Movie Review: Goal! The Dream Begins

Great Theme, but awful screenplay
Director: Danny Cannon
Cast: Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Alessandro Nivola and others

I checked out this movie from the public library thinking it would be a great action-packed soccer movie. Was I disappointed? Boy this movie was such a let down. The soccer/ football theme could have been handled so well but the director has chosen to make it a damp squib. No wonder this 2005 movie never made it to the headlines.

The story is about Santiago Munez, a young man passionate about playing soccer/ football. He has illegally immigrated to US from Mexico and is playing along with street boys in Los Angeles. He is spotted by a Glen (Stephen Dillane), a former big-league football player himself. Glen accosts Munez and asks him if he would be interested in playing pro-soccer. Quite naturally Munez is excited and invites him to another match on Saturday. Glen tries his best to get a talent scout to come to the match but fails. Then he gets in touch with the owner of the Newcastle team in England and convinces him to give Munez a trail.

Munez saves all his meager earnings in a bid to buy passage to London. Meanwhile his father is totally against him playing soccer, he wants his son to work hard and make a living. When his savings are just about becoming enough to enable him to travel to England, his father confiscates the money and buys a truck. Munez is shattered, meanwhile his grandmother somehow manages money and buys his ticket and tells him to go. There is some drama about how his mother had walked out on the family on arriving in US from Mexico. Some family drama etc.\

Santiago arrives in England and tries to play. He is not successful in the initial attempts. Glen fights with the team managers and coach and gets him a one month trail. Then there are other players/ coaches who continue to stand by him to ensure a place in the team.



What strikes me as a viewer is that there is not much of football shown in the movie. There is more popular support for Munez rather than talent. Instead of showing his talent with the ball the director shows how people influence to ensure he keeps his position in the team.

I remember Paulo Coelho's quote in The Alchemist: "When you want something with complete passion, the whole universe conspires to help you achieve the goal". This is not the exact quote but something like that. Comparing it to this movie, Munez badly wants to the a pro-soccer player, the whole universe, a passing acquaintance, his grandma, his friends in the team all conspire to get him into the team.

I think the director could have done a much better job with the theme rather than wasting away the chance to make a great movie.

Movie Review: Venkata In Sankata

Laughter all the way
Cast: Ramesh Arvind, Mukhyamantri Chandru, Umashree and others;
Director: Ramesh Arvind

All through my college days I would hear about the loss of quality in the Kannada cinema. I was never a big time movie watcher and hence it didn't do much to change my opinion. Now after coming to the US I actually started watching movies of all types, primarily out of boredom. Being a poor student I can't afford to do many of the cool things such as bowling, going to the movies, eating out, etc. So what is the best form of entertainment. Yes watching movies on youtube. As I watched English, and Hindi movies I decided to look for recent Kannada movies and watch them.

Yesterday I watched this notoriously hilarious Kannada movie Venkata in Sankata. Out of the 2 hr 21 minutes, if I said I laughed for 2 hrs it would not be false. The movie is completely funny and every scene has a bit of humor. Ramesh is a great actor and he has proved that he is a great director too.

The movie traces the professional life and adventures of police sub inspector Venkata whose fate always seems to be against him. His colleague somehow always seems to take credit for his actions and a frustrated Venkata is yearning to do something about it.

There is a terrorist attack in the city and Venkata is assigned the case. The way he goes about doing it and win forms the gist of the story. In between there is the heroine and few songs which add the necessary "oomph" factor to the movie. Even without these added gimmicks the movie is a good entertainer.

If you have lost hope about Kannada Cinema, watch this and I am sure you will change your opinion.

Movie Review: Singh is Kinng

A film sans logic but a great entertainer
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Javed Jaffrey, Ranvir Shorey, Sonu Sood, Om Puri, Neha Dhupia;
Director: Anees Bazmee

The wait for this highly entertaining comedy masala flick is finally over. And does the film live up to the hype and expectations it created? You bet, it does; Singh Is Kinng has all the ingredients which make it a great entertainer: generous dose of laughter; drama; emotions and of course two hot heroines. All these will surely keep you glued to the silver screen.

The medium paced film starts off the usual way. Our hero, Happy Singh (Akshay Kumar) is a simpleton who wants to help people but somehow ends up creating problems than helping. His attempts to help which turn into disasters are portrayed in a sublime manner which will leave you laughing out of your seat. The people of the village get frustrated with his antics and ask him to leave. Left with no alternative Happy and his best friend Rangeela (Om Puri) set out on an aimless sojourn.

Now the scene shifts and the spotlight is on Lakhan Singh aka Lucky (Sonu Sood), the King of the Australian underworld. Like all underworld dons Lucky also has a sidekick, Neha Dhupia and few henchmen: Javed Jaffrey, Yashpal Sharma, Kamal Chopra and Sudhanshu Pandey. Quite expectedly Happy’s journey leads him to Egypt and then to Australia where he becomes the king of underworld. During the journey he meets his lady love Sonia (Katrina Kaif) and finds warmth and affection in an elderly lady (Kirron Kher).

The action sequences of the movie are excellent and in typical Akshay style and once again he has proved that he can excel in comedy too. The timing of his funny dialogs and actions in the movie is just fine. Akshay Kumar is really the king of situational comedy and witty dialogue delivery. And of course Om Puri has also delivered a stellar performance which seamlessly blends with that of Akshay Kumar’s.

Sonu Sood too done a good job and Neha Dhupia looks sizzling and it seems like that is all there is to her. Javed Jaffrey adds some more laughter to the movie. And of course Kiron Kher in the role of an elderly lady has done a wonderful job.



As a director Aneez Bazmee has extracted great performances by everybody. Singh is Kinng will go down as another successful comedy flick in his portfolio. Ben Nott and Sanjay Gupta’s cinematography is excellent. Lilting music in the movie became a hit much before the the film was released. Pritam has done a great job in delivering numbers like Bootni Ke, Jee Karda and Teri Ore and the title track ‘Singh is King’ is catchy too.

Taking a bird’s eye view of the movie, I would say this is a must watch for all the fans of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Akshay Kumar is definitely getting better at comedy, I had watched his movie Heyy Babyy and it was a great entertainer. And with Singh is Kinng Akshay Kumar has successfully created a niche for himself in the genre of comedy film heroes too. And coupled with his penchant for delivering stunning action shots, Akshay Kumar is definitely set to go places.

On the downside the movie has a pretty lame climax, I wish the director had added a punch to make the climax memorable. And then once the intermission is over the movie becomes painfully slow and boring when compared to the first part. Either ways it is a movie worth watching.

Movie Review: Kidnap

First Day First Show Disaster

This is the only movie that I have seen "First Day First Show" and that too in the US of A. Well, basically I got free tickets to watch this movie at Everest Movies on October 1, 2008. I had heard about Imran Khan, nephew of Amir Khan and his supposedly great looks, acting talent, et al... so I was pretty curious when I went in and sat down in the stadium-style seats at the Hollywood Theater in Irving.

Being a Hindi Movie I kinda expected the standard theme, five songs, 2-3 item numbers, probably a few fight sequences and some tearful emotional dramas and finally everything ending well. And Kidnap pretty much offers the same fare. But right in the beginning I would like to make few things very clear: Imran Khan has been over rated, his looks are average and acting so so. The story line of the movie is different but has not been handled well enough. Minisha Lamba just knows how to gyrate her hips with utmost vulgarity and display ample skin and flesh and that is where her talent ends. Sanjay Dutt is quite good but his age is catching up, he must look for some roles which suit his age from now on.

Well now let me talk about the story and screenplay of the movie. Sonia (Minisha Lamba) is the spoilt and stubborn daughter of Sanjay Dutt and ____ (again I don't know who the actress is). But the couple is divorced because Sanjay Dutt's wife doesn't like him taking her for granted. Sonia gets kidnapped by an unknown person who doesn't want money but her father. The kidnapper, Kabir (Imran Khan) doesn't say what he wants but says he has kidnapped Sonia for revenge.

An arrogant Sanjay Dutt engages private detective Irfan (played by some actor I don't remember his name) and there starts a cat and mouse game between the kidnapper and the father of the kidnapped. Finally after a series of different types of incidents the girl is finally set right and in the process Sanjay Dutt and his wife fall in love all over again and become united. As the story unfolds it is revealed that, several years earlier Kabir would have been falsely indicted in a kidnapping case by Sanjay Dutt and sent to jail. A physically scarred and traumatized Kabir comes out of jail thirsting for revenge. What is surprising is that while in jail Kabir becomes a computer, telecom and technology whiz.

