Sunday 23 September 2012

Bebo is 'Heroine' and it's her film out and out







                                                           


Heroine is Kareena's best performance till date. It's a film full of emotions, the rise and fall of an actor. The agony, ecstasy, the day to day fight for survival for an actor. Struggling to make a mark for herself, then struggling to maintain that status. Kareena in the role of Maahi, who's a successful actor but with a heart which is yearning for love, true love so to say. She is not manipulative, not conceited, and is committed to her profession. I would say Kareena has excelled herself in this role. She falls for a married man but is always feeling insecure about her place in his life, till ultimately she is forced out of his life. How her career takes a downturn from here on is really worth watching. The scenes where she encounters fakes in her otherwise genuine performances, is a treat to watch. Madhur Bhandarkar has worked hard on his actors, has worked hard on his script, but I only wish he could have chopped off some unnecessary scenes which will make the film about 20 min shorter.
An excellent film otherwise, worth watching, where else will you get to watch such a brilliant piece of acting from Kareena Kapoor. There will indeed be a tussle between Priyanka and Kareena for the top honors this year.
All in all a beautiful film with brilliant performances. I would give Heroine 3 stars out of 5. It's a Bebo film out and out.

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Economic Reforms vs Politics - Make India Win

The TMC's decision to pull out and withdraw its support has shown what the Govt was fearing all this time. We now know exactly what was preventing the Govt from taking any important decision on the economic front. It was the constant opposition from one of it's allied parties who were hell bent not to let the Govt take any economic decision worth it's name which was actually preventing them from acting. It was not the so called 'policy paralysis' or anything of that sort. The Govt was constantly being bulldozed and pressurized by one of it's allies not to take any important economic decision which would lead the Country forward and bring it out of the economic mess. All important legislation was blocked by either the Opposition parties because of their brute majority in Rajya Sabha or it's own allies on one pretext or the other. The Opposition in particular, who didn't want any worthwhile legislation to go through, kept on making matters worse for the Govt as this act would help them in dis crediting the Govt to their heart's content.
In fact it's now crystal clear that the Govt has NOT been allowed to function with a free hand as it would have liked to do. None of the bills which the Govt wanted to bring in were either allowed to be tabled or were forced to be withdrawn for the time being. Such rash actions on the part of parties opposed to development have actually forced the Govt in a corner and it's certainly nothing to do with policy paralysis. The Govt has shown it can act provided it is allowed to do so by vested interests. 
There is so much politics playing around in this Country. YOU HAVE TO LOVE YOUR COUNTRY FIRST, IN ORDER TO RULE THIS COUNTRY.This message should be sent across to ALL politicos across the length and breadth of this Country. If you don't have any emotions for your Country, or you don't care two hoots for the economic development of the Country, and are more interested in economic deterioration, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO GOVERN. So down with all parties who are anti national and have no love for the economic progress of their Country.
So in case this crisis leads to an election, so be it. Although I don't believe there will be any General Election in the near future, and this UPA Govt will complete its term. But it's my sincere appeal to all patriotic people of this Country to please value their vote, in case of an election. Please don't vote for such parties or candidates who have continuously made mockery of the Country's unfinished economic agenda, have paralyzed Parliament, stalled all important legislation, and made life in general miserable for the common man. Come what may, if you feel a particular candidate in any political party is corrupt, certainly DON'T vote for him/her, but you have to keep the party's ideology and it's conduct in Parliament also in mind before committing your vote. Just don't waste your vote for the sake of bringing in change. The people of India are not meant to be used as pawns for bringing in new players all the time in order to fulfill their personal ambitions or fill their coffers. This would be the height of hypocrisy.  So irrespective whenever the polls are held, either next year or in 2014, don't even look at people who don't have the Country's interest at heart. This would be spelling disaster again. More so don't waste your vote over people who you think are perceived to be corrupt. So put pressure on parties to make sure they give their tickets to candidates who are perceived to be politically clean. DON'T BRING TO POWER PARTIES WHO ARE ANTI SECULAR, ANTI NATIONAL, or OPPORTUNISTIC. We can't keep bringing back parties who are known for public posturing and looking for opportunities to come back to power by hook or by crook, and then playing around with the finances of the Country, and keeping the Country at tenterhooks. 
We should also keep in mind that whichever party you choose to vote for, should be voted back by a huge majority. Don't bring back a particular party by a slender majority. Supposing you want to bring in Congress candidates then select their cleaner candidates and vote them in by a huge majority so they can take their decisions in peace without having to depend on all sorts of permutations and combinations. We can't afford corrupt candidates but we can't also afford candidates from parties who are just dying to get back to power. So think carefully before you cast your vote. Are you being swayed by extraneous considerations when planning to cast your vote. Don't be influenced by past incidents which are being highlighted just to increase the halo of parties who are actually not having the interest of the Country at heart. Stay away from parties who double speak and of course who are anti development. A sincere appeal as my main interest is the Country's all round development. Certainly if you spot corrupt practices at any quarter, say NO to that particular candidate but vote in parties which are rational in their approach and are NOT ANTI NATIONAL. Last thing we want is anti national parties taking stock of the Country. Think about all this in the interim period to the actual run up of the election taking place, whenever that is, preferably in 2014, as this is NOT the time to waste the Country's resources in conducting a general elections to please certain sections of the people. This is the time to lift the Country out of the economic mess it has landed itself into, and then we can think of other things.
A very heartening effect of the proposed economic reforms announced by the Govt is the unprecedented support it has received from the patriotic business community of this Country. My heart was certainly gladdened by the unequivocal support meted out to the economic reforms announced by the Govt by the entire business community. Speaker after speaker has vindicated the Govt's position on reforms and has welcomed the move. This is basically because the economic reforms are nothing new. They are a series of reforms being taken in continuation right from 1991, and they have set the pace of growth in this Country. It was only because of the fast paced reforms and proper implementation of the Govt policies that we witnessed a good growth rate in our Country when major economies all over the World were reeling under recession. However ever since the UPA-2 has come back to power and it's hands have been shackled by anti democratic and anti nationalist forces the economic growth has also slowed down and currently the growth rate is at 5.1%. 
So I say let's vote and wish for the Country's economic prosperity and make all the RIGHT MOVES, so that your and my Country moves forward in the right direction and upwards. We've had enough of nonsensical politics, enough of playing into the hands of people who make mockery of the Country's economic growth, make fun of it's poverty. I don't think our Country can stand any more nonsense. Those parties who have their personal agenda to push around can keep doing the same, but it's high time they were kept on the back burner by, both the Govt, as well as the respected people of this Country. 
So let's JOIN hands to take our Country forward and a big CHEERS to that....

