Wristed!

On July 5th after a long awaited and cherished trip to Chennai, I just got down at the Nampally Railway station, because of my innate stupidity/bad luck I had a nasty fall and broke my wrist. Almost seven weeks in a sling, today when the cast was removed I saw that I dont have my left hand, its just a bone! I still needs two weeks of physical therapy and frankly, I dont recognise my hand. It's shape is majestically weird and it has wrinkles! I have never realised that without a wrist your hand is useless and how bloody difficult it is to manage with a single hand! I am absolutely sick of it, but of course you cant always have everything you want, so I have no great choices other than grinning and cribbing. There are so many things which have been postponed -from shopping to holidays, from typing with both hands to driving, I really think it's buri nazar (dont scoff),honestly I know it sounds juvenile/stoopid but everyone in Chennai was raving about how I left a "secure" job to an "unsecure" career! I felt really good then but am not amused now. Sleeping is a hazard, I'm spending thousands on Auto's, cant dress up even for events,cant eat properly, cant do some things properly (smirk) and have to endure everyone's comments on how frail I am! One thing I'm grateful for is the affection shown,from family, friends to strangers who have shown with grace that kindness lurks in the most unexpected of places!

It's raining like mad here and I am enjoying every minute of it. Could'nt have been more green!

Is it me or is it a fact that SRK is the biggest whiner in modern India?

pretty politics!

Yesterday I saw a clipping of "politician" Sangeeta Bij-lani campaining for a candidate in Moradabad. The Sad-geeta I know is the second wife of a disgraced former Indian Captain, a second rate socialite and a C-list actress, someone whose only claim to fame/notoriety till date has been a failed relationship with Salman Khan!She will now talk about Roads and good governance? I mean have reached such a lowly levels that we need such representation? Why couldnt have they have banned her along with Azhar? Policitics has become the common cauldron into which everyone dips into as and when needed. Losers like Nagma/Amisha Patel(granted thay were/are good looking) are the new Pimbo's! Sanjay Dutt made a hilarious Politico with his jhappi/puppy remarks and Jayaprada who cannot even string two proper words in Hindi represents Rampur! One more discerning factor is that every so called young MP is here only because of his/her political lineage! Someone's son/neice/great grand nephew! How can anything be possible if you do not give young people a chance, politics has become the new age-Bollywood where you need a background to succeed! And supposedly our constitution grants equality!! What's the bet that Rakhi Sawant stands for the 2014 elections?

Also, Hrithik Roshan has got to be the male-Aishwarya Rai! He's so effectively dumb that he would make Ken go green! Just check his response when a school used his name to teach kids about the letter Hr!

growing up

When I was young, I always wanted to remain young, being the youngest of the family I thought that life couldnt be any better! I turned an year older, in the last week of last month and the day totally sucked...I was feeling morose and sullen alternately and suddenly my birthday was no cause for celebration. Feeling guilty about the mistakes I made, sore about the money I'm not making, unsure about the way I feel about myself and the worst part- old and directionless. Without any clue as to what tomorrow holds and just travelling from one port to another in a fast-sinking ship. I pined for the time when birthdays were fun, riotous, a cause celebre and a day which ideally should never end. Sadly the birthday ended and so have all the illusions with it. In the evening when I was having dinner with Pt (my yearly ritual on birthday's, the menu for the last decade has been biryani and paayasam) I tried to put things in perspective and for once look at the positive side of things/life. At 24, I can no longer make the same mistakes which I did with abandon at 18, but by the end of the day that didnt trouble me much because of the simplest reason- I dont have a choice. Life will move on relentlessly and I certainly didnt want to blog at 28, about the things which I didnt do now. Everyday brings with it a solemn ray of sunshine which lights our day the way we want to and there is so much to look forward in life- books, music, arts and most importantly people! All those wonderful people who tried to make that day so special for me, in ways only they could! Felt nice in a way after that, I felt grown up and all important!

Tell me why does Vijay Mallya need a bail out from the government?
To buy a new yatch or for next year's Kingfisher Calender?

Idiot for audience!

My first negative review!

