Ban on Crackers in Delhi –

Leaving the Elephant in the room and running after the Butterfly

Come Diwali and come discussion about ban on crackers in Delhi.    On 20^th October 2022 Hon’ble Supreme Court declined to entertain an urgent plea to lift a ban by Delhi Government on the production, storage, sale and bursting of firecracker in Delhi.    They also gave a word of advice spend your money on sweets (as of now they are not concerned about people suffering from diabetes) and let people breathe clear air.    I could never comprehend how banning bursting of crackers for a day on Diwali can cleanse the Delhi Air which remains polluted round the year  

 

Delhi has a huge problem of pollution throughout the year and becomes a gas chamber during winter season.    In the last 4-5 years it has crossed danger levels on every yardstick.   This situation has arisen mainly due to:

 

• ·      Heavy pollution emission by vehicles specially transport vehicles viz., buses, lorries and diesel cars
• ·      Stubble burning by formers of Haryana/Punjab.    There been a slug fest on these issues between Delhi – Haryana – Punjab Governments for a very long time with little relief from this menace
• ·         Construction work in NCR.  
• ·      Industrial pollution by small and medium industries in industrial and non-residential areas thriving legally and illegally

 

Why the Tokenism of banning Crackers and thumping chests?

Our politicians and Government has a great ability to divert and deflect the attention of the public from critical issues and as far the perpetual and perennial pollution problem is concerned the Delhi Government has done precious little than tokenism of banning bursting of crackers during Diwali.   It is also fashionable for certain sections of the society to take such stands to be looked upon as educated, elite and responsible towards society without of course going into logics of it.  

There is no denying of the fact that firecrackers do contribute to the pollution, but the mute question is for how long crackers are burnt during Diwali and how much is the contribution due to burning of firecrackers towards Delhi over pollution levels.  Crackers are burnt on the day of Diwali and may be a day before and day after once in a year and going by any statistics its share is miniscule compared to the overall pollution contribution in the Capital by other factors.    So if one considers round the year pollution in the capital what purpose will the ban on firecrackers and reduction of pollution for a day serves?   It’s nothing but an absolute tokenism

What it really robs of: 

First and foremost, it robs the children of the great fun which they look forward for entire year.   Personally, as a child I have thoroughly enjoyed Diwali and burning of firecrackers and look forward for entire year.    I and my friends used to make some of the crackers and enjoy burning those more than the ones we purchased from the market.   The child in me stayed on for very long as far as burning crackers is concerned though the noisy bombs gave way to phool ghadis and anars.   When my daughters were young, I used to look forward for Diwali festivities including burning crackers with them.   Not only in India but all over the world burning of crackers is part of many celebrations.    We often watch videos coming from various parts of the world where crackers are burnt for hours together as part of some celebrations.    Even in India during marriage and other celebrations, various festivals specially Diwali crackers are burnt.    Even the politicians (including successive Delhi Governments which have banned firecrackers during Diwali in Delhi) burn crackers as part of their election victories.  So while children all over India enjoy Diwali bursting crackers Delhi kids are deprived and forced to run around black marketers to purchase few crackers at exorbitant prices to keep their children happy.  Today in the evening my Neighbour came with his 5 years old daughter to wish me Diwali and on my enquiry he told that she was crying for two days for crackers, and he could not find them, and he is going again to market to try his luck.   That is the hardship the Children and their parents are put to 

What Government should do before it comes to the ban of Crackers?

Government and the Hon’ble courts including the Delhi HC and Supreme courts should wield the whip cracking down on the following before they pat their backs on the efforts made by them in reducing pollution by banning crackers in Delhi

    Vehicle pollution:   Complete ban on the polluting vehicles specially transport vehicles.   Heavy penalties and immediate impounding of the polluting vehicles and cancellation of the licenses for minimum 5 years. 

