This last weekend and week was so busy...seriously no time to susu at work or at home...Friday night saw us going for a long walk at the naana-naani park (or better known as Gandhi Park) and then some amazing dinner a la SD-SC-RKRRS's (he is golti that's why so many initials)...and then on Saturday we had to go to this wonderful dance concert that our friend SV had invited us to and was performing in it too...a Kathak and Bharatanatyam performance...
So, why did I like the performance so much that I have to blog about it? Probably because I really enjoy the art of dance and dancing. It would have been my chosen career had I not taken up architecture... and it then makes me regret...a regret that goes long back...when I was 3...
I was about 2 and half years old...and my grandma used to take me to see a Bharatanatyam class in progress every day for an hour...nothing else held my attention as the dance class did...I would stand outside the class watching it spellbound and then would go home and repeat every step ad verbatim...I apparently had enjoyed it a lot...and what is worse? I even remember those evenings clearly in my mind...
When I turned three my Gran thought I was ready for the classes as many of my other classmates were also planning on enrolling and she took me to the Guru with the apt Dakshina (offering for a Guru) and everything...the Guru kindly took the dakshina but refused to teach me dance as he deemed that I was too young...
I clearly remember that evening when he told my Gran that I will not understand the subtle nuances of dance as I was too young...I came home disappointed, dejected, and made a subconscious decision that I hate Bharatanatyam and refused to go to any other teacher after that...everytime my mom tried I would cut classes and showed lack of interest and my mom finally quit trying...
when I was 26...I looked up on Ek Nazar for a Bharatanatyam teacher and found one online and called her...and that's how I met Ranjani...for a year and half we met once a week for classes and practice...we loved each other in a true Guru-Shishya fashion and I felt so nice...I regretted not having done so earlier when I had time at my hand...I remembered my mom...I felt bad...but then better late than never right?
But then Ranjani moved back to Singapore and left me Guru-less again...and now when I tried going back...it was difficult as I have Babs with me...and I only get weekends to spend with her and I don't want to miss out on that too leaving her alone with Girish for three hours...So I have put it on hold till Babs turns 3 so we can start afresh to gether with SV (hopefully)...
Coming back to Nirupama-Ranjendra's performance on Saturday...I was stunned, spellbound and awestruck...What can I say, I am just a novice...but I understood a bit more than others about dance...given I was not trained in Bharatanatyam or any other formal form...but I have danced on stage since I was 10 years old till I was 23...actually at 28 too I did a small Bharatanatyam item (thanks to Ranjani again)...so I can understand dance as an art critic will understand art...not just appreciate the difficulty but read a bit beyond the performance...and theirs was one of the highest quality I have seen in many years now...they had the audience in reverent silence...
If you are reading this from a different city other than Dallas...go and check out their performance in your city as they are on a tour...http://www.abhinavadancecompany.com/pages/company.html...you will not regret it...
I am all the more convinced that I will expose Babs to all forms of dance when she grows up...so that if she is like me, and interested, she can choose from a long list :)
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Personal Observation:
Since this is my blog...I choose to make some observations public...so read it, agree with it or ignore it...
Bharatanatyam is an art form that was perfomed by Devadasis in the temple for the Gods or for great kings or lesser kings...ya...these Devadasi's had another name...they were called Veshya's (is it a coincidence that it sounds like Geisha?) who lived a similar life to what you might have read in the popular book "Memoirs of a Geisha"...the only difference being they are married to god...and hence cannot get married to a human being but can act as concubines for rich people...this was a custom in most of South India and parts of North too...
But around independence time...the Brahmins...the so-called moral-police...banned this practice or custom and reduced these women to the status of prostitutes...their entire group was thrown to shame and were jobless and had no way to fend for themselves as their only form of employment was not banned...most of them did opt to prostituition as a result of joblessness...It was okay for brahmins to have devadasi concubines but somehow wrong for them to exist in the world...they made it impure...
But smartly...the brahmins did not mind adapting their music and dance form as theirs and allow their children to learn it...and suddenly it became a fashion for all brahmin kids to learn and singing and dancing...it was okay for them but not for devadasi's...all dance teachers and students were populated with brahmin kinds only...
