Hyderabad Book Fairs and Book Reading Culture

Hyderabad Book Fair opens for the 26th year in Necklace Road. In the last 26 years, I would have missed only once when I was abroad. What pains me about this book fair is that the quality of book fair has been only deteriorating over the years. Shifting of venue from Chikkadpally to Nizam College grounds to Necklace Road hasnt done wonders to the book-reading culture nor improved the Society's thi...nking level. The tragedy of Hyderabad is that people here don't read books or read books as much as a Book Fair Organiser feels encouraged. The footfalls are good but many stall owners tell me not many buy at the Fair. I just had a cursory round - the customary first round and was apalled at the quality and the vision of the Fair. The entry ticket is priced at Rs.5/-. That tells how diffident the organisers feel about footfalls. Five Rupees is not even inflation-adjusted since 1990s - might as well open the doors for free. The parking and pop-corn and chat items outside the Venue of Book Fair actually fetch more than the price for entry. Jewellery Fairs and Career Exhibitions fetch higher entry charges. Besides, the choice of stalls has always been unimaginative. This time, you even have a stall sellilng Pirated Hollywood DVDs apart from Handwriting Analysis workshops and Multi-color Web offset Printers and Maps and White-board markers and Games. How the hell are all these related to Book-Reading and Book-lovers? In one of the book-shops, the owner was haggling with a Distributor at what discount to sell a book that's exclusively marketed by them. Its titled: "Tragedy of Hyderabad". I didn't even bother to look at that book. Might be an apt description of the book-culture in Hyderabad. This is a city where parties are thrown to drown beer, play pool, brag about the acres of land in Vikarabad and Gandipet, and of course, the latest political and filmi issues. Books? A Big No. I have been to International Book Fairs in New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai and dream of going for Frankfurt one day - and wished that Hyderabad will have a Fair thats worthy of world renown. Now, I am reconciled that the city will get the Book Fair it deserves. Even the Vijayawada and Vizag Book Fairs get more book volumes according to the organisers - and atleast people there are starved of good books to see and read and buy. Hyderabad Blues for book-lovers!

"Solo" Movie Review

"Solo" starring Nara Rohit is another year-end rounding-off error we could have made if we missed it. Thoroughly entertaining and more satisfying to watch than even "Pilla Zamindar". Director Parasuram is a disciple of Swami Puri Jagannadh ("Pokiri" fame) but hasn't imbibed shades of gang-war violence and eve-exploiting sleaze. Quite a neat film with great performances by Rohit, Kajal Agarwal's... sister- Nisha, Prakash Raj, Jayasudha and yes, comedian Srinivas Reddy - this is his finest hour. The storyline: Rohit grew up an orphan and yearns to love and marry a girll who has a huge family. Prakash Raj - the girl's father - on the other hand, wants to bring in a son-in-law who is anything but "Solo". Sounds like another Dil Raju production but there ends any comparison because the director weaves a right combination of comedy, family drama and love-story with heart-tugging dialogues that linger on. Except for one Mumaith Khan's item song, "Solo" is a great film to watch. Mani Sharma has given high-quality music - both songs and BGM scores. Quite unsurprisingly then, when we trooped into a theatre and were wondering if we made a right choice when we saw but ten people including us, we saw the hall almost filled within ten minutes of movie. Is this movie better than "Pilla Zamindar"- in entertainment and neat family fare? Heart says, "Yes".

Mario Miranda

This is portrait of Mario Miranda - one of India's world-famous cartoonist - who passed away yesterday by my uncle Sankaranayarana Sattiraju who draws pen portaits. There are few Goans whose works I ardently collect - Remo Fernandes, Frank Simoes, Dom Moraes and of course, Mario Miranda. Mario's cover in the 80s and 90s wa...s a sure-fire best-seller - and he has immortalised many with his characteristic style of voluptious lady secretaries, Late forefather's portraits hanging on the walls and wide-eyed and rotund and acutely obtuse people with beautiful dots giving a signature style. Mario would have been mighty pleased with this wonderful portrait by my uncle which is more perfect than Mario's rampunctious cartoons. I used to always think Mirinda the orange drink is named after Mario Miranda! Long Live Mario!