Surprisingly throughout the movie when Sonia remains kidnapped, she has a fantastic set of revealing clothes. She never covers her chubby belly throughout the movie and I wonder if she was kidnapped with a full wardrobe, though there is no indication of that. Even in the clutches of her captor, Sonia remains fully made up, wearing nice clothes and no sign of trauma or stress on her face. Perhaps because she is with a hot hunk? or I don't know why?

And last but not the least the movie doesn't end with Kabir and Sonia falling in love with each other. They just go their ways, he becomes a software engineer and she just a partying socialite, spoilt daughter of rich parents.

The best part of the movie however is the chase sequence when Kabir gives a run to Sanjay Dutt through a semi-constructed high-rise. Both the action stars go into a several sequences of dangerous-looking stunts climbing up and down high rise building.

There are totally five songs, and three are item numbers for Sonia which serve only one purpose of showcasing her body in all kinds of sensuous (often vulgar) are completely unnecessary. The other two songs which star Sanjay Dutt are ok and fit into the story quite well.

Finally my verdict of the move is a 2 out of 5 and totally passable. Don't go unless you get free tickets... it is not worth your money.

Movie Review: Mojave Moon

Only For Die Hard Fans of Angelina Jolie
I wouldn't have watched this movie if it were not freely available on Youtube and if I didn't have a few hours to kill and was feeling too lazy to go out and do something productive. Anyway the highlight of this movie is the surgeon's masterpiece Angelina Jolie, in her pre-famous avatar.

The movie starts with Al McCord, a divorced used-car dealer from New York, who is trying to make a new life in Los Angeles. When he is hanging out at his favorite restaurant with friends and gawking at the beautiful girls passing by. In comes the the thick-lipped and big-busted Ellie (Angelina Jolie) and starts talking to him. She convinces him to go with her to Mohave Desert, to visit her mother.

The road trip completely transforms Al's life, Ellie falls in love with him, he falls in love with her mother. Then there is her mother's jealous, violent and drunk boyfriend who is ultra-possessive not only of the mother but also about daughter. Al meets with Jolie's mother and spends some time with her and heads back to LA only to find a half-dead man in his trunk. Al gets back to LA and starts wondering what to do about the body and his car gets stolen. The rest of the movie is how they escape from Jolie's mother's boyfriend and how Al and the latter hook up.

This movie is completely passable, and only Jolie's fans could probably watch this movie without getting exasperated. There are some scenes where Jolie reveals her surgeon-sculpted body. There is absolutely no storyline at all. Take my advise don't watch it.

Movie Review: In America

In America
Cast: Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, Djimon Hounsou, Sarah Bolger and Emma Bolger.
Direction: Jim Sheridan.

I watched this movie at the Angelika in Plano, Tx last week. The broadcast was part of the Auteur film series conducted by the college. The theme of the movie, the trails and tribulations of immigrants in America, sounded interesting and hence I decided to take a look.

Anyway the movie begins with the typical scene of an Irish family illegally entering America from Canada. The protagonist family comprising Johnny and Sarah and their two daughters, the bubbly and outspoken younger one and the silent and introspective older child, are trying to make a new life for themselves in the big city. Set in the mid-1980s the movie portrays three or four major human sentiments: hope, determination, community, frustration and fear.

The family's attempts to settle down in a dilapidated building in which the elevators don't work, there is no air conditioning and erratic water supply evokes empathy from viewers. Personally speaking it came as a surprise that anyone could be so poor in America... and that too in Manhattan...

One of the most touching parts of the movie for me was the Halloween celebrations. The girls go to school dressed in home-made costumes and become a spectacle because everyone else is wearing fancy costumes. And after coming back home the girls decide to go trick or treating in their building and knock on every door in vain. And finally they reach the door of the "the screaming man," a reclusive neighbor named Mateo. This is the turning point of the movie, the reclusive Mateo becomes a family friend and supporter in crisis. He himself is afflicted with AIDS and dieing, but he gives hope and support to the family.

Underlying the plot of the movie the entire family is trying to deal with the loss of "Frankie", who passed away due to brain tumor. While the parents are in denial, the children miss their late sibling. The movie ends with the death of Mateo and birth of another baby girl to the family and the father accepting that Frankie is no more. A very touching movie indeed... must watch in my opinion.

Movie Review: Big Jake

For having nothing much to do at home I borrowed this movie from the library. I must say I kinda liked the movie set in 1909. The movie features John Wayne in the leading role of the title character Jacob "Big Jake" McCandles, an aging rancher and near-legendary gunfighter estranged from his pretty family.

The movie starts with a ruthless gang of outlaws raiding the MacCandles ranch. The gang led by John Fain (Richard Boone), runs havoc on the ranch and murders some of the workers, wounds McCandles' eldest son (Bobby Vinton) and kidnaps the youngest member of the family for a ransom of $1 million. Martha (Wife of "Big Jake" McCandles) (Maureen O'Hara) summons Jacob through some messengers and tells him to find their grandson.

Though Jacob and his wife have been separated for nearly 10 years, they still love each other dearly. Jacob arrives by train and discuss a plan to take the ransom to the kidnappers and free the boy. Jacob warns that "Pay or not, we run the risk of never seeing the boy again". Martha has what is well known as a million dollars in a big red strongbox. Jacob is to deliver the box to the kidnappers. Jacob is packed quickly and ready to go along with his trusted "Native American" gunrunner.

The Texas Rangers led by Buck are close at hand ready to attempt a rescue, as is Jacob's son James McCandles (John Wayne's real-life son Patrick Wayne), whose initial greeting of Jake reveals a somewhat strained relationship. Michael McCandles (Christopher Mitchum) arrives by motorcycle and tells Martha that he saw the little boy alive. He suggests the Rangers can use the automobiles and set an ambush for the kidnappers. Buck (John Doucette) and the Rangers try to get Jacob to come along with them. The Rangers take off to set the trap in their new automobiles and are themselves ambushed at the very place they were planning to ambush the kidnappers.

The rest of the story is about their journey through the stunningly scenic wild west territory of South Texas and Mexico. Their gunfighting with the villains and rescuing "Little Jake" the grandson of "Big Jake". The journey and the hunt for kidnappers also serves to unite the long lost father with this sons and family.

In my opinion this is a great movie to watch. Fast paced, straight forward narrative and stunning photography. Worth every second spent watching the DVD, I'd say.

Movie Review: Enemy at the Gates

I recently watched this 2001 movie Enemy at the Gates. The film is based on a true story of a Russian sniper Vassili Zaitsev's fight against the German army during the siege of Stalingrad. The movie begins with a very sombre note of a under equipped Soviet army getting battered by the better equipped Nazi forces.

The main reason why I am totally impressed by this movie is the way in which a relatively unknown soldier is made into a national phenomenon and his name is deified to inculcate a sense of national pride and global respect. Vassili Zaitsev is a normal soldier fighting for his country like millions of others across the world. But by making a movie and highlighting the story of achievements in an exemplary movie format he has been made a phenomenon.

I wish our Indian film makers would learn from hollywood about the type of movies to be made. Instead of sticking to the stupid love-sex-violence formula which don't provide any intellectual stimulation, Indian film makers should start thinking about making movies which create a sense of national pride, patriotism and a sense of the Indian identity among its viewers who are primarily the uneducated and undereducated masses.

Plot Summary
The initial scene is specially scary when we see groups of young Soviet recruits being pushed into the battle. They have one rifle for two men and an officer is screaming on the megaphone: "When the one with the rifle falls, the one behind picks up the rifle and fights." The motivational speeches work and unarmed and under armed soldiers rush into a confrontation with the third reich, knowing well that they are facing certain death. If they advance the enemy bullet is likely to get them and if they retreat their own officers will kill them as deserters.

Vassili Zaitsev played by Jude Law is one of the soldiers who displays exemplary marksmanship and kills five German soldiers with as many bullets. This feat gets noticed by Political officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) who writes about Vassili in the army newspaper and thus begins their journey to fame. Vassili goes ahead daily killing German officers and virtually creates panic among the army of the Third Reich. Not to be out done the Nazi army calls in their best sniper Major Konig (Ed Harris) to eliminate Vassili. At this point the story takes a turn and becomes a cat and mouse game between the two snipers leading to one triumphing over the other.

