Tom Cruise has been replaced by Angelina Jolie. Not in child bride Katie Holmes' life, but in a new film called Edwin A Salt. The film is a spy thriller – car chases, dim-lit alleys, corrupt cops, grim secret service agents hopping on and off choppers, blazing guns, blood and gore, bombs and babes… you get the general drift? The movie tells the tale of a CIA agent on the run. According to reliable sources (if sources were delusional, would you quote them? Even if they were, would you confess they were unreliable representatives of the human race? Ah, cliche! Ah, mystery!) the script, once written with Cruise in mind, is being given a few minor tweaks for Jolie's sake. The gist of the story so far: a CIA agent, suspected to be a Russian informer, runs like a woman possessed till the truth is exposed. Innocence is finally proven as the sound track explodes in an orchestral flourish.
If you are wondering whether there is a famine in Hollywood when it comes to original story ideas, you are absolutely right. The spy on the run framed by a few rotten apples. You've seen it once. You've seen it twice, thrice, may be about a zillion times. You've watched it with special effects enhanced splendour in Mission Impossible. But you can see it again. No harm done, say Hollywood studios executives. And so Edwin A Salt will be coming soon, to a theatre near you. The only reprieve filmgoers can look forward to is the casting change. Instead of Tom with too much Scientology on his mind, we will get to watch Jolie kicking some serious ass. Leading men in Hollywood are quaking in their calf-leather boots wondering if the world, as they know it, is coming to an end. But filmgoers all over the world (especially men) are singing hallelujah. Jolie beats Crusie anyday when it comes to action, they say for obvious reasons!
Edwin A Salt should be a whole lot of fun to watch now that sour-faced Tom is out of the plot. Jolie, judging by her track record has more fun kicking ass on screen than any other Hollywood star – woman, man or animated robot. Cruise, on the other hand, barely moves a facial muscle and exudes as much excitement as a mummified Egyptian pharoah when he is jumping off a forty-three storey skyscraper or decimating an army of invading aliens. Nothing, except his obsession with Scientology seems to bring him back to life these days.
Let's drop the Jolie versus Cruise debate till good old Edwin pops up on the screen with a clap of special effects generated thunder. Till then, we shall hold our peace and think about the ripples this casting move will generate on Indian shores. As any Indian who has not been living in a cave far far away knows, what Hollywood does, Bollywood does too. Sometimes for better, sometimes for much worse. I've lost count of the number of Hindi remakes of Richard Gere- Diane Lane starrer Unfaithful. One of them was called Murder and belonged to Mallika Sherawat. The rest had different names and pretty much the same storyline. The list of Hindi films 'inspired' by Hollywood flicks is long, dreary and forgettable. But the point is, every move Hollywood makes, every million dollar breath it takes, Mumbai is watching.
So, will Bollywood directors and producers be 'inspired' to make similar casting changes? Can we expect a sequel to current blockbuster Singh is King with Lara Dutta in place of macho man Akshay Kumar? Will it be called Kaur is Queen or not? Or let's imagine Bachna Ae Haseeno in a new avtar. Instead of casanova Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone breezes through men in rapid fire sequence. While breaking hearts with the skill of an Olympic shooter, she also mouths inane dialogue about why men and women can never be friends because men are meant to be shikaar, not yaar, etc. In the film's second half, a sweet but sensible boy from a village tucked away among mustard fields in a corner of Punjab where family values still rule, steals her heart. He goes on to teach her the meaning of true love and commitment. Soon, the reformed heroine and virtuous hero end up in happily-ever-after land which looks like a cross between Upper Manhattan and mustard field territory. Ours not to reason why!
In the same spirit, Sholay, Indian cinema's enduring icon of male bonding may get a makeover. Possible scenario: Jai and Veeru to be replaced by Jaya and Veenu. The two female leads drive around town in their Porsche (because they can!) in hot pursuit of a biker gang which terrorizes upright citizens. They burst into songs which celebrate the bond that holds them together. They flip a coin to decide who will take the first shot at the annoying bikers as they zip past like the devil on wheels. And yes, there is also a gang leader called G Kaur who gets to mutter menacingly whenever the camera zooms in on her face. Casting directors, take note. Sushmita Sen can make a spine chilling G. Give the woman something meaty to do, for once. Stop wasting her in itsy bitsy item numbers.
