Salvation Seekers: Kumbh Part IV

Sharing some moments of salvation seekers in Kumbh Mela...

 

 

 

 

 

Sadhus (saints) of Kumbh- Part III

Sharing some more amazing photos of Sadhus (saints) of Kumbh shot by my friends...

 

 

 

Spectacular Kumbh- Part II

Some more photographs of kumbh 2013 by my friends...

 

 

 

 

 

Kumbh 2013- Part I

 Here are some photographs of most spectacular event of our century. Will share more in coming days...

Kumbh Mela Sponsored Coming Soon

What is the similarity between worlds's biggest religious fair 'Kumbh Mela' and a great football or a Cricket match? One must be wondering about this stupid question. Though there is no similarity but there is one great difference and that is sheer scale of commercialization. Football or Cricket lovers can watch their favorite match on a specific television channel by paying some amount to their service provider but they can't watch it on every sports channel as they are not free to watch and other channels are not permitted to cover it. On the other hand, everyone, every media print or television is free to go and cover it. There were no restrictions as such till now on this most world's biggest religious fair which attracts millions of people.

Kumbh Mela attracted largest number of people every 12 years and estimates say that in 2001 more than 40 million people gathered on a single day and this volume will even be greater in year 2013. Now, Uttar Pradesh government wants to generate revenue by auctioning advertising and telecast rights. That means only one channel will have the broadcasting rights of the fair and except few, other channels news or non news will be barred to cover it. This affair would seem to be just like any other live event where choice of viewing often limited to only one channel. With this sort of revenue generation drive Kumbh site will also be flooded with all kind of commercial hoardings and banners which will turn a holy site into a commercial spectacle. 

This step has raised a lot of questions and the most important is who owns the Kumbh Fair in Allahabad? Is it the government of Uttar Pradesh who takes care of the administration during the fair, or the Akharas who often claim so or the people of this country who have been religiously participating since thousand years without any interference? This step seems completely illogical and it is also bound to stir controversy. What people expect from the state government is to provide them better facilities in sanitation, approach roads, policing etc but not to make money by selling the fair's telecast rights to one broadcaster.

Photograph Courtesy: http://www.mahakumbh.com/

Weak V/S Meritorious Students

What could be more important for a parent to provide rightful atmosphere for study, sports and overall growth to his/her kid? When a child starts going to school a new chapter of life unfolds and a new beginning for his/her parents also takes place with happiness and so many sparkling dreams for great future. First time, child steps out from the security of their confined secure spaces and steps into a new world, they make friends for lifetime, play various games and start learning the books of knowledge. For the first time parents as well school notice the inclination of a student's mind. Over the years children develop their choice of area to grow be it sports, studies or any other extra curricular activities. Here comes the role of schools and parents to let them do whatever they want to pursue.

But an unhealthy trend has been noticed over the years that many grade hungry private schools often force weak students to leave after class IX so that a school can remain maintain a good percentage of meritorious students in board exams. It is a completely unethical practice and clearly denotes where our current education system is heading. Examples show us that only focusing on high marks in exams can in fact, hinder a child's overall progress. This unethical practice is in fact rampant in many private schools. For the first time Human Resources Development Ministry is coming with a legal proposal to term these practices as MALPRACTICE. HRD ministry is working on a bill in this regard (expulsion and transfer of weak students).

I hope this positive step by government will start bringing some smile on those student's faces that are not good in studies but always wanted to pursue some other areas of interest where they can excel.

Ek Tha Tiger: Review

'Ek Tha Tiger' is a good time pass movie and nothing else. It is a pure entertainment movie with magic touch of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. 'Ek Tha Tiger' heavily rely on the shoulders of its leading stars. I will not say this is the best movie of Salman or this film completely exploits Salman's magic in the movie. Excellent promotion, timing of release, pairing of Salman and Katrina are few things which helped it to gain a super hit status and hence like three of Salman's earlier films (Ready, Wanted & Dabangg) this is his fourth film to cross 100 crore business barrier. Many trade pundits are in view that 'Ek Tha Tiger' will be first film to break every record.

But the question is how this movie is making so much business. I watched it today and was really surprised this is a completely average film full of all spicy stuff which often makes no sense. No, this is not a bad movie but it is not good either. 'Ek Tha Tiger' is basically good in bits and pieces. When one compares this film to Salman's earlier super hit movies like Dabangg or wanted, one can easily understand that it does not even exploit or play with Salman's histrionics.   

Unconventional Cinema Is A Return Too

I still remember Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt starer 'As Good As It Gets'. I watched this beautiful film in 1997 and was very impressed. But at the same time I was very keen to know why we do not make movies like this, why we are always stick to formula movies?

It is a good change Indian cinema is witnessing. New and experimental filmmakers are writing stories on subjects which were till now almost untouched or unexplored. Earlier no producer dared to make films like 'Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi'. Even lead actress Farah Khan who is playing heroine in the movie thought this film will never be a reality. But producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali and director Bela Bhansali Sehgal were confident. Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi is comedy film about two 40 plus people falling in love. Though there were few attempts earlier but not too substantial and those films hardly made money. Multiplexes in the metros played a major role in providing a business opportunity in production of these kind of films. Producers are now confident that their money would be recovered and they will not make any loss if planned cautiously.