First, let me congratulate the director for making an wonderful movie. The actors had done an excellent job and the story is really gripping. The scenes are real (as I have personally experienced the tensed bus journey during cast riots in Tamil nadu). Rahul Bose as Raja (modern Muslim) is superb while the mannerisms of konkana Sen as Meenakshi Iyer is perfect with a typical Tamil brahmin lingo. As a movie it is 9/10 (Few glitches with over acting of some supporting actors and exceptional privilege extended by the police officer to Raja and Meenakshi by giving a resort is not explained well).
Let me come to the characterization of the caste. I came to know through directors interview that she choose to highlight Iyer caste as a model of the most conservative society every existed in the world. In democracy it is very much allowed. But what pained me was the explanation given to that. She feels that the society is not to open for modernization. What do you mean by modernization. When konkana sen in real life puffs cigarette and drinks alcohol, is that what she wants every Indian to do? In that case I believe that Iyer community being closed is worthy as science says smoking and drinking is not good. Every Hindu knows that compassion is the core aspect of life. At the same time he also knows the highest aspect of compassion is obtained by extending it even to animals. Now-a-days meat eating is considered as a modern way of life. If such is the compassion (partial and selfish) which aparanji expects in the modern world, then better I am ready to be enclosed in to the Iyer community as it gives an opportunity to be more compassionate even to animals. In democratic society every one has their own way of life. Vedanta (Hindu holy text) emphasis that excellent personality can be achieved by practicing strict spiritual discipline including focusing the food and hygiene. Drinking water from a bottle with out touching the mouth is more hygienic that sipping it. Why do you portray it as a cast issue? If Raja does it, it shows his ignorance but it has nothing to do with his Muslim life. To my knowledge brahmins prefer the orthodoxy in their home only. Certainly none of its members does it in the modern life like regretting drinking water from the bottle of Muslim. I am sorry to say that how primitive and selfish the motive of the director to sell the picture she ridiculed the homely observations (spiritual development) of Tamil iyers. Being a Tamil Iyer, even my own mom will not drink water from me during her spiritual practice. Let me clarify that it has nothing to do with caste but it has to do with spiritual and religious reasons. I know many Muslims and Christians will not eat food offered to Hindu god. I understand that it may not be acceptable to their spiritual practice. But i don't criticize it.
Some times I wonder why people of India is not making good cinema focusing on positive points (like Guide of R.K.Narayan) of Indian thoughts. Why people stoop so low to sell useless qualities of Indian life like violence and en cashing the human sentiments like portraying a Jew in a bad light. Aparnaji can concentrate little bit on Swami Vivekananda's teaching little bit (by visiting belur math) and make a movie with full of positive thoughts like "Come lions Cheer up, Shed away the delusion that you are a sheep")
Let me come to the characterization of the caste. I came to know through directors interview that she choose to highlight Iyer caste as a model of the most conservative society every existed in the world. In democracy it is very much allowed. But what pained me was the explanation given to that. She feels that the society is not to open for modernization. What do you mean by modernization. When konkana sen in real life puffs cigarette and drinks alcohol, is that what she wants every Indian to do? In that case I believe that Iyer community being closed is worthy as science says smoking and drinking is not good. Every Hindu knows that compassion is the core aspect of life. At the same time he also knows the highest aspect of compassion is obtained by extending it even to animals. Now-a-days meat eating is considered as a modern way of life. If such is the compassion (partial and selfish) which aparanji expects in the modern world, then better I am ready to be enclosed in to the Iyer community as it gives an opportunity to be more compassionate even to animals. In democratic society every one has their own way of life. Vedanta (Hindu holy text) emphasis that excellent personality can be achieved by practicing strict spiritual discipline including focusing the food and hygiene. Drinking water from a bottle with out touching the mouth is more hygienic that sipping it. Why do you portray it as a cast issue? If Raja does it, it shows his ignorance but it has nothing to do with his Muslim life. To my knowledge brahmins prefer the orthodoxy in their home only. Certainly none of its members does it in the modern life like regretting drinking water from the bottle of Muslim. I am sorry to say that how primitive and selfish the motive of the director to sell the picture she ridiculed the homely observations (spiritual development) of Tamil iyers. Being a Tamil Iyer, even my own mom will not drink water from me during her spiritual practice. Let me clarify that it has nothing to do with caste but it has to do with spiritual and religious reasons. I know many Muslims and Christians will not eat food offered to Hindu god. I understand that it may not be acceptable to their spiritual practice. But i don't criticize it.
Some times I wonder why people of India is not making good cinema focusing on positive points (like Guide of R.K.Narayan) of Indian thoughts. Why people stoop so low to sell useless qualities of Indian life like violence and en cashing the human sentiments like portraying a Jew in a bad light. Aparnaji can concentrate little bit on Swami Vivekananda's teaching little bit (by visiting belur math) and make a movie with full of positive thoughts like "Come lions Cheer up, Shed away the delusion that you are a sheep")