For convenience sake they even looked past the fact that MS Subbulakshmi a great carnatic singer was a Devadasi by line of birth (although her dad was a brahmin)...but adored her music...hypocrites aren't we now?
So that is the history of Bharatanatyam...if you ask the affected people...they will agree that it is not a very colorful past...but then history is always written with the hands of a victor...
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I am not against Brahmins (guilty of being married to one) and neither do I have an opinion for or against the devadasi system...but just thought for the uninitiated this will be a good start to do some research...the links I have provided will take you through some good reading.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Ok lets see...They are BABIES!!!
Ya...that is what they are...
I am going to try real hard here not to sound angry...ya...but more pedantic because I know that most of my friends do not have a baby as yet...and me...when I was single or double (before becoming triple) would have done similar things...So here is a leaf out of my experience...
1) When you go out to a party where there are loads of new people would you go around socializing with every stranger the very minute you walk in? No right?
The same applies for a baby...they do not like to be carried around by strangers...from far they will try and smile...but if you rush to one immediately and try to carry him/her...the baby will cry...just like you would if anyone tried to carry you the very minute they meet you...
2) Do you have mood swings? Are you a bit cranky or draggy right after you wake up?
Well again, the same for babies too...they take at least 10 minutes after they wake up to socialize...only mommy can keep them cool then...so wait and give the baby some time before you try to jump in and get some attention for yourself...
3) Because they are babies...ya...if they did everything like we did...then they will not be babies now, will they? so ya...they are babies and will behave like babies...
There is one thing if you come and meet the baby often and you are already friends with the baby...then the baby's face will register the recognition no matter when, where or how you meet them...but if you meet them once in two months, you cannot expect the baby to fall in love with you the first minute you see them...also just because your brother's baby or your uncle's daughter is friendly with you does not ensure that others baby will also feel the same towards you...chances are you meet your uncle's kid more often than you meet your friend's kid...so wait, give them time...and trust me...the baby will come to you...just like us, adults, we take our time to blend into a new group but after sometime we do make some conversation and attempts at friendship...
Baby's are not teddy bears and they also hate being passed around...give them some space and they will come to you to make friends with you...ya...this is exactly the same reason why I am thinking so hard about a birthday party for her...she is going to turn one in less than a month...
I want that day to be special for her...not a scary one where one stranger after another picks her up...then she will cry...then the stranger will brand her CRANKY...and I will feel like throwing some cake on that person...why all the trouble...so I think I am going to throw a party where only BABBI's friends will be invited...not our (mine and G's) friends but hers...people whom she recognizes easily and will move around freely instead of being scared of them...I think that is what I want to do...
Anyways...loads of planning to do...gotta go...
TC
Love
ART
I am going to try real hard here not to sound angry...ya...but more pedantic because I know that most of my friends do not have a baby as yet...and me...when I was single or double (before becoming triple) would have done similar things...So here is a leaf out of my experience...
1) When you go out to a party where there are loads of new people would you go around socializing with every stranger the very minute you walk in? No right?
The same applies for a baby...they do not like to be carried around by strangers...from far they will try and smile...but if you rush to one immediately and try to carry him/her...the baby will cry...just like you would if anyone tried to carry you the very minute they meet you...
2) Do you have mood swings? Are you a bit cranky or draggy right after you wake up?
Well again, the same for babies too...they take at least 10 minutes after they wake up to socialize...only mommy can keep them cool then...so wait and give the baby some time before you try to jump in and get some attention for yourself...
3) Because they are babies...ya...if they did everything like we did...then they will not be babies now, will they? so ya...they are babies and will behave like babies...
There is one thing if you come and meet the baby often and you are already friends with the baby...then the baby's face will register the recognition no matter when, where or how you meet them...but if you meet them once in two months, you cannot expect the baby to fall in love with you the first minute you see them...also just because your brother's baby or your uncle's daughter is friendly with you does not ensure that others baby will also feel the same towards you...chances are you meet your uncle's kid more often than you meet your friend's kid...so wait, give them time...and trust me...the baby will come to you...just like us, adults, we take our time to blend into a new group but after sometime we do make some conversation and attempts at friendship...
