weather showing no signs of improving Kama dev, anguished and irritated, decided to club his entire day's quota into one single arrow which he called - The Sexastra. Without paying any heed to what the consequence would be, he released this WMS(Weapon for Mass Seduction) into the darkness of the clouds. In short he was "challaying andere main teer". With bare minimum visibility he waited anxiously to see who the victim would be. As the arrow was 10 meters away from the victim, a familiar voice said, "Pushpa, don't cry re..." and the next moment the arrow pierced the heart of the victim, he continued, "lets do it tonight". The victim was Rajesh Khanna..our good old Kakaji. Dialogue-gone-wrong case but such was the lust embedded in the Sexastra.

If the above drama is hard to believe then I dont understand how, on this blue planet, would one of India's greatest cinema Superstar Rajesh Khanna decided to undergo such a metamorphosis to become a pornstar. Perhaps, he is really possessive about stardom. I can justify it to an extent. If you take the common thing out of Superstar and Pornstar, it would be STAR. Now you know why he has named his daughter as Twinkle. Twinkle twinkle little star my I will be the greatest pornstar... hasha husha hurrr... If you still don't have a clue about what I am getting to, see the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68fjIk8JXKE&feature=related. These clips are from the movie WAFAA.

The first film song that I liked, if I can reminisce properly, happens to be 'Chal chal chal mere haathi..oh mere saathi' which was pictured on Kakaji. The first movie I loved - and still adore till date - is Anand and ever since I have been one of his fans for the tremendous potential he had in acting and the simplicity and charm he brought on the silver screen to portray his characters. A little bit of research and you will not be surprised to know that he was one of the most celebrated film personality during his heydays. But he lost his charm and grace somewhere during the 1990s and ever since has been struggling.

When asked why he chose to work in the film with such high intensity steamy scenes he answered that the script demanded it and the movie will justify them. If you can remember he had earlier made a ‘come’ back with “Aao ..ab laut chale”  meaning – lets go back and come ..oops sorry… correction  – come lets go back: which was an average movie. Since then he has been trying to ‘come’ – back, I mean, with a lot of B - grade movies and finally managed to do a ‘Rajesh Khanna.. chussega kya ganna’ act with Pakistani actress Laila thus making WAFAA his magnum opus in B-grade category. Hope Kakaji gets his head back on his shoulders and not on other's shoulders :P  and sign roles which will do justice to his potential.

On the contrary, a few days back I happened to visit Panchagani on a leisure trip with my roomies and incidentally we bumped into the chocolate hero of the yesteryear's Mr Dev Anand of 'Kha pee ke hum anand...jhak maare Dev Anand' fame - just kidding :) He was busy shooting his movie with a new comer. When we reached the location he was flocked by people who wanted to have a photograph with him. Even we jumped in to be in the same frame as Dev Anand. In the flashback I remembered all the time when we ridiculed and mimicked him and Kakaji. It was great fun to be there as he acknowledged most of us with his 'photo nahi hai yeh mera dil hai.. dekho dekho toote na' cute smile and resumed his work.

It was commendable to see him being so involved and directing with ardor. Most of them were busy watching the heroine who was in bare minimum clothes, including us, but after a while his dedication and passion towards cinema was evident when the camera started rolling. Still remember the words he uttered, "You follow the camera and the camera follows you...its both ways". Agreed, he has been making flop films in recent years but it was simply amazing to see him work at his age, 80+ years. He had dressed like a young fashion conscious man with his famous cap on. His spirit and mind in tact and the bounce in his step pronounced, he signified the true meaning of a life spent on his terms and conditions.

As we were about to leave. I saw a couple, maybe in their 60's, making their way through the crowd. The moment the lady saw Dev Anand her eyes lit up. She grabbed held her husband's arm and murmured something in his ears with great joy. Maybe our generation doesn't understand what they meant but that couple seemed to connect with him better. The joy and smile on their faces said it all about the man - Dev Anand.