Aarambh Hai Prachand!!!!!!

It is time to celebrate the festival of colours in India, called Holi, which most of the country will celebrate tomorrow, March 11, 2009, but the youngsters have already started celebrating about a month ago in most of the cities, towns and villages.
Colours, baloons, water-filled, coloured water, pichkaari, find their way into almost every other home in the country, children are found on most of the balconies, on the roads, inside the parks, splashing coloured water on each other.
While adults also enjoy in their own way, the holi celebrations are mostly meant for the young kids, who, for once, dnt mind getting up early on this day and getting drenched and, most importantly, staying drenched till well into the afternoon, when harried mothers, smiling behind their stern expressions, drag the kids inside for an elaborate bath to take off all the colour put into the hair, eyes, ear, etc, etc। Looking forward to enjoy the festival and its sights, though, I do not celebrate much of Holi myself.
However, there is one more thing that I am looking forward to this Holi (actually to be precise, after this Holi) and that is the release of film "गुलाल," filmmaker अनुराग कश्यप's first release after "देव डी ". I have put up a poster of the film, available on Internet, to give the readers an idea of what the film is like (though, I have a hunch that the movie will not be suited to everyone's liking, though I wish I am proven wrong).
The promos are available on Youtube and if anyone cares to watch, here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7KLVs1Ib4
The promo looks explosive and I am sure that the movie will be an even better success than Dev D. It represents the struggles of the youth of today in the backdrop of regional politics (entirely my guess).
The actors are lesser known, except for Kay Kay of course but, nevertheless, their expressions say it all.
It is good that movies of today are ready to shed the burden of being a vehicle for escaping the harsh realities of life, which we simply cannot ignore anymore.
Corruption, political debauchery, regionalism, unemployment, lack of ideals and moral disintegration are the parasites that are eating away into the foundations of our Indian society and kudos to Kashyap and others of his ilk for briging them face to face for us.

Jai Ho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In an unprecedented show of any India-based film at Oscars in the recent times, 'Slumdog Millionaire' has swept eight Oscars at the 81st Academy Awards:

1)Best Adapted Screenplay
2) Cinematography,
3) Sound,
4) Film Editing,
5) Original Score,
6) Original Song,
7) Direction and
8) Motion Picture.

Musical genius (I refrain from putting in Indian now since he is now more than just an Indian music maestro, he has gone truly global in his art) A R Rahman won two awards with his Jai Ho... composition.

Ironically, it brought to fore an occasion to celebrate what India is (in)famous for but just to see the proverbial silver lining in the cloud, it also brings up hope out of despair, success out of failure and good out of bad.

That I guess, should be the mantra for life for all of us, hai na???

Jai Ho then........

Slumdog Millionaire: The Quest Is Yet To End...

Much water has flown under the bridge and many a remarks, comments, compliments and opinions thrown about in the aftermath of Danny Boyle's take on life in a Mumbai slum, Slumdog Millionaire.

The movie is winning awards left right and centre and is headed to Oscars, with a hefty recommendation in the form of the Golden Globes.

However, the land, where the Slumdog Millionaire was born, is witnessing a debate of a different kind.

In this debate, one side is accusing Boyle of shamelessly cashing in on the poverty-stricken underbelly of India and not showing a more balanced and positive view of the country, which, by all means, is one of the leading economies of the world.

The other side is defending Slumdog by saying that the movie deals with truth and optimism and it is showing what already exists in the country.

The verdict is not yet out as the discussion goes on: over blogs, in the newspapers, on television channels, inside living rooms, on office balconies, inside buses and cars.

Everyone has something or the other to say, So, I thought, why not get together my blogger friends and have our own SAY in this matter.

So, the field is open, anyone wanting to have a say on this matter, is welcome to put his or her remarks, comments, opinion on whether "Slumdog Millionaire is biased because it has chosen to be selective in its portrayal of reality or does it actually show the audience, worldwide and in India, a true picture of slum life in the country?"

The discussion is open to all and anyone who wants to have their say can do so by putting in their remarks in the comments section and taking part in the poll survey that I have put up on the left hand side of the blog, just below the Blog Archive section.

I would be keeping a tab of the discussion and would put up the comments and counter-comments on the blog for everyone's perusal from time to time.

Thank You!!

My First Award in Bloggers' World!!!!

I received my first blogger award from Priyanka Khot (from Delhi Photo Diary) recently. She (along with Charu) was the inspiration behind my blog and ever since I entered bloggers' space, she has been a constant source of encouragement to me to carry on. Therefore, my first thank you goes out to Priyanka for making a blogger out of me.

Then, there are regular readers of my blog, including Charu (from Chai Pe) and Patty (from Old Lady Lincoln), who keep posting their comments to egg me on to blog. Thank you both.

Last, but definitely not the least, are those who keep visiting my blog, either regularly to in between, and keep posting encouraging remarks on my write-ups. I thank all of them for making it possible for me to turn a blogger and stay at it (What an acceptance speech, Filmfare-grade, if not Oscar, you'd agree!!!)

The rules for the Friendship Award are simple:-

*Copy the badge and put it on your blog.

*Link back to the one who passed this tag to you.

