Last Song of a Bachelor

Dear Friends
As I embark on this new journey,
new phase
of my life,
with all your well wishes
and blessings
in my heart;
I think
I'll be a different person
when I return,
married
and no longer bachelor;
a changed man
I'll be
when I return;
and I am sure
this change
will be for better
but for the fact
that
I wont be a bachelor
anymore
nor
will I be alone;
few more days to go
before
I have a companion of my own.

:)

मैं (एक अलग अंदाज़)

सच बोल सकें हम, इतनी हिम्मत ही कहाँ थी
इसीलिए तो छुपाए फिरते हैं हम शख्सियत अपनी

यूं तो फरेब था नही फितरत में हमारी
वो बात और है, नियत ही कम्बख्त थी अपनी

अब कैसे करें सलाम, लगें बढ़ के गले हम
कुछ बढ़प्पन है आपका, कुछ शरमिंदगी अपनी

तुम तो हो नूर-ऐ-खुदाई, हम स्याह के कायल
हो दिन तुम्हे मुबारक मगर रात है अपनी

हम को था इल्म इस खेल में किसकी होगी जीत
अच्छे तो तुम थे ही फखत किस्मत भी बुरी थी अपनी

तुमने जब माफ़ कर ही दिया खता को हमारी
फ़िर क्यों लें इलज़ाम और कहें की खता थी अपनी

हम तो जाएंगे जहन्नम में ऐ सनम
तुमको हो मुबारक वो जन्नत जो नसीब थी अपनी

बेमुरव्वत है यह ज़िन्दगी की अब भी जिए जा रहे हैं
हाँ इतना जरूर है, है जीना शौक़ और मजबूरी अपनी

ऐसा तो कुछ ख़ास नही है हम में मगर
न जाने क्यों सदा चलती आई है अपनी

मैं नही कहता ये तो फरमाया है 'दाग' ने
सबसे तुम अच्छे हो, तुमसे भी मगर अच्छी है किस्मत अपनी


:)

Hide and Seek

Dear Moon,
let's play a game tonight,
you
hiding behind
these clouds
that accompany you
in the sky
and I,
looking for you
all through the night.


Picture Courtesy: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2508296421_f0313fea7b_o.jpg

On the Eve of a New Tomorrow

As we walk into a new tomorrow
with a hope for a better future,
I stand for a while
to look at the past
that still cast shadows
but perhaps wont last
forever;
as there's a sun
that's shining bright
and there's plenty more
to the life
than being near the window sill
and drowning in the moonlit night.

Following lines from Jose Saramago's 'The Stone Raft' form the inspiration of this poem.

Priorities of past should not be allowed to hinder the future.

While there’s life, there’s hope, so do not despair.

And though the above mentioned lines form the core of this poem, I still leave the question open; "Is it really possible to wipe off the past"?

:)


Image Courtesy : http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/moonlight-window-chris-spuglio.jpg

My Favorite Mithun Dance Numbers

Well, I wanted to write about something else but I guess its time for the long delayed Mithun Da tribute :) Here are some of my favourite Mithun Da numbers in no particular order. I have included only one number from one movie so lots of obvious and glaring exclusions, but I guess that leaves something for discussion through the comments ;)

Gunmaster G9 (Suraksha)

OK, I said that I wont include two songs of a movie but I will start with an exception, two songs of this iconic movie, one for its sheer Mithunness and the other for the fact that it remains one of my favourite Mithun Da dance number. This one is the first, brilliant opening credits for the movie that started it all for Mithun Da.

Ae O Aa (Disco Dancer)

Every song in Disco Dancer was fabulous but this one remains my fav, a perfect launch song for a budding disco star and sets the tone of the movie nicely.

Tum Jo Bhi Ho (Suraksha)

Second song from the movie that started it all. Though earlier 'Gunmaster G9' opening credit song, with its Bond-like style, is more famous; this one showcases Mithun Da's dancing abilities better :)

Title Song (Taqdeer Ka Baadshah)

Great Intro to this disco funk number crooned in his typical voice by Bappi Da. Watch out for Mithun Da's iconic moves, which I think were the only good thing in this otherwise ordinary movie.

