Cellular Spam

My first tryst with cell phone spam was when this guy from my ex-office started sending forwarded jokes, and one-liners about how great friendship is. Considering I barely knew the guy I found it really stupid. But I did not want to be rude so I put up with it .To start with he sent only a couple of these forwarded sms’s a day. Soon it became around half a dozen messages. And finally it reached a stage when I started receiving at least twenty such crazy forwards everyday. I kept deleting them, but there seemed to be no respite from this downpour. Finally I had to confront him and tell him point blank to stop sending me forwards. Another guy I had spoken to just a couple of times asked me for my cell number. Since he seemed like a typical prankster I was not exactly enthusiastic about giving it to him. Never the less I gave him my number. And the crank calls began. When in a friend’s house I would get a call from so and so saying that they wanted to advertise in my prestigious newspaper. In the middle of a gripping movie I would reluctantly pick a call from an unknown number, and the speaker would in mock earnestly say that they would like to book for a wedding, at such and such a wedding hall on such and such a date. The speakers for these crank calls, which I receive still receive, vary and so do the numbers. I wonder what makes these mass junk forwarders and crank callers do what they do? Atleast some of these forwarders seem to genuinely believe that these forwards are interesting to their readers.A couple of other guys,who are decent have also drenched me with these forwards. But I fail to understand how these crank callers operate or even what their motive is, other than to irritate which is obvious. For a few days the calls stop and just when I am relieved that the torment is over they start all over again. Who are these callers? Are they a bunch of jobless people? Do these pranksters have some ulterior motive of acquiring personal information? Or are they the agents of an enemy I don’t even know exsists? All this may sound extremely hilarious and I myself am amused at the absurdity of it while I write this. But believe me when answering one of these calls I am far from amused. I am rabid and it is a colossal effort not to heap abuses at the caller. I am still wondering, who are these callers? I suppose like agent Moulder of The-X-Files would say, the truth is out there!

Tennyson’s Ulysses and Colonialism

A casual reading of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Ulysses creates the impression that the poem is the reaching out of a heroic person towards something more substantial than mere survival. In fact when we first did it in school we studied it merely based on its face value-a poem using the technique of dramatic monologue, which talks about the struggle of a human being to break free from mediocrity. I had the same poem in college. A professor made a casual observation about the poem encouraging the British to go out and capture the world. Upon closer inspection I was shocked at some of the things the poem implies. It is little more than propaganda for colonialism. In the Victorian Age (1837 –1901), only the first born legitimate sons were entitled to property. This left the other sons (illegitimate and not first borns) discontended. Since they had no claim to property a feeling of unrest developed among these people. All these people needed something to do. Some believe that Tennyson was commissioned by Queen Victoria to be a virtual mouth peace for imperialism.When looked at from that perspective, the poem Ulysses seems to encourage,the sons with no claim to their father’s fortunes, to embark on a voyage of conquest. Tennyson is not alone as a poet who sings the praises of England's world conquest being honourable. Rudyard Kipling among others spurs the British to adopt an imperial role through his writing. These writers support the notion that it is Britain’s obligation (read birthright) to rule and ‘culture’ the rest of the world. While all this may seem very noble and patriotic for the Britisher, as he is asked to champion the cause of his nation's expansion, it is sinister in what it implied for the rest of the world. Especially in the context of what colonialism did and is still doing (neocolonialism) to the rest of the world Tennyson’s words “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”, takes on a whole new meaning.

