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Dharmendra’s visit to the city (“He looks back with love at the city & her”, November 4) raked up two sentiments among Calcuttans — shame about our airport and pride about Suchitra Sen. To answer the question: “Do you think Suchitra Sen was a world-class actress?”, we have a question of our own. Could Suchitra Sen have done an Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady or Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind?
A true lover of Bengali cinema would nod his head in agreement. For Suchitra was one of the first actresses who could speak to her audience. Take Uttar Phalguni for example. Or Bipasha. Not to mention the unforgettable Shaapmochan, and the evergreen Saptapadi.
In all her movies, the range of emotions portrayed by Suchitra would remain in the mind of the viewer long after the movie was over. Had it not been for Suchitra, Aandhi would not have been what it is.
A diva who had once captured Bengal’s imagination with her grace, performance, versatility and mesmerising beauty, Suchitra Sen is not only a world-class actress but far beyond that. And so, 50 years and two generations later, she continues to receive reviews such as these.
The question is not if Suchitra measures up to world standards but whether her contemporaries would have been able to take on the roles that she had performed. We cannot visualise a Gina Lollobrigida of Come September fame to do a Deep Jele Jai.
Anindita and Tarit Mitra
Address not given
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| Fave fight: In response to the question “Is Dhoni Calcutta’s most beloved jamai today?”, October 28, I think Mahi’s visit to his in-laws’ place has proved that despite being the captain of the best Test-playing nation, MS Dhoni’s low-profile image has not changed much. He is just like one of us. But as far as the “most beloved jamai” of Calcutta crown is concerned, I feel Amitabh Bachchan is still a few miles ahead of our Captain Cool. Sourav Sen, Address not given |
Driving or walking with ears glued to cellphones has become a nuisance and a life-threatening practice (“How can the practice of driving/walking with cellphone to the ear be curbed?” September 22). Though it’s tough to ban the use of cellphones when on the move, it would be useful to spread awareness through hoardings, roadshows and placards. People should also be informed about the negative effects of talking on cellphones for long hours .
Noel Manuel,
Behala
The government should install network jammers in areas where the chances of mishap are the maximum.
Nitesh Patel,
Address not given
The number of lives being lost because of faulty use of mobile phones is increasing steadily.
Billboards and TV commercials can be used to create awareness about the hazards of using cellphones while walking or driving. Police should impose steep fines on rule-violators.
Amrita Mallik,
Salt Lake
The death of Madhurima Das (Girl on cell killed by train, September 18) is not an exception. The penalty imposed for phone misuse is not stiff enough to tackle the menace. Public awareness through television, radio, newspaper, seminars, placards and posters describing the dangers of using cellphones while driving or walking can be effective.
Asok Kumar Chatterjee,
Konnagar, Hooghly
I think brands have become an obsession with children (“Is brand consciousness among kids a problem? How can it be addressed?”, October 27). Kids love to show off, be it at a birthday party or Teacher’s Day or on any other gathering.
Some years back, the mother or grandmother would cook and relatives and friends would be invited for a child’s birthday party at home. Now, either a pizza place or a club is booked for the day to celebrate the birthday lavishly.
On Teacher’s Day, the children gift their teachers extraordinary and expensive items.
But we cannot hold the children responsible. The problem lies with the parents. It’s the parents who are “brand conscious” actually. Children may demand many things but parents should not indulge them every time. If guardians overcome their addiction for brands, their wards would follow suit.
Sahana Chaudhuri,
Pratapaditya Road
One is tempted to differ with the observations of psychologist Tapashi Mitra, that “students are victims of a competitive world”. When was the world not competitive?
Brand consciousness among the kids is a failure of the parents to imbibe the right values in them. Many parents actually believe that money can buy them recognition, and promote exhibitionism of their money through their kids.
IIT is a brand. So is ISI, IIM or the Delhi School of Economics. Sadly, kids never talk of these brands, because their parents never discuss these brands at home. And unlike consumer brands or roadside privately owned educational institutions, IIT, ISI, IIM or DSE never bombard us with ads.
Tapan Pal,
Batanagar
Brand consciousness among children is now a common problem because from a very tender age, they are exposed to various advertisements on television and the Internet. Brands promote groupism among kids. They also distract children from studies, as they are absorbed in new products.
Parents are also responsible for this behaviour because they satisfy all demands made by their children. They never think that this attitude may harm their child’s future in the long run.
Oindrila Thakur,
Kamalgazi
This is in regard to the article “Flying? Queue up for 90 mins”, November 29. Calcutta airport is like a fish market during rush hours. I have had the harrowing experience of being stuck behind a long queue for security check as final boarding announcements are made for my flight.
Now I ensure that I reach the airport at least two-and-a-half hours before my flight so that baggage x-ray, check-in, security check and boarding queues don’t make me miss it. Calcutta airport desperately needs some remedial arrangements till the new terminal is ready.
Nikhil Almal,
Address not given
I appreciate Metro’s campaign highlighting the woes of fliers at Calcutta airport. The display boards at the airport seem straight out of the colonial era. They often malfunction, leaving passengers at the mercy of the ground staff. Many a times, even the airport officials are clueless about crucial information like departure gates and the passenger is left to fend for himself.
The employees of the airport are a disgrace to the organisation. Irresponsible and obstinate, they enjoy political patronage. So passenger queries and calls for help fall on deaf ears or are met with a stern rebuke. Also, one has to be very lucky to find a working trolley.
The worst is the transportation system. Finding a taxi is a tall ask and one has to depend on the whim of the taxi driver. Then there are touts. They rough up the passengers, harass them and misbehave with them.
The police are nowhere to be seen or are busy collecting their share of the booty. To add to our woes, private taxi operators are not being allowed to set up shop at the airport for some reasons beyond my understanding.
Niloy Mukherjee,
Manila, Philippines
I have experienced every woe mentioned in the article “Flying? Queue up for 90 mins”. The worst part is that there is not enough place for fliers to sit and wait. Many of my co-passengers and I had to stand for an hour after clearing security check. The boarding point assembly area reminds me of a mela — cramped and overcrowded. I even saw passengers of two flights being asked to exit through the same gate. This creates confusion and delays flights. Calcutta airport is just like Sealdah station of the Nineties.
Nitesh Patel,
Address not given
In response to the question “Why do you think children in Calcutta engage less in outdoor activities?”, November 6, I think most children these days spend their time on computers games, social networking sites and television. Hence they get hardly any time to play outdoors. Going for tuitions for almost every subject is common now. It is obvious that kids lack time for outdoor activities.
Amrita Saha,
Bandel
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