NITYA.. FOR EVER .., EXPRESSIONS

Just imagine a talent hunt show, is being done by some production house to identify and select a new good actress/ heroine for the tollywood or bollywood movie. They would fix some parameters as mandatory even to apply or come for auditions. Some of them that occurs to everyone are 1) height, 2) weight 3)looks 4) appearance 5) dance and few other stereotypes. According to me, not much importance is given to acting skills, fit to a character as most of our movies are hero centric and require heroines more for ornamental value and also to lend some balance.

Our heroines need to look beautiful, have to dance which includes doing an item number convincingly and most often have to either look dumb or just hang around to fulfil voyeuristic appeal of hero or the audience. This is the story of a proper, pucca normal heroine in our Indian movies. Hence very few heroines made a mark and if they were talented, had very less to prove because of themes and stories which did not allow them to emote. Still We have good actress like kajal, soundarya, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, and few others in the last 2 to 3 decades. We have had several of them till 80’s which includes Rekha, Jaya sudha etc ( names are not important here) ..

In the light of the above, it will seem like an exaggeration if we talk and eulogize an actress of recent times. Yes, indeed, Nitya menon is a class apart of recent time actress. She has every disadvantage not to be considered as heroine for a typical Indian movie and she would never stand a chance in the auditions as the stereotype Indian film maker would not allow her a consideration to be an actress.  Kudos to Malayalam cinema for giving her an opportunity to come into the movies and we need to give special thanks to Nandini reddy for bringing her to tollywood.

I saw the only telugu movie twice with intent and not out of force in last 2 years and that is Gundejaari. The movie is a honest, clean, entertainer and a genuinely feel good movie with almost negligible flaws. More than the movie, director , music, which are good by any standards, what stood out is NITYA menon performance. I am not jumping into conclusion or getting emotional, but she did everything to justify the intricacies of her character in the movie to the core.

She acts in to bring out,  all the  feelings and needs of the character to the perfection. When she smiles, it brings tears of relief, when she sheds tears; it touches us deeply and chokes us. When she is displaying anger, you are with her, and when she is jealous, it seems perfect and when she is confused, you still empathize with her. She is just brilliant with her eyes, and what she expressed is loads and tons of talent with her most expressive eyes. Her voice has sincerity and thanks god she dubs her own voice. It is so refreshing, so natural and so real that one simply falls in love.

The acting reflects her intelligence as an actress as she must taken all pains and time to understand the character and get into the skin of it. Otherwise, the acting can never come so convincing and trust me the movie is all about her and success is 80% because of her. She is just wonderful, she is adorable and undoubtedly the best actress since many years and for years to come.

There is this urge to write a story and make a movie only for her. Such is the inspiration of a good brilliant performance. Poor nitya, had to do a dance in the film and can imagine how she must have resisted but though she doesn’t look convincing , she passed like amitabh in earlier days when he was made to dance. Her expressions in office, her performance in her dad’s presence, her happiness during the birthday event, and the final scene is all there and to be seen to be appreciated. 

Thank god, we do have wonderful good actress who can be banked for a neat performance and not just for skin show, running around trees and giving dumb interviews. Like they say, kuch pane ke liye kuch kona padta hai... to highlight someone, surely in this case, one has to talk of reality check especially when nitya is so good and so far away from the rest.

This is not to take away the looks and her beauty. Keep a tight close and ask her to emote and you are sure to fall in love. She is beautiful in that sense, very indian and natural in appeal. She is one a boy would love to take to her mother and then propose. She seems like a perfect lady. The sincerity of her expressions makes us feel dependable and treat as a great chum. 

Folks, watch gundejaari for nitya.. She has excelled as an actress and proved as the strong contender for all awards next year. More than that, she has won all hearts for her brilliance and conviction .

THE CONNECT & PAVAN KALYAN

Love, admiration, liking, respect, can never be demanded and got and this is the law of nature. This is known to all, despite failing to accept the same. Power, domination, money, position will enable attention from people as the needs of people showing forced love, respect will be met. This again is natural, understandable and is witnessed all the time in our lives. We see people flock to politicians, we experience, accolades showered on film personalities no end and most creatively and boringly also.

People do everything to stay in the power, position, to get favors and hence get into the habit of praising, following and surrendering to people who make difference to their lives like money, career etc, and all that come under the category of “COMPROMISE” ..

