Madness…

The word History refers to events that took place in the past. We learn from the past so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes. But in our country, periodically, especially during election campaigns, we pull out the past and cause death, destruction, and mayhem. Even now. So what have we learnt? And with what face do we go to our places of worship? The Creator made all people the same. No differences. But what have we done? Instead of living in peace, instead of living and letting others live, instead of respecting all life, we kill and loot and destroy, shaming our Creator… Then what progress are we talking about? What ‘strides of mankind’ are we referring to? Damn those who instigate the people because I do believe that left to ourselves we, the simple, ordinary people, will never kill or destroy our brother or sister. Daily life in our country is so challenging, that just keeping it together is hard enough. Why cause this kind of insanity to happen… Too, too sad…

Nodame Cantabile…

is one of those fantastic Japanese manga series which plays on Netflix. To say that the music is fantastic is to say less. What a series! And what music!! Once again I am totally and completely zapped by the way the East Asian countries have mastered Western Classical Music. Simply amazing….. and I feel that the depth they have been able to give Western Classical Music is unparalleled. They have not only learnt and become supremely proficient in an art form that has been the sole prerogative of the Western world, but have internalised it and I feel, they have added their cultural depth to it, colouring and shading it with their own heart, for music is first and last of the heart…I feel the difference - when I listen to a piece of Western Classical music played by the best philharmonic orchestras of the world, it speaks to me in one way, speaks to my brain, but when I listen to it as part of a K-drama series or a Japanese movie or series, played by Korean or Japanese musicians, it totally engulfs my heart… I have also heard Chinese students of Western Classical Music play the piano - it’s a totally different experience…

Shōgun…

is a fantastic series. I have been fascinated by this character right from my youth. In fact, samurais and the concept of samurais has always held my heart and my brain. 

Shōgun is a Japanese theme and so regardless of the foreign directors, and producers, I thought it would be an authentic series. Of course they have tried to be as real as possible but unfortunately there is one explicit sex scene which I felt took away from the series. It was totally not necessary to show that scene. The Korean and Japanese films that I have seen till now have shown love, attachment between men and women, and even physical attraction between men and women in a very elegant and appealing way. The actors have been able to convey deep feelings without taking off their clothes….The passion has come through without showing the sex act. To my mind this sex scene in Shōgun detracted from the movie. 

I have always believed that cinema is a very powerful medium and as such they influence and shape our thinking. One does not have to use the f word to express emotions, nor does one have to show sex scenes to add to the story. Good acting is convincing, and can express the whole range of emotions in a sane, normal, compelling, aesthetic way. 

The West had started losing its charm some years back, but for want of good cinema, I would watch Western Cinema with a lot of fast forwarding. Then I felt it was not worth even this effort. And finally I stopped watching Western films totally. 

Korean, Japanese, and even Chinese films (though I have seen only very few Chinese films), have shown that the deepest feelings and thoughts, both negative and positive, can be expressed in perfectly good, dynamic and eloquent language and aesthetic visuals. Their power of expression is truly superlative. May they never go down the Western way…

Western Classical Music…

I’ve been very fortunate in finding the most eclectic and beautiful selection of Western Classical Music in some of the books by Japanese authors, as well as by some Korean authors. Whenever I come across a piece of music that the author has referred to, I check it on Spotify, and I have to say that each piece has been germaine to what the author is writing about. Incredible. A couple of times the music referred to is something that I know but still when I play it on Spotify and read the page along with it in the background, the whole meaning comes alive…it’s like the music is needed to read that particular page or chapter…. And I just love it! 

And again the question comes up — how do they - the Japanese and Korean filmakers and authors - use Western Classical Music so effectively…

Christmas in Calcutta…

Why does Christmas in Calcutta always make my heart full to overflowing and fragile….?

I had the same overwhelming feeling yesterday when I went to St. Paul’s. The streets were crowded. Humans of all ages, from itty-bitty ones to elderly-very elderly ones were all out in shining, shimmering, festive gear. Calcutta too was all dressed up. Every footpath either had an array of mind-boggling refreshments, or an assortment of handmade Christmas knick knacks from reindeer hairbands to Santa caps, to add to the festive cheer. Not an inch of space was to be seen on the roads. It was like a large river of moving lights and people wanting to experience the magic of Christmas. And believe me, there was magic in the air. How else could one explain the crowds at bus stops and not a single child crying? Bus routes had been reorganized so that pedestrians could move around safely enjoying themselves. I did not see any trace of irritation on anyone’s face. Nor was there a sense of haste. Everyone was quite happily and peacefully moving around enjoying being out with friends and family. 

There wasn’t an inch of space in St.Paul’s either in the huge front yard or in the Church. And yet, there was no impatience on anyone’s face!!!! People moved in an orderly way to see the Nativity scene, and others walked around enjoying the very palpable Christmas atmosphere. 

On my way out, I saw something which made me catch my breath. A family was wheeling a stretcher bed with a lady on it. All the girls in the family were dressed up, makeup included, and the lady in the wheeled stretcher was also beautifully dressed and made-up. They were going to St. Paul’s. The crowd parted to let the family through, but noone looked pointedly either at the lady on the stretcher, or at any of the other family members. It was as if this was a common sight… an acceptance of all people regardless of… a celebration in which everyone was participating….

