Entertainment Catastrophe

Entertainment in the words of T S Eliot is " Elevating the quality of films, enlarges the sympathies, it stimulate the mind and spirit that warms the heart, punctures the balloons of hypocricy, greed and sham, tickles the funny bone and leaves us with the goal that comes that we have been well entertained". Making millions is not the whole ballgame. Pride of workmanship is worth more, the human imagination is a priceless resource. The public is ready for the best you can give him. As rightly remarked by a legendary actor Gregory Peck  while accepting the AFI (American Film Institute) award in the year 1989.

Human society across the globe is influenced by the entertainment world mostly. Human beings tend to dress or talk or imitate exactly like their favourite lead characters. Entertainment procures the story from our society or famous novels written by world wide popular authors or on great personalities. The impact of the film making leaves the audience agape if the entertainment carries the appropriate recipe to entertain us. A film with a great story, musical score, its location, time taken in film and the editing will leave the audience mesmerised which will prompt to visit the theater again to watch the film with the same spirit and pleasure. On the other hand a bad film with senseless story and obscenity will leave the audience with bad entertainment whose effect in the society also diminish the quality of the essence of human living. The society succumbs to its negative pressure.

 

I beleive strongly that quality films does impact our society in greater sense which prompts us silently to enact the way a relationship is potrayed in a film and the nature of dialogues orchestrates behind it. Specially in todays serials in various indian languages, the influence is much more viable and the degrading quality prevails in society of human kingdom is visible. Violence and obscenity in films has replaced love and culture, parents barely exist in stories, melancholy has replaced the nonmelancholic songs majorly that leaves disturbing impact in human mind barring few films with nice songs in the 21st century Indian filmdom. 

 

A great story depends on the subject, time of the movie, the nature of its character, the musical score as per the story in the background, its location and the plot on how to start and end the subject. These ingredients of any picture will leave the audience awstruck. If we go by the example of Moby Dick, 

its a subject of Whale Hunting or Jaws  which shows the ferocious shark attacks and its consequences or 20000 leagues under the sea are films come under the category of Adventurous nature and will allow any audience to watch the film with family barring few harsh shots for the sake of thrill and adventure. 

Musical films like My Fair Lady  or Sound of Music  are the inspiration for indian films which were made in various regional Indian languages nicely. Dial M for Murder or Chase a Croocked Shadow    leaves an  everlasting mark for the indian film makers to hijack the great thrilling plots. Light hearted comedy films like "You are never too young" by Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin inspires Kishore kumar to potray in Half Ticket.  The time of Hollywood or Bombay film industry is now almost void with interesting captivating films anymore. Unfortunately the era of meaningful quality films are less in numbers in todays advanced noisy technological era comparing that of yesteryear. 

 

Maintaining the quality in films is the key for improving human society and thus preserving the indian culture.

HER HIGHNESS

 

Women

are the centrifugal force on this beautiful planet. They are the creators and the protectors. Women has the ability to rule this planet with wits and courage. The male chauvinistic world should give women a chance for a change and wait for the miracle of development to happen. Women are created to cleanse the human society and make the world a better living. Any female leaders in history has proven the point beyond any suspicion. They are multi tasker as well a charmer beyond any doubt. Physical strength of men may have outnumbered women on this front but so far as civility, nicety, beauty and management is concerned, women are far better off than men without any argument. Dashing handsome men always complete her highness without doubt. They not only takes care of wealth and home front with conviction but also manages the vagaries of nature in outside world or society when required. Behind every successful men lies the contribution of women. Exceptions are respected with bow head.  Be it inside houses or leading a country or any specific organisation, women's contribution is immense and felt positively. Most women sadly are the victim of gross domestic violence or fell upon the ferocious prey of hounds in human form across the globe stupendously away from their houses. Despite all these atrocities, women rise and take control of the damages inflicted upon them and tries to cleanse the uncanny atmosphere by all their strength and intelligence. 

Women are the cradle of patience and hope barring the exceptions. Women when become a mother 

is the ultimate force for her child whose every sin if committed is looked upon as a mercy, their love is  unconditional and who do not have any agenda for her child for any advice rendered upon for their personal development. That's the definition of women in the form of mother, sister , wife, educators, farmers  or entrepreneurs. Throughout the history, the central role of women in society has ensured the stability, progress and long development of nations. We as men must protect this race from any disgrace or downfall to their shame and embrace them as the greatest creator of humans and salute the sacrifices and contributions in our human  lives. 