*Spread this tag to at least 4 bloggers or more who you think you are friends with.

On my part, I would like to pass on this special award to my friends who blog:

1) Charu for Chai Pe: I love his individual style of blogging and he brings a unique flavour to whatever he posts on his blog.

2) Patty for Old Lady Lincoln: I really admire her zest for life and her philosophical anecdotes, hillarious jokes and crisp quotes that she puts on her blog.

3) Kris for This Will Hurt Me: I am a fan of his photo blog, his characteristically witty write-ups, AND his two sons (Henry and Ezra), who are the reigning superstars on his blog.

Its A New Year To Live!!!!!

Hi there,
It is that time of the year again when we exchange New Year wishes and look at life through new lenses or glasses (as you please...)
I have mailed my share of greetings to those who matter in my life and to others, whom I know through this blog or those who know me, here's wishing them all that they wish for in life. May your blessings come true for you in the coming year and may 2009 end at a way better note for you than 2008 did.
And last but definitely not the least, I wish peace and prosperity to be showered all over the world. May no one go hungry, lonely or destitute in 2009. May there be no more killings, bloodshed, pain, grief to anyone in the coming times. And, most of all, let love and humanity be the universal religion to be follow by all of us.
The past year has brought a lot of changes in my life. Right from professional to personal changes, I have tried to take everything in my stride, although at times, I have looked up to the skies and wondered, rather despaired, "Why Me???"
Sometimes, there have been answers and sometimes complete silence, but never has God let me be alone to face it. As we know from the "Footprints In The Sand", I have found only a single set of footprints whenever I was bogged down with the weights of life, which assured me that I was indeed in lord's hands.
As 2009 dawns on us, I am going to take each day as it comes and would try to improve myself so that I turn out a better person than I have been in the past.
I dont make resolutions, especially during this time, because I find it very ceremonial and I have a natural aversion to anything ceremonial or binding, in any way (Does that make me an atheist?? well, that is some more fodder for thought for me but that would be for another day and time).
Therefore, I would just promise to live life in as righteous way as possible, where I don't harm any one either intentionally or unintentionally, (although, in the case of latter, I am not sure I would even be aware, but I can always be cautious, isn't it?)
Well, that is all from my side for this year. Hope to see all of you hale and hearty in the next year.
Till then, goodbye, drink (responsibly!!!) and be merry (with happiness, health and wealth).
Take care and god bless...

HAPPY NEW YEAR To ALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The cure of boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity...

Nice thought that is, in the title but boredom in itself is not a nice thought to have, i think so. After the tumultuous and devastating week that went by, the dust is settling down on the days even as the sun keeps playing hide and seek through a "more dusty, less cloudy" sky.

For the past many days now, I am feeling kind of bored of life. Dont worry, I am not having suicidal thoughts, I can't because for that you need to be really driven to death from boredom (how can that be???).

My condition is a little different in that I really need a "zor ka jhatka" to get me out of my present slumberous existence.

It is not as if my otherwise life is full of adventurous trips across the Himalayas or camping in the Terai. But the work has begun to get on my nerves seriously. So, I have been looking for some means to rescue myself from the all-encompassing slumber.

Any ideas, guys?

P.S.: I hope I didnt bore you to death with this piece, I just needed to get it out lest I fell asleep at my work desk. Thanks for reading, by the way...

Not any more.....

I dont have words to reflect on what happened in Mumbai in the past one week and what is happening thereafter. So, I choose to share with my readers a hard-hitting poem, "Is Baar Nahin", written by poet Prasoon Joshi, published in rediff.com. Please pay attention to the words and try to ponder over them because as Indians, we can no longer afford to be insulated to the bloodshed and grief pouring out around us. English translation is given along with it.

Is baar nahin,
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas
apni kharonch le kar aayegi,
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga,
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin
(This time when that little girl comes to me with her bruises, I will not blow gently at her wound, nor distract her, I will let her pain grow. Not this time.)

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga,
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga, utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin
(This time when I see pain on faces, I will not sing the song that eases pain, I will let the pain seep in, deep. Not this time.)

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga,
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey,
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,
gardan udhar kar lo, main dawa lagata hoon,
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin
(This time I won't apply any balm, Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes and turn your head While I gingerly apply medicine, I will let everyone see the open, naked wounds. Not this time.)

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga, chatpatahat dekhoonga,
Nahin daudoonga uljhee dor lapetney,
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin
(This time when I see difficulty, uneasiness, I will not run to solve the problems I will let them become complicated. Not this time.)

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat,
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki,
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main, tedhey medhey raston pe,
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon,
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin
(This time I won't pick up my tools as a matter of duty, I will not make a new beginning Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job. I will not let life easily return to normalcy. I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths. I will not let the blood on the walls dry out Nor will I let its colour fade away This time I won't let it become so helpless That you can't tell blood from paan-spit. Not this time.)

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai,
Gaur se Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley, Aur uskey baad hausley,
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai.
(This time the wounds need to be watched Carefully For a long time, Some decisions are needed And then some brave moves to be made. We have to begin somewhere. This time this is what I have resolved)

... Prasoon Joshi