2.     Reducing the number of vehicles on the road:  Every possible measure should be taken for reducing the number of vehicles on Delhi roads which are the biggest contributors to pollution in Delhi.    Some of the suggested measures are

• ·        Even Odd formula for vehicles on a permanent basis

 

• ·      Banning or levying heavy fee on people travelling in cars alone.     I often finds the elite socialites who take so much pride in their support for banning crackers in Diwali go in their cars all alone throughout the year, their spouse and each of the children in their respective cars all alone polluting Delhi round the year.    With technology available it is not difficult to spot such vehicles on the road where there is only single passenger and charge from them a heavy fee so that either they use public transport like Metro or pool the cars.  Let these educated and rich socialites do more than just mere `lip service’

3.    Stubble burning in neighboring states:   So many things are invented in the country and in the world, but our governments are not able to find an alternate solution to the farmers stubble burning.    For political reasons there is no ban or even if there is one there is no serious enforcing of the same by our Politicians.   When AAP was not ruling Punjab the Delhi CM used to shout from roof tops about the menace of stubble burning and expressed his inability in controlling pollution as the other political parties ruling neighboring states are not heeding to him, but after coming to power in Punjab he is muted on this issue.    The farmers are burning stubble with vigor and making every day a Diwali for Delhietes  as far as Pollution levels are concerned 

4.    Industrial pollution:   If stubble burning is coming across from the neighboring states, the industrial pollution is the enemy within.     Delhi is full of illegal and unauthorized small and medium size industries operating from residential and non-industrial areas.     The pollution caused by these units and other authorized industrial units in designated industrial areas are enormous.   No political party can dare to touch them and shut them as they are one of the biggest source of funding for elections.   The political parties raise a bogie of livelihood and employment when the question of shutting them comes up and they keep thriving unabated 

5.  Construction activities: Thanks to National Green Tribunal, of late we have been educated of the pollution created by construction activities all round India and specially in NCR.   NGT has swung into action and brought construction guidelines and many times closed down construction activities in NCR.    Strict enforcement of these guidelines not only reduce the air pollution but noise pollution too.

Children all over the India/world enjoy Diwali inter alia burning crackers why to deprive the children of Delhi the fun.    The Delhi population which is putting up and living on with all pollution all-round the year, can surely manage with one more day of pollution.     It is also the question of livelihood of thousands of people who are into manufacture and are part of the supply chain of these crackers.  

If anyone asks me don’t you think banning of crackers will reduce pollution and should not we ban burning of cracker on Diwali in Delhi and/or anywhere else in India, I would borrow Salim Javed dialogue from Deewar to answer them.

Main Akele sign nahi karoonga, Main pehle sing nahi karoonga, ……jaav us aadmi se sign leke avo….. jaav us aadmi se sign leke avo ……….uske baad jis kagaz par sign karne keliye  kahoge us par sign karoonga

Akele Fire Crackers ko ban mat karo, Fire Crackers ko pehle Ban matkaro.   Pehle Stubble Burning ko Ban Karo, Pehle Vehicle pollution ko Ban karo, Pehle Industrial pollution ko Ban karo, Pehle Construction Pollution ko Ban karo………………….. uske baad Fire Crackers ko jaroor Ban karo.  

The Delhi Government should realize that the Pollution created round the year by Construction, Vehicle and Industrial pollution and Pollution by stubble burning during winters are the real Elephant in the room which they are ignoring and burning of Firecrackers are the Butterfly they are happy chasing.  Moreover, who does not know or acknowledge that liquor ruins the health and blow the hard-earned money of people specially from lower strata of the society.    It is hard to digest that Delhi Government who gave liquor licenses left right center for reasons best known to all really bothers about the health of people of Delhi due to pollution  

Lastly there is ofcourse the theory of targeting Hindu festivals which I am not touching upon so that I am not blamed for giving a communal twist

Happy Diwali.  

