OH PLEASE, NOT ON THE ROADS!!!!

BY CHAITANYESH RUDRACHARYA

We Indians have created a niche for ourselves and even impressed others with our multi-faceted talents. No doubt, but how is it when it comes to our civic sense? Oh, pathetic! And that must be a candid mea culpa! 

It was Koramangala. To be precise, in front of the landmark Forum! I was on my way to meet a close friend.  The thoroughfare was chock-a-block with traffic! Vehicles-from behemoth buses to cantankerous cars to those indisciplined autos- were spitting smoke, good enough for any rider to suffocate to death! 

Weaving thru this horrible traffic, honking my horn sporadically, I went on riding my Dazzler. I was happy that I could find some way to progress thru the road, for the thoughts of meeting my friend had occupied my mind. It was after a long time that I was meeting her and I had a myriad of issues to discuss with her. As I was accelerating and braking concomitantly, the smoke only increased, creating a hazy atmosphere on the road! 

I soldiered on, and so did other riders and drivers! In front of me was a BMTC bus. This bus was waiting for another bus in front of it to give way to it. And to its left side, there was some space, enough for me to occupy.

I switched off the engine, for I knew it would take some more time for the traffic to clear. And here is where the entire drama unfolded! 

A passenger who was sitting by the window-side on the bus, with his earphones completely rooted in his ears, just put his head out of the window! I was watching him and I was puzzled as to why he was doing it!

And as I kept watching him, he hawked (cleared his throat) and spat directly on the road! That round mass of bolus or saliva crashed itself onto the road, splattering itself all across!

PHOTO COURTESY: http://exhibits.hsl.virginia.edu/alav/campaigns/

I was just inches behind the impact of the saliva on the road. And our man, completely lost in conversation or listening to music on his cellphone, withdrew his head and closed the window! 

That very moment, I knocked on the window pane, drawing that fellow’s attention to what he had done! And trust me, he did not have even an iota of remorse for what he had done! Had I been even a centimetre closer, I would have been bathed with his saliva, and also the embarrassment and agony of going through the predicament! 

By this time, the bus moved ahead and that spitter had moved away, untraceably far from his conscience! For he did not feel what he had was wrong nor did he feel what he had was a rarity! But I had to swallow and stomach his uncivilized act and that brute continued his journey!  

Frankly, let’s admit it! We Indians are not known for our civic sense, and you can add road sense and even hygiene to that list! Men and even dogs urinating on the roads, or cows spraying cow-dung on the road with a painter’s precision, uncleared garbage, the smell of drains; all these are a common sight! Many a time, we don’t even care about these things. Close to Sulabh Shauchalayas or even parks, we can see men urinating and dogs defecating. And at a stone’s throw distance, you can see delicious bajjis, bondas and even pani puri being sold! People would have made a beeline to devour them, not even waiting to glance at the unhygienic conditions around!

PHOTO COURTESY: THE HINDU

For us, I reiterate, these quotidian happenings are not worth pondering. But when we Indians emigrate to other countries, we gift the denizens of those countries these very habits that we indoctrinate in ourselves! Some years ago, in Australia, I vividly remember, a number of Indian immigrants were foulmouthed and even attacked with blunt weapons. There was massive outrage in India, for it was natural. 

But what actually led Australians to take that extreme step? This question had gone into the bowels of my heart! 

While I was ruminating on this particular question, I happened to watch a TV debate on the same. One of the former High Commissioners to Australia, a participant on the debate spilled the beans. Without any hesitation, he told the anchor that Indians behaved most ill-mannered in that country. Just like in their homeland, some NRIs would play loud music on the trains, spit on the same and even roads, thus infuriating the aborigines.

India has been the land of spirituality for ages. And cleanliness, proverbially and practically, is next to godliness! Hygiene, physical and mental, is a sine qua non for any progress in a country! 

We have managed to send satellites to Mars and even Moon, but alas! We have not gone to that toilet on the roads! So near yet so far!  

And this is irony personified!

BOARD TO DEATH?

BY ADITHIMANASA

If you are not new to Bengaluru then you definitely know where the freedom park is. And if you know where the freedom park is, then you also know where Maharani College is. And if you happen to be one like me who commutes by bus, then you will surely know the Maharani College bus stop just before Kaveri Bhavan stop. The stop at Maharani College does have shelters, not one but two. But have you ever seen people under those shelters? 

Picture courtesy- www.hindu.com

May be once in a blue moon we get to see people under the shelter, or say when it’s pouring heavily!

