Yeh Dil Maange More!

Yearning

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:32:00 +0000

A mile too long,

A moment too discrete,

A sky too infinite,

A sea...pristine!

A picture too perfect,

A word too deep,

A melody too gentle,

A performance replete!

A smell too fragrant,

A smile too sweet,

A beat too soon,

A touch…velveteen!

A thought too potent,

A mind too keen,

A heart too aware,

A life… almost complete!

Front of the Class: Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:24:00 +0000

(Image Courtesy: tvguide.com)

After a long time I’ve come across a movie worth writing about.

Front of the Class (2008), is a movie from the ‘Hallmark Hall of Fame’ series. It’s a wonderfully made movie based on a true-life experience of Brad Cohen who “did not let Tourette’s Syndrome win” and went on to bag the 'Best Teacher of the Year' award.

The character, named Brad, after the real life Brad Cohen, has been essayed by Jimmy Wolk. An excellent and remarkably essayed performance, worthy of many applauds. This grown-up Brad Cohen from the movie is definitely commendable in his realistic and enrapturing performance, but one cannot but marvel at how the young lad, named Dominic Scott Kay, has effortlessly portrayed the role of a young Brad Cohen, fighting for acceptance and acknowledgement from his peers as much as, by his own dad.

For someone not suffering from the Tourette’s, to be able to integrate the right noises and right twitches at the right time so seamlessly into their performance, these two actors have indeed left us in awe. The sensitivity with which the movie has been made and the fighting zeal with which the protagonist takes on the snide comments and unpleasant judgments by people around, is largely infectious.

The manner, in which the movie’s progression is handled, is also worth a mention. The story is narrated by Brad himself, as he introduces his life to us, the viewers, shot by shot, bit by bit.

Peter Werner (Director), sure has a winner here. Not only are the performances worthy of a pat-on-the-back…but so also the crisp characterization. No wonder then that the movie finds itself listed in the Hallmark Hall of Fame.

Going through the movie, I must admit I kept falling in love with every bit of this celluloid adaptation of a true life story and its sheer underlying positivity.

The movie has its share of humorous, poignant, clumsy and theatrical moments. But my personal favourite remains the one where Brad goes on stage to deliver his acceptance speech while receiving the ‘State of Georgia’s 1st Year Teacher of the Year’ Award. It’s that part of the movie where he thanks his ‘toughest and most dedicated teacher’ since the age of six, his Tourette’s syndrome. His speech gets interspersed with impromptu additions in the form of answers by little hands going up in the air, eager to lend words to their favourite speaker, Mr. Cohen.

And the icing on the cake?.. well, was when little Thomas asks Mr. Cohen, “Can you bring that award for show-and-tell on Monday?”…inviting a lot of applause and laughter from the crowd..and me alike!

In a nutshell, this movie is must-watch for anyone who believes in reaching out for one’s dreams…and not letting anything take away one’s right to live the way one wishes to.

The Sound of Words

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Words.

They are the perfect examples for the adage, Big things come in small packages!

Almost elfin in existence but colossal in significance. Surprising then, that we take words so much for granted…so often…and so easily.

We take them for granted to such an extent, that we fail to acknowledge the inimitable role they play in our life. A role so noteworthy, that were it not for words, our thought would have been nothing more than the sound of silence. Abandoned…mute. Words lend it the voice it speaks in and the language it communicates in.

How? You may ask. Well…Can you ‘think’ without words? What shape or form do your thoughts take if not as words? Think…but without the aid of words. Dauntingly…incapacitating ain’t it??

Humans and Communication, go back a long way. And it’s in this fabric of our strong history together, that words are essentially inter-woven.

They are empowering, ever-lasting connectors that bring us together & link us… bit by bit…word-by-word.

Words build conversations and conversations build bonds. We are what we are because of the words we share…with ourselves or with others… in silence or in clamor.

Without words we’d feel isolated and it threatens our fair-chance to hear, what life around us communicates.

Drawing upon one of may favorite lines from the movie, Crash, which goes something like this –

…We miss that touch so much that we crash into each other just so we may feel something...

I’d conclude this post by saying -

(Sometimes) We miss that sound of words so much that we squabble with each other just so we may hear something.

Eye-struck!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Opening up to brightness,
Embracing the ensuing alluring view,
From fuzziness to clarity,
The eye captures the worldly brew!

As it stares into the blueness a-kin,
Time transforms into a statical moment,
Yet moves an eon beyond measure,
As it’s beholder recollects… memories spent!

Intense and powerful… eyes say it all,
With warm, serene or raging glare,
Conversations made without a sound,
Moments lived without a care!

The engulfing orbicular depth,
Arrests my gaze, causing me to slowly sink,
As I lose focus of all else around me,
Moment by moment, blink by blink!

…And in a moment such as that,
Your soulful eyes… reflect on me,
Mirroring our ocular silhouettes onto each other,
As I become you and you become me!

Blog-xpression!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Alright. That’s it!

It’s time I take control of this blogspace for a while. Well, someone’s gotta lend respect to the spirit of creative expression, you know! Especially when the blog’thor is… well… absconding the blogspace; conveniently abandoning any possible inkling of my… umm... the blog’s existence! So much for owning up responsibility, eh?!

Ahem! Anyways…so here goes. Let me start by introducing myself.

Hello dear readers! I’m called, ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’.

Umm…Pardon the long name. You see my blog’thor lacks the deftness of words. In the acronym-ous times, she’s committed a creative-faux pas truly! I mean, it’s really criminal to indulge in lengthy name-creations when the world is, in fact, adopting a short-is-sweet pattern. But then, who EVER asks you before naming you??! Haan??!

It makes me wonder though… is she a follower of Shakespeare’s famous line, What’s in a name??

... Ya right!, I’d say…ask ME for a change sweetie, would you?!

