Movies

When I think of movies, my memory instantly opens up a cupboard inside which are all kinds of DVDs lined from rack to rack. All I got to say is, “Search.” The DVDs on the rack stand up and spin in a slow circle giving me an opportunity to have a cursory glance at the DVD covers - a peek enough to decipher the title and understand whether the movie is a tragedy or a comedy or an action-filled or a classic. Although numerous movies are stocked up, when it comes to classics, only two movies spin in my memory. Movies which hadn’t had any competition during the time they were playing in the theatres or for that matter even now - Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments.

Both these movies are worth watching. Not only for their fantastic storylines but also for the way these movies were shot. The directors seem to have put their heart and soul into creating them. I read somewhere that when somebody ridiculed Cecil B. DeMille, the director, that he was taking a hell of a time to complete the movie “The Ten Commandments”. I heard, he retorted, “Do you want me to complete the movie quickly and release it as, “The Five Commandments?” A perfectionist he was. It didn’t matter even if he took his time but he undoubtedly delivered a masterpiece!

Now, what made me think about movies? Well, it was something I read about a couple of days ago. I was leafing through a book titled, “The Logic of Faith” by Dale Rhoton when I stumbled upon an interesting truth. A truth that could have stayed buried in the book had I not read it. The truth, I knew had fanned a negligible spark to such fiery flames that it warmed many a heart in the form of the movie - Ben-Hur.

In fact, Ben-Hur always intrigued my mind; I used to ponder: The storyline is amazing, who could have scripted such a wonderful classic? Only recently did I come to know about the man and the circumstances that compelled him to write such a fascinating book – Ben-hur, which later was converted into a movie. I could clearly make out that the inspiration was not from any man. Had it been from a man, it would have petered out easily. The fact that it still touches many a heart, amazes everyone! Here is a gist of the story of the man behind the scripting of the book – Ben-Hur. I quote from the book “The Logic of Faith”

“General Lew Wallace, was an outstanding example of a complete reversal of belief. While traveling on a train he met another well-known atheist, Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. The two became deeply immersed in conversation about the foolishness of Christianity. Suddenly Colonel Ingersoll looked straight at General Wallace and challenged him, “You are intelligent and highly educated. Why don’t you write a book that Christianity is absurd and Jesus Christ never even lived? Such a book would be a master piece!”

Filled with the idea of obtaining fame, General Wallace spent several years collecting material for the great book. Then he began to write. Only four chapters were completed when General Wallace began to realize that Jesus Christ was even more than just an historical person. As a man of fifty years of age, General Wallace knelt to pray for the first time in his life and asked Jesus Christ to become his Saviour.

The vast amount of research which General Wallace had done was not wasted. He re-wrote the first four chapters and went on to complete the narrative which has thrilled thousands of people throughout the world – Ben-Hur."

This is the story of General Lee Wallace. This is also the story how Ben-Hur came into existence. If I am not mistaken, Ben-Hur was shot way back in 1959. But it still stands unruffled by time. With many remarkable writers and much technological advancement the movie industry has witnessed, I don’t think it is easy to shoot another Ben-Hur equivalent. I think that is largely because Ben-Hur is a story that is not told from the mind, but from the heart.

Cheers to General Lee Wallace!

Good Intentions

I read this story somewhere. My mind is hazy about where I picked it from. However, the story is etched in my mind with crystal clarity. I found it interesting. I thought I would share it with my readers too. This is how it goes:

Once, there lived two pious monks. Their lives completely dedicated to the divine one, leaving no room for worldly or carnal pleasures. On one occasion, they were compelled to undertake a long and tedious journey which would see them cross many a river and a mountain. While they were on this daunting path that they encountered poison ivies, venomous reptiles and wild animals -- being alert to danger -- they tactfully avoided them. But it was when they arrived at the banks of a river, they were perplexed at the situation that stared them in their face. Standing at the river bank was a very, very beautiful woman. Afraid that the flowing waters would carry her downstream, she was anxiously waiting for someone to carry her onto the other side of the river.

Both the monks looked at each other not knowing what to do. Should they leave the woman where she is and not offer any help. Or should they carry her to the other side of the river and defile their thinking. Both possibilities spoke of unpleasant results.

But one of the monks immediately offered help. He picked her up, carried her on his back and crossed the river along with the other monk. After crossing the river he placed the woman down. She thanked him. He nodded and embarked on his journey again. After the two monks traveled some distance, one of them questioned, “We are monks. How could you carry her, for that matter, even touch her?”

To which his friend replied, “I have put the woman down after crossing the river. Why is it that you are still carrying her?”

Sachin Tendulkar Shook Hands with me Yesterday.