There is a little love triangle between Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz which leads to some complications in the story. Jude Law plays the central character Vassili and Rachel Weisz plays his lover Tania, also a Russian soldier. Their stellar performances are very efficiently supported by Ed Harris who plays Major Konig (German sniper) and Joseph Fiennes (Political officer Danilov).

Movie Review: The Mini Skirt Mob

Story of a Manipulative Woman and Gullible Men

If you want to see to what extent a spurned female would go to take revenge on her former lover and his present partner then this movie is a much watch. The movie tells the story of Shayne, a glamorous, manipulative and sexy woman, who is head of a female motorcycle gang known as The Mini Skirt Mob. Shane and Jeff, a rodeo champion are former lovers. Trouble starts when Jeff decides to retire from rodeo, get married and settle down as a rancher.

Though outwardly Shane says that it is all over between her and Jeff, inside she is one angry and jealous woman. She wants to make life for Jeff and his new bride miserable and hence gathers up her motorcycle gang which includes former friends of Jeff, Lon and Edie (Shayne's sister), LG and others and follows Jeff's trailer as he tries to get out and spend a quiet moment with his wife.

What follows is 80 minutes of terror for the newly married couple and merriment for the viewers. The stand off ends with the death of every one of them except Jeff and his wife. It is surprising to note that the Hero (Jeff played by Jeremy Slate) has pretty much no role. He is portrayed as a gutless coward who seems to always try to avoid confrontation with his former girlfriend and her mob. I would say the movie is all about how Shayne plots trouble and manipulates the men in her gang like Lon to do her dirty work. It is worth watching once if you don't have anything to do... oh! yes it is available free on Youtube... I wouldn't pay to watch this movie....

Movie Review: Sur - A Stupid Musical

I recently watched this Hindi Movie Sur - The melody of life starring singer Lucky Ali and other non-descript actors. The movie was supposed to be a romantic musical drama but failed miserably in the box office when it was released in 2002. I had liked one song in that movie when it was released and thought about watching it but never got down to going to the theatres for this flic. Now after wasting three hours in front of the idiot box watching this boring and quite stupid movie I am glad I didn't waste money and time to go to the theatres to watch this.

Anyway the movie features Lucky Ali as renowned singer Vikramaditya Singh (note the name - Vikramaditya - one of the most honorable Hindu kings in Indian history) who brings Tina Marie from Goa to nurture her talent and make her a great musician. In the school there is a student Aqib who is always ridiculing Tina's humble beginnings.

Over a period of time Vikramaditya trains Tina and ensures her trasnformation into a brilliant vocalist and talented music composer. But deep within Vikramaditya is jealous of her talent. Hence he starts snubbing her and insulting her at every opportunity and even steals one of her compositions and produces an audiotape which outsells his own previous ones.

The people who know the truth, Aqib and Tina are totally devastated by his actions. An angry Aqib quits the school and a devastated Tina returns home and decides to give up everything and become a nun. Meanwhile a guilt-ridden Vikramaditya hits bottle. His assistant Divya makes him realize his folly and he heads out in search of Tina with a vow of making her a star. He finds her in a convent and begs and pleads with her to sing with him again. Finally she relents and a few minutes before the program, Vikramaditya disappears, leaving the entire stage for Tina, who delivers an enthralling performance and wins everybody's hearts. Vikramaditya returns to his school humbled and continues teaching and mentoring young students. Tina goes on to become a great musical phenomenon.

Performances of all artists/ actors lack maturity and professionalism. Some of the songs are good, but apart from that the movie is completely passable.

Now if the movie is so bad why am I writing about it here. I was just wondering about the nomenclature of the artists in this movie.

Vikramaditya, the jealous, under-talented teacher who steals his students composition is named after one of the most honorable kings in India's history. Vikramaditya is known for the justice and fairness with which he ruled India.

Tina Marie, a Christian, is the highly-talented youngster who is mentored by the former. In reality it is the British (Christians) who stole everything from India.

Aqib, a muslim fights for justice and getting Tina her due. Quite surprising isn't it....

I wonder if the names were chosen purposefully or if it were just an accident? Only the director can answer this question...

Movie Review: Gangs of New York

The United States of America, perceived as the land of unlimited opportunities, heaven on earth, land of ultimate freedom, a place where wealth can be made, the world's most powerful nation, etc... But like every other nation in the world, it has its own share of slums, underworld gangs, thugs, crooks and prostitutes. This murky underbelly is carefully hidden away under the towering sky scrapers and grandiose buildings.

What was it to live in this land of freedom and opportunity a century and half ago? This is what the film Gangs of New York attempts to re-create and it does very successfully. Set in 1846 the movie stars Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis and others. The story is pretty historical as it is a movie and there is a substantial amount of reality in this according to a National Geographic study.

The movie starts off in the year 1846 with the protagonist Leonardo DiCaprio getting released from the prison and returning to the neighborhood in Manhattan where he was born and grew up. As he approaches the five points neighborhood, DiCaprio is witness to hordes of Irish immigrants landing into the US, in a bid to escape sure starvation due to the Potato Famine and of course persecution from the British Crown and nobility. But the original settlers (who call themselves "Natives") don't want new immigrants and they are standing at the docks yelling humiliating abuses at the immigrants.

DiCaprio, himself an Irish immigrant-settler and has seen his father being murdered in cold blood by Bill the Butcher, the undisputed king of underworld in New York. Young DiCaprio is thirsting for revenge and his target is Bill the Butcher. DiCaprio starts off being a small time thief and gets into the Butcher's brotherhood of thugs. In his life of crime he tangles with Cameron Diaz who is another petty thief and pick pocket in the same gang. Love blossoms between the two much to the angst of DiCaprio's best friend, who reveals the former's true identity to Bill the Butcher.

DiCaprio's first attempt to kill Bill the Butcher fails and he is thoroughly beaten up and knifed. In retaliation DiCaprio decides to start his own gang of Irish settlers and wrest control of Five Points from the original English settlers (Natives). This coincides with the American civil war era when Irish immigrants were ordered to get drafted into the army to fight the southern states against slavery. In frustration the immigrants rebel and riot and of course there is the clash of gangs in which Irish emerge victorious.

The Gangs of New York is a brilliantly made movie and performances of all the stars are captivating and cinematography is hypnotic. It has a few subtle lessons about American history, social equations and immigration. The original British settlers who landed in the US and started killing native Americans and taking over their lands were intolerant towards Irish immigrants in the 19th century, now a substantial section of the white population of the US hates increased influx of Indian technology workers. Things are pretty much the same: American's hate immigrants, especially those whom they think are taking their jobs.

Another subtle reinforcement that the White people try to make is that America belongs to them and not to the native Americans who were here thousands of years before the settlers came in. It is common for people of color in the US to be referred to as "Asian Americans", "African Americans", "Indian Americans" but to themselves they say "Americans" implying that the country belongs to them. This movie in which the original settlers call themselves "Natives" is one such attempt. To understand these messages one must watch The Gangs of New York.

Movie Review: The Last Confederate

Praiseworthy Effort!!
One thing about Europeans and Euro-Americans (White people in the US) that continues to leave me awed is their ability to take up even the most trivial incident and tell a hugely successful story which will subtly enhance their image in front of the world. The Last Confederate is a movie which showcases the true story of American Civil War Hero Robert Adams is a similar effort.

The movie is set in a period just before the start of the American Civil War and narrates the story of the life of Robert Adams, during the civil war years. The story portrays the passion, courage and love of the protagonist for his land, people and way of life. Robert is a southern planter who enjoys the good life, served by slaves, meandering from one party to another, supervising agriculture, riding fine horses, etc. He wants to continue leading the same life like the greater part of the southern white population. He falls in love with beautiful Eveline, a teacher from the North (Pennsylvania) and wants to marry her.

But with the federal government abolishing slavery the southern states decide to secede which leads to the Civil War. Robert Adams passionate about his land, lifestyle and people decides to enter into the fray and is recruited as captain of the Confederate forces. During the course of the war he is captured and imprisoned, but manages to escape and reunite with his love for a brief period. He reenters the battles and fights till the end of the war and emerges as the only surviving confederate soldier (at least according to the movie), thanks to the pity of a Union soldier who just fires in the air and lets him go.

