Random Strokes

#52: A sandwich with (Traffic) Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Jigar) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 21:32:00 +0530

"Auto"
We shouted and hired an auto.
"Malad west" I said.

Driver turned the meter down and it started showing minimum fare and waiting time. We drove around 0.4 meter ahead and meter started showing waiting time. Yes, it was traffic jam ahead.
"It's because of Metro work going on" He said. "It was bound to happen." We didn't reply.
"Metro has affected our business a lot and so has new taxi companies nowadays." He left a sigh. We kept listening.

"It's really getting tough to survive in Mumbai. We will have to search another option of job or anything else if this continues. May be watchman or some kind of such job. At the end, we have to fulfill the family requirements. Education is also getting costly for children. What to do? You can't just blame destiny and cry over situation. One who has learned to survive in Mumbai can live anywhere in the world." He took a pause. We were already in pause mode.

"Never mind" He smiled. "At the end, it's good for common public. Traffic problem is gonna serious over days. When we look at benefits to most of the people, some difficulties has to be taken by some of them. So no complaints for anyone." He smiled again.

I wondered. He had no complaints. Life is meant to be like this. He hadn't planned for Metro or other competitive taxi services when he started with his Rickshaw. And he was not regretting over it. He left a sigh for the situation but didn't sat back. He was ready for life to come up with anything and he will face it with the best he can. Life comes with this "Auto" mode. Troubles, difficulties, unplanned events are bound to happen. Surviving is "Manual" and you have to ride it your way.

Meter "Auto"matically shifted from Waiting mode to Ride mode and started showing KMs travelled. Traffic was getting lighter ahead. We started feeling breeze. I heard someone shouting on the road ahead.

"Auto"...

Love - DJ.

#51: Why Government wants to know my Religion?

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Jigar) — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:57:00 +0530

Date: 13/01/2017
Time: Just before the lunch
Place: A bank in Ahmedabad

All the employees are busy doing their work (Whoever had some). A person enters in bank. He has come to make a fixed deposit of a small amount for a term and asks for the same. He is been given a 9 pages long form to make an FD from an account from the same branch. He goes ahead with the process and starts filling it. After writing some same data for 4-5 times, there comes another page asking for personal information which are other than the formal and needed ones. It begins with Religion, then category for caste... Then Education... I don't know whether these details like religion, caste or education make any difference for making a term based fixed deposit. But the form doesn't end here. The next details to be given were assets I own like Housing plot, commercial property, agriculture land, car, two wheeler, Ac, LED Tv, Washing machine, refrigerator, microwave (I mean really Microwave?!), Computer, laptop... (And I wonder, Mobile phone wasn't in the list. I mean, they are as or even more costlier than laptops.) And so on... Next lines were for my Net worth..., sum of LICs, Medical/Health insurance etc...

He left some details blank including Religion and Caste. Because he thought it was irrelevant. Off course, the person on chair has to follow the order. She asked him to tick one. He denied and she said You have to tick any one because I have to fill it in server or else it won't accept and Fixed deposit can't be made. He said ok and didn't make the fixed deposit. He returned from bank.

I have no clue what is wrong with the system. Why government wants to know which Religion I belong to. And what if I don't believe in any. Does my caste really matter for making a transaction? Why there are columns for religion and caste in application form of opening a new bank account? Are the interest rates different for people from different religions or caste...? Off course the basic details are required like address and other proofs of identity but these columns are the ones which are dividing the nation. And it begins right from the school. Why school leaving certificate has to mention what religion or caste one is from? Political use of religion and caste has ruined nation since ages. And it's not changing even now when we are stepping ahead for cashless transactions. Alas. Let us wait for that India when one won't be needing to answer his/her religion before filling up a form which has nothing to do with such thing. Love - DJ.

#50: RS is back

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Jigar) — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 11:02:00 +0530

Around 5 Years... More than 1600 days... And you know the next lines are for hours and then minutes and then seconds and... There you go. Coming directly to the point is I Am Back...! If I can feel that so can an avid reader of RS too for sure. Feeling like Arnold Schwarzenegger. No, I didn't mean aged. He was used to say I'll be back. So... Let it be. Post no 50. It takes years to reach even a half century. This shows the dedication given in every article and post. Or actually it shows how difficult it actually is when you give up on something. And then you've to start it again from the point you left it. With the same energy, torque, graph and madness. Well, for first three, you need to work. Last one is genetic.

So with that last attribute, let's begin the journey once again. I have no clue where it will be heading. All I know is it has started again. And all you have to suffer again. ( I meant for Journey - safar). Cool. So stay detuned for next updates. As this one is the first step of second inning and no matter how small first step is, you should just make it. So I'm keeping it small but firm. As always, keep reading yours favourite Random Strokes. Love - DJ.

#49: Notes on Filmmaking _ Cinematography

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:45:00 +0530

Lights, camera, action… These are the three words that capture all the attention for an outsider. Well, we'll check for the middle one first. Camera… We'll go for types of camera angle and types of coverage shots in this post. And in part 2 we'll study how camera angles define or reflect the need of the scene. So let's not waste the time and start the thing of concern.

Physically camera angles can be of various types (that we'll see in part 2) but theoretically they are of three types. Objective, Subjective & Point of view.

Objective angle is the most common one that we see normally in any of the film. You watch the film as in you are just watching it. It is the "fly on the wall" viewpoint where the audience sees what is happening but feels safely removed from the events as though they were there, but invisible. The actors must never look directly at the camera lens for that will destroy the illusion of the objective angle and require a re-take.

Subjective angle is a kind that takes you in the film along with the character. When the camera rides the roller-coaster or a car, the audience will experience the subjective angle of view. The subjective angle is often used to briefly shock or disorient the audience. For an example a car is drifting along the streets and scene is taken from the top of a building, it's an objective shot but if the camera is mounted on the car itself and you're feeling the drift than that's a subjective angle.

The point-of-view angle puts the audience into the head of one of the actors so the audience sees what the character sees. This is often used to get the audience to sense the fear felt by the hero as s/he enters a dangerous situation. In a point-of-view angle the others actors may look directly into the camera to help create the audience's illusion that the audience is now living inside the character.

The coverage shots

The Establishing Shot - is a very wide angle shot that shows the locale of the scene. This familiarizes the audience with where the scene is taking place. Imagine a distant shot of a mountain castle during a lightning storm at the beginning of an old horror film. The establishing shot may not include any actors. Where possible the establishing shot should be from a high angle to give a "bird's eye" overview to help the audience understand where the subsequent action will take place.

The Master Shot - is wide enough to include all the actors. If you are shooting on film and have a very small budget this may be the only shot you can get.

Wide Shot - moves in closer but still includes most of the body of the actors. This may be a single grouping of a few of the actors in a larger crowd scene when you want to concentrate on a single conversation.

Two-Shot - shows two characters related to one another usually from the waist up. A Three Shot is three actors, a Four-Shot is four actors and so on.

Over-the-Shoulder - is a medium or close up shot including 2 actors taken over the shoulder of one actor and showing the face of the other actor.

The two-shot is probably the most common shot in movies. The usual technique is to cut back and forth between two over-the-shoulder shots of the actors like the image above. However, a conversation between two characters can quickly become boring if the there isn't a variety of angles used.

Medium Shot - is a shot showing an actor from the waist up.

Close-up - is a shot from the actors neck up. Sometime a close-up is a little looser and includes the actor's shoulders.

Any image involving a single actor, or any moving object, needs to have some visual space in front of it within the frame like the following, to give a sense of dynamics.

Putting the actor in the middle of the frame looks static and feels like a snapshot.

Having more space behind the actor than in front feels like the actor has left, or is leaving, the scene, and just feels uncomfortable.

Even when the actor is facing away from the camera, having more space in front still gives the feeling that the actor is in the frame.

More space behind the actor again feels like they are out of the scene.

Extreme Close-up - is so close that only part of the actor's face is visible. This angle can be used very powerfully at highly emotional moments. Save the extreme close-up for such emotional moments.

