Story of Stuff

A friend of mine had posted a link in one of his social networking website. An interesting seminar on Production and Consumption of goods. The host of this website is Annie Leonard. Some facts and information about the utilization of the resources or in short, materials economy. The 20 minute seminar is fact-filled and interesting. Thought of sharing it.

Here is the link Annie Lombard's Story of Stuff

Jodha Akbar Review

With expectations, not very high and not very low, I finally sauntered into a cinema hall to watch Jodha Akbar. I was a little relaxed because the reviews were encouraging from all quarters. The theatrical trailer of "Race" started racing and to be honest, I was really not interested to see it, though it looked more racy and slick. (Well, for that matter, even the movie "Cash" looked the same with the theatrical trailer and everyone know what happened with that movie.) Finally, Jodha and Akbar's story unveiled on screen.... Slowly, beautifully, and Poignantly!

The brilliance of the movie lies in its story and screenplay. Ashutosh brings in the necessary ambience for the movie in the first few reels of the movie. Once we are used to seeing the forts, palaces, battlefield, and the characters, he slowly succeeds in transporting the viewers to the historical world completely. The drama which unfolds also creates a huge impact and adds a different angle to the proceedings. The entire movie rests on three strong shoulders war, romance and drama as pointed out in the making of the movie. But to me, each of them have their own prominence at necessary places. It would be 50% love, 40% drama and 10% war.

I enjoyed all the love scenes between Jodha and Akbar. If I had to select one best scene, I would choose the scene when Akbar sees Jodha for the first time unveiled. While in his court, he hears the melliflous voice of Jodha, and he walks out of the court towards her palace, dispersing the courtroom. Such is the magic of her voice which pulls him towards her. And when he sees her, he is completely mesmerized. The background score is absolutely stunning at that point when Jodha stops singing and Akbar watches her from above. The silent gestures that follow after this scene is also well executed. The next best sequence would be the sword fight between Jodha and Akbar. All the other love scenes have been deftly executed.

The unique bond that Akbar and Mahamanga, his wet nurse, share is also brought out beautifully. The possessiveness of Mahamanga's character is brillaintly showcased. The interaction between Jodha and Mahamanga in the kitchen when Jodha prepares food for the peer din completely shows the madness of the character, as to how possessive she is about Akbar. Same can be said about the relationship shared between Jodha and Sujamal, Jodha's cousin brother. Sujamal as the overtly protective brother of Jodha, ends up meeting Jodha cladestinely once he gets her letter from a wrong hand. It shows the extent to which a brother can forsake things for his dear sister. The war sequences are well handled especially War of Panipat and the climax sequences. The action sequences between Sharifuddin and Akbar in the climax is very good.

Music is soulful. My favorite has to be In Lamhon Ke Daman which comes at the right place, when the love reaches the pinnacle between the lead pair. The next will be Mann Mohana, which has a brilliant orchestra as its trump card (in the interludes). Not to forget, the background score of Mann Mohana at many places will make you want for more. Third will be Jashn-E-Bahara, Khwaja and Azeem-O-Shaan together. Jashn comes at different places and the melody is used in harmony with the scenes. Azeem is magnificient, lot many people dancing to the tunes looking very realistic. Khwaja is superb with the three lead vocals (all rahman’s incidentally, yet it looks like 3 people singing it) syncing properly to the sounds. The background score is excellent and there is this particular sound which comes when Jodha shows her calligraphy to Akbar. The theme for Mahamanga is also beautiful. Overall, a dedicated and an excellent effort by Rahman.

No one can imagine anyone other than Hrithik in the role of the Shehanshah Akbar. For a minute, I felt that he is Akbar. His body language, demeanor, walking style and his physical appearance just makes Akbar alive in front of our eyes. Be it the scene with Jodha in romance or with his courtiers in the Diwan-E-Azam or in the battlefield or while taming an elephant, Hrithik pitches in his best performance to date, a performance he will be proud of. Aishwarya Rai Bachaan as Jodha defines what a Rajput Princess should look like. She looks bewitching in all those jewelry and outfits. She is outstanding in many scenes but the scene when she looks schemingly at Mahamanga for having triumphed, was gorgeous. Sonu Sood is effective as Sujamal who becomes fixated at only one thing, throne to Amer. His sequences in the climax is first rate. Ila Arun as Mahamanga gives in a splendid performance. Watch out for the scene when she is caught guilty for planting the seeds of misunderstanding between Jodha and Akbar. I was moved by the way Ila Arun enacted that scene, looking helplessly at Akbar's mom and then walking away from the scene, as Akbar vows not to see her face again for her misconduct. Brilliant portrayal. The other characters Poonam Sinha as Akbar's mom, Khulbhushan as Jodha's dad, Suhasini Mulay as Jodha's mom are noteworthy. The others are apt.

As the beacon of light flashes on the Emperor Akbar, he slowly integrates with the sufi singers and becomes one with God. He respected his religion and did not force anyone to follow his steps and ideals. Religion doesn't define any rule. As long as you believe in the God. Akbar had a secular mind and hence he created a Secular Hindustan. Look at where we stand now.

PS: I had a lot of distractions in the name of audience (esp. the one, seated next to me) while I was watching the movie. It is historical and you ought to treat it like a 15th century tale. I am really not sure what people had in mind when they came to watch this movie.

A New Beginning

The morning sun filled the town with its radiant brightness. The town became busy with its bustling sounds of automobiles and trains. The crowded train pulled into the platform and hoards of passengers squeezed inside, and within minutes, the train whistled its way out of the platform.

Close from the platform from where the train just departed, a little boy, about 8 years old, in his loose outfits, stands gazing at the busy traffic inside the station. His eyes are red with sleeplessness and his body, weak to even walk a few yards, trembles with fear. He has eyed something in close distance and walks towards his destination. Just then, a tea vendor passes by, almost knocking down the boy, but ends up dropping his tea can and the glasses. It doesn't take much time for the tea vendor to bring the boy back to reality as he shrieks out aloud almost scaring the poor creature.

The boy, suddenly shaken, looks up at the vendor, who is furious at him for bringing his morning business to a standstill. He pulls the boy by his collar, demanding explanation. The boy, almost frightened, tries to free himself from the clutches of the vendor. Once free, he begins running to his destination. The tea vendor realizing the predicament, drags the boy away from the platform to a safe place. Just then, an express train buzzes through the platform with a loud siren.

The vendor is shocked and comforts the sobbing boy who is almost in a dizzy state. The vendor realizes that the boy has not eaten anything and buys him bread and tea from the nearby railway canteen stall. The hungry boy gulps down the food and looks up at the vendor with a faint smile. He feels satiated with the food and quenches his thirst with the tea. He apologizes to the vendor for spoiling his day and sobs. The boy had been starving for the past few days and wanted to put an end to his misery. Neither did he have a family nor a job to take care of himself. At such a small age, the little kid had decided to end his life. The vendor moved by the boy's story takes him by his hand and walks out of the station.

Next day, the busy train pulls into the station and as it whistles its way out of the platform, the little boy, now a tea vendor sells tea in the station and feels proud of being alive and thanks the Almightly for rewriting his fate.

PS: Writing inspired from Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay"