Monday, January 09, 2017
Golden Globes
So, I read the full Meryl Streep speech in a Washington Post article, not because she bashed anybody, but because I have liked her acting for so long. She has been the Fidel Castro of Hollywood, in how long she has dominated. She is easily the best actor of her generation, male or female. She has this range that no one else has had in the industry. She does her thing. And is a joy to watch. And I thought she was also looking fabulous.
The two Bollywood mavens were both looking golden. I looked up on Google Images. Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. I am sure both were much watched back in India. I believe they are just getting started. I expect them to do very well over the years. Bollywood needs to start making movies for the mainstream American audiences. India, after all, is the largest English speaking country in the world.
The sheer volume of PC's work is mind boggling.
Barackface: Golden Globes: https://t.co/zKjlMNs8zE @priyankachopra @deepikapadukone
— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) January 9, 2017
Saturday, January 07, 2017
प्रियंका, वंशाली और विश्व
Priyanka Chopra set to produce a Nepalese-Sikkimese film titled Paua
PC is not the only or even the first Bollywood biggie with her own production house but her foray into regional movies does stand out, and I have watched it with interest. Bhojpuri and now Nepali. I am conversant in both! I attended high school in Kathmandu after all.
Diversity is a good thing. It is like would you rather have one giant paddy field where the Amazon is, or do you like the forest better? That is not even a question.
Technology is fast catching up with diversity. It is only a matter of time before Artificial Intelligence will be able to translate from every language to every other language. Which means your first language spoken by only 10 million people will be as good as English for science and commerce. Is that big? I think so. The point is the languages are not going away and that's a good thing.
Another disruption is digital technology. Why does a movie have to be two or three hours? Why can't it be 20 or 30 minutes? Why do you need a movie theater? Why can't movies have online releases only? When you start asking those questions you realize there can be a movie industry in every town in India. The costs go down drastically. So you make a Bhojpuri mini movie and post it online and next thing you know you have a global audience. There are tiny pockets of Bhojpuri speakers all over the world. The YouTube ad revenue might not be enough though, a pay per view model might work better. One dollar per movie? How about 10 cents?
Perhaps PPP (Purple Pebble Pictures) ought to build that platform. It would be like the Apple app store. It is pay per view, it is global, the platform has strict editorial guidelines, the revenue split is 30-70, something like that.
I look at Sanjay Leela Banshali and I think, this is a global level talent, but his heart is still colonized. Why could he not cast someone like Priyanka Chopra and make a movie in English for the mainstream American audience? एक मानसिक दासता है जिसे उतार फेंकने की जरूरत है।
There is no dearth of story writers. You fish for stories in the global exploding literature market. And you buy movie making rights and you adapt.
इन्डिया में कहते हैं, अरे देखो प्रियंका तो अमेरिका चली गई। किधर अमेरिका चली गई? हॉलीवुड उन्हें वापस इन्डियन मार्केट में ला रही है। सारे दुनिया ले जा रहे हैं और पैसे छाप रहे हैं।
बाजिराव मस्तानी वुडी एलेन की वैसी ही कहानी वाली विकी क्रिस्टीना वार्सिलोना से बेहतर है। तो टैलेंट तो है। लेकिन मानसिक दासता भी तो है।
Friday, January 06, 2017
Priyanka Chopra, The Media And The Bigger Picture
Priyanka Chopra Loves Big Diamonds and Yachts: ‘I Work Very Hard to Spoil Myself’
Mumbai, New York City, Toronto, London, Shanghai, all these megacities are perhaps more like each other than the rest of their own countries. And if you want a slice of India in New York there's always Little India, or full blown Jackson Heights, which is more like Sitamadhi (Bihar). Plus, after doing 50 movies in India, I doubt Priyanka Chopra did not feel prepared enough facing the camera in the US. In fact, it looks bad on Bollywood, at least the corporate aspects. Hollywood is taking the PC show all over the world and minting money. Why could not Bollywood make movies for the mainstream American audience?
