Kathmandu Speaks! Are you listening?

February 27, 2009

The real story behind Dev D.

from FirstCity

“I’d contemporized Devdas, and I used to narrate it to people and I used to base it in Bombay or base it in LA, and narrate the same story from the book and people wouldn’t guess what the book was. Fore me, Devdas was an addict. He was a spoilt rich brat, an obsessive addict. I mean, I grew up in Bombay and when you’re in high school, you’ve got all the drugs available to you. I mean this was the time when all the raves happened in Madh Island… I’ve experimented with drugs. I’ve obsessed over certain girls in my life — there’s always been that one woman I’ve obsessed over, for whatever reason. And I thought it would be a great catharsis for me to portray that one character.”

So he narrated this to Anurag Kashyap, somebody he’s known for years. “And he didn’t guess what film that was. Then I gave him clues and he did guess. And then he didn’t talk to me for the next half an hour, while we were sitting in front of each other. And each time I would try to say something more, he’d tell me to shut up, because he was probably in his own world of visuals at that point, and after half an hour of silence, he said I want to make this film. I said really? I didn’t believe him at this point. Obviously, because I wanted him to make it really desperately. I’d known Anurag for good eight years before then. I’ve seen him through all his first few films. He was going through his own Devdas phase, he had been for the past five years I’d say… So I knew he was the right guy for it. So, it was nice to see him so shaken up by it. He was literally shaken up, you could see it on his face…”

— Abhay Deol to FirstCity, February 2008

“One thing that always got to me was how much Devdas spoke. You know, I’ve been there, and when you’re on the path of self-destruction, you rot from within. I didn’t get out of my room fordays. When my marriage broke… Abhay used to drag me out to nightclubs, and I’m not a nightclub person anyway, but I just couldn’t be… what I’m trying to say is, that Devdas’ angst was very interval, not external the way Hindi cinema portrays. Which is why it always bothered me that Devdas spoke so much.”

— Anurag Kashyap to FirstCity, February 2008

Further reading:
Defending artist as a young man — Dev D.

February 26, 2009

Doing duty

Deelip took this shot, nice no?

Part II
Girl’s story

I didn’t think about it until I was reading one interview and realized if I choose to find a balance in the script, I must invent my Girl’s story.

I finally sought help from my Mr. Dependable. I turned to my old friend and asked him if he would consider abandoning his academic plans and help with my concepts and plans!

I was dreaming a dream after so long.

Plight of Nepali women and children

I was invited to the Nepali Embassy to write about the women who land up in Tihar and other Indian jails because of fake passports forged by their dalals.

The embassy is forced to turn to NGOs like Maiti Nepal to seek help to resettle these women. Such women and children are often victims of brokers and frauds and traffickers, yet there’s no governmental organization that could provide them shelter. Our ministry for Women, Children and Social Welfare hasn’t done anything to deal with the burning crisis while the primary aim of NGOs seem to be milking money than providing any real social service.

Children rescued from circuses also face the same problem. These children don’t want to go back to their country because even there their future is bleak. I often see Nepali kids selling momos and feel so bad about it. I even offered one travel money if he was ready to return home and go back to school (which is an hour walk from his home). I gave him some old clothes too.

But the kid continues to wait for his relative to come and promises to go back with him. When? I’ve stopped almost talking about it.

Where is Gyane?

There were two Nepali journalists (one for APCA and another for Kantipur) who were both interested in finding out the whereabouts of our dearest king Gyanendra Shah who will (or has had — I don't care) take part in some Bhopal wedding.

I don’t like to waste energy and time following news about such people, but these two Delhi Bureau correspondents have a lot of time and zeal, I see. When there are serious issues to be dealt with, it upset me to see them writing about models and Gyanes.

But that's me. Sometimes I really feel I should teach people journalism. And by 'journalism', I imply something that you won't get until you see it. Keep your fingers crossed.

Career

Waiting for April.

Anurag is the latest craze

Anurag’s PFC blog is the only thing I am reading these days.

I edited Amole Gupte’s wiki page so that I could post a link to Anurag’s review of Taare Zameen Pe where he praises the man behind the movie:

“But my real hero of the film remains Amole Gupte for what he came up with on paper.”

