Movie Review: pk

I was forced to watch this movie as I travelled to Mangaluru from Hyderabad by a video coach bus. It was a mix of watered down rationalism, stupid and tame dialogues, numerous cringe-worthy moments, woman only wants to marry a man sexism (maybe watered down for patriarchy), confused genre as it uncomfortably vacillated among comedy, fantasy and drama. Clueless acting by all making it painful to watch at times(most notably by Boman Irani but again mainly because the genre of the movie itself wasn't clear).

And it still managed to rile so many Hindutvites! 

Movie Review: I Am Love (Italian: Io sono l'amore)

All I could get from this modern day retelling of Madame Bovary is way to a woman's heart is through her stomach.

Overriding stereotypes

I keep listening to these stereotypes that Indians are cheap. They bargain for everything. They are nosy. etc... But I believe such stereotypes kill regional stereotypes. For example, my native place, Mangaluru(Mangalore), has exactly opposite stereotypes.

1. Mangalureans don't bargain
When I was young, I heard one of our neighbours complaining about their relatives who were staying with them. They went shopping and to this Mangalurean's utter mortification, started bargaining with the shop keeper. And the humiliation was complete when the shop keeper -who guessed their region based on their accent- contemptuously said, "This isn't Bengaluru. Nobody bargains here in Mangaluru".

2. Mangalureans always go dutch
I visited the home town after spending few years in Mysore for my studies. I met some of my friends there and we went to a restaurant. I took the bill. One of my friends immediately admonished me, "Is that Mysore style? We always split the bill here. There is no sponsoring business".

3. Mangalureans have stiff upper lip
I think this was said by a non-Managlorean Kannadiga and corroborated by a non-Mangalorean Tuluva. We supposedly don't mingle with others or make friends easily.

Tattoo

[I'm in general indifferent to tattoos so I wonder why I dreamt about them]

It was day time and I was in an open land. There were a tree and a concrete bench. The chair next to that gave the impression of an open air barber's shop. The tattoo artist asked me to sit in the chair. I don't remember what I was wearing. But I thought of tattooing the lower legs. They appeared shaven and lighter toned instead of the actual hairy dark legs. I don't remember seeing the artist or their tools. I suppose I was asked whether I would like to have something. I said I'd have a sandwich from Subway.

Then I woke up.

Tasting customer

[Hawker]: These oranges are good. Ten for fifty rupees. Please taste this. It's sweet and fresh.
[Peels off an orange and gives me a slice(?). It's bitter or sour or whatever but not at all sweet]
[Hawker]: Shall I pack you some?
[I]: Okay.

Dravidian Girl and Indo-Aryan Boy

[I overheard few words]
[DG]: ... Kumbha Mela ...
[IAB]: It's Kumbh .. Kumbh
[DG]: Yeah, yeah, whatever ...
[I]: [Attagirl! always end a word with a vowel.]

Beyond Humility

[She] : Excuse me, where is ...?
[I]: It's not in this lane, maybe you should try the lane parallel to this.
[She]: But I was told it's somewhere here
[I]: Hmm... this one is ... and that one is ... I guess you need to check the parallel lane
[She]: So, you are not sure
[I]: I mean it's not in this lane but yes, I'm not sure...
[She]: Okay, I'll ask the shopkeeper then
[I]: Sure
[She]: Thank you
[I]: Uh...No problem
[I parked the car and while getting down saw her walking towards the parallel lane]
[I went inside the house and after some time I came out to buy something from the shop across the road]
[I found her returning to the same lane and again checking the buildings around and talking over the phone]
[Shall I?]
[One can buy this thing for as cheap as Rs. 5000  and provides so much independence so, why wouldn't she buy one?]
[I]: Excuse me ...
[She] Yes ...[over the phone] Just a minute, I'll get back to you
[I]: It says you have to go straight in this lane, cross the junction and at the T-junction ahead, it's on your left