A movie star acts as per the script. It is the writer who decides. The director shapes the presentation. And the 24/7 media saturation topped with social media omnipresence, and you see this constant feed. The society feeds the art feeds the society. It is an ongoing conversation. To quote PC: "Alex is nothing like me."
A few days back I blogged on the topic of the media in two countries as seen through this crossover movie star.
Seeing Priyanka Chopra On The Kapil Sharma Show
Only one episode earlier he goes full blown sexist on some TV news anchor, a new name and face to me.
I am sorry to make note, because I greatly admire Kapil Sharma, who I once called the funniest Homo Sapien on earth. He is the king of comedy globally right now. I like him much.
I actually have a news section on my Google News page for Priyanka Chopra. I also have one on Modi.
One news item today presents PC in a full Meterial Girl Madonna mode.
Priyanka Chopra Loves Big Diamonds and Yachts: ‘I Work Very Hard to Spoil Myself’
It is in sharp contrast to a news clip on YouTube from years ago where she says, I don't enjoy shopping.
The more famous you get bigger the mess the media makes of you. Take Amitabh Bachchan, a genuinely nice person. The media ran with the Amitabh Rekha non story for literally decades.
In politics I have seen this happen to Bill Clinton, or the Clintons. There is this political spectrum. And every point on that spectrum needs its own angle. And there is a media outlet to feed every such expectation.
Mumbai, New York City, Toronto, London, Shanghai, all these megacities are perhaps more like each other than the rest of their own countries. And if you want a slice of India in New York there's always Little India, or full blown Jackson Heights, which is more like Sitamadhi (Bihar). Plus, after doing 50 movies in India, I doubt Priyanka Chopra did not feel prepared enough facing the camera in the US. In fact, it looks bad on Bollywood, at least the corporate aspects. Hollywood is taking the PC show all over the world and minting money. Why could not Bollywood make movies for the mainstream American audience?
A movie star acts as per the script. It is the writer who decides. The director shapes the presentation. And the 24/7 media saturation topped with social media omnipresence, and you see this constant feed. The society feeds the art feeds the society. It is an ongoing conversation. To quote PC: "Alex is nothing like me."
A few days back I blogged on the topic of the media in two countries as seen through this crossover movie star.
Seeing Priyanka Chopra On The Kapil Sharma Show
Only one episode earlier he goes full blown sexist on some TV news anchor, a new name and face to me.
I am sorry to make note, because I greatly admire Kapil Sharma, who I once called the funniest Homo Sapien on earth. He is the king of comedy globally right now. I like him much.
I actually have a news section on my Google News page for Priyanka Chopra. I also have one on Modi.
One news item today presents PC in a full Meterial Girl Madonna mode.
Priyanka Chopra Loves Big Diamonds and Yachts: ‘I Work Very Hard to Spoil Myself’
It is in sharp contrast to a news clip on YouTube from years ago where she says, I don't enjoy shopping.
The more famous you get bigger the mess the media makes of you. Take Amitabh Bachchan, a genuinely nice person. The media ran with the Amitabh Rekha non story for literally decades.
In politics I have seen this happen to Bill Clinton, or the Clintons. There is this political spectrum. And every point on that spectrum needs its own angle. And there is a media outlet to feed every such expectation.
@priyankachopra, The Media And The Bigger Picture https://t.co/yXwCeqpAw5
— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) January 6, 2017
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
Health Advice For Priyanka Chopra
The globally favorite Desi girl has made a New Year resolution, and it is to do with health. I was thinking about writing a blog post to do with health for a few days now. Now I found a good excuse to put it out, so here goes.
(1) The Metabolism Slows After Age 35
People don't overeat. They eat the same that they had been eating. But suddenly they feel like they are now fighting an ever losing battle. They quite literally balloon. Like one comedian put it: "I have become an auntie now!" You can take the gender part out. Happens to men as much as to women. It is the biology of metabolism. Reduce the amount you eat after age 35, because your metabolism is not the same any more. After his heart attack Bill Clinton decided to eat smaller portions, "because your body throws out half of it anyways."
