Out Of Hibernation

So my hibernation mode is over now. Exams do make you give up on a lot of things. Food, sleep, living, writing. Sigh. Its almost been a month since the last post and I must admit, the editor seemed a bit unfamiliar when I opened it after such a long hiatus.

But I’m back. With a lot of songs. And more movies. Have spent an entire day in front of the TV watching Lamhe, Veer Zaara, Chandni, and Silsila back to back! God Bless Yash Chopra’s soul. That man is partly responsible for what my definition of romance is. Switzerland, sarson ke khet, chiffon sarees... I’d love to do that someday! Until then, let me go and earn that kinda money to make it to Switzerland (and Italy's still on the list too).

Closing Thoughts

The body heals itself. The mind doesn't.

English Vinglish

Aaaaand Sridevi is back! How I LOVE that woman. I saw this trailer a few days ago and kept grinning all day long. And she’s still as gorgeous as ever (long live Botox).

The film looks good too. I don’t know if it’ll be as good as this trailer, I don’t know if it’ll set cash registers ringing, I don’t know how the critics will rate it. But honestly, I don’t care! I am gonna go see it just for Her. Coz I know she won’t be bad J

P.S: Sridevi and chiffon sarees have always been synonymous. So seeing her in cottons almost seemed a bit weird at first! But she more than made up for it by dancing in the snow. (Check video at 2:27 for that!)

Movie Recommendation - Koshish

Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bachchan, Dina Pathak, Asrani.

Release Year: 1972.

Director: Gulzar.

Movie for this week is Koshish – a superlative story on love, life, courage and hope. This was Gulzar’s second movie as a director, and the first one I’d seen when I was about 8 or 9. I remember being completely bowled over by the performances.  

A realistic tale of a deaf and mute couple, Haricharan and Aarti, played flawlessly by Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bachchan. The story spans a period of 20 years of their life. Their love story is touching and has its own moments, like the one where Haricharan proposes to Aarti and she declines, or their wedding night. The couple’s first born passes away when it walks out of the house on a rainy night. But happiness creeps in again when Aarti gives birth to a ‘normal’ boy. A scene to watch out here is when they discover that their son is not deaf; Hari breaks a pot while Aarti whistles on! I have a little problem with the ending of this film. I find it a bit conventional. (But then again, I always have one or the other problem with almost every film!) Apart from that, the movie is exceptional. Especially since it does not contain the usual melodrama that you would expect from a movie that revolves around two deaf and mute people.

It amazes me how Jaya Bachchan can slip into any role with such ease. The effort just doesn’t show. And Sanjeev Kumar! He is always at his best in a Gulzar film. The film’s soundtrack comprises of two very forgettable songs, but they can be ignored; all thanks to a powerful story.

No matter what or how much I write here, it will not do justice to what I feel for this film. Yes, I know I’m partial to Gulzar, but all said and done; Koshish is a film that you must watch and not read about!

Song Of The Week

I’d almost posted Halkat Jawaani here. The song has been playing day in and day out in the head. The Hindi film industry has suddenly woken up to all-things-Maharashtrian, and the outcome is cheesy item numbers such as this, or Mala Jau De, or what was that song from Joker? Never mind. But one thing I can’t figure out, why Halkat? If you want to curse your jawaani, there are many more effective slang words in Marathi. How about Bavlat Jawaani? It may not be as racy as Halkat, but it suits the song.

Coming back to the post, what managed to get Halkat Jawaani out of the system was Phir Le Aaya Dil from Barfi. There are two versions to this song and both are equally good. But it is Rekha Bhardwaj’s rendition that I just can’t stop listening to. The lady probably dips her voice in chocolate before singing. Pritam’s music is beautifully subtle and cleverly highlights Swanand Kirkire’s lyrics. Barfi’s soundtrack also comprises of other impressive compositions like Kyuu, and Aashiyaan.

* Kismat ko hai yen manzur kya keeje

Milte rahe hum badastoor kya keeje

Dil keh raha hai

Usse musalsal kar bhi aao

Woh jo ruki si raah baaki hai

Wohjo ruki si chaah baaki hai *

Song: Phir Le Aaya Dil

Film: Barfi

Music: Pritam

Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire

Vocals: Rekha Bhardwaj

Qui Vengo, Italia

Thanks to Masterchef, my Italian holiday is planned. I have researched on where to go, what to see, what to do and what not to do! Why, I even have somebody for company :)

Now, all that we need is some money! Will have to wait till that happens. *Sigh*.

Getting Him Home

Its that time of the year again,

When idol stalls are put up,

When modaks are made

When a silent thought is interrupted

By the rhythm of a dhol that plays far away.

Its that time of the year again,

When loudspeakers blare,

When traffic barely moves

When money is extorted

In the name of religion.

Its that time of the year again,

When the God comes home.

When he is welcomed with fervour

When he stays, sees,

And chooses not to stay long.

Its that time of the year again,

When we bid him adieu,

With a smile on the face,

And a pit in the stomach.

The Make-Up Letter

[For all those who do not know, this is a sequel to this letter.]

Dear Chocolate,

You must be surprised to hear from me again. Especially after what happened between us. But the truth is, I have missed you. A lot, that too. And I wouldn’t have known about it if I’d not seen you at the store the other day.

Yes, I was at fault. I was the one who strayed. But then, you know how volatile I can be. This Coffee guy was a serious crush. Thanks to my project deadlines, we started seeing each other often. Whether it was a dull morning or some late night programming, he’d always be there, helping me to push through the day (or night). But it was only after I left you for him that I realized how terrible he is. My zombie-like eyes would agree to that. I’ve been deprived of sleep for the past couple of months. I still remember how you used to put me to sleep, and I miss that.