Oh! And before you misunderstand ‘greed’ to be the attribute behind me getting this name, let me correct you, it isn’t so at all. My dear blog’thor again has a rather un-skilled verbosity, if I may call it that. Well, actually I just did.

Apparently she has her own inexplicable creative reason for naming me so.

Unh!Unh! Don’t worry people…she gets these ‘creative’ bouts sometimes...part of life!

Anyways, moving on… I must admit it feels rather lonely and restless sometimes since I’m kept inactive quite a lot lately. It’s my blog’thor at it again. She attributes her negligence towards me on her being very busy with other stuff. Psst!...I’m letting you all in a secret, people. It’s all hogwash! She ain’t busy at all. She’s just being plain lazy I tell you!

I mean, don’t they say…Where there’s a will, there’s a way?? (Psst!...and you know, where there’s none…you need to find a shovel to make that way, Damn it!!! ….Sorry…I know…that was a lousy one!) But, she’s just not trying hard enough. Somebody didn’t tell her that when you’re drowning (in laziness, like she is), you should either be swimming like ….like… Michael Phelps, or else, be crying-out-loud for help like that’s your only hope for rescue!!

But she, being who she is, chooses neither!!!

She’s been promising to reclaim me soon. Baah! I’d say! How can anyone really believe her? She’s a writer for Christ’s Sake! And writers are awesomely eccentric! And believe you me!... Eccentricity is not really my cup-of-tea!

What??!...It’s just a good use of figurative language there!

So now you know where her lingual inspiration comes from??! Hmmm??!

Well, we’ve entered a new 12-month cycle recently. But to tell you frankly, I really wonder if she even realizes that the ‘8’ has turned into a ‘9’…following the 2-0-0!

8 Outgoing… 9 incoming! Ummm… that sounds really weird, doesn’t it?? Excuse any leeway of a pun there. Truthfully…unintended!

What I’m trying to say is, I know that’s a subtle change but it’s a ‘significant’ subtle change because it modifies the calendar by a full 365 days!

But you know what??! .. I’ve decided to help my blog’thor in honoring her promise of reclaiming me. ‘Coz, after all, I’m the blogspace…and she’s my blog’thor. We’re really for each other. She expresses through me and I mirror her expressions to the world.

So, in line with the universal tradition of making-to-break-resolutions (albeit, I hope this resolution doesn’t get fractured that easily), I’m resolving to keep reminding my blog’thor of my existence, even if it’s through posts like these…sprinkled perhaps, with a few criticisms like these. But am sure she won’t mind that.

After all, that’s what friends do right?!...Nudge a little when you need to be set in motion and lend a whack when rectification is required. A friend in need, is a friend indeed, eh??!

And well, I’m not ready to let her forget me as her friend that easily… just yet!!

So from one friend to another,

Wish you a BLOGGING New Year 2009!

Of Feeling and Thought…

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:03:00 +0000

What is Feeling?
And what may Thought be?
Can you thoughtfully ever feel?
And with feeling develop a thought?

"Think not when you want to Feel,
Feel not when Thought beckons,
For Feelings and Thoughts are
Independent, opposite brethren".

This they tell me,
And relentlessly bellow,
But what I Think or Feel…
How can they ever know?

In the Heart, lives the Feeling
The Mind, where Thought resides.
Neither can ignore the other,
When the need, is to pulsate lives!

So let yourself Feel today,
As Thought draws you near…
Let the two co-exist,
And their bond, grow more dear!

Continuance

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:26:00 +0000

Tiny balls of radiance,
Shimmering in yellow glow,
Trailing each other, playfully.

Silent surrounding darkness,
Accentuating the glimmer-balls,
Embracing them altogether, in its arms.

Bobbing balls of light,
Reach out to me…
Revising their pace,
...every now and then.

Standing amongst these light balls,
I see them rushing at me,
As everything suddenly turns white
...And the whiteness grows.

An involuntary blanket of darkness spreads
As eye-lids seek to avoid the glare,
And the sound of brightness passes me by.

On a black, rain-soaked night,
The traffic vehicles nudge each other
As they move ahead,
Eager to reach their destination.

Journeys end.
Lights fade.

As more bobbing balls continue…
…to slowly emerge…
In search yet again…
Of new journeys…
And new destinations.

Deadlines... and more

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:23:00 +0000

Deadlines are funnily scary elements of a working professional’s life. It is almost amusing to see the two co-exist.

In fact, it won’t be erroneous on my part to say that the two share a love-hate relationship like a haggard old couple, who’ve been married for the last 50 years. They can neither look each other in the eye nor can they do without each other.

So what if, there was to be a conversation between the two? A candid conversation between the two inseperables, would probably go something like this:

Deadline (in a Joey-esque): How you doin??

Professional (sarcastically smirking): Any guesses??!

Deadline: Well, just the right one, if you ask me! ;P
Don’t get me wrong if I ask you this but, how are ya placed this time, eh??

Professional: Haah! Is there ever a difference… ‘buddy’?! Like always…I’m running a day late! No surprises, right??

Deadline: Ugh! Ugh! None whatsoever!

A satanic pause and an exchange-of-smirks later….

Professional: You know… It’s always amazed me to see how you have this incredible flair to consistently, unfailingly outrun me in the race against time?! You’re always a day ahead of me! How the hell do you manage that??

Deadline (Stepping away in caution) :Whoa! Did I just sense some hostility exuding from you?

Professional: Oh yes you did! If you hadn’t yet realized, my ‘dear friend’, we have a perennial aversion to each other!

Deadline: Ya! Like I could never make that out myself, duh??!

Professional: Cut the drama out and throw me an answer if you have one!

Deadline: Patience dear Watson! Patience!

Professional (in mock laughter): Deadlines aren’t good with anything! (…or anyone!)...Not even fiction, I see! It’s ‘Elementary, my dear Watson! Elementary!’