If one were to watch the movie without bothering about any historical knowledge/ perspective, then this is a brilliant story and one can't help but become a great admirer of Robert Adams. But I am a big time skeptic, so when I watch any movie I examine the story, narration and characters with an array of lenses. Ideologically speaking this movie is a sham, for one thing the makers of this movie are glorifying a man who fought for slavery. What can be a bigger insult to democracy and equality than this? Then what is great about Robert Adams? He fought for Confederates to protect his land, which his fore-fathers and millions of other white people illegally, inhumanly and unethically usurped from native American tribes. He fought to protect his family and to have the freedom to continue to lead the same way of life, which is commendable, if one looks it from his side.

Summing up, I would say this movie has a lot of lessons for Indians. Here is Julian Adams the great-grandson of Robert Adams who produced, wrote and starred in the film. Look at our country, the first film about Mahatma Gandhi was produced, directed and acted out by foreigners. Till date no descendant of Prithviraj Chauhan, Maharana Prathap, Chattrapathi Shivaji or any other Indian Hero has ever bothered to sponsor/ produce any movie to tell the true story of their ancestor. Robert Adams is no historical figure in the US, but now thanks to this movie, his place in the popular perception has been created.

Indian film directors make movies showcasing the glories of people who invaded and plundered our country, killed our people and attempted to destroy our culture, traditions and religion. The most glaring example of recent times would be Jodha-Akbar starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. I wonder if our people will ever become enough patriotic and aware of our country and strive to create an honorable place for its heroes in the popular perception. Yes some movies have been made such as few about Shaheed Bhagat Singh, but this is simply not enough.

Movie Review: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Year of Release: 2006
Genre: Comedy
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Gary Cole and others

If you are not first then you are last -Reese Bobby.

Young Ricky Bobby is waiting for his father to show up for the school's career day and talk about what he does. All other kids parents come and talk about their jobs but not Ricky's dad. After a while a totally stoned-on-pot Reese Bobby arrives and starts talking about his job: Part time racing driver and pot dealer. He makes a nuisance of himself and is thrown out of the school. As he leaves the school he advises his son: "If you are not the first then you are last". A statement that stays with Ricky.

When a quirk of fate gives him a chance to drive on the racetrack, he remembers his dads words and wins at all costs. Soon Ricky Bobby becomes a NASCAR stock car racing sensation and a national hero. Along with his loyal racing partner, childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr., call themselves the "Shake" and "Bake" team and always come finish in the #1 and #2 positions.

When everything is going fine flamboyant (gay) French Formula One driver Jean Girard arrives on the scene and challenges the "Shake" and "Bake" team. In the first race Ricky crashes and becomes a nervous wreck. The crash not only makes him lose his health, but also his career, wife and home to his best friend Cal. Devastated he moves in with his mom and starts delivering pizzas on a bicycle.

Reese Bobby once again enters the scene and helps Ricky get out of his nervous breakdown and hit the race track again, where he wins his title, fame and money.

The entire movie is one hell of a comedy with a number of amazing car races thrown in. Dialogues of Reese Bobby and his grand children are funny. Ricky's experience with the Cougar and his driving test all make it one entertaining film. Definitely worth watching once.

Movie Review: Appaloosa

I watched this Western set in New Mexico in the late 19th century (around 1880s). Based on a novel by Robert B. Parker, Appaloosa has all the elements that are in Westerns: stunning photography, friendship, romance, betrayal, gun fights, horse riding, etc. But this has a little twist, there is a little politics which involves high powered people no less than the President of United States, himself.

Refreshingly in this movie there is not much "Native American Battering". There is only one brief scene when a group of natives attack the bad guys. But we will talk about it later. One thing I still don't understand about people here. Even in this day and age (Appaloosa was shot in 2008), they want to present Native Americans as Indians. I wonder when these people will understand that Indians are the peoples from the country of India. These tribals here are Native Americans

Let us get on with the movie now. Set in the city of Appaloosa, the movie starts with a cold blooded murder of a sheriff and his two deputies by a private rancher and settler Randall Bragg. The town's folk are worried about this and call in the deadly duo Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his partner Hitch (Viggo Mortensen). Two expert gunmen who are lawmen for hire, they help towns enforce law and tackle their lawless folk.

Barely have they settled in than a beautiful women named Alison French (Renee Zellwigger) alights from the train. Quite expectedly, Cole falls madly in love with her and she seems to reciprocate. But Allison is not the typical girl-next-door, she is one scheming individual who always wants to be the top-man's partner. This leads to loads of complications in the lawmen's work.

The rest of the movie is a tale of deception, gun fights, courts and how anarchic the US was during the late 19th century. The scenario was like who shoots first lives. I wonder how it would be to live in such situations. Anyway I'd recommend the movie to anyone who is interested in westerns. Otherwise just pass it.

Book Review: Online Journalism — A Basic Text

Internet Journalism made simple
Online Journalism — A Basic Text by Tapas Ray; Foundation Books; Price: Rs.250 ($5); 266 pp.

With over 1.2 billion people surfing on the world wide web everyday, it is only a matter of time before news reporting and journalism also go online. Widely acknowledged as the future of the news media worldwide, online journalism is the most interactive news medium ever invented; that’s its USP (unique selling proposition). According to one school of thought as internet access prices fall, the decline of newspapers and television news media is inevitable. Youth, especially in technologically advanced countries, are increasingly ditching conventional news media and logging onto the world wide web to surf online news portals, because they want more than news. They want interactivity, to respond immediately.

According to a survey report of the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers (WAN), during 1995-2003 the annual circulation of print newspapers fell by 5 percent in America, 3 percent in Europe and 2 percent in Japan. According to WAN projections, if this decline continues, by the year 2040 daily newspapers will cease to exist in the print form. WAN also estimates that in the not too distant future, online operations of global news corporations will be more important than print.

In India the scenario is slightly different. Though the internet as a news medium is relatively new and untested, almost all major newspapers have started providing downloadable versions of newspapers. This is because conventional wisdom in the country is that journalism on the net is the same as in print, differing only in presentation. In short, online journalism is nascent — if not unknown — in India.

Against this backdrop of the growing popularity of the internet as the new news medium, Tapas Ray’s Online Journalism — A Basic Text, which introduces the internet to journalists and advises them on how to use it proficiently, is timely and welcome. The 12-chapter compendium introduces the reader to the mind-boggling possibilities of net journalism. Starting with the history of the net which took shape from ARPAnet in 1961-62 in the Massachussetts Institute of Technology and the Pentagon, this textbook morphs into a how-to manual covering web authoring and publishing, revenue generation within the law, ethics and a peek into the future as media converge and broadband access is universalised.

"In this book I discuss, among other things, what news organisations are doing in practice as against the things that can be accomplished with the internet, since this medium has unique characteristics that take it beyond the print and broadcast media in certain ways," writes Ray, an electronics engineering graduate of IIT-Kharagpur who pressed on to acquire a Masters degree and doctorate in communications at Ohio University. Ray is currently the director of Umeschandra College, Kolkata and also visiting faculty at Jadavpur University.

For print journalists aspiring to go online, the most interesting chapters are ‘Annotative Reporting and Open-source Journalism’, and ‘Computer Assisted Journalism or Reeporting (CAJ/ CAR)’. In these chapters Ray details ways and means to use the net as an effective medium of communication for the mass media. Likewise the chapter titled ‘Preparing Online Packages’ will prove useful for journalists who wish to plan, code, write programs and design their own webpages with the objective of broadening their readership base.

The chapter titled ‘Revenue, Ethics and Law’ is a must-read for all those who are currently managing online news sites as also those who want to promote new ones. Ray discusses in detail the various subscription revenue models of news publications such as the Albuqurque Journal, Business 2.0, Winnipeg, and the Times, London. In terms of advertising revenue, the author predicts that by the year 2007, 4.4 percent of all global advertising revenue will be generated from online space sales. The book also provides an overview of advertising and marketing techniques being successfully used to generate all important revenue.

Summing up, Online Journalism is recommended reading for media entrepreneurs, traditional media publishers anxious to get onto the internet as also for journalists aspiring to careers in web publishing enterprises which are recording a 22 percent rate of annual growth.

Book Review: Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar

Enduring Mystery
Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar by R. Balasubramaniam; Foundation Books; Price: Rs.195; 140 pp.

