Vishwaroopam - Advitiiya Anubhavam

© Wikipedia

Since the day I heard about Vishwaroopam, I wasn't that keen in watching this movie, to be honest! I found Kamal too obnoxious a person, and so I didn't find the interest in me to go watch this movie in the theatres. At the most, I just wanted to watch it when it came online in a clear, dvd print. 

Oh boy, was I wrong! Not about Kamal being obnoxious! He always is a show-off, know-it-all! But that is what's interesting about him. If he wasn't like that, then he wouldn't be Kamal Haasan, right? 

I was wrong about the movie, though. Obviously, there is something about this movie that made such a big hoo-ha amongst the people of Tamil Nadu, especially the Muslim community. Not only did it become a law and order problem, but it also became an issue in which politics stepped in as well! 

Does a work of art need to suffer so much just because it "hurts" the sentiments of a certain group of people? All the movie did was show what was happening in reality! And that too not some incident happening in Tamil Nadu, but in Afghanistan!! 

How could people come to the conclusion that they have the power to ban a movie, that too, a work of art? There are so many things that are worth banning! How about banning human trafficking? Drug trafficking? Pollution? Nobody comes forward to protest for banning such things. Nobody lodges a petition in the High Court for banning such things. But they do for a mere movie! 

Are these people ashamed of their faith? What is the need to get on the defensive, if they are true Muslims? The movie was screened in Canada, nothing happened there. The movie was screened in Kerala, nothing there either. When the movie screened in Hyderabad, which has a significant amount of Muslim population, but nothing happened there either!!

The Hindi movie, Kurbaan (Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, 2009 film), also contained similar references to the Muslim faith, terrorism, suicide bombing, etc. Although it was a flop, the movie did not face any opposition from the Muslim community except for the fact that a Muslim petitioned in the High Court of Bombay for obscenity in two of the songs in Kurbaan. 

Thuppaki was another movie that had its throat under the knife! The Muslim community didn't like the idea of having Muslims portrayed as terrorist and traitors. But isn't that already happening around the globe, with a very small percentage of the Muslims? Why do they have to take it personally?

I have now seen Vishwaroopam. Although they have censored a few scenes from the movie, I still think that people, especially the Muslims, haven't really understood the message of the movie. The people have failed to take a good look at the protagonist of the movie, who is also of a Muslim descent but from India, risking his life to save countless innocent people of America! 

Kamal has shown that a true Indian Muslim is a person who is true to his faith and also true to his country, through this movie. 

All religions in this world have two faces. One that we are all proud of. Another that we all either refuse to accept or deny its existence. In Hinduism, we are proud of everything except the age-old practice of casteism, and any other practices that deny the equality between a man and a woman. In Islam, although the scripture says a lot of good things that the Muslims are proud of, terrorism and killing innocent people in the name of God is something they have to be ashamed of. 

I neither like this movie, nor do I dislike it. I simply wanted to contribute my share of $15 to watch this work of art, instead of choosing to watch it online. This is my form of silent protest against the Muslim protestors and the Amma's TN government who are against this movie being released.

(PS: The word advitiiya means 'unique' and anubhavam means 'experience'. I used Sanskrit words just because the title of this film is also a Sanskrit word.)

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Dedicated to Nirbhaya - Delhi Gang-Rape

Amanat... Daamini... Nirbhaya... 

Everyone is talking about the braveheart of India...

She is not the only Nirbhaya. There are millions of Nirbhayas living in India and all over the world, whose voices were not heard or not at all made available to those of us who read the news and have access to social media sites. My heart goes out to all the girls and young children who have suffered at the hands of barbarians. As a woman, I am proud and as a human being, I am utterly ashamed.

Women are continuously told to behave properly. They are always criticised for wearing inappropriate outfits. Curfews are imposed on women for their "safety". But NOBODY disciplines and punishes the men for their inappropriate behaviour. Instead, they are given all the freedom that has been denied for women. Half the population of this world roam freely and yet the other half of the population live in fear.

(This image is not owned by me.)

There is no point in blaming the society, the system, the men, the women, and what not! Everybody is at fault here. Yes, even the mothers who blindly support their dear sons and for having raised them in such a manner, instilling no respect for women in them... Yes, even mothers are to be blamed. 

