Random!

This is just a random post - Post Christmas - the office is haunted and yes I am working. Well, I don't feel too bad - easy commute, not too much work, slow day, don't have to wait for the microwave at lunch time - some perks!

On another note, high for today: A R Rehman is nominated for the Golden Globes for his music score for the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" - as I said in my prev. post here, the music was really groovy, I did not know when I was watching the movie that it was a Rehman score, and I was like the background score is really good, wonder who the music director is - and reading the title credits at the end of the movie - I was not surprised! I hope he does win!!

- Moi

Mood for the day: Relaxed
Song for the day: Maula maula mere maula - Dostana

Couldn't think of a title for this!

After the harrowing last week – the brain has attempted to achieve normalcy. A lot has happened and been happening in the last week.

It always seems to me that just when life is plodding along comfortably, something seems to go wrong – I am suddenly faced with an aberration, which is least expected. Well one can just sigh, take it in – and move on. Such is life they say!

I watched the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” last weekend. I really loved the movie. It was surprisingly brilliant and the music was really groovy (A Rehman composition of course!). Watched “Dostana” the week before – the less said about it, the better. All I can say about it is Bobby Deol is the only character in the movie who actually looks and acts gay. And last night watched the new movie “Sorry Bhai!” and I am really sorry that I wasted my time watching that movie. Its one of those wannabe art movies - tries too hard. But in the end I felt the movie was just plain ridiculous.

My mind is just rambling – and I am not even sure what I want to say in this post. The holiday season is upon us, the Christmas lights are up everywhere – but it somehow doesn’t feel as festive as every year. People are wary about the economy and altogether its not a very happy atmosphere.

Well on a positive note, I am looking forward to our Hawaii trip – actually I cannot even believe I am going – I think it has not sunk in yet. I am sure much fun will be had and will be a good break from the winter.

- Moi

P.S: One of my colleagues asked me if I believed in ghosts – I told her “No, but I am sure the ghosts believe in me”, needless to say she was nonplussed :D

Mood of the day: Lost
Song of the day: Devil in disguise

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

- Bob Dylan

This and that!

A black Bond – what next??

Now that Barack Obama has been elected the first African American President of the United States, everybody is swept in the Obamania. Daniel Craig has said that if the world’s most powerful human being is black, it is now time to make history with movies – with a Black Bond. Wow - what next?? Not that I would mind – because I am sure black or white 007 will be eye candy for me J

I am glad that this Obama chapter has reached its end. I will get to watch and catch up on the prime time tv – that I have missed for the last 6 months! Because the Mister watched, heard, read, ate, drank only Obama for the last 6 months so much that even my MIL who's been here for 3 months knows what Obama's schedule for the day is. Understandably the Mister is very sad - he is experiencing withdrawal symptoms!! One more thing I am glad about is I don’t have to watch Keith Olbermann every night – ‘cos God knows I would have puked if he would take another potshot at John McCain – talk about unbiased news channels.

Another high for me this weekend – Hamilton won the Formula One this year – and is the world champion. Me says – he should have won last year but yay!!!

On the last note – Rest in Peace Michael Crichton. The great writer passed away yesterday. The dinosaur man gave us many great science fictions.

- Moi

1 Minute Movie!!

I love Hindi movies – but I think that the 80’s was the worst phase of Indian Cinema aka Bollywood, when movies were made which were mostly family dramas and had really crappy people in the name of actors like Mithun Chakaraborthy, Raj Kiran, Raj Babbar etc

After watching an endless amount of such movies mostly on Doordarshan I think this is a list of the salient points that most of the movies consisted. Most of the movies would contain at least 1 to all of these stereotypes. Read this for those who don’t have the time to see them all.

1. The elderly woman with the saree pallu draped around her head and a big red bindi denotes a chaste pati vrata naari , indulgent mother and wonderful cook who whips up 75 course meals with her smile and pallu intact and without a drop of perspiration. She has witnessed first hand the battle of Mahabharatha and the unfolding of the Ramayan. Preferred background score when she is around: The sweet sound of Bansuri or Flute! Visualise Nirupa Roy – she was the quintessential mom of Bollywood.

2. A frail old man in a kurta pyjama is almost always the father who works hard at the villain’s factory for a pittance. He is a sincere and dedicated worker who sticks to his job even though he has not been paid for the past 72 years! He suffers from a chronic cough that may be used to kill him off if the script demands. Preferred background scores for Pitaji: A mournful violin recital. Visualise A.K Hangal or Shriram Lagoo – they fit the role perfectly.

