I had gone to Fun Republic to watch Raaz 2 - The Mystery Continues - yeah the mystery still continues as to why our Bollywood directors can't shoot a decent horror movie. And no this blog is not about Raaz - but for the fact when we enter the cinema hall with our popcorn, drinks that at times it seems like food piling competition. And then just at the start of the movie you will be requested to rise for the national anthem.
Forget rising, people literally glide through the first notes of the national anthem. Sometimes it makes me so furious as to catch hold of them and send them off to the LOC! There are some who are so engrossed in finding their seats as if somebody will steal their seats if they didn't reach in time, some who are bothered about stashing popcorn in their mouth, etc...etc. And no am not writing this blog to give them any piece of advice.
But am writing this coz there is this national anthem at Fun Republic which particularly moves me everytime I hear it. And I still haven't come across this National Anthem that Fun Republic plays. While other cinema halls play the usual National Anthem sung by classic and legendary singers (Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Pandit Jasraj, Hariharan), Fun Republic plays a different national anthem.
They show the Indian Army standing at the Siachen Glacier, standing tall and mighty against the freezing cold (where temperatures dip as low as -50 degrees Celsius) saluting the Indian flag. The next clip shows a soldier trying to hold the Indian Flag upright admidst the cold and gusty wind. That whole clip moves you so much that it gives you goose bumps when you see them getting drenched - with rain drops touching their face without any remorse (as if they deserve it). It ends with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force saluting the Indian Flag along with the credits for the national anthem that was played. Jai Hind!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Those TWO Minutes.....
"You don't know Megs, life is much better than you think", my colleague cum a good friend Saahil* happened to tell me last evening.... and well I just made a face and walked ahead.
Again when I crossed Saahil's* path - he still said the same thing, "Life is actually better, than you think - can I talk to you for two minutes?" One thing going at the back of my head was - well what do these people know. What do they know what I am going through?
I still went ahead and gave him my day's two minutes. What he told me - touched me, brought tears to my eyes, made me angry, made me feel helpless and made me reach out for him as well.
Saahil is a dentist by profession and an entertainer as well (I mean it!) and has a girlfriend with whom he has had a relationship for five to six years. This last week has been a bit tough for both of them. The D-day or rather the D -week as they call it. That would decide whether he could be a part of this woman's life whom he loved, cherished and treasured her love in his heart of hearts. This is what touched me!
What made me angry; her parents are not willing to see her settle down with this guy. They threatened her that they will kill themselves and if she does go ahead with it - then it is best if she does not show her face to them in future. And what not!
Why were they unwilling to accept this friend of mine? Coz he is of a different religion, he is in the field of entertainment (if he flirts with other women - who knows he might leave her!), he eats non-veg... and the list goes on. His girlfriend has tried hard, through salty tears, with determination in her mind to convince them but they have stood their ground.
What brought tears to my eyes was the fact that this darling friend of mine accepted the situation as is. In fact when he goes out with his girlfriend he eats orders vegetarian food, cannot call her up at his own will - only when she gives him a miss call can he call her back, meets her only when she's out with her friends. I mean goes to every extent of keeping her happy.
Her parents feel that they will be able to find a much better guy, very rich and who will also follow 'their culture'. Yeah right! Probably they will always keep their eyes shut and ignore the finer things that life gives them. What sort of parents would want to see their daughter unhappy, not getting her married to the man whom she loves to chat with, cuddle him, pamper him and get into sweet arguments with him at the same time.
The irony of the situation was, while her parents will not allow her to marry the guy she loves, my parents are willing and would welcome the option with open arms. The only thing is I don't have a GUY! So life is funny as they say.
My friend was right, life is better, much better than what we think - it seems they have put an end to their relationship. Coz well its not going to work anyways. Her parents have confiscated her cell so that she does not talk to him!
He looked at me, smiled and said, "Am fine - its okay, you go home now, will be late." I couldn't help but admire the brave face he put on that evening - I got up, welled with emotions, hugged him and bid him goodbye while he toyed with his cell.
What also touched me the most that evening was while I was leaving, he was going through the 'Images' folder on his phone to admire his love probably whom he would not be able to see again!
*Name changed on request
Again when I crossed Saahil's* path - he still said the same thing, "Life is actually better, than you think - can I talk to you for two minutes?" One thing going at the back of my head was - well what do these people know. What do they know what I am going through?
