WANDERINGS....AND WONDERINGS!!!!

Poora Naam - Vijay Deenanath Chauhan

2012-01-26T19:43:00.001+05:30

“Rishtey me to hum tumhare baap lagte hai, naam hai, Shehensh…” A dialogue that is became an anthem for millions. Even after 2 decades of the release of film ‘Shehenshah’. Truly, a Shehenshah, Megastar and the Big B of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan has been the face of Indian film industry for more than four decades.

This screen legend was born in town of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh on 10^th October 1942 to a famous Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. Known for his deep and impactful voice, he started his film career with 1969 film Bhuvan Shom, as voice narrator. He got his first opportunity as an actor in Saat Hindustani that won him the Best Newcomer National Award. After series of powerful roles, including a stubborn doctor from Anand, he had his major break in Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer (1973). His character name Vijay, stuck with him for much of his career.

Year 1975 was a remarkable year for Amitabh and a treat for viewers. The year saw two of his biggest releases and probably most iconic roles, Vijay – A gangster from Deewar and Jai – A vigilante from Sholay. These two films and acts by Amitabh are considered as “must see” in the history of Indian cinema. His dialogues from those movies are still practiced by fans and used in many other mediums, giving them a cult status.

Acting in some major box-office hits and particularly mainstream cinema, he made occasional appearances in some off-beat films like Hiro Hiralal, Chashme Badoor. Renowned film director Satyajit Ray was so impressed with Bachchan's voice that he decided to use his voice as commentary in Shatranj Ke Khilari. Bachchan is also narrator for an Oscar winning French documentary, March of Penguins in 2005.

Amitabh did not restrict himself just to acting or voice-overs. He has also sung many songs; some of them are quite famous too. So far, he has sung for more than 25 films and has even collaborated with some famous musicians, singers for their albums. In his career as a producer, he has produced 7 films to date.

He is credited with revitalizing Indian television industry as an anchor of a hit TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati? His suave style and elegance in handling the show made every Indian expand his general knowledge, just to be on the show to meet him.

After four decades of his career, 3 National Awards and 8 Filmfare Awards, this ‘Angry Young Man’ still makes every youngster feel dwarfed by increasing the bar of acting with each movie he acts in. A true legend and rightful recipient of the award ‘Star of Millenium’, Amitabh is what his name suggests – A never-ending light’ of India Cinema!

Religion and Development - Some thoughts I wrote for my college assignment.

2011-03-15T02:21:00.001+05:30

It is indispensable nature of a human being to always crave for more and something better, every time and at every new step. This craving to achieve something better, through individual or collective effort has guided the path of humankind through evolutionary process. In very simple words, development is a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage, generally a stage that is more advanced or matured in nature. Man being a social animal, and an integral part of the society, a communal lifestyle came into his existence through common needs, problems and goals. These shared values later became a system of living, a way of carrying out the daily activities. Down the road, these practices became more systematic and organised. Later they became a way of living life and were entitled as Religion.

Communities in various parts of the world, with their own set of logics, material and other needs had different means to come close and form a basic set of rules to achieve goals. However, as years passed by, the religious beliefs and actions were not sufficient to answer all the questions. The way of life surprisingly did not evolve as expected. On the other hand, their evolution lead to more boundaries and restrictions on people in the name of morality and ethics.

If we look back at history, we can see the progression of religion into a socio-political-economic power centre of those regions or kingdoms, nations, countries, as we know them. Adam Smith (1776) while explaining the role of established clergies in his ‘An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’ wrote that one of religion’s most important contributions to the economic development process was its value as a moral enforcement mechanism. He argued that, in societies where there was a widespread belief in God, the values of honesty and integrity were more prevalent, and fewer resources would be devoted in determining the veracity of an individual’s or firm’s business ethics — what economists call the credit or default risk associated with lending to an unknown individual. A practice in Islam of ‘Zakat’ has similar notions where part of your earning goes to religious charity and individuals performing such acts were considered noble.

Another aspect of religion is that, it gave some reason to its followers to fight for. Beliefs in particular thought or person or entity was one driving force that arrived from geographical and economical situations present at that time. However, it must be taken into account that some religions believed in their philosophy as an answer to eternal human chaos and difficulties in daily life. Their way of life was more peaceful and focused on internal peace with communal harmony.

Moving on to development aspect furthermore, the relationship between religious values and ethics in developing countries and mainstream development theories, policies and practices is complex and often troubled. This results from history of religious competition in some parts of the world, the close associations between religion and colonialism, the origins of development thinking in the colonial encounter and the continued dominance of development policy and practice by the (essentially Christian) rich north. For mainstream development thinking and practice, religion has been best avoided although some development advocates are happy to support and work with religious organisations that are prepared to keep their ‘development’ activities separate from their religious activities. Religion is often seen as a source of conflict and an obstacle to desirable social change, best relegated to the private sphere, and expected to decline in importance as societies modernise.

In current scenario, it is often seen that some wise followers of religion have adulterated religious beliefs in the name of development for personal gains. Such practices often lead to decline of mass sensibilities towards development. These days, when anything related to religion is viewed as an escape from problems and a cause to celebrate, a progression in attitudes of people towards individual aspects and a social sense is often given least priority. In a country like India, where any coloured stone is considered God and a tree standing in the middle of a road, is not touched because of its sacred value, these practices are acting as obstructions in way of developmental ideas. Even pro development minds are often seen afraid of going against popular religious ideas. The intensity of beliefs can often lead to extreme orthodox gestures and ultimately leading to an argument between two sects of same religion or clashes between ardent believers of different religions can turn out to be violent one. Mass outrage gives way to express personal anger, irrespective of any logic; and much damage is caused on all levels of society and economy. Here, communal harmony and logic of social well-being is ignored, hence causing a setback to a developed and a so-called moral society. Unrest of this sort questions the role of religion in modern prospect of religious values as second side of development theories.

