my side of the coin

Poem by someone

2011-01-27T04:23:00.002-06:00

a poem by someone I dont know. Very nice poem....so thought of sharing it....

अगर रख सको तो एक निशानी हूँ मैं,
खो दो तो सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं ,
रोक पाए न जिसको ये सारी दुनिया,
वोह एक बूँद आँख का पानी हूँ मैं.....
सबको प्यार देने की आदत है हमें,
अपनी अलग पहचान बनाने की आदत है हमे,
कितना भी गहरा जख्म दे कोई,
उतना ही ज्यादा मुस्कराने की आदत है हमें...
इस अजनबी दुनिया में अकेला ख्वाब हूँ मैं,
सवालो से खफा छोटा सा जवाब हूँ मैं,
जो समझ न सके मुझे, उनके लिए "कौन"
जो समझ गए उनके लिए खुली किताब हूँ मैं,
आँख से देखोगे तो खुश पाओगे,
दिल से पूछोगे तो दर्द का सैलाब हूँ मैं,,,,,
"अगर रख सको तो निशानी, खो दो तो सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं

क्या लिखूँ
कुछ जीत लिखू या हार लिखूँ
या दिल का सारा प्यार लिखूँ...

कुछ अपनो के ज़ाज़बात लिखू या सापनो की सौगात लिखूँ
मै खिलता सुरज आज लिखू या चेहरा चाँद गुलाब लिखूँ
वो डूबते सुरज को देखूँ या उगते फूल की सान्स लिखूँ
वो पल मे बीते साल लिखू या सादियो लम्बी रात लिखूँ
मै तुमको अपने पास लिखू या दूरी का ऐहसास लिखूँ
मै अन्धे के दिन मै झाँकू या आँन्खो की मै रात लिखूँ
मीरा की पायल को सुन लुँ या गौतम की मुस्कान लिखूँ
बचपन मे बच्चौ से खेलूँ या जीवन की ढलती शाम लिखूँ
सागर सा गहरा हो जाॐ या अम्बर का विस्तार लिखूँ
वो पहली -पाहली प्यास लिखूँ या निश्छल पहला प्यार लिखूँ
सावन कि बारिश मेँ भीगूँ या आन्खो की मै बरसात लिखूँ
गीता का अॅजुन हो जाॐ या लकां रावन राम लिखूँ
मै हिन्दू मुस्लिम हो जाॐ या बेबस ईन्सान लिखूँ
मै ऎक ही मजहब को जी लुँ या मजहब की आन्खे चार लिखूँ

कुछ जीत लिखू या हार लिखूँ
या दिल का सारा प्यार लिखूँ...

One liners by Harsha

2010-10-27T12:07:00.001-05:00

Came around this nice post on one liners by Harsha....I just shamelessly copied....here is the original link:

http://ayaskantam.com/2009/08/itz-all-about-harsha-bhogle/

- I can’t be Tendulkar but mind you Tendulkar can’t be me either.

- It is important to recognise an opportunity.

- Success is about how much you are willing to do when you don’t have a reward in mind.

- It is important to surround yourself with people who are better than you.

- Within the system we need to have priorities clear.

- Failure is always a step to success — the previous, in fact.

- If you really want something, you will get it and there is no scientific explanation for this.

- Years back, I told Rahul (Dravid) to get married. Every woman I met wanted to get married to him.

- Once when a zimbabwean bowler was bowling against sachin he commented – “He runs in like a truck but ends up like a bicycle”.

- This is from the Natwest Trophy final. When Yuvraj got out at a very crucial stage, Harsha’s one liner was “Yuvraj singh will realize that this will be his longest walk back to the pavillion”.

- In Year 2000, ICC Knock out Championship at Kenya in India Vs Australia match, Sachin was smashing all Aussie bowlers and then played a superb off driver off Lee. Then Harsha said - “This innings by Tendulkar has been a beautiful garden, the last shot being the most beautiful flower in it”.

