Social Sense

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses play a vital role in my daily life; since they are my only means of commuting from home to work and back. It's such a 'pleasure', 'fun' and 'adventure' traveling in BMTC buses, one can realize it by personal experience alone. If you ain't traveling in BMTC, you definitely are missing the cruise of life for sure!

I always try to keep myself calm and relaxed while in city buses, in spite of all the drama happening around; mostly ending up falling asleep* (*if at all I get a seat to sit). Many a times I do wonder, how on this earth am repeatedly ending up sleeping in a crowded public shuttle? that too in BMTC! Does this effort of mine deserve an applause??

It was probably 6 months ago by now and an early morning when I (as usual) managed to (literally) jump into one of those speeding buses busy running a 'rat race' towards their common destination. Hardly I could find a few other passengers in the bus, who were still showing signs of discomfort recovering from their adventurous act of getting into the bus. Though the tupperware box getting burnt by the hot rice packed by my wife inside bag needed all the air gushing in from the window, I luckily could slide shut the glass shutter with ease (sometimes the windshields seldom move and some would have no handles, while few others might have went missing!).

While numerous PHP codes kept on dancing in joy for me being unable to put them right into the logics, a guy in his mid-teens gave a blasting entry with his cell phone singing aloud an old Kannada 'melody' - PREETIYALLI IRO SUKHA GOTTE IRALILLA.. HUU ANTIYAa? UHUU ANTIYAa..?? With this, my PHP application trying to find a way in executing the given logic crashed at once.

"Excuse me.." I spoke instantly
The guy looked at me, in response
"Can you please put your headset on?"
"I don't have one.." he complained
"Then, please mute the sound"
"Why should I?"
"Don't you think it might disturb others around?"
"Now a days drivers have FMs playing loudly in buses, would you go objecting at them too?" - an elderly-'looking' man interrupted and advised me "You cannot control things in public places.." while the song was still on and loud. Following this, couldn't even think of debugging my crashed codes for rest of the day; I was (sort of) upset.

It was only yesterday, I saw a notice displayed in one of the BMTC buses, which read:

Translation: BMTC, Head Office, Shantinagar, Bangalore - 27. Notice for passengers & students: Playing music loudly from mobile phones in buses causing noise pollution and inconvenience to co-passengers is prohibited. It is a punishable offense. Please co-operate.

On reading this, I felt more unhappy than happy; for in this modern educated world, people tend to forget, neglect and never try to understand even simplest things unless enforced by law; the need of the hour seems to be 'social sense'. Sigh..

ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಮರಿಹೋದ ಕಂದಮ್ಮ

ಸತತ ಮೂರು ದಿನಗಳ ಜೀವನ್ಮರಣ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸಿ, ಸೋತು ವಿಧಿವಶವಾದ ಮೂರು ತಿಂಗಳ ಹಸುಗೂಸು 'ನೇಹ ಭಾನು ಅಫ್ರೀನ'ಳ ಪೂಜ್ಯನೀಯ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಗೌರವಪೂರ್ಣ ನಮನಗಳು.

ಮರೆಯಾದ ಮಗು - ನೇಹ

'ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಪೂಜಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾಳೋ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ದೈವನು ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ' - ಎಂದು ಸಾರಿ ಹೇಳುವ ವೇದೋಪನಿಷತ್ತುಗಳ ಭದ್ರ ಬುನಾದಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಭಾರತದ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ನವಜಾತ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಶಿಶುವಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆದುಹೋದ ಈ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯವು ದುರಾದೃಷ್ಟಕರವಲ್ಲವೆ? ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನವು 4-ಜಿ ತರಂಗಾಂತರಗಳ ಎಲ್ಲೆ ಮೀರಿ ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಹವಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ಕೀಳರಿಮೆಯ ನಿಲುವು ಬದಲಾಗುವುದಿರಲಿ, ಅಲ್ಪಮಟ್ಟಿಗಾದರೂ ಸುಧಾರಿಸದೇ ಹೋದುದು ಒಂದು ದುರಂತವೇ ಸರಿ. 'ಸ್ತ್ರೀ ಮೇಲಿನ ನಿರಂತರ ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಗಳನ್ನೊಳಗೊಂಡ ವಿಕೃತ ಸಮಾಜದ ಏಳಿಗೆಯಾಗುವುದಾದರೂ ಎಂತು?' ಎಂಬ ಉತ್ತರ ಕಾಣದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲದೆಯೇ ಆವರಿಸಿ ರೌದ್ರನರ್ತನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದೇನೋ ಎಂಬ ಭ್ರಮೆಯುಂಟಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ.

