Kriti Sanon

AI-Powered Weather and Climate Models Are Set to Change Forecasting

2: Disha Patani

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अमिताभ, प्रभास, दिपीका और कमल हसन का कल्कि मुवी

हप्तो से, महिनो से कल्कि २८९८ AD के ट्रेलर देखते आ रहे थे। रिलीज़ के लिए जब फिल्म के प्रमुख कलाकार स्टेज पर इकट्ठे हुवे तो उसका भी वीडियो युट्युब पर देखा। रिलीज़ हो गइ पर देखने कहाँ जाएँ? तो अब तो अमरीका में रेगुलर मुवी थिएटर में ही रिलीज़ हो जाती है फिल्म। ऑनलाइन सर्च किया तो पता चला अल्बुक़र्क़ी में चल रहा है। ऑनलाइन ही टिकट लिया और फिर गाडी में बैठ रवाना हो गए।

सांता फे से अल्बुक़र्क़ी का ड्राइव सीनिक है बहुत ज्यादा। स्पीड लिमिट ७५ माइल है लेकिन ८० चलाओ तो भी लोग बराबर ओवरटेक करते रहते हैं। लौटते बख्त बारीश हो गइ तो ७० पर आ गए। एक बार तो थोड़ा और कम कर दिया।

ये पहाड़ी इलाका भी है और मरुभुमि भी। बारीश हो गइ, बड़ी बात हो गयी। जिसके घर में किराए पर कमरा लिया है वो कह रहा था देखो यहाँ घर के सामने घाँस हुवा करते थे। कुछ सालो से सुखा पड़ा हुवा है।

असली कल्कि फिल्म तो शाहरुख़ खान का जवान है। ये मेरे को महिनों से मालुम था। मेरे को ये बात खुद भगवान कल्कि ने कहा। सिर्फ मेरे को ही नहीं सबको कहा। अपने फेसबुक स्टेटस में लिखा। हाँ, वे आ चुके हैं। लेकिन ये बात खुद शाहरुख़ खान को नहीं पता। फिल्म के निर्देशक एटली को नहीं पता। ईश्वर आप के मार्फ़त अपना काम कर सकते हैं, अपना सन्देश दे सकते हैं और आप को पता तक न चले। उस बात का प्रमाण है जवान फिल्म।

शाहरुख़ की तरह मैं भी अमिताभ बच्चन का जबरदस्त फैन रहा हुँ। सारी जिन्दगी। मेरे कागजात पर जो जन्मदिन है वो मेरा नहीं, अमिताभ का है। जब स्कुल भेजना हुवा तो कागज पर जन्मदिन लिखना होता है। मेरे पिता जी ने लिखा। लेकिन मेरा नहीं अमिताभ का। शायद उन्हें लगा होगा ये लड़का तो बड़ा जबरजस्त फैन निकला। लेकिन वो बात मेरे को दश साल पता नहीं चला। एक बार गौर किया तो लगा, अरे ये तो अमिताभ बच्चन का जन्मदिन है। तो जब लोग मेरे को जन्मदिन मुबारक बोलते हैं सोशल मीडिया पर तो मैं जवाब में लिख देता हुँ, अमिताभ बच्चन को जन्मदिन मुबारक। मैं हाई स्कुल में अमिताभ का बाल नकल किया करता था। सर्च करो वो पिक्चर इंटरनेट पर मिल जाएंगे। ब्लैक एंड वाइट में है। स्टुडिओ जाना पड़ता था फोटो खिंचाने।

बहुत अच्छा काम किया है अमिताभ ने फिल्म में। उनकी ब्लैक फिल्म याद आ गयी।

कल्कि २८९८ में नहीं आएंगे। वे आ चुके हैं। फिर भी मैं पिक्चर देखने गया। फिल्म कला है। कलाकार को छुट है अपनी कल्पना शक्ति को उँची उड़ान दें।