Contrary to popular belief India was a major player in the global metallurgy industry long before the late J.N. Tata established the Tata Iron and Steel Co in Jamshedpur in 1907 and the London-based Laxmi Mittal started grabbing newspaper headlines around the world. It is arguable that Indian scientists and technologists were producing high-quality corrosion-resistant iron and steel as early as 400 AD. There is considerable evidence of the ingenuity of ancient India’s metallurgists in the form of permanent installations, museum exhibits and pillars installed in places of worship across the country. The most famous of these – one which has defied and confounded students and professors of metallurgy in India and abroad — is the 32 ft high pillar of rust-free iron sited contiguous to the 239 ft tall red sand stone — Qutb Minar — constructed by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in 1199 AD to commemorate the victory of Mohammud Ghori over the Rajputs in 1192. And the wonder of this metallurgical marvel is that it has not rusted or succumbed to atmospheric corrosion despite being unprotected against the elements for over 1600 years. During the past two centuries since the existence of this wonder pillar was brought to public attention by British archaeologist James Prinsep in 1817, over 250 books have been written on this subject. The first systematic research was done by British metallurgist Sir Robert Hodfield in 1912, and since then several scientists from across the world have researched, presented papers and written books on the pillar.

The latest book on Delhi’s iron pillar is Prof. R. Balasubramaniam’s Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar — a simplified version of his earlier treatise on the subject titled Delhi Iron Pillar: New Insights which targeted metallurgy professionals, scholars and academics. Unlike the earlier book, this one is for lay readers, particularly higher secondary students. Its objective is to arouse student interest in history, metallurgy and archaeology and to encourage them to undertake fieldwork, self-study and research. “The iron pillar in Delhi fascinates scientists all over the world, due to its excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion. This is an attempt to explain the story behind the pillar in a very simple manner, so that a lay reader can appreciate the history, science and technology of the iron pillar. In addition the artistic merit of the pillar is highlighted …It is sincerely hoped that the imagination, especially of the young readers, will be fired by the facts and ideas presented in this book,” writes Balasubramaniam.

The Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar traces the history of this metallurgical wonder and recounts that it was engineered in Udayagiri. The author reveals that the iron pillar was originally installed atop a hill near Udayagiri in the hinterland of Madhya Pradesh during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (374-413 AD) of the Gupta dynasty. The original site of the pillar was the exact location where the imaginary line that is the tropic of cancer crosses India from where one can observe the sun rising in the east and setting in the west on spring and autumn equinox days. However in 1234 King Iltutmish (1210-36 AD) the third sultan of Delhi’s slave dynasty captured Udaygiri and transported the pillar to Delhi as part of his victory booty.

That the Delhi iron pillar is indeed an engineering marvel was conceded by the president of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, London who remarked in 1851: “While considering forging of large masses of iron and steel, it is not easy to forget the impression caused by first seeing the iron pillar at Delhi. This column of wrought iron… is finished perfectly round and smooth, with an ornamental top, and was made many centuries ago from iron produced direct from ore and built up piece by piece. Remembering the lack of facilities men had in those days for first forging and then welding together such an enormous mass, makes one wonder at the iron worker of those days who must have possessed engineering ability claiming the admiration of our times. It is questionable whether the whole of the iron works of Europe and America could have produced a similar column of wrought iron so short a time ago as the exhibition of 1851”. The incumbent professor of materials and metallurgical engineering at IIT-Kanpur, Balasubramaniam also unravels the mystery of the amazing durability of Delhi’s iron pillar. According to him unnamed engineers of that era used the film forming quality of phosphoric acid to create a thin protective layer of ‘misawite’, a compound of iron, oxygen and hydrogen to prevent rusting and corrosion. This protective film encapsulated the pillar within three years after its erection and has been growing imperceptibly since. Today 1,600 years later, the film is of a thickness of one-twentieth of a millimeter. Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar is well structured into five sections — Introduction, History of the Iron Pillar, Structural Features of the Pillar, Manufacturing Methodology and The Pillar’s Resistance Corrosion — each offering a different perspective of this engineering marvel. Written as a simple, easy-to-comprehend narrative, the book is useful for history and science teachers to plan supplemental lesson plans, as also for secondary school students interested in history/ metallurgy.

Quite obviously ancient India’s universities and institutes of learning had well-developed research and learning capabilities. But during the next millennium this research and scholastic tradition was lost. And in post-independence India when prime minister Nehru reserved the steel and metallurgy industries for the clerical cadres of the public sector, this capability was lost further. Fortunately this lost knowledge is being recovered slowly through the initiatives of entrepreneurs such as Laxmi Mittal and Anil Aggrawal (of Vedanta). Although they may not know it, they are heirs to a great tradition.

Book Review: Long Way Round – Chasing Shadows across the World

Saga of Motorcycle Adventure
Long Way Round – Chasing Shadows across the World by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman; TimeWarner books; 312 pp

There is something about Men and Motorcycles, it is a fatal attraction that refuses to die out with age. An infatuation which remains for ever. The two-wheeled steed attracts the man like flowers attract a bee. Sometimes this attraction is a stronger draw than that of the female species. During the recent past there have been a handful of women who have been bitten by the two-wheeled bug and adventure travel insect. But still it is more common to see men strapping up their things, gassing up their motorcycles and heading out into the wild to explore the world. The book under review Long Way Round tells the story of two such men who despite being famous Hollywood stars decide to break away and live their passions.

Long Way Round (LWR) by UK-based Hollywood actors and motorcycle aficionados Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman also available as a movie in DVD, is a first-hand account of an ambitious motorcycle odyssey across the world from London to New York through Europe, Asia and North America. Presented as a diary of events recorded before, during and after the journey by the two actors, LWR is distinguishable from normative travelogues and its technique of interplaying both stars’ varying experiences and feelings as they hit roads and adventure around the world, is quite appealing.

Comprising 12 chapters, two appendices and interspersed with maps and glossy colour pictures of fascinating locales, LWR chronicles the duo’s experiences, observations and ruminations as they journey across Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, across Bering Straits into Alaska, down through Canada, finally ending back home in the US.

Some of their notable easy rider style escapades include being chased by paparazzi in Kazakhstan, being accosted by gun-toting militia in Ukraine, harassed by the police everywhere and served bulls’ testicles for supper by Mongolian nomads. And yet despite all trials and tribulations they sped over 20,000 miles (35,000 km) in four months, a journey which according to the authors has changed their lives forever. Despite exhaustion and round-the-clock excitement, the authors have meticulously documented, photographed and video shot their encounters and experiences and produced a highly entertaining travelogue in two media.

On the down side McGregor’s endless whining about being away from his wife and kids is annoying. On a round-the-world journey anyone would miss his family, and surely there’s no need to harp on this theme in almost every chapter of the book.

LWR is especially invigorating for dyed-in-the-wool biking buffs in India, most of whom dream of hitting the road and circumnavigating the world. The authors’ can-do determination to traverse tarmac, stones, mud, water and often barely discernable paths to attain their mission is admirable. It drives home the point that beyond romantic notions of inter-continental road travel, great journeys require substantial reserves of perseverance, determination and guts-and-glory hard slog. The actor duo repeatedly detail experiences of common folk who didn’t have a clue of their star status spontaneously coming forward to help them. It’s enough to restore one’s faith in humanity and the brotherhood of man.

Book Review: Careers in Wildlife Filmmaking

Career on the wild side
Careers in Wildlife Film-making by Piers Warren; Wildeye; Price: Rs.848; 187 pp

With a growing number of satellite channels invading the drawing rooms of middle class India, career opportunities in the multi-billion dollar television industry are multiplying. Though information about jobs and opportunities in this new and booming industry is readily available, it’s largely restricted to work opportunities in desi entertainment/ news channels (song-n-dance included). There’s little information in India for employment opportunities in high-potential niche or special interest channels featuring animal and wildlife (Discovery, National Geographic and Animal Planet). Against this backdrop, wildlife enthusiasts toying with the idea of making careers out of their interest will find Careers in Wildlife Film-making by Piers Warren very useful.

This unusual and information-laden book is a complete guide for the small but growing minority looking to venture into the fascinating world of wildlife, underwater and conservation filmmaking. The author is a well-known UK-based wildlife film-maker who is also the editor of Wildlife Film News and producer of www.wildlife-film.com. This book lists over 60 jobs in wildlife filmmaking, complete with eligibility requirements and case studies.