Insert - is a shot of something other than the actors that will be edited into the scene, for example: a ticking clock. Insert shots can save the editing of a scene if you later discover you don't have the right angle to transition between to shots. Put the insert in between and the transition looks smooth.

P.O.V. - means Point Of View. This shot is intended to show the audience what one of the characters is seeing, i.e. from the character's point of view.

Hope this has helped you. But it's not over yet. We'll see the other part of cinematography with some interesting camera angles (physically this time) in the next post. NB: The literature used here to illustrate the shots was downloaded from net and may be subjected to copyright. We've used it for learning purpose only. BTW likes and comments are fuel for next post. ;> Love - DJ.

#48: Notes on Filmmaking _ Introduction.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:44:00 +0530

Hi folks. As promised ago, I’m starting here some notes on Filmmaking related things. We’ll begin with introduction & as it is the first one, I’ll keep it very basic and fundamental. We will move forward in detailed things one by one. So let’s begin.

In earlier days, Films were used to be silent i.e. only visuals, no sound. Then came talkies and it gave a meaning to the scene. So a film became an audio-visual presentation. But not every audio-visual is a film. A footage of a street with all background voices/noises or a video of a birthday party has both audio and video but it is not a film. So how films differ from these? Well, a film should convey a story. If that street or that birthday party is having a character that portrays some part of a story and then that footage has become a part of the film. Cool, so more or less a story is needed to be told. Now the way you convey the story is what we call a screenplay. I.e. how will the scenes be played on the screen? (Non-linear storylines need best of screenplay work.) Dialogues are the next detailing thing and that is how we got a complete film from a one-liner story.

Now all we need to do is to just get the actors to deliver that dialogues with a bit of acting and we’ve made our film. Yes…, actually no. Still something is remaining to make it a film. I mean, even if that street footage or birthday party video has a story, they still never look like a film rather an ordinary video. What are the things that make a film differ from just a video? Camera frames, camera angles, camera movement, lighting, shot selection (kind a cricketing word), place selection (production design), and many more things of post production including Editing, background score and final mixing works for this cause. We’ll go for each one in upcoming posts. I guess this much is enough for introductory part. I don’t want last bencher to sleep further. Hope you guys enjoyed the way you do always. Keep reading Random Strokes. Love –DJ.

#47: It’s all about temperament of Test Cricket

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:29:00 +0530

IPL is on. And the gentlemen’s game matters for 20 overs an inning. Ocean of runs and so of wickets resembles the unpredicted mode of life. Life changes the way game changes in a T20 match and so on. All is well for excitement and entertainment but at the end a fake image of what we think life is. Life ain’t always about all is well, it’s about… Let me elaborate it…

While working with Metaphor of cricket for life, it’s neither T20 nor even one day match that suites perfectly. Life’s more about test cricket. Being a batsman you can’t hit boundary on every ball. You got to wait for right ball. You need to wait for bowler to make mistake and give you a chance to make runs. This needs patience and much much more patience what we call temperament. Circumstances may go tougher day by day, it’s your vision and endurance of not losing wicket that keeps you in the match called life. Now certainly T20 has got limited overs so chances of losing game in different conditions increases but on the other way it increases the risk taking capability too. Consider you’ve got 30-40 years ahead and you’re planning accordingly wherein your plans are steady stable somewhat. And consider the reverse one in which you’ve got only few months left with you. The priorities change and so as the temperament. You might have seen patients avoiding the prohibited guidelines of a doctor in last days. Make it two for here. Although these all metaphorical statements artificially artistically are good but still they aren’t real. No matter how exciting or entertaining it is, life’s never a T20 match. You take chances and leave it to destiny whether it goes for a boundary hit or not is certainly not a life’s attitude. You got to struggle that’s what life tells you. You got to fight till end that’s what life teaches you. You got to play the shots technically right that not leaves the decision on destiny that’s what life’s all about. Yes, it’s all about temperament of test cricket that makes life livable. To cut the matter short is

शमां एक रात जलती हे गम-ए-मौत में परवाने के

कुछ दिये आंधियों में भी जहाँ को रोशन रखते हे...

It’s up to you whether you wish to burn for a night in condolence or wish to enlighten the world even in the windstorm. Keep up the temperament of test cricket. Keep reading RS. Love – DJ.

#46: General Singh_Inside Story / Backstage Drama.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:05:00 +0530

General Vijay Kumar Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, the 24th Indian General of the Indian Army and current Chief of Army Staff, is in the media nowadays. Breaking News, headlines, he’s at all those places where channels claim to be first while showing the news. But they all are fascinating enough for comments of the individual personas. So who’s gonna tell you the story beneath? Certainly it’s the place where you are currently. (Self praising isn’t a bad act when confessing the truth.) Well, we’ll narrate a screenplay that can ease you to understand the scenario. Let’s begin.

Disclaimer: All the characters in this movie are real. Some assumptions were taken to bridge the gap. No animals were injured during the making. (Some may get injured after reading the post. But Author is not responsible for suicidal acts like reading Random Strokes… ;>)

Story goes non-linear.

Fade in:

June 2011

Int. General’s Office. Day.

General receives a fax regarding his retirement. WT…Hell. He goes through details and found it’s matter of wrong Date Of Birth on the admission form. He asks Military Secretary Branch to correct the date. The Military Secretary's branch does reply that the rules do not permit a "change" in the date. Singh claims that he is not asking for a "change" in his date of birth and that he is asking the Military Secretary branch to "correct" its records as per the AG Branch. Matter goes on. Singh makes a statutory representation to the Defense Minister and asks for a review of the decision. The Defense Minister replies by rejecting Singh’s representation. And General Singh becomes the first serving officer of the Indian Army to take the government to court.

Next Scenario.

A lobbyist offers General Singh a bribe of 14 crore (US$2.79 million) in order to have a tranche of 600 sub-standard vehicles manufactured by Tatra cleared for purchase.

Next Scenario.

General Singh writes a letter to PM illustrating the current state of Indian Army. The letter, prior to reach to the PM, gets leak in the Media and becomes hot selling news making individuals to comment that General should resign.

Fade Out.

Interval.

Sounds good. This is all we knew by the time. Let’s check the other aspect. The Villain’s Entry… ;>

Fade in:

March 2011

Int. Farmhouse. Night.

Ma’am (The Villain…!) is positioned on the black dark haunting chair. Ministers are (naturally) on ground.

Ma’am: Well, by far we have done good job in whether Bofors, CWG, 2G, Oil for food or many more. We have created billions by coals too. What else? Anyone has new idea?

Minister 1: Ma’am there’s a scope in Defense Ministry. But it’ll be like putting country in danger.

Ma’am: To hell with the country. What’s the plan?

Minister 2: Plan is ready ma’am but there’s a little problem. General V K Singh is an Honest Indian.

Ma’am: Change him. Bring our man to his position.

Minister 1: But his retiring year is 2013.

Ma’am: No, no we can’t wait that much. We won’t have much time then. I don’t see our future in 2014. Make false records. Do whatever is needful. Just make him out of the place.

Minister 2: As you say ma’am.

Few Months passed.

Minister 1: Ma’am. General has taken Govt. to the court. He is not withdrawing.

Ma’am: Damn… Make his image untruthful. Send a person to give him bribe regarding passing an order. And ask that person to call the media afterwards and say General asked him a bribe.

Minister 1: As you say ma’am.

Few Days passed.

Minister 2: Ma’am, before our man state anything to media, General himself exposed that man to media.

Ma’am: Bloody honest Indian Army man.

Minister 1: Ma’am, PMO has just received a letter addressing PM from General that states current Army conditions.

Ma’am: There he is. Leak the letter to Media before it reaches to PM. And ask our ministers to ask General’s resignation as comment to the news. Increase the pressure on him. He has to leave in order to let us rob the defense system.

Minister 1: As you say ma’am.

[Hope the story is bit self explanatory. But the so called villain “Ma’am” isn’t actually aware of an Indian’s nature that whether it’s Cricket or Border, An Indian plays better under pressure…!]