Baby's are not teddy bears and they also hate being passed around...give them some space and they will come to you to make friends with you...ya...this is exactly the same reason why I am thinking so hard about a birthday party for her...she is going to turn one in less than a month...
I want that day to be special for her...not a scary one where one stranger after another picks her up...then she will cry...then the stranger will brand her CRANKY...and I will feel like throwing some cake on that person...why all the trouble...so I think I am going to throw a party where only BABBI's friends will be invited...not our (mine and G's) friends but hers...people whom she recognizes easily and will move around freely instead of being scared of them...I think that is what I want to do...
Anyways...loads of planning to do...gotta go...
TC
Love
ART
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Things I would not do...
When I was pregnant a few things irritated me...I never spoke about it because I know the people saying it were my good friends who thought that they were doing me a favor...but here is a small list...
1) I absolutely did not like people warning me about the impending lack of sleep after the baby arrived...it was one thing to let you know about it...and it was completely another to tell it like, "Oh wait...once you have your baby...forget sleep and all that...then you will know what it is like..."
I am sitting and wondering...I know not everyone enjoys the first few days with baby...but why are you so bitter about it? and somewhere there are the unsaid words of "join the club."
2) You can touch my belly...but ask me first...unless of course you are my husband or one of my BFF's.
3) "Oh! you are getting induced? Thank god I did not have to go through that." And I was looking at this girl thinking WTF???
4) "So how is it like being a mother?" Well I really cannot describe it to you because it is something that needs to be felt personally and no amount of words can describe the excitement, tensions, fun, confusions, etc, etc, etc,....ya very personal...sorry had to give you the cliched..."I am sooooooooo excited..." crap...
There are many more...and you know what I will keep adding them...the list goes on...
Most of my pregnancy was peaceful...but for the few times a few of my friends (ya friends) ruined it for me...I hope I will never do the same to others...and ever since I have made it clear to my friends who are pregnant that they will hear only the positive sides of having a child...ya you do loose sleep but by the time the baby is a year old...you do not remember any of those sleepless nights or those cranky days...they are all gone replaced by half teeth butting out here and there and the glorious smile of recognition that comes upon their face when they see you...so relax and enjoy during your pregnancy awaiting the entry of the life that will change you for ever...will make you see your past, present and future in a different light...and stop worrying about trivialities such as sleep, hunger, etc etc etc...they last only for a year or two at most...in the grand scheme of things how much time is 2 years???
Note to self-1: Not a fan of hypocrisy or hypocrites
Note to self-2: Guilty of committing the crime...I will henceforth never ask anyone/a couple/newlywed/etc/etc...if they are planning to have a kid soon, or if they are pregnant, or if they are trying, etc etc etc...Sorry to those whom I asked this before...did not mean to put undue pressure or make an awkward situation...
Note to self-3: I should stop abusing the acronym ETC...
1) I absolutely did not like people warning me about the impending lack of sleep after the baby arrived...it was one thing to let you know about it...and it was completely another to tell it like, "Oh wait...once you have your baby...forget sleep and all that...then you will know what it is like..."
I am sitting and wondering...I know not everyone enjoys the first few days with baby...but why are you so bitter about it? and somewhere there are the unsaid words of "join the club."
2) You can touch my belly...but ask me first...unless of course you are my husband or one of my BFF's.
3) "Oh! you are getting induced? Thank god I did not have to go through that." And I was looking at this girl thinking WTF???
4) "So how is it like being a mother?" Well I really cannot describe it to you because it is something that needs to be felt personally and no amount of words can describe the excitement, tensions, fun, confusions, etc, etc, etc,....ya very personal...sorry had to give you the cliched..."I am sooooooooo excited..." crap...
There are many more...and you know what I will keep adding them...the list goes on...