The book starts with a detailed introduction to this esoteric craft and states its objective clearly: “The aim of this book is to look at the career of every person involved in the making of a wildlife film and to give you a deeper understanding of the wildlife film industry and the career opportunities available.” According to Warren, who is also vice president and webmaster of the Filmmakers for Conservation (FFC), wildlife filmmaking is a challenge because “there are far more people wanting to be involved in the making of wildlife films than there are jobs, so it is very competitive”.

Written in a easy-to-understand lucid style, the volume is divided into eight chapters: ‘How a wildlife film is made’ (this chapter provides a brief overview of the whole process, plus an introduction to formats); ‘The variety of jobs’ (describes each function in the process and a few associated careers which can be employed positions or freelance ones, and each is illustrated with a number of case studies); ‘How to get started’ (strategies and tips to get your foot in the door); ‘Education and training’ (what study courses are available and how useful they are); ‘Wildlife film festivals’ (a discussion of festivals and why they are particularly important to this industry, plus a directory of the major international ones); ‘Organisations, projects and further information’ (where to find out more organisations that might help you, and recommended further reading); ‘The future of the industry’ (a unique discussion of the future presented by a number of experienced professionals from the industry) and ‘Contributors’ Index’ (a list of all the contributors to this book – with further information and contact details).

For individuals planning a career in the wildlife filmmaking industry the most informative and useful chapter is ‘The variety of jobs’. The list is exhaustive: producer, assistant producer, researcher, production assistant, administration and publicity coordinator, director, cinematographer/ camera operator, camera assistant, sound recordist, presenter, narration script-writer, narrator, music composer, dubbing mixer, picture editor, distributor, broadcaster/ commissioning editor, location manager, stock footage library manager and multimedia producer. Each career choice is discussed in great detail with an introduction, essential qualities one must possess/ develop to get the job and finally a case study of a successful professional.

In the chapter on education and training, Warren provides information about the few universities (with contact addresses) across the world offering courses in animal and wildlife filmmaking.

This compact book concludes crystal ball gazing by well-known wildlife movie professionals. They include top names from the industry such as Jane Krish, CEO of The Wildscreen Trust; Mark Bristow, producer BBC Wildlife Magazine; Michael Hanrahan, founder president, The Ocean Channel; and Amy J. Hetzler, membership officer Filmmaker for Conservation.

Though the book is US and UK specific, Indian wildlife enthusiasts can cull useful information on where one can pursue wildlife filmmaking courses (Alas! No Indian university/ college offers courses in this field). Moreover the numerous case studies in the book are certain to inspire enthusiasm. Contact details of every contributor and industry professional mentioned in the book are provided for networking. Careers in Wildlife Filmmaking is a useful compendium for Indian students anxious to break away from traditional career choices to walk on the wild side.

Movie Preview: Couples Retreat

I chanced upon the promo of this movie which is all about how to keep the romance active among couples. The trailer is real funny and I am sure this will be one hell of a hilarious movie... I will try to catch it on October 9th... the release date.

Book Review: Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book

Language guide for foreign travelers
Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book; by Eric Dondero Rittberg; Portside Language Service; Price: $12.50; 248 pp

The Indian economy recently attained a historic landmark when its foreign exchange surplus crossed the $100 billion mark. This is largely the result of the massive growth of industry and business especially in the IT and other technology areas in the post-liberalisation era. Globalisation has also opened up a host of new opportunities for the hitherto shackled Indian industry. The bad old days of foreign exchange licenses are just a bad memory and a large – and growing number of businessmen, tourists and students are travelling abroad to discover new and lucrative trade opportunities and open up new markets. Conversely, the number of foreign investors visiting India’s tech-savvy cities and business centres is multiplying by the day.

A pre-requisite of transacting business is adequate language and communication skills – not only in English but also in the other languages spoken around the world. Without basic language and communication skills it is difficult to converse, argue, discuss, convince or close big or small business deals. But how does one learn a new language and converse with ease in a short span of time? Traditional learning systems require months – even years – to learn and master a language. But with new and innovative techniques and publications like Eric Dondero Rittberg’s Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book learning the basic phrases of 40 languages has become easy.

The best thing about the Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book (WMPB) is its compact size. Printed in a easy-to-carry pocket-book format, this 248-page volume is packed with commonly used phrases in over 40 different languages with verbatim translations into English, presented in an easy-to-read and easy-to-grasp fashion. The languages covered in the book vary from Spanish to Greek; Swahili to Cantonese and Vietnamese to Yoruba (West Africa) and Bulgarian to Gaelic (Ireland) among others, and offers an excellent introduction to over 40 languages from across the world. Indeed WMPB is an essential companion for globetrotting businessmen as also for the growing number of outbound leisure travelers from the subcontinent.

A widely-travelled US-based linguist-cum-interpreter and certified language instructor, Rittberg who has also authored Vacation Spanish; Fast Spanish and Fast Chinese is well-qualified to write this useful companion guide. It offers valuable tips on how to master the basics and converse in a foreign language. Hardly surprising that he is a language-learning aficionado speaks in many tongues including: Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Greek, Swahili and Dutch. A political science alumnus of the Florida State University, Rittberg has travelled to more than 25 countries including India, China, Japan, Korea among others.

The book comprises 16 sections: Preface; The Latin languages; The Germanic Languages; The Slavic Languages; Finno-Ugric; Greek; Turkic; Semitic; African; Indo-Persian; Chinese; East Asian; Southeast Asian; Austornesian; Other Really Exotic Languages and Further Language ending with a brief autobiography of the author. Plus a bonus chapter on great web sites and tips for further language learning.

Indeed the striking characteristic or unique selling proposition of this useful companion handbook is its easy-to-use structure. Each section is further divided into numerous one to many page sub-sections, explaining different techniques and tips on building language-learning skills. Historically or culturally connected language are grouped together and common phrases provided are adequate to help in nearly every situation a visitor to foreign shores is likely to be confronted with. A note on grammar, followed by a set of basic phrases, key propositions, numbers, general, extra and special vocabulary, makes the process of learning a language simple and easy. But inevitably while most European and American languages are dealt with in detail the African and Asian languages are not. These sections however are packed with information on the country, regional and cultural aspects of the language followed by a list of commonly used phrases.

Though the book addresses the needs and situations in which globe-trotting American businessmen are likely to encounter, it is likely to prove very useful to the local Indian and other businessmen as well. “We want it quick, easy and most importantly, we want it all now,” says Rittberg delineating about the expectations of the new genre of peripatetic businessmen. “For those who want to learn a language fluently, there is more than a sufficient amount of material available at the bookstores, libraries and on-line. However, for those Americans who have no time to obtain fluency and who just want to learn some basics for a variety of languages, there are little if any materials available all in one source,” says Rittberg “The purpose of this phase book is to teach individuals the basics of essential words and phrases for a variety of different languages from around the world.”

The objective is sufficiently realized by WMPB. It’s an excellent resource for every traveler going abroad. With this handbook ready, the traveler need not worry about being able to communicate in another language.

Boa viagem!

Book Review: Travel Wisdom

Utilitarian Compendium
Travel Wisdom by Lynne and Hank Christen; Aventine Press; Price: Rs.582; 251pp

Cover via Amazon

By common consensus the world’s largest and most high-potential industry is travel and tourism. Its worldwide revenue is estimated at $ 4 trillion (Rs.180,00,000 crore) (2002-03). And with India’s showing in popular travel destinations surveys improving by leaps and bounds, this continent-sized nation is all-set to grab a large slice of this huge and growing global tourism market. In October 2003 the ‘land of sadhus and saris’ was ranked among the top ten preferred tourism destinations in a survey by the UK-based Conde Nast travel magazine. Recently (February 2004) India hosted its first-ever international travel and tourism seminar-cum-exhibition – World Travel India 2004 – in Mumbai which drew enthusiastic participants from around the world.

With travel made easier thanks to the plethora of package (adventure, heritage, cultural, and historical) tours and discount deals, there is no stopping the newly liberated Indian traveller. But travel especially across the dreaded Kala pani has its own pitfalls. With the ‘war on terror’ in full swing, the new world traveller has to face innumerable checks and verifications. And as if this isn’t enough there is a mountain of groundwork – visas, reservations, itinerary planning, health and security clearances to contend with. Contemporary holidays are short duration, intensive experiences in which even a minor slip-up could prove frustrating and expensive.

