Come play with me

Across the yonder

Over the mountains

Under the ridges

Beneath the blue sky

Come play with me

My friend

Its been a long time

Storytelling and the movies

Storytelling is an art and movies often tell stories. The success of a movie depends on how well the director has told his story.
I saw two movies over the weekend ( its 340 am on a sunday, as I write this blog) - Ghajini and Slumdog Millionaire.
Ghajini is an out and out commercial movie with the right mix of songs ,laughter and loads of gory action ( gory is not the right word, its a lighter version which I cant think of).Hats off to Aamir Khan to pull it off solely on his shoulders. It was worth all the hype and hoopla around it I think.
Slumdog Millionaire on the other hand is a Danny Boyle movie based on the novel Q&A. Through the programme Who Wants to be a Millionaire, it narrates the story of a slum boy .The best part of the whole script is how the author links each question asked to the protaganist on the show to his past and how he answers each one of them based on his real life experiences.Brilliant piece of story telling.

Ratings - Ghajini - 3.5/5
Slum dog Millionaire - 5/5

Being in control

At work today I felt I need to be more in control of my work and my situations , in general. I guess this is what people most often than or not try doing their entire lifetime.

It ends up wondering how to put the right pieces at the right places and their by end up controlling one's destiny and future.Is this easy ? I am not sure of the answers

22kgs underweight,9% body fat and then inspirations

The oher day I went to inspirations a beauty clinic to check out their weight gain progs.Apparently the tests showed I was 22kgs underweight and and with 9 % body fat , when I am supposed to have a 27% body fat-the package would cost me 98,000 odd.

It was so hilarious could not stop laughing with my friend once I was out.Nothing could entice me to book my place not even a 30% discount or a 500 buck spot registration. Imagine why should anybody pay this much of a money to gain/lose weight ?

Invisible- The movie

Based on a real life rugby player -Vince Papali who played for the Philadelphia Eagles- its an inspirational story about a bar tender who joined the team at the age of 30.

Good one to watch over the weekend.

Ravana

Ravana the demon king in Ramayana has been holding my curiosity for some time now and yesterday I looked it up on wikipedia and my curiosity was greatly satisfied.
Painted as the villain in the epic story how did he become the all powerful ruler of the three worlds including the netherworld? Apparently he was so powerful that he could summon the rising and setting of the sun !

Ravana was a Brahmin by birth and because of being blessed by Brahma he was a master of all the four vedas and the 6 upanishads and hence the name " dashannan" or the ten headed for he was equal to ten scholars ( probably this is the inspiration of him being depicted as somenody with ten heads literally speaking).

A great devotee of Lord Shiva,Ravana is also credited with the composition of Shiva Tandava Stotra .

When the battle of Ramayana is being waged Ravana was at the peak of his powers - how did he achieve this ? Why has not modern authors and playwrights not explored this part of Ravana and the Ramayana ?

Interesting is it not ?

Ghajini- music

I do not know where to place this movie's album. The best and sometimes the worst part of A R Rahman's music is that one needs to "hear" the music/song in the context of the story .
In my opinion it applies here as well. Take a look at the song guzarish by javed ali ( he vaguely resembles sonu nigam ) I am hearing the song for a long time on in.com ( nice website to check out) and finally saw it on TV- wow the way the instruments were assembled and the feel it gives to the scene is really good.
Rest of the songs again sound ordinary I am yet to see it picturised- i m sure it wud be equally gud

It happened on a wednesday-3

The whole country ( the news channels I mean) seems to be shouting and highlighting how the governement is in effective.I remember one notable news clip on NDTV where they Barkha Dutt showed a citizen holding a placard " Mr Terrorist; I survive despite of u ;Mr. Politician I survive with .......................... " (sic) { I m not sure ,how it ended }

Well. the point I try to make is this - if things are affecting people so much why dont they get out and do something.
If an X personality says that heads must roll and they feel bad about the whole thing - why do they not start a movement ?

Well its time to stop talking and act, is it not ?

