Finally saw the 'Ek chidiya, anek chidiya' video downloaded atleast a month back. And all the images still as fresh as they were in the good old days when DD was the only channel to watch. The orange-with-yellow border mangoes (which for some inexplicable reason i really craved), the holier-than-thou sister, the blinking sun and moon, the birds pecking at grains hip-hop style... And yet, i don't remember ever liking it so much. In fact, i clearly remember a time when i used to get away from the TV when this film came on. Boredom? Overkill perhaps?
Go 92.5 FM has become full hindi now and that's a big disappointment for lovers of all kinds of music like me. They played a song the other day which seemed strangely familiar and the words came back to me. It was from the movie 'Ek Duje ke Liye' and has lyrics consisting only of Bollywood movie titles. 'Mere Jeevan Saathi... Pyaar kiye jaa... Jawaani Deewani... Khoobsurat Ziddi Padosan Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. And my mom reminds me i HATED this song. Then why does it sound so nice now? Changed sense of humour? Maturity perhaps?
Or maybe simply, nostalgia. The heady feeling of the past being so much better that the haze makes you forget that it really wasn't so good. The lesser you remember, the more lucid the imagination.
21.4.06
19.4.06
Travel...
This city's too long. After a week of JJ visitations for the exams, the 25 or so km between Andheri and CST seem so loong. Useful though. Travelling takes atleast 45 minutes by train and in that much time one could finish the whole Landscape syllabus atleast once. Wait, i'm digressing. The point is that how nice would it have been (considering other factors remaining the same) if the Brits had made Bombay Fort at Bandra. A more centrally located CBD would have solved half the city's traffic and most of the housing issues. Maybe JJ would've been near Sion hospital. Or Bandstand would've been Marine Drive. New Bombay would've been more viable as a satellite city, with a single track connecting this CBD to all those CBDs. Richie-rich Peddar road would've been Khar, Dadar would've been Andheri. The south would've been one large residential area (i'm imagining) with Hafeez-style skyscrapers et al. Townies would be 'burbies and 'burbies would be townies... Oh... and i would've been living in Borivili. And still taken 45 minutes by train to get to Bandra.
Not such a big difference, is it?
P.S. Can someone tell me why, in a city surrounded by water, is Marine Drive the only seaside promenade worth writing home about??
Not such a big difference, is it?
P.S. Can someone tell me why, in a city surrounded by water, is Marine Drive the only seaside promenade worth writing home about??
17.4.06
Rang De Basanti... part 3
AAMIR KHAN ROCKS!
Yes. After years of wondering how come this guy gets such respect and admiration in an industry where fickle-mindedness and indiscipline rules, i finally got my answer. The courage to do what he feels is right. Remember the time when Govinda boasted that he shot for 4 movies at a time? And what did Aamir do then? He acted in one movie. At a time when quantity ruled, he put his foot down and said 'I'll take quality'. Okay, there were a few bad moves but he's stuck to his ground. And this willingness to stand by one's beliefs extends outwards too. After the Gujarat riots, he was the ONLY actor to have expressed an opinion. And now, after inspiring millions of people with a movie like Rang De Basanti, he practises what he preaches. 'This shows what politics in India has been reduced to: A few lumpen goons who go about bullying people... I want the people of India to see this and I want them to remember this when election time comes.' This would have got the whistles and applause in any theatre but this guy had the guts to say it in public, fully aware that somewhere down the line his religion will be dragged into the controversy. And today, just as i thought the matter will quieten down slowly, he comes on TV again. And says what he feels is the right thing to do. Without any rhetoric, without any name calling, not even a slightest mention of the political party which dared to burn his effigies.
Rang De Basanti. The sequel. Now showing at a press conference near you.
Yes. After years of wondering how come this guy gets such respect and admiration in an industry where fickle-mindedness and indiscipline rules, i finally got my answer. The courage to do what he feels is right. Remember the time when Govinda boasted that he shot for 4 movies at a time? And what did Aamir do then? He acted in one movie. At a time when quantity ruled, he put his foot down and said 'I'll take quality'. Okay, there were a few bad moves but he's stuck to his ground. And this willingness to stand by one's beliefs extends outwards too. After the Gujarat riots, he was the ONLY actor to have expressed an opinion. And now, after inspiring millions of people with a movie like Rang De Basanti, he practises what he preaches. 'This shows what politics in India has been reduced to: A few lumpen goons who go about bullying people... I want the people of India to see this and I want them to remember this when election time comes.' This would have got the whistles and applause in any theatre but this guy had the guts to say it in public, fully aware that somewhere down the line his religion will be dragged into the controversy. And today, just as i thought the matter will quieten down slowly, he comes on TV again. And says what he feels is the right thing to do. Without any rhetoric, without any name calling, not even a slightest mention of the political party which dared to burn his effigies.
