Beautiful stories knit by music

There is no dearth of talent in our country-- especially in the fields of arts and culture. And my belief was strengthened by this brilliant play I watched at Prithvi theatre, Mumbai on Jan 8, 2012 called Stories In a Song.

Conceptualised by ace singer Shubha Mudgal, the play featured seven short stories- each unique in its characterization. The actors not just acted brilliantly, I was amazed at the way they sang! They were all professional Hindustani Classical vocal artists. Through this innovative play, the team portayed the evolution of different genres of music through the ages.

While there was one play celebrating the liberation of nuns through Buddhism (Songs of the Nuns), the portrayal on tawaiifs demostrated the spirit of patriotism among courtesan's in 20th century pre-independent India. The main protagonist in this play titled 'Mahatma Gandhi and the Tawaif Sabha' was a lady in Benaras who was charmed by Mahatma Gandhi's compassion towards courtesans and in his faith in their contribution to the freedom struggle. A special mention here for Ketki Thatte, who played the key role. Her voice is mellifluous and she rendered some classical thumris with perfection. The audience was overawed by her performance and the voice lingered in our minds long after the play was over. Such is the beauty of Indian Classical Music, especilly when performed by an artist who has mastered the art through dedication and a god-gifted voice. 

Chandni Begum and Bahadur Ladki narrated the story of Lucknowi music and the contours of Nautanki. While the former gave us an acocunt of folk singers and their plight while trying to adapt to a changing society, the latter expressed the emotions of a brave girl who fought with corrupt officials of the British rule to safeguard her honour.  

Whose Music Is It on the other hand described the concepts of 'gurukul' in music, copyright issues and presented an excellent example of how 'original' music is 'rechristened' and 'remixed' for instant money-making in this age of cut-throat ocmpetition.

Hindustani Airs showcased a brilliant account of the ladies from the colonial rule and their inquisitiveness to learn the basic tenets of Hindustani music. This was a beautiful and amusing encounter between Mansi Multani and Pia Sukanya which consisted of melody, wit, and a brilliant combination of cross-culture music. 

And finally, 'Kajri Akhada' aesthetically showcased the many nuances of the 'kajri' form of music, popular in North India since time immemorial. The team of actors/singers enchanted the audience with their impromptu acting and brilliant singing. Namit Das stood out due to his clear, robust voice and effortless singing. All the singers in the group were amazing and they left us bedazzled with this final act of theatrical extravaganza.

I hated to leave when the play got over and wished they presented some other forms of music too-- some amount of ghazals, tarana, and a touch of sufism would add to the richness of the theme. Nevertheless, I truly appreciate the effort and research that went behind this innovative portrayal. Hat's off to the singers and musicians for performing with perfect 'sur' and 'taal' and emoting the content of the songs beautifully while also acting on stage.

I look forward to attending more such unique musical plays in the city this year. 

2012 | New Beginnings

I have been having this eerie feeling that 2012 is going to be a very positive year with opportunities galore and dreams fulfilled. I call this 'eerie' because I haven't had this feeling for quite some time.

2012 looks to be full of optimisim and sunshine. There are a few 'low-lying high priority' dreams that I have been trying to realize since long. But they were delayed due to my procrastination. This year, I aim to complete my pending (dream) tasks. After all, what's in a dream if it is not taken to fruition?

Setting the pace

This year began on a wonderful note with family and close friends. I was happy that my mother and adorable niece were in Mumbai with me on new year's eve. To add to that, we had a whole bunch of friends visiting us with their families from Thane, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurgaon. Could one get luckier? :). We had a whale of a time! 13 people in a 2-BHK flat in Mumbai partying till the wee hours of night-- it was awesome! The guys managing the kitchen made some awesome drinks and served delectable starters ;). Music was full-on and I 'finally' got to play my hero Salman Khan for a brief 10 seconds while the Dabaang soundtrack was playing :). My niece looked pretty in a lovely evening dress and she ball-danced with me along with her other little friends.

Earllier that afternoon, the whole gang had been to Bandra Band Stand. Nothing like the sea welcoming you with open arms on New Year's. There was so much of freshness and energy that I had this strong gut feel that 2012 is going to be a year to make dreams come true :). Newness is always attractive and 2012 exuberates that charm of newness.

