Simple yet elusive..

On a fine weekend day, I and my friend get into a conversation about the movie that we watched. We have different opinions about the movie, which is normally the case. Apparently, this was one of the most awaited Tamil movies and unlike most Tamil movies, this was worked on for over 2 years. The movie watchers community was all ga-ga about the movie. Supposedly a historical movie about one of the powerful rulers of Tamil Nadu - one of the most elite rulers - the Cholas, who I must say I admire the most. After all, their reign was not called "Golden era of Cholas" for nothing.

I do not have any prejudice about the director and hardly do I go to movie with great expectations. But this movie was down right an injustice to the way Cholas lived. I consider that as an insult to the Cholas. I am sure not many would share that opinion. But I dare say, I do have that opinion. Beyond all this, the second part of the movie was blatantly gory - oh, too gory for South Indian standards. Now, this is where I and my friend have strongest difference of opinion. According to my friend, this movie cannot even be described as "gory" if compared to Western movies and that is when the word "globalization" cropped up. That is something I do not understand. "Globalization" does not mean we lose our identity in the international arena. (BTW I do not include clothing or partying as being attributes of identity. Identity goes above and beyond all those. Another overly abused word.). Globalization is applicable to economy, industry etc etc. But there are certain aspects that are local. I am sure the director did not want to take the movie for international audience. Movies are meant primarily for local audience, appealing to their taste and is strongly connected to their way of thinking at present. Globalization in the movies may be limited to "how" movies are taken purely from technical and technological standards but "what" is the movie all about is strongly local. I am of the opinion that this is one of the most strongly abused words of all time, even worst that IT jargon. There are certain aspects that are strictly tribal. Food, way of thought and what is appealing and what is appalling are few of them. All business magnets realize this, may be the common people don't.

If globalization means setting international standards for everything, why would McDonalds in India sell Panner tikka burgers? Why not sell the raw meat burgers that they sell in US?