I tried moving on, met a couple of snacks, even fast foods, but none of them were as comforting or as delicious as you are. I thought of calling out to you, but my pride (and my diet) forbade me from doing so. But I don’t care about them anymore. I have become conscious of the fact that you and I belong together. Even though you add to my weight woes, I want you back. a li’l exercise on my part, and we’d both be happy this time.

I hope you find it in you to take me back.

Yours (Now) Faithfully,

Ankita.

Song Of The Week

No matter how bad the day may have been, give me a Gulzar poem/song at the end of it and I’m happy. Song of the week is Aapki Aankhon Mein Kuch from Ghar. Did a lot of you just go ‘awww’ over that? Yes, the song is every bit aww-worthy!

This song defines romance for me. It amazes me how Pancham’s music and Gulzar’s words are always a perfect match. Like ‘made for each other’ type! Add to that Kishore Kumar’s voice and I’d call it wholesome goodness!

* Lab hile toh mogre ke

Phool khilte hai kahin

Aapki aankhon mein kya

Saahil bhi milte hai kahin *

Song: Aapki Aankhon Mein Kuch

Film: Ghar

Music: R.D.Burman

Lyrics: Gulzar

Vocals: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar.

The Cute Kid

Kids can be so cute,

When they are not throwing tantrums.

Or screaming their lungs out. 

When they are not wailing.

Or even talking.

When they play on their own.

And keep you out of their fights.

When they don't ask you questions.

And share a bar of chocolate.

When they can tie shoelaces.

And don't ask you to.

Yes, kids can be cute.

And I'm a big liar.

The Masala Factor?

I saw Rowdy Rathore. Probably, all my bad stars were at work that day. Everybody around me seemed to enjoy the film while I kept on ranting about how shitty it is. Anyhow, it got me thinking on how such films can cross the 100-crore mark when they don’t have even one scene that seems sensible. You either see Akshay Kumar leeching at the heroine, or hitting goons mercilessly; that of course when he is not at his silly antics or saying idiotic lines like ‘Don’t angry me’ (wow).

Now don’t try and tell me its a masala story. In that case, I’d prefer seeing some action movie from the 70’s. The dialogues are a lot funnier, if not more sensible than our Rowdy here. Here are some of my favourites:

- Police ne chaaro taraf se tumhe gher liya hai. (Some cool police that is!)

- Aaiye doctor sahib, main aapko bahar tak chhod deta hoon. (Yeah, our poor li’l doctor cannot find his own way)

-  Thehro! Yeh shaadi nahi ho sakti (Oh Shit)

- Inhe davaa ki nahi duaa ki zaroorat hai (Now whoever invented that is pure genius)

- Maa, mujhe naukri mil gayi Maa! (Saying Maa twice is absolutely necessary)

- Main tumhaare bacche ki maa bannewali hoon. (Epic)

Ek Gulzar Din

Today is Gulzar Saheb’s birthday. If it were in my hands, this day would’ve been declared a national holiday long ago. Khaiir. Even if that is not happening, I have other plans for the day! All that I have done since morning is read his poems from Raat Pashmine Kii, or listen to that wonderful ‘ILoveGulzar’ playlist I created yesterday! And I still have to eat that chocolate cake. Hmm.

Thank You Gulzar Saheb. For giving us films like Ijaazat, Mausam, Angoor, Aandhi, Namkeen, Parichay, Koshish, Masoom, Guddi. And songs that always light up my face; songs that my children will grow up on! (Their first nursery rhyme would probably be Lakdi Ki Kaathi or Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai!) J

Gulzar Mania

Itne logon me keh do iin aankhon ko, 

Itna ooncha, aise na bola karen...

Log mera naam jaan jaate hain.

Song Of The Week

I haven’t forgotten that it’s a Monday today. Song of the week is Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo. Now there are many versions of this song. The original one by Farida Khannum, another by Asha Bhosle, not to mention the innumerable trashy remixes. The former one is very ghazal-ish, mehfil-ish (Of course. Raag Yaman Kalyan never fails). The latter version is also quite similar, only the instruments used are modern. Or lets say that it is a digitized version of the original!

But the one I’m going to post here today is a beautiful recreation of the original. Music by Shankar Tucker is very east-meets-west while vocals by Rohini Ravada are a feast to the ears. I’d once heard it on the radio while driving and though I’d only heard the last few lines, it’d stuck with me due to her sheer singing prowess. And I didn’t know who it was! But after relentless searching, I finally found it on Youtube last week! If I were to sing this song, I would have sung it exactly like this. My voice is not as good, but the style would have been similar J

P.S: Listen intently to how she sings ‘tumhe’ in the antara. Makes my heart melt!

* Tum hi socho zara kyun na roke tumhe

Jaan jaati hai jab uthke jaate ho tum

Tumko apni kasam jaan-e-jaan,

Baat itni meri maan lo *

Song: Aaj Jaane Ki Zid

Music: Shankar Tucker

Lyrics: Fayyaz Hashmi

Vocals: Rohini Ravada (OST: Farida Khannum)

Apologies To My Neglected Child!

Its been over two weeks since my last post. This blog has quite received the step-motherly treatment and I owe an explanation.