S. Prabhakar

24.10.2022

 

 

AMITABH – THE EVEREST OF HINDI CINEMA 

A wesome

M arvelous

I ncredible

T errific

A mazing

B rilliant

H umble

Amitabh Bachchan, is one of the greatest and legendary actor India has ever produced and the most enduring and peerless Bollywood actor.  His family and millions of his fans all over the Globe are celebrating his 80^th Birthday today the 11^th October, 2022.   Besides other things, many of his super hit movies of 80s and 90s of  Amitabh are being screened for last one week in various cities of India.   He has been reigning the Hindi Film industry close to half a century and still going strong with some meaning contributions -   his latest Hindi movie 'Goodbye'  hitting the silver screen last Friday.  

Earlier Struggle days: Amitabh is neither born with a silver spoon nor his entry into Hindi movies a smooth sailing one (though his father Mr Harvasha Rai Bachchan was a renowned and highly respected poet).   Its Irony that Amitabh who later on was hailed for his commendable baritone voice, dialogue delivery and oratory skills was first rejected by All India Radio over his voice quality and its unsuitability for a position of announcer.   It’s unimaginable to any of his fans that he could get one of his earlier breaks (given by Sunil Dutt) in Reshma aur Shera on the basis of a written recommendation letter from none other than Mrs. Indira Gandhi due to his father’s closeness to Nehru family.   Not only this, Amitabh has delivered over a dozen duds, acted with small banners, producers, directors and heroines, second leads (even a negative character in a Navin Nishal movie `Parvana’) his tall, lanky frame, long nose and nonromantic image not taking him anywhere.   Of all people it is the hero role given by Comedian Mehmood in the super hit comedy `Bombay to Goa’ which not only gave him first major hit movie, recognition but more importantly helped him in getting noticed by Prakash Mehra who was looking for a suitable hero for Zanjeer.   After being rejected by Dharmender, Raj Kumar, Dev Anand the meaty role fell in the lap of Amitabh and as they say `rest is history’.

The Consolidation phase:  Apart from Zanjeer, two movies which made people to take a serious note of Amitabh were both with the then reigning first Super Star of Hindi cinema Rajesh Khanna `Namak Haram’ and `Anand’.   No one, least of all Rajesh Khanna, could have ever imagined that Amitabh will not only topple Rajesh Khanna so soon but end the Romantic era and start a new `Angry Youngman Image’ and bring a wave of Action movies in Hindi with lot of dialogue-baji with iconic super hit movies like Sholay, Deewar, Trishul,  Amar Akbar Anthony, Don and Maqqadar ka Sikandar.  By end of 70s the Hindi industry has accepted that the Romantic era and the magic of Rajesh Khanna (a very short lived one for about 6 years and a record number of 16 back and back super hits between 1969 and 1974) was over and Amitabh Action image is going to stay with more and more newcomers like Vinod Khanna, Mithun, Shatru, Feroz Khan besides the old guards Dharmender and Sunil Dutt all thriving in Action oriented movies.

Partnering with Big Banners:  Film industry has always believed in `Chadte Suraj ko Salaam’.   With super success of movies in mid 70s Amitabh became the preferred choice of all big banners/producers like Yash Johar, Yash Chopra, GP Sippy, Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai and started the Multi starrer trend with fantastic pairing with Vinod Khanna, Sashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor.   One of the biggest contributors to the success of Amitabh were star writers Salim-Javed with very powerful author-based roles and resounding dialogue right from Zanjeer till they separated in early 80s.   Thanks to their powerful dialogues, Amitabh has become very popular for his dialogue delivery – which remained as the most enduring aspects of Amitabh.    With Amitabh being on a roll, many new producers/banners used to line up to make movies with Amitabh.    Riding on super success, Amitabh started experimenting and sought a make-over from his image of `Angry Young Man’ to a romantic one in movies like Kabhi Kabhi and Manzil and comedy in Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony and Mr. Natwarlal.   Right through 80s and till mid 90s Amitabh remained the undisputed Shehanshah of Hindi industry and his popularity has gone much beyond Hindi belt with movies like Sholay, Deewar, AAA and Don doing extremely well in Southern belt and other states.  

