A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

In my house, there are a few peacock feathers. Papa got them from the park where he found them lying them on the ground (neither by murdering a peacock nor by buying them from an animal parts smuggler!). It is almost a year since we have them but I have never looked at them properly. Today, just accidentally I saw them lying on the floor and they drew my attention. I was awed by the absolute symmetry and the melange of colours it has. Its resplendence is so inspiring that it is no wonder that Krishna had one of these in his 'mukut'. The different shades of blue and green forming a pattern is the perfect example of nature's exhilarating beauty. And even a peacock feather has a certain significance. A single feather is made of sort of hair like strands collectively forming it. If we look at a single strand, it looks quite ordinary, the colours are hardly visible. But only when we look at collection of these strands forming a complete feather, then only each and every feature of it is completely visible perhaps in a way signifying that strength lies in unity and only in unity we can see the diversity of creation. A single strand has no significance of its existence.Nature gives us so many lessons from the most innocuous of things. I so wish to see a peacock dancing in the rain with its full grandeur. What a stunning sight it would be :)

P.S. - I just realized that it is my 100th post. Cheers for a pathetic blog!

The Curious Cases of Liking Films...

Ever since Kaminey has released to excellent reviews by the critics, there is some sort of backlash, if I may use the word, over its supposed greatness and it being called the best film of the year. Some people have loved the film and some have trashed the film. But this post is not about I-liked-Kaminey and you-did-not-like-Kaminey but it is about liking films in general. Has it ever occurrred to you that the whole world is singing praises about a film and you absolutely detest that film but since everyone is liking it, you force yourselves to like it. This of course carries the risk of you being called a shameless hypocrite who doesn't has the guts to say freely about your own likings but since you don't want to be an outcast who doesn't understand cinema, you tend to go with the flow. This has happened to me, to be frank, quite a lot of times. Cases in point that it has happened to me: Slumdog Millionaire ( great cinema but Curious Case was so much better), Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Lage Raho Munnabhai. I found these films just average types. I have seen the faces of my friends when I told them that I did not like these films trulyand can still see their ghastly faces.And there are some films that you absolutely loved but the kind of box office reception they have got, being some of the flops, makes me wonder at times about my sensibilites. Cases in point: Saawariya ( I agree it was very slow but I don't know, I loved it ), Aaja Nachle, Black, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. And there are some films that make you wonder why the hell did it earn so much money? Cases in point: Om Shanti Om, Ghajini, Singh is King. And there are some trashy films that I am ashamed I enjoyed them like Race. And also, there are some films, that I do not understand at all at first watching. When I read the reviews and understand the films it makes me absolutely love that films. Like No Smoking. I did not understand at all that was happenning for those 2 hours but then thanks to IMDB, I read a terrific explanation of some of the scenes of the movie and it made me realise the absolute depth and brilliance of the film. Or something like Lost In Translation, Revolutionary Road,or Ankur normal films at first but once you read the reviews, you understand the umpteen layers these films have. I so wish these films had an explanation like a running documentary by the director what he/she had in mind while executing that particular scene. I just wish I could understand these kind of films without reading the reviewsinstead I wish i could write good review but :( :(

And of course, there are some films that you like which are liked universally ;)

Sentimental Education...

The most reliable form of enjoyment or pleasure is the anticipation of enjoyment or pleasure, that no sooner has a special moment or occasion arrived, it is over; that the lead up to it is everything; and at the end of that leap up, that end of the beginning of an event is actually the beginning of the end of it...

Julian Barnes on Sentimental Education by Flaubert

These lines appeared in the column Dad's the Word when Soumya explains to his daughter Oishi that instead of her birthday it is the period or the days left to her birthday that are more enjoyable than the birthday itself.. so true these lines are.. one of the most beautiful passages..

I love Piggy Chops...

There is this competition on twitter that allows you to pose with her http://www.picturesgetustalking.com/Home.aspx this is what I submitted to the gallery :)
I know I look horriblw with her :(

Manhoof Kaminey...

