It is that time of the year when it is customary to say Happy New Year all!
And so it shall be with me too.
But not before I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the year that has been and on the defining moments and debates of 2011.
Last year this time I did draw your attention to the great debate, almost the only one worthy of our time and effort to wrap our heads around and understand. It was the great debate involving two diametrically opposing views of India, Munni and Sheila. I did hint then that it was not just about two "item numbers" in Hindi movies. Very important and defining elements of our modern culture as the item numbers are, Munni and Sheila go a bit beyond popular culture and entertainment and actually frame the great national (non) debate. I mean the Urban vs the Rural debate that has been going on since 1947. Interesting political-economic discourse though it is, it is not my intent to get into that now. For those who did not get my mail last year, I am attaching at the bottom of this post the contents of that famous debate.
The issue has been joined this year by yet another worthy - Silk Smitha so ably portrayed on the celluloid screen by Vidya Balan from Bollywood. The actress upon whose life this biopic was made had Tamil movie goers in a vice-like grip for a few years. I would even venture so far as to say that she was the reason that the "item number" found a permanent place in Indian movies. She also framed the Great Indian Debate in a different way - Quality Vs Quantity, firmly coming down in favour of Quantity. Its the same viewpoint that makes us churn out Engineers and Doctors by their tens of thousands with scant regard for what they have learnt, for what they know. But in her case it was applied to the human female anatomy and the myriad grotesque ways in which the latter can be used to raise a gullible, repressed audience to a fever pitch of sexual excitement. I think you get the picture. I shall not elaborate any further, and shall leave it to you to make your own conclusions.
On that note it is time to say Goodbye 2011 and Hello 2012 and wish everyone the very best in 2012.
Here is the original debate as framed by me last year:
And so it shall be with me too.
But not before I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the year that has been and on the defining moments and debates of 2011.
Last year this time I did draw your attention to the great debate, almost the only one worthy of our time and effort to wrap our heads around and understand. It was the great debate involving two diametrically opposing views of India, Munni and Sheila. I did hint then that it was not just about two "item numbers" in Hindi movies. Very important and defining elements of our modern culture as the item numbers are, Munni and Sheila go a bit beyond popular culture and entertainment and actually frame the great national (non) debate. I mean the Urban vs the Rural debate that has been going on since 1947. Interesting political-economic discourse though it is, it is not my intent to get into that now. For those who did not get my mail last year, I am attaching at the bottom of this post the contents of that famous debate.
The issue has been joined this year by yet another worthy - Silk Smitha so ably portrayed on the celluloid screen by Vidya Balan from Bollywood. The actress upon whose life this biopic was made had Tamil movie goers in a vice-like grip for a few years. I would even venture so far as to say that she was the reason that the "item number" found a permanent place in Indian movies. She also framed the Great Indian Debate in a different way - Quality Vs Quantity, firmly coming down in favour of Quantity. Its the same viewpoint that makes us churn out Engineers and Doctors by their tens of thousands with scant regard for what they have learnt, for what they know. But in her case it was applied to the human female anatomy and the myriad grotesque ways in which the latter can be used to raise a gullible, repressed audience to a fever pitch of sexual excitement. I think you get the picture. I shall not elaborate any further, and shall leave it to you to make your own conclusions.
On that note it is time to say Goodbye 2011 and Hello 2012 and wish everyone the very best in 2012.
Here is the original debate as framed by me last year:
Dear all
We have all identified many defining debates of the year 2010.
We have felt strongly about them - sufficiently so as to hang a label of greatness around their metaphorical necks.
These came in a wide variety of topics:
There is the one raging in the US of A about what kind of president Obama is
There is even one concerning his eligibility to be President of the aforesaid US of A
There is another one on the same subject, but far more dark: Does Middle America hate Obama for the audacity of a black man to become President? And are they showing it in every which way but the most direct one?
Then there is the one about the (inevitable) rise of our Chinese neighbours - on the mechanics of how they got here and how far will they go and in which direction?
There is even one about whether the term The Ugly American will return to the global political discourse with "American" replaced by "Chinese"
There are many homegrown ones:
How many G's are there in the telecom scam in India? Or, more generally how many G's are there in India? Wags have it that India has only 2G: Sonia-ji and Rahul-ji (third G is a possibility: Priyanka-ji). Many conclude sagely that that is the real scam.
Who benefited from the 2G scam and how much was scammed? The usual suspects are mentioned : the aforesaid 2G's and Karunanidhi and his many consorts and their offspring. Answer depends on whom you ask. And a few more names who picked up the crumbs and licked their fingers along the way.
There is even a debate on was there is a scam at all, or was it all a result the dubious counting techniques that CAG is partial to?
