Now if there’s one man who is equally talented at making films and trouble, it is Ashutosh Gowarikar. I wouldn’t have given his cynical and rather immature behavior another thought if Aditi had not brought up the issue during our online chat a couple of days ago. For those who don’t know, Ashutosh Gowarikar made a public comment about Priyanka Chopra receiving the award for best actress at the recent IIFA awards held in Macau. He was apparently miffed because his muse (and leading lady), Aishwarya Rai was also nominated in that category for Jodha Akbar. As if that was not enough to annoy Miss Piggy Chops, he went on to say that she won the award because she was “hard working” while Ash was a “natural”! He also got offended when the event hosts, Sajid Nadiadwala and Boman Irani, pulled a light-hearted spoof on his film. Talk about pettiness!
Well, that brings me back to what Aditi and I were discussing the other day – though Bollywood is gaining international popularity, it is gradually falling from grace. I mean, look at the kinds of spats these people end up having! Sure Ashutosh expected his movie to win, but was he justified in making a total bitch of himself at an international event and demean an unassuming actress? And while everyone was cracking at their sides, this guy displayed a defunct sense of humor and threatened to create a scene. Being such a notable director that he is, shouldn’t he have acted more maturely? Come to think of it, such a thing would never happen at the Oscars. Maybe it’s time for Bollywood to grow up!
Last Friday was an awful day for most of the world- Michael Jackson, the true-blue King of Pop passed away at an early age of fifty. Though it has been a while since I listened to his tracks, the news of his demise immediately brought back memories of my teen years when I , along with my gal-pals (Neha and Sonia) used to bang our heads to his songs with the stereo blaring to it maximum volume. I still remember how we used to swoon and drool every time MJ used to walk his famous moonwalk. The King was surely an important part of growing up for all us X-geners. Why, Neha’s elder bro even had a poster of him in his room!
Not surprisingly, even my Facebook home-page is flooded with tributes and RIP messages for the most loved pop celebrity. I can totally understand and identify with the feeling of grief and shock that a lot of people and facing right now.The news channels are of course going on and on about his life, death and everything else he did in between. Sometimes I feel that MJ, despite his popularity and fame, was also one of the most misunderstood and maligned public personalities. He got in and out of controversies and made headlines because of his obsession with plastic surgery.
Many friends have been sending me links to his songs and public appearances on you-tube. Those videos do bring back feelings of nostalgia mixed with passion. Here are some of my personal favorites:
Earth Song
They Don’t Care About Us
Scream
Sigh! Will pop music ever be the same?
Goodnight MJ ….Peace!
Who exactly is the Indian woman? Is she the sari-clad, tradition-embracing and culture-steeped stereotype featuring in most ‘K-serials’ or the booty-shaking, skimpily clad glamour doll heroine of the modern Indian cinema?
As Bollywood toys with the identity of the modern Indian woman, there seems to be a radical shift in the social and cultural context too. Courtesy Bollywood, the average urban Indian is more tolerant towards conversations involving sex, homosexuality, sex education and the likes. The image of the perfect Indian woman too has transformed. Here are a few observations.
Back Then:
‘Women from good families’ were supposed to be shy, demure and covered from head to toe. Any expression that had the slightest tinge of sexual passion was a strict no-no. And yes, no sex before marriage!
Women were ideally supposed to marry the very first man they met or fell in love with and consider themselves doomed if that does not happen for some reason. Suicidal attempts resulting from unrequited love/betrayal were not uncommon.
Wet saris and rain dances were the farthest you could go to look sensual or sexy (until Zeenat Aman trotted across the screen in a bikini)
If you touched alcohol or tobacco or even hung around with people who did, your reputation was in dire straits.
Nice girls were the ones that shunned fashion, partying, clubbing, fast bikes and naughty boys. A simpering, helpless miss was every man’s dream.
Now:
The limits of modernity are defined by partying, negligible clothes and loud behavior. It is perfectly acceptable (and rather normal) to switch relationships and partners every few months. That’s life on the fast track!
Pre-marital sex and live-in relationships are as acceptable as the song and dance routines.
Conservative clothing is only for wimps, doormats and victims of abuse.
Wet saris have given way to thongs, bikinis and what have you (and they are not an exclusive forte of the vamp or the ‘other woman’).
Women have become increasingly independent though it still helps to simper and act helpless every once in a while.
But can skimpy clothes and a footloose lifestyle be counted as sole indicators of women’s liberation? Aren’t we missing an important point here?