 Real life had raised its ugly head and dragged me out of my virtual life. The past two weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. From attraction to anger, and spooked to remorse; been there, done that. Its funny how something from your past can haunt you. Something that you always thought you’d overcome and moved on. Turns out, it ain’t that easy. Getting it out of your system is a tough thing to do. But I’ve done that before. And I don’t see a reason why I won’t be able to do it now. Only this time, I’ll have to work out some dream interpretation theory. It’ll take time, but I’ll be okay J

Apart from that, everything is good. And btw! Its Sridevi’s budday today! Happy Birthday sweetheart! You’re the reason I’d ever want to get into six yards of yellow chiffon and dance in the rain! (Or wait. Maybe blue chiffon). No matter how annoying and aggravating saris are, I see myself doing that someday. Thank You for giving us Lamhe, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Gumrah, Sadma, Mr. India, and even Judai and Nagina!

Don't get high on this Cocktail

Okay, I know I didn’t post any movie yesterday. But today, I’ll tell you about a movie that you shouldn’t watch – Cocktail. I saw it the other day and by the end of it, I’d pulled out most of my hair. I’m glad that atleast I didn’t waste my money watching it at a theatre (Piracy zindabad!).

The movie consists of three characters:

1.       Good Girl (Meera/Diana Penty) – You know she’s good coz she doesn’t drink and prays regularly. (That’s what the film says)

2.       Bad Girl (Veronica/Deepika Padukone) – She’s the bad one coz she parties, gets drunk. (The film says this as well. And also tries to tell you why she’s so. Troubled childhood and all)

3.       Loser boy (Gautam/Saif Ali Khan) – One look at him and you know he’s a jerk. (Now, I’m saying this!)

Good girl is married to bad boy (Randeep Hooda) who takes all her money and throws her out on the street. Bad girl invites good girl to stay over in her house. A few days later, loser boy also joins them in the house. Loser boy and bad girl hook up. To take the story from here, Loser boy’s Punjabi mummy (Dimple Kapadia) enters the picture along with his cute uncle (Boman Irani). Oh! Did I mention the story is set in London? Don’t ask me why. It wouldn’t have made any difference if it were set here. But looks like they had a lot of money to splurge.

Coming back to the story, Punjabi mummy is haath dho ke picche after loser boy to get married. Loser boy panics and tells her that he loves the good girl. An excellent choice since mummy would never approve of the bad girl. So loser boy and good girl pretend to be in love and nautanki karte karte, end up falling in love (Blah). But surprise surprise! Bad girl also falls for loser boy (Seriously?). Good girl being the good girl is willing to step aside. And bad girl is also willing to change into sati-savitri for the mummy. So now what does loser boy do? Of course he marries the good girl (It’s a Hindi film, duh!). And they all live happily ever after.

Moral of the story: To get married, you have to be a good girl. Even if its loser boy who doesn’t deserve you at all, YOU have to be a good girl. Drinking and partying is a no-no. Wearing short dresses is a taboo. You may be willing to turn into sati savitri but it’d be too late by then.

Ms. Winfrey's Desi Yatra

A few years ago, Shabana Azmi had stated in one of her interviews that Americans are ignorant. After watching Oprah’s Next Chapter: India on TLC, I couldn’t have agreed more with Azmi’s statement. For them, India still remains the land of snake charmers. Look at any Hollywood movie on India – right from City Of Joy to Slumdog Millionaire, they just don’t seem to get past the slums here.

Ms. Winfrey was no exception. At the very beginning of the episode, she went to one of Mumbai’s slums with Gregory David Roberts (yeah, the Shantaram guy). There she met a family of five who lived in a hundred square feet area and asked them idiotic questions like how can five of them live in such a small, dingy place, if they were ‘happy and satisfied’, which made the family’s patriarch shed a few tears. She was astonished to see that there was no shower in the bathroom and even more, on learning how their clothes fit into one small shelf. I noticed a mammoth LCD TV in the house, which I suppose Ms. Winfrey chose to ignore so as not to tamper with the emotional quotient of the show.

Next up, she visited a (rich) joint family (where she made a complete fool of herself). She remarked how Indian women have to live with their mother-in-law and their extended families all their life. And the ultimate line came when she was served food (in a silver thali) – “I hear some people in India STILL eat with their hands”. (Ahem. Okay. So how do they eat pizzas, tacos, and nachos in your country Ms. Winfrey?)

In the next episode, Ms.Winfrey plans on visiting the Taj Mahal. How typical for a foreigner (Or even Indians. C’mon! What’s the big deal with that place? Its just an oversized white tomb. Khaiir, chodo). And as much as I want not to see it, I know I’ll end up watching it (!) in the hope that she would probably have to say something more sensible this time.

Song Of The Week

Nothing like a good song from Aandhi to unwind after a long day. Song for the week is Is Mod Se Jaate Hain. Now if I start raving and ranting about Aandhi’s music, I won’t stop really stop! Its really difficult for me to keep this post short, but I’ll try my best.

Aandhi was about a husband and wife who meet after 9 years of separation. The song is used in a flashback in the film. As a kid, I could not make anything out of the song. It was only that I saw the film (and grew up a bit) that I could comprehend it. The best part of the song is the alaap at the beginning. Lata Mangeshkar’s honey dipped voice churning out the perfect sur (and look at Suchitra Sen! As beautiful as ever). R.D.Burman excels at it once again. And Gulzar. What do I say? There was and there’ll never be another one like him.

After the song was composed, Gulzar looked at Pancham who was deep in thoughts. Suddenly, he asked Gulzar, “What is ‘Nasheman’?” He thought it referred to some place where the road leads to. Even when the song was being shot, Sanjeev Kumar had the same question! So for all those who didn’t know, nasheman means ghosla or a nest.