I still went ahead and gave him my day's two minutes. What he told me - touched me, brought tears to my eyes, made me angry, made me feel helpless and made me reach out for him as well.
Saahil is a dentist by profession and an entertainer as well (I mean it!) and has a girlfriend with whom he has had a relationship for five to six years. This last week has been a bit tough for both of them. The D-day or rather the D -week as they call it. That would decide whether he could be a part of this woman's life whom he loved, cherished and treasured her love in his heart of hearts. This is what touched me!
What made me angry; her parents are not willing to see her settle down with this guy. They threatened her that they will kill themselves and if she does go ahead with it - then it is best if she does not show her face to them in future. And what not!
Why were they unwilling to accept this friend of mine? Coz he is of a different religion, he is in the field of entertainment (if he flirts with other women - who knows he might leave her!), he eats non-veg... and the list goes on. His girlfriend has tried hard, through salty tears, with determination in her mind to convince them but they have stood their ground.
What brought tears to my eyes was the fact that this darling friend of mine accepted the situation as is. In fact when he goes out with his girlfriend he eats orders vegetarian food, cannot call her up at his own will - only when she gives him a miss call can he call her back, meets her only when she's out with her friends. I mean goes to every extent of keeping her happy.
Her parents feel that they will be able to find a much better guy, very rich and who will also follow 'their culture'. Yeah right! Probably they will always keep their eyes shut and ignore the finer things that life gives them. What sort of parents would want to see their daughter unhappy, not getting her married to the man whom she loves to chat with, cuddle him, pamper him and get into sweet arguments with him at the same time.
The irony of the situation was, while her parents will not allow her to marry the guy she loves, my parents are willing and would welcome the option with open arms. The only thing is I don't have a GUY! So life is funny as they say.
My friend was right, life is better, much better than what we think - it seems they have put an end to their relationship. Coz well its not going to work anyways. Her parents have confiscated her cell so that she does not talk to him!
He looked at me, smiled and said, "Am fine - its okay, you go home now, will be late." I couldn't help but admire the brave face he put on that evening - I got up, welled with emotions, hugged him and bid him goodbye while he toyed with his cell.
What also touched me the most that evening was while I was leaving, he was going through the 'Images' folder on his phone to admire his love probably whom he would not be able to see again!
*Name changed on request
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Slamming the SlumDOG!!!
Congrats to Danny Boyle and his team for making a movie like Slumdog Millionaire. We hope you get the Oscars too! Lately there has been a huge hue and cry of showing what our city is like in the movie.
It just takes one question to know what people are actually thinking about the movie. When you ask them, "Hey have you watched Slumdog....?" Before you can even complete your statement you will see a frown on the person's face who will then ask you bluntly, "They must have shown poverty, slums, etc...etc.." My only piece of advice to these so called 'Frowny Faces' is that - Dude you just cannot afford to run away from the reality that our city or rather the country as a whole is facing? And no Slumdog movie isn't about slums (rather thats just a background)- its a typical rags to riches story. Its a love story (and a genuine one!) - you feel sad yet happy when you see the movie (coz they have showed Mumbai which we have possibly been not exposed to in our day to day life - just heard of).
In fact Mr Amitabh Bachchan has been wrongly accused of Slamming the movie. For which he clarifies the same on his blog - http://bigb.bigadda.com/ where he has written a mail to the editor of The Guardian.
A story that is brilliantly shot, every technical aspect of the movie was great, the guys who have acted in are great. And yeah not to forget that Rehman has done a fantastic job. If you haven't heard Ringa Ringa song well you sure are missing something. Has the similar feel and sound to that of 'Choli ke Peeche'.
In todays Hindustan Times - there is an article on Slumdog - and I would like to quote Irrfan Khan, "The slums are a backdrop which you take away from the spirit of the city. It's not a backdrop Danny created. It's based on a book by an Indian writer. You can't say we are not poor. We have to accept and deal with the poverty." Well said!
By the way Slumdog's releasing this Friday (23rd Jan) - if you still think that Mumbai shouldn't have been projected as it has been then well my dear friend you seriously need a Reality Check!
Go watch it! And no Danny hasn't paid me to write all this - his movie is any ways receiving attention! Jai Ho! (his movie ends with this song and dance!)