3. If their daughter is shown plain and with a cherubic character, then she is sure to get raped by the villain so that her brother, the hero has enough ammo to go after the villain. She will commit suicide after she vomits.

4. If the sister is shown wearing short mini skirts and revealing clothes then she is a bad bad girl and will surely fall under the charm of the villain’s sidey and get pregnant. Hearing this father will suffer a heart attack and die leaving the family destitute. The sister will turn a new leaf overnight and wear simple cotton sarees and begins going to the temple morning, evening and night. She will eventually marry the father of her child after the last scene when the Hero beats him up black and blue and is about to crush his head with a rock the size of Mt Abu. She will intervene just before the Hero crushes his head by imploring the Hero to spare the father of her unborn son or crush her too with the ten tonner of a rock. The father of the unborn child is immediately due to a chemical reaction, transformed into a good man who will promptly agree to marry her without a DNA test of the baby.

5. Then there is the hero of the movie, with perfectly black, oiled hair and big sideburns. Wears extremely tight pants and a shirt with the top two buttons open. He is a model son, a model student, a model brother, a model boyfriend – you get the drift. There will definitely be a rakhi scene with a bhai-behen ka pyar song. Visualise Raj Babbar, Mithun Chakraborthy etc

6. A woman in a saree with her eyebrows shaped in a sharp arc is the vixen of the piece. Her make up is harsh so that you don’t mistake her to be the loving mother. And to drive home the point that she is the villainess of the piece, the preferred background scores for her will wear out the cymbals and drums of the background orchestra. Visualise Bindu or Aruna Irani

7. The gal who arrives into the camera frame in slow motion, tossing her hair to some electric music is the Heroine. The Hero instantly falls in love with her. She instantly dislikes him. Then they sing a song picturized around ten International Gardens spanning seven countries. She falls in love with him after the song is over. Then they introduce themselves. Visualise Leena Chandravarkar or Anita Raj (if you know who she is J)

8. The man with the really bad sun glasses and cheap Cigar is the villain! He will sit on a papier-mâché throne in front of a bar with foreign scotch whiskey bottles filled with what looks like weak tea surrounded by a bevy of beauties called Mona, Monica, Ruby and Julie, not necessarily in that order. Visualise Ajit, Pran, Prem Chopra etc

9. The Villain will almost always kidnap the Heroine and keep her captive in a dilapidated fort or some ruined building with time bombs ticking. The fort has huge walls with "Raja loves Rani" and "Jesus saves!" kinda scribbling all over.

10. The hero comes to the rescue of the heroine and beats up the bad guys like no tomorrow. All the desi ghee and makhan ka khana that the mom fed him all these years helps him flex his muscles and fight away everybody.

11. The mother of all battles happen in the last scene when the dilapidated fort is made further bereft of huge rocks that the Hero takes to throw at the Villain and his hired men.

12. The Police arrive at the fag end of the movie without an FIR being filed. This is a miracle of sorts in India and happens only in Hindi movies. They will immediately spot and arrest the baddies from the milling crowd of people beating each other to pulp. Visualise Iftikhar in a jeep with 10 other police people in their Khakhi uniforms.

13. Hero and heroine are immediately beamed up to a marriage pandal where they smile coyly, bedecked, at the camera and the legend “THE END” with flowers in the background.

And the audiences feel genuinely happy it is over!

- Moi

What can you say..??

The Mister glowing over the ipod touch I gave him for his birthday – he is all smiles and checking out the gizmo with alacrity.


Moi: (Trying to get some attention from him) I am happy you liked the gift so much

The Mister (All misty eyed and sincere) : It’s my favorite toy after you!!

Well, what can you say to that ??

Happy Birthday to you Mister!!



Mood of the day: Happy – (its going to be 73 deg today)

Song of the day: Kabhi Kabhi aditi

- Moi

Happy Diwali!!

Its 32 degrees outside and freezing – its already winter – I AM IN DENIAL!!

Its just Tuesday morning and its 3 more days to the weekend – I AM IN DENIAL!!

I have already finished my day's quota of chocolate and its not even 9:00am yet - I AM IN DENIAL!!

Ekdum Happy Diwali to everybody!!

Mood of the day: Phased out
Song of the day: Tu hi tu satrangi re

- Moi

Food for thought!

When a saint and a wordly man met,

each looked at the other,

silent and mocking.

Both laughed at each other.

Each said the same thing:

What have you done to yourself?