* Aandhi ki tarah udkar ek raah guzarti hai

Sharmaati hui koi kadmon se utarti hai

Inn reshmi rahon mein ik raah to woh hogi

Tum tak jo pahunchti hai, is mod se jaate hain *

Song: Is Mod Se Jaate Hain

Film: Aandhi

Music: R.D.Burman

Lyrics: Gulzar

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar

Movie Recommendation - Anand

Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo, Sumita Sanyal, Johnny Walker.

Release Year: 1971.

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Movie for the week is Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s multiple award-winning Anand. Not because Rajesh Khanna passed away. This was anyway going to be this week’s movie coz it’s the only one I’ve seen since last Friday. At the outset, let me warn you that this is not one of my favourites. I usually love Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films. This one, I like. But given a choice between Anand and Mili (another Hrishida classic), I’d choose the latter. The story is vaguely similar. Only a terminally-ill Rajesh Khanna is replaced by Jaya Bachchan, which makes it a far more endearing watch.

Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan) is a no-nonsense physician with a melancholic approach to life. Dr. Prakash (Ramesh Deo), his senior introduces him to Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna), a jovial, terminally-ill patient, who doesn’t have a lot of time to live. Anand decides to stay with Bhaskar instead of the hospital. The story revolves on how Anand spreads happiness in the lives of the people around him, including Bhaskar, who learns to appreciate life in all its colours.

Rajesh Khanna as Anand is apt. He plays the jolly, ever-energetic (and sometimes over the top) character to perfection. A similar version of the character has been played by Khanna (albeit a lot better) in Bawarchi as well. However, the best part of the movie is Amitabh Bachchan. Its so heartening to see him play a lanky Bhaskar. More over the angry young man, I love to see him in such roles. Characters that he played in Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies are so real and affable than the ones in his masala films. 

A review of Anand cannot be complete without its music. Salil Chaudhary’s elevating compositions accompanied by powerful lyrics by Yogesh and Gulzar resulted in chartbusters like Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli,  Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye, Maine Tere Liye Hi Saat Rang Ke Sapne and Na Jiyaa Lage Na.

How much you’ll love this movie depends on how much you can relate to Anand’s character. Although a one-time-watch wouldn’t be a waste for sure.

RIP Rajesh Khanna

Growing up in a house where your parents are diehard Rajesh Khanna fans, watching his movies was always a compulsion, whenever they were aired on TV. My mom would tell me how girls were crazy about him. My dad would tell me how he bunked school to watch his movies. As a kid, I was bored of them. But as I grew up, I fell in love with the characters he played; and more or less, the actor who played them. It was then that I understood why the man had such a huge fan following, why he was the country’s first ‘Superstar’.

As I came home today, I saw my mom glued to the television. I also know my dad would be sitting in his office, heartbroken. That when he comes home, he’d probably want to watch Anand or Amar Prem. That the first thing he’ll do when he gets into the car is play a Rajesh Khanna song. Why only him? I’m sure that there are millions around the world who’ll do that today. There is a huge list playing in my head as well. Kora Kaagaz, Zindagi Ek Safar, Pyar Diwana Hota Hai, Chingaari Koi Bhadke and many more. He is responsible for immortalizing some of Kishore Kumar’s finest songs.

May your soul rest in peace Mr. Khanna. And Thank You. For Amar Prem, Bawarchi, Aradhana, Anand, Haathi Mere Saathi, Safar, and many more.

Call Me The 'S' Word

I will wear a short dress.

As short as I want.

I’m sure its length will be larger,

Than your sick mind.

Call me a slut if you want to.

I don’t care.

I will walk out of the house,

Alone after 7.

Go to a pub,

Or wherever.

Call me a slut if you want to.

I don’t care.

I will order a Bloody Mary.

Sit there and drink.

You expect me to get high?

That ain’t gonna happen.

Call me a slut if you want to.

I don’t care.

I will notice your leeching eye

Ogling at me.

Try and make a pass.

And a blow will land on that face.

Call me a slut if you want to.

I don’t care.

Song Of The Week

A song that has been playing in my head since Wednesday – Aajkal Paon Zameen Par from Ghar. Now now, I won’t tell why! This song correctly described my state of being on cloud nine. Just listening to it makes me feel good. Makes me want to frolic/dance around in slow motion! Or do a Sridevi in the rains (No chiffon saree though. A kurta and denims work well too).

The lyrics are as good as they can get. If you listen to them carefully, you’ll realize how beautifully they express the feeling of being in love. Rather, madly in love. The soundtrack of this film also has other classics like Aapki Aankhon Mein Kuch and Tere Bina Jiya Jaye Na. I am so in awe of Gulzar saab. He weaves magic with his pen. And so does Pancham with his music. The melody in this song is simply stunning. And then Lata Mangeshkar adds the chaar chaand with her voice! The outcome is so beautiful that I’d almost imagined how this song must’ve been picturised. And then when I saw the film, it was very similar to what I’d imagined. J

* Jab bhi thamaa hai tera haath toh yeh dekha hai

Log kehte hai ki bass haath ki rekha hai

Humne dekha hai taqdeero ko,

Judte hue! *

Song: Aajkal Paon Zameen Par

Film: Ghar

Music: R.D.Burman

Lyrics: Gulzar

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar

Main Aur Mere Obsessions

I have a new obsession. Well, not really new. Lets say it has resurfaced. I call it obsession because I know it’ll die away in a few months, like the others, and then I’ll have something else to drool over. I’m quite like a kid when it comes to that. Give me a new toy and I’ll forget the old one. Anyway, the thing I’m talking about is Gold. Yeah, you heard that! Gold.