Then, I posted a link on my previous post promoting piracy:

Why not promote piracy?
Steal this film
Anurag Kashyap defends piracy

February 25, 2009

A man with a Head Simian hand

Thank you!

Robotic Dog: My instant art

I am a Pisces (Dragon) with a Head Simian on my right palm.

From: Jennifer Boyer

As the simian line is a combination of the head and heart lines, it is the frequent assumption of chierologists, dermatoglyphics experts, and palmists that the simian line performs the functions associated with both lines. That is, the bearer finds it difficult to separate emotions and what is desired (the heart line) from intellect and what is thought (the head line). They believe the simian line gives the ability to focus on one thing, absolutely, to the exclusion of all else. It is believed that these people generally achieve and accomplish far more than most, developing techniques and inventions that will last for generations. They also supposedly experience far more misfortune than most, usually due to the same intensity that drives them. The ambition for success in business endeavors will be strong, as will be the tendency to shut out all else in pursuit of these ambitions. People with simian lines are seen as being complex, forceful, goal-oriented, and egocentric.

Religious elements of the simian line are mentioned frequently. Arnold Holtzman, PhD, said that “Many of their numbers may come to identify with fundamentalist religion after living very open, liberal, and free-thinking lifestyles. Quite the reverse may be true, and to the same extreme, with those individuals who may originally have been brought up in very strict and rigid religious environments.” The writers at humanhand.com remark that “Psychological abuse was almost certainly present within your developmental years, probably taking the form of religious dogma. A complete shift in religion is now indicated as part of your life’s current direction—either into or out of a fundamentalist group.” It is stated at paralumin.com that “people who tend to be religious fanatics tend to have a simian line.” The roots of this perceived religious or anti-religious fanaticism probably stem from the single-minded intensity of the simian line which so closely mirrors the devoted intensity of fanaticism.

Palmistry: How to Chart the Lines of Your Destiny, by Roz Levine.

Some athletes (such as Muhammed Ali) possess a combination of the Lines of Heart and Head, known as the Simian Line. Found on any hand, this rather unusual line reveals an intense side to the personality. If this line is found on the hand of someone with an interest in sport, and the hand is strong and sinewy, there can be a love of intense, demanding competitive activity, such as running and cycling.

If the hands, apart from having Simian Lines, are otherwise normal—and especially if they are flexible—negative traits will be less defined. There can often be a great depth of highly creative energy simmering under the surface, which, if given the opportunity in terms of education and environment, can manifest itself in a powerful, highly individual way.

If the Simian Line is found on the right hand only, physical desires can get out of control. Again, the subjective nature and basic tendency to see reason can create problems. When such powerful, concentrated energies are applied to a relationship, love can sometimes find expression only through obsession, as there can be some difficulty in articulating the magnitude of innermost feelings. The need to show such intense emotion may be directed mainly through sexual channels; the owner of such a palm would need a partner who also has a strong sex drive, otherwise the needs of a right-handed simian lover could feel excessively demanding.

Palm Reading for Beginners: Find Your Future in the Palm of Your Hand, by Richard Webster.

People with a simian line can be extremely agreeable and easy to get on with, but once their minds are made up, it is impossible to change them. They are inflexible, obstinate, and stubborn. Because the heart line (emotions) and head line (logic) are intertwined, these people find it extremely hard to express their feelings and have highly intense and complex emotional lives.
When found on the major hand, the person will be single-minded, hard-working achiever.

However, he or she will also find it difficult to relax and take time off.

Hand Psychology: A New Insight Into Solving Your Problems, by Andrew Fitzherbert.

It is an interesting fact that the very name “Mongol” is related to the common finding of the Simian Line among Asia[ns]. An early researcher into Mongolism, Dr. Crookshank ... noted that the Mongol or Simian Line was found both in the hands of some Chinese sailors and a Chinese statue of Buddha. This led him to postulate that Mongol children were in some way related to the Asian racial type and hence the name Mongol from Mongolian.

