Private Unlimited

Of process, pattern, and intent!

2012-01-10T06:14:00.000-08:00

Coming from a small sleepy town in Orissa, it would be foolish to claim that I always knew I would be here where I am today - working for a global corporation in Hyderabad. While I always believed I could fly, the journey on ground has been more exciting than the actual take off. Below are some of my core beliefs that led to professional growth and glory.

If you want to make it then break it: Any goal or achievement can be broken into tasks. Most of the times we get so much overawed by the magnitude of the result that a seemingly small immediate step lacks focus and perfection. For example, for Sachin Tendulkar to represent India at the highest level, it was important that he reached Shivaji Park on time every morning in his early teens for the practice sessions. Focus on process and results will follow. Focus on the results and you might miss out on some integral steps in the process.

Look for the pattern: Whatever you do in life, look for patterns. And patterns will emerge only when you focus and concentrate on your life’s story. It is like writing a virtual autobiography in your mind. And the question to ask is whether the story has the strength to engage and influence readers. Once you find a pattern that you like and would love sticking to, then you carefully make choices that fit your pattern. For example, the popular Bollywood actress, Vidya Balan carefully selects her roles that fit her pattern of being an actress who does challenging roles. And when such a role is on the shelf, she becomes an automatic choice.

Have the right intent: No matter what we do in life, it is important to do things for the right reasons and with the right intent. If you are involved in community initiatives, have the intent that you want to make a difference to the world around you. If you are a coach or mentor, have the intent to help groom somebody’s career. The only difference between motive and intent is that while the former is a trade-off, the latter is your personal contribution for the right reasons. For example, one of the primary reasons why Anna Hazare has shaken the imagination of our nation is because we are convinced that he really wants to make a difference. His intent is palpable.

So, for all those who love to dream big, spend time in finding the right pattern with the right intent and be ready with a sledge hammer to break your process into tasks.

The InQuizitive Brigade

2011-02-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

One of the many legacies that I have inherited from my elder brother (Sunil Ranjan Mallik) is our passion for quizzing. And the hobby started with Siddhartha Basu's India Quiz on Doordarshan. It went on to became the passion of a lifetime with my brother being the torchbearer. We loved watching the likes of Bournvita Quiz Contest and BBC Mastermind. We also sent our answers on postcards for the lucky draw after each episode of Surabhi - which ran on Doordarshan for more than ten years showcasing small documentaries on art and culture. To improve our chances of winning, we also used to send one nomination on behalf of each of our family members. On top of that, just to make our postcard reach early, I used to walk (sometimes in evenings) till the Balasore Railway Station to drop the postcards directly at the Railway Mail Service (RMS) office located on platform number two. These fruitless endeavors continued for many a television series till my brother left Balasore for Delhi to pursue higher education in 1996.

Although, we have never competed in a quiz competition as part of the same team, there was once in 1995 that we competed against eachother. As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Fakir Mohan College - I was in my First Year (English Hons) and he was in his Third Year (Chemistry Hons) - we came face to face in the team quiz competition finals. His team (surely the best on that day) was declared the winner while mine was the second best. When I look back, I feel proud of the fact that in the one of the biggest colleges of coastal Orissa we two could finish on the podium. We later received our trophies from the then chief minister of Orissa Biju Patnaik who was the chief guest for the prize giving ceremony. I had also won awards in debate (English, Hindi) and essay writing. However, to share the podium with my brother is what I remember the most. The trophies have lost their shine, but the legend still shines on.

Postscript: This post is also dedicated to all those avid quizzards who made Balasore proud during those times (1993-1998): Azijur Azam, Ajib Raut, Siddharth Mohanty, Sunil Ranjan Mallik, Debabrata Mohanty, and Debabrata DasMohapatra. I apologize if I have failed to mention any of the names.

Cricket: A step into my Dad's shoes...

2011-01-31T23:07:00.000-08:00

As far as I can remember, I have always loved to play the game of cricket - like anybody else from my generation. During childhood, most of my afternoons were dedicated to playing the Game at Sahadevkhuta (several venues). We had some simple rules. We first divided players (any number more than 6 was considered good attendance) into two teams. Both the teams had to field for both the innings consisting of 6 to 8 overs. There was a ceremonial toss of the coin and there you go.

My first big opportunity, which I failed to capitalize on, in the Game came when I was in my intermediate. The opportunity was to become a part of the Fakir Mohan Junior College Cricket Team. And as always, I was fighting against the odds. First, I didn't have a sports shoe - in fact I didn't have a shoe in any form or shape. I had no track suit or the white pants that players used to wear. Second, like any typical Indian family, my folks were against me following any sport. But, I desperately wanted to be part of the team as it would have given me access to play with leather balls (normally, we used to play with cheaper cork balls) and also use some decent cricket equipment - like pads, gloves, thigh pad, and helmet etc. For the experience bit, it would have been great.

Although, I was in a tough spot, I didn't want to give up without a fight. I soon figured out that there was an extra pair of old shoes at home. The pair belonged to my father and was two sizes more than what I would have liked. On top of it, the shoe was kind of a slip on without any laces. I filled the top part of the shoe with some papers and could manage to wear it without too many issues. I had to also keep my escapade secret as the ramification of my parents and elder brother coming to know about my adventure would have been worse than the shoe.

And on the first of day of the trials I faced another challenge. I was told by some “sure shots” that the shoe I wore was not meant for cricket and that I should wear a proper sports shoe. I was able to convince them by saying that I was in the process of buying one. On the first day of the trials, I bowled well (I was a decent off spinner) and could guess that I will find a place in the top 15 if not the playing eleven. However, little did I know that that fateful afternoon, by elder brother had spotted me participating in the selection trials.

So, when I came back home, I was told by my brother that I had to stop going for the cricket trials. The secret was now out and there was no point in me being a rebel in this case. But, I did like the feeling of stepping into my father's shoes. Literally, in this case.

To Gouranga Sir, With Love...

2010-12-03T01:09:00.000-08:00

Early into my high school at Balaosre (Orissa), I was confident that I was bad at numbers. For me, permutations were more important than mere calculations which have a definite end. Permutations had infinite possibilities that I could use while interpreting a literary text. And that is where I owe it to Gouranga sir who gave me the freedom to interpret.

When I passed my Class VII board exams from Balasore Zilla School, I had the option to choose my English teacher for private tuitions. To either choose Chakradhara Sir, the most popular English teacher of our district, who ensured that his pupils get good marks in the exams, or Gouranga Sir who was sort of an all rounder from the old school who apart form being an English teacher, was also a practicing homeopathic doctor, and a farmer. They were both teachers in my school and were totally different in their approaches to life and education.

Gouranga Sir always wore a dhoti and walked bare feet, while his modern counterpart Chakradhara Sir loved to watch Hollywood action movies in his free time and wore formals. Gouranga sir looked similar to former prime minister Chandrasekhar in his stubble, while Chakradhara Sir always came to school clean shaven. But I must agree that while Chakradhara Sir “taught” me grammar at school, Gouranga Sir helped me “learn” the language.

Gouranga Sir’s methods of teaching English were both interesting and erratic. I remember those chilly winter mornings when I would go his place for tuitions while sir would be doing his daily puja. He would make me wait for five to ten minutes before starting his lectures with the distribution of prasad (offerings). The beauty of his style was that he had no style.

Some days he would just ask me to translate some Oriya text into English and on some other occasions; he will just give me an old question paper used in competitive exams to solve. I could never understand why sir gave me question papers from competitive exams (Railway, Banking, and PSC etc.) when I was just in Class VIII/IX/X. And that too without teaching me grammar or even lessons from my school text books which help me get better marks. But over a period of time as I started solving these complex questions applying my own logic and understanding, it became clear to me that Sir wanted me to figure out the language myself. He gave me the freedom to learn right things in my own way.

Some days, sir would even teach mathematics right in the middle of the English tuitions just to break the monotony. And some other days he would just ask me to help him in his household chore without teaching a thing.