I’ve never had a liking for the yellow metal, or jewelry of any kind. But over the past few days, I suddenly find myself drawn towards it. Quite some bad timing considering the price. But maybe it had to do something with my mother showing off her collection to me. (Or maybe because I saw The Italian Job after a long time). I tried on a few things and that felt good! It was almost like that Tanishq ad.

Remember this one? Only, my mother can’t trick me into getting married for the gold! 

 Now I’m in the mood to buy some of the stuff. I might never wear it, but I just want to own some. Maybe a pair of jhumka or something! Just something li’l that I can call my own J

Movie Recommendation - Ijaazat

Cast: Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah, Anuradha Patel.

Release Year: 1987.

Director: Gulzar.

From the numerous reviews that I’d heard/read about this movie, I’d concluded that there is one thing about Ijaazat – you either like it, or you hate it. And after watching it, I fell into the former category. The movie is beautiful, layered and complex.

Mahendra (Naseeruddin Shah) and Sudha (Rekha), an estranged couple run into each other in a railway station’s waiting room on a tempestuous night. Cut away from the world, they revisit their past.

Flashback:  Mahendra is in love with Maya (Anuradha Patel), a feisty girl who doesn’t believe in marriage. When his grandfather (Shammi Kapoor) fixes his wedding with Sudha, Mahendra is unable to tell him about Maya. Maya’s disappearance only adds to his problems. End result – he gets married to Sudha. However, marital bliss is soon disrupted when Maya returns to their life. Mahendra’s uncertainty about his feelings, his unwillingness to let go his past, and Sudha’s growing conflict between being supportive and possessive leads to her walking out on the relationship.

Simply put, Ijaazat is about two people, one night, and a story that unfolds gradually. But it derives its intensity from its story and screenplay, written by the master storyteller, Gulzar. Sudha and Mahendra’s equation from being awkward, to affable, and almost intimate has been beautifully written. Also, something that I always love about Gulzar’s movies is the use of flashbacks. Nobody can weave them as effectively as he does. The story is matched equally by Naseeruddin Shah and Rekha’s performances.

The music is unarguably Pancham’s best, with unforgettable hits like Choti Si Kahaani, Mera Kuch Samaan, and Katra Katra. Asha Bhosle’s voice lingers in your head for a long long time even after the playback’s stopped.

For those looking for a mature love story, Ijaazat is your answer. Here's one of my favourite lines from the movie -


Mahendra: Baarish toh aur badh gayi...lagta nahi aaj thamegi..


Sudha: Baras jayegi toh apne aap tham jayegi. 

A Conversation with Mr.Cloud

Me (Waves frantically): Hey Mister!

Cloud (Perplexed): You talking to me, lady?

Me: Yes…any chances of pouring here? Its almost mid-July.

Cloud: Nope. That’s not on my to-do list. I have to go somewhere else.

Me: Aww, c’mon! You bring in my favourite season. Nothing at all?

Cloud: You’ll have to ask my boss about that.

Me: Who? Indra? Aren’t we doing enough to make him happy? I heard of some yagya happening in the city to please him. I even saw pictures of it in the newspapers.

Cloud: Yeah that’s right. And you burn firewood in it. How do you think he’s gonna be happy with that?

Me (Sheepishly): Ok I know where you’re going with this. Spreading the eco-word, eh?

Cloud (In a raised voice): Its not some funny business lady. You’re the ones who cut trees, you’re the ones who use those vehicles, and you’re the ones who use plastic. And yet, you blame us for not being on time. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Our boss tells us to favour greener places.

Me: So isn’t this city green enough for you?

Cloud: Well, my fraternity is divided on that one. We haven’t reached a consensus as yet.

Me: I know you can convince them and sort things out, right? Besides, the kids love you.

Cloud: Yeah, mostly ‘coz they get to bunk school when they fall sick. But I’m telling you, that’s not my fault. If only somebody told that to their mothers. I always end up bearing the brunt for it. You know how these mothers can be. They just need somebody to put the blame on.

Me: But we are in dire need of rains here. The city is dealing with water shortage problems.

Cloud: From what I know, you guys have four dams to you, right?

Me (Clears throat): Yeah, sort of…

Cloud: See! And yet you… (Sighs). Ok, I’ll see what I can do; but I can’t promise anything. And until I’m not around, why don’t you guys start fixing your roads? Or you’ll hold me responsible for those potholes. Now if you’d excuse me, I have to be somewhere. The press must be dying to cover me. and I like to look good on TV.

Me: So when can I expect you back, with a bang? Err…or should I say, thunder?

Cloud: Ha! Why don’t you ask that to your folks at the Meteorological Department? They seem to know quite a lot on my whereabouts.

Me: Really?

Cloud: Are you kidding me! Those dimwits can never predict my arrival. I’ll come when I have to. As of now, I gotta go. Bye!

Me (Sighs): Yeah, bye. 

The Break-Up Letter

Dear Chocolate,

We need to talk. I know how that sounds. But the time has come for us to part ways. I hate to tell you, but I had this running in my mind over the past few days. My only concern was how you’d react.

You’ve been with me since I was a kid. You’ve been there during the good times, the bad ones too. I never knew how our friendship turned into love. Love so passionate, I could hardly go on a day without you. And how can I forget all the lovely time we’ve spent together? Even when I woke up hungry in the middle of the night, all I had to do was open the fridge; and there you were, all smiles, calling out to me! How could I not give in to the temptation?

