R.I.P. Shammi Kapoor

And thus passes away a legend of Hindi cinema.

Though the magic of Shammi Kapoor was experienced by generations away from the one I grew up in. His songs, and the stylish, light-hearted portrayal of the romantic hero was quite popular during my growing up years too thanks to weekly movies and the chitrahaar sessions on DD.

In the later years, his warm grandfather image in ads like Pan Parag and a few movies was also quite endearing.

May you rest in peace!

Leaving you with some super awesome, unforgettable, evergreen melodies that have been synonymous with the epic that is Shammi Kapoor. And this is going to be one long play list - a good companion for your Sunday...

- Tumse achha kaun hai...

- Badan pe sitaare lapete hue...

- Yeh chaand sa roshan chehera...

- Deewana hua badal...

Baar baar dekho...

- Kahin na kahin...

- Akele akela kahan jaa rahe ho...

- O haseena zulfon waali...

- Deewana mujha sa nahin...

- Tumne mujhe dekha...

- Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche...

- Aaja aaja main hun pyaar tera

- Aasman se aaya farishta...

And I could go on and on...what are your favorite Shammi Kapoor numbers? Some big ones that I'm forgetting?

[Image source: Google Images]

The ABC Song!

Seems like it’s the tag season. Picked up this one from Bikram’s post here.

All those who have time to spare, consider yourself TAGGED!

Here goes me…

A

- Available: No – occupied and busy, very busy…

- Age: At the wrong end of the 20s

- Animals: Horses

B

- Beer: Not for me, bring on the wine though!

- Birthday: Just round the corner

- Best friend: Hubby dearest

- Body Part on opposite sex: The grey matter in that cranium!

- Best feeling in the world: At the beach, where I can hear the waves crashing on the rocks and feel the balmy breeze on my cheeks

- Best weather: I mind the sun. Rain, thunder, storm, hail and snow – all make my day.

- Been in Love: Yeah yeah, been there, done that!

- Been on stage: Yes, loads of times – for debates, JAMs, dramatics, compering and even dancing!

- Believe in Magic: Umm would like to believe in magic but reality bites hard,

- Believe in Santa: Ofcourse – in Santa and Rudolf and all such stuff that magically gets you gifts!

- Brand: Identity crisis!

C

- Candy: Melody and Hajmola Imli ;)

- Color: White, Blue, Peach, Pink, Violet, Red, Black – actually all of them depending on what mood I am in.

- Chocolate/Vanilla: Chocolate brownies with hot chocolate fudge on a generous helping of light chocolate and vanilla ice-cream – and a double helping of that pls.

- Chinese/Indian/Italian: Italian

- Cake or pie: Cake

- Cheese: In any form and all kinds!

D

- Day or Night: Depends for what!

- Dancing in the rain: Makes living life worthwhile

E

- Eyes: Clear and transparent

- Ever failed a class?: Nahiiiiiii

- Enemies: I am sure I have many, I like to believe I have consciously made none

- Exercise: Much needed - Wish was more regular at that

F

- First thoughts waking up: How many more minutes can I laze around before it becomes too late to wake up

- Food: Another reason that convinces you the world is not such a bad place

G

- Greatest Fear: Darkness

- Goals: None, I just kick around

- Get along with your parents: Yes, pretty well and to add, they are managing quite well too ;)

H

- Hair Color: Black

- Happy: Happy!

- Holiday: Nothing as holier as the day that’s a holiday!

I

- Ice Cream: In all flavors with lots of nuts

J

- Jewelry: Minimalistic

- Job: That pays bills

K

- Kids: Love them! Hope to have my own someday ;)

- Kickboxing or karate: Karate – a senior green belter, mind you :D

- Keep a journal? In the stone age when Internet had not invaded our lives and then blogs happened.

L

- Love: Makes the world go round

- Laughed so hard you cried: Yes yes, so many times!

M

- Milk flavor: Chocolate – latest is cold milk with Hersheys chocolate syrup.

- Movies: All lovey dovey romances, candy floss love stories and chick flicks.

- Motion sickness: A bad case of that I am :(

- McD’s or BK: Mc Donald’s in India – anywhere else, it doesn’t matter cos both have nothing to offer vegetarians!

N

- Number: Infinity

O

- One wish: That I could get some more wishes!

P

- Perfect Pizza: Domino’s thin crust – Mexican green wave with an extra helping of olives – spruced up with oregano and lots of chilly flakes

- Pepsi/Coke: None

- Perfume/Cologne: Perfume – Dolce Gabbana Gold

Q

- Quail: Reptiles

R

- Reason to cry: movies, books, unfortunate incidents, memories, nostalgia , too much off love and happiness, self-sympathy trips…

- Reality T.V : A haven for desperados

- Radio Station: It’s been ages since I tuned into one

S

- Song: So many…all time favs would be

English: Stairway to heaven

Hindi: Yeh honsla kaise ruke

- Shoe size: Among the smaller ones

- Salad Dressing: Thousand Island

- Skinny dip: Leave it t the skinny people to have!