Deadline: How enlightening! Thank-you! Am sure Sherlock Holmes would be ever-so grateful for your kind rectification of erroneous me!

Professional: Am sure he would be… If deadlines were the ones he COULD rectify for good!

Deadline: Ahem. Coming to my answer, well, I don’t need to do anything much myself. Lets just say, that I have ‘friends’ (read: senior management) helping me out to stay ahead in the race. They’re the ones who understand my true worth!.. They’re not like you…who don’t know how to respect deadlines!

Professional: But of course! Partners in crime, indeed!

Deadline: You know it really amazes me to see people like you exhibiting so much aversion to ‘Deadlines’ , yet ‘Deadlines’ are precisely what you’re attempting to desperately meet …all the time! You hate me!...But can’t do without me!

Professional: Aah! Working life does have a quirky sense of humour … that’s really hard to escape!

Deadline: Or…professionals don’t have the ability to appreciate humour, since they don’t have a funny bone at all!

Professional: Oh! No, no, no, no, no! With deadlines like you round the corner, our funny bones are all long broken and crushed, believe me!

Deadline (roaring with laughter): Oops! That reminds me…. As much as I enjoyed this repartee with you, dear professional, I think you’ve conveniently forgotten that you had other deadlines to meet! …And the suave me…doesn’t believe in keeping a deadline waiting! (winks at the professional)

So scoot away, while you still have a chance to meet the due deadline! And…good riddance… ‘buddy’!

Professional: Oh No! Not again!

***

Prelude: Chetan Bhagat’s Book 3

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Ok.

It took a nose-crinkling cold and ceaseless, power-packed coughing to get me to compose a new blog post finally! Like there is scope for anything else with these monstrous symptoms doing a good job of constantly reminding you of your ill-health. Eh??!

No. Seriously. With reasons like these, you don’t need much cajoling to indulge in activities, that otherwise find a rather sporadic existence in your daily routine.

I mean, I would rather have a regular 5-min alarm to remind me to blog than fight the exploding cough in my throat at every puff of air inhaled!! Cough! Gasp!

So as I lay nursing an ill-me, I let myself indulge in the other activity that I could possibly derive a wee-bit entertainment from, to distract my mind from the illness-reminder pangs.

And so, I opened the first page of the book that my reading-clutches were so desperate yet unsuccessful to grab, since the day of its launch in Pune on 25th May 2008.

Yes. 25th May 2008. This was the day Chetan Bhagat was in town to launch his 3rd book, Three Mistakes of My Life.

Now, anyone who’s been strolling in my blogspace, would know that Chetan Bhagat, the author, has been a personal favourite. Be it Five Point Someone or ON@CC, Chetan’s writing has mesmerized one and all. So much so, that these books are now being turned into renditions of a 70mm experience.

It was of little surprise then, that Chetan Bhagat, now a sought-after author, would launch his 3rd book with quite a writer’s panache. Well, almost!

Why I say this is because, this book launch had all it takes for a successful launch. The author arrived late, ensuring adding-on to the ensuing hype, behind the launch. Strike One.

The launch had celebrity guests to add the glam quotient, viz, Atul Agnihotri, Sharman Joshi and Alvira Khan. Their presence, doubling also as a means to promote their forthcoming movie, Hello based on Chetan’s ON@CC. Strike Two.

A round of Q & As for the author by his Pune readers. The icing on the cake. Strike Three.

Now, for the inquisitive readers, I know this, because I was amongst the crowd at the launch, seeking a glimpse of this author-wonder whose innocent boyish face belied the witty brain at work. Yes, I witnessed my first book-reading and launch session with an author I admire. Not so much for the way this 5-Point Someone has risen to unimaginable heights of admirations so soon, but because the guy genuinely is witty and expressive with words. So I wasn’t surprised to see him dodge fan-queries with a little hesitant yet smart ease!

There was a rather interesting and healthy barrage of words exchanged. An excited fan, unable to get the mike working, asked Chetan, “This is a rather personal question, but do you have a foot fetish?” (In reference to his book, ON@CC) A sheepish Chetan replied, “Thank God, your mike’s not working!” And the crowd cracked in laughter. Or when he narrated an incident when before the release of his first book, 5-Point Someone, Chetan didn’t know what to make of the Publisher’s statement – “Ab aap apni book hi dekhlo na. Hai to kuch bhi nahi, par chalegi bahut!” , leaving him to decide whether that was a compliment or a disdainful comment!

With this book-launch experience goading me to pick up the book and finish reading it, and my illness only facilitating the good cause ;), I embarked on my reading journey, with the same glint of expectation at it being as interesting a read, as were the earlier two.

So, as I continue on this journey, I let this post act as a prelude to a probable book review on this blog. Hopefully, that post, will not need a call by ceaseless coughs and running noses, to get published! ;)

A Cloudful of Sky!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:38:00 +0000

A grayish hue,
Sometimes lighter, sometimes dark,
A whiff of smoky puff.

A cascading chain of raindrops,
Sometimes tiny, sometimes big,
A slosh of watery splash.

A murky puddle,
Sometimes inviting, sometimes repelling,
A mudful of sludgy puddle.

A monsoony, breezy weather,
Sometimes likable, sometimes reviled,
A season of many wonders...
...A Cloudful of Sky!

For the Reader… within the Writer

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:59:00 +0000

Knock! Knock!

Anyone there?

That’s what the reader in me invariably keeps asking the writer within me.

The reason for this questioning between the two personas within me, is because of the long days of inactivity in my beloved blogspace!

There is a constant tussle between these two personas with each trying to convince and reason with the other, and present an explanation for the need to be more proactive with the pen or the inability to do so.

Undoubtedly, the reader in me, wins the case, leaving the writer within me in a motivated state of mind to add ink to paper, yet again.

