Sunday, March 28, 2010

Phalke chaar aana

Films and Cricket are the religions in India. Cricket originated in England and was adored by the Indians. Films were also introduced by English but it took a while to be adored by Indians. Both of them are the key to the door which leads to ‘Hindustan ka Dil’. It can sound out of league to talk about films when the Indian premier league is driving the crowd today.

Motion pictures have an amazing history in India. Dadasaheb Phalke holds the honor of adding this feather to the golden peacock, India. ‘Dadasaheb Phalke is not just the honorary memento but womb to the biggest Indian achievement in the world.

A Garrulous magician turning to a factitious filmmaker had a past of an unsuccessful printing press business. He travelled from riches to rags to riches back. His hobby of enchanting kids by his petty magic tricks brewed his passion to surprise the world, leading to the setting up of biggest ever film industry in India. The way he lived his dream to show Indians what he saw in the small tent theater for two aanas is a true experience to explore. ‘Passion of Christ’ might have scared away the crowds who just couldn’t imagine beyond a photooo, but Dadasaheb Phalke brought the same folks on the screen to surprise the English.

Trivial English vocabulary and ten thousand rupees lent against his life insurance landed Phalke in London. His straightforward approach and modest nerve gave him chance to learn the lessons in motion pictures. With the motion picture camera which he had bought from London and his studio in a bungalow in Dadar, which he referred as ‘karkhana’, he gave India her first film ‘Raja Harish Chandra’. The movie made a turnover of 57 tickets in 5 days and later a series of housefuls till the 23rd show. The ignorance of Indians about motion pictures was the key to success and establishment of film industry in India. As there was no provision for audio at that time, the movies were only motion in the literal sense.

To buy a new business from English, he sold almost all his belongings to learn about motion pictures. His aim was not to earn money but to establish the first ever motion pictures industry in India. Money was of course his priority but with a supportive wife and two children by his side, he never felt the pressure of being a bread winner of the family. He shaped his dream to be a pioneer in film industry in India at the cost of selling the vessels in his house.

Industry which started with hardly 10 actors and zero female population employs more than 1 million people and over 900 movies produced in a year. Motion Pictures became a synonym to Phalke that even the ‘char aana’ motion toys were called ‘Phalke’ at that time.

The Mayasabha group has produced a first ever film named ‘Harishchandrachi factory’ dedicated to the father of Indian Cinema Dadasaheb Phalke. The film is an official entry to Oscars and tells the story of Dada Saheb Phalke’s journey to establish his karkhana of manufacturing films.

It is an experience to watch the struggle in producing a film in the country like India where the Drama Company ruled and people were bound by superstitions and beliefs. Dadasaheb Phalke was a magician to make the emotions speak for the characters in the initial mime motion films.

‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ is a Marathi film (also available with English subtitles), a must experience for all who are a part of film fraternity and for all who love to explore the Indian History.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Four friends a girl must have!

“It’s been a month that I had nibbed, crashed, boozed, gluttoned….instead the last month was an absolute crib and skull bones dig. What and how much it takes to come over the rejections and the disheartening hullabaloo? A night-out, vomit-all-out session with your boyfriend, a vacation from the work or just a small gossip session with the girls:)

The big question had turned me from ‘confused’ to ‘Confucius’ and in a month I ended up in serendipity of realizing what I need now. The magical potion was right in the corner of my lappy’s brain and I was searching for it everywhere.

To confess, I owe to the mind behind the four amazing characters in the soap called ‘Sex and the City’. I am a big fan of the soap though it is just now that I realized the magical side of it. SATC is one of the blasting inspirational boost for every girl. A word of caution though! You might need to reconstruct the thinking lane to widen a little more, to let pass the concept :)

If I analyze the story in a way to help ease, the hundreds and thousands of pink brains struggling with the same situation as mine, I shall not say it is about four single friends but it is about four personalities traversing a long way together to conquer the big bad world of ado.

Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha alphabetically, that’s because I love them all, are the four centre characters. They are the four must-have personalities that the girl must be surrounded with whenever in depression. I mean fashion & relationships; work & motherhood; love & marriage and sex & guy-get-over are the areas a girl might occasionally seek counseling in.

The hour-long coffee breaks, harmless gossip sessions and limitless shopping can pump your adrenaline levels to get over the depression wall. We just need to pick a right device or a right company I must say, depending on the phase we are passing through.

I shall detail on the four angels who can club a full package to burst free any situation-

First angel is ‘Carrie Bradshaw’, she will be the one who will work you out on the most difficult decisions like What to wear, what not to wear? Where to bump your head, where not to? Got stuck in a relation, feel like a difficult chewing gum—run and shun or crib with a bib? ‘Carrie’ type girls make the most adorable and needed lifestyle friend for a girl. Her company is most craved for on the frequent basis. Better she be an available and genial person, else you might land up in an endless loop of troubles. Not to miss out, apart from the lovely foursome, a gay friend in the life just like Carrie had Stanford Blatch who gave classy girl advices; brings an assurance that you have a harmless man to party with. An entirely exquisite experience of being with a man but minus the unfeminine oddly masculinity.

Then comes, ‘Charlotte York’, I understand girls are the most apprehensive to fall for and vice-versa they too easily fall for. Charlotte is one character who is an Indianite New Yorker. She believes in love, marriage and happy ever after fairy tales. After a manly face away in the office and out, she can give that soft and tender girly feel. Atleast once in a week, you get a feel you are the fairer sex (just to elaborate fairer but not weaker). She firmly believes that a girl needs a man to complete her life. Please don’t catch up with charlotte if you are having an ultra feminist mood swings. You might end up apologizing to the lovely lady for the rest of the day.

‘Miranda Hobbes’ is the hybrid of all the characters. She is strong, subtle, affable, feminine, intelligent, motherly, wifely and confused J She is a single mother, sorry Single working mother capable to handle work, kid and as well enjoy the single women boons. She is a commendable advisor except for when it comes to issues like love and marriage where even she seeks for Charlotte. She is a responsibility manager at all fronts. Her experience bag can get you out of all the legal and illegal troubles. Only caution- she is allergic to the soft craps, so don't let your lovey-dovey girl out. She can be a best phone friend and better counted for opinions.

Ah, this is the most true but bitter ‘Samantha Jones’, spit her or digest her she is always there—inevitable and insatiable. It is impossible to let her hair loose because she already looses it before you think she should. But to note for her own reasons and whatever happens then is on her terms. No dominations for her Atleast! She gets hurt once in four seasons and comes over the pain in the very season itself. She is aware of anything and everything that is important to boost ‘She’self and ‘He’self ;) She is the most carefree girl in town, takes pride in whatever she does or wears or even thinks. Samantha is a road smart girl, if you find her you shall not lose her, if you didn’t it is your luck-- be ready the grapes might taste sour in 90 ‘o’ 100 times might be.

The fantastic four will be the amazing company for any girl, when together it can be for fun or gossip or for sharing a crib story but with no conclusions. Solutions are not expected when in the group because the diverse personalities could strike debates, better have all around but dial a right number when in trouble.

The foursome can be helping elfs only if you can find them to be a part of your girl’s gang. If you did…I must say,

Who cares then if you don’t have a boyfriend ;) ?