On Rental

Have you ever got a feeling, specially as you age that you are on rental?

Your life is of limited tenure, your professional skills may  change gradually, your relationships grow beyond and away from you, your thinking capabilities show diminished multitasking abilities, and you look at your journey having slipped over the midway line.

It makes sense that we are on rental. We cannot buy life forever, simply because there is no offer from the landlord. As we grow older, the value of life depreciates. Insurance premiums are raised, and many schemes are denied.  All employers seek those who are below 40. Air hostesses instinctively keep a hand outstretched to prevent a fall. Even on the roads, Kaku changes to Jethu and then onto Dadu. And the media reports with a horrendous glee of so many mishaps during the day. Life is getting cheaper.  Economists feel that rental is the way to go in the future. There is a wide variety of choices.

Your professional status is bought by the client. He determines your value and so your rent. This is true in the Private Sector. Government employees get fixed salaries. They are incapable of  getting higher rent. Their value is fixed by someone who does not know them and in accordance with some archaic directive.

See how cameras are being rented.Photographers need avenues of publication. So the freelancer tries to sell in the market and in a sense , the market or buyers rent him for a while.The professional sportsmen are also rented , even guys like Sachin Tendulkar. All the products he associates with, have in a way rented him and all the logos he exhibits are using him by paying a fee. The amateur exhibits wherever he can. He is trying to be rented for peer appreciation.

Apart from houses, cars, computers, furniture, DVDs and anything you can think of, even uteruses, human blood or parts of human bodies are available for rent. is there any relationship rental?

Do we rent our parents, at least on a timeshare basis? Or are we in a way, renting our children? Though there is a strong emotional level, is there a economic rental also? Or is this only timeshare rental?

Rental has its advantages. No one owns anyone. After a certain time when it suits one partner, they can walk out, leaving a window through which they may or may not come back. Rental rates are lower than outright purchases. It is better to think of relationships on rental basis. Then there will be less of heartaches and emotional baggage. There will be infinitely less recrimination and anger.

Life will be of small segments of rentals—for better or for worse!!!!!

Listen to this saucy, irreverent song from the film RENT!!!!

Take me for for what I am !!!!!!

ENNUI

 

This has been a bad week. One patient in which we had done a pleasing hip replacement, died suddenly of a massive myocardial infarction, a month after his discharge from hospital, and when he had started walking with vigour. Another patient who had Renal failure after surgery elsewhere,, and who had been successfully reoperated by us 2 years ago, and who was working at his profession, died after a fatal attack of pneumonia. Another patient developed a sudden complication which fortunately we rectified with difficulty.

The rains did come but ever so briefly. The weather remained sultry and humid. I missed important meetings. But above all was this terrible tiredness, which was like a winter smog, encompassing, surrounding me throughout  day and night making my movements sluggish and fatigued.

Sylvia Plath –the magnificent Talent

Facetiously, people blamed the weather. But this was deeper, affecting my desire to work and my enthusiasm was forced and artificial. I knew this was ennui.

Wikipedia had this to say.

The original French word Ennui, means general lack of interest, boredom or depression. It may also refer to oppressive boredom. It refers to a state of being rather than a passing mood as is generally the case with "boredom."

The solution was Home made Ilish Maacher Biryani!!!! washed down with gallons of cold water, lime and mango juice……Pluto made a beeline for the door and walking with him was cathartic, because he never lost his enthusiasm for strange new smells!!!

During this time, I ventured into poetry, the natural refuge for a Bengali—but I penned this one in English!!!!Again this ten minute sojourn was invigorating… though I would agree that the morbidity factor was overplayed…

ENNUI

We live our lives in drips and drabs,

Coffee cups and restless nights,

Doing what we did last year,

Facing the same old sights.

We wait for storms to rage and change,

Flower shells should bloom.

No lifting of  our smallest finger,

No effort to shatter gloom. 

