Amodini's Book Reviews

Book Reviews and Recommendations

Memoirs of a geisha

Written By: amodini - Apr• 10•06

Memoirs of a Geisha (Single Disc Version)First off, I’d like to say that this is a well made film, with good actors and a strong storyline – definitely worth a watch. ** SPOILERS AHEAD ** However, it was a let-down to me, I guess because I’ve read the book and expected so much more from the movie (Oscar nominations and all). The film is pretty true to the story with a few minor differences (minor tweaks and changes in details which make no change to the actual plot). The one major difference that I did see is that in the book, Sayuri’s love for the chairman is a strong theme, she does what she does but he is always in her mind. In the film, this is downplayed, they do project the romance, but it is more of an after-thought. The film is about Sayuri – that is it’s main concern, and the chairman, is the man in Sayuri’s life.

What really put me off, was the accented English of 2 of the main characters – Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang) and Hatsumomo (Gong Li), as well as other minor charcaters like Aunty and Mother. I’d rather they have spoken in Japanese – seeing the films with sub-titles would have been better. The way it’s done now, is that you have characters who could not have possibly spoken English in that place and time, speaking their dialogues in heavily accented and thus discordant inflexions of voice. Very distracting and takes away from the acting – I know now in my meta-physical movie-watching state that they are indeed actors. Michelle Yeoh the 3rd major character (plays Mameha) is an actress who besides her beauty exudes grace and regality, so your eyes are drawn to her when she’s on screen. Besides that she actually speaks decent English, so I’m not distracted by the dialogue itself.

The girl who acts as Chiyo (Sayuri as a child) Suzuka Ohgo, does a fantastic job. I was not overly impressed by Ken Watanabe (as the chairman) or Koji Yakusho (as Nobu). Watanabe’s performance was flat and lacked the passion I’d have expected of Sayuri’s beloved, while Yakusho was a little better. And although the film tries to make visual statements – all that flowing silks, and the dramatic make-up, it does not succeed. On the whole despite the meat of it’s story the film refuses to come together as a well-knit whole, and sort of makes me question the “realness” of the whole thing – didn’t move me much. The only part which I truly felt for was Chiyo’s plight in the okiya, subject to back-breaking work and Hatsumomo’s viciousness. I wept no tears for Sayuri’s hidden love.

House of flying daggers was so much more impressive.

Categories : _films , _film_reviews

Posted in hollywood, movies, recommended | 2 Comments »

Wardrobe malfunctions : the new social evil

Written By: amodini - Apr• 07•06


I’ve been hearing obout the brouhaha over the clothing slip-ups (pun intended) at Lakme India Fashion week. Reading about the perturbations it’s causing is so much more fun though – I haven’t laughed so much in some time. Looking through the dailies on the web, I came across this gem :

Probe ordered into Mumbai wardrobe malfunction

“We will inquire if the (wardrobe malfunction) incidents were accidents or deliberate acts,” Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil told reporters.
. . .
Patil has already directed city Police Commissioner A.N. Roy to check all video clips of the fashion show and find out if the malfunctions were a “deliberate, indecent act”.

Now reading the above, one could be forgiven for thinking this was a matter of state importance, you know, akin to the other problems of starvation, malnutrition deaths, abject poverty, bride-burning, dowry, eve-teasing, molestation etc. But no, this is a case of a model losing her clothing while on the ramp. And it’s got Patil all hot and bothered, enough to pull the police commisioner into investigating the task. Does Mr. Patil have no other work rather than order investigations into wardrobe malfunctions in fashion shows, where let’s face it, models aren’t exactly covered from head to toe in the first place ?

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the incident “hurt sensibilities”, especially those of women.

Wow, all this concern for women’s “hurt sensibilities” ! Reality check Mr.Deshmukh – try asking a few women and see if this even figures in the top 100 causes of “hurt sensibilities” in India. Is the woman on the road really bothered about Gauhar Khan’s exposed bottom more than about being grabbed in the local bus which she must take to get home ? Apparently being molested/raped or subject to vulgar music videos or films on TV, isn’t hurting sensibilities. One model loses her top (or her skirt) and it becomes big debate for the Maharashtra Assembly ! CM Deshmukh should look closer to home to find causes of “hurt sensibilities” – he might find that his son’s antics in films like “Kya kool hai hum” (and indeed the film itself) is one of them.

However, the imbecility doesn’t end there. There’s more :

Earlier Tuesday, the issue was raised in the state legislative council by Shiv Sena legislators Pramod Navalkar and Neelam Gorhe, who demanded an inquiry into the wardrobe malfunctions.

Makes me wonder, do the esteemed legislators not have other legislative matters to make a hue and cry over – I don’t know – the condition of the roads, or the non-existent supplies of water/electricity ? Could they order inquiries into those matters ? Could the city Police Commisioner be better employed in pursuing ACTUAL CRIMINALS ?