But, when I look back, I see teaching everywhere. He taught me about breaking the pattern and keeping things simple. He taught me the fact that if you feel like reading something read it – it does not matter if it fetches you marks or not. He taught me the value of interpretations and exploring permutations rather than mere calculations. Sir, I have not heard about you since many years, but you are in my prayers and heart.

My first unsuccessful job application

2010-07-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

This incident dates back to 1993. The year I passed out from school. I was like any other normal 14-year old who thought he was grown up enough to take his own decisions. And since I had got the bare minimum to apply for any government job, I was convinced it was time for me to start the search. So, the hunt began for a job and not the dream job. In those days, getting a job was a dream.

I used to daily cycle to the district court compound (known as kacheri at Balasore, my home town in Orissa) and visit the vendors who used to make a living out of selling forms and envelops for government jobs in Railways, Army, Public Service Commission and Public Sector Banks. Although, jobs for matriculates were not many, I found one which was for "Drivers in Indian Army." I read the eligibility criteria and found that apart from the age, I was 14 years old, I had all other qualifications. I bought the form with the faint hope that "the authorities might relax the minimum age criterion in case of brilliant candidates like me."

When I was filling the application form at home, my father came to know about it and instead of scolding me for my "lofty" ambitions, he encouraged me to fill the application form and send it before the deadline. I managed to successfully post the application in time. And then began the long wait for a favorable outcome which never happened. I was upset but not for long as I got busy with my college admissions.

Now when I look back, I thank my father for having the foresight to teach a important few lessons so early in my life. Through this incident I learnt to fill job applications. He could have always told me that such a job was not for me, but by not doing so he taught me the value of a job - rather any job.

For some, failure is the pillar of success. For me, any failure is a window to have another go at what you aspire for. And for my father, however, my aspirations for the nonsense always made some sense. And I realize all this now when I can see the pattern.

Basanta's concept of 'God'

2010-07-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

If I say Basanta was my friend, I would be lying. Basanta was my classmate for one of the electives (Sociology) during graduation (1995-1998) at Fakir Mohan College, Balasore. We hardly interacted but whenever we did, he seemed to be quite a cheerful guy. Nothing seemed wrong but I could (and I was lucky) see his daily struggle to make a meaning out of his life. He came from an extremely humble background with his father being a small farmer dependent totally on the errant Indian monsoon. He was staying in a one-room shanty with some of his friends on the outskirts of Balasore (a small coastal town in Orissa).

Basanta was good at academics and aspired to be a teacher. He used to offer private tuitions to school-going kids to support to his education and stay in the city. One afternoon, while coming back from college, I went with him to his room to collect some sociology notes that he had made. It was a typical bachelor pad minus the comforts of life that bachelors take for granted these days - empty bottles of beer, TV, refrigerator, and washing machine etc. It was a bare minimum at its tiniest best. And when I took my attention off the debris on the floor, I saw something interesting hanging on the wall. It was a structure, similar to a pyramid, made out of six small thin bamboo canes. At the first instance, I thought that was the handiwork of a lazy mind during one of the lazy summer afternoons. But, when we were just about to leave - and since Basanta was also leaving his room with me for his tuitions - he looked at the structure and did a pranam (praying with folded hands).

I was shocked. I thought may be, he believed in some alternative religious practices. I asked him, quite courageously though, the reason. And he said looking at the structure, "Chetan, I do not have the money to buy idols and photographs of Hindu Gods. The structure that is hanging on the wall is God for me. Religion is a matter of faith and I believe that is God."

For me that structure was nothing. For him, after one become one with the structure, there was nothing. Even the conversation we had can be ruled out as a matter of nothing. However, nothing can deny or cast a shadow on the fact that for Basanta, nothing else mattered.

Tailpiece: I did try to search for Basanta in the Facebooks and Linkedins of the world with the faint hope that I can again get in touch with him. However, it seems, he has remained untouched by the feudalism of cyber world.

The day I came to know what hunger means

2010-07-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

This incident dates back to 1992, my eighth year in school and the year of the Benson and Hedges Cricket World Cup in Australia. I was studying in Class 9 at Balasore Zilla School at age of 13. You must be wondering how I was studying in Class 9 when I had only been to school for eight years. That is because I was such a “non-child prodigy” that my parents directly admitted me in Class 2. On top of it, in Oriya medium government schools, there was no tradition of LKG, UKG, Nursery or any of these so called preparatory courses that a child goes through before even he or she starts studying. Life was simple and education was a just a reflection of it.

Now, coming back to the story, during one of the visits of my maternal cousin Ashok (Bapun) to my hometown, I decided to take him to Khirachora Temple in Remuna, It is a little town located 9-km east of Balasore, about halfway between Kolkata and Puri. And I chose my old Hero cycle to do the job for both of us. And I also convinced my friend Kajal and his younger brother Animesh to accompany us on their cycle. And, here was the catch. Both Animesh and Ashok were too small to ride the bicycles so Kajal and I had to do the riding for the entire journey of 18 KMs. The entire budget for this trip was Rs 10, out of which a major portion (Rs 8) was spent at the temple for buying bhoga (offering). We started from our homes at around 10 am.

Everything went according to plan till we finished the puja at the temple. Suddenly, out of nowhere the idea (you can say it was a perfect recipe for a blunder) struck us that we can extend the trip to Panchalingeswar, a religious spot situated on top of a hill about 30 km from Balasore. We had already completed nine out of it, so we thought if we can another 20 (in the peak of summer) we can have another feather on our cap. And at that point of time we had just two rupees and some prasad that we bought at the temple.

But, we decided for it and started pushing the pedals towards Panchalingeswar. On our way we ate the Prasad, and drank water from the roadside village tube wells. We reached Panchalingeswar around 3 pm and that is when we started realizing that we have done a mistake by not informing folks at home and by extending the bicycle odyssey. We also began feeling hungry. We bought some biscuits worth Rs 2 (our last hope) and drank loads of water. However, that was not enough. Still, we managed to climb the hill and had a good darshan of the five shivalingas submerged by the glittering perennial spring. It is believed that the shivalings were installed by king Banasura. And like the hidden Shivalings, God had some hidden learning for us that day.

So at around 3 pm, we four kids with our hungry stomachs started our travel back home. And on our way back, we decided to take the highway instead of the village roads as we felt the chances of us reaching home safe in the evening is better if we take the highway. The journey back was painful. Kajal and I were tired of riding the cycles, our stomachs were crying for food and water was of no help. There also came a point where I begged for food at a small hotel with the promise to pay back the next day. However, the hotel owner refused. Somehow, I could gather enough stamina to complete the 30 kms on the NH-5 which connects Bubaneswar with Balasore and reach home safe with my cousin Ashok in the evening around 6.30 pm. And thus my own 60+ km tour de France came to a hungry halt.

I had this great fear that once I reach home my father will trash me to pulp for having put our lives in danger. However, after having a look at our state of being, the first thing we were offered were some hot parathas. And in my entire life food has never tasted better. And that day I realized what one feels when one is really hungry.

Connecting The Dots

2010-07-19T01:40:00.001-07:00

Last week, on Wednesday, I finally called Gori Aai to tell her how much I remember her and what she meant to me. I got the number from my childhood friend Abinash. Felt sad that she is not mobile these days and has also stopped cooking. But, she was in here cheerful self. After talking to her, I could feel a few droplets on my cheecks. Gosh, I finally told her, what I wanted to.

I wish I could say "thank you"

2010-07-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Life has this strange way of carving a path without you having any idea about it. What we call fate, hardwork, talent, destiny or luck, is a result of a series of experiences influenced by few individuals around us. One such great lady in my life was Gori Aaai. For those who do not know Oriya, Gori means fair. And fair she was in her looks and judgement. I met her when she was our neighbour in Balasore living a peaceful life with her husband (whom I fondly called Jeje). Today although I do not remember what her name was. She remains the ever so lovable Gori Aaai.

She was a retired teacher, mother of three kids and quite modern in her outlook for those times. All her kids were married and were away living their respective lives. During the summer, all her kids used to visit her along with their families. And me being the kid next door, I used to be a regular at their house helping Aaai with her daily chores - sometimes it meant getting stuff from the local market and some other times it meant just being there to give the couple company.

