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Post by MrB on Aug 22, 2017 12:10:42 GMT
Sreehari Nair on Rediff loved it: A screwball comedy you must watch 4/5. Encouraged by that review, MrsB and I saw it over the weekend, and recommend it. It's a low-key production, with many of the scenes being just conversations in village houses, shops, or rooftops; but these are perfect to show off the quality of script writing and acting from all the cast. Rajkummar Rao steals the show with his put-upon sari salesman who is trained up to act like a street thug, for plot reasons too complex to go into here, who later turns on his oppressors. But Ayushmann Khurrana, Kriti Sanon, and the members of their filmi families all put in excellent performances that keep you laughing and caring about the characters throughout. It's not without its flaws, including one of those typical Hindi film moments where characters don't explain obvious untruths to other characters, just in order to keep the misunderstandings flowing, but still well worthwhile.
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Post by MrB on Aug 22, 2017 7:34:55 GMT
Good news from the BBC. Triple talaq: India court bans Islamic instant divorce
India's top court has ruled the practice of instant divorce in Islam unconstitutional, marking a major victory for women's rights activists. In a 3-2 majority verdict, the court called the practice "un-Islamic". India is one of a handful of countries where a Muslim man can divorce his wife in minutes by saying the word talaq (divorce) three times. The landmark court decision came in response to petitions challenging the so-called "triple talaq" custom. The cases were filed by five Muslim women who had been divorced in this way and two rights groups. "Muslim women in India have suffered for the last 70 years. It's a historic day for us, but it doesn't end here. I cannot tell you how much Indian women have supported us, despite their religions," Zakia Soman, an activist from Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, one of the groups which contested the practice, told reporters. What is instant divorce?
In recent years, there have been cases in which Muslim men in India have divorced their wives by issuing the so-called triple talaq by letter, telephone and, increasingly, by text message, WhatsApp and Skype. A number of these cases made their way to the courts as women contested the custom. Yet triple talaq divorce has no mention in Sharia or the Koran, even though the practice has existed for decades. Islamic scholars say the Koran clearly spells out how to issue a divorce - it has to be spread over three months, allowing a couple time for reflection and reconciliation. Activists say most Islamic countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, have banned triple talaq, but the custom has continued in India, which does not have a uniform set of laws on marriage and divorce that apply to every citizen. What did the court say?
Three of the judges called the controversial practice "un-Islamic, arbitrary and unconstitutional". One of the judges, Justice Kurien Joseph, said the practice was not an essential part of Islam and enjoyed no protection. Chief Justice JS Khehar, in a differing opinion, said that personal law could not be touched by a constitutional court of law. The opposing judgements also recommended that parliament legislate on the issue. However this is not binding and is up to parliament to take up. 'Strong message' - By Geeta Pandey, Editor, India women and social affairs
The judgement is a huge victory for Muslim women. For decades, they have had to live with the threat of instant divorce dangling over their heads like a sword. Campaigners say over the years thousands of women, especially those from poor families, have been discarded by their husbands in this manner. Many have been rendered destitute, with nowhere to go, or have been forced to return to their parental homes or fend for themselves. The top court has also sent a very strong message to Muslim clergy. India's Muslim personal law board had called the practice "reprehensible" but said that it was not an issue for the courts and government to interfere in. With this latest ruling, this will no longer be the case. How are people reacting?
The judgement is being widely hailed as a major victory for Muslim women and women's rights. The hashtags #TripleTalaq and #SupremeCourt began trending on Twitter India even as the verdict was being announced. The hashtag #Tripletalaq is also trending globally on Twitter.
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Post by MrB on Aug 15, 2017 12:41:16 GMT
The picture seems to be very tiny this time, so is hard to read. (But I couldn't be of much help anyway, as it's about American Football, which is a foreign world.)
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Post by MrB on Jul 25, 2017 11:16:31 GMT
Yes
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Post by MrB on Jul 21, 2017 11:49:07 GMT
She's effectively saying that she's terrible at everything. The logic is along the lines that you are worse at your worst subject than you are at everything else; so, because every subject is her worst one, she's worse at everything than at everything else. But, of course that's impossible.
