- ” If the last two years of living with the virus have taught us anything, it is to remain humble, but grounded in self-belief, never losing confidence and optimism. As the great Lata Mangeshkar – whom we lost recently– sang in her immortal voice – ,आज फिर जीने जी तमन्ना है. Together with the spirit being the next line of this beautiful song, she has conveyed the eternal messge of optimism — आज फिर मरने का इरादा है. ( RBI Governor Mr. Shashikant Das in his Monetary policy speech )
- As expected, finally we have learnt to live with Covid-19. It’s time to stop mass testing and daily release of infection number and redefine a Covid case as one where infection is followed by hospitalization. Omicron has shown that high transmissibility is at itself is no public health crisis. Daily infection figure create fear and unnecessary panic that need to be minimised. Indis’s adult vaccination has been a big achievement at 77 % . It’s time now to focus on economic activity and livelihood.
- The rise and growth of Web-series/films on OTT platform has a lot to with pandemic for last two years. Surely, it offers creative freedom, space for artists to try their histrionics. How far they have succeeded may be a matter of debate and speculation. When बधाई हो come, can बधाई दो be far behind?. When pandemic is waning, people are fed up with OTT products, highly embarrassed watching it not only with family but also with spouse, a family entertainer like बधाई दो on big screen is the right choice. It attempts to normalize the depiction of gay and lesbian community and their romantic relationship with the backdrop of marriage, middle class families but shown with sensitivity and maturity. The best part of the movies it gives perspective to the taboo subject even in small town and bring families together.
- गहराईयां is too complicated and delves deep in modern human relationship which average middle class audience may find it too difficult to comprehend but they are catching it up fast. Farhan Akhtar did it in 2001 in his दिल चाहता है with elan, Shakur Batra tried this in 2022 with realism. One thing for sure, you may like it or may not but you can’t ignore it. You may sympathise with present young generation as to ये कहां आ गये वो…. People with no money and beauty may consider themselves lucky after watching the tragic lives of people with money and beauty, villas and boats. Deepika is simply outstanding in her complicated character while Siddharth has a lot to learn as an actor. Naseeruddin Shah, in brief role, as usual a scene steeler.
- Writer Adhhyay Sengupta in his article How We Should Mourne suggested the national mourning for Lata Mangeshkar could be more soothing and less militaristic. Like every state funeral, there was a brass band which played the ‘ Last Post ‘ and servicemen fired rounds of gunfire. Watching it on television was painful and you could not help wondering – for a singer who had regaled us with her magical voice for seven decades – could we as nation not be more imaginative than sounding military honours ? The harshness of the sound at her funeral clashed jarringly with the unmatched sweetness of her vioce. But the death of Lata Mangeshkar provided us with an opportunity to reflect upon our musical choices at a state funeral as well as it’s overwhelmingly militaristic overtone. Lata’s own, ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगो could there not be more original and heartfelt ways to grieve ? Would the pain of a nation in mourning not be best soothed by Lata’s own voice ? As a grateful nation mourns her, may our mourning be as true as her voice. As one of her most memorable song reminds us, death after all, is a only game of hide and seek.
तेरा जाना..दिल के अरमानों का लूट जाना,
कोई देखे..बन के तकदीरों का मिट जाना