I am never typed: Anant Mahadevan

A prominent media personality Anant Mahadevan, actor and director of Hindi films and television serials, with a movie like- Red alert: The war within, which was based on a true story. He has been associated with movies like- Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, Aksar, Dil Mange More etc. He talks about the actors, the challenges, Indian audience and his upcoming movie.

Anant Mahadevan

The movie Red Alert was appreciated internationally. What did you expect from the Indian audiences?

I think Indian audiences have started being exposed to global cinema. And Red Alert was based on a real life story; it is a human story in any environment. According to me, a film has to be honest to be successful. It was my first step towards speaking a global language. At Stuttgart Film Festival, when the movie was screened, there was pin-drop silence throughout the movie. A German source has given 5 star rating to the movie as well.

What was going on in your mind when you approached Sameera Reddy for a non-glamorous role?

I am never typed and always believe in breaking an image. Not even while casting Sameera but I enjoyed casting all the actors. If you see there is a mixture of actors in the movie. There are actors from theatre, actors from Bollywood, actors from south and actors who will be appearing on screen after a long time.

What challenges you had to face while making the movie?

It is so far my most difficult film. Right from the time of pre-production, to shooting and the release. Everything about the movie is different and difficult. It took nine months in the whole making of the movie and 40 days of shooting. But I am married to my work and have done the work according to my satisfaction.

What’s about you receiving National Award and what is next in line?

I received National Award for a Marathi film which is also based on a real story, titled, “Mee Sindhutai Sapkal”. The movie is based on a 60 year old lady named Sindhutai Sapkal, who picks up abandoned kids and brings them up. The story is not about her but it is an incredible story of survival. I got the award in 2010 for Best Screenplay and Dialogues for this successful Marathi movie with Sanjay Pawar. Currently I am working on Gaur hari dastan.

Why me?

A very warm greetings to the people living in the 21^st century, located in India’s capital city, Delhi!

A city which has the VIPs, VVIPs and god knows how many Vs…???

A city of power, where so much security is provided to the “important” that the commons are forgotten!

A city where maybe thousands are employed to provide protection, but still a girl cannot go out of her house without fear!

Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Road just behind my house

My mom was cooking some delicacy and found some ingredients missing, she asked me to bring it from the nearby grocery store. Following her instructions, of course it’s just the evening time and I do not have to travel far, so it seems really simple.

I went out, just on the way back home, mind it it’s a busy road, just behind my house; I have walked that path zillion times!

Two guys on a motorcycle crossed me and threw something on my back, surprised, and a little shocked I looked up and abused them about driving in a proper way! Then my eyes fell on the thing that they threw on me, this bought me more into a state of embarrassment mixed with anger.

It was a packet of condoms!

That very moment I wanted to hold those rascals’ collar and give them a tight slap each, but the only problem- they were gone!

Since people can point out about me being dressed inappropriately, so to clear the doubt, I was wearing a plain kurta and salwar, covering me properly!

This is a very common culture in the life of a girl, incidents of eve teasing happen just every day, in places expected like buses, metro, road and even in the places unexpected!

Some report these and as a result they have to face a bigger amount of trouble in going in and out of the police stations at odd times!

A friend once reported a drunken guy passing lewd comments to her, to the police, our so-called “Women helpline”, to our surprise the attitude of the officers was somewhat like this while registering the complaint- “Madam ko cheed diya hai, gussa ho gai!” (Madam has been teased and she is angry).

Standing there in the police station with my friend, I sensed that an eve-teasing matter holds no relevance to them!
Since we had enough proof, so the police traced the vehicle, for which I appreciate their efforts. But then another issue in hand was the identity disclosure, when a guy can tease a girl in broad day light, he can also create troubles for her if he comes to know her whereabouts. Of course, the big chunks of male ego, “How could a girl complain about me?”

The only way to avoid the identity disclosure was to ask the accused for an apology, in written and we had to except it otherwise the case will go to court and which clearly means inviting trouble!

The only question in my mind while writing this is, why can’t I roam around freely wherever I want, at any time of the day?

