Rx

A hospital is not exactly a destination of choice for any of us. I mean, no one goes online to check out the different hospitals in his neighbourhood just for kicks! And if you do, then you are either way to compulsive or you have a weird hobby!
The word ‘hospital’ is derived from the Latin word hospes, which means host. Ironically today’s hospitals are anything but hospitable. Right from the door attendant to the surgeon, all seem to have forgotten the value of hospitality in an industry that is based on the quality of your service.
The modern-day hospital is part of the ever-burgeoning hospitality (no pun intended!) and service industry. Meaning that it and its facilities are subject to the same standard one would expect from a hotel, a consultancy or even a bank. Sadly this concept has not really sunken into the minds of people on either side of the looking glass. This applies primarily to information of the tariff structure. If you’ve had the opportunity to pay for the treatment availed by you or your loved one, seldom do you know the cost involved till it is time to pay the piper!
I sympathise with the medical professionals as they have to deal with the human body, which, despite decades of study, still remains unpredictable. As such, it is impossible to ascertain the array of tests, treatments and other peripherals involved.
But the truth is that when the medical professional gives the estimation of the involved costs to you, he isn’t factoring in the unpredictability as a variable. Instead it is your income level that plays a major component in his equation!
A simple estimation of the general cost of treating common ailments would help the common man a great deal. At the least the honchos at the hospital should spell out the tariff structure of the rooms and facilities provided by their establishment. Please remember, the minute you begin distinguishing between the classes of facilities that are provided to the diverse customer base, you are liable to make available information detailing payment structure.
Part of the problem which has led to this sorry state is the attitude of the general public towards hospitals and doctors in particular. Even today, the flesh and blood doctor is revered and placed on a super-human pedestal and the brick and mortar hospital is akin to a temple! That bespectacled doctor is also a professional who gets paid for his skill, knowledge and effort just like any other employed individual albeit an error on his part could lead to disastrous consequences and maybe even fatalities.
Hospitals and doctors should not be treated like demigods; rather start treating them like any other corporation and its employee who are doing their job to the best of their capabilities to ensure the satisfaction and well-being of those who come to them.

Movie Review- U, Me Aur Hum

After Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par, we now have Ajay Devgan flexing his directorial muscle with the romantic drama U, Me Aur Hum.
The movie deals with the trials and tribulations of a married couple (Ajay and Kajol) who deal with the wife’s Alzheimer disease. The movie is not all drama as the hunky star has incorporated all the usual elements of a viable commercial film including a considerable portion of the movie being shot on a cruise ship.
The movie is in the form of a flash-back sequence being narrated by a much older Devgan to an equally aged Kajol (The relationship of the elderly duo is not clearly defined at the start but starts coming into focus as the movie progresses). Devgan recounts the tale of a Casanova, Ajay (a young Ajay Devgan) and his encounter with the love of his life, Piya (a stunning Kajol). The first half of the movie dwells on the romantic escapades of our hero as he attempts to win the heart of his soul-mate. The two take the wedding vows after a brief split. All seems hunky dory, till one day Ajay’s wife is diagnosed with the ailment of the brain. What follows is the couple’s and more importantly Ajay’s battle with Piya’s condition and his resolve to help her out of her trauma. The movie focuses on the triumph and power of true love.
The movie has its lighter moments in the form of the couple’s friends, two other couples, one on the verge of divorce (Divya Dutta and the smart son from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai) and the other at the pedestal of marriage (Isha Sharwani and some new dude, most probably from one of the many K serials!!!!). The supporting cast showcases, or at least attempts to, the different phases of a relationship.
In terms of story-telling, Devgan sticks to the main script and focuses on the plot without being too single-minded. The cinematography (by Aseem Bajaj) experiments with many styles and forms an intricate part of the story-telling process in many scenes. Although in the earlier scenes, the excessive use of close-ups tends to get a little annoying.
As an actor Devgan has a repertoire that spans across serious drama (Zakhm) to hilarious comedy (Golmaal). However in this movie, one fails to see the same conviction. Perhaps the onus of producing and directing the movie drained this talented actor of his brilliance; however that should not be an excuse. Kajol as usual delivers and is convincing as the Alzheimer’s struck patient. Her natural exuberance as a girl in love is endearing. But her portrayal as a person who has a psychiatric problem is dazzling. She comes of so natural you tend to forget she’s acting.
The score of the movie is nothing out of the ordinary barring the title song and the salsa number atop the cruise deck. Overall the music fares above average, barely.
The movie is highly recommended for couples at any stage of their relationship. Not because the movie is about couples, but because it personifies the eternal matrimonial commitment, “For Better or for Worse”.
My rating *** ½ Stars.

Movie Review-Sunday

After the rib-tickling comedy, Golmaal, Rohit Shetty gives us a suspense-comedy in the guise of Sunday. Sehar(a rather voluptuous Ayesha Takia) is a dubbing artist who seems to have a weak memory and somehow can’t remember one day in her life, yes you guessed it happens to be a Sunday. What ensues is an array of incidents and characters that try and fill in the gaps for our damsel in distress. Prime among them is the love-bitten corrupt cop (Ajay Devgan), a struggling actor (Irfann Khan) and a street-wise cabbie (Arshad Warsi)
The basic premise of the movie is of course the search for the truth and the screenplay engages the audience in this quest along with the on-screen characters. This is a hallmark for any good suspense flick and Shetty does a great job in that department. In many scenes, Shetty places in the camera at interesting angles, which adds a certain quality. Shetty also has a good eye for action, which is evident from the cinematic chase and hand-to hand combat sequences in the movie. My favourite one is the chase sequence atop the roofs of Chandni Chowk.
The humor in the movie is mostly thanks to Arshad Warshi and Vrajesh Hirjee (who plays a Souht Indian Karate expert!!!). Irfann Khan’s contribution to the comedy scenes may seem deadpan to the untrained eye, but it is in fact his trademark style, which is in fact brilliant. Devgan’s attempts to make you break into a laugh are not always successful but are quite noble.
Barring the background score and two item numbers (one by Tushar Kapoor and the other by Esha Deol) the music score of the movie is nothing extra-ordinary.
Golmaal falls under a new genre of movies that is fast turning into a financial bankable venture. With Bhool Bhulaiyaa making it big in the previous year, more and more movies are wiling to cash in on the Suspense-Comedy genre.
Although the climax and the suspense are lacklustre, the overall movie is a good experience and easily falls into the category of ‘Paisa Vassol’ flicks. Don’t expect award winning performances or other similar moments. Sunday is a typical entertainer which should be viewed for its smart comedy and even smarter suspense plot. My rating - *** stars.