All this talk about “protecting culture” is to say the least, hypocritical. Culture ? What culture ? The culture which is so tenuous that one peek at a woman’s exposed breasts and we corrupt an entire generation ? The culture that assumes that all men are wild beasts with no control over their lusty gazes, and sexual appetites – so much so that we need to lock up our daughters, or dress them in burkhas ? The culture where one split-second image of a woman’s bottom on television causes a Legislative assembly debate, but scores of stories of women molested, killed at birth, or murdered engender no response ?

How fragile are we with this culture, which assumes that one is easily corruptible by suggestive lyrics or glimpses of naked body parts ? How do Navalkar, Patil, or Deshmukh assume that this will corrupt the youth ? Do they think that some hot-blooded young man will be so moved by Ms. Gracias’s or Ms. Khan’s exposed anatomy that he will give-in to his baser instinsts and attempt to do damage to some innocent young girl ? Earth to Indian politicians : Dear Ministers/Legislators, the only reason that criminals give in to criminal impulses is the lack of law and order, and the absolute faith that no matter what they do, they will get away with it. Images can only move people, they cannot actually cause them to commit crimes. THAT only an in-effectual justice system (such as the one you provide while busy investigating wardrobe mal-functions) can do.

How backbone-less are we when we talk of a culture that wants to “take away the temptation” (wrap-up or shut-up the women) to protect us from evil-doing ? That assumes that one has no inherent, built-in moral substance ? That assumes that the only way to make us walk the straight and narrow is not have any obstacles in our path ?

Categories : _culture_and_society

Posted in culture and society, india, tv | 7 Comments »

The pain in my . . .

Written By: amodini - Mar• 31•06

Went out of town for a few days to visit some friends, and succumbed to an infection on coming home. (Welcome back, say the bacteria) Made mush of my voice, and effectively prevented me from eating and drinking. And swallowing. It’s not like I pay that much attention to the act of swallowing, but being unable to do so, made me notice it that much more. I (and you) must swallow like a hundred times a day, and not notice – it’s so involuntary. Aah, but to not be able to – nasty !

Apart from the fact that getting a teeny-weeny morsel from the outside world to your innards now presents a painful problem, it also causes gobs of saliva to gather in your mouth, causing unpleasant and hitherto unguessed at sensations of wishing to throw up. You get the picture ? Or you wish you hadn’t ?

Am mighty relieved to be able to swallow and eat and talk again. You know not what you have until you lose it.

Posted in books | 2 Comments »

Still a girl (at heart)

Written By: amodini - Mar• 23•06

A couple of weeks back, self and hubby are listening to this desi radio station on the weekend, and the RJ announces a desi dance party. Well, nice I think. He follows it up by a proclamation that the young folks had better be nicely dressed. Then he says something to this effect “If you’re 21-35 years old, come on and shake a leg !” Self and husband look at each other aghast. Whatever happened to “If you’re 35+ and happening, come out and shake a leg too”. I mean, 35 is not that far away, infact it looms very close (much too close) on the horizon. Will I, when I cross that threshold, be persona-non-grata on dance floors ?

Am I aging that fast ? So what now, after 35 you’re old, you better remain shackled to that wheelchair of yours ? If you’re 35+, you’re automatically excluded from the group they call “the young” ? Ouch. It’s like another coming of age, the first one being when I suddenly became an “aunty” after years of “didi-dom”. And all it took was marriage. Suddenly I’m like a mami, chachi, aunty etc. and I’m supposed to like knowledgable or something. I remember the first time this little kid called me aunty. He came upto me and prefixed his request with THE WORD. I looked around for some auntie-like being to emerge from the woodwork, but no, it was only me and him. So, understanding strikes. What ? Who, me ? You’re talking to me ? OH. MY. GOD. I’M THE AUNTY. It took some getting used to, I can tell you that. And what did aunties do anyway ? Are thay supposed to have the world’s wisdom at hand to answer little boy queries ? Does aunty status confer upon you some third eye, and deeper understanding of how life works ? I don’t know – I’ve never figured it out.

My mom however, is one person who’s pretty happy at all my birthdays. I can feel her affection gushing down the phone lines, as she reminds me that another year has passed. It doesn’t matter that I’m now on the wrong side of 30, where once I was on the right side of 20 – she’s still celebrating. And I’m thankful for that.

In some (crappy) magazine I read that the line separating girlhood from womanhood is thin (I know, I know – I cringe now, but I used to read this kind of stuff then). Now I think, that line must not only be thin, it must be invisible, because I’ve never crossed it. So for all I know (and care) after years of marriage, kids and life, I’m still a girl and hubby’s still a guy, and 3 hours on the dance floor, is a workout, yes, but not enough to make me keel over and die (yet).