So far, January has been awesome fun! It was my brother's birthday in the first week and another round of madness and enjoyment followed. I had so much fun on that day that I wished it went on forever.

Pleasant Surprises! 
I still cannot believe Raju drives!! While I was in Kolkata, she drove me around and even dropped me to the airport. It was incredible to see Raju behind the wheels perfectly parking the car or accelerating on the bypass. And we lived our own little dreams too while driving around together ;). The simple things in life always are the most memorable and make us the happiest.

Priyanka came to visit me at the airport with her adorable little daughter. That was another pleasant surprise and the smile just didn't want to leave my face :)

Positive Vibes- New Places, New People

Actually, not just 2012. August 2011 onwards, life has been very kind to me. I travelled considerably within Maharashtra and to North and East India. Mahabaleswar in August, Kolkata during Durga Puja, Himachal (Manali, Rohtang, Solang etc) in October, Pune in December, Ratnagiri and Ganpatipule in December -- we made the most of every little holiday/long vacation we got.

Take One| Mahabaleswar: The weather was pleasant and the hills overlooking the valley made the ambience perfect for a holiday. There was a mild drizzzle and I enjoyed a lot of 'strawberry crush' in the autumn embracing this hill station. I met new people, saw new places and overall returned very satisfied and pepped-up after the mini-vacation during the Independence Day weekend.

Take Two | Kolkata: I had a gala time in Kolkata during the puja vacations in October-- people, places, food-- what a combo! Legend has it the the Goddess visits her parents home each year around this time and showers blessings and happiness on us mortals. Revelries and merry-making characterize this festival. Each year, visiting home during the puja brings solace and mental harmony.

Take Three | Manali: In October 2011 again, we were off to Manali--heaven on earth. Manali is picturesque. Bright flowers, puerile Beas river, spectacular sunrise, breathtaking landscape, infinite greenery amid woods, and more. A real treat for nature lovers, writers, and photographers. I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life somewhere in the Himalayas near Manali. We also travelled in and around Himachal and returned via Chandigarh- Delhi.. again awesome places to visit during a holiday.

Take Four | Pune: In December, we made a short weekend trip to Pune- just like that. To visit friends and relax. The city always feels like home to me :)

Take Five | Ratnagiri, Ganpatipule: In December 2011, we discovered another beautiful place--this time in the outskirts of Maharashtra. Ganpatipule's scenic beauty will leave you stunned. Beautiful flowers, unique leaves, magnificent coconut trees and of course-- the sea. The white-sand beach there and the sea again made me philosophical :). Paulo Coeho's books always leave a deep impression in my mind and every time I am close to nature- his writing makes even more sense to me.

The sea-side love story was followed by a quick visit to Ratnagiri-- the terracotta red earth reminded me of Bishnupur in Bankura (West bengal). Outskirts and rural areas always manage to look naturally beautiful and there is an unfathomable magic in the fragrance of the wet earth. One feels like lazing round amid nature doing nothing. After lots of clicks and gorging hungrily on my favorite 'Surmai' (fish) fry at Ratnagiri, we were back in Mumbai. And I almost forgot to mention-- the Ganpati temple at Ganpatipule. I did not know till I went there that it is among the most revered places of worship in Maharashtra. So, we went there for a quick 'darshan' too. And came across the huge 'mouse' statues (also found at Siddhivinayak temple, Mumbai). People say, if you whisper your wish to the mouse, it gets fulfilled :).

New Beginnings
2012 seems to be welcoming me with new friends and friendships. I messed up one friendship in 2011. Due to whatever reasons, I lost a friend. And it became worse as I tried to revive the friendship after it was no more. That was a mistake-- big, HUGE! By the time I realized, moments had already become memories. I got a bit disillusioned for sometime. Then, instead of grumbling over a lost friendship, I started treasuring the memories :). And now when I look back, I know there is no going back...only moving on with positivity towards new horizons. New beginnings, new friends, and new adventures. Indeed, life is a journey, never a destination.

Wish-a-holic!