I vividly remember the day, when during one of such summers, Aaai was my saviour. Her elder daughter asked me what I want to become in life, quite synically. Since, she knew I was just an average student unlike my elder brother who used to be quite brilliant at acdemics. I was stuck. I had no accomplishments to back my vision. And I had no vision backed by the inner call. Gori Aai heard it from a distance and came to my rescue. She said, "God would have given him some skill to be successful in life. One day, he will find his calling." That one sentence has remained with me for the last 20+ years. And when I look back, that note of encouragement means the world. Aaai, you are in my prayers and heart.

Coastal Chronicle

2010-07-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

Starting today, I will start writing autobiographical sketches on my childhood. Yesterday, I was having an interesting conversation with my childhood friend Abinash and I realised that there are too many people, events and experiences waiting to be sketched. Each one, a masterpiece for me.

Main Samay Hoon

2010-07-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

I’m what I call a “Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)”. Before taking a shot at the qualifications attributing to this self proclaimed tag, would love to dwell a little more on the about part of me. I was born in Bhubaneswar not by choice but due to the strange Indian tradition of expectant mothers going to their parent’s place for the delivery of a child.

Much of my initial years were spent at Balasore, the coastal town of Orissa which gets a mention in the Doordarshan news bulletin every time a missile gets test fired at the Chandipur range. Most of my time at Balasore was spent at Balasore Zilla School and FM College. I was at these institutions for a decade from 1988 to 1998. After that I followed the standard SOP for an English Honors graduate – did Masters in literature and a PG Diploma in journalism from IIMC.

Originally a journalist, I’ve been an accidental web designer for over two years and have spent most of my professional life working in that strange space where content meets technology. Since 2004, I have managed to work on either sides of the Deloitte Drive at Madhapur, Hyderabad. I’m passionate about the things that interest me - my family, people in general and popular culture.

A drifter at heart, I constantly vacillate between passions, read it as flavors of the month, that keep me hooked. I’m passionate about my professions, both planned and accidental. I have come to the conclusion that my belief in the present to be the best that could have happened to me has been a key ingredient of my growth as a professional. My blood group being A+ is not the only indicator.

Coming to the tag of PSU, I believe I can be one of the million brand ambassadors for the government of India for, despite criticism and multiple flaws, the system continues to support dreams and churn out success stories. Born to government employee in a government hospital, I have never been to a private institution all my life. And here I am earning a living and living the dream. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.

Life On A Roller Coaster

2010-04-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

Its been long since I wrote a blog. And it was not a writer's block that prevented me from putting my thoughts on the web. Life was just on roller coaster. Was looking for a change in terms of my career in communications and that kind of took a little later than usual. In fact, this time the search took almost exactly a year. But it ended in the way that I envisioned it to. And I could again feel the power of divinity in helping me make the right decision. My guarding angel wanted me to be patient till economy found wings to fly.

Proud Of My Mom

2009-06-02T05:42:00.000-07:00

Just like many others of her clan in an Oriya middle-class household, my mother too had her 'unfair' share of trials and tribulations. While most others resign to this fate and build a make-belief world of excuses to make life little bearable, a rare few like my mom, breach the boundaries to seek freedom and identity. At 56, she is now a certified yoga teacher and teaches yoga at various camps conducted in and around Bhubaneswar. Her fascination with yoga started rather very late but through yoga she has found her much-needed identity and freedom. I wish and pray that she finds true joy in her pursuit of happiness.

2009-01-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

It has been 52 days since I GOT MARRIED. marital status , my bank account, my choices, my strengths, my weaknesses, my wardrobe , my bachelor "hood", my office bag , my TV channels, my state of mind, and my network of relatives. Everything has changed. For the better or for the worse.? In fact there is no N/Y answer to this. Some things have improved and some choices have taken a backseat. Life is beautiful.

2008-11-29T01:12:00.000-08:00

Khadi clad jokers and their democratic circus,
No longer wah Taj nor Gateway to prosperity,
Musical chairs at the press conferences,
Pole dance before the polls decide the next Joker,
The idiot box has never been more idiotic.

2008-11-10T01:35:00.001-08:00

Da Da Bye Bye

2008-11-07T01:18:00.000-08:00

As a kid I always used to think why future is unknown? What will I be in future? Is it not the duty of God to let me know the broad storyline even if if there can be last minute changes. But, life through its surprises makes us value life itself. Let it remain a bundle of mysteries.

2008-11-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Barocks Obama. The leader who managed to shake imagination of the entire world. Black is Barack.

2008-11-04T03:45:00.000-08:00

In every defeat I found the smell of sweat. In every triumph sweat was just incidental...

2008-11-04T03:22:00.000-08:00

Mirage it was but still a quest,
Illogical it was but still a request,
If not you then whom,
If not end then assume,
Not believing is not doubt always,
Faith is not surrender always...

2008-11-02T02:24:00.000-08:00

From today onwards there will be no Kumble in India colors. I am simply speechless. Painful.

2008-09-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is such a funny thing. Lack of it makes you believe in an utopia. Much of it kills the excitement of the unknown.

2008-09-30T01:56:00.000-07:00

When the dust settles down there is clarity of thought.

2008-09-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

My prolonged silence and the 'Axe Effect' on emotions,
You are but are you the reason of my inheritance,
Like you there are scores of others,
Wanting to fly the hell out of here,
And yet fazed by the sickness of sky,
The blues of the blue over the resting clouds ...

2008-09-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

Lonely sky and melting clouds;
Milestones miss the Jam sessions;
Long drab day with fragile emotions;
Like the coffee machine in the corner;
And me walking on the border.

2008-09-04T23:34:00.000-07:00

If you earlier thought ideas can make a difference think a lil more. Ideas are only the starting point. For an idea to become a reality, lots of other things should fall in place or say should be thought about.

2008-09-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

Standing at crossroads, have you ever looked at directions;
This side truth and the other side nothing but the truth;
Is my truth truer than yours; true like the Book of Ruth;
When words fail, you better trust your instincts...

2008-08-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Three assured medals this Olympics. Not a bad thought at all. I am happy. The Indian inside me is jumping with joy.

Ek Rasta, aha....

2008-08-09T22:33:00.001-07:00

Drifters are not hypocrates. Drifters believe in the force of compelling urge to sway with the wind. But not Gone with the wind. Like the seed which flies in the wind to create a new root. The smell of the tar made my belief more stronger. Rock on...

2008-07-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you did something for the first time? The answer to this question will explain the monotony of one's existence.

Pat.... Naaa....aaaahhhhh.....

2008-07-12T00:09:00.000-07:00

I heard about it. I saw it to believe it. Patna is definitely not the city which can be called as a state capital. In fact, I now appreciate Bhubaneswar more than I ever did. Every minute spend here is a nightmare. You " have " to be here to experince it :-) Suva, Anu and Vikash T can also vouch for it.

Quote Unquote

2008-07-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

There is a difference between managing and man-ageing.

For dreams, you need effortless sleep. For aim, you need sleepless effort.

But Anu can't dance saala?

2008-07-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

So True... Perfume Gucci wala.

Pinku Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai?

2008-07-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Finally, Vikash Kumar Singh alias Pinku Singh got married today amidst thunder and rain. A historic event nonetheless considering the precedent to the story. The entire GF9 family is both elated and relieved. Singh is King.... Singh is King....

2008-02-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

Aaj Lauta Hoon Toh Hasne Ki Ada Bhool Gaya,
Ye Saher Bhula Mujhe Mein Bhi Ise Bhool Gaya...

2007-11-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

Sports : Life Synonyms

Bride and the Bloom

2007-10-05T12:29:00.001-07:00

Took this photo at a close friend's wedding. I like this one because of the contrast between the flowers and the color in the background. This is a marriage photo yet it is not one of those typical ones.