In today’s world, not only in developing countries, but in most developed parts of world also, the social and psychological impact of religion has not declined as expected. It continues to influence people’s attitudes, beliefs and practices, and to play a critical role in politics and society locally, nationally, globally. It is seen from the fact that even leaders of most developed countries have to ensure their people about their religious well-being and morality, which is apparent through its practice in order to carry out their job. Religion and development are seemingly inseparable. Conceptually religions provide believers a guideline about life. It provides much-needed incentives for indulging in productive activities during lifetime. Religion can be seen as a promoter of growth as it directs people towards honesty, discipline, hard work, education and asks its followers to restrain themselves from harmful activities. Yet, there is no agreement on the precise relationship between the two. We can probably conclude that the relationship between religion and development is likely to be complementary as long as religious beliefs and practices promote ‘moderation’ rather than extremity.

Dhobi Ghat and what I felt - Not A Review!

2011-02-26T01:18:00.002+05:30

A fresh washing!

When was the last time you had experienced the feeling that, the city you live in, is yours? Standing on those pavements, walking down the road, working day and night, commuting through crowded vehicles, clammed road, breathe that air, taste of water, everything and anything you do with those people, a regular thing for anyone. But, that place is your identity; it is a part of your character. Mumbai, a place where even sleep does not sleep. A city of hopes, dreams, aspirations and of sweat and blood. It comes to no wonder when Kiran Rao chooses this city as her principal character. Question was, how is it going to be?

‘Dhobi Ghat’ is a distinct film in many ways. It marks a subtle, assured and altogether distinctive feature debut for writer-director Rao and its radiant leading lady, rock star and stage performer Monica Dogra.

Dogra's Shai is a New York investment banker on a sabbatical when she meets a painter, Arun (Aamir Khan) at an exhibition of his latest work. Liquor loosens inhibitions, and the next morning Arun declares their romantic tryst a one-night stand. Wealthy, successful and self-confident, Shai, on the surface, handles rejection with composure, but the pair inadvertently stays connected through an impoverished young laundry deliveryman, Munna (Prateik Babbar).

Shai involves Munna in a photography project in which she is recording the lives and trades of working people of Mumbai, while Arun, newly settled in a refurbished apartment, discovers a cache of videos left in an old wardrobe drawer by a former tenant. As Shai and Munna traverse Mumbai, Arun becomes captivated by the videos of the beautiful Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra), which are messages to a loved one. Munna, who dreams of becoming a Bollywood star, finds himself falling in love with Shai but is reluctant to cross class lines.

Often, we experience the fact of life that the process of work is complex yet more enjoyable than its result. Thus, predicting the flow of story and its end is mere part of its cinematic progression. This is where Kiran Rao deserves applause for her strong, poised and emotionally captivating screenplay and serene, subtle direction. Though her storyline is creates an effective collage out of all characters on the canvas of Mumbai, each one of them shines individually too, even small character like Munna’s friend. Her avoidance of typical high society Mumbai or underworld or only poor, Dharavi centric Mumbai is something everyone should make a note of.

Prateik Babbar proves his mettle as Munna. The way he carries whole film on his shoulders convincingly, it shows us that he is class apart from gang of filmy lineage sons and daughters. Subtlety he grows over us. Monica Dogra, singer in real life makes fabulous debut. She does not seem a newcomer at all. Her Shai is in every aspect a curious NRI. A love struck, amazed yet not going out of character frame! This is not an easy task, especially for a newcomer; nevertheless, she does it with finesse. Kirti Malhotra appears through videotapes only, but this Jasmine is someone who makes us fall in love with her. Through her voice, innocent, sometimes troubled expressions are far original than anything we have experienced so far. Aamir Khan, this much-celebrated actor if our industry does good job as a troubled, frustrated painter. However, in whole structure, he is the only one who falls little short of expectations. Though, in some scenes, he gives stellar performance and you wish if that is what he could have carried through whole film.

Dhobi Ghat stands out in today’s mainstream trend for many reasons. A prominent one being, no song and dance sequence and no interval. A complete 95-minute film in one stretch is not a format familiar to normal Indian audience. Kudos to treatment of director, we do not get bored or agitated for our popcorn cravings. Tushar Kanti Ray shoots whole film from point of view of any sentimental outsider in love with Mumbai. It is fresh, original and creates a romantic picture of this city of dreams. Like a painting, this movie progresses with rough strokes, occasional disturbances, doubts and emerges as a work of art.

Music is credited to Gustavo Santaolalla, an Argentine Oscar winning composer. Moreover, his understanding of flavour of Mumbai will surprise you. No string goes out of tune. We can definitely say that movies and art go beyond language barrier. Also, co-credited for music is Aamir Khan. His use of Indian classical ‘bandish’ is remarkable. Appropriate and effective.

Final thought that strikes our mind is, if we get used to watch and make films like these, future is promising. Thanks to Dhobi Ghat, we now understand what ‘feel good’ means.

Ignorance is bliss....

2010-10-16T19:23:00.002+05:30

Every syllable of the one-line plot is as common as it can get. After all, you can say "boy meets girl" only in so many different ways. Despite that when you have fun; and you care for the boy and the girl; you know you are watching a brilliant film. And since the means are good, the time it takes to get to the yawn-inducing approach to the end and the end itself does not hurt that bad. A bit, yes. Not much though.

