A film and some follies

This is not fun at all. Before I went for the movie, I read about some random NGO trying to sue the producers of 3 Idiots because the movie "glorified" ragging. Well, I think the movie tried to encourage students to rebel against their ragging seniors, now after almost a little less than half a dozen suicides in one week (!!!!), parents are suing the producers for "encouraging" kids to commit suicides. WTF? It just saddens me that people don't know how to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. Some people even think that suicides are "cool". I know it is depressing and appalling when people don't get it.

A fellow tweeter commented that, in that case (glorification of ragging), they should sue the filmmakers also for the infamous balatkar speech delivered by a character named Chatur Ramalingam, which is a good point because rape is not funny. I will admit that I did laugh till my stomach ached during the scene. but still RAPE IS CERTAINLY NOT FUNNY.

Speaking 3 Idiots, I guess we all are much aware about the Chetan Bhagat controversy. I haven't read the book, so I cannot comment but the amusing part is the mixed opinions I am hearing from people:

1. A close friend tells me that the film is 40% based on the book, so CB certainly deserves his name on the opening credits.

2. My sister's English teacher thinks it's only 10% based on the book and CB is just fame-hungry.

3. My college buddy thinks it's 70% percent based on the book.

4. The Fourth Idiot has listed 25 reasons why CB is a liar.

I think that whatever it may be, CB certainly deserves a credit before the movie begins. Because even if the film is "soooo" different from the book, the basic idea belongs to the book. If Chetan Bhagat didn't write the novel, what do we know, this break-through film wouldn't have even existed today! And what do they seriously mean by crediting him after the movie is over, I am sure hardly anyone would even stop to notice it. A lot many people don't even know who Chetan Bhagat. Why not give some exposure to a writer who created the spark that turned into a fire now? I don't know whether Bhagat is an excellent or average or a bad writer. I know that a lot of people do not like him and think that they can write better than him, etc., but the fact remains that Bhagat is certainly an accomplished author and no one can deny the fact that the idea of 3 Idiots is initiated by him. So, it's unfair and pointless to credit him at the end. What are makers going to get out of this, anyway?

Albino Killings in Tanzania

Around lake Victoria in Tanzania, the evil is driven by the belief that albino body parts possess magical powers to bring riches if used in potions produced by local witchdoctors. Since 2007, 47 people with albinism have been brutally murdered. - Story & Image Courtesy: Franck Vogel / Light Mediation

Know more.

Our Saviour, Lindsay

Ms Lohan always happens to have a fine sense of humour. It is pretty evident from the statement she made today,

"Over 40 kids saved so far... Within one day's work. This is what life is about!"

Oh really? A woman who couldn't save herself from so many things is saving kids in India.

Anyway, if she is truly finding a purpose in life, good for her. Am I right?

UPDATE: This had to happen.

Being JKG is the "in" thing, guys!

Via livlab

A few years back, I went to our neighbours' house to deliver something and the aunty there asked," What is Daddy doing?"

It was a Sunday, and I replied spontaneously, "He's making French Fries!"

I cam home and then told everyone about the incident and to my shock, my mom was mad at me.

"Why did you have to tell them that your dad is cooking?" she demanded angrily.

And after some customary word-thrashing in spite of my dad and grandma trying to reason with her, I was bewildered and irritated at my mother's reaction and dismissed the whole issue as "female ego". Well, ladies, we know that exists.

My mother goes out to work and have seldom actually "cooked". Maybe she thought that people will think my dad is a joru ka gulam (traditional meaning here) and that my mother doesn't at all know to cook. He appears to be so but he is so not.

My mom is a semi-feminist. She is fierce, strong and I really admire her, but these are some moments when she herself is unconsciously victimized by stereotypes. My grandma who is more conservative and my dad who is not really a "feminist" are themselves not bothered by what I did, but my mom was. This is not surprising because women tend to degrade themselves, regarding so many things and this happens everyday with all of us. This is called conditioning and very few can help it. There were so many feminist men even in the era before us and even now and to realise this, rockstar blogger of the Indian blogosphere, IHM held a very memorable Define a JKG contest along with JKG badges contest.

I didn't enter the former one since I did not have any example to give, but I submited 5 badges for the second one and I am so excited that two of them made it to the top five! Thank you to the judges and everyone behind this contest to give a new meaning to JKG.

This was the raddest contest EVAR, go check out all the posts and entries yourself!