- If you take out the character out of Nel he is quiet a good bowler!!!! (About Andrew Nel of South Africa)

- When Sachin was dropped by Smith, Harsha said, ” Sachin must be saying to Smith, – You just dropped the series”

- He once said, “The greatness of a batsman is not measured by the number of big innings he has played, its measured by the standard deviation of his scores from his average. That is the hallmark of a consistent batsman and thats makes Sachin Tendulkar the greatest batsman on Earth”

- Natwest Final: Sehwag blasts one frm Darren Gough through covers. Harsha comments:”That was bowled at 140 kms an hour and that has gone 200 kms an hour.”

- Never follow the dollars, commit urself to your work and the dollars will automatically follow you.

- In an India V England match, 2nd Indian innings, for an appeal against Wasim Jaffer, Ian Howell the Umpire took huge lot of time and here is Harsha with another marvelous comment – “Here’s Ian, finished reading his novel, read the reviews and now he thinks its out!”

- When dravid dropped a catch of Micheal Vaughan of Kumble’s bowling Harsha says,

“It was a catchable catch”

- Once while comparing Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, Harsha said, “Well, Sunil Gavaskar is a product of an old socialist economy whereas Sachin is a product of a new economy. Sunil Gavaskar played as if he has bank deposits whereas Sachin plays as if he is in playing in the equity markets”.

- Talent can open the first door, the second door, the third door but only attitude can open the last door for you !!!!!!!

- The harder I try the luckier I get.

- In a test match, When Matt Prior was constantly chirping from behind he said, ” This guy must have swallowed a dictionary”

- When India got off the mark with byes Harsha Says, ” The most prolific run maker of the first innings( byes) is now off the mark”

- Ind v/s England – Super 8’s – T20. India were 38/0 and Harsha with Keppler Vessels in the commentary box comments, “There are three batsmen playing at the moment for India, Gautam on 15, Sehwag on 12 and the Extras on 11″

- In a Management College Quiz at IIFT Delhi, Harsha was playing quizmaster and the it was a round where contesting teams had to recognise jigsawed slides of players according to frames being adjusted on screen. There was a pic of a football player and it was the first slide which showed just a profile view of the left cheek with a slight blink of eyes brows. A contestant from MDI jumped upon it and shouted “It’s Malouda, the French player” The answer was bull’s eye and a surprise for all in the hall. Harsha exclaimed and said that even Malouda’s Mom would have needed another frame to hit that. People went berserk with laughter.

- When somebody hit six which went 100m long, Harsha said,” This one took half a second to reach boundary. Even Asafa Powell would have taken 11seconds”

- When Yuvraj and Uthappa went crazy and were hitting every ball out of park, Harsha summed up Twenty20 format in very appropriate words by saying,”This format of game is like playing book cricket,every page you open,you get 4s and 6s”

- What an introduction to India Vs Australia semifinal: “This is a battle between unstoppable force against immovable object”

- In T20 World Cup match when all the batsmen had single figures and the extras were around 15, Harsha said, “All the big parties have failed to Win and the Independents are winning!!!!!”

- When Michael Clarke was caught at slip off Kumble , he was still wating for the decision , over this Harsha said, ” I think he is waiting for tomorrow’s newspaper to declare him out”

- Symonds drags Kumble from outside off stump for a four between long on and midwicket, Harsha says, “The last time I saw someone playing that kind of shot Ravi, was on a Table Tennis Table”

- Perth Test: After Shaun Tait did not live up to the hype that Cricket Australia created around him, Ponting took him off the attack. Harsha, in his own inimitable style: ‘Shaun Tait should go up to ponting and say – Hello Mr Ponting, my name is Shaun Tait and i am supposed to take 45 wickets in this test match”

- Kumable and Harbhajan were just thrashing the Australian bowling attack in their 107 run partnership. In the middle of that partnership,Harsha describes the impact of the partnership for the Aussies – “This is not hurting anymore, this has become an wound now !!!”

- When Vaas got Yuvraj out he said ” I tell you what, if Jayawardene was the head of state, then Vaas would have got the highest civilian honour”

- Rohit was 2 yrs old when Sachin went into bat against Pak in 1989, now he is batting with him. wow!! what a moment for Rohit !

- When Gambhir was runout, “India was trying hard to get a runout. Missed out a couple of times and atlast succeeded”

- when MS DHONI lost the TOSS (yet again), our great man says, “MS DHONI has yet again called for heads to the coin which has two tails”

- I believe chapatis have a heart of their own. How so ever you may try, they take the shape they want to attain.

