LET’S SET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER BEFORE WE STEP ON TO MEND SOME ONE ELSE’S

Since the Mumbai attacks, all we have seen is a surge of governmental pressure over Pakistan to hand over the twenty listed terrorists, close the permanently-open-to-attack terror camps and dismantle their intelligence services along with a very liberal dosage of diplomatic and pleasing-to-the-ears backlash. Add to the above an umpteen number of ‘Enough is Enough’ citizen mails which have been dropping onto our mailboxes with the regularity of the wins seen by the Indian cricket team lately.

In the midst of this all, all I want to do is to shout on the top of my lung and ask every single activity on these streamlines to just STOP. Enough with the back lashing, enough with the citizen mails, enough with the you-stop-first diplomacy and finally enough with we-are-the-victims façade. This has been going on for a while now and I believe a collective number of nerves are right at the edge of the wire, mine included.

Let’s first look after our affairs. Let us first make adjustment to our perceptions to our own problems and finally let’s just make a difference in our lives first before bringing an alteration in someone else’s life. It is time we mind our own business rather than make someone else’s business our very own.

We need to realise that rather than blame Pakistan let us first bring about a sea change in our security system. We have to diversify our security measures, make the grades in terms of advancements in technology support and get a firm grip over our strategies. We must stop blaming Pakistan for our tragedies, our short falls and our mistakes. Of course they are going to disagree to our allegation, they will not commit to our demands and they definitely will not owe up to their shortfalls no matter what the evidence. We have to get a grip over our internal circumstances. The diplomatic blame game must stop at this very instance. It is doing us no good. It would serve us well if we divert our attention to getting our security cover up to the bet we can in the given circumstances.

Finally, for the citizen drive we are seeing. It has to stop. All we are doing is giving suggestions which I am sure no one is applying. The high-horse situation must discontinue at the very instance. All we can do is ACT! That is the focal point. How, when and where is question. i mean, we are perpetually in a slumber. No offence but every writer seems to be one among us, still sleeping.

ONE SUGGESTION- Let’s just get our lives right, personally advocate changes in yourself. Do those little things that matter, like switching off lights when not needed, saving water, not litter, take safety measures in our driving methods, not giving aid to corruption even if we have to stand in the line for another few hours or have to jump through loops to get our work done, giving back to the important charities, paying our taxes and being honest in our own lives. And for gods sakes lets not say WE DO ALL THESE THEN WHY DO WE SUFFER! We suffer because we don’t do it right……


Michael Johnson once said- You can practice throwing the ball in to the basket for years, but if you employ the wrong method then no matter the hours you are doing it wrong.

That’s what is happening to us. We want to do the right things but end up trying to do the same the wrong way. So let us set our lives the right way……… We all believe in bringing revolutions but we don’t realise revolution begins only with the self. The thing is revolutions are not manufactured, they are not created my conceited efforts, it just happens when a lot of people sub consciously act the right way for the others to follow.

So first LET US ACT IN OUR OWN LIVES, SET THER HOUSE RIGHT IN OUR HOMES AND THEN WHEN COLLECTIVE HOMES ARE SET RIGHT REVOLUTION WILL BEGIN ON ITS OWN.

LETS ACT IN OUR LIVES FIRST…………… let that be our New Year resolution.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS 2009

The awards season is here and by Monday morning we will get a definite taste of the best of the best of the year gone by as soon as the Golden Globe awards get announced. There is a definite Indian flavour at this years awards. Shah Rukh Khan is going to present an award at the ceremony held in Los Angeles, Karan Johar has been invited to attend and finally Slumdog Millionaire, been scooping awards after awards, the last count being 55 in two months space, has ‘India’ running all over it.

This year has the most diverse combination of actors who have put up their best to grab awards. Even if there seems to be a clear front runner there is no final conclusion to the predictions. Any one can get through the field and surprises would be the order of the day.

