Judgement Call

In context of the controversy regarding Shri Justice KG Balakrishnan and his family's recently acquired munificence, I heard a few judicial fraternity old-timers urge him to go the extra mile in clearing the air. 'Caesar's wife should be above suspicion' was the shibboleth they asked to be upheld; exhorting the immediate past occupant of the exalted chair of India's Chief Justice. Messrs Iyer, Verma and Nariman, luminaries all, should know: with long, distinguished career records serving the law and jurisprudence. Oft-quoted as the tenet is, I appreciate and endorse it as touchstone of propriety in high places. Yet, I found the suggestion over-hopeful, and somewhat puerile.

First, the allegations: the litany of charges against Shri Balakrishnan is significant. Coincident with his tenure as CJI, fortunes of multiple members of his family (son-in-law, brother, nephew etc) are reported to have skyrocketed. The asset accumulation is rumoured to be in tens of crores: houses, farms, jewellery shops, hotels and other business interests etc; presumably by peddling favour in judicial verdicts and administrative decisions. He also stands accused of playing godfather at large, shielding A Raja, 2G-scam kingpin and Middle India’s reigning bête-noire, from prosecution on attempt to influence a Madras HC judge in a corruption case against one of his cohorts. It’s complicated; or is it?

Next, consider the nation’s mood. Our collective consciousness is beset with an unending saga of corruption. We may not end up as a Tunisia or Egypt, but despair over this disgraceful dance of adharma is palpable. In this widespread morass, our higher judiciary’s stellar activist tilt has been aam aadmi’s last refuge for over two decades. Having presided over this venerated arm of our government (for one of its longest tenures), better could have been expected from Mr Balakrishnan. Instead one is presented with the sight of his portly form scurry away with an inane smile, TV journos in pursuit. It is not quite the picture of one with ‘nothing to hide’. It is also farthest from desired, in our current national context or dignity of his last office.

Unfortunately, there’s more. Yesterday Mr Balakrishnan said ‘no’ to sharing information on his or his family’s assets. This is piquant. At a time when his supposedly illicit gains weren’t yet the talk of the town, he had led the higher judiciary’s resistance to publicly declaring their assets. I had been surprised: the wise men in black robes had uncannily called right India's public mood on every issue since late 80s. Yet, in an ostensible no-brainer, where they could have easily continued at the vanguard of probity, under his leadership they refused to play ball. Given the monolithic, opaque nature of its functioning, it is difficult to surmise to what extent the erstwhile captain moulded the team’s stance. They were, in any case, made to yield, but not before an unseemly fraternal spat; thus ceding the high moral ground in a manner unprecedented in recent memory. The ex-CJI’s latest denial to an RTI query adds a somewhat macabre slant to those developments.

Noteworthy too is the purported reason for the nay-saying stance: information sought is not of public value! If talk of malfeasance, millions flying thick and fast, CJI-ship incumbency (not to forget existing stewardship of NHRC) etc don’t qualify as community interest, it stretches one’s imagination to think what does. His may be a nuanced legal view, disdain for the spirit of the law, or simply PR hara-kiri; but if unchanged, the afore-mentioned eminent jurists’ conscience call has no hope. Unless, Your Honour...

PS: No surprises in the redoubtable Law Minister’s hasty endorsement under an equally specious argument (no questioning folks in sensitive positions, or words to that effect). The wily Karnataka politician had readily absolved Shri Balakrishnan in the Raja tangle too. Lesson then: swear by the forwarding letter, ignore the attached actual. And now: (apropos the Rajas, Kalmadis and Chavans) no uncomfortable enquiries please, we’re Indian. Let’s just send them flowers!

Today: 10-to-11

This Saturday, HT City carried a page depicting eleven gamechanging Hindi movies from the last decade. I am not sure if these movies, or at least all of them, were pathbreaking in the fashion described, but they nevertheless make a fair representation of popular cinema between 2001 and 2010. It would also be in order to mention their marked commercial success, remarkable for me in the sense that box-office recognition is a clear shibboleth of mainstream moviemaking. But lets talk the movies themselves first.