- When Neeraj Sharma (writer of the book: Joker in the pack) said: its difficult to tell someone that one of my friends is placed in Singapore and i am going to Gorakhpur, the beautiful harsha oneliner came: HEY! COME ON GUYS! THE GUY WHO LEADS IN FIRST HUNDRED METERES IN A 10000 MTS. RACE, DOESNT NECESSARILY WINS THE RACE”

- Robin Uthappa will write in his CV – Played for India as batsman at No 8 when Irfan pathan was prompted at 3 in Melbourne ODI.

- One during India Vs South Africa series in 2001/02… “That was the flattest Parabola you wil ever see” when Sourav hit a Six off Ntini over Midwicket

- During Perth Test, Symond’s appeal against Tendulkar was turned down – Harsha says ‘ Symond looks like a child whose chocolate has been taken way’

- If two plus two is equal to four , then this is wide

- In the air ..in the air….taken…..this is a problem with the love stories. He said this when Yuvraj Singh got out in 2002 Natwest final.

- How many of you remember this from Harsha ” I just wonder can zaheer write a letter to B.C.C.I, can I get fielders who can take catches ” after 2 catches were dropped in one Zaheer Khan’s over (england 2007)

- I learnt during my school days “always recognize the fear in opposition’s camp “.

- This is again one of the very best. It was during the last test of the recent Ind vs Aus tour where Kumble and Ishant were having a great partnership and were frustrating Australians. Ricky Ponting set a very spread field for kumble allowing him to take a single. only a few were in the circle. Harsha said-”Kumble would take a photograph of this and show to his grand children and say that this was the field that Brett Lee had for me when I was 37 !!!!”

- This was during the Sydney test early this yearr when Sachin was batting on 99 nd all the fielders were saving singles. Harsha says “It is that time again when the journalists all around the world wud be ready with 2 sets of headlines. One saying Sachin falls in the 90’s once again and the other saying Sachin finally breaks the jinx and reaches 3 figures”

- This was when Yuvraj Singh was batting and something happened to his abdomen guard. So he put his pant slightly down and started adjusting the guard to which harsha said “Any changes in that part of the anatomy must be done in the dressing room”

- This one comes from a talk show where Harsha was commenting if IPL will be a hit or miss. He answered “Cricket is the biggest reality show in India.”

- “If Indian Hockey is A and Excellence is B, then A intersection B is a null set” during his speech at IIM,Ahmedabad

- Its from India-England one day series the 6th odi when India chased down 316. Tendulkar hits one over the mid on and the wicketkeeper says ‘catch it’. Harsha replies – ‘ the question is who?’

- when Naseer Hussain got out by a hit wicket, he said “Naseer is finding out innovative ways of gettting out”

- During Harsha Unplugged, Harsha said Hershall Gibbs that it could have been even bigger news if you would have played a forward defense on that 6th ball (talking about the over when Gibbs hit 6 sixs)

- The problem with history is that it repeats itself in text books but not in real life.

- After dismantling the main string of the bowling attack, Gilly got out to Raina!!!! Inspired by this event against the run of play, Harsha :”It’s like starting dynamics and getting your arithmetic sum wrong.”

- Great men get noticed when they fail, and ordinary men when they succeed.

- Duminy missed a full toss from Rohit Sharma – Harsha sayas, “He tried to play three shots on one delivery, but ended up playing none”.

- When Yuvaraj took hattrick and started running away from team huddle..Harsha Says…’Dont know why people run away in Happiness’.

- In an IPL match when Dwayne Smith very luckily survived 3 times, Harsha said “After the match I am taking Smith to a Casino”

- when Tendulkar got a hundred he said “Touch of Class & Stamp of Authority”

- This was in a match between India and South Africa, Umpire Rudi Kuertzen caught on camera sporting a rare smile. Harsha commented, “Last time Rudi Kuerzten smiled there was peace in west asia”

Why do I still serve you ?