- Strawberries/Blueberries : Strawberries…!

- Sport: What is that?

T

- Tattoos: Too painful for me!

- Thunderstorms: Make for shady pseudo romantic moments in Indian cinema

U

- Unpredictable: Me Me Me

V

- Vacation spot(s): Would love to see all the famous tourist spots in the world – Greece and Venice are up on my list!

W

- Weakness: Emotions rule the head.

- Who makes you laugh the most: rather what - Life and its vicissitudes

- Worst Weather?: Depression

X

- X-Rays: A pain at the airports

Y

-Year it is now: 2011

-Yellow: Sunflowers – bright and cheery

Z

- Zoo animal: Love the Giraffe!

[Image source: Google Images]

Tagged: Why I Read!

Tagged by Aparna here to do a post on why I read.

My first reaction was this would be a breeze cos I do read a lot, but getting down to it, I am at a loss of reasons really.

I don’t even remember when I started reading or if ever it was a conscious decision.

For as long as I can remember I have derived the distinct pleasure that only books can give. Maybe it comes from my mom – she introduced us to the joy of reading way way back.

A voracious reader from childhood, I had graduated from Noddys and Enid Blytons to first abridged and then very soon unabridged classical and semi classical literature much before an average child my age – As soon I was done with Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys in Class 5 and 6 , I was onto Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, and the likes.

An English literature degree was the ultimate treat as I was exposed to so many authors from different periods and geographies. The education in literary criticism and appreciation brought a whole new dimension to the act of ‘reading’.

Though thanks to the IT madness I have gotten myself into, I do not get to spend as much time and energy as I would like for reading, books remain my greatest passion.

Reading opens up new horizons, new perspectives – it broadens your thinking – making you a more holistic and inclusive individual – the awareness of the world in the sense of its diversity is a revelation in itself.

And so I continue to read to...

…fuel my fantasies and imaginative flights

…forget my worldly worries

…learn about the varied cultures, countries and peoples

…be able to understand contexts better

...appreciate the beautiful weaving of words that create linguistic magic

I read an assortment of genres – none to specify as my favorite – but as a rule I like what people usually call “heavy reading”. I like detailed, long, drawn out accounts with an overplay of drama and emotions :)!

In keeping with the tradition of “The Tag”, tagging a few co-bloggers who I feel would have something interesting to talk about…

- Keerthana

- Susan

- Sameera

- Bikramjit

- Aastha

So, waiting to hear from you guys – do this if you have the time! And if somebody else wants to pick this tag too – most welcome – point me to your post when you are done!

[Image source: Google Images]

Living ‘Life’

The calendar dictates my days,

The clock my time.

I snooze between alarms,

And dream through the commute.

Blinded by my false sense of self worth,

The beauty of the newly blossomed gulmohar

On the path I rush through, escapes me.

The mornings are maniacally hurried,

And the evenings pass in a daze.

Of the afternoons I remember nothing;

The nights are long and silent.

I like to believe that within me,

Lie the depths of the ocean.

There are oysters with hidden pearls.

I don’t have the luxury of deep diving,

I console myself, and then I sigh in relief;

This fear of searching within, only to

Stumble upon the silence of the hollow years.

The lack of profound sorrow and

The absence of any exhilarating joy

Am I blessed or just plain cold?

At the shore, my heart aches for the

Electrifying currents that run deep;

And the sinking ship, in the middle of

The blue, envies my sanctuary at the coast!

High on life…

…That’s exactly what Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) is. A ‘bromantic’ film extolling the free spirit of living – the need to break out of the complacent cobwebs cocooning our existence, seize the ‘now’, and just breathe!

All comparisons to The Hangover and Dil Chaahta Hai do injustice to the film– Yes, there are the three amigos, out on a road trip to celebrate a bachelor party – but then that’s it. The Hangover was over the top, slapstick humor and Dil Chaahta Hai was not only a lot funnier but frothier too, with a reasonably fast paced script.

ZNMD runs deeper, and slower - to be honest, there are parts where you end up questioning the editor’s competency – but the unhurried execution also brings with it a sort of placidity and tranquility that is quite impactful. It has its really hilarious light moments – but is not an all-out laugh riot - the story tries to make space for some mature introspection on the journey of life and the confusion of growing up – with its effervescence and its vicissitudes. ZNMD does touch your heart – no escaping that.

The movie is replete with symbolism ingenuously weaved in with the story line - The letting go, the breaking free, the loss of fear, the baggage of yesterday, the beauty of today, the uncertainty of tomorrow…

In fact, the movie’s key emotion is a line from one of its songs…

“chaahat ke do pal bhi mil paayein

duniya mein yeh bhi kam hai kya

do pal ko to aao kho jaayein

bhoolein hum hota ghum hai kya”

(If we get but only a few moments of love

In this world, isn’t that enough?