Foray into Politics and Business: following the foot steps of southern stars, from 80s onwards Hindi actors also started entering Politics to encash their popularity and mass base.   Understandably, Amitabh, a good friend of Rajiv Gandhi and whose family has long standing relations with Nehru family, contested Lok Sabha elections on Congress ticket and defeated seasoned politician Bahuguna.   But as always happens in politics, he fell out with Rahul family.  But having bitten by politics bug he joined hands with Amar Singh (the one-time foster brother) and Mulayam singh Yadav.   Though he never contested elections but put his Jaya in the race.  

Amitabh is one of the early Hindi actors who has entered the corporate world with ABCL.   But his business ventures specially his sponsoring World beauty contest in Bangalore brought him to the brink of bankruptcy.   

Dip in the career:  he had a double whammy when in deep financial crisis, the mid age crisis too has hit him.   With age catching up he found himself neither being young nor angry and he was unwilling to accept old and character roles.   His movies under trusted banner like Prakash Mehra (Jadugar) and Manmohan Desai (Ganga Jamuna and Saraswati) and Lal Badhsah have bombed at boxoffice without trace.    New crop of heros like Mithun, Govinda, and all three khans have established themselves and all big banners started flocking them.   With this the days of Amitabh as a young hero have numbered and till then no actor has successfully transformed into roles that suited their age and bowed out.

The Grand Second Innings: While in deep crisis, to avoid letting his company going to bankruptcy Amitabh got an offer from Pronnoy Roy to host a quiz show named `Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) to clear his financial dues.  That was the first time an iconic star like Amitabh debuted in small screen on TV.   By that time Amitabh was not only has acquired iconic status not only for his dialogue delivery in the movies, but also for his oratory skills, government advertisements for social messaging.    This has helped him to slip into host role in KBC with commensurate ease.  KBC has become unprecedented success and still going strong in its 14^th season till date and there are many regional versions being hosted by top stars in respective industries.    It has not only helped Amitabh to pay off all his debts but has become a big money spinner for him.   The popularity of KBC has catapulted Amitabh into top bracket in Advertising and there is hardly any major brand which he has not endorsed for eye popping fee.  

While Amitabh was doing well with KBC and Advertisement, he still struggled in regaining his lost ground in movies.    Around that time, he went back to his old friend Yash Chopra with a request to help him with any role in his forthcoming movies.   Then came the partially grey hair. white beard and elderly role in Mohabatein in 2000 which has not only a grand success but fetched Amitabh Filmfare award for best supporting actor.   More importantly the movie has shown the way forward to Amitabh, no more young man no more angry, no more leading roles, and no dance and fights. Amitabh has repositioned himself to accept character roles with new banners, new producers, director and younger co-stars.   With each passing movie Amitabh rediscovered many shades of himself and given some sterling performances in movies like Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gum, Black, Kabhi Alvida Na kehna, Piku, Pink, Badla, 102 not out and his latest movie Goodbye which has release last Friday.    It is amazing that he is as prolific if not more in his second innings and his demand is not going down even at the age of 80 years.   He has 3-4 releases a year and 4-5 movies are on the floors all the time.   

An Inspirational life journey:

After 50 years in public life, Amitabh has not only inspirational to those who are in film industry but people in general in all walks of life have something to learn and be inspired on account of

·         His tenacity and perseverance

·         His never say die attitude

·         His hunger to learn and rediscover himself over and over again

·        The way he bounces back despite huge health issues (life threatening accident while shooting for movie `coolie’), Asthma and Thalassemia.   He kept requesting to allow elderly above 70 years to work during carona

·       His great oratory skills and ability to convey things most convincingly.   He has rendered his voice in large number of Government social messages over TV and Radio.  