These days, I find little time to dedicate to one activity very dear to me…and that is expressing myself through my writings. May be, the reader within me starts craving for some scripted tidbits from the writer within me to munch on.

Makes me wonder, why so?

Is it that perhaps, every writer writes foremost for himself. His expressions, somewhere, are a reflection of the taste in reading, harboured by the reader inside him.

This is to say that, I am, my own reader first. Having written a piece of text, I validate with myself about my satisfaction level with it. Only when I can positively acquiesce its appeal as a worthy read, am I open to let other readers share in it.

So…the Author reads his work, first… thereby himself becoming the foremost reader of his pennings, always!

It’s almost like a partial disjunction, of sorts. The words you see before you are your own. But you are looking at them not as their creator, but as a receiver…and you identify them differently. You absorb the sound of those words in your experience as a reader… a role invariably and effortlessly assumed by you. And in that moment of primary readership, you look at the scribbling and think, I really like this…really like what I’m reading!

The disjuncture ends, as the reader within you, having approved of the writing before him, retreats, to now let the author, welcome more readers to the reading fore.

This is perhaps, how a writer reads, and the reader writes.

And thence, the journey…the cycle continues.

Ae bhai, zara dekh ke chalo!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:10:00 +0000

It's Amazing!

It really is!

Yes. You are absolutely right. I’m talking about the traffic of our very own Pune. THAT’S amazing!

Or better still, maybe it’s the Puneite who’s amazing!

Do you know why?

It’s because, we Puneites, are so damn creative at coming up with a new puzzling traffic condition everyday. We not only are good at building up such conditions, but also manage to successfully find our way out of such noisy puzzles! Puneites…Born puzzle solvers, eh?!

To make it even more challenging, we have roads dug up at every plausible place. The city's civic authorities are to thank for adding a spark into our challenging traffic puzzle mania! Is the anti-alcohol campaign taking a new form for them, with the slogan now being...Dig and Drive?!!! Huh??!

Anyways…Measuring my way home, from work yesterday, it was very amusing to see two-wheeler-striding individuals pushing their vehicle in every possible available space on the dark-hued roads. And if that seemed as inadequacy of driving space, not to fret fellow citizens… the footpath is the place to be…umm…or rather, the place to drive!

It’s comically appalling to see individuals encroaching onto space, where really it should be the pedestrians who get the right of way. But alas! Guess, it is human nature to encroach upon space, not meant for them! Slaves of an acquired habit, aren’t we??!

As we drove through the maddening traffic, an aged couple astride their two-wheeler, approached us from the opposite direction. The haphazard traffic movement saw us coming within inches of each other and stopping short just in time to avoid an unwanted mishap. The look on the old lady’s face, riding pillion with the graying gentleman, was a ‘Kodak moment’, believe me!

No doubt. The moment was anything but a pleasant moment for the lady… evident from her frozen look of disbelief at the approaching vehicle, heading straight for her! Wide-eyed and staring at us intently, the lady was all set to take the ‘jump’, had we been a few inches closer or a tad bit speedier.

Thank God for Old Age!! Whooops!!! ;)

Jokes apart, the fact remains that the traffic condition is just worsening with every passing moment. And the city that was identified as a pensioner’s paradise, is turning into a commuter’s nightmare!

Lets hope that no old lady has to actually reach a point when she needs to take the 'jump' for real...and the dig-o-mania doesn't go out of hands, before the civic authorities and the Pune commuters, wake up wide and attentive to address the situation.

Investing my hopes on that positive note where traffic conditions would take a twirl for the good, I end this post with these few lines, from a famous song from the movie Mera Naam Joker, albeit, with a few additions…

Aey bhai, zara dekh ke chalo,
Aage hi nahin, peeche bhi,
Daaye hi nahin, baaye bhi,
...
Road par hi nahin...
Footpath par bhi!!

Aey bhai!

Whispers of Time

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:27:00 +0000

A whoosh here and a swish there,
As time hurries past on tip-toes…
And tinkles sound on each such move.

Quietly, it sways past me,
I feel its gentle touch…
As it ruffles my hair playfully.

I smile and look back,
And it looks back at me…
Draped in twinkling moments.

“Hello there!”
“And a ‘Hi’ to you too”…
We exchange hushed pleasantries.

The air fills with a new whish getting louder,
As a glimmer of change arises on the horizon…
And I hear once again… the whispers of time.

A Conversation… of Black-and-White!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:50:00 +0000

A pristine, blank sheet of digital canvas,
Draws me to itself, staring back at me.
With expectant pleas…
Exchanging unknown, silent words with me.

The cursor blinked…
As if warming up…
As if taking a deep breath,
Before setting upon a long, word-lined path.

My fingers felt the keys,
As if trying to befriend them,
Before punching away at them…
As the canvas got decorated with expressive black characters.

Thoughts took expression,
Words took shape.
As my fingers conversed…
…And my canvas listened.

What remained thereafter…
Was a creative rhapsody.
That was etched in time…
And eternalised in conversations of black-and-white!

The Re-awakening of the National Identity??! …ummm…yet again??!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:32:00 +0000

I was watching the show ‘We the People’ on NDTV 24x7 two days back and found the topic of discussion quite interesting.

Does India take its National Symbol too seriously?

A varied array of individuals comprised the group involved in discussion there. And a horde of individuals like me joined in as supplementary third-party audience.

During the debate a lot of people expressed various views and what came across was that, today’s India believed that national symbols like the National anthem, the National Flag, the National Colors, etc. are necessary, but in fact, they should not be binding to the individuals to the extent that the people then refuse to take them as instances of nationalism and patriotism and instead, view them as tyrannical episodes. Someone said, I don’t have a problem with standing up as a mark of respect when the National Anthem is played. But I have a problem when it is forced upon me by someone else, like when I have to stand up and honour the National Anthem in theatres prior to the movie-screening. Why should I do it because someone else wants me to do it then?