Good thing about ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ is boy meets girl instantly. They take their time to adjust and after lot of laughs (of course, their own!) tears, mush-mush and hush-hush and some yawns (Ours truly!) when it ends, you just wonder how many movies did you see in one ticket. In a way, good deal but is it?

Certain Aakash from NYC and Kiara (really?) meet each other while attempting to commit suicide (uncanny!). They fail, meet again, fail again and decide to live! Well, that is what the whole film is about. Now why they want to commit suicide or why they decide to have fun for 20 days and then commit suicide, who cares? I mean, how can you run away from home randomly and be in NYC. You worry about being in costly motel in Vegas when you have great flat, live on take-outs in NYC and still be penniless. Sorry! I am confused here. Is this about recession affecting common people? Great though!

Apart from all cheesy rom-com stuff, like signs near church, on streets and just about anywhere you gaze, and so on, film has some quite funny moments worth remembering. Only sad part about them is, they get too predictive, over the top after a while; hence, you do not remember them clearly! Writing part of film is not something you might experience. You can easily deduce that story is worst mixture of some good rom-coms. So not much of hope there. It is like worst to its possible degree remake of Jab We Met. I mean, come on! Vegas? Again? And you really think that makes your film special? How many times you want to show same old jokes with new setting. Audience are not that dumb Mr. Siddharth Anand! Have you learned nothing from your previous film blunders? Screenplay is so bad, that even if you put good actors here, it may not serve purpose. And perhaps that is the reason why acting is not an issue here. Thanks to Ranbir and Priyanka’s understanding of this fact, they do give justice to it.

Only thing worth looking for in whole cinema is Ravi K. Chandran’s astounding cinematography, Sharmishtha Roy’s little loud but still effective production design and kudos to Manish Malhotra for Priyanka’s look. Perhaps not exactly what character needs, but Manish’s styling is the only thing about Priyanka that makes her bearable in this film. Sadly, we cannot say the same about Ranbir. However, cinematography is work of real genius. In first 15 minutes of film, framework and its tones quickly give us characteristics of our boy and girl. Brilliant!

Music has always been key factor in success of film. In this case, current chart toppers, Vishal-Shekar, have called for music. Apart from usual formulaic bullshit, one song is what I remember. (Of course, this is their style). Lucky Ali’s ‘Hairat’ is one good comeback for him and I hope he gets some good songs we can listen repeatedly. This, however, is not enough for success of film. Vishal-Shekhar, please, grow up!

Finally, the father aka director, Mr. Siddharth Anand, why have you made this or any film till now? Kindly answer. Until then, I thank multiplexes for providing me comfort of air-conditioner and cosy seats so I could rest for two hours. And if you still do not believe me, well, your money, your time, your choice!

HOAX

2010-06-13T02:45:00.003+05:30

Same old HOAX is getting me one more time. Why is this happening? Why do I not want to get away from it? Is it some kind of guilty pleasure or sadistic mojo I have in my fucked up mind? I do not know. Why I let this happen! That too, knowingly! 20th! Till that day only. Hope I will get some break and probably will think over it. Acting Like Fucking Retard! Why does this happens all the time? Why am I not letting myself grow up? Need stability. Miss him.

Me = Sentily Happy!! :P

2010-05-24T01:09:00.002+05:30

Well, past two days, I mean yesterday and today, have brought me some best moments. Rather this weak, whole weak was wonderful. Saw some really good movies, serial episodes, plays and somehow, in some of them, I found some characters which had characteristics similar to my my own persona. Well, not every single bit but major traits. Felt nice actually and yes, some thought process started. Also, last two days. the reason they are special....I met 2 girls SEPARATELY! :P
I mean both really good girl-friends. I have to say, all three have some impact on my emotional, psycho-philosophical life in past 4-5 years. In some way of course, I loved them. Perhaps not something as simply complicated as love or whatever, but yes, I have always enjoyed being with them. Discussions, shoppings, talks about their crush/boyfriends what not! Both are weird! Today was not unexpected but yes, I see her atleast once a weak or may be daily if you count online stuff. But we don't chat much. After many months we had lonnnnnng talk today. If was funnnn!! Yesterday was different of course. After many days and truly energised talk! Gosh! I missed them so much! I never realised that!

Hope! This continues! Atleast by surprise or planned meeting. It would be great to meet them, only after long gap actually. You know, it brings out lots of energy and well....I feel great! Spice in normal boring stuff. After all spice everyday also gets annoying! :P
So, this post is dedicated to them and yes, I miss them! :P

VIHIR

2010-01-21T21:52:00.003+05:30

The journey of life has been subject for many literary discussions, writings, films and all. After having covered a long haul, we realise that it’s only end now. Our life is encompassed with death all the time. So what exactly happens when someone dies?

What happens to him? Someone just vanishes and is never seen again? Or, to go more spiritual, is it like they are always around but we can’t sense them? Is memory a part of them being alive? Or is it just that we forget them, they are dead?

What do we seek when we realise that best people, parts in our life are dead and we cherish memories?

Young Marathi filmmaker, Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni tries to give us a visual answer in his latest venture, VIHIR (The Well). Looking through innocent eyes of 13-14 years old, we focus into those deep affectionate corners of our heart and gaze upon our soul to see a reflection of what we are always looking to cherish and why!

Tale of two cousins, Samya and Nachya, living in altogether different town, makes an immediate dialogue with audience about their relation through catchy visuals and fine voice-over of letters they write each other.