I have no words to describe the hurt and disgust I feel after this event. Many events have occurred, which have been even more brutal than this one! It took me a long time to get over this event and now although I feel alright, I hope that more can be done to ensure women's safety in India. It's high time we wake up and put a stop to this. No matter whoever you are who is reading this, I beg you to please treat both men and women equally! We are all humans! Just because we women look different from the men doesn't mean we are from a totally different planet! 

I am utterly crushed by this event, and yet I also have never felt more rebellious in my feministic views!

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First post of 2013 :)

My first post for the new year as usual. Whether I am regular or not in keeping my blog updates coming along. But I surely post something on every new year! This new year has begun very well for me. 

On the eve, I paid a visit to Sri Sivan Temple in Geylang East Ave 2. It was a beautiful darshan on a rainy and cold day. But I was satisfied like never before. My wishes of going to India and especially Thiruvannamalai Temple have been fulfilled. I wanted to thank God for that and also to pray for a prosperous 2013. 

New Year was spent at home this year. But I had a good time talking with my mum and sis. Nothing equals the joy of talking to both of them. My life would be empty without my mum and sis. Dad, of course, is a person who isn't very close to any of us. But he surely loves us, his family. We too love him and want him to be happy. But he doesn't spend time with us everyday. Most of the times, it is not the amount of time you spend with each other but the quality of time is what matters. I wish this year, he does spend some quality time with us, despite whatever distance that falls between us. 

This will be an important year for me, I think. Not only will I get my first job this year, but there is a slight possibility that other things may happen. Yes, I am talking about the prospect of a marriage. But it wouldn't happen so fast and I wouldn't let it happen too fast. I have still not gained enough clarity in my mind to think about marriage. I would, once I get a good job and start planning my future. I hope everything goes well this year. I've prayed to Lord Shiva to show me the right way and I will tread along with His guidance :) 

Be it solar rays or polar shifts, I pray that this Earth be healed and remain peaceful. The prospect of such events happening really does make us feel that life is short and that it is no use worrying about petty things. Let's enjoy life and do good for others. In this way, life will be peaceful and satisfied.

Happy New Year 2013!! :)

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Departing note...

The time is nearing to an end, giving way to a new beginning. I feel like I've emerged from a cocoon once again, new and fresh, ready to face the real world once again. This time I hope I will succeed. 

I've really enjoyed my time in this foreign land. It's a place I can call my own and relate to on a personal level because I've spent a part of my life here. I've lived independently, having had the chance to spread out my wings a little and take a flight. But that time is coming to an end and I don't know if I would ever be able to fly freely like this again in my life. Fifty years from now, if I'm still alive, if you ask me when was your happiest moment in your life, I guess Australia would be my potential answer. Only time will tell.

I would recommend this journey to anyone. It has been an eye-opening experience for me, having come to know more about myself through this journey. I know that this is not enough. I want to travel the world and discover more about it. So this is just the beginning, not really an end. 

Although I can't wait to get back to my life in Singapore, I can't help but feel a little sad. Departures are really hard, and I really hate it. But I am impelled to share here that that moment when I hugged my mum when I left Singapore for the first time last year on 21st July 2011 is still in my mind. That was the saddest moment in my life and in comparison, this departure from my room in Sydney is nothing! 

While attachments to desires, places, and people are inevitable, it really makes me think that there will come a point in time where it all has to come to an end. Nothing is permanent in this world and nothing remains the same all the time. One lesson I've learnt during my stay here is not to get too attached to things, places and people. Attachment is inevitable, so the least I can do is to reduce it as much as I can.  

I'm blessed to have gotten this opportunity to experience a little freedom, away from life in which I have to live for others too. Here, I truly lived for myself. But I got to say, there is a special joy in living for others too. I guess there should be a balance in life. 

I think my next post might be after I reach Singapore in about 5 weeks' time :) Until then...

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My wish... For the 25th time...

Wow! I honestly cannot believe that 25 years of my life has passed! I wonder what I've achieved so far and what I want to achieve from here on. Second time, I'm away from my dear family and friends on this day. I really wish I were back home for turning 25 years old! 

It seems like an important birthday. It seems like I have to step on into a new era of my life. I will be finishing my graduate studies end of this year and hope to have a job in my hands at least before March 2013. Life will soon become mechanical and then there are things to do in your life. 

I don't know how to get past this milestone. I don't know if I will get a new job, and a good one too. I don't know if I will meet the right person. I don't know what the future has in store for me. All I wish for is for my loved ones to be always happy in their lives and that God's grace be upon all of us... :) That's all I wish for my birthday in 2012 :)

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Updates

It's been a month since I was back here in Singapore. It was an awesome vacation! I did have a great time this time. I also have a clearer direction in life right now, like never before. This is something that I didn't expect. I have always been searching for a niche in this life. Now I've found it. But I'm scared I'll grow tired of it. I just hope that my goals get stronger with time.