Well, I partly agree with his point of view. What significance or value do our National symbols like the National Anthem or our National Flag hold if one has to be coerced to respect it? Doesn’t that go against the very concept of Nationalism and Democracy that our country has been renowned for? By nature humans have the tendency of swerving away from what is expected of them. A human is a born rebel, especially when it comes to executing actions of the mandatory nature. When you make something mandatory or compulsory, we humans fiercely veto it because for us it is seen as an attempt to curb our freedom to do what we want… when we want. It takes away our right to democracy for us.

But again, why are these instances enforced upon us in the first place?... Don’t we also need to give a thought to the fact that, how many of us would actually ‘remember’ to honour our national symbols if it’s not coerced out from within us in cinema halls and public places? Would it not be limited only to twice in a year, on the calendar-driven rekindling of our so-called patriotism?? The truth is, we the Indians of today take our freedom, our democracy too lightly. We cannot really fathom how blessed we are to have been born in a free, sovereign, democratic country. The difficulties endured behind the attainment of this democracy, is something we have been oblivious to… as far as experience is concerned. Hence, unlike a soldier fighting to defend the honor and ensure security of the country every day, we do not feel the urge to be patriotically expressive, that easily and that often.

In fact, I’d go a step further and ask, why is it that debates like these, only come up just pre or post a 26th January or a 15th August?

Is it that for us, our National Identity has come to be dependent upon dates that granted us sovereignty or freedom? Why is it that we get reminded of our National Identity only through two dates staring out at us from the calendar pages? …Acting as if as a cue for us to begin expressing ourselves from a patriotic and nationalistic point of view.

Haah! So much for Nationalistic fervor, I’d say!

The point I’m trying to make here is that, we need to understand the reason behind our erroneous sense of patriotism and get to exercise the meaning of being truly independent and sovereign. We need to educate ourselves on the spirit of nationalism and inculcate within ourselves and our future generations, the significance of being a Nation driven by democracy. The National Identity within each one of us needs to resonate as one. Only then, India can in the true sense continue to be recognized as a symbol of Sovereignty, Equality and Democracy!

P.S. : Ahem! Before my dear readers shove the hypocritical mirror into my face, let me put to rest their excitement by adding here, that yes, I know that this piece of nationalistic expression too comes post-26th January… one of the points of contention I’ve made through this post. My reply to that is, guess I am as much a part of the social fabric of this country taking on its traits as my own sometimes. Breaking away from the conformist mindset, takes time…and effort. But once the acknowledgement takes place, the wave of change, won’t be too far away either.

Right, dear reader??! ;)

The BIG ‘Nano’ BANG!!!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:45:00 +0000

They say that big things come in small packages. Well, so right, I’d say!

With the recent revolutionary launch of Tata Nano, (the petite little car of every middle-class individual’s dream), this statement finds a whole new meaning!

The anticipation behind the launch of this car had been stupendous from the time Mr. Ratan Tata, the dream-builder of the common man’s four-wheeled-aspiration, announced his promise to one-and-all for giving them a ride of affordable luxury.

The actual release of the prototype has been a roaring culmination of thousands of baited-breath anticipations…lending shape to their auto-dreams. It is more than what one could have hoped for within the realm of a lakh of moolah.

But this little wonder seems to be as much a gift, as a curse. This is because the very factor that sets it apart in the automobile segment - it’s affordability by a common man - is also the one that is giving rise to wrinkled foreheads and environmental hiccups.

The Nano, in its promise of fulfilling the common man’s desire for an affordable, personal car, is also giving rise to speculations of what it would signify for the city and the country at large, when there are thousands of Nanos plying on the roads.

This would foremost, translate into a surplus of vehicular traffic and parking trouble, thereby rendering the driving scene within the country, more appalling and chaotic than it already is! The lack of road sense in those behind the wheels, will only add to the displeasure of everyone out there. This further translates into, not only accentuated air-pollution but also in increased levels of noise pollution.

The bottom-line being…our environment would suffer the brunt of this masterpiece too!

Having highlighted the above, let me also add here, that in no way do I say that letting the common man’s dreams take shape is wrong. It is, by all means a step towards ensuring equal opportunities to everyone as the citizen of this democratic country.

But, maybe, before embarking upon such magnitude of wish-fulfillment, we need to understand and gauge the repercussions of today’s inventions and innovations, on our tomorrow. Maybe, a sound thought into making this endeavor rewarding, as well as undamaging to the people, environment and the economy, is what we need to focus on…so that dreams like this come more often and with equal magic!

The Positives of Usability

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:05:00 +0000

The field of Usability is fast gaining a foot-hold, here in India. The West has already been a longtime proponent of the above, but in India, it is still very much in a nascent stage.

However, what is encouraging is to see many more people waking up to the positivity of including Usability as a means to achieve a rewarding end.

One aspect that really interests me about this field is that it gives an opportunity for you to be both analytical and creative, at the same time.

A logical flow/structuring of data, in the most innovative and creative design is what Information Architecture helps you achieve.

I feel that the entire process of IA creation is rather invigorating. Right from the time the heuristic evaluation starts, to the report generation, to the paper-prototyping and finally to the High-fi wireframe creation. The whole process just keeps you in a constant state of bettering your own competency as a Usability professional. Each day is a new learning experience and affirms your resolve to keep providing more usable solutions, across various domains.

Another thing that I find interesting about this vocation is that as a Usability professional, in your endeavor to provide the best usable solution to the client, you need to don multiple hats. By this I mean, you need to role-play, as both a User and also as a client/service provider. You need to take both perspectives into consideration because although you are developing the product/design for a specific client, the fact remains that it is primarily for benefiting the end-user. The positive experience of the end-user then, automatically translates into increased business for the client, because as the adage goes, One positive act follows another. The word spreads and the client not only retains loyal, regular customers but also garners new ones.