True Blues

2007-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

This is what I miss when I am in this building which happens
to be my office. And by the way this photo was taken with
no filters, no Photoshop effect and no SLR. My Fuji Finepix
S5700 delivered and how!!!

Light in the dark

2007-09-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

A park lamp partially hidden by the shrubs during a monsoon evening in Hyderabad.

Glass Is Permanent, Form Is Temporary

2007-08-27T13:11:00.001-07:00

It hardly rains in Hyderabad. This one is one of the most early showers that lashed the city. My Fuji Finepix S5700 performed well on the first outing.

You Beach!!!!

2007-08-27T12:59:00.001-07:00

Took this photo during the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship held at Necklace Road. The curves outplayed the curls. Need I say more.

Of Baba and His Muse

2007-08-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

I took this photo during one of our regular jam sessions. Somehow I feel I know HIM. As if the calm face is telling me to hang on like the strap before Life starts playing. He is Meher Baba . Don't know Him but know him and you know HIM.

Cheeni Kam, Admiration Jyada

2007-06-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I am smitten by this fellow Hyderabadi - Tabu. Class she was in Cheeni Kam, from the long locks to the controlled contours when she smiled or frowned. In the Hindi film industry rarely have I seen an actor so not overawed by Stars. So, when the BigB met Tabu, there was absolutely no physics. Instead, there was this chemistry of the highest concoction.

2007-04-18T04:10:00.000-07:00

April 4, April 18:

These are not just dates. These are days when two lost, defeated, ostracized souls redeemed themselves. Hats off 2 u bro!!!

2007-03-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Kai Baar Yun Hee Dekhaa Hai,
Ye Jo Man Kee Siimaa Rekhaa Hai,
Man Todane Lagataa Hai,
Anjaanee Pyaas Ke Peechhe,
Anjaanee Aas Ke Peechhe,
Man Daurhane Lagataa Hai,
Raahon mein, Raahon Mein,
Jeevan Kii Raahon Mein,
Jo Khile Hain Phuul Phuul Muskuraake,
Kaun Saa Phuul Churaake,
Rakh Luun Man Mein Sajaake,
Kai Baar Yun Hee Dekhaa Hai
Jaanun Na, Jaanun Na,
Ulajhan Ye Jaanun Na,
Sulajhaaun Kaise Kuchh Samajh Na Paunn,
Kisako Meet Banaaun,
Kisakii Priit Bhulaaun,
Kai Baar Yun Hee Dekhaa Hai...

2007-03-14T03:36:00.001-07:00

In life there comes a point when we all think about repurcussions more then we ever did. And that is precisely the time when we stop living. The so-called repurcussions based on "visionary" assumptions delimit our willingness to fly and break boundaries.

2007-03-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

Probability is like gravity... The ultimate truth is that it sucks you in.

2007-02-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

Coffee beans, comfy sofa, roll of the dice;
Naive were you to have dodged the game;
Life in the midst of crowded minds;
Of an old guitar and no strings attached...

2007-01-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

Remake of old Hindi movies: Is it a success formula?

My answer is a thumping yes. Let us not be in the illusion, as it currently seems from media reports, that only in last couple of years we suddenly saw a deluge of remakes. Remakes of classics have always been a successful part of proven Bollywood business formulas. Now, let’s do some inductive logic. The law of averages will prove that remakes have more chances of becoming successful at the box office.

Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, a remake of Chori Chori was a huge hit. Hum Apke Hain Kaun, a remake of Nadiya Ke Paar broke all Bolllywood records. Same was the fate of movies like Raja Hindustani (Jab Jab Phool Khile), Khiladi (Khel Khel Mein), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (Woh Saat Din), Devdas (Devdas), and Chalbaaz (Seeta Aur Geeta). The fact remains that all these remade movies reaped a rich harvest at the box office. In many cases the remakes proving to be bigger hits than the original. The only new factor now is that they have started retaining the old titles. As in the cases of Devdas, Parineeta, Sholay, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam and Don.

Some reasons why remakes work?

a) What worked once has more chances of working again… It’s a safe bet. All the movies that have been remade are movies, which were having a very strong storyline. So, that means even before one starts making the remake one knows that that the basics are all at place. Moreover, you save the money for scouting a new story. Example: Nadiya Ke Paar, Victoria No. 203 (copyrights)So the job of the director is now to give the story a contemporary touch. So, the new Don has a home in Kuala Lumpur and sports a Beretta 98FS Limited Edition gun.
b) A remake appeals to many generations and for different reasons. The older generation watches it out of curiosity and with a little bit of cynicism just to reinforce their belief in the stars they once worshipped and the movies they liked. The younger generation wants to experiment so they want a sleeker, trimmer and fitter version of the old movie that they also liked as a kid. So the trick is to choose a topic, which has universal appeal, and a movie which can be customized.
c) The remakes create hype in popular media. And that hype is enough to give it a good opening at the box office. And in the age of multiplexes with more than 550 screens and 12,000 cinema halls to play with, a good opening means a hit movie. For example, the worldwide collections for Don in the first week only summed up to Rs 75 crores, which includes exploitation of all rights for the film. A premier Ad Agency created the look for Gabbar Singh.

Multiplexes have changed the game and remakes have more chances to thrive in this business environment. Add to this brand merchandising, music rights and the Krrish masks, you have got a hit in your hands. For remakes it’s a sone pe suhaga situation, a) there is curiosity all around b) there are big stars essaying the roles and c) there are debates in media about which one is better.

Let me tell you this, now the fate of the Bollywood movie is decided in the first weekend of its release. And remakes exploit the rule to the fullest. The hype and stars give them good initial collection. For example, even a Hollywood movie like Casino Royale grossed Rs 14 crores in the initial weekend.

I can very well foresee that in pure financial terms Ram Gopal Verma’s Sholay will be a hit even before it hits the screens. The curiosity factor is so huge that for the initial week the collections will be more than 80 per cent all across. And that will be enough to sail the movie through. Same can also be said about Bhansali’s Sahib, Biwi Aur Ghulam.

Now let us not talk about critics’ choice here, for example, the critics might have given Bhagam Bhag thumbs down but still its collection now stands at a whooping 23 crores. Reason? Post Dhoom 2 and Vivah no big releases happened. So, the audience watched Bhagam Bhag because they had no option.

Bollywood’s journey from business to “smart business,” India’s journey from cinema halls to multiplexes, has made remakes a success formula. But can remakes go hand in hand with artistic excellence. Well, for that you have to watch Martin Scorsese’s latest fare The Departed - a remake of a Hong Kong gangster drama called Infernal Affairs.

Originality and Bollywood have always been strange bedfellows. It is just that now the act of copying from an old movie or giving it a new look has got a more glamorous façade. The act of remaking an old movie has been institutionalized. It is now considered cool with words like “perspective” and “tribute” becoming synonyms for plagiarism. Business has just a little to do with originality of screenplay and clever camera angles. And remakes make perfect business sense.

2006-12-26T03:45:00.000-08:00

Been busy with a lot of things... events, journey, confusion, delirium, activity, slumber...

2006-11-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Brian Charles Lara today scored his 34th ton in Test cricket against Pakistan. And what an innings!!! Pure domination...

2006-10-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

It was just a road. Not that there was anything special. Of course there were potholes and a few remnants of time here and there. Eyes moist and life looking for that one wire stunt to make fate plunge into the greatness of survival. Road it was. More traveled, oft trodden. But the sequence of shops that one usually sees on the right wasn’t left anymore. When darkness engulfed, road screamed for the all familiar grind. The feet of the homecoming cow, the steps of kids. Still one could sense a sense of loss in those eyes. They say of dreams unfulfilled but what about the dreams unseen. The road had no dead end. One leading to the other. Lanes merging, highways bifurcating. The idea of continuity is baffling. Is it that there is really no end? Or is it just a screenshotish view of life. Eyes still moist…

2006-10-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

Currently my favourite song is from a Tamil movie Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu starring Kamal and Jyothika. Its called Manjal Veiyil. Harris Jayraj has really done a great job as a music director. Shades of Khaka Khaka can obviously be felt but thats more so because it's a Gautham Menon movie. Can't wait to wtach it. But do I undersatnd Tamil??? No. It's greek and latin for me. But movies are universal, aren't they? At least for me.