A Starmaker I Knew

In loving memory of my Chitappa (Uncle), P.N.Sadasivan(1939-2001) Recently I had gone for Ullam Kekume at Devi Paradise. This was the movie in the midst of whose production, G.Venkateswaran,popularly known as G.V.,passed away in a most unfortunate manner. Inevitably I was reminded of this and flooded with memories of my uncle who is also no more. My uncle was the General Manager of G.V. films and stood by G.V.Sir, as he used to call him, until his own death, which was in January 2001. G.V. was the producer of several blockbusters such as Nayagan, Thalapathi and Anjali.Nayakan, arguably the most celebrated film in the history of Tamil Cinema may not have even hit the screens if it had not been for this soft spoken producer. Muktha Srinivasan who was the initial producer of the film refused to finance it when it was well under production and GV had to step in and take over financing the film. Next to G.V. himself, it was my uncle who did all the important work for Sujatha Films(G.V’s production company).From financing to overseeing minute details such as organizing preview shows for movies nothing happened in G.V. films without Sada Chitappa’s knowledge. During the Michael Jackson case (the pop star took a huge advance from G.V for concerts he was supposed to perform in Madras and Bombay and dropped out without repaying the advance) my uncle used to go to court almost on a daily basis. When the production company’s films such as May Madham started regularly flopping he was among those who suggested that G.V give up film production and focus on distribution. The stress of having so much responsibility on him started having a huge toll on Sada Chitappa.Inspite of everything he was unwavering in his rock solid commitment to his work. In the last months of his life terminal health complications (heart problem and cancer) forced him to stop working. And yet, inspite of being incapacitated, until his passing he remained the General Manager at Sujatha films.Such was the esteem in which he was held. Rajnikant’s fans boast about how their talaivar(leader)’s film Muthu became a blockbuster in Japan. Few would remember it was G.V’s idea to market the film in Japan and it was his ingenious marketing of the film, which made the above-mentioned actor popular in that country.People like G.V and my uncle are the starmakers behind the stars.How many of us think about the backbreaking work that the production and distribution units of a film have to do? When a movie bombs it is the production team, which has to bear the brunt. When it succeeds new stars are born, exsisting stars become demi-Gods.What happens to the starmakers behind the stars? Only some occasional outpouring from the heart,from an emotional family member like me. But you know what I really believe? For my uncle the satisfaction he derived from his total commitment to his work was all that mattered.That is a starmaker for you.

The Guitar Player

Tuning strings, Giving wings to words, Yet to be set in motion. Humming mild, Melodies never heard by, Ears never meant to hear them. He sits, With a guitar sweet, Playing the music of his soul. Afterword-This is a poem I wrote a couple of years back.The guitar player who inspired me to write this poem is my friends neha and puj's father,Suneet uncle.I dont write poetry anymore.This is the only poem I have written which I find worth preserving.

The Shawshank Redemption

Directed By: Frank Darabont Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman As I watched this film one recurrent thought was it is so obviously inspired by One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Even some of the main characters are like the ones in that movie. But don’t get me wrong. Inspiration is not plaigiarism. This movie has its own soul quite different to One Flew…Songs of the same raga may vary completely and the same is true of films depending on the director’s handling. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a young banker is convicted of murder and sent to prison. Initially reserved by nature it takes time for his fellow inmates to accept him. A few notorious inmates abuse him. He befriends Red(Morgan Freeman),who is also the narrator. He buys some freedom within the confines of the prison, by assisting the guards and the corrupt warden, helping them evade tax and in laundering money. He brings about changes in the prison like greatly improving the prison library. Some of his unconventional activities like arranging for his pals to have beer and playing music via the prison loud speaker endear him to the inmates. A fresh convict comes in who claims that he met the real murderer of the crime Andy has been convicted of. Fearing that if this is true Andy will go free and reveal the corruption within, the warden arranges for the convict to be killed. Is Andy innocent? Does he regain his freedom? No spoilers! Watch the film!Tim Robbins as Andy stands out. His underplay at points is so pronounced that at times one forgets he is the protagonist! But it is his respect for screen grammar (not trying to compete with the other artists), which makes his performance memorable. I doubt this would have happened if he tried to dominate in every frame. The other performance that stands out is James Whitmore as Brooks, who has lived most of his life in prison and when sent out on parole unable to survive in the alien environment. Morgan Freeman as Red was ordinary. Overall, I would say The Shawshank Redemtion is one of the better Hollywood movies.