Every Sunday morning, I look forward to reading the "Gray Matter" section in the Hindustan Times. You generally have columns by Vir Sanghvi (Counterpoint), Karan Thapar (Sunday Sentiments), Indrajit Hazra (Red Herring) and occasionally by Manas chakravarty (Loose Canon), and all of them, whether with agreeable or with disagreeable content, make a good read. I have lost count of the number of times when both Vir Sanghvi and Karan Thapar have written on the same topic on a given Sunday and often bringing a totally different perspective to the same story (Take the one on LK Advani's autobiography for instance). Neways, today, to my surprise, all of the four columns were dedicated to the Chinese/Tibetan cause and three of them made unfavorable references to a certain Aamir Khan.
For the ignoramus, below lines from the Red Herring column will give you a background on what the references were about -
Aamir Khan reportedly received many requests asking him to refrain from participating in the Olympic torch run on April 17 as it would give out the wrong message at a time when Good People all around the world are shouting against Tibetans being boot-crunched by the hands-free Han Chinese. Aamir Khan responded by saying that "Olympics do not belong to China" and that he saw the Games as coming together of different people across the world despite their differences and difficulties. Then he added that he has the highest regard and respect for the people of Tibet are going through and that he will take part in the Beijing Olympics with a prayer in his heart for the people in Tibet. The last part was what ruffled the feathers the most. Most thought that Aamir was trying to have it both ways and that the two-faced stance was downright deplorable. I agree.
On reading the above, my mind instinctively started thinking of Aamir's other such controversial involvements - namely Narmada Bachao Andalon and the Aerated drinks pesticide issue. Both of which, he was pilloried for. It is one thing to take a stance and using your standing in the society for a good cause and it is altogether a different thing to take up a stance when you are not sure of the head and tail of the issue. And thats why I think Aamir is better off at doing things he is remarkably good.
Aamir Khan has been sorta my favourite on-screen actor for a while. His body of work - QSQT, Rangeela, Lagaan, Dil Chahta hai, Rang De Basanti and Taare Zameen Par have all been fabulous stuff. Am I not even counting his hits like Dil or the incredibly funny - Andaz Apna Apna. But the off-screen image is not that great. Here, i must mention Shah Rukh Khan. And I know, there are often these two camps - you can either like a Aamir Khan or a Shah Rukh Khan, and i am getting myself into muddier waters, but I like the Shah Rukh Khan off-screen. Aamir, whether in an interview or even supporting any cause, comes across as this 'cerebral' guy who has given a lot of thought before saying anything. His interviews often make a boring read and the technical jargon puts you to sleep. Shah Rukh Khan, on the other hand, has this charisma or whatever you call it, his answers are spontaneous and witty and most often than not, you see the interviewee smiling and having a good time. He generally comes across as very sensible (except when he talking about Big B) and that combined with a ready wit is very endearing to his fans. Even his involvement in causes like the IPL (he co-owns Kolkatta knight Riders) reek off finance being a priority, but the fact that he has never claimed to be anything else, is good enough for me. Only the high and moral society, will begrudge that fact.
I dunno why i got into this discussion about on-screen and off-screen personas. Stars are too complicated anyways. Speaking of stars, i saw a gem of a performance at the Epicentre, yesterday. I have been bemoaning the fact that Gurgaon does not have entertainment centres like say those in Delhi and Mumbai. But Boy! was i wrong. Epicentre in Gurgaon is like a stone's throw from where i stay and it truly disgusts me that i didn't know this all this while. Anways, check out some of the stuff being staged at the Epicentre - http://www.epicentre.co.in/. The events truly cover the entire gamut from Theatre, Music, Bharatnatyam recitals, Odissi choreographic presentations, puppets shows (next week there is a play - Kuch Bhi ho Sakta Hai on Anupam Kher's story and he will be performing himself). I am impressed. And the play I saw yesterday - Charandas Chor, directed by noted Hindi playwright Habib Tanvir, was a paisa vasool affair. The dialogues are in a tongue that will make ur mind spin (in a good way :) and the dances and the background score (played live) gave an incredibly authentic folklore feel to the whole thing.
I also managed to see the movie 'Race'. The only comment i have on that is - Too many cooks spoil the broth. The two directors - Abbas and Mustan- have both tried to include their own share of twists in the tale - to make the whole thing one heck of a twisted story :). The only good thing about the movie, was that I was accompanied by a special person (wink wink) which made 3 hours pass like a breeze! Thats just one twist in the tale from my side :)