What is my crime, that I have to go through such kind of harassment? A man can never understand that feeling of being touched forcefully without your consent, of hearing a lewd comment about yourself, that helplessness when someone is stalking you, that anger when you want to protest but you do not to avoid a bad scene!

Is it my fault being a girl?

Most girls do not even mention these incidents to their family because that will create a stress in the members. (Girls are already a burden in India!)

Why can’t our society grow up and in each case not put the blame of protection of the girl on the girl itself? We can teach our sons to respect women, to behave properly with girls.

Maybe then a girl in can go out of her house with this comfort that she will be safe till the time she is back in her house. Maybe then our society will be just, and safe for all!

Related articles

• Harassment shackles women (thehindu.com)
• Walking amid the thorns (1l1l.wordpress.com)
• Need for Self Defense – An Interview (justiceforwomenindia.wordpress.com)
• No Eve Teasing (lonelyplanet.com)

Women: Ultimate Multi-tasker

The mere mention of a women brings out this general picture- she is beautiful, she is the driving force of the house, she is a mother, a lover, respects the elders, etc other things which your mind knows best.

It is very evident and clear that women are born multi- taskers, and this concept of ‘multi-tasking’ is their baby.

Our mythology speaks in volume about this phenomenon.
The Gods  or the Dev are all “Chatur- bhujji“, ( chatur- four, bhujja- hands) this means with four hands. This is symbol of power and superiority.

On the other hand, the Goddess is “Ashta- bhujji“, ( ashta- eight, bhujja- hands) this clearly indicates that Goddesses are more powerful and functional than Gods.

Goddess

Notice the number of hands

Devi

Goddess Durga

Women have always been the multi- tasker, and still are!

The fight is not of who is more powerful, or any men v/s women equality issue. The point here is that women are no less than males.

This fact of multi tasking can also be proved by science.

It is proven that females use both, right and left hemisphere of their brains; whereas males use only one side of their brains.

This ability lets women attempt and concentrate on more works at one time!

Women can enjoy the tag of being the “Ultimate Multi-taskers”, since there is nothing we can help about, as pop star, Lady Gaga says, “I Was Born This Way” !

Women and Chocolate

98.9% people between ages 18-25 like chocolates!

64.3% people think that women are more inclined towards chocolates as compared to men!

Anshika, 19, rushes over to the near store to buy chocolates just after she had her break up!

Chocolates are loved by all. Someone said, “What is the meaning of life? All evidence to date suggests it’s chocolate.” But in case of a women, they adore chocolates more than anything!

Women have an unexplainable love with chocolates. This is explained more by this scientific fact.

The main chemical released to give you the elated physical feelings of being in love is PEA (phenylethylamine) which is related to amphetamines and is found in chocolate.

This is one of the chemicals that makes your heart race, hands swear, pupils dilate and gives you ‘butterflies’ in the stomach. Adrenalin is also released, speeding up your heart, making you alert and helping you feel great.

When asked do they like chocolates some responded, “Like? I have an affair with them…” Infact chocolate is the evergreen gift for women! So men, impress your girl with some chocolates this evening.

Crazy for Chocolates

These are some of the reactions of women when asked, “How they feel after having chocolate?”

• Like I am in love
• Good always
• Satisfied
• I feel wet lips and fingertips
• Soothing and happy
• I feel completely turn on for anything.
• I get high. I wonder why do people need smoke and alcohol when you have chocolates, they also come with a bonus of sweetness!
• It would be a little unjustified to try and express that feeling in words. My senses feel like shouting out- ‘yummmmmmmmmmmmmm’

Chocolates is a very unbiased thing, it not only favors women but gives “eureka moments” to men too.

And as my friend says, “Forget love – I’d rather fall in chocolate!”

Please note: The results and comments in this post are according to my independent research and survey.

Our fashion and films- the never ending bond

Haven’t you ever longed to get the haircut of your favorite movie star? Or haven’t you desired to wear the same clothes that your favorite star had worn?

