My Question to Mahesh Bhatt

Mahesh Bhatt, director, writer, social activist, prominent bollywood personality was in Manipal today (28^th September) as a speaker in an Inspirational Talk series presented by Tehelka group. He walked in to applause of the gathering, largely university students. His first reaction after he got on to stage was that film personalities are ‘applaud junkies’ and asked the audience to give another round of applause for reaching a ‘high’ all over again.

After his candid talks, about his movie making, his Parveen Babi connection, his tryst with spiritualism, which lasted for about twenty minutes, the floor was open to questions and answers. So I asked him a question and I shall paraphrase it, for I had practiced the question on the spot for about 4 or 5 times. “Mr. Bhatt, having grown up with the movies of 90’s, we would have liked you to continue direction. However I would like to ask you how do you draw a fine line between 3 things – freedom of expression which you call ‘singing your song’, responsibility towards the society and of which you are often accused, sensationalism?”

There was a muffled applause from the audience on the question, for, I assume, many would have liked to rephrase it as why did you have to choose Sunny Leone over anyone else? Mahesh Bhatt’s reply was ‘I plead guilty as charged’ to the last part of the question. He went on to say that filmmakers are ‘businessmen’. He said he is there to cater to the ‘elementary needs’ of humans.

He directed his answer at me that he knew I would watch Jism 3 over Saaransh. At that point I wished to convey him that I have Saaransh saved on my hard disk and have not made an effort to even watch Jism 3, but that would have been futile. Futile for the fact that his answer gave an insight into what the matter of the man was. There in front was a man who in the name of freedom of expression, and he admitted in his answer is there to ‘titillate’.

The use of such unfortunate words sadly didn’t speak highly of the person who was present to infuse inspiration into young minds. Just telling that do what your mind says, do what you feel like, citing one’s own examples of tumultuous relations and controversial art form is no inspiration according to me. That nothing interested him as director after turned 50, or as he said he had made ‘enough money’ just shows the depth or the passion of true pursuit of a art by a person.

Mahesh Bhatt it appears lives off sensationalism. That he gets invited to talk shows, news, whenever there is a controversy suggests that he makes hay when controversies shine. It perhaps applies to most TV personalities we see who pop up when controversies rage. As a teacher I would give a big zero for my question to Mahesh Bhatt.

Rahul - naam to suna hi hoga

Pic Courtesy : The Economist (AFP)

The Economist made a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, in a 10th September issue, describing him as convincingly confused, having an ill defined urge, looking opportunistic and inconsistent and many such adjectives, while reviewing a biography ‘Decoding Rahul Gandhi’ by Ms. Ramchandran.

The article assumes that Rahul Gandhi might play a ‘bigger role’ in the near future with a portfolio in the Cabinet or in the party. Whatever the scenario be, it is a now or never time ala Rahul Gandhi for the Congress Party. With most parties gearing up for 2014, if the Gandhi scion fails to espouse national interest now, it might be that he would fail to be seen as a prime ministerial candidate. Not that if he whips up a large-scale interest will he be near that coveted chair. But then that would be a matter of chance.

Rahul Gandhi, I feel, is viewing politics in India as a garbage filled dump which he can clean by doing some token cleaning himself and for the rest of the huge pile by applying best management techniques. He probably views his role as a messiah more who would install a system in place which generations will follow to clean up politics. However noble the intentions be, the fact remains that until now he has failed to show any result.

Mr. Gandhi might understand the power his name carries, he might understand that seats and wins is not what politics finally boils down to, he might understand that sycophants in his own party are difficult to deal with that the people en masse, but he also does not understand that a mere name alone cant get you unquestioned for too long, he does not understand that electoral politics has its own pulls and pressures and he does not understand that this coterie is probably not guiding him right.

The grand old party might be rearing imaginations of propping up Rahul baba’s name and have the country swoon after him and elect him to the PM post; while such an announcement will bear some advantage, compounded by the likelihood that the opposition will fail to go to polls with its PM candidates name, it certainly cannot be a clincher. His problem since the beginning has been poor rally crowd to vote transformation and it still remains so.

People at large have become so distraught with the affairs in the country or that is what the perception is, that a few ‘magic wand’ moments are essential to capture their imaginations. Will Rahul Gandhi break free of all shackles, change his modus operandi and provide those moments to the nation in another year? Or will he resort to the populist measure politics with whipping up the name ‘Rahul Gandhi - naam to suna hi hoga’? Only time will tell.

This article featured in Manipalblog.com (http://manipalblog.com/2012/09/rahul-gandhi-naam-to-suna-hi-hoga/)

The Sachin Debate

Sachin Tendulkar is consuming a lot of news space these days and not for the good reasons. There are scathing commentary on his form, his getting clean bowled, his retirement, and on the other hand the brigade who see him as God advocating his loss of form as temporary and recounting the innumerable times when he has come out of a slump, and flashing the illustrous record sheet he possesses. Cricketing fans have thus been split on the matter os Sachin Tendulkar.