Till one day we look and find,

Cobwebs in finger spaces,

The walk has changed to a crawl,

Dust lies in face crevices.

What stops us, I wonder still,

From shedding our outer skin,

And cleave the blue waters

Like a brazen shark fin.

Must we wait for the birds to come,

And the wind and mountain stream,

Summer skies to enroof us,

As we look at dreams.

Or should we change,and clang the Bell,

With vigour new and found,

Eyes bright and sparkling still,

Feet savouring the grassy ground.

Maybe still a galloping steed,

Will stomp upon the fields,

Warriors in shining glory shall,

Defy and will not yield.

Or will ennui win the day,

Arms lie static on the bed,

Air conditioned deaths for all,

Pictures waiting to fade.

Some day then you may find me,

A stretched out silent form,

Arms raised in rigor mortis,

Still welcoming violent storms.

Don’t waste time in grief or tears,

Write this epitaph somewhere friends,

He woke up late, but did his best,

He tried to change the trends.

 

It did not feel this long while writing it—but there it is—what ennui can do to you, if you let it get on top. It is always good to know the opposite of happiness…

Mocambo lunch

We suddenly decided this morning to go for continental food for lunch. Having burnt our fingers at the new joints, we decided to play it safe and go to Park Street. Mocambo was our chosen destination—for no particular reason. Peter Cat is still closed after the Stephen Court Tragedy. Oasis is a little cramped. Trinca seems to have a changed flavour. So Mocambo ,it was.

Just a minute away from the Park Street—Free School Street crossing, we entered without having to wait, which is a common occurrence in the evening. The place is old world, with a colonial hangover struggling to keep pace with the brash new generation. Red leathered sofas, hanging red lampshades, long white coated waiters and stewards with black suits—all contributed to this mixed ambience.

There were no cocktails. The drink list is just about adequate, and we settled down to a small Smirnoff with ice and Limca (not very sophisticated!!!). The snacks were a crisp namkeen which went well with the drink. We asked for  Surf and Turf, well done with mushroom sauce. Do not go for the pepper sauce as they will simply pour it out of a bottle. The preparation had a generous mixture of Prawns with Bacon and tasted out of this world. There was a groovy smoothness with the mushroom sauce giving the right tang. The prawns had a slight oriental touch which went well with the firmness of the bacon.

The next dish was Ham Steak sizzler with mushrooms. The meat was a generous chunk, with the usual vegetable accompaniments. Again, the feel of the meat was right and with the accompanying sizzle, enlivened the palate. The vodka was tightening the tongue nicely.

Emboldened we ordered their famous Angels on Horseback. Bacon strips filled with chicken set in a rice setting with a slight gravy. This IS a speciality. The correct blend of the slightly  crisp bacon strip with the soft chicken fillers was amazing. Again a MUST taste.

We then settled for a Fish a la Diana—gravy rich Bhetki Fish Chunks with a Prawn stuffing. Gloriously recommendable. The combination enhanced the taste of each. This was a Bengali dish with Continental overlay and one could almost visualise the sahibs(white or brown) delving into it and smiling.

Dessert was even more enticing. I settled for a Mango Souffle with little soft mango pieces  contrasting well with the  the smoothness of the dish. Vicky took a Meringue topped with Vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce and was ecstatic. As we shared the dishes, we were satiated but did not at all feel greasy and dyspeptic.

The service was  quietly efficient and instantly available. the bill came to Rs 1600.

The next time we plan to try the Devilled Crabs and the Chicken Tetrazinni or Chicken Sicilian with Fish Muniere!!!!!!

The truth is that Old is Gold and we should really delve into them and find out the reasons why instead of following blindly the new innovations.

“Everything New is not an improvement!!!”

MOCAMBO

25B Park Street, Park Street, Kolkata

Phone: 22290095, 22464300, 22291696

WALK OUT

“Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar and an adjournment after members of AIADMK raised the issue of 2G spectrum allocation.”