The logic behind providing the best Usability solution is simple. We ourselves are end-users of products at some time or the other. So all we need to do while developing such solutions is to keep ourselves in the end-user's shoes and question what we, as an end-user, would expect from a particular product/service, and work around the answer we get. We need to understand the users’ psyche and needs. Thinking like the user helps us to keep our design user-centric. Alternately, we also need to get into a role-reversal and consider the perspective of the client, in order to benefit them as well.

An approach that benefits and appeals to all, is what we as Usability solution providers need to achieve.

Albeit in a nascent stage, Usability is here to stay and only act towards affirming our intention of enhancing and upholding user experience.

Hope that the strength of usability enthusiasts in our country too, just keeps flourishing.

From Days Gone by... To Days to Come.

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:36:00 +0000

With silent tip-tapping feet,
Today will turn over into yesterday,
And take with it 364 yesterdays alike.

Rolling away over to the other side,
Bidding goodbye to one and all,
As a tender little tomorrow rises at the horizon.

But as this bundle of haggard yesterdays,
Turns away for the final time,
It leaves a gift of rich legacy…
For us to embrace, and emerge more wise.

Recounting colorful moments,
Of triumphs and setbacks,
Of joys and sadness.

Of friendly discords,
Of glorious achievements,
Of soothing warmth.

Of carefree mirth,
Of familial bonds,
Of the rights and wrong,
Of Life that was… a fleeting song.

As tomorrow awakens,
Let us once more, embrace a positive zeal,
Lets us emerge more upbeat and strong,
And continue to make our walk of Life, that same…fleeting song!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

Taare Zameen Par. Indeed, every child is special.

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:14:00 +0000

This post is dedicated to all children across the world.

Well, let me start off this post with a confession. Yes. Like every other Aamir Khan movie, I did hold some expectations with this one too. Simply because, lately, Aamir has come to be known to pick topics that are not run-of-the-mill and that enable him to etch characters that are very poignantly unconventional.

Apart from the above, another reason for my intrigue in this particular film, was that it was Aamir’s first attempt at Production/Direction and as a prelude to the actual release of the film, Aamir had also launched his own blogsite where there were different views expressed on various topics, (some I agreed with, some I didn’t), along with those on Taare Zameen Par.

Another factor that pulled me towards the movie was the striking visuals of little Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par. I have always marveled at how little kids can sail through spectacular performances, with innocent effortlessness.

So, I decided to take a dekko at Taare Zameen Par (TZP).

The movie is a brilliant film-making instance. Aamir has made an impressive directorial debut and the film is noteworthy, not only for good cinematography but also for capturing some wonderful moments. The USP absolutely is Darsheel Safary. The boy had few dialogues but his shining performance through TZP spoke volumes. He surprises everyone with the right blend of emotions and expressions into the character.

The movie depicts the sensitive portrayal of a child’s world. It brings out the nuances of childhood, which sometimes, go unnoticed, sometimes get acknowledged, but are nevertheless, a part of every child’s childhood…somewhere…sometime.

Everyone wants an achiever for a child. And in the attempt to realize this ‘hypothetical’ dream of ours, we often turn a blind eye to the tear-sparkling eyes of our children who helplessly see their childhood being left behind somewhere. A child’s mind is a world of imagined possibilities…possibilities that might be tomorrow’s realizations. But, by curbing the flight of their imagination today, we end up closing potential doors of success, right on their face!

Why don’t we realize that a child with lesser academic abilities, is a child no less?!! And we are no one to deny him that right!

The movie deals with a sensitive subject, nicely depicted and the visualization of writer-creative director Amol Gupte and the lyrics of Prasoon Joshi are worthy of commendation as well.

As an avid movie-goer myself, I would recommend this movie to everyone, who has ever revelled in his own childhood, dreamt and embarked on flights of colorful imaginations.

Having said that, I’d like to end this post with these few lines I wrote after my TZP experience.

Chotisi aankhon ke bade rangeen sapne,
Tu bhi unhe dekh ek pal tham kar.
Khilte hain anmol sabhi,
Timtimate hue... Taare Zameen Par!

Go watch the movie if you still haven’t…for the child within you.

Hit by the Usability bug?? ...Welcome to the Club!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:15:00 +0000

The past few years have seen new concepts come to life and new heights of personal achievements being reached by Indians on the World horizon.

An interesting concept that has caught the fancy of many like-minded progressive individuals is the importance of Usability across various domains.

Usability, per se, as defined by ISO standards, is the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which a specified set of users can achieve a specified set of tasks in a particular environment.

In the real world scenario, its importance has definitely become indispensable.

Being associated with this field for a while now, I have myself seen the benefits of employing Usability into a company’s development lifecycle. Usability is a specialized field that employs various practices like effective Information Architecture creation for enhancing User Experience.

Quite strange that there is a lot of emphasis these days on ‘user experience’. We’re all end-users at some point or the other. But never was it of so much priority for companies to ensure that their customers/patrons revelled in their experience as users of various services on offer by the companies.

It is this wakefulness towards enhancing ‘user experience’ that has given an impetus to companies into channelizing their efforts towards building the best possible Information Architecture and employing Usability as a means towards achieving the same.

In today’s world we can only fathom the immense amount of information waiting to be absorbed by us as Information seekers. But the improper structuring of information across various media not only spells a bad experience for the user but also a direct drop in the business of the stakeholders/clients. Hence, Information Architecture then is an important step towards avoiding such a scenario, for both the concerned segments.

After all, we as humans want to experience the most, in the easiest and quickest way possible. This by nature is how we go about interacting with the world around us. Imagine if you as a user would stand in long queues only so you could get the first-day-first-show tickets to the movie you’d long been waiting for. And what if then, when it’s your turn at the counter, you’re told that there was some unforeseen glitch with the system. So you’re left with nursing a disappointed heart at losing out on enjoying the fruits of your excited wait. Wouldn’t that be unfair to you as an end-user??

