World Cup 2015: We will lift the trophy again, says Ravi Shastri

Pumped up by a remarkable unbeaten streak, the Indian cricket team's Director Ravi Shastri today said the defending champions are well on course to lift the World Cup trophy for a second successive time.

Dhoni statement :"It's a good position to be in especially given that from now on, every game is a knockout. Once you start winning, you enjoy and feel relaxed, it's when you lose that you want to stay locked in the dressing room. Right now, the team is enjoying, they are playing football, they are a happy unit," Shastri said.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar echoed Shastri's views and credited the team's bowlers for raising their game at the big platform.

"The bowlers deserve all the credit. 50 wickets in five matches, it is a wonderful achievement. Lot of times, the batsmen tend to overshadow them and they don't get credit but it is nice to see the bowlers getting some credit," he said.

Talking about India's campaign, Shastri said said the side, which came into the tournament after a disastrous bilateral series against Australia, is quite confident of clinching the top honours.

After beating Pakistan, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the West Indies on a trot, India qualified for the quarter-finals from Pool B. Grounds in New Zealand are relatively smaller than in Australia where India have played all four matches so far, and the bowlers have to get adjusted to the dimensions.

“The consecutive 9th win of ODI made history for India which has create strong hold in the mind the team could do, all way to win whatever odd the situation is.

The best thing of this time is the fielding and perfect delivery of bowler which is helping to quickly pick up wickets and full form of whole team has helped to bring consecutive win till today since it started, this has helped to showcase India was preparing for the cup long since tri series and hardly win matches and England on the other hand which did good on tri series could not even qualify for quarter final

This time some player got chance to show they had ability which not so much prominent  in previous team 

Kaustav Poddar
Msc.Media || PG:1

National game : dying a slow death

There is something in common between peacock, tiger and hockey in India. They are our nation’s pride and image our national bird, national animal and national game, respectively.

Oops! Hockey isn’t considered our national game anymore! If not given immediate attention, it may become history, too. 

As such India, once tigers of the game, is now struggling to qualify for coveted events like World Cup and Olympics.

Not surprisingly, the same fear reflects in Indian hockey team captain’s desperation and urgency to win the Asia Cup! On the eve of the Asia Cup hockey final against South Korea, India captain Sardar Singh expressed how important it is for Team India to win the title in Malaysia. The charismatic midfielder remarked:

“The Asia Cup can bring back belief among hockey lovers and motivate youngsters.”

How can we forget the time when India ruled the game? But the glorious past is past indeed. What is it that went wrong? From winning eight gold medals and a World Cup title to struggling to even qualify for these prestigious tournaments, India has seen a major downfall.

Isn’t it unfortunate and disturbing that the skipper of the once-Indian-national sport also fears that the sport may die a slow death? It hurts me even more as he said this on the day when sports persons were rewarded for excellence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan part of Sports Day celebrations held every year in the memory of hockey legend Dhyan Chand.

Something has certainly gone horribly wrong!
If Singh’s words are closely followed, it says that this team has taken the onus upon themselves to rebuild and bring fans back to the hockey field.

A state like Jharkhand, though, one of the lesser developed ones of the country, has done a lot for the game and regularly produced international players. But, on the other hand, we have Gujarat, which has lost opportunities to take hockey to every home. Thanks to the lack of desire among hockey officials.

An attempt was made to bring back hockey aficionados through an IPL-type hockey league. But internal fight, Indian Hockey Federation or Hockey India saw hockey losing fans.

Moreover, an age-old problem of lack of astro turf, a basic necessity has already been debated on numerous occasions. In that scenario government should take some steps soon.

To start with, like we have tiger reserves, the authorities should build astro turfs across the country and establish nurseries of hockey.

Ironically, golf courses are mushrooming across Gujarat while hockey is yet to have its own astro turf for hockey. 

Koustabh Das

Msc.Media || PG:1

Anniversary of a mystery

Families of the 239 people on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on 8^th March’15 Sunday marked the anniversary of the plane's disappearance with a vow to never give up on the desperate search for wreckage and answers to the world's biggest aviation mystery.

