Sunday, March 4, 2012

Cross-border 'tsunami'




While the mantra of "corruption" was being chanted in the ahimsa-loving land via an old knight in shining white dhoti-kurta-topi and his team - likening himself to that 'saintly' man who also wore a white dhoti; the mantra of "kruption" was and is still being chanted in the land of the pure (LoTP) - by an old-young man - a shining ex-sporting knight with supposedly magical powers and Midas-smith touch.

While the "corrupt" fellows in this ahimsa-loving land has reasonably successfully pricked that shining white dhoti-kurta-topi wearing hot-air balloon; let us wait and watch what the "krupt" folks in the LoTP can do. Since the 'tsunami' there is also wearing shining-boots-beret-caps-black coats-flash-bulbs-plus-lots-of-talk-time, apart from being aided by ample amounts of Hollywood-ian 'special effects', not to forget humongous quantities of botox shots, hair weaves, wrinkle removers and even the surgeon's scalpel and knife.

Umm, somebody somewhere was clearly not happy with the "corrupt" people here, lead by a certain blue-turbaned yogi, since they did not purchase substantial amounts of war toys from those ETs, and also did not (or were unable to?) push through a new policy to throw open retail trade (and pensions) to very eager phoren Santa Clauses.

[Note: We cannot say with certainty whether those phoren Santa Clauses will come with their numerous jingle bells at a later date though.]

The same folks (?) and their allies are not happy with Hatim Tai for wanting to go ahead with a certain pipeline with a country whose architecture those ETs would like to change, apart from wanting to be friendly with a certain ahimsa-loving neighbour. No pipelines, only pipe dreams. Remember, Mushy never built even a toy pipeline in his decade long tenure, while his 'spiritual godfather' too refrained from building any in his almost a dozen-year long brutal and regressive regime (blessed by sundry geometric diagrams and flying camels).

In fact very 'pious' and 'scientific' experiments regarding the generation of electricity from djinns (spirits, as in ghosts) - was faithfully conducted during the tenure of the most 'pure and pious' general that the LoTP has ever produced, or perhaps the world and beyond has ever seen!

I am not an expert on the teachings and message of the holy Prophet, but a majority of the (virulent) strains of that particular 'ism' (now proliferating everywhere) were developed in labs, petri dishes and test tubes - courtesy various 'experiments' conducted in the land of the five sided polygon (and ably supported by the land of flying camels as well as electricity from djinns).

The other 'spiritual sons' - the ones that have a taste for Nihari and Paya - too did not build one; in fact they built lots of motorways instead - for honeybees and later for mosquitoes. And they are also renowned for their appetite ... err taste for laptops.

The only one who did (i.e., took measures to mitigate the energy crunch) was the PM with the 'wrong' gender. And it was due to her efforts that the LoTP did not face a severe energy crunch or too much load shedding until about 2004 - when Mushy was ruling and happily claiming all the credit for. Actually, Mushy even talked about exporting electricity to India. Whether he did it or not I have not a clue, though some reports do suggest that he did; which means we enjoyed 'halal' electricity!

Now, though the PM with the 'wrong' gender received accolades from the UN and perhaps a medal too, she was sadly rewarded with lots of Swiss chocolates instead, by the 'bade mian nihari' - who is now her self-proclaimed brother. How times change!

Unfortunately, the top just-tease there wants those (now stale and mouldy) Swiss chocolates back, re-packaged and given to Hatim Tai as a belated X-Mas gift. It is actually meant to be a punishment for Hatim Tai - for having trimmed his thick, jet-black, waxed, handlebar moustache. Hatim Tai is resisting with both his arms instead: Ghee-lani is listening while Mushkil Asan is arguing.

The latest 'gate' was and is clearly a Mushy-Immy game, scripted and choreographed by some internal, external and extra-terrestrial forces, and is a part of their global land (and resource) grab scheme that has decimated nations and uprooted civilizations, and still does.

Given their interest in improving 'tourism' in Afghumistan and their intense wish in changing the old and outdated architecture in primitive iRan, they would much prefer rootless and weak folks who can easily be remote controlled and who would be dutiful puppets that would also salute telephone calls at odd hours. They certainly do not want popular leaders, especially those who have a national stature and lead national parties with deep roots among the people. The latter species are dealt with: first with Swiss chocolate and then if required with carefully arranged and choreographed attacks, complete with martyred tyres - so that these unwanted folks can meet their makers. Later, those attacks are conveniently placed on sundry stick-wielding primitive men, complete with instant evidence, dubious video and audio footage, fudged medical records and hosed down evidence. And all of these are duly (and instantly) authenticated - especially by geometric-diagrams and their chelas - Thomson and Thompson. For some reason Tintin, Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot is never involved.

