Sivaji, Rajni and the BOSS

"Give me one time style yeah!!" Well you don't have to ask for more as Superstar Rajni gives you just that in Sivaji, his big-budget extravaganza that released this week amidst a hype like never before. This time he is the archetype of the service-minded NRI as he sets out to serve the people and in the process take on corruption. He sets out on the daunting task of starting a medical college, setting up his "Sivaji Foundation" and also finding his choice of a wife, one with "Tamil Kalacharam".

The NRI software engineer returns home with a huge bank balance which is evident from his travel in a ritzy Merc to his residence in an estate probably leased to Director Shankar by the Dubai Sheikh(kidding!). Apparently, he is helplessly forced to bribe officials to start his venture. In the process, he is forced to sell all his assets to fund his kickbacks to the corrupt bureaucrats. Finally, when he is made the fall guy and taken to court, this laptop-weilding, goon-kicking and Rolex-flashing 'Bachelor of Social Service' decides to deal with the state of affairs his own way and at this juncture, we return to typical Rajni business.

Sivaji manages to convey all of Rajni's social and spiriual messages. One would be given to assuming that they are politically motivated though the actor has so far distanced himself from that mad rush. At the moment, all he has to say is "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer...." and it seems, he just got richer by 35 crores.....

CEO's, Inequality and Talk of Trillionaires

Recently, Dr.Manmohan Singh was at the receiving end of some negative remarks by the media. Apparently, during his address to the CII's annual meeting, being attended by top-end corporate executives, he alluded that our much celebrated and idolized CEO's might just survive on "a few rupees less". This drew great criticism from the media who accused him of trying to undermine the economic reforms process, of which CEO's play an important role.

The truth is that the whopping compensations, CEO's receive have been instrumental in creating gross inequalites among people. Talk of Mukesh Ambani becoming India's first dollar trillionaire and talk of the widows of farmers in Vidharba struggling for survival with daily wages of Rs.25.

Diametrical truths, ain't it....and certainly those that don't receive coverage in the front pages of newspapers. At the most, they'll be covered by the middle page editorials while Mr.Ambani will continue to flash a milllion-dollar smile, Oh i'm sorry,a "trillion-dollar" smile from a dozen front page photos.

Inequality is so vast and serious a topic it merits deeper analysis and thought than this.Well anyway, worth a mention.

G8, Globalisation and Heiligendamm

Beginning last week, the representatives of the different power-houses of the world have camped at an otherwise quite sea-resort called Heiligendamm for the "G8" summit. Poor residents of this town have had to put up with security arrangements, apparently nothing short of "alien-attack" preparedness what with electric-fencing along the perimeter of the whole area, battle-ready warships guarding the waters and sniffer dogs for identifying trouble-makers, Gestapo-style. Traditionally, venues of G8 summits have always been the scene of sanguinary battles between anti-globalisation protestors and hapless policemen.

Personally, the news of such protests at previous G8 summits have left me only thinking, "Well what's all the fuss about?". That was when I happened to read an article about the current surge in Philippines of the use of milk-powder derived milk by mothers for feeding, being aggresively marketed by US based multi-nationals and the attendant acute health crisis. Hopefully, that story'll will be content for the next post....