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Post by MrB on Jul 19, 2017 8:38:49 GMT
I took the "bad place" to be his viewpoint on the whole thing: first taking as an Indian version of the Christmas story, then as a hotchpotch of standard Eastern images; so not taking it seriously, and not trying to understand the local culture. But I also like Dilbert's interpretation, and agree with the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon play.
And I'm sure you already know, but the actual flying monkey involved is Hanuman, as Diwali celebrates the defeat of Ravana by Rama and Hanuman's monkey army.
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Post by MrB on Jul 16, 2017 15:28:12 GMT
Phillauri. Anushka Sharma's home production, in which Punjabi Kanan (Suraj Sharma) accidentally marries the ghost of Shashi (Anushka) when preparing for his own wedding with Anu (Mehreen Pirzada). The film moves between the modern story, where Kanan is getting cold feet about marrying his childhood sweetheart, and the hundred-year old story of Shashi's love affair with a singer Phillauri (Diljit Dosanjh). After an unpromising start, this became a sweet film, with good performances by Anushka Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh. The historical story was more interesting, better realised, and better acted than the modern one though, which left it unbalanced. Production values, cinematography, and direction also suffered from what was presumably a low budget. Overall, worth watching for Anushka Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh, but could have been quite a bit better.
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Post by MrB on Jun 27, 2017 8:12:40 GMT
Queen of Katwe is not an Indian film, but it's directed by Mira Nair, so deserves a place here. It is set in Uganda and tells the (true) story of Phiona Mutesi (played by Madina Nalwanga), a girl from the Katwe slum, who discovers a talent for chess, her coach David Oyelowo (Robert Katende), who nurtures her and other slum kids through tournaments in Uganda, Africa, and finally the Chess Olympics, and her mother (Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o).
Structurally, Queen of Katwe is like every other plucky underdog sports film - you know exactly what's going to happen, from initial signs of potential, through growth and setbacks for the protagonist, and trials for the coach, to final triumph. But Queen of Katwe is so well acted, skillfully directed, and beautifully filmed, that you don't mind any of that, and I defy anyone not to have a lump in their throat by the end.
This is a modest film, but it tells a true story in an entertaining and uplifting way, and has a setting that we do not see often. Recommended.
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Post by MrB on Jun 15, 2017 10:05:25 GMT
Another BBC article on the changing face of India. The young Indians riding a surfing wave From sea-faring fishermen to city-dwellers seeking an active lifestyle, India is witnessing a steady rise in the number of surfers, writes Supriya Vohra.
A small, brown figure confidently paddles out on a big white surfboard, into the choppy pre-monsoon waters of the Arabian sea. Soon, the boy disappears into the collapsing waves. A few seconds later, he emerges standing on the board, finishing every wave with a stylish manoeuvre. A crowd of locals erupts into a loud cheer. The 12-year-old is dancing on the waves after winning his first ever surfing competition. Akhilan was introduced to surfing barely five months ago by an older group of surfers in his neighbourhood. Born into a fishing family in Mahabalipuram in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, "surfing is life" for Akhilan now. A shy boy on land, he is a fearless, natural athlete in water, and also one of the leading examples of the existence of innate talent for the emerging sport in India. "We have mainly seen three types of surfers in India. Vacation surfers, who try out the sport for a few days. Surfing enthusiasts, who keep returning whenever they can. And surfers who are serious about the sport, and work to make a life off of it," says Rammohan Paranjape, a surf photographer and vice-president of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI). Based in Mulki, a small coastal town in the southern state of Karnataka, the federation is recognised by the International Surfing Association (ISA) as a national governing body for surfing in India. According to the federation, India's 7,500km (4,660-mile) coastline is dotted with at least 20 surfing spots. It provides training programmes to instructors, lists Indian surfing schools that have ISA certified instructors, and supports surfing festivals to boost the sport among the general public in the country. India now has at least 60 professional surfers, including eight women. Sekar Patchai, 28, an all-round waterman based in Covelong, a village on the east coast near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, is one of them. "It is just something I tried out in 2011, and really enjoyed, and decided to