Poetry on the Big Screen

Saw Kites, finally. The much-awaited, overtly hyped Hrithik-Mori Spanglishindi potboiler romance was hailed and trashed in equal measure by a variety of media all over the globe. The 'Western' sensibility gave it a thumbs-up and the 'Desi' sensibility, a thumbs-down.

There is nothing much to say in the story - poor boy-poor girl want to be rich, about to marry rich and scary goons of LA, fall in love with each other instead, elope, chase-action sequences, sacrifices, sad ending.

It is the execution of the film, in my opinion, that deserves accolades. Non-linear in style, its' story keeps moving back and forth. The colours used in the film are vividly descriptive of the mood of the sequence. Blood reds and squeamish greens and downright breathtaking sandy cliffs overlooking the brilliantly blue sea - its a visual delight. The background score. (minus the songs) has an operatic feel to it. The film is silent in many parts. The bad emoting is neatly covered with the emphatic music and cinematography.It moves in a slow motion, the film, and I felt I was watching poetry unfold.

The only other film, with this kind of a larger-than-life, aesthetic, poetic appeal that comes to mind is A Single Man by Tom Ford.

I watched this one all by myself. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it more. Had I gone with a group, I would have ended up making fun of the poor acting and dialogues. Sounds superficial, but that's what's watching a film in a theatre is all about-the experience. A good experience is a mix of the quality of the film and the company (or the lack of it) you go with.

The verdict? I'd suggest you to watch it, for the sheer beauty of all the things I mentioned above.

And yes, watch it if only, you are the patient kind. The film has to grow on you, slowly. Else, stick to LSD.

:)

Routine

19 May 2010

2204 hours

The Matchbox

I am blogging. It is a vent for me. I need to give words to my thoughts. The thoughts that keep bubbling under, form hazy images, and fade away, at a speed that could give light a run for its money. Exaggeration at its best. Neverthless, point made.

Currently interning at a firm that handles events and PR of festivals, my routine keeps me busy, physically. Get up in the morning, snooze for half hour, get up for good for the day, look at self in the mirror, make a gazillion faces, get ready, make breakfast, pack lunch, eat breakfast, leave house, walk, catch the bus, sit in bus, get off the bus, walk, reach office before the boss, turn up the blinds, switch on work station, select music of the day, check emails, check news, facebook, twitter, scour LGBT Film Festivals around the world, meet the boss, meet the cute guy, attempt to make coffee/ tea for the boss, fail, learn from the boss, laugh, work, lunch, walk, work, coffee again, laugh, work, take leave, walk back home, meet people on the way, chat, laugh, make fun, reach home, make dinner, watch film, think of the cute guy, stare at screen, worry about dissertation, take bath, write diary, sleep.

Cool?

Not.

The Snooze Syndrome

12 May 2010

7:20 am

The Matchbox

One of the easiest things in life, when you want to run away from your troubles, when you don’t know what to do, and are too lazy to think or act…. is sleeping. Not to mention, it is one of the most cowardly acts as well. I quite dislike it. And I have been indulging in it for a pretty long time now. Here, in Cardiff, with nobody to watch over me except the dreaded deadlines and commitments, I have had the opportunity to showcase my slug-like tendencies more than ever before.

A latest case would be yesterday, when I was on the VERGE of doing something productive, something that I haven’t done in AGES. I had begun writing an entry for a new blog I propose to start, something slightly more professional, in-line with my subject, opinionated and on Wordpress. I had decided to write about the 02 fiasco of yesterday. The mobile phone’s network had crashed in some parts of the UK. It remained non-functional for over four hours. Considering that 02 is one of the most widely used networks in the UK (there website states that 90% of the UK population use it, whatever), this was a huge deal. Twitter, more than Facebook, was flooded with complaints. They have a twitter account, and it took them SIX hours to come up with ONE response. This is BAD PR. The comments were downright funny, for the third-person-spectator - Me. Some people threatened to change their networks, some blamed the Tories for the problem!

A bit of trivia there, the Tories guy, David Cameron was declared the Prime Minister of the UK yesterday. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have agreed ti form a coalition government. Only time will tell how stable that is, since both parties have differing ideologies.

Anyway, coming back to 02, they did not respond to any of the comments on Twitter, or Facebook. They did not have any reassuring statements on their website, or blog for over six hours that I was online. After that I slept. I am a slug, remember?

Coming back to me, yes, I know. This has to stop. The sleep-ridden hours have to be filled up with some respectable actions. Else the sluggishness, the laziness, the cowardice will continue forever. Take charge. Be the doer. Act.