For these few moments, let’s lose our selves

And forget the sadness of life)

The cast couldn’t be more perfect. Hrithik Roshan is at his sexiest best – I mean there is more to him in the movie than just the drop-dead gorgeous brawn physique, but his screen presence is simply awesome. Farhan Akhtar as the brattier brat with a poetic underline is so super convincing and believable. Abhay Deol is charming and classy, and does make a distinct mark among the trio. I simply loved the way each character stood on his own…they were so real, likeable – just like you’d be with your close buddies.

The camaraderie they share grows on you as the movie progresses – it seems so natural – the restrained reunion to the intense emotional bonding.

The leading ladies, Katrina and Kalki, do not have too much of a role and they just fit in without overdoing their parts – thank god for that :D!

The music is good but not very exceptional. The songs go well with the movie and are quite pleasant to the ear. Love the Senorita number…Check it out here…

The cinematography of the movie is simply superb – the wondrous beauty of Spain caught so well on camera, with Farhan Akhtar’s (Jaaved Akhtar rules!) poetry or rather shaayari as a perfect companion to the vast and limitless expanse of the water beneath and the deep blue sky above...

“Pighlay neelam sa behta hua yeh samaan

Neeli neeli si khamoshiyaan

Na kahin hai zameen

Na kahin aasmaan

Sarsaraati huyi tehniyaan, pattiyaan

Keh rahi hain ki bas ek tum ho yahaan

Sirf main hoon meri saansein hain aur meri dhadkanein

Aisi gehraiyaan

Aisi tanhaiyaan

Aur main sirf main

Apne honay pe mujhko yaqeen aa gaya”

(This moment flows by like molten sapphire

Deep Blue silences

No Earth below

No Sky above

The rustling branches and leaves

Saying that only you are here

Only me, My breath, My heartbeat

Such depth like this

Such loneliness like this

And me only me

I now believe I exist)

Leaving you on that note, with a 7/10 for this one. Go watch it for the love of life :)!

(P.S. I really want someone to make a tasteful movie on women having a fun reunion and reliving their old friendships. Don’t you think we women are also nostalgic about our girly gossips and all the fun we had growing up with each other – what say?)

[Image Source: Google Images]

Corvus splendens' Combat!

Absolutely a first for me! Two crows beating the crap out of the third.

I am sure the cause of the brawl must have been really grave to have incited such ire - I swear it was damn scary - there was heavy duty beak poking and wings flying all over.

Interestingly the the rest of the crow fraternity was enjoying the action, at a safe distance, from different trees.

Though I did what I usually do best in cases of street fights of any species - that is, scuttle for safety - I couldn't help but feel amused at the so many parallels between us humans and the common crows. I am listing down some here, feel free to add on...

- For starters, both crows and human beings are essentially noisy species - The cacophony of the kaaa kaaa is as irritating as the ruckus created by most people in any public place!

- Then ofcourse, this fighting on the streets, without trying to sit across the table (urr, or tree) and resolving issues amicably...

- The most striking one - not trying to help when you see trouble - watch from a safe distance, and bet on who's going to win.

- Quite significantly (and I swear I am not inspired by Delhi Belly here) - shit anywhere and everywhere!

- To generally sum up both species don't seem to care a damn about the comfort of those who happen to unfortunately exist around them...

...Not to mention that crows and human beings have the uncanny ability to survive just about anywhere and under the trashiest of circumstances!

I am done with my share, over to you now...

[Image source: Google images (You didn't expect me to have the presence of mind to take out my phone and steal a pic, did yaa!]

7 Minutes

The piquant sacchariferous reek of jasmine flowers

The clamor of the vegetable hawkers and the fruit sellers

The dogs and human beings competing for the same stretch of space

The rush of the sea of commuters rising and ebbing in waves

The undecipherable announcements on the screechy microphone

The shriek of the siren and the halting breaks

The cacophony of women exchanging notes on food and family

The drooping backs under the heavily loaded school bags

The grey ash smeared foreheads

The long never ending queues at dirty windows

The red, yellow, black and blue lunch satchels

The hand-bags clutched close to the bodies

The constant elbowing to find one’s way

The stepping on the other’s toe without an apology

The stinking perspiration of the Indian summer heat

The family of four tip-toeing on the lesser used distant tracks

The wannabe heroes hanging on the foot boards

The wandering flirtatious glance of the guy with the ID tag

The indulgent smile by the salt and pepper haired gentleman

The neighbor’s humming to the latest hit on his ipod

The low-toned mushy romantic tête-à-tête on cell phones

The dexterously fast-paced texting fingers

The assembly of the men with white walking sticks

The folded creases of the morning newspaper

The rattling of the bowls for alms

The wind in your hair, the dust in your face, the urgency in your step…

…The seven most crowded and happening minutes!