2010-09-20T15:04:00.004-05:00

Came across this article on TimesOfIndia through a friend.......article had a poem written by an Indian soldier.........just wanted to share that poem....for the full article go to

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/whose-man-is-that-soldier-fighting-in-kashmir

Such articles make you think how screwed by Indian Politics/Media is......we may think (which I do not deny) that India is shining.......but we are still missing some areas which need to changed fundamentally....from the roots.....

Here is the poem....

Why do I still serve you?

How you play with us, did you ever see?
At Seven, I had decided what I wanted to be;
I would serve you to the end,
All these boundaries I would defend.

Now you make me look like a fool,
When at seventeen and just out of school;
Went to the place where they made "men out of boys"
Lived a tough life …sacrificed a few joys…

In those days, I would see my "civilian" friends,
Living a life with the fashion trends;
Enjoying their so called "college days"
While I sweated and bled in the sun and haze…
But I never thought twice about what where or why
All I knew was when the time came, I'd be ready to do or die.

At 21 and with my commission in hand,
Under the glory of the parade and the band,
I took the oath to protect you over land, air or sea,
And make the supreme sacrifice when the need came to be.

I stood there with a sense of recognition,
But on that day I never had the premonition,
that when the time came to give me my due,
You'd just say, "What is so great that you do?"

Long back you promised a well-to-do life;
And when I'm away, take care of my wife.
You came and saw the hardships I live through,
And I saw you make a note or two,
And I hoped you would realise the worth of me;
but now I know you'll never be able to see,
Because you only see the glorified life of mine,
Did you see the place where death looms all the time?
Did you meet the man standing guard in the snow?
The name of his newborn he does not know...
Did you meet the man whose father breathed his last?
While the sailor patrolled our seas so vast?

You still know I'll not be the one to raise my voice
I will stand tall and protect you in Punjab Himachal and Thois.

But that's just me you have in the sun and rain,
For now at twenty-four, you make me think again;
About the decision I made, seven years back;
Should I have chosen another life, some other track?

Will I tell my son to follow my lead?
Will I tell my son, you'll get all that you need?
This is the country you will serve
This country will give you all that you deserve?

I heard you tell the world "India is shining"
I told my men, that's a reason for us to be smiling
This is the India you and I will defend!
But tell me how long will you be able to pretend?
You go on promise all that you may,
But it's the souls of your own men you betray.

Did you read how some of our eminent citizens
Write about me and ridicule my very existence?
I ask you to please come and see what I do,
Come and have a look at what I go through
Live my life just for a day
Maybe you'll have something else to say?

I will still risk my life without a sigh
To keep your flag flying high
but today I ask myself a question or two…
Oh India…. Why do I still serve you?

Dil to bachcha hai ji......a masterpiece

2010-01-30T07:10:00.000-06:00

Generally I have seen only A R Rehman songs grow on me...as in the song keeps getting better and better for me on repeated listenings......but this time its a non-Rehman song...and the height is that this song has grown so much on me that I am literally addicted to it.....I dont know if this statement will stand the test of time or not.....but right now I am tempted to say....or confess rather......Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji from Ishquia is the most hummable and magical song I have listened to in past few years......

Because I have nothing better to do, I watched the movie yesterday (please spare urself and watch it online at max)...and I have been listening to this song now for past 3 days continously.....I am going to pen down my understanding of the lyrics....

Aisi uljhi nazar unse hatt ti nahi
Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi
Umr kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi
Kaari badri jawani ki chhatt ti nahi
Wallah ye dhadkan bhadne lagi hai
Chehre ki rangat udne lagi hai
Darr lagta hai tanha sone mein ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji
Thoda kaccha hai ji
Haan dil to baccha hai ji

basically its about an old guy (Naseerudin Shah in the movie) who falls for a girl (Vidya Balan)....so he says

I am so mesmerized by her that I am not able to forget her

I am so old that I cant even cut a silk thread with my teeth...

it was long ago that I was young.....now I am an old guy (safaid ho gayi...means my hairs have grown white)

but still the youth inside me has not died (this line awesomely captures the feelings....he compares the youthness inside with the black clouds of rain...which are full of water and ready to pour down)

my heart beat is up (because of old age)

the shine of my face is also fading

I am afraid to sleep alone (now I think this line is a masterpiece....its serves a dual purpose.....both old age people and children are afraid of sleeping alone....both for different reasons....so this line connects with the ongoing problems of old age...as well as connects beautifully with next lines)

even though I am old but my heart is still a child...what can I do about this child

