Outlook – July 28, 2019

CHENNAI M.Y. Shariff: This refers

to your cover story Content is the New

Khan (July 15). Though rooted in the

past, Bollywood has always looked

ahead at the future, embracing

transformation and reorientation

to keep pace with the changing

sentiments, aspirations, needs and

preferences of the audience, mainly

young people. The old order has to give

way to the new. As many filmstars had

been getting old and losing appeal, the

audience was looking out for a new

generation of actors, who have now

come to rule the roost.

LUCKNOW M.C. Joshi: For decades,

most Bollywood movies used to be

formula-driven. Love triangle,

revenge, separated siblings, the good

and the bad, the rich and the poor and

so on used to be common themes.

A few big-name actors commanded

huge fan followings. Fans hardly

missed a movie featuring their favour-

ite actor. However, offbeat movies

were also made and admired by a sec-

tion of moviegoers. That era is now

history. Most movies now have uncon-

ventional themes and unfamiliar or

little known actors, none of whom can

match the fame and fan-following

of the super-heroes and heroines of

yore. The new movies are often box-of-

fice wonders, but none manage to stay

on the big screen for long. Movies

celebrating silver, golden, diamond,

and platinum jubilee was common

once upon a time. The big question

is can Bollywood deliver all-time clas-

sics like Mother India, Mughal-e-Azam

and Sholay anymore?

Save The Children

CHENNAI M.Y. Shariff: This is with

reference to the cover story AES...

A Pallid Shroud (July 8). The fact that

the treatment of the disease has not

been found underscores the lack

of commitment of the government.

Deaths happen because good hospitals

are miles away and people cannot

avail instant treatment. Though the

mysterious condition surfaced about

35 years ago, both state and central

governments did little to combat the

disease. They have no contingency

plan to stop the menace once for

all and no strategy to nip it in the bud.

Governments are keen on patronising

the corporate sector and the rich, but

are ignoring the sufferings of the

downtrodden. They have been slow

in providing adequate healthcare,

free quality education and a healthy

environments. While the government

cannot provide roti, kapda and makaan

(food, clothing and house) directly

to poor people, it can help them stand

on their FEET by providing gainful

employment. How long will

authorities shirk their responsibility?

There is a need to open more

government schools and hospitals and

strengthen the existing ones. Healthy

people alone will forge a healthy India.

ON E-MAIL Vishwanath Dhotre:

Your story shows the truth on the

ground. The government should spend

more money on primary healthcare

and launch programmes that are

tailored specifically to the require-

ments of a particular region. After

reading the story, I have come to the

conclusion that politicians are the real

culprits. They have not bothered to

provide basic amenities, but have

made a lot of money for themselves.

In 70 years, Bihar has not seen much

development. Blaming the who’s who

of politics is no solution. We need to

revamp our healthcare system.

Detention Deceit

VARANASI Indu S. Dube: The plight

of Madhubala and a few more is

perturbing (The Assam Question: Who

Am I; July 15). It shows the callousness,

arbitrariness, nonfeasance,

irresponsible attitude and blatant

misuse of authority—by the govern-

ment and its officials. Also, it raises

question about the sanity of persons

who executed the process. It reflects the

protection they have from the system.

There is a something called “common

sense” and a word called conscience

essential and integral to humans. The

government’s laissez faire towards

employees is resulting in such pathetic

and stupefying mess. The cases men-

tioned here, are the tip of the iceberg,

but are the epitome of flagrant negli-

gence of officials. The judiciary should

take suo motu cognisance to set up

an inquiry, punish errant officials, and

recompense victims from their salary.

GUWAHATI Ashim Kumar Chak­

raborty: The hopelessness of so-called

letters

Changing the Script

AMRITSAR Lal Singh

Mayawati’s refusal to engage with younger Dalit leaders outside the BSP may cost her dearly.

one-liner

4 OUTLOOK 29 July 2019

July 15, 2019