Last night I went to a high profile wedding. I had received the invitation 16 days in advance, giving me enough time to decide whether to skip the wedding or tag along with another friend who is also invited. Actually, it was my former boss’s daughter’s wedding. I could easily understand the wedding will see the who’s who of the town. So, exposure-wise, it would do me an immense good. But then again, I am not the kind who would put on façade and hang around with people I don’t get along well with. It’s clearly not my cup of tea. And this wedding would definitely have a potpourri of personalities who may not gel with me. On the flip side, this wedding would give me an opportunity to zero in on people who would require our agency’s services. That way, attending the wedding would leverage the volume of my business. So, carefully weighing the pros and cons, I finally decided to attend it. Donned in formals with a gift tucked under my arm, I hit the wedding reception.

My jaw dropped when I saw the magnificently decorated venue with all the top brass of the city. It had everyone you would swoon over. I mean everybody who is somebody. Under the starlit sky the place dazzled with flashy designer wear, laughter and cool music. Trees were decked with incandescent lights like a bride. Soft jazz, like that of Kenny G’s, floated in the air. Men were dressed to make an impression while women were dressed to kill! Guests casually strolled delicately balancing wine glasses in their fingers. A few others were having close talks with loud guffaws in between. I saw some Telugu cine actors and actresses queuing up to hand over gifts and blessings to the couple. The whole place reeked of exquisite wealth and grandeur.

From the corner of the eye I could notice a few stars, not the ones scattered above in the black expanse of the sky, but those who light up a twinkle of recognition in the eye when you see them. And then suddenly my eyes fell on someone. I couldn’t believe my eyes that he was there. My heart stopped beating. My mind became numb for a moment. He’s someone the whole world longs to be photographed with. Cricket is the word that links him. No, not Harsha Bogle! One of the finest Indian batsmen, a man feared and revered for his batting skills. Yes, Sachin Tendulkar!

Attired in a double breasted blue suit with a dark matching tie against a white shirt, he looked elegant! I tracked him all through the evening as he greeted guests with his trade-mark shy smile. Everyone seemed jubilant at his presence! Some were taking autographs.

Finally, the crowds started thinning around midnight. Even I decided to leave after bidding goodbye to my former boss. While I was having a final chat with my boss, I suddenly felt a pat on my shoulder. I turned around to find Sachin Tendulkar smiling. He said, “Hi, how are you?” I was like zapped. I mean literally blown apart. I stammered, “I am fine, thank you. How about you, sir?” (I don’t remember whether the queen gave him “Sir” or not but I certainly remember saying sir). Then he looked at the host, smiled and said, “Do you know Daniel is a very fine cricketer?” I was like, “Huh?” I did play some cricket when I was in school and college but not in a way that would interest Sachin to watch. He added to our host, “You remember the sweep shots I play when I face spin bowling; he used to play just like me.”

I was going nuts and my mind started running helter-skelter. Trying to pick the year and the day when I played cricket while Sachin watched. Flash back. The year was 1989. I found myself driving the ball to the boundary. I only had one pad tied to my left leg. Not that it was customary then to tie one pad, but we, 15-year-olds, didn’t have the money to buy two pairs of pads for the opener and the other batsman. Even as the images of our live cricket of 80’s slowly started filling my head, I could see there was no sight of Sachin. No where.

Back to 2009. I was staring dumbfounded at Sachin. Nothing he was talking was making sense. That’s when someone scampered to us and said to the host, “Sir, there has been a small fire mishap at the back of the stage but thankfully nobody is hurt. We have informed the fire service; they would be here any moment.” Even while he was saying that we could hear the ear-piercing sirens of a fire engine. The sirens simply grew louder, louder and louder. It was like there was no stopping!

That’s when I suddenly woke up out of my sleep.

Stared at the phone from where the ear-piercing alarm sounds emanated. In a flash, everyone and everything interesting disappeared -- Sachin Tendulkar, my former boss, the wedding and the guests. I realized all this was only a dream. Ear piercing sirens were not from the fire engine but from my alarm on the phone. Last night I put an alarm on my mobile to get up early so I could go for a jog. That's what actually woke me up.

It was five-thirty in the morning. As I was putting on my jogging tracks, I thought to myself, “Sachin watching me play cricket, my foot! This could happen only in dreams.”

P.S: The wedding was real. Yes, all the high profile guests did arrive, except for Sachin Tendulkar ;). But unfortunately I had missed out on the wedding as well as the reception due to my other prior engagements. The thought I missed the party…gave me the dream. The dream gave me the post. The post gave me a high. ;)

Cheers to Satyam’s Ramalingam Raju!

