Bollywood Revisited...spiced with Australian writing

Shantaram... the white Australian fugitive who finds his love and destiny in the streets of Bombay , is a romantic potboiler for anyone in love with Bombay.Gregory David Roberts who seems to be a real 'Mumbaiker' has churned out a very bollywood script where the hero is a typical Hindi hero. The larger than life macho hero saves the women he loves ,has a few good fights,makes it to through jail and much much more!This book has a good dose of adventure ,scenes of escape from high security prison, fights with inmates,horse rides on treacherous mountains and some street fights.The hero of this book 'Lin' seems to have a charm that helps him escape every time.From jail to crime to drugs to betrayal by his lover... 'Lin' always comes away clean albeit with a few ghosts in his head.The characterisation of Lin is so perfect that it seems phony. He stays in the slum and helps out as a doctor, then he joins the dons of the Mumbai underworld and learns the tricks of the trade, and then he goes to Afghanistan to fight with and for his father figure the mafia head Khader Khan . He then returns to Mumbai escaping miraculously, death and a broken heart.He is just good enough to help every friend in need and angry enough to join the mafia, violent enough to defend himself but not violent enough to kill.He loves but does not trust..not anyone especially himself. The author has made such a typical hero that i am sure the movie Shantaram will be a great hit in India.To give credit where it is due, Gregory Roberts is a very articulate writer. He uses clever twist of words that make a reader think about the written word.Some of the lines he has written will be remembered long after the book and the plot will be.The charcter Karla once says, " Truth is a bully we all pretend to like" .Thoughts like this has such an impact on the mind that we may observe life and try to verify the truth in his words. For being an Australian writer , he has used loads of Indian sentiment and our sensibilities of life.All in all , it is a vast book with a few special moments, some great lines and a very very predictable plot!As for it being an authentic autobiographical compositon, all i have to say is Mr.Roberts.. if he has lived such a life.. kudos to him!!! He has lived a truly remarkable Indian hero's life.As I am sure my fellow Indians will agree, we all live rather mundane lives compared to Linbaba!!!

Shopping mania

What is it about shopping that drive women crazy and the men crazier??Today i noticed in every shop i went all the women were having fun mixing and matching clothes, shoes ,accessories..... and the poor men were all huddled together in chairs drinking coffee and making comments on their respective wives indulgence!Each man had his own theory about why his wife had to go shopping.They ridiculed their wives insane interest in this vague action. I would say shopping to a woman represents everything sex does to a man! It makes them feel needed and that makes them feel powerful. If only every man knew that all woman wanted was to feel loved and wanted!!!

God is in the driving seat of life

There are so many ironies in life one cannot comprehend.And many more one cannot even grasp.Why do these things happen? If we ,as the most intelligent of the species decide and deliver all our actions ,how is it our own life is suddenly out of control? Just when you think that you have achieved what you want ,something goes horribly wrong! If we are in control of our fate, then why do we make choices,which we know are wrong for us? After all man is a rational being , where does this destructive streak to lose control and sanity come in?
This is the metaphor I think works: we are on a ride and God is in the driving seat of our lives.He is the one steering ,and navigating the traffic.Just when we get comfortable with his speed and tactics ,he applies the brakes and we stumble and fall!He helps us up, dusts off the dirt and heals us enough to ride. And the whole journey starts again!! Only we always feel like we are the one's riding.Like playing a game of virtual reality!

Emanicipation of KIKI

I hate pop music!!! There I said it. Mariah Carey wearing the skimpiest clothes her assets can support , that shrilly voice and that candy sugared lyrics!!!!!!!!! Yucky stuff!!What does she mean though with Emanicipation of Mimi , she broke the boundaries of aesthetic dressing and the sound barrier a long time ago!! The rest of the rat pack the simpson sisters, britney spears backstreet boys .... grow up!!! are all absolutely useless. The spend more time ,money and effort on the videos and clothes than on music. And what is this connection between pop songs and feelings of love. All you pop music enthusiasts GET A LIFE !!!

Rewiring of the Brain

today i tried in vain to remind my brain (rusted from lack of exercise) the concept of thinking! I tweaked and turned ,alas no result. Suffocated by yesterdays marijuana , my brain refused to budge like an old rotten car which refuses to start . The spark was provided by the possibility of making money........which i didnt because.......my brain short circuited with overdose of information.So right now im in the process of rewiring my brain. Looking forward to suggestions ..