New Delhi: It is the dead of night. You have just finished watching that episode of the latest season of 'American Horror Story' on your laptop. There's a slight nip in the air, it is September after all. You switch off the lights, and pull the sheets to cover you.
Just as you are about to doze off, you hear a slight creak, followed by a faint swishing noise. "Must be a rat or something," you think and try to focus on something pleasant as you close your eyes. But the faint noise persists, and you fumble for your phone and decide to look under the bed.
And there it is.
A creepy crawling creature, with it's white teeth bared, staring at you with bloodless eyes.
"What terrible animation! Look at that, chhee! God, the budget for this Indian monster is terrible," you exclaim.
One of the worst fears of my generation, is to wake up in the morning, and realise that we live in the world where beauty is only skin (or flesh, bones) deep. Why should we judge our home-bred Indian creatures - monsters, ghosts, zombies, samri(es?), dayans and other whatnots?
Hollywood has set impossible standards of horrifying beasts through their films. Be it 'The Shining', 'The Conjuring', 'The Evil Dead' or any of the newer horror films like 'Paranormal Activity', why should Indian ghosts and supernatural beings be subjected to their standards?
We, as a society need to stop being such hypocrites and try to understand the feelings of these monsters and their makers.
To try to understand more about these monsters, we tried to get in touch with a Delhi-based Tantrik. He got us to speak to a monster (who shall remain nameless, on request) who had suffered horribly with casting couch and was made to lose 53 kilos and shave it's armpits for a popular Bollywood film. "I have been told by many filmmakers that I don't look like a real, Hollywood monster. I have had to go through scores of transformations in each film," he (she? it?) said, sniffing audibly.
For those who mindlessly propagate Hollywood monsters should first understand the cultural diversity of the two countries. We are a land of culture and rich heritage. We are a land of Ramsay brothers. Why is Frankenstein's monster scarier than the good old dayan? Do successful films depend on good script, acting, direction and production quality? Obviously not, as we have seen time, and time again.
With the Bipasha Basu's latest film 'Creature 3D' releasing today, we are yet again faced with thousands of critics claiming that the so-called creature looked much fitter, hotter in Marvel's 2012 Hollywood film, 'The Amazing Spider-Man'.
For all those critics, we want to say only one thing: All creatures are beautiful. Respect them. Respect their inner beauty. Let it bring joy (or fear) to your face. Let it sweep you away. Only then will you make peace with that monster under your bed. Go ahead. Try.
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