It was my 7th day of joining KPIT, I, as any other new joinie, was just starring at my monitor portraying that I was working. I received a call that revealed my MBA entrance exam results. I was more confused than happy. One for, how could they clear my exams ( I just gave a try, I was not able to find a job), two, I joined just 7 days back and what all procedures I need to follow in order to resign.
With this perplexed mind, I talked to my reporting cap for his approval of my leave.
I bused down to Hyderabad,
I, on 28-Nov-2007 morning, managed to reach the location mentioned in my interview call letter at 6:30 AM sharp, I was rushed to the bus waiting for me.
A gale of thoughts flavored with fear and nervous engulfed me. The co-candidates in the bus were all with a bundle of news papers and magazines, speaking their well prepared speeches to the parents/guardians who accompanied them. The paper that accompanied me was only my call letter. By then, I revealed myself, my chances of getting through. I was no more nervous (we are nervous when we are in fix of winning not when sure of losing).
This made me to take a small relaxed nap of 2 and half hours journey.
The campus: the fellow candidates were all in suits and business formals against my awkward colored shirt, sleeves folded with the outdated stubble. I learnt only then that we need to undergo a ‘speech’ round to enter into final face to face interview. Now I almost decided to leave the campus and enjoy the time in this paid holiday.
We were informed to assemble in our respective auditoriums. ( one auditorium for every 10 candidates).
I walked in the hall numbered 32 to see around 100 yearning people waiting for the candidates to perform so that they can rape them and display their enzymes of knowledge of their brain and three aged men with their trendy curved tummy laminated half by their shirt and remaining by their trousers. They might be the Judges I guessed.
I wasn’t aware of the 40 topics of speech displayed before this call for assemble. I recalled why my bus mates where rehearsing. Now I could see that list displayed in the auditorium. I was about to run away this time. But the fool inside me, made me stay back.
I quickly decided on a topic.
The Start : “Hi, I am Priya, I work for Deccan Herald as an editor” ( I dreamed people slapping their smile out at me when I start), she then gave a statistical survey analysis of Indian economy. The hall applauded their honor. Indian Agriculture, India’s Role in Global Market, Small Scale industries and many more were talked upon by the 7 candidates before me. Now, yes, Now it was my turn. My heart started beating in its highest ever speed, the announcer voiced ‘number 8 please’. By this time I was about to die by heart attack.
I somehow cheated my death and started slowly walking towards the dice. Fellow candidates and few young aged guys smiled their irony at me.
I adjusted the mike to my height. ‘I am Shiva, an Engineering student. I would like to speak on the topic ‘ Bollywood v/s Hollywood’ ( I saw majority of the listeners adjusted their seats to hear me, as the topic sounded odd and so as me), the very topic is wrong in my view. Bollywood and Hollywood are two different works of art and no art can be compared. Priya raised her hand to slap her editorial question at me ( she had questioned which most of the other 6 couldn’t answer) I smelled my downfall and insult. She asked me to give example and elaborate on the phrase that I quoted. Okie, let me take M F Hussian’s art piece, you may shower it with rose of praise and I may shower it with the thorns. This doesn’t mean that the art is good or bad. So as with any film. DDLJ was a massive hit, I was irritated and so as many. This doesn’t mean DDLJ is good or bad. Bolloywood is loved by Indians and Hollywood by some other. But I here would like to light on the differences these two film worlds have rather than comparing.
Bollywood believes in painting emotions in the form of songs, Hero and his lady meet for the first time, bang on, the romantic number edits in, He is sitting on a sea shore and recalls his college group, fun numbered guitar strings in and now the camera closes in to capture the quarter of an inch smile on left side of his lips, back to flash back, how their trip proved fatal for his lady love, a sad tone scripted about her memories tunes in making us feel the pain of the hero.
Hollywood doesn’t believe in these.
Priya raised her hand again, this time she said some Hollywood director ( I wasn’t aware of any Hollywood names) is also planning to have songs in his films so what you say about this, Shiva?, we even have Ram Gopal Verma here who doesn’t believe in songs, so lets not talk on exceptions here. The candidates started clapping, It wasn’t for my reply but for the hatred towards her (she has screwed them with her informative numbered statistics often interpreted as knowledge. It was like Jr. AB was admired in ‘Mein Prem ki Deewani hoon’ not because of his acting but for Hritik’s over acting.).
Hollywood horror flicks have some unusual looking satans with their teeth protruding, vomiting out some green semi solid saliva. People there find it scary and we don’t.
On the contrary, Bollywood satans hardly are seen in the films. A beautiful looking lady dressed in saree colored always white, walks down the room stairs and the background score tones in – Chun… Chun… Chun…. the doll smiles from the kid’s wardrobe.
The leading lady gets up for water, slowly opens her gorgeous eyes --- Dhadaaaar….. the television drop down with a bang. The Door opens with Krr Krr melody.
We find this scary.
This doesn’t mean White Ghosts are technically scary and Desi Devils aren’t.
These two are different works of Art and no art can be compared.
But friends, whatever the discussion may be, the mystery remains intact.
People feel proud to say, they watch only Hollywood flicks. I don’t know why.
‘Super Man’ treated Trendy and ‘Shaktiman’ as childishly foolish.
I have never seen a Hollywood movie (of course except TITANIC).
Thank you, ( I walked down the dice)