The answer is yes. We at some point do try to follow films, whether you accept this or not. In our normal lives, when we see the larger than life movies, fascination does follow. People tend to incorporate some parts of those movies, into their lives. Our movies in some way appeal to us, we can easily relate to whatever is happening on the big screen, to our lives. The first step in this regard happens to be the follow up of the fashion trends that they set. Maybe because that is the easiest thing we can do. Of course, common people like us, cannot go and fight with twelve people to impress a pretty girl.

This phenomenon has been in fashion since the starting of bollywood. Right from Sadhna cut, Babita’s tight churidar kurtas and dog collars to John Abraham’s hairstyles, Deepika’s kurtis and Abhishek’s stubble. Kareena‘s patiala salwar and long tee look in Jab We Met became a rage among college going girls!

John Abrahim's different styles

The link or the bond between fashion and films has been strong. Apparel industries also rely on films to promote and popularize fashion trends. These trends do not concentrate at only one part of the society but they touch each corner of the society. They effect the wants of the people.

Sadhna Cut Hairstyle

After the release of Jodha Akbar, all the brides-to-be wanted the same jewellery and clothes that Ashwariya had worn in the movie. College going girls and boys’ wardrobe underwent changes after the release of films like Kuch kuch hota hai and Jane tu ya jane na. Dressing of corporate sector got inspired by the movie Corporate. Middle aged people wanted to put on the same clothes showcased in Baghban. I am sure that after seeing Amitabh Bachchan in those tattered clothes, ruffled hair and smudged face in bhootnath, Indian ghosts might be following him. Not only in garments, but these movies inspired trends can also be seen in haircuts, accessories, nail shapes, specs, watches makeup and don’t know what else.

Aishwariya's look in Jodha Akbar

The sari designers also play and earn their living, saris are named after blockbuster movies and these saris also become famous. The barbers earn their humble living by giving their customers the emulating haircuts of their favorite film stars. Guys burn their calories to get John’s butt or Salman’s biceps or Shahrukh’s six pack abs. So you see, these fashion trends also serve as the source of income for many.

These trends also change very often, just like Oscar Wilde has said- “Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.”

Sometimes the trends are not deliberate but happen accidentally. In the movie Deewar, when Amitabh Bachan’s costumes arrived, it was realized that the shirt was longer, so he tied it from the lower end to his waist, which in turn become hot style during that time.

In this time when the film stars are worshipped and followed, there are many who do not believe in following trends. For them comfort and self thinking comes first. There are some who don’t care, while some just create their own definition of what is fashionable and what’s not.  It is solely depends upon one’s thinking. It’s about how one is – hero worshipper or own styler!

Women Intuition kills

Nidhi’s friends are suspecting something unusual about her behavior, though she greeted everyone in the group in the same usual manner!

After a few, “no I am fine” and “It’s nothing”, finally she spilled the beans. Now she is in tears, “I don’t feel that it’s going to work between me and Raj. Suddenly I don’t get the right ‘vibes’. I love him, but don’t know what to do…”

This is a conversation of a regular girl gang. (I can also be killed by my friend for publishing this!)

At this point I realized the importance of these ‘gut feelings’ in a women’s life. Believe me 80% of the times when men say, “I don’t understand her point”, “I don’t know why she is doing it” etc. Men, you can blame it to ‘women intuition’!

Women in thought(s)

Women are equipped with far more finely tuned sensory skills than men. What is commonly called ‘women intuition’ is mostly a women’s acute ability to notice small details and changes in the appearance or behavior of the others. This is one of the reasons why women can read between the lines of what people say.

Women have superior sensitivity in differentiating tone changes in voice volume and pitch. This enables them to hear emotional changes in children and adults. Maybe this explains the most commonly heard statements of women, while arguing with men, “Don’t use that tone with me” or “lower down your tone”.

For centuries women were burned at the stake for possessing ‘super natural powers’! These included the ability to predict outcomes of relationships, spot liars, talk to animals and uncover the truth.