The post, before few earlier posts, was about an accident. I never thought I would be scripting about another accident so early. But life, sometimes, hurls at us some unpleasant surprises at really unexpected times. Moreover, this incident happened only a few days ago. So it is very much alive in my mind, therefore the post. It was around 3 pm few days ago, that I and my friend stepped out of our office building and were scurrying out, when we noticed a figure slumped on the stairs of the adjacent building. As we walked closer, we noticed that this man was lying face down and had a head injury and the stairs were all profusely marked by his blood.

First, we were stunned. Then we were worried wondering whether he was dead or alive.

Just then I saw a painter (Whom I knew) sitting and smoking a cigarette only few yards away from this man. Looking at the slumped figure, I asked the painter, “What happened?” He said, “He had a seizure and fell on his head on the stairs.” Then I enquired “Why isn’t anybody doing anything about it?” He said, “Don’t bother, he is mentally retarded”. I screamed, “Are you nuts?” My friend too chipped in and yelled, “After all he is a human. Why don’t you call somebody for help?” To which he questioned, “Whom should I call?” We were both appalled at his indifference. We even noticed some college students pass-by this man but they didn’t even give him a second glance.

We were too shocked to do anything. At the same time, we wanted to help this poor man. Listening to our conversation with the painter, one guy stepped closer and said, “Why don’t you call 108?” Yes, calling 108 would be the right thing to do, I thought.

108 in Andhra Pradesh is an emergency ambulance service which picks up accident victims and administers medical aid. If the victim is too critical, the paramedical staff on the ambulance takes the responsibility of rushing him to the nearest hospital.

I was extremely doubtful about the service. Usually there is a lot of appreciation, government approval and media coverage when the service is launched. After sometime the enthusiasm simply dies down. I thought it would be the same with this service. But when I dialed the number I got a response on the very first ring. The voice on the other end, noted what had happened and asked me to hang on while he put me in contact with the nearest 108 ambulance. The ambulance driver took the address and in precisely 4 minutes and 20 secounds arrived in his vehicle with blaring sirens.

Having heard the story from our side, the paramedical staff on the ambulance took the accident victim and treated him for injuries. After his head was bandaged, he was discharged as they found that there were no internal injuries but only external.

For those who aren’t aware, although state government is currently running the 108 service, it was actually launched by none other than Satyam’s Ramalingam Raju. To me, Ramalingam Raju comes across as a pious soul. Had he not squealed under pressure, he would have been looked upon as an Indian god of IT. In a way, he was at least honest enough to confess fraud. Frankly, how many business men are confessing to committing fraud? How many politicians are taking responsibility for corruption charges? How many government employees are admitting to taking bribes? None I know of, except Raju, who for reasons best known to him, had confessed that he committed fraud. In other words, he is an honest individual, I should say.

Although Ramalingam Raju is languishing in jail, he has at least set in motion a process that ensures immediate medical treatment to accident victims. Ramalingam Raju, for once, deserves sincere praise!

The Salsa Days

It was while we were trying to learn a Spanish song ahead of our Spanish class Freshers’ Party that I suddenly saw a hand pushed in my direction and the face that was attached to the hand had an infectious smile which jubilantly cried, "Hola, soy Juliet. ¿Cómo se llama usted?" (Hi, I am Juliet, what’s your name?)

That’s how my friendship with Juliet, a Spaniard, began. She was one of those rare individuals for whom boundaries dissolved instantly and circle of friends grew quickly. If not for her skin colour nobody would ever guess that she was a foreigner in a strange land. India - a strange land? Of course, where else would you find buffaloes walking majestically on the road, while buses try to invade the territory of pedestrians? Or garbage strewn on roads as if it’s the place to throw? Or the erratic, puzzling traffic flow. Yet, she never let out a whimper or a hint that India is a shabby place with lot of things that could irk a foreigner easily.

But then it was her nature that anybody would fall for - bubbly, fun-loving, above all, helpful to those around. From a large group that arrived on an exchange programme from different parts of South America like Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala and Brazil and Spain to CIEFL (A university, which is now called EFL), she was the only individual who was always found with Indian students. Discussing, learning, and seeking answers of the land which is perennially mysterious to the westerners.

One Friday evening our Spanish lecturer gathered students around and without mincing words said, “Spanish is not just about learning the language, it’s about getting to the roots of Spanish culture, tradition, heritage and all. You got to know everything that is remotely connected to Spanish.” She hasn’t even finished saying that when someone screamed, “Then, how come we are only learning Spanish and not salsa which is an integral part of Spanish culture?”

That brought the house down, but not the professor’s interest in teaching everything intricately interwoven with the Spanish language. That’s how learning salsa dance became a part of our Spanish classes.

And guess who taught us? Yeah! Juliet.

