KAHIHI

It was the Christmas time and Santa was bound to be around the corner. It was the time to go wishing for gifts from the white-bearded man. But we have to behave good for that.

Perhaps, the name at the bottom in Santa’s list might be that of Julian Assange, co-founder of the whistle-blower website Wikileaks. A man cursed upon right from the most powerful man on earth, the President of America, protested against by those fighting for privacy rights, branded as a terrorist by Sarah Palin, and still among the most admired men. He is a dark knight, the people’s choice for the Times Person of the Year, the messenger.

Standing for all that is good in the world, and hunted down by half the governments, he is a man we were waiting for, a man who stands up for the underdogs. Built on principles and ethics, an intriguing personality with a great philosophy behind his mottos, this man is courage personified.

A young Julian Assange was a part of a hacker group that had one of its mottos as share information. Perhaps a little inquisitiveness, personal experience and a strong sense of right and wrong has made this man we know today. Being one of the winners of Amnesty award and “one of the most influential person” he is still humble. A brain of unparalleled genius is transforming the now rotten field of journalism.

Greenday, the punk rock band asked the world, “Do you know your enemy?” and we didn’t till then. But today when the very basis of democracy is shattered by the bulk of secrets kept from the public we do realize who the enemy is. It is the regime, the very government that we elect and today Wikileaks has called for a change in this regime. The regime which wants to stay by covering their schemes, the wars they got into, the loss in those wars, is brought to open by these messengers. Julian Assange and his people revolted against the honor to obey, they brought down the silence which had been our enemy for so long. The new era for internet freedom has begun and this massive power of the internet is taming all those power-hungry politicos and bringing to the public all the dirty little secrets. 

This simple man, with very simple and straight philosophy, has showed to us the real face of the world’s most powerful democracy and the notorious secrets of other countries. A self-taught hacking expert and a computer-whiz, he is a revolution in the field of journalism, the press. The fourth pillar of democracy which sways public opinion in any direction, was till now a tool used by the governments to mould facts the way they want. We knew, the facts that we saw were not true, we knew there was also the “Other Side of the Story” but we stood silent. When incidents like 26/11 happened we thought we had enough of this silence. We rose up in violence and brought this government to senses that not always would we accept your facts. And this violence is the energy we seek now to bring reform. Wikileaks gave us channel to let this violence flow, a way to ask the government “what’s the truth?”

News supported with documents and material to prove the truth, is the new face of journalism. The sources are hidden but the documents echo the truth. The methods to acquire the documents are known yet “fool-proof”. And all this is the genius of one simple man. The power will now move in our hands when the foreman of control will be brought down, when his effigy will be burned.

But still one question lingers in the mind. Is it ethical?

Is it ok to steal the secrets of a government? And the answer lies in the fact, if we elect the people up there, we give them our trust votes then they should be entrust us about the annual spending, the wars and the losses suffered, the schemes carried out at international level. If not then the Heroes are waiting to spill the beans. It’s a choice upon the regime up there to decide. Either trust us with every step you take or acknowledge the fact that we do know who our enemy is.

People affect our lives and some are our life. One of them is an angel, our own personal guardian fairy, a bulb that lightens up our lives, our mother. One person who is our reason to live, the very first reason we exist and a never-ending love. Words and words are all we have, to describe her.

Numerous songs have been written on her, words uttered and emotions spoken out. From the Arrangement in grey and black to “tujhe sab kuch pata hai na maa” mother has been immortalized in the world! But recently I had a hit upon a song, ‘Angel’ by a hiphop band, ‘Flipsyde’ and I knew nothing sums up a mother’s unconditional love, her struggle like this song.

