To Each his Cinema

No body makes a compromise while making a film. All of them make film according to their predilection and their own value to the system. As a filmmaker, you live in the same world as your audience. Time and place are two great parameters to determine a piece of art. Your work will be reflected on scale of faith and reason of yours in object and environment surrounding it.Cinema reflects dreams, aspiration and hidden desires of society.

'Parallel' was initiated because true artists could not find there voice in mainstream. New wave had started because previous was becoming typical and stagnated. It was like revolt (mutation) not reform(evolution) against the old system of values. Most of the parallel cinema in India told of inequalities in society and the endeavor to change the system.

Changing times bring change in society and content of cinema. Now aspirational side is more credited in cinematic piece of work than emotional reverberation. Strong moral basis of heroism mentioned in mythologies has became a thing of dead past. Reaping commercial benefit is primary concern of films. There is moral blurring in the society. On the name of entertainment, humor is replaced by nonsense.

There are universal human emotions and core value are attached to social relations. Compassion and care of fellow human being is everywhere in world. Place and orientation of watching a cinema may change but not its message and beauty.

One makes a film because he derives joys from the performances. But one should always remember that social engagement is an important part of work as individual identity.

Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye To Kya Hai

Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye To Kya Hai
This is a famous song from Film 'Pyaasa' directed by Guru datt.
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhiyanvi.
Anurag Kashyap is making a film, Gulaal dedicated to this song.

"यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है"

यह महलों,यह तख्तों,यह ताजों कि दुनिया,
यह इन्सान के दुश्मन समाजों कि दुनिया,
यह दौलत के भूखे रिवाजों कि दुनिया,
यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है।

हर एक जिस्म घायल, हर एक रूह प्यासी,
निगाहों में उलझन, दिलों में उदासी,
यह दुनिया है या आलम-ए-बदहवासी,
यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है.

यहाँ एइक खिलौना है इन्सान कि हस्ती,
यह बस्ती है मुर्दा परस्तों कि बस्ती,
यहाँ तो जीवन से है मौत सस्ती,
यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है.

जवानी भटकती है बदकार बन कर,
जवान जिस्म सजते हैं बाज़ार बन कर,
यहाँ प्यार होता है ब्योपार बन कर,
यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है.

यह दुनिया जहाँ आदमी कुछ नही है,
वफ़ा कुछ नही, दोस्ती कुछ नही है,
यहाँ प्यार कि कद्र ही कुछ नही है,
यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है.

जला दो इसे, फूँक डालो यह दुनिया.
मेरे सामने से हटा लो यह दुनिया,
तुम्हारी है तुम ही संभालो यह दुनिया,
यह दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाये तो क्या है?

Young Minds & Teachers

Americans have traditionally maintained a romantic, love-hate relationship with the notion of nonconformity. Deep down, they each cherish an iconoclastic image of themselves. American movies and literature are full of rebel heroes and heroines who reinforce that image, At the same time (as these characters attest), we sure do resent it when other people don't behave the way we think they ought to -- that is, "like everybody else". I was amazed to watch "Dead Poet's Society" movie from this perspective.I want to express my feeling about upcoming Teacher's day on 5th September before writing anything more. It will pass from the calender like any other day. I just want to give some words not in praise but only in search of true teacher.

From the moment we enter in the premises of the school, we are taught to sit in a row, be quiet, do not ask questions, do not interrupt the class and on and on. This proves wonderful training for when the young minds leave formal education behind and enter the work world, where we are encouraged to sit quietly, not ask questions and do not interrupt. To have the opportunity to learn from someone who believes that education is more than rot memory and regurgitating facts is indeed spectacular, potentially life-altering and unfortunately rare. Those who cannot learn, teaches to the next generation.

A teacher inspires the value of individual thought, life, and beauty, and his students in return show their understanding, love and respect in the desk scene in the end. How many of us mentally revolted at the dissection of poetry when we were in school?

Young minds all over the world are just waiting to be filled; take care what you fill the with. Back when you are young, you never really stop to think what in the world you are doing with your life. You simply live for the day, hope your grades will be enough to pass, and that's it. Long term thinking involves maybe flirting with a girl. Nothing more. What this film showed me was that we have the responsibility and the joy of being alive in this planet. That we are dust, and we will go back to it, so we have precious little time to make a difference. That we have a moral obligation to "seize the day, and make our lives extraordinary" (my favorite quote in all movie history).

That the world, basically is ours. That the only limitations are within ourselves, and that we owe it to us to fight, to rebel against conformity, to change what we hate and keep what we love. That living in this world is a beautiful responsibility, and that only cowards dare not to change it for the better.The fact that the cast was basically my age, and was passing through the same dilemmas and situations .

I view it as a tribute to the profession at its best...teaching not merely the subject but also the person, and having a lifelong impact on students' lives.A teacher should not only teach but also learn from his students.As the time passes by experience will count with their learning ability.

# The above image is of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on whose birthday, Teachers day is celebrated in India.

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! My Captain!
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up - for you the flag is flung - for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths - for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Hear Captain! dear father!
The arm beneath your head!
It is some dream your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shore, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

-WALT WHITMAN-1819-1892

O me! O life!

O me! O life! of the questions of these recurring.
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill'd with the foolish.
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew'd.
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring -- What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer That you are here--that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

-WALT WHITMAN-1819-1892