A host of former cricketers have made expert comments that Sachin will know when he has to go. That divine intervention telling thi-is-it, will happen some day and until then he could continue playing. On the other end of the field brand managers are concerned about the economic (read it large-economy) repercussions of Sachin's exiting. That what will happen to the 17 odd brands he endorses; will there be renewal, reduction of fees, are all matters that no one else other than the man can answer.

Suddenly experts on hand eye coordination, psychologists, analysts of his swaying-the-bat-in-anguish have propped up. Tendulkar is under a scrutiny like never before. Media gaze, debating fans, not so impressive match figures, everything has now turned their guns on the little master.

Would he be worried about it? Is he training hard now to prove critics wrong? Will he make a comeback with a century? Will he make a graceful exit? Is he working on reducing that bat-pad gap? Is there a financial pie to be taken care of? These are some questions that no one can answer but for the man himself.

Has he become a prisoner of his own success? Now this is a question that would be very difficult to answer. The person Sachin has always been seen to be an epitome of dignity, sportsmanship, and of being a gentleman. He is not a person anymore, he is an image. Humans are fallible, and quickly, images are not easily. Unless polished, erosion of image occurs over a sustained period of time. The only way out is to stop all activities so that the image remains as it is etched in time.

That is precisely what is happening to Sachin Tendulkar. His fans are worried about the eroding image. If he is a prisoner of his own success he has to break out of it. Break out by outperforming critics or hanging the boots in time. Break out as a champion figure, not in an frail frame.

(This article originally appeared in ManipalBlog.com)

Modi as Prime Minister - Unlikely

Narendra Modi created a record of sorts yesterday (31^st August) by becoming the first politician to interact with online viewers in a large scale connecting with them using Google +. He took various questions, more comfortable than otherwise and answered each of them with a straightforward attitude, without batting an eyelid and getting his impressive facts and figures right. Many squirmed at the idea, others hailed it. Largely everyone saw it a preparation for 2014. NaMo was seen as throwing down a gauntlet in the race towards 7 Race Course road.

But will Narendrabhai Modi’s name as Prime Minister be acceptable? Acceptable to the voter? Acceptable to BJP? Acceptable to NDA allies? Acceptable to the world? Let’s take it case by case.

But before that the most crucial point. Narendra Modi would not have been subject to so much debate had Godhra massacre not occurred in 2002 which was followed by a pogrom against minorities in the state of Gujarat.

So firstly the Indian voter. It is unlikely that the next general elections will begin with both the major national parties announcing their prime ministerial candidates. While on one hand Rahul Gandhi is still apprehensive and have not ‘come of age’ (if he misses 2012 for entry into the ‘system’ he might miss it in the long run as well), BJP will not project any candidate largely due to internal squabbling. If a party manages to do so, they score brownie points. At the face of such a situation the Indian voter might not have a picture of the prime minister while voting. Hence it will not work in direct favour of NaMo.

Secondly the party. In the scenario where NDA achieves the majority, will Narendra Modi be projected by BJP for the prime ministerial post? Unlikely. NaMo has largely been seen as regional satrap. At the national level, the BJP ‘quartet’ have been aspiring for the coveted position since years now, and will try to shoot down any other name that arises, however large the sound bites in favour of NaMo have been over the few years.

Thirdly a crucial constituency, the NDA allies. A major ally JD(U) has of course made its displeasure known with Nitish Kumar (Another strong contender for PM post)distancing himself from NaMo but not BJP. The others like Shiv Sena, SAD, to address their constituency might or might not support Modi. The remaining smaller parties will be opportunistic when the need arises. It could well be a possibility that propping up Narendra Modi’s name split NDA, with the unhappy faction joining what is increasingly being conjured as the Third Front.

Fourthly, less important to the common man, but more as a card to play by parties, acceptance of Modi at an international forum. The biggest case in point being that of the US which has denied Modi visa based on his alleged role in Gujarat pogrom. With US being one of India’s major allies strategically and otherwise, one might argue that it might not work well for the future of this important foreign relation with Modi at the helm of affairs. Arab nations might as well join club with US against Modi which might affect the politics of oil.

All the above theories have one underlying fact. A politicians name associated with bribery might be acceptable but it associated with mass murder, communalism is a totally untouchable area in politics. An important point that needs mention is that despite various court cases against Mr. Modi with regard to Godhra riots, there has not been a single conviction against him. While a few of the then BJP and Congress politicians have been framed, the black mark has not been stamped on NaMo’s image yet. However prosperous Gujarat has been under his leadership, however dynamism he has shown over the years, however grand his views are for an India of the future, Indian political system will cause his elevation to the chair of Prime Minister highly unlikely.