·         His dignified and matured conduct in public

·         Humble and down to earth behavior

·         His benevolent attitude to acknowledge the talent and achievements of his co-stars

·         Ability to make an impact howsoever small the role is – a quality which he has developed in the last 10 years or so.

Amitabh will go down in the history of Indian cinema as one of the most endearing actors who kept himself motivated and focused even at the age of 80 years in a highly demanding movie industry.   He richly deserves Dadasaheb Palke Award, Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibushan and love and affection he receives from Millions of his fans.   

Wishing him health and prosperity and hope he continues to entertain his fans for another 20 years till he completes a Century.

S. Prabhakar

11.10.2022

 

GODFATHER – IS IT A BEGINNING OF NEW CHAPTER IN CHIRANJEEVI CAREER?

Traditionally in Telugu States Dusshera is welcomed by release of movies of big stars and this year it is the turn of Chirajeevi’s Godfather and Nagarjuna’s Ghost.  

The much awaited movie of Mega Star’s Godfather has released in Telugu and Hindi with huge expectations after a very disappointed and rare disaster `Acharya’ with his son Ram Charan.    Godfather is refreshing in many ways and looked like a new chapter in Charanjeevi career may be keeping in view his advancing age.  There are many firsts in his entire career of over 154 movies – no heroin no songs and dance numbers for him in the entire movie except the dance number with Salman with end credits.   He did not go in for over-the-top costumes (sticking to Dhoti and shirt like in Malayalam original), and dialogue baaji.  He has relied very effectively on his expressive eyes and controlled emotions.   Most importantly he liberally shared screen space with other actors like Satyadev, Nayanatara, Murali sharma though it is more than the Original Malayalm version.  

 

For some strange reasons Chiranjeevi has once again gone for a remake, this time Mohanlal hit Malayalam movie `Lucifer’ which was dubbed and released in both Telugu states.    Godfather is a very interesting and intriguing political drama with twists and turns where Hero resorts to more of mind games than settling scores with fist blows.   Few modifications have been done to original Lucifer story adding more of brother-sister sentiments, extending jail episode etc., to go with mega image of Chirajeevi.  

As always Chirajeevi carried the entire movie on his broad and experienced shoulders, mostly under-performing with limited dialogues.   Director Mohana Raja has succeeded in elevating almost all critical scenes by Chiru’s magnetic presence, fiery eyes, expressive face and good but loud back ground score by Taman.   He is very ably supported by Satyadev, Murali sharma and always reliable Nayanatara.   After almost 2 decades we had a Telugu speaking villain in Satyadev.   Telugu movie industry has been served by legendary villains right from R Nageswara Rao, Rajanala (who stood tough and tall against NTR), Nagabhushanam, Satyanarayana, Rao Gopal Rao and Kota Srinivas.    But the misfortune is that for over last two decades, very small time Bollywood under employed villains like Sharad Saxena, Shinde and Mukesh Rishi and host of others were preferred over highly talented Telugu speaking actors.    Satyadev has more than justified the confidence reposed on him to pit him against Telugu top star Chiru.   He was not overawed by his presence and presented himself well in all shades of villainary.   Nayanatara did a great job and gave a matured performance.   Murali sharma, who has came back to his Telugu roots after working for few years in Bollywood, was excellent though one could find shades of his famous role in `Ala Vaikhutapuramlo’.   He has mastered in giving very precise expressions with right kind of body language.   Prakash Raj loss, due to his difference of opinion with many Telugu producers, turned out to be the gain of Murali Sharma.   Sunil is irritating with his limited expressions and still struggling to overcome his image as comedian.   Veteran Director Puri Jaganath had a very decent debut as an actor.  