- Bharat Thakur

Thinking on these lines - assuming that this is an either/or situation for each of us - I don't know which side of the fence I would be standing on in a few decades.

- Moi

Mood of the day: Busy

Song of the day: Chandni raatein ....

I sky-dived – jumped off a plane from 13,000ft – but I don’t think I will bungee-jump. Nah nah – don’t think I can!

Too scary me thinks!

- Moi

What is the difference between a snowman and a snow-woman?

Ans: SNOWBALLS!!

Muhahahahahaha!!

P.S: In my defense I have eaten too much chocolate today and the sugar got to me!!

Rant!....

Warning: This is a rant post – waited a long time to put this one out!

I am a Maharashtrian gal – and proud of it, brought up in Hyderabad – again proud of it.

I consider myself to be a Hyderabadi as I lived there my whole life before I came to Chicago. I speak fluent Marathi – ok not as great as any Puneri would speak – but I do speak Marathi at home with everybody. I am tired of answering a favorite question from people – Oh you are from Hyd? Do you speak Telegu at home then? (this question is invariably from a marathi speaking person; also notice the tel-e-gu – a maharashtrian can never pronounce it as telugu) In my head I start screaming No! NO! NO! – I speak in Marathi not Telugu – but in reality I politely reply saying that we converse in Marathi at home.

I have been brought up in a land where there were very few marathi families around and I did not have any marathi friends. So in school, I invariably spoke in English. Also, apart from home, I never spoke in Marathi to anybody else as there was no chance to do so. So anybody who was new or a stranger or not family the immediate impulse was to speak in Hindi or English. And this frame of mind has stuck with me. Even as of today I cannot speak in Marathi to a person whom I am meeting for the first time even though I know that person to be a Maharashtrian. I cannot speak in Marathi to people who I am not comfortable with. There are very few people outside of my family with who I converse in Marathi – and I want to tell the world – its not because I have an attitude problem – its not because I am a SNOB – its circumstantial. It’s because of the place I grew up in – it's not because I don’t like speaking in Marathi – I love the language. I have to be comfortable with a person to hit it off in Marathi. I know it does'nt sound too logical, and I agree I am a bit weird, but it takes all kinds to make this world, no?

So next time if a Marathi speaking person finds me replying back in English its because I don’t consider you dear enough or close enough to start speaking in Marathi with. It's not that I am not comfortable speaking Marathi - I am not comfortable speaking it with you!! So stop judging me!

There, I said it and now I am at peace with the world!! :)

-Moi

Mood of the Day: Peaceful
Song of the Day: Padosan teri murgi ko rakhna sambhal – (don’t even ask me which movie!)

10 Fav Literary Characters!

These are a few of my favorite literary characters – not necessarily in any order.

Howard Roark – He is the quintessential hero of the literary world for me. I am a huge Ayn Rand fan and her books have influenced me a great deal. Howard Roark, who is Rand's image of the perfect man, is portrayed as "as man should be", who lives for himself and his own creativity, indifferent to the opinions of others.

Albus Dumbledore – The greatest wizard of all times from the series Harry Potter. This half-moon spectacled wizard is my favorite character from the Harry Potter series and I was devastated when he was killed in the sixth book.

Atticus Finch – This righteous, idealist man influenced me a great deal in my teens when I read To Kill a Mocking Bird

Dominique Francon – When anyone thinks of The Fountainhead they only think of Roark but I think Dominique was an intriguing character and a perfect match for Howard Roark – I adore her character.

Frederick Troterville – “Fatty” from Enid Blyton’s Mystery series – he is the head of the five find outers and is one of my all time favorite Enid Blyton characters

Clarence Threepwood, 9th Earl of Emsworth, Viscount Bosham or Lord Emsworth – This P.G Wodehouse character of Blandings Castle is as adorable as can be. Longing for nothing more than to potter peacefully in the idyllic gardens of Blandings Castle, he frequently faces the unpleasant reality of his domineering sisters and familial duties.

Calvin – Calvin of “Calvin and Hobbes” – one of my favorite comic characters – it is not just a comic strip but I think that Calvin and Hobbes often get pretty philosophical and deep.

Dennis the Menace – I just adore him

Scarlett O’ Hara- She is one of the most richly developed female characters of the time in literature - Selfish, shrewd and vain, Scarlett gets her strong will from her Irish father. Her character is so beautifully etched in the book; she remains one of my favorite literary characters

Sherlock Holmes – I am sure he will make everybody’s list of favorite literary characters. He is someone I grew up reading and remains one of my favorite detectives.