Kisko pata tha pehlu mein rakha
Dil aisa paaji bhi hoga
Hum to hamesha samajhte the koi
Hum jaisa haaji hi hoga
Hai zor kare, kitna shor kare
Bewajah baaton pe aienwei gaur kare
Dil sa koi kameena nahi
Koi to roke, koi to toke
Iss umr mein ab khaoge dhokhe
Darr lagta hai ishq karne mein ji
Dil to bachcha hai ji…

who knew that heart...which is so close (pehlu) to me....would be so mischievious (paaji)...

I always thought that it will be as pure (haaji in muslims means someone who has made pilgrimage to Mecca) as myself

I am trying to forget her...but it is not listening to me....and forcing me (by making constant noises) to remember her

it remembers even the smallest/casual talks with her (how simply Gulzar saab has put such delicate idea into words)

heart is the biggest scoundrel.....

someone please make it understand/stop it

now in this age it will make me fall in a trap (there can be 2 viewpoints here: 1. guy is old....girl is young....so its hard to imagine that feelings of love shown by girl for the guy will be real..so he is a bit cautious 2.since he is old....he knows that very often love can be a trap/just a passing moment....not something which can result in a long lasting relationship)

Guy is old...and mature but still he sees himself falling for a young girl.....he realizes that its only his heart which is asking him to fall.....so he says that I am afraid to fall in love...although I am old, my heart is still a child...it is not mature and I cant believe it

Aisi udaasi baithi hai dil pe
Hassne se ghabra rahe hain
Saari jawani katra ke kaati
Piri mein takra rahe hain
Dil dhadakta hai to aise lagta hai woh
Aa raha hai yahin dekhta hi na ho
Prem ki maare kataar re
Tauba ye lamhe katt te nahi kyun
Aankhon se meri hatt te nahi kyun
Darr lagta hai tughse kehne mein ji
Dil toh bachcha hai ji…

I like this stanza the best.....how well Gulzar saab captures the restlessness/hopeless situation of an old guy whose life has been without much colors of love/relationships....and now in this age he meets a young girl who he wants to fall for.....

the guy has had a very sad/colorless life....that sadness has sunk in so deeply that even now when he got feeling of love for the girl...he feels real happiness inside...he is afraid of smiling

whole youth I spent neglecting girls/love etc....and now in old age I am feeling what I should have felt then....

When my heart beats.....I feel like she is very close to me....hidden somewhere...she is looking at me..

She is cutting my heart with her knife of love...

Oh God...why dont these moments pass....

why am I not able to remove her from my eyes/mind/heart

I am afraid of telling you my feelings......

my heart is a child....

Apart from these awesome lyrics....I think music is too good...and has been sung awesomely well by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan...his rendering is just superb.....well it is only when we all three elements music/lyrics/voice gel so well that we get such awesome songs....

kuch khyaal.....dil se......

2010-01-22T11:53:00.002-06:00

In an effort to break out of daily routine and get some satisfaction....and find out myself :)

मुद्दत हो गयी तेरा चेहरा देखे
अब तो चाँद भी फीका लगने लगा है

चाँद से मिला था कल रात
बेचारा बहुत उदास था
तेरे शहर में उसे कोई पूछता ही नहीं

सुबह-सुबह इक लम्हे ने दस्तक दी थी
तुघे साथ लाया था
हम बैठे, बातें की, तुम्हारे किस्से सुनाये
मैंने उसे रुकने को कहा, पर उसे जाना था कहीं
लेकिन वापिस मिलने का वादा किया उसने
में लम्हा लम्हा जी रहा हूँ उस लम्हे के इंतज़ार में

में और तू ऐसे हैं जैसे रेल की दो पटरियां
कहने को बहुत पास पास, पर आगे देखो तो क्षितिज तक नहीं मिलते
पर मेरा दिल कहता है, की इन पटरियों का कोई तो छोर होगा
वहां तुम उतरोगी, में उतरूंगा, और रब ने चाह तो कुछ रास्ता साथ साथ तय करेंगे

कुछ पल कुछ लम्हे सदियों से लम्बे होते हैं
तेरे साथ बीताये उन लम्हों की पोटली बना ली है मैंने
एक एक लम्हे को हज़ार बार जीता है ये दिल दीवाना

will continue to write more and hopefully better :)

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda - storytelling at its best !!!