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Mamta - An unnecessary controversy

Is it Mamta vs UPA? Left to myself the answer is a big NO. The reason I say this is because Mamta is a mature leader and an old and trusted friend of the Congress party. So far as the economic reforms are concerned, we all are in agreement that these and more economic reforms are in the best interests of the Country. The economic scenario all around the world is not very bright, and India is no exception. It's part of a globalization network. Yet we are fortunate that we are a growing and emerging economy. The growing middle class of India apart from facing the price rise has this wish of the people to be able to purchase world class products at a competitive price. Here's where the FDI in retail comes in. It will be giving a fillip to the economic growth and bring in the much required capital which the Country is looking for to increase it's growth pattern, bring down fiscal deficit and contain inflation. I'm sure if the PM is allowed to act according to the way he wants to, it will bring the Nation to a new level of economic prosperity. The process has already begun by him. He has taken a series of economic decisions which were well received by economists and the stock market equally well. This process needs to continue and no steps should be taken by anybody to destabilize the same. Even the Opposition should not be taking any steps which show that they are not keen in the development of the Country. If they make it amply clear by their insensitive actions that they don't care about the development of the Country, then rest assured nobody is going to vote for them anyway. So a balance has to be maintained, between opposition and plain hostility towards the Country.
So far as Mamta is concerned she certainly can't be seen to be opposing steps to put the Country on a track of economic growth and development. Whatever her reasons maybe, to oppose the FDI in retail, she should not make it personal, or involve herself personally. Even Congress CM Chandy has opposed FDI in retail in Kerala, so fine he will not implement it in his State. Mamta can do the same in her own State in West Bengal. Her party is not in charge of any ministry which deals with FDI or commerce or industry. She has already registered her protest by leading her rally in Kolkatta. Nobody expects anything further from her. She doesn't have to prove herself different. She is not being forced to implement any decision she doesn't like in her State. She should just take an informed decision and keeping in mind the larger interests of the Country she should continue support to UPA keeping her ministers' in place. She is free to implement or not to implement in her State any of these reforms. Merely because she is supporting the UPA and people are egging her on to take a decision one way or the other, she is not supposed to oblige them either way.
Mamta if she is not comfortable with FDI, can certainly help in sharing her expertise in building up domestic production and help in building up infrastructure in her State as well as in India. Being in charge of Railways, she can contribute to the GDP in a big way by increasing the capacity of the Railways as well as increasing employment avenues.
Mamta should also see that a mature wise decision from her side to stay on with the UPA, as she's doing now, will signal her maturity to lead the Nation to further growth and economic prosperity. So till the Elections in 2014, she should stay put, and not do anything which will rock her own boat which carries all the UPA constituents.
Hope the correct decision is taken by her and this unnecessary controversy is put to an end as soon as possible. The economic growth of the Country is more important right now than any other issue. 