Tonite (Dilwala)

This song typifies Mithun Da's dancing. Silly lyrics but nice tune; Bappi Da must have copied it from somewhere ;)

Yaee Yaee Yahaa Or Whatever it is called :)(Pyar Ka Mandir)

Crap song, I mean really crap song but Mithun Da's dance is awesome although his costumes aren't :)

Vaada Hai Kya(Taxi Chor)

Not a disco number or dance number as such, in fact this one is a really nice romantic number. Mithun Da's steps make it even better :)

Ek Hasina ki Nigahon Ka (Yaadon Ki Kasam)

Again not a Disco number, yet a nice number; kinda sounds like those Altaf Raza numbers ;) On a serious note, Mithun Da shows that he is just too good when it comes to shaking a few legs, give him beats and he wont fail you :)

Julie Julie (Jeete Hain Shaan Se)

One of the bigger hits of its times. Mithun songs had a formula to them, catchy tune, crappy lyrics, crappy singer and typical Mithun moves. BTW this one has Anu Malik giving music and also doubling up for crooning. I think this must be one of his original numbers ;)

Kabootarbaaz(Turki ba Turki) (Waqt Ki Awaaz)

Mithun Da with Queen of Dance, Sridevi, in villain's den; Hmmmm I guess thats a good enough reason to watch the song. BTW, this movie had some nice songs, 'Ladka akela' with Mithun and Sri doing robot dance and Mithun Da's angry dancing in 'I wanna hit somebody' hmmmmmmm :)

Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena (Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki)

Well its a take on MJ's legendary 'Billie Jean' and I guess choreography is inspired from 'Thriller' (though not completely), but still a Mithun classic.

Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai (Wardaat)

Mithun Da's Classic, Ultimate song, funky sensual tune. This time he takes on John Travolta's Saturday Night Fever, in his own characteristic style :)

Banno Re (Mere Sajna Saath Nibhana)

Mithun in a desi avtaar with Shakti 'Aaaoo Lolita' Kapoor for company, need I say more :)

Mujhe Kar Gayi Hai Kangaal (Cheetah)

Iconic Mithun Da movie, nothing special about the song but just wanted to include it for the sake of the great Mithun Da movie ;)

Jeele Aha Jeele (Avinash)

Mithun Da doing Michael Jackson and Bappi Da doing 'Beat It', No Moonwalk but Mithun Da compensates for that with his own brand of Moonwalk ;)

Mera Naam Doom Doom (Commando)

Not the most popular of Commando's song, but best in terms of Mithun Da dance. Well you can also check 'Maine maine tujhe tujhe' from the same movie, which has a more catchy tune and was a big hit in late 80s.

Title Song (Karate)

Hmmmmm, this one is kinda weird song, actually pretty crappy one but for Mithun Da's great energy, just look at him, he seems to be a man possessed.

Manzil

Just came across this article in Rediff and I thought I should post it here, for these efforts need to lauded and highlighted.

This one sentence sums up Manzil very well; 'Manzil has two aims which it tries to fulfill with every student. One is to help the students earn a livelihood and the other is to help them see that whatever they choose to do should have a positive effect on society'.

Here's a link to the article and the link to the NPO itself

http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/nov/05/slide-show-1-extraordinary-indians-ravi-gulati.htm

http://manzil.in/

Mixed Emotions

In a sea of mixed emotions
I swam
and memories kept floating
for a long,
long time
till
even the time thought of
flying for a while,
leaving me aside
amidst the sea of mixed emotions.




Pic Courtesy: http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/size:large/view:main/3457612-2-sea-of-emotions.jpg



Explanation

As the title suggests, this poem is about having mixed emotions, in fact considerable mixed emotions. These mixed emotions are picture of one's confused state of mind, when one is not sure of one's emotions, feelings or mental state; in fact this can even be extended to behavior.

If one could peep inside the head of the protagonist, perhaps one would see a sad tumult, hear a clamorous pandemonium. The extent of this state is enormous (hence the usage of sea), so huge that even time knows nothing about its boundaries. The act of swimming indicates that the protagonist is not to be freed from this state soon, there's no immediate escape for him/her and that he/she is struggling with these mixed emotions. What's giving rise to these mixed emotions are memories which refuse to fade away and thus continue to float irrespective of time passing by.

Last few lines are indicative of the fact that how sometimes things (including one's state of mind, one's feelings and emotions) just stand still, even though physically, time continues to pass and move on.

A Winter Noon Amongst Flowers

In her hat
she put a few
and then she asked
if I want them too;
In the warmth of the sun
we passed the winter noon,
she with her flowers,
I with moments that went too soon.


Pic Courtesy: http://www.africanbulbs.com/Freesia%20laxa.jpg

Diwali Dishes

Kheer that took two hours

Matar Paneer that took 4 hours.

Cooked Bhai: Urs Truly
Recipe: Arpan Chauhan
Moral Support, Extra Instructions and Constant Niggling Over Phone: Richa Singh

Date: 17th Oct, 2009

A Cafe for Docs

That's what it seems, although not sure for I never stepped in. Wonder what kinda syrups they must be serving there (with capsules and tablets as appetizers).

