Once Upon A Time In Mumbai: Review

Successes and Failures aside, Milan Luthria’s works so far reflect his penchant for exploring new vistas. Starting as a Mahesh Bhatt protégé and later venturing out on his own with films like Kache Dhaage, Chori Chori, Taxi No 9211, Hattrick, Deewar and now Once Upon A Time In Mumbai (OUATIM), Luthria has shown diversity in his work. His films had something about them that got him noticed. With OUATIM, he is sure to earn respect.

Read more »

Read more...

Baffling!

Netaji at Risk!

It also came out in the newspapers that the terrorist being interrogated got 1.5 lakhs to carry out the attack and that poverty forced him into terrorism. My opinion is that his tryst with a troubled life should be ended with his public hanging.

Join the march today December 3rd at 6 p.m. at the Gateway of India in Mumbai to express your solidarity and make a statement.

Read more...

26/11 - The Aftermath

A forward I got today read something like this:

“Do not worry about those who have come through boats,Our forces would defeat them. WORRY about those who have come through votes,Those are our REAL ENEMIES!

What a shame and disgrace to every citizen of India that the elite NSG Force moved in ordinary BEST buses, whereas our cricketers travel in state of the art luxury buses. These Jawans lay down their lives to protect every Indian and these cricketers get paid even if they lose a match, we worship these cricketers and forget the martyrdom of these brave Jawans after a candle show in their memories.

An ace shooter shoots and gets gold medal, Government gives 1cr, another shooter dies while shooting terrorist, Government gives 5 lakh.”

I don’t think lambasting cricketers is just here but the fact is that public outcry over the Mumbai attacks has assumed massive proportions. So much so that people have started to react openly to the statements made by the politicians. It is probably the first time that India has seen an open public debate where politicians are made to listen and not speak for a change. I was watching Barkha Dutt’s show the other day on TV and she said that no politician agreed to come to her show as they feared public outrage on live television. In the past three days we have seen ministers lose their positions due to the growing public ire. Thank God its happening!

People are out on the streets asking about the whereabouts of the protector of Marathi Asmita, the Home Minister who loves changing his attire every two hours and a prime minister in waiting who didn’t go for an all party meeting so that he could attend to his political campaigns. What this outburst has caused is that it has left the ‘leaders’ running for cover and passing uncalled for statements in retaliation. Naqvi’s lipstick gaffe, Kerela CM getting shown the door and then retaliating with a dog will not come here are indications of the changing times. Thank God, the politicians are getting it back in plenty!

It’s a shame that 5 days after the fateful 26/11, we are still left fending for answers. What has followed on a strategic and diplomatic front has been a complete disaster. Other than the usual “stern” statements and an “appeal for calm”, there has hardly been a step forward. Resignation of a few ministers is not the solution, its just washing off your hands from taking up collective responsibility and I feel sorry for the ruling party. Sorry because the opposition would have been in the exact same position had it been in power.

The lone terrorist who was caught was carrying an AK-47 and loads of ammunitions. The people who caught him had lathis and pistols in their hands. The bullet proof jacket that Karkare was wearing failed all safety tests against attacks by arms such as AK-47 back in 2004. Probably this was the reason why Salaskar and Amte did not care to wear the heavy jacket that fateful night knowing very well that it was of no use. The NSG commandoes arrived 9 hours after the mayhem started because they had to wait for an aircraft that flew from Chandigarh and travelled slow. Doesn’t the Government have money to strengthen its forces? Well then from where do these CMs get themselves dedicated choppers to travel, conduct conferences in plush five-star hotels and walk with an entire platoon of black cat commandoes citing death threats?

It is time people took to civil disobedience movement once again and stopped paying taxes until a plan was laid out and explained to the nation on how the Government aims to provide security to the citizens. True, the system is rotten. The politicians milk it the way they want to. It is time people did it too. Let us all pressurize the powerful to submit.

For long we have heard about the resilience of people. Why should they face the brunt of the attack day in and day out and then ‘bounce back’ to cover up for someone’s ineptness in delivering the goods? The mood of the nation and the need of the hour are very well summed up in the lines penned by Prasoon Joshi following the Mumbai terror attacks:

"Is baar jab woh chhoti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,
gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur seThoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisleyAur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai "

Have a look at these pictures that tell the tale. Don’t they say that a picture tells you what a thousand words cannot!

Mumbai Terror through the camera lens!

Read more...