Rang De Basanti. The sequel. Now showing at a press conference near you.
15.4.06
Posting in sleep...
It's 6 in the evening and i'm sleepy. Not because i work in a BPO. Exam time. Lazed around. Suffered. Had to stay up and study. But that is not the issue. The problem is i might have some sleep related issues. i feel tired and i lie down. And i lie down for hours. HOURS (with extra emphasis on the plural). Actually. And by the time i fall asleep its too late to get up early next morning. So i'm tired again. And the cycle continues... And the body wants rest but my hypothalamus or whatever part of the brain controls sleep doesn't want to. Maybe i should try taking up a hobby. Or write a book while i'm up. Or better still, watch TV all night. Or start working for a BPO. Really.
Oh, btw, this has come after attempting sleep for 3 hours. So forgive me.
Oh, btw, this has come after attempting sleep for 3 hours. So forgive me.
9.4.06
Cutie pie blogs...
I'm sure everyone's come across these. Cutesy blogs mostly written by women describing every detail of their love life. 'Today my sweetie gave me a flower' 'Today my darling and I kissed' ' Today my coochie touched my hand'....
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! THIS IS WHAT SECRET DIARIES KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY ARE FOR!!
P.S. So many of these are by South-East Asian women. Any guesses why?
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! THIS IS WHAT SECRET DIARIES KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY ARE FOR!!
P.S. So many of these are by South-East Asian women. Any guesses why?
8.4.06
Same Old Same Old...
Guess who's back? RESERVATION!!! YAY!! Time to further polarise the country. Time to attempt self-immolation. Time to get more votes (how come this decision comes just before election time??). i know everyone is tired and irritated. No more arguments please, they say. We've been arguing for 17 years but to no use, they say. Well, let me join the side of the anti-reservationists. Some reminders though:
1) Just because i am born upper-caste hindu, does not mean i am upper caste or hindu.
2) Just because i am born upper-caste hindu does not mean i am 'involved in a worldwide historical conspiracy to suppress the Dalit caste (says Dr. Kancha Iliah, one of the foremost Dalit 'crusaders')'
3) Just because there are lot of personal experiences involved, it does not mean i am not thinking clearly or logically. (kind attention: Kaushik Mukhopadhyay and Amita Kanekar, with whom i've got into many arguments about the same issue)
Now some rhetoric:
1) Why do you need caste-based reservation when you want to abolish all traces of it? If i know someone has got in through the backdoor (whether by paying a bribe, paying off the peon or claiming a quota) i will treat that person with the same disgust, whether that person is upper/lower/middle/bottom of the upper lower caste.
2) What makes one think that having a caste-based reservation ensures 'better utilisation of talent' in this country? i have friends who weren't told they belonged to the OBC category and when result time came, their marks were so good, they could've gotten into the open category itself. While some others i know dozed off the whole time knowing they'll get the same course thanks to a 'Non-creamy layer' certificate. (and i'm sure we can all guess which group is doing better).
3) Are we sure that reservation, if needed, is needed at all levels? How much can an individual be pampered? It's a tough world for us unfortunate 'unreserved castes'. If the issue is about providing equal opportunity let's have caste reservations at the 1st standard level. i don't have a problem with that. i can't speak for the rest of India though.
4) Are we reserving for the right people? Shouldn't we have economic reservations than social ones? If the aim is to uplift a downtrodden caste won't an economic reservation work better?
5) Why can't 'Affirmative Action' be the role model rather than forcing some unpalatable decision down some very powerful throats? Works the same way, but works much better though.
6) How does saying 'We've suffered 5000 years of discrimination' justify a lifetime of pampering? Won't that make the VHP's senseless demand for a Ram temple justifiable?
i know, i know, this is a non-issue cos the decision will be taken whether or not everyone agrees. But that's the point of this blog. To say things that i want to say but i know will not make a difference to anyone. This time though, i hope it's different.