Yesterday, I happened to be at a friend’s wedding – a lavish affair I must say. Since the friend in question had more than a few connections in the Indian fashion industry, it was a glamour studded night with the who’s who of the modeling industry gracing the do. Needless to say, I was left a bit awe-struck. I had little better to do than scrutinize what all the beautiful guests were wearing and couldn’t help but notice a few dominant wedding party trends of the season. Afterall, the secret to being a true-blue fashionista is to catch the fashion bus before everyone else does!
Attire: Last year’s fusion look has given way to heavy-duty traditional designs, fabrics and silhouettes. I could see a splash of vibrant ‘indian’ hues like reds (the variety in shades was mind-boggling), fuschias, oranges, rusts, emerald greens, bright pinks and gold. Heavy, intricate embroideries seem to be back in a big way with dull gold and antique looks ruling the roost. More and more people have begun trading nets and georgettes for rich silks and brocades. Indulgent and opulent seems to be the flavor of the season.
Make-up: Given the mid-summer Indian heat, one would expect people to opt for nudes and sheer tones. I was pleasantly surprised to find a riot of colors in the make-up department as well. The look was predominantly traditional (sometimes bordering on dramatic) with lots of warm hues like gold, copper and bronze to accentuate the natural skin tone. Looks like bright, glossy and voluptuous lips are back in vogue along with brilliant shades of eye-liners like aquamarine, peacock blue, purple, green and metallics. And yes, not to forget the oodles of kohl that never seems to go wrong with Indian eyes.
Accessories: A traditional look is rather incomplete without adornments. The jewelry was classic but not chunky or blingy enough to outdo the outfit or cause any visual discomfort. The fashion gurus of the country sure know how to balance out the stuff and get it just right.
As much as men would like to believe otherwise, there are a lot many things that women can carry off with elan while they (men) clumsily fumble over them. Here, we have picked the top ten and this is only the beginning!
Tell One Hue From Another: Most men can’t tell apart colors outside of the VIBGYOR. Try telling them that your other dress was turquoise while this one is teal and watch them phase out.
Multitask: Have you seen a guy talk on the phone and simultaneously make a shopping list? You are more likely to come across a dodo than a man who multitasks.
Have Multiple Orgasms: Ah! Don’t we all love this one? After all that brouhaha about being the weaker sex, look who gets to have all the fun in the end.
Smile their way out of trouble: A sweet smile and a flirtatious glance is all it takes to wiggle out of speeding tickets, parking problems, missed deadlines and more…
Sip on Fruity Cocktails without Attracting Curious Looks: We look dainty when we hold strawberry margaritas and bold when we sip on scotch. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way for men.
Blame it on the PMS: Women can scream, shout, abuse, clam up and blame it on the hormones. No further questions.
Get pregnant: Now, try as hard as they may in other departments, this is one privilege that no guy can take away from us. Sure they get to do their bit but it’s never the same.
Wear High Heels: A short woman can always be five-inches taller whenever she wants but a short man will remain just that – short. Lucky, aren’t we?
Watch a TV Program without Changing Channels: Have you noticed how men glue themselves to a sports channel and keep flipping during commercials to see what’s showing on other channels. Haven’t seen many women do that.
Answer questions like “Am I Looking Fat?”: Really, there’s no correct answer to this one. Can’t blame it on the guys!
If you are done with the present guy in your life and are on a lookout for a new lover, here are some ‘types’ that you might want to steer away from (mind you, I speak from personal experience). Many a times, initial hots can turn into a nasty itch even before you can slip out of the sheets after your first session! Take my word for it; these guys are no good in bed!
The Slick, Suave Stunner:
He is the living prototype of Reggie Mantle from Archie comics. This guy loves little else than the mirror. He spends most of his waking hours pouting and preening, looking for the perfect clothes and spending hours to get that perfect hairstyle. He will continue to indulge in self-grooming and admiration even if you walk about the room naked.
The Sloth Bear:
This one stands in stark contrast to the slick, suave dude. He does not believe in washing up, using cologne, doing laundry or even brushing his teeth. His favorite pastime is to lie on a couch with a few boxes of pizzas, some cola and chicken bones strewn around him. Go to bed with him only if you have a fetish for dirty underwear. And yeah, don’t be surprised if you get a bit from last day’s breakfast in your mouth while kissing.
The Non-Initiator:
Master of the harem, this guy just expects to take it all lying down. He is pathetically clueless about the concept of foreplay and will heavily rely on you for the initiation, the climax and everything else in between. He might be an ideal choice if you think of sex as a selfless, unconditional, charitable service.
The Insecure Freak:
A girl’s just got to give this guy a pass if she doesn’t want to substitute her carnal cravings with conversation about performance anxiety, body image issues and “I’m-just-not-good-enough-for-you” ramblings. This guy will constantly grumble about how you deserve someone better looking/smarter/richer/ hornier than him. Well, if he insists….
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