“The controversial bill that provides for payment of compensation in the event of a nuclear accident was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid protests and walkout by opposition NDA and Left parties which termed it as “illegal” and “unconstitutional”.

“The opposition members had forced adjournment of the house earlier after Chidambaram virtually ruled out inclusion of caste in the population count exercise. “

The above are extracts from News Reports in the newspaper for 2 days only.

When the Lok Sabha was discussing the Prevention of Torture Bill  on Thursday (May 6) evening, the penultimate day of the budget session, not more than 25 members were present in a house of 543 - a telling testimony of how productive the 2010 budget session was.

More than 117 hours or over 30 percent of the total scheduled 385 hours were lost during the 2010 budget session of parliament due to frequent disruptions and protests.

Each of the two houses lost 52 percent of crucial question hour time, according to an analysis of the just-concluded session done by PRS Legislative Research, an independent think tank that tracks the functioning of parliament.

There were 620 starred questions listed in the budget session, of which 76 could be answered. Thus, on an average, only about 2.37 questions could be answered per day.

Briefing reporters about the budget session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters here that the two houses had 32 sittings. While 70 hours were lost due to adjournments in the Lok Sabha, 45 hours were lost in the Rajya Sabha, he said.

Asked about some bills having been passed without discussion, Bansal said the situation had been created due to proceedings of the houses being disrupted.

He said there was demand for hike in salaries of MPs as salaries of government employees had risen substantially due to recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

Amazing, isn’t it? If this performance was translated to the daily wage earners ,or any average Private sector company, what would be the reaction of the Employers?

In a way, we ,the people of India are the owners of the Parliament.  What are we doing about it?

So why are walkouts and adjournments legal? Should not the presence of the MPs in the house be made mandatory except for health reasons? Though there are statements of concern, no action has yet been mooted or taken, and in all probability, nothing will be.

Also the conduct of the Members are deplorable. No one is allowed to speak properly. There are interruptions and shouting. The din is worse than the naughtiest classrooms or the fish market. The ones who shout and interrupt are the ones in demand. Every party have their “squads”. No party disciplines it’s MPs. They encourage interruptions, shouting, table thumping and adjournments and walk outs. Can we not think about a way of protest without disruptions, because this has bred a dangerous repercussion in that there will be no action taken unless there are disruptions!!! This has percolated to all levels of management and workers, teachers and students, service providers and consumers.

When are we going to wake up and change the way our Parliament Members behave ????

 

Pluto and IPL

I had just got home and settled down to watch an IPL match, when Pluto quietly snuggled under my leg and started to lick my feet. I gave a loud sigh for I knew what was coming. Sure enough a minute later, he got up, plonked his paws on my knees, and said ‘ What about teaching me IPL Cricket?’.

I was relieved. This was easy. ‘It’s called 20—20 cricket. Each team has 20 overs….’.

Pluto barked, irritated.’I know that. I watch more of IPL cricket than you do’ ‘I meant the practice and training.’ ‘Well you have to forget classical cricket. The main shot is the swipe. Anything and everything, you swipe. Just for variety you hit straight and occasionally loft with all you have.’ Pluto barked again.’’You are missing the real thing. Teach me how to edge and mishit. After all , most runs are scored of those shots’.

‘Pluto, you can’t be taught those shots. They just happen!!!’, I screamed.

‘It just happens?’. Pluto looked at me incredulously.’Then why do the batsmen brandish their bats, knock gloves with their partners and smile at the TV camera as if they’ve played a great shot ?’. ‘Well,’ I said, ‘ That’s just to rub salt in the bowler’s wounds.’

Pluto digested that after a lot of chewing on a chicken stick.’ Why are the bowlers all crap—being hit for 4s and 6s?’, he asked. ‘The batsmen just sees the ball and swings the bat.That is why bowlers rely on variations of pace so much. Some of the batsmen are exceptional sighters of the ball and are strong and time the ball.’