By far the best lyrics to be found in a song, maybe born out of personal experiences, a heart-rending music and magical voice just make it the best song one can dedicate to his mother. The mother, her love, her words are remembered through one of the most tough times in a man’s life and that’s during his teenage. The time when he grows out of her cocoon, when he flies with his own wings and stumbles, this mother looks from above. When he shouts around that he longer needs her, when he comes home late night, stays out for days to come, she waits waiting for the bell to ring, for the door to open slowly. This is the love that the song describes. With some of the most heart touching lines ever written by man on earth it moves the very centre of your heart. “Though I maybe sinning, you keep me living coz of that love you givin.” Pure rap but still it is soothing and touching, telling that hard facts of life, those situations through which our ‘momma’ stands besides us. Those situations when you did all those you shouldn’t have done, made mistakes, got angry on her and yet in your lowest point of life all that rushes to your brain are her words, softly spoken, and your heart swells because you know that if others may not there’s your ‘momma’ who loves you yet.

According to ‘piper’ the rapper, the  only reason he raps, the only reason we do what we do is her, the very reason we still believe in this life even after thousands of ups and downs is that one angel. The angel who will be with you through the darkest days, through the tested times, when the world will be coming at you, believe in her to be there beside you. The angel who will work on you throughout her life and yours, the star that will guide you through the night, who will leave the sky at last to see if you are safe, the diamond through the rough, your very own Sindbad’s treasure. The angel to whose arms you would return through those hectic, messed up days, trying to carve a niche for yourselves in the society, to feel the divine love.

She is not only our reason of existence but the reason that there’s a God out there somewhere. The only angel who will stand by you, love you, hope for you, pray and till the end of every moment just think of you.

And yesterday celebrating my momma’s birthday, I knew the real meaning of that song. A beautiful rendition as the person it describes. Mother, a wine that tastes beautiful whenever, a flower that blooms through the winter and all year along, a heart of gold that keeps you warm, a hand that rows your boat through the storm, not expecting anything then a small ounce of love, and what’s a life without a mother!! It’s no life at all; she’s the letter that completes our sentences, the drops that fill our pond, and the colors that make up our rainbow of life!!

And all this jus coz she’s an angel! My momma!

A leader, one who leads, as the word suggests, is supposed to be an icon, a confident example for the youth, and a strong shoulder for the old to rely on. Recently, one such man who personifies these qualities visited Mumbai, a city which is in dying need of a good leader and able administrator.

Barack Obama was in Mumbai. A man whom people have willingly elected as their President and given him the reigns of the most powerful office in the world. A man who when speaks has fullest of attention drawn to him, people listen without any hesitation and with pin drop silence interspersed with claps and applause. Back home, we have an equally mesmerising speaker-leader, who shares a similar stature and charm - Raj Thackeray.

Obama, a change America believed in and a change world saw. At his Hampshire speech, he upped the crowd frenzy with his words “change is what happening in America right now”. Every time he speaks, Obama seamlessly disseminates his energy to the crowd. And he does it the best. He conjures his vision of doing the best for America and that Americans deserve the best with the crowd that makes the entire environment zealous. That is what is needed in a speaker, a leader. And India lacks such a leader.

There are many leaders qualified to lead India, but we lack a man who shares his zeal, his love for India through his words, through his talks, and no doubt through actions.

There is one such marvellous speaker here in India, on the wrong path though, Raj Thackeray, whose objectives match that of Obama’s, of doing good for his men, however, his steps seem to have set off in the wrong direction. When he speaks, the crowd moves to his words, when he takes his patent pause the audience, all his nemesis miss their heartbeat.

“Yes We Can, three words that will ring from coast to coast and from sea to sea” and these three words did undoubtedly create a new chapter in history not only in America but in the whole world. He motivated people for a change through his words, through his speeches. And when he recently visited Mumbai, his interaction with the youth at St. Xavier’s College was inspiring for us young Indians to bring into politics a leader like him. The dialogue he held with the students, his tact of answering them – taking a pause, pondering over the question, composing an apt answer – show the great orator inside him.

One lucky student who got a chance to ask him a question, remarked, “Sir, someday I wish to be half as good as an orator you are”.

