Month: March 2023

Slumdog Millionaire – Jai Ho 81st Academy Awards

 Jai Ho ! This seems to be the preferred greeting for many Indians across the globe. And why not? These two words are ringing in every Indian’s ears , resonating from deep within. Jai Ho Danny Boyle, Jai ho A R Rahman, Jai Ho cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire , and Jai ho 81st Academy Awards!!! What a wonderful gift to the Indian Film Industry! Eight Oscars to a basically Indian film is how it is being perceived. And why not, why ever not. Though the film is technically a British film, it has maximum participation of Indians. Various other reasons why it should be hailed as an Indian film are enumerated below. Take a critical look :-

  • The film is based on a novel titled Q&A by an Indian diplomat-cum-part-time writer Vikas Swaroop.
  • Total cast of the movie is of Indian origin.
  • Co-director of the movie is a Delhi girl , Loveleen Tandon.
  • The film is completely shot in India.
  • The quintessence of the movie is Indian.
  • A third of the movie is in Hindi.
  • Director Danny Boyle confessed that, “it is the ultimate compliment for me that people in India see Slumdog Millionaire as an Indian film.”
  • Most technicians are Indians including Oscar winner for sound mixing -Resul Pookutty.
  • All songs in the movie are in Hindi.
  • Vanity Fair magazine recently mentioned that Slumdog Millionaire is inspired by Black Friday and Satya – both Hindi movies. Even Danny Boyle acknowledged that.

There are many more subtle reasons. The list goes on and on. The film is entirely a Bollywood genre film with its unique masala (spice) and that is undisputed. The scene of the two small kids falling off the running train and getting up as grown up kids is typically Bollywood. We have seen all that in many a Hindi film. So when the soul and the body is Indian one cannot but submit that Slumdog Millionaire is essentially an Indian film. More so when even the inspiration for the movie is two Hindi films – Black Friday and Satya.

In saluting the Indian spirit of the movie, Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre resounded with the beats of Jai Ho and O Sayya with Western dancers in dazzling pink Indian Lehnga costume and drummers in traditional Indian dhoti. The audience swayed to the lilting Indian melody spun by A R Rahman.

It is reported that Times Square has people testing their lungs singing O Sayya at the top of their voice. Jai Ho already has a remix version in English, sung by Pussycat Dolls and the video is filmed at a Vienna Railway station.

So why are critics in India so confused. Why are we so perturbed that the underbelly of Mumbai has been exposed? Some have even accused that poverty in India has been showcased to Western audiences for exploitation. I fully agree with Aupam Kher when in a TV show he remarked that maybe some critics take on the task of criticising Slumdog Millionaire just to be noticed. Consider the following points and make your own decision :-

  • The film is based on lives of two kids from a slum in Mumbai. So what is the big deal? Doesn’t every developing country has this problem of slums. Favelas of Brazil and the slums around them are very well known to the world for their abject poverty and crime. Kibera in Nairobi is the largest slum of the world and conditions there are pathetic to say the least. In fact one third of world’s urban population lives in slums!
  • Poverty has not been underlined in Slumdog Millionaire. In fact it is the human spirit which has been showcased. Where do you see poverty as the central theme in the movie? On the other hand the movie highlights the fact that two kids with imagination and courage make it on their own in cities of India. Poverty is nothing new to the Western audiences. They see actual poverty in images from Africa and war devastated countries. What has been shown in the movie is nothing in comparison to actual poverty existing in today’s world.
  • Flash back to 1970s and you find Indian parallel cinema actually showcasing abject poverty in India in good measure. The central theme of those movies was poverty in India. Those movies and their directors were hailed by the same critics as they took those movies to world fora for recognition and acclaim. Why the double standards now when poverty is not the main theme of Slumdog Millionaire. It is simply a rags to riches story with adequate dose of Bollywood masala.