ತನ್ನ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾದ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ 'ತಂದೆ' ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡವನ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಂಡರಿಯದ ನೇಹಳ ಮೂರೂ ತಿಂಗಳ ಬದುಕು ಆತನ ಕ್ರೂರ ದುರ್ನಡತೆಯ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ಹೋರಾಟವೇ ಆಗಿದ್ದಿತು. ಮೂಲತಃ ಮಧ್ಯವ್ಯಸನಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಾದಕ ವಸ್ತುಗಳ ದುಶ್ಚಟಕ್ಕೆ ಬಲಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ 25ರ ಉಮರ್ ಫಾರೂಕನಿಗೆ ನೇಹಾಳ ತಾಯಿಯಾದ 19ರ ರೇಷ್ಮ ಭಾನು ಎರಡನೇಯ ಮಡದಿ. ಮೊದಲಿನಿಂದಲೂ ವರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯ ಕಿರುಕುಳದಲ್ಲೇ ಸಾಂಸಾರಿಕ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ರೆಷ್ಮಳಿಗೆ ನೇಹಳ ಹುಟ್ಟು ದುಸ್ತರವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಣಮಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಗುವಿನ ಜನನಕ್ಕೆ ತಾನೇ ಕಾರಣಕರ್ತನೆನ್ನುವ ಸತ್ಯದ ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲದ ತಂದೆಯು, ತನ್ನ ಮಗುವನ್ನು ಉಸಿರುಗಟ್ಟಿಸಿ, ಸಿಗರೇಟಿನಿಂದ ಸುಟ್ಟು, ಮನಬಂದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಯಿಂದ ಕಚ್ಚಿ, ಅದರ ತಲೆಯನ್ನು ಬಲವಾಗಿ ಗೋಡೆಗೆ ಗುದ್ದಿಸಿ ಕೊಲ್ಲಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿದನೆಂದು ಮಾತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಲೂ ಸಹ ದಿಗಿಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ, ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಲಿಯಾದ ಮುಗ್ಧೆ ನೇಹ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿರಬಹುದಾದ ಮೂಕಯಾತನೆಯ ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯಾನುಭವ ಅದೆಂತಹುದಿರಬಹುದು?? ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ವಾಣಿವಿಲಾಸ್ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ತೀವ್ರ ನಿಗಾ ಘಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಕೊನೆಯುಸಿರೆಳೆದ ಕಂದಮ್ಮನೇ ಬಲ್ಲಳು.

ಪ್ರತಿನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಅನೇಕ ವಿಧವಾದ ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಗಳನ್ನೆದುರಿಸುವ ಅಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆ ತೋರುವ ನೇಹ, ತನ್ಮೂಲಕ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಮೇಲೆ ಸದ್ದಿಲ್ಲದೇ ನಡೆದುಹೊಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ ಮಾತಿಲ್ಲದ ಬರಿಯ ಮೌನದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಕೂಗಿ ಹೇಳಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಆಯೋಗ, ಸಮಾಜ, ಸಮಿತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸರ್ಕಾರೇತರಗಳು ನೇಹಳಂತಹ ಹಲವಾರು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಲಿದಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಎಡೆಮಾಡಿಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಫಾರೂಕನಂತಹ ಸಹಸ್ರಾರು ಪಾಪಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾನೂನಿನ ಸೋಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಭದ್ರತೆಯನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಿಕೊಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಹೀನಾಯ ದುರಾಚರಣೆಗೆ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕನ್ನಡಿಯಂತಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಇಂತಹ ದುಷ್ಟ ಮಾನವರ ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸವು ಇನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಕಾಲದವರೆಗೆ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯಲಾರದಂಥ ದುರಂತ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಕಾಣುವುದಂತೂ ಶತಸಿದ್ಧ. ಇದರ ಮುನ್ಸೂಚನೆಯೇನೋ ಎನ್ನುವಂತೆ ನೇಹಳ ದುರ್ಮರಣವನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸದೇ, ಹೆತ್ತ ತಾಯಿಯ ಹೃದಯವಿದ್ರಾವಕ ಆಕ್ರಂದನಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸುತ್ತಾ, ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ರಾಜಧಾನಿ ಉದ್ಯಾನನಗರಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ಮಾತೆ ಭೂತಾಯಿಯು ಇಂದು ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ಕಂಪಿಸಿದಳು.