Climax…

Under post production.

Keep reading yours favourite Random Strokes for more updates. Yours once a month Quality Reading Destination. Love – DJ.

#45: It’s in the air. Yup, it’s love.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:28:00 +0530

Post of February. The month that we remember for a date, the 14^th. And posting on leap day should contain the equivalent data of other three years. (On the note it should balance the last boring and lengthy Ghost/Soul fame scientific horror post…!!!) So here we go. This post is actually sequel of the post #38: Friends, Life, Dreams and… and here is the aftermath of and… (The remaining fourth, last and most important element) #45: It’s in the air. Yup, it’s love.

What to write? Too much literature is available on love and all have failed to exemplify it too. It’s not just biochemistry of hormones. It’s a bit more. It’s not a subject to study yet it’s an unrevealed… I guess I’m doing what others have done by far so let’s not go into the structural behavior of love and the assumptions and presumptions associated with it. Let’s just feel the feel of love. Feel… Perhaps it is what love is meant for. But post #38: Friends, Life, Dreams and… was written to relate the commonly uncommon elements. Taking some words of that post to simplify things: “Concepting (Verb of Concept: Grammatically wrong word) says Life has Friends and Dreams within. On the other side Friends also have Life and Dreams and Dreams can Have Friends, Life and even the things that don’t exist. Naturally Dreams are more powerful. They posses more attribute. But you’re not “dream.” You’re a normal Human Being. (Not all of you.) And you posses Life, Friends, Dreams… They are competitive yet not rivals. Ask yourself to let go one for another. Like, sacrificing your dreams for your life what a middleclass individual does for daily basis, giving up your life for your friend what a friend can only realize or Letting go a friend for his/her dream which also only a friend can realize. These all are multiplied together with synergy effect. (And best example is the category this belongs to: D’s. Love you Guys.) They complete and complement each other with the fourth 25% share holder co-ordinate.” is what I had written there. The remaining element (what I said comes after and…) is Love. Let’s relate this one with other three…

Going by pattern does love possesses friends, life and dreams? Or next point was to let go one for another. Can love be that element for what you can sacrifice other elements? Answer to both questions is yes. Love does possess friends. Lovers can’t be lovers if they aren’t friends. Love does possess life and simple as that for dreams too. Same way it is self explanatory for second question too. So this is it. As I said earlier I didn’t aim to write a theorem on love but just wanted to validate its weight which is equal to other three so that I can bring the earlier unfinished post to the climax. Nothing more to write and no more expert advices needed to be given on love. Everyone who does it, does it with expertise. Keep enjoying all four and keep loving and reading Random Strokes. Love – DJ.

# 44: Soul, Ghost & Reincarnation _ All Technical Aspects.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:10:00 +0530

Again a Random Topic. What else Random Strokes are meant for? Discussing Soul, Ghost & Reincarnation and that too technically*…! (*All technical aspects are imaginary and states concepts only) What…? Don’t get scared. This won’t be scary. But common statutory warning is still there: “The following article can be boring. Read at your own risk. Reader’s discretion is expected.” Along with a serious statutory warning like: “The following article does not claim existence of ghost or reincarnation. Thoughts are penned just to convey concepts if they really exists.” All formalities are done. Let’s start getting bored.

Soul. We’ll begin with soul. Because ghost and reincarnation are different status of soul in the manner what happens to it as per common definitions. So once done with it and it’ll be easier to understand other two. What is soul? More alike energy. Consider a TV or computer. Electric energy is what makes it run. A Car. Chemical energy converted into heat energy and finally it’s mechanical energy that runs a car. We can’t see energy, whether electric, thermal or chemical. Same way with soul. But if it is so, from where it comes? Coz energy can’t be created. It’s just convertible from one form to another. Well, Source can be the food taken. Cool. So chemical energy of food is converted and used by body. But this sounds simple laws of biology. Where the hell is soul??? Energy taken from food is used for different works of body. Heart pumps blood that transfers oxygen to cells and keeps them alive. Like paralysis of body parts is to be dead for particular area and in that manner. Then why soul is needed for body? What it actually is or does? An another known answer is I. I am my soul. I’ve got hands, legs, eyes… In short, I’ve got body. But I’m not body. I’m not my hands or legs or eyes but I have it. Disassemble all my body parts and what remains is my soul. Technically nothing remains. So soul is nothing. Not exactly. Let’s take it this way. What makes us identify self? Brain... Mind… We have to accept that it’s our mind because of what we live actually. Even medically also a person is declared dead once brain stops working. (Sometimes what my articles do…!) Whatever we do or feel is under brain’s control. (Heart does nothing except pumping. So don’t give that follow your heart example for feelings.) So our brain is our soul. Nope. It just controls all the logics and emotions. Like the operating system in which software are programmed. Once a person is dead i.e. without soul, brain too does nothing. So brain isn’t soul too. Can’t confirm yet. Let’s keep a note here and check other two. We’ll merge this point to other two’s aspects.

Ghost. A more familiar word than soul. We all have seen many kinds of ghosts in real life. (What? Don’t you have relatives?) But have never seen the real ones. And most of us who are telling the stories (Ghost stories off course, we aren’t talking of fairy tales here.) or sharing the experience are actually aware inside of their fake story or doubtable experience whether it was an illusion or something. So what/where and why is ghost? Popular answer begins with death of a person… (Or even any animal. But I haven’t heard ever about ghost of a cow or buffalo or reincarnation of rat...!) So I was saying on death of a person, the soul (Remember we aren’t aware of what a soul actually is??? Yet…) doesn’t get liberation (Moksha in Sanskrit) for an unfinished wish and becomes ghost…! So we can say a ghost is a soul with a purpose. (Sounds better and powerful than soul who don’t have any purpose…) But how is it possible? Well, to have a wish you need a brain or mind. A wish contains data. Product, process, places and many other kinds of data needs a brain to get stored and reusable. And a soul isn’t brain or possesses brain so a soul can’t contain data. Our note above about soul also ends at brain. We are colliding again while discussing ghost. Let’s keep it here again. We’ll back to this soon and this time with reincarnation.

Reincarnation. Rebirth. A more filmy kind of word. Is reincarnation possible? Or how one knows about his reincarnation or previous life? Well, I know it’s going lengthy so will come to the point quickly. Take any film or real person who has visualized or remembered his life of previous birth. Sequence is death-soul takes rebirth-and finally he recalls life of previous birth. How is it possible? When he died, his soul left his body i.e. his brain where those data was kept. His brain hasn’t taken a rebirth. And Soul (You know we’re at point of merging again.) doesn’t possess data to travel along it from one body to another rather we say from one brain to another brain. Then how he visualized or remembered data? One common question relates all three elements. Soul need to have a link with brain or mind to convey data whether to a ghost (Wandering soul) or to a living person (Reborn soul). We’re about to reach to a concept that satisfy condition with an asterisk. Let’s jump to climax. For those who don’t believe in ghost and reincarnation can stop here considering soul as energy. (What we had derived before.) For those who believes soul is something else than just energy so that it can contain data and become ghost or can have reincarnation, can continue to a simple example given ahead.

Consider a television, radio or telephone. No, we aren’t again on way to consider it as energy. This is something else. Television shows us visuals (the way a reborn visualize his past life. Or the way we visualize a ghost) by means of waves. Same is with Radio and telephone. (Cell phones nowadays.) These waves can contain data. Next we need a receiver (What we call a “Brain”) to catch data from the waves and decode it in needed format. Cool. So this theory conceptualizes soul as not just energy but also waveform which can carry data. Now isn’t there a chance of mismatch or we say a chance to receive wrong data by a wrong brain? Certainly there is. This is what popularly known as ghost’s command over someone’s soul or body. Medical science count it as a psychological disorder and why not? When an illiterate person speaks multiple languages correctly, any science based person will call it psychological disorder and a normal person would identify him under ghost’s or evil’s command. But how the hell he came to know those languages? How a man, who never went to school, a literally illiterate person is speaking fluently multiple languages? How his brain had that data? This is what we asked on a chance of mismatch and what satisfy the ghost phenomenon on a living person. For wandering soul (Ghosts who haven’t captured a body to command) and Reborn incidents, waves are capable enough to form a fantabulous audio visual show...! Well, enough for now. Wish to write many things and concepts in details but don’t wish to bore you with content and length of the post. We can discuss if you have any questions in your mind. Feel free to commentuate*. (*Courtesy: D'snary) Keep visiting your once a month quality reading destination and pouring your love. Keep reading yours favourite Random Strokes. Love – DJ.

