Books read in 2009

I got 'new funda' about reading. Here it is: Watching, Hearing & Speaking is a natural talent inherited by each man to observe nature. But reading and writing are 'artificial' which humans inculcate to record their observed data and learn from them as case studies. Hence, we remember more from cinema, music and speeches delivered lively to us. Reading books is a tough process because it requires patience to understand answer to our curiosity. But, if not practised both cinema, art and literature will perish with the time of an individual.

I really want adaptation of the essence in the translation of books in different regions to understand their culture. Artificial and imposed culture will never survive, how homogeneous it may appear. Books fill this artificial way of life to inherited one, because they are reflection of society's dreams, emerging trends, ambitions, past and faults. I am enlisting the names of books read by me in 2009 with their background and my feedback. [Ratings are highly personal.]

Yugnayak Vivekanand (3 parts)- Swami Gambhiranand- Hindi- 7/10
Detailed biographic account of Swami Vivekanand and his thoughts.

I dare !- Parmesh Dangwal- English- 8/10
Biography of Kiran bedi and what makes her say, I dare !

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish- Rashmi Bansal- English- 8/10
Collection of the inspiring tales of 25 entrepreneurs of IIMA with simplicity and wisdom lines.

India After Gandhi- Ramachandra Guha- English- 8.5/10
Very balanced contemporary history of India from 1947 to 1985.

A better India, A better world- N.R. Narayana Murthy- English- 8/10
Speeches delivered by author about his vision, corporates, economics, ethics and India coming through his lifetime experiences.

Everybody loves a good drought- P. Sainath- English- 10+/10
Jouranlism showing detailed daily picture of how people live under usury, drought, health and educational predicaments as a result of government mis-management in the name of development of poorest districts of India.

India Unbound- Gurcharan Das- English- 9.5/10
It is the history of India's economy transformation from Independence to Global information age.

An army free world

Is brutality committed in the name of patriotism more justified than violence committed in the name of parallel ideologies, be it Maoism, Jehad, communalism, or Hindu nationalism? The Army is doing the same atrocities everywhere, be it Afghanistan, Kashmir or Palestine. But what is happening currently in Iraq ia much more than that. Read Letter to Young Muslimis by Tariq Ali & Kissinger's fantasy is Obama's reality by Pankaj Mishra.

Tariq Ali's lecture in an American University on Afghan War --- “Obama’s Afghan-Pak Syndrome"
For me, Patriotism means loving people not land.

नीड़ का निर्माण फिर से

नाशाद रहे नाकाम रहे तक़दीर ही अपनी फूट गई जिस शाख पे हमने हाथ धरा वो शाख वही से टूट गई|

Human nature embedded that every time we need to force the pace of change we may have to invent a crisis. Crisis emerged if not invented. So in the time of change, its turning out to be Black December for me...

1- Not selected in the written examination of IRMA by 2 marks.
2- Working hours per week increased by the company.
3- A big escalation of the team (partner in the crime) [Full frontal effect on Appraisal in March]

Failure in IRMA was shocker for me. Once again, a dream was shattered. The grieving will continue for a few days at least. I will vow never to day dream again. But of course I will, and once the pain recedes, I will be grateful for being here at this moment of life. Never say die..

"If you fail to plan, means you are planning to fail.."

Indian Directors- A Report Card

It is very challenging working under constraint, duality of aspiration and reality of cost. The most important thing is finding your own voice, own independent thinking and creative passion like any other field. The work of auteurs can be identified by distinguish content, an organic quality, capturing the natural light and shade of the city, its raw colours and infinite textures. But, no-one knows the rules of commercial films. Gene Siskel agrees with me: “If admission is being charged, the readers deserve a review.” Hence, I am also producing a list. And still knowing that it is easy to criticize and difficult to produce.

Original inspiration for preparation of this report card was hidden in an article read long back ago. That was a sort of incomplete, hence refining work was done by me. Edited version is much different than original work.

Auteur
Directors- Films

John Abrahm- Agraharathil Kazhuthai, Cheriachante Krurakrithyangal.

Adoor Gopalakrishnan- Anatharam, Swaryamvaram.

Govindan Aravindan- Chidambaram, Kanchana Seetha, Pokkuveyil

Satyajit Ray- The Apu Triology, Satranj ke Khiladi

Girish Kasaravalli- Ghatashraddha, Thaayi Saheba, Dweepa

Ritwik Ghatak- Megha Daka Tara, Ajantrik, Subarnarekha

Buddadeb Dasgupta- Uttara, Kaalpurrsh

Mirnal Sen- Khandhar, Bhuvan Shome, Ek Din Achanak

Guru Dutt- Pyaasa, Kagez Ke Phool.

Jahnu Barua- Xagoroloi Bohu Door, Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai

Kumar Shahani- Kasbha, Maya Darpan, Char Adhyay

Bimal Roy- Do Bigha Zameen, Madhumita, Bandini, Devdas

Mani Kaul- Uski Roti, Drupad, Idiot.

