Slumdog Millionaire

And so I'm trying to figure out, why are Indians resentful of slumdog? And indeed, what's the entire hype about?
First, the facts. It's a very good film, that I maintain. It has action, passion, grit and is engaging from the word go. It's realistic to the hilt in its depiction of slum life in India, while I have no first-hand experience of life in slums it seems gritty enough to be called realistic. It certainly deserves it's Oscars, though the introduction of Jai Ho at the end of the film is very clearly a ploy to ensure that the nomination for music was made possible.
I have two basic cribs about the Indian reaction. First, that we behave as if the victory of the Slumdog team at the Oscars is a victory for India. Surely that cannot be the case. Danny Boyle has made a masal film for a Western audience and has done so very well. It's not even the first time an Indian has gone onto the Oscar stage - Bhanu Athaiya was there for the costume designs for Gandhi, a full two decades back (more than that, actually). Sure, there's good reason for us to be proud -it's international recognition of the talent embodied by AR Rahman, Resul and others. And anything that works for slumkids must be good, is my blatantly partisan opinion - and in this case, those kids are getting a chance at an education that they'd otherwise have never seen, so I'm all for it. But it's not a victory for India and India is not on test every year when the Oscars are announced, so let's get a bit mature about it.
Second, why is there so much negative reaction from Indians to the idea of a westerner making a film about slums? First AB went ballistic and then a few others as well. My own theory is that we earnest believe that we should show only our best side to the world and if we pretend long enough that there is no seamy side, that belief will somehow magically become the reality. That is really stupid. There is a seamy underside to life in India and it is for us to be ashamed of. 60 years after Independence, we still are not able to offer decent housing, food and education to our population and that has resulted in a completely different lifestyle for this other India, that is in our metros and yet not urban. We need more people like Boyle to hold up mirrors to us and let us know that there is a world out there that is savage, primitive and which we have not impacted positively as yet. AB I guess went ballistic because he belongs to those who believe that the seamy side will vanish if he pretends it does not exist, besides, the film does a takeoff on him at different times and in different forms (after all, Anil Kapoor pays him the highest compliment possible while portraying his role!!). But clearly, whatever AB's motives may be - and I'm one of his biggest fans - let's remind ourselves that this is not about AB or Boyle, it's about an India that we've ignored for long and need to work with.

The Last Lecture- A Sad Update

Just learnt that Prof Randy Pausch died in July last year- from the pancreatic cancer that he was suffering from. He outlived the doctors' predictions by three months and that must count for something. I think what was especially touching about the Last Lecture, in retrospect, was that it was not a presentation he made to his students, but one that he made to his kids about how his view of the world was changing now that he was conscious that time was finite.
Rest in peace, Randy. You deserve this one. With applause for the equanimity and courage in the face of death - I would certainly wish for that courage when the time comes.

Vantage Point

This is truly one of the most amazing films I have seen recently. Its outstanding.

First the story: relatively simple. A global Summit against terrorism is being held in Spain. All heads of government are participating. The President of the US gets up to make a speech and is assassinated. Theres a huge crowd at the place, including the 6 principal characters. Each of them views the event differently and the director adopts a very unusual device: their stories are told through flashbacks, and each flashback takes the story a bit further. Confused? Dont be, because the visual effect is stunning. Each characters story is told in a simple, non-melodramatic way that emphasises the facts of the event. And yes, there is a sequence when most of the characters intersect.

Aside from the unusual treatment by the director, the acting is superb. Dennis Quaid is crackling as the secret service agent. So also William Hurt. If you remember Sigourney Weaver from Alien, youll see her in a brief cameo as a TV news show producer. Its a brief movie, at 90 minutes, but worth every minute.

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Half Marathon for the second year in a row ..

I developed an interest in running in 2007 and took part in the Mumbai Half Marathon first in 2008. Was a great experience that did wonders for my confidence, esp since I'd never done serious physical exercise before that. This year was better in some ways and worse in others. the better parts were that I ran with less effort and fewer breaks ... stopped just about 5 times and each time not more than a minute. Also had fun chatting up with people while running, like I met my friend Anand Kripalu of Cadburys and Shyam Gwalani who runs his own training business in Thane.

And the crowds were more encouraging this time. Coming on the back of the November 26, 2008 terror attacks sponsored by Pakistan, it was seen as an expression of public spirit to be involved in the Marathon in any way possible and that encouraged people to participate in different ways.

On the negative side? Well Standard Chartered and Procam obviously don't believe that Marathoners need to use a toilet at any time during anywhere between 2 and 4 hours of running. It's quite weird but there's a shortage of public conveniences along the way. And of course the bigger downside, that I took more time than I did last time !!! Last year I did the 21 kms in 2 hours 26 mins; this year while I have not got the official record as yet it looks closer to 2 hours 28 mins or so. Possibly the heat- a lot of runners were telling me this year that they took longer.

And some one asked me why I do it .. I am reminded of Edmund Hillary's response on being asked why he wanted to conquer Everest, and he responded "Because it's there". I guess that's it. I hadn't done much of physical exercise earlier so I started doing it 2 years back and the results are getting better. Some of my friends are getting envious as well, because they are beginning to slip off the exercise bandwagon!!

Just finished a two day lab

If you haven't been through a t-group before, or are not very sure of the methodology, check the hyperlink www.isabs.org I just returned from a two-day lab conducted in Mumbai. Although a very brief lab - I am more used to the 6 day version that most ISABS labs are - it was useful. First I learnt what triggers off my anger. Second how I express and manage anger. Third how I react when I am feeling angry towards a person in a position of authority and power, who tries to sneer down and talk down to me. Fourth, that anger can sometimes be a product of helplessness. And of course I did experiment the first day, to make sure that I was more of a participant than an observer and I got into it to the hilt, coming in with passion and enthusiasm. I did enjoy this one in retrospect.

A quick one

Hi All- I know it's been over two months since I posted. WIll try and be more regular in future. In the meantime, for those of you who are interested, ISABS Western region is doing their event in the month of September in Lonavala. It includes Basic and Advanced Labs. Do make it if you can and contact me at sameer.nagarajan@gmail.com for further details or info, should you require them.

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

Continuing with my series of inspirational books, here's one about and by a Professor of Computer Science in Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2007 and given 3-6 months of quality life left. So what you might say - it's not a very rare disease and once metastasized, incurable.

Prof Pausch however chooses to fight back ... by living life the way it is meant to be lived. The book derives it's name from an old practice in some US univs where a professor delivers a lecture as if it were the last of his life, thus getting more into the values and philosophy of what is important - really - in life. Except that in this case of course he is really heading down that road. The book brings smiles, laughs, cheers, tears, fears and aspirations to life as you begin to empathise fully with the man. And no he is not full of sympathy for himself. He's obviously in love with life - both the notion of life and the various experiences it offers him - yet in a very philosophical way, accepts what it tosses at him and goes for the best that it can offer under the circumstances.

Taught me a lot about managing hardship, that book. You think you got a problem in life? When you see what this guy is up against, you'll realise pretty much how insignificant some problems can be. Read it and enjoy.

Incidentally if you are interested you can also access www.thelastlecture.com Lots of background material also there. And on youtube, search for Randy Paugh to hear one of his lectures a month or two back at Carnegie Mellon.

And yes, the prof is still alive, 9 months after the prognosis ... and quality of life seems quite good ... here's praying the good professor never gives up the fight.