A decade or so...

Hey, this last week of the year I read quite a few articles that talked about a decade that was. Yeah, hard to think that it is already a decade since we were all talking about a millennium change. Well so it is.. its been 10 years. There were many articles throwing light on various events that took place during this decade starting from the attack at ground zero, war in Afghanistan, return of the UPA govt., Financial scandal in corporate world, Bush to Obama, Tsunami, formation of European Union, fall of saddam, Terror attacks in metropolitan cities, Mars explorered through the rover, spread of web 2.0 services, intergration of phones and other communication devices to make the world a small place and innumerable changes in the technologies of the ways things were made and various natural calamities etc.
The list just seems endless.....
But in essence what is the change that matters. I will share my perspective in a filmi manner, in the bollywood eeshtile. It is said that cinema is the mirror of the way teh society thinks. I would say that society has moved from the 'Dil Chahta Hai' days to the '3 idiots' day. It was the time when we were riding high on what we did in the last century (or even the millenium). There was development at speeds that were unimaginable and we were in awe of what we could do. What I talk of is the general consensus of people (all across the globe). There was focus on filling the life with more joy. We were riding high on the opportunities that the open economy was providing and we were ready to ride on a highway at breakneck speeds. Life was more about the mushy romance and singing 'woh ladki hai kahaan' and rocking and partying in Goa and being bound in friendships that last for a lifetime.
I would say that it has taken a many a broken necks to realize that there needs to be some speed breakers on path and proper governance of the people maintaining the highway is needed. People choice of movies shifted over a period of time from KNPH, Mohabbatien, Josh, Dhadkan, K3G etc. to action with some percieved reality of how things are like Vaastav, Kaante, company, D etc. & some movies increasing the sex quotient of the industry, to movies that actually hit the consensus of the society and people were able to relate with. People were affeted by movies such as Swades, Yuva, Phir Milenge, Black Friday, Hazaron Khwaishien Aisi, Maine gandhi ko nahi maaraa, page 3, Rang de basanti, The Munnabahi series, TZP, Guru, Dharm, wednesday, Halla Bol etc. When I talk of change in perspective I dont say that today these movies are the top grossers, or have the hit mantra. The top grossers are still the Hum tum, love aaj kals of these times, comedy pots from bemzi or priyadarshan, but what I talk about is the fact that people today are able to relate to these movies better than they did a decade ago. I think that people today are more acceptive of the fallacies that exist in the society and there are a bunch of extraordinary people from the Gen Z that are taking up the mantle to clear up the mess. Apart from wasting time reporting about the fevers and gossips of celebs, childrens going down the drain etc. (courtesey AAJ TAK genre of news channels), the media has been doing great work in using the medium to keep the janta aware, we are very well nearing a future where we can say that 'yeh public hai, yeh sab jaanti hai'. What has been teh most pleasant surprise has been the way the people in large have responded to the situation presented to them. The unity that I see in the diversity is amazing to see and I am sure that even though it will take time but we will some day soon see my dream of moving from 'mere tolerance to appreciation' amongst the different communities that exist across the globe. Though terrorism is stalling the process, but it has to be credited for bringing the adversities which has forced people to break their shells and come out to help each other for the sake of humanity.

Toh all in all bhaiya, keep minding the speed breakers and instead of worrying about the destination, take the opportunity to travel with others and enjoy the journey aur ceeti bajaa ke bol, ke bahiya 'AAL IZZ WELL'. (Whistles)