Eager to meet each other, they finally get opportunity when their youngest aunt (mavshi or mother’s sister) is getting married in their native village. After the excitement and zeal of meeting is dealt with, director wastes no time in exploring the characters. Quite naïve, our protagonist is amazed by the mature or somewhat incomprehensible thoughts of his elder cousin. He used to take it in funny way before. Don’t we all do that? We either fear or make fun of things we do not understand. Fun is nowhere now. Samya, our protagonist, is serious about Nachya’s ramblings. He feels that perhaps his doesn’t really like this whole mess of burdens around him. Is he really planning on running far? He is angry and frustrated at his brother’s behaviour and the way he talks.

He is back home to come back shortly for wedding. One day of escape? Or perhaps he is getting back to basics? He’s back now. Tragedy has struck. His beloved Nachya is no more. He has drowned in Vihir (The Well) when Samya was away. Deeply shocked he doesn’t even cry. It’s just hard to believe that someone you hold most dear can be gone so easily, without a single sign of leaving.

Unwillingly, with heavy heart, everyone starts new chapter by forgetting the lost one. Wedding goes on, everybody is home. Samya, however, is somewhere else. It’s not possible for him to understand the world around him, his own people and their behaviour. How can they be so indifferent? How can they forget that one precious part of their lives is no more? Is he (Nachya) dead because they have totally forgotten him? Is it like that? Then I do not want to belong here. But can I do that? No! He is there! I know he will be. I have to look for him.

As Bergman does it in “Wild Strawberries”, Umesh takes us on journey of Samya and his thoughts, nostalgia his perceptions and various encounters which enlighten his soul and its unlit corners. The shepherd, his lost lamb and the seeking it, finding it. Don’t we all need shepherd sometime in our life? Sometime, we have to be our own shepherd. What was missing has been found now. Now, everything will be alright! There is innocent, yet fulfilling smile and WE are going home.

Showing the relation between members, cousins and all other characters in film, director takes much effort in detailing even minute things of their nature. It’s his hard work which leads us to understand each character perfectly with their mindset and amazingly, we do not waste much time in this.

Samya played by Madan Deodhar and Alok Rajwade’s Nachya are remarkable performances in Indian cinema in many years. It appears as though they both are the characters. Other cast is comprised of big names and heavyweights, but salute to these lads who outsmart everyone. Supporting cast is equally good and never goes out of the line in any scene.

Story and screenplay written by Sati Bhave and Girish Pandurang Kulkarni is deep yet delicate while maintaining all its sensitivities. Simple and effective dialogues and their avoidance when needed, it’s just perfect.

Sudhir Palsane, is actually a painter behind camera. Simple movements, vibrant but not harsh colours, shot taking and stills! With his vision, film surely looks like beautiful painting being viewed and somewhere near, Brahms is being played. Music is no different. Use of flute, cello and various folk instruments with enhanced and remarkable audiography is one important factor in keeping us glued to chair.

Finally, Umesh deserves lot of credit for this outstanding effort. After the first half, starting on lighter note and ending on heavy one, second half is beautiful and truly outstanding in many ways. It’s truly what cinema was designed to be. It’s VISUAL. Few dialogues, beautiful crafting of scenes and meaningful shots. Most appealing thing is, he hasn’t mentioned much about incident. Was it just a natural and unfortunate incident? Or was it purposeful action? Was it part Nachya’s logic? Umesh doesn’t answer that. Kudos Umesh!

Sati, Girish and Umesh are three musketeers who have give us a film of Iranian sensibility with local and much near to heart setting. It looks as though someone has achieved success depicting mysteries surrounding memories, death and our eternal search of that particular corner, which we look for peace. It is visible that everyone involved here knows what it means when Norman Cousin says, “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live”

With this film Umesh and crew of Vihir have raised the bar in Marathi, not daring if I say, in Indian filmmaking standards and sensitivities. Question is, will audience be able to raise their own? Only time will tell. But this remains by far the most intriguing, clean and true class apart film of decade in Marathi cinema.

Imagining God! & some things I thought about it!

2009-11-28T02:53:00.003+05:30

Since the beginning of our “intelligent” race, we have expressed awe towards thing we do not understand. Unknowns have always been subject of curiosity, sometimes inspiration & many times FEAR. So what exactly happens when lighting strikes, things burn? Sky shouts & it rains? Perhaps simple questions for a 6^th grader these days. Nevertheless, our ancestors were haunted with those.

Early society can be considered something like 6-7 year old when they wondered about everything occurring around them. They love when fire gave them warmth but terrified when it gave burns. Roaring sky meant hiding under shelter. The question was why this happens. Who is doing this? The non-understandable phenomenon was troublesome enough. Fear lead to thought & though to conclusion. What we do not understand, we fear & we name our fears. These things were bad as well as good. Now how do we define it in one single word when two are contradictory experiences?

Thus the twins were born. Bad became Evil & good became God!

Looking back at the history of evolution of human race, we find significant development about the concepts we never really understood. Naming was not enough. As we progressed, more thoughts were expressed on acts of good & evil. It wont be unnatural thought to make these gods & devils a part of what we call “society” & if we, mortal humans have groups, names & different purposes, why not them?

To make them like us, but superior, different actions were assigned to different “gods & devils”. The eternal conflict of “How something called good is better than bad?” was given some reasoning to justify it & thus was formed Mythology.

As we enter into human race, becoming community or constructive living organisations phase, these imagined authorities gained vital importance & some texts, based on how they will act if we follow or do not follow certain set of rules, were written. Now humans were getting a taste of discipline. They had norms & boundaries.