Then there's the debate on a decade old concept of the reflectivity and shiny-ness of India: India shining. Is it really shining? If yes, who is it shining for? Will it shine for those who never see the sun / who never come in from the sun? Or only for those privileged enough to coin such phrases and wealthy and clever and powerful enough to capture most of the shine for themselves in a kind of "economic black hole" which bends and then captures all the shiny stuff for itself.
You get the point: there are many debates raging around the world with various sides to the debates taking immovable positions and arguing passionately first about the importance of the debate itself and then about their position in it.
I find all that stuff pretty childish and insubstantial. Ephemeral even. Presidents come and go and seemingly to affect their respective countries for a while (some, not at all), but nothing really changes for ever in the larger picture. China will rise, China will fall and in between make a lot people very uncomfortable. But the only certainty is China will fall as surely as it rises much as economies do and because of the latter. India will shine for a while; India will be tarnished (by the political class and, equally likely, by the Babu-dom). The G's will multiply (although some aver that one of the G's is of such orientation as to render multiplication not possible) and grow numerous and fight among themselves and lose their G-ness (I should have said G-spot, but that designation has been taken by an altogether more interesting branch of inquiry).
All the above debates are about cyclical stuff. What goes up must come down sort of things (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi9sLkyhhlE&feature=related). And confined to the top 6 inches of ones physique, assuming of course one hasn't lost one's head literally or otherwise. What about the issue that is visceral in nature? The one that not merely tugs at your heart and soul, but kind of props you up at your very core? Central to any one in India and shared by all?
I am of course referring to the great Munni Vs Sheila debate. Ahh, here is a debate of some substance, of great import and one which raises strong passions on both sides of the debating forum.
For those unaware of the central characters in this debate, a brief introduction is in order. Munni is decidedly Indian, of rural stock, curvaceous and is a woman of considerable allure in ways Indian men like. Sheila couldn't further from this image. Slim, svelte and decidedly sophisticated in her mien and disport. Even the names say it all: Munni is of the earth, earthy. Sheila is anglicized, suggestive of western origin, and is not of this land. Munni is your woman-next-hut type and therefore desired, coveted and lusted after by the Indian male, and is suggestive of the attainable. Sheilas of the world reek of sophistication, westernized glam-girl stuff; of sex-symbol for the thinking men (assuming of course sex and thinking men is not an oxymoron). The two roles are also played by real life women of matching persona. Katrina of Sheila fame is born and brought up in England, is half-English (no quibble please on English not including the Scottish, the Welsh and the like; you get the idea) and can hardly muster Hindi, and when she does, then only with an East India Co accent. Munni is the short, curvaceous Malaika Arora Khan who is best described in PG Wodehousian terms as "going in and out at the right places".
The voices, ahh the voices. What can one say about the voices? Except that the choice of the playback singers is sooo appropriate. Munni is rough edged, rustic, crude and totally devoid of any sophistication and of sophistry; Munni's voice means business in a quick-tumble-in-the-nearest-bale-of-hay sort of way. "Suggestive" doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. Sheila? Hmmmm Let me think. That is exactly it. Think. Westernized beat, voice put through some electronic wringer and removed of any semblance of human origin and appeal. Here, go ahead and judge for yourself:
Munni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRMObjVhQM
Sheila
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n0XfvX1Zr4
Look at the lyrics - can there be a greater contrast? Munni is all so coy and indirect; suggestive yet subtle. Its all in her voice and in her gyrations. And the imagery is sooo Indian and so rural and so ineluctably clever in a rustic sort of way. The native smarts, if I may say so. Who would imagine being someon else's "zandu balm" or "cinema hall" for that matter. She soothes like an emolient, she tingles like a balm and she can entertain like a cinema hall. Shiela on the other hand reminds you that you want it but can't have it and then goes on to exhort you to "come and get it". More than a bit flirtatious, I'll grant you; but too direct like the West in such matters ("give it to me baby" type of stuff). Lacks in allure. Its-yours-for-the-taking, in your face kind, direct sort of stuff.
I have given you the evidence and pointed you in the right direction -decide for yourself.
I know this debate will rage on for all of 2011
Now tell me is there any other debate worthy of our time in 2011 ??
If I have kept you debating this in 2011, even if only to yourself, I will have achieved my purpose of dsitracting you from the filth , the meanness and the pettiness that is so rampant all around us.
Talk to you again in 2012
Have a great New Year
Murali
We have all identified many defining debates of the year 2010.
We have felt strongly about them - sufficiently so as to hang a label of greatness around their metaphorical necks.
These came in a wide variety of topics:
There is the one raging in the US of A about what kind of president Obama is
There is even one concerning his eligibility to be President of the aforesaid US of A
There is another one on the same subject, but far more dark: Does Middle America hate Obama for the audacity of a black man to become President? And are they showing it in every which way but the most direct one?
