WHEREAS, Aishwarya Bachchan (née Rai) won the 
Miss World contest in 1994, bringing glory to India and paving the way for three lesser beauties to win the same title.
WHEREAS, Freida Pinto was a model who appeared in ads for Hutch, Airtel and Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, but was not selected by L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics and beauty company, to grace billboards in New York, Toronto and other major cities around the world, causing innumerable men to drive their cars into telephone poles.
WHEREAS, Aishwarya Bachchan has long been known as “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,†a title bestowed on her by none other than Julia Roberts, which, along with the acronym TMBWIIW, is widely recognized as her trademark, in much the same way as Angelina Jolie is widely considered to possess the trademark of TMBWITWOTA, or “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World Other Than Aishwarya.â€
WHEREAS, Aishwarya Bachchan has appeared in 40 movies, has been crowned the “Queen of Bollywood,†and is a favorite of Mani Ratnam, Ashutosh Gowariker and other top directors who have created blockbusters featuring such acclaimed stars as Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Bachchan.
<
p>WHEREAS, Freida Pinto has appeared in just one English movie, a role that required her mainly to smile and look pretty, while Aishwarya Bachchan has starred in several English movies such as Bride and Prejudice, Mistress of Spices and The Pink Panther 2, roles that required her to not just smile and look pretty, but also flutter her eyelashes.
WHEREAS, Aishwarya Bachchan is a member of the First Family of Bollywood, having married Abhishek Bachchan, the son of the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, aka Big B, the former “King of Bollywood,†who graciously abdicated his throne to allow younger actors to enjoy the limelight and to assume a new throne: “King of the Blogosphere.”
WHEREAS, Aishwarya Bachchan has longer hair and greener eyes than Freida Pinto.
NOW, THEREFORE, The parties reach the following agreement:
1. Freida Pinto shall not make any acceptance speeches at award shows or elsewhere without adding the words “I thank Ash for paving the way.â€
2. Freida Pinto shall not appear in any movie in which another character refers to her character as “the most beautiful woman in the world,†without a disclaimer appearing in the ending credits that states: “All characters and compliments in this film are entirely fictitious.”
3. Freida Pinto shall not accept any compliment that includes the words “most beautiful†without saying, “Thank you, but you obviously have not seen Ash.â€
4. Freida Pinto shall try her best not to monopolize movie roles intended for “exotic beauties.â€
5. Freida Pinto shall make every effort, at any function attended by both parties, to direct members of the paparazzi toward Aishwarya Bachchan.
6. In return for the aforementioned consideration, Aishwarya Bachchan agrees to bestow the title of “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,†along with the acronym TMBWITW, on Freida Pinto no later than 30 days after her 80th birthday.
50 · PS said
My reference to the caste system was based on a documentary I had just watched about untouchables in india. In that documentary, a young untouchable made the mistake of walking into a different section of the village, where untouchables were not allowed to go.
When I said that this would not happen in Africa, I mean that there is no caste system that would specifically prevent a child from walking into any village.
What happened in rwanda with the tutsi and hutus is not connected to the above example. A better comparison would be to use the religious clashes in india between hindus and muslims where you have communal violence that leaves many dead. However, in times of peace, you don’t see tribes in africa who are unable to walk into villages simply because of a prescribed caste system. There is no caste system in africa. this is unique to india, I believe.
And that part about tutsi’s measuring their noses was introduced by the belgium colonizers, not the rwandese people.
99 · Rahul said
Do you know if someone has done leg work and compiled a list of the hits and antecedents (just RD Burman not other Bolly/Tolly/Kolly wood music directors) ? Man! it will fun listening to both versions :).
The point about comparing AR Rahman to Hollywood composers is that it does not adequately describe Rahman’s magic and status in Indian popular culture, and in the hearts of Indians.
In America, Hollywood composers are just that — composers for films. In India, popular music has always been intertwined with movies, which are the common dreaming currency of the populace of India, and so the composer has a place in the consciousness of the masses comparable to the status of the most popular, famous and loved pop starts and musicians in the West. If you want to compare Rahman to artists in America, if you say he was a mixture of Timbaland, Dr Dre, Coldplay, and Prince in the 1980’s and 1990’s, it might give you a sense of the scope of his influence and originality and ubiquity, but even then, it doesn’t really explain how his music is felt soul-deep in India.
102 · sulabh said
From the first Google hit for “rd burman plagiarism”, I give you this.