1) Just because i am born upper-caste hindu, does not mean i am upper caste or hindu.
2) Just because i am born upper-caste hindu does not mean i am 'involved in a worldwide historical conspiracy to suppress the Dalit caste (says Dr. Kancha Iliah, one of the foremost Dalit 'crusaders')'
3) Just because there are lot of personal experiences involved, it does not mean i am not thinking clearly or logically. (kind attention: Kaushik Mukhopadhyay and Amita Kanekar, with whom i've got into many arguments about the same issue)
Now some rhetoric:
1) Why do you need caste-based reservation when you want to abolish all traces of it? If i know someone has got in through the backdoor (whether by paying a bribe, paying off the peon or claiming a quota) i will treat that person with the same disgust, whether that person is upper/lower/middle/bottom of the upper lower caste.
2) What makes one think that having a caste-based reservation ensures 'better utilisation of talent' in this country? i have friends who weren't told they belonged to the OBC category and when result time came, their marks were so good, they could've gotten into the open category itself. While some others i know dozed off the whole time knowing they'll get the same course thanks to a 'Non-creamy layer' certificate. (and i'm sure we can all guess which group is doing better).
3) Are we sure that reservation, if needed, is needed at all levels? How much can an individual be pampered? It's a tough world for us unfortunate 'unreserved castes'. If the issue is about providing equal opportunity let's have caste reservations at the 1st standard level. i don't have a problem with that. i can't speak for the rest of India though.
4) Are we reserving for the right people? Shouldn't we have economic reservations than social ones? If the aim is to uplift a downtrodden caste won't an economic reservation work better?
5) Why can't 'Affirmative Action' be the role model rather than forcing some unpalatable decision down some very powerful throats? Works the same way, but works much better though.
6) How does saying 'We've suffered 5000 years of discrimination' justify a lifetime of pampering? Won't that make the VHP's senseless demand for a Ram temple justifiable?
i know, i know, this is a non-issue cos the decision will be taken whether or not everyone agrees. But that's the point of this blog. To say things that i want to say but i know will not make a difference to anyone. This time though, i hope it's different.
6.4.06
Ego Booster...
i downloaded Google bar over a year ago and barely noticed it unless i used its search field. Then a small green line caught my fancy and have been staring at it ever since. It's called 'Page Rank' and basically indicates how important the page is to the world (i know sounds quite grand but well, no better way to put it)...
i got fascinated the minute i realised Google was being all modest and unassuming and rated its start page a 8/10 and giving blogger.com 10/10. But what made me more obsessed with it was when other blogs registered a rating (any rating!) and mine didn't. Rohan's rated a 2, Mukul's a 4 and that wonderful Anglo-Portuguese artist on unkemptwomen.blogspot.com rated a 6!! Now mine shows a big round 0. Zilch. Which basically re-affirms the tagline of this blog. If someone from Google reads this, could you please explain how it works??
i got fascinated the minute i realised Google was being all modest and unassuming and rated its start page a 8/10 and giving blogger.com 10/10. But what made me more obsessed with it was when other blogs registered a rating (any rating!) and mine didn't. Rohan's rated a 2, Mukul's a 4 and that wonderful Anglo-Portuguese artist on unkemptwomen.blogspot.com rated a 6!! Now mine shows a big round 0. Zilch. Which basically re-affirms the tagline of this blog. If someone from Google reads this, could you please explain how it works??
5.4.06
Spoilt brats...
Argghhh!! i cannot stand Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie!! How many years does it take for these brainless bimbos to realise their antics are tiresome?? Have avoided/escaped watching 'The Simple Life' for almost 2 years now but have been regularly updated by curious and (surprisingly) interested friends. Saw the trailer of 'The Simple Life' part 3 where they try and work (something they must've never done in their lives) and found the trailer itself sickening. They were interning in an UNDERTAKER'S OFFICE!!! After damaging someone's coffin (with someone in it) and spilling someone's ashes over the floor, they ask an old couple who've come to book graves whether they'll find a girlfriend/boyfriend after their spouse dies...