continue," he says. The second-youngest of seven siblings, Mr Patchai mastered surfing in a few months and started competing and winning all kinds of water sports - surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling. He is now a full-time coach and athlete at Covelong Point Surf School. "Passion for the sport drives me. But economically, this also works better for me. I earn a lot more than I used to as a fisherman. And my family has accepted it, so much so that my brothers are also taking up the sport seriously," he said. Mr Patchai has also represented India at a number of competitions across the world. The growing interest for the sport, however, is a fairly recent phenomenon, just about 13 years old. But Jack Hebner, also known as the Surfing Swami, started riding Indian waves in 1976 - the year he came to India and set up an ashram in Mysore in Karnataka state. "I used to take five students on surf trips all over the country. In the early 1990s, perhaps we were the only ones in India pursuing the sport." In 2004, a surfing school called Mantra Surf Club became part of Mr Hebner's ashram in Mulki. It was one of the first formal surfing schools in the country. Tanvi Jagadish, 17, is an athlete at the school who recently represented India at the Fiji SUP Championship and at the Carolina Cup in the US. She thanks her parents for their support, but says that initially her neighbours used to mock her. "The neighbours used to say how could a girl go in the water. But I never bothered with them. Now they all want to shake hands with me," she says. Aneesha Nayak, 16, says her mother supported her, but her paternal family did not. "They were like, but you are a girl, it is so hot out there, you are going to be in the sun for so long, you will get tanned... What if you get scars on your body and face? What about your future? And by future, they meant getting married. That is not my future! I got more things to look forward to than marriage," she says. "There is this assumption that women are weaker than men, and I am going to prove that wrong in any way that I can," she says. Last year, the 129th International Olympics Committee decided to include surfing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. For them, it was a bid to bring the Olympics to the youth, and for the International Surfing Association (ISA), it boosted the popularity of the sport. India is also witnessing a growth in the sport. Supporters say the rise in the number of surfers, training courses and schools is a positive sign. What they now want is steady support and recognition from national sports authorities.
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Post by MrB on Jun 13, 2017 10:30:29 GMT
Interesting article from the BBC on changing mores among Indian brides. The Indian video challenging 'shy bride' stereotypes
By Vikas Pandey BBC News, Delhi "Why should grooms have all the fun?" That's what Amisha Bhardwaj says when asked about her wedding video, which has gone viral, receiving more than six million views on YouTube. In the video, Ms Bhardwaj is dancing in shorts and her bridal blouse, perfectly lip syncing to Sia's popular song "Cheap Thrills". "I am still surprised that the video went viral because it simply shows a bride having fun on her wedding day. That's not unusual," she says. But many people have commented about the choice of her clothes, and the song. "I think my video broke the stereotype of the shy Indian bride, who is not supposed to dance, and definitely not wear the kind of clothes I am wearing in the video," she says. "The script for the Indian bride has been the same for ages - she is supposed to be shy, not laugh and smile sporadically, and cry while leaving her parents' house. But now the modern Indian bride is writing her own script." Making wedding videos in India was, until not too long ago, a stodgy and time-consuming process. Videographers mostly shot entire ceremonies. Now however, catchy videos inspired by Bollywood song and dance are the new trend, and Indian brides are more than willing to play a leading role. "I didn't plan the video to be different. But when I look back, I think I had the confidence subconsciously to do whatever I wanted to do," says Ms Bhardwaj. "And it comes from who I am - the confident young woman of modern India. I don't understand why people expect brides to be shy when grooms are allowed to have fun - dance and get drunk. Times are changing, and so are Indian brides, people should live with it." People seem to be accepting this change - a majority of comments on her video are positive. But some have accused her of "destroying" Indian culture. "I didn't engage with trolls because there were enough people on the internet to defend me," she says. 'True self'
