Padma and the ice maiden

Yet another R-Day just dawned and faded into oblivion. The majestic parade on Raj Path, the foreign tourists and diplomats watching the whole extravaganza in open-mouthed awe, the President as the ornamental head receiving the salute and kids young and old relishing the colourful creations on wheels representing the states and varied bodies – all have come and gone, promising to return in the same format next year, year after year.

R-Day or not, what makes me sit up and rue my fate is the announcement of the Padma Awards. Sheer buffoonery of the state of affairs, I would to call it. Among versatile, exceptional and intelligent men and woman picked for the Padmas is one ice maiden who has never ever managed to do something that could bring her even a bouquet of flowers, let alone the Padmas.

Aishwarya Rai, of all Indians! What's her claim to the respected Padma Shri? Years ago, she must have been placed on top of the world which got excited by her vital statistics. I wonder how she cleared the IQ round, if they got one in the rounds. She speaks gibberish, acts dumb and is nowhere near even the worst actor ever on Indian screen. I personally have never seen her face muscles move. And, I dont think they will even if molten lava is splashed on her visage. So much so for her acting skills.

Madam Rai calls herself an actor, when she is just bottom-rate star and that too just for a few. Not anyways for me. She is is sheer waste of raw stock. Idiotic Sanjay Leela Bhansali's dumb-and-dumber extavaganza Devdas proved beyond doubt what it means to be dumb and yet receive the applause. It may not be Bhansali's problem, it is just the star crazy film buff's stupidity. Devdas might have made Madam Rai a star who managed to stay on top. Years later, Madam Rai has metamorphosed into Madam Rai-Bachchan, after almost being a Madam Rai-Khan and a Madam Rai-Oberoi. The Khans and the Oberois are still enemies thanks to this maiden, while Mr Bachchan junior seems to have lost out in the race to be superstar after the maiden walked into his life that once upon a time held so much potential

Ah, thats not my concern. I'm concerned about the Padma Shri conferred on someone who has done nothing to make India proud. I know, some of you might have arguments ranging from a Miss World factor to a Cannes Festival appearance. I personally dont believe these are achievements that deserve a Padma Award, excuse me. What's her contribution to Indian cinema, if thats what you are arguing on her behalf? NOTHING AT ALL. Apart from the many buckets of glycerine and a few frames full of navel-baring midriff, heaving cleavage and yucky-butt-jhatkas, what does she have as contributions to Indian cinema?

Why does India still remain irreverent to the men and women who brought her freedom? Why does India confer the laurels on undeserving creatures on a day that's so important in our lives? I am not willing to see a Sunderlal Bahuguna, a Madhavan Nair or an Anil Kakodkar share a platform with Madam Rai Bachchan or the stupidly funny Akshay Kumar. Crucify me for that, I don't care. I bloody don't care! Padma Shri Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is insult to the nation. Convince me on why shouldn't think so.