Then there is the one about the (inevitable) rise of our Chinese neighbours - on the mechanics of how they got here and how far will they go and in which direction?
There is even one about whether the term The Ugly American will return to the global political discourse with "American" replaced by "Chinese"
There are many homegrown ones:
How many G's are there in the telecom scam in India? Or, more generally how many G's are there in India? Wags have it that India has only 2G: Sonia-ji and Rahul-ji (third G is a possibility: Priyanka-ji). Many conclude sagely that that is the real scam.
Who benefited from the 2G scam and how much was scammed? The usual suspects are mentioned : the aforesaid 2G's and Karunanidhi and his many consorts and their offspring. Answer depends on whom you ask. And a few more names who picked up the crumbs and licked their fingers along the way.
There is even a debate on was there is a scam at all, or was it all a result the dubious counting techniques that CAG is partial to?
Then there's the debate on a decade old concept of the reflectivity and shiny-ness of India: India shining. Is it really shining? If yes, who is it shining for? Will it shine for those who never see the sun / who never come in from the sun? Or only for those privileged enough to coin such phrases and wealthy and clever and powerful enough to capture most of the shine for themselves in a kind of "economic black hole" which bends and then captures all the shiny stuff for itself.
You get the point: there are many debates raging around the world with various sides to the debates taking immovable positions and arguing passionately first about the importance of the debate itself and then about their position in it.
I find all that stuff pretty childish and insubstantial. Ephemeral even. Presidents come and go and seemingly to affect their respective countries for a while (some, not at all), but nothing really changes for ever in the larger picture. China will rise, China will fall and in between make a lot people very uncomfortable. But the only certainty is China will fall as surely as it rises much as economies do and because of the latter. India will shine for a while; India will be tarnished (by the political class and, equally likely, by the Babu-dom). The G's will multiply (although some aver that one of the G's is of such orientation as to render multiplication not possible) and grow numerous and fight among themselves and lose their G-ness (I should have said G-spot, but that designation has been taken by an altogether more interesting branch of inquiry).
All the above debates are about cyclical stuff. What goes up must come down sort of things (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi9sLkyhhlE&feature=related). And confined to the top 6 inches of ones physique, assuming of course one hasn't lost one's head literally or otherwise. What about the issue that is visceral in nature? The one that not merely tugs at your heart and soul, but kind of props you up at your very core? Central to any one in India and shared by all?
I am of course referring to the great Munni Vs Sheila debate. Ahh, here is a debate of some substance, of great import and one which raises strong passions on both sides of the debating forum.
For those unaware of the central characters in this debate, a brief introduction is in order. Munni is decidedly Indian, of rural stock, curvaceous and is a woman of considerable allure in ways Indian men like. Sheila couldn't further from this image. Slim, svelte and decidedly sophisticated in her mien and disport. Even the names say it all: Munni is of the earth, earthy. Sheila is anglicized, suggestive of western origin, and is not of this land. Munni is your woman-next-hut type and therefore desired, coveted and lusted after by the Indian male, and is suggestive of the attainable. Sheilas of the world reek of sophistication, westernized glam-girl stuff; of sex-symbol for the thinking men (assuming of course sex and thinking men is not an oxymoron). The two roles are also played by real life women of matching persona. Katrina of Sheila fame is born and brought up in England, is half-English (no quibble please on English not including the Scottish, the Welsh and the like; you get the idea) and can hardly muster Hindi, and when she does, then only with an East India Co accent. Munni is the short, curvaceous Malaika Arora Khan who is best described in PG Wodehousian terms as "going in and out at the right places".