-Moi

Food Coma....!

Have you ever felt that you have eaten so much that your brain has stopped reacting?

Well, it happens all the time with me and I call it Food Coma!! I am in Food Coma right now – just gorged on Chinese food for lunch and am back at my desk pretending to work – and its not working – the pretension I mean!!

-Moi

Song of the day: Alvida - Life in Metro

Mood of the day: Brain freeze

My heart is pink... !!

I took an online test and here are the results!

Your Heart Is Pink

In relationships, you like to play innocent - even though you aren't. Each time you fall in love, it's like falling for the first time. Your flirting style: Coy Your lucky first date: Picnic in the park Your dream lover: Is both caring and dominant What you bring to relationships: Romance

What Color Heart Do You Have?

I think the results fit me perfectly - especially the last part - what I bring to my relationship - ROMANCE! I hope the right people are reading this post!



-Moi

Grrrr..........!!

You hardly let me get out of the house.

You never let me wear short skirts and sleeveless tops.

You abuse me till my lips bleed and my skin peels.

You make me want to run far away to my parents.

You make me shiver and huddle up at the thought of you.

I have had enough of you already.

Now I have decided to stand up and fight your brutal ways.

O Chicago Winter! I am going to overcome you this time around!

-Moi

Songs of the day: Raah dekhe - Shubha Mudgal
Mathura nagarpati tum kaahe gokul jaao - Shubha Mudgal

Beautiful songs !!

Chhan se jo toote koi sapna ... !

Chan Se jo toote koi sapna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Koi rahe na jab apna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona

Hai to yeh kyun hota hai
Jab yeh dil rota hai
Roye sisak sisak ki hawayein
Jag soona lage

Chan Se jo tute koi sapna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Koi rahe na jab apna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage reeeeeeeee

Soona Lage Reee

Roothi roothi sari raatein
Fikhe fikhe sare din
Virani si Virani hai
Tanhai si tanhai hai
Aur ek hum hai pyaar ke bin
Har Palchin

Chan Se jo tute koi sapna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Koi rahe na jab apna
Jag soona suna lage
Jag soona suna lage

Patharo ki is nagari mein
Pathar chehre Pathar dil
Phirta hai mara mara
Kyun rahon mein tu awara
Yahan na hoga Kuch hasil mere dil

Chan Se jo tute koi sapna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Koi rahe na jab apna
JAg soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Hai to yeh kyun hota hai
Jab yeh dil rota hai
Roye sisak sisak ki hawayein
Jag soona lage

Chan Se jo tute koi sapna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Koi rahe na jab apna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage reeeeeeeee

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan rocks!

Fall and all... !!

Temperatures have crossed below the 50 deg F line. The last Indian summer day went by last weekend, it seems, as usual, without bidding adieu. Winter was going to sneak in without giving fall a chance, but looks like fall is standing firm on its ground - it’s fall officially.

It’s time to take out and don the melancholic winter coats and woolen wear. Skirts and shorts have to be replaced by sweaters and scarves. Flip flops and sandals will step behind, giving way to snowboots. Fall and winter fashion has already hit the store windows.

Trees are showing colors – there is yellow, orange, red, brown all around. Soon the trees are going to be bare, ready to be lined with virgin white snow.
Days have become shorter and the skies are dark and wintry. Summer, this time made a grand exit.

Windows at home, have started staying closed. Before long, the heater will be switched on at full blast. No more barbeques in the patio, no more walks to the lake to watch the sunset, no more kitchen gardens in the balconies of apartments, no more pretty colorful summer flowers adorning the streets on Michigan Avenue. Cold coffee and iced teas have given way to hot chocolate. Halloween pumpkins are out at every doorstep in vicinity. No longer are girls seen showing off their colorful clothes, instead they are wearing long black and gray jackets and scarves.

Chicago has changed from the bright perky colors, to black and white – it seems fall is here.

-Moi

Mood of the day: Colorful

Song of the day: Mausam ke sargam ko sun - Khamoshi

Perfect Sunday!!

- Eventually get up by 10:00am in the morning.

- Fight over the music genre and medium (TV/CD player/Laptop) and then listen to some music

- Do some cleaning

- Cook together

- Eat together a late brunch of sandwiches and kheer

- Sit with friends and watch the F1 race

- Play cards with friends over snacks and ice cream

- Go the lake shore and watch the Chicago skyline and the sunset

- Go and play some pool

- Go to dinner with friends and eat biryani and then finish dinner with “paan”

- Come back home

- Snuggle against the Mister and go to sleep

Next day:
Face a severe attack of Monday Morning Blues.