2006-09-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

Lahe Raho rocks. Full to entertainment, baap.... And the Father returns!!! Thank God I don't have to watch Richard's epic drama again on an Independence day. Are you listening Door Darshan.....

2006-09-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

Can't remember the last time I wrote two obituaries in a row. After Ustad Bismillah Khan died I wrote and now I am wrting, rather attempting to write an sort of obituary of Late Hrishikesh Mukherjee - a director whole ruled my favourite era in Hindi movies. Simple movies about common people with not so common characterastics - that was Hrishi da. I don't know why but whenever I have watched these movies I have always imagined a very sensitive and humane director in the background. He came to Mumbai for money, but the Kolkata in him never left him. The Left never left him. The belief in the basic goodness of humanity never left him. And when the penchant to make movies left him, he left us. And the fact that a 27-year-old urbane youth is now writing about him is a testimony of the fact that Hrishida lives.... And let's just read the list of some of the movies that Hrishi da edited before he became a director. That shows his pedigree.

Do Bigha Zameen, 1951
Parineeta, 1953
Biraj Bahu, 1954
Devdas, 1956
Madhumati, 1958

2006-08-21T03:50:00.000-07:00

The shehnai won't sound the same again. For long — when I say long I only refer to the last last 22 years of my existence as a conscious being — he has been my only link to shehnai. Even Hindi movies now don't play the instrument during the marriage scenes. I still remember the Sunday afternoon concerts on DD1 in which i first heard him play. Besides being a top notch musician, Ustad Bismillah Khan had an unending jest for life. May his soul rest in peace.

Shaikh saahab se rasm-o-raah na ki,
Shukr hai zindagi tabaah na ki,

Tujh ko dekhaa to ser-e-chashm hue,
Tujh ko chaahaa to aur chaah na ki,

Tere dast-e-sitam kaa ajz nahin,
Dil hi kaafir tha jis ne aah na ki,

The shab-e-hijr kaam aur bahut,
Ham ne fikr-e-dil-e-tabaah na ki,

Kaun qaatil bachaa hai shahar me 'Faiz,'
Jis se yaaron ne rasm-o-raah na ki...

--- Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Should I watch KANK?

2006-08-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

No: Because I don't have the time to watch a three and a half hour emotional roller coaster.
No: Because Karan Johar is just an extension of the Chopra camp
No: Because KANK's songs sound like Kal Ho Na Ho except Mitwa...
No: Because the movie is all about great casting and great locations
No: Because I am tired of seeing Rani in a saree, Preity in westerns and Aby with a stuble

2006-08-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Saw "Pokiri" (a Telugu movie starring Mahesh Babu) recently. Here are some of my observations:

a) Although the movie was got the CBFC rating of "A" there were countless kids and adolescents in the movie hall. So, obviously there was no respect being shown to the Censor Board verdict by the authorities that may be.

b) At the beginning of the movie there's a statutory warning saying that smoking is injurious to health. What seemed to me that it was just a façade to again use Mahesh Babu as a smoking macho hero. He did that in Okkadu and he did it in Pokiri. Mahesh Babu’s loyal fan associations do a lot in terms of not letting his movies get hit by piracy, its time he shows some responsibility towards the society. Most importantly, smoking is banned in movies.

c) The violence was just too much to fathom. And one scene where he beats three eve-teasers to pulp in the local train was just not necessary in terms of the plot of the movie.

d) As far as acting goes, Mahesh Babu has done a great job.

2006-08-10T02:20:00.000-07:00

"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit."

Every man fights his battle ALONE!!!

2006-07-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Every man in this world fights his battle alone. Ravi did. Kalyan did. My brother Munu did. My brother in US did. I did. Of course there have been characters who have helped us along the way. But the battle is always fought alone. Sometimes in the mind and sometimes outside it. We sometimes feel little sad we were not really able to help eachother. But the truth is our battles were supoosed to have been fought alone. I know what my lil bro Munu went through when he was preparing for his MBA. I know what Kalyan went through in Delhi and Ravi in Bhubaneswar. And I had my share of bloody lil battles. And we all fought to win.... Even though it is still early days.

2006-07-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

What is an answer is a question?
Religion…
Death orchestrated,
Manufactured fear,
Cocoonized existence,
Wish I had wings,
The perch now stings.

C’mon Samba Boyz

2006-06-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

Before any big tournament a champion sportsperson always faces one question. Whether to leave when on top or rewrite past records? Before this year’s Impact Day I was scared. The person, with whom I had done the media co-ordination for the last two Impact Days, was no longer in the firm. And last Impact Day’s stupendous media response was right in front of me like a boxing coach challenging me to hit the target hard. Will I be able to repeat the 2005 magic? Even I didn’t know the answer before June 9 actually arrived.

It was but a strange coincidence that the World Cup was about to begin on June 9 and a similar story was unfolding there too. Will Brazil be able to repeat their feat minus the out-of-form Ronaldo. In my case I even didn’t have the luxury of a back-up Ronaldihnio. Minus teammate, minus a few contacts, I set out for what can be called my life’s biggest project so far. And through it I realized that the sometimes in our effort to reach a destination we forget the journey. In fact it is the most convenient thing to do. Most of the times in the journey lies the destination.

And that’s what I learnt this time round. Impact Day happened and was more happening than ever. We again received quite a bit of media attention. We even got Radio Mirchi to do some talking for us. All in all 12 mentions in print media, around 9 mentions in Radio Mirchi and 4 news bytes. So the total for this year till now stands at 25 – 8 more than what it was last year. I did beat myself. Now its Brazil’s turn to follow me. C’mon Samba boyz, you can do it?

Fanaa

2006-05-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

Fanaa is again a masterpiece of Chopras' marketing skills, business acumen, smart story telling and casting.

2006-05-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Can somebody kill Arjun Singh? Anyways, he is half-dead tottering on the borderline. So, a mock threat with a gun will be enough.

2006-05-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

Movie: Pyare Mohan
Pyare (Fardeen Khan) is blind. Mohan (Vivek Oberoi) is deaf.

Movie: Tom, Dick and Harry
Tom (Dino Morea) - deaf, Dick (Anuj Sawhney) - blind and Harry (Jimmy Shergill) - dumb

Movie: Fanaa
Kajol plays a blind girl.

Movie: Black
Rani Mukherjee played a blind, deaf and dumb girl.

Movie: Krrish
Hrithik plays a man with special powers.

Movie: Main Aisa Hi Hoon
Ajay Devgan is a mentally retarded person.

2006-05-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

"Roney Dey Aaj Humko,
Do Aankhen Sujhaaney Dey,
Baahon Me Leley Aur Khud Ko Bheeg Jaaney Dey.
Hai Jo Seeney Me Qaid Dariya,
Woh Choot Jaayega,
Hai Itna Dard Ke Tera Daaman Bheeg Jaayega..."

"Adhuri Saans Thi,
Dhadkaun Adhuri Thi,
Adhure Hum,
Magar Ab Chand Pura He Falak Pe,
Aur Ab Pure Hein Hum..."

2006-05-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Let Pramod Mahajan's soul rest in peace. He was one of the very few leaders who could differntiate between strategy and emotional outbursts. And finally, it is emotions which played a big role in his death.

2006-05-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

Commn sense. Most of the time that is what it takes to win. What's a team? A bunch of individuals. No, team is just a team. We can never define the word because it signifies a common cause or a spirit running through. What's victory? A state of mind. Sidhu once said, "scorecards are like mini skirts." True we lost. But we won because we went as individuals and returned as a team. Team. Good to be part of one.

2006-04-14T06:19:00.000-07:00

First, blast at the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi and now blasts at Jama Masjid. Please God, we don't want anymore riots. Please.... Peace...