Shyam Benegal- Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Ankur

M.S. Sathyu- Garm Hava , Sookha

The Representatives of Quality
Directors- Films

K. Vishwanath- Swayam Krushi , Sagara Sangamam , Swarnakamalam

Rituporno Ghosh- Unishe April, Rain Coat, Choker Bali

Ajoy Kar- Parineeta, Saptapadi

Mira Nair- Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding

Deepa Mehta- Water, Earth, Fire

Shekhar Kapur Bandit Queen, Masoom

Aparna Sen- 36 Chowringee Lane, Mr& Mrs Iyer, 15 Park Avenue

Sai Paranjape- Sparsh, Katha

Mani Ratnam- Nayakan, Bombay, Dil Se

Prakash Jha- Gangajal, Damul

Vishal Bhardwaj- Omkara, Maqbool

Anurag Kashyp- Black Friday, Paanch

Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao- Gundamma Katha, Panduranga Mahatyam

Sudhir Mishra- Hazaaron Khwaishein Aise, Yeh Woh manzil to nahin

Raj Kapoor- Awaara, Mis 420, Mera Naam Joker, Aag

Hrisikeh Mukherjee- Golmaal, Chhoti Si Baat and Naram Garam

Bharathi Rajaa- Pathinaru Vayathinile, Nizhalgal

Girish Karnad- VamshaVruksha, Tabbaliyu neenade magane

Ram Gopal Verma- Satya, Company, Sarkar, Bhoot

Chetan Anand- Neccha Nagar, Haqeeqat

Basu Chaterjee- Dillagi, Chitchor, Choti Si Baat, Khatta Meetha

Gulzar- Koshish, Mausam, Aandhi, Angoor

Jabbar Patel Simhasan, Samna

V Shantaram- Do Aankhein Barah Haath, Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani

Ketan Mehta- Mirch Masala, Bhavni Bhavai, Maya Memsaab

Mehbooh Khan- Aan, Mother India, Andaz

Raj Khosla- CID, Who Kyun Thi?

M. T. Vasudevan Nair- Nirmalayam, Kadavu, Bandhanam

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao- Pushpak, Apoorva Sahodarargal

Balu Mahendra- Moondram Pirai, Veedu, Sadma

Govind Nihalani- Droh Kaal, Ardh Satya, Aakrosh

T. Hariharan- Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

K. Balachander- Rudra Veena, Unnal Mudiyum Thambi

Tapan Sinha- Kabuliwala, Ek Doctor Ki Maut

Kamal Hassan- Virumandi, Hey Ram

Gautom Ghosh- Paar, Dakhal,Yatra

Bharathan- Thevar Magan, Thazhvaram

Jandhyala- Aha Naa Pellanta, Jayammu Nischayammu Raa!

Sathyan Anthikad- Nadodikkattu, Pattana Pravesham

Saeed Akhtar Mirza- Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro,Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!

Shankar Nag- Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige, Accident

Shaji N. Karun- Vaanaprastham, Piravi

G.V. Iyer- Bhagwat Geeta, Adi Shankaracharya

Utpalendu Chakrabarty- Chokh

B.V. Karanth- Godhuli, Chomana Dudi

Kalpana Lazmi- Rudaali, Daman

Mainstream Filmmskers
Director- Films

B.R. Chopra- Naya Daur, Kanoon, Nikaah

Satyen Bose- Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Dosti

Gautham Menon- Kaakha..Kaakha: The Police, Minnale

Dibakar Banerjee- Khosla Ka Ghosla! , Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