But things are different now. They tell me a bit of you is good for the heart. If only my heart would listen to that. On the contrary, I’ve put on quite a few pounds after I’ve been seeing you regularly over the past couple of months. Now now, you’d tell me it doesn’t matter. But dear, I’m neither Nigella Lawson, nor Vidya Balan to carry off those voluptuous curves.

There’s another thing I’ve been wanting to tell you. I met an old friend a couple of days back. You remember Coffee, right? Yeah, you’ve met him a couple of occasions before. The thing is, I’ve grown rather fond of him. Lets not say he’s taken your place, but he’s quite on the way of doing so. You are and will always be my bachpan ka pyaar. But I met this Coffee guy during my turbulent teenage years. Ours was quite an affair, but then I had to let go when I started having sleepless nights. And I am afraid but the fire has been rekindled. Monsoon and he is just the right thing for me.

I hope you find it in you to forgive me.

Yours Unfaithfully,

Ankita.

Song Of The Week

I look out of the window. Its pouring. And the only song that comes to my mind is Rimjhim Gire Saawan. Now there are two versions to this song. One by Kishore Kumar, another by Lata Mangeshkar and both are equally good. But the one I want to post here is Lata Mangeshkar’s, simply because the orchestra and the instruments are more upbeat in this one, and it goes perfectly with my mood today!

R.D.Burman’s music is the highlight of this song. The guitar, violin and the saxophone have been beautifully used. Even the subtle notes following the alaap are so worth listening to. Another thing I love about this song is the way it has been picturised. I mean, look at it! It has been shot like a poem. No matter how cliché it sounds, but yes; monsoons are romantic. All those who complain about traffic jams and potholes during the monsoon have probably never been in love!

*Pehle bhi yun toh barse the baadal,

Pehle bhi yun toh bheega tha aanchal

Abke baras kyoon sajan

Sulag sulag jaaye mann *

Song: Rimjhim Gire Saawan

Film: Manzil

Music: R.D.Burman

Lyrics: Yogesh

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar

Mandai V/S Malls

A nice trip to Mandai reminds you what veggie shopping is all about. No no, those malls cannot make up for it.

As much as my mother loves it, I’ve somehow always had a problem with malls. To begin with, I have to look for a parking space in some shoddily-lit basement where anyone can stab a person and get away with it. Once I’m inside, the air-conditioner makes me sick and the lighting hurts my eyes. No, really. When I go to the vegetable section, I see discoloured veggies stacked in plastic containers (maybe that’s where ‘oh you look like a vegetable’ comes from). Then I take a bag (yeah, plastic again), fill and weigh veggies on a scale whose display is barely readable. And its not all that fun moving around that stupid, oversized trolley round and round the place, wasting precious time. And I somehow can’t help giving a spiteful look to the person at counter when he removes a plastic bag from his stash (carry your own bags, people). Besides, I end up buying a lot more than what I’d planned on, so where’s my saving buddy?

And look at good ol’ Mandai! The moment I am in, the clatter tells me that I’ve arrived at a ‘market’. After all, what is a market without the hustle and bustle? There, I can pick from heaps of vegetables, nice and fresh. Because I’ve been going there for many years, I know where I can get the best produce. The sellers don’t offer plastic bags willingly; so I make it a point to carry my own. And most importantly, I can bargain. Show me one mall where you can do that!

But with more and more malls coming up at every corner of the road, I wonder if this practice is fast disappearing. I wonder if I’ll wake up to a day where the bhaajiwala at my nukkad will be history. I wonder if my kids will even know what a bhaajiwala is! 

Movie Recommendation - Khubsoorat

Cast: Dina Pathak, Rekha, Ashok Kumar, Rakesh Roshan, Ranjit Chowdhry.

Release Year: 1980.

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Movie for this week is Khubsoorat. No, not the Urmila Matondkar-Sanjay Dutt debacle. I am talking about Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Khubsoorat. Now if I start discussing why I love this movie, a single post wouldn’t suffice!

The story goes like this – Nirmala Gupta (Dina Pathak) is a lady who runs her household with a strict hand. So every family member has to follow a certain code of conduct laid down, such as turning up on time for breakfast, keeping the hall clean, not talking or laughing loudly, etc. Even her husband Dwarka Prasad Gupta (Ashok Kumar) is not spared from her set of laws.

Nirmala Gupta’s second son is married to Anju, who comes from a family where almost no rules are followed. So when her sister Manju (Rekha) comes over to stay for a few days, she makes it her agenda to change the environment in the house. Manju begins by getting Nirmala Gupta’s fourth son, Jagan (Ranjit Chowdhry) on her side. She then convinces his brothers and their wives that its not all that bad to break rules and follow your heart once in a while. Soon, card games, song and dance routines start creeping into the Gupta household, albeit when Nirmala is not around. However, all hell breaks loose when Nirmala walks in on one of the Nirmal Anand program!

Khubsoorat is undoubtedly Rekha’s best work, with Ijaazat coming a close second. Her portrayal of the bubbly, energetic Manju is spot on. Dina Pathak rules the movie, to say the least. The rest of the cast is equally good in their roles, as in every Hrishida movie. R.D.Burman’s music and Gulzar’s words never fail at entertaining, with songs like Piya Bawri, Saare Niyam Tod Do. But my favourite is Sun Sun Sun Didi, where Manju is describing the ‘qualities’ of the prospective groom. The lyrics always make me chuckle. And of course, Qayda Qayda. Now how many of you knew that Rekha has sung this song? J

Gulzar’s dialogues are beyond comparison. Anything I say wouldn’t correctly express what they are. Whether it is the Kafiya or the Rekha-Dina Pathak confrontations; all so vividly written. Who else can think of writing politics and food in rhyme?! And the Apple Kheer scene is unforgettable!