Astonishing thing about humans is, though it has been scattered over the globe, having all kinds of differences, no matter where we go, basic thinking logics have not changed much! When there was need to be organised in an attempt to have “life”, various systems were formed to govern the growing number (again, similar was imagined for gods!)

When man grew wiser & stronger, the ultimate sin he committed was to think he has something & he is someone on his own. When the thirst of power grew, man despised his own imagination & became god. He was the neo-supreme being I his world. So it began….

Man struggled to keep his place at peak but still, he could not work out how this world works. Ill omen was still difficult to cope with. Nothing was what he dreamed of! There was something inside human mind, which was questioning his belief of him being above everything. He was confused. Is it a defeat if I am kneeling before my imagination? Perhaps Yes, perhaps No! What if I kneel down only when I feel insecure, afraid or helpless? This way I can be strong, prove my worth, have faith & still be good person!

An idea did change his life!

The utmost virtue of every human being, selfishness, was key to evolution from beginning. Why this time there should be dilemma? If he gets self-satisfaction. What more is there to ask?

Since then, thousands of thinkers, philosophers, scholars have discussed, debated this issue about existence of entities like god, devil, ghosts, spirits etc. & the norms created for living which are popularly knows as Religion.

We are victims of tradition. For long, these ghosts of imagination have haunted us. Some great things have been achieved by believing in them, no doubt, but when a rational, modern mind questions, answer of everything is pointing towards self. The question is again the same. What exactly is it? How do we define it? Should we really believe in it or not? What & what not to believe? Are we self sufficient to find these answers on our own? Any answers?

....AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

2009-11-10T01:53:00.003+05:30

MONTY PYTHON is by far "THE" BEST variety comedy I have ever seen!! PERIOD!!

"Lahanpan De Ga Deva"

2009-09-24T02:15:00.001+05:30

While growing up, we are always excited to experience the “happening” world around us. New places, new faces, a whole new world. We wonder, why great saint Tukaram has said, “Oh God, make me child once again.” But at one point, there comes the enigmatic desire to become a child once again & we understand him.

This desire grows on you. It had no real answer till I came across the quartet of books by Prakash Narayan Sant: Vanvas, Sharda Sangeet, Pankha and Zumbar. Set in era just after the independence. We experience stories happening in small village near Maharashtra – Karnataka border where our protagonist, a sweet little boy of 9-10, LAMPAN is living with his grandparents. We visit all the places, characters & events through his eyes.

Author has coloured whole canvas of story in such a magnificent way that it never crosses our mind that a person who is much older than Lampan is saying all this. We always feel that it’s a diary of 10 year old boy. So fluent, so clear, completely innocent.

Lampan’s own little world in his small village is his own wonderland. From his friends, especially Sumi, the only “girl – friend” he likes to play with, his grandparents, their clumsy servant Baburao to noisy motor cars to thumping trains, all have their special place in his wonderland. Very special aura surrounds these characters.

We can’t help ourselves but to feel emotionally helpless when we experience hiding a small kitten under the shirt to protect it from rain & the furry warmth we cherish after it slips out & runs away.

Author literally transports us back in our own childhood through Lampan. He grabs our finger reveals us wonders of childhood. We remember our grandparents, those smells of love flowing through kitchen and those hugs with eyes filled with tears. Those skinned knees & kind touch healing them. We visit our old friends, relive fun on playground, that guy we never really liked to play with, those bullies, fun times, sad times, things we never really understood, everything!

We experience our whole childhood in Lampan’s wonderland. It’s that journey we never wish should end. A nostalgic feeling we don’t want to let go. That’s where this series makes its point. Prakash Narayan Santa gives us a gift of lifetime. To tell like Lampan, “Don’t cry like mad about your lost childhood. Just look inside, it’s somewhere deep down inside you.”

Really, no matter how far we travel in wonderland of ours, we can never understand mysteries of childhood & that’s what makes it special.

OMG!!

2009-06-07T18:42:00.001+05:30

JESUS CHRIST!!
So lazzzzzzy of me!! Haven't visited my own blog in AGES!!
JEEEZZ!!
Decided!!
Will try to write something whenever I really feel like!!

To # 18. What else can I do??

2008-10-03T14:03:00.012+05:30

Almost a year gone. Still remember last meeting, discussions. Everyone said, that maybe it was something that I was never ready to accept or believe. But then & now also, when I think all over again keeping my (maybe stubborn) feeling that it wasn’t like that & I really found no reason that it was something unacceptable or like that for me.

What I mean is, how do you accept something like death of a close one? I don’t know! I mean it’s not something you know since you are born! It’s not like somebody teaches you how to act in that situation. Maybe it’s the simple fear of death that takes you over.

Probably the question of “what next? what now?” Can’t say! For me, it’s just a fact left to face. Fact that you can’t hear, meet, see that person any more. That’s all.

Loneliness. Sometimes I feel really alone. Yearning for someone to say it all. Wanting someone to just hear it & that’s all. Eventually I succeeded in doing the thing I was always familiar with – self-consolation & acting like a loner, alienating people.

It was never & still is not a case that I don’t have anyone to share, talk things. But then there are some people & things in your life which are just irreplaceable. Now, I know it is true.

After a year, when he is no more, I can say that I really miss him. It is, for me, one of those moments when I felt really lonely though was in company of near & dear ones. It was a moment when my feeling of me being a loner trembled. Moment only! But these little moments became reason to think, to realise and to believe in what I had never thought.