PREDICTIONS FOR MOTION PICTURES

Best Motion Picture (Drama)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

The predicted winner: Slumdog Millionaire seems to be getting stronger by the day in terms of agreeability factor with the critics. It is gritty and it pleases the crowd at the same time, a combination not seen in a while.

Might just make it: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Frost/Nixon have five nominations each, and if their unusual side to the conventional triumphs then one of these two might just scoop the Globe.

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Burn After Reading
In Bruges
Happy-Go-Lucky
Mamma Mia
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The predicted winner: Mamma Mia! Seems to have taken an early lead thanks to its entertainingly hummable spirit to attached to it and then again it has Meryl Streep…. Need we say more?

Might just make it: In Bruges is climbing on the charts with a certain solidity while Woody Allen’s Spanish comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona might just take the baton from the predicted winner.

Best Actress (Drama)
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

The predicted winner: The year in which women have had it so good this seems to be the most challenging contest of all. All five have something more to offer. If there is Streep, veteran and winner always, then there is Hathaway breaking through her mould and establishing herself, and then there is Winslet who I hope wins this time after being perennially nominated and followed by Jolie, who makes a challenging comeback into the higher echelons while Kristin Scott does an authorative French repeat from last year.

Expect a fight off between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, with Hathaway just about sneaking in the Globe. Tough to predict! It all comes to the end of the wire…….

Might just make it: Kate Winslet might just crack the ceiling while Kristin Scott could just spring a massive surprise with her French turn like Marion Cotillard last year. Who knows is the mantra this year?

Best Actor (Drama)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

The predicted winner: It’s all Sean Penn this year… Period.

Might just make it: Leonardo DiCaprio is another perennial nominee and Mickey Rourke as the come back athlete in The Wrestler could pull up a surprise but it seems highly unlikely in this scenario where Penn seems to be leading in all stakes.

Best Actress - Musical or Comedy
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey

The predicted winner: This one again poses a challenge between Sally Hawkins and Meryl Streep. It’s Streep’s 23rd nomination at the Globes and is a record and we won’t be surprised if she adds the 7th and most wins at the ceremony by the time the night ends but Sally Hawkins could play a legitimate spoil sport to the same.

Might just make it: Rebecca Hall poses a should-win threat to the leaders in this category.

Best Actor - Musical or Comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

The predicted winner: Javier Bardem sings a different tune from last years gritty No Country For Old Men and this might just please the jury while Colin Farrell remains the most underrated act of the year. If a choice has to be made its Bardem all the way.

Might just make it: James Falco seems to be getting the right noises from the critics while Dustin Hoffman has all the experience which could pull in the award his way.

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

The predicted winner: A lot is being said about Viola Davis’s ten minute power struck act in Doubt which could clash with the aspirations of Kate Winslet in Reader. It comes down to these two and making a choice is awfully difficult. Should be Kate Winslet’s year of finally making it to the stage.

Might just make it: Marisa Tomei has been there with My Cousin Vinny. Although she does well in The Wrestler, a repeat act seems unlikely. Then again, you never know?

Best Supporting Actor
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

The predicted winner: It’s unanimous, it’s well deserved and it’s almost a sure thing. It’s Heath Ledger for his unfathomable warped performance.

Might just make it: Robert Downey Jr. seems to be getting the momentum in his stride and it is a very well deserved nomination but the writing is on the wall and it says The Joker………

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Steven Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

The predicted winner: This is Danny Byle’s year and let’s not get into second thoughts here because it’s going to be Danny Boyle for definite. Unless……..

Might just make it: Sam Mendes is making it to the elite circle where he can pull of a stunning upset but that seems a little far fetched because Slumdog Millionaire has its stride far ahead. Runner up finish will do just about fine.

Best Original Score
Defiance
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
Changeling

The predicted winner: A.R. Rahman’s moment of glory….. And it is certain. Let’s get the Indian print and television media ready for the coverage….

Might just make it: No one in the picture……