And yes, I must get a doggie. I have lived without dogs and their warm licks, friendly bites, damp noses, fake cries, crazy snuggles, lazy snores, and lively roars for 5 years now! Every time I see a dog at someone's home, I want to bring one home myself. Animals always make us smile. There is so much warmth in their body language, it is amazing.


The two top things on my agenda are to complete my book (long pending!) and to shed a few kilos. Tough but possible :p.

On that wishful note, I wish a very Happy New Year to eveyone reading this post!

'Once we have overcome the defeats - and we always do - we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life. Each day, each hour, is part of the good fight.' - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Billions of blue blistering barnacles...

Phew.... that's my state of mind today. 

There has been just too much work off late. Though I completely love my work and my responsibilities, today is one 'billions of blue blistering barnacles' day! Have been working like a zombie non-stop for some 10 hours at a stretch :p. Break, break... need a break!

This definitely does not qualify as a blog post... but still felt like scribbling :)

Friend today.. gone tomorrow?

In our day-to-day life, we meet so many people! Some perfect strangers, who stay that way all our lives and that doesn't affect us a wee bit. Some come into our lives and welcome us into theirs and a new bond is born. Simple friendships, naughty friendships, twisted friendships, dramatic friendships, formal friendships, soul-mate friendships, sibling friendships.. the list is endless.

I had read somewhere few years back that some people come into your life for a season, some for a reason, and some.. to stay with you forever. It is those 'never-ending' bonds that are effortless, bring you the most happiness and cause you endless pain at the same time. You have the best of times and the worst of fights with this lot.

But sometimes, the fights grow serious and the friendship is over before you know. Perhaps the friend came into your life for a reason. They left, without a goodbye.

Often we think, this happens only in love relationships. But what is in love, if their is no friendship there? Even if friends fall apart, they don't stop loving each other even after the worst of 'unfriendly exchanges'.

I believe that we take time to make friends. There can be many acquaintances, but it takes time before you call someone a friend. And so, if a 'frienship' gets dissolved all of a sudden, you would need time to 'let it go'.

It may seem strange, but at times, even years after you think you have forgotten a friend/buried a friendship-- your thoughts keep floating to that person every now and then. And most amazingly, while doing the most mundane of things in life-- taking a walk, sipping coffee, working on the computer, eating your favorite dish, visiting a particular place, listening to a song, reading a book, laughing over a joke.... I can go on and on.

You feel a smile extendig on your lips unawares.. and at times you may end up laughing too, all by yourself, reminiscing a moment. At other times, the smile is interrupted by a careless tear that manages to duck the oblivious you and speedily trickles down your cheek right down to kiss your extended smile. You close your eyes and smile again :).

Only a friend you have loved deeply and a friendship you savour long after it is no more can give you this feeling.

Similarly, when you lose someone dear to you unexpectedly to God, you have this whole range of emotions.. bottled. They build up.. and suddenly one fine day when, may be, you are munching a chocolate at lesisure, it hits you! No connection, no association-- but you suddenly want to share the chocolate with your dad, who could probably nibble only a small piece because of his diabetes. But you still want him to take a bite at that time and there is an unprecedented arrival of complex emotions, resulting in --well, tears. That is perhaps the worst kind of feeling. You can only seek solace thinking of the fact they your loved one is resting in peace with God.


Losing a friend over a fight, ego clash or misunderstandings often leaves us 'blank'. No matter how much you cry, it doesn't come back to you. That doesn't mean, it was never yours. It always belonged to you-- the friendship was always yours.

Just that the friend was not for keeps.

Cheers to Friendship!

Film Review: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

 

What an awesome weekend this has been!! This is the second time in two consecutive years that a Hrithik movie and a Harry Potter flick released on the same day! Last year it was Guzaarish and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I’ and this year it’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II’.

I can go on and on with the incredible HP movie, but for now, let me just stick to Hrithik and his fabulous team.


Live every moment of your life… that is the motto of this fun-filled, hilarious, and thoroughly enjoyable movie on friendship, love, and life.

Three buddies—Kabir (Abhay), Arjun (Hrithik), and Imran (Farhan) travel to Spain, to explore the picturesque locales and celebrate their love for adventure sports. Through their story, we relive our moments of joy and laughter spent with friends who matter.

