Thank you to everyone who replied to my post. Again, I apologize for all the technical difficulties I had which made my post late. Apparently, PowerPoint 2011 doesn't let you create videos of presentations, BUT PP 2010 DOES. It took me about 2 days to figure this out, and another day to recreate the presentation using my roommates computer (luckily he was using the older version of PowerPoint).
I'm glad that people responded to my question about reincarnation in Om Shanti Om. Shelby, I thought your comment was really insightful. The fact that Shanti is pregnant when Mukesh kills her definitely makes the scene more significant. Motherhood does often signal the "death" of a female actors career, making the implications of her scene where she confronts Mukesh all the more symbolic. I enjoyed your discussion of the relationship between actors and age. It's true that female actors are much less likely to win prestigious awards after the age or 40 (unless your name is Meryl Streep), while male actors are much more likely to win awards after the age of 40. Leonardo DiCaprio case and point!
Nathan, I also appreciated your contribution. You're absolutely right that the directors were very calculated in their decision to reincarnate Om and not to reincarnate Shanti. This decision sets up the encounter at the end where Shanti's spirit is able to enact her revenge on Mukesh. I wonder if there are some metaphysical implications here. Perhaps Shanti's spirit is symbolic of India as "motherland," and in abusing the mother (Shanti), Mukesh (western decadence and betrayal) reaps his just punishment. That might be reading into it a bit too much, but still it's interesting to ponder!
Again, I really enjoyed getting the chance to watch Om Shanti Om and to discuss it with the class. I'll be finishing my critical reading of the film in the next few days.
P.S. I just watched Kahaani today with my girlfriend, and we both thought it was great! Really different from anything else we've watched this year. Ciao!
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