भगवान कल्कि के बारे में भविष्यवाणी है। और सिर्फ किसी एक धर्म ग्रन्थ में नहीं। सिर्फ किसी एक धर्म में नहीं। दुनिया के प्रत्येक देश के प्रत्येक चर्च में प्रत्येक रविवार को एक प्रार्थना लोग करते ही करते हैं। कि हे ईश्वर धरती पर आ जा और धरती का राजा बन शासन कर। वो शासन करेंगे। और उस नए युग का अर्थतंत्र कैसा रहेगा उसे कल्किवादी घोषणापत्र में लिख कर बाजार में रख दिए हुवे हैं।

इस कल्कि फिल्म में मैड मैक्स भी देखने को मिलता है और थोड़ा स्टार वार्स भी। साई-फाई फिल्म बनाने का प्रयास हुवा है। निर्देशक सोंचे होंगे अभी को ७०० साल बाद टेक्नोलॉजी बहुत फर्क होगा। लेकिन जवान फिल्म में न कोइ मैड मैक्स है न कोइ स्टार वार्स।

लेकिन हाँ, ये पिक्चर भगवान कल्कि के बारे किए गए कुछ प्रमुख भविष्यवाणियों के तरफ स्पष्ट संकेत जरूर करती है। जैसे कि शम्भाला। वो शम्भल है। कहा गया है भगवान कल्कि शम्भल में पैदा होंगे। पैदा हो चुके हैं। शम्भल कोइ गाओं या शहर नहीं, पुरा का पुरा देश है। कौन हिमाली देश है आज जिसका नाम शम्भल से मिलता जुलता है? स्पष्ट है वो पाकिस्तान नहीं। वो भुटान नहीं। वो भारत नहीं। तो फिर? स्पष्ट बात है। नेपाल। भगवान कल्कि नेपाल में ही पैदा हुवे, भगवान बुद्ध की तरह। भविष्यवाणी है भगवान कल्कि के मां का नाम सुमति। सुमति का शाब्दिक अर्थ निकलता है शान्ति। भगवान कल्कि के माँ का नाम शान्ति ही है। वे मुझे बहुत अच्छी तरह पहचानती हैं।

अस्वस्थामा को तो शुरू से ही कहा गया है अस्वस्थामा। लेकिन फिल्म के अंतोअंत तक खुद अस्वस्थामा को पता नहीं चलता की प्रभास कर्ण हैं। तो भगवान कल्कि के काम में सहयोग करने महाभारत और बाइबल के ढेर सारे करैक्टर आए हुवे हैं और दुनिया में जगह जगह हैं। सही वक्त पर वो सब एक एक कर के प्रोजेक्ट से जुड़ते चले जाएंगे। उनमें से कैयो से मैं मिल चुका हुँ। जैसे कि एक हैं संजय जिन्होंने धृतराष्ट को कुरुक्षेत्र के युद्ध के बारे में सारी बाते बताइ। वे वापस आ गए हैं और दिल्ली में रहते हैं।

Deepika Padukone

Shahrukh

Thoughts On The Middle East

I have had a chance to think a lot about the Middle East in recent weeks.

The first thing I see is, the region has a 10-year window in which to diversify their economies or face decline. The city of Dubai has already done what the region at large needs to do. I believe that realization is there. And countries across the region are scrambling to move. Major moves are being plotted and made.

Two, where does Dubai go from here? Dubai has to move up the economic food chain. And that is mostly to do with technology. If diversification is achieved, money becomes the new oil, the gift that keeps giving.

Three, politics. First of all, I have to admit I don't know much. I have not had the chance to study in-depth. At some point, I'd like to. A few weeks ago I came across this nugget of information, that the United Arab Emirates has a federal parliament that has a roadmap to universal franchise. Not knowing that was not stupid. It was not even ignorant. Hey, you don't know what you don't know. But it sure was uninformed. Second, I have to be open-minded about possibilities. Let's just take that UAE example. Finally, when there is a universal franchise, that still would not make the monarch of the UAE someone like Queen Elizabeth. Let's face it, Queen Elizabeth rubber stamps whatever the British parliament comes up with. And recently it has come up with much nonsense. The monarch of the UAE does not even hold that title. He calls himself president. I see that as an evolving situation. Three, Iran. I think we from afar underestimate how much distrust Iran arouses among the Gulf countries. Whereas Iran thinks of itself as a country on a mission.