2008-04-25T11:53:00.013-05:00

As promised in the last post, here is the review of movie which i think is the BEST STORYTELLING EVER on celluloid.

Directed by Shyam Benegal, it was released in 1993 and won the National Award for Best Feature in Hindi. As most of the Benegal's movies this one too has female character dominance and the plot is actually a correlation of the lives of 3 different women (belonging to poor, middle and intellectual class of society) and this correlation is narrated through a male character, Manek Mullah, superbly played by Rajit Kapoor (remember Byomkeshbakshi :) ).

The movie is based on a novel of same name by "Dharamvir Bharti". If by chance you have read his other novel "Gunaahon Ka Devta" (thanks to choli, i have read it) you will know how beautifully he can capture everything that is good and bad about humans, in a single plot.

The movie is divided into three narrations done by Manek Mullah to his friends, each telling the story of a different woman whom Manek had known in past. The timeframe for all the stories is almost same, even then, in each story viewer gets to see a different aspect of society and Manek's life. Women characters have been played by Neena Gupta (the poor), Pallavi Joshi (the intellectual) and Rajeshwari Sachdev (middle class). Movie also stars Amrish Puri delivering a top notch performance.

It is only Benegal's brilliance that such complex characterisation has been given shape on celluloid in a seemingly simple way. Characters don't tell you to form any notion about them, but still in each story you make some notion just to find out in the next story that there was something missing in your interpretation. All three story unfolds, and you are still not sure whether you have fathomed even one character fully. And then comes the best part, the ending. End scene will leave you spellbounded, in awe of the sheer brilliance of Benegal's direction. This scene makes it one of those movies which haunt you for days. It may (it may not :)) also help you in drawing a conclusion out of the movie. in my case at least, it did. Here is my one line conclusion, lemme know what was yours.

"Society and Conditions are more important than man's aspirations"

BTW this was Rajit Kapoor's first movie. I rellay appreciate Benegal Sir for giving us so many wonderful actors : Shabana Azmi, Om Puri, Girish Kanad, Naseerudin Shah, Smita Patil and many more.

If you really love cinema, DO WATCH this movie. I assure you, it won't disappoint.

Ek Ruka Hua Faisla

2008-04-20T14:42:00.000-05:00

it's generally a perception, and albeit a very strong one, that all Indian movies are just about dancing around the trees, playing with silly emotions , and immortal heroes who can never fail. I agree to the dancing part of it (thanks to madhuri for koyal si teri boli :) ), also the exaggeration of emotions (thanks to barjatya for trying all possible permutation, combination of relationships), and thanks to Rajni, heroes ARE immortal in most of the Indian movies.

But the point I disagree with is - ALL Indian movies are like that. NO NO NO. Most of the people, just right away reject even the idea of a CLASS Indian movie. Well we need to dig deeper to find out the real gems. Let me start off with first gem: Ek Ruka Hua Failsa.

Most of the people wouldn't even have heard of this movie and those who have must be knowing that this is a Hollywood adaptation. Agreed, it's an adaptation but that doesn't lessen the greatness of it's director and cast who have put a very sincere and brave effort in producing a stellar piece of work. And if you are not convinced, I will shortly come up with another review, of a movie which IS ORIGINAL, and can beat ANY movie (and that includes the whole world cinema, OSCAR etc etc), by miles in storytelling.

Ek Ruka Hua Faisla is a remake of Twelve Angry Men. Directed by Basu Chatterjee, produced by Doordarshan/NFDC, it was released in 1986. The movie starts in a room, ends in that room itself :) (why do we need switzerland to make a great movie). The story is about the 12 jurors who need to make a decision on a charge of murder against a young man. All of the jury members except for one are convinced that young man is in fact guilty. But till all of them unanimously make a decision, it can not be final. So now the 11 jury members try to convince 1 and then there are rounds of reasonings, discussions, insights, questions, explanations which make up the whole movie.