A butterfly effect! Isn’t it? And you know what’s really ironical? It’s just the moment where digging a whole inside tree trunk doesn’t help!

......????

2008-07-19T12:54:00.001+05:30

And then there are some things, no matter how strongly you wish, you just can't help but let then happen!

Happy Birthday!!

2008-06-28T15:35:00.002+05:30

Can't believe I'm blogging since one year! Wow!
Excited? Yes! Still feeling same as it was first time.
Too many things in head now.
Want to write many things!
Have to take time out for blogging sometimes!
Lots more to offer in this new year!
I hope it works!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BLOG!!!!

IF I COULD STOP TIME....

2008-06-21T01:38:00.003+05:30

I will stop it at this moment. PEACE....!!!! "Love"ly! So calm. So peaceful. And my favourite songs. Just too good. I wish this moment should never pass....

I LOVE IT!!!!

2008-06-19T18:29:00.001+05:30

I just love my incredible ability to fight the lost or "about to lose" battles!!! :P

LET THE TRUTH PREVAIL....

2008-06-06T18:16:00.003+05:30

Greats have said, “Speak Truth”, “Truth Wins”, “Truth is ultimate”

I have been hearing this since my childhood. Never cared though!

One day I saw “RASHÔMON”. Everything shattered.

(If you haven’t seen it PLEASE!! DO watch!)

It tells a story of an incident. Film starts with a shot in which we get to see heavy rain. A big gate (Rashômon). Three persons seeking shelter under it. One Monk, one wood cutter & a passer-by. Wood cutter and monk start reciting a story, an incident. A samurai warrior & his wife are walking through a forest. Woman is raped and her husband (samurai) is killed by a notorious bandit. According to them, both know the truth. But both present very different story. In other montage we get to see the confession of bandit. His version is completely different from two witnesses, so it continues with wife and spirit of dead husband.

It nearly made me freak out. If truth wins, which of these “truths” should win? Which one is ultimate?

When we say truth is ultimate, or something is true, what it means?

I mean if it wins then what is exactly the truth? If you have different viewpoints, perspectives of looking at one thing, then each one will get a different picture. But you can not say that certain or someone’s point is true. It reminds me a story of four blind men and an Elephant. Everybody is right or telling truth in own way but even collectively, they are wrong!

How do you define it? If truth is universal, how can you define it personally, rather how can you define it according to yourself and still say it is universal? May be I am lot confused or getting everything wrong. But then how can you say something is true? What can be termed as truth?

I guess it just won’t stop me bugging. May be I am getting too much into it but….

Since childhood, we listen to all this. We are told not to lie, to tell truth always. I doubt how much thought we give to the fact that we spent much of our early life in not knowing or understanding the meaning of truth rather than accepting it as material or a just fact!

Troubled me a lot! I guess now I understand when people or movie characters talk about taking a journey to know eternal truth.

Are we on-board?

C'est Formidable! Magnifique!

2008-05-24T13:40:00.001+05:30

It is soooo nice! I mean, just wonderful!

Hot summer is doing his job perfectly but still you open window and……. cool wind sweeps you. Beautifull!!!! Isn’t it? You look outside and keep wondering about nature’s greatness and just awe. I can’t utter a single word. Spellbound!

WHAT XCTLY?

2008-02-17T03:15:00.004+05:30

A CHAPTER....ENDS(????) OR...........DECIDES ITS DESTINY MAYBE????

KYUN DUNIYA KA NARA "JAME RAHO" ????

2008-01-13T23:18:00.000+05:30

* A rat race is a term used for an endless, self-defeating or pointless pursuit.

*The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.-Lily Tomlin.

“I hate competitions. Someone gets first prize and spends his whole life in protecting it. And others….

Others die hard to get that position from him.”

Sounds extreme rather much bizarre, isn’t it?

But have you ever considered this? I doubt!

From time-to-time “Survival of the Fittest” has been proved. We humans have survived countless disasters, diseases and many things. Apart from sci-fi novels, we might have never thought that something which we have created can trouble us. We have all the advance technology and everything we have ever dreamed of. I feel there is nothing to worry about, except one disease. No, it’s not AIDS or CANCER or Anything else. It has new form and name in this era. It’s known as RAT RACE.

Rat Race is probably the worst phenomenon we can create. Each and every person is trying to ride on the tide of this ‘globalisation’ or ‘ever growing world’s progresses. The world has become much more materialistic in past decade than it was ever before. We don’t have time for ourselves. Bad thing about it is, it has become a culture now. It has a sweet name “RAT RACE CULTURE”

It is spreading like a wild bush in every aspect of human life. It’s omnipresent!

Worst thing is not only that people are trying to get on-board to sail with tides of this race or rather run this race, but they are making their kids/children follow it.

This is probably the worst “side-effect” of this so called culture. Where are the values like Freedom, right to live free, for which thousands of thinkers, philosophers have fought? Have we lost our values?

I often feel that we, ourselves are destroying our future. Kids of this generation who are facing this evil without having any answers to their question- Why?

This evil will continue to haunt them for the rest of their life and they will end up, nothing better than us, I fear may be worst. If this goes on, future of entire human race would be in danger. Then we won’t need Robots. We, ourselves, would be Robots. We are not far from being that.

At a point, we must stop forcing our children from being a part of this evil. We should not force them but rather protect them. In latter stages, I fear that this generation will hate their own parents, worst – Their lives! They can get this huge frustration of not being able or having not done what they have always wanted to do. But that will be too late. This time is not far. I think we all can hear its silent footsteps approaching. How could you explain suicides of many young people because of unemployment, problems at work, failure in exams? How?