Posted in women | 5 Comments »

Best Sci-fi movies

Written By: amodini - Mar• 22•06

I’m trying to think of really good sci-fi films, but can (surprisingly) come up with only a handful, the best being “The Matrix” . Then there are the “Alien” and the “Terminator” films ofcourse. There’s Asimov’s “I, Robot” which turned into a fairly interesting film. And H.G.Wells “The war of the world’s” was OK. “Sphere” Michael Crichton’s film about an alien intelligence “in” a mysterious sphere, was pretty good, but can be called only border-line sci-fi. “12 monkeys” is a fairly old movie on time-travel, and it’s fun – lots of plot twists, and it makes you think trying to keep track of the protagonist. Added bonus : it stars Bruce Willis ! “ET” was fun, when I was a kid. Not so much fun now. “Minority Report” (another Philip Dick short story) stars Tom Cruise and is good – sort of a sci-fi detective film. “Solaris” (2002) Steven Soderbergh’s remake starring George Clooney tells a tale of mysterious dead visitors on a space-station. “Men in Black” is sci-fi yes, but it is also a funny, slap-sticky film where smart-mouthed average Joes, turn into an alien-fighting team.

And then there are the great films I HAVEN’T SEEN. “Blade Runner” is supposed to be great – am reading the book now (“Do Androids dream of electric sheep ?” by Philip K. Dick). Other recommended films are “Artificial Intelligence”, “The day the earth stood still”, “Metropolis”, “2001 – A space odyssey”.

Categories : _films , _film_reviews

Posted in fantasy, hollywood, movies | 3 Comments »

Cooking (mis)demeanors

Written By: amodini - Mar• 17•06

Cooking is not in my blood. I mean, I cook decently enough, but if Sanjeev Kapoor ever looked for an assistant, I don’t think he’d pick me. Philosophically speaking, what’s one to do ? You gotta eat. And you can’t eat philosophically. Unless it’s like eating your own words (which isn’t much fun). And while I’m all for restaurant food once in a while, one and one’s tummy often yearns for simple, ghar-ka-khaana.

Simple is as simple does. So, I actually surf the net for microwave recipes. I love microwave popcorn. I buy ghee – I don’t make my own from unsalted butter. I also buy yoghurt, I don’t make it. I use precut/frozen veggies. I use bottled ginger/garlic paste. I make gulab-jamun from pancake mix, not paneer. I make tamrind chutney from a Mexican tamarind-ish drink. I use dessicated coconut in recipes which call for fresh. I freeze food, after my weekend cook-a-thons. And now, we’ve succumbed to the lure of entertainment, and finally gotten a TV for the kitchen, because I was tired of missing “The Apprentice”, while I put tadka in the dal.

However, my entire extended family, seems to think that women have a special affinity for cooking. It is a much debated question, as to why on setting foot in a home (either in India or the US) I do not instantly head for my natural environment, the kitchen, but am content to loll on the sofa watching TV or reading a book ? People seem aghast at my non-interest in learning new dishes and honing non-existent culinary skills. You don’t know how to make ghee ? Hai-hai, this girl will surely go to hell. You buy curd ? Horrors ! You feed pati-parmeshwar frozen vegetables ? I hold my tongue and do not tell them that pati-parmeshwar often cooks (well), and feeds me (delicately marinated legs of chicken). THAT would be blasphemy.

Categories : _food

Posted in books, food | 2 Comments »

Being myself

Written By: amodini - Mar• 14•06

The pleasure of a city is in it’s transportation system. Ease of use, the ability to travel where you want to go, unfettered, is uplifting, empowering. So, I love Bombay, although I’ve been crushed to pieces (like the others) in the ladies compartment of the local trains, and had a horrific time, once, when I got into the men’s compartment by mistake. And in my short trip to Washington, D.C. I adored the place because of it’s trains, (and the gorgeous, free museums).

Of course, when there is no transportation system, a car makes for a very nice substitute. You’re still free. My aunt visits the US from time to time, and she doesn’t like it much, because she can’t drive. Of course she doesn’t drive in India either, but that never poses a problem – lots of auto-wallahs around. My mom visits the US, and although she thinks the place pretty nice, she is miserable. She goes out for a walk, and doesn’t meet a soul. She looks out the window and she can’t even see a car drive-by. No dhobi, no maid, no sabzi-wallah to call out to. No friends, no relatives, no people who just drop by. My ma-in-law says my life is hard. You wash, you cook, you clean, you work out of the home. You slog all day. No servant to make you chai, no helper to ease the burden. I have a hard time convincing her I like it this way.