It happened on a Wednesday -2

Today office was abuzz with the events in Bombay.The general feel and attitude was how the terrorists cud plan in such elaborate fashion.
They wanted the police to be stronger effective having more teeth ,how Manmohan Singh is ineffective as a PM who cant motivate and even questioning why POTA is not being implemented..
I liked what Ratan Tata said - its time the govt.learns from its past mistakes .. its been 26 years India has been facing terrorists attacks" (sic)

I think that summed it up all.

It happened on a wednesday

In the movie titled"a wednesday' naseeruddin shah plans the hostage release drama. It took another wednesday for terrorists to attack Mumbai so dastardly.
Look at them do it so boldly just when we were not expecting it.I was completely clueless about it until my friend from Pune told me in the morning.
I feel sad for Taj Palace- the hotel is more than 100 years old and it always been under terror attacks .The news channells will now start talking about how intelligence failure took place ,blame the govt and the usual blah blah- it makes me not watch TV at all for sometime ( though I dont have one yet).
It eventually had to happen on a Wednesday !

Suddenly everything has become a bore - my mind has gone for a holiday it is not getting any stimulus intellectually. All friends in banaglore are getting married or have already got married.Loneliness and boredom are staring right in my face.
I have taken up assignments one as a researcher for Greycaps and another as a member of the contributors panel for carpemanna.com (a blog venture started by my closest pal).
But even then suddenly everything has become a bore.

Terrible time with AIRTEL

Never buy a data card to access internet expecially Airtel.
I had a terrible time to access gmail and send some important mails only becos of the datacard's connecting speed. Efforts to get it rectified is another story to tell..

I am shifting

to my friend's place in Koramangala- its a good place to be in - quality of life that I seek is just spread all over.

Movie review- Quantum of Solace

Movie once again is not like the Pierce Brosnan ones- no gagdets only brawn. The movie also shows the emotional maturing of Bond with Daniel Craig in it.

Score- 3/5

Movie review- Dostana

Its gud - makes u laugh at the theatre .But at the end of it all the storyline has not much depth,it plays on "gay men' theme built solely for the NRI audience.
The second half is dragging as well - the movie clicks only becos of the 3 characters - PC ,AB and John ,with women audience ogling at John and the men at PC.

Overall - 3/5

What MBA does not teach u

1.Relationship mgt.
2.Doing even the smallest things the sincere way- we learn to google all our projects/assignments.
3.More importantly, how to make our bosses look good.

When I was away

When I was away..
We were in touch
Every other day
When I am in town
We dont speak to one another
Why are we so distant
When we are so close
And so close
When we are away?
Is it becos
We take the other granted
Or just that we are simply
Busy.....

RSVP

Trying to be in touch

Whenever I try being in touch with people I get the feeling that I am interrupting their pre destined orbits- that I am not welcome in their pre set path of daily routine.Its like a meteorite coming in the way and colliding with a planet.
Is it partly I am not welcome or is it that people are really busy that they forget to breathe and smell the roses.
Come on, it cant be both the things at the same time - some in fact dont even bother to be in touch and respond to only when they are sought after or an idea is suggested to them to catch up and when they eventually do it appears to be a herculean effort from their side to spend quality time.
For me its a simple case of priority - if its important people will call up amd try remain connected.Unfortunately,when I decide on this I end up doing the contrary-the eternal fool that I am.

The power is back

and am watching Superman Returns !!

I was watching Superman Returns

and the power just went off !!