I would like to read up and learn and become rehearsed on the nuances of the domestic politics of many of these countries in the Gulf. For one, it is of interest to me.

Four, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. I see Africa and South Asia as the next two Chinas. When the politics part is tidied up a little, Africa and South Asia could grow faster than China did. And I see the possibility of Dubai playing the role Hong Kong played in the economic rise of China. China needed FDI. And the world only trusted Hong Kong with it. 

Five, culture and religion. I find the music and the language fascinating. I was looking at some rudimentary videos on YouTube with thoughts of teaching myself some Arabic recently. When I visit Dubai, there is a list of mosques I'd like to visit. I definitely would want to visit that mosque in Abu Dhabi. And I read about a mosque in Dubai where the sermon on Friday is delivered in English. I would like to attend that service. And yes, you can't visit Dubai and not watch a Bollywood movie.

And a very heartfelt Thank u to everyone who is reading this. Every year I feel that this is the most memorable birthday celebrations & every next year all your love makes it bigger & more memorable. I must be the only person in the world who feels happy getting older! Love u all pic.twitter.com/vG5WWVfjGx

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 4, 2019

Over years I made a good house...Gauri made a good Home but I really believe we are the best at making some really good kids! https://t.co/pPi3pDhIoM

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 4, 2019

To my brother, the awesomely cool Mr. @Mohamed_Alabbar and @BurjKhalifa @emaardubai. Thanks for making me shine so bright. Your love and kindness is unsurpassable. Wow! This is really the Tallest I have ever been. Love u Dubai. It’s my birthday and I’m the guest! pic.twitter.com/8oFAQCqNbD

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 2, 2019

Happy Birthday SRK. https://t.co/sdUhnVBumi Thoughts On The Middle East #MiddleEast #Dubai #UAE #Bollywood

— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) November 6, 2019

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Ajman Independent Studios realistic cultural programme set design.

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#Uzbekistan has a very special place in my 💙

A post shared by Fazza (@faz3) on Nov 4, 2019 at 9:58pm PST

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High speed falcon vs high speed camera 🎥

A post shared by Fazza (@faz3) on Oct 30, 2019 at 6:31am PDT

Thoughts On The Middle East https://t.co/sdUhnVBumi @HamdanMohammed @TalalAlMurad @KhalafAlHabtoor @iamsrk

— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) November 6, 2019

Excellent Non-Political Interview Of Modi By Akshay Kumar

Filmfare Awards 2018

Binge Watching Two Seasons Of Quantico

Yudh - Episode 19 - 13th August 2014 - Amitabh Bachchan https://t.co/BE4hc6Re6x via @YouTube

— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) November 7, 2017

Binge Watching Two Seasons Of Quantico

• The Big News Is Priyanka
• Too Much Reliance On Unexpected Plot Twists
• The Setting Is A Concrete Message
• Cultural And Gender Diversity Is Social Sci-Fi
• Gunning For A Global Audience From The Get Go
• TV: A Medium All Its Own
• Wither Hollywood?
• Season 1 Dramatic End: Well Handled
• The Segway
• Democracy's Propaganda?
• What Next?
• Season 2 Vs Season 1 Vs Season 3
• The Trio: Alex, Shelby, Raina/Nimah
• Critique
• Quantico

I have binge-watched a few others as well: House Of Cards, 24, Amitabh Bachchan's Yudh. And Quantico is of comparable quality. It too is gripping. But this is not a movie on TV, it is just a different format. A marathon is not just a longer race. It is a different flavor, a different animal altogether. I can't imagine a movie Quantico. But I can imagine a gaming experience Quantico. The show relies heavily on unexpected plot twists and would be a perfect game plot.

The Big News Is Priyanka

Priyanka is a first. A Bollywood-Hollywood crossover has not happened before at this level and scale. She is a cultural phenomenon or rather a cross-cultural phenomenon. There is a reason the Alex Parrish and not the Ryan Booth character has made it to Time 100 or the Forbes 100. although both play very important roles in the show.