2006-04-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia Definition of Fanaa (فناء): The Sufi term for extinction. It means to annihilate the self, while remaining physically alive. Persons having entered this state are said to have no existence outside of and unity with Allah. Fanaa is equivalent to the concept of nirvana in Buddhism,or moksha in Hinduism which also aims for annihilation of the self.

Lymphosarcoma of the nose

2006-04-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

In the movie Anand, Rajesh Khanna termed common cold as ‘lymphosarcoma of the nose’ – a scientific name for a regular health problem. While that was just a movie, in real life too sometimes people use phrases or words which seem to accentuate a problem which probably doesn’t deserve to sound all that profound.
The best example of this in recent times is ‘wardrobe malfunction’. In simple terms it means ill fitting clothes failing you in public. Forget the big time designers for a moment, but just imagine telling this to your local darjee. “Please ensure that I don’t have to face a wardrobe malfunction.” The darjee will most probably think that you have reached the wrong place and will show you the way to the nearest clinic.
Now, continuing our discussion on the wardrobe malfunction phenomenon, a section of the media assumes that the Mumbai Fashion Week fiascos – model Carol Gracias' top falling off and model Gauhar Khan’s skirt zipper giving way – could have been publicity stunts. And if that was so then they were wrong models since they managed it quite beautifully on the stage. If it would have been a Mona Chopra or a Rakhi Sawant, probably there would have been more than a dozen MMS clips doing the rounds.
Talking about Mona Chopra, she recently appeared on a news channel defending her latest movie "Naughty Boy". If you haven’t heard of the movie yet, then you needn’t even bother to find out. It’s one of those regular smalltime skin flicks which have become a trend of late. And it stars none other than Rahul Roy. It's interesting how these actors defend their dare bare acts. And the regular alibi is the script. “If the script demands it, why not?” I strongly feel that if the script someday turns into a human being, it will surely ask, “Why do you girls always blame me? I am tired of it.”
Guess who's new in Hyderabad party circles? Rahul Roy. His hairstyle and fate at the box office hasn’t changed in the last fifteen years, and it seems a star-starved city like Hyderabad is probably the only place in the world where he can get some attention. May be thanks to Mona, who accompanies him to every party in town. And what is even more surprising is that these so called stars without stardom continue to show attitude even though they are virtual non-entities in Bollywood. The city of tehzeeb might just retaliate some day and show them the door. Amen.

Yellow Tide

2006-03-30T06:20:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you use flash to shoot a beer mug.

Glass Palace

2006-03-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

A view of Cyber Gateway from my office.

2006-03-27T01:19:00.000-08:00

At the end of the game the king and the pawn end up in the same box...

2006-03-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

Sonia resigns...

Saala Nautanki Ghadi Ghadi Drama Karti Hai...

2006-03-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

"But then, life is a marathon. Many of us believe money isn't everything. But even if you decide to make money your number one goal, there's no telling who will actually race ahead of whom at which point in life."

Rooted

2006-03-21T04:35:00.000-08:00

Dada is like a "Bargat Ka Ped" at the heart of any village. The sarpanches, read leaders, meet under it and blurt out their judgement, mostly nonsensical. The kids, read newjoinees, play on its branches and move on in life. Some village youth sit under it and ogle at the village babes, read As and some others, read P, sleep under it. But the tree doesn't speak, doesn't revolt, doesn't even show discomfort, just watches the world go by. The tree watches generations grow but is itself rooted by its branches, read convictions and beliefs. The tree doesn't have the wish to grow tall and it can't even relocate since its a tree. It's its own ghost.

Poly-Ticks

2006-03-21T01:32:00.000-08:00

Of late, the actor turned politician brigade of Bollywood is on a deliberate mission to prove their detractors wrong and in the process entertain the common junta on the idiot box. It was nice to see Jaya Bachchan crying hoarse about how she was wronged in the expel episode. And the fact that she was given a voice and accent training by Amar Singh was quite obvious the way she was giving interviews to the media. It’s a different story that her trainer has been a “been there done that” politician for several seasons now.
Another Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Prada on the other hand has now turned to singing to pass time till the next elections. She will be singing a song for none other than Bappida, who himself hasn’t given a hit for a long time. Bappida, our very own literal literal Metallica, on the other hand can model for Sona Chandi Chawanprash taking into account his love for the yellow metal.
Now let’s move over to the King of TV Interviews – Raj Babbar. Since none of the major channels have the patience to listen to him, Mr Babbar has now turned to one Urdu channel to tell his side of the story and malign Mulayam Singh. His mission is to give interviews in all the channels of the country. Next, he must be eying to buy some spots in Aashtha and Sanskar so that there also he can tell his sob story or may be the South Indian channels.
Bihari Babu Shatrughan Sinha also has had his share of snobs of late. He was not even called to participate in the Patna Film Festival. And on the inaugural day of the film fest he was at Kolkata enjoying a flower show. By the way, now on television Bihari Babu has another hobby - to praise Soniaji. Since his days in BJP are numbered, he is now a major Sonia bhakt much to the amusement of people who saw him as a Sonia baiter.
And now to the King of Parliament Absentees — Govinda. Earlier Govinda was seen explaining people the reasons of his continuous absence in Parliament. But now he is more interested in resurrecting his movie career than hoping for another stint in the Parliament. And he publicly on record agrees that he was not at all professional when he was at the helm. Unfortunately, punctual Govinda has no work now.

2006-03-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

My world,
Your opinions,
My struggle,
Your aspirations,
Nothing that I know of,
Bewitched to haunt...

Buffalo Bush

2006-03-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

Although President George W. Bush’s two-day whirlwind tour included meetings with top political leaders and techie millionaires and a speech at a 16th-century fort, what he didn’t do was visit the Taj Mahal. And may be that is something that his publicity manager might be regretting. Because be it Bill Clinton or General Pervez Musharraf, the Taj has been a media success story for many a foreign visitors. After seeing Taj they all blurt out their most emotional, profound and quotable quote on Indian culture. May be Bush didn’t want emotions to take over. That’s a different story.
But what Bush did do right was a photo session with a buffalo and some village women without even going to a village. The buffalo was lucky as she spent some exclusive time with the most powerful man in the world. And that is something that every visiting US president makes it a point to do. They spend time with people who matter like leaders and top honchos and well groomed villagers, who are so much overawed by the situation that they only know how to smile.
Let’s mover over to the guards. All this while Bush’s security persons featured in newspapers more than the President himself. An exercise that is routine for them becomes a matter of great debate in our country. As a typical Old City Chicha will say, “Kya sekirity he baap. Uno jahan bhi jaate, pachas sau logan aju baju rete.” And some times these stories also get fabricated. For example, “Aapko ku malum, sale ye commando logan missilan leke chalte. Kuch hua to wahin pe start kar dete.” And the later was a revelation made by an auto driver who thinks like his auto, missiles are also “started” and not fired.
Let’s now discuss the favourite fetish of visiting US presidents – food. Although it is a public knowledge that most Americans are not comfortable with spicy Indian food, almost every US official that visits our country will make a statement saying that he or she just loved India food. Thing is that with so much secrecy we don’t even know what they actually eat and how much. And we were also surprised when Bush expressed his liking for cricket, a game most Americans have no clue about. The funny part is that all these leaders make a lot of homework before they visit a country. It is like Musharraf having a liking for Bollywood movies or let’s assume the president of Albania having a special taste for biryani. Now let’s end it all with a piece of trivia. How much time Bush took to visit the Great Wall of China? Exactly thirty minutes. He certainly has a taste for history, isn’t it?

2006-03-14T02:02:00.000-08:00

No team is invincible...