Dhoom (1, 2…), Don (old, new), Sarkar, Lakshya, Border, Soldier, Ghayal, Hero, Qurbani, Trishul, Deewar, Jewel Thief…a few of the many films that may get a new life. Warring brothers replaced by warring sisters. Women proving their worth by sweating it out in the army, telling their version of the tale. Jewel heists, cop and robber games, love triangles. Women playing the lead in the drama and mayhem, instead of simpering side kicks. As stories are rewritten, will female actors take home pay checks that match the hefty sums their male counter parts earn? Are the winds of change headed for Bollywood or will they bypass its borders? Wait and watch…
Monday, September 1, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
a place called home
On a windswept evening in MacLeodganj, Dharamsala, a group of young Tibetans were bustling about the city centre. They helped labourers erect a makeshift shelter close to the gates of the Dalai Lama's temple. As a gentle drizzle began, monks dressed in deep maroon and ordinary Tibetans trickled into the shelter. They sat crosslegged on the floor and began a prayer for fellow Tibetans who were protesting in China on their country's behalf. Many had been injured in the crackdown that followed the wave of public demonstrations. The prayer would be held through the coming weeks.
The energetic youngsters – all of them in their early or mid-twenties, strung brightly coloured prayer flags across the length of the city centre. A girl dressed in a traditional Tibetan costume tied the Tibetan flag above the shelter. As the rain built up to a crescendo over the city that hosts the Tibetan government in exile, the yellow flag quietly fluttered in the breeze.
In every nook and corner of Dharamsala's Tibetan settlement, posters and pictures remind the world of Tibet's predicament. Gaffiti screams from the walls of the town. The story of the country's forty-six year struggle for identity and the predicament of thousands of Tibetan exiles unravel in words and pictures. China hosts the Olympic Games which are set to begin on August 8, 2008. Banners hung from prominent spots in the town record a countdown to the spectacle. As the Games draws closer, every banner sends out the same message in big, bold letters: ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM. FREE TIBET.
The majority of young Tibetans who are busy with the campaign have never been to Tibet. They were born in India and educated here. They have no memories of Tibet except the ones their parents share with them occassionally. "My parents ran away from Tibet just after they got married. They were very young when they came here. They worked hard to provide me and my brother with an education. I teach at a local school. We have a good life here and I am satisfied," says Sonam (26), who was born in Dharamsala. Chemi (24) works at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives at MacLeodganj. She has never seen the spectacular heights of Tibet, but dreams of returning to her country some day.
The 100,000 Tibetan exiles scattered across India carry an imaginary map of Tibet on their mental screens. For many of them, Tibet is a landscape that stirs intense longing; an imaginary home that beckons from across borders. Some fear they may not be able to grow roots in Tibet since they have built a life for themselves in India. Whether they yearn to return to Tibet or not, the country occupies centre stage in their thoughts.
Chemi (24), who works at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, MacLeodganj, has never seen Tibet's spectacular heights. She was born in India after her parents' move to o Dharamsala thirty years ago. "I have lived in India all my life. I am grateful for the government's hospitality and the generous gesture of giving asylum to Tibetans. But, in this country, we will always be seen as refugees. I want to go back to Tibet and live there. I haven't been lucky enough to see my country. But it is my home. And always will be," says her quiet, determined voice.
Among many youngsters, there is a growing frustration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's demand for autonomy for Tibet. Though they consider him Tibet's supreme leader in word and spirit, they want more. Complete independence is their mantra. Whereas autonomy would leave China holding the reins of vital areas like foreign affairs, a completely independent Tibet will be governed in all aspects by the Kashag (Tibetan parliament).
"Our struggle is based on the ideology of non-violence. Peace and tolerance are an indelible part of the Tibetan psyche. We cannot forget that and launch a war for independence," says fiery Tibetan poet and activist, Tenzin Tsundue. But he sounds a warning note. "Non-violence is the right way. But is it enough to guarantee a victory? The world is watching our struggle. In our world, especially since after the attack on September 11, violence has become a given. How will the Tibetan struggle reflect this reality? You cannot escape from this reality," he adds.
An earlier generation may have been satisfied with the dim prospect of Tibet's independence and fuzzy hopes of a return to their homelands. The new generation, armed with the ferocity of youth, wants more and wants it now. As China hurtles towards unbridled economic growth and consolidates its economic hegemony on the world stage, which world power will drag China to the negotiating table over the thorny issue of Tibet's future? Geo-politics and trade, economics and military might. The construction of two new railroads in Tibet's remote reaches which many say will lead to an influx of Han Chinese into Tibet. This can destroy the fabric of traditional Tibetan society and its indigenous culture. Can Tibet's struggle for independence triumph over these larger than life realities?
"There is always hope," says a defiantly optimistic Tsundue. "We are fighting for the dignity of our people and there is no hard and fast route to independence. The struggle must be consistent. It must go on despite the pressures that are exerted on it from various quarters. Be consistent and carry on, that's my message to the people involved in this long, arduous struggle."