Two on the list were from 2001. Ashutosh Gowarikar-directed Lagaan was a period drama that combined dollops of patriotism, bestselling music and uniquely Indian love for cricket to hold the audience in thrall till a literal last-ball six symbolizing victory of good over evil. It also spawned a level of MBA-speak (email forwards were in vogue then), touting a case study for teamwork and assorted management principles. Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta hai was a coming of age story in notably youthful and upmarket urban setting much before our demographic dividend was taken as a given, though the economic prosperity subtext was well established. I know enough folks that identified with DCH’s college-and-after situations; or with one of the protagonists: the broody Sid, female-felled Sameer and merry-go-lucky Akash (for those of you that remember, I also know a Subodh!) in a fashion unprecedented for Hindi cinema.

Moving on, 2003 had two entries as well. Koi Mil Gaya was a ritual Hindi movie saga of underdog triumph most noteworthy for a starring role for Jaadu, a pint-size desi ET that brought director-producer Rakesh Roshan king-size success. Its friendly treatment of a mentally challenged character was a subtle baby-step, the overt sci-fi setting a pioneering attempt in a cinema mostly known for its formulaic approach. Likewise, under Raju Hirani's baton, Munnabhai MBBS tread a new path, making a winning concoction of two dons: one a do-gooder bhai, other a stickler university Prof. A commentary on med-school exam system, lady love's hard-to-get-with-a-difference act, Bombaiyya lingo and avuncular humour in the otherwise morbid hospital setting - it was a class act.

Cut to 2006 and Rang De Basanti redefined cinema's impact on society. High on patriotism, the Rakeysh Mehra directed film was a brilliant expression of youth angst, starkly contrasting contemporary political mess with inspiring idealism from our Freedom Struggle. Much beyond storytelling, RDB’s veritable clarion call against corruption, or mobilization of the aggrieved many, are no less pertinent today. Youth and the Great Indian Middle voted with their wallets and feet, the latter a glimmer of hope for causes lost in the mire of vested interests in our country.

2007 had no less than three mentions. Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met was an uncomplicated, lighthearted romantic affair, very accurately described by HT as 'a breath of fresh air', the spunky Geet making it the only movie on the list with a heroine dominant plot. Shimit Amin made Chak De the same year, another nationalism-meets-sporting achievement offering that, at the very least, succeeded in getting our national game back in public consciousness. Aamir Khan's fairytale directorial debut in Taare Zameen Par was a landmark too, challenging educational system stereotypes in our notoriously conformist society. In the context of our impending Demographic Dividend, its advocacy of innovative career choices and empathetic handling of special children was outstanding.

From 2009, HT's choice of Hirani's 3 Idiots was a shoo-in. Well-deserved questioning of learning-by-rote or overly-emphasized, narrow definition of scholastic achievement was at the film’s core; and a subtle Roarkian undercurrent on encouraging excellence blended with a humourous take on college hostel life. One more that captured the imagination of more than the youth around whom it was pivoted.

The only movie from the list I have not seen (unintended; to be corrected shortly) is Shankar's Robot from 2010. It is also the only feature (and it is telling that I can aver thus with complete confidence, without having actually seen the film!) incomplete without a panegyric to its hero, the inimitable Rajnikanth and his flair for shattering box office records.

I shall pause now. Dabangg, I presume is too recent to need me to jog those grey cells. Any case, but for an overly hyped item number, I found it a decent watch if not in the same league as others in the pantheon (no elitist rant, just that Salman does not much agree with me most times). Equally, and on the topic of my rating being influenced by lead actors, I present Aamir Khan, a bigger presence in this pastiche than any other, and who taught me the lesson of not judging a book by its cover! But that’s a story for a later day...