Now just look at what Slumdog Millionaire has done to the Indian Film Industry. In this Economic Downturn when the poster boys of Indian Industry are busy protecting themselves from being wiped out, here is the Indian Film Industry which is going to be hugely benefited by Slumdog Millionaire. Sample the facts below:-

  • World has recognised the talent of Indian technicians in film making. As cost cutting measure, work from Hollywood will now be outsourced to India. This will be similar to the saga of IT outsourcing to India.
  • Indian producers have now realised that with few changes to Bollywood masala that they churn out, they can now target world audience. Acceptance is not an issue, only if the Indian curry is not too spicy for global audience. This fact has been amply brought home by Slumdog Millionaire.
  • Instead of targeting 2% Revenue, Indian Film Industry can now target the rest of the 98% Revenue that the Global Film Industry has to offer. Just imagine the scaling-up that this Indian Industry can get, only at the cost of slightly shifting its focus to global audiences and their preferences. Slumdog Millionaire has not only shown but opened up that door for Indian Film Industry.
  • Joint ventures will spawn as global producers see the magic of Indian Film Industry, right up to its song and dance sequences, being heartily lapped up by global audiences. Just sample the bottom line of Slumdog Millionaire- the film has already raked in $163 million in box office against a budget of $15 million. Doesn’t it make pure business sense?

Yet there are people in India who are not happy with Slumdog Millionaire. You decide whether Slumdog has been a blessing in disguise for India or not. Indian Film Industry in India is poised to take the place of Indian IT industry, courtesy Slumdog Millionaire. Let us all celebrate. Jai Ho!

The Science of 16 Shringar

Since time immemorial, Indian brides-to-be have been taught the importance of ‘Solar Srringaar’. The sixteen pieces of adornment are not only the symbols of a bride’s marital status, but have deep rooted implications. Even the Indian mythology has some interesting instances. Remember the episode in the epic Ramayana by sage Valmiki when Anusuya gives her ornaments to Sita and tells her that a married woman must always be adorned with Solar Shringaar! We also find references to Shringaars in the epic poem Geet Govind by Jayadeva when Radha asks Lord Krishna to adorn her body with jewellery, her hair with flowers, put a hindi on her forehead and earrings on her ears when it is time for her to go home. The pieces of Srringaar not only serve the purpose of gracing the woman but they are important tokens of her social status.

Popular culture would have us believe that our heritage, our customs and rituals have no logical base to them. However, contrary to this, these rituals are a development of scientific study and research. Indian sages and seers were scholars of Astrology, Ayurveda and Astronomy. Their research provides us appropriate explanations behind the adornments.

There are only sixteen items of a bride’s beautification and not more or less. It is because the Solah Shringaar corresponds to the sixteen phases of the moon which are linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle. This has a negative effect on a woman’s mental and physical wellness. Our ancient sages believed that these effects could be nullified by wearing the sixteen items of cosmetics and jewellery. There are scientific reasons behind each element of Shringaar which enhances a bride’s beauty. The reasons help in making her more adept at her wifely duties.

Shringaars that add colours

Sindoor is the most important element of the Solah Shringaars. It symbolises not only the beginning of a woman’s marriage but also the commencement of her sexual life. It is applied in the middle parting line of the brides hair where lies the brahmarandra aperture which is a woman’s point of balance. The mercury present in sindoor helps in cooling down the bride. After marriage the free spirited girl transforms into a woman and has to shoulder the responsibilities which can devitalise her. The sindoor is very important for a bride as it will help her in maintaining her serenity and peace.

A bindi, worn on the forehead between the eyebrows pretties up the bride in an instant and makes her fair features even more gorgeous. The bindi not only accentuates her features but activates a woman’s Ajna Chakra or the forehead chakra through the pressure which is applied by the weight of the bindi. Ajna, translating to ‘commando’ is believed to be the eye of intuition. This chakra acts as a gateway for all the spiritual energy coming from the environment. It also protects the chakra from the surrounding negative energy. The bride is expected to perform her duties proficiently for which her Ajna Chakra must be properly activated to let her maintain her mental balance in her new house and absorb the new energies.

Mehendi, the most basic component of the Solah Shringaar, not only lends colour to the arms and feet of the bride, but has medicinal properties too. Weddings are serious business in India and can get very cumbersome. Therefore on the night before the wedding, mehendi or Henna is applied on arms and feet- home to our body’s nerve endings, to destress and relieve them. Also, mehendi heals the minor cuts and bruises the bride might have sustained during the preparations.