Yesterday I saw Kaminey and what a film!! Vishal Bharadwaj proves yet again that he is such a brilliant filmmaker. From Maqbool to Omkara to The Blue Umbrella and giving us some terrific music like Phoonk De (No Smoking) to Maachis.. he has always stood out and has huge respect among film lovers. Kaminey is about two twins Guddu and Charlie..the first one stammers while the second one lisps..ek hakla doosra total. This unique idea itself is so brilliant in itself. What follows is the story of these two twins in the dark world of drugs, crime, politics, corruption, money, betting. Kaminey has been rightly called the best film of the year. There were some terrific sequences like where Guddu says to Bhope about his dad saying that they are like sugar which will get mixed up in the society.. or the fight between the twins at their old house and the sharp humorous climax..also, Sweety just like Paro of DevD was a very liberated character, confident of her sexuality who is not afraid to have sex.. the dirty dirty world of money and politics was shown at its best where Power is Power.. Shahid was brilliant as both Guddu and Charlie and this film should catapult him to the A league of stars. Priyanka is excellent. Amol Gupte who plays Bhope (of Taare Zameen Par fame) is a terrific actor..all the other cast was first-rate.. references to the Tarantino style of cinema were quite visible..initially, we are not shown what exactly is happening but the audience is made to figure out themselves and then it gets clear as to what is happening.. like the scene where Charlie steals the car of the Narcotics Department..the dialogues which were also by Vishal are fantastic.. The music is very good. I really like Fataak, Pehli Baar and Kaminey.. Vishal also keeps on playing songs of R D Burman during the film and Mayank Shekhar has called him the true successor to RD Burman..the penchant for details is so remarkable..like when Sweety tells Guddu she is pregnant, Guddu goes and sits on the toilet seat..the door on which is written Mera haath jagannath and outside some random phone numbers and typical graffiti. Kaminey is dark, gritty, humorous, unpredictable, and splendid.. it is not to be missed. Watch it.

Yeh jo des hai tera

It is Independence Day, and I am posting the lyrics of the song Yeh jo des hai tera from one of my most loved films, Swades..there is something about Swades that makes me cry every time I watch it..whether it be Rehman's brilliant music, the sequences where Mohan produces electricity for the village, the scene of the farmer who has to pay rent to Gayatri but does not even have money to buy the food or that scene where Mohan sees that boy selling water for 25 paise at the Railway station finally drinking the water of the land rather than the mineral water. Swades brings an emotional catharsis for so many reasons.

Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara

Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta,

Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega

Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu laut ke aayega

Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein

Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega

Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara

Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

Tujhse zindagi, hai ye keh rahi

Sab toh paa liya, ab hai kya kami

Yun toh saare sukh hai barse

Par door tu hai apne gharse

Aa laut chal tu ab diwaane

Jahaan koyi toh tujhe apna maane

Awaaz de tujhe bulaane, wahi des

Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara

Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta..

Ye pal hai wahi, jis mein hai chhupi

Koyi ek sadi, saari zindagi

Tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe

Aaye hain is tarha do raahein

Tu hi toh hai raah jo sujhaaye

Tu hi toh hai ab jo ye bataaye

Chaahe toh kis disha mein jaaye wahi des

Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara

Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta

Yeh Delhi hai mere yaar...

I had gone to Chandni Chowk a few days back for a friends's treat as he was going to France.. For the first time, I saw Delhi-6..I have been to Chandni chowk area before but never saw anything.. but this time I saw everything..

Paranthe Vali gali.. we had all types of Paratha..nimbu, tamatar, aloo, paneer, badaam and rabri paratha too!!

Roaming in the streets of Old Delhi has its own charm.. the chaos of the traffic, the overhead wires, the people sitting on the sideway taking a rupee to check your wieght, those machines where you insert a coin and a card comes out showing your weight along with an actor whose matches with you,the drops of water falling on your head from the AC in the cramped buliding, the funny shop salesman calling everyone, the cattle enjoying a good time... Delhi-6 is Delhi-6!!

We wanted to get a photograph with a cow, so 3 of us went and stood next to a white cow who we wished would oblige us but it seemed she wasn't in a good mood..while we were standing, she brought her poonch from behind like some wire and tried to whip us...it was sooooo funny and everyone there started laughing but it was fun..I am putting some pictures here :)

Reincarnation is as necessary for the living as for the dead...

. I did not go to NDTV studio, not because I did not want to go, but they apparently called to confirm but somehow I couldn't pick up the phone, so chance gone but mujhe karna hi kya tha vahan.. just sit quietly...

. It is really a long time since I wrote whats-happening-in-my-life post, a euphemism for my-life-sucks-and-I-am-a-perennial-cribber..

. Things are not going smooth..I see negative vibes around me, I know the reason for that but what could I do :( I am like that only..stupid, slow and dumb..The circumstances made even more pathetic by certain situations arising every other day..I hope things get better..it really really is important :(

. I have become so lazy and feel tired even though I do not do much..I am always sleepy..