#43: November or No way Amber

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:07:00 +0530

Multiplying Chetan’s book 2 states: story of my marriage with 2 is what we get a song in Don 2. Confused??? The relation is between 4 States: Story of Uttarpradesh to Hai ye Maya… Yup, again a Monthly Analysis Report (MAR sounding Mar diya jaaye ya chhod diya jaaye kind…) is what facilitates me in writing yours once a month quality reading post. From Kingfisher’s tale to FDI in retail, from a slap on Sharad Pawar’s face to oppose to Swami Agnivesh and Sunny Leone in Big Boss, from Bhanwari to why this kolavery kolavery and many more… It’s easy to write about all current news in a single post as one not need to go in detail on individual news, so all in writer’s favor to just give a personal view which is more like No comments section. And that’s what exactly I thought this time. Here we go on top stories this month with my expertise in No Comments tab.

News: Anna asked Raju not to write blog on his behalf.

Comment: But who asked Anna to ask Raju the same… Parde me rahene do…!

News: HarvinderSingh slapped Sharad Pawar.

Comment: Anna gave my comment already…!

News: Those who die must die: Bajaj on Kingfisher

Comment: Who ties bell for bailout of Kingfisher…? Hamara Bajaj…!

News: Central Government planning for FDI in retail.

Comment: That’s the after effects of Soniya’s Wallmart visit for forgery. I meant US visit for surgery…!

News: Maya wants Uttarpradesh to be turnout in four new states. UPA in pressure.

Comment: Sab Moh-Maya hai…!

News: Swami Agnivesh left the Big boss and Sunny Leone entered.

Comment: I trust its Disclaimer’s last line: If it is so it’s purely co-incidental.

News: Maderana Men attacks Media in Rajasthan.

Comment: Why this kolavery kolavery kolavery di…!

That’s all for now. Will be back next month again to fulfill your hunger of quality reading, till then Keep reading yours favorite Random Strokes. Love – DJ.

#42: Face off_Anna Hazaare

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:35:00 +0530

Disclaimer: The post is totally fictitious and resembles no real interview.

Hello, aadaab, lei ho, aloha, ciao, vanakkam, salaam Namaste. This is your favourite host Shashvat Saxena back again with yours all time favourite show… Face 2 face with Shashvat Saxena.

Interlude drum…

As always I’ll begin the show with a question that I’ll answer at the end. And that question is… Which is the most dangerous pickle in our country? Think about it and time to begin the show with calling the guest of honour today. He is an Ex-Army man, serving the nation with his social works, the man behind RTI and nowadays fighting for the cause of passing a bill in assembly called Janlokpal. People call him “Desh ka naya Gandhi…” Please give a big big hand to the Man himself Kishan Baburao Hazaare popularly known as Anna Hazaare.

Interlude Trumpet, with clapping.

SS: Hello sir. Welcome to our very reputed show Face 2 Face with Shashvat Saxena.

Anna: Ha, wo mein dekha hai. Are…, Pranab mukherji aaya, Kasaab bhi aaya… Sab bade bade log aate dekha mein. Very reputed show…!

SS: Great Sense of humor sir.

Anna: Ha, wo abhi desh me sense of humanity jaisa to kuchh bacha hi nahi to sense of humor se hi chalana padega.

SS: Sir, your view on Digvijay ji’s sense? (If any…)

Anna: Unka sense of humor bhi bahot achhaa hai. Ha wo baki ki saari senses mein thoda gadbad hai. Par unka sense of humor badhiya hai. Unki har baat Dj’s Pjs ke worst Pj se bhi jyaada humorous hoti hai.

SS: Sir, until you visited Gujarat, you praised Modi for his work but on visiting you changed your mind and gave some different statements.

Anna: Abhi wo to mein yahan aaya usse pahele tumhare show ki bhi taarif karne ka socha tha meine. Fir nahi kiya wo alag baat hai. You want me to give my statement on this now…?

SS: Hmmm. Sir, you have been accused of having glucose and electrolyte solutions during fast.

Anna: Ha ye ilzaam to wo kisi pe bhi lagaa shakte hai ki jo paani wo pita hai usme kuchh mila hua hai. Are… Is desh me ab Gangajal bhi shuddh nahi raha tab wo kehte hai ki mere paani me milaavat hai. Koi samjao unko.

SS: Sir, Dalit activist Kancha Ilaiah commented that The Anna movement is an anti-social justice, manuvadi movement. The Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minorities have nothing to do with it. We oppose it.

Anna: Abhi koi muje kaheta hai ki corruption ka effect dalito pe nahi hota hai to mein accept kar lunga unki baat par muje pata hai ki corruption sab pe samaan effect karta hai to fir uske saamne ki gayi movement kisi ek community ke liye kaise ho shakti hai? Muje lagta hai ki unko bhi dimaagi ilaaj ki jarurat hai.

SS: Sir, Team Anna is under controversies nowadays. Three members facing accusations. Two left the committee. And you kept silence these days.

Anna: Are… Ye ministers log lakho karado ka gafla kar gaye wo paisa vaapas lane ka koi sochta nahi hai aur ye Arvind ko notice bhejta hai paise bharne ke liye. Arvind ne bola hai ki aap uske fund se kaat lo fir bhi issue banaate jaa rahe hai, banaate jaa rahe hai. Koi farak nahi padta. Ye public hai ye sab jaanti hai. Abhi koi politics kaam nahi aayega. Kaun sachcha hai ye duniya ko pata hai.

SS: Sir, do you really believe that government will pass Janlokpal Bill in winter session of Parliament?

Anna: Karna padega. Varna abhi jo parliament me Janlokpal ka virodh karega vo next time Parliament me nahi aayega. Are… Ye Desh ko bahot loota hai inhone. Abhi sab gin gin ke soot samet vaapas lene ka time aa gaya hai. Bharat mata ki jay… Inqlaab jindabaad…

SS: For the first time it has happened that more punches were from the guest side unlike usual episodes. Thanks a lot sir for coming on Face 2 face with Shashvat Saxena and we really wish and pray that now being united and together we all give such a big punch to the corruption that is oxidizing the base metal of the country. And that is the answer to my question that I asked in the beginning. The most dangerous pickle is Bhrasht-Achar that is needed to be clean swiped from the country. Do wait for me and some new and astonishing guests on your favorite show Face 2 face with Shashvat Saxena broadcasting on Channel Random Strokes… Till then See you, Sayonara, Hasta la vista, Rab rakha, khuda hafiz, aavjo vhalaa fari malishu.

#41: Maanas_all set to Strike...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:42:00 +0530

Finally the date has been arrived. Maanas is going to perform it's First Silver screen appearance on 8th Oct at PVR cinemas, Ahmedabad. A film that took almost a year to complete is ready to compete now. And what better time to publicize it on it's Official Media Partner Random Strokes then now.

Below are the links to the various web addresses relating Maanas.

Maanas Facebook Page

IFFA Website

Maanas Theatrical Trailer

Maanas Title rolling Song

Maanas @ Competitive Category in Feature Films at IFFA

Be ready to get on the high voltage emotional ride of your life. Be ready to learn that No matter how tough it gets, life is to be lived. Be ready for it. Maanas is all set to strike now. Keep pouring your love and support. Keep reading yours favourite Random Strokes. Love - DJ.