Kohl, used since the times of Greek queen Cleopatra not only makes a bride’s eyes look expressive and innocent but it is believed to purify the eyes from the pollutants. It also protects the eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Weddings tend to get exhausting for the bride since many preparations are involved which takes months.

Hindu brides wear dresses having colours like red, maroon and pink on their wedding day because these colours signify fertility and passion. Red and orange are associated with the rising sun, which connotes the beginning of a new life for the bride. Also in Hindu tradition, the planet Mars which is reddish in colour is linked with marriage and hence these colours are preferred by Hindu brides. These colours fill the bride with vitality and fire that’re important for her married life.

Shrigaars that add rhythm

Nath, not just a symbol of marriage, but has an Ayurvedic significance too. Having the nose pierced on the left side is customary for the Indian brides for a good reason. The spot for the nose pierce is linked to the reproductive organs of a woman. It is said to ease menstrual and labour pains. Not only this, the piercing also contributes to the general reproductive health of the bride thus making her fertile enough to procreate. The nose pierce is also associated with protecting the nasal track of the bride, thereby preventing her from any kind of infection when she enters a new milieu. The modern version of nath is called the nose stud/ring which is smaller than its older version and can be worn with any outfit.

The choodicur/chuda looks divine on a bride’s hands. Besides being a mark of her siihaag, the choodian and paval aid the bride in maintaining her energy levels throughout the day. Her strength, which gets consumed while doing the house-hold chores gets vibrated back to the body through the sound waves produced by the choodian and papal. Also, a payal prevents inflammation of foot soles and aid in general blood circulation of the body. Hindus also believe that the crackling sound of the choodivan and papal helps ward off the negative or evil energy. The modern bride prefers to wear bracelets and anklets which are much sleeker and trendier.

Jewellery is the most prominent element of a woman’s bridal attire. They grace the bridal look like nothing else does. Ornaments made of gold and silver, like mangalsutra, Kamarbandh, Bajubandh, Harm: Karnphool, Maangteeka and Bichua etc. are worn by the Indian brides. Gold is believed to have a hot effect and silver has cooling properties on skin thus helping in maintaining body temperature. These metals are used in abundance in a bride’s trousseau as they have cancer averting properties. Emperor Akbar is believed to have gifted many pieces of unique navratan and kundari jewellery to his beloved Mumtaz Mahal.

Shringaars that add fragrance

Gajra is a bunch or a string of flowers, usually made of jasmine, which is worn by the bride in her hair for making her hairstyle stand out. They not only beautify her hair but their aroma lends a sense of freshness and calmness to the bride on her wedding day when she is tense about leaving her parents and going to her husband’s house.

Itra (perfume) besides making the bride smell heavenly, stimulates the bride’s senses. Itra made of fragrant ingredients like rose and sandalwood lifts the bride’s spirits and moods on the day of her marriage. Scents trigger the bride’s emotions and enhance her mood on the day when she has to leave her parents.

Meaningful adornment

On her wedding day, the bride is the centre of attraction and must look divine. Hence the Solah Shringaars is of utmost importance for a bride. She is adorned from head to toe to capture her groom’s attention forever and prevent him from going astray. Not just on their wedding day, women wear all the Solah Shringaars even on festivals like Karvachauth and Teej as a mark of love for their husbands.

However, the modern brides have given a modern twist to the items of Shringaar. For example liquid Sindoor has replaced the traditional powdered one. The Gajra has been replaced by various hair accessories like artificial flowers and metal hair pins. Nowadays instead of Menendi which takes hours to apply, brides opt for Mehendi tattoos which are quicker to apply. The vermilion bindi has given way to sticking ones having Kundan or Zircon stones on them that can be worn with both the traditional and Indo-Western outfits.

Bring back the charm

Indian brides, though not so conventional anymore, but haven’t forgotten the significance of these items and are still rooted. Looks are God’s gift but beauty is what you can acquire and solar shringar will help you achieve that.

So brides-to-be and all the other women bring out all your fine jewellery and cosmetics from the confines of your lockers and flaunt them proudly, for now you know how very beneficial the Solah Shringaar is. Not only will you benefit yourself, but make your husband go crazy about you by waking him up by the rhythmic sound of your choodian or papal and by asking him to decorate your hair parting with sindoor and your luscious hair with gajra. So adorn yourself more ‘meaningfully!’

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