I could say the same – just because you know of some composers does not mean they are well known. It does not matter what a handful of people know/ don’t know. Is there absolutely noone in India who knows these guys you talk about, or listens to them – of course not. Thats not my point. My point is that Hollywood composers are not well-known in India and simply do not figure in the picture. Very few people would have a discussion about whether Rahman’s music in Delhi-6 is better than the score in Wall-E. They are more likely to argue if it is better than Dev D.
I mentioned one of the names he has been compared to – Illayaraja. He composes music for Tamil cinema (google rahman vs. illayaraja). There are other talented/popular composers – Monty Sharma (Saawariya), Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Shantanu Moitra and Vishal-Shekhar.
“Do you know if someone has done leg work and compiled a list of the hits and antecedents (just RD Burman not other Bolly/Tolly/Kolly wood music directors) ? Man! it will fun listening to both versions :).”
google to the rescue!
Can’t think of the film but one of the love songs is clearly using a riff off Akon’s Smack That…
I understand this sentiment. Imo some of the best pieces by ARR (and Ilaiyaraja) are the ones with heavy folk elements. But he’s doing a masterful job at blending all these elements – folk, synthetic, western pop.
Sorry nm – I believe your one documentary on caste in India and not understanding oppression or ideas of pollution (ideas from caste discrimination) are a little unfounded.
In the US, many blacks and other people of color could not drink from the same water fountains, eat at the same diners and could not come in certain parts of town. South Africa practiced this type of apartheid for a long time. The US and S. Africa both
No, I don’t think you can compare the tribal violence and genocide that racks many countries of Africa to the communal violence that happens sometimes in India – the scale, which makes a big difference is not the same.
Africa is a very diverse place, but I have feeling the tribal exclusivity where one feels their nose is smaller than the other tribes, or one groups hair is “better” than another can keep people separate, when the result is genocide, no?.
How about the idea that one tribe sold others into slavery or one tribe of black people treat another tribe of black people like slaves – things like that have happened and continue to happen in Somalia or Sudan – I think if I was going to be killed or sold into slavery b/c I’m from a type of tribe or look a certain way than that would prescribe where I walk or the drinking spots I got to, don’t you think?
In South Asia, the idea of caste was written and it was interpreted in many different ways at different times in India. In Africa, most of the tribal groups, that maintain exclusivity, did not have a written language until recently – so this idea of pollution and apartheid that happened in the caste system is perhaps unique b/c how old the writings of caste are. But not the idea of oppressing other people or keeping other separate. It’s so sad thinking in the US, that older black people I meet were segregated in different schools and had to drink in different waterfountains.
I have a friend (she’s Indian) who travels to Nigeria b/c of her work (int’l development). One thing that she was talking about was that, she was surprised that the people who she worked with (who were ostensibly educated) talked down to someone b/c of their tribe or made snide remarks about one tribe or another. She said it reminded her on how some castist Indians talk to others Indians who they consider to be lower castes. I don’t know what the laws are in Nigeria or many of the other African countries, but when you have dictators in power, I wouldn’t be surprised if the laws are written for the preference of one particular tribe. Anyways the tribal genocide, ideas of superiority of one tribe to another seems very similar to some interpretations of caste, not religious fighting.
And I really doubt that Roshan guy (I don’t find him cute; don’t like his nose) like most bollywood actors use much skin lightening (which probably don’t work) but as I’m sure you know many Indians are naturally light-skinned.
Even though, I do not care for Bollywood and its music, especially recent stuff, I will find some songs that are catchy. However, in general, I find Bollywood scores(not to be confused with the songs) to be cheesy and tinny sounding,especially when they try to mimic western sounds. For me, Dum maro Dum from 40 years ago or whatever sounds hipper than a lot of the bollywood modern stuff.
For those who do not know who Ennio Morricone is, just watch Kill Bill movies. They sampled most of his scores. The movie plays like a greatest hits compilation of his spaghetti western scores. A great composer with his own style. Hans Zimmer is known to crib scores too, by the way.
Speaking of copying songs, I remember watching MIA’s Jimmy on Youtube and some people attacked it for saying it wasn’t original. At least, she admitted it was a cover. The funny thing the song she covered was actually copied without credit from a french song. When I read more youtube comments, someone linked us to the French song that the Indian composer lifted the tune from some French group Ottawan.