#40: Until it’s done…

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:13:00 +0530

August had been a month of news and events. From Anna to Ankit, Manmohan singh to Mehul, Delhi to Darshniyaa and from N for something to ND, it has been good news, events and celebrations. But what matters actually is what it takes to reach that reason of celebration and no other can understand that feelings except the one who knew it was going to happen but kept the lips silent until it’s done and that’s what this post say it all. This post could be termed as On the Edge Part III or Miles to go Part II but I guess it’ll be too early to say until it’s done.

Every being (and not only human being) has foreseen a dream with no regards to size, length or nature of the dream and trust me, the whole universe celebrates when that dream accomplishes then whether it’s a rock climber tracking a mountain, a salesman selling his first packet of job or a small kid learning to drive a bicycle. They all cherish the celebration of living their dream along with the world but the strength paid in climbing the mountain or the effort applied to convince the customer and the will to learn that bicycle can be understood by none but the performer of respective task. Here, considering you as performer, is the tale of your journey from the valley to the peak and no matter world may support/neglect/acclaim/accuse for your work/thoughts/dreams/life, you have to go though that toughest time ever while you're waiting for it to be happen. The Darduras around you allegates you to prove yourself and you too know that one day you'll prove yourself by reaching that milestone but the times when you fall in between is the time you endure your journey towards it. You know it is to be done one day but you can't convince other untill it's done.

The post is very much intended for D’s and I do believe the time has come. Milestones will leave the traces in your life guys. All you have to do is to just stay there, be there.

Once again it's Rudyard in my mind saying…

And so Hold on,

When there is nothing in you,

Except the will which say,

Hold on...

Keep enduring tough times. Keep walking ahead though with a broken leg. Though the world may not know your sufferings, it'll damn know the celebrations on reaching the heights. Have patience and do keep wait for the arrival of the moment untill it's done. Wishes to all D’s. Love – DJ.

#39: Case 8973_ Alibaug Double Murder Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:22:00 +0530

Flight 764 Munich to Mumbai just landed on the Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport, Mumbai. It was early morning 03:45 hrs.

“So, how was your flight?” Diwakar asked while positioning on the driver seat. He was looking good though in nightwear.

“Pretty much like a flight…” Henry replied from back seat. He seemed a bit tired.

“Relax Henry.” Derick said. “It was good Diwakar.”

“I just don’t believe this Mr. Jefferson.” Diwakar was exited. “Since I’ve said to my family that you and Henry are coming to India for Jahnvi’s wedding, they all have gone mad. The world famous Derick Jefferson is attending his past student’s sister’s wedding. What else one would needed? Thanks a lot for coming sir.”

“Don’t be Diwakar.” Derick replied. “The way you had insisted, I guess, it was difficult to deny. And it always feels great being to India and that too with a reason for celebration. I was needed to come for sure.” He smiled. “How your journalism is going on?”

“Pretty good sir.” Diwakar said. “Research is on. These days Mafias are rising back in Mumbai.”

“Investigative journalism is always dangerous.” Henry said. “I meant, for a family man.”

“Well, everyone is a family man.” Derick replied. “It’s a matter of their acceptability of the situations. By the way, how far are we from the destination?”

“140 KM. We’re heading to Alibaug. Approx one and half hour…” Diwakar said. “We thought our farmhouse there, will be a better option for wedding occasion as relatives gonna overflow. By the way, you and Henry are the first guest of the home Mr. Jefferson. We’ll be home by first ray of sun.” He accelerated the car when his mobile beeped for a message.

“It’s Jahnavi.” Diwakar said. “Bring some sedative for me, suffering from headache.” He read the SMS. “I guess we’ll need to go through a 24x7 medical shop.” He added.

“Not needed.” Derick said. “Henry has it. He always carries bunch of medicines while travelling.”

“That’s good.” Diwakar smiled back.

Within half an hour mobile rang again. Screen showed “Jahnavi calling…” Diwakar put it in loudspeaker mode as he was driving.

“Help…” Jahnavi was screaming on the other side. “He’s gonna kill me…”

“Jahnavi…” Diwakar got hyper. “What happened Jahnavi?”

She kept screaming for another few seconds and call got disconnected. Diwakar dialed her number back but it replied switched off.

“We are one hour far yet…” Derick watched the time. “If she’s in trouble, you better call anyone at home.”

“There’s no one else my grandma.” Diwakar was perspiring.

“Neighbours…?” Derick asked.

“We’ve just one neighbor…” Diwakar dialed another number. “Vikram, Where are you?” He asked.

“I’m on highway.” The other person replied. “Jahnavi had come asking for medicine. She was having headache. So I was on my way to get it. But car got the trouble.”

“I can see you.” Diwakar, while accelerating the car at full, applied a sudden break.

“Get in our car Vikram?” Diwakar asked a man on the other side of the road with open hood of his car.

“I guess, Carburetor problem.” Vikram replied. He was in casual wear with a leather jacket and sports shoes as night was chilling.

“Get in quickly.” Diwakar said. “I got her call few moments ago. She was screaming for help.” His words got heavier with loads of tension. “Something is seriously wrong.”

Vikram entered in and positioned besides Henry. Henry took his sand adhered bag apart to ease Vikram.

“It can be a prank.” Vikram said. “You know her. Don’t anticipate anything wrong.”

“I wish.” Diwakar said and geared up.

It was twenty minutes to six when their car entered in the compound of Advait, Diwakar’s bungalow.

Diwakar and Vikram came out of the car and rushed in.

Derick and Henry entered in the hall after him. Two dead bodies were lying in the hall.

“Jahnvi… Grandma…” Diwakar broke into the tears. His sister and Grandmother were been killed.

To Be Continued...

#38: Friends, Life, Dreams and…

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:25:00 +0530

No wonder I’m starting this with word No wonder. (Don’t misunderstand, Wonder Masala haven’t paid me for advt) Friends, Life, Dreams and… is truly a random article of Random Strokes not because of its virtue but for the way its being written. No googling for Casual category, no thinking for Strokes category, no imaginations for Derick Jefferson/Face 2 Face with Shashvat or no movie review for I never criticize. Simply writing whatever mind says. (Actually mind thinks.) Definitely reserved for D’s category and this is how actually Friends, Life and Dreams are… No preplanned activity. Truly ransome. (Random+Awesome)

Friends are this, friends are that, friends are everything you say you bet. Too much have been said for friends and friendship and as always it still falls short. So I’m not going to add something to it. (And I know you don’t want me to do so.) Well, same is with life. Too much (And this time literally too much) have been said for life too. Dreams differ here. They haven’t been elaborated as compared to friends and life. And the reason behind that is everyone has different dream. But on the contrary they share equal 25% as friends and life. (Wonder what’s remaining 25%? It’s what after “and…” in the heading. Will talk about it at the end.)

Concepting (Verb of Concept: Grammatically wrong word) says Life has Friends and Dreams within. On the other side Friends also have Life and Dreams and Dreams can Have Friends, Life and even the things that don’t exist. Naturally Dreams are more powerful. They posses more attribute. But you’re not “dream.” You’re a normal Human Being. (Not all of you.) And you posses Life, Friends, Dreams… (It’s too small post to simplify the complications. Need to Co-write Simply Complicative. A blog worth for simple complications.) So as you read, I was actually trying to relate the commonly uncommon elements. You can’t just read/write them. (Of course they aren’t DVDs.) They are competitive yet not rivals. Ask yourself to let go one for another. Like, sacrificing your dreams for your life what a middleclass individual does for daily basis, giving up your life for your friend what a friend can only realize or Letting go a friend for his/her dream which also only a friend can realize. These all are multiplied together with synergy effect. (And best example is the category this belongs to: D’s. Love you Guys.) They complete and complement each other with the fourth 25% share holder co-ordinate.

The fourth dimension is Time but not here as we aren’t talking of dimensions but the elements. And this fourth element is… will talk about it next time coz the fourth dimension i.e. Time is running out. Keep Dreaming, Living and Friending… (Grammatically wrong but conceptically a right word.) Keep reading Random Strokes too with all above. Love – DJ.

