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)