This gut feeling at times gets so overpowering that women are bound to ride the way, their intuition takes them. Its “killing” sometimes when inside you keep getting this that  any particular thing is not going to last long, and practically you cannot find any valid reason!

But surprisingly the intuition is proven right!

So all the women out there learn to listen and follow your intuition and men you must learn ways to use your lady’s ‘special powers’!

You might also like to read where I took out these inferences:

• Kentucky New Era: Read;
• Daily Times: Read;
• Times of India: Read

The first meet

It’s said, first impression is the last impression, and it’s actually true. Some percent of attraction begins with the first meet.

It is my observation that when a person meets someone who does not treat him/her, the same way, they are treated by everyone else; they get curious.

And curiosity, my friend is the main culprit! Curiosity in an animal makes it, human.

Coming back to the topic, that little curiosity gives birth to this feeling of “why”. The person (the one treated differently), then wants to know that particular person more. This marks the beginning of a love story.

A polite meet

As my cousin brother recalls, “I meet this sweet junior girl in my college, who among the whole junior batch, just refused to call me ‘sir’, I felt like knowing more about her and she is my girlfriend since past 4 years”. My friend, also remembers the first time she meet her boyfriend, whom she is about to marry, ” I meet him through a common friend, and in a very jokingly I insulted him. Next time my friend called, to inform me that he intended to meet me again…”

Somewhere I think, that the filmy style love story, of first fighting and slowly the feeling turning to more than friends; might be true in real life also.

We think differently!

Last week my brother and his girlfriend broke up. He was very much into her.
And the reasons were the most popular  ones –

• You don’t understand me…
• You have changed !

The reason why such situations arise in relationships is the lack of understanding and patience.
Men and women are like two sides of the same coin. When two people start living together, they share their lives. Somewhere in that sharing process, we forget respecting the opposite sex. Its very important to do that.

Men and women think differently, and this fact needs to be respected and given space to.
A thing which a woman might not approve of, a man might adore it. Example of this can range from dirty smelly socks to untidy hairs and also from endless bitching to unreasonable shopping. When exposed to a given condition, men and women, react in different ways.

Suppose a couple is standing in front of Victoria’s Secret outlet. The female will have shopping in her mind hitting the first. But at the same time, men will not think about shopping for sure. Their thoughts may wander to the topic of sex or something which will make a development in their  pants !

Men and women are different creatures but at the same time, they cannot live apart.

I Hate Love Storys

I saw this Bollywood movie and actually realized that it might seem fun to be in love and talk about it but, love is not actually, what it looks like!

These romantic movies do seem nice and very emotional, but have you ever questioned the practicality of these love stories?? NO.

Because they seem so perfect and we as human beings, always want things to go perfect in our lives. But in that desire of ours, we get so engrossed that we leave reality far behind. The kind of love that we are exposed to while we are growing up is very unrealistic and lacks practicality. So, when we even imagine about love, we automatically fall for slow motion scenes, soft background score, and things which I don’t think I need to even mention, because you might have already began imagining a romantic scene from a movie.

romantic movie

In these transforming years, we have forgotten the essence of love and believe only to that which we have easy access. And easily available is that material which, “sells”, why would the producers of such unrealistic matter like to suffer losses. They make that material which sells; the material which they know is not natural. But like a dream which they would like to be fulfilled in their life.

Alas! In this profit making process, somewhere the innocence and naturalness of love is lost. Now all we know about love is half-baked and this is the reason why it hurts to be in love, nowadays.

Love is not supposed to be painful.

This great person here said some heart touching words.

Neil Gaiman once said- “Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.

You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life…You give them a piece of you. They didn’t ask for it.

They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn’t your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like ‘maybe we should be just friends’ turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart.

It hurts.

Not just in the imagination.

Not just in the mind.

It’s a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain.

I hate love.”

All I would say is that it is easy to love, but difficult to maintain it.

I am not against loving. And not even saying that love is smooth like feather, it also has its share of ups and downs.

But I propagate the correct timing of finding your loved one.