#37: Maanas first look

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:06:00 +0530

#36: Donkeys _ An analytical essay.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:47:00 +0530

The intended post of this month was a Derick Jefferson Case File. But an incident led me to pen this. (Actually I haven’t penned it but keyboarded it. Ok, bad PJ.) Sounds shocking what a donkey is doing here…? But this is what Random Strokes is all about. (Striking randomly, sometimes oddly…!) Since childhood everyone does it. No, I didn’t mean to do some idiotic. I meant everyone had written an essay on Donkey. And if not then this is your lifetime opportunity to read one. Let’s prasthan.

A donkey has four legs, two ears, two eyes, one nose. Didn’t like this sentence? Check your old one year pic when you hadn’t learned to walk. Now this sounds familiar. Isn’t it? Ok, no more rubbish and turn to the realistic picture. Donkeys have always been a useful domestic animal. Never complaining for whatever you feed, however you keep or whenever you ask to workout. Still they always have been neglected in manners of smartness. This is their fault of being obedient. (Same is with the employees to their bosses.) The thing of concern is what makes a proof that donkeys are not intelligent? Have anyone taken their aptitude test? Nope. But they are labeled fools. Why…?

The worst thing is the name of their species is being used to insult someone. Has anyone think how one would react if some insults him/her by saying Human? We need to think about the mental torture that they are suffering since ages. We frequently use this word to any non-mannered person. Ask yourself. Are the donkeys non-mannered? They are favorite word of Parsi community by being used at beginning or end of every sentence “Gadheda…” At the hype, even they are called donkeys not because they really are but instead they are intended to be insulted. Such a tragic life they’re living. :(

Well, I really wanna write more on this but my eyes are wet now. No, it’s brotherhood. It’s their pain that is overflowing in my heart. Don’t consider their silence as their weakness. The day they will rebel will be definitely the judgment day… Let’s take an oath today that now onwards we won’t use the name of this multi-useful species as an insult to anyone, nor to them too, In the name of peace between the domestic animal and a social animal. Keep reading your favorite Random Strokes. Love – DJ.

#35: Face off_M S Dhoni

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:38:00 +0530

Disclaimer: The post is totally fictitious and resembles no real interview.

Hello, aadaab, lei ho, aloha, ciao, vanakkam, salaam Namaste. This is your favourite host Shashvat Saxena back again with yours all time favourite show… Face 2 face with Shashvat Saxena.

Interlude drum…

As always I’ll begin the show with a question that I’ll answer at the end. And that question is… Which format of cricket is an edible item? Think about it and let me call the guest of honour today. He’s the heart of nation, the coolest man and not the most eligible bachelor now. Please welcome the captain of Indian Cricket Team Mr. Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Interlude Trumpet, with clapping.

SS: Hello sir. It’s nice to have you here. (Than in stadium especially looking at your batting nowadays)

Dhoni: Thank you Shashvat. (Even I feel safer here…)

SS: You must have been reached here via Helicopter.

Dhoni (Amazed): How you come to know that?

SS: How else you could be? We haven’t seen your helicopter shot since long. So thought you must be using it for transportation.

Dhoni: Good criticizing joke but see it’s like you can’t always score 100…

SS: (pehle 10 to bana le…) Anyways Nice journey by far in World cup. Is there any particular strategy to which you always followed?

Dhoni: Not actually. I guess batsmen did his job with bat and bowlers bowled well.

SS: (Shouldn’t be there a rule for Wicket keeper too…) Next is Mohali, the most trending topic on Twitter now days. Are your boys prepared for it?

Dhoni: Oh yes, they are doing net practice. (to learn the brand new Sledging words on net…)

SS: Would also like to ask the most asked question on Facebook? Who will win at Mohali? India or Pakistan?

Dhoni: (Better you would have asked who will stay alive after match…) Well, both the teams have got some advantages and some disadvantages. May the best team win, and for me, I guess team India is the best team in the world.

SS: Munaf Patel. Why don’t you replace him with Sreesanth?

Dhoni: (Coz I’ve got Harbhajan…) I believe in Munaf. He’s struggling little bit. But I’m sure; he’ll get his line and length before Mohali. He needs time.

SS: (So as you…) In your 5^th ODI against Pakistan in 2005 you scored 148 at Vishakapatnam, India and in your 5^th Test against Pakistan in 2006 you scored 148 at Faisalabad, Pakistan. Anything that links both stats?

Dhoni: (1,48,000 for fixing…Tab to jyada milta bhi nahi tha…!) I guess coincidence…

SS: Sir, You’ve tied up with Rhiti Sports Management and Mindscapes and are promised a minimum guarantee of Rs 210 crore over the next three years. What are your plans of spending it…?

Dhoni: First I’ve to ask Sakshi what amount she’s going to give me…

SS: Cool. Well my last question is Motera to Mohali to Mumbai. Is there any “M” Factor for “M” S Dhoni… or this is why people find you the luckiest captain?

Dhoni: I think when you show your commitment, destiny does repay you. Thanks for wishes on Mumbai. Winning at Mohali does matter much more to Mumbai.

SS: Thanks a lot sir. It was a nice inning with you. Best wishes for World cup from unit and viewers of Face 2 face with Shashwat Saxena. May our dream come true this year.

Interlude saxophones with applaud.

So, Ladies and mentalmen, I mean Gentlemen, here ends today’s episode of Face 2 face with Shashvat Saxena and before you switch the channel, answer to the question that I had asked in the beginning is… ODI format… Didn’t get it? Just like 20-20, It’s 50-50… Signing off now. Do wait for me and some new guests on your favourite show Face 2 face with Shashvat Saxena broadcasting on Channel Random Strokes… Till then See you, Sayonara, Hasta la vista, Rub rakha, khuda hafiz, aavjo vhalaa fari malishu.

#34: Miles to go...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:51:00 +0530

“And so…, Hold on, when there is nothing in you, except the will…, which say, Hold on…” Repeating my favorite words by Rudyard Kipling and clarifying that yours this month’s quality reading is sequel to my favorite post #16: On the edge. Just that after Indian Secularism _ Part 2, I didn’t want to exhibit that the season runs on the sequel and that’s why named Miles to go instead of typical On the edge _ Part 2.

Miles to go… The words have much more hidden within compared to what they reveal, emphasizing the significance of coma… It’s not over yet. You know it’s going to happen. All you have to do is to have patience. Timeless, endless… Having your all faith in yourself, you keep walking ahead though with a broken, blooded leg. You endure because you know its worth to endure. Giving your lifetime for the uncommon, rare, toughest path and that road less travelled make you differ from others.

“Life is not to work for brand names; life is to make your name a brand.” Stealing the dialogue of Abhinav Joshi, a character of my very own novel Mine One Too… and this is leading me to advertise Mine one too… & Maanas (My upcoming short flick) but as I believe that you shouldn’t speak for yourself & let your work do the honor for you. I trust my work will also speak for itself. So coming back on track, you know the path; you know how to tackle Darduras too… (To understand Darduras and further details checkout #14: Dardura Special. HailDarduras...!) All now you’re waiting for is the moment, the winning moment for what you endured for your lifetime, for what you dreamed so long that you couldn’t ever sleep too. Live that moment. But you can’t stop there too. You haven’t born to stick on the milestones. Milestones will keep changing their values. You have to keep walking ahead. (That too on the edge…!) And that is why you’ve to keep saying this to self. Sitaro ke aage jahan aur bhi hai, Jo rakh do kadam aasmaan aur bhi hai. Yes, keep reading your favorite Random Strokes. Keep walking ahead. & Keep saying this to self everyday… There are Miles to go yet… Love – DJ.

#33: Indian Secularism _ Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:46:00 +0530

“Jay bharat sathe janavavanu ke…” was the method to begin any letter years ago. But I’m not here to discuss the letter writing methods. I’m here to deliver “yours once a month quality reading” of January. (That we started from October) In the beginning of Jan, when I checked the stats for (Your favorite) RS, I found #08: Indian Secularism as the most viewed post (Stats may have been changed at the time of posting) and hence decided to deliver part 2 on none other than the Republic day itself.