Voice 370, a support group for the kin of those on board, hosted a "Day of Remembrance" at a mall in Kuala Lumpur. Later Sunday, the Malaysian government released an interim investigation report, a requirement under international civil aviation regulations.

Although no wreckage has been found, officials in Australia, Malaysia and China, the three countries leading the search effort, says that they are still optimistic that the plane will be found in the southern Indian Ocean where they suspect it crashed after deviating from a flight to Beijing.

A year without a clue to the tragedy of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has frustrated the relatives. The relatives of the victims of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 believe that the Sunday's event was important "to highlight to the public that we still don't have any answers and that we must pursue the search."

"The lack of answers and definitive proof - such as aircraft wreckage - has made this more difficult to bear," Malaysian Prime Minster Najib Razak said in a statement.

"Together with our international partners, we have followed the little evidence that exists. Malaysia remains committed to the search, and hopeful that MH370 will be found."

Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, where most of the passengers came from, said his government will provide "all needed service to every next of kin" and help uphold their "legitimate and lawful rights and interests."

In late January, Malaysia's government formally declared Flight 370's disappearance an accident and said all 239 people on board were presumed dead. The statement was meant to pave the way for compensation claims, but it angered many relatives who deemed it to be premature without any physical evidence of the crash.

"I want to tell the next of kin that I am also looking for the answers," Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters Saturday. "Our priority now is on the search ," he said, adding that if nothing is found by the end of May, "then we will have to go back to the drawing board" and come up with a new plan.

He said the safety investigation team will release its interim report soon. Officials said it will detail the facts but is unlikely to touch on the cause of the tragedy.

Ships dragging sonar devices have so far scoured 44 percent of a 60,000-square-kilometer area off western Australia where investigators who analyzed transmissions between the aircraft and a satellite believe the plane eventually crashed after deviating from its route with its transponder and other equipment switched off which leads to many other crash and disappearance theories which remain unanswered.

Koustabh Das

Msc.Media || PG:1

The untold remains unsaid..

In a documentary titled India’s Daughter one of the accused of the Nirbhaya case said on the camera that girls are “far more responsible for rape than a boy”.  That man also added that women should be blamed for going out late at night and “attract the attention of gangs of male molesters.”  According to him women must not protest to rape rather allow it for the sake of their lives. According to him only 20% girls are good and that the crime that they had committed was a mere accident. The interview cooked up a storm in the country.

The film was to be telecasted on 8 March, International Women’s Day, but our government stalled it, for exposing the Indian mindset regarding rape. Women are treated as men’s property and objects to fulfill fetish. The Delhi Police had registered an FIR pertaining to “insult to provoke breach of the peace” while MIB (Ministry of Information and Broadcast) has issued an advisory against screening it on television channels. If the interview in the documentary is a cause of shame for the country so are the living criminals who are fed and bred in prisons in the name of life-time custody!

Safety for women in India has been an issue forever, but without proper punishment for the unlawful activists, and overlooking of the major cases as minor incidents have given rise to the criminal activities in the nation. And now we have the government trying to cover up their shame! People have the right to know what is in the mind of a potential rapist/ molester. It will act as both a caution and helpful information of the present times.

Hence, it is always a wiser option to allow the screening and let the debate begin, for a more strict punishment for offenders. Crippled ideas and venomous visions not only reside in uneducated illiterate minds, but are well nestled in educated and cultured brains as well! Crime must be nipped at the bud rather than being raised with care disguised as prejudice and chauvinism. The plague must end before it results in ultimate destruction of mankind.

The statements that the two defense lawyers made, to protect their clients’ view points, proves very well, that the roots of injustice and discrimination lie deep within the culture and upbringing of a child.

The director, Leslee Udwin had the courage to film the documentary when she followed the news of positive response from the mass. She had herself faced sexual assaults at an early age, even then she thought it to be an important task to portray the mind of the accused in her film.  

