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"The End Is Near" Naysayers are having a field day spelling doom for Bollywood, the common nickname of the Hindi commercial film industry. Take numbers - There have been hardly any massive hits or blockbusters last year from Bollywood. Top-rated superstars have seen their films crashing at the box office. Nothing seems to be working - neither big-budget blingy escapades, nor feel-good social dramas, romantic capers or senseless comedies that used to rake in the moolah in the past.  The word-of-mouth and vibe is at an all-time low. So much so, superstars or mega stars have had to plead to people to not boycott their films. Bollywood biggies are approaching southern directors to endorse their films, or are tying up for joint ventures.  Will remakes do the magic? Will super-hero movies - high on CGI effects, bring the audience back to the halls? Will war movies or patriotism or jingoism riddled stuff work? ---NAAH Never before has the Hindi commercial film industry - one that ha...

Benaras/Varanasi in India is not a place. It is an emotion, an eternity, an awe-evoking sentiment. I didn't think I would be this captivated by this ancient town of narrow gullies, ghats and godmen. After all, jaded me had seen all that had to be seen on screen, depicted by maestros like Satyajit Ray. But I was mersmerized, and enchanted indeed. Varanasi = Eternity The 84 colourful, eclectic ghats stretching from Assi Ghat on one side to Varuna Ghat on the other, and the timeless, eternal Ganga flowing along.  The kaleidoscopic sky - changing colour with the advent and the setting of the sun.  The chirping and cackling of various birds, particularly mynahs and parakeets, sparrows and egrets. The evening lighting up with twinkling lamps and lights around the ghats.  The medley of colours, cultures, religions, dialects, races.  The aroma of delicious kachoris and jalebis, and the ephemeral taste of the malaiyo or nimish.   Just sitting on the ghats can be e...