Pluto was persistent.’Why do they miss so many catches?’ .I sighed. Most of the catches missed are high ones. The ball swerves in the air and is lost in the background’. ‘I would have caught them,’ Pluto boasted,’ Would they have given Rs 25000 to The Pug Welfare Fund?’. ‘Probably,’ I said, ‘But you needed to talk to Lalit Modi first.’

Pluto’s eyes gleamed. I was now getting the direction of his thinking and was getting apprehensive. Explaining cricket to a pug was okay. But explaining Lalit Modi?? Sure enough, Pluto started firing.

‘Why does Modi speak so fast?’, he queried.

‘Well, he has a lot to say,’I said weakly. Pluto gave me a knowing smile and said,’ He has to finish speaking between his tweets!!!’. I conceded that with a silence, hoping he would shut up now.Pluto wandered away, but sure enough, he wandered back, his puggy brain working furiously. I braced myself.

‘Why does Lalit Modi love spas?’, he asked, shaking himself. ‘He has a high tension job. He has to relax, you know’, I said. Pluto grinned. ‘Keep his eyes focussed, you mean,’ and he dragged out the following photograph!!!

‘What is sweat equity?’, he asked,twitching his puggy nose. I knew that I was done for.’Well, actually, that is when persons employ someone whom they cannot pay now. That person works, and gets a share of the profit later.’ Pluto was ecstatic.’That’s exactly the way I work’, he said.’You know Jacqueline of the next house. She is my girl friend. I give her the choicest tit bits, and she reciprocates.  It’s actually –HIS sweat—Her equity !!!’

 

Having explained everything puglogically, Pluto dozed off. Before sleeping, he kept on muttering, ‘Lalit Modi—I want to know about the haveli and the spa….’.

Lalit Modi—beware!!!!

 

The Japanese Wife

Based on an improbable story by Kunal Basu, Aparna Sen directs a landmark film “The Japanese Wife”, produced by SaReGaMa Films of which she is the Chief Creative Director.

The film from the beginning is different and lyrical. The curiosity created by the big box arriving from Japan and the acceptability of such happenings in a small traditional Bengali village leads us on to a love story based on letters which has developed between Snehomoy (Rahul Bose) a school teacher in a remote village of the Sunderbans and a Japanese girl Miyagi(Chigusa) running a grocery shop near Yokohama in Japan.This sequence is tightly and brilliantly edited.Many letters later, they decide to marry with an exchange of a wedding ring and a pair of bangles by post. They behave like a devoted married couple without meeting each other for seventeen years!!!Their reality is based on photographs, gifts (like kites and champak flowers),rare phone calls and of course the letters!!!! Communicating in English which is a foreign language to both and therefore full of hesitation and mistakes—they still build a world like a devoted couple without being in physical proximity.

According to the writer Kunal Basu, who also plays a cameo in the film after his decades-ago debut as a child actor---“It is a relationship of great intimacy but no domesticity.”

 

Snehomoy’s guardian is his Mashi SoiMa (Moushumi Chatterjee)who has brought him up and who after an initial fretting accepts the situation, though she complains that her dream of grandchildren can never come through via letters!!!!

Enter a widow Sandhya(Raima Sen) and her son Paltu who come to live with them. Sandhya was once shown to Snehomoy for marriage, but he had shown no interest. Sandhya’s presence is disturbing for Snehomoy as she raises desires in him. Moreover, she cleans up his cluttered room and brings the peace of domesticity into his vision. They suddenly caress each other in an emotionally upsetting situation. Snehomoy immediately wants to write to  Miyagi, his confidant and wife, but cannot.

Meanwhile  Miyagi falls ill and Snehomoy takes leave without pay to get assistance from local Ayurvedic and Unani and Homeopathic physicians, before he knows that she has cancer. A local doctor guides him to an oncologist who thinks that her lifespan is limited. Coming back, he gets caught in inclement weather, develops pneumonia, and cannot get the requisite medicines as the area is flooded. He dies, Getting the news, Miyagi   shaves off the hair on her head(?Due to chemotherapy), adorns the white sari of a widow, and comes back to Snehomoy’s village. A monochrome last scene shows the dead Snehomoy floating in a boat onto an eternal destination. This scene is reminiscent of many Japanese and Korean films.