Finally, doctors have found that Simian Lines are associated with certain types of congenital heart defects. In these cases, there are also accompanying skin-ridge patterns, notably arch fingerprints and a high axial tri-radius. Anyone with a Simian Line would be well advised to avoid putting any strain on the heart, i.e., don’t smoke, don’t become overweight, don’t indulge in sudden exercise or physical efforts such as lifting a piano, and do ensure that you get regular, moderate exercise such as walking, all through your life. There is no certainty that the heart is weak, but it is a definite possibility and therefore care should be taken.

Now let us consider what can be done with Simian-Lined people, assuming that the person is not subnormal in intellect. First, there is the matter of that lack of inner peace which plagues those who have this line. Whereas the average person may find satisfaction in a job or the home or a good marriage, the Simian-Lined person may obtain all these things without feeling that his life has been fulfilled. A Simian-Lined person may have fame, money, and success and still ask, “What’s the point of it all?”

There is no complete answer to this problem. You can, however, help a Simian-Lined person by discussing this chapter with him and if you can get him to read it so much the better. A Simian-Lined person can be encouraged to make the best of things rather than reaching for the unobtainable. Many of these people find it hard to form deep relationships with others.

Divorce or failure to marry at all is not uncommon with them. True, some Simian-Lined people do marry successfully, and in their own emphatic way may be devoted to their spouse. But such a person is also obstinate, and may stay in an unsuccessful marriage long after someone else would have given up.

Remember that Simian-Lined people are always tense inside. If you can help them to relax, good. If you can help them to understand themselves, to realize that all Simian-Lined people have these special qualities marking them out as different, you will have gone a long way towards answering the questions which are burning in the heart of every Simian-Lined person whether they voice those questions or not.

Religion is one of the ways people try to find peace of mind, which is why it appeals to some Simian-Lined folks.

The second key to handling someone with a Simian Line is in the word “creativity.” The driving energy which is dammed up inside these people sometimes finds its outlet through a creative field. Henry Miller is a good example of a man with the line who found this outlet through his writing. Nikita Kruschev found it in the cut and thrust of politics. He had a pronounced Simian Line in his right hand. Simian-Lined people have gone into sculpture, carving, metalwork, pottery, landscape gardening, tapestry-making, gunsmithing, and many similar fields. The sense of making something fulfills a definite psychological need for these people. When such a person is busy creating something, he is generally at his most calm and happy. Annoyance and frustrations which have built up during the day can disintegrate in an hour of creative effort. A job which involves creative effort will make a Simian-Lined person happier than almost any other activity. It follows that anyone with this line who does not have a creative hobby should be encouraged to find one. Since these people are difficult to manipulate, the encouragement may need to be quite powerful. It is worth making the effort, however.

Someone who does have such a hobby should be encouraged to exploit it whenever possible. Remember that creativity can be therapeutic. Simian-Lined people are often misfits, but equally as often there will be fields in which they can excel. With one person it may be physical strength, with another it could be a creative skill. Exploiting these special abilities will always bring out the best qualities in the person concerned.

The Spellbinding Power of Palmistry: Complete Palmistry Course Book, by Johnny Fincham.

Simian-lined folks are like a repressed, silently raging storm; thought and feeling are synonymous. They put all their feelings and ideas into their goals in a relentless, single-minded manner. This, of course, can lead to great achievements and indeed it’s disproportionately found on highly successful people, particularly in fields where absolute dedication is necessary: professional atheletes, intellectuals, meticulous researchers, self-made business magnates.

As the Water and Air lines are running together, they tend to be emotionally and psychologically closed people, socially awkward, solitary, highly repressed with one-track minds. They’re unable to be frivolous or jump from one subject to another. They find it difficult to relax and are often unconcerned about their appearance.

Simian-line folk tend to get stuck in patterns—never letting go of their novel idea, business plan, grudge against an employer, family commitments, or ex-partner. Once in a relationship they rarely let go of it. There is always extremism of thought, feeling, or deed present.

A simian line can give an otherwise unremarkable hand great potential, through sheer restlessness.

Religious fanatics and criminals also have disproportionately high numbers of simian lines, and their intense focus can blind them to the feelings of others. It occurs to a hugely disproportionate degree in Down’s Syndrome (55%), but the line here is Water line dominance over the Air line’s thought process. Where you see a simian line, always check for the presence of a good Fire line ... and a good thumb. Such intensity needs to be well managed. Advise creative relaxation to all with a simian line.