But fret not! Make things easy, yet appealing to all, is what Usability as a branch of study does. What if instead, you have the option of sitting back home booking your tickets at a mouse-click and ensuring yourself a ticket to your choice of movie just the way you like it…first-day-first-show??!! Tempting…ain’t it? It not only gets you what you want but also without the otherwise exhausting experience of waiting through long, spiralling queues.

This is just an example of the positivity of this interesting concept called Usability. Today, this concept has spread stealthily into various domains and is helping us to come up with innovative service solutions, be it for web-portals, for intranet applications or any other. Everyone seems to have been bitten by the Usability bug…albeit, for good! The aim being, just one… to create a rewarding alliance between both, the user and the companies providing various services.

THIS is what Usability does! It acts as a smooth facilitator…a bridge of sorts between the User and the service provider. Thereby connecting the two through an experience that could well last a… lifetime! Am I somewhat exaggerating the ‘lifetime’ bit??

Well, maybe not.

Idle-ly Speaking!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:14:00 +0000

This was a post written some time back. But, well, it sees the light of the day, that is, gets published, only now! Anyways, read on more about the idle-talk! ;)

Can you ever be Idle at work??

But if you are idle… how can you be at work??

The state of being idle implies lack of any constructive activity being executed. In other words, it implies being inoperative or at rest.

But alternately when you say at work…it implies being in the process of some activity.

An ‘ideal’ disconnect here??!! Huh??!!

Wait a sec! Idle??! And at Work??!! Like…at the same time??!! Okay. This author really needs to take some time off…and treat herself to an idle…err…ideal time off!! What’s with her penchant for antonymous words, haan??!!

As a famous adage goes : "An Idle mind is a Devil’s Workshop!"

Psst!..I think this blogger is really taking this adage seriously. Her thoughts are a Devilish jumble of antonymous words in perplexing connotations! Phew!!
…Ummm…What did I just say??!!

Okay, getting back to my reference to "An Idle mind is a Devil’s Workshop". To explain that further, idleness is a state of being devoid of any real, constructive activity being performed. Yet, this is a state when you are most likely to come up with something extraordinaire! This, in other words, is the time when you might be most prolific in your ideas!

In a state like this, thoughts formulate and take incredible shape, filling you up with the zeal to execute the thought-out act. Thus, in the event, it yanks you out from the idle, complacent state of being to a more generative state of being.

Very intriguing, ain't it?? Guess this should go as a friendly advice to all bosses around...when you see a particular subordinate 'idle', please don't be fooled! It is infact, in all probability, an 'idle' genius at work! ;) Ahem! Stand back and behold then, the 'Devil's' handiwork! (*Applause*, *Applause*) Heh!Heh!

Jokes apart, idleness is an attribute, that has unforunately been quite undermined, but nevertheless, a facilitator towards impending genius!!

Hmmnnn…quite interesting! So...being 'Idle…at Work'?! Not all that bad, eh??! ;)

Aaaachoooo!!!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:21:00 +0000

(God Bless!)

Hey!...That wasn’t how I wanted the title of this post to be!!

Damn the Cold!!

Its funny, you know. I mean, what could be funnier than a running nose??!!

Umm…ok. That ain’t funny to a lot of people. But how about when you try talking with a running nose?? Now…THAT sure is one funny thing!

What you say, quite often than not makes seldom sense to those around you. They have this sudden ‘aha-moment’, when they surprisingly discover that they have harboured a hidden talent to mimic your cold-talk! (Excuse the pun, people. By 'cold-talk', I mean the talk you do when you are ‘entertaining’ a cold!) Everyone around can just drop-dead laughing on the floor!

Why? You ask??

Ahem! That’s because it is very amusing for people to witness someone’s nose coming in the way of their….talking! Literally!

No! I am not propagating any Pinocchio-theory here! Having a cold…is just that!...And doesn’t mean that I’m losing it and prancing around in fairyland, ok??!!

What I’m rather saying is that, words uttered by those having a cold…suddenly, start making different…or no sense at all to other cold-deprived individuals around.

I mean, why caat theegz be naurmal, when ya got a cowd??! Why do people act funney?!
Have dey never suffered a bout of cowd??! Whadya expect?!

Hey!...Wait a sec! My fingers ain’t got a cold! It’s me! Then why are the words looking funny??!
AHA! (Oooops! Guess, that was my Aha-moment! ;) )

I get it!...It’s because I’m speaking through my fingers right now! Duhh?!! (Ummm...ok...bad joke!)

Ok! I accept it! Having a ‘Cold’ really DOES funny things to you!

Anyways, so as I deal with the sneechooo!! ...ummm... Sorry, that was really unintended! ;)

(Wow! Sneechooo??! Not bad! Inadvertently…a new word is coined by moi. Having a cold has its perks too! Whoever said having a cold was bad??!! ;))

So, as I deal with the sneezing and the running nose, here’s wishing all the prospective…ummm...‘cold-bearers’… ENJOY YOUR COLD TALK!! :)

In the Blue Abyss…

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:06:00 +0000

I blink my eyes…
To set a determined vision beyond the horizon,
And let my heart,
Float in the momentous zeal.

I take in a mouthful of deep, free breath,
And as it revitalizes the canopy of my soul,
I spread my eager arms,
With a wish to map the bluest vastness of the sky!

And then I go flying in the yonder blue abyss,
Feasting my spirit over breath-taking vistas,
Of lush blossoms and pristine landscapes,
And the sheer expanse of the living world!

I let my essence bask in the warmth of nature’s splendor,
As the sounds of this effervescent world surround me!
And with awestruck radiant eyes,
I absorb the soothing glory of the crystal-cool ocean waters!

