a-stiff-upper-lip

Nepotism is one very in topic right now in India. I would like to simply show how I am able to understand both sides of the argument. 

Nepotism is basically a sort of bias where members of a powerful community give preference to their own members. This is seen everywhere, including daily life. Right now, in India, the movie industry is under scrutiny by the public as a lot of actors’ and actresses’ children seem to get chances / apparently get chances easier than those with non-film backgrounds. 

-> I understand exactly what the people are saying and why certain things getting on their nerves. I would like to add the following: I see that a lot of actors and actresses, when inquired about nepotism, say something like this: 

1.] “There is nothing wrong with a child wanting to do what their parent does. A doctor’s child may want to be a doctor. A lawyer’s child may want to be a lawyer. Why shouldn’t an actor’s child be an actor?” 

But the thing is, a doctor’s child still has to write NEET or has to pay lakhs and lakhs of rupees to get a seat in a medical college; exams need to be written in order to get a seat in a law college. These exams are incredibly difficult to crack. The pressure is academic and financial. You can’t get a seat without writing an exam, the seats aren’t reserved for you, not even if you have a parent in the profession. Your relative can pay for your seat but it is incredibly expensive. 

I see that a lot of actors and actresses, when inquired about nepotism, also say something like this: 

2.] “At the end of the day, only the talented individuals remain.” 

But that isn’t the argument. That is a different discussion all together, at least I feel so. Let me explain. An actor’s kid has guidance because his parents are in the same field. He has the numbers of directors, producers, etc. on his parent’s phone. He can call them and talk to them, set appointments. This opportunity & guidance isn’t available to individuals with non-film backgrounds. The argument regarding nepotism is about how a person gets into the industry through bias and help that isn’t available to the rest of the public. How it is more difficult to get opportunities and how hard it is to be recognised if you do not have relatives who are a part of the industry.

-> Now let me tell you how I can understand the other side’s point-of-view:

1.] I am a nepotist: I was talking to my friend a few days ago, and we were thinking about opening a wedding planning business together. I don’t think I will put a classified ad in the newspaper looking for a person who has studied this field and is looking to get employed. I will probably just do it with my friend.  I am not saying that being a nepotist is right. All I am saying is that, being a nepotist is easier. We get along better with our family and friends and members of our group.

If I had relatives in the film industry and directors/producers/film-makers’ numbers in my parents’ phones, I would definitely use it. If I became a part of the industry and had children and my children decided to become film-makers, I would guide them and ask them to talk to the film-makers I knew for guidance. I would be a hypocrite to say I am against it. I am not proud of it, but it just is. The world is an incredibly unfair place. When opportunities are presented, I would take it not debate with myself whether it is available fairly to the rest of the world. It isn’t fair. But like I said, the world is unfair.

2.] The narrative regarding who is product of nepotism is changing. People having relatives in the film background are being targeted. There are a load of talented actors in India who have relatives in the film industry. Actors who embody their characters, who play their characters simply because they want to tell their character’s story to the best of their abilities. One can see that they love acting and performing their craft and the art for the art itself and nothing else. There are many actors who admit that they are a product of nepotism as well and who try their level best to work extra hard. And even these people are labelled as a nepotist. 

In conclusion, I will simply say this: Nepotism is everywhere. Opinions are everywhere. Like Anushka Sharma aptly said in one interview, I would like to paraphrase the same: “Everyone’s experiences are different and I am simply telling you all mine.” What I have noticed, read about, learnt about and thought about concerning this topic.

I sincerely hope that one day, all that is taken into account is talent, hard work and commitment. This idea exists, doesn’t it? I am certain that one day, or at one world at infinity, we will be as close as we possibly can to this vision.

My mother and I submitted something very similar to the following to talkingtarot. I do not know whether it will be accepted by QueenTT; therefore, I am adding it to my feed. It isn’t the exact version as I forgot to copy it before submission.

Priyanka Chopra is a national award winning Indian actress who has worked in more than fifty Hindi films and is a former Miss World. 

She has a production house called Purple Pebble Pictures that recognises and gives opportunities to regional film-makers and their low-budget productions. 

She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights since 2010 and has worked with UNICEF since 2006. She donates “10% of her earnings” to the Priyanka Chopra Foundation for Health and Education.

People in the USA–i would like to change this to “outside India”–may know her as Mrs. Nick Jonas and from various Hollywood productions, but in India she is an accomplished woman who has achieved a whole lot despite not having any background in the entertainment/movie industry and does a lot for charity.

We request you all to please think about these before you diss her.–I would like to change this to “We request you all to please keep this in mind before dissing her.”

[Castlevania spoilers ahead]

I haven’t been invested in a TV series in a long time since Burn Notice until I recently stumbled upon Castlevania on Netflix. Having already droned on about its brilliance, I would like to say something regarding the season 2 climax when Adrian kills his father. While rewatching some scenes on YouTube, I noticed how some people believe Trevor killing Dracula was anti-climatic. I wanted to explain why I disagree.

I don't think Adrian could've actually killed his father alone, he could only subdue his father just enough for someone else to kill him; in this case, Trevor and Sypha. Trevor. by chopping off Dracula's head, he has finally fulfilled his purpose; what the Belmonts lived to do and died fighting for. Sypha, of course, finishes the deed. By splitting the deed, Adrian doesn't have to bear the entire burden of killing his father. They killed Vlad together. If Adrian alone killed his father, I don't think he could've lived with himself.

      I desperately want to know what happens to him and whether he attains happiness and a sense of belonging. For a person who has been through hell, I sincerely hope does. On an optimistic note, he is the best of both his parents; that will, in the end, pay off.

    Last but not at all the very least, I refuse to call the poor boy Alucard. This entire mess started because of Lisa’s unjust death and she hated that name. Ergo, in her memory and in the memory of her love, he will always be Adrian, son of Lisa and Vlad Dracula Tepes.

Grateful.

Thankful.