Most of my pregnancy was peaceful...but for the few times a few of my friends (ya friends) ruined it for me...I hope I will never do the same to others...and ever since I have made it clear to my friends who are pregnant that they will hear only the positive sides of having a child...ya you do loose sleep but by the time the baby is a year old...you do not remember any of those sleepless nights or those cranky days...they are all gone replaced by half teeth butting out here and there and the glorious smile of recognition that comes upon their face when they see you...so relax and enjoy during your pregnancy awaiting the entry of the life that will change you for ever...will make you see your past, present and future in a different light...and stop worrying about trivialities such as sleep, hunger, etc etc etc...they last only for a year or two at most...in the grand scheme of things how much time is 2 years???
Note to self-1: Not a fan of hypocrisy or hypocrites
Note to self-2: Guilty of committing the crime...I will henceforth never ask anyone/a couple/newlywed/etc/etc...if they are planning to have a kid soon, or if they are pregnant, or if they are trying, etc etc etc...Sorry to those whom I asked this before...did not mean to put undue pressure or make an awkward situation...
Note to self-3: I should stop abusing the acronym ETC...
Friday, September 19, 2008
Long live Mid-Day
I think I have a bunch of friends who are creative with words...
The other day I saw a Raza Murad joke on Mid-Day and forwarded it to my friends for a laugh...it has been our tradition among us for sometime now...anything funny, ridiculous or stupid we read it and forward it and all of us follow the piece of news in Mid-Day and then discuss it during the weekend over chai and toast...
Ya Mid-Day is one of our main sources of entertainment...all of us have read it and we know all the stupid news and many funny things...like the dog who caught a theif in the railway station and his diet of poori's and aloo...and also of the 80 year old horny elephant who went all the way to Kerala from Mumbai to get some action only to realize that the 16 year old female did give him a second look and had to travel all the way back to Mumbai...Mid-Day covered this news with day by day update on the travel of the horny old guy...
So when I forwarded the Raza Murad Joke...which went like this...
Q What would have been the title of Ru-Ba-Ru had Mallika Sherawat played the lead in it?
A Ru-'Bra'-Ru.
My friend S replied back saying...
"Oh.....I thought it'd be "Boob-a-Ru""
Then another wrote back saying
"I thought it would be Ruk -Bra-mein-Ruk (don't fall out of the Bra)"
Finally S sent out another e-mail
A Hug-lee aur Bagh-lee
We could not stop laughing...
This weekend we are having a get together at S's and it is going to be fun reviewing all the crappy (no pun intended) jokes in person!!!
PS: This post if for people who can speak or understand Hindi...if you do not then this might not make too much sense to you :)
PS2: Sometimes Blogspot can get to you...It has been irritating me with the font...my format is all messed up...grrr....
The other day I saw a Raza Murad joke on Mid-Day and forwarded it to my friends for a laugh...it has been our tradition among us for sometime now...anything funny, ridiculous or stupid we read it and forward it and all of us follow the piece of news in Mid-Day and then discuss it during the weekend over chai and toast...
Ya Mid-Day is one of our main sources of entertainment...all of us have read it and we know all the stupid news and many funny things...like the dog who caught a theif in the railway station and his diet of poori's and aloo...and also of the 80 year old horny elephant who went all the way to Kerala from Mumbai to get some action only to realize that the 16 year old female did give him a second look and had to travel all the way back to Mumbai...Mid-Day covered this news with day by day update on the travel of the horny old guy...
So when I forwarded the Raza Murad Joke...which went like this...
Q What would have been the title of Ru-Ba-Ru had Mallika Sherawat played the lead in it?
A Ru-'Bra'-Ru.
My friend S replied back saying...
"Oh.....I thought it'd be "Boob-a-Ru"
Then another wrote back saying
"I thought it would be Ruk -Bra-mein-Ruk (don't fall out of the Bra)"
Finally S sent out another e-mail
A Hug-lee aur Bagh-lee
We could not stop laughing...
This weekend we are having a get together at S's and it is going to be fun reviewing all the crappy (no pun intended) jokes in person!!!
PS: This post if for people who can speak or understand Hindi...if you do not then this might not make too much sense to you :)
PS2: Sometimes Blogspot can get to you...It has been irritating me with the font...my format is all messed up...grrr....