This reaction piteously exposes the dearth of good orators we have in our politics. And the handfuls that we have lack the charisma of holding people together merely by use of effective words. Some speak with accents we can’t understand, some way too loud and some like they are sharing a secret with the microphone. India needs charismatic leaders, who hold the public to their every word, who make people stand at their speeches without hesitation, who inspire the youth, who charge them up, and so on. Raj Thackeray fits into this description of orators. It is simply impossible to ignore him, though you may hear a lot of his hateful-stories. Allies or opposition people take notice of him, he makes them listen and everybody appreciates his oratory, though a few do so cowardly.

At St. Xavier’s, Obama gripped those present, with his alluring style, presenting the youth with three questions to answer and making us want for some more. One of his best answers was about whether material wealth, in very crisp words he just said, “Never preach an empty stomach”. He even remarked that he fell short of examples when making references to people like Gandhi and Dr. King. This shows his humbleness. This is something that Raj may have to work on; a little essence of humanity added to his words will make sampoorna Mumbai fall at his feet. Obama left an impression upon us youth that will last forever and a path that will be walked upon.

Politicians, in my generation, will not commit the mistakes of the older generation, but our own mistakes, in the President’s words. This grappling effect of the youth leaders will certainly make new icons among this generation that will fill in the gap that Indian politics and society desperately need. Raj and Obama can be our “Adarsh” to bring about the change that we have been waiting for long, way too long!

Niladri Kumar – a name to beckon, a musician to be devoured! One of the world’s leading sitar players, considered to be an innovator of music, has pioneered latest trend of fusion music.

A performer true to his art, his every performance has been an epoch making remembrance for his audiences. He makes every moment nostalgic – purely by exquisite music, magical fingers that profusely move over the strings to create musical waves as subtle as ripples on a pond, every song crafted as a masterpiece that enriches with greatness with every note he strums – and this majestic fusion of greatness is all due to his stout devotion to the instrument – his sitar. He strikes a conversation with the instrument and the musical contrivance responds politely. He is engrossed and enthralled in the music as much as his audience with every soul at the zenith of musical amalgamation.

Listen to his song “Priority” that he composed and improvised for over 5 years and you will know about his clairvoyance; the song is as beautiful and mystifying as the city it describes – Mumbai! Recently Niladri Kumar performed at the 73rd birthday of the great composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Undoubtedly he cast his musical-magical spell there as well. “What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday,” Mangeshkar must have rejoiced in his thoughts and smiles.

Sivamani, A. R. Rahman, Louis Banks, may have enticed you with their respective skills, Niladri Kumar is no different; he resonates through his instrument. His live performances stir your soul into a rich blend of melody and tranquility that mellifluously promulgates the ‘kalakaar’ inside him.

He reminds us of one another greatest showman, a performer of unmatched parallel, Michael Jackson. He made his audience go swaying at his peppy music, fall at every tap of his feet, left his audience jaw-dropped; Niladri twangs a similar specter. Niladri grips people to his plunking, keeps them gazing at the movements of his fingers reverberating off the sitar strings.

Young and talented, Niladri Kumar is energetic in his performances, fresh in his approach and always wanting to experiment. He is a youth icon to follow and definitely among those young artists who will go on to become a legend! This again reminds us of one such charismatic person, Sachin Tendulkar – a marvel to wonder, who is defining cricket every single day for most of today’s youth! Ask any toddler about his aspirations in life and pat comes a reply, “Be Sachin Tendulkar”. Sachin and Niladri are similar in the manner they define new master strokes with each passing day. Like Sachin creating and redefining cricket, Niladri Kumar too is gradually defining fusion music.

This restless soul with his zest for music, devised an instrument called ‘Zitar’, a unique combination of guitar and sitar. Giving rock effect to the instrument, he is creating ripples in the music world! Performing at Sivamani Mahaleela, he played a segment which can certainly be defined as a ‘metal rock piece’ played on a sitar. Even Sivamani, the legendary percussionist, himself was perplexed for moments with Niladri’s illusion of music. It was better than most of the hand plucking done on guitar by modern metal bands. To compare, Niladri gives these bands a run for their money single handedly.

