Random Viewpoints

'Seeing more Koffee with Karan:

Sonam Kapoor is such a bitch. Especially the way she talks in this funny way with strange movements of her lips. I think she is the reason Deepika Padukone got depression. Deepika must have had sad days thinking I am in the same industry with such a crappy person. She is your quintessential Northie with a bitchy attitude. Add to her the next bitch in the industry Kareena, the whole thing will become your rich, Northie, bitchy kitty party with women. They act like they are royalty, blue blood... my foot.. Can't act to save their lives. They are only famous because of the obsession Indian men have for fair skin.

Oh! I have to say about the host, Karan Kumar Johar.. He is so fake it is actually funny how he tries to be genuine while trying to dish the maximum gossip and try to get into the other person's life. And then he blames the "pap." He is the biggest "pap."

Of the lot, I like Deepika and Katrina the best. Deepika because she is so sorted and subtle and Katrina who seems like a genuine person and then both were dumped by Ranbir which shows what a dud he is. Plus he is the brother of the bitch queen of the industry, Kareena. Oh BTW, keeps on saying how wonderful her husband is and how happy she is.. I really wonder how can Saif, who seems very sensible person, be such a nut when it comes to choosing her. I guess that way he is dumb and that is why he like Ranbir, because, like himself, Ranbir cannot choose between smart choices and nutter-butter cases. I am sure if Saif one day would come to his senses, he will ROYALLY dump her 'coz she is a ditz.

Koffee with Karan

I was watching Koffee with Karan season 6. The episode of Jhanvi Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Whilst, the saccharine appearance of their relationship is evident, I could sense the underlying rivalry between step-siblings. The intense irritation in Arjun Kapoor's answers and competitive nature was invisible in his earlier appearance with Ranvir Singh where he described the pain and sorrow of his mother passing away; growing up seeing a mother pine for her husband who had left her for a more good-looking woman; the angst of growing up without a father; the knowing that his father's home was just a stone's throw away, yet he could not access his dad; knowing that his father (a successful producer) will never launch his career or support him in the intensely nepotistic Bollywood; knowing that his father and his step-sisters are blissfully enjoying the perfect home, while his mother's home lay broken. The episode with Ranvir Singh was fraught and heavy with his emotions against his father.

Fast-forward: recent episode with his step-sibling Jhanvi Kapoor. It was not a friendly competition. There was a sense of irritation when she was winning. He was angry at Karan and behaving like a whiner. The child who lost his father to another kid has raised its ugly head and occupied his entire being. You could see Karan Johan trying to pacify a tantrum. There was the same look that I have when I know my daughter is being nasty but I have to put up with the behavior because it is a public place. Karan was vainly trying to pacify him while he was behaving like a toddler, unable to accept the impending defeat. The realization that life is yet again going to take away something precious from  him and land it wrapped in a gift-box into his step-sister's hand. 

I don't blame Arjun Kapoor. He has faced the worst fear a child can face. Fear of abandonment. You could see the child in him fighting against fate when the hamper was won by Jhanvi. Some might call it exaggerated assessment, but I could see a young Arjun Kapoor witnessing life meet out a bad deal for the second time.

I could also see his intense hatred for South Indians. The South Indian woman who stole his father and left his mother heart-broken. Jhanvi says she would spend time with Deepika Padukone and they would hear South-Indian film music together. He quips "She would go a Thangabali on you." It may seem he wanted it to be funny, but there was a sense of irritation toward Jhanvi's interest in South-Indian music.

Watching the episode, what intensely struck me was Jhanvi. Her ability to stay connected to her Telugu roots, for which I think the credit goes to Sridevi. She cultivated a connection despite the glam wold of Bollywood as well as the artificiality of a North-Indian culture. It is true. While South-Indians have many flaws, artificiality is not one of them. North-Indians would never mean what they say. They are polished in their language and attitude but they hold intense hatred for anything South-Indian. North-Indians also have a desire to dominate. It is in their genes to subjugate the other. Sridevi has raised her girls to be rooted to their Telugu culture, which is difficult given the scenario that they were raised in a North-Indian background. Kudos to Sridevi that Jhavnvi talks of Vijay Devarakonda in high regards, which means she actually sees Tollywood movies and keeps track of South-Indian cinema.