This is near the ISKCON temple in Copenhagen; so do sip a tonic or two on your way to the temple.

Date: 18th Oct, 2009

Music Review - Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani

Went through the whole APKGK (that's Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani in a supposedly hep way), till the last song 'Tu Jaane Na' which was perhaps the only decent song of the album. They have four versions of the song, main one being sung by Atif 'There's-something-struck-in-my-throat' Aslam, who kinda spoils the otherwise awesome start to the song. There are quite a few one hit wonders, more I listen to Atif 'See-previous-line-for-this-space' Aslam, more I feel he qualifies as one.
Kailash Kher sings the unplugged version of the same song, does a decent job but somehow the song never attains the heights of ecstasy which you otherwise feel with most Kailash Kher songs. Perhaps, Pritam 'Chor' Da helming the music arrangements has something to do with that.
Other versions of this song and other songs of the album are not worth wasting time, space and effort.

Another ordinary album that will perhaps do well to remain in heart of listeners for a month or so, thanks to constant airplay on radio/TV (as a part of advertising and marketing campaign), before fading into obscurity.

PS. Please, let me know why 'Gajab' is spelt as 'Ghazab'? Were they trying not to make the listener remember that gem of a movie that had Tusssshar (Sorry if missed a few S'es there) Kapoor movie.

Pic Courtesy: http://www.pitaara.in/wp-content/uploads/Ajab-Prem-Ki-Gajab-Kahani.jpg

EDITED :) Just figured that Tussssshar starred in 'Gayab' not 'Gajab', so apologies to readers of this entry, who thought I am crazy (which I am anyways, but still).

Nightful of Songs

Some nights are like this, when you have nothing else to do, or lets say that even if you have plenty to do, nothing beats passing it listening to sweet and soulful songs. Here's how I passed this night of mine.

My Abstract Poem(s)

Well,
this is what I do
everytime
I write some lines
of indifferent kinds
that have no rhythm,
have no rhyme,
of course no meaning
and no sense at all;
but to escape
away from it all,
I give it a label
of being abstract
laying criticism
to perfect rest.

Gandhi Jayanti

I am not sure if I should say 'Happy Gandhi Jayanti' or 'Gandhi Jayanti ki haardik shubhkaamnaye', for firstly, I don't know if that's the right greeting and secondly, I dont know if this even applies in current times.

There are people who worship this great man, considering him a saint, without possessing any of the values the great man stood for. It's like knowing him has become a fad. Ironic, that with each passing year, Gandhi ji continues to attain more and more popularity where as at the same time, the values and philosophies he suggested continue to become more and more obscure.

There's another bunch of people, who hate Gandhi ji. Without any understanding of the times in which he lived and anchored India's quest for freedom, they hold him responsible for all right and wrong things forgetting that its much easy to look back at history and criticize.

What Gandhi ji deserves is not sainthood or worship, but perhaps respect for what he had done for the nation. 'Mahatma', 'Rashtrapita' are salutations that people like us created, it was not him who took those titles. He would better be a human than a saint or god, for he knew he wasn't one.

Here's one song from Kavi Pradip, summarizing very well the current state we live in, and how Gandhi ji would have felt seeing his children living in such a state.

Leave

Leave
when the time is right,
not tonight
or during this day,
which may be shining
so bright
but the dark clouds hide
behind the blues of the sky.
It will be difficult
when the lightening flashes
and the thunder rages loud
winds howl
trees shout.

Leave
as you must
and so you will
but let
tonight be mine,
you might
find it odd
for everything
seems fine
but beyond
the faces of patent
lies a sad melancholy
soundless lament.

Leave
like everyone did,
like everyone does;
pardon me
for making a fuss.
Don't read
into the blankness
of my eyes
and don't see any further;
Leave
for you can't be here
forever.

कुछ देर खेलो और (For Your Babies)

कुछ देर खेलो और
इतनी जल्दी क्या है
उमर पड़ी

वो लंगडी वो लंगड़
वो स्टापू की चाल
वो कंचो की छन छन
बुढ़िया के बाल

कटती पतंगों के गिरने का मलाल
फ़िर उन पतंगों को लूटने का बवाल
डंडे से गिल्ली को देना उछाल
लट्टू की फिरकी का दिखाना कमाल

अभी तो शादी को हैं बाकी
न जाने कितने गुड्डे गुडियों की जोड़ी

कुछ देर खेलो और
इतनी जल्दी क्या है
उमर पड़ी

अटकन बटकन तोड़ कटोरी
दही कहीं चटकाते हैं
दस्ता पिंजर खार कबूतर
चिडियां कहीं उडाते हैं