And this is why I LOVE Calcutta. Whether it is the Pujas, or Eid, or Christmas, everyone, but everyone is out to celebrate. I used the word celebrate because I want to stress that it was not just having fun, it was a recognition, acknowledgement, and honouring of the innate humanness of every Calcuttan regardless of the labels insecure, evil, and wily politicians try to divide us with… 

Why I love K-dramas and K-films…

I first heard about the Korean wave that was sweeping through Calcutta (my hometown) last year. I heard people swearing about K-dramas and films, Korean actors, Korean food, and everything Korean. I had never witnessed this kind of enthusiasm about anything ever…and so I decided to find out and explore this phenomenon that had so captured everyone’s imagination.

And now I am totally and completely hooked. 

I was tiring of the Western outlook on things, and the West-is-best way of life, and the Indian outlook was only getting worse by the day. The Korean wave, therefore, came as a breath of life as it were. 

K-drama - amazing take on all aspects of life. Each drama has a different approach to the issues and problems we face as human beings. Filmakers are not afraid to protray their society as it is, warts and all…this is so refreshing because no matter the country or the people, human problems and issues are the same. The outward sheen may be different, but deep down human beings are the same. Thus, I am finding the answers to many of my questions in K-dramas and films. 

Analysing why K-drama is so appealing, and yet so realistic, this is what has gone deep into my soul:

The people - there is definitely something very engaging about the people. The actors are all extremely well-groomed, and look very good. Obviously they pay a lot of attention to their personal care and appearance. They are smart and exceedingly well dressed and don’t have to wear skimpy revealing clothes in order to be noticed. Even their loose-fitting clothes are worn with style and ease. Whatever they wear, whether it is the hanyeos, or those who work in the shops and markets, or the professionals, or the corporate workers and honchos, or the homemakers, or the housekeepers and traders, or the armed forces, they are all beautifully turned out - understated elegance at its best. Regardless of occupation and social class, they are all trim and beautiful - and I purposely say beautiful for both women and men, because they really are so without losing even a bit of their femininity or masculinity….in fact their femininity and masculinity is very aesthetically pronounced… 

I stick with the films in Korean with subtitles in English because I feel that hearing the actor’s voice is hugely inportant in understanding the character as well as the film. Dubbing doesn’t either enhance the character the actor is playing, or the film…it’s like some disembodied voice floating around…. The subtitles are excellent and convey very accurately what the actor is feeling and trying to say. I feel the Korean language is flowing and colourful as well. Very evocative and beautiful. 

The cinematography is par excellence. Just the way the camera pans in on the character, or the surroundings, is unbelievable….and the message these shots convey enhance the emotion of the scene. In fact, sometimes the shot carries that particular part of the story more effectively than words…Even the play of light and shadow is fantastic.

The music - K-dramas use music very effectively. Korean music, both pop and classical is superlative. The use of their indigeous instruments creates a fantastic atmosphere. They use Western Classical Music too very effectively. Their choice of music takes their films and dramas to a whole new level. Out of this world!!

Themes. I’ve seen so many films and dramas, and not once have I seen a theme repeated. They take the simplest of topics and weave a very probable story around it…so realistic, in fact, that one knows right away that this is not some con job, or somebody’s rambling. It could be a theme set in any historical period, it could be some very real social issue, it could be a theme worked out around a kitchen…a small pub or café or restaurant,  or showing life in a village….lives of ordinary people from various walks of life all living in a community, and the dynamics that naturally evolve…. I’ve never ever known that the surreal could be so integrated with the reality of daily life and yet I see this theme being treated so beautifully in K-dramas. It goes to the credit of Korean film makers that they are not afraid to show reality as it is without resorting to any gimmickry or whitewashing or foolish misrepresentations. And through the intensity of all of these, they are able to show the strength and beauty of the human mind and form. Unbelievably fantastic. I am so grateful that I am able to witness and see and learn so much not only about myself, but also about society, and about people in general…..

Romance. I totally totally totally love the way the love angle is treated in K-dramas and films. There is none of the jumping-into-bed-violent-sex, which is beyond hideous. Nor is there any kind of crudity or vulgarity. The ‘falling in love’ parts are sensitively and beautifully handled. In fact, the whole love theme with all the various angles is treated very, very aesthetically and tenderly in K-dramas and films. The feeling of protecting the loved one is genuinely caring and sensitive. This is, to my mind, beyond beautiful…

Emotions. Emotions are expressed very naturally in K-dramas and films, and they are very intense, but though emotions run high, we can watch, hear, and assimilate without being subjected to any crudity.  It could be the Confucian/Buddhist influence, but intense scenes are shown without resorting to vulgar language (especially the use of the f-word), nudity, undue violence, and drug addiction.

Since there is no rush and hurry in their dramas and they are not unnecessarily fast paced, one gets immersed in the storyline, and when the drama ends, one actually feels sad to say goodbye to the characters who had over the days become such a part of life, as it were…! 

More than anything, it is such a relief to be able to watch a film with friends and family without being enbarassed or temporarily turning the tv off. 

What a beautiful people, and what a wonderful country….I wish you always only the very best….

Continuing the thoughts…

in my last blog, I came across a post called ‘the danish way’, and I’d like to share them here:

In a world that can often feel chaotic, it’s important to find balance. Instead of aiming for perfection or constant happiness, wee should value the small moments that bring us connection and prsonal growth. Chasing perfection or endless happiness can be tiring. It’s better to accept that life can be challenging at times, and that it’s okay not to be perfect. The real treasures are found in the moments when we connect with others, enjoy the simple things in life, and grow as individuals by following our own unique paths. These moments give depth to our lives.