Inzlish is a funny language

2006-02-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

During the 1992 World Cup once when Imran Khan was talking to some press persons at the nets regarding Inzymam, a reporter asked him why he was praising the youngster in front him. Imran replied that it didn’t matter since the Inzy “doesn’t understand English at all.” That was then. Now after a decade of experience as an international cricketer, Inzymam perhaps understands English - just an assumption - but the way he speaks the language can even make a school student die in shame. The post match conferences during the recently concluded Indo-Pak series were nothing but Inzy’s laborious attempts at speaking the language. And it was quite obvious that he was not enjoying the experience just like running between wickets. So what was an average answer from Inzy like? “We is played badly. Indians is outplayed us is in every department of the game. Shoiab is in good form. He is kept the batting together,” he said almost after all the ODIs that Pakistan lost. English grammar perhaps never had it so bad.
The series will also be remembered for Imran Khan’s repeated plea to sent Yonus Khan up the order. After every match was over, Imran repeated the same lines over and over again so much so that the average viewer started doubting whether it was a live recording or a replay of his previous ramblings. “Look at Ponting, Sachin and Lara. They all play in the top order. I cannot understand why Yonus plays at number seven,” he said once and repeated rest of the million times.
There are some cricketers like Sehwag who use set phrases to avoid embarrassment. For every question you ask Sehwag the answer is, “I play my natural game. If a ball is there to hit I will hit.” And even if Sachin has scored a ton he will give credit to the team and the pitch. “The ball was coming on to the bat. It was a team effort,” he usually would say.
It is also interesting how some commentators also have their own set of phrases. For Ravi Shastri every outfield is a lush green outfield and every edge is followed by, “when you flash, flash hard.” And if one believes Geoffrey Boycott, his mom can play almost very delivery. Waqar on the other hand kept pronouncing “excellent” as “axallent” through out the series.
The Indo-Pak series also gave opportunity for lesser known international cricketers to earn a few bucks by appearing on television. Ashok Malhotra, Nikhil Chopra, Mohsin Khan and Kirti Azad are some of the cricketers who we only see during the cricket matches only to forget after the series is over.

One flew over the cuckoo's nest...

2006-02-13T21:48:00.000-08:00

There is a flip side to every story and there’s a funny side to every such flip side. You may realize this bit of truth after traveling in some these so called affordable airlines which have swarmed our skies. Agreed tickets are cheaper then the trains in some cases but there are things which might remind you of Railways or even worse than that.
So what’s its like boarding a flight? Well, the nearest experience can be a theatre where tickets do not sport seat numbers. Any body who gets in first gets the seat of his or her choice. So once the flight is announced there is more than a bit of wrestling to get a window seat. And sometimes if you are unlucky you might also remember your childhood fights with your siblings to sit near the window. They should actually put one “*Conditions Apply” tag on the tickets saying that, “Window seats are subject to your fighting skills.”
And then there are intermittent delays ala Bharatiya Rail. The only difference here is that you get an SMS instead of calling the enquiry and finding out. The thing is patience is the key while you travel in these planes. You will reach your destination for sure but when and how are questions which are answered differently on case to case basis.
But don’t the air hostesses act as major differentiators in terms of quality of travel? Well, in these flights the air hostesses spend so much time selling snacks, home appliances, bags and so many other things that by the time you feel like asking for help the flight is over. Hospitality sells and how? The airhostesses are also sometimes so uninterested while explaining the safety parameters that one starts to think how bad are they as mime artistes.
And then there are also some other similarities with Railways which can take you by surprise. Even though the flight is only for a few hours, there are families who spend most of the time eating. There are people who push your baggage aside so that their bag is exactly on top of their head. And I haven’t yet realized why they do so because the chances of somebody stealing your bag in the flight are in fact wafer thin. There are also travelers who misread the hand baggage as handful baggage. One can always see them entering the plane with their life’s belonging.

Gym bang...

2006-02-04T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hyderabadis believe in miracles. And if you go to any swanky gym in town you will surely know how. There are girls who weigh themselves everyday before starting their work out hoping to see the weight indicator dip backwards. There are men who keep showing their biceps in front of the mirror hoping to see some heads turn especially when there are women around. And in between there are boys who watch their bigger and stronger cousins working out in the hope of replacing them one day.
And the hope for miracles increase manifold if the gym is situated in the office as in the case of many MNCs in town. There are some Mr Know-Alls who come to the gym to replace the trainer itself. So what do they do in the gym? Offer advices. And if it’s a girl, offer lots of advices. And once in a while you will see guys bringing in a couple of female colleagues to the gym with the sole purpose of showing off their knowledge of the various equipments. As if to mean that a simple machine like a treadmill needs an Einstein to master.
And every office gym, just like a Hyderabad pub, goes through a cycle. When it opens there is a lot of interest in town. The gym gets swarmed by wannabe models and techies who aspire to have a perfect body. There are couples who come to the gym with sole purpose of spending some quality time in between work. Basically all play and no work. Suddenly, one can also see the sale of canteen dipping. There are also some who treat the words of their trainer as gospel. So, what do they do? Carry a prescription in their pocket on do’s and don’ts of dieting. No takers for junk food. And then the green revolution also gets a pat on its back. Lots of salad, less of rice and more cardio seems to be the mantra for a fit body.
And then starts the reversal. Gradually one after the other back out. The daily rigours of the training take a toll on the fit body aspirations. And then the opinions also change. “I just want to be fit. And for that I need not go to the gym everyday. I am not here to look like a model. It is tough to balance your work with work out,” says one of the guys who earlier used to be champion for the cause. And the smile is back on the face of the canteen owner. The cycle is complete.
So what should the gym now do to attract more audience? Well, follow pubs and organize an Eve’s Night kind of event. If more girls work out, can the guys be far behind?

Doors...

2006-01-31T07:50:00.000-08:00

2006-01-31T01:52:00.000-08:00

From a distance everything seemed fine. The trees, the long row of apartments, the birds, the morning... But among the consistencies hovered the inconsistent mind of mine longing for a perfect slope for my emotions.

2006-01-31T00:47:00.000-08:00

Duniya Kitni Bawri, Pathar Poojan Jaye..
Ghar Ki Chakki Koi Na Pooje,
Jiska Peesa Khaye

- Sant Kabir

The dragon serves an ace

2006-01-27T01:44:00.000-08:00

China won its first Grandslam - women's doubles at Aussie Open. And probably for first time in the history of Slams I saw two pure unadulterated baseline doubles players - Zi Yan and Jie Zheng - winning the doubles crown. The moral of the story is do what you are good at and do it best. There is nothing such as perfect game except if you are one Federer. He is GOD.

Zinda

2006-01-24T08:14:00.000-08:00

yeh hai meri kahani,
khamosh zindagani,
sannata keh raha hai,
kyun zulm sah raha hai,
ek dastan purani,
tanhai ki zubani,
har zakhm khil raha hai,
kuch mujhse kah raha hai,
chubte kaante yaadon ke,
daman se chunta hun,
girti diwaronke,
aanchal mein zinda hoon,
bas yeh meri kahani,
benishan nishani…

2006-01-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

Meet fire with fire. Offence pays. Dhoni's knock was just what the doctor ordered and Pakistan dreaded...

Country needs Rahul…

2006-01-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Country needs Rahul… While a section of the Congress leadership is keen on making the AICC plenary the muhurat shot of Rahul Gandhi’s career on the “big stage” by painting the town red with hoardings stating the obvious, what option do aam janta like me have who are not interested in this game of idol worship. The trick is simple. Just imagine that the hoardings are meant for Rahul Dravid and not for Rahul Gandhi. Well, at this point when our team is fighting hard to keep the series alive in Pakistan, we need The Wall more than the Gandhi scion.
It was also nice to see MP Govinda make a “rare” appearance at the plenary. After his long and continued absence in the Parliament resulting in an official warning, it seemed that the forgotten star had forgotten his duties as Parliamentarian. But when it came to the party he was right there making his priorities pretty obvious. And there was also no pearl puja for him unlike Sachin Pilot who was caught in a tight spot at the airport when a friend of his showered him with pearls. So, next time there is a plenary, there will surely be more supporters waiting at the Pearl Harbour or in simple words the Begumpet Airport. Who knows how many supporters will try to ape this pearl feat next time and how many will try to collect them. But one thing is for sure, Hyderabadis have more than one reason to thank the plenary. The roads have become smoother and the city looks cleaner than ever before.
And clean are also the pitches in Pakistan. So much so that, an average test batsman like Shahid Afridi looked like one invincible conqueror. And may be that’s why former captain Sourav Ganguly was so keen to open in the Lahore test. Because he knew that there was no way he could get out on a dead track. And ironically he didn’t even get a chance to bat in the match.
While Ganguly’s fate seems pretty much sealed, Sehwag is continuing his dream run against Pakistanis. Much to the credit of Shoiab Akhtar, he didn’t even have too many things to say to the smashing Jat. And I am sure next time President Musharraf pays a visit to our country he will surely meet Shehwag Ki Maa in a bid to know the secret of his hand-eye coordination and lightening quick bat speed. So how will this series be remembered in the pages of cricketing history? Well, the answer could be this – live telecast of dead pitches.