घोडे बेचारे मुड़कर पीछे
मार बेवजह खाते हैं
व्यापार के बहाने यूँहीं अक्सर
दोपहारियां कई बिताते हैं

फ़िर शाम बिता देंगे यूँहीं बोलते हुए 'खो'
या एक साँस में कहते हुए 'कबड्डी-कबड्डी'

कुछ देर खेलो और
इतनी जल्दी क्या है
उमर पड़ी

विष और अमृत में आया
ऊँच नीच का फ़ासला
आइस पाइस की धप्पी मारे
घड़ी चुरा के पोसम्पा

फिसल सीडियों से गिरना
और सांपो में फस जाना
लूडो के पासो पर
नीली हरी गोटियाँ पिटवाना

जामुन का वो पेड़
वो शहतूत की ड़ाल
होली में कर देना सबको
टेसू के रंगों से निहाल

कितनी भी कर लो, फिर भी
बचपन की मस्ती होती है थोडी

कुछ देर खेलो और
इतनी जल्दी क्या है
उमर पड़ी

बालपन कुछ देर का
सफर है ज़रा सा
जल्द ही उठ जायेगी
इस बचपन की डोली

कुछ देर खेलो और
इतनी जल्दी क्या है
उमर पड़ी



Transliteration



Kuch der khelo aur
itni jaldi kya hai
umar padi

woh langdi woh langad
woh staapoo ki chaal
woh kancho ki chann chann
woh budhiya ke baal

Kat ti patango ke girne ka malaal
fir un patango ko lootne ka bawaal
dande se gilli ko dena uchaal
lattoo ki firki ka dikhana kamaal

Abhi to shaadi ko hain baanki
na jaane kitne gudde-gudiyon ki jodi

Kuch der khelo aur
itni jaldi kya hai
umar padi

atkan batkan tod katori
dahi kahin chatkate hain
dasta pinzar khaar kabutar
Chidiya kahin udate hain

Ghode bechare mud kar peeche
maar bewajah khaate hain
Vyapaar ke bahane yun hi aksar
dopahariyaan kayi bitate hain

fir shaam bita denge yun hi bolte hue 'kho'
ya ek saans kehte hue kabaddi-kabaddi

Kuch der khelo aur
itni jaldi kya hai
umar padi

vish aur amrut mein aaya
oonch neech ka faasla
aais paais ki dhappi maare
ghadi chura ke posampa

fisal seediyon se girna
aur saanpo mein fas jaana
ludo ke paaso par
neeli hari gotiyan pitwana

Jamun ka woh ped,
woh sahtoot ki daal
Holi mein kar dena sabko
tesu ke rangon se nihaal

kitni bhi kar lo, phir bhi
bachpan ki masti hoti hai thodi

kuch der khelo aur
itni jaldi kya hai
umar padi

Balpan kuch der ka
safar hai zara sa
jald hi uth jaayegi
is bachpan ki doli

kuch der khelo aur
itni jaldi kya hai
umar padi

Photo Courtesy: http://www.personaltao.com/tao/images%5Czen_childhood.jpg

Quick Review (or say Opinions)

As I sat waiting for one more night to start, I listened to three new Hindi albums; Wanted, Toss and Fox. Amazingly, all three of them had English titles :)

This isn't a review, mere opinion based on one quick listening.

Fox is a drab album with nothing working for it (at least for me). Wonder how Monty Sharma was able to give that fabulous music in Saawariya (the only good thing about that otherwise forgetful movie). Looks like MS is Uttam Singh of current times; in fact Uttam Singh gave quite decent music in a few other movies apart from Dil To Pagal Hai; Gadar and Dushman being the ones I recall instantly.

Toss has music by Sandesh Shadnilya and some new bloke Siddharth Suhaas whom I have never heard before. I will skip the remixes as they are seldom good and often fillers. Sandesh Shandilya has come up with great music every once in a while. His 'Suraj hua Madhyam' was as per me the only good thing about the drab K3G; I still recall the beautiful melodies of Rules: Pyar ka Superhit Formula; Socha Na Tha had some decent tracks and 'Aaoge jab tum' from Jab We Met was not bad either.
Toss starts with two good chill out lounge tracks composed by Sandesh and then three crappy numbers by the other guy. The punjabi number is crap or say there's nothing worth remembering about it. Then there are two numbers with pop-rock sound to it, which is something that has no novelty in it anymore. Lyrics are forgetful, making sure that there's nothing hummable in the album :)

