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Watching “Avatar” at a suburban movie hall in Mumbai over the weekend, I was reminded of the debate that I had with my cousin last year. My cousin is a big fan of Peter Schiff – an intellectual but bearish analyst in the US – and felt that the danger gongs have already sounded for the US and now that it was upto China & India to take its rightful & eminent place in the world.
I say – more strength to the developing world – but where’s the so called bugle? For any country to establish itself in a competitive market, it needs to be top of the pops in terms of innovative products, global leadership in industry & entrepreneurial spirit – all of which is lacking sorely in India at least. After all the two best contributions from India over the last decade have been the Tata Nano and the 20-20 IPL tourney ONLY (and I welcome a debate on this); and again with the Tata Nano scoring on costs only and not in terms of any innovation. In a recessionary environment, cost control products do soar. But what sets the pulses absolutely going bonkers is new ideas & new products. Something like the i-pod. Something like HD TV. Something like 3D movies (which are not anaglyph only). It’s the spirit of adventurism that has led so many people in the West to innovate and consistently put out products in the market that dazzle. Of course, the Chinese put out a cheap imitation of the same product in the market within 24 hours (alas…copyright is no longer secure in the modern web world). But then logic dictates that the “me too” products will consistently have a lesser shelf life the guys who will score in the long run are those to whom belong the new ideas.
Coming back to India – what happened to "dared to dream bigger", "dared to dream different" "dared to dream at all"? Why is it that we always claim the discovery of '0' as the single biggest achievement in every email forward that supposedly extols the greatness of India? Somebody had the audacity to invent the wheel, somebody dared to create film, somebody dreamed to fly and now we have a man on the moon!! The most audacious, daring and magical moments in the history of mankind - every step that has created a milestone in human progress - and we have only the Tata Nano!! How can a nation of so many millions have such limited time for ideas on anything including sport? You will notice that its only the past that is heralded about India - not the present - the future is a hope, a spirit, a dream. Some like to cling to tradition & culture. But even those ardent lovers of the past - when they are asked to paint a picture of the future - think of magical things and do not think of the current status quo. Seems like a duplicity there, isnt it? The future can and has to be different but we refuse to change the present!! I think the only way to change the system is to educate. Education inculcates civic values - we need cleaner roads; moral values - some less corruption please!!;a new breed of thinkers - sigh..for some more magical inventions;a new competitiveness - more people, more kicks in the ass, right? simple logic!! Educate - for free perhaps - but do it as a gift to the future - as a hope for the country that we live in - as gratitude for everything that your country has given to you.
But anyway not losing the nub - face it! The guy who made ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ – a big & grand phillum about a lavish wedding, and supposedly the biggest BO king in India of its times – then went on to make more phillums on …… you guessed right… lavish-er weddings. Where’s the adventure in tried & tested formulae? That’s why you should go & watch ‘Avatar’ – not for the e factor alone – but maybe just to salute the spirit in which the film was made. Its not about doomed romances in sinking ships – cos that would have been the easier route to take. It’s the road less traveled – carrying a reputational risk and lotsa money riding on it – but with the air of self - confidence - of pulling it off. Thrilling in spirit …. and on film too!!
I say – more strength to the developing world – but where’s the so called bugle? For any country to establish itself in a competitive market, it needs to be top of the pops in terms of innovative products, global leadership in industry & entrepreneurial spirit – all of which is lacking sorely in India at least. After all the two best contributions from India over the last decade have been the Tata Nano and the 20-20 IPL tourney ONLY (and I welcome a debate on this); and again with the Tata Nano scoring on costs only and not in terms of any innovation. In a recessionary environment, cost control products do soar. But what sets the pulses absolutely going bonkers is new ideas & new products. Something like the i-pod. Something like HD TV. Something like 3D movies (which are not anaglyph only). It’s the spirit of adventurism that has led so many people in the West to innovate and consistently put out products in the market that dazzle. Of course, the Chinese put out a cheap imitation of the same product in the market within 24 hours (alas…copyright is no longer secure in the modern web world). But then logic dictates that the “me too” products will consistently have a lesser shelf life the guys who will score in the long run are those to whom belong the new ideas.
Coming back to India – what happened to "dared to dream bigger", "dared to dream different" "dared to dream at all"? Why is it that we always claim the discovery of '0' as the single biggest achievement in every email forward that supposedly extols the greatness of India? Somebody had the audacity to invent the wheel, somebody dared to create film, somebody dreamed to fly and now we have a man on the moon!! The most audacious, daring and magical moments in the history of mankind - every step that has created a milestone in human progress - and we have only the Tata Nano!! How can a nation of so many millions have such limited time for ideas on anything including sport? You will notice that its only the past that is heralded about India - not the present - the future is a hope, a spirit, a dream. Some like to cling to tradition & culture. But even those ardent lovers of the past - when they are asked to paint a picture of the future - think of magical things and do not think of the current status quo. Seems like a duplicity there, isnt it? The future can and has to be different but we refuse to change the present!! I think the only way to change the system is to educate. Education inculcates civic values - we need cleaner roads; moral values - some less corruption please!!;a new breed of thinkers - sigh..for some more magical inventions;a new competitiveness - more people, more kicks in the ass, right? simple logic!! Educate - for free perhaps - but do it as a gift to the future - as a hope for the country that we live in - as gratitude for everything that your country has given to you.
But anyway not losing the nub - face it! The guy who made ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ – a big & grand phillum about a lavish wedding, and supposedly the biggest BO king in India of its times – then went on to make more phillums on …… you guessed right… lavish-er weddings. Where’s the adventure in tried & tested formulae? That’s why you should go & watch ‘Avatar’ – not for the e factor alone – but maybe just to salute the spirit in which the film was made. Its not about doomed romances in sinking ships – cos that would have been the easier route to take. It’s the road less traveled – carrying a reputational risk and lotsa money riding on it – but with the air of self - confidence - of pulling it off. Thrilling in spirit …. and on film too!!