Supreet Kaur and Pawan Singh, the filmmakers who made the video, agree that the Indian bride has changed. "When I started making wedding videos 10 years ago, brides mostly asked to look fairer and slimmer. But now most of them want to be experimental," Mr Singh says. Ms Kaur agrees. "Brides realise that the wedding is the most important event of their life, and they want to be their true self," she says. Mr Singh says India has changed in the past 10 years, as more and more women join the workforce. "Young women are today running businesses and offices, so they don't want to follow stereotypes when it comes to weddings," he says. "Amisha is not the only bride who has done things differently. Just search and you will find many such experimental videos." One such bride is Ishita Girdhar. She did not cry while leaving her parents' house after the wedding - a practice synonymous with Indian brides. "A wedding is a happy occasion, so I chose to dance instead and made everybody dance around me," she says. Ms Girdhar says Bollywood films and TV soaps are one of the reasons why people have stereotypes about brides. "Films always show the bride as shy. So people blindly believe that's the only way brides should behave," she says. Mananmita Kumar also chose to make a dance video with her husband during her wedding. "It's simple - if you want to be shy, be shy. But don't act in a certain way because that's what the stereotypes demand." Family support
But not every bride gets a chance to express herself. Ms Kaur says women in smaller towns and sometimes even in cities still do not have a choice. "I once had a client who refused to work with me because he didn't trust a woman cameraperson. And on another occasion, a groom cancelled a shoot because he didn't like the idea of his bride agreeing to do a solo video," she says. "Change has come but we are still a long way from a time when every bride is able to be herself on her wedding day," she says. Ms Bhardwaj says it's important to recognise the support women get from their family. "I was able to make fun videos because my husband didn't have an issue - not that I needed his permission but it's nice to know that your partner is on the same page." Her husband, Pranav Verma, says he didn't even know when she shot the video. "I hope this video will give many people, especially grooms, a reason to believe that we must break the myth of the shy Indian bride." Ms Bhardwaj nods in agreement. "We have started breaking these stereotypes - one bride at a time."
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Post by MrB on Jun 13, 2017 10:24:43 GMT
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Post by MrB on May 23, 2017 11:59:31 GMT
Hi MrB, You're right, I just found this: Google-BooksIt's just a (not so good) play on words. I guess it was funny at this time, especially to see a little bird carryiong such a big device. Thank you. That Google books link is interesting. And I agree that it is not a good play on words.
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Post by MrB on May 22, 2017 18:59:22 GMT
I think it's a play on ghetto blaster, but it's blasting a beagle rather than the ghetto.
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Post by MrB on Apr 18, 2017 12:05:50 GMT
Looks as if his debts are finally catching up with him. From the BBC: Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya held in UKIndebted tycoon Vijay Mallya has been arrested in London, police have said. He was arrested by the Metropolitan Police's extradition unit "on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud". India has been pushing for the extradition of Mr Mallya, who faces charges of financial irregularities at his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Mr Mallya also has cricket and motor racing interests. He is said to owe banks £600m but denies wrongdoing. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Tuesday. Airline collapse
The businessman made his fortune selling beer under the Kingfisher brand before branching out into aviation and Formula 1 racing. He is co-owner of F1 team Force India and also owns Indian Premier League cricket franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, Mr Mallya's airline was grounded in 2012 and its flying permit lapsed the following year. It had made annual losses for five years in a row and finally collapsed after lenders refused to give fresh loans. In March last year, Mr Mallya was blocked from receiving $75m severance pay from British drinks giant Diageo. He was due to receive the money after being ousted from the firm, but a consortium of banks and creditors had demanded the money should be used to settle some of Mr Mallya's outstanding debt to them. In April last year, India revoked Mr Mallya's passport. The following month, it began seeking his extradition from the UK.
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Post by MrB on Apr 8, 2017 15:56:30 GMT
Oh dear, Mr. B, is Game not any good? Today I bought Lakshaya with Hrithik. Everywhere I looked it was $50 or more, but finally found one on E-bay for $15. It was just listed and a Buy-It-Now, so I nabbed it. I found it very disappointing, but tastes differ so you shouldn't be put off by my opinion. Lakshya, on the other hand, I enjoyed until it gets too military. And Agar Main Kahoon and Main Aisa Kyun Hoom both show off Hrithik's dancing at its peak.
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