Lahari Basu 

Msc.Media || PG:1

Glorious Female

Women’s day is not just a day to celebrate on being a woman, or to get special treatment from the men, but to cherish the courage and hardships of playing a tough character in the act of life with all due respect. Women in all ages have had to surpass all difficulties to achieve their goals. Among the toughest difficulties there were men and patriarchy.

Like there have been women making a difference in the society there have been some also making a difference in films! There have been films where the women have been portrayed as objects of desire or as social example of the good or the most common one- damsel in distress. Yet there have also been some brave hearts to break the rule of generalness.

They have explored the world of women, their goals, their demands, their problems and their desires. And the explorations have seen outstanding creative results in forms of Literature and Cinema. These great minds have known how to respect the worthy ones and have presented the society with beautiful films. To name some - Queen, Kahaani, English Vinglish, Black Swan, Coco before Chanel (Coco Avant Chanel) and The Help have been some of the greatest films that celebrated womanhood. Women are not meant to be slaves or destitute, they have all the rights to stand up right and rule the world.

Each of these films has portrayed freedom of women, their right to respect and recognition. While ‘Queen’ shows the life of an extremely dependable girl, who transforms into an independent and confident lady.

‘Kahaani’ deals with the story of a mysterious pregnant woman who comes to a new city in search for her lost husband. The film shows the great lengths at which women reach out to achieve an aim. It is not just a tale of love and sorrow but also ambition and determination. Initially the protagonist seems to be very helpless, but gradually her strong character unravels and shocks the audience.

‘English Vinglish’ shows the life of a middle aged homemaker and a mother of two, who had lost the meaning of her life in the regular humdrum life until she visits her sister in America. She rediscovers her talent and respect while learning Enligsh, for not knowing which she was always ridiculed by her husband and daughter. Once she gains confidence she realizes that she had never lacked love, but respect.

‘Coco before Chanel’ shows the struggle of Gabrielle aka Coco, with the whims of fashion of the society before she started her business on fashion. She was the lady to define the modern woman.

‘Black Swan’ tells the tale of a young ballerina and her transformation into the character she is supposed to perform, it is both a psychological thriller and a bit horrific, yet it shows the strength and weakness within one woman. Finally when she succeeds to produce an outstanding performance for which she had been worried, she feels satisfied and dies. Her dying symbolizes the absurdity of her obsession for perfection.

‘The Help’ is the story of a young white woman journalist, and her relationship with two black maids, during the Civil Rights era in 1963. Skeeter is a journalist who decides to write a book from the point of view of the maids to expose the racism they face while working for the white families. I would personally term it as the perfect feminist film.

As was the saying, “The sun never sets on Britannia” we know that even the greatest empire was also ruled by a lady. 

Lahari Basu 

Msc.Media || PG:1

Review : 'Enakkul Oruvan'

Throughout "Enakkul Oruvan",a remake of Kannada indie hit "Lucia", we see Siddharth desperately trying to convince us that there's a highly talented actor within the star he has become over the years.

In the film, ironically, he plays a dual role -- of that of a posh movie star and an usher in a seedy, single-screen theatre. But when you watch the movie as a remake of "Lucia", it's slightly difficult to accept Siddharth in the lead role, originally essayed by Kannada actor Satish Ninasam, who comes with no star baggage. It's the exact opposite for Siddharth, who has mostly relied on his stardom for success.

Since "Jigarthanda", the Siddharth we've seen is not the one who craves for stardom anymore, at least in his choice of roles. And "Enakkul Oruvan", which comes at the right time in his career, further proves that he doesn't mind going completely de-glam. Here, he plays the role of the usher with tanned skin, so dark that it seemed unnecessary, but it still works. If as the movie star, Siddharth caters to the multiplex audiences in "Enakkul Oruvan", then as the usher he entertains the masses.

In the film, Siddharth plays Vicky, the usher and Vignesh, the movie star. The only problem Vicky has in his almost content life is the lack of sleep. He suffers from insomnia and the cure to his problem is a pill named Lucia, which will make him fall asleep as well as dream, and he'll get to live the life he dreams. When Vicky dreams, he lives the life of Vignesh, who wishes to live the life of an ordinary man, eat from roadside eateries and ride a cycle. There's a scene where he also says the life of a superstar is boring, with not even a minute of privacy.

