Linram’s Interesting Shantasay

Book review of Shantaram, Author Gregory David Roberts, Published by Abacus, Price INR 497/-

The first thing first, finally and finally, a book based on India that presents the country in true spirit. I think we all are tired of clichéd accounts of mere visitors to the country who leave for home with a ‘book’ of stereotypes. This is a fresh waft of air.

Gregory David Roberts, the author spent several interesting years in India and as mentioned by him fell in love with the country within first twenty minutes. Through out the book he carries that love, loving the country for what it is. The book is based on his awe inspiring years in India after breaking through an Australian prison.

The central character, Gregory lives his life in Mumbai under an assumed name Lindsay and goes on to be called ‘Linbaba’ by his guide turned friend Prabhaker and several neighbors from the slum in South Mumbai, where he spent more than two years, after his visa expires and he is mugged of whatever money he has. He is ‘Lin’ to his friends at the watering hole ‘Leopold’s’ and ‘Shantaram’ to the folks in Prabhaker’s village in Maharastra, where he spends several months.

Lin’s stay in Mumbai takes him from becoming a savior-doctor at the slum, part time drug pusher, an inmate at Arthur Road Jail, to an inner member of the mafia circle. He appears to be in love with every thing in the city. The city itself, Prabhaker, various neighbors at the slum, fellow mafia fighter Abdullah, mafia don Khader Khan and above all the enigmatic Karla, whom he truly, deeply, madly adores.

He also has a battery of fellow philosophers that include the mafia don, his flame Karla, Frenchman and wall paper at Leopold’s Didier, Johnny Cigar and Qasim Ali at the slum. The book is full of very intense sequences of conversation between Lin and them, interesting most of the times but a tad drag at some. But as the story progresses one realizes the relevance of them in the plot.

He does not spend all his time in India though, as he travels under fake identity to Afghanistan via Pakistan, coaxed by Khader Khan to fight his holy war against Russians and other tribal war lords. This adventure almost kills him physically and totally emotionally as several secrets about the people he adores get revealed to him. But the life goes on as he is reminded in the last few pages of being Shantaram, the indomitable son of soil.

The story although 936 pages long, that too in very small point size, has its twists, turns, surprises, and moments of elation, sorrow, moist eyes, gore, romanticism and philosophy.

Bollywood 2007:Water Shed or Tear Shed

Bollywood trade pundits in 2007 appeared nervous as film after film returned flop. Reams and reams of space was devoted by them to proclaim 2007 as the year of doomed. Although, they had some relief towards the end when few of the films made it blockbusterly big. Despite the late home run, many of them may want to forget the year quickly. To be fair to them, their only way of judging, the bang for bucks statistic, is fairly important a factor.

But for the discerning audiences 2007 was a real water shed year. Given the genre of films released and amount of experimentation done with the medium. This meant that several films only attracted niche viewing and not much cash. But in all they gave great viewing experience to a section of moviegoers. Paise mein dollar vasool! Since even a minority in India is also couple of millions, a huge cross section had a real treat this year.

No single year has seen such differently paced and treated films being dished out. It turned out to be a real-time, several course meal served right through the year. There are examples galore.
Take 'Saawariya', which was simply beautiful poetry on screen with mind blowing performances and music. It was a visual treat where you just surrendered your buds and cones.

Then there were no pretence hilarious flicks like 'Bheja Fry', 'Ek Chaalis ki Last Local', 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd', and 'Dhamaal', which without any dilution went about their task of tickling the funny bone.

There were real-surreal, never attempted in India, kinds like 'No Smoking'; bizarre and quiver sending. And 'a simple tale emphatically told' types like 'Manoram-Six Feet Under'.

The year also saw true life situations rolled into powerful films in 'Parzaania' and 'Black Friday'. Much has been said on the depth of these films and that too unanimously. 'Bow Barracks For Ever', did you ever hear about it? Unfortunately, the film that sank without trace had such moving potrayals and unblemished performances by Victor Banerjee and Lillete Dubey.

Then there were slick, clever, mainstream but well treated movies like 'Chak De' and 'Tarein Zameen Par'. The two touched the emotive chords in a real big way. The latter no wonder returned more successful than equally powerful 'Apana Aasman', which many would not have even noticed.

There were surprises galore. A well directed and acted in 'Laaga Chunri Me Daag', which told a very mainstream story did not do well. And on the other hand the powerful and rocking but very urban 'Life in Metro' went on to be a hit. Often, this genre of films do not have such a ball at the box-office.

A clutch of directors also tried a 'Dus Kahaniya', again a very bold concept, but the only wish as a viewer was that a majority of ten minuters could have been directed and scripted better. Although some of them were amazing. The concept needs a retry, perhaps next time with a better bouquet of movies.