Warzone - Mumbai

I wonder how many attacks it will take to decide that living in an environment of uncertainty requires us to prepare accordingly. Even after suffering innumerable terrorist attacks, India still does not have a crisis management team. It is surprising that despite being on the hit list of terror groups, we still have to manage by acting upon each incident in isolation. It has been 9 years post Kandahar. We still don’t have a law that permits action against hijackers. If you insist, there is an anti-hijacking law of 1982 that had such glaring loopholes that we made a mess of the Kandahar episode. God forbid, if any hijack occurs today, we will still be in the same situation as we were 9 years ago. What a pity!

City under siege

The recent attacks in Mumbai are akin to the 9/11 incident that shook the World. Never ever has such a massive operation been carried by terrorists where they have held a city under siege for over a day now. The preparedness of the terrorists and the manner in which they went about executing their plans casts a grim shadow on the intelligence services. Is it enough to issue a warning and then doze off to let the terrorists wreak havoc? How is it that the terrorists are able to successfully carry out 12 incidents of shooting and bombing at 10 places in one area of a city within an hour before action is initiated against them? How do they escape any checks from the coastal guards who are expected to guard the shores? This is not a commentary on the acumen of the police force but an indication that police reform is an immediate need of the hour. ATS might be a welcome step in that direction but the failure to restrict terrorist attacks is a question mark that needs an answer NOW.

We must also critically examine the role of politicians here. The lechers don’t let anything go without a political overture. For them everything is a chance to strengthen their vote banks. The investigations in the Malegoan blasts have been plagued with accusations and allegations from political parties forcing the ATS to defend itself. That derails the speed of investigation and also shifts focus from terrorism to petty issues like questions on the religious affiliations of the terrorists. No one’s really sure if the ATS is under pressure from the ruling party as well. A similar incident happened in Delhi too. The sacrifice of a brave police officer served as a catalyst to ignite another political game in the recent Batla house encounter. Where are we heading to?

The Buring Taj - Pride takes a beating!

Terrorism has no face. But the common man can be fooled. He will listen to and believe everything that’s lobbed at him. That’s the reason why we talk of terms like “Hindu terrorism” rather than dismissing them as absurd political hypothesis. That’s the reason why the media goes about according authenticity to these ideas and they get engrained in our psyche. We all are contributors in the success of the evil designs of the perpetrators. We might give each other a shoulder to cry on when disaster strikes but come another day and we go about the usual business of widening the divisive rift based on every aspect of our living – religion, region or color. Let’s not veil our incapability to handle terror and present it as our inherent non-violent bend of mind. Inaction is not non-violence, it’s cowardice!

Wreaking Havoc - Is there any end?

Coming back to the latest incident that has assumed massive proportions in the light of the manner in which the terrorists have chosen to act. The tragedy has gotten worse with each passing hour with over 100 people dead and at least thrice the number injured. I wonder what the toll would read once the operation is completed. It’s shocking to learn that the terrorists numbering around 20 get into a city that is always on a red alert. They are loaded with sophisticated weapons and loads of ammunitions that have not seized to blaze in over 24 hours since the first gun shot was fired. Of course, the priority task is to secure the lives of people held up at the two hotels and get hold of the terrorists. However, the lapse in the security grip needs to be investigated subsequently. We have had enough of “condemnation” messages coming from the Government. We have also had enough of martyrs paying the price for the failure of the intelligence agencies. The terror attacks which were intermittent have become the order of the day now. Why should we have incompetent people who can at best do post mortem of a terrorist activity sitting at the helm of responsible positions? How many more such lapses will it take for the leaders to take the moral responsibility and face the nation and say that THEY have failed? They shamelessly come on TV time and again and accept that there has been a failure on the part of our intelligence. That’s not enough.

USA had a 9/11 and then no one was able to infiltrate its boundaries and get anywhere close to harming its people. That’s called action. On what basis do we, as a nation, claim to be rising in stature if we are susceptible to the whims and fancies of some animals baying for the blood of hapless people? What have we done to the terrorists arrested on various charges of terrorism? Have we punished them? Why is Md. Afzal not yet punished?

The list is endless

Spare a moment. We are not safe in your own homes now. Nothing matters more than figuring out how we prepare ourselves to deal with future attacks on our sovereignty. The time has come, the time is now!

Read more...

MNS - The Menace

India counts diversity as its uniqueness. I wonder whether it is really something to boast of in the current times. Even as people in Kashmir spill over on streets in hordes to burn Indian flags and shout pro-Pakistan slogans, we see the Marathis (a handful lot) brutally assaulting Biharis in Mumbai. Can we, in such circumstances, even claim to be united in our diversity?

MNS, just like Shiv Sena is hoping to gain ground in Maharashtra politics by flaring up regional sentiments. Shiv Sena was up against South Indians in late sixties and it is the turn of MNS to repeat the act against Biharis. In the last BMC elections, MNS suffered a near washout securing just 6 seats out of 221. When Thackeray realized that his MNS could face annihilation in the upcoming general elections, he came out brandishing swords against the hapless north Indians. His purpose has been half served with him getting proper prime time slot on all news channels. For once it seems that Shiv Sena has had to settle playing second fiddle in extremist politics.