Not everyone is competent enough to run a race. It takes time and practice. But it has hammered so much on our minds that we think we don’t have any other choice. We must stop this somewhere if we want our future good.

I seriously feel that parents must realise that just because they give birth to child does not give them “ownership” of their child. The problem is most parents look at their kids like a product which has to be best-seller. They look at their kids in professional view. Another “side effect”!!

I do hope that with movies like “Taare Zameen Par” and “Amhi Asu Ladake (We Will be Beloved)” and the discussion they spark, will at least help us to realise our mistakes. I don’t feel bad when Aamir Khan says in TZP, “If you want to win a race, breed horses. Why give birth to a kid?” It’s very true. We must realise that our future lies in our own hands. I urge each and every one of us, whether you are young, kid, parent, teacher, anyone. Please! Please give a chance to next generation. Don’t ruin their lives by putting them in this vicious phenomenon.

I would like to request you!

Please watch

Taare Zameen Par

Amhi Asu Ladake (We Will be Beloved)

[NO!! They are not paying me for promotion!!]

Let’s make things better and this world a better, not bitter, place to LIVE and not to die in effort of trying to live!

A part of life we can't "part" with.....

2007-12-30T16:22:00.000+05:30

PARTING

Original verb Partir(FRENCH) = to leave.

Have you ever seen a movie with sad ending?

In the end someone dies, someone leaves and…..sadness prevails.

There comes the emotion of parting.

One of the most difficult emotions any person can face. Nobody wants to face such difficult situation. Sometimes I think, why? I mean why is it so difficult for anyone to face this? Is it because the attachments we have with things, with people? Is it because we have some fear in our heart that our life would never be the same again after this? I don’t know. But yes….. It is really difficult for many to digest (??) the sad emotion of parting.

It is really ironical that we feel emotional towards something or someone when we are think we might lose it. Countless books, philosophers say that people around us, our relatives, friends, loved ones are real treasure we have. Really, if that’s true then, who will be really happy to lose a treasure? But sometimes it happens that people don’t realise that they had a treasure until they lose it!!

But someone once said me that it’s not that we don’t know what we have. It’s just we never think that we might lose it. How true, isn’t it?

Whenever I listen to BHAIRAVI, I experience great and soothing feeling of parting. You can’t say it’s great but…yes it is great feeling. That gives me strength to keep my relations. To hold them. Just a futile human effort to prevent destiny.

And still….the moment arrives. I am helpless and BHAIRAVI takes me over…..

2007-12-24T15:14:00.000+05:30

You know what's funny? When someone is really happy about himself/herself. She/He is telling you "How good She/He is"

and....

you tell people "You are not special!"

It's funny how people get offended when someone tells them this.

Nobody likes to show or express. But, they are emotionally hurt.

Many times!!

Loneliness......

2007-12-20T23:16:00.000+05:30

Today I was standing in front of my school. There is a bench on which Ajinkya and I used to sit, have mannnnnnnyyyyyy discussions. The bench was gone..... :(
Ipod decieved me! It was playing the song by LATA
"Na Jaane Kyon Hota Hai Ye Zindagi Ke Sath,
Phir Achanak Ye Man, Kisi Ke Jaane Ke Baad,
Kare Phir Uski Yaad Chhoti Chhoti Si Baat,
Na Jaane Kyon....."

First time in years,

I FELT LOENLY..... :(

Chill!!!!

2007-12-17T17:03:00.000+05:30

Don’t you just love winter?

Those chills it gives you even in a sunny morning. I love to wander long distances in the winter mornings. Riding vehicle in speed, taking the chill of wind on my body….oh boy!!!!

Whenever I drive on the road of B.M. College, I get to see very mesmerising scene. The soft morning sunlight filtered through countless leaves. It falls on you. It’s gold and cold!! I just try to embrace the scene with my eyes. I wish my eyes had camera in them like sci-fi stories!! I can’t help looking at it for long time and I almost forget that I need to move as I’m in the middle of the road.

Take the afternoons for instance. Usually they are all that sunny and dull. But in winter it makes you wear an extra layer. If you sit near the window, you will feel the gentle, soothing touch of cold winter wind. It’s like it has parted company with the chills it gives you in morning. It caresses you. I become so much nostalgic sometimes that I put some great music on and just sit in quite….Peace!

Those frosty nights add spice to my night life. Running from home silently. Taking bike and driving it towards Durga, of course in full speed! & this, if done without wearing jacket, sweater or other enemies of winter, wwwwoowww!!!! It’s just amazing! After all, cold coffee of Durga is the thing worth of all this effort!

Misty roads, foggy river and everything so nice, calm and soothing. City looks really beautiful in winter. You just need to forget the chills and of course…. Your soar throat or running nose. You can enjoy the wonder of winter!!!!

I just love winter…………… Don’t you????

Some Qoutes......

2007-12-09T13:15:00.000+05:30

These are some quotes I came across very recently. I really liked them. Here they are...

God lies in minute details! - Alyc Padamsee in his autobiography "A DOUBLE LIFE"
We all are victims of our dreams! - From a movie I saw @ Asian Film Festival. Sadly I don't remember the name. :(
Why is anyone & everyone right-so long as it is not yours? Why is everything twisted out of all sense to fit everything else? - Howard Roark to his college Deanin The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
Never ask people. Not about your work. Don't you know what YOU want? How can you stand it, not to know? - Howard Roark to Peter Keating in The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
Maa ki kokh se kabra ka rasta door nahi tha, par chalte chalte ek zindagi beet gayee! - Sher by unknown Shayar. Heard it in programme of Grace-a marathi Poet!
Hardest moment is not when we lose something & tears come out of our eyes. But it is the one when we lose something ans still manage to smile! - SMS by my friend specially for Me!
Love isn't a decesion. It's a feeling. If we could decide whom to love, then life would be much simpler.......but less magical! -Another SMS by my friend!