PC's move is borderline geopolitical. It is also a gender statement. Hollywood remains white. But TV has thrown up Quantico and several other shows where people from non-traditional backgrounds are in starring roles. But India is not just another country. It is a continent all on its own. And that's what makes PC different. That she has not broken into the LA scene with an equal splash - yet - might be a hint at the fast-changing movie making trends. Maybe the right positioning for her is global and not necessarily the US proper. Quantico Season 1 was a big hit worldwide.

Too Much Reliance On Unexpected Plot Twists

It must be the need to get the viewers to keep coming back week after week. Granted you have to get the eyeballs or you are no longer in business. Granted holding attention for 20 hours is more than 10 times as challenging as holding attention for two. But the FBI is the FBI and movies are movies. The dramatic pace has to be kept up. But I thought there was a little too much reliance on unexpected plot twists.

The Setting Is The Concrete Message

I read somewhere once one thing Robert DeNiro made a point to work on was to make sure he dressed and looked just like the character he was set to play. It was not just about the thought process and the emotion of the moment. The physicality mattered big time. The physical settings of the show's episodes and the component scenes are a major accomplishment. If the idea is to make the audience more sympathetic to the institution that is the FBI, mission accomplished. If the idea is to get the FBI to attempt and become a more culturally diverse place, message delivered. If the idea is to get the audience to step inside the FBI for a second, done and done.

Cultural Diversity Is Social Sci-Fi

There is science fiction, and then there is social science fiction. An FBI agent is a white male. Everyone knows that. That is the image. That is the bias. That is the fact. That is the stereotype. That is America's original sin. In the show trainees and instructors come in all sorts of cultural and gender flavors. That is the social sci-fi part. It has not happened yet but will happen down the line. One hopes so. I mean, if you can make a hijab or two sit comfortably on heads, that is a point to be noted.

Gunning For A Global Audience From The Get Go

Hollywood makes the majority of its money outside of America these days. PC taking the lead in Quantico has been a top Bollywood star coming to America. That gets said. But equally it has been Hollywood prying open the Indian market, the global market. There are a lot of young women around the world today who work professional jobs and spend money on entertainment, among other things. PC's face speaks to them.

TV: A Medium All Its Own

TV is not lesser than the movie theater. At least, not anymore. It is self-sufficient as a medium. Shows like Quantico celebrate that. In fact, the web is a more natural extension to TV, it's not the movie theater. I binge watched on Netflix.

Wither Hollywood?

Hollywood has its advantages in LA just like Silicon Valley is a geographical location with its advantages. Both are doing great. But just like you could launch a tech startup most places on the planet today, you can make a good movie anywhere these days.

Season 1 Dramatic End: Well Handled

As I watched the final episode of the first season, especially the final moments, I was prepared to forgive the overuse of dramatic plot twists, because the end was very well planned, and even the dramatic plot twists perhaps drive home the larger point that the FBI as an organization struggles with itself as much as it struggles with the world it finds itself in. After all, it is people on both sides of that thin membrane that separates.

One season is almost 16 hours. This material could not have been given the right treatment in a two-hour movie. This is not a mini-me version of a blockbuster movie. The movie format is small. This format is bigger.

The Segway

9/11 caught the intelligence agencies of this country napping at the wheel. They were caught not talking to each other. A major counterterrorism effort since has been about breaking down the walls and barriers, about intelligence agencies not only within but also across countries talking to each other. The segway from one season of Quantico to the next pays homage to that. The FBI and the CIA kind of talk. Agent Parrish is a human bridge. It is symbolic.

Democracy's Propaganda?

Both seasons of Quantico do a wonderful job of the viewers becoming a little bit more informed, a little bit more sympathetic to the doings of the FBI, the CIA, and the like agencies. But this is a private sector venture hinging on the size of viewership. It is democracy working. The hard questions do get asked, scenarios do get imagined in the process. Is the FBI its own worst enemy? Is the CIA its own worst enemy? Viewer discretion is advised. Democracy or no democracy, Quantico is great drama, makes for great television.


What Next?