Against this backdrop comes Travel Wisdom, a comprehensive how-to-do-it-yourself guidebook by the extensively travelled US-based couple Lynne and Hank Christen. This book is the outcome of the Christens’ travel experiences spread over two decades and 43 countries. “Our goals for this book are two-fold. First, we want to inspire you to turn your travel dreams into reality. Second we want to share the practical tips, tools, and tactics we have acquired through our own travel experiences and research,” say the authors in the introduction of the book.

True to its promise Travel Wisdom is a useful, practical and hands-on guide for those interested in making their money go the extra mile. Well-organised into 18 chapters, three appendices and topped off with an index, this utilitarian compendium covers almost every imaginable aspect of travel. The very first chapter titled ‘It all begins with a dream and plan’ which provides tips on how to get started on planning a journey, is sequentially followed by others offering practical travel advice: ‘Packing smart’; ‘Choosing a travel agent’; ‘The dollars and sense of travel’; ‘Travel health and safety’; ‘Minding your travel manners’; ‘Taking care of business’; ‘The disabled traveller’; ‘Going solo’; ‘Baby makes three, or four, or more’; ‘Pros and cons of group tours’; ‘Smooth sailing’; ‘Airs above the ground’; Riding the rails’; ‘Highways and by-ways’; ‘Vacationing at home’; ‘When things go wrong’; and ‘Making the memories last’.

Chapters which are likely to prove useful to the new generation of outward bound Indian tourists unshackled from the ancient regime under which foreign exchange was always ‘precious’ are ‘Travel health and safety’ which includes a sub-chapter on being street smart and ‘Minding your travel manners’ which is particularly valuable for Indian tourists who have already acquired a reputation for loud boorishness. Among the basic do’s and don’ts: Make the time to learn about your destination; respect local languages and customs; think before you speak; dress appropriately; practice good photo etiquette; go easy on smoking, chewing gum and cell phones, beware of sign language.

Another useful chapter is the ‘The dollars sense of travel’ which advises travelers how to get the most out of their hard earned savings and holiday budgets. It offers valuable tips on how to divide and carry your money in various forms: cash, travelers’ checks, ATM/ debit cards, credit cards etc and precautions to be taken while using ATM/ debit and credit cards.

Travel Wisdom also contains a useful appendix section providing checklists for planning your travel. The comprehensive checklists detail what you should start doing as early as six months prior to departure. Included is a list of online travel resources; sample packing list for women and men and other travel necessary accessories.

Though Travel Wisdom is an unabashedly ‘how to’ book, it’s a useful guide especially for first time travelers who might be blowing several years’ savings on a once-in-a-lifetime foreign holiday. Sidebars provide valuable insights, travel homework, travel experiences and amusing anecdotes and experiences which combine to make this how-to book lively and interesting. Though this guide seems to be targeted at the middle-aged business and leisure tourists, it’s also useful for younger tourists.

Book Review: Wanna Study in the U.S. 101 Tips to get you there!

Guide to US-bound students
Wanna Study in the U.S.? 101 Tips to get you there! by Natasha Pratap; Rupa & Co, Price: Rs.395; 302 pp

According to recently published US student enrollment statistics, India has surpassed
China as the No.1 country of origin for foreign students in American universities. Last year (2000-09) the aggregate Indian student population enrolled in institutions of higher education (95,000) topped the Chinese total. With a large and growing number of Indian students hell-bent on pursuing at least a part of their education in the US, this aggregate number is expected to grow by 20-25 percent annually. But making it into the US of A for higher study is easier said than done. With half the third world’s population fleeing communism, socialism, dictatorship and plain socio-economic mismanagement, aspiring to enter this fabled land of opportunity, the US immigration and naturalisation service is working overtime to keep out the scrambling hordes – especially after 9/11. Unsurprisingly the admission process is tedious and difficult questions are raised about adequacy of funding. Visa procedures too have become complicated.

For the swelling number of hopefuls fleeing India’s dumbed down institutions of higher education, Natasha Pratap’s maiden book Wanna Study in the US? 101 Tips To Get You There! is a boon. This easy-to-read volume written in simple English is a comprehensive compendium of accurate information and useful guidelines to students and professionals on ways and means of accessing American universities and institutions of higher education. “There is so much to be gained from a US education, that I continue to be grateful for it every day. Studying in the US is about pushing your boundaries: academically, intellectually, geographically and emotionally. The best thing is fearlessness and confidence I developed from my own experience. Choose to study in the US because it is better. Go because you will be the better for it,” writes Pratap an alumna of the blue chip Cambridge (UK), Stanford and Boston universities.

The merits of this chatty and unapologetically how-to book apart, a striking achievement is that she has persuaded Mukesh Ambani, chairman & managing director of the telecom, textile, petroleum and IT behemoth, Reliance Industries Ltd to write the foreword. “All these years, information on studying in the US was limited to a privileged class of Indian students, by virtue of their advantaged school, teacher and peer group environments. This book would democratise this advantage to a much wider cross section of Indian students,” says Ambani, himself a Stanford alumnus.

Though the information, data and procedural guidelines provided in this deliberately casually titled book is by no means novel, the fact that it has been collated, sorted and compiled into a one-point, well-laid out compendium is its unique selling proposition. “When friends asked me questions on their applications or essays I realised that what seemed obvious to me was not to others. Book stores in Mumbai had little information on the application procedure, and even prospectuses of colleges say little. The internet is too vast and some information is misleading. Since I had experienced the system first hand I decided to write this book,” says Pratap explaining her motivation to write this valuable guide.

Though the author claims to have completed this comprehensive volume in just seven weeks, this 302-page compendium is well organised into 11 main chapters each offering valuable nuggets of information and advice. The main chapters are: top 10 reasons to study in the US; 101 tips on the application process; scholarships from Indian sources; visa Q&A in consultation with the US Consulate, Mumbai; interviews with Stanford and Harvard university heads; application datelines; a special section for parents titled ‘heart to heart with indian parents’ among others.

Particularly useful is the chapter which includes the essays (SoPs) of Indian students which dazzled admission evaluators of blue-chip universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale and Columbia. The essays are discussed and dissected with the plus and minus points highlighted. “Many applicants tend to borrow SoPs from others and then modify it (sic). You may not be exposed to the kind of introspection and writing that applications to US universities demand. For many, the idea of writing itself is overwhelming and the nature of the questions makes them apprehensive. By including the essays of people who have gone through the process and written everything themselves, I want to illustrate that the task at hand may be different, but is not incredibly difficult,” explains the author, no mean correspondent herself who has written for publications such as The Asian Wall Street Journal, The Economic Times, The Times of India, The Indian Express, Mid-day, Verve, Man’s World and Elle.

The overwhelmingly major preoccupation of Indian students aspiring to education abroad – scholarships and bursaries – is also addressed. There seems little awareness that the natural instinct of institutions of higher education in the industrialised nations is to levy higher tuition fees on foreign students than payable by natives. Nevertheless there is widespread belief that scholarships are available in plenty. Wanna Study provides a list of trusts and foundation which offer (usually grudging) scholarships and bursaries to merit students.

Though a useful guide to the growing number of students driven to foreign universities by the abysmal and declining Indian institutions of higher education being relentlessly dumbed down by politicians and educrats, the publication and reportedly enthusiastic reception to Wanna Study is a wake-up call to Indian academia. That a rising number of Indian students are ready to pay relatively huge tuition and residential costs abroad and endure the rigours of incrementally humiliating visa and admission processes is a severe indictment of India’s higher education system. Quite evidently Indian educationists and academics need to get their act together and canalise the huge annual outflow of hard currencies into their own cash-starved institutions. But this requires the practice rather than mere preaching of excellence in Indian academia.

Book Review: What! Me Travel?