Contrarily, it doesn’t bother me a whit to see an absence of people and crowds. I walk, I roam, I run errands. I walk across the street, without finding people ogling me. People do not look at me like a piece of meat, crossing the road, regardless of what I’m wearing. Shorts, pants, ankle-length skirt – doesn’t make a difference. I can look around me, without attracting undue attention. In public places, I am not my father’s daughter, or my husband’s wife. I am me.

It is, to put it mildly, nice.

Posted in desi, women | 2 Comments »

Hai, that love of euphemisms ! (For Blank Noise Project Blog-a-thon)

Written By: amodini - Mar• 07•06

Wikipedia defines “eve-teasing” as a euphemism. And what a euphemism ! It’s actually a nice word for molestation – hear, hear ! And we need nice words for serious problems like sexual harassment, because how would we, otherwise decent people, live in sanity in our “high-moralled cultural” society, where on one hand we revere the woman as mother, but really can’t resist a lascivicous grope when the opportunity presents itself !

And what about the woman upon whom this euphemism is visited ? Have you ever thought of your mother, sister, wife, friend subject to this violation when they step out on the street ? Have you REALLY thought about it ? Or are we now so inured to the subject of abuse on women that we accept it as a part of life ? After all, what do you expect when you go out on the street ALL ALONE ?

When we turn a blind eye to this problem, or we suggest to our daughters to not venture out alone, and to travel with a male, we condone the actual problem. We accept that it is OK for women to be harassed in public places. We accept that women are unsafe alone, that women need protection, and are unable to stand by themselves. And that is the message we give out to women and the rest of society.

In my mind, molestation on the street, occurs primarily because of the mindset of Indian society. Issues like street harassment, violence against women, foeticide and infanticide are manifestations of the same problem. When we think of women as liabilities, burdens, needing dowries, needing protection, as unable to do anything without the protection of men, then really is it a surprise that such attitudes come back and boomerang ? When in our patriarchial society we accept that men are superior, women inferior, and can be burnt, beaten and molested , that they are in fact powerless to stop violations against themselves, then what do you think the women AND men learn ?

Some interesting links on this topic are :

– Eve teasing on television
– Vikram’s article on indian sexuality
– India Parenting
– The worth of our daughters

Categories : _women

Posted in culture and society, women | 2 Comments »

A difference of opinion, and a matter of spirit

Written By: amodini - Mar• 03•06

Some days back I saw “Rang de basanti”. And I thought it a fantastic film. I reviewed in my Movie Review Blog, here. I like it and I said so. Unlike many others apparently. Some criticised it on their blogs, some in their comments and Vijay pointed me to a an article which castigated the movie for being wrong (according to the author). And when I saw Vijay’s comment on the blog, I replied in 2 lines – too sleepy then. And later I though I’d reply in detail, but my reply got so big, I’m making it into a blog post.

It bothers me not a whit, that my idea of good film is not everyone else’s. In short, who cares ? It is OK and pretty normal for everyone to have their own views, of course. My reality is mine alone, and the way I percieve stuff is probably different from the way you percieve your world. Anyway, it’d be pretty boring if we all thought the same way.

I saw RDB as a film, not as a mantra, or a magical formula teaching the wayward youth how to go about their business. For all those who say, that RDB preaches the violent and wrong way to go about things, I say RDB does not profess to be a recipe to be followed. A pinch of patriotism, a dash of violence, and voila ! there you have it – a non-corrupt nation ! I think not. The world doesn’t work that way. And anyway, if you did want step-by-step instruction on how to be a patriot, I’m sure you’d find it on the Internet :-).

I do not believe in Gandhian principles but neither do I say killing the corrupt politicians (which would probably wipe out most of them) is the way to go. Plus you’d find very few volunteers for that kind of national “service”, I bet ! The way is to be decided by ourselves, by each one of us in our own way. However the reason I applaud films like “RDB”, “Yuva” and “Swades” is because of the spirit of the films. They are passionate and have energy, and show the way. May not be the right way, mind you ! But they stir you and tell you a story, which you might identify with, or a character who sounds oh-so-familiar, and his problems are your problems, and his anguish is yours.

We need stirring. Big-time. It’s not neccesary that once stirred, you do as the protagnists have done, it’s just important for now, to be stirred. And if it is a film that’ll do it, or atleat get you thinking about the topic, I’m all for it.

Posted in books | 4 Comments »

Blank Noise Project

Written By: amodini - Mar• 02•06

Blank Noise Project is hosting a “Blog-A-Thon” on the issue of street harassment. It will happen on March 7th, on various blogs, as many, many bloggers, vent, rage, speak from the heart or just give you plain old information. Check out their site for an update of the blogs participating. And if you feel strongly about the issue, join up !

I have.

So, watch this space . . .

Categories : _women

Posted in india, women | Comments Off on Blank Noise Project
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