Afghanistan's Golden Age

An interesting piece in the New York Times (by way of Chapati Mystery) on Afghanistan's (none too distant) "golden age", although I remain somewhat reticent about such rhetoric, because it can easily be used to deflect arguments against increased intervention by outside powers -- although the argument never seems to prevent involvement in any but the most humanitarian conflicts (Balkan Ghosts, anyone?). That is, it's an argument that might be deployed in Year 8 of a war, not Year 0.

Nevertheless, because it helps disturb the sanguine (and maddeningly superficial) view of Afghanistan as a country that one can 't do anything about, as a land, discussions about which are bookended by phrases like "imperial graveyard" and "fiercely ungovernable", the piece is welcome. The evocative photographs don't hurt either.

Blind Spot

The recent publication of the United Nations' human development report and country ranks prompted me to write this op-ed for Outlookindia.com.

A Movie Poster Yatra

[For all the Mumbai theaters I am deeply indebted to Abzee and his father for taking me there]

In Delhi (February 2006) ("Suhaagan Banaa Das Sajnaa Hamaar"):


In Ajmer (February 2006):
Near Ajmer Shareef:

(full-sized image HERE)

In Rawalpindi (February 2007) :
"Aaj Da Badmaash":
(larger image HERE)

"Bebas Kaliyan":
(larger image HERE)

In Hyderabad (November 2007):

"Om Shanti Om" and "Jab We Met":


"Viyyala Vari Kayyalu" in Raitu Bazaar (Thanks Madhu for the film title!):
(larger images HERE and HERE)

In Warangal (November 2007):
"Yamadonga" giving way to "Munna":
(larger image HERE)
(larger image HERE)
(larger image HERE)

In Bhopal (December 2007):
"Qismat" and "Partner" in Bhopal's Old City:


In Mumbai (December 2007):
"Welcome" & "Dilwaale Dulhania Le Jaayenge" at Maratha Mandir:


"Sautela" and "Laadla" at Royal:
(larger image HERE)

"Judwaa" at Alfred:
(larger image HERE)

"Aandhi aur Toofan":
(larger image HERE)

"Welcome" and "Taare Zameen Par" at Eros (opposite Churchgate):



In Varanasi (March 2009):
"Delhi-6":
(larger image HERE)

"Delhi-6" and "Ek Haseen Khiladi":
(larger image HERE)

"Chandaal":
(larger image HERE)

Ruins...

There has been a great series of posts/photos on Satyamshot of some landmark movie theaters in various Indian cities. Many of these "single screen" cinema halls have seen better days, and seem melancholy today, symbolizing the shifting balance of the Hindi film industry in favor of neo-Hollywood and/or "multiplex" cinema, often with exorbitant ticket prices that price out large segments of the audience that was once the industry's mainstay. In the process, Hindi films are increasingly becoming associated with a particular lifestyle/mode of consumerism -- rather than the cultural phenomena they used to be.

The image below, of "The Strand" (Mumbai), was especially moving...



...This image brought to mind some passages by Bolano or Le Clezio (in the case of the latter, I am thinking of the interviews in Ailleurs) — this theater seems like a rusted, stranded space ship, a messenger from another world, continuing to transmit, but in a language no one around can understand…

For my own movie poster/theater yatra, see HERE.

Montreal!

Things have been quiet on the blogging front because I've been away for a few days, in Montreal...always good to be back there (next time, will make sure I make my way to Quebec City). In the meantime, some photos from Vieux Montreal (click on them for larger versions):