Siddharth must've asked himself the question what it would be to discard stardom and be an actor for a change. Imagine Siddharth waking up one fine day and realising all the stardom is gone. 

"Enakkul Oruvan" gives him the opportunity to be just that. And as the guy who is mostly known for playing the ideal boyfriend material for beautiful heroines, Siddharth has finally ditched his chocolate boy tag and has successfully evolved as an actor. In real life, he may still be the star who'd get mobbed by fans when he steps out, but on screen he gets to be actor he likes to be.

While "Enakkul Oruvan" mostly remains faithful to the original, it lacks its indie spirit and somehow still feels commercial. The film would've worked with someone with no image and stardom, but Siddharth doesn't disappoint.

Manshi Sinha
Msc.Media || PG:1

When a documentary becomes national shame

“A woman is to blame for rape!”

“They provoke men with their short clothes!”

“They wouldn't dress up if they didn't want to be raped!”

“Don't resist rape– it would be simpler for you!”

Is the mentality ever going to change? Every few months we hear these statements from the perpetrators of rape in the country, and then the politicians follow. Even god-men have their opinions about how the woman should have called the rapist her 'brother' to avoid rape.

Two years after the horrific December 16 gangrape, here we are, debating whether a documentary on it should be banned or not, while one of the men who was responsible for the atrocity is still up and about giving us 'gyaan' on film, with not a shred of guilt in him. Apparently imprisonment hasn't changed a thing in him.

I wish I could see the documentary before I outraged over what he said. But snippets of it have already shown me the hopelessness of it all. But why, I ask, is anyone surprised? Isn't this what many of our leaders have said time and time again? Haven't political leaders threatened to rape and murder people in their opposition, as if raping and murdering someone is not a big deal?

'India' is more ashamed of a documentary on the Nirbhaya Rape case than the rape itself. Yet, steps to change laws, make their implementation faster have not been taken. The tragedy is now that the convict has said that she should not have resisted – the men with the sick minds will glorify him and use his statement as an excuse. And no amount of death penalty and stricter punishments will deter these would be criminals unless justice is guaranteed – and fast.

The documentary, from what I perceive, presents the harsh truth that most people in India think like Mukesh ( the convict featured in the documentary). Educated, modern men and women have said that the girls need to understand what they wear makes men 'excited' – rape, it seems, is the obvious next step for these men. Obviously, we human beings have not evolved enough to keep our carnal desires in our pants.

If there is an outrage on social media and in parliament – there should be. Not to ban the Nirbhaya documentary, but to take all steps necessary to stop these crimes. There need to be support groups to help and rehabilitate women who have been victims of these heinous crimes and don't get accepted by their own families. There need to be fast track courts, and not just in name. We need to immediately take action against leaders, men and women who decide to blame the victims instead of taking responsibility.

The film needs to be seen by as many people possible – simply because we need to know what depraved minds such as these think and the people who defend them can be made to shut up once and for all. The glorification of the convict however could be curtailed if the media just uses a little bit of self censorship. A fact that we all know for a very long time, but can't resist sensationalising of a brutal crime.

The focus has shifted again. The film has been banned. The culprit still sitting and smiling inside the safety of his cell. For once, to my mind, public lynching of this sick sick man doesn't seem like a bad idea. Once again, all we are doing in outraging and wondering what happened to all those promises of women safety.

Celebrating Woman's Day this week with all this looming over our heads is a mere farce. It is a lie that we want to weave around ourselves that everything is glorious in this wonderfully beautiful country. The reality is women are not respected here, and a few flowers and making your wife/mother/sister feel special by making her breakfast is not going to change that.

We women are all just subconsciously living a life of fear. Every day when I walk down a dimly lit street, or when I see some guys loitering around and talking, or a guy walking behind me – all I can hope is I wouldn't be next.

Manshi Sinha
Msc.Media || PG:1