The Colour of Money

I am no fan of John Abraham. Why should I be? His work, with the exception of No Smoking- where he was surprisingly good clearly because of the vision of the director Anurag Kashyap-, is slipshod. Kareena Kapoor described him as expressionless, when asked by Karan Johar on a talkshow. And she was bang on correct!

But I found nothing drastically wrong with the guy ( He is an actor who cannot act. But that's no crime in India....) untill now, when he has jumped onto the bandwagon of endorsing fairness products.

Girls take note - this is your macho hunk, the breed that rides 1000cc motorbikes from Pune to Leh and back in 72 hrs flat! He thinks he is a shade too dark and that's bad....oh so bad! I thought he hangs around with a gorgeous girl who takes pride in her dark skin, and rightly so. Have you learned nothing from her, John?

I know he is doing it only for the money. The real John Abraham doesn't believe in all that muck. But then most of the brainless creatures who hero-worship him (precisely because they are brainless ofcourse!) wouldn't know the difference. If they did, the idea of celebrity endorsements wouldn't work. It is all about making us believe that Amir drinks only Coke and Shah Rukh drinks only Pepsi, is it not? People do believe their idols and that is what makes them a threat, or a blessing..., to sane and civilized society.

Shame on you Garnier, Nivea, Fair & Lovely and the antedeluvian others who are making us pay for our dark skins. And shame on you John Abraham for licking their dark shoes.

Roberto !!!!

These 2 photographs of Mr. Robert Vadra, alternatively and universally known as 'Priyanka Gandhi's husband', were published in 2 separate newspapers, on the same day, last week. What's brewing? Are we, the hapless people of this so-called largest democracy in the world, being prepared for another Gandhi, ...oops Vadra, road show? I guess not, because this person comes across as a nice, gentle and unassuming individual. So far he has kept himself away from public glare, either by design or by chance.

Bengal Blues

This, believe it or not, is a govt. emplyoee guarding an important, impressive and popular historical monument in Kolkata, the Princep ghat. Without a uniform, one leg non- chalantly hoisted on the chair he was a picture of unchallanged and complete supremacy! His total disregard of the fact that I was taking his photograph shows that he has faith in his dadas in the party or govt. or both.
This is very typical of India in general, but Bengal in particular. In Bengal, most so called 4th class staff, usually guards, sweepers, peons etc. act and behave as if they own the building where they work! The Director of Nandan, the film centre, may not believe that he owns the place but the guards at the gate certainly do!

The guy in the picture became extremely vigilant when he saw us, decent blokes, strolling among the grand coloumns. We were after all intruders in his private domain! The sooner we left the better. We did not fail to notice however, that the place was over run with lumpen elements. They were huddled in every corner, either having some contraband stuff, or involved in some crude form of gambling.

We have lost our beautiful river-front to the gamblers, pick-pockets, muggers and drug-peddlers and addicts. We have lost 2 of our large lakes to similar activities. We have lost all the beautiful and secluded places of our city to anti-socials. Our apathy, their gain.