Wanted has music by Sajid-Wajid, another bunch of those not so talented guys who have been flocking the Bollywood music scene off late (Amar Mohile, Pritam Chor, Monty Sharma, Salim Sulaiman and so on and so forth). Anyways, Wanted is one album where one knows what to expect, given Sajid-Wajid's past record. The album has a few dance numbers (Love Me, Ishq Vishq, Jalwa) (that is songs with some beats and lots of oh oh oh, ooh ooh ooh kinda sound and then some dholak sholak and punjabi thrown in between). It also has typical Sajid-Wajid puppy-pop number which tries to be too sugary, too rhythmic, too romantic, too much lovey-dovey, except that it fails on all account as these kinda Sajid-Wajid numbers often do ('Mitwa Re' from Hello, 'Rab Kare' and Duppatta song from Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, etc etc etc). Then there is a song with arabic sound to it, lesser said (or heard) of it the better. BTW, Jalwa song is pathetic (although there's no real need to state that). There's a Wanted theme song, which is again nothing new (except that you get to hear Salman delivering some lines meant for front benchers and some other chaman singer singing something) and the album ends with a desi sounding song with jabardasti ki tweeter beats to it. This song tries too hard to come across as a no tension vension, full of fun song, but it achieves only this much. I guess a bit less of beats/electronica and 'ooh aah, hai hai, chom chom, hurrrrrr' would have probably resulted in a better song with listeners (some of them) perhaps finding the lyrics fancy.

Of the three albums, I would say the only song that I remember and will probably listen again is 'Ishq Vishq'; nothing great about it, just that one still needs to survive mediocrity.

Moral: Nights can be wasted in a better manner :)

भरे जहन में ज़हर जो कभी

भरे जहन में जब ज़हर जो कभी
फूल से लगने वाले भी कांटे बन जाते हैं
ज़िन्दगी में यारों ऐसे भी मुकाम आते हैं

उम्रभर संभाल रखे यादों के गुलदस्ते
एक पल में गिरके तमाम हो जाते हैं
ज़िन्दगी में यारों ऐसे भी मुकाम आते हैं

पड़ती है दिल-ओ-दिमाग पर ठोकर कुछ इस कदर
भीड़ में वीराने, वीरानो में शोर के मंज़र हो जाते हैं
ज़िन्दगी में यारों ऐसे भी मुकाम आते हैं

यह भी मैंने देख लिया नजदीकियों का हश्र
समझने से पहले नजदीकियों में फांसले आ जाते हैं
ज़िन्दगी में यारों ऐसे भी मुकाम आते हैं

चलते हैं अचानक ही जब इल्ज़ामात के अंधड़
कुछ पल में ही 'आप' 'तू' में बदल जाते हैं
ज़िन्दगी में यारों ऐसे भी मुकाम आते हैं।

एक सितारा तारा सिंह (Ek Sitara Tara Singh)

खूब झकझोरा इन हाथों से
तारों वाली उन रातों को
तब कहीं जाके एक गिरा है।
कस के मुट्ठी में भींच लिया
अब सुबह पर ही खोलुंगा,
न जाने कैसा लगता होगा तब;
उड जाएगा शायद ढीली पड़ती हथेलियों से,
ओझल न हो जाए कहीं
ढलती आंखों की पंखडियों से।
सुबह की दस्तक से डर तो नही जाएगा
बसते में रख देता हूँ
आख़िर भाग के कहाँ जाएगा।

क्यों न एक पहचान दे दूँ इसको,
सोचता हूँ
एक नाम दे दूँ इसको।
एक सितारा तारा सिंह,
अब बसते में छटपटा रहा है
खामोश रहकर भी शोर मचा रहा है,
अपनी ही चमक में है अब गूम
उदास है शायद
घर की यादों में गुमसुम।
मैं छोड़ तो दूँ इसको पर
ये तो यूं ही टूटा है
और टूटा हुआ कब कौन जुडा है?

एक सितारा तारा सिंह
शायद किस्मत था किसी की
डूबा जाने क्यों कर
गर मन्नत थी किसी की।
सोचता होगा
क्या कोई टूट जाता यूं ही
बेवजह इसकी भी खातिर;
टूटना पर हर किसी का हुनर नही
कुछ तकसीर किसी की किस्मत की ,
किसी के ख्वाबों की ताबीर;
या किसी का अंजाम शायद आख़िर।

.....................................

आकाश के घरों में जलने वाली
लालटेनों में अब एक कम थी
किस्मत की आंधियों ने फूंकमार
उसे रात की स्याह में
बेपरवाही से
यूँही मिला दिया था,
बिना नाम पहचान दिए.


