Let me be clear, I dont hate sad endings (Like in the wonder called Atonement), I hate BAD ones. When I read a book or watch a movie all I expect is that it doesnt end in a disappointing manner but no -some things just refuse to toe the line! Was reading the colossal "Gone with the Wind" (birthday gift from Na) and it really blew my breath away, I've said it for Shantaram and I'll say that again, for a book over 1000 pages to be interesting is amazing (trust me, to make one entire blog post interesting is difficult enough) and this book does it with such charming ease. The amazing characterization and brilliant plot- the last 200 pages are so difficult to read, they simply pulverize you...not wanting to read ahead and knowing that you cant stop. The only problem I had was with the way it ended, no it's not appropriate and the could-have-been's will always haunt me but for the two amazing days, I will be thankful to this magnum opus for dominating my life entirely and also for showing that such love and passion is possible. The greatest victory of this book lies in making its lead characters believable- not good or bad but as good or bad as the circumstances allow them to be. Another brilliant book "Toss of a Lemon" by Padma Vishwanathan, also has the same grouse from me. A lackadaisical ending for an otherwise brilliant book.
It's raining Cats and Dogs here in Hyderabad and though I enjoy them, I certainly dont enjoy the severely bumpy roads and huuuuge traffic snarls. A government in slumber I'll say and also that the Common Wealth has really shown that Politics in India is the most lucrative profession- you dont have to study, behave as you like and earn millions. Let's start a party, Paisa Vasool Party (PVP) and start earning enough to buy Audi's and Swiss Chalets.
Sincerely hoping that the membership crosses three people.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Love is in the air
It most definitely is all around me! Eversince that amazingly serious conversation with Na about love, finding it, believing in it and finally how does one know that this certain thing/feeling is love -every book, movie or conversation of mine has been around the dreaded L word (Come to think of it, whenever was it not!!) From Atonement to Aisha, every single piece of art or literature has been stuffed full of love- overbearing at time, plausible at the other times.
- Was watching Ang Lee's amazing "Sense and Sensibilty" some time back. In one touching scene when Emma Thompson pours out her anguish to Kate Winslet, I felt now this seems like loorve!
- Reading Atonement and the passion between the leads is so real and so intense that it blows you apart. The power of their overwhelming intensity is such that you cannot think of anything else and then I thought now, this might be love.
- Was reading Eric Seghal's "Prizes",which I wanted to read for quite some time and was a birthday present from Pt. In a wonderful scene when body love and mind love was clearly set apart and reasons (believable ones) were given out. I thought this is it!
I've never been a sucker for love, like is more my line. But, call it love, lust or like...all of it begins to make sense only when you choose it. More clearly when you are ready for it. When you are ready, a remote gesture seems like an undying declaration and when you are not its vice versa. In a lifetime everything matters at times and the next instant nothing does...love I guess only helps you remain sane amidst all the uncertainity.
- Was watching Ang Lee's amazing "Sense and Sensibilty" some time back. In one touching scene when Emma Thompson pours out her anguish to Kate Winslet, I felt now this seems like loorve!
- Reading Atonement and the passion between the leads is so real and so intense that it blows you apart. The power of their overwhelming intensity is such that you cannot think of anything else and then I thought now, this might be love.
- Was reading Eric Seghal's "Prizes",which I wanted to read for quite some time and was a birthday present from Pt. In a wonderful scene when body love and mind love was clearly set apart and reasons (believable ones) were given out. I thought this is it!
I've never been a sucker for love, like is more my line. But, call it love, lust or like...all of it begins to make sense only when you choose it. More clearly when you are ready for it. When you are ready, a remote gesture seems like an undying declaration and when you are not its vice versa. In a lifetime everything matters at times and the next instant nothing does...love I guess only helps you remain sane amidst all the uncertainity.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Growing older
Is it fun? Yes, immensely from the next day after you get a hang of it! I celebrated Silver and am a wise old man now!! But the day was a mixed one, it was my best birthday in years, all thanks to some amazing friends and family but personally I really dont know how to quantify it, it still surprises me at times that at 25, I havent really changed one bit from when I was 18 (I have proof...and my thoughts, writings and myself are the same)...is it really a good thing?
When you think of the past, it always looks glorious, I have no intention to look back. I want to look forward to life and am glad that there is so much to, but a tiny qualm tells me about so much I still want to do, so much more to explore and so much to live for, a life-time at once seems so short and shorn of all adorments and the convex angle tells you the absolute opposite, so much still remaining. I know I'm rambling on but I really want to.
Life at times is so much in firsts and starts that you never really know how much headalong you are, some reflective times are all that remind you that this is where you are now, like a sign board and there is so much more distance to cover in spurts and chasms. Gibbersh, look at it topsy turvy and you might just see what I can!!
Aisha..August 6th...Sonam Kapoor...I kept my date and really enjoyed it!