But there are few people in this world who do not care for recognition, and do not even know how to handle them when it comes in abundance.. Yes , i am referring to PAVAN KALYAN, referred to as Power Star.  I am witness to several audio launches when thousands of people chant his name and wait for him to come. I have never seen men of renunciation who are in penance to seek god. But this experience of audio launches always make me think deeply about the man, his mystic and the mystery on the huge , indescribable adoration which is so unconditional and devoid of expectation.

I would rubbish the argument that, people want to see the film celebrity and are crazy about them.. If that is the case, in most audio launches where they seek him, there are enough celebrities that they get to see, hear and experience. But they are not happy at that and they just want him and only him. This is not to say that, they are not crazy about others. With him and about him, i feel the need to invent a word which is just not madness, obsession or any known feeling and word. The way they connect with pavan kalyan has to be seen to be believed. 

Way back in 2009, during the audio launch of Maghadeera, fans went berserk at the sight of celebrities on stage and with the coming of Chiranjeevi, there was a deafening sound at the venue and the hooting, clapping etc went on for close to 3 minutes which is a huge time by itself. Then came, the power star, and this time, the adulation would not stop for nearly 10 minutes. The hall can accommodate around 2000 plus and it seemed as if each person suddenly got the energy of 5 people and the noise was like coming from more than ten thousand people. But where does the energy come from? Sheer presence of pavan kalyan and they forget themselves, their miseries, and bring in their inner voice and express their immense love. I haven’t seen such unconditional love for anyone in life.

What does it take for anyone to deserve this? Exceptional talent, highest goodness or proved charity or hope that he will stand by them?  How can anyone of these be possible for a film star? Thanks to Sharrath marar my CEO then, i has this treasure able interaction with pavan kalyan for ten mts and he is downright modest about the entire thing.  He in fact acknowledged that, he is gifted and does not deserve so much devotion from fans ( though he did not use this word). He went ahead and said, he does not know how he can ever repay such gratitude. To that extent he is helpless, acknowledges the following and striving to give good entertainment for which they wait all the time.

This continued in puli audio launch and then came panja audio launch. There was a queue literally for few kilometres and politicians today would have loved that for themselves and would have saved money for getting people to attend meetings. It was a task for all the celebrities to get into the venue and it took more than an hour for several people and many had to go back.

Inside the hall, they were all just waiting patiently to listen to him and have a glance from a distance where they can only imagine that they have seen him. For most it seemed like a power situation when they go back to villages and tell their relatives and friends that they have seen him or heard his talk in person. For sure they waited for this moment for several months. In most cases they would have saved money from months and sacrificed quite a few things of their life including food. 

It was an effort for pavan kalyan to complete a sentence as they would burst into cacophony with every word he utters. He is very uncomfortable giving a speech or addressing his fans. But they could see his authentic gestures and they all returned home happily, as if they achieved the IIM or IIT seat. Such is their raw pleasure and such is the power of this man, of which he has no clue as all this is incredible.

At the cost of incurring wrath from fans and everyone let me state few facts. Pavan kalyan’s acting may be   equal but   not greater than chiranjeevi’s , ( in some areas) he cannot dance as well as bunny or charan.. He does not look very convincing in fights and his humour is good but again may  not be better than chiranjeevi. But without any of these comparisons, he is a great actor of excellence.  Of course no acting, no performance is comparable, nor are there any fixed parameters to judge the competence. It is all about the acceptability of people and demand for a star. How does this happen is for the patrons and star and any comment or understanding is insufficient and irrelevant.

 But that connect that audiences have for pavan kalyan beats me no end and there is always a temptation to understand him and know him better to arrive at some conclusion... , saying .... ok these are the reasons for which people go frenzy about him without considerations of success and failures. But we can get to those points of conclusion except saying he is outstanding in several aspects.

For all others, success and failures matter in the box office, for the demand, etc. But for him, the presence, the stay in the field itself creates demand and everyone knows how desperate people are from all crafts to work with him. They wait for him endlessly and for with futility too. Few succeed by surprises and many established and achieved also get rejected by surprises too.

On a personal note, i used to not understand his attitude of silence and not addressing his fans in events or not attending enough events. But how much can he talk and what can he talk? is anything enough for fans or is anything that will please him to talk? His silence is his strength and his following is his success, and his demand is his reality. Everything else is insignificant.. There is no attempt to judge or make mark on any of his talents, attributes or persona.