Practical Palmistry, by Jon Dathen.

The simian line reveals that all the passion of the heart line is channelled into whatever purpose the intellect chooses. It shows great determination and a sense of purpose, and gives an individual a marked determination to get their own way. It grants tremendous powers of concentration and the ability to focus on realizing goals.

Secrets of Palm Reading, by Peter West, Gillian Emerson-Roberts, and Simon Fielding.

Even normally articulate and quite intelligent people can become power-mad, when the mood takes them. They become so caught up with the need to achieve their aims that nothing, and no one, gets in their way; they are unable to direct their talents as they should. There is always a sense of purpose; they seem different; you feel their ability to control, to always be right and not to make mistakes. They must always have the facts, never probabilities. Social niceties will be dispensed with and they become efficient machines; personal popularity is the last thing on their minds. When the simian line lies deep into the palm the emotional side of the nature is badly controlled, but when it is set higher in the hand the intellectual side is more dominant. When this line is fairly thick at its commencement, the personality is quite cold and calculating. If it is more strongly etched toward the outer edge of the hand, the emotions are instinctive. One straight, thick line right across the hands shows a selfish and materialistic nature. A thinner, more lightly etched line implies a highly sensitive inner nature coupled with natural intuition. Reactions are fast but always with that selfish side of their natures in evidence. These folk are often very restless and they cannot stay still for long.

Those with a simian line love or hate with equal intensity. It does not pay to oppose them unless you are sure of your facts.

Those with a simian line are strongly attached to nature, and you will often find them working with animals. In addition, there is a strong appetite for a home... and they are loyal and expect loyalty in return. These people are survivors in the original sense, which means they are pragmatic—and just a little suspicious of others. ... They are salt of the earth, and many have wonderful senses of humor ... they value their privacy and are fiercely protective (sometimes too protective) parents.

Lover’s Guide to Palmistry: Finding Love in the Palm of Your Hand, by Jon Saint-Germain.

To understand the dynamics of this line, imagine that the head and the heart run on two different circuits. When we’re in a situation requiring an emotional response, the heart circuit kicks in. When a more cerebral response is required, the head takes over. This is the way it works for most people, although, if the head line and the heart line are close together, the two lines tend to influence each other more strongly. For the person with the Simian line, there aren’t two separate circuits. Both the head and heart run along the same circuit, so it’s very difficult for these individuals to possess objectivity. When these people intellectually accept a person, ideology, or way of life, their emotions get involved. While they’re experiencing emotions, their head keeps butting in, asking, “Why do I feel this way? And why do I feel the way I do about the way I feel?” This is because the Simian line is almost always straight, bringing some analytical aspect of the mental heart line into the emotional sphere.

Therefore, people with a Simian line are strongly passionate about their ideals, investing the energies of both heart and head in everything they do. They often become activists, campaigners, or sometimes champions of lost causes. When entering a job, activity, or relationship, both their heart and mind have to be satisfied. Otherwise, they suffer stress and unhappiness as their heart and head constantly argue.

Read His Hands, Know His Heart: Use the Secrets of Hand Reading for a Better Relationship with Your Man, by Marion Gale.

People with Simian Lines are filled with restless energy. There are no half measures with them. Everything they do is done with purpose and drive. This energy can be released through hard work or dynamic sports like tennis or hockey. A person with this line does everything with gusto, concentrating on the task at hand and plugging away until its completion.

One of the ways to release this energy is through creative endeavors. The owner of a Simian Line feels relaxed when he is focused on creativity. Those who enjoy working with their hands get involved in building houses or furniture. Mentally inclined people with this line write books, music, or poetry. Any person with even a trace of artistic talent plus a Simian Line will feel rewarded by painting, drawing, or designing. So keep in mind that the Simian Line is an indication of a creative drive. In any group of artists, the chance of finding a Simian Line is higher than in any random group of people.