Paris Hilton is probably the most unnecessarily famous celeb in the world. Atleast Nicole Ritchie seems smarter when not associated with her. Paris must be having an IQ of 10 which puts her on the same level as a mosquito.. just as irritating too. And to think one day she will inherit the Hilton chain of hotels. Why can't she be ignored? Simply cos she's entertaining to all her bored celeb friends. Everyone knows she's gonna keep the interest level in a party whether by making out with her ex-current-ex boyfriend or by banging a stalled car or by pouring a drink over someone's head...
And to their good fortune, the producers of 'The Simple Life' have hit the target. Paris' popularity is because of her USP: being a bimbo. She is the legendary dumb blonde. Her performance (whether real or put-on) as a bimbo re-affirms our belief that our prejudices are true. Blondes are dumb. Here's proof.
Paris Hilton is probably the most unnecessarily famous celeb in the world. Atleast Nicole Ritchie seems smarter when not associated with her. Paris must be having an IQ of 10 which puts her on the same level as a mosquito.. just as irritating too. And to think one day she will inherit the Hilton chain of hotels. Why can't she be ignored? Simply cos she's entertaining to all her bored celeb friends. Everyone knows she's gonna keep the interest level in a party whether by making out with her ex-current-ex boyfriend or by banging a stalled car or by pouring a drink over someone's head...
And to their good fortune, the producers of 'The Simple Life' have hit the target. Paris' popularity is because of her USP: being a bimbo. She is the legendary dumb blonde. Her performance (whether real or put-on) as a bimbo re-affirms our belief that our prejudices are true. Blondes are dumb. Here's proof.
4.4.06
Wasteful Inquisitions Part II...
The enquiry into wardrobe malfunctions should be quite entertaining. My only wish is please let me be there!! i can help i promise! This could be my place for internship for the month of May!! (Paul and Sharmishta please take notice).
Since page 3 is deeply involved why can't the inquisitors be Simi Garewal and Karan Johar? Not only would we know the 'real' story behind the incident but get some good sets and snappy clothes. 'So tell me darling, what were your thoughts the second your dress decided to fall off?' or even 'Lets start with you, Carol, for the rapid fire round: Who do you hate the most, Bela Sehgal or the Indian media??' could be question number 1. We could end with a 'Knockers with Karan Gift Hamper' for the one who inspires most sympathy. And let's not forget the pristine white clothes... Or the signing of Koffee mugs... Hell, this event could attract more eyeballs than the Lakme Fashion Week did all week...
Or we could simply let the babus handle the situation. After watching Carol bare her breasts continuously for three months and taking many 'toilet breaks' they will realise that she is not to blame for the wardrobe malfunction. Now we'll switch to the designer. After watching the boob show for 3 months more with more toilet breaks, they'll decide 'Well the designer shouldn't be blamed for this accident.' Next they'll pick on the organisers. Meanwhile their wives will wonder why is my husband so exhausted from work. Well, madam, he is working on a matter of GRAVE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. More important than onion farmers committing suicide. More important than a 4000 megawatt electricity deficit. More important than a 5% growth rate reducing every year. More important than cops raping minors...
Hell... i don't think i'm laughing anymore...
Since page 3 is deeply involved why can't the inquisitors be Simi Garewal and Karan Johar? Not only would we know the 'real' story behind the incident but get some good sets and snappy clothes. 'So tell me darling, what were your thoughts the second your dress decided to fall off?' or even 'Lets start with you, Carol, for the rapid fire round: Who do you hate the most, Bela Sehgal or the Indian media??' could be question number 1. We could end with a 'Knockers with Karan Gift Hamper' for the one who inspires most sympathy. And let's not forget the pristine white clothes... Or the signing of Koffee mugs... Hell, this event could attract more eyeballs than the Lakme Fashion Week did all week...
Or we could simply let the babus handle the situation. After watching Carol bare her breasts continuously for three months and taking many 'toilet breaks' they will realise that she is not to blame for the wardrobe malfunction. Now we'll switch to the designer. After watching the boob show for 3 months more with more toilet breaks, they'll decide 'Well the designer shouldn't be blamed for this accident.' Next they'll pick on the organisers. Meanwhile their wives will wonder why is my husband so exhausted from work. Well, madam, he is working on a matter of GRAVE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. More important than onion farmers committing suicide. More important than a 4000 megawatt electricity deficit. More important than a 5% growth rate reducing every year. More important than cops raping minors...
Hell... i don't think i'm laughing anymore...
Wasteful Inquisitions...