And then, I lay my eyes on a smiling soul, mirroring me,
The face soaked in peaceful tranquility,
Standing at ease with a heart full of happiness,
Saying, “Here I am!, This is me!”

See to Believe??!! Or Believe to See??!!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:49:00 +0000

Seeing, is believing, they say. You need to see it…to believe it! But then, what about the blind…who cannot see?? Do they then not believe?? Do they lack the power or rather the ability to let belief thrive within them??

But is belief really dependant on an individual’s sight? Physical sight may not empower your belief, but the vision from the mind’s eye does!

When I say, the mind’s eye, I mean that…we as individuals all envision that, which is visible only to us. It is difficult for others to share in it, as they do not possess the same mental ability to visualize it in exactly the same manner as us.

It is this internal-vision that feeds our belief… our conviction. That assures us of being on the right track, whether we are or not, and take the necessary concrete steps forward towards leading our life, the way we do.

We believe in the existence of a higher state of ‘Power’, and the faith invested by us in this ‘Power’ is unbelievable. No one has ever seen this ‘Power’. In which form does it come??... What is it made of?? How does it look?? No one really knows. Yet….the belief in its existence is SO unyielding. In times of needs it is often this unknown, unseen ‘Power’ that we turn to. What drives us towards this ‘Power’? A ‘Power’, which has no face, no voice, no form whatsoever! Yet, we see it…we hear it! Our physical senses fail to acknowledge its existence. Nevertheless, we have given a form to this ‘Power’ through our mind’s eye, it is through this channel that we perceive the ‘Power’ and invariably even hear its voice!

If seeing really were believing, then how can we explain our incredibly strong belief in this ‘Power’ ?? It is a 'Belief', independent of ‘Seeing’. The 'Belief' here, doesn’t follow from ‘Seeing’. In fact, we ‘see’ the ‘Power’ in a particular form and light, because we 'believe' in it! Our ‘Belief’ lends us the ability to ‘See’ this unknown ‘Power’. So then, alternately, 'Seeing is not Believing', but rather ‘Believing is Seeing’! Our vision is driven by our belief!

Our ability to believe in something, makes it reachable to us….makes it attainable to us…makes it visible to us!

So, BELIEVE, what you want to SEE!

I, Me and…ummm…Reggie??!

noreply@blogger.com (creative-i) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:53:00 +0000

Dedicated to my friend who is a living personification of ‘Reggie Mantle’, the popular fictional character from the Archies comics, who lives by the ‘I-me-Myself’ motto.

Dedicated more so to him, for always inspiring new ideas in me that find expression on this blog. A good , interesting word-play, with a tad bit Reggieism??, not all that bad eh??! I can survive that…and have! ;)

*****

Comics are a child’s best friends, they say. “Bingo!” , I’d say! Growing up, I pampered myself quite often to a variety of read in the form of the many comics available back then. Be it Tinkle, Panchtantra, Misha, Tin Tin or Archies! Life was such a delight with a host of colorful, 2D fictional characters befriending me each day!

Archies became a personal favourite over the time. Amongst the many characters breathing through the series, Reggie Mantle is a character, which you may not like, you may not approve of, but you definitely cannot ignore him! A character so full of himself, Reggie cannot see beyond himself and feels he is the perfect creation of God and more so, a wonderful gift to woman-kind! For him, life is all about three little words – ‘I-Me-Myself’!

That was during my childhood years.

Cut to – Present day!

I often indulge in verbal banter with my friends and during a regular conversation between me and one of them, an interesting concept came to life!

(Since this friend of mine depicts certain Reggieism sometimes, I choose to refer to him as ‘R’ henceforth.)

The conversation went something like this:

Me: You know… you need saving!

R: Me?? Save me from whom??

Me: Why?? Yourself! You need saving from yourself!!

R: Ha!Ha!..Yeah! I need saving from I….ummm… no…I need saving from me! He!He!

And this is where things took a different, serious turn.

The profundity of the statement was striking to both of us! It was not a stray, simple statement uttered thoughtlessly, anymore. It held a deeper connotation to it.

It said : Save the ‘I’ from ‘ME’.

I, however, disagreed. According to me, it was much more necessary and right to save the ‘ME’ from the ‘I’.

So I proposed alternately that it should rather have been : Save ‘ME’ from ‘I’.

And here, R objected. (Well, guys being guys, always object before approving! Right girls?? ;) )

Anyways, R goaded me to explain my point of view to him, coz he was still not convinced how ‘ME’ would need to be saved from ‘I’.

Let me share with you what I reasoned with him.

‘I’ has a selfish connotation to itself. It represents the gloated alter-ego. ‘ME’ however, has a meek, tamed touch to it. Kind of, a subdued connotation. So, it was in reality, this mild and tamed form of existence, which required protection or saving from the lofty and sometimes brash existence, and not vice versa.

‘ME’, hence, needs to be protected against corruption from ‘I’… against being mutated and deformed into being egocentric. Imagine a world where a hoard of ‘I’s’ walked the earth! Phew! Thank God, it’s only an imagination! ;)

Me: So my friend, tell me now! Who needs the saving?? And from whom?? ‘I’ from ‘ME’ or ‘ME’ from ‘I’?

R: Hmmm… actually…you DO have a point there! You’re right, ‘ME’ needs saving from ‘I’!

Couldn’t believe what I was hearing! R, with his devotion to Reggie Mantle, going with what I had to say?? This was a pleasant surprise…and well, made me realize that my friend, in spite of all his loyalties to Reggie, wasn’t all that a goner! Good sense still persisted in him, albeit surfaced not that easily and not quite that often! ;)

Anyways, so while we let ‘ME’ get saved from ‘I’, lets just close this post by saying, sometimes profundity takes birth under least expected situations / scenarios. So, the next time, you have a not-so-extraordinary conversation with living personifications of fictional characters, do be ready for interesting tirades and keep a pen and paper by your side! :)