The year also saw some creatively dud commercial hits like 'Om Shanti Om', 'Partner' and 'Welcome', proving that senseless fare continues to be the biggest market. The year may also see Kareena Kapoor's over the top acting in 'Jab We Met' winning awards. While a stunner of a performance in the solid 'Dharam' by could have been Father in Law, may not even make the jury blink.

Yet, in the same breath, there have been praises galore for 'Jhonny Gaddar' another unassuming movie and Niel Nitin Mukesh's historinics . Not very successful at box-office but admired by who ever saw it. Hopefully, Niel may get noticed by some jury some where.

So what else can one expect out of a year! Such huge variety, a true treat. Bollywood keep it up! Give us an even better 2008.

Colors of Fashion

Hi all, here are 4 poems translated in English, originally written in Hindi by my late father Mr. BP Tiwari :

Colors of Fashion

Scores of thanks, the world of fashioned,
You have left even Gandhi and Kabir stunned,
Draped in a coffin of ever new designs,
The traditional ensemble, what? No signs.

Oh! God what outfits were those,
Such smug shows,
You could tell a Brahmin from distance,
A robe less drown trodden without pence,
A Kshatriya, a Trader no pretence,
A Scavenger or a Community comrade hence.

Each stank of caste and fragmentation,
All that drowns now in the colors of fashion,
What Gandhi and Kabir could not solve,
Here in the magic of fashion they dissolve.

But hold on; don’t let fashion overwhelm you,
Good till complements, the time and situation cue.


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So Desire Your Fellow Country Men

It is not the unknown scary black night,
Nor is it the grim grey rainy day sight.

Instead it is the dreaded face of caste inequity,
Count blessings if you can spot it in a jiffy,
Thank stars that you have not lost your path,
And you are on the right side of time’s wrath.

Light the torch of eradicating untouchability,
And grow nation’s glory with all alacrity.

They watch you with a gaze never seen before,
High hopes burning bright and lips singing lore,
Other societies look at you with admiration,
They think a lot about you with interest and elation.

Simple solutions, easy ways, some plain thinking to do,
Huge expectations are from you the big buddy Hindu,
Pull down now every wall of caste inequity,
Every horizon will burn a new light of vivacity.

----------------------------------------------------------------

You still need to clear you tenth class!

Don’t talk like a Phd. pass,
You still need to clear your tenth class!

Then there is senior school and college,
You desire straight for Vedas-Shastras knowledge.

Forgetting even the basic of conversations,
Plagued by short-cut of mere translations,
Poisoned by the quick and dirty descriptions,
The venom of half truths has spread across each vein,
And polluted your pitiable brain.

First put some life learning Sanskrit the mother language,
With in-depth study; gain wisdom and its leverage,
Bring it home right into your surroundings,
Learn its behavior, disciplines and nuances.

Next snap the towering bars of untouchability,
Only then could you sing the shlokas with clarity,
With just empty chants of ‘Entire Universe My Family’,
Who on earth will hug your exclusion guilty body warmly?

Don’t talk like a Phd. pass,
You still need to clear your tenth class!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thus the spring in my gait

Many thanks, Shyam Shoe Store!
Within seconds, you made my IQ sore,
Nothing sells here for less than four hundred rupees,
Do not have it in you, cant’ buy, so leave please.

Head bowed and tight lipped, slipped out,
Thought, buy here if you wallet is mighty stout,
For me it is only shoeless feet,
And the store manager’s scornful bleat.

Burning road and naked soles,
Hurt and pain from flaming coals,
Whom does one call and plead?
Which courts would pay heed?

Heart torn, ambled into a temple,
My whole on God’s feet, emotions ample,
A prayer on the lips, an appeal for a good pair,
Everything else Lord I get under your care.

“So be it”, echoed in my entire within,
In God’s boon I flowed to the brim,
And there on the temple doorsteps lay a pair, unwanted, carefree,
He only willed a praying devotee to remove them for me.

My feet consumed them to their full length,
My gait got its spring, joy and strength.

Hi A Tribute to Begin With

Hi all,

I start my blogging with a tribute to my late father Mr. BP Tiwari, who passed away a year before.

He lived and died a poet at heart. I have just finished compiling his poems, in Hindi and that took some effort. Since it is ready for public eyes, I am trying to upload them some place. You will soon have a link to them. I never liked them before, because I never understood them. Now since I do, I am in love with them.

I was pleasantly surprised that he could understand so vividly that what created inequity in Hindus and hence a big populace in India is Caste based descrimination (Varan Bhed).

The verses have deep meaning, some of them make you laugh, smile perhaps!

So rest later.

Cheers

Anup