It just takes one question to know what people are actually thinking about the movie. When you ask them, "Hey have you watched Slumdog....?" Before you can even complete your statement you will see a frown on the person's face who will then ask you bluntly, "They must have shown poverty, slums, etc...etc.." My only piece of advice to these so called 'Frowny Faces' is that - Dude you just cannot afford to run away from the reality that our city or rather the country as a whole is facing? And no Slumdog movie isn't about slums (rather thats just a background)- its a typical rags to riches story. Its a love story (and a genuine one!) - you feel sad yet happy when you see the movie (coz they have showed Mumbai which we have possibly been not exposed to in our day to day life - just heard of).
In fact Mr Amitabh Bachchan has been wrongly accused of Slamming the movie. For which he clarifies the same on his blog - http://bigb.bigadda.com/ where he has written a mail to the editor of The Guardian.
A story that is brilliantly shot, every technical aspect of the movie was great, the guys who have acted in are great. And yeah not to forget that Rehman has done a fantastic job. If you haven't heard Ringa Ringa song well you sure are missing something. Has the similar feel and sound to that of 'Choli ke Peeche'.
In todays Hindustan Times - there is an article on Slumdog - and I would like to quote Irrfan Khan, "The slums are a backdrop which you take away from the spirit of the city. It's not a backdrop Danny created. It's based on a book by an Indian writer. You can't say we are not poor. We have to accept and deal with the poverty." Well said!
By the way Slumdog's releasing this Friday (23rd Jan) - if you still think that Mumbai shouldn't have been projected as it has been then well my dear friend you seriously need a Reality Check!
Go watch it! And no Danny hasn't paid me to write all this - his movie is any ways receiving attention! Jai Ho! (his movie ends with this song and dance!)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
When Destiny....is (Actually) calling?
How often have you heard the phrase - "Do not keep any expectations" - the battle of your mind and heart is endless coz your heart feels helpless - it gives in, expecting for more - much more and obviously your mind cannot do anything. It seems as if the mind has arms and ammunition, knows the strategy of how to deal with everything - but what do you know? None of the ammunition works coz your soul has surrendered to your heart!
Then finally when your mind is growing strong, you have begun to feel confident - wake up every morning see your self eye to eye when you face the mirror..... BHAM! What do you know? All along when you have been expecting something.....that particular 'thing' rolls in when you have least expected when infact it has become invisible for you. When faced with it, your feelings are well you don't know what or how to feel. Surprised, angry, pleasant, happy and the most amazing thing is you do not react to it because your mind is busy tackling ways to avoid it while your heart is yelling from the mountain tops of its victory! Probably singing - What did I tell you???
Then rolls in a word DESTINY which most of us have put ourselves against it, we are not willing to believe it. When this same destiny challenges you, you say well I am a determined person - I can change my destiny.....when all else fails you just well resign saying - its destiny.
This is the same Destiny that I too have resigned myself to. I cannot take off my weaknesses, my failures, my sadness and tell Destiny to own them. But try to see opportunities in this very Destiny and turn them towards my side. Otherwise how can you explain - the Edisons, Henry Fords, Steve Jobs and other such people who have come up from their failures and have become successful!
This very destiny has also come in a way in my personal life - some things as they say can never be avoided. And this is one of them!
Then finally when your mind is growing strong, you have begun to feel confident - wake up every morning see your self eye to eye when you face the mirror..... BHAM! What do you know? All along when you have been expecting something.....that particular 'thing' rolls in when you have least expected when infact it has become invisible for you. When faced with it, your feelings are well you don't know what or how to feel. Surprised, angry, pleasant, happy and the most amazing thing is you do not react to it because your mind is busy tackling ways to avoid it while your heart is yelling from the mountain tops of its victory! Probably singing - What did I tell you???
Then rolls in a word DESTINY which most of us have put ourselves against it, we are not willing to believe it. When this same destiny challenges you, you say well I am a determined person - I can change my destiny.....when all else fails you just well resign saying - its destiny.
This is the same Destiny that I too have resigned myself to. I cannot take off my weaknesses, my failures, my sadness and tell Destiny to own them. But try to see opportunities in this very Destiny and turn them towards my side. Otherwise how can you explain - the Edisons, Henry Fords, Steve Jobs and other such people who have come up from their failures and have become successful!
This very destiny has also come in a way in my personal life - some things as they say can never be avoided. And this is one of them!
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