Yes. I too do find the resemblance quite freaky. One wonders if this is going to be Bollywood’s latest ‘get-famous-quick’ mantra; ape a superstar and too with a capital R. But then again, nothing ever really beats an original.

Click here to continue reading ‘Judwa, Featuring Baweja & Roshan’

For the first time in your life, here is a chance to be yourself. Finally you don’t have a peer group that tells you what you ought to be doing now. You are not married at 25. This automatically means, you don’t have to have a kid at 27, buy a house at 28 and have a second kid at 30. […]

So, your parents and peer group are aghast and keep asking you when your ‘real’ life is going to start. Maybe it is time to turn around and say that this is your real life and it does sound more interesting at times. […] [Link]

Beautiful. Almost dream-like, isn’t it? Only problem, it is freaking dream-like.

Now don’t get me wrong; my rant has nothing to do with the author’s thoughts (as a matter of fact I think these are very encouraging words) but instead it’s targeted at instigated by our society’s takyanusi khayalats (primitive notions). Especially when it comes to women – infant, teenager, adult, married, housewife, entrepreneur…doesn’t matter. For all of her phases, there are set of guidelines to be followed. Anything outside, does not only guarantee grief from so-called protectors of the Indian culture & morality but at times, also our very own.

I could cite plenty of examples from the tip of my tongue but I believe nothing beats one’s own personal experience. Not that my situation is as grave (yes, I am grateful) but I am hoping it will help others in similar situation understand that sometimes being selfish is the only way out.

After Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan took on blogging, the other inhabitants of B-Town have woken up to the power of writing on the web.

Salman Khan will blog on a Blogspot website run at Sony Entertainment, the producers of the reality television show Dus Ka Dum. Sallu has already posted two blogs on Dus Ka Dum that too from Australia, where he is shooting at the moment. [Link: Mid-Day]

Yes, you heard it correct folks apna Sallu has entered the nasty world of Hindi Film Industry blogging. Agreed, the reason behind is nothing more than a strategic PR move i.e. publicity for upcoming reality show, Dus Ka Dum on Sony Television. But then similar motive/s is what got the likes of Aamir Khan and Big B enter the blogging scene as well. And look today, they are prime source of Bollywood Bitching for our Page 3 writers.

Similarly in Salman Khan’s case the possibilities are galore. I mean after all he is Bollywood’s foremost bad boy for no reason. Think about it – The endless John Abraham spanking (finally someone to share my responsibility), mixing it with potshots at Vivek Oberoi, his recent tussle with (the ever sexy) Akshay Kumar. Also if you wish hard enough then maybe, just a maybe a little thrash on his Ex and now Mrs. Ash. And adding to all of the above, Salman’s in your face attitude and wacky sense of humour, believe me you, blog posts are bound to get spicier.

Click here to continue reading ‘Bollywood Blogging, Welcome Salman Bhai.’

This list basically comprises of occurrences which according to me have (somewhat) lost their ‘shocking’ element. Events/News which couple of years ago caused (or had the potential to cause) rippling effects, today are merely accepted as “Hota hai. Chalta hai. Duniya hai” mentality.

Some for the better and some, only worse.

• Parents to marriageable Son/Daughter: “Tum Kudh Koi Doondh Lete Kyun Nahi”.
• Man marries once. Man marries twice (while still married to first). Both wives know of each others existence. And the three live (together) happily ever after.
• Mum, I am Gay.
• Malika Sherawat going nude in her forthcoming film.
• 6-Pack Abs.
• Extra martial marital affair, the mantra behind every successful marriage.
• Rakhi Sawant cries foul over reality show results.
• Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan, an item.
• Live-in Associations. A prerequisite.
• Murderers/Scamsters operating via popular social networking sites.

Feel free to add more.

When they were alive, their relatives tried to keep them apart. After they killed themselves on Saturday, the relatives agreed to cremate them together on Sunday.

Christy Jayanthi Malar (38) and Rukmani (40), who set themselves ablaze after being abused by their families who objected to their "unnatural relationship," got a joint cremation at the Moolakothalam corporation cremation grounds near Basin Bridge. [Times of India]

Shocking. Appalling. Disgusting. Well not really. I mean what else can be expected from a society which still prefers to follow the norms of bygone years.

However what truly amazes me is the convenient logic people come up with to pacify or rather burn out their guilt. As in this case; by assigning a common resting place for Christy and Rukmani, the guilty relatives believe they have finally set all wrongs, right.

But have they? Then again does it really matter now; Christy and Rukmani are dead.

And if the act of taking one’s own life in such brutal manner is not disturbing enough, we have assholes appointed as protectors who without a thought for the departed go ahead citing reasons justifying the acts of the culprits.

A senior police officer said action would not be taken against the relatives. "We can’t say the relatives pushed the women into suicide. They might have verbally abused them, but that was to bring them back to normal life," a senior police officer said.

One seriously wonders what normalcy is all about.

Dowry deaths are normal. Female infanticide is normal. Wiping out homosexuals is normal. Killings in the name of religion are normal. Pushing someone to the very edge where death is the only option out is normal.

*This post is response to Asuph’s thoughts. Will end here (only for now though) since I have a plane to catch in next 3 hours).

Genetic argument: a two edged sword. Or, just because it’s so, therefore natural, is it good enough to be normative? (The second line’s not your quote). Well, science has, through the years, been used to do just the opposite: rally all arguments of being natural to create the normative. Take for instance, arguments to establish white supremacy over black people (physiognamy and head shape was actually rallied to underline black inferiority!!). Which is why I said, science and medicine are ideological blindspots, precisely because they masquerade as natural and therefore seem unquestionable.

Further, I agree homosexuality is not just genetic. There are a whole host of environmental and cognitive reasons scientists are exploring to understand not just homosexuality, but sexual orientations in general.

It’s a very valid point nonetheless that you have risen, about genetics being a two-edged sword. But I’ll assume that paedophilia; adultery and violence are genetic phenomena and not socio-cultural ones, when the scientists start saying so (and even then, I’d crinkle my nose and look extremely suspicious).

Click here to continue reading ‘Homosexuality : Ab Normal? (Part 2)’