4 - a rOll Over of 3

On 04-04-2012, 'four' 'firsts' did happen in life:

1. Going for a movie with my wife (16 months) after marriage
2. Watching a Tamil movie on a big screen
3. Getting to see the ambiance of PVR Cinemas
4. Me visiting Forum Mall (being a Bangalorean?? shame!! huhh..)

It was during our vacation in Manali, for the first time I happened to see the song 'why this kolaveri di?' played in some (really don't remember which) channel; but, impressive it was! 'Hes Dhanush, S-I-L of Rajanikanth singing it for his own movie directed by his wife Aishwarya' - introduced my wife while we were breaking our fast early in the morning with bread-omelette. 'Hmmmmm...' I said; neither my wife knew nor me, whether it was my response to the song or the tasty dish.

Even after '3' (a little more than 'too') much of thinking for '3' days after watching, I really don't know why the movie is named '3'?. 'Why the name 3?' was my first question to my wife, who had no clue either and my conscious failed to pick any glimpse from the movie relating to '3'. Is it because '3' stars Dhanush (son of Director KasthuriRaja), Aishwarya (daughter of Rajanikanth) and Shruti (daughter of Kamalhassan) are involved in making this movie, the name '3'?

The movie feels fresh in every aspect, Aishwarya seem to have proved herself in this debut. Dhanush justifies his 'psycho' brand while Shruthi looks promising. Winning edge is the fact that the movie takes almost everyone back to their teen-age, which none can forget throughout life. With the pleasant aroma of 'love' from 'kolaveri' song, it will be a definite 'shock' to see the movie starting with the funeral of 'Ram' (Dhanush). Flashback trick used by Aishwarya really works in relieving viewers from this 'sentimental' shock. Re-recording alone reveals the extensive homework made behind the screens right from Script writing to Movie making.

'why this kolaveri di' song rocks on screen too; all the credit goes to Anirudh Ravichander, boy behind the Music. Enough has been made for the song in the Movie to help it find itself a place with ease adjacent to its Album version. Distributors did make sure to highlight 'why this KOLAVERI DI' on all stills, which signifies the importance of this song in the success of the movie as such. Also, this song gains a lot of 'meaning' (with bipolar disorder) on screen unlike in album to answer much of the critics it had gained for lyrics.

Film making is not just all about it. With its tragic end for Ram not disclosing his psychological disorder to Janani (Shruthi) and committing suicide, I strongly doubt if the movie successfully conveys the message 'Suicide is not the solution for Bipolar Disorder; it can well be treated to cure with the advancement in Medical Science', which is flashed on screen by the film makers soon after the abrupt dismissal of the screenplay. Instead, the movie would have been made in such a way that it conveys the message by itself.

'ok mama.. now theme changeu..'

The movie has gotten a lot in it to say that 'love can win anything'; very true. Ram scoring highest in Physics (coz Janani joins him in tuitions) and Janani's dumb sister starts speaking with her love towards sister are two such instances. Now, why not Ram cure his bipolar disorder after marriage with the 'love' that exists between them? Support program is one of the suggested therapy for bipolar disorder patients, a wife would definitely qualify for carrying out this.

Given a chance for me to play Aishwarya's role in this film making, I would have made Ram to disclose his psychological condition to Janani (frankly speaking, it isn't easy to hide 'anything' from wife) after marriage and given the responsibility of curing it to Janani.

'whaa wat-a change over mama..'

This way Dhanush would have made his way out of 'psycho' trend, Shruthi would have saved a lot of her tears for not crying, movie would have entertained all group of audience, love & life would have dominated and won over mania & suicide, viewers would have got into a positive frame of mind towards life at the end and most importantly there wasn't any need to flash the 'message' after the screenplay since the movie itself would have successfully conveyed it by then.

Finally, with all these changes I would probably not let the movie be named '3'. For all the successful changeover I made, with the existing '3' stars another superstar 'ME' would have been added to name the movie '4'!!

'super mama ready.. oneee twooo three 4'