Sunday 16 September 2012

Barfi and it's wonderfully bitter sweet





                                                                 




Barfi....I was totally bowled over today by you. My God Ranbir, Priyanka, and Ileana, what performances, put in by all of you together. The opening shots of Ranbir were fantastic, such acting talent, so cute antics...I wish more actors would try these type of roles.
Ranbir has shown that clean entertainers will still run regardless of whatever 100 or 200 crore plus films will come and go.   The film clutches and claws at your heart strings at times but then that is why it's titled Barfi..Life which is bitter sweet at the same time, has to be lived and savored like a sweet, then only it's a life well lived.
Without going into the story of the film, because I'd like everybody to just go out and see this film once, and enjoy the histrionics of Ranbir and both his heroines. I won't be surprised if all of them get nominated for the top honors this year. They certainly deserve it. Of course other films will also be released but this one will remain special.
Keep it up Anurag Basu, this one was indeed special. May you continue to make such wonderful films and gladden the hearts of audiences all over.
Cheers! 

Sunday 9 September 2012

Happy Birthday Glamour Boy - Akshay Kumar














                                                                                 

Happy Birthday to India's glamour boy - Akshay Kumar.....the most sought after actor today yet so humble in his approach...never one to forget his roots...his upbringing, his constant struggle in life and his humility in all his success.
Akshay u're the best and will remain in the hearts' of all your fans...because of your lovely attempt to remain tied down to your roots. No airs, no nothing just plain hard work, dedication, love towards your family and respect towards women...
Cheers to you and your upcoming films especially Oh My God....

Monday 3 September 2012

Is India flowing with the tide.....

Is India becoming a banana republic? Is it catering too much to the Opposition, to diverse views, from media, from civil rights' activists, and hordes of other fence sitters'.
This question is one of anguish, and nobody can feel proud of giving the answer to the above question, in the affirmative. However events prove that we are giving too much attention to what others' think of our actions. Rather than concentrating on crucial policy decisions which would help in taking the Country forward, too much hype is being given to the outcome of these decisions.
That's the precise reason why major decisions are sort of 'put on hold.' The Opposition, the media, the authorities responsible for keeping checks and balances in place all are inevitably responsible for the slowness in the Government.
It's as if every action of the Government is tailor made to suit the reactions of various 'so called watchdogs' in our society. Any policy decision or any major initiative is first 'tested' by the print and electronic media. If approved, then only it goes through. At least that's the impression the man on the street gets.
Parliament is not allowed to function for days and months together because of some hardliner position taken up by the Opposition parties, and the matter keeps dragging on for lack of political consensus, and will. The media then steps in and keeps stroking the fires of distrust and helps in bringing uncertainty to the already confused situation.
It's high time the decision makers moved away from disparaging remarks made by people all around, and concentrated on the task before them. After all you are ultimately judged by the work you do and not by the opinions you manage to build up.
Obviously all decisions ultimately have to pass through the test stone of democracy but that's always been the case. Once a decision has been deliberated it should see the light of the day, come what may, unless of course its a totally perverse decision, and there the question would arise, why was the decision then taken at all. So the Government has to be alive to its responsibilities and instead of making statements like we are going to do this and do that, just go ahead with their work in a responsible manner. After a plan has been implemented successfully Government would be within its rights to propagate it as much as possible, but not before that.