Insensitive audience

Sometimes, I feel we are losing sensitivity to whats happening around us. I came across a similar display of insensitivity while watching Black. In the movie, Michelle is deaf, blind and dumb (see previous posting). And her teacher, Debraj Sahai, is everything for her. In fact, she is the only man she knows, apart from her father.
When her younger sister gets married, Sahai gives a running commentary of the ritual to Michelle. When the couple kiss, he describes it also.
Here, the only kiss Michelle knows is on the cheek. She feels her cheek. Sahai corrects her, "Not in the cheek... in the lips". Michelle is surprised. She has never heard such a thing!
Later at home, Michelle expresses her fears to Sahai. She says she is afraid she will never get married and she will never be able to receive such a kiss because she knows no other male than Debraj Sahai. She gathers courage and asks him to kiss her in her lips. Sahai is stunned. He refuses. But later, he gives in and kisses her. He then leaves Michelle for good.
When Sahai kissed her, a guy in the audience yelled, "Lucky old man!". May be he wanted to have some fun. But understandably, he knew little about human emotions. No one in the audience was amused. But they (including me) kept quiet.
But an old woman in the audience got wild. "If you cant understand get out," she yelled back.

Amitabh and Ayesha in Black
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B L A C K

“Life is like an ice cream…,” Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan) says. You almost miss the second part -- “…enjoy it while it lasts.” This is just one of the areas where Black is different. No character stands up and speaks to the camera like we see in other movies.
I went to the movie with apprehension — whether my kid will be able to sit through what I thought would be a ‘black’ movie. But surprisingly, she liked it, and enjoyed it too.
This is the difference with Black. The subject of the movie is dark. Michelle Mc Nally is deaf, blind and dumb. Her parents don’t know what to do with her. She grows up as a brat.
Then comes into her life an eccentric teacher (Amitabh). He takes up the ‘challenge’ and transforms her. Later, when the teacher suffers from Alzheimer's disease, (Alzheimer's or Alzheimers -- a progressive form of presenile dementia that is similar to senile dementia except that it usually starts in the 40s or 50s; first symptoms are impaired memory which is followed by impaired thought and speech and finally complete helplessness) Michelle uses the same methods to bring him back to normalcy.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has managed to bring out the best from everyone, including Amitabh. But the surprise element is Ayesha, who comes as the young Michelle.
Bhansali has to be commended for his courage. The subject of the movie is dark. And the movie itself has no songs.
The movie has to be watched in a theatre. The visuals are breathtaking. You will certainly miss a lot if you watch the movie in your puny little TV.
Rush to the nearest theatre. The movie is already four weeks old. It is unlikely to withstand anymore. By watching the movie in a theater, you will encourage young filmmakers like Bhansali to make more films like Black.

The Dalai Lama and Shiv Sena

The Pak tour was finalised.
The Dalai Lama was invited to inaugurate the match at Dharmashala.
The Pakistanis protested.
They said they had 'good' relations with China.
An didnt want the Dalai Lama to spoil it.
So, India agreed.
The Dalai Lama wont inaugurate the match.
No newpaper/channel highlighted this.
If the Sena guys dig the pitches, we say dont mix politics with sports.
Now what do we say?