How about censor rating to songs?

Lately I was thinking may be it is the time to give censor ratings to song lyrics and video weather it is a private album or filmy. Today, there are just a couple of lyricists in Bollywood who are known for clean and good lyrics. Most of videos of songs in Indian cinema have moved beyond the point of vulgarity and we could no longer watch them along with kids let alone enjoy them.

Though the entertainment channels and means have increased tremendously, none of them are relaying quality work that would make an average educated consumer to wait eagerly for the next episode.

Let alone picturization of songs, but the lyrics itself are not appropriate for all ages. If we think they are not appropriate, then don’t we need to have censor ratings for them? Recently I was listening to pee loon from Once upon a time in Mumbai. The voice of the singer and music are really soft and melodious. But the lyrics made me not like it. Imagine the kids singing it, in all their innocence.

That was just one song that is top of my head now, but even in Telugu movies the lyrics are at the lowest level in terms of quality. Except for Javed Akhtar and Gulzar in Bollywood I dint come across the lyricists in recent times whose lyrics really mean something and make you feel the words. So, is with Telugu. Except for a few as Veturi and Sirivennela there are no lyricists who are doing justification to the thoughts intentioned in the song.

For me, it is all in the alfaaz along with the melody. That is what touches your heart and that is what makes you connect to the feel of the song weather it is sad or joy or love.

Deepavali Bommala Koluvu

It was Deepavali and as with every year, it was busiest time for me to arrange Bollamala Koluvu. I was packing all the toys, dolls and decorations after one week of displaying them. There is one 4” doll with cute braids for which my mom crocheted a dress a couple of years back. It reminds me of one my own doll that I had when I was little. I remember, the day when my peddamma asked as what I would like to have for a gift for my birthday. I don't remember which birthday that was, but i was fancied with a doll which will close its eye when tilted.

It was one adorable doll to have. It was a dream come true of a typical girl when peddamma got it for me. I sure did spent a lot of pretend play with it. There were other dolls which my mom used to take out only during Deepavali for Bommala Koluvu and pack it back once it is done. Nevertheless I still used to feel attached to every single one of it. May be that is the beauty of Bommala Koluvu, it makes you get fond of it.

I come across people who ask as what is the significance of Bommala Koluvu. Coming to significance, apart from praying and thanking God, it was a form of entertainment and relaxation for the women in the olden days. One would think as if that significance still hold good for today’s times, when women of today have numerous other things to amuse themselves with. Well, I look at Bommala Koluvu as an exhibit of collections, talent and imagination of women who arrange it and imagination and creativity will never become obsolete.

It is a kind of art, where you could display ones talent of sculpture to landscaping to designing to painting in the means of rangoli or modeling a town or village or an mythological or historical epic. It is one household’s museum where the family will open their exhibition once a year and each year has a new collection of imagination adhering to the old ones at the same time.

What other best way could you think of for kids of today’s generation, here at overseas, to get acquainted with Indian culture and history, and at the same time, have an opportunity to express their own art? We tend to take up classes for our children to learn art, and Bommala Koluvu in my thoughts is one of the means to enjoy that art. Bommala Koluvu is a conglomerate art of entire family.

Here is our collection of toys - Traditional, Modern, Contemporary, Sweet and everything in between :)