The characterization could not have been better. Full marks to Zoya Akhtar for making each reel-life character real and narrating our stories through theirs. The best part of the movie is that it tells us no matter how hard we work, or how successful we become, there is a child in us that wants to play. And life happens during this playtime. So, the next time you think of postponing a holiday because of ‘work’ or ‘boss’, think again!

The individual traits of the three main characters have been portrayed with a subtle flamboyance. Arjun the trader is a perfectionist; Kabir the millionaire entrepreneur is the typical desirable ‘husband material’; Imran is the quick-witted copywriter who sets the screen on fire with his wisecracks! There’s a scene where all 3 friends (in their respective cities) are packing their bags to fly to Spain to celebrate Kabir’s last bachelor holiday! Arjun, packs his bags meticulously—carefully checking that clothes are neatly ironed, Kabir, is least bothered about the packing, while Imran simply bundles up anything and everything in his suitcase! Kabir travels first class, Arjun business class and Imran ‘cattle class’ or economy, like most of us. The detailing by the Director is absolutely brilliant!

There are so many moments in the movie that will make you laugh and laugh and well, laugh! And it is not slapstick! The humor is quick-witted and sharp. Playing pranks like schoolboys, or relating the ‘Doordarshan’ theme song with depression, or the ‘ring n proposal’ episode between Kabir and his fiancé Natasha (Kalki) will make you laugh your heart out! Not to forget the most popular ‘ladies handbag in Bollywood yet—‘BAGwati’.

While Hrithik Roshan will definitely make your heart skip multiple beats with his Greek-God looks and natural acting, you cannot help love Farhan Akhtar for his wit, charm, and sensitivity. Abhay Deol on the other hand scores on acting, screen-presence and a no-nonsense attitude.

About the female leads: Katrina (Laila) is like a breath of fresh air—she looks stunning and does justice to her character. Kalki is awesome and with her powerful acting and I am convinced that she is definitely a heroine to watch out for in the coming years.

Deepti Naval and Nasiruddin Shah add flavor to the movie with their cameos.

The music of the movie is feel-good. I loved the picturisation of the song ‘Senorita’. The rendition of the song by the 3 male leads makes it special and unique!

The exotic locations, the long-drives, the lush meadows, the freshness of deep blue sea—the movie is a must watch for nature lovers! I have always been apprehensive about water sports, but after watching ZNMD, I have decided to go deep-sea diving at least once in my life, whenever that is!

The romantic close-ups between Katrina-Hrithik, arguably the most beautiful screen pair in Bollywood today is portrayed with finesse and depth. Their on-screen chemistry is awesome and I wonder why they have waited so long to do a movie together!

Moments create magic. The movie has many magical moments. So, even though there is no real ‘climax’ in this movie, you will love it! While I would still rate ‘Dil Chahta Hain’ higher than ZNMD, watch this movie if you are a believer in the institution of friendship. Even the worst of fights or altercations do not destroy true friendships. A true friend will never threaten to harm you or humiliate you--no matter how bad a misunderstanding you may have had! This movie is a wonderful example of that.

I loved the movie so much that I was compelled to write a review J. This is a must-watch film and highly recommended. Cheers to Friendship!

In conclusion, I would just say—So the peoples…get the readies to the watch the fun that the buouys have in the ZNMD J.

Hatred

The human mind is more complicated than we can imagine. And human emotions, often convoluted and on tenderhooks.

I realized recently that just as love is important in your life, you also need to experience hatred in some form or the other. It makes you stronger.

When people love you, you feel happy and love them back. They make you smile, laugh, and feel good about yourself. You can in turn, love them back and add more meaning to their lives.

On the contrary, when someone hates you, you may not always be able to reciprocate that feeling. They avoid you, make you cry, and treat you miserably. You feel worse if these are people you value or look up to! But you cannot really do much here.

As Paulo Coelho writes, "If you feel like a victim, you will be treated like one". So, accept the fact that yes, there are people in the world who hate you. If they are happy hating you, let them be!

Love is often portayed as a shield of the weak and hatred--the weapon of the strong! People will always tell you to work on your weakness but nobody questions your strength. Love feeds on hope, whereas hatred laughs at vulnerability.

