Why must Salim die?

I stumbled upon a book promotion event today in Crossword. I had been there to kill some time on my own before dinner, when i saw the chairs arranged for a session of some sort. I came to know that the author Mukul Deva was promoting his new book, "Salim Must Die". On first appearance i got to say i was not too impressed, but i thought I'll stay on since i didnt have much better to do this Saturday evening (a sharp contrast to my last coupla Saturday's ;)). I have to admit, i think i was impressed enough to give one of his books a try.
The guy was a former military guy who has written some books, including his first novel, 'Lashkar', which is supposed to be India's first military thriller. What impressed me the most was the fact that he didn't seem to be shying away from making strong statements and he seemed to have done his homework very well. He had strong views on the growth of fundmentalism and the response the Indian government(or the lack of it), and was not afraid to be drawn into a discussion on them. On top of that, he was articulate and pretty much in tune with the 'dude' lingo we seem to use so much.
I had to leave the session during the question and answer part, but i think i will defintely try to see now why Salim must die!

The years lost...

Why is it that when i think of my childhood these days i get a feeling of poignant sadness? A feeling of a wonderful time lost with the weathers of growing up? Yea, i know everybody is supposed to feel that way about their childhood.. the yearning to go back in time and experience the pure innocence which only a child can feel.

I came across a facebook community recently, which was devoted to the city of Jubail, Saudi Arabia. This was where i spent a good part of my formative years, between 1986 and 1994. The pictures touched a chord within me that has left a deep imprint. I remembered everything suddenly... Fanateer area, the Farm 2 shopping center, the Commissary, the beaches, our wonderful house, and best of all, my old school.. the Jubail British Academy. The school which i still consider the best of my life... where i made some of the best friends of my life (although as it always happens with the friends u have when you're 10 years old, you lose touch with most of them). We were Indians. We were also Pakistanis, British, Canadians.. it never seemed to matter. I remember i especially had quite a few Pakistani friends there. I remember Adnan, Najeeb, and others. Sadly, I have no idea whatever happened to them after that, though that hasn't stopped me from thinking.

The city itself was a quiet, peaceful and clean industrial city. Not exactly what we would have called 'happening', but one of those places which you know you will just miss and long for when you're gone. As with most middle eastern cities, it was developed, orderly and comfortable. I remember the nice parks, the beautifully laid out roads with date palms lining the sides... which made them perfect to take a bicycle ride with friends or to go for a walk with your parents. Maybe i feel this way because its where i was a child. Where i was in the most innocent part of my life. The time when friendships and relations were untainted by feelings of disappointments, petty jealousy and sexual attraction to the opposite sex. When liking a girl and approaching her meant asking her to be your partner in the art class and nothing more. I remember her... the German beauty who i liked in class 2 and asked to work with me in art class. I remember her Golden hair and wide eyes. And i remember the pure simple joy i felt when the next time she asked me to be her partner. Wonder whatever happened to her.

Growing up is inevitable. And the slow loss of innocence is also inevitable. Which is probably why the best years of your life may seem bittersweet when looking back. Because it has been tainted since then by all the memories of things which came after. The disappointments, the heartbreaks, the self realizations. I dont know if i ever will go back to Jubail and Fanateer... and I'm not sure when i do, if i will feel the way i used to about the place.

My Yearender for Bollywood

With all the year end reviews going on, i thought i'll put in my own fave hindi flicks of the year gone by. I gotta say i was influenced to do this after hearing procalamations that certain mediocre(and dumb) movies (an example wud be Ghajini and Rab ne whatever) are cinematic masterpieces. Considering the Indian movie industry is producing some absolute gems these days, i thought it was blasphemous that these overhyped star vehicles are getting all the plaudits as usual.

So here's my fave from the last year in "Bollywood":
1) Mumbai Meri Jaan - My favourite of the year. This movie marked that rare achievement of bringing together an excellent ensemble of actors and a great director with a theme that was thought provoking. I had seen Nishikant Kamath's Tamil movie Evano Oruvan and found it to be unique and fresh. This time he brings the protagonist of that movie, Madhavan and combines him with Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan and Soha. It was a brilliant character study of these characters and how the Mumbai blasts affected them. Although it doesnt provide solutions. If you just want an easy thrill, i would suggest 'A Wednesday', which in my opinion is a bit overrated.

2) Rock On - This was a movie which had a predictable storyline, cliched situations and some actors who had never really made it big. But wow! The way the story was presented was fresh, original and the actors all did a great job, particularly Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Shahana Goswami.

3) Dasvidaniya - The movie that touched me the most the last year. Vinay Pathak gave an endearing performance as the man stricken with cancer and only having 3 months left to live. Some say it was inspired by 'The Bucket List', but somehow, i liked this one much better.

4) Aamir - Another movie which i went for on my gut feeling. It released in the same weekend as Sarkar Raj, and somehow i got the feeling this would be a richer movie experience. Boy, was i right. The movie was 1.5 hours of a pure thrill ride, with the ending putting everyone with the question of what would they have done in the same situation?

5) Jaane Tu.. - This was another movie which i was not expecting to like. After all the story seemed age old and the actors did not seem too charismatic. However, like Rock On, this one was brilliantly presented and hit all the right spots. The comic touches were perfect and you ended up caring for this bunch of kids.

I know no one will agree with me... but i thought i had to put in an honourable mention to Tashan. The public seems to have misunderstood it. I thought it was a brilliant spoof of the movies of the 80's with the larger than life villain, the loverboy caught in the wrong situation, the childhood lovers meeting up in later life, 2 people fighting 20.. but somehow it turned out to be one of YashRaj's biggest flops. Which probably persuaded Aditya Chopra to make the utterly irritating Rab Ne... considering it a safe investment.

One more honorable mention i felt i needed to make. Shaurya may have been taken from 'A Few Good Men', but no one can deny it was a beautifully made movie, and featured probably the best monologue of the year, from Kay Kay Menon. The actor had a glorified special appearance in the movie but left probably one of the most indelible impressions in the whole year.