More to come!
TO BE CONTINUED....................................................

SOMETHING UNCOMFORTABLE....

2007-11-25T17:01:00.000+05:30

.
.
.
.
.
..............

....................

NOW IT HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE FOR ME TO WATCH "RANG DE BASANTI"

NO EXPLAINATIONS!
NO REASONS!
NO JUSTIFICATIONS!

NOTHNIG BUT THE ACCEPTANCE OF TRUTH????

It's a question of a quest!!!!

2007-10-26T00:30:00.000+05:30

I always feel that we have countless questions around us many times.

They trouble us, trick us, and even teach us many things. For some months, one quest is always around me. It’s about LOVE. People have expressed their opinions on this topic in various ways and we can see that through movies, books, poems etc. For me “LOVE” has always been a big question mark. I have tried to explore it in my own way but always come up with some strange things about it!

To add to my questions, I happened to see some films.

First I saw “LOVE ACTUALLY” It says ‘Love is always around us.’

Even my friend once said to me,” We need to feel love around us. But our problem is we get trapped in many material things and then we cry that there is no love for us! We look for it all over in world but we neglect the fact that it’s just around the corner. It’s matter of belief. We need to believe, that’s all!”

I was quiet working on this and then a funny thing happened. I saw some other films, which, in my opinion were related to this topic.

Films were

L’Auberge Espagnole {Spanish Apartment}
Les Poupees Russes {Russian Dolls-Sequel of Spanish Apartment}
Dil, Dosti Etc.

These three films diverted my thoughts completely. I thought all over again. I thought of many things and eventually I found myself in more depth! It was like a maze. More and more you try to go in, more you get trapped inside and you realise that you are still far away from core!

Each film, unique in own way. I felt (may be because I was thinking about it) each film was telling me something about love and giving me new questions!

They gave me new questions like, What I really want? Are we really chasing what we want? Rather do we know exactly what we want?

Love has always been a mystery or a complication for me. I haven’t yet found any satisfactory answer. Do I need to have more faith? Is my belief not strong enough? Am I thinking in wrong direction? Am I “over-thinking”? Can’t exactly say. I liked what they’ve said in DIL, DOSTI, ETC. They say,” When you are young and you believe, then possibilities are unlimited”

I think these all thoughts are part of an unending process. We always try to find the last one in chain. Each time we find something we question ourselves,

“Is this the last one?” Difficult to answer, isn’t it? I remember a quote from

Les Poupees Russes {Russian Dolls}. The protagonist in that film is also troubled by this question. He says, “If I think about everything I have desired, looked for or wanted to know, it’s like a bunch of Russian dolls. We spend our lives playing the game dying to know what'll be the last, the teeny-tiny one hidden inside all the others. You can't just get to it right away. You have to follow the progression. You have to open them one by one wondering, "Is it the last one?"

Whatever it may be, three things are clear to me.

· This chain is unending and I am in it!

· Things I’m seeing, hearing, believing etc. are affecting my thoughts and I am finding myself far away from answers.

· I am still looking for definite answer!!

MY FAVOURITE POEM

2007-08-26T01:53:00.000+05:30

TODAY I WANT TO SHARE A POEM I LOVE.
IT IS WRITTEN BY VERY FAMOUS POET "ROBERT FROST"
I HEARD THIS POEM WHEN I WAS IN 9th Std.
MY ENGLISH TEACHER,WHO WAS VERY FRIENDLY WITH ME,TOLD ME THIS ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT THE "PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP" HELD IN OUR SCHOOL.
I DID NOT PERFECTLY UNDERSTAND THE POEM THAT TIME.MY TEACHER SAID,"YOU WILL GET SOME MEANING IN YEARS TO COME. JUST NEVER FORGET WHAT ITS BOTTOMLINE IS. TRY TO EXPLORE. YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING NEW AS YOU WILL GROW,GAIN KNOWLEDGE,BECOME MATURE!!"

I NOW REALISE HOW TRUE HE WAS.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
------------ ROBERT FROST.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT????

Life? Death? What's big deal!!!!

2007-07-13T00:40:00.000+05:30

Sometimes it occurs to me that all of us are afraid of being dead or afraid of death.
I wonder how it happens? Why do we feel that way?As it's clear that the only thing that is for sure going to happen is that we are going to die. The only sure thing. Then why do we fear it?

May be it's because we don't know how to die!! We get ourselves engaged in such things that lead us to the disillusioned life. May be we don't know the meaning of death.

This all thought came to a pause when I read a book,
"TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE"
As it says on cover,it's really a lesson for everyone who is far away from what he actually is.
At a point they{Morrie and Mitch} talk about death. That's where my thinking got some new ideas!!

It says,
"The truth is once you learn how to die,you learn how to live"
in other one he {Morrie} says,
"May be death is the great equaliser. The one big thing that can finally make strangers shed a tear for one another."

This is really a thing to think!!

ISN'T IT????

What....?????

2007-06-26T23:20:00.000+05:30

I try to sleep,countless thoughts burst into my head.
Can't stop them. Why? Am i not strong enough? Something bugs me. I dont know what.
All the time i feel something is around me. It pulls me from some things,it pushes me into other.
Something is seriously bugging me.
Is it me....??????