Time for media to introspect

Time for media to introspect

After the Pulwama terror strike and it’s aftermath, there was a huge 

outcry against the media: it's time they do some course correction.

Photo credit : Laura Lee Moreau, Unsplash

After the dastardly terrorist strike in Pulwama, where in the security forces martyred more than forty of their men, the nation was in deep shock and pain. There was a voice across all segments of the society calling for some action to stop this barbarity. For once, the political establishment spoke in one voice, and stood by the government. The government responded by the air strikes with an aim to send a clear message to our enemy, enough is enough. The nation applauded the action of the Airforce and that of  young Wing Cdr Abhinandan. We all welcomed him home with abated breath.

What was most striking in all this, was the role and behavior of our media, especially television. It was disgraceful, insensitive and shameful. The kind of war mongering, expert opinions with the  shrill and cacophony shown on television was horrific and unacceptable.

The media needs  to be reminded here that their job is to provide unbiased reporting. Some amount  of debate and discussions are welcome, but sticking to the boundaries of civility is warranted. Let people be the judge of what is right and what is wrong. There is no reason to spew out venom against each other and try and push your own agenda.

If the media does not behave itself, it will become like the political class, which to a great extent has lost faith of people. It is high time that they come together, chalk out a pledge and mend their ways.

Already we have a situation wherein the viewers have assigned tags to the channels. Pro-establishment or anti government, leftist, rightist and so on. It is a very unhealthy sign and implies a decay in the system. It's high time that such crass behavior is stopped.  Time is ripe to  introspect and course correct; before it is too late.

Four more shots please

Four more SHOTS please!

Binge watch it : Leaves you asking for more

Four more shots please, the streaming new show on Amazon Prime is a peep into the SOBO (South Bombay) culture. It hooks you up and before realizing, the characters grow on you, you empathize with the ups and downs in their life, a roller coster journey spanned over ten episodes….at the end of which you crave for more. You have to wait for the second season though, it should be under production…hopefully!! 

A tale of four women, who accidentally meet each other at a ‘Truck Bar’ and bond with each other. They unwind at the bar regularly and we get to know their lives through their interactions. One is a lawyer who has just divorced, one a fearless journalist and founder of a newsportal and gets ousted from her own company. Third girl has landed in Mumbai to be a fitness trainer and deals with her sexuality by coming out of the closet. And finally the super rich girl whose only purpose in life presently is to to find a  suitable groom.

The new boldness is striking with plenty of use of cuss words and explicit girly gossip. This kind of depiction is unheard of in conventional television. So if you are a purist and a sanskari, please stay away from this riot of bold, brazen and raw display of emotions.

 The twists and turns in the story keep you hooked and involved. At the end of the binge, I was literally searching for the next episode, only to realize that I would have to wait for the next season !!

Gully Boy

Gully Boy

Make your reality catch up with your dreams

Murad (Ranveer Singh) in one of the scenes, tells his father, that he believes in making his reality match up with his dreams and not the other way around. He wants to create his life, his existence with his own efforts and not take what destiny throws at him. That is the crux of his life and the movie captures his journey from raps to riches in every possible sense.

The backdrop of Dharavi, it’s hard life, dirty bylanes, the constant lure of crime and easy money which beackons him at every corner, is a powerful setting for a tale that is a journey of his struggle to become a famous rapper. 

The constant humiliation which he endures in a big family stuffed into a small shanty, makes your heart cry especially when a bunch of foreigners are offered a peep into their small world for five hundred rupees. (Poverty Tourism?)

The problem of polygamy and the effect of it on his mother and the family is depicted so deftly, it makes you sad and cringe for her. 

The characterizations are true to life, etched perfectly, never ever missing the mark. Alia and Kalki are fantastic. But Siddhant Chaturvedi aka M.C. Sher stands out. Fantastic performance coming again after his critically appreciated ‘Inside Edge’ role. At times you want him to win more than Murad ! 

And the music track is amazing. It’s already a big hit. Having the opportunity to watch DIVINE perform live at #Sulafest 2019, and the popularity they enjoy, there was never a doubt that it would be great. It lives up to the expectations it had generated. At the same time it doesn’t become over bearing and blends with the story line perfectly.

An amazing movie….Must watch……three cheers to the Gully Boy.

Keep hoping and rapping “ APNA TIME AAYEGA”

URI: India's Zero Dark Thirty Hour

 Every time I watch a movie, there is one thing that gives me goose bumps, every single time. That is the national anthem playing before the movie. I find that this song evokes that sense of pride and belonging to our country every single time it is played.

Rarely we come across movies and themes that echo these kind of sentiments and have the power to evoke such responses. Such movies come to theaters rarely. They are are created once in a while. Movies like Border or may be Chak de India.

Uri, the surgical strike hits all those notes and evokes that kind of response while watching or rather experiencing it. Yes, It is an experience. It echoes what our nation has undergone in the last couple of years and the kind of sentiments we feel and share with each other.

Watching the movie amidst all service personnel and even discussing it, it nowhere seems far fetched or unreal. In fact rarely does a movie capture the ethos and sprit of the armed forces so accurately. Not only that, the minutest details, the locales, the uniforms, the war cries, the weaponry, the wreath laying ceremony…it’s flawless. You can’t find faults even if you are a cynic or critic.

The movie and it’s structure is so much similar to the cult movie Zero Dark Thirty based on the Laden mission. The plot and its handling and the treatment it has got is in no way less than the Hollywood movie..in fact a shade better. 

The operation , it’s planning and it’s execution is an extra ordinary feat, no matter what the nay sayers will say. If this cannot evoke your nationalism or patriotism, maybe nothing can.

So, when the government responds the way it has done and seeing the film industry’s response to it….when somebody asks us …..

How’s the Josh…..High Sir…...............can be the only response.

How much Coffee is good (or bad) for you ? 

 Ultimate idea of relaxation on a Sunday morning is having a good hot cup of coffee and reading the Sunday morning newspaper and lazing around in the house. I am sure many of us like this and is part of the Sunday morning drill for years. Some of you might be occasional drinkers and some of you might have downed cups of coffee during exam days. Or you might be the types who are constantly gulping down coffee at office or maybe a coffee aficionado. 

Whatever maybe the reason, coffee is part of life for most of us. So how much coffee is safe for us or recommended. Is it good or is it bad ? Should you be avoiding it all-together or maybe restrict it. Well let me try and help you out on this.

What does coffee do ? 

Coffee is extracted from the roasted fruit of Coffee arabica bush. It contains caffeine and works by stimulatingthe Central nervous system (CNS), heart and muscles. It improves alertness and clear thinking. Along with glucose the effect is further improved. 

It has other beneficial health effects also. It is known to prevent or delay Parkinson’s disease, prevent Type -II Diabetes and Gallstone formation. It is also possibly effective for some cancers of digestive tract and breast.

How much can I take ?

Each percolated cup contains about 100-150 mg caffeine, instant coffee  about 85-100 mg and decaffeinated about 8mg.

2 cups or about 250 mg is the average recommended dose. 

So average consumption should be about 2-4 cups, although higher doses are more effective for Diabetes and Gallstone prevention. So, sticking to 2-4 cups is most prudent as it will prevent side effects also.

What are the side effects ?

Excessive consumption can cause anxiety, agitation, restlessness, insomnia. It can cause heartburn, acidity, ringing in the ears and irregular heartbeats.

Not to be used excessively in pregnancy and during breast feeding. Should not be used in children, anxiety disorders, heart disease, hypertension and other serious medical conditions.