Thursday, June 25, 2009

I made a little wish in a big park

Courtesy: Blank Noise
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And what with all the politicians these days?! "Each one, has one," is the motto they seem to be following. It's like a *thing* nowadays.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Consent makes it right?

So, its not yet confirmed that, if the actor really raped a minor maid or if it was with consent. Let's say there was a consent (for a minute), does that not make it wrong anyway for a married man to have sexual activity with a minor while his wife and kid were away? Or is it that consent provides a license to muck around? Although wife is pleading her actor husband's innocence. I innocently wonder why? What is she trying to save and what is left in that marriage?

In a country, where news gets more attention because of Bollywood affiliation and where Bollywood tag equals fame and expertise to speak and endorse on every subject, from politics to sports and everything in between. Or else why is Mahesh Bhatt's comment given any heed?
Bhatt said "my sources in the police say that he has confessed to sex with consent."
Update (June 30th, 09): Ahuja's lawyer said, "Ahuja's bail application mentions few main grounds as: He has no criminal antecedents, he is from a good family, the trial could take long time which may affect his unfinished films."

Is it only me, who finds this as load of impudent swill?

Update (July 9th, 09): "The court on Wednesday rejected actor Shiney Ahuja's bail petition in rape case. Ahuja is in judicial custody for allegedly raping his teenaged domestic maid."
Tough luck, Bollywood world. Ha!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Where should we be living?

She made her decision known, quietly, confidently and with little doubt. I heard it all and I was aware of her analysis that had gone behind making that strong statement. I was neither surprised nor shocked. It was not an enlightenment but a reaffirmation of those feelings which as an Indian girl we all have tucked just below our throats which we all bring it up with little goading. It’s that uncomfortable truth which some of us had a chance to escape while others have submitted to with silent resignation.

My friend, whom I met after couple of years and within few minutes of giggling and reminiscing of old graduate school days, mentioned in a subtle serious tone, that as a mature girl, she would not want to spend her youth years in any Indian city. Not by choice, at least!

She, who has traveled a many countries and had a chance to live in few other countries other than India. I was sure, she wasn't referring to materialistic pleasures, financial security or anything that we might label as developed countries privileges. She was talking about the freedom to breathe as a human being minus the constant reminder that she is one of those with only X-chromosomes constriction which comes with life of constant battle with social fabric and its tailored suffocation. To cut and sew to adapt when there are those leering threats, maneuvering of paths to avoid being touched or groped or just whistling which has perfection of melodious pitch and cat-calling comparison to Bollywood goddesses. Which Indian girl is not familiar with naughty remarks, "Arre dekh Kareena ja rahi hai," or "yeh dekh Sushmita Sen aa rahi hai be?" Humiliation which makes her yearn to run and abandon the public spaces. This disrespect to Indian women reminds me of respect Indians give to their traffic lights and regulations, it's just like given (or actually not) to objects which deserve no recognition or respect.

She was talking about security of walking on the streets and public transit without a reminder that she is only at the mercy of chosen respect by men. She was talking about safety in public places and not just from physical threats and freedom to work late at nights because she can have a deadline too. She was talking about the life in which where you do not become comfortable just only adjusting and adapting because the men have rotten minds. She was talking about normalcy of doing things, the way she wants and any time of the day, any place she wanted without any humiliation that comes as a package deal in her lovable country. Love to the country which is like love for your parents with whom you disagree completely in ideologies but yearn for them because you belong to them.

I wish her luck for her decisions and I wish the same things for me too. Sigh!

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Mussarat Abbas

I discovered Abbas's voice while browsing, looking for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan songs. He is talented and it does not take much time to recognize it. He sings Nusrat's songs mainly and rightfully so, since his voice and range matches to Ustad's Sufi genre quite a bit. There is passion in his voice and he uses this talent very adeptly in variation he brings out in different pitches. He sang two of my favorite songs on Sa Re Ga Ma show and I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied thoroughly. Just wished for cleaner versions of these two, without much drama from judges panel that happens on these shows, you know what I mean. Here you go...

First one is "Tere bina nahin lagda" below and Mussarat's version, here.

UDDIKAAN- TERE BIN...


Second one is Sanwre tore bina from the movie Bandit queen and Mussarat's version is here.