My reference to the caste system was based on a documentary I had just watched about untouchables … in times of peace, you don’t see tribes in africa who are unable to walk into villages simply because of a prescribed caste system. There is no caste system in africa.
people who live in tropical countries are not supposed to look white. They are supposed to have melanin because that is what protects their skin from the sun and the heat.
except for that one godawful song from Titanic – and yes, there are a few people who love the songs of Sound of Music and some still grooving to Grease. Upper middle class college educated folks are more likely to know rock/pop/heavy metal bands than Hollywood composers. The point I was trying to make is that India has its own independent cinematic tradition, its own line of great composers and naturally they are the people that Rahman gets compared to.
Is today “teach your elders what I googled today” day? Or, When did SM become prescribed reading at GWB Elementary, Killeen, TX?
109 · Pravin said
Which is why Bruce Willis shot him in the forehead with his warcry of Yippee-kee-yay.
104 · Rahul said
LOL! Thanks! I should have googled myself. (thanks to you too port..)
That is fun! I am all for shaming the most blatant plaigarists of Bollywood.
I have utter contempt for those in contemporary Indian cinema who do this. RD Berman I let off, earlier times, more innocent times, he was lazy, he could get away with it.
But in the modern world, it is incredible that there are people around who think they can get away with it. I actually wanted to fly to Bombay and scream in the face of the pathetic man who did this
That is of course from Zinda, and the lowlife cheat was stealing this scene as his own — same storyline, same plot, same characters, almost scene by scene stolen.
I leave you with the most recent comment from the above Zinda youtube clip, that sums up my thoughts on Sanjay Gupta and his loathsome breed of cheeky Indian cinematic plaigarists:
As long as people like this exist, Indian cinema will be the utter laughing stock of the world.
I think one major difference between Ash and Frieda is that though they are both beautiful, they look is very different. Ash is just plain beautiful, like like a painting but there isn’t much depth to her look. You just look and she is beautiful and you move on. But with Frieda, you see that she is beautiful but also has some depth. She has interesting features thus you kind of keep looking at her to study her face. Another example of this is if you were to compare Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett, both are beautiful but I can never just look away from Cate’s picture.
Mountaindreamer,
My comment was in response to your assertion that no one in India listens to Hollywood music.
Several of the pop songs on the RD Burman list have borrowed from classical music. So are we back to Mozart now?
Pravin, what about Malena – Monica Bellucci for god sakes! You can watch Monica and enjoy Morricone’s music at the same time.
You people know that this is supposed to be funny? Why cant the reader’s of this blog ever be funny?
Do you guys ever have a good time or do you carry around a debate podium everywhere you go?
I have never read a blog where so many people take so much pride in being so boring.
I would have to more or less agree with Rainmaiden’s comment posted earlier.
Frieda Pinto’s role in Slumdog Millionaire was barely even a role. She was there to smile, act pretty and said a few lines here and there. Her appearance on the film Slumdog Millionaire was better played by Baby Latika. Yes Frieda’s personal life, and her new found love for USA, is certainly something to shake your head in shame about – it shows this woman is easily influenced by “stardom” and I use that word very loosely. My goodness, this is only ONE major hit movie.
The movie itself won Oscars because of mainly 1) the NON-Indian producers and directors, obviously there wouldn’t have been as much recognition if it was an Indian who produced and directed it 2) the cast as a whole who did a tremendous job, there was great chemistry on screen
And although another poster mentioned that she was signed a role on Woody Allen’s next movie, let’s see how well that goes. If she plays a more prominent role, with more lines we would truly be able to judge her acting abilities and make more of a fair comment on it. For now I agree with Rainmaiden and stand my ground that as an upcoming (really only upcoming, she hasn’t reached the top yet) actress she should present herself in a more mature fashion on screen – being a giggly child doesn’t get you far. Plus be proud that you’re from such a beautiful country called India because afterall you ARE being noticed in Hollywood BECAUSE you are an Indian (sorry to say), it’s something to be very proud of.
Oh and for poster number 70, REALLY? You couldn’t have come up with something more intelligent to write?
67 · rain maiden said
I would have to more or less agree with Rainmaiden’s comment posted earlier.
For now I agree with Rainmaiden and stand my ground
Oh and for poster number 70, REALLY? You couldn’t have come up with something more intelligent to write?
I think “rain maiden” & “Where’s the chocolate cake?” are having an arranged marriage.