The voices, ahh the voices. What can one say about the voices? Except that the choice of the playback singers is sooo appropriate. Munni is rough edged, rustic, crude and totally devoid of any sophistication and of sophistry; Munni's voice means business in a quick-tumble-in-the-nearest-bale-of-hay sort of way. "Suggestive" doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. Sheila? Hmmmm Let me think. That is exactly it. Think. Westernized beat, voice put through some electronic wringer and removed of any semblance of human origin and appeal. Here, go ahead and judge for yourself:
Munni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRMObjVhQM
Sheila
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n0XfvX1Zr4
| Lyrics of Munni: | Lyrics of Sheila |
| Munni
badnaam hui, darling tere liye - 3 times Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re Le zandu balm hui, darling tere liye Munni badnaam hui, darling tere liye Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re Le zandu balm hui, darling tere liye - 2 times Munni badnaam hui, darling tere liye - 2 times Shilpa sa figure Bebo si adaa, Bebo si adaa Shilpa sa figure Bebo si adaa, Bebo si adaa Hai mere jhatke mein filmi mazaa re filmi mazaa Haye tu na jaane mere nakhre ve Haye tu na jaane mere nakhre ve laakhon rupaiya udaa Ve main taksaal hui, darling tere liye Cinema hall hui, darling tere liye Munni badnaam hui, darling tere liye - 2 times O munni re, o munni re Tera gali gali mein charcha re Hai jama ishq da ishq da parcha re Jama ishq da ishq da parcha re O munni re Kaise anaari se paala pada ji paala pada Ho kaise anaari se paala pada ji paala pada Bina rupaiye ke aake khada mere peechay pada Popat na jaane mere peechay woh Saifu (haye haye maar hi daalogi kya) Popat na jaane mere peechay Saifu se leke Lambhu khada Item yeh aam hui, darling tere liye Item yeh aam hui, darling tere liye Munni badnaam hui, darling tere liye Hai tujh mein poori botal ka nasha, botal ka nasha Hai tujh mein poori botal ka nasha, botal ka nasha Kar de budaape ko kar de jawan re kar de jawan Honthon pe gaali teri aankhein dulaali, haye Honthon pe gaali teri aankhein dulaali re de hai jiya Tu item bomb hui, darling tere liye Munni badnaam hui, darling mere liye - 2 times Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re Le zandu balm hui, darling tere liye Munni badnaam hui, darling tere liye Baat yeh aam hui, darling tere liye Be-Hindustan hui, darling tere liye Amiya se aam hui, darling mere liye Le zandu balm hui, darling mere liye Seenay mein hole hui, tere tere tere liye Aale badnaam hui haanji haan tere liye Le sareaam hui, darling tere liye Darling tere liye x3 |
I know
you want it But you never gonna get it Tere haath kabhi na aani Maane na maane koi duniya Yeh saari, mere ishq ki hai deewani Hey hey, I know you want it but you never gonna get it Tere haath kabhi na aani Maane na maane koi duniya yeh saari Mere ishq ki hai deewani Ab dil karta hai haule haule se Main toh khud ko gale lagaun Kisi aur ki mujhko zaroorat kya Main toh khud se pyaar jataun what's my name what's my name what's my name My name is Sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani Na na na sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani Take it on Take it on Take it on Take it on Silly silly silly silly boys O o o you're so silly Mujhe bolo bolo karte hain O o o Haan jab unki taraf dekhun, baatein haule haule karte hain Hai magar, beasar mujh par har paintra Haye re aise tarse humko Ho gaye sober se re Sookhey dil pe megapan ke teri nazariya barse re I know you want it but you never gonna get it Tere haath kabhi na aani Sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani Na na na sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani Paisa gaadi mehnga ghar ?ani na mainu ki gimme your that Jaibein khaali bhadti chal No no I don't lie like that Chal yahan se nikal tujhe sab laa dunga Kadmon mein tere laake jag rakh dunga Khwaab main kar dunga poore Na rahenge adhoore You know I'm going to love you like that, whatever Haye re aise tarse humko Ho gaye sober se re Sookhey dil pe begapan ke teri nazariya barse re I know you want it but you never gonna get it You never gonna get my body I know you want it but you never gonna get it Tere haath kabhi na aani Maane na maane koi duniya yeh saari Tere ishq ki main deewani Ab dil karta hai haule haule se Main toh khud ko gale lagaun Kisi aur ki mujhko zaroorat kya Main toh khud se pyaar jataun What's my name What's my name What's my name My name is Sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani O no no sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani Sheela Sheela ki jawani I'm just sexy for you Main tere haath na aani Ain't nobody got body like sheela Everybody want body like sheela Drive me crazy coz my name is sheela Ain't nobody got body like sheela Everybody want body like sheela Drive me crazy coz my name is sheela Ain't nobody got body like sheela |
Look at the lyrics - can there be a greater contrast? Munni is all so coy and indirect; suggestive yet subtle. Its all in her voice and in her gyrations. And the imagery is sooo Indian and so rural and so ineluctably clever in a rustic sort of way. The native smarts, if I may say so. Who would imagine being someon else's "zandu balm" or "cinema hall" for that matter. She soothes like an emolient, she tingles like a balm and she can entertain like a cinema hall. Shiela on the other hand reminds you that you want it but can't have it and then goes on to exhort you to "come and get it". More than a bit flirtatious, I'll grant you; but too direct like the West in such matters ("give it to me baby" type of stuff). Lacks in allure. Its-yours-for-the-taking, in your face kind, direct sort of stuff.
I have given you the evidence and pointed you in the right direction -decide for yourself.
I know this debate will rage on for all of 2011
Now tell me is there any other debate worthy of our time in 2011 ??
If I have kept you debating this in 2011, even if only to yourself, I will have achieved my purpose of dsitracting you from the filth , the meanness and the pettiness that is so rampant all around us.
Talk to you again in 2012
Have a great New Year
Murali
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