“Where to begin…?” is just not the question because you can begin from anywhere on any topic and these bloody politicians and their so called intellectual hypocrite media will lead it to secularism. The latest example is of BJP hoisting Indian Flag in Kashmir. While the Bharatiya Janata Party said the plan to fly the flag in Srinagar, the summer capital of revolt-torn Kashmir, to mark India’s Republic Day on Wednesday, was a patriotic right; the government dismissed it as a political stunt ahead of state elections this year and the headlines said here we comes.

"We dare them (state government) to stop us. Wherever they stop us, we will sit there at dharna till January 26," Swaraj added. The Omar Abdullah government has made it clear that it would neither let any yatra to Srinagar nor would it allow any assembly at Lal Chowk. In a statement, Chidambaram appealed to Swaraj and Jaitley and other BJP leaders to give up "path of confrontation" and not push any "political agenda" that will affect peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 400 BJP activists were arrested when they tried to bring out a rally in Jammu as part of the flag hoisting plan at Lal Chowk in culmination of the party's 'Ekta yatra', police said.

Indian Prime Mnister Manmohan Singh had appealed to the BJP to call off the protest. The plan had prompted fears of violence in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley. Why…? Aren’t they Indian? Don’t they respect Indian flag…? As I said earlier, the questions aren’t these… The question is what I had written in part 1. Copying it here for your ease. : Question isn’t how we are taking it. (We are used to let go these things anyway.) Question is where is it leading us? The so called leaders, feeling proud for being called secularist, are really oxidizing the base metal of the country. Despite of people have started understanding these, problem arises due to ineffectiveness of people to take a stand. None of them, and I repeat, yes, None of them is secular enough to be called a true patriotic Indian.

Celebrations ended up peacefully but was it a matter of one day celebration? Not just for the case above but for all of us too… We won’t be changing anything just by replacing a tri-color Indian flag with our profile pic on facebook or Orkut or Twitter nor by tagging friends in such pictures… We have to live it every day. Change begins with our smallest step. From civic sense to traffic sense to… I forgot, I’m not writing on building a new shining India. still, sticking on Indian Secularism, we ought to change the image of Indian secularism and to make it what it was in real terms earlier. Copying again from Part 1 for your ease: Don’t let some hypocrite leader make a distance between you and your neighbor of another religion. Time is to unite now. Time is to define the real secularism. Keep building a joyful secular India. Keep reading Random Strokes… Yours once a month Quality Reading. Love – DJ.

#32: A film of the lifetime...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:51:00 +0530

Hi to all. Know what’s on your mind but let me confess, this ain’t also a promoting post for Maanas (Post production has just started so will do so at right time.) or this isn’t review of recently released No Problem or Band baaja baarat. “A film of the Lifetime…” is actually much more than any of the film. (Including mine ones too…) Wanna know what it is? Let’s find out.

Let’s plan a movie for this weekend. (Know I’m posting this on Sunday so you can consider it for next weekends.) There’s no need to do advance booking in any multiplex or to turn on your home theatre or laptop to see this film nor you need to buy any pirated CD/DVD (which you either shouldn’t) to watch it and just not need to worry about your money for paisa vasool guarantee of the film. Trust me, its guaranteed paisa vasool.

All set. This Sunday night (just a night before another hectic schedule for next week…) after your supper, start watching this film. (You’ll visualize a trailer too while reading this post.) You just have to take a deep breath, silent your ambience and to close your eyes. Yes, this is what all you need. Now go back… years ago… and many many years ago… try to recall your first remembrance since your birth. It can be anything and it will take time to remind what it is but it is worth remembering being the first establishing shot of your film and then… let the film roll on. I guess you know what you’ve to do. Yup, remember all the memories in FIFO order of your life. Your school days to your high school days to your college days to your jobs and further more if you’re having more footage in your life. And take time while watching them. Divide all diff. ambiences in different parts. You… at home, at school, at coaching classes, at friends’ streets, at college, at hostel, at social events of your family or relatives, at illnesses, at accidents, at parties or lot’s more according to how you’ve lived your life. There are numbers of sequences (some may have songs too…) to enjoy in a typical slow motion melodramatic style. (And you don’t need to have adobe after effects or final cut pro or Vegas 9.0 to do so. Your brain does it free of cost for you.)

Now why to do so…? Just to save few bucks on watching movies. (Which aren’t worth to watch for free too…) Nope. Nor you’ve to see this film to remind your old memories. This is to be seen to build your future. Shocking but true. This 3 hrs of movie (length depends on your memory power and your way of living life) at the night of every weekend will build your attitude to live the upcoming week. It’s your film after all. You’ve to decide the scenes you want to add in your film to visualize it on next screening. IF YOU WISH TO SEE HAPPY AND LOVING FAMILY MOMENTS TO BE TELECAST ON NEXT WEEKEND, YOU’VE TO ADD IT UP DURING YOUR TENURE OF NEXT WEEK BY SPENDING THOSE MOMENTS WITH YOUR FAMILY. Work hard and sincerely to make your film larger than life. Let the audience applause it with label of super hit and record breaking. You’re the director of your film and you’ve to decide the direction of the story of the film too. Fill all the emotions at its best. Comedy, action, romance… (And horror after marriage in some cases…!) Remember, Life has no Re-takes. Live your film Dil se… Play your character jee jaan se… And at the end of your life, you’ll really have a Magnum opus… The real Director’s cut… A Film of the Lifetime…

#31: 70,00,000 crore and still counting on...!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:55:00 +0530

First of all, sorry for not being frequent for your favorite contents. (my posts…! Ok that was (not) a PJ.) As I was busy for whole month of November in shoot of my fourth and upcoming flick Maanas. But I should not (why not?) use my popular blog site for marketing it. So will come directly (being a director) to the Point of Order.

It is true that India is a developing country; we are developing a bigger scam at the end of every week. Looking at the news channels, it seems we need more branches of CBI than of SBI across country. Jokes apart, yes, I’m talking about the 2G deal/ A. Raja/ Nira Radia tapes and lots more beneath it. The sea level information is what you all have from news channels and I’m not a freelance reporter or a hard core media person to give you what others are not aware of. Still, making an analysis to what has been disclosed (which is only the tip of an iceberg), the names which are not highlighted yet (And which are needed to be given importance) are: former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman and former special secretary to the Power Ministry, Pradip Baijal, former finance secretary C. M. Vasudev, former Airports Authority of India chairman S. K. Narula and former Foreign Investment Board head Ajay Dua. Let’s see the unseen acts of past.

It didn’t seem clearly years back when Tata bagged the state-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) Pradip Baijal was in charge. (Later one of the consultants of Nira Radia.) This leads Nira Radia’s connection to fix Tata Finance in 2001 when she paraded its disgraced boss, Dilip Pendse, to the media; getting the NDA government to allow Tata to sell 26 per cent stake of VSNL. Not only this but also at vanishing the DLF IPO; setting up NGOs to come to a standstill DLFs mall projects; unleashing a media war in the Ambani vs Ambani gas case; and getting media owners in West Bengal to sing praises of its chief minister and industries minister during the Singur embarrassment. I wondered (that time too but hadn’t got that) how both Tata and Reliance were allowed to convert wireless to full mobility (That was birth of CDMA technology which were extensively used for Defense force) when Baijal, again, was TRAI chairman.

Just making a rough estimate to some of the scams till date. (Which are again just a tip of the iceberg…!)

2G Spectrum: 1,78,000 crore

Ketan Parekh: 1500 crore

Telgi Stamps: 200 crore

Satyam: 12,000 crore

UTI: 4,000 crore

Scams in the terms of money are to be referred on time scale. You can’t compare Hawala scam, Bofors scam or Oil for Food scams to IPL or commonwealth equally. Gradually since Independence, we have worked (very very) hard to top the Swiss accounts. And we did it. Roughly 70,00,000 crore… (Till I’m posting this. As it changes with day and nights in progressive mode) of money is overflowing at Swiss bank. Who says we are poor. We are still “Sone ki Chidiya” just that the “Chidiya” is available to only 0.05% of the population of India. This reminded me a dialogue from my next film Maanas (No offence for publicity): “The honour of the country is at stake. Mark my words. If we won’t be doing anything now, we’ll be facing civil war very soon.” Keep reading Random Strokes. Love – DJ.