Audacity? She just had a steel rod up her jacksy, didn’t understand the loose comedy banter vibe of the show. She didn’t have a clue. Freida got it and performed brilliantly on Leno. Also, the defensive paranoia and the imagery of Ash hunting down ‘disses’ of India or Indian culture is quite funny.
Please don’t feed the trolls.
119 · amaun said
Bobby, if you are going to cite Zinda, do not forget this infamous clip I found on youtube that wasn’t actually copied from Oldboy. I found it by accident. Hilariously bad. I need to watch this Zinda one day to laugh at it. Oldboy was such a great movie.
I will give RD Burman some credit. He lived in different times and when he stole stuff, he did it in a good way like Tarantino does. Plus, Bollywood composers have way too high a workload to able to be original all the time. I think RD Burman has done enough good stuff on his own to give him a pass. There is a website I can’t remember that showed all the thefts of Indian composers. Mehbooba from Sholay was pretty much stolen from some middle eastern guy. He lifted parts of mamma mia in Mil Gaya in Hum Kisise Kum Nahin(one of the few hindi movies for which I actually like the songs).
Pravin I want to watch Zinda now as well especially after that clip. John Abraham is amazing in that scene.
117 · ShallowThinker said
The readers are being funny. You obviously missed this comedy gem, “Hell if talented Indian american actors like Kal Penn cannot be in Mainstream movies”.
Ew, barf, give me Frieda instead of Aishwarya any day. While I don’t think Frieda is the most beautiful Indian girl, she sure as hell has a much better attitude than Aishwarya. I can’t stand the cold, haughty, bitchy way Aishwarya talks; it really turns me off. She just seems so plasticky, fake and full of herself. Not to mention she advertised for skin lightening creams and then lied about it on Oprah; ew, Aishwarya, no thanks.
Frieda is not a traditional Indian beauty, but she’s gracious, well spoken and humble. I would vote for her any day.
truly brilliant.
Just got some news from back in the desh – apparently Aishwarya Rai was interviewed on the red carpet and they asked her what she thought of Slumdog, and she said bitchily, “Oh, it’s just another movie.”
I find this insulting and supremely bitchy. Aishwarya’s been trying to crossover into Hollywood cinema for years, and then the Oscar-winning movie goes to some unknown slip of a girl. Sour grapes, anyone?
i can’t believe you people are bashing her on aish wednesday, for gods sake
@ PC. Calm down. What you’re doing is fanatical. You’re being overly PC. Of course there’s full-blooded light-skinned Indians. NM knows that. But the fact, whether you like it or not, is that most Indians ARE dark-skinned. Bollywood types don’t look like typical Indians. Quit playing coy. You know what the word typical and majority means. Otherwise, we could apply this extreme logic to other groups:
There’s White Spaniard Mexicans like the singer Thalia but are most Mexicans white Spaniard? There are blond, blue-eyed Italians There are blue eyed Egyptians There’s light-skinned Cambodians…
We could go on and on here. But if I were to be consistent with your logic it’s a crime to notice that most Mexicans are mestizo brown, that most Cambodians are darker skinned and that Italians don’t typically have blond hair with blue eyes. If one was to celebrate the diversity of Indian beauty than I completely agree with you, full-blooded light-skinned and Anglo Indians should be included along with dark-skinned beauties and everything in between. But what most people notice is how Bollywood promotes the opposite of reality by showing exclusively light-skinned, Caucasian European looking Indians. And of course we know why that is… And if you or anyone denies that Bollywood is trying to replicate a some-what modified European look for its actors you’re REALLY being thick. I notice that when Indians make this observation you don’t saying anything but if it’s a non-Indian you insult their intelligence.
But regarding Aishwarya Rai, I do think she’s mixed because there are Indians that have European in them. What’s baloney is acting as if ALL Indians, especially light-eyed ones, must be defended as pure-blooded. As Yeti said:
40 • Yeti said
Blue/Green/Grey eyes do not originate in a tropical climate. No offense to Aish.
43 · my_dog_jagat said
As if. I think Hrithik Roshan has mixed ancestry too. Rajasthani miniatures??? Are you aware that thousands of Indians don’t look like those paintings??? The Ajanta and Ellora cave paintings are more representative to me. Consider changing your patronizing attitude. I think your statement was off. There seems to be an atrocious attack here of acknowledging majority Indian looks and it’s pretty nervy.
Can we please stop bickering about how 1.2 billion contemporary people in the world don’t look like identical clones to each other and to their ancient ancestors of over 4000 years of recorded civilization?