. I am loving my Spanish classes..the only thing I enjoy these days.. Estos diaz yo estoy triste y todos estan felizes..Quiero la felicidad de mi vida..

. I finally watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.. I felt so bad when Dumbledore died.. I knew of course that he is going to die I had read the book but it was really really sad.. the movie is only for Potter fans and only Potter fans will like it..the sequence for the Horcrux in the cave is good.. I am really excited to watch the next The Deathly Hallows which is going to come out in 2 parts..of course everyone has read the book but it is a great feeling to see it on screen.. My favourite caracter out of the three is Hermione..she is what I always wanted to be..so smart, knows everything, reads a lot..I had wanted to be like her..but life had some other plans : Luna Lovegood is very likeable...she reminds me of Phoebe.. So, just as a reminder for myself,the scene where Draco Malfoy attacks Dumbledore and he loses his wand..this will be crucial as Draco Malfoy has inadvertently become the master of the elder wand!!

. I want to see Love Aaj Kal..it has got a mixed response..but somehow it is not pushing me to watch the film..the one movie I am eagerly waiting for is Kaminey..Vishal Bharadwaj!!! only this name is sufficient to drag me to the cinema hall.. also eagerly waiting for Whats your Rashee and kind of for Dil Bole Hadippa :)

. I finished reading Marrying Anita by Anita Jain..it is a good book leaning more towards chiclit but what I liked was the real picture of India..the cities rapidly growing but the villages still far behind..Reincarnation is as necessary for the living as for the dead..the last line of the book..so treu :)

. Planned to get a new book..either English, August by Upamanyu Chatterjee or The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay by Siddharth Dhanvant Shangvi.. finally bought English, August.

. I watched a whole lot of movies using Bigflix.. the list of which can be seen as a gadget on the blog..such great movies..Persepolis was an amazing movie and many many others too..I have been trying to get Forrest Gump and Jaane bhi do yaaron but they don't have them now :

. Last week, I met an aunty..she knew who I was, what I was doing,etc. etc. but I didn't know who she was..just talked to her without asking her who was she.. and I met a school friend while going to the market..he stopped his car and talked to me,etc. etc. and then when we were about to leave..he asked me my name!!! So ironic..an aunty who I don't know knows everything about me and a friend in school doesn't even remember my name!! but why blame him! people are so busy and I was not a very popular person in school and am still not=)

. Enough for now, will write more later ;)

P.S.- I have started to really really like smileys..In my cell, I had graphic smileys but these keyboard smileys are so much better..changed them in my cell..how iamginative of the person who thought of these!!

Should I go or not???

I will keep this short.

Today I got a call from NDTV to appear as audience for their show Hum Log with Pankaj Pachauri. At first I was surprised as what to say. Then I said that I will try to come and she was like TV par aane ka chance hai!! 4-5 aur jano ko bhi le ana..it is on Swine flu.. I said I will try to go..as if I am a celebrity they are dying to call..so idiotic of me!

But I still haven't made my mind to go or not! I know I just have to sit there but I will give the most girly reason I don't have nice clothes :D

Will see..If I go, then watch me there!

Rakhi ka Drama bahut Sayana..

The final episode of the show 'Rakhi Ka Swayamwar', which saw the item girl announcing Toronto-based businessman Elesh Parujanwala as her ideal groom, registered a TRP of 6.3 Sunday night. According to overnight audience measurement agency aMap, it has been the highest TRPs so far for the channel. -Yahoo

It was a record show.. the whole India watched the show..the show worked bigtime..it was a big time drama..people did not watch it because they are Rakhi's fans (as she says so) but because of the curiosity factor and as some people are calling it India is living vicariously through its reality shows.. God forbid! I just read that Rahul Mahajan is consdering his Swayamvar next..Only Rakhi could have pulled it with elan but Rahul Mahajan?? that joker who laughs in the most bizarre ways..Rakhi got what she wanted..popularity..drama! Imagine got what they wanted TRPs..made crores! Hindi Channels got what they wanted...Breaking News.. and people got what they wanted ..entertainment :D

I have started to hate MTV..the very name Music Television and I wonder where is the Music.. MTV has become so negative it is a torture to watch it but I won't ask to ban the channel..I have my remote so I use it.

Round and Round...

What is this?
I think some parallax effect..I don't know why it is :S
Any guesses?