The Hollywood effect on our physical and mental growth

Hollywood has always been a great source of entertainment during our 70's and 80's era of growing times. Cinema plays an immense source of happiness and charm and influenced our lives draconianly. The films of Alfred Hitchcock like Witness for prosecution, I confess, The Birds, Dial M for Murder, Phsycho were the 

few films which sharpens our intelligence and tickles our funny bones in understanding and solving the mysteries behind a plot while watching and as shown in films. The richness and deliveries of dialogues, the actors and actresses, their mannerisms influenced our little minds and hearts deeply in a positive effect. Those times the violence, obscenity and use of vulgar languages were never a part of film script and the duration of the films were barely 2 hours. Almost all the films can be watched with parents without any apprehension of obscenity. The stories choosen were intelligent and heart warming, captivating to the core and had the power to engage the audience deeply. Films like Strangers in a train 

To chase a croocked shadow, Trapeez, From here to eternity, Roman Holiday, Mackenna's Gold, Moby Dick, House of wax, Where Eagles Dare, Escape to Witch Mountain, Mogambo,The Snows of kilimanjaro, Ten Commandments, Ben Hur were few of the films which has resounding effect on our growing minds and left us speechless. 

The yesteryear heroes of Hollywood like Gregory peck,  

Audrey Hepburn, Stewart granger, Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, David Niven, Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, Charlton heston, to name a few dominates not only the screen but also the little and senior hearts and minds fondly and each is known by their distinctive voice which in todays advance technological era is also relevant and irreplaceable. There were times after watching certain films like Frankenstein or Moby Dick i could not sleep the whole night thinking of how the films were shot and the acting skills and the films deep effect on mind and soul which prompted me to watch for the second or third time. 

Musical films like Sound of Music or My Fair Lady cast an immense effect even today and their songs were embedded in our heart since then. We are even today prompted to buy the CD's of those memorable films to introduce to todays generation and the same effect continues although mildly to the new grown ups mind but we relive the past once more happily and thus retain the copies of those films which enthuse us greatly and left us speechless till todate. 

The Golden Era of Doordarshan

The era of doordarshan  was a fun filled moments of our lives in the 70's and 80's. The only channel and entertainment that infuse happiness and smile. The news readers were so decent and cultured that we get influenced by their speaking style, mannerisms and dress sense alongwith hair style. Their english and hindi pronounciations influenced our student mind very much.

 

The signature tune of doordarshan were so soothing, lively and authentic that it spells a magic into our little hearts. The tune also signals the youth about time for resuming studies and prompts our mothers and grandma's to offer their evening prayers with incense sticks and conch blowing. It was so quiet and transparent moments which at those times seems to be boring and naive but comparing in todays noisy and various news channels feeding us with news containing only violence and disturbing visuals seems yesteryear simplicity with only entertainer as Doordarshan was the best form of watching the nation. 

 

Our entertainments only contains the serials like Malgudi days,  

Tamas,  Bharat ek khoj,  Ramayan & Mahabharat,   Startrek  followed by cartoons like He man and the master of the universe,  our favourite donald duck  

or tom & jerry  which obsessed our student minds thoroughly.  How can one forget the sunday Bournvita quiz contest programmes and the anchors like 

Siddharth Basu,  Dr Narattam Puri,  

Salma sultan,  Rini Simon  and many more whose personality sparks style and the most professional cultured mannerisms and their conducting styles always will stay in our heart fondly. Prannoy roy's  introduction of The World this Week was the first news channel which showed us news in an international platform for the first time.  News on sundays for deaf and dumb was worth watching which in todays era is obsolete. 

Remembering the times when any ministers assasination or natural death was marked with respect stopping all form of entertaimments and  was only switched to classical music for the whole week. Those momennts were boring indeed but we got adjusted with the norms and practices without complains.The young and the old in households were happy watching stunning films like 

Anand,  Bawarchi  or Sholay  in Hindi and few bengali movies starring Uttam kumar  suchitra sen  every sunday in the afternoon and evening was shown which were watched with all family members. The houses who cannot afford Television sets congregate to various households and watch jointly. The moments were really nostalgic and ties unity with good connectivity. Only one telephone connection in a houseused used to serve a large portion of a particular locality those times. On the advent of new technology, the human connectivity in person has become a long distance affair only restricted in mobiles. Every wednesday watching Chitrahar for half an hour was memorable and the tunes of 

kishore kumar,  Md Rafi,  lata - asha 

numbers left us with humming tunes while returning back to our usual household chores.

Todays world where all entertainments and sports is in reach but the peace and quietness of yesteryear entertainment has blown away with the wind. Doordarshan times and their fantastic anchors and the programme selection and conducting will always remain in our hearts belovedly. 