If I look carefully enough, none of the 20 brown eggs in the carton in my fridge looks like each other.
So enjoy the unique plight, as depicted by one balding, jesting humorist, of two very beautiful, successful, lucky, career women (one younger, the other older) and consider yourself (un)lucky enough to be neither of those two women.
Really Awed – I’m just awed at what your problem is. I believe it is you who needs to calm down. I’m being coy? What exactly am I being coy about? Please explain.
If nm is made to look stupid she/he should look at herself as should you. Rithik Roshan is mixed? So is Aish? and since they have light skin they must use bleach products or be mixed? Are you in denial about how INdians look, is what I want to ask you? Where do you get Rithik is mixed? And aish? Where is the knowledge that Indians cannot have light colored eyes b/c of tropical climate…when did this mixing occur – 4000 years ago? With who? were they also “indians” that they mixed with or were they other people; who were these other people? Pinto is mixed — really why do you say that? All these people look very Indian to me…I suppose you’ve never been to INdia or know Indians if you think their light skin comes from bleaching or perhaps your being coy and have a problem with light skinned Indians and want to box Indians to look like…who? who is an Indian supposed to look like? Like me? like my mother? both of which have very different skin colors? Like my best friend who has curly hair, and light skin? LIke me who has straight hair and dark skin? Indians don’t look like Rithik – how about the other 1000 bollywood stars? Do they look white to you? Well, that would be b/c some INdians may look white to you…but my take is that they look INdian.
Pinto has a Christian portuguese name so that means she’s mixed? I suppose anyone of us could be mixed but if you think that Freida’s name mean she’s mixed you are missing something. In Kerala where I’m from plenty of Indians have names such Jacob, Abraham, etc…they could be Jewish or Christians and took on their traditions names and I don’t think they are mixed. Why are you sooo adamant that Freida or Aish is mixed? As I said they look very, very Indian to me b/c we all know there are millions of Indians who are light-skinned and Freida isn’t even light-skinned lol.
When NM strolls in and COYLY makes statements like, “oh duh, the bollywood actors all use bleaching” and insinuates that is why they are light-skinned I think that is pretty stupid, don’t you? Anybody can find any Indian who has that color and Aish’s eyes are very unique which is the only significant marker that seems very different from other Indians. I mean she is a beauty queen and of course like all beautys she will stand out in any population. I really don’t see too many white people look like Charlize Theron or black people look like Halle Berry (if you can call her black and NM mentioned Barack Obama who’s mother is white too; can he be considered black?)
And b/c the bollywood actors are light-skinned (that’s right Indians like THEIR light skin) that means they want to look white? Sorry, my mom never wanted for her kids to look like Julia Roberts – she doesn’t find that women attractive. She’d love it if we looked like Rekha, Nandita, Hema Malini, etc or herself (as she is pretty comfortable in her looks). I grew up with my cousins exclaiming how beautiful this Indian star or that Indian star was; not how beautiful a white hollywood star was. Nm is very coy with her remarks “um duh, I don’t understand caste oppression b/c in Africa every lives so peacefully” – does she even have a basic knowledge of what goes on in AFrica or what has happened there? Does she have any idea of tribal identity and the oppression and genocide (not fighting mind you, but genocide) it has caused. The little I know about Africa, and the thoughtful discussions I’ve had with people who are African or have much experience in Africa would prevent such an ignorant COY comment as what nm said from coming out of my mouth.
And nm’s comments about white people. I find Biden’s wife gorgeous, Uma thurman, Meryl STreep – if I went around and said all black people go downhill after 26, and how I need to praise the beauty of Uma Thurman, I’d be pretty stupid. Those kindof of comments go along with her coy comments about how bollywood stars must use bleaching…AS IF their skin color is not something that we see in all our families. I really think you are in denial of how Indians look and kowtowing to being hyper pc.
And this statement – “bollywood types don’t look the typical Indian” – how do they not look typical? Is it their skin color, b/c as you said many Indians have light skin and I don’t see too much difference in their other features. Are you complaining b/c Indians love THEIR light skin; yeah, I wish there was more appreciation in bollywood of the darker Indians too – IF that was your assertion I’d agree with you but what does that have to do with “they don’t look Indian”….