An obsession with ‘kala’ is a primary factor in making of a legend. Niladri Kumar possesses that. He has music running through his hands, through his fingertips and he speaks volumes through each of his pieces. He has conversation with the audience in his performances, they miss a heartbeat sometimes, at times they just let their heart dance to the rhythm he creates. And that’s how you precisely win people’s heart!

Images Courtesy: www.niladrikumar.com

“God bless us everyone…” Imagine what a song that starts like this would be! Rhythmic, fast paced, ideological, peppy lyrics and what else? In one word, an Anthem! A song from ‘A Thousand Suns’ by Linkin Park , after its launch become the most heard song in two to three days. A great start for a great song.

The music progresses gradually, gets a little fast, then faster, then gradually sets your heartbeat at its pace and takes us for a ride.  At a point it drops to dead zero, then goes on to its highest level just to give you a shiver at the sheer pleasure of hearing the base. The drums resound with the base beautifully and the vocals are amazingly done. The song, as sure as bells, keeps ringing in our ears for a long, long time.

The lyrics are peppered with metaphors all over the length of the song. The video has reference to Bhagvad Gita and J. Robert Oppenheimer according to bassist Phoenix.

The other line in the song that strike the most to the common man, “We are broken people…living under a loaded gun.” This sounds so most apt when heard in a Churchgate local during office hours. Images of everybody hanging on one another’s shoulder, pushing each other, heads down, giving in to the situation, perfectly personify the song. Had the video been shot in our Mumbai local trains it would have gained more prominence. The lines suit the morning rush hour and when a train cruises through the air that blows in, the rumble that’s made, all just fit with the song like a solved jigsaw puzzle. The words “broken people” and “loaded gun” exactly describe the present situation wherein we live our daily lives, considering that there could have been a possible outrage ahead of Ayodhya verdict, possibly disguised as a constant threat to blow up a train. Like in the movie “Wednesday”, the “common man” says “When a man leaves his house, there is no guarantee that he might come back” (of course that sounds better in Nasaruddin Shah’s resonating voice) – that is the “loaded gun” we live under. This ‘Anthem of Mankind’ makes us prospect about the direction in which we are heading? What our future has in store for us? What is the consequence of our actions of our wars? We are leaving under a shadow of dark clouds. It is a prayer reaching above them, to Him. But will He hear? Not unless we change. And change is not fast, it’s gradual like, the trance of this song.

The music near the ending part has a quirky resemblance to a very unique feature of our locals: The Bhajans.

The fast locals that pass by with the Bhajans going on have a superb trance to them! The “dhad-dhad” of the trains and the “tin-tin” of the taals have an air of magic around them. When we hear this standing on a platform we are left astounded as to what was that? It’s a trance, a prayer, like this song which we have failed to notice over the years of tradition. It is powerful and it is the original ‘Anthem of the Mankind’. We needed this newer version to remind us where we are heading. Will this one be enough or should another ‘Catalyst’ be released? Will even that ensure a change in us? It’s a hope for the best!

It’s only “Us” who can lift ourselves above this “Gun”. Just to show that we are still humans, that we still not have forgotten this fact.

Catalyst criticizes our actions, prays to Him, and gives us hope. A song worth remembering, for the whole of humanity, indeed.

During my recent visit to Lonavala I happened to visit our own version of "Wax Museum". And it is incredible. If you have loved Madame Tussauds, you will simply adore this; in some cases it is much better than the Tussauds.

It is Sunil Kandalloor's third wax museum in India, the earlier ones being at Kanyakumari and Thekkadi.

Sunil Kandalloor, a 38 year old wax artist from Kerala has created statues that could well cheat us for real life personalities. He uses real human hair in his statues. Though there are many statues he had sculpted, most of which are personalities of the South, I am posting A. R. Rahman's statue here, as most of us will recognise him. The other statues are equally and exceptionally good.