Most of the time, you can see a huge crowd covering half the road during peak hours of the day; which  happens to be around 10 AM to 01 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM. School children, college goers, senior citizens, office people and a few who are new to namma city; all throng the stop. One would mistake them for protesters who take to the streets!

What could be the reason for such ambiguity among the commuters? Well, it’s because the BMTC buses never stop at the stop! Only a handful of prompt drivers stop the bus right in front of the shelter and wait for passengers to board. The rest just zoom away, to avoid getting trapped by a red signal. The road is not reserved for BMTC buses alone. There are four-wheelers, two-wheelers and three-wheelers honking throughout the stretch when the confused passengers run behind buses in vain, attempting to board them.

When you are in a hurry and you miss your bus thrice, you get into an auto rickshaw assuming that you’ll reach faster. But those same buses that sped away without stopping at Maharani College get stuck in traffic congestion just a little further, on the way to the corporation stop. So, even the auto rickshaw you are in has to wait for the buses to make way!

The competition between the buses and the trail of agitated passengers running behind it often leads to accidents and chaos. People yell at each other. Bus drivers and conductors hurl abuses at passengers.

But the drama never seems to cease. The ‘mega’ soap continues on a daily basis and many a passenger has become immune to the issue. For it has become his daily routine.

A few friends and I decided to do something about it. We surfed the internet and found a forum where we could lodge complaints about poor bus services. Euphoria! We were thrilled that we finally found a solution. We felt like we were some sort of change-makers!

But after reading all the complaints posted on the forum, we were totally blank. So many people had filed complaints on the very same issue. The complaints dated back to 2009! That meant… the forum just got more complaints as the days passed but no action or measure was ever taken. Would our complaint make any difference at all? Or would it increase the number of posts in the forum alone? We understood that searching for a solution was such a waste of time. We went back with a heavy heart.

It was time for us to leave for work and I had to catch a bus which would never stop at the Maharani College bus stop.

NINNINDALE MOVIE REVIEW

A PASSABLE AFFAIR-NINNINDALE

BY SAMARTH MADHUSUDAN RAO

2.5/5

When a filmmaker has Puneeth Rajkumar as his lead in Ninnindale, you expect some novelty in your movie. The man, who has evolved to become a brilliant performer, is a power star in all senses. Not only can he pull the masses, he has the ability to blend with the class too. Along with him, when a filmmaker has a star cast consisting of Avinash, Achyuth Kumar, Sadhu Kokila and a host of others who are great performers in their own right you expect some great characters.

And also when you have a great technical team (Vindya, Marthand Venkatesh and Mani Sharma) with ample budget, one would assume that this flick would turn out to be a blockbuster in every way. 

All thanks to the director, this movie with such a cast and crew ends up being a mediocre fare. Jayanth Paranji (Theen Maar and Shankar Dada MBBS fame) uses all the available resources just as props and fails big time in blending them to make a complete cinema. He succeeds in making such an average film that you will be left wondering as to how could one screw it up when you have everything you need to make a good movie.

Having learnt that none of his last few movies have worked at the BO, I was very unsure if Jayanth would be able to pull it off, and my worst nightmares came true this morning. Controlling myself not to expect too much, yet hoping for a great movie, I walked in to the cinema.

Two hours and forty odd minutes later, I walked out wondering if I should look for the director and ask him as to how he feels for having screwed up with my mind by and for having messed up a movie that could have been a simple yet a good entertainer. ‘Ninnindale’ as the title and the promos suggested, was meant to be a straightforward breezy romantic movie. And at the core of the flick, the movie meekly attempts to be what it is meant to be. Only to end up being entertaining in parts.

The wafer-thin storyline and a screenplay that is written with the least amount of care, makes Ninnindale a very average watch. I knew that this movie would have a lot of Tollywood flavour to it and was at least hoping that it would be entertaining to say the least. Jayanth throws in so many characters like the ones you see in usual masala Telugu flicks, that he fails to develop any of them making them look one dimensional.

Except for Puneeth, none of the character has been well thought out. Worst of all, Paranje manages to find the worst American actors for the movie. As if there’s an academy for bad acting and they were outsourcing people for cents! And they get to mouth some of the worst written English lines that one would ever hear, that you will either be left giggling or disgusted by the end of the movie.