I don’t see too many white or black people in my office that can look like Charlize Theron or Jolie, do you? – they are exceptionally pretty people. Like Jolie, like Theron, like Elizabeth Taylor or Halle Berry, they stand out b/c they are generally exceptionally beautiful – that’s one reason that they are a star, and other stars whether white or black (or mixed) are stars….is that a problem for you? Are bollywood stars supposed to look like just someone with average looks? How about Hollywood stars? Indians liking THEIR light skin…well yeah, I prefer all skin types, but things aren’t going to change overnight, and it’s probably been like that among Indians and other types of people for awhile….I personally think the almost universal desire for a lighter skin tone has something to do with our evolution, b/c it’s a characteristic, that even among people that have no light-skinned people among them, they seem to prefer light skin.
Ludicrous post!! Its like comparing Oranges to Bicyles! Made absolutely no sense, besides Ash has 0 acting talent, her only movie thats been a hit is from mani rathnam and hes known to bring the best in his actors, So what has she really contributed other than looking pretty? Im glad somebody out of the Bollywood mold is making it big in the US
who graciously abdicated his throne to allow younger actors to enjoy the limelight and to assume a new throne????????????
WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU SMOKING..DANG!! THAT MUST BE GOOD! HE DEFINITELY GAVE IT A SHOT BUT IT DIDNT TURN OUT QUITE WELL (RMBER THE ROLES HE DID WITH MANISHA, SHILPA SHETTY..YEH QUITE FORGETTABLE!) HE WAS WELL IN TO HIS 40S-50S WHEN HE DID A COMEBACK IN THE 90S AND ALL HIS MOVIES SUCKED!!!! HE IS AS GRACIOUS AS HIS HAIR IS REAL..PUHLEEEZE!
I absolutely agree with PS. I don’t NM is being honest about anything he/she has said.
NM has said no such thing. S/he has simply stated that marriages are not arranged according to caste in Africa because they do not have a caste system. However, Africa does have a tribal system and the caste system is nothing more than South Asia’s ancient tribal system kept alive in various forms today. I write about this and address NM’s sincere, real and relevent questions here;
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/005634.html#comment232390
Why on earth would expect NM to know how the caste system works if s/he has never been to South Asia? You may not like her/his questions or be able to answer them, but in no way does that mean the questions are invalid or insincere.
(Formerly Laughing Buddha)
km80, YOUR CAPS DID IT FOR ME.
Have you heard of ‘satire’?
The dictionary defines it as:
Melanin will do nothing to protect against aging if you labor in the sun day after day, year after year.
The brown or black people who look younger than their age are usually the ones who do not do so. In India I have seen men and women in their 50s who could easily pass for 80s both in their faces and in their bodies, due to living a harsh lifestyle and laboring hard outdoors. It has nothing to do with where they are placed on the light or dark spectrum.
The ones who look considerably younger than their age lead considerably easier lives than the ones who don’t.
Same goes for black people in America.
Green, gold and hazel eyes are not at all uncommon in India. Every once in a while you will even see straight up blue eyes. How or why this is I have no idea, but it is there.
Or it could be the heritage of colonialism. First it was lighter skinned Arabs in the 1200s and then Europeans who traveled and traded around the world flaunting wealth and power. That’s about 800 years of cultural programming.
Quote has been taken out of context Original source. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4196365.cms
And what do you have to say about the Slumdog Millionaire bashing?
I haven’t yet watched SM, thanks to my schedule. But I’d say, it’s just a movie. Danny Boyle wasn’t trying to make a statement. It’s an international film after all, and you have to acknowledge Danny. And we are happy about Rahman, Resul and Gulzar saab. It’s time we applaud and appreciate an accomplishment.
There seems to be a lot of haters on both sides. You know, instead of quibbling over if a dark skinned Indian with brown eyes is more beautiful than a light skinned Indian with green eyes, why don’t we celebrate the full range of Indian beauty? You guys act as if we must choose one as the be all end all. You don’t. The variety of looks is huge in India with a billion people. Let’s open our minds and be more inclusive instead of fighting over who to exclude. Everyone here seems to be so certain about one or the other actresses personality. You don’t know them at all in reality. You just assigned personality attributes based on what you see either on the big or small screen.
South Asians are Caucasian and it is possible within our DNA to have a variety of skin and eye color unlike black Africans and East Asians unless they are mixed. In the Bunt community that Rai comes from she is not the only one with different colored eyes. It is not predominant, but it is not unheard of either. History factoid: in the US we are considered to be Caucasian, but not white (ie from Europe). Supreme Court ruling in the early part of the 20th century.
