Showing posts with label Teach IndiA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teach IndiA. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

aman ki asha

(clic to enlarge, preferably in new window)
I have always liked campaigns by Times of India, and this one seems to be the most interesting and biggest of them all. I liked the idea on the very first day of its release (or launch). I, or actually, most of us have always appreciated and enjoyed pakistani music and singers. So why not do it in a more open and positive way? Isn't it great to accept and acknowledge what is undoubtedly good about someone, be it a country mostly looked upon as an enemy? Art follows no rules, it knows no limits, it reaches hearts and hearts know no LOCs. The way these intangible aspects are put on paper by TOI, is just amazing and convincing, from the very first print saying 'LOVE PAKISTAN'.
And this matrimonial ad above, just made me appreciate the efforts and detailing gone into executing this campaign. I am not aware about Lead India outcome but Teach India campaign has very clearly positive responses and outcomes. 'aman ki asha' also shows a similar promise. And like some projects/ campaigns, the cause and execution is so nice that you are actuclly not bothered so much about the outcome! Good going TOI. Though I missed one performance in Ahmedabad, I would make sure I don't miss any such rare opportunity in future, rather I hope such opportunities will not be 'rare' anymore!
:)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

'Salaam Bombay' by Mira Nair

This quite old (1988) movie is dedicated to the children on the streets of Bombay.
Everything (almost) in this movie feels so real, as if not even the smallest kid is 'acting'. Manju, the little daughter of a prostitute, krishna, the small boy struggling to earn Rs.500 so that he can go to his hometown, and those boys living life of roadside 'gundas' or 'mawalis'... all of them just fit perfectly in their own roles, very naturally. Reminds me of DoorDarshan (DD) TV serials in childhood. And why not, there are actors from DD!
This movie, unlike others shows a little different image of Bombay. That of more like a 'trap' and helplessness than 'attraction' or 'addiction' or 'wealthy and fascinating city'.
There are certain sequences which are very hard to forget for me.
e.g. the one in which manju's mother asks the lady authority ' Wo meri beti hai, government 'ma' kaise ban sakti hai?'
and the one in which krishna returns to his adda from remand home and finds a 'new' boy who calls himself 'chillam'. For everyone in and outside movie, chillam was a character who died some 20 minute back in the movie. Everyone is replaceable!!! individual doesn't matter to city, its just a personal matter!!!

Reminds me of many children singing songs and begging and selling something or the other inside local railway compartments...
The movie doesn't give any solution, but it does a better job, of making you think!!!
Somehow I am attracted towards 'Teach IndiA' campaign even more strongly.