Useful Primer
What! Me Travel? by Dan Rosendahl a.k.a. Traveldan; Frontage Publishing; Price: Rs.938; 284 pp

By common consensus the world’s largest and most high-potential industry is travel and
tourism. Last year (2002-03) 715 million people across the world spent US$4 trillion (Rs.19,200,000 crore) travelling across continents for reasons varying from business and education to leisure and health. France was the most popular destination, with 76.7 million tourists visiting the country. Spain came second (51.7 million) followed by the United States (45.4 million) in the tourism destination popularity chart. Italy, China and Britain were other popular choices.
In sharp contrast and despite its huge size (3,287,590 sq. km and mountains, hill stations, beach resorts and historic sites galore), India attracted a mere 2.5 million foreign visitors. But fortunately for the country, the domestic tourism industry is booming. A massive number of 60 million citizens travelled for business and pleasure within national borders. This despite a pathetic road infrastructure, chaotic and accident-prone trains and inflated airfares. But the some good news for the Indian traveller who wants to hit the road is the Union government’s ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ project (an estimated road network of 14,850 km, across the length and breadth of the country is being constructed at a cost of Rs.54,000 crore), slated for completion in 2007.
Though with mushrooming travel agencies, introduction of package tours and deals, online train reservation and the growth of the internet, travel has become much easier, the pitfalls have also multiplied commensurately. There is a mountain of groundwork – visas, reservations, itinerary planning, health and security clearances to contend with. With holidays having transformed into short duration, intensive experiences a small slip-up could prove ruinously expensive. What! Me Travel? by Dan Rosendahl a.k.a TravelDan is a travel guide which offers advice on the dos and don’ts of travel.
In this book, the best-selling US-based travel consultant Dan Rosendahl who has also authored 20,000 Vacations and The Good, Bad and Weirdest Places to Stay, following his bestseller 10,000 Vacations (1996) offers valuable advice on how to plan a holiday from scratch, how to clinch value-for-money deals and how to most enjoy your destination once you get there. The book comprises four sections: ‘Ten Commandments of Travel’ (Use common sense; know when and where; ask questions first; reserve after you decide; buy from someone you like; be a travel hero; keep your sense of humour; use a credit card), ‘Going, Going, Going’ (Trip Attack; travel agents and their ilk), ‘I’m There’ (Upon arrival; sight seeing; well fed; health is wealth; the dangers) and ‘Appendices’ (The 30 types of travellers; travel reservation helper; simple truths; the history of TravelDan; best country guide). Such a step-by-step travel guide is useful for novice and intermediate tourists as well as experienced travellers.
Unlike the usual travel guide, What! Me Travel? doesn’t tell you what to see, but how to make sure you get to your chosen destination smoothly and how to make the most of the experience. Therefore it’s a general rather than a destination-specific guide. Each chapter offers useful tips on saving time and money gathered by the author from years of experience in the travel industry and personal travel experiences.
The introduction titled ‘A subdued introduction or The Zen of Psycho-travel’ divides holidays into four different types: the weekend getaway (WEG), the vacation, the holiday and travelling. The distinctive character of each is described in detail so that the reader can choose the type that suits him best.
Each of the four sections of the book dwells upon a different facet of travel, viz, Section I: ‘The Ten Commandments of Travel’ advises the reader on how to start planning and researching for a dream holiday. Section II: ‘Going, Going, Going!’ contains information relating to different travel options (road, rail, sea, air), how to deal with travel agents, etc. Section III titled ‘I’m There’ tells you how to enjoy your trip once you are on the road, what to do on arrival, how to bargain to get the best deal, what to eat, how to take care of your health etc. Section IV titled ‘Appendices’ explains the jargon of the travel trade, describes 30 different types of travellers, is a travel reservation helper and also includes a biography of the author.
Unlike the many destination-specific travel books which crowd the bookstore shelves, this zanily written travel book offers a one-stop guide to travellers with clear instructions, referrals and amusing examples.
The book though well written and packed with hard information on budget travel, is too US-specific, with most of the website referrals catering to American travellers. But that doesn’t diminish its international appeal.
It is a useful primer as well for a first time traveller in the subcontinent who has been shackled to home and hearth for the past five decades by the chronic scarcity of “precious foreign exchange” and the perpetual scarcities created by the monopoly Indian Airlines and Indian Railways. Suddenly after the economic liberalisation initiative of 1991, the 50-year-old foreign exchange scarcity has been transformed into an embarrassing $80 billion surplus, and computerisation of reservation systems supplemented by the automobile revolution has boosted domestic travel. For such recently unshackled and enthusiastic new generation tourists, this is a particularly useful book.
It’ll get you more bang for your buck!

Book Review: Sadak Chhaap

Story of a Mumbai street kid
Sadak Chhaap by Meher Pestonji; Penguin Books; Price: Rs.250; 190 pp.

According to an Amnesty International report (1999), 18 million children eke out a hazardous existence on the mean streets of India’s ill-planned, under-served cities where 40-60 percent of the population live in squalid slums. With railway platforms, bus stations and other public spaces serving as their homes, doing odd jobs, scavenging rubbish dumps and begging, they are easy prey to paedophiles, gangsters, unscrupulous businessmen and drug and substance dealers. With no education, skills or training these children have to fend for themselves in an environment in which even the beat policeman is usually a predator.

Sadak Chhaap (‘Mark of the Street’) is a work of fiction based on the lives of street children in Mumbai. Its protagonist is ten years old. Rahul a typical street kid living on a railway platform. A sprightly lad, he has run away from a village which he himself doesn’t remember. But unlike his peers who are resigned to life on the street Rahul is determined to rise up and move out.

The main characters of the book are an eclectic mix of people ranging from Karim Bhai (a fruit stall owner and father figure), Bablu (his best friend, also a street kid), Aparna (who works at Sharan — a shelter for street children), Chameli (a flower seller on whom Rahul has a secret crush) and baby Kajol. There are other characters in supportive roles including street children Victor and Shekar, vendors Hamid, Heera etc, who are not quite fleshed out, but are important to complete the plot of the narrative.

Written by Meher Pestonji, a freelance journalist and social worker, whose earlier works include Mixed Marriage and Other Parsi Stories, Pervez: A Novel, and Piano for Sale, a play, Sadak Chhaap is the outcome of her voluntary work with street children in Mumbai. The narrative begins on a railway platform, where Rahul, feasting on a stolen mango spots a small package on a neighbouring bench. In the hope of chancing upon some food, clothes or a blanket, he opens the package to discover a half-burnt baby with ants crawling all over her face. He runs to Sharan and approaches Aparna who heads the shelter, to rescue the child.

The child is taken to hospital for treatment and is saved in the nick of time. Rahul christens her Kajol after his favourite Bollywood movie star. Soon Kajol is moved to an orphanage in Vashi, a distant suburb of Mumbai and in appreciation of his good turn, Rahul is offered the job of a gardener in the orphanage. He seems to be moving up in life, but typically the management of the institution demands a stiff price in terms of total obedience and conformity. For the small misdemeanour of sneaking out to watch a movie and meeting his old friends on the street, he is found out and sacked from his job. Kajol is given away in adoption and Rahul is denied the privilege of meeting with her.

Without shelter and jobless again, Rahul shifts base to the streets near the Gateway of India which offer new challenges. To survive on these mean streets he begins running drugs and becomes a male prostitute at the age of twelve. On one such sexual assignment Rahul is badly abused by a firang (foreign) sexual pervert, Greg. This traumatic experience plunges him into further despair for which drugs are the only pain killers. But his friends at Sharan rescue him and enroll him for detox sessions.

Pestonji weaves a fast-paced and absorbing narrative which is a window looking out on the brutal streets of Mumbai, where millions of impoverished children are left to fend for themselves. Living in the shadows of the city’s plush 5-star hotels where gastronomic excess and effete luxury are a way of life, for these Fagin’s children hunger is a constant companion. Rahul steals a bicycle to save bus fare; lies to keep Kajol within reach and eventually succumbs to the lure of affectionate paedophiles. Pestonji’s vocab and descriptive power highlights the despair of these helpless children and her portrayal of street life has the stamp of authenticity. Moreover the direct, simple and sensitive plot into which her social message is woven, makes compelling reading.

Sadak Chhaap is a simply told tale whose subtext is a campaign against the neglect and abuse of India’s huge population of street children. But its major infirmity is that it is recounted as a breathless narrative of episodes and adventures in quick succession. There is a conspicuous dearth of analysis of the causative factors proliferation of street children. Surely Aparna who heads the NGO Sharan would have some macro level explanation? To accept the status quo as the natural order of things is suggestive of excessive pessimism if not a morality. Moreover Pestonji seems oblivious of the reality that some street children have — with a little help from NGOs and social workers — risen from the streets and gone on great things. A note of optimism could have retrieve the gloom which pervades the novel.

Also towards the end, Pestonji seems to lose the thread of the narrative and veers into a denunciation of communalism, making a passing reference to the Gujarat riots of 2002. This is a rather unnecessary inclusion and strikes a jarring chord which is out of sync with the major issues the novel confronts — homelessness, drug addiction, child marriage and sex tourism.