That’s just ignorant. Africans have a lot more genetic variance than other groups.
I did not say they don’t have genetic variety, but you don’t see green, blue, or grey eyed Black Africans unless they are mixed with Caucasian groups.
False. It’s actually not an uncommon mutation, but it has (apparently) only been selected for (qua slight nocturnal adaptation) in the cloudy/overcast environs of northwestern Europe.
Slumdog mania? This too will pass, like kidney stones.
but about the “looks” thing. I’m an American and no expert on the subject, but it is amazing with all the information and pictures about India, that anybody should be unknowledgable of what its inhabitants might look like. I just read Madhur Joffrey’s autobiography and she humorously descibes her mother and the milk-lady as the two of the “white-ist” Indians around. Her mom was the color of cream, but the milk-lady–is the color of, well, milk. Both ladies were entirely Indian and neither was an albino. Lesson learned: Indian color can be any color that skin, eyes or hair comes in. Well, almost. And it has been like this for many, many centuries. The light eyed Indians of four thousand years ago, whoever they were, were just as authentic as the ones with dark eyes, whoever they were. I mean, they weren’t tourists. This is just my opinion, but I doubt colonialism had much to do with the light skin thing. As you say, Indians quite naturally want to look Indian, not non-Indian. They just prefer a certain sort of Indian look.
A lot of people understand this, but it must be exasperating to the latest victims of the ethnic spotlight. A blond Spanish Ms. Universe contestant years ago had to explain that lots of people in Spain — where it rains on the plains — had light hair and eyes. I still get an image of Confucious and pagodas when I think of China.
“Italians don’t typically have blond hair with blue eyes.”
Actually, north of Rome, they often do. Among the little kids, some 40 percent of them. I saw more blonds in Milan and Florence than I saw in France. It’s a bit different from northern European blondism, maybe because of the climate or particular gene pool. More gold looking, rather than ashen. Italian paintings from earlier centuries are full of blonds and red heads. Titian anyone? Most Italians who came to America were from Sicily and the south of the country. I went to school with a lot of them, and I always thought the “olive” skinned description was a little over-stereotyped. For most it was most accurate after summer vacation. They tanned way well.
You know, I don’t understand the term ‘Caucasian’ to mean ‘white’. In Eastern and perhaps also Central Europe it means ‘somebody from the Caucasus’, which is more accurate defintion. I feel that the American use of the word has very little basis in fact. So what if Indians fall under ‘Caucasian’. We’re still brown to the whites and I think that some Indians use this definition to make them feel better about themselves regarding racial discrimination.
Rob, I would like to learn more about where it is an common mutation among black Africans to have green, blue, or grey eyes. Sincerely. This I have not come across. Could you post your references? I think it would be an interesting read.
Actually when South Asians were considered Caucasian but not white by the Supreme court is was to discriminate. So no one who is South Asian should find any comfort. At that time, immigration rules were racists. Immigrants who were not Caucasian could not be naturalized citizens and if you were not an American citizen you could not own land. Your children if they were born in America were American citizens but you could never be as an non-Caucasian immigrant. They thought that with this barrier it would exclude people who were not European. Read Ronal Takaki – Strangers From A Different Shore. However, South Asians being Caucasian kinda slipped through for a while and unlike East Asians were able to be naturalized American citizens and own land. Until this ruling by the US Supreme Court:
“Not All Caucasians Are White: The Supreme Court Rejects Citizenship for Asian Indians
“In its decision in the case of U.S. v. Bhagat Singh Thind (1923), the Supreme Court deemed Asian Indians ineligible for citizenship because U.S. law allowed only free whites to become naturalized citizens. The court conceded that Indians were “Caucasians†and that anthropologists considered them to be of the same race as white Americans, but argued that “the average man knows perfectly well that there are unmistakable and profound differences.†The Thind decision also led to successful efforts to denaturalize some who had previously become citizens. This represented a particular threat in California, where a 1913 law prohibited aliens ineligible for citizenship from owning or leasing land. Only in 1946 did Congress, which was beginning to recognize that India would soon be independent and a major world power, pass a new law that allowed Indians to become citizens and also established a small immigration quota. But major immigration to the United States from South Asia did not begin until after immigration laws were sharply revised in 1965.” Reference http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5076/
FYI check this site out on Thind – http://www.bhagatsinghthind.com/legacy.html