How Your Metabolism Changes in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s
around age 40, your body’s natural decline in muscle mass, called sarcopenia, sets in. To combat the loss of lean mass and keep your metabolism revved, you really have to turn to strength training. .... people who lift weights put on less belly fat as they age than cardio bunnies .... On top of pumping iron, eating enough protein (about 100 to 120 grams a day) will boost your efforts to get stronger. “A woman who was sedentary in her twenties and thirties can actually have a higher metabolic rate in her forties if she exercises and changes her diet”Boost Your Metabolism After 40
Turning 40 ..... This milestone age brings grim realities like a slowing metabolism, resulting in seemingly unexplainable weight gain. Indeed, after 40 your metabolism winds down 5% every 10 years, which means you have to consume fewer calories and work out more just to maintain your normal weight. .... cut 100 calories from your daily intake. Easy ways to trim 100 calories include removing skin from chicken breasts; using skim instead of whole milk in coffee; swapping mustard for mayo on sandwiches; and eating plain hamburgers rather than cheeseburgers. ...... After 40 your estrogen levels drop which causes insulin levels to go up and thyroid levels to go down, both of which increase hunger. You wind up eating more and burning fewer calories, which adds to the fat deep inside your belly known as omentum fat. ....... Soluble fiber is your best defense against hunger and belly fat. It fills you up fast so you eat less and stay satisfied. At 40 you should consume 25 grams of fiber daily. ...... Muscle burns 3 times more calories than fat cells, which means loss of muscle mass causes weight gain and an inability to shed pounds. ...... at 40, women lose muscle mass twice a fast as men. You lose the most muscle mass on the body’s largest surface areas like the core muscles supporting your shoulders and belly, as well as your thighs. ..... Simple squats are great for firming up thigh muscles; try doing them in the kitchen while you wait for dinner to finish cooking. ..... Oolong tea contains polyphenols that help block fat-building enzymes. This young tea is low in caffeine so you can drink it throughout the day for continued results. ..... Black pepper contains the alkaloid piperine, which helps speed up metabolism. Add black pepper to tomato juice for a double metabolism boosting effect—tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that helps protect your mitochondria. Reach for the pepper mill when you’d normally use salt; you’ll boost your metabolism and reduce your sodium intake. ....... Beans are chockfull of soluble fiber to help lower insulin levels so you store less fat and also feel fuller. Eat 2 cups of red, white or black beans to get your recommended daily fiber intake of 25 grams. ....... drinking ice water forces your body to burn calories by bringing your body temperature back to normal. Eight glasses of ice water a day works off 70 calories. Drink ice water before a meal to feel fuller quicker.(2) Anti Aging And Spirituality
Modern research has found out what spirituality has known all along. Modern scientific research shows reducing calorie intake is the only known way to reduce the aging process and live longer. The Buddha shared with his disciples what he had learned through trial and error. He said, eat whatever you want and as much as you want, just eat only between the hours of sunrise and noon. Today we call it intermittent fasting. To that I would add, make sure you drink plenty of water. Three liters per day is recommended. Most often when you feel hungry it is because you are actually feeling thirsty. Drinking water half an hour before a meal does wonders to how much you end up eating. See if you can eat a total of two meals a day, and only between sunrise and sunset. Lunch then is one liter of water. Replace coffee with green tea. 10 quick squats or push ups do what coffee does. But hey, I like coffee myself. A cup or two is good.
Hormones And Weight Gain After 40 | The Biology Of Aging
Calorie Restriction Explained
Calorie restriction or caloric restriction, usually abbreviated to CR, is a strategy proven to extend healthy, average, and maximum life span in many short lived species, including mice and rats, and at least healthy and average life span in primates. ....... up to a 40% increase in maximum life span ..... any gain in primate (and especially human) life span through CR is much more modest than that observed in mice. ..... a greatly lowered risk for most degenerative conditions of aging ..... Many people find it easy to mistake low-level thirst for low-level hunger.Reducing calorie intake by just 10% extends life expectancy and slashes the risk of disease
Live Longer: The One Anti-Aging Trick That Works
While the quest for the proverbial Fountain of Youth is endless and typically fruitless, one method known to extend the human lifespan by up to five years has quietly become accepted among leading researchers..........The formula is simple: Eat less. It could add years to your life, several experts now say. And done in moderation, it could at least help you live a more healthy life.(3) Eat Plenty Of Fruits And Vegetables
Eating less does not mean starve, it definitely does not mean not eating a balanced diet. Malnutrition is not being recommended. Malnutrition is what defeats dieting discipline. The body fights back. Hard. So, make a point to eat a balanced diet, even as you reduce calorie intake.