Right now my goal is to finish my foundation course in accounting. Next year, I'll be completing an application to take up professional courses in CPA Australia. I also have to find a suitable job in the accounting or financing industry. These are my goals for now. Working for three years and becoming a CPA. It's not going to happen overnight, but I'm glad this pathway is much clearer to me now than ever before. Thank you God! 

I'll be heading back to Sydney in a few days and I hope that the time flies fast. I miss Singapore already. This makes it even more clear that I am going to stay in Singapore, at least for the next few years till I finish my CPA. 

That's it for updates till now. :)

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Ranting after a long time!

Hey guys!! Look at me, I'm such a lazy pig! I haven't updated my blog for quite some time!!! Sigh... Well, hope after this entry I'll start updating regularly. 

It's been a great semester so far. Things are all falling in place slowly. Now it's finally time for exams and then back to Singapore for the holidays! :) I simply can't wait to get back home! Living away from family and friends is no easy thing. At the same time it has made me realise a lot of things.

Living by myself has also given me the confidence to be able to survive on my own. The only difference will be that I will be surviving on my own hard-earned money than my dad's hard-earned money. I still feel a little guilty on that.

I just want to talk of the things that annoy me the most these days. Starting with the first thing, I want to say that I finally realise why some people I know always lie when asked if they had done well for the exam. They feign incompetence, and then they will get an A. Not only that. Even during the middle of the semester, when asked how they are doing in terms of studying for the upcoming tests, they would again feign their lack of interest or their lack of understanding in the subjects concerned.

Up till today, I've never really understood why they do this. Today I realise it because I wish I had lied to my friends and told them that I can't understand all the subjects either! Because I just hate the constant buggings!! 

I hate the fact that people expect me to feed them with answers, while they don't take the effort to study!! Why do they do this? I don't know. But I think the best way to avoid them is to either tell them off early on itself, or to just feign incompetence :)

The next thing that is annoying me is the people who behave inconsiderately. Seriously man, what's wrong with people these days? I don't know if it is me who is being impatient and irritated easily, or is it that the people are purely inconsiderate? Simple things like apologising if they are late for lecture, a simple thank you when help is given, just simple polite behaviours. All these is too much to ask these days.

The next one. (I know! I have a whole list of things that have been bugging my heart). My Financial Accounting (FA) lecturers are simply too boring! Seriously, where do they find these people from? FA is supposed to be a very interesting subject!! It's supposed to be taught to us, in a way that it instills enthusiasm in our hearts. But what do they do? 

For a university that is claimed to be the top university for Accounting in Australia, why are the lecturers for an important subject like FA really boring? Not only are they boring, they have absolutely no good presentation skills. They just read off from the presentation slides! Don't mistake me guys! I have had absolutely brilliant lecturers in Macquarie Uni! 

Well, I'm going to write out to the department heavily criticising the lecturers. They have played absolutely no role in my learning. I have learned myself. I have studied myself. I could easily survive without their lectures. I saw no point in attending their lectures, except merely for the reason of attendance. This isn't how lecturers should be like.

The most annoying thing within an university is the state of the toilets in the campus! Don't even get me started on it! I'm really worried about the future because even the basic hygiene is being disregarded in the public toilets. Can they be any cleaner??

I think this is enough rambling for today. I promise that my next post will not be a rambling like this. I think I'll stick with once or twice a year with all such ramblings :) 

Alright guys! An early disclaimer. I guess I won't be updating my blog for another month or so, what with the exams coming and preparations that need to be done to clear out my room and pack my stuff. Have a great June holidays to my fellow teacher friends!! :) Stay happy and healthy always!! :) Kudos!

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Living for my mum...

Education. Is it performing its function properly? I sometimes wonder if the education system today really educates us and makes us a good human being. It doesn't seem to be doing its job. 

Today we celebrate Mother's Day. We respect the mothers and celebrate motherhood because of their caring and nurturing qualities! We can forget any person in our lives, but we can never forget motherliness. But is it enough to just respect the mothers? On one hand we respect the mothers. But on the other hand, we have become victims or advocates of the various stereotypes and discrimination against females in the society. 