Woke up in the morning to what seemed quite an uninteresting day. But the powers-to-be wished my day start with a big laugh. A few column spaces below 'Dirty Cop sentenced to twelve years' there's 'State government plans enquiry into wardrobe malfunction'. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! i don't know what i'm finding funny. It's power crisis time in Maharashtra and i'm already itching to know how many hours of power cuts i'll have to face. But no, the government would rather let us know how the velcro on the dress came off (duh!). Onion farmers committing suicide in Nasik... ummm that'll have to wait. You see, a little bit of nipple seen in a private gathering is of GRAVE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. The state's laggard development can wait too...
2.4.06
TV...
First Sunday in more than a month i wasn't in college working or at home working. AD jury was bad. Hate myself for not fighting when arguing is something ive become infamous for. Nodded my head like a cow when the jurors ripped my concept apart. Anyways u win some u lose some i guess...
Saw TV without work interruptions. Watched absolute crap all day without hatching/rendering/lettering/pasting models etc etc etc. Three things are big this week apparently: one, Carol Gracias top falling off; two: India winning another one-dayer (which should make us forget 100 all out at Mumbai just a week and half back); three: all kinds of Sufi music inhabiting all music channels.
From Himesh Reshammiya's apparently Sufi inspired dog-yelps to Kailash Kher's intoxicating 'Teri Deewani', its become BIGGGGG. Add to this a number of Paki bands which are basically selling the same Sufi wine in a new bottle. Makes one think: if all those Muslim fanatics find out that Sufi actually started from 12th century Islamic devotional songs, what would they do? In fact, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (who must probably be the first guy to popularise this music form) used original Sufi songs and simply changed the addressee. Afreen Afreen with the hot Lisa Ray is actually a song in praise of Allah...
Well, i cannot continue without hot topic number 2. How many times has this happened? We lose 3 million matches in a row and then win 1. Just 1. And then the hype starts flowing again. ive read one journalist who one day calls us 'contenders along with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe for worst team' and then says 'this team is surely the favourite for World Cup 2007'. A mercurial team in a country of dal-badlus.. quite befitting wont u say?
Hot Topic Number 1: Carol Gracias' Wardrobe Malfunction.. poor girl! Now she's in the same category as the DPS girl and Riya Sen. Blame wars going all around. 'The designer shouldve designed better', 'The model shouldve checked the dress', 'It's all because of media hype'... OH GOD! GROW UP!! This 'wardrobe malfunction' was not Janet Jackson's top getting ripped off by Justin Timberlake. This was equivalent to one forgetting to draw up one's zipper after using the bathroom. i haven't seen a single MMS of that!
Saw TV without work interruptions. Watched absolute crap all day without hatching/rendering/lettering/pasting models etc etc etc. Three things are big this week apparently: one, Carol Gracias top falling off; two: India winning another one-dayer (which should make us forget 100 all out at Mumbai just a week and half back); three: all kinds of Sufi music inhabiting all music channels.
From Himesh Reshammiya's apparently Sufi inspired dog-yelps to Kailash Kher's intoxicating 'Teri Deewani', its become BIGGGGG. Add to this a number of Paki bands which are basically selling the same Sufi wine in a new bottle. Makes one think: if all those Muslim fanatics find out that Sufi actually started from 12th century Islamic devotional songs, what would they do? In fact, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (who must probably be the first guy to popularise this music form) used original Sufi songs and simply changed the addressee. Afreen Afreen with the hot Lisa Ray is actually a song in praise of Allah...
Well, i cannot continue without hot topic number 2. How many times has this happened? We lose 3 million matches in a row and then win 1. Just 1. And then the hype starts flowing again. ive read one journalist who one day calls us 'contenders along with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe for worst team' and then says 'this team is surely the favourite for World Cup 2007'. A mercurial team in a country of dal-badlus.. quite befitting wont u say?
Hot Topic Number 1: Carol Gracias' Wardrobe Malfunction.. poor girl! Now she's in the same category as the DPS girl and Riya Sen. Blame wars going all around. 'The designer shouldve designed better', 'The model shouldve checked the dress', 'It's all because of media hype'... OH GOD! GROW UP!! This 'wardrobe malfunction' was not Janet Jackson's top getting ripped off by Justin Timberlake. This was equivalent to one forgetting to draw up one's zipper after using the bathroom. i haven't seen a single MMS of that!
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