Brahmanandam is a mere prop and he speaks Telugu while the voice is dubbed in Kannada. His is a totally unwanted character in the movie. And what is it with all the voice sync for Erica and the supporting chick who acted in Happy Days? It truly left me disgusted as if the makers took us Kannadigas for granted and made them mouth dialogues in some other language and later dubbed it into Kannada.

If only prettiness could emote, all the models would have made it big in Cinema. Erica who is a model herself, fails in many ways. For 90% of the movie, Erica’s lips rarely move while the dubbing artist goes on to emote intense scenes with some cheesy dialogues.  

Visually stunning, Ninnindale brings a never before seen USA for the Kannada audience. And there are certain adventure sports that look magnificent on the silver screen. But Jayanth fails to use all of them to such an extent, that they all look totally unwanted in the movie. If you are pinning your hopes on these scenes, you might end up being disappointed for they are merely good looking shots.

Ninnindale works only because of three things. The technical team, which is top notch, makes the flick a visual spectacle. The other reason is Mani Sharma, the music director. Each and every song is worth a mention and has been picturised well. The songs which are already topping the charts will stay with you for days to come. And the final reason that makes Ninnindale watchable is none other than APPU.

A Rockstar in all essence, Appu displays an innate sense of maturity in his performance and makes the movie worth a watch. He excels in the songs and dances so brilliantly, that he is indeed a treat to watch. His dialogue delivery and expressions tell you that he has gotten into the skin of his character. If not for him, Ninnindale would have been a pain in the kundi.

Visually enticing yet mentally numbing in many ways, Ninnindale is entertaining only in parts and remains average and even below average in some of the scenes. Ninnindale could have been so much more, but all thanks to the director who fails in many levels, it ends up being a onetime watch.

Watch Ninnindale only if you want to watch Puneeth give one of his best performances or if you have nothing to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RhCxn_4ZPA

Write to me on samarthmadhusudan2@gmail.com if you agree or disagree with my views. Thanks for reading :)

A NUTTY AFFAIR!

BY MADHUMITA NATARAJAN

Bengaluru has an aura around itself with its lovely weather, warm and friendly people and its progressive approach. Considered to be the most forward and cosmopolitan among Indian cities, it has earned various titles including ‘The silicon valley’ of India. Yet it is still surprising to see that Bengaluru has a rural touch to it.

Kadalekai Parishe

This Parishe stands as a living testimony to an event/myth from the 15^th  century. Basavanagudi in Bengaluru was surrounded by farms that grew groundnuts in large numbers. A bull would run havoc in the groundnut fields, destroying the entire crop on every full-moon day. It was then that the farmers prayed to Basava; the Nandi God and made a solemn binding promise to offer their first crop every year to appease him.

Incidentally, an Idol of Basava was found close by. It is said that the Idol was growing rapidly and therefore the farmers nailed an iron peg (That looks like a Trishula) on its head. The Trishula can be seen even today.

Nandi Idol

The Trishula can be seen above

In 1537, the emperor of Vijayanagara dedicated a temple to the Nandi God, which is now famously known as The Bull Temple. Ever since, the farmers from surrounding villages have been coming here every year… offering their first groundnut harvest to Lord Basava. This ritual is accompanied by an annual fair… known as the Kadalekai Parishe.

Apart from the supreme-quality groundnuts… the fair has loads to offer for the foodies too: puffed rice, bajjis and bondas, sharbat, and lots more!

 

It’s also a paradise for the little ones as there are loads of toys, plenty of mouth-watering food and a myriad of colours to indulge in.

More than just a cultural fair, this fest is a bonding ground for the vendors who come from different parts of the country.

Groundnut vendors say that, ‘We look forward to this fair every year… not that we want to generate maximum revenue out of this, but it’s a once-in-a-year opportunity to meet our friends’.  

Regular visitors to the fair

As young Bengalureans, we tend to turn a blind eye towards such cultural fairs while perpetually complaining about the never-ending issues like potholes, bad roads, poor drainage etc.

While addressing those civic issues is important for a progressive city like ours… it’s also vital that we keep the state’s rich culture and tradition alive.

It wouldn’t be wrong to admit that the city has completely ignored its own roots, in pursuit of its worldly ambitions.

Karnataka’s raw essence, rich culture and diverse tradition can make the world look up and take note… but Bengaluru conveniently chooses to ignore this.

THE BLAME GAME

BY ADITHIMANASA

“The girls are to be blamed! Just look at the way they dress…” 

Picture courtesy- www.policymic.com

I couldn’t help overhearing two ladies talk among themselves. The women were sitting behind me. One was pointing at the front page of a newspaper. It was evident that the two were discussing about a girl being gang-raped. The saree clad women were very sure that the victim’s dress ‘provoked’ the rapists. 

