thoughts

One obviously will go where the talent is appreciated. That is absolutely the case with the musician A R Rehman, who these days is climbing nationally and internationally. His recent works like Warriors of heaven and earth (Chinese / English) and Bombay Dreams (English/Hindi) and his forthcoming projects - the theatrical version of Lord of the Rings and IMAX movie TajMahal, might help clarify the point.

The shift makes more sense to him, as the International ventures have succeeded while the admiration for music in the tamil movies by the tamil audience has been paltry. This is probably because of the fact that the cinematizing of the songs are worthy enough only if made by directors like Shankar, Manirathnam or Kadhir. For those who can’t understand or appreciate his music, there are other music directors for them in tamil after all.

You have a better audience waiting for you Rahman.

Thought emanated from: Interview with Rahman in The Hindu

Its an honor for the present election commissioner of India, James Lyngdoh, to be among the recipients of the prestigious Magsaysay award this year, for his tough stand in conducting the Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir elections. He suggests bureaucrats to be away from the politicians for the danger of becoming cancerous if too much exposed to them.

I think T N Seshan and Kiran Bedi have also received the awards before. And Magsaysay is generally referred to as the Nobel price of Asia.

Bruce Einhorn writes in Business Week that China is not a potential threat to India with respect to software services. The simple reason seems to justify: Language barrier.

Of course, India failed miserably in the manufacturing field to China. But that I guess, is mainly due to low cost workers in China needing no knowledge and the not-so-smart and selfish Indian politicians of the time. My dad used to say that if British left something useful to India, it was the English and the good railway system. Well, the railway system hasn’t improved leaps and bounds since, but the English in India definitely has, I believe. This is despite the language savvy regional politicians and the language savvy people (including Hindi & Tamil). Maybe, their fanaticism also swells the urge to defy them and learn English.

Somehow I can never comprehend how some people are addicted to their language and averse to other languages. I can never see a language as more than a provider of opportunity to express your creativity and as a medium of communication. This is my point in spite of the fact that I am not a fast or ardent learner of a new language. Well, thats another story.

I happen to read the interview with the great magician PC Sarcar Jr. in MSN India. One of his answers was just wonderful. Here it is:

Padma: Many holymen also perform disappearing tricks…

Sorcar: Everybody has magical elements inside them. Our Vedas speak about it. Let them do it, but please do not associate divinity with it. Be frank, be honest. If one can cure through magic then why should some divine persons support hospitals? Cure patients by your magic!

Interestingly this was the point of view I had on the so-called divine people like Sai Baba. And I feel so happy that a magician also feels the same.