Monday, September 15, 2008
How can I write about something that is so clearly politically motivated and make it sound non-political or neutral? How can I write about something that is so terribly personal and make it impersonal? How can I write about something that is so clearly tragic and make it sound okay? I know...I cannot...but I am going to try nevertheless...
Once again India rocked as Delhi echoed with the noises of the five bomb blasts...but once again everyone's life moved on after a brief moment of shock and anger followed by phone calls to loved ones...ya...that is how we are...us Indians...that is how much time we can spare for our country...whether we live there or outside of there...
This does make us sound like "we are used to this kind of thing," which most of us are not...Mumbaikars can take the sole bragging rights of "oh! Big deal we have been there done that during black friday, train bombs, so on and so forth..." but India is made up of more than just Mumbai and me not being one from there is certainly not used to these things but...my question is...then how come this is the universal attitude in the entire country?
Even people around me, initially who used to ask me "oh this happened in your country..." have stopped asking me the same now...I wonder if it is because I don't react much to their question or because in the recent past it has been such a common occurence that they feel if anyone dies in my family they will surely hear about it from me? No, I am not complaining that no one asks me any more...thanks for the privacy...but I am just wondering if my attitude of "Life has to go on" caught up to them also when it comes to India?
I hope everyone's everyone is fine in India...Being so far away, and with my "I am so sorry for the loss but we cannot do anything because our government sucks," attitude I still pray for everyone and pray for all my near and dear ones who are in those cities that have been waking up to the sounds of blasts and people dying...Sorry...
One final crib: I am tired of people from Bombay/Mumbai saying the following:
1) Oh Mumbai operated full fledge right after the train bombs...
2) There was no looting during the 7/26 rains...
3) Oh, we are very resilient and nothing can stop us...
4) So on and so forth...
Enough with it already...Why did we have to develop resilience to the terrorist activities? Aren't we a country made up of highly intelligent people (no one can even doubt that and if you have any doubts talk to me and I will be more than happy to clear it for you)...then why and oh why I ask again are we being led by fools? IMHO our political system is a mockery in the name of democracy...I am going shut up right here lest I go on full barrel about my real feelings...so until next time...
Love
ART
PS1: Om Shanti Om...that's all I ask for...
PS2: Not the SRK movie
PS3: the PS1, 2, 3 is not the Gaming system...refers to postscript...thanks :)
Once again India rocked as Delhi echoed with the noises of the five bomb blasts...but once again everyone's life moved on after a brief moment of shock and anger followed by phone calls to loved ones...ya...that is how we are...us Indians...that is how much time we can spare for our country...whether we live there or outside of there...
This does make us sound like "we are used to this kind of thing," which most of us are not...Mumbaikars can take the sole bragging rights of "oh! Big deal we have been there done that during black friday, train bombs, so on and so forth..." but India is made up of more than just Mumbai and me not being one from there is certainly not used to these things but...my question is...then how come this is the universal attitude in the entire country?
Even people around me, initially who used to ask me "oh this happened in your country..." have stopped asking me the same now...I wonder if it is because I don't react much to their question or because in the recent past it has been such a common occurence that they feel if anyone dies in my family they will surely hear about it from me? No, I am not complaining that no one asks me any more...thanks for the privacy...but I am just wondering if my attitude of "Life has to go on" caught up to them also when it comes to India?
I hope everyone's everyone is fine in India...Being so far away, and with my "I am so sorry for the loss but we cannot do anything because our government sucks," attitude I still pray for everyone and pray for all my near and dear ones who are in those cities that have been waking up to the sounds of blasts and people dying...Sorry...
One final crib: I am tired of people from Bombay/Mumbai saying the following:
1) Oh Mumbai operated full fledge right after the train bombs...
2) There was no looting during the 7/26 rains...
3) Oh, we are very resilient and nothing can stop us...
4) So on and so forth...
Enough with it already...Why did we have to develop resilience to the terrorist activities? Aren't we a country made up of highly intelligent people (no one can even doubt that and if you have any doubts talk to me and I will be more than happy to clear it for you)...then why and oh why I ask again are we being led by fools? IMHO our political system is a mockery in the name of democracy...I am going shut up right here lest I go on full barrel about my real feelings...so until next time...