If you’re dating a Simian Line guy, keep in mind that he will have strong opinions. Imagine if every little thing that popped into your head registered immediately in your heart. This is a reality for a Simian Line person due to their Head and Heart lines being one. If he starts to speak about a crooked politician his heart rate will rapidly increase and he may start to shout. For the Simian Line person, it’s virtually impossible to stop the emotions from reacting to what is going through his mind.

The Simian Line man can be a fine husband and father, if somewhat inflexible. He’ll always have the inner feeling of restlessness that sets him apart from other people. Remember that creative hobbies are vitally important to him. If he truly loves you, he will rely on you for emotional and moral supports because he needs a rock.

Don’t try to manipulate him—because you’ll learn that he has strong beliefs and sticks to his guns. Understand and tolerate his emotional intensity. Simian Line guys will voice their opinion on any subject, but it’s not easy for them to talk about their feelings. You’ll have to look to his gestures and deeds to ensure that he truly loves you.

Palmistry Revolution, by Yasuto Nishitani

The holder of the Simian Line is also referred as a “Hyaku-nigiri”—one that can grip a hundred in his hand. With good luck, he is the ruler of a kingdom; with bad luck, he rules the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). In reality, some well known “Hyaku-nigirs”were the Tokugawa Shogun and three past Prime Ministers of Japan. You could say that they have ruled a kingdom. Others are the master conductor Seiji Ozawa and a long list of prominent personalities in television, academia, the arts, religion, and in business.

Found here:

An interesting property exists between the Line of Head and the Line of Heart—the closer the two are together, the more difficult the bearer shall find it to separate matters of emotion with matters of intellect. As a general rule, the more deeply cut line will prevail as the dominant force behind the bearer’s actions; however, this tension eventually culminates in the merging of two lines into what is called the simian line, so noted because this configuration is more typically noted on monkeys more than man.

It carries with it two meanings:
a) The simian line is very commonly found on those people inflicted with Down Syndrome. In fact, some doctors check the hand of a newborn for this sign as an indicator to this malady.

b) The more interesting case, however, is when it belongs to a mentally healthy person; in this case, the bearer has a most peculiar intensity to them, manifesting itself in spells of concentration that cannot be broken by all but the most violent of interruptions, and a vibrant passion for their work. To these people, facts and emotion have merged into one powerful mode of thought, where rational thoughts carry additional facets of pleasure and power, and tender emotions may be carried out with a great deliberation and consideration. It is not that he feels any less than any other man, it is that instead of devoting only one mode to a given situation, thoughts are intensified by the fact that both the faculties of reasoning and emotion are backing them. Such people will carry out their ambitions heedless of the resistance met. They are rarely understood. The question may remain as to whether the emotions or rationality possess greater dominance over the individual. This may be determined by judging the position of the simian line upon the hand. Should it exist where the Line of Heart is expected, emotions are more of a guiding force; likewise will the mind have a stronger reign should the Line appear lower on the hand.

Found on handanalysis.com:

The challenge for people with either type of Simian Line is to maintain stability in a world that looks very restricted, narrow, and polarized to them. They have strong opinions about how things should be. Seldom are they satisfied to do anything or be anywhere very long. There seems to be an inner tension that never allows a feeling of peace. Most things are done with great vigor. Their lives are usually filled with extremes and constant change. When they make a change, they do it immediately and the change is usually huge.

It is interesting that a larger than statistically expected number of people with a Simian Line have made a positive contribution to history. Perhaps this is because they tend not to have a middle ground for compromise. Their world is more black and white and opinionated than most other people. Although they are generally polarized in their thinking, they can easily switch to the opposite position and act as if that was their position all the time. They generally have an exceptional skill or ability.

Some famous people with Simian hand are:
Mozart, John Steinbeck, Henry Miller, Nikita Khrushchev, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, and . . . you can guess!

February 24, 2009

Success of Delhi 6 is its message

Role of a director

The only thing which upset me after watching Delhi 6 was the fact that most of the film’s reviews I had read/heard were in poor taste. Post-Rang De Basanti, people certainly have huge expectations from Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. I don’t know what others were looking for, but I expected a social message and he didn’t disappoint me at this. If Mehra couldn’t win over the mass he was targeting (I wonder if he really cared for the critics) with his conscious effort to capture and rejuvenate the spirit of Delhi, it’s not his failure but ours. People who don’t have heart in the right places cannot enjoy the daring sublime plot or appreciate his good intentions.

