Lochinvar in Bollywood...

One of my all time favorite poems Lochinvar by Sir Walter Scott, a poem set in the 18th & 19th century actually foretold the storyline of many a Bollywood blockbusters of the 21st century. Let me take you into a journey from one century to another, for a change we are not talking about Sachin Tendulkar…

(Lets start with Shahrukh Khan in Pardes…)
H! young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none.
He rode all unarmed and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.

(The second stanza reminds me of Aamir Khan in Qayamat se Qayamat tak)
He stayed not for brake and he stopped not for stone,
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none,
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love and a dastard in war
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

(Now moving to Salman Khan in Hum Aapke Hai Kaun)
So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall, Among bridesmen, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword,--
For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word,-- '
Oh! come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?'--

(Amrish Puri and Shahrukh Khan in Dil Wale Dulhanya le Jayinge)
'I long wooed your daughter, my suit you denied;
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide--
And now am I come, with this lost love of mine,
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar.'


(Kuch Kuch Hota Hai…)
The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up,
He quaffed off the wine, and she threw down the cup,
She looked down to blush, and he looked up to sigh,
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand ere her mother could bar,--
'Now tread we a measure!' said young Lochinvar.

(Kuch Kuch Hota Hai contd.)
So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume,
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;
And the bride -- maidens whispered ''Twere better by far To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar.'
One touch to her hand and one word in her ear,
When they reached the hall-door, and the charger stood near;
So light to the coupe the fair lady he swung,
So light to the saddle before her he sprung!
'She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
They'll have fleet steeds that follow,' quoth young Lochinvar.

(The car chase climax …. Typical of any last scene from a Bollywood blockbuster…)
There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan;
Fosters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran:
There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee,
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.
So daring in love and so dauntless in war,
Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?

Judgement Day

An interesting day of judicial ramifications of various cases from an AAM AADMI point of view… A Killing Confession, A Verdict on the fast lane, and an Adjournment that was all gas…all in a day

To start with the famed Ajmal Amer Kasab confessed to his crime, not quiet sure if it was out of duress at the thought of going thro the long Indian judicial system. He in fact went to the extent of telling the court to punish him and close the case. Very thoughtful of him. If it happens this could be a huge relief on the exchequer and also a closure of a high profile case in record time. Both a rarity in the Indian judicial system, Thanks to Kasab, atleast something to thank him for.

The verdict on the high profile grandson of an even more high profile grandfather driving a coveted 3 lettered car and mopping down 6 people was reduced from 5 years in prison to 2 years…Culpable homicide not amounting to murder becomes causing death by negligence…funny are the ways of the Indian penal code. Negligence not amounting to culpable homicide which in turn not amounting to murder. So when driving, you can afford to be negligent but never commit culpable homicide, the difference is 3 years…

Finally the battle of the brothers won an adjournment, the adjournment was not the fun part it was the respective lawyers of the brothers that left me rolling in laughter. 2 iconic names in the Indian judiciary were engaged in a war of words…You know where?? No not the court room but on media. In fact I have heard both of them shun the media more than oft and advocating the importance of keeping the media out of judicial system. Here one was vying with the other for media space to voice their respective allegiance to the ‘Brothers in ARMS’.