Kishore

Koi Hota..
Jisko apna
Hum apna
Keh lete yaaron..
pass nahi
tho door hi hota
Lekin mera koi apna

India on the Moon

Yipee !!!! :)

Orkut

Guess what, people who I actually care for have not written me a testimonial yet !!!!!!!!!
Why ??
I really dont know and this makes me feel sad...sigh :(

Full text: Obama's victory speech

Democrat Barack Obama has become the first African-American to win the White House. Here are his remarks to a huge crowd in his home city of Chicago:
CHANGE HAS COME
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voices could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
PARTNERS IN THE JOURNEY
A little bit earlier this evening I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him, I congratulate Governor Palin, for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice-president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House.
And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure. To my sister Maya, my sister Auma, all my other brothers and sisters - thank you so much for all the support you have given me. I am grateful to them.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best political campaign in the history of the United States of America. My chief strategist David Axelrod, who has been a partner with me every step of the way, and to the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; it grew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organised, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from the Earth.
This is your victory.
THE TASK AHEAD
I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for their child's college education. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
REMAKING THE NATION
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.
And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity.
Those are values that we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: "We are not enemies, but friends… though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."
And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too.
AMERICA IN THE WORLD
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
To those who would tear the world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you.
And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
A HISTORY OF STRUGGLE
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "we shall overcome". Yes, we can.
A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.
THIS IS OUR MOMENT
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: yes, we can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

"PS- posted without anybody's permission " I got this text as an email forward and thought should share through my blog

Being a kid - I

One of the earliest memories that I have from my childhood days is staring at the open Calcuuta sky from my 3rd floor balcony.I can remember the vast expanse of the sky in front of me and me holding on to the grills.There would be nothing beyond and somehow it wouldd keep me captivated for hours.
I also had this tendency of putting my head through the biggest gap in the rails and jutting my head out.It was scary for my mom and I got this incrediible happiness when I proved her fears of my being stuck,wrong.

Another of my early memories was waiting under the big gulmohar tree for my school bus and would often wonder why the tree was so huge? Why did it have these red flowers,aand probably this explains why I love trees today!

Ah,it makes me feel so wonderful when i have a relapse of such kind- why did we lose our innocence ?

The new face of regionalism

Our country's founding fathers stressed the point of being a secular nation ,with no regional imbalances.Somehow the present "leaders"and we the people never managed to get it right.

But whats heart warming is the "terrorists" ( if thats the right word to use it) in Kashmir managed to get a hang of it and found support in their mission.

Probably ,the rest of us hould offer money to one another so as to see the other's point of view !

End of Dadagiri

By the time I write this Sourav Ganguly has scored a ton in his last test series.

I liked the way Headlines Today described it as an end of Dadagiri on his retirement.

It was something near perfect description of his exit - well he taught Indian cricket to be aggressive and nearly the entire side who are there presently owe much of their success to him - be it Bhajji,Sehwag, Irfan, Laxman,Yuvaraj.

Anyways ,hope the dada gets a fitting farewell - a la Steve Waugh style..

There's something wrong with the chocolate you gave me

It was not sweet
It was not sour either
It took its own time -
To dissolve in my mouth.

What could it be ?

Maybe-
It did not have you ??

Tata, Singur and the Left

All said and done, the Tatas have finally left Singur. The Times of India editorial for today says " Ta -Ta Singur" and also describes it as " a big loss to the West Bengal governement."



All I can say and would like to point out is the Left party is getting a taste of its own medicine through Mamta Banerjee . Surprisingly nobody is pointing out this fact !!



I look forward to the Nano only to see if i am eligible to buy it and more importantly fit in it !!

HI

I must confess i m a blot on the blogger world.My last update was on july 6th!!!
Well i have moved to bangalore- i wud not call it the "good old b'lore" or "the new b'lore" for the city has stagnated.The "quality of life "that ex new york mayor rudolf guilani talks of in his book LEADERSHIP has completely gone the drain ( well with all pun intended - even the drains are blocked)

Traffic has grown but not the no.of traffic constables!! The new fad that has taken place here is when it rains it floods only becos new construction has ensured fewer places for the water to flow and this also means that public transport just vanishes !! No auto nor a bus to hop onto....!! And the new mantra for auto drivers not to take u to a certain place is becos of traffic jams- well then explain to me why are they are on the roads?

Enuf of bangalore bashing-my friends are slowly moving away to a married life and this in turn means i wud be a lonely monk once again by this time next year.

And more importantly i need to devote time to my blog simply becos its mine !