Salman Debut in Telugu movies:  Telugu/South Indian movies are in such a roll that every Bollywood actor, big or small want to be part of it and for South indian movies it works well in boosting their presence in Hindi belt.    After Amitabh, Akshay, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt, Salman makes his debut in south with Godfather.   But I must say it has been very disappointing, the roles is too short, does not have any significance, not written well at all and he too made very casual appearance almost making one wonder why on the earth he accepted such insignificant role all of 10 minutes.    He looked so worn out both in action scene and dance number.   It looked as if they are using graphics for making him look young.  When Telugu producers have such deep pockets, why they don’t  get a nice and meaty role written for such super stars from Bollywood even if it is short.   It seemed he spent more time promoting the movie rather than in shooting.    The dance number with Chiru directed by the highly overrated Prabhu Deva has turned to be a dud.  Dance directors Lawrance or Shekar would have done far better job, Chiru is more agile and graceful in his dance movements even at this age.    Even the action scene of Salman and Chiru is very poorly conceived and executed looking like the climax scene of Suryavamsi.  

Overall should be enjoyable for Telugu Audience specially die hard Chiru fans. Not much to recommend for Hindi audience.  Hardly any publicity was done in Hindi belt for Chiru’s return to Bollywood after 3 decades after successful outing with Pratibhand and Aaaj Ka Gunda Raj, and may be producers will take whatever comes from Hindi version as bonus.  

 

S. Prabhakar

6.10.2022

 

THE `SHOCK’ OF THE FIRST LOOK OF `ADIPURUSH’

The first look of Prabha’s Adipurush turned out to be a shocker.   Leaving aside how gaga Prabhas’ fans are going about his first looks, it is the Saif’s get up as Ravan and also few vanar-sena which has created ripples and social media is going frenzy condemning it.   I do not touch on the subject of hurting Hindu sentiments but i strongly feel that the producers directors and other creative team are absolutely out of their mind to conceive such get up for Ravan which is looking more like a Moghul Invader or a black magician.    Many times in my postings I did mention that none of the mainstream Bollywood actors/stars right from Dilip Kumar, Amitabh to all the khans lack versatility to carry mythological or janapad/folklore characters.   But till now they were wise enough not to do any misadventure of trying mythological films and whenever a few such movies were made in Hindi they have gone  for unknown actors including in the famous TV serials Mahabharat and Ramayan though made by top Bollywood producers BR Chopra and Ramanad Sagar respectively.

Volumes have been written on how NTR used to reprise the mythological characters not only the roles of Lord Rama, Krishna, Shiv, Vishnu etc., but negative characters of Ravana and Duryodhana etc.   The body language, costumes, ornaments and most importantly the dialogue delivery and diction (for which he used to get special tutorials from Sanskrit scholars) all left such an indelible impression for all times to come.   All the producers, directors, fellow actors used to swear by the dedication of NTR during the entire schedules of shooting as if he was possessed and used to go into a trance which used to infuse great sense of discipline in all other artists and technicians and that may be the reason that all his mythological movies were super hits and remained landmark movies.    He essayed the role of Ravana in two Telugu movies Sita Rama Kalyanam and Bhukailash, both of them are landmark movies.    The roles were so well researched and presented Ravana in an entirely new dimension without glorifying his misdeeds.   How I wish we had PAN India concept/releases in those days so that all the movie goes have enjoyed the glory of NTR in mythological roles.  

(219) SEETA RAMA KALYANAM PART - 4 - YouTube

Compared to this what a funny get up Saif appeared as a Ravan.   Which version of Ramayan has had a mention of Ravan being that way.   Going by this looks you may find Saif saying waav waav too.   Movie makers may take artistic liberties but not to the extent of rewriting Ramayan and Mahabharat including the general perception about the principal characters.   Till now there is a Boycott Bollywood trend but the way the producers are mocking I will not be surprised if there are violent protests and screenings of Adipurush are stopped.     Not a good news for Prabhas fans. 

Bollywood will be better served if they stay away from Mythological movies.

Adipurush (Official Teaser) Hindi | Prabhas | Saif Ali Khan | Kriti Sanon | Om Raut | Bhushan Kumar - YouTube

 

S. Prabhakar

4.10.2022