 

The lady with a mystic smile

The year was 1977. A healthy baby girl

was born in a brahmin family in the outskirts of calcutta. Fondly the name given was Rohini. Dusky complexion, lean and medium built and when she smiles it seems the horse is neighing. She had a beautiful long hair unlike today’s  youth with wide big eyes with a perfect eye brows. The childhood days was naughty and spent mostly in Deoghar studying and playing with boys in games like kabbadi, hide and sick, climbing up the trees and sheeting the top were few of the funs muzzled with happiness. Slipping into someone's garden and plucking the mangoes was considered as a crime and the garden owner used to complain her mother for which she used to be bashed for her childhood pranks. Father was strict, disciplined and soft spoken and cares for her daughter very much and advised his wife not to rebuke unnecessarily too much considering the acts as a child's play. She was more a nature lover

than staying inside homes. She used to watch her grandma cooking and got pampered with delicacies while her mother forbid her on certain foods during growing times. She derive pleasure out of such non adhering to mothers command. Rohini has a God's gift of a natural singing voice. She used to muse people around her by her singing talent and her school teachers complimented her parents for such a natural gift. Parents always advised her daughter to hone the skills of her singing and admitted her to a music maestro to better her classical skills.

 

After 9 years of aloneness, Rohini got her small sister

for whom she developed a great affection and relatives, well wishers around started adoring the new comer and her presence continued to be less felt in the family circle gradually. Rohini seems dejected and learned to accept the loneliness and battle it out by herself by involving her in studies or otherwise but she never turned her back to her sweet companion. The days of youth started and she enrolled herself in Calcutta school after her father got transferred to Calcutta. She passed out merrily with flying colors in her matriculation year. Her dad present her with a cute watch which she still adorns in her wrist in todays date as well. She then got admitted herself to a prestigious college of Gokhale memorial in South Calcutta and successfully got graduated from the college. By the time she came out of the college, she used to earn her pocket expenses by giving tuitions and caring her little sister with occassional gifts followed by study books. She loves her sister like a mother loves her daughter. Gradually the girl's days in her own mother's house become numbered as her father started searching for a potential bride. 

Young energetic robust Rohini with full of life rejected her father's choice of bride and rest upon her own choice of first love of her life whom she met on a locality Durga puja function where the boy admires her for her singing talent and started dating gradually which eventually turned into nuptial knots much to her father's chagrin. 

 

The new chapter begun for Rohini in her in laws house. Strict instruction on wearing dresses was administered by her mother in law which Rohini abided by and her husband kunal sadly turned out to be a violent alchoholic and used to physically assault her almost every night. She used to weep and felt helpless like sky has fallen on her. Her dreams of a peaceful happy home shattered before her eyes as her plea for resistance on alchoholic behaviour was turned down. Thereafter for two and a half years of cruelty on her body and soul left her to be hospitalised which eventually turned into mutual divorce. She came back home like a bruised soldier and continued to fight her life all alone. Meanwhile, Rohini lost her father who was suffering from cancer in a very early age and left family bereaved with minimal bank balance. Rohini's mother lost the shadow of a big tree and struggle to meet the ends thread. She struggles to get her husband's banking job eventually after much follow ups of her husband's colleague who actually helped her to get the banking job and restore the family life. Rohini's little sister who was studying at that time and was in her youth used to tease her own elder sister on transistor or television programme sharing. Her mother sternly instructs her elder daughter to contribute in order to stay at home. Helpless, rejected from life, pain in her heart Rohini decides to migrate to Delhi for job. 

In Delhi, Rohini met her most adorable friend cum colleague Jhorna 

with whom they shared a small flat and continued with her Delhi life. Rohini never forget her mothers struggling times and religiously send money every month for her little sister and mother from Delhi. The days in delhi continues and Rohini used to hop in and hop off in between job selections in delhi before she finally decides to get married for the second time, found the bride, an artist, in matrimony.com site. In job, Rohini excels in various roles and become an apple of an eye to her immediate boss wherever she worked. Rohini in her last job in Delhi was attracted to a handsome man whom she used to trail but never muster up the courage to walk to him and say how much she loved and respected him. Alas, she left the matter in delhi but couldn't forget that man and got married in Calcutta again. 

 

The second chapter in her conjugal life started and was abruptly came to a halt when it was found that Rohini's second husband Gourmohan and her in laws was in pursuit of money from Rohini  and her mother as much as possible. Rohini was strictly ordered by her father in law to share her entire salary if she has to continue in her in laws house. Much to Rohini's chagrin and astonishment, she decided after 4 years of mental torture to quit and live life alone as she has accepted her fate on broken marriages. As ill luck would have it, Rohini lost her mother before she decided to call off her teasing marriage. Rohini's sister Rebecca who is married now left no stone unturned to surprise her elder sister with the sad demise of her mother's left over money on equal sharing. 

Unleashed with the realities of sisterhood and married life, Rohini now decided to stay alone in her paternal house and manages life all by herself in peace and awaiting divorce from Gourmohan. God never closes all doors in ones life and today Rohini got her love of Delhi days and waiting to be together once freed from the clutches of Gourmohan. Rohini now breathes happily, smiles charmingly and cooks grandly like her grandma and surprise Charan,

her love of Delhi with delicacies during every weekends. Life flows in a stream and ends with a dream. God bless rohini....