Why is the protest uncalled for?

North Indians comprise of a quarter of Mumbai’s population. Amongst these, you have people ranging from renowned artistes, businessmen to the taxi drivers, auto drivers and snack vendors who are the lifeline of Mumbai. How can anyone push these people out as per their convenience? Mumbai is known for its cosmopolitan set up. Disturbing the social fabric is going to mar the supreme status that Mumbai has earned over the years. While Parsis, Gujaratis and Marwaris have dominated the business scene in Maharashtra, the north Indian migrants mostly took to working as mill workers, and small time vendors of daily need items. In the age of globalization, it is a fact that even the Maharashtrians are dependent on the non-Maharashtrians at every turn of their daily lives. People move only if they sight an opportunity. What can the north Indian do if a Maharashtrian offers him a job? Refuse it? If indeed Raj Thackeray wants to fight for the self-coined supposed Marathi Maanoos Asmita, let him fight against them. Why beat the hell out of hapless students who go over to appear in an ALL INDIA examination for railway services?

What the motives are?

Raj Thackeray formed his party with a secular agenda. His political flag has different colors to symbolize his support to the dalits, muslims and the hindus. He fought the BMC elections on a secular agenda and suffered defeat. He then went back to pick the same text book that his uncle got educated from. Bal Thackeray rose in political stature fighting against South Indians (Shivsena’s war cry in the late sixties was a funny – “Bajao pungi, bhagao lungi”). Raj tried to repeat the feat against the north Indians. Raj failed to see that despite the strong polarization that happened decades ago in favor of the Sena, it never mustered enough majority to form a Government on its own steam. He probably thinks that he can be one up on his uncle!

Raj Thackeray is intelligent in the sense that he has always raked up issues that garnered media attention. He chose to attack Amitabh Bachchan and then cut loose to flex his muscle power against poor taxi drivers, auto drivers and vendors in Mumbai. C’mon Mr. Thackeray, we have heard a lot from you regarding your pain and anguish at seeing north Indians stealing jobs from under your nose. What is your take on the Vidarbha issue? Did you say that you toured the region recently to understand their grievances? Hmm..let us see what you spoke of when you toured the region in September:

Thackeray's Vidarbha Tour

Mr. Thackeray, it seems you read out from a wrong speech. Vidarbha faces the problem of suicides. It doesn’t really care to know if you protested against Amitabh Bachchan or how north Indians have tarnished your culture.

Quite evidently, Congress wants to divide the votes that Sena earns. MNS can be a spoiler for Shiv Sena in the upcoming elections and the only one to gain from this is Congress. So, while it kills a youth who can at best be called an amateur limelight seeker, it remains tight lipped and lethargic when it comes to curbing violent agitations against north Indians.

BJP has tried to maintain a moral high ground by siding with the north Indians. But it chooses to remain mum on Shiv Sena’s stand against non Marathis which is more or less similar to Raj Thackeray’s.


Some facts:

· Mumbai has 22% Gujaratis as opposed to 17% north Indians as per 1991 census. Figures might have changed by 2001 but even then the ratio of north Indians Vs Gujaratis won’t be much different. Logically speaking, Gujjus too should have been on target. Why doesn’t Raj attack them? Because they are more powerful economically and Raj would need the money power in the upcoming elections?

· Bombay was not an ancient city. It got its name in 16th century when Portuegese chose to name it so. It later changed to Mumbai in 1995. Raj Thackeray’s father hails from Indore. Who granted Raj the exclusive proprietary rights for Mumbai in that case?

· Raj Thackeray’s lawyer is Akhilesh Chaubey, a north Indian. Didn’t he take away a Marathi’s job? Why not boot him out before going all out against others? (Akhilesh Chaubey)

· Raj’s kids study at Bombay Scottish. Did he go and get the school name changed to Mumbai Maratha as part of his “display Marathi signboard” campaign? And by the way, the school is not Marathi medium. Charity begins at home. Get your kids into a municipal school near your home. They’ll learn more about the culture. Why westernize them in an English medium school? (Bombay Scottish School)


How much of support that these goons enjoy is summed up by the reaction of an average Mumbaikar who chooses to carry on with life away from the petty political games being played. What matters to him is how his daily bread is earned and not whether the person who delivers it is a Marathi or a non-marathi. I just hope that the people of Maharashtra don’t let Raj Thackeray mess it all up as Laloo messed it up in Bihar.

Read more...