Mehra juxtaposes tales from the Hindu scriptures to appeal that mass which blindly follows the likes of Shiv Sena or BJP. Delhi 6 shows how the arrogance and absurd mythical history can create great rift between two communities. I salute Mehra for showing how the division takes places between Hindus and Muslims and how ridiculous basis of such divisions could be. I strongly believe the role of a filmmaker is also that of an educator. In a country where the politicians and people are both forcing the society into a new age of darkness, I strongly feel cinema can be a very effective medium to empower and enable the majority to fight this backward march.

I liked films of/around eighties that shaped a generation, glorified honesty and truth, shun crime and inspired the whole new generation when the Indian democracy was still in its infancy. But six decades down the line, we’ve forgotten the founding principles of the country. That’s why we needed Lagey Raho Munnabhai, and that’s why Welcome to Sajjanpur came, and for the same reasons, we have Delhi 6 — these filmmakers are not only entertaining the mass but also trying to introduce revolutionary ideas and reinforce the values of peace and brotherhood.

As for the where’s-the-plot-thing, I beg to differ. Let’s take Delhi 6 is a class in a college or a school, where the director is trying to teach his pupils about the value of unity and love and understanding and all that outdated ‘crap’ (if that is what you think it is). One can imagine how difficult it would be to keep them engaged and entertained with the same boring message of peaceful co-existence.

I forgive Mehra for using metaphors and trying to be politically correct because those who have the power to call this a threat to Hindutva or communal peace and sabotage it at the Censor board might do the same or go on burning effigies and cinema theaters. If he were to pinpoint directly, talk about serious issues seriously, this movie wouldn’t have been less controversial and the film would have certainly denied the audience for whom the movie is meant for. I can see he’s been very cautious with the screenplay. But it’s without doubt that with his innovative style and rich cinematography, a terrific cast and good music, Delhi 6 has all the ingredients to make it a successful Bollywood movie.

Mehra creatively gets his message across without wanting to let the people feel they are actually being taught a lesson on religious tolerance and unity. “But people want fun.” Now is that so? We don’t like soft approach, do we? We want eye-for-an-eye, don’t we? Blood boils in the Indian heartland in all seasons; Delhi’s rude and rogue attitude is hardly ignorable. But Delhiwallas aren’t actually bad; they are good in their hearts! (That could be true for any city but I am not sure.) I’m glad that Mehra found the courage to make a movie that ‘teaches’ (many surely wouldn't t like the use of this word here) the value of restraint and soft but sound judgment and that’s what makes Delhi 6 another significant movie to come out this year. After Mumbai terror attack, we were desperately in need of such a lesson. Never mind the fuss, Delhi 6 is a must.

Defending artist as a young man — Dev D.

Who is Dev D.?

Everything Anurag Kashyap has done before Dev D. was a preparation to Dev D. Of course, this is what I'd like to believe whatever the case might be. Human brain is a funny thing. If you tell it you're Anurag Kashyap, and keep on repeating it, you will soon forget who you really are — the one who you want to be or the one who you already are.

— Dev D. is a hypocrite, Anurag said. He's a debauch.

If we could find words sufficient to express human condition, I suspect cinema would have had born. But they are certainly powerful enough to understand and explain to some extent human behavior, its reaction to nudity, sensuality or beauty — anything from pleasant to ugly. If you are that inexperienced young man, and of the worst kind, one who has more faith in platonic than passionate relationships, I tell you nothing will ever seal the fate of your love affair like that rarity called virginity.

— You repeat the same folly. You think woman can be a solution for woman. But you cannot force yourself to another woman, someone tells me. You cannot love this woman, you can only fuck her.

Like I said, I believe we can deceive our brain. But it's difficult. Sadly, the truth is this another woman can never be the solution for 'the one.' And if you discover that you actually love her, and you hurt the one you love so much by going out with other women — nothing can be done. You'll wallow in self-pity. And they'll tag you a hypocrite. The brain might be the worst enemy which lives on the pain it inflicts on you and one that won't let you die. In the later case, it's your unlikely friend. It'll defend you, tell you that you've done nothing wrong, and keep on repeating this until it gets into your head.