Hmmm…interesting thought. I shall sleep over it. NOT

The International Student and St. David

March 2, 2010
11:30pm
The Matchbox

"The Black Forest cake comes from a place called Black Forest in south-west Germany, and that's where half of my family is from!" That's Helen, from University of Newport. She teaches at a primary school, and studies Fashion Design, and she loves welsh cakes.

"My dad's Indian, mom's Portugese. I studied in Delhi till about grade 7, then moved to Canada. And I'm here in Wales as an exchange student now. So yeah, I'm from all over." That's Anika, from University of Newport, fond of salmon and photography.

"I used to dance with my brother in Tokyo. But I'm too short to be a professional performer. So I took up stage management. I know nothing about theatre, mind you. I just deal with people, lighting and sound." Akiko Suzuki, from Japan, full of spunk and humour.

"I went to Bath (in England) when I was fourteen, and on going back to Colorado, I decided to work hard on my grades to come back to the UK for college. I'm happy to be here, studying piano" That's Lauren Lewakowski, from USA at the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama.


These aren't characters from a film (would make interesting ones though!). They are real people. I met them. And that's how I know about them.
It was St. Davids'Day Reception today. St. David was the patron saint of Wales, one of the most highly revered saints of his time. 1st March of every year is St. Davids' Day. Wales celebrates everything Welsh on this day. The bright sunshine and children scampering about, the red Welsh dragon costume parades, the delicious Welsh food festival - its all there, bright red dragons all over the city of Cardiff.

The Welsh Assembly decided to make this day even more memorable by inviting international students from all the universities of Wales for a reception at The Senedd (Welsh for the Welsh Assembly) by the eternally pretty Bay. The Senedd itself is a beautiful building like a Glass House and follows all the 'green' principles of construction.

At the beginning, I felt a little awkward. Going all alone for a party with a slight hope of finding familiar faces was not my ideal idea of fun. But then, I simply went. And boy, am I glad I did! And I learnt that chatting up to people isn't hard at all, as long as you strike up the right topic. It was fun. The people from the Welsh Assembly themsleves were present, and were a friendly lot, going up to students and talking to them. Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, gave the opening speech, remarking that he hoped we had by now, the hard way, learnt that Wales was not a part of England. (That's the beauty of the Welsh lot. They are brilliant at self-deprecating humour. And they are ALWAYS happy.

The food was bland. Lamb cawl with laverbread, salmon and cream, welsh sausage and mash, wine, sparkling water and tons of welsh cake. I enjoyed the wine and cake, obviously.

I left by 8, as they were closing down the pretty glass building. I waited for my bus to take me home. None came. Apparently, there was a massive car accident close to the Bay itself resulting in the blocking of all roads. The girl waiting with me, Isabel from Poland suggested we walk up to a different bus stand. I walked. For some strange reason, we walked in the middle of the road, and the woman had the spunk to shout a request at a police car, seeking directions for the next bus stop. She's been in Cardiff for the last seven years with her boyfriend. In the bus, she talked about how fascinating she thought India was, how amazing she thought it was to have a meaning to every name("Isabel is meaningless. Its just a name!"), how she hates the weather at Cardiff, how she plans to travel to India. And towards the end, she told me, "Never ever, get comfortable with a job you don't really want to do. I started as a temp at an agency, and stayed there for four years. Not my idea of a great future." Mine neither.

The day was fantastic. Thank goodness I went! Now I know people who will keep me updated on all the musical concerts and theatre performances around town. And I know places around Wales I have to visit next.

I think I have finally gotten my life back.:)

Of Fallacies Logical

27^th January, 2010

1845 hrs

The Matchbox

We learnt about logical fallacies today. Logic is a statement given based on a premise or an evidence. Fallacy is defined as a false notion. Something which is untrue and incorrect.

There are so many of them. It seems that every argument I have ever made or heard is based on a logical fallacy. Sigh.

I will list down the best ones and try animating them with examples.

Argumentum Ad Baculu (Appeal to force)

Not even a leaf can shudder without God’s assent. (duh)

Affirmation of the Consequent (A implies B, therefore B must be true).

Supriya likes Coke. Supriya is a girl. Therefore, all girls like Coke (There go half of Pepsi’s consumersJ)

Argumentum ad antiquatem (worthy on account of being old)

God has been around since Man became a wimp. That happened a long time ago. There MUST be something good in itJ 

Cum hoc ergo propter hoc (with this, therefore because of this)

All boys suck, therefore, whoever sucks, must be a boy :p

Argumentum ad hominem (against the person or the circumstance, my personal favourite)

Anisha Ralhan lives in her head because she’s a wonky womanJ

Argumentum ad nauseam (Argument on a repeat mode)

I am mental because I am mental because I am mental.