A few men sitting in the bus looked at the women and nodded their heads in agreement. On getting some attention, the women’s conversation grew louder and louder. The women also pointed at a few college going girls in the crowded bus. The girls were oblivious of what they were discussing as they were only hoping to get a seat. Many of them had their ear plugs on listening to the radio.  

The women were worried at the way the young girls were dressed up. They were upset that the girls chose to wear sleeveless tops and low waist jeans. “How can you blame the men? If these girls walk around in skimpy outfits, they are bound to get unwanted attention. The men will get tempted. Why wear such clothes and invite trouble? ” they were heard saying. 

One more woman joined them. She opined that girls partying late into the night and roaming in the streets after dark are also reasons for the increase in the number of rapes in the city. I wanted to know what they had to say about women working late at nights. Is working for a BPO a crime then? What about female bartenders? What about students working part-time to arrange for the exorbitant college fees?

Picture courtesy- www.huffingtonpost.com

No girl is stupid. Necessity makes people take up odd jobs even if they are uncomfortable with it. Sometimes people are compelled to work 20-hours a day! All are not blessed. All are not lucky. I wondered what these women had to say about such hardworking females.

The bus slowed down and a pretty lass got in. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. The topic immediately changed. The women yet again began to talk about her clothes. I turned and looked at the women. While one had a frown the other had a worried look and yet another was shocked out of her wits. I couldn’t help but chuckle. 

Picture courtesy- www.dailymail.co.uk

All of a sudden, we heard a cry. A girl punched a man on his face. The frightened man got off the bus before anyone could catch hold of him. He ran across the street and vanished. People in the bus were curious to know what had happened to the girl. Why did she punch that man? The aged conductor tried consoling her. She had hit the man for misbehaving with her.

The women were no longer talking. They kept looking at the brave girl who was still fuming with anger. The salwar kameez clad gutsy girl got down at the next stop and walked away. An eerie silence in the bus loomed.

PROTEST AGAINST PROTESTS!

BY ADITHIMANASA

Effigies burnt, tyres ablaze, people sitting on the roads, cooking food on the streets, shouting slogans!

Picture courtesy- newindianexpress.com

This is how people protest against any issue. All these antics not only lead to traffic congestion but also cause a lot of inconvenience. Ambulances with the siren on for hours have to wait for the angry mob to let them go. Employees get late for office and students are late for schools. Petrol and diesel is wasted like water!

Various organisations and committees come alive only during protests. Sound pollution is also caused when they decide to bring loud speakers along! After the press and media cover the issue (take bytes of the protesters and capture their stunts) the protesters go back home. End of the day there are the streets are full of litter strewn around. Posters, flags, buntings, banners, tyres, footwear, clothes and burnt effigies of course! But what about the solution? When such angry protests do not yield anything positive, then why protest in the first place?

Picture courtesy- www.thehindu.com

All said and done, protesters 'end their fast/ protest' and return to their nests. They are least bothered about the problem being solved. They only want their voice to be heard. Don't they feel ashamed of themselves when they see the entire drama on TV or see the photographs in the newspapers? Do they really feel proud of their 'wild' behaviour?

Agreed; non-violence cannot be the approach every single time. You need to be aggressive at times so that your woes are noticed by the concerned authority. But why break your head when you 'really' are not bothered about the solution? Why not protest in a novel way? A protest which is harmless yet effective. Why not think out of the box and get your problems noticed? Why do the protesters get noticed and not their problems?

Picture courtesy- www.livemint.com

I have seen people calling up their family and telling them "Look! I'm on TV" Is that why they are protesting? Is that why they are fasting? So that they can come on TV? People who go to watch a football or cricket match at a stadium too behave the same way. But they are NOT on a mission! They have all the rights to enjoy. But what about the protesters’ ideals?

One cannot force anyone to change their mentality but one can indeed try to make a change. One can be an inspiration to others. One can be an example! It is in the hands of those people who protest... to set a good example or be a bad example. Protest... not for publicity but for the injustice done. See to that things are set straight.

Only a handful of them take to the streets when they are left with no option. Rest join them in their protest only to have fun. Will there be ever an end to people ‘staging’ protests? Will any protester come up with a harmless idea? If yes, then Abou ben adhem... May his tribe increase!