It is just not Arjun Kapoor. I felt the North-South divide with all actors invited to the show. On being asked who they thought was the better actress: Alia Bhatt or Deepika Padukone. They all chimed Alia Bhatt. Whilst Alia Bhat is a good actress, she can never even come in close competition with Deepika Padukone. She could never handle roles as diverse as Padmavati or Mastani.  She could never go from a jeans to a historical attire. She could not portray roles that demand dignity and royalty. Alia Bhatt can be your everyday girl but never a Cleopatra. Yet, people in the show said she is a better actress. That is because among the contemporary star actresses there are no true-blue North Indians except Alia Bhatt. It is obvious that it is a competition between Alia and Deepika for the top position. North-Indians film fraternity desperately want Alia to rule the roost, but Deepika clearly has taken the crown much to their dismay. It actually funny because Deepika us not even your typical South-Indian. She is as much a South-Indians as Madhuri Dixit. Unlike, Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Rekha, Vyjayanthimala or even Vidya Balan, Deepika may have been brought up in Bangalore, but the genes are Aryan. Are they not Konkani Brahmins? So Aryan, So North-Indian. Yet, because she comes from Bangalore, she is tagged as South-Indian. Yes, her tastes may be South-Indian in music but she married a down-right, hard-core epitome of North-Indian Delhi boy.

Back to Jhanvi Kapoor. I felt sorry for her. Her desperate attempt to be part of the Bollywood and a family that has taken her into their fold to show their magnanimity. It should have been evident to her. Anshula, the sister of Arjun, would not help her in the last round because her brother threatened her. He would not let history repeat his childhood. He will not lose out to his step-sister. He may donate his spoils to her, but he will not let her win the loot.  Whatever they may portray: a broken family that got back together; modern family with peace among its members; the last statement by Jhanvi sums up the equation of their family "why did Anshula not help me win?"

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts:

I think everyone should stop subscribing to news, chat, tweet or post anything about politics. No politically inclined feeds. Nothing remotely related to politics. I am going for a detox on politics. No news. So how will you be aware what is happening politically. Dont be politically aware. Just watch everyone around you. See who is working for your community. Keep your eyes and ears open. If you feel there is a visible change around you, then re-elect the person for your community. This way, politicians will try bring about a change instead of publicity on internet, news etc. I have liking or commenting on anything political. Helps remove unwanted feeds because what I feel or perceive is not something someone else perceives. Nothing can convince the other person because egos are more stronger than truth. Plus, there are so many versions of truth. I am on a political detox. If my community looks better from what it did 2 months ago, it means the elected person is doing their job. Else they are not doing anything, even if they announce in the media about their efficiency and their contributions to the community. If each person would look around and witness what the their elected representative is doing and is happy with the changes in the community, that alone should be the deciding factor to vote the person. Nothing else. 

Ode to my iPhone

Lost my iPhone. Wrote a song. To be sung to the tune of Bollywood hit "Dream Girl," picturized on Hemamalini and Dharmendra.

Tujh mein whatsapp hai

Dil candy crush hai

Ya qayamate phone hai

Bas rutba hi rutba hai

iPhone, iPhone,

Steve Jobs ki ghazal, iPhone

Tim Cooks ki fasal, iPhone

kahin to milegi, kabhi to milegi,

aaj nahin to kal, iPhone

lipti case mein, simti Siri mein - 2

mujhe satane aati hai, bheegi iTunes mein

paas rahti thi vo ab door hai gayi, kaun? iPhone..

iPhone, iPhone,

Steve Jobs ki ghazal, iPhone

Tim Cooks ki fasal, iPhone

kahin to milegi, kabhi to milegi,

aaj nahin to kal, iPhone

gham se bikhar jaooon, jee se guzar jaaoon - 2

kya teri marzi hain, bin dekhe mar jaaon

oh kabhi mil bhi aakar, hey iPhone