This thinking is an attempt to understand what is it in him that makes fans go frenzy and devotee like? and why this mystery around him while the need for a star is otherwise? We accept monks in isolation and we accept politicians’ indifference as silence and we accept all the helplessness around. He is known to be deeply philosophical, Marxist at heart, spiritual in practises, believes and deeply in sync with peoples miseries. Hence the problem is in trying to understand a person who has set different standards for himself and probably for stars for future.

There is only one word which i can sum up. “ CONNECT”.... this is the reality between him and fans... No one has place in between, not even producers and directors who make beehive line to get his audience and approval. This connect, is like between a god, devotee, husband wife, parents children, life death, and all 2 forces of continuum. We accept or reject but not get into his space. Its a god gift and a hope for millions who wait and this wait is not like elections or for jilted lovers but beyond and incomprehensible.... Simply hats off with suspension of all judgements and attempts to understand or approve.

The recent audio launch and people’s reaction again for the nth time prompted me with this writing. What people crave for, he rejects or does not hold much value to several things that people strive for ,  is what made me respect this man more.. Why should anyone get into his personal space..... and  let’s look at people soulfully. That is how we can appreciate the best and not think about unknown and unseen

GOODNESS, BHAGWAD GITA, NEWTON AND DIVINE DESIGN

 Life in the last few months has been differently tough; riddled with many issues which bring in several questions, for which there will never be a concrete answer. But, hopefully, i think i have gained in terms of learning to understand life little better and accept several intricate realities of life. My professor in MA sociology at UOH, Mr Imadi,  used to say, great men are product of crisis and he quoted several instances of how all great people in history had crisis of some kind, be in family, finance, or recognition .

But in today’s world, crisis is not making people great as they seem to be part of everyone’s life, occurring too often and so no time to handle crisis, enough to make people great. I have no intension of becoming great and want just to be able to manage the self and be useful to people. I was just wondering how each person in life handles the crisis that comes in their lives.

Probably few turn poetic, by looking inwards and come up with good works of art form. Few people might actually take to wrong path and get into bad habits. Many will show frustration on others and this will have indirect bearing on other living or on people working with them. Some might get into reading, some may write books,  some turn spiritual, (loose word i know) , some just ignore and most compromise as the way of life is marked by this reality in general. I can definitely not cover all the ways that people handle the crisis. I would be glad to know how people handle crisis,  in all seriousness. 

I get into thinking and not in isolation as i bring in all the learning of the past wisdom, books, people’s help and trusted objective analysis of the entire situation. But still, most of it is not enough as one has to live with the pain and helplessness with total freshness. Pain is a not a commodity which u can save for benefit and each time it is different. But i am going to write the crux in next 2 paragraphs and with brevity on why i set to write this abstract sounding piece.

I have realized, and can confidently say that its, “once again,” that, most of what we know does not come handy as immediately useful, say like an injection to a disease. All our knowing and understanding probably works like a homeo or ayurvedic medicine where, the problem is treated at the base level and hence takes time to route it out of system. But the belief system is very important, in what is administered and need for knowledge also to enjoy and experience the benefit.

Let me hit straight to the issue.... I knew that expectation in any thing is the root cause of all problems. But yet, it did not help me from avoiding the pain and anguish. I had learnt and implemented that, good things when done by us, need not do good back to us, the way we want and expect it to happen. But , the learning doesn’t come handy when needed most. Last week, on 2 issues, i felt very strongly that, i just did 2 actions, totally and absolutely good from any angle or perspective. But the results were pretty bad and left me deeply hurt. I now realize that, the hurt is not  about the issue, not people but , MYSELF as  i i had expectations from good actions that i did .. All good actions if they are good will have its own good effect, if the good actions sustain forever. One cannot get hurt on the good action done, expecting some result. Good is nature’s property and we are just instruments of it. What good can do , will do, should not be our botheration. Lemme give an example which i told grusha ..

A guy is knocking at my door and cries saying he is very hungry and hasn’t eaten food since 2 days. I show mercy and give him 100 rupees and ask him to eat some food. Now, without my knowledge, i am expecting some acknowledgment from him, in terms of thanks, or praise before someone or something else. He  does not do any of those. Then i keep a watch on him and he is just buying some liquor and drinking gloriously with a pride. I get hurt thinking he cheated me saying he is hungry but he is actually wanting to indulge.. Now what do i do ? Become cynical and not trust people? Or ignore the incident or stop doing “good”. None of this applies. Here i would like to conclude by referring to bhagwad gita and newton..