When you think of the past, it always looks glorious, I have no intention to look back. I want to look forward to life and am glad that there is so much to, but a tiny qualm tells me about so much I still want to do, so much more to explore and so much to live for, a life-time at once seems so short and shorn of all adorments and the convex angle tells you the absolute opposite, so much still remaining. I know I'm rambling on but I really want to.
Life at times is so much in firsts and starts that you never really know how much headalong you are, some reflective times are all that remind you that this is where you are now, like a sign board and there is so much more distance to cover in spurts and chasms. Gibbersh, look at it topsy turvy and you might just see what I can!!
Aisha..August 6th...Sonam Kapoor...I kept my date and really enjoyed it!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Repeats
This didnt make the August Issue because the Editor thought it was just a filler, so it goes to the next best place!!
There are movies which inspire, and movies which motivate, ....... gives you one such collection which have in the relative past made the audience feel fervently patriotic without being patronizing!
Roja (1992): Mani Ratnam’s first national super hit, Roja had everything going for it- the lilting music, the necessary background of Kashmir to give it substance and some heavy duty patriotic scenes – like the one in which a fervent Arvind Swamy leaps on a tricolor set on fire by the terrorists and douses the flames in the process igniting the imagination of countless movie goers.
Swades (2004): Arguably SRK’s best performance till date, it moves the audience with its muted, understated and almost nonchalant charm. A prodigal son returns and learns to love his motherland. The scene when an Americanized SRK chucks his mineral water bottle to drink water from a mud kulhad for 25 paisa says it all.
Rang De Basanti (2006): Rakeysh Mehra’s throbbing drama about a bunch of disillusioned Delhi kids learning to respect their nation and taking on corruption was a huge hit with a young nation and made nationalism popular as well as awoke an entire generation. Check out the touching climax when the motley group confess on Radio about the murder they have committed and you gasp at the cinematic intensity of it all.
Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006): The film which has single-handedly salvaged Sanjay Dutt’s sinking career also revived one of our forgotten legacies- gandhism. It made fashionable- sending flowers and smiling in return for abuse. The scene which stands out is the one when a calm Gandhi asks Munna to apologize to his loyal friend and commander Circuit, watch Sanju Baba return from the ashes replete with Gandhian grace.
There are movies which inspire, and movies which motivate, ....... gives you one such collection which have in the relative past made the audience feel fervently patriotic without being patronizing!
Roja (1992): Mani Ratnam’s first national super hit, Roja had everything going for it- the lilting music, the necessary background of Kashmir to give it substance and some heavy duty patriotic scenes – like the one in which a fervent Arvind Swamy leaps on a tricolor set on fire by the terrorists and douses the flames in the process igniting the imagination of countless movie goers.
Swades (2004): Arguably SRK’s best performance till date, it moves the audience with its muted, understated and almost nonchalant charm. A prodigal son returns and learns to love his motherland. The scene when an Americanized SRK chucks his mineral water bottle to drink water from a mud kulhad for 25 paisa says it all.
Rang De Basanti (2006): Rakeysh Mehra’s throbbing drama about a bunch of disillusioned Delhi kids learning to respect their nation and taking on corruption was a huge hit with a young nation and made nationalism popular as well as awoke an entire generation. Check out the touching climax when the motley group confess on Radio about the murder they have committed and you gasp at the cinematic intensity of it all.
Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006): The film which has single-handedly salvaged Sanjay Dutt’s sinking career also revived one of our forgotten legacies- gandhism. It made fashionable- sending flowers and smiling in return for abuse. The scene which stands out is the one when a calm Gandhi asks Munna to apologize to his loyal friend and commander Circuit, watch Sanju Baba return from the ashes replete with Gandhian grace.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The rains are here
It's my favorite time of the year and I had to honour it by the only way I know- by writing about it! There's nothing quite like the rains, it's accompained smells and the glorious greens, never mind the power cuts, traffic jams and pot holes...each time it rains, some innane part of me sings. Nothing quite beats the joy of enjoying the rains- be it from a distance (maybe with steaming chai) or getting drenched completely allowing the tugging water to feel you, really really feel what you actually are and allow the fiesty drops to wrench out your innermost turmoil or satiate your inherent pleasure!
Two memories spring instantly whenever I say rains- One immensely rainy day in my childhood when my cousins, my sister and I got thoroughly wet and relished the feeling like nothing else. We talk about it still, it seemed like we were giant specks of rain drops..all in one, one in all. United never to be parted again. That was one of the few times that I felt that under such tremendous ferocity there is immense joy. Another experience was quite recent, three years back in my college where when it rains it looks like paradise. Everything so greeen and so beautiful, so calm that it rustles your feelings and they take flight. That particular day was so breathtaking that I chucked my bike and took a walk, I still take in that heavenly smell of dew and mud when I think of it strongly. I didnt even need anybody to soak in and embrace the moment, the rain was my company and dissolved any furtive/farcical desire for sharing it with anyone....Rain, I am looking forward to the monsoons, hope it keeps its date.