Delhi Belly: Shit (and a whole load of it) Happens

From the initial rushes of it, Delhi Belly didn't look like my kinda movie (It still doesn't qualify as one :D). Too boorish, hard hitting, loud and need I say very uncouth.

However, the 'I am screaming to be heard and seen' attitude in the promos and the songs did the trick. The marketing of the movie as a path breaking genre in Indian cinema that today's youth could identify with and then the endless controversies on the use of expletives - made me sit up and take notice. You cannot ignore DK Bose doing the rounds on all music channels - news channels included too!

And off I went with a friend to a Sunday morning (9:50 AM) show of Delhi Belly - the most abusive start a morning can ever get. So what's the verdict? Well my initial opinion remains unchanged - too boorish, hard hitting, loud and need I say very uncouth.

So I regretted going? NO.

Inspite of all the muck and the fuck that I genuinely don't appreciate on screen - I mean there is an extent to which you can throw shit (quite literally) at the audience, and I sincerely believe that punctuating every word with all the known and unknown abuses in Hindi and English (Tamil was also used :)) may not necessarily be required in order to connect with the so called "today's youth" - YET, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

Both of us were in splits - laughing are guts out even as every few minutes we would look at each other and shake our heads disapprovingly of the irreverently burlesque happenings on screen! And to be really honest that's all there is to the movie - 1.5 hours of constant LOL and ROFL and LMAO moments that make this almost slapstick comedy genuinely hilarious!

The plot is racy and the 90 minutes are well packaged - a complete paisa vasool for all the RBCs one would generate with such hearty laughs. The screenplay is flawless in execution and the actors have scored a perfect 10 with their comic timing and dialog delivery. The song tracks bring in great pace and feel to the movie even as you wished you hadn't seen the stinking loo with the rickety flush and the dirty pot holes of old Delhi that are such an eye sore.

Delhi Belly takes realism to a new abstracted level. (I am sorry if the sentence reads oxymoronic, but I know you understand what I mean ;)). The seemingly obvious, very probable, expected and logical situations are hurled around with a perspective that brings out so much filth, and surprisingly, so much humor - that much as I would have wanted to dismiss the movie as a crash course on swearing and shitting, I sit here highly amused recalling the scenes...

(...And in brackets, yes it's going to take a while till I rebuild an appetite for orange juice, and of course, street food.)

[Image source: Google images]

Companions

A broken butterfly wing

A creaking old swing

A moth half alive

A smoked bee-hive

A dirty lazy snail

A sluggish wet trail

A slippery chameleon

A stray dog so forlorn

A new-born birdie’s chirping

A temple bell’s tinkling

A pair of laces tied wrong

A melodious old song

A whiff of fresh air

A pervert’s creepy stare

A love struck couple

A graying man’s mumble

A lady offering prayers to god

A bright pink ipod

A beautiful virgin morning

And these my companions when I’m walking.

WTF Series: Episode 03: Stud Farm

Just when I thought that the reality TV scene in India had plummeted to the abysmal nadirs of the entertainment experience, the idiot box barfs another unmatched gem!

UTV Bindass launches a brand new reality show - Super Stud - to find the first super stud of India - believe me it is an impossible task because all the 13 contestants are more like burros - but then that's not the point I am making here.

So my peaceful Sunday TV surfing brought me to this show (yes I had nothing better to do on a Sunday evening) - the host of the show and a bunch of skimpily clad, mostly dumb women (apologize the judgmental tone to this, but I swear your opinion wouldn't have differed either) were oohing and aahing as the 13 hand picked studs were introduced one by one.

Every single guy who introduced himself prided in the number of girl friends he has had and the number of girl friends he has dated simultaneously - These are 20-somethings with wannabe six packs, hardly a qualification up their sleeves, no clear ambition, absolutely no innate talent (except that of making a fool of themselves), and a bloated sense of their masculinity, even if they figure pretty low on the good looking index. If you are interested in numbers - one guy boasted how he has had 900 girl friends and another how he dated 15 at a time!

Aah, the stone age is back - a guy's virility is proven with the number of women he can keep up with! Wow! On national TV, this is what we get and this is what we apparently endorse, and the most pissing off was the fact that all the women just awwwed (in appreciation)! I wonder if not a single one of them felt that it was derogatory and humiliating to be in a "stud farm" where the horse's, oops sorry, the donkey's mating prowess decides his hunk factor.

Not one of the guys thought he could be manly enough to say he has never had a girl friend cos for his face he couldn't get one! Or that he was shit scared of being caught and therefore never dated more than one at a time - or (and I am really trying my luck here) that I respect women and therefore have a girl friend whom I have never two-timed!

Seriously, WTF!