Potternama

Dear Mr. David Yates,

Having watched the earlier Potter movies and my general distaste for movies based on books (Angels and Demons, Da Vinci Code – you know the type) it was with a sense of great trepidation that I entered the cinema hall to watch the Half Blood Prince. But then, when the request to see the movie comes from your 9 year old brother, you really don’t have a choice, do you?

The 1^st 10 minutes – immobile pictures in the Daily Prophet (!!), Dumbeldore arriving unannounced on the platform, Harry seeming just a wee bit reluctant to go along with Dumbeldore – reconfirmed my fears. There it goes again, I thought. Why cant the makers just stick to the book!! But, moving on, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The book has been followed more or less (elaborated below), some parts edited out do not add much to the narrative, new characters played their parts well and the movie was sufficiently dark to act as a good prelude to the grand finale. The narrative was good enough to be followed by those who haven’t read the book yet. Why, even my brother exclaimed that he finally understood Draco’s mission was to kill Dumbeldore after pestering me through out the movie to spill the big secret (and no…I didn’t give him a single clue!). So kudos for that.

Let us now come to the ‘more or less’ bit mentioned above.

1. Harry taken to Slughorn’s place to convince him to take up the teaching job at Hogwarts. Unlike the book, here, Slughorn didn’t need any convincing from Harry at all and readily agreed just as Dumbeldore started to leave. So apart from seeing Slughorn emerge out after masquerading as an arm chair, there wasn’t any thing else in that scene.

2. Molly (along with Ginny, Ron, Hermione) being completely clueless that Harry was coming over to the Burrow. Dumdeldore had gone to the Privet Drive precisely for that reason – escort Potter to the Burrow safely for his remaining holidays (of course with a detour to Slughorn’s place)!

3. Draco entering Bogin & Burkes with the trio (Harry, Ron & Hermione) following them. At one point, they climbed over a roof to see what Malfoy was up to. Climbing??? They are wizards for chrissake! And whatever happened to the Extendable Ears invented by Fred and George especially when their shop at Diagon Alley was showcased in full glory 2 scenes before!

4. Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback attacking the Burrow with Harry, Ginny, Lupin, Tonks and Mr. Weasley rushing outside. After that, the Burrow was set ablaze. The Burrow along with the Privet Drive was placed under the strongest possible protection by the members of the Order. So, this scene was nothing but pure fabrication. Did we really run out of scenes that you had to resort to this kind of ‘creativity’ L

5. Ginny taking Harry to the Room of Requirement (RoR) to hide the Half Blood Prince’s Potions book. The RoR was discovered by Harry and utilized time and again before this (DA classes being just one example). Pls give Ginny and Potter more credit than that! Her fiery temper, quick wit, quidditch talent have been completely discounted.

6. Towards the end, Harry waiting silently while he sees Dumdeldore being surrounded by Draco and other Death Eaters. In walks Snape, gestures Harry to be quiet, moves up and finally kills Dumbeldore. Atrocious! Harry would rather die than follow any instruction from Snape especially when Dumbeldore is sick, unarmed and surrounded. In the book, he had been immobilized by Dumbeldore by a freezing charm (a non verbal spell) and hence was unable to move – unlike what has been shown in the movie. And I am not even mentioning the complete absence of the DA members in the last fight…!

Modify these and you have an amazing movie adapted from a book…still, not discounting that this movie is a good one.

No hint of romance between Lupin & Tonks and Bill & Fleur is enough for me to pre-empt which parts are definitely going to be chopped / not shot at all in the Deathly Hallows. Nonetheless, here’s hoping for the grandest and the best of all for the finale – the Deathly Hallows..!

Regards,

A Potter Fan

Bandhs

After a long hiatus, grey shades is back to talk about bandhs..

When we were kids, bandhs meant watching TV / reading books through the day. Then depending on whether it was a 12 hr or 24 hr bandh, we used to step out in the evening for chaat or a meal. All in all, we used to think a stay well spent…! My Dad however used to get super excited on these days. He conveniently used to stick a ‘Press’ poster on his car and rush to his office in the early hours of the morning before bandh officially kick started. I remember we sisters and friends praying fervently for a divine (read Mamta more often than not) intervention before every exam.

As we grew up, we realized bandhs are quite a regular phenomenon in this wonder state called Bengal. They were called for the slightest of reasons - lawlessness in the state, highhandedness of the govt in power, some policy of the central govt., - you name it, we have had it. And, promptly on that one call (whether by the state govt or the opposition), the entire city would shut down.

To give credit to the bandh callers, the day of the bandh was chosen quite strategically – not any day of the day would do… mind you, the bandh had to be on a Monday or a Friday so that the hardworking people of Bengal could get the benefit of an extended 3 day weekend. Who says politicians don’t work for the welfare of the people…!

Slowly but surely, the sheer futility of the bandhs hit us. Crippling the entire state on the whims and fancies of the CPM or the opposition was criminal. Spare a thought for the daily wage earners who wouldn’t get anything to eat if they don’t get a full day work. But, when you are tackling larger issues like terrorism, lawlessness, Singur, the daily wage earner can take a hike. I have no clue what was achieved through the bandhs and the damage done to Bengal and its people with each bandh was evident. I remember one bandh called in the city to protest against the terrorist attacks in Zaveri Bazar, Mumbai. On this, an Industry captain had commented: ‘I find it extremely funny that Mumbai is up and running the day after the attacks, while Calcutta has chosen to shut itself down in protest of these attacks’. This bandh obviously did not deter the terrorists from bombing Ahmedabad / Delhi / Mumbai etc. J

Today another 12 hr bandh has been called in the state to protest the attacks on the Congress workers by the CPM. Anyone who thought that the MLA who ran 3 kms in the paddy fields, chappals in hand and dhoti held high, to save his life from the CPM workers running behind him, would let this incident pass by were sorely mistaken. The entire state will pay for it – already evidenced by the torching of 7 state buses yesterday. To top it all, my 9 year old brother says ‘I had an exam today…awesome now I don’t have to study’ – somethings clearly haven’t changed...