Varun leaves India for the US at the age of 17 in search of green pastures. Well settled with a salary of $3000 a month, he also adopts several US cultural norms and appreciates many of them - the freedom, respect to privacy, atmosphere and the environmental cleanliness. Yet, in spite of the happiness and prosperity, Varun knows he's missing something -- his home, his true sense of belonging-- for there's always this nagging, clinching feeling that he's missing something. So he comes to India on a one month vacation ÐÐ in search of his home.

His first disappointment confronts him as soon as he lands in Bombay ÐÐ in the name of a pilot strike. As he could not get a flight to his native place Hyderabad, he travels by train which takes two long days to reach its destination. The movie from now on is interesting by every inch. His childhood friends, their contrasting philosophies, his parents, relatives, the food he eats - all lead him to one single question again and again - Is this my home, is this where I belong now?

Unlike many NRIs who blindly praise the culture of India without going into details, Varun questions almost everything, why this, why that, so much so that his mother disgustedly asks him, "How come you question everything now? You never used to do so when you were young?"

This simple question, I feel, reflects two entirely opposite cultures: the beliefs and tradition of India which teaches kids to obey and respect their elders (and culture) without any questions  it simply shuns the new thought and ideas; in contrast there is this American culture based on revolving ideas and thought provoking questions. While we believe in continuity, America believes in change.

The film questions many day-to-day realities -- the bride-viewing parade, dowry system (Varun's mother on one occasion tells him - "you command the highest price since you live in America"), religious fanaticism (in another humorous yet thought provoking incident Varun angrily confronts a religious fanatic who wakes up the entire neighborhood at 5 AM by playing "Mein to aarti utaru re Santoshi Mata ki" on loudspeakers), and absolute zero value to other person's privacy (all behavior is discussed publicly and each one enters other people's lives and doors without even knocking). In contrast Varun also meets an independent and strong willed Ashwini, a doctor, who questions many of the ways of his life. She humiliates Varun making him the representative of all young NRIs who come to India in search of brides with just one or two months vacation. "Who do you think you guys are coming here looking for a bride like a saree in a shop, collects her and also the dowry on the way? With all your modern ideas and views, why can't you marry somebody abroad?" she asks. She also looks down on Indian women and their parents who readily stand in line to give their daughters in marriage to these NRIs. No wonder Varun commands the"highest price!"

Varun thinks a lot about what Ashwini says. He also knows that though the USA has been very good to him, the relations of people there is still a worrying factor, what with so many divorces and separations. But he still prefers living in the US to India though he's still not sure of his "home."

Every scene in the hour and a half movie makes you think (also laugh) of many issues that is pushing back India's progress as a nation -- caste, religion, calm succumb to the daily inconveniences and harassments, dowry system, widow contempt (a widow making ceremony of Ashwini's mother shows how cruel our system still is), blind belief in several cultural and religious ceremonies and so on.

In Ashwini's questions Varun also realizes (unlike many eligible NRIs) his own unconscious mistakes. For example he assumes Ashwini would automatically agree to marry him unaware of the fact that her friend is advising Ashwini to only think about serious relationship with Varun. He automatically comes to the conclusion that she's already willing to marry him while he himself is still" thinking" about it! He also bribes god with money -- Rs. 101, an auspicious number succumbing to his mother's views.

Overall this low budget, offbeat, songless film is a dream come true for both Nagesh Kukunoor and his audiences. A sincere approach on the part of the director. Technically, however, the film needed a lot more professionalism. Photography and editing needs much improvement as one can notice the cuts from scene to scene changes.

A movie definitely worth seeing! And if you are from Hyderabad it's definitely worth watching again and again!

Something Special is a CD featuring a blend of Carnatic (South Indian Classical) music with elements of Western popular music. It includes a collection of Carnatic Ragas, some popular and some rare, couched in a modern pop style orchestral setting. The latter includes conventional and electronic instruments as well as rhythm accompaniment. Veena, a South Indian string instrument, serves as the soloist for rendering the Ragas, with the orchestra providing a tapestry of sounds in popular idioms. The format of the compositions brings out the essence of the Ragas in a relaxing yet engaging manner without sacrificing their integrity.

The CD is eclectic in its choice of musical idioms to flavor the compositions. Sojourn unto the East highlights the pentatonic structure of Raga Mohana with its introduction of oriental themes. Indian Safari keeps up a march tempo while the Veena plays a melody in Raga Madhyamavati. Arabian Knights uses a Bhajan by Bhakta Ramadas for its theme and transforms it with strong percussive propulsion Ð an intrepid feat of fusion music!

Playing the music composed by Neela Prasaath of Madras, India with masterful dexterity is the well-known Veena artist Mrs. E. Gaayathri who shot to fame over two decades ago as a youngster and was popularly known as Baby Gaayathri. All orchestral accompaniment was created on a computer by Neela Prasaath with rhythm computer support by P. Satyanarayana.

EXAGGERATION. ( Just Born)

Two elderly persons of age 79 and 81 are traveling in a train. Opposite berths were allotted to them. They go on talking and boasting about different issues. While they are making a great noise and talking loudly, a person settled in the Upper berth of the compartment roughly around 30 years felt restless. The conversation between the two old persons went on this way:

1st person : Where are you going?

2nd person : New Delhi. Tell me where you are going?

2nd person : What is your age?

1st person : I am 29 years. Now tell me your age also?

2nd person : I am 21 years.

The person from the upper berth slipped off and fell down. The old persons screamed with fear and wonder "OH, WHO IS THIS FELLOW?"