Why don’t Dogs learn how to cross the road

Today a dog while trying to cross the road got hit by a moving bus. It was hurt and came back crying to the side from where it had started. We don’t need to imagine what urgent or important business the dog had on the other side of the road. Hope the dog gets well soon… 

But I wondered why don’t dogs learn how to cross the road? I have seen only a few dogs having learnt it – they try to accompany any human being who they guess is crossing the road. But if the dog is alone – it is helpless. It is painful to think about. Once I saw a dog struggling to cross the road and I tried to seek its attention as I started crossing the road – but I guess it did not find me trustworthy enough to accompany me.

Can you think of any solution to this problem?

The Magical Journey Called #Baahubali

I watched ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ during the second weekend after its release. I would confess that my expectations were very high; given that the movie had garnered some very positive reviews and also because it was Indian film industry’s biggest production. It was supposed to destroy Bollywood’s over reliance on a mediocre genre of same old aged superstars dancing around with new actresses 20 years their juniors. I would also add that before this I have watched only a few movies produced in the Southern states of India and I was not impressed. This time though, Baahubali was to bring not a gush of wind but a ready storm.

As it turned out for me, I had not watched anything like Baahubali before (from Indian cinema). I love this genre of epic war movies and hence I judged Baahubali critically after comparing it with some of the greatest ones from Hollywood. And I can say with confidence that I loved Baahubali at least at par or even better than those Hollywood flicks.

As the screen opened in the theater after mandatory singing of National Anthem (customary in Maharashtra), the opening scene of an injured queen running away with an infant in her arms with a pack of enemies chasing her was mind-blowing. You put that intense scene in the beginning and you risk being judged with your own standards all through the length of the movie. But Baahubali turned out to be a magic – whole length of it was as intense and as enjoyable. Of course there were scenes where ‘hero’ chased ‘heroine’ on the mountains; and where both sang some romantic songs even if in imagination – but such songs mostly did not appear imposed or ‘out-of-place’. The war near the end of the movie was as epic as it could get.

If you have not watched Baahubali: The Beginning; yet, the best time is now. But there is a warning: the movie has plenty of violence. Though you must have learnt to manage it, for example by closing your eyes, so as not to get affected by it. If you don’t mind such scenes, go there with a feast waiting for you.

My Rating: 5 Starts out of 5.

- Rahul

[Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal] 

Mother Cat

A cat in our neighborhood started crying and moving around restlessly some days back. Cats do that when they don't find any of their babies at their expected place. When cats cry in this manner, their voice resembles human voice and it is heart-wrenching to hear. But this cat continued doing that daily; never giving up; and we wondered what the matter was. Yesterday we got to know what had happened. 

One of the houses in the neighborhood had picked one of her babies to keep it as "pet". When cat was restless and crying, a man from the house brought the kitten in his hands to show it to the mother cat. This is typically a "human" behavior. Was the man expecting that when mother cat would realize that her baby was in "safe hands", she would stop pursuing it? Cats have not learned such evolved human tendencies and she still cries every evening; waiting to get her baby back... 

I think our "humanity" is overrated.

- Rahul Tiwary

Finally Watched ‘PK’ and a bit Disappointed

A few days back the famous movie 'PK' appeared on TV; and I watched most of it. I had not watched this movie in a theater when it was released because of the negative controversy around it. So you may find my opinion interesting.

Having watched it now, if I have to summarize my feelings in one word, I would say I found it "undeserving". Here is how:

The movie did not really appear 'controversial' to me; the scenes which were publicized as being offending to Hindus were actually funny and silly. I did not even find 'Shiva chasing' scene insulting to Lord Shiva despite being His 'fan' (modern word for 'disciple').

While watching the initial portions of the movie I found those as hilarious, interesting, funny, stupid and idiotic. A lot of scenes were 'supposed to be funny' while those were actually 'hyped'. The later part of the movie after a Guru took over, was actually 'boring'. Bollywood has simply ran out of ideas when it comes to making religious Gurus as villains - it is the same old story of fake Gurus in saffron robes fooling followers, pick up anything from year 1975 to 2015.

I found 'PK' an average and hyped movie. It should have come on screens and gone away after doing 'okay' business. But alas, religious and social organizations made it appear like an 'apocalypse' which it was not. I am sure it gained popularity due to the controversy around it. People like me who actually did not go to watch it because of controversy would have been outnumbered by people who actually went to explore it because of the hype around it. (Also because other big flicks were not released for weeks following it.)

It appeared like a casual movie but it had gone to be the most successful movie of all time from our country; earning Rs 700 Crores worldwide. It is sad that while our movie industry has produced so many really great movies, those have done average business. But this average movie did greatest business ever.

The message for religiously sensitive audiences and genuine social organizations is - the more you protest against it, the more you will do disservice against your own cause; so don't be hyper about such movies. But one interesting lesson for other movie makers is - hire some PR agencies to inflame religious sentiments of some from the previous set; and if they are not inflamed, make them appear so by planting stories in the media; and soon you will see the magic - your rotten potatoes will start selling at the price of potato chips!

- Rahul Tiwary

[Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.]