Evam over the past few years has been in the news for their quality of entertainment, razor sharp wit and the unique approach to make a dying art form called theatre contemporary. “An Idiot for Dinner” adapted from the French movie ‘Le Diner De Cons’ which was also the inspiration for Bheja Fry is almost-funny but falls just short of the milieu which can be called humorous. The story is simple, Sanjay Khelavkar and his friends meet every week for a dinner where they invite an idiot and ridicule them and the host with the biggest idiot wins. R.Golden Gopu, is his prize catch one particular week and how Sanjay lands into a mess created by a bad back and Gopu’s idiosyncrasies. It eventually lands a tax inspector, Hari at his place. To make matters worse his wife, Aparna leaves him and how he eventually manages to come out of the mess created by the “idiot” with the help of his friend Sameer is the crux of the play.The subtle irony witnessed in Evam’s earlier production “The Odd Couple” or the easy characterization of “Doubles, Triples and Quadruplets” or even the adept adaptation of “Five point someone” is easily missing. The jokes appear tired, the sequences seem too forced and the humor lacks vigor. What could have been a laugh riot appears a thatched quilt using silk at places and wool at the remaining ones. Smooth at places, coarse at the edges because it lacks the punch. A few sequences are truly funny but those are neither backed by a strong script nor does it offer anything new to the un-amused patrons. The jokes at most times, seem ribald and trivial. For those unfortunate seated in the uncomfortable seats of Ravindra Bharati, the night seemed distinctly sore as it wore on.

Of this and that.

I know not many people watch the Lok Sabha channel, but I do and it always turns out a surprise. Yesterday, it showed a documentary featuring the gorgeous Smita Patel, made in 60's in English! It was in black and white and captured the grecian features of the fiesty actress wondrously! Also, heard the remarkable first speech of Meenakshi Nataraj, a young Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh. She spoke in the National language and spoke brilliantly, without a pause or a glitch and I really think she will rise to great heights. Another speech which was outstanding was that of the fiery Sushma Swaraj, one of the best orators of modern India her speech on India's defence was quite something. Her clarity, diction and command over language is singularly unique. I do hope she address the UN one day as the ambassadress of our country.

Two of India's greatest musicians of the last century passed away this month, both from this side of the Vindhyas. Gangubai, the greatest of Kirana Garana, personification of the will power of the bygone generation and everyone's favorite didi left us. DK Patammal, the lone survivor of one of the greatest trinities of carnatic music along with MS Subbulakshmi and ML Vasantakumari passed away leaving behind one of the greatest legacies ever. One was a devadasi, another an orthodox brahmin housewife, each of them pioneers, each an inspiration. The saddest part was that the media coverage was shoddy, lackadaisical and uninspiring to say the least. I hope the government wakes up and awards them with the Bharat Ratna, it's not too late...yet!

What would Rakhi Sawant who looks like Rakhi Sawant and behaves like Rakhi Sawant do if she were reaaaly good looking say like an Ambika Anand/Nidhi Razdan? I shiver, I shudder!

A little bit of everything

I've been incredibly lethargic over the past few weeks and there is so much to write! Firstly had a faboosh trip to Chennai two weeks back. Had a blast with Sa and Mi, two of my fave bongs in the world! Also, at Landmark got two things I've wanted to for a long time now
- Toni Morisson, wanted to read her books for an year now. And, she writes amazing! absolutely and entirely.
- Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's rare AIR recordings. Now, you have to listen to it, to believe it. Got the monsoon ragas, so the range and clarity was better than what I've read.
Wanted to do a real post about the trip, but the time has passed for it so I shall not force myself.

Also, all this brouhaha about the monsoon and no rains is so cryptic. I mean, you bloody do everything in you power to destroy Nature and you expect her bounty? Chop trees, kill animals, encroach lakes and want a gift in return? Even stupidity has its limits breached.

Was at the fabulous Farooque Shaik's talk "Safar" this week. The man is so charming! Unhurried, classy and disarming. He speaks Hyderabadi hindi better than myself! Regaled every one present with his witty stories and really was a part of a memorable evening. It was no wonder that the show which was to last an hour, went on for three times of the intended time. One quirk was that I wanted to take his interview but the bossy Baig(who put together the show, didnt let me saying the time was less!) That I saw his Interview in a National Daily on Sunday needless to say, pissed me off majorly!

Lastly, if you havent heard the Agnee theme song for Splitsvilla-2, please do so. It is FAN-tastic.

One thing you want

Was talking with Pt the other day and out of the blue I asked him the question, What is the one thing you want, right here right now....He told me what he wanted and I didnt answer him them, but the one thing I would really want is to be free. Not supercially nor egoistically, but free to be myself, free from any or all encumbering relationships and free from any support. To be alone, to stand alone, to feel alone and yet feel I'm complete. To think on my own, to act on my own, to stand on my own and to say that I am my own! Is it possible or will crutches be a part, I really dont know but the path seems really exciting. So many things you want and such less time to have all that you want!

Have you ever wondered about the one thing you want?