It's for you to see who convince whom in the end and how.All the actors suite their role to a tee. Pankaj Kapur, as always, is just exceptional (this man is a gem of indian cinema who has not got his worth). Watch it to see how good cinema can be created even in a single room with 12 chairs and a table :)

If you do't find it on DVD, here is the Google video link

Kannathil Muthamittal - who said language is a barrier !!

2008-04-18T22:46:00.001-05:00

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
- Ellen Parr

Being a strong believer of the above statement and having run out of Hindi/English movies led me to try the yet unexplored territory of Tamil Cinema. Me considering "Dil Se" the finest example of "poetry on screen", what better director to choose than "Mani Sir". Now the point was - which movie ? Well anybody even remotely interested in movies will say - "Nayakan" (yes, i haven't watched it yet :)) . But having watched so many gangster movies recently, i wanted something different. By chance I found "Kannathil Muthamittal" and rest is my effort to share the pure joy I had in those 2 hours.

I won't try to "reinvent the wheel" by giving full plot as I am sure no one can beat good old IMDB in that. In short "Kannathil Muthamittal" is the story of a Tamil writer Thiruchelvan (Madhavan), a gorgeous news reader Indra (Simran) who is a girl next door (literally) to Thiruchelvan...and becomes his wife, their adopted child "Amudha", and Shyama (Nandita Das) , a Sri Lankan resident and real mother of "Amudha".

Mani Sir is "THE PERFECT" story teller. He first allows you to understand the characters, then make sure you connect with them by sheer brilliance of his depiction of the courting days of Thiruchelvan and Indra, the pure love and happiness in their relationship. And then he mixes this completely normal life of a middle class Indian with the LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka. He just scratches the surface so that it is just perfect exposure of the dark relalities of terrorism lurking in various parts of Sri Lanka, without going over the board. The best part of the movie, apart from direction, is the acting of Madhavan and Simran. They get under the skin of character and you never actually feel that they are some actors playing their role. Madhavan is at his sarcastic best while playing with the emotions of Indra and no one can be better "go home, show mom" girl than Indra. I also liked the small but beautifully played part of Thiruchelvan's sister Kamalee. I don't know her name but I am pretty sure she is the same lady who was AIR head in "Dil Se" (right now i am too lazy to verify).

The movie, as I guessed, is open ended and appropriate being that as the audience shall also have something to ponder, the movie has some message and this after thought will make sure you get it :)

I was over-impressed by this movie because of the fact that it was in Tamil, which is as good as an instrumental song to me but still I was able to connect and appreciate the movie (with english subtitles). I think that speaks a lot in itself about the merits of "Mani Sir" as director specifically and any great form of art in general. Who said language is a barrier :)

India needs people like E Sreedharan

2008-01-29T20:40:00.000-06:00

Anyone who has seen Delhi for past few years will surely agree with the fact that Delhi has improved it's transportation infrastructure like never before, and Delhi's Capital Metro clearly stands out as the finest piece of work. With more than 5,00,000 commuters per day, Delhi Metro has taken a lot of heat off the overcrowded roads. Although each and every person associated with DMRC shall be given credit but in an army there is always one commander and for DMRC it is E Sreedharan. The man who has been serving the country for more than 40 years with only one motive - to improve the state of affairs in his country.
No wonder E Sreedharan has been chosen as CNN-IBN Indian of the year for the year 2007.

Refreshing 90's

2008-01-27T16:40:00.000-06:00

today being a sunday....and me being totally vella (free, in college lingo) led me to one of my favorite time pass.....watching random videos on youtube. Incidentally i stumbled upon the video of Chaalbaaz song, Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai, Sridevi dancing like a diva :) . And by the end of video I was feeling nostalgic about the good old days when there was some innocence, love and purity in songs, the way actors danced, this all defined the music of 90's. I decided to keep flowing with those feelings and one after another I found almost all my favorite songs, thanks a million to Youtube. People talk a lot about "Old is Gold" and say that 70's was the golden period of hindi music industry. That is 100% true but I think music of 90's, it's artists especially singers lie Kumar Sanu, music composers like Nadeem Sharavan and actors like Govinda (most versatile hero ever...could pull off virtually everything), Sridevi etc also need to be given the credit for creating magic on screen. I mean this was the period which gave Indian cinema two of it's biggest evengreen musicals (at least in my opinion), Aashiqui (1990) and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi (1993). But belive it or not there are many great (i mean really superb) songs in 90's which were from not so great movies and filmed on almost unknown actors, some examples being Dil Jigar Nazar from Dil Ka Kya Kasoor, Ye Akhha India from Jaan Tere Naam, Ghar Se Nikalte Hi from Papa Kehte Hain.

