No terrorist is completely guilty - Shivom Oza

November 27, 2008.

I was devastated to know about the loss of innocent lives. However, my heart went out to the several young gunmen.

Can we really blame them? They were probably raised in an environment where killing for justice was considered acceptable. They were brought up on misguided tales of injustices meted out to 'their' people, while children around the world learnt the alphabet, vowels and mathematics. They had to make the choice between poverty and terrorism, while people their age broke sweat over Science, Commerce and Arts.

Punish them, surely. Yet, is it truly their fault?

Shivom Oza

There's no accounting for taste - Shivom Oza

"How can you possibly like Rowdy Rathore? It's 'senseless' - an insult to cinema."

This is what I was told when I publicly revealed that I loved the Akshay Kumar-starrer. Do you have to watch Kashyap/Motwane/Scorsese/Allen/Fincher etc., to be certified as a film buff? Likewise, why can't anyone who only reads Chetan Bhagat, be proud to call himself/herself a reader?

Having an opinion is one thing; imposing it on others is what I'd call 'senseless'. No one has the right to choose what you should read/watch/think/say, but you.

BTW, I loved Kick. There's no accounting for taste.

Shivom Oza

Begin Again (2014) Film Recommendation Post | Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley - Shivom Oza

How does one cope up with a broken marriage, an estranged daughter and unemployment at the same time? An erstwhile music-business executive Dan (Mark Ruffalo), going through all the aforementioned troubles, attempts to redeem himself by helping a young singer-writer Gretta (Keira Knightley), who has her own share of problems, realize her potential in the field of music. Begin Again is a moving slice-of-life story about getting second chances in life. If you've ever gone through periods of self-doubt (post failure/betrayal), Begin Again should sort your head out. If the movie doesn't move you, its soundtrack definitely will!

Shivom Oza

Work Culture in India - Shivom Oza

The work culture in Indian organizations is abominable. A part of the salary gets deducted for coming late, but no compensation is given to those who have to stick around after work hours. If you happen to give extra time to work, you're supposed to be a 'dedicated' employee. Saturday is a working day (ridiculous). The employers stick to the rule book as long as it is convenient for them. They should realize that if they let their employees be, the latter will perform better. However, there is zero trust. The Indian work culture desperately needs an overhaul.

Shivom Oza

Where are the all-rounders? - Shivom Oza

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India's opening fast bowler, happened to score two 50s during the first Test match against England, last week. I read that some 'experts' are pondering over whether he is the fast bowling all-rounder, the Indian cricket team is desperately looking for! Such reportage left a few questions in my mind - Why do we jump to conclusions? Why are we so desperate for quick-fix solutions? Why are we so impatient? What pleasure do we get by ruining careers out of having unrealistic expectations? Ans. We are like that only! By the way, when will 'achche din' arrive?

Shivom Oza

Just voting will not make any difference! - Shivom Oza

Do all our duties and responsibilities towards our country, begin and end with voting? Just vote, and sit back and watch the tamasha unfold over the next five years, on our television screens! Convenient, isn't it? We want a non-corrupt government, but are we ourselves 100% clean? We want 0% crime rate, but have we never broken the law? We want better infrastructure, but have we never littered? We want equal rights for everybody, but have we never discriminated? We want change, but are we willing to change ourselves? Do cast your vote. However, it doesn't end there.

Shivom Oza

Yellow (2014) Film Recommendation Post | Gauri Gadgil & Mrinal Kulkarni, Dir: Mahesh Limaye - Shivom Oza

This weekend, I watched a Marathi film Yellow, which was based on the life of a mentally challenged girl named Gauri Gadgil, who overcomes odds to become a champion swimmer. It is one of the most inspiring sporting stories that I have come across. How do we usually react when we see somebody who is mentally handicapped? We pity them, and worry about their future. After having watched this movie, I will not do that anymore. We may not realize it, but they do find their happiness in things that appeal to them. They are not necessarily 'suffering'!

Shivom Oza