Lunar Eclilpse and the Hoax of Scientific Temper

There is a famous anecdote about Thomas Alva Edison - world's greatest inventor-scientist. He is reading Bible in a train and a co-traveller surprised he is reading Bible even if with a scientific temper. Edison later invites him to his home. The traveller goes to Edison's home and suddenly notices an astonishing model of a solar system in the living room. He quizzes Edison who made it but Edison repeatedly says he only created it and that too in a day. The skeptic-guest gets exasperated and says,"C'mon Mr Edison. How can you make such a wonderful replica of a solar system in a day. Tell me who really made it." Edison was supposed to have replied: "If you can't believe that a mere replica of a solar system can't come up by itself, how did you think the entire solar system and the universe came up all by itself? If there is a creation, there has to be a creator. If there is a painting, there is a painting. If there is a sculpture, there is a sculptor. If there is an artwork, there has to be an artist." And so goes the tale, Edison has convinced the rationalist-skeptic-guest into believing that God is indeed the creator of this universe. This tale is recounted by a noted IT professional turned Spiritualist TT Rangarajn. But why am I suddenly saying this now? Because, I feel sometimes agog at the flurry of news channels trying to ignite an uproarious debate on whether the ongoing Lunar Eclipse has any repurcussions on pregnant women, children, eating habits, diseases and so on. I find it extremely silly that the so-called Rationalists dont argue with a scientific temper that it deserves - they just jump onto the moment's opportunity - why can't you eat during eclipse? Why should you close temples? Why you can do anything you like during this time? I cannot possibly answer all these questions in a sentence or a facebook post ( since I and my family take it quite seriously - these eclipses without abashedness whether it is scientific or not). But the fact is - a small micro-degree variation in an acquarium of small fish in temperature or water can kill the fish suddenly. When such a thing can happen in a small ecosystem like aquarium - imagine how much variation can happen when three huge planets Earth, Moon and Sun overlap in cosmic orbits and how many bacteria and micro-organisms get created as well as killed? Why do the Rationalists always argue for arguments' sake without seeing such a simple logic. Our systems also, as one seer opined in a channel, are so advanced we can tell all the eclipses that have happened or will happen for the next several millenia with just pen and paper and vernacular Almanacs. Can the scientists predict when the next eclipse or the next sub-cycle occur? I am reasonably rationalist but sometimes the blind nonsense that goes in the name of Rationalism to the point of pooh-poohing the inherent logical biases and scientific certitude that is embedded into our Astrological systems and good practices of living is not my cup of tea. We can take such debates later on but first let the scientists answer such simple questions as above. Right now, its time for us to have a headbath, recite a few more mantras, sprinkle water, cook fresh food and break our fast of more than 12 hours and go to sleep. Happy Lunar Eclipse to all!

"Panja" Movie Review

"Panja" is directed by Vishnuvardhan who made "Billa". It had Pawan Kalyan pinning such high hopes that he made the Audio launch also a low-key affair and under-stated. The movie will remain that way only - under-stated and low-key because while it is pleasing to the eye, it is hard on the ears. If you combine I-Day and R-Day celebrations since 1947 also, you will not have heard so many gunshots ...in one movie. When will movie-makers realise that people don't come to the theatre to hear gunshots and see stylised violence masquerading as a slick gangster movie. We got the feelling we have seen this movie before in "Antham" or "Godfather" or countless RGV films. Pawan Kalyan looks good with his richly-trimmed beard and subtle acting, he also strived to dance reasonably according to his capacity well. But the rest of the cast doesn't get the characterisation you remember. Another wasted opportunity for Jackie Shroff. Yuvan Shankar Raja's music is good in maybe two songs but his BGM could have been better - he can deliver more like his legendary dad Ilayaraja. The Movie's weakness is the story, below-average entertainment, and dialogues spoken and audible in Don's Dens - doesn't connect well. I wonder if I have the energy in the coming years to watch Tollywood Stars's wild antics on day one - I felt more disappointed with myself for throwing my money for the nth time on stars who are competing with their nephews but dont invest well in stories that sizzle or set them apart. My resolution for 2012 will be to skip such movies on day one and wait for another "Bakra" to review the film for me. Sorry Pawan, but you asked for it. Though I am digressing - what depressed me more is two sulking trailers during interval - of "Businessman" (Mahesh) and "Rajanna" - 2012 looks more depressing from output point of view in Tollywood. But I hope I don't stay in this mood for long. Something better be good soon.