Nobody knew she could dance, but when she did, she blew our minds away. Frankly, salsa dance songs have a rhythm that could make a paralytic get up and dance. I mean it’s so lively and full of life. The way two individuals move like one, it’s absolutely electrifying. With Juliet as our salsa teacher, we, around 12 of us: six boys and six girls, soon learned to dance to her tunes. We practiced every day for the grand finale -- the Freshers’ Party. During the practice, we unconsciously lingered around munching on spicy samosas, sipping hot chai in paper glasses, discussing Spanish sitting on the building ledges late into the night -- an experience that will remain frozen in hearts for long.

The Spanish class Freshers’ Party was both mind-blowing and sorrowful. Mind-blowing because we discovered new friends, hidden talents, above all a greater love for Spanish language! Sorrowful because Juliet had to leave to Spain just a day before the Freshers’ Party and couldn’t see how we fared at salsa! But we all did great, I mean, as per the class feedback!

Many years have rolled by, since I stopped learning Spanish. However, a couple of days ago, I had an opportunity to meet an old Spanish classmate at EFL. We had a chat about the good old times in the canteen while the music system there belted out an old number by Bryan Adams, “Summer of 69”. My mind froze, when Bryan Adams, as if reading my mind, sang the lines…“Those were the best days of my life…”

My Likes and Dislikes

Finally, I have decided to go ahead with it. If someone wants to call me a copycat, I don’t mind. I am going to list out my likes and dislikes akin to many others who have done so on their blogs. For all I know, nobody holds a copyright for this thought. Even if one did, I would still think of ways of putting up my list. ;) So here they are: what I adore and detest the most.

1.I love watching crocodiles hunt their prey. But believe me it’s tough. Because a part of me questions, “How could you watch such gory things?” The other part assures me, “Well, it’s ok. You are only watching it on Nat Geo.”

2.I like playing chess online. I think playing chess helps me develop alternatives for life’s problems and lets my creative juices flowing. I love scrabble, crosswords, puzzles too, but first comes chess.

3.I go crazy over goggles. I have different kinds of them. Ray-ban, Fast Track, Police…and still collecting. The one I prefer is from Singapore which could be folded so small one wouldn’t notice even if you held it in your fist.

4.I hate traffic but LOVE long drives. (Probably the reason why I married someone from the neighbouring state)

5.I believe I have some strange powers such as interpreting dreams. I have deciphered most of them for my friends. Of course, free of charge! Sounds crazy? Well, it is!

6.I love traveling. One of my covert wishes is to be a globe-trotter. But I guess you have to fly. And flying is expensive… I mean, when it’s all over the world.

7.I love watching “Whose line is it anyway.” The three stand-up comedians, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brandy, and Colin Mochrie have loads of talent. I feel my unbridled side perfectly fills the shoes of Wayne Brandy.

8.The moment I have the remote in my hands, the channels I love to steady my eyes on are, HBO, Star Movies and Telugu movies, in that order.

9.As a teenager, I was crazy about all occult sciences. Palmistry, Astrology, Face Reading, Chinese astrology… name it, I was into it. The traces of which surface every now and then puzzling friends and acquaintances.

10.I get a high when I hog the limelight! But it seldom happens.

Harmony

I stopped listening to music. Not that I wanted to, but the pressures of life sometimes hold you by the collar so tight, you tend to forego things that actually pep up your life. Now, it seems like years since I have actually put on my earphones and listened to some good soft music.

I for one could relate music to two things. One, music is like a medicine which helps soothe your aching nerves. Two, it is like the company of trusted friends, a great stress buster. If only I could hold on to this dear friend, music, and let him be by mental therapist as often as possible, then life would really ROCK!!!

But there are some bands that could work the other way and take your peace away and throw it out of the window. Like the bands Guns and Roses, Rolling Stone, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Deep Purple…which are heavily into heavy metal. No offence meant, but my heart just can’t stomach heavy metal. I wouldn’t mind listening to these bands once in a while but not on a regular beat. With life already filled with lot of jarring effects, why would anyone like to listen to jarring sounds? It’s simpler and easier to listen to Bryan Adams sing, “Everything I do…” or Elton John croon to “Sacrifice” or watch Toni Braxton in her inimitable voice sing, “Unbreak my heart” or Lionel Richie whisper, “Hello.” Although the songs seem old they are as fresh as jasmine flowers in August. You can’t but help appreciate the effect.

My advice to all those who feel let down and the pressures of the world choke on them. Take a day off! Run away into the woods. Insulate yourself from this mad, mad world. Lie down on the green grass; enjoy the mild caress of the summer breeze. Then, fall in love with the music on your i-pod!