Love
ART
PS1: Om Shanti Om...that's all I ask for...
PS2: Not the SRK movie
PS3: the PS1, 2, 3 is not the Gaming system...refers to postscript...thanks :)
Maan Gaye Mughal E Azam (2008) - Hindi Movie Review
Rating: 4/5 on humor scale
Cast: Rahul Bose, Mallika Sherawat, Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon
Director: Sanjay Chel
The most random movie ever...you ask me what the story is? and I ask you the question back...because there is no story. The best thing about the movie is that it does not pretend to be a movie with a purpose or a good movie or a great movie or anything like it...it is a funny movie and does not disappoint you at all...wonder why Indian media was so mean to this one...but I have to agree that this is best watched on a DVD in your home with family (esp. ones that understand Hindo to translate stuff to you incase you are like me in Hindi department). Also it is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again and also repeat a few dialogues in real life situations...
Mallika is married to Paresh and both of them are stage actors...while Paresh thinks he is the greatest actor ever, Mallika is vying to move to Bollywood when she starts having an affair with Rahul who is an undecover detective trying to stop Dawood from planting bombs in India...Of course there is a ghazal singer Kay Kay who works hand in hand with the bhai...and of course he also falls for the charm of Mallika as does anothe rlocal goodn Kayuum Cable (dont know his real name...sorry)...anyways in the end all's well that end's well with roaring laughter...
I know that MS has been reduced to the role of a pin-up girl but she is not bad in the acting department okay...I really thought that she carried her comic timing very well in this movie...she is funny and the role suited her perfectly...Rahul was a little out of place but funny...it was just funny to see both Rahul and Kay Kay, two serious actors doing a randomly hillarious role...
Must watch...can make a dreary day fun!
Cast: Rahul Bose, Mallika Sherawat, Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon
Director: Sanjay Chel
The most random movie ever...you ask me what the story is? and I ask you the question back...because there is no story. The best thing about the movie is that it does not pretend to be a movie with a purpose or a good movie or a great movie or anything like it...it is a funny movie and does not disappoint you at all...wonder why Indian media was so mean to this one...but I have to agree that this is best watched on a DVD in your home with family (esp. ones that understand Hindo to translate stuff to you incase you are like me in Hindi department). Also it is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again and also repeat a few dialogues in real life situations...
Mallika is married to Paresh and both of them are stage actors...while Paresh thinks he is the greatest actor ever, Mallika is vying to move to Bollywood when she starts having an affair with Rahul who is an undecover detective trying to stop Dawood from planting bombs in India...Of course there is a ghazal singer Kay Kay who works hand in hand with the bhai...and of course he also falls for the charm of Mallika as does anothe rlocal goodn Kayuum Cable (dont know his real name...sorry)...anyways in the end all's well that end's well with roaring laughter...
I know that MS has been reduced to the role of a pin-up girl but she is not bad in the acting department okay...I really thought that she carried her comic timing very well in this movie...she is funny and the role suited her perfectly...Rahul was a little out of place but funny...it was just funny to see both Rahul and Kay Kay, two serious actors doing a randomly hillarious role...
Must watch...can make a dreary day fun!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Cleaning Up
I cleaned out my folders a bit...in the virtual world ofcourse...I realized quite a few things...
1) I have tons of photos and many doubles...so I arranged and organized them by the year and event...so now I don't have many folders of photos that say Austin! Good deal...
2) I was way thinner than what I thought I was a few years ago and I am sure that I am way fatter than what I think I am now! I remember spending hours in the gym and living on soups for three months in a row then and stressing out on it then...while now I am scooping up fatty food by the dozen! So in retrospect I should not have any time working out and dieting then!
3)I love to write...shows in the amount of unfinished and half written stories I have...some of them I do not even remember writing...but it is mine because it is my style...
4) I carry tons of junk in my folders...I have deleted most of them...but like the pack rat I am...I am still holding on to a few near ones which I will discard in my next cleanup!
Thas all for now...Ike (the hurricane) is coming...our house is filled up with family from Houston...so busy busy busy!