The Dirty Picture

"The Dirty Picture" is not such a dirty picture to watch except for the adult content. I haven't seen Milan Luthria's "Once Upon a Time..." before so I went to the movie expecting to see a raunchy take of the movies of the 80s because the subject of the film played by Vidya Balan is "Silk". We recognised soon after the titles that it had astonishing prettiness, fluidity and a musical line. It sho...ws all the trappings of a nubile young thing becoming a starlet only to get into the lowlife that accompanies celluloid magic - the baggage of success that gets unwanted people, ego-clashes, financial woes and finally, souring of good luck. In the 160 minutes of the movie, you get a peek into the surreptious world of heroines who get drawn like moths to fires of stardom and adulation that utlimately deserts them. Vidya Balan portrays the character of "Silk" with utmost honesty and boldness rarely seen in the "Parineeta" girl and had she not played this character as a woman aware of her sensuality with guts and emotional chutzpah, the movie could have dangerously slipped into a C-grade film. Vidya gives this film its greatest reason to watch and its redemption and its dignity - you quickly move into a gear of emotional journey with the character in all the highs and the lows. Of all the men in her life -Naseerudin Shah stands out with Emran and Tussar not so effective. Writer Rajat Arora must be complimented for penning some outstanding lines seldom seen in Bollywood except in Art Films. He gives Vidya Balan the lines that even angry young men and stammering superstars don't get whistled for. Milan gets extra-ordinary support from Vishal Shekar in BGM and the song "Oo Lala Oo Lala". His shot selection, stylish picturisation and non-judgemental characterisation makes him watchable in commercial films. He has explained well why the 80s films of vamps and sirens have given away to the heroines themselves becoming and dressing like vamps. Vidya could well sweep all the awards this year. Watchable once but beware of some bold content.

The Purple Lotus- Book

Its not everyday you have a friend who writes for a living. Its not everyday that a writer friend publishes a book and you get one of the first autographed copies. I am talking about “The Purple Lotus and Other Stories” written by my friend Ratna Rao Shekar. I have known Ratna Rao Shekar for a little under eight years - more as an ardent book-lover and benign editor of “Wow Hyderabad” and “Housecalls”. While Wow has its instant appeal with the uber-cool of Hydurban, Housecalls is a deceptively lesser-known but over-appreciated magazine for Doctors but whose contents go beyond medical matters. After bringing out a coffee table book earlier “Journey without a map” which captures her best travel pieces from “Housecalls”, she is now the proud author of a much-awaited book, her debut book of short stories – THE PURPLE LOTUS. Though I read as much as one book of fiction as I read of eight books of non-fiction, I find the collection a good read- though it hems with adipose narrative at times.Thirteen stories in all, Ratna uses all of her travelling experiences to tell us tales of diverse folks making their own exploratory trips in Benares, Kerala, Sri Lanka, Kodaikanal, Darjeeling, New York, Singapore, Diu, Andaman and Italy.


If you love travel and the intersection of spaces between Personalised narrative, fiction and nostalgia, you will lap this book. Her style of writing, for those who read her stuff in Wow!Hyderabad and Housecalls is reflective, natural and honest. There is a bit of Naipaul-like prose – and Proust-like dabbling commentary on everything under the sun but centred on filial relations, literary love, careers, kindness and writerly raptures. Having published stories and articles in leading magazines and newspapers, I knew Ratna Rao had the material of many books. Here she gives her rich, unbiased observations on things as they were on matters from loving and death to spirituality and materialism to the emptiness as well as fulfillment that fills most lives. How happy each is in their world and how uniquely unhappy or messier others get – you are given snapshots of both in first and second accounts. The book is a decent debut of short stories that you will eventually connect with in the multiple characters – of writers, spiritualists, dancers, engineers, artistes, doctors, teeny-boppers, sahasrapoornima-seen grandmothers, even tribals. Of course, you may not like every story for the prisms through which the writer characterizes the players but it is quite a quality effort for a writer to publish her first book of short-stories – Ratna’s book bears her own stamp, and with a belief in world-view in a voice that’s her own. Somerset Maugham has given only one solid piece of wisdom for any aspiring writer – Write what you know. Ratna Rao projects her knowledge of things literary and of human nature very well. “Purple Lotus” acquaints you well with a journalist-writer who has never shied from writing passionately and honestly about. For those who know her, there are few stories which are autobiographical and revealing and definitely a tribute to some of her closed ones who nurtured and mentored her. The book is published by Mapinlit (www.mapinpub.com) with an elegant cover and truly international-class printing standards (who else, but Pragati Printing can do it). Congratulations!