Transliteration


Khoob jhakjhora in haathon se
taaron wali un raaton ko,
tab kahin jaake ek gira hai.
Kas ke moothi mein bheech liya
ab subah par hi kholunga,
na jaane kaisa lagta hoga tab;
ud jaayega shayad dheeli padti hatheliyon se,
ojhal na ho jaaye kahin dhalti aankhon ki pankhadiyon se.
Subah ki dastak se darr to nahi jaayega
baste mein rakh deta hoon
aakhir bhag ke kahan jaayega.

Kyon na ek pehchaan de doon isko,
sochta hoon ek naam de doon isko.
Ek sitara Tara Singh,
ab baste mein chatpata raha hai
khamosh rehkar shor macha raha hai;
apni hi chamak mein hai ab gum
udaas hain shayad
ghar ki yaadon mein gumsum.
Main chod to doon isko par
yeh to yun hi toota hai
aur toota hua kab kaun juda hai?

Ek sitara tara singh
shayad kismat tha kisiki
dooba jaane kyon kar
gar mannat thi kisiki.
Sochta hoga
kya koi toot jaata yunhi
bewajah iski bhi khaatir;
tootna par har kisi ka hoonar nahi
kuch takseer kisi ki kismat ki,
kisi ke khwabon ki taabeer;
ya sirf anjaam iska aakhir.

.....................................

Aakash ke gharo mein jalne wali
lalteno mein ab ek kam thi
kismat ki aandhiyon ne fookmaar
use raat ki syaah mein
beparawahi se
yun hi mila diya tha,
bina naam pehchan diye.

Image courtesy : http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj41/rafaelkwe/shooting_star.jpg

Songs for the day

Rains, Monsoon and a heart with sweet melancholy. You dont get to hear Koyal's song here in Denmark, but then imagining doesn't cost you anything :) One shouldn't be surprised if one feels like singing of love.

Here's to a beautiful rainy day and the divine feeling of love. I have included my fav Mithun Da's song which captures the essence even though its not a monsoon song :)

The Sound That Came

There's a sound somewhere
but I am going to sleep
I will try my best
not to get disturbed
by this beep.
So I close my eyes
and switch off the lights,
paving way
for a sleep of anonymous kind
to engulf me
in its agitated sojourn.


Woke up
after all these years
with a wound in my head
that scratches me,
and a pain in my heart
that perturbs me, more and more;
I wish
I had listened
to the sound that day.

Pic courtesy: http://hacknmod.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/sound_wave.jpg

Verse and a Song (Krishna Navmi Ashaad, Vikram Samvat 2066)

In today's entry, the first in this hopefully regular series, I quote a verse from Kamayani, the epic poem by great Jaishankar Prasad. These are the opening lines from part 1 of 'Asha'.

ऊषा सुनहले तीर बरसती

जयलक्ष्मी-सी उदित हुई,

उधर पराजित काल रात्रि भी

जल में अतंर्निहित हुई।

As for the song, today I have picked the studio version of Khamaj, illustrating the vocal brilliance of Shafqat Amanat Ali.

Why still read poetry? - KARTHIKA NAIR

I shouldn’t be able to remember it with such exactitude. After all, as John Steinbeck remarked in Sweet Thursday, “Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfum e of wildflowers in the grass.” But poetry was neither discreet nor gentle with me: it did not ruffle the curtains; it tore them down and the house alongside, in three distinct gusts.

The first came at 14, through an unlikely source: “Bhoole Bisre Geet” on All India Radio, a bedtime ritual in the midst of the darkness ushered by a mandatory load shedding. Perhaps it had to do with the total focus induced by night but the lines exploded in my head: humne dekhi hein un ankhon ki mehekti khushboo/haath se chooke ise rishton ka ilzaam na do/sirf ehsaas hein ye,/rooh se mehzooz karo/pyar ko pyar hi rehene do, ise rishton ka ilzaam na do.

This opening quatrain from an old Hindi film song displaced poetry from a clinical study of assonance, alliteration, metre and metaphor in the works of immortals alphabetically arranged in an I.S.C.E curriculum. “I have seen the wafting fragrance of your eyes,” wrote Gulzaar and synesthesia became tangible. Poetry could bend, stretch, torque and detonate the senses. Sounds had smell, sights took on texture and everything in the world turned fluid, interchangeable. Cosmic laws got rewritten. Poetry became a magic mirror; one that saw, not darkly as in the Bible, but tangentially; not removed from reality, but up close, much closer than usual lenses allowed.