#30: Navratri's On...!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:02:00 +0530

“Chapti bhari chokha ne ghee no chhe divdo, Srifal ni jod lai ne… Halo, halo Pavagadh jaie re…” What more you expect under casual category in the season of world’s largest Dance Festival. And not just a season of dance but a rooted religious reason for dance. Navratri…!

A cultural festival that lasts for nine nights recites the significant nine forms of goddess as Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri. All are to be called one as Durga which is synonymous with Shakti or the Divine Power that manifests, maintains and makes over the universe as the unifying force of existence. Shakti also states the Absolute’s appearing as many (like nine above and many untold). God creates this Universe through Srishti-Shakti (creative power), preserves through Sthiti-Shakti (preservative power), and destroys through Samhara-Shakti (destructive power).

Celebrated in different ways throughout India, Navratri comes majorly two times and a total of four times a year of which Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are major ones. The Chaitra Navratri culminates in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. The last four days of Sharad Navratri take on a particularly dramatic form in the state of West Bengal where they are celebrated as Durga Puja. This is the biggest festival of the year in this state. In Kerala, three days: Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami of Sharad Navaratri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshipped. Navratri is celebrated in Punjab by fasting for seven days. On the eighth day or Ashtami, the fast is broken by worshipping young girls who are believed to symbolize the Goddess herself.

But/and in the state of Gujarat, it is enough celebrated over nine days/nights to cover a special dedicated blog…! Still we’ll try to justify it within a paragraph. The most famous (And truly world famous now) Navaratri celebrations are held here. Traditional dances in the form of Dandiya and Garba take place ~~almost~~ everywhere. The dancers move around in a circle, with different steps around the handmade Gabbar (The Mountain which is said Maa Amba’s home, and not Sholay’s gabbar…!) and above it a small temple of Maa Amba. After Aarti, Garba and Dandiya raas is performed ~~throughout~~ till midnight. The small sheri Garba has turned to commercial Party plots and Club Garbas, still the roots of worship for Maa Amba hasn’t decayed (And will never be). The most aged member of the family also get the spirit of youngest child in home is nothing else but the pure Magic of Navratri. Words are really falling too short to describe what Navratri means. It’s not that I’m helping Mr. Bachchan in their promoting ads for Gujarat Tourism but that is what the truth is. You can’t understand Navratri without being in Gujarat. To bhai, Kuchh din to guzaaro Gujarat mein…! Love – DJ.

#29: The name says it all _ CommonWEALTH...!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:04:00 +0530

Imagine a scene. You have gone to see a world level competition of boxing or weightlifting. Participants come one after another and perform to their best. Stadium is as densely loaded of humans as an anthill of ants. And all of a sudden the heavy roof structure of the stadium falls down…

Sounds not so good but it’s not so unreal too looking at the current trends by far. Welcome to the Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi. The most happening topic to analyze, scrutinize and criticize India. [That is too for all so called intellectual brains, as always. Bloody hypocrites...] Even Twitter shows it as most trending topic now days. India’s twitter map also shows CWG, and #CWG as the top-most tweeted keyword, followed by ‘Kalmadi’, ‘Ayodhya’, and ‘Verdict’. And I guess for many hidden Kalmadis, the name is bit appropriate… The Common-WEALTH Games…!

The games were meant to showcase India's emergence as a regional powerhouse. But long delays in getting facilities ready and a list of scandals have turned them into an embarrassment. Organizers have struggled with an outbreak of dengue fever, the collapse of a footbridge leading to the main stadium and security fears after the Sunday shooting of two tourists outside one of the city's top attractions.

The New Zealand team announced it was joining Scotland and Canada in delaying its arrival in New Delhi because of the poor condition of the accommodations. England and Australia have also expressed concern about the Games village. While Delhi government cleaners are apparently refusing to clean the toilets at the Games village because they were so “nauseating”, the Games organizers are calling in the help of some luxury private hotels, including the Taj and Oberoi, to help with hygiene.

“People in India think ceilings can fall on poor people but they must not fall on athletes.” said Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar on a chat show Wednesday on news channel NDTV, adding that as a result of this sort of thinking, the country had fallen “flat on our face, or rather I should say, we fall flat on our feces.”

On the contrary, expressing confidence that the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held successfully, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. M.S. Gill announced doubling of cash awards for the CWG and Asian Games. To encourage sportspersons, Dr. Gill announced the doubling of cash awards for the coming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to Rs.20 lakhs (from Rs.10 lakhs) for Gold Medalist, Rs.10 lakhs (from Rs.5 lakhs) for Silver Medalist, and Rs.6 lakhs (from Rs.3 lakhs) for Bronze Medalist.

Federation president Michael Fennell has said there is still “a lot of work” to be done before the event gets underway in Delhi on October 3 though Ma’am Dixit says Delhi is ready. [Thank god, no one asked her that Delhi is ready for what? Not accidents at least…!] On a side where whole world is worrying whether India will be able to meet the deadline of 3rd Oct, Dr Avtar Lit, the chief executive of the Sunrise Group, Who has already bought the tickets to games, says “The games will be fantastic. Things move very fast in India and there are armies of engineers, decorators and builders ready to transform the site. What takes the rest of the world 180 days to complete takes India five.”

This actually made me recall an incident. A French philosopher visited India once and wandered throughout the country. At the end of his journey, he marked… “I never believed in God’s existence, but now I do. How else it’s possible that this country is still progressing…?” I wonder I didn’t label this post to “I never criticize…” but how can I? At the end, Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani…! On this last note, need to sign off now. Keep loving India the way every Indian does in spite of such controversies every week… Love - DJ.

#28: Bang Bang Dabangg...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:56:00 +0530

Hai muscular, hai popular, spectacular, he’s bachelor and this pappu can dance too salaa… The real man Sal-MAN khan is back with his home production Dabangg this time and I’m back in my category ‘I never criticize’ (not) to criticize another flick.

Released on appropriate festival days, Dabangg’s promotion and marketing has been done Bang on target to make it most Wanted. None of the show on any of the channel is left without Salman or other cast/crew of Dabangg since last two weeks. (But we aren’t here to study the marketing funda so will move towards the review.)

It’s Indian Robinhood Pandey and its magic that rules the screen. Dabangg makes all Salman Fans crazier than before. Vijayan has given his best of Action. Abhinav, brother of Anurag Kashyap is remarkable. Music is outstanding. Sonakshi is astounding than many plastic faced actresses of today and above all It’s one and only The Salman Khan that holds the movie on his wide strong shoulder.

But what I would like to point out is actually matter of an identity of the film. In the promotions, television shows, news channels or anywhere, it’s Salman and Only Salman that exaggerate throughout. Don’t get me wrong. This has nothing to do with quality of the film or Salman’s performance in the film. What matters is the identity of a film as a whole. A good film (like Dabangg) shouldn’t recline on the shoulders of Star cast. (Esp, when star is like Salman Khan) When Stardom overplays the script, it gives a hit film after losing charm of the film because at the end if a film did well because of it's star cast is a matter of pity to a film that performs well because it’s worth it. Elucidating this is Dabangg shouldn’t be known by Salman rather Salman should be praised for doing Dabangg.

But like all says, All is well if end is well. Just when few people started saying that Salman’s madness magical era is gone with box office failures like Mai aur Mrs Khanna, Veer and London Dreams which didn’t prove to be good at box-office, Dabangg has made his second hit after Wanted. It has already done well in the opening (Record breaking opening ever…!) and still smashing the cinemas all over the country. In short, it’s totally paisavasool, dhansu, rapchik and dhamakedaar picture of the year (Till now at least). My vote goes for it and I know you'll go for it too. – DJ.