No need to fly to London now for a view at the extraordinary art; it is here in India.

History of mankind in short is war between good and evil. Even our Indian mythologies believe and prove it’s always ‘truth that triumphs’. But is the truth always the truth? Isn’t it’s definition incomplete without a lie? What is good without evil? These ever-puzzling questions have been marvelously raised in an intriguing Japanese anime–series, “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion”.

Produced by Sunrise, it is undoubtedly the best so far, showing almost every human emotion, and justifying the fact that ‘Good might do good unto somebody, but it’s still bad for another’.

Set in post world-war period in 2017 a.t.b, it’s a story about two superpowers, the tyrannical Britannia and The Nationalist Chinese Federation. The Holy Britannian Empire is a symbol of absolute tyranny for the Japanese, as they have stripped the Japanese of their rights, their freedom, and their name. The Japanese are addressed as “Numbers”, the residents of Area 11(the new name of Japan), for example.

The Britannians torture, harass, and indiscriminate the Japanese people. The Emperor of this kingdom, Charles VI Britannia, proclaims that “All Men are not Born Equal. Inequality is not Evil”. A kingdom whose ruler is that wretched is sure to be the same. There are rebellions among the Japanese to overthrow the regime. However, they are crushed mercilessly using a Humanoid powered armor called the ‘Knightmares’, a scientific innovation of unimaginable power, which constantly evolves throughout the series to become a formidable weapon for our scientists to ponder upon.

Lelouch Lamperouge, the hero of the movie, is a young Britannian student and vice-president of the student council at Ashford Academy, a carefree school with a carefree student council. Leading a simple life with his blind and physically disabled sister Nanally, of whom he is very fond of, he secretly harbors a ambition to overthrow the Britannian Empire. He never tries anything rebellious until destiny meets him on his track. That meeting sets off a series of marvelous and enthralling events that go on to change the history of world, and probably the perspective of the viewer about the true facet of truth. Lelouch though an ordinary Britannian, has an extraordinarily troubled past. The series is itself a revelation for him about his past; what he has believed and what actually has happened.  Often, a quiet and obnoxious boy, he has a brilliant strategic mind, owed to his exception chess playing quality, and a heart-rending love for his sister Nanally. He gets what he wants and doesn’t care who stands in his way.

Geass is a power of the kings. A mind power, which accustoms to whom it has been bestowed. This Geass is a binding contract between an immortal and a human that implies the fulfillment of a wish of the immortal by the human. It is an unparalleled power beyond the science humans have achieved. In an interesting meeting, a witch called C.C, gave this power to Lelouch. This C.C. then becomes an integral part of the rebellion that Lelouch leads and in knowing his past and the answers he is finding. Lelouch has an ability to turn the will of the people he sees, and make them do things he wants them to. As there is limitation to every power, he can cast his Geass only once on a given person. Though the Geass has an everlasting effect, the tests that he carries out for testing his only weapon are also amusing enough.

The first war that Lelouch fights with this Geass against the Empire is almost with no resources and a handful of rebels. However, it was enough to strike fear in enemy’s heart or that of Prince Clovis, the King of Area 11. Then he adorns the mask of Zero, a rebel with a cause, a dangerous enemy, a powerful leader and a fighter for the injustice against the unarmed. What Zero embarks on is a dangerous path of treachery against a powerfully armed and scientifically dangerous Empire. But the rebellion he leads is not for Japan but to create a world wherein Nanaly could live in peace and with love. His ambitions take him to form a group of rebels known as The Order of Black Knights. Leading this group he gets recruitment in many forms even from Britannians who are fed up of the regime. One such man is Diethard, a byte-hungry media-man. His involvement in the rebellion shows the power of media the way it can transform a terrorist into a hero. Diethard states an astonishing fact that ‘Journalism is not information but Human Creation’. What is stated about the power of media in here is also a present-day situation in our country.