New direction

The second came quite close at heel, a double second as it were. Vikram Seth’s The Golden Gate arrived like some great mythical bird, maybe the griffin, showing off the sheer wingspan of poetry, giving new sense and direction to elements often considered old-fashioned and irrelevant: rhyme and rhythm, cadence and structure. Written in 663 sonnets, the book captured — almost literally — everything short of the kitchen sink: a treatise on nuclear warfare, metaphysical questions of death and love, advise on pruning grapes, to my favourite below — a pungent tirade on the presumed irresistibility of babies: How ugly babies are! How heedless/Of all else than their bulging selves –/Like sumo wrestlers, plush with needless/Kneadable flesh – like mutant elves,/Plump and vindictively nocturnal,/With lungs determined and infernal/(A pity that the blubbering blobs/Come unequipped with volume knobs),/And so intrinsically conservative,/A change of breast will make them squall/With no restraint or qualm at all./Some think them cuddly, cute and curvative./Keep them, I say. Good luck to you;/No doubt you used to be one too.

Poetry, I discovered, could tell a tale — or multiple tales, as The Golden Gate had demonstrated — just as prose or drama; tell it with verve and wit, passion and power. Formal poetry, with its musicality, its intentness and attention to detail became a portal towards a ‘parallel universe’, as a friend calls it, one peopled with acrobats and contortionists, dancers and lion-tamers that went by the names like sestina, terza rima, ghazal, rub’ai, pantoum and more.

Vital components

The other half of this double gust, T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, not only reinforced the impression left by its companion but unveiled another vital component: compression.

Do I dare/Disturb the universe?/In a minute there is time/For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

Crispness, lack of indulgence for elaboration, restraint … they entered my lexicon here, proving how impactful verse could be in its spareness, its telegraphic quality of summing up and implying emotion, fact or state of being.

It took a few more years for “Lady Lazarus” to sweep in. Sylvia Plath’s poem did not just blow away the house, it snagged inside my eardrums, seared mind and tongue, left scratches on language and labels:

Dying/Is an art, like everything else./I do it exceptionally well.

Jeanette Winterson says is all when she calls language a finding place, not a hiding place. This then is what draws me inevitably to poetry: the truth. Not factual, lyrical or narrative truth, but truth of expression and of emotion. The ability to pin down and identify the source and delimit its contours. Pain, love, fear, hate, even restlessness…. They become bearable when given a voice, they get reduced to manageable proportions and they become shareable.

I never felt it voyeuristic to read Plath’s work; it felt like signing a covenant with someone who had perhaps suffered from the loneliness of not having her words reach far enough, and would be as empowered as I, the reader, by my act of appropriation.

Still reading poetry? Yes, still. Just as I am still breathing, still working, still thinking, still – hopefully – learning: human actions that are not circumscribed by any era or erudition, technology or trend.

We Don't Need No Education (On Global Warming)

We will perhaps
realize one day,
but
then we dont care,
for we know
we wont live
to see that day;
and so,
why should we care.
You can always tell us
of generations
that are yet to come,
their future and hardships;
but then
we ain't intelligent enough
to see that all;
or better,
we are too indulgent
in self.
We are too busy
always short on time
and we have better reasons
to be worried
to be fearful
than the times
which are oh so far away,
to be bothered
of children
who are yet to be conceived;
and when we are unable
to think about them
do you think
we'll have care/time
for
what you fondly call
'Mother Nature'.

So let us drive
our cars in number,
lets us cut
our share of timber,
and don't raise your voice
when you see empty offices
illuminated at night
we can give our reasons
of safety and fright,
and above all its our money;
you can label us 'Capitalistic Snob'
but don't be jealous just cos' we can afford.
You can shout your heart aloud
and you can kick in disgust
when no one heeds your call
but let us remind you,
once and for all,
Global warming is a great fad
to talk at scientific gatherings my friend
in day to day life no one cares
for the world isn't coming to an immediate end.

Pics Courtesy:
http://www.surfrider.org/blogger/uploaded_images/global_warming_5_dre-792612.jpg
http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/timemagazine.jpg

Some Days

Some days are like that,
Some days like this;
Some days are insane
filled with
agony and pain.
Some days,
I am with you
and I speak of
all things true;
Some days,
my lies prevail
I tell all lies
nothing else.

Some days rush by my side,
Some days hard to pass by;
Some days lie lazily around
for eternity
without a sound.
Some days,
we make it to each other
holding hands
enjoying life, being together;
Some days,
you are near, yet so far
from the corner of your eyes
I depart.