Aisha...August 6th...Sonam Kapoor...I'm in love!!!
Two memories spring instantly whenever I say rains- One immensely rainy day in my childhood when my cousins, my sister and I got thoroughly wet and relished the feeling like nothing else. We talk about it still, it seemed like we were giant specks of rain drops..all in one, one in all. United never to be parted again. That was one of the few times that I felt that under such tremendous ferocity there is immense joy. Another experience was quite recent, three years back in my college where when it rains it looks like paradise. Everything so greeen and so beautiful, so calm that it rustles your feelings and they take flight. That particular day was so breathtaking that I chucked my bike and took a walk, I still take in that heavenly smell of dew and mud when I think of it strongly. I didnt even need anybody to soak in and embrace the moment, the rain was my company and dissolved any furtive/farcical desire for sharing it with anyone....Rain, I am looking forward to the monsoons, hope it keeps its date.
Aisha...August 6th...Sonam Kapoor...I'm in love!!!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Small things
add up to so much!! I've never been a believer in the fact that small things matter much in the long course called life, but like most things the change has been swift and extreme. They are like punctuation marks, you dont realise once they are in their place but if they aren't you know that something is amiss. Like that flower once in a while or the relief a smile serves you when you are down or a hug that's unexpected...little things always matter. A relationship is always made or unmade by those little gestures which will not make you sit up and notice immediately, but will serve as gentle reminders when you sit back and think if the ride is worth it. Life is balanced by such severe checks and balances that you need all you have to stay afloat.
I realised this much to my peril when the latest issue of the mag I work for came out last week. I previewed a couple of books and actually typed the name of Jeffrey Archer's book as "Hereby Hands a tale", instead of "Hereby hangs a tale". A photograph which accompanied the write up only made my error more glaring. No use crying over split milk but I could only kick myself for not checking it. Shows simply, one letter wrong and the whole page goes kaput!!
The rains are here and I hope the gentle pitter patter tugs away the gloom that threatens to envelop this heart of mine.
I realised this much to my peril when the latest issue of the mag I work for came out last week. I previewed a couple of books and actually typed the name of Jeffrey Archer's book as "Hereby Hands a tale", instead of "Hereby hangs a tale". A photograph which accompanied the write up only made my error more glaring. No use crying over split milk but I could only kick myself for not checking it. Shows simply, one letter wrong and the whole page goes kaput!!
The rains are here and I hope the gentle pitter patter tugs away the gloom that threatens to envelop this heart of mine.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
On the trail of my Editor
Yes, like most of them - my Editor is "one of a kind", dont get me wrong, this is only a fun post, partly because I'm in a benevolent mood. My Editor at the first place I freelanced with was someone I could streamroll, butress and get my way. My current Editor (at the new place I'm working) does the same- to me!! I have to, have to relive this conversation the other day
8am morning,
She: Mk, where are the pictures for the book previews??
Me (groan, is it time already?): Hmmm, I will give them in today
She: a really looong Mk, You are taking your own sweet time...this wont do
Me (in my head) : Is she talking to me or is she actually saying...Did I carry you around for 9 months for this day?
The irony being it is actually nine months that I've started working here
She: Mk, are you there
Me: Yea, you'll have the pictures by 12
She (as if I didnt speak): The photograher will be in your place in half-hour!!!
8.15, after sending me two messages, she calls again!!
Do you really wonder why I've not been blogging of late??
My work has been really strenous what with writing re-writing, drafting and re-drafting though I must give it to Su(My editor), she runs around for entire days, thinking about design and stories. It's actually fun and I get a kick out of it especially because of late they want me for full time and I've declined it twice (that would mean better money but seriously can we ever really have enough of money??) but I'm simply glad that people read what I write and there is no greater glory I seek!!
PS: I hope my only loyal reader is happy that I've finally written a blog!!
8am morning,
She: Mk, where are the pictures for the book previews??
Me (groan, is it time already?): Hmmm, I will give them in today
She: a really looong Mk, You are taking your own sweet time...this wont do
Me (in my head) : Is she talking to me or is she actually saying...Did I carry you around for 9 months for this day?
The irony being it is actually nine months that I've started working here
She: Mk, are you there
Me: Yea, you'll have the pictures by 12
She (as if I didnt speak): The photograher will be in your place in half-hour!!!
8.15, after sending me two messages, she calls again!!
Do you really wonder why I've not been blogging of late??
My work has been really strenous what with writing re-writing, drafting and re-drafting though I must give it to Su(My editor), she runs around for entire days, thinking about design and stories. It's actually fun and I get a kick out of it especially because of late they want me for full time and I've declined it twice (that would mean better money but seriously can we ever really have enough of money??) but I'm simply glad that people read what I write and there is no greater glory I seek!!
PS: I hope my only loyal reader is happy that I've finally written a blog!!
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