If you want to know what awesomeness is, go watch Khubsoorat!

Random Question

Why don't they have a 'No Tears Shampoo' for adults?

Song Of The Week

I always feel Madan Mohan is one composer who never got his due. The man who created songs like Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega, Dil Dhoondta Hai or Lag Ja Gale was somehow never appreciated enough by the audience. Sad.

Another gem of a song by the man is Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha from Anpadh. The lyrics, penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan may seem a bit orthodox; but once you get past them, the music is every bit charming. And Lata Mangeshkar’s voice succeeds (and how!) at hitting even the most difficult notes in the song with such ease…like makkhan I would say!

An interesting bit of trivia – a song was rehearsed with the musicians and Lata Mangeshkar when the lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan arrived at the studio and casually said that he had just written a new song. When Madan Mohan heard the lyrics, he felt that the words were more suited for the situation than what was being recorded. So a tune for the song was created right there, in no time! And Lata Mangeshkar sang this song instead of the original! It is also said that when Naushad heard the song, he’d said to Madan Mohan that he was ready to give away all his compositions for this song in return!

*Aapki manzil hoon main, meri manzil aap hai

Kyuu main toofan se darru, mera saahil aap hai

Koi toofanon sekeh de, miil gaya saahil mujhe *

Song: Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha

Film: Anpadh

Music: Madan Mohan

Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar

Movie Recommendation - Ankur

Cast: Shabana Azmi, Anant Nag, Sadhu Meher, Priya Tendulkar.

Release Year: 1974.

Director: Shyam Benegal.

Ankur is a movie that can be credited for starting the ‘Parallel Cinema’ movement in India. Shyam Benegal’s critically acclaimed debut was a box office success as well and went on to win three National Awards.

Surya (Anant Nag) is a college student who wants to pursue further studies but is sent away to manage his share of the family land far away from the village. Married to a young bride Saru (Priya Tendulkar) who will stay at her parents’ house till she attains puberty, Surya finds himself attracted to his servant Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi). Lakshmi is married to an unemployed deaf-mute potter, Kishtayya (Sadhu Meher) who also does a few odd jobs for Surya. Lakshmi spurns Surya’s advances at first. But when Kishtayya is caught stealing toddy and disappears without a trace, she submits to him. However, it isn’t very clear whether she chooses to have an affair because she is attracted to Surya, or because she does not want to lose her job.

The affair is passionate at the outset, but the fire soon diminishes as Saru comes to live with Surya. Having heard the rumours of her husband affair, she does not waste any time in sending Lakshmi away from the house. Meanwhile, Lakshmi’s pregnancy adds to Surya’s troubles; and gives him the opportunity to treat her with disdain. Lakshmi is caught in a sticky situation when Kishtayya returns and assumes himself to be the father of the child.

Ankur is shot gorgeously, in bright blues, yellows and reds. Shabana Azmi’s performance is luminous and quite remarkable for a debut. The film won her the first of her five National Awards. Anant Nag is also very impressive as the rich, spoilt brat. The film’s background score mostly consists of natural sounds and is beautifully used throughout the film. The film also laid down certain topics that Benegal used in many of his later films.

PanchamMagic!

I had the privilege of attending one of PanchanMagic’s shows last night. This was the second one I attended and must say, was completely blown away! Whats so different about the show you ask? Well, for starters, its not one of those shows where novice singers try to sing Pancham’s compositions. Coz anything other than the original rendition is quite lifeless. In this show, people who have worked closely with Pancham share their experiences, memories, anecdotes about him. His music is scrutinized and discussed upon. Each guest on the show provides an insight into the legend’s love for life, and music.

The show delved into Pancham’s love for food, his style of mixing western and classical music, his bizarre music-making techniques, and even his last days, when the industry chose to walk out on him. What always fascinated me about Pancham’s music was his use of different instruments, or even everyday objects. Whether it is a comb used in Padosan, or tinkling of glasses in Chura Liya, or even an empty bottle! He could produce music out of anything. Why, on one occasion he’d stood in his balcony the entire night to record the sound of raindrops! And yesterday’s show only added to my RD knowledge!

An interesting trivia that Mr. Pravesh Sippy shared; during the recording of any Pancham song, Kishore Kumar was always called in at the last moment.  He explained that maybe it was because Kishore Kumar would always take over the song in such a way even without rehearsing, that they feared he would steal the thunder if he was rehearsed beforehand!

Its amazing how a man can live on so many years in the hearts of his fans by the sheer power of his music. Music so pure and eternal that it grows into you. Music so enjoyable that you can listen to it ceaselessly!

The World's Worst Dog

I was watching Marley & Me today. Such a wonderful movie. I must have seen it around ten times before this; and have always cried at the last scene. Today, it was different. I found myself sobbing and then wailing through the entire last thirty minutes. Almost made me wonder if something is wrong with me!

And Marley is so adorable. They call him the world’s worst dog. That is unfair. Even my dog is a strong contender for the title. Like Marley, he chews on anything and everything. Including the furniture. Even he doesn’t walk; he sprints. He’ll bark if anybody’s at the door. He’ll howl if I walk out of the door. Not to mention, two trainers have given up on him.