Some days end before they start,
Some days have no nights to worry;
Some days everything seems alright
even darkness of sad
gloom and plight.
Some days,
you get things your way
I may disagree
but then its your day;
Some days,
you might sound so sensible
yet there's no sense in what you say
for its my day.

Some days die young,
Some days are never born;
Some days gradually old
like the stories
often told.
Some days,
You and I
feel the divinity
lying beside;
Some days,
lost in the self
we just
let them pass by.

Some days are some days,
Some days are more than that;
Some days sing songs of melancholy
of times and faces
cute and jolly.
Some days,
entangled in your maze
I wander aimlessly
under your gaze;
Some days,
just wonder
why don't you let me be
lost forever.

Some days don't listen to you,
some days don't listen to me either;
some days carry on with their songs
with no bother or care
for our grouses and mourns.
Some days,
they never come back
not much you can do
except sit back and relax;
Some days,
haunt forever
thought I had shrugged them off
and yet they still hover.

Some days
still echo
their laughter in the corridor
effervescent, lively,
gentle and soft;
Some days
cast their shadow
long after the sun has set
pale and feeble,
sad, entrapped.
Some days,
are some days
others are you and I,
some days
we passed together
and others that never came by;
Some days
of yours
got intermingled with mine,
some days
of ours
are now buried with time.

I am wondering...

Who are we
but a name and a face
or perhaps
just a figment of some days.



Picture Courtesy : http://rumi.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8354c915569e201053707e838970b-800wi

The MPP (Mango, Pineapple, Papaya) Shake

Well, for those who are interested, this is MPP shake, that's Mango, Pineapple, Papaya Shake.

Recipe is simple, with emphasis on making the same quickly :)

• - Mango, Papaya and Pineapple in equal proportions.
• - 3/5th glass of milk.
• - Rest 2/5th with fruits.
• - Sugar as per taste.
• - Whip Cream (Optional Decoration).

MPP Shake can be tried with a bit of Vanila IceCream, if you like it :)

Have Fun.

Missing You (Thoughts after Reconciliation)

"I missed you last night.
Did you miss me too?"

No, I didn't;
I missed you the night
you lay awake crying
on your bed
with frowned face
amid mixed emotions,
anger and misery.
Remember,
how many times
I had called you then
but
you replied to none.

You lay beside the phone
thinking not of me
but of
rights and wrong,
imagining
things that never were,
words never said,
meanings never intended.

I had tried,
in vain,
that night
not to let you
miss me
and miss you
either;
I had tried my best,
my dear,
but 'missing you'
is what you had
left me with.

I did not miss you, my dear,
last night;
I had missed you
that other night,
a lot.


Picture Courtesy: http://www.lauriezagon.com/paintings_gallery/1990s/images/1995---Reconciliation.jpg

Photo078

Feb Snow early morning around Rishi's house (in Cincinnati).

Photo126

One of those Chill Out joints along the Delhi-Agra highway.

Midnight Gupshup

Midnight Gupshup; hmmmmm.....

Guess, I should have written something sensuous, perhaps having shades of erotica. But then, my midnights are just like my days; I wont label them boring, but I'll be surprised if anyone else finds them enterprising.

Over dinner at Kebabish, I decided to pass the night in the night-out mode. I keep doing this from time to time, sometime night forcing itself on me, at other times, such as this, I forcing myself on the night. I guess this ends up being symmetric anyways, irrespective of who forces oneself on the other.
Anyways, I watched Tahaan and liked it. Somehow I bias my mind to movies. I very much know even before watching a movie, if I am going to like it or not. I like watching fable kinda movies, especially the ones with kids playing central roles (Blue Umbrella, Makdee).
I also wasted my hours shuffling between numerous routines of Hearts, Solitaire and Free Cell. Often I have noticed that if I indulge too much in these card games, my dreams start to appear green; talk about subconscious :)
Oh, by the way, philosophy. Its an important aspect of any conversation that has to be deemed meaningful. Though you need not necessarily talk meaningfully, quite a lot of people still fall trap to this pseudo intellectualism which more often than not is nothing but gibberish. Well, the above sentence is one such example; but let me quote the one that we (Me and Murli) invented during dinner. This one was based on another famous philosophy; 'Take Life as it comes'. We devised our own version, 'One need not worry too much about life, it anyways ends up taking you whether you want to come or leave'.

On parting notes, here's the thought of the night:

There are thousand many ways of screwing your life; sooner or later you'll figure them out ;)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Watch Gulaal when it releases, watch Dev D if you haven't done that, listen to Death Metal with lights off.

or

Drink Camomile Tea for better sleep, do Yoga for relaxation, frequent cafes in the town, you might see a face or two that're indeed better than yours.

:)