As for Manzoor Ijaz-zat, I guess he played his role - which was not unlike that of 'Shikhandi' - and the purpose has been served - at least partly. What that purpose was should be clear to all by now, no?

Just incase 'Tiger Khan Tsunami' - with the blessings of his numerous backers does make it to the all-important gaddi - I would feel sorry for the unfortunate LoTP-ians. As for us, even Zeenie baby and double moon won't be able to help us *Wink*

His 'path-breaking' jalsa or rally (what with several experts, analysts etc - both phoren and domestic - comparing it with Benazir Bhutto's historic home-coming rally of 1986, no less) at Jinnah's mausoleum, achieved the impossible. Even Mr. Jinnah got up from his final resting place and announced his decision to join the PTI (Pakistani Tsunami by Immy). Really!

With musical performances by Strings-attached and Salman Ali Ahmad Azmat of Junoon-past, who incidentally showed the entire world that he could also sing in Ali Az-mat-head's voice. But then Immy Khan claimed credit for that wonder. It's actually one of his amazingly latent magical qualities; using which he would eliminate "kruption" in 90 days and terrorism in 19 days.

The later is easy, since he would simply induct them (meaning the 'pure and patriotic' terrorists-cum-strategic-assets) in his cabinet and declare (halal) terrorism a flourishing industry. Well, now if Shortcut Aziz could declare cell phone proliferation as an industry, why can't pure, pious and 'halal' terrorism be called an industry?? Bolo, bolo? Tell, tell? It helps in manpower 'export and import' after all, and even keeps those virgins in paradise in steady employment, no?

Frankly, Shortcut Aziz (PM during Mushy's golden ... rather platinum era) claimed that Pakistan's march to the glorious future ordained for it, was seen in the proliferation of cell phones. Wiser words have not been spoken before or since. However, Immy is known to be quite the dim compared to 'clever' Shortcut and so he may take a longer run-up.

As for eliminating "kruption" in 90 days, well this one would be trickier.

"Corruption" (or even "kruption") is selectively defined, and polish-men, bureau fat cats, babus, clerks, bijinessmen and the most popular of all - poltry-cians, are synonymous with "corruption". The rest are as pure as the driven snow.

Come to think of it, even in the above, only selective folks are targeted and it is usually to settle personal or political scores. And the luckiest ones among them get the much-coveted
Swiss chocolates.
 
"Corruption" has come to mean monetary corruption. But that is only a part of the problem and has arisen from the deep-rooted malaises that have eaten into our psyche and social fabric.

The corruption that we have in our thoughts, minds, hearts, actions (or the lack of it), and in our moral fibre, is far worse - and has given rise to monetary corruption.

So if "corruption" (also: kruption) rather monetary corruption has to be decreased, the former will have to be dealt with; and that would also include no 'Sitayan' in the dark *Wink*

'Coz if one has indulged (or is still indulging) in 'Sitayan' in the dark and if there is 'proof of the pudding' too, then one is very, very vulnerable to sundry suits and rings - from outdated instruments like telephone. *Wink*


Photograph: The long-lost twin brother of Sir Mickey Jet-lagger, who was lost in a 'halal' dessert storm. Pic courtesy: link

Footnote: You can also read my earlier series - Mushy-Immy game: 1st part:
here, 2nd part: here, 3rd part: here, 4th part: here and the 5th part: here.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Faceless - the only way out by Tapan Ghosh



Faceless - the only way out is written by Tapan Ghosh, a debutant author from Mumbai, and it is slated to become a major motion picture in the near future.

Book Blurb:
"Dildo in a bin! Who put it in?"

Embarrassed about mistaking a vibrator for a bomb, Khush and his anti-terror squad go about looking for the owner of the pleasure tool.

Khush and Shom have been friends since childhood. In their forties now, they love to swing to latino beats in Mumbai's nightclubs. Shom, the reticent one, is very different from the flamboyant Khush.

Everything changes when Shom meets Raima. Their sensual yet spiritual love is separated by age, wealth and background. Shom throws caution to the wind and meets life head on, choosing honesty over hypocrisy. It's a Love Story emerging in the contemporary world of wealth, lust and power, like the freshness of the lotus flowering in stagnant waters.

Raima, a victim of circumstance, is exposed to the world very early in life and as such she is tough, sharp and street smart. She is the soul of the book.

Faceless is the story of love and passion so powerful, so pure, that we live it with Shom and Raima.

The story set in Mumbai (SoBo, Khandala, Daman, etc) has a host of characters; we have Khush (short for Khusrau Screwvala), Shom (actually Suman Bhatia), Natasha, Raima, Natasha's mom Swapna, Saif Hussain, Aruna, Aneesh and Aneesha, and many more. However, as we progress, we find that the book mainly revolves around Raima and Shom, with Khush making the occasional appearance along with the luxury vanity van called the "Land Yacht".