Argumentum ad novitatem (Justification because it is new)

The Hong Kong chick dresses better than me because she wears new clothes EVERY DAY to class. The effort some people put. Sigh.

Argumentum ad numerum (Justification because of a lot of people)

Go vegetarian. Everybody’s doing it. It’s the in thing!

Argumentum ad vercundiam (Appeal to authority)

Do botox. Come on Shilpa Shetty does it!

Audiatur et altera pars (failing to state a premises) (I do this all the time)

I think we are all born to die.

Red herring (irrelevant information diverts from the main issue)

Global warming is a huge issue today. It actually snowed in Cardiff the other day!

There are many more. And they are all in Latin. Those who will bother memorizing them will surely spew them for an ‘intelligent’ retort. A fallacy in itself.

All for now.

Of the Original Dudes

18th January, 2010
3:24 am
The Matchbox

"Knowledge is knowing that tomato may be a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that it is not to be put in the fruit salad."

My second class at Introducing Philosophy started with this famous old quote by Anonymous. The class of the eclectic ten started with Mister Jovial Olive Ball rolling in sharp at 7. We were told a bit about the three Wise Men today. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. It is said that the Western Civilization is based on the ideas put forth by these guys. Here's the rationale, as given by Theo (the Olive Ball). It makes sense too. Socrates taught Plato taught Aristotle taught Alexander the Great, who with the universal language of the time, Greek, the society binder of sorts, passed it onto the Romans, who, along with the concept of Christianity, laid down the founding principles of the Western Civilization. This means, that what we are today (the Western World, that is. The distinction is important because Eastern Philosophy had a different basis. They don't teach that here:)) is mostly the doing of the three blokes I mentioned above.

The first one is Socrates. He is supposed to be the wisest of all Greek philosophers known. And the strangest. For a start, he wasn't a pretty sight. Bulging eyes that darted sideways, flaring nostrils, huge lips, long hair, average height, and an unkempt unwashed attire. He walked about with a stick and an air that could give any Greek God a run for his money. He loved talking, would start discussing philosophy with just about anyone on the street. He asked the most fundamental questions. He brought about the concept of universal definitions. What is bravery, love, existence? His style of teaching was through questioning and bringing out answers from his students. He enjoyed confusing his audience. He liked to make them aware of their own ignorance, by constantly questioning their beliefs. They would end up losing track of their own selves. And then, if they were lucky, he would clarify things. He was adored and resented at the same time. The authority disliked his ways and feared that he was creating his own deities. He was sentenced to death, a sentence which he, at the ripe age of 70, merrily accepted. He was given the opportunity to escape, but he refused. he drank the hemlock and died a peaceful death, condemning the authority and its ways, but submitting to it towards the end, probably because he was bored of life. Cool dude. He had spunk. Spunky Socrates.

Plato, the next dude in line. Socrates' student, his follower, and his biggest critic. He is known to be one of the most dazzling writers of his time. I am still to read him. He raised some of the most profound questions in philosophy. He questioned on Reality, Knowledge, Identity, Ethics, Method, Beauty and Love. His questions were bang on. His answers, nearly. He gave two forms of Reality. One, the Phenomenal Reality. The reality which we live in. Our reality. Our world. Or the Material reality. That, for him, is easy to comprehend, because that, is what our senses perceive. The other reality, is the Real Reality. The Actual Reality. That reality sees no Change. That reality has no Time. It is the reality of Forms and Ideas. Those ideas are integral to the Phenomenal Reality we live in. They explore concepts of beauty, love, identity etc. Plato, for some reason, was obsessed with Beauty (he probably did not get enough of it, having spent half his life with the unique looker Socrates). Aesthetics was one subject he has discussed in great detail in one of the countless books he's written. And he hated the concept of Democracy.

Aristotle is the next in line. Don't know much about him yet.

This piece was merely a description of what the original thinkers were like. It is not meant to be taken as a reflective piece. Reflections will come when I'm a little wiser. And that could take a lifetime.:)

Till then, I continue my journey of "Knowing thyself"(Socrates).

Nothing Fishy About Sushi!

16th January, 201011:44 pm
The Matchbox

Sweet and sticky
Raw and zippy
Pretty little rings of rice
Bits of victuals inside
Not mush
Very lush
The fuss is all about
Sush-i

Raw food can be good food.