K.S. Ravikumar- Panchatanthiram, Thenali

Kundan Shah- Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

Bala (I-) Naan Kadavul, Pithamagan

Rajkumar- Hirani Munnabhai series

Rakeysh Om Mehra- Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6

Madur Bandarkar- Traffic Signal, Chandini Bar, Page 3

Mahesh Bhatt- Arth, Janam, Naam

Ramesh Sippy- Sholay, Shakit, Buniyaad

Prakash Mehra- Zanjeer, Lawarris

Yash Chopra- Waqt, Lamhe, Deewar

Priyadarshan- Kilukkam, Kaalapaani, Kanchivaram

Farhan Akhtar- Dil Chaatha Hai, Don, Lakshya

S.P. Muthuraman- Enakkul Oruvan, Aarilirindhu Aruvathu Varai

Kodanda Rami Reddy A.- Abhilasha , Khaidi

Vijay Anand- Gudie, Jhonny Mera Naam, Teesri Manzil

Siddique Lal- In Harihar Nagar, Ramji Rao Speaking

Fazil- Manichithrathazhu, Poovizhi Vasalile

Rajkumar Santoshi- Andaz Apna Apna, Ghayal

Manoj Kumar- Shor, Roti Kapda Aur Makan, Upkaar

Sibi Malayil- Bharatham, Kireedam

Ashoutoush Gowarikar- Laagan, Swades, Jodha Akbar

Sanjay Leela Bhansali- Devdas, Black, Khamoshi: The musical

Sriram Raghavan- Johnny Gaddaar, Ek Hasina Thi

Shimit Amin- Ab tak Chappan, Chak De India

Sandip Ray- Goopy Bagha Phire Elo , Bombaiyer Bombete

Santhana Bharathi- Mahanadi, Guna

Santosh Sivan- Theeviravaathi: The Terrorist, Halo

I.V. Sasi- Devasuram, Kanamarayathu

Pan Nalin- Samsara, Kaal

A. Bhimsingh- Pasamalar, Naya Din Nai Raat

Kamal Amrohi- Pakeezah, Razia Sultan

Nitin Bose- Gunga Jumna

Anant Mane- Pori Jara Japun

Jayaraaj- Kaliyattam, Shantam

Sreenivasan- Vadakkunokkiyantram, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala

Rajat Kapoor- Mithya, Raghu Romeo

Vidhu Vinod Chopra- Khamosh, Parinda

Ramu Kariat- Chemmeen, Neelakkuyil

J P Dutta- Border, Ghulami

N. Chandra- Ankush, Pratighaat

Shakti Samanta- Aradhana, Kati Patang

K. Asif- Mughale Azaam

Emerging Names
Directors- Films

Vasanth- Aasai

Nagesh Kukunoor- Dor, Iqbal

Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni- Valu

Sandeep Sawant- Shwaas

Chandra Prakash Dwivedi- Pinjar

Farah Khan- Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om

Blessy- Kaazhcha, Thanmathra

Anubhav Sinha- Tum Bin, Dus

Pradep Sarkar- Parineeta

Navdeep Singh- Manorma Six feet under

K. Selvaraghavan- Kadhal Konden

Nishikant Kamat- Mumabi Meri Jaan, Evano Oruvan

Ameer Sultan- Raam, Paruthi Veeran

Radha Mohan- Mozhi

Onir- My Brother... Nikhil, Sorry Bhai!

Rajnesh Domalpalli- Vanaja

Anurag Basu- Life in Metro, Murder

Sekhar Kammula- Godavari, Happy Days

Kabir Khan- Kabul Express

Chandrasekhar Yeleti- Aithe, Anukokunda Oka Roju

Nikhil Advani- Kal Ho na ho

Tom George- Lessons

Vishnuvardhan- Pattiyal, Arindhum Ariyamalum

Shyamaprasad- Akale, Ore Kadal

Cheran- Thavamai Thavamiruntu, Autograph

Rajiv Anchal- Guru

Shoojit Sircar- Yaahan

Roshan Andrews- Udayananu Tharam, Notebook

Tanuja Chandra- Sur: The Melody of Life

Renjith- Nandanam, Kayyoppu

Aditya Chopra- DDLJ

Manish Jha- Matrabhhomi

Bhaskar- Bommarillu,Parugu

Priyanandanan- Pulijanmam

Omitted Names: Subhash Ghai, S. Shankar, Rakesh Roshan, Sanjay Gupta, Manmohan Desai, Kunal Kholi, Karan Johar, Anil Sharma, Sooraj Barjatiya etc are not there in this list. Opinions are completely mine and I suggest to all people who read the blog or post to send a feedback and suggestion so that we can really improve and create a certain discourse over the works and standing of “Directors” in Indian Cinema.

Articles on Cyberworld:

1- A fourth of India turning into desert: ISRO study : No less than a fourth of India’s geographical area, or 81 million hectares, is undergoing a process of desertification

2- Communism Lite - Kerala : Story of Communist party in Kerala covered by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Brysac, for the Pulitzer Center.

3- Doctors without Borders--- An Indian story of not-so-young Indian doctors who left behind their flourishing career in medicine as well as the lure of huge bucks to go and work in rural India.

4- Johann Hari reports The dark side of Dubai and Dubai: A morally bankrupt dictatorship built by slave labour ; Dubai was meant to be a Middle-Eastern Shangri-La, a glittering monument to Arab enterprise and western capitalism. But as hard times arrive in the city state that rose from the desert sands, an uglier story is emerging.

5- Born for others : True accounts of persons dedicated for good of Society covered by By DeCruz Pulikottil & Kanhaiah Bhelari.

This story beats everything I’ve ever read/heard about friendship……

Horror gripped the heart of a World War-I soldier, as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. The soldier asked his Captain if he could go out to bring his fallen associate back.

“You can go,” said the Captain, “but don’t think it will be worth it.Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away.”

The Captain ’s words didn’t matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously, he managed to reach his friend, hoisted him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company’s trench.

The officer checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend. "I told you it wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded.”

“It was worth it, Sir,” said the soldier.

“What do you mean by worth it?” responded the Captain.”Your friend is dead.”

“Yes Sir,” the soldier answered, “but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say…….

” Man…I knew you would come ! ”