I had recently read and reviewed a book - The Blogging Affair - by yet another debutant author and wanted to stay away from sauce and empty plots for a while, but that was not to be and soon enough Faceless – the only way out found me.

The plot is flimsy to say the least and the first line on the book blurb "Dildo in a bin! Who put it in?" was quite a turnoff. The narrative or the manner in which the ... umm story is told doesn't gel with me either. The result: After The Blogging Affair, this is another book that I have taken the longest to read.

The Plot: Shom is a self-made successful businessman and best friends with Khush, who too is super-rich and moonlights as the deputy to the chief of Mumbai’s bomb squad - and that too post the 26/11 terrorist attacks! Strangely though Khush spends most of his time in pubs and discos, drinking away and 'having fun'; he sees himself as doing a great service to womankind by satisfying their needs.

Shom and Khush are both married men with families, Shom having married his rustic wife at the spur of the moment under some unpleasant circumstances. He has a past with a childhood sweetheart - Aruna. The unhappiness and emptiness (this bit is quite contrived though) of his life makes him seek 'solace' from time to time. He meets architect-cum-escort Raima Sengupta (many years his junior) on Facebook and Blackberry chats. They decide to remain faceless but maintain contact nonetheless. Then they decide to meet.

Raima has lost her father quite early in life and is brought up by her loving aunt whose creep of a husband molests her when she was just fourteen. Fortunately she remembers the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky saga just in time and decides to keep her dress (the one with her uncle’s semen) safely - and the uncle wilts. Her mother is bed-ridden.

She has been in a relationship with Saif Hussain - an ISI backed terrorist and a close aide of Headley (the mastermind of 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai). She plays a vital role in getting him imprisoned, while Khush sees to it that no harm comes to her. However she ends up being on the hit list of shadowy figures. After Saif and Khush, she meets her soulmate Shom - through FB and BB chats and then face-to-face.

They meet as often as they can. They call each other soulmate and the author has done his best to portray whatever happens between them as love and tender romance, but it simply falls flat. It comes across as one-dimensional, as lust, and is tiresome.

My two pence worth: The flow of the story is jumpy and not at all logically convincing. There are too many inconsistencies, disconnect and clunky writing for the readers to sustain their interest after a few minutes. That the story is narrated in a flat tone and lacks humour doesn’t help either. It drags on and on and there is no Loin to rescue us from the overwhelming Mona-Tony.

Frankly, the narrative starts with a vibrating dildo (in a bin) that people confuse for a bomb, but Khush finds out the truth and becomes the hero of the day. The gadget belongs to Swapna, Natasha's mother, who in turn is a friend of Raima. And that's how Khush and Raima meet. The author's portrayal of the 'needs' of middle-aged and neglected women leaves a lot to be desired. He even brings the third gender - the shemales - into the plot, and they have absolutely nothing to do with the storyline. It was insensitive to say the least. And Shom going underground (and faceless) - eliminating terrorists via a fully automated system? I would rather watch A Wednesday instead.

We barely get a glimpse of the city or the state - except for a feeble one - that of a beach, but are overwhelmed by the minutest detail - of the Land Yacht's interiors and those of the third gender.

Having plowed through the book, all I have to say is that perhaps the author wanted to write a story with the aim of converting it into a movie and therefore just went about adding all sorts of 'spices' and 'garnishing' that he felt would enliven it and result in a blockbuster. He even brought in past life connect and reincarnation - out of the blue!

After reading the book, the hardest thing for yours truly has been to write the review and boy am I glad that I have finally managed to pull it off! And now that I am done with it, I am in dire need of some strong south Indian filter kaapi.

But before I grab a cup, I must add that the book does feel good to hold and the editing errors are barely there. Even the book jacket cover is unusual and manages to hold your attention; there is somewhat of an element of the mysterious there. I only wish there was a plot too and a coherent one at that. Why has the author called this book "Faceless - the only way out" - I know not.

My Rating:
Had it been the X-Mas-New Year season I might have been more generous and given it a 2/5, but since it is not, I am going with a 1.5/5 for Tapan Ghosh's debut book. Given the backdrop and the other sub-plots like reincarnation, etc., this one could have turned out to be a very good read. A much meatier read in its own right, if only there had been a clear storyline and the deadwood (for the sake of cheap thrills) had been pruned out.

With that, I am off to get some much needed filter kaapi.

Details of the book:
Faceless - the only way out / Author: Tapan Ghosh/ Publisher: Frog Books (an imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd.)/ Publishing Date: 2011/ Format: Paperback/ ISBN: 978-93-81115-98-5/ Pages: 239/ Price: Rs.145 (Rs.109 @ Flipkart.)

Picture:
The book jacket cover of Faceless - the only way out. Courtesy
link.