Anyways it felt really nice to refresh all my past memories with these evergreen songs and I am embedding the youtube playlist here. As of now the list of songs is:

Na Jaane Kahan Se from Chaalbaaz
Ye Akhha India from Jaan Tere Naam
Dil Jigar Nazar from Dil Ka Kya Kasoor
Julie Julie from Jeetein Hain Shaan Se
Sundara Sundara from Rakshak
Shehar Ki Ladki from Rakshak
Urvashi Urvashi from Hum Se Hai Muqabala
Gore Gore Mukhde Pe from Suhaag
Saat Samundar from Vishwatma
Ankhiyaan Milaoon from Raja
Sona Kitna Sona from Hero No 1
Meri Marzi from Gambler
Tera Beemar Mera Dil from Chaalbaaz
Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast from Mohra
O Laal dupatte waali from Aankhein
Ole Ole from Yeh Dillagi
Raah Mein Unse from Vijaypath
Jab Kisi Ki Taraf from Pyaar to Hona Hi Tha
Aaj Humne Dil Ka from Sir
Mera Sanam Sabse from Dil Ka Kya Kasoor
Dheere Dheere se from Aashiqui
Tu Pyaar Hai Kisi Aur Ka from Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin
Na Kajre Ki Dhaar from Mohra
Ghar Se Nikalte Hi from Papa Kehte Hain
Gali Mein Aaj Chaand from Zakhm
Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain from Pardes
Tumhari Nazaron Mein from Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (thanks to prince for this)
Tere dar par sanam from Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi
Aankh Hai Bhari Bhari from Tumse Achha Kaun Hai

I hope u enjoy these songs as much as I did, in fact I am sure u will :) . And make additions to the list if you find other such songs, i am sure there are many more.

Blood Diamond....TIA - This is Africa !!!

2008-01-25T00:54:00.000-06:00

Blood Diamond, released in 2006 stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly.

The movie is an absolute masterpiece with some excellent direction, great performances and larger than life feel. The director, Edward Zwick, has done an excellent job of presenting the viewer with the truth of civil war in Africa (at least some aspects of it) in just above 2 hrs. With a tight script, the movie keeps its pace throughout and never digresses from its focus point.

It is based on the industry of illegal diamond export (conflict diamonds) prevalent in many countries of Africa, and the plot of the movie is in Sierra Leone. Archer (Leonardo) is a middleman responsible for delivery of conflict diamonds to the companies in England. Solomon (Djimon) is a fisherman who dreams of his young son becoming a doctor. Maddy (Jennifer) is an idealistic reporter who believes in her work and humanity.

Solomon is forced to work in the diamond mines. His son is kidnapped by the local mafia and made a part of the their gang. While working in the mines Solomon finds a very big diamond and conceals it underground in the jungle. In a police raid on mines, Solomon is sent to jail. Archer comes to know about the concealed diamond and offers Solomon help in getting his family back in return of the diamond. Rest of the movie connects Archer's search for that diamond by using Solomon and Maddy, Solomon's search for his son and family and Maddy's search for the truth of conflict diamonds in Africa. Movie uses a phrase TIA (meaning This is Africa) to basically show that 2 + 2 may not be 4 in Africa !! It's not the cosy cosy fairytale world of west.

I was surprised to see that Blood Diamond is not in IMDB Top 250. I mean WTF, we have Kill Bill up there and that too Vol 1 and Vol 2 both.................if that's the standard we are looking for, Gunda and Loha (apne mithun da ki cult movies) shall be right on top :)

Anyways, watch Blood Diamond to see that Movies too can have heart and soul.