Baywatch was a dud (not in China, though), and not Priyanka Chopra's blockbuster Hollywood debut her fans expected it to be. But Quantico is still on, there is a season 3, and PC will likely have the last laugh on bigger things. She did 50 movies in Bollywood. Many top Hollywood actors have retired before hitting that kind of number. But nothing she did in Bollywood remotely approaches her role in Quantico, her best screen persona yet. The role is the woman taking her rightful place in the most precarious of situations. Perhaps there is a corporate version of that that would be even more riveting, more global and fitting multiple screen sizes all at once, gaming included. When you have India, America, and China already in your bag, you perhaps target Russia next.

Season 2 Vs Season 1 Vs Season 3

Data shows the viewership for Season 2 has been lower than the viewership for Season 1. I can see why. The formula of relentless plot twists does not work as well for political intrigue as it does for sheer physical action. The mind starts spinning and you lose people. Also, Season 1 had the freshness of the FBI training school. I don't know yet what Season 3 is about, but if it be about physical action in the Global South (like Jason Bourne in Tangiers) the viewership could again spike. But, I must say, it was kind of nice to see a woman president.

The Trio: Alex, Shelby, Raina/Nimah

Alex, Shelby and Raina/Nimah make for a powerful trio. The Alex-Ryan pairing does a good job of showing the toll life as a FBI/CIA agent can take on one's private life. Often it is hard even for a fellow agent to understand you. But once it is firmly established as to who the more gifted partner is, it is smoother sailing. Some small roles like Simon and Harry truly stand out. Conflicted emotions make for great drama.

Critique

The writer(s) of the show obviously is better at spy action than at political intrigue and should go back to spy action. An international backdrop would be exotic now. Alex and team collaborating with foreign intelligence agencies on their territories (the narco wars in Latin America, the Middle East with the obvious terrorism angles, Pakistan, South China Sea, Korea, Kenya) would provide so much more room for unexpected plot twists. Street scenes in densely populated countries look great on camera. Fight scenes on such streets give so much more room for choreography. There are numerous movie parts, and there is a huge in your face human element.

Quantico

It is a great TV show that would make for a great XBox game. You would allow gamers to let decide on multiple outcomes. There is also market for merchandise. There are women out there who would like to the Alex Parrish look, obviously. Creating multiple revenue streams might give the show a Season 4, and a Season 5, and a Season 6 perhaps. It should not be a US first release. The release ought be global. There's terrorism, there's cybercrime, there's human trafficking, there are civil wars, there are riots. Alex Parrish would shine in each such scenario. And it would be exotic to show the ground reality of law enforcement across diverse countries.

https://t.co/x74LytfAsE Binge Watching Two Seasons Of @QuanticoTV @QuanticoWriters @QuanticoTV @priyankachopra @jazmasri @JohannaEBraddy

— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) November 7, 2017

Oh snap! We're back! Cast dinner for abcquantico season 3! #quantico https://t.co/AeMUpiL8aC

— Johanna Braddy (@JohannaEBraddy) October 21, 2017

Priyanka Chopra's Unique Position To Influence

PC, having straddled the two biggest movie industries on the planet (by production volume and dollar volume) - Mumbai and Hollywood - is uniquely placed to influence how men and women see women.

Bruce Lee did not start out wanting to make movies. He was a martial arts innovator. But he got into movies because he figured that was the best way to reach out and teach the largest possible number of people. He was right. 

She acts, but also has her own production house. And she sure cares. 

She knows marketing Indian style, she knows marketing American style, and she knows marketing Chinese style. Her much anticipated Baywatch movie did so so in the US but earned major dollars in China.

मेरी प्यारी भान्जी/भगिनी विसीता। छठा महिना शुरू। I am the primary caretaker. मा बाप वापस नेपाल चले गए न। इसके नहीं, मेरे। बाल कलाकार बनेगी ये। बडी़ acting करती रहती है। दो सेकेन्ड में मुड change. #nofilter

A post shared by Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) on Aug 6, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT

