Friday, September 19, 2014

MAKREE - Innocence Lost Or Child Prodigy??

                             "Unhappy is she whose fame makes her misfortunes famous".


For the last few days I have been reading numerous articles, blogs and news pieces about 23 year old young actress Shweta basu. How the media vultures have deferred their claws at her trial and tribulations. Army of celebrities and women activist came out in favor of the actress misfortunes. Fingers being raised at the callous attitude of paparazzi for meddling her name and obscuring the rich culprits. While reading the online story, I came across common people's perspective in the form of  mockery, rage, empathy and compassion.It has become a game of name blame. Some are predicting her to be the victim of circumstance while others designating her as spoilt money hungry women. Few are even proposing  this exploitative trade to be legalized.

But the actual issue has lost somewhere in this circus of finger pointing. Who is the real offender?? The girl, the businessman, the media or the showbiz industry?

 Shweta Basu- a child artist has started off her career at the tender age of eight.She was merely out of her frocks when the flames of stardom have engulfed her.Who are the people who encouraged her start so young??Teachers , friends or The Parents??  Undoubtedly one of the reason for her ruination was lack of guidance from parents.Introducing your own child to starry world at such age is no less then a crime. Instead of giving them natural childhood of carefree, protected and pampered life, they force them to compete in the rat race. The stagy over ambitious parents irrespective of the consequences oppress their children to struggle in the mean world.

With little understanding and complexity of the occupation, these vulnerable souls suffers extreme stress and psychological onslaught. Fame, fortune and stardom unfortunately came with a certain price. The pressure put on these children is enormous. They suffer greatly during their childhood pursuit of eminence and success. Burden of carrying the stardom tag to adulthood sometime turns out to be overbearing. While few conquers their fight others wind up broken, depressed or sometime suicidal.


Entertainment world has given us many eminent child performers not in India but overseas as well. Nowadays many child actors are populating our television screens. The famous" Avika gaur" has  undoubtedly given a spectacular performance in Balika vadhu and now after few years playing a role of married mother. We have virtually seen her growing on the screen. But I wonder did she tasted the fruits of normal childhood??



Remember "Macaulay Culkin" of "Home alone" fame. One of the best childhood movies of our times. Few days back a heartening report came out of him being arrested for drug abuse. His sad under nourished and haggard pictures were shocking and heart broken. Later revealed his parents were in nasty custody battle fighting for the control of his wealth. If that wont shatter a child. what will??


Another child prodigy "Lindsay Lohan" started off her career as fashion model at the age of 3.The Mean Girls star ever since is a target of tabloids. But not for her achievements. Alcohol , drugs, theft , misbehave , she has been charged with all. Belong to a dysfunctional family, the misfortunes of her upbringing has somehow seeped into her with long lasting repercussions. Will she be able to live an unmarked life??




Before Our child drowns in the heaps of misery, suffers in the hands of our own greed, disguise himself as a stranger, HEAR the sound of his anguish his silent tears before its too late. He is our flesh and blood.Let him choose the life he wants to live.Help him unveil the mystery of existence.Guide him to open his wings and fly to the sky's limit. Our children are the future of the nation and best bet for the brightest days ahead.Deprived children means deprived nation.We can and must alter this!!


                                                    “Come away, O human child!
                                                     To the waters and the wild
                                                    With a faery, hand in hand,
                           For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.” 


Monday, September 15, 2014

Devil In "City Of Angels"--Los Angeles

"I am too lazy to stop being lazy" that's my existing state of mind. No matter how much I motivate myself, my sluggishness always succeeds.The attitude and the mind is where it all starts.Its been over a year since been suffering from writers block but glad it has hardly whacked my reading habits.All credit to fellow bloggers who has bailed me out of my slothful trance and maneuvered me right along trail.

Now as a permanent nomad, am yet again will give you a virtual tour of  my newest odyssey.The heart and soul of America ' City Of Angels" also called The Hollywood- Los Angeles.It is one of the most populous metropolitan area in the world and second largest in United states with the most ethically diverse county.


After being loaded from Mexico, we cruised towards California for discharging.I spin a cartwheel the day Mister has confirmed our next voyage.It took us one week to reach the port of los Angeles on Long beach. As the name indicates, its not a meager beach but a ful fledged city.For three days I was on wretched nerves due to being on anchorage and twiddle for our turn on berth.After like millionth year at crack of dawn we moved,We finally moved.



On our first bend into the port, we encountered our first surprise.Rendezvous with the world's largest inflated duck It's a six story tall floating rubber duck which to our later knowledge came to participate in the Tall ships festival LA

It lead us half a day to moor and secure the tanker and another couple of hours to clear the immigration. As His Nibs was busy playing chief officer, I had to (with a sad face) content myself chaperoned by Cadet Yang.



Hardly enough time to spend and being newbie to the city, we rolled our day in a big shopping arcade.By kiss of God our Pakistani cabbie mentioned some shopping festival."Shop, hop and slumber fest".The galleria was gushing with shoppers looking for best offers on display.Girl being girl, I also shopped to my hearts content From books to bag to blings to beauty aids I religiously followed the "shop till you drop" mime.


Following day was reserved for the famous "Universal Studios".To ward off the early morning traffic, we kick started our tour at 7:00 a:m.With such exceptional roads to cruise on, reached our destination in less then one hour.But alas the taxi fare had almost ripped our pockets by charging $100 quids for the short drive.Anyways being the early birds and in front of the queue, we smoothly crossed the threshold with another $95 burnt hole to our pockets.Initially it was not crammed but with every hour to cuckoo's calling, it became crowded.Well to be true it was worth spending.











Highlights of the place was  the recount tram tour which cruised through the entire studio active backlot giving us glimpses of staged earthquakes, flash flood effects,airplane carnage and the original dungeon of King Kong.Next stop was the water roller coaster ride in Jurrasic park with life size Dinosaur.The 84 foot fall gives adrenaline rush to the core.The Revenge of the Mummy catapults at speeds up to 45 mph in virtual darkness.Transformers (inspired from movie) is a next generation 3-D thrill ride. WaterFront is the most mind blowing explosive actions with fire-fights,jumping jet-ski and in your face plane crash.Despicable me & Simpsons is a heartwarming hilarious rides.Animal Actors shows trained critters which put shame to pet-tricks.The rest mounts were as thrilling and exhilarating as the rest ones.


All the adrenalin quarry came to  end at 114:00 hrs.We still had enough time in hand so took a taxi to Hollywood walk of fame and TCL chinese theatre. After clicking memories with the famous and not so,we headed towards the HOLLYWOOD sign which marked as the American cultural icon.By the time we finished capturing the prominent sign, I was tired down to my feets and call it a day.Adventure filled Day.



We still had another day to explore so venture out towards the Long Beach. Effervescent diamonds sparkling in the sand, vast shores, lapping waves, heaven all around. The vision I witnessed is going to be carved in my memory for a long time.


So now I have already sorted out your itinerary, book tickets and fly to this astounding place and have fun of your lifetime.