Baba is no longer the black sheep...

2006-01-19T04:12:00.000-08:00

Baba rocks in Zinda. And rocks in a manner that will surely take him to an altogther different level of film acting. His transition from a sensitive techie with a pretty wife to an near-dead human being with cold indifference to pain, love and emotions deserves critical acclaim.

And once again his equation with buddy Sanjay Gupta shows on screen. Zinda is an out and out Baba show. He was there on every shot. Other characters were just incidental.

Perception

2005-12-26T05:38:00.000-08:00

Perceptions are more real than reality. I had heard this dictum many times before but realized the true meaning recently when one of my acquaintances visited me from US. He had never visited Hyderabad before in his life. After he landed here, he kept saying how the traffic was really bad and how the municipal corporations don’t have foresight in dealing with these problems. From people who live in the US, it was a very common reaction but than came another one, “Bangalore is also facing an infrastructure breakdown. It will soon cease to be the favourite outsourcing destination.” I was feeling sad since I felt that both Hyderabad and Bengaluru* have better achievements to boast of than these problems that have kind of overshadowed their image. So, I needed to do some PRgiri for Hyderabad at least since it was my city.

While our vehicle stopped near Punjagutta waiting for the signal to go green, looking at the Hyderabad Central he suddenly asked me, “Is it the main railway station.” And I answered, “Yes, it is. Chennai has Chennai Central and we have Hyderabad Central.” It was a well calculated guess as I knew for a fact that visiting the mall was not in his itinerary and he had a return flight booked that evening. And then suddenly things became pretty and he had some really nice things to say about the city. “Hey, your railway station looks cool man. It looks better the airport. Even Delhi metro doesn’t have such beautiful station,” he said and I smirked.

Now talking about malls, Hyderabad is currently getting mauled by them. Every single day a new mall is inaugurated by Telugu starlet and there is a traffic jam for two hours. Sadly some of these stars don’t even see the same number of audiences in front of the theatres for their movies. May be they come to these functions so that they can get some false confidence.

And speaking of confidence and stars, nobody can do it better than Dev Sahab. In spite of people rejecting his movies time and again he has made another valiant attempt at making a movie and this time with “earthquake of a story.” But does he need to write that. Seeing a Dev Anand movie is the same as facing an earthquake. “You just pray for it to finish its act in the shortest possible time.”

*In case you are wondering, Bengaluru is the new name of Bangalore, specially coined to give visiting Americans a lesson in Phonetics.

Ten things that didn't change even in 2005…

2005-12-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

1) Doordarshan’s broadcast
2) Dev Anand making a movie
3) Bappida’s Hindi pronunciation
4) Sachin creating a new record
5) Sanjay Dutt teaming up with Sanjay Gupta
6) Mulayam dreaming of a Third Front
7) Left Front cribbing about the government
8) Sourav’s fans on the roads
9) President Kalam’s speeches
10) Chiranjeevi’s popularity

Bheema Returns

2005-12-12T06:13:00.000-08:00

The city must have learnt a couple of lessons from the drama concerning the missing Alsatian of former city police commissioner M V Krishna Rao. If to know that even dogs have sequels — Bheema II — was a revelation, more so was the fact that how stealing a dog can be a high-profile and profitable proposition. The rule is simple. Steal a dog belonging to a bureaucrat or a top cop; keep it with you for a couple of days; treat it well and return it as soon the prize money is announced. And all this comes with a fair share of media attention, which even a bank heist won’t always give you.

And the other lesson is that a pet foreign breed dog should not always have an English name. Just like Big B is named Vijay in most of his movies, I think at least 3 out of ten dogs in our country are called Tomy. The other popular names are Jack, Snoopy, and Rambo etc. Some even go to the extent of addressing their dogs as Tiger. It serves two purposes. One, it gives the dog false confidence and the other it gives the ever confusing tiger census a boost. Although poaching is still big in India, the tiger census continues to paint a healthy picture. May be thanks to these homemade Tigers! Now coming to some unique dog names, I think the funniest that I have ever come across is what popular journalist Vinod Mehta calls his dog — Editor.

And the latest is that dogs also have their daily laughs. Now lets for a moment forget about the science part of it. What are the things that can make a dog laugh? Well, the answer must be somewhere related to us. Bheema must be having a hearty laugh now-a-days because in his career as a guard dog, he never saw his photo appear in a newspaper till he went missing for two days and suddenly he was the most sought-after. And the popular pug in the mobile service provider ads, must be laughing at all the subscribers by saying that, “I have been following my owners since time immemorial. There is nothing new in it. And you believed networks do the same. But I don’t mind as long as I keep getting movie offers and you inflated bills.” And all most all the celebrity canine population must now be laughing because Dhramendra Paaji has finally retired because he was one actor who always looked down upon them by comparing them with humans. Remember the “Kutte, Kamine, Mein Tera Khoon…” dialogues.

2005-12-09T03:40:00.000-08:00

If Jim Morrison would have been alive he would have surely rewritten his most quotable quote: "There are things known and there are things unknown and in beetween there is Google."

Jhaji's Formula

2005-12-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

When Prakash Jha made Mrityudand and Madhuri Dixit played the role of lead actress, she was probably the only star attraction of the movie. And that was a masterstroke on the part of Jha because this star theory continuously works for him. His movies and also his message manage to get the audience because he ropes in “stars who can act” to perform the lead roles. Bipasha Basu essays a small role in Apaharan but the fact she is in the movie might lure a section of the society to actually watch the movie. And Ajay Devgan beautifully manages to transition from the song and dance routine to give these power-packed performances in his movies. So here goes Mr Jha’s success formula: Bihar + one star + award winning actors.

Is Apaharan another Company?

Is Apaharan another Company? If you actually think in terms of a factory product, Apaharan totally fits the bill. But even though similarities exist between the two movies apart from Ajay Devgan, may be this is not the most relevant question. The question should be: Is Bihar another Mumbai? And the answer is yes. Most of the crime happens on cell phones. And in Bihar also, like anywhere else, it is an unholy nexus between politicians, cops and dons. And for the dons, crime is just like any other profession. So it will be unfair to say that Prakash Jha has been inspired by the RGV don sagas. The similarities exist because of the subject they deal with.

Gully Cricket

2005-12-03T02:10:00.000-08:00

I played cricket today with some of my friends after a long time. The rules were written, rewritten and heavily rewritten at different points of the game. There were arguments almost after after every delivery. We even kept one soda seller waiting outside the ground for the drinks breaks. It was as if I was transported back to my school days. Fun it was.

Sona Chandi Chawanprash!!!

2005-12-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

The man needs no introduction. But Bappida, as he is popularly known, sang/composed two songs which didn't match his metal-studded personality,

Lie No 1:

Film: Disco Dancer
Song: Goron Ki Na Kaalon Ki Duniya He Dilwalon Ki, "Na Sona Na Chandi" Geeton Se Humko Pyaar...

Lie No 2:

Film: Saheb
Song: Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re, Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re, "Sona Nahin, Chandi Nahin" Yaar To Mila, Arre Pyar Karle...

Our take: Now looking at the above image where we can't even see the cargo on his neckline - at least 10 necklaces on a rough count - one can easily say that both these claims were pure unadulterated lies.

2005-12-01T04:58:00.000-08:00

When Bachchan sneezes, the nation might catch a cold, but the moral of the story is: Big B is mortal.