I love to cook, time permitting. There is a secret recipe behind this chutney that I am willing to open source. The taste is an absolute delight, if you like it "hot." The top quality is it is super healthy. I also make pizza with whole wheat flour. मैदा स्वास्थ्य के लिए अच्छा नहीं होता। I make exceptionally good chicken curry, goat curry and fish curry. I make decent vegetable curries. दाल भी बहोत अच्छा बना लेते हैं। But enough bragging. चावल बनाने का अपना अलग स्टाइल है। लेकिन मेरा recommendation है रोटी खाओ। (रोटी बनाना नहीं आता) Health is supreme. Body Mass Index (BMI) ठीक रखो। Smoothie एक favorite item है। Grinder जिन्दाबाद। ये चटनी भी मुख्य रूप से Grinder में ही बना।

A post shared by Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) on Apr 14, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT

दही जो मैने जमाया

A post shared by Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) on Aug 9, 2017 at 6:36pm PDT

Gender is a social construct. Men can learn to take care of babies. Men can learn to cook. No problem. It is also about this point in time. The global economy is fast becoming a knowledge economy. Women, when given a chance, seem to have a leg up there. Many American colleges now make a point to admit enough men for gender parity even though their test scores suck.

I think there is room for a movie character who will lead the way on gender role transformation. I think there is room for a movie franchise around that character. I am thinking one movie every three to four years. A female James Bond, if you will, only she is not a government spy. She is a corporate leader on the cutting edges of technology and innovation. But movies being movies there are plenty of action scenes, sure.

मैंने एक script पर काम शुरू कर दिया है। Working draft हाथ में आ जाए तो पेश करूंगा।

A Movie Production House Big Enough For PC

मैंने एक script पर काम शुरू कर दिया है। Working draft हाथ में आ जाए तो पेश करूंगा। @priyankachopra https://t.co/HJ9NnAxqWH

— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) September 12, 2017

I think there is room to build a company around the idea. The Internet could be the central distribution channel for the franchise.

So it is a challenge in gender role transformation, movie making (gotta use the latest in computer animation technology), as well as riding the wave of video as a medium getting mainstream online because soon gigabit will be all the rage in most parts of the world.

This is to be social science fiction. Has to feel like science fiction.

An Actor Can Not Exceed The Script

Priyanka Chopra's Quantico is a big hit after its telecast was shifted from Sunday night to Mondayhttps://t.co/unaPke4YaN

— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) February 13, 2017

The script is everything. A show or a movie floats or sinks on the strength of the script, or lack thereof.

In India there is a saying. A bad cook adds extra chili powder to everything. Mindless plot twists, and mindless use of sex and violence are often used as that extra chili powder.

There are countless movies about people falling in love. But the theme of deepening of love in an existing relationship is not much explored. How do you go deeper after you have been married 15 years? Such themes are not much explored.

Law enforcement is another perennial topic and rightly so. But law enforcement does not only struggle with those that might cross the law. Law enforcement struggles with itself, it struggles with diversity issues.

Why only law enforcement? What about commandment enforcement? The complex organizational structure of something like the Catholic Church is not any less fascinating than that of a large police department or intelligence agency.

And the four constantly intersect: human love, divine love, law enforcement, commandment enforcement.

Diversity is not just about sprinkling a few different kinds of faces on to the screen. Culture is a body of knowledge. Gender is its own culture. And gender, as we know by now, is not binary, but a spectrum, not just in society but also inside individuals. Inside every man there is a woman.

Technology changes the basic assumptions. Digitization is a huge force. For one it creates numerous fragmented markets of different sizes. Costs can go down.

Story telling is as old as humanity. Movies might be a new art form. But not story telling. Art speaks to society. Society speaks to art. Movies as an art medium are uniquely positioned to help humanity make progress on race and gender issues. I am talking social science fiction.

A better actor can better respond to the script but an actor can not rise above the script.

In the post 9/11 era intelligence agencies from different countries with fundamentally different languages and cultures have tried to collaborate. But pre 9/11 the two major intelligence agencies in this very country acted like they were in different countries.

Cultural diversity is not just skin pigments. Were that so it would be so much easier. Diversity is primarily sociology. You can have everyone speak English and try to cover it up, but it does not go that way.

This is now the era of global movie making where you confront diversity head on. You actually immerse into the different cultures in their natural settings across continents. Stereotyping falls flat. Intellectual laziness falls flat. The texture of diversity is real.

God has decided to come into mainstream movies and music, big time.