Yes, he drives me nuts. But know what? I’m nuts about him! It’s a great feeling when you come home tired and somebody just runs up to you, jumps on you, or licks your face! Yes, it is. And nothing in the world can match that.

Quoting Owen Wilson’s lines from the film –

A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes

A waterlogged stick will do just fine.

A dog didn’t care if you’re rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb

Give him your heart and he’ll give you his

How many people can you say that about?

How many people can make you feel rare, and pure, and special?

How many people can make you feel extraordinary?

Song Of The Week

A song I can think of that has beautiful written all over it – Lag Jaa Gale from Woh Kaun Thi. One of my favourite Madan Mohan compositions, rendered so emotively by Lata Mangeshkar. The melody haunts you for a long long time even after you’ve finished listening to it.

To think of it, the song was never recorded in the first place. Madan Mohan had composed the tune for a romantic situation in the film, but the director, Raj Khosla rejected it. Madan Mohan was confident about the song and he requested Manoj Kumar to listen to it. Manoj Kumar loved the tune so much, that he came to the next sitting and convinced Raj Khosla to include it in the film. The song thus got recorded, and even features in Lata Mangeshkar’s collection of her own favourites.

* Humko mili hai aaj yeh ghadiyaan naseeb se

Jee bahr ke dekh lijiye humko kareeb se

Phir aapke naseeb mein yeh baat ho na ho

Shayad phir iss janam mein mulakaat ho na ho..*

Song: Lag Jaa Gale

Film: Woh Kaun Thi

Music: Madan Mohan

Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

Vocals: Lata Mangeshkar

Let it be.

I wish I could say ‘I don’t care’ atleast once and really mean it. I have abused the term many a times.

How difficult can it be? And You, yes You. How much time has it been? Three? Or four years? I sometimes wonder what a nutcase of a heart mine is that I still cannot get over you. You have a world of your own. A world where you look happy to me. You choose to say otherwise. I am unsure what to believe. I let the silence speak.

And you have to run into me on a rainy evening. Right when I have a coffee craving. Its surprising you still recall how I like my coffee. I’m surprised why you have started putting three sachets of sugar into yours.

You complain about the traffic. And the potholes. I can’t help but remember how you used to love the monsoons. How you used to roam around without any rainy-gear. Today, I noticed you were carrying an umbrella.

You seem like you were in a place somewhere else.

I wonder when I’ll be set into motion.

Kiss Them Goodbye

8 seasons, 180 episodes. This is it.

I remember surfing through hundreds of channels before I came to Star World. The moment I saw James Denton, I was hooked! (My heart broke when they killed him in the eighth season). Then came the ladies…Susan, Gaby, Lynette, Bree – and I never missed an episode after that!

They made me go ‘Aww’ at an emo scene.

And made me go ‘Hawwwww!’ at their secrets!

They taught me bitching was fun, after all.

I laughed my ass off at the physical comedy.

I laughed at their racist jokes. The sexist ones too!

As the finale nears, I realize, gosh I’m so gonna miss this! *Sigh*. Goodbye ladies. How I wish the dirty laundry never ended.

Awkward Moment #1

That awkward moment when you drink a Chocolate milkshake after ages, make that 'mmm-mmmm' sound on drinking it and realize ten people around are staring at you. 

Movie Recommendation - Andaz Apna Apna

Cast: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karishma Kapur, Paresh Rawal, Shakti Kapoor.

Release Year: 1994.

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi.

Epic is perhaps the only word that can describe this movie. Though it was a box office dud upon its release, Andaz Apna Apna has achieved cult status over the years among its fans.

Amar (Aamir Khan) and Prem (Salman Khan) are two losers who dream of getting rich by marrying Raveena Bajaj (Raveena Tandon), daughter of a wealthy businessman, Ram Gopal Bajaj (Paresh Rawal). Amar and Prem make a lot of efforts to win over Raveena, but what they don’t know is that the asli Raveena Bajaj is actually the assistant, Karishma (Karishma Kapur). They also don’t know that Ram Gopal Bajaj has an evil twin, Shyam Gopal Bajaj (or Teja!). Teja hatches a plan to kidnap Ram and make away with the money, which has been converted into diamonds. For this, he sets up Robert…err..Raaaabert (Viju Khote) and Bhalla (Shehzad Khan) in Raveena’s house. Teja succeeds in his plan and what follows is utter confusion!

The film boasts of brilliant performances by the entire cast, and even the supporting cast, however miniscule the role may be. A standout among them is Paresh Rawal, who has you in splits with every single line. Music by Tushar Bhatia is very reminiscent of the 50’s and 80’s and Majrooh Sultanpuri’s words blend well with the compositions. The highlight of this film, however are the dialogues. Just downright hilarious.

For all those who haven’t watched the film, hell you’re missing out! Go buy a DVD today! And for those who have seen it a billion times, here are some memorable lines:

- Teja: “Yeh thailii mein pachaas lakh laye hai?”

   Robert: “Sir, lakh lakh ke pachaas cheque hoenge sir!”

- Bhalla: “Veh Vasco De Gama ki gun hai”

   Teja: “Kiske mama ki gun hai?”

- Gogo: “Yeh Teja Teja kya hai? Yeh Teja Teja..”

- Ram Gopal Bajaj: “Teja main hoon, mark idhar hai!”

- Teja: “Hamara Bajaj!”

- Ram Gopal Bajaj: “Nonsense!”

- Gogo: “Kya namaste namaste? Daawat pea aye ho kya?”

- Prem: “Uui Ma!”

- Amar: “Zhakaas!”   :P