Suzaku Kururugi, best friend of Lelouch and his worst enemy, is a flaw in all of Zero’s plans. Always in Zero’s path Suzaku wants to change the system of Britannia from within. Lelouch and Suzaku are on the opposite sides of justice each going for the same heading. Suzaku, also like his friend has a troubled past, which is slowly revealed throughout the story. CC, the witch is depicted as a heartless immortal but still very endearing in the end. Charles VI Britannia the Emperor is bestowed his power of Geass by C.C. and another V.V his brother. The short forms do sound odd but their names are not known even after the series ends. Another mystery. One of the more characters that strike the viewers is Euphemia, a really lovable and kind girl just like Nanally.

Having a varied cast as such it gets into action with the murder of Prince Clovis wherein the viewers get another hint as to who Lelouch is. Introduced as the successor of the Throne of Britannia the shroud of mystery begins to grow around Zero. Even the Black Knights do not know of his identity. For them, he is a man alone who will lead them to victory, who will liberate Japan an idol to follow. For him they are chess-pawns to checkmate the king. Based on such startling human nature it slowly enters the supernatural world of Geass.

What becomes of Zero and his rebellion the Black Knights and his passion to murder the Emperor Charles is too thrilling to watch. What Zero is, is a mixture of coldness, strategy, winning and an unmatched oratory, ironically all for the sake of his love for Nanally. The story has a serious tone; however, some of the most comical characters like Count Lloyd, nonetheless a genius, even it out.

The end is so superbly done that none could ever have predicted it. The simple end shown and the way Zero builds his Empire of Black Knights for the downtrodden just destroy the very basis of our foundation that ‘the good can never be bad’.  What are the reactions of every character in the series, their motives for the actions they take, the nature of the actions they take justify themselves slowly and gradually. There comes a point wherein you have no idea which side is good and which is bad. They are both the same. In the end even the truth can’t be justified without a lie. The whole point of the series being epic lies in the fact that it’s still a good versus evil battle but here the good takes a turn for the worse.

'Behind every Great man there is a Crime’ this is what the series tells in the end. That there cannot be only good and only bad, both coexist. There is no definition of good and evil it’s only a perspective. But in the end it’s still a human world where everything just cannot be perfect and it shouldn’t be.

Peepli Live from the perfectionist's production house, already rumoured to have recovered its production cost, has been the matter of discussion for cine-lovers. It certainly seems to be a good movie, and apart from the Aamir Khan brand, talented actors, the media has acted as a catalyst, enoughto make the movie a success.

The movie deals with farmer suicides and the media galore coupled with motives of political mileage. and is a good satire, something comparable to the satire of "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron".

Suicides and media direct to a more thoughful point about how the suicides of struggling and/or successful models become news of the decade, thus cultivating a stale publicity to the model.

Models necessarily enter the field to get famous and rich. The time span to do so is miniscule. However, who knows them individually, except the small world in which they work. No one else! Given that innumerable media channels have sprouted in the recent time, exposure is showered on these models.

Couple of them commit suicide, thus attracting more popularity than they did during their budding or blossomed times.

Excessive mental and physical pressure may be the reason. No great thinking is required to understand the reason behind the act of suicide. It's very superficial. Any thinking man with average intelligence can construe it.

Notwithstanding, when media chases such topic it assumes a demonic shape. In fact, media contributes effectively in making it contagious. “A model committed suicide. She might be under great mental trouble...” Media blows it out of proportion using the model's beautiful images.

However, what is disheartening is the cases of farmers who concern is more genuine than just flamboyancy. They don’t covet fame or chase excessive wealth. They just fancy life, they just want to live. Their living conditions are severe. They, primarily have to depend on the whim of nature, and in present days on the whims of political decision makers, through the local goons, the hoarders apart. Their cause of suicide has wide dimensions. However, media and we all turn a blind eye to them. When neither the rulers (of our land) nor the media cares for them, who is supposed to absolve them of their sorrows?