In the land of Strikes and Hartals

A democracy is all about giving space to one another. The most commonly used weapon in India to voice your protests is a bharat bandh/strike/hartal.. This does not have any relevance in the present day context. Maybe pre independence they made a point but even today I find ppl use INQUILAB ZINDABAD ( Long Live the Revolution-- what are we revolting against today, I do not know). This is so hilarious...

Does a country say Turkey hold am All Turkey bandh ? Imagine an all USA Bandh..!!

Seriously speaking we need more creative ideas while making a point..

Just a thought

Just a theory in my head--

This society needs a certain number of its inhabitants to be impoverished and illiterate. For only then people would aspire to own wealth ( this would in tuurn lead to wealth creation and asset creation in the long run) as well as sustained food production to feed the impoverished classes. It would also mean a steady supply of manpower at low cost ,leading to sustained production of goods in the economy.

In contrast with this idea - if the society was well nourished and literate,then food production would go down as demand would be there for conspicious consumption only .Supply of cheap labor would be reduced ( another reason for decline in food produce as nobody would want to work in this sector) .Jobs would have to be white collared in nature and if the economy has to sustain it would have to bring in migrants from other regions.

Example - European countries need immigrants to do the blue collared jobs and why our own state of Kerala.Cent per cent literacy means nobody to work in agriculture ( the available labor demands high wages). Labor is expensive and every body wants a house and gold and migranst are more in the state to do the low jobs..

Think about it...

A Zillion Thoughts in my head

Its been a week now since my first post and my head has been itching to write something more.It was not about the paucity of topics but the paucity of time that I could not blog anything.(Now dont get the wrong impression that I am an extremely busy man its all about time management,something which my MBA was supposed to teach but eventually it did not go the right place.)

Any ways,today things in my head blew up ( I live by my thoughts and my life evolves with the thoughts I am a dead man if I am not thinking) the fact that my review is coming up is slowly beginning to sink in and I realise I have not done anythinmg worthwhile all this time. But then its too late to regret.The only thing I can dio is cover up and thats what is not happening.
The other day I was wondering if it would be appropriate to write about the people around me ( I mean with privacy issues and stuff like that ,) I have voted it out of my mind so it does not matter any more I guess.

Last week was eventful for I saw Dasavatharam .A good friend of mine ( though I have met her only twice) helped with the tickets .It is an OK to movie to watch with a very tight scriipt and camera work ( my roommate who is a graphics artist says that the movie could be better technically). Well the last two minutes of the movie kills the entire pace ( imagine a bullet removing a cancer tumuor of one of the Kamal Hassan's character) and then the question that did Kamal have to necessarily play all the ten roles?
Each role is linked to the other and carries the story forward and this has been well bound into the script and screenplay ( I loved his ex CIA character-his American accent being flawless).I would rate the movie 3/5 purely because of the technical brilliance ( not counting my room mate's view in this for he sees movies in a different way; having worked with a post production movie house) and if you want to see Mallika Sherawat being killed by an elephant go watch the movie !! Kamal Hassan is smart and ensured that the movie first releases in Tamil ( his fans association would make sure that he gets his money back) and then release in Hindi.


I seem to have run out of steam for now..the zillion thoughts just evaporated for I do not know how to conclude this post. I came to know last week through CNN IBN that I cud blog professionally and earn money -- now this is something that I wont be doing for a long time now.. until my next post bye !!

Me,myself and Rohit Nambiar

David Ogilvy once wrote that creativity is of two types- one you come up with your own and two you borrow from others and present it as your own.

My blog is just that-a thought borrowed from others .I have just realised the power of a blog in terms of expressing oneself especially after I saw my friend's blog..

Writing I believe is my best form of expressing myself- the written word being more powerful than the ones that are spoken (if you belong to my inner circle you would reallise how common it is for me to sit quitely unnoticed with strangers,but by the time you would leave the room i would have drunk in all your unspoken thoughts)

Anyways as I learn to navigate blogspot my posts would be more frequent, meanwhile welcome to my world !!!