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| Films like Boom goes to prove that sex and violence do not always do well at the box office |
It is a matter of concern that the district administration has failed to control sound pollution during Durga Puja.
According to sound pollution laws, loudspeakers can be used from 6 am to 10pm. But the puja committees used the loudspeakers to play music till late into the night, without sparing a thought for people trying to sleep.
These committees even flouted the permissible decibel level. I had complained to the police. But they paid no heed. They expressed their helplessness in dealing with the problem.
I can not solve this problem all by myself. There are many like me who spent sleepless nights thanks to the blaring music played at the pandals. But it seems no one raised a voice of protest. If the police and district administration cannot prevent the puja committees from flouting sound pollution norms, we have to jointly protest against such blatant disregard of the laws of the country.
Jeevan Singh
Ranchi
I recently made the mistake of watching the film, Boom. I wish I could meet Kaizad Gustad and ask him why on earth did he direct such a movie.
It was an inane, mindless and childish movie trying desperately to be whacky and bold. What surprised me most was the presence of Amitabh Bachchan in the movie. An actor of his calibre could have avoided doing such a film.
Kaizad Gustad perhaps underestimated the intelligence of the average movie buff. He must have realised by now that leggy and semi-nude models, gross and suggestive gestures are not the key ingredients of a successful movie.
Leave alone Boom, none of the movies churned out by the Bollywood factory is worth a watch. Last year other than Raaz, all the other movies bombed in the box office. Sadly, even Raaz was a rehash of a Hollywood blockbuster.
I think Bollywood has done away with the concept of script writer. The stories of all the films, right from Hawa, Jism and even this year’s superhit film Koi Mil Gaya, were lifted from Hollywood movies.
Why can’t out producers and directors think of new and fresh subjects for their films? They have to realise that the audience wants to see a film with a good storyline. Sex and violence does not sell.
Radhika Sharan
Ranchi
America’s fascination with good looking politicians is well known. Right from Ronald Regan to Bill Clinton, politicians in the US have been always been suave and smart.
So, Arnold Schwarzenegger joining the race for California governor hardly came as a surprise. But the Austrian-born actor has been criticised by Democrats and Republicans for not offering specific policies on major issues facing the state since he announced his candidacy last week. On a morning TV news show, Schwarzenegger at times appeared to dodge questions on his political ideology. Struggling to define Schwarzenegger’s politics, the media has described him as a fiscal conservative who leans to the moderate side of Republican social policy, supporting abortion rights, some form of gun control and gay rights.
In Schwarzenegger's own words, his political philosophy is sometimes as elusive as his movie nemesis, the predator, whose mirage-like movements could only be sensed by the flutter of leaves.
But I must say like a film’s superhero who miraculously survives knife, gun and grenade attacks, Schwarzenegger has effortlessly battled allegations of sexual misconduct and Nazi sympathies and is still going strong in his campaign to become California governor. Well with Arnie you can always be sure that he will be back with a bang.
Parikshit Koya
Dhanbad
Flouting norms and disregarding orders have become passe for the puja committees in the capital.
They cooly disregarded the order of the district administration not to perform Durga Puja on roads.
The Youth Club at Mahavir Chowk set up their puja pandal, which looked like the Sheesh Mahal, in the middle of the road, throwing traffic haywire. Commuters faced a lot of difficulty travelling down Mahavir Chowk. As if the pandal was not enough, the puja organisers also put up barricades on the road. Residents of the area had a harrowing time reaching home. They had to take a detour to reach their residences. When will we learn to celebrate festivals without causing inconvenience to others?
Mahavir Jain
Upper Bazar
My heartiest congratulations to the Indian hockey team for winning the sixth Asian Cup by defeating arch rivals Pakistan.
India played brilliantly right from the beginning of the tournament. They had disappointed us after losing tamely to Pakistan in one of the league matches. But it was sweet revenge for India when they clashed against Pakistan in the final.
The recent confidence building measures taken by the Prime Ministers of both Pakistan and India have once again increased hopes of a revival of sporting ties. And with Pakistan planning to invite India for a nine-nation hockey tournament to be held in Lahore in December, we can see some more interesting matches.
Ratan Chakravarty
Jamshedpur