(4) Eat, Sleep, Exercise
Sleeping eight hours each night, going to bed at the same time every hour, staying away from all screens for at least two hours before bed time, reading scripture for 30 to 60 minutes in the evening: these are some to do things. Sleeping plenty should be easy. But that is something many people skip out on. If you eat right, and if you sleep plenty, you can get by with little exercise. Even so, an hour of exercise per day is recommended.
Sun Raha Hai Na Tu
Seeing Priyanka Chopra On The Kapil Sharma Show
Laila Main Laila: Amazing Videography
Modi's BHIM App Is Tectonic
Priyanka Chopra, Racism, Sexism, America, India
The Indian Trinity In America
Quantico
Xi Jinping: Reformer?
The Right Way To Interview Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra And American Racism
बॉलीवुड को अन्ग्रेजी पिक्चर बनाना चाहिए
प्रियंका चोपड़ा और बिकीनी
Priyanka Chopra's Crossover Is A Geopolitical Event
Health Advice For @priyankachopra https://t.co/GiyYuQ7Emy
— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) January 4, 2017
Tuesday, January 03, 2017
Seeing Priyanka Chopra On The Kapil Sharma Show
Kapil Sharma has reached unprecedented heights in Indian comedy and most of the time he is respectful and playful. But once in a while he shows flashes of arrogance.
Or maybe the media is thoroughly sinful everywhere, expressing the basest sentiments in all societies, especially since it went 24/7 and there is so much time slot to fill. I have never owned a television, and written articles might be less heavy on the gossip angles.
Watching Priyanka Chopra's media interactions in America and India has been educational for me. The American media comes across as deeply racist. The Indian media comes across as super, off the charts sexist.
Perhaps the Robert De Niro route was better. The movie star who defined an era absolutely refused media interviews and when such became absolutely inescapable he would come across as incoherent, a man of a few words, if not grunts, and even a mute. His point was, my work is in the movies. If you like my work, watch my movies. He felt media appearances took away from his movies by diluting his image and the character building in the movies. He was right, but that distance might not be possible no more in this age of media saturation. Robert De Niro must watch in horror as movie stars these days make a movie and then go on the media circuit to promote the movie. He must feel that robs from the audience the movie experience.
And so Kapil Sharma makes this grand super sexist statement on the only movie star to have reached the heights of the two biggest movie industries in the world..... by organizing a band baaja barat. Hillary Clinton took a lot of heat in 1992 for being a career woman. So I guess being a career woman in India is still a really big deal. It is a new phenomenon.
Kapil Sharma is a genuinely talented person, but the super sexism of the society he springs forth from comes through.
It's like a few weeks back I watched an old interview of Priyanka Chopra and it was 30 minutes of the TV show host completely ignoring PC like she was not even there, because she is a woman.
This is sad because PC is ascendant in Hollywood and poised to reach greater heights. That ought to be a self esteem boost to Indians everywhere in all walks of life, a self esteem boost also to Indian men, especially to Indian men. Because there are many more Indian men trying to do things.
— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) January 2, 2017
Priyanka Chopra to sign Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next with Shah Rukh Khan?
Priyanka Chopra says she can't say no to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Will her next Bollywood project be Bhansali's film with Shah Rukh Khan?
Amitabh Bachchan Gets Emotional After Daughter Shweta Hosts A Surprise Dinner
The Bachchans met in the New Year for the first time and Shweta Nanda took over get-together arrangements which touched Big B deeply
Seeing Priyanka Chopra On The Kapil Sharma Show https://t.co/K8WPC9tliz @priyankachopra @KapilSharmaK9 @iamsrk @SrBachchan
— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) January 3, 2017
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