Some Answers...

I've been getting asked this a lot. So I figured I would answer this here. For those who don't know, I was born and raised in India. But I've lived longer in USA. Almost everyone I know here asks me about the movie Slumdog millionaire and what I think about it. I get calls and emails. So I figured I would write my thoughts about it on my blog.

Did you see the movie? Did you like the movie?

Yes I did see Slumdog Millionaire and I loved it.

There were some scenes where I cringed and was uncomfortable. I even closed my eyes and put my hands over my ears.

But overall I loved the movie. The music and the background music is just fantastic, The story is very very well written. It is directed very very well. I don't know if you heard but they actually used some actors from the slum itself.

Are slums really like that? Do these things really happen?

Yes slums shown in the movie are real. In fact, they are probably worse than what you see in the movie. It is reality and I have seen these things. The movie does not exploit or glamorize anything. It just tells a story. Everything in the movie actually does happen in India. I've actually seen worse things.

Some Indians are against the movie because it depicts the worse scenarios of India. What do you think?

Yes some of the Indian folks are embarrassed because they think that this movie represents India in a bad manner. They are mad because they think that the movie focuses on all the bad things that happen in India and not good things.

To that I say Bologna.

This is simply a story. They have taken some very dramatic and painful realities about India and glued it together to make a very compelling story. And ultimately it is an uplifting story. It is a story about hope, innocence, love and friendship.

As a writer, I take great offense when people question what I write or create.

Look at my wine opera. It is a silly silly story about wines with silly names. Never in a billion years would I have imagined that it would be this popular. But what if the wine industry gets mad at me? I only used silly wine names. I never gave merit to any wines. What if they accuse me of mocking the wine industry? And forbid me from having any wine for the rest of my life?

To them I say buzz of. It is my content and I will write and create what I want to. It is reality that these wines exist. And no one is forcing anyone to read my stuff.

So you recommend the movie?

Absolutely yes. Fantastic story. The slums and the harsh realities are just a background for an inspiring story. Fantastic direction. Fantastic music.

In one word I would say simply fantastic.

And to the wine industry I would say please don't be mad at me. I promise to write some serious stuff about wines. Someday. I just need some more wine.

Coloring

Coloring with a digital camera.

So did anyone watch the Oscars last night? I did. At least parts of it. Then I fell asleep. Right before all the good stuff came.... I so wanted to watch Slumdog win. But the show was so so boring! I wish that they would publish a list of winners before the show. Then people can sit back, relax, and watch the song/dance routine. But it is almost like... I will tell you who won the best movie but first I must force you to watch me dance. Or sing. And then I must torture you before I tell you the next results. Ha.

About the movie Slumdog Millionaire... people often ask me if the slums are really like that. And the answer is yes. And probably even worse. Maybe someday I'll write about that...

So the plastic surgery is off for now. While watching the Oscars, I was looking at everyone's faces. How much botox does Hollywood consume? How many face lifts have they had? Do I really want to look like a plastic doll?

Don't you guys love me as I am? Granted you have no clue what I look like but surely you have perceived me as someone beautiful.

OK. This post is going in a completely different direction than I intended. So I will shut up now.

Jai ho!