-Moi

Mood of the day: Happy (I got back my phone)

Song of the day: Phoolon ke rang se

If music be the food of love, play on.....

The songs in my playlist right now:

1. Aankhon mein teri ajab si ajab si – Om Shanti Om

A very soft romantic number from the much awaited Om Shanti Om – KK is excellent and it is easily the best number from the whole album

2. Dastaane om shanti om – Om Shanti Om

A haunting number which tells the story of the movie, reminiscent of “Ek hasina thi” from Karz

3. Jab se tere naina – Saawariya

A very soft romantic from another much awaited movie Saawariya, its got a young feel to it

4. Man kyo behka ri behka – Utsav

This is one of my absolute favs. One of the rare songs where both Lata and Asha share the playback- its an absolute gem of a song

5. Saathiya – Saathiya

I love all songs from this movie, I love Rani, I love Vivek Oberoi, I love Rehman, I love Gulzar…it’s a pet album of mine

6. Pardesiya – Mr.Natwarlal

Just for the love of Big B and Rekha…. A very youthful and peppy song featuring the great pair

7. Mohabbat bade naam ki cheez hai – Trishul

Like this song from trishul – don’t know why

8. Justuju jiski thi – Umrao Jaan

This is another oldie gem, the movie had all great songs, its very difficult to choose favorites, but Asha just hits the spot with this ghazal – absolute magic

9. Zindagi jab bhi – Umrao Jaan

Another song from the same movie, Talat Aziz has done only one good thing in his musical career, that being singing this song … its just beautiful

10. Saiyan dil mein aana re (remix)

It’s a great remix, one of the very few remixes that I absolutely love

11. Tere bina – Guru

It’s a Rehman masterpiece… this man is just God, and with Gulzar as the lyricist the song is just great, they are pure magic together

12. Radha kaise na jale – Lagaan

Another Rehman composition, very rural.. and Asha Bhonsle done a great job – as usual

13. Mera kuch saaman – Ijaazat

What can I say about this song? Ijaazat is inarguably one of the finest of Pancham’s compositions and probably the best of Gulzar's poetry. Four gorgeous solos, exquisitely crafted by RDB and lovingly sung by Asha with layered poetry by Gulzar. One realizes at such moments, that the whole sometimes is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

"Ek sau solaa chaand ki raaten ek tumhaare kaandhe ka til
gili mehendi ki khushboo, jhoot mooth ke shikve kuch
jhoot mooth ke vaade sab yaad karaa do
sab bhijvaa do, meraa woh saamaan lautaa do"

One hundred and sixteen moonlit nights, spent with you... the mole on your shoulder... the intoxicating smell of mehendi...the silly arguments and fights...the false promises made in mischief... I have left all this behind with you... send it back to me, send me all of that baggage!

I know the translation sounds a little silly, but you have to feel the song to love it!

14. Tujhse naaraz nahi zindagi – Masoom

This is an absolute personal favorite. This song is the reason that inspired me to write this blog. Gulzar’s evocative lyrics set to a simple and beautiful melody by R D Burman. The questions that life throws at us, ever so innocently.. and the storm of emotions and thoughts that we pass through as a result of it… its just beautiful!

"Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi hairaan hoon main
Tere masoom sawaalon se pareshaan hoon main

jeene ke liye socha hi nahin, dard sambhaalne honge
muskuraayen to, muskuraane ke karz utaarne honge
muskuraaoon kabhi to lagtaa hai
jaise honton pe karz rakhhaa hai

aaj agar bhar aai hain, boondein baras jaayengii
kal kyaa pataa inke liye aankhen taras jaayengii
jaane kab ghum hua kahaan khoya
ek aansoo chhupaake rakhaa thaa

zindagi tere gham ne hamein rishte naye samjhaaye
mile jo hamein dhoop mein mile chhaon ke thande saaye.."

Film: Masoom (1982); Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Anup Ghoshal; Lyrics: Gulzar; Music: R D Burman

"When I smile, I feel the smile weigh on my lips like a debt. When the tears flow, I don’t stop them, for my eyes might crave for those very tears tomorrow." Eloquent words that tug at our heartstrings… This song will always have a special place in my heart… for a number of reasons!!

- Moi

Mood of the day: Soulful