This system actually works, neurotic science proves it. Eventually, you start believing you didn't do any wrong. Because if you don't tell yourself the truth, you'll be angry with yourself. Nothing can be as self-destructive as the heady mixture of rage, regret and retrospection. You cannot stop loving your woman because you want to prove yourself that you still love her. It's not your fault; you've done nothing wrong; you're still faithful. You love her because you don't want to bear the guilt and mental torture of your conscience. So you're stuck in the middle — between 1.) you cannot commit yourself to another woman, 2.) you cannot go back to your love.

That's Dev D. for you. If you're Dev D., don't worry chances are your Chanda might well turn out to be a virgin [as I'll explain later], even if you are not. I repeat I'm not a hypocrite. I am not a hypocrite. I love her truly, madly and I DIDN'T screw those pretty ladies. But I'm angry with my beloved. She doesn't speak. This is my last attempt to defend Dev D. Oh, how pathetic he could get — Will you make love to me? That's Godard's Breathless. India's best!

Abhay Deol is the only 'hero' I've ever seen in 'Bollywood.' Dev D. is the best Indian film that actually goes inside the head of its characters and brilliantly captures its internal turmoil. That 'largest DVD collection' has really helped me. I can speak because I've done thing wrong. I make movies, I make truths. That's the price you pay for being an artist. Let's accept it, Dev D. is the unmistakable borderline that will divide Bollywood movies into two groups — all that preceded Dev D. and all that are to come and deal with mind games. It's a milestone in the industry.

P.S.: If the taste of human saliva hasn't made you a man-eater yet and you strongly feel one needn't be really virgin to consider yourself one — you're not alone. The Virgin Mary being the best illustrated and widely accepted case. It's just that when emotions come into play, all the tried and tested formulas stop working and you have to find a way well beyond tradition and whatever that means. And Dev D. does this beautifully. Thank you Amit Trivedi.

Further reading:
The real story behind Dev D.

February 22, 2009

Frame - I

February 18, 2009

Dev D.

Anurag Kashyap has written about Dev D. already. And the film also tells everything. So I decided to write him instead:

salik on February 18th, 2009 9:16 pm

I have just 'discovered' you. And I call it a 'happy discovery.'

Doga is almost real for me. This quality of Doga made it my favorite comic hero. I still remember how I used to manage some money just to read Hindi comics in that narrow alley behind the Taleju temple in the historic Durbar Square in Kathmandu. (My parents had barred me from buying any new comics.)

I liked Dev D. — I know him very well — just the kind of story that I'm trying to Indianize. But after seeing Dev D., I have become certain that I need not fear doing cross-border characters. I don't know what's stopping me from completing my script (maybe I do but don't want to admit).

Anurag, you are a good example. I was frustrated trying to explain my friend that time for my kind of cinema is coming — even if it's not there, then I'll do what I want to do; the kind of cinema that I want to do; and, for me— and after reading you he says he remembered me. I feel the same. I ignored cinema till I watched Pather Panchali, then I watched Ladri di biciclette and then Persona — my 'journey' had started. And I searched for Guru Dutt everywhere in Nepal, but couldn't find then…

Handle Doga with care, I love him… You have Kaal Paheliya in mind, no?

I've given myself ten years — I am going to be 21 this month. And I'm closer to Mumbai (in New Delhi!).

"I have stopped all my writing because it is very stressful and too many things are happening at the same time. I want to bring in new writers who have fresh ideas."

— Anurag Kashyap

Thank you for Dev D., I don't fear Mumbai — and more importantly — me anymore. — Dev D. Genesis 2

"So for me this selective democracy, selective secularism and selective rights is what bothers me about this industry. And if you look at it from any which way, you have these few families in this industry who run the show. They are actually like a mafia and they are the bullies and they play like bullies and that’s the sad part. There is so much talent but it gets lost in these fringes. We have more hypocrisy and bifurcation and that’s the main worry for people like me."

— Interview

February 17, 2009

I thought I'd caught sun beams

February 13, 2009

Train to Agra — II