The direction is sensible and sensitive.The scenes have been crafted with great care and precision.The camera movements are beautifully controlled and expressive and seems so rightly balanced, Emotional highs are  counterpointed with the mundane and the humourous. Yet the thread of tragedy is omnipresent. There is not an iota of crudity. even the scenes of masturbation integrate thoroughly.It is like a slap in the face for films like 3 Idiots which made up for a dearth of creativity by their vulgar manoevures. Truly creative people do not need such brittle props.

Anoy Goswami’s camera captures the Matla river in all its moods. The river dominates as a medium of communication and beauty and tragedy.The cinematograpghy is outstanding and will surely win awards for the magnificent frames, movements and colour balance. The mood of the film is greatly enhanced by Goutam Basu’s Art direction.

Sagar Desai’s  use of Japanese music  is  superb. There is no song as such nor is one required. Clever mixes of local and effects sounds enhance the viewing pleasure.

The acting is controlled and mostly apt. Rahul Bose impresses with his hesitation and intensity, his care for others and his devotion to his wife. He is obsessed by the relationship yet hesitant and unable to call the shots. He can handle a polaroid, but cannot make a STD call.Though one wonders whether that led to the character being one dimensional. Even in the lively kite flying scenes, his energy level was a bit low. Moushumi Chatterjee acted with restraint but somehow was a misfit into the role. Having seen Chaya Debi or Molina Debi or even Shobha Sen or Sabitri Chatterjee in such roles, it is difficult to accept plucked eyebrows, her nose twitching, and her essential glamour in this role.  Being a character actor is to sacrifice your self and Moushumi just could not do it.

Raima Sen acted expressively, but again was too glamorous for her role. The contrast with the other village women in the boat and mela was too much. A girl brought up in the village would unhesitatingly pull up her sari to avoid the mud and would not walk so gingerly on the stone steps at the river bank.

Chigusa was outstanding in the last scenes. Her vulnerability and her strength brought great moments to the film.

The high point of this film was the kite competition. Superbly compiled and scripted , the transformation of a kite contest into a  jingoistic issue was amusing. A kite with a broken thread suddenly became a symbol of loss and sorrow. The kites in the sky returned in the closing credit scenes to round off the film.

However there were some weak areas.

Assuming the story is of modern Bengal, considering the mobile phone, fax, STD booths, specialised Oncologists, Beedi jalai by Bips on a TV screen, and shots of Kolkata, it is somewhat difficult to believe the simplicity and naivety  of the main protagonist Snehomoy and the village inhabitants. How can a modern schoolteacher be unaware of emails and fax? How can the villagers accept Snehomoy’s postal wedding? Everything here seemed a trifle too sweet.  The massive storm sequence should have affected all the village people but that is not shown. Probably Aparna discarded that thought as she was painting on a smaller canvas.

     

The dresses were too new and modern. Poor schoolteachers and their families do not wear sparkling whites, nor do they wear such sophisticated shoes. The contrast with the other characters was an eyesore.

The makeup of Moushumi was in certain scenes , too obvious. Do these villagers, specially widows, smear so much of cream and powder on their faces?

Sparkling whites and cream and powder and plucked eyebrows!!!!

One reaction was pithy.”This is a great film if it had been made by a debutant. For an experienced and established filmmaker like Aparna , this was a bit of a fairy story”.

Overall this film is an exceptional one, of great human moments and emotions which leave you affected at the end. It is a film of taste and fine beauty, of grace and wonder, of seriousness and great imagery. It is in many ways  like a glorious Haiku.

It emphasizes the great differences between the good Bengali and the good Hindi film.

In my book highly recommendable and a Must—see.