As the world watches the pomp and splendour of the Olympics unfolding before its eyes this month, some may spare a thought for Tibet. For others, it may not even be a blimp on their mental radar. The Olympics has turned the spotlight on Tibet's future for a few fleeting weeks. But even after the lights have dimmed, Tibetans all over the world will continue to dream. Their hopes, flickering, like a candle in the mighty wind.
The energetic youngsters – all of them in their early or mid-twenties, strung brightly coloured prayer flags across the length of the city centre. A girl dressed in a traditional Tibetan costume tied the Tibetan flag above the shelter. As the rain built up to a crescendo over the city that hosts the Tibetan government in exile, the yellow flag quietly fluttered in the breeze.
In every nook and corner of Dharamsala's Tibetan settlement, posters and pictures remind the world of Tibet's predicament. Gaffiti screams from the walls of the town. The story of the country's forty-six year struggle for identity and the predicament of thousands of Tibetan exiles unravel in words and pictures. China hosts the Olympic Games which are set to begin on August 8, 2008. Banners hung from prominent spots in the town record a countdown to the spectacle. As the Games draws closer, every banner sends out the same message in big, bold letters: ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM. FREE TIBET.
The majority of young Tibetans who are busy with the campaign have never been to Tibet. They were born in India and educated here. They have no memories of Tibet except the ones their parents share with them occassionally. "My parents ran away from Tibet just after they got married. They were very young when they came here. They worked hard to provide me and my brother with an education. I teach at a local school. We have a good life here and I am satisfied," says Sonam (26), who was born in Dharamsala. Chemi (24) works at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives at MacLeodganj. She has never seen the spectacular heights of Tibet, but dreams of returning to her country some day.
The 100,000 Tibetan exiles scattered across India carry an imaginary map of Tibet on their mental screens. For many of them, Tibet is a landscape that stirs intense longing; an imaginary home that beckons from across borders. Some fear they may not be able to grow roots in Tibet since they have built a life for themselves in India. Whether they yearn to return to Tibet or not, the country occupies centre stage in their thoughts.
Chemi (24), who works at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, MacLeodganj, has never seen Tibet's spectacular heights. She was born in India after her parents' move to o Dharamsala thirty years ago. "I have lived in India all my life. I am grateful for the government's hospitality and the generous gesture of giving asylum to Tibetans. But, in this country, we will always be seen as refugees. I want to go back to Tibet and live there. I haven't been lucky enough to see my country. But it is my home. And always will be," says her quiet, determined voice.
Among many youngsters, there is a growing frustration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's demand for autonomy for Tibet. Though they consider him Tibet's supreme leader in word and spirit, they want more. Complete independence is their mantra. Whereas autonomy would leave China holding the reins of vital areas like foreign affairs, a completely independent Tibet will be governed in all aspects by the Kashag (Tibetan parliament).
"Our struggle is based on the ideology of non-violence. Peace and tolerance are an indelible part of the Tibetan psyche. We cannot forget that and launch a war for independence," says fiery Tibetan poet and activist, Tenzin Tsundue. But he sounds a warning note. "Non-violence is the right way. But is it enough to guarantee a victory? The world is watching our struggle. In our world, especially since after the attack on September 11, violence has become a given. How will the Tibetan struggle reflect this reality? You cannot escape from this reality," he adds.
An earlier generation may have been satisfied with the dim prospect of Tibet's independence and fuzzy hopes of a return to their homelands. The new generation, armed with the ferocity of youth, wants more and wants it now. As China hurtles towards unbridled economic growth and consolidates its economic hegemony on the world stage, which world power will drag China to the negotiating table over the thorny issue of Tibet's future? Geo-politics and trade, economics and military might. The construction of two new railroads in Tibet's remote reaches which many say will lead to an influx of Han Chinese into Tibet. This can destroy the fabric of traditional Tibetan society and its indigenous culture. Can Tibet's struggle for independence triumph over these larger than life realities?
"There is always hope," says a defiantly optimistic Tsundue. "We are fighting for the dignity of our people and there is no hard and fast route to independence. The struggle must be consistent. It must go on despite the pressures that are exerted on it from various quarters. Be consistent and carry on, that's my message to the people involved in this long, arduous struggle."
As the world watches the pomp and splendour of the Olympics unfolding before its eyes this month, some may spare a thought for Tibet. For others, it may not even be a blimp on their mental radar. The Olympics has turned the spotlight on Tibet's future for a few fleeting weeks. But even after the lights have dimmed, Tibetans all over the world will continue to dream. Their hopes, flickering, like a candle in the mighty wind.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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