Respecting motherhood is akin to respecting the female gender. Until the day we have rectified the illnesses existing in the society and restore gender equality, there is no point in celebrating Mother's Day or Father's Day. A recent episode of Satyameva Jayate regarding female foeticide has left me baffled by what humans are capable of! It is indeed really disheartening to know that female foeticide is largely practiced by educated people! (So now you know why I started this post talking about education).

Educated people are the ones who do all the stupidest things that we don't expect them to do. Some tell their daughter-in-law to abort the child because its a female, some are violent abusers of their wives, some are sexual child abusers. These are all educated people. Heck, they can't even flush the toilets in the university!!! When they don't even know how to keep a public toilet reasonably clean, how would they keep themselves, heart and body, clean??

It seems that education and character has nothing in correlation.. We say that respect should be given to age and education. But if a person's character has nothing to do with their education, then why respect them for their educational status. Doesn't character matter? Isn't that why we celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day? We don't celebrate our mothers and fathers because they are educated and our elders... We respect and love them because of the care and affection they show us..

I feel that the world we live in has changed so much! There is a need for a change in the education system and a change in the attitudes of people, including myself! Everyday I look into expanding my horizons, exploring new things, contemplating my life. I keep questioning why people are this way. I don't want to live the life of a sexual abuser to find out why he does it! But I want to understand why some people behave this way. I want to know what makes us into a good human being and what makes us into a bad human being. 

Source: http://zillionarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Mothers-day1.jpg

Meanwhile, I just want to appreciate motherhood. The closest I know of is my own mother. No words can describe my love for my mother. It's a special bond. She is there for me no matter what. Even if everybody forsakes me, she will not! I only wish that one day I would be a good mum too...I just can't imagine a world without her in it!

There might not be many things in this world left to live for. But I can live for my mum! :)

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It's been an unbelievably a long time since I blogged and I feel so out of touch from writing. Every time I make a promise to myself to blog regularly, I keep breaking that promise. I really love blogging because I feel good when I look back and see how much I have changed. It's been an amazing journey, especially the past 9 months in Australia!

I never thought that I would find myself living alone in a foreign country. It's the kind of opportunity that everyone should get at least once in their life time, just to prove to themselves the worth of family, friends and the familiar home environment that they have taken for granted all these years.

A year ago about this time, I was sitting at home and wondering what step I am going to take next in life. I am very glad that I decided to study overseas. Taking a break from studies and then deciding to change career was a bold thing to do. I did it because I don't want to be sitting at home doing nothing other than taking care of my family. I want to be of some use to the society. I want to work, grow and be successful in my career. 

Taking the next step in life now. I will soon be finishing my postgraduation. I will soon be joining the workforce. My singlehood days are numbered. It's a scary yet exciting prospect. I seem to be going blank when I think about the future. Right now matters. Right now I am having fun. Although there are some medical problems I am facing, I am doing great now!

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It's official! I hate smokers!

Source: http://www.whathappenswhenyouquitsmoking.net/tag/smoking-statistics

I know... It's too harsh a comment. But it's much needed! I need to get it out of my mind and let everyone know that I utterly hate people who smoke!! 

I seriously feel that smoking is a very bad habit, obviously, but at the same time it says a lot about a person and his/her attitude towards life. Even drinking doesn't seem that bad because it only affects you. But smoking not only affects you, but it also harms those around you, especially those who are close to you and probably mean the life to you! Why does it seem so hard to quit smoking when you know it is slowly killing the person you love the most in this world? When a smoker, imagine if he is my husband, looks at me and tells me he loves me very much, I would never believe him because if he really cares about me and loves me, he wouldn't smoke at all! It just doesn't make sense!

I am done with the excuses!! I am done with all the petty reasons given for getting hooked on smoking. It is an addiction to nicotine! That's all it is. I know it's hard to get over it. But when you have your health, your loved ones and your life on one end of the scales, you better quit to make it all balance! 

Smoking is wrong! And there can be no excuse to carry on with that habit! That is why I hate smokers... Does that mean I hate my friends who smoke? I hate my uncles who smoke? Yes!! I don't hate my friend, but I hate my friend who smokes! He/She has to know that I hate it! I don't want to be quiet and allow them to ruin their lives! Letting them know that I hate their habit is one way of making them feel that they should quit. It is called tough love and sometimes they deserve it! If more people come out openly and tell them how much they hate to see them being slowly killed/poisoned, then the quitting process might not be as hard as they think it would be!

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