If you can embrace hatred, or at least take it in your stride, life will be far more peaceful.

Man(un)kind and Nature

Earlier this month, when I returned home from office one day, I was surprised to see a big truck at the entrance of my building. They were stocking up remnants of trees--loads of it and I was wondering if there was a storm or heavy downpour in Mumbai that I missed!

Unlikely, as I love the rains.

A tad suprised and  miffed,  I came up to my floor. After making myself a nice cup of tea, I went to the balcony. The balcony is my favorite place at home and I can spend hours there merely gazing at flowers, admiring the greenery, or imitating the twitter of birds. I especially love to see squirrels and their rapid pace up and down the biggest Gulmohar tree outside my balcony. The richness of the two other Gulmohar trees on either sides of this main epitome of pride, make the view even more beautiful. At a time when greenery is slowly disappearing from our urban lives, I feel blessed to enjoy the fresh air and the soothing colours of the leaves and flowers that help me relax after a tiring day at work. They bring a smile to my face, even when I am sad.

So, where was I? Yes, I went to the balcony for my usual visual treat. But I was in for a SHOCK! The branches of the beautiful tree that tease the grills of my balcony with their ever-lively leaves were missing! The Gulmohar trees seemed to have receded a few yard-steps back from my home. And the lovely tamarind tree looked dwarfed! That's when I realized that these trees had been brutally slaughtered to keep them from coming near the surrounding houses. But it is not as if a wandering branch or two had been cut or some method applied in cleaning up the locality. I gathered that people in the locality had hired some daily-wage laborers to finish off a 'quick n dirty job'. Not that forest authorities were intimated or professionals called to trim the trees!! It was a merciless plunder of the beautiful ambience.

I cannot explain in words what I felt after seeing the trees in such condition. It reminded me of what I learned in school on 'felling of trees'. I even had to sketch something on this subject during my 'drawing class' in Class V. And I felt very bad to draw the picture of a tree being cut.

If you love nature and animals, you surely understand how it feels to see such obnoxious treatment meted out to harmless gifts of God.

I asked some of my building authorities later as to why this had been done! They were very clear in response. They said, the trees had been growing and during the monsoons it would be a crazy situation if they were not cut. I asked as to why the area was not cleaned up and branches trimmed, why the rampant onslaught! Few people stared at me in surprise as if I had asked them for directions to reach Timbaktoo!! One aged gentleman politely replied, "Yes, it is sad", and walked away.

Some others said, that a monkey had become a frequent visitor to the neighborhood, due to the greenery and the shelter provided by the trees. So, to get rid of the monkey, they killed 4 trees!!

The main tree is now without its arms.. the gulmohar trees with their vibrant oranges and fiery red are far away from my balcony. I can see them, but cannot touch the leaves, no matter how much I stretch my hand outside the grills

There was a great uproar among the birds with most of them flying aghast after this tree tragedy hit. Why? Because their nests had been destroyed just before the monsoons. A crow had been feeding its red-mouthed little one and I had been hapily savouring the scene for days. I couldnt find them anymore. The squirrels had disappeared too.

The next morning when I went to the balcony, I felt even worse. Each dawn, a koel used to sit on the branches and sing in its melodious voice. And there would be parrots sitting in a row in one of the branches higher up and swinging peacefully. None of them were there anymore.

It is sad that we humans encroach upon the land of the wild, because we cannot control our own population. We drive them out of their homes and don't even feel bad about it! We talk about plantations and a green planet, but when it comes to maintaining it in our own life, we never practice it.

It is almost a fortnight now since the trees were cut. The rains have brought a new freshness in Mumbai and the view outside my balcony has started getting better again! I can see gulmohar trees, mussaenda, banyan, tamarind, some rubber plants and many more trees and plants whose name I do not know. The rain makes the view even more picturesque. The leaves have started growing on the injured trees. Though the branches will not grow back again due to the haphazard way in which they have been cut, the trees have started looking fuller again. The koel and other birds are back too.. though the distance between my balcony and them is far more than before.

I pray to God that it stays like this now. And I hope going forward, I am able to protest more vehemently about a cause that is close to my heart.