1)   Just keep doing actions and mostly what is good for general good without motive or eye on results. All of us know this from ages but unable to apply.. but we have no choice but keep understanding and implementing this again. Nature knows and will take of what should come out of  the good done by you as it has the huge task of general good, thru which all of us all benefit individually. Hence our good deed becomes an ingredient to nature and not a product. Hence , let this be beneficial to nature for general good.

2)   Newton’s third law of motion is not relevant in equal measure in all situations. Either they work on long term basis( unlike the original theory)  in some instances or the way it works need not always be equal and opposite. Even terms like equal and opposite have become relative. Is not Einstein more relevant , hence ?? 

In summary, good has to be done and only good has to be done and when you do actions, just do it without any expectations as the demand that each of us have, may be, is far lesser than what nature wants to give us at a particular point of time. May be we need bhendi curry and we demand chicken? Let us not confuse the nature with our demands. 

There is a design of divinity and each of us are part of that scheme. This is difficult to follow but i am doing it and so everyone can do it .. yes in all sincerity ..... Just act and leave everything to nature. Before acting on something , just pause and think, if its doing harm to someone directly or indirectly. Then do not do it consciously and if your conscience is clear , act and  leave the result to nature .

Thanks for reading this as you participated in my peace and discovery one more time in life.

TEA POWDER, TURMERIC, ABBULU AND SMILES

                   TEA POWDER, TURMERIC, ABBULU AND SMILES

 My new teacher in life is ABBULU, the watchman at my apartments. The most precious and expensive commodity ( look at my choice of word COMMODITY
 ... gosh..) comes very easy for him. The SMILE. He wears that smile all the time and effortlessly so.  He made me realize , how energetic a smile can be, both for the person sporting it and for people watching people smile. I have never seen him without that trade mark smile and pleasantness. Hence he is a real STHITHAPRAGNA.

Abbulu never read any of Robin sharma kind of books, nor did he take any lessons from the spiritual gurus. He would never know what is management, organization, and all theories taught and learnt by educated like me. But he is a real life hero and he manages his life and his family life very well. He has 3 daughters and he got one daughter married 2 months ago quite successfully ( monetary terms) and has 2 more daughters. 

His son in law had come for the Ugadi and there was enough reason for Abbulu and his wife to get majorly worried and worked up as this was the first festival after the wedding. We know how the son in laws behave. He had to manage some money and had to manage space of  just one room for 2 daughters, himself, wife and new wed couple. No complaint, no tension and no panic and he just managed quite beautifully.  They have this innate inner strength.

I was actually little worked up for him as really don't know how these son in laws would be ( after a very sad experience at home) . I talked to him, praised him and told him that your parents in law have a great regard for you and pepped his spirits. Some genuine and some little exaggerated comments as i wanted the Abbulu team to be happy and recognized. Its OK, i feel, for these small exaggerations, as they make people happy, and  any way we do it most of the time on the famous and the rich, quite uselessly. 

Me and abbulu share a good rapport and he shares his small worries subtly. I love him for his smile as its most difficult, especially the genuine ones. According to me he is the richest and wealthiest as compared to most RICH BIKAARIS in this world. The Rich bikaris are the people who have 100 crores and above, but still do everything to get few thousands , in every occasion, at the cost of exploiting poor and deserved people. They are not just greedy but filthy people,who are in abundance these days and ruining our country of all the good and nice.

I feel so cosy, comfortable and easy with ABBULU that, i really don't mind asking him for one tea spoon tea powder when the shops are closed and the indiscipline me does not look at the stock availability at home. Ask him for a tea spoon and he gives 100 grams and not returnable. Today morning , i had to borrow some turmeric from him as shops were not open and it was too hot to go out and get it. The catch here is not about my life style but the relationship that i have with this man who is so grounded and knows how to be happy in life despite so many hurdles.

I feel guilty to honk the car at 11 in the night and ask him to open the gate, but he promptly opens and does it with a smile. Many a time , he cautioned me against anger on issues with just a smile and his  Dhristi..  All that does not come by reading and talking but by believing in small things in life and he does and i learn from him too. He is worried about my dinner and feels happy when he sees me cooking , late in the night sometimes. I feel like telling him that,  am indeed cooking and eating because you care, not just for me but the need to respect and eat food. They teach us to respect basic aspects and very subtly and they cant give gyan.

Never ending lessons i get from him and his family each day. I pray that Abbulu's of the world should always be like this as they make mockery of people who are eternally in search of happiness. yes, i am one of them. I am glad to have abbulu around. I will search for abbulu everywhere, whose smile speaks of the purity of their thought and feeling , un like the RICK bikaaris...