1) I have tons of photos and many doubles...so I arranged and organized them by the year and event...so now I don't have many folders of photos that say Austin! Good deal...
2) I was way thinner than what I thought I was a few years ago and I am sure that I am way fatter than what I think I am now! I remember spending hours in the gym and living on soups for three months in a row then and stressing out on it then...while now I am scooping up fatty food by the dozen! So in retrospect I should not have any time working out and dieting then!
3)I love to write...shows in the amount of unfinished and half written stories I have...some of them I do not even remember writing...but it is mine because it is my style...
4) I carry tons of junk in my folders...I have deleted most of them...but like the pack rat I am...I am still holding on to a few near ones which I will discard in my next cleanup!
Thas all for now...Ike (the hurricane) is coming...our house is filled up with family from Houston...so busy busy busy!
Monday, September 08, 2008
I am from Tamilnadu but...
I am not a Tamilian...I am sorry...I love everything Tamil, the language, the people, the food and where do I feel most at home? Yes, Tamilnadu...nowhere else...but then I do not speak Tamil at home...
Everyone I meet ask me where I am from, I tell them I am from Chennai but I speak Telugu at home...what part do they retain? That I am from Chennai hence I am a Tamilian, they forget the part where I tell them that I am Telugu speaking...
I want to tell everyone to take a look at these interesting websites...
1) Andhra Pradesh
2) Madras Presidency
Ok so what do you gather from it? First off, pre-Independence and parts of post independence (till 1956) Andhra was part of the whole Madras Presidency thingy hence people from Tamilnadu and Andhra intermingled pretty freely...oh and yes...before the British came down the kingdom's in the south like those of Chera, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara, Pallavas etc, were at constant war with each other often overlapping territories between Andhra, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka...which therefore means that Tamilians and Andhrites intermingled even then...there were many marriage alliances made to keep warring kingdoms in check...
Oh yes BTW, Tiyagaraja...one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music...is from Tanjavur which is in Tamilnadu but he is Telugu and lived between 18th and 19th century...hmm...read about him and if you have never heard his compositions now would be a good time...
So Therefore I prove my point that it is absolutely ok to be a Telugu (or golt) from Tamilnadu and only you as my friend or a blog reader or just someone whom I have randomly met at a random party is thick headed if you cannot get this still...In Chennai you will see tons of Telugu's living among Tamil's and they are rarely looked down or frowned upon...at least my family who have settled there for two generation never felt out of place...is the opposite ok in AP too? I don't know...you tell me...
Love
ART
Everyone I meet ask me where I am from, I tell them I am from Chennai but I speak Telugu at home...what part do they retain? That I am from Chennai hence I am a Tamilian, they forget the part where I tell them that I am Telugu speaking...
I want to tell everyone to take a look at these interesting websites...
1) Andhra Pradesh
2) Madras Presidency
Ok so what do you gather from it? First off, pre-Independence and parts of post independence (till 1956) Andhra was part of the whole Madras Presidency thingy hence people from Tamilnadu and Andhra intermingled pretty freely...oh and yes...before the British came down the kingdom's in the south like those of Chera, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara, Pallavas etc, were at constant war with each other often overlapping territories between Andhra, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka...which therefore means that Tamilians and Andhrites intermingled even then...there were many marriage alliances made to keep warring kingdoms in check...
Oh yes BTW, Tiyagaraja...one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music...is from Tanjavur which is in Tamilnadu but he is Telugu and lived between 18th and 19th century...hmm...read about him and if you have never heard his compositions now would be a good time...
So Therefore I prove my point that it is absolutely ok to be a Telugu (or golt) from Tamilnadu and only you as my friend or a blog reader or just someone whom I have randomly met at a random party is thick headed if you cannot get this still...In Chennai you will see tons of Telugu's living among Tamil's and they are rarely looked down or frowned upon...at least my family who have settled there for two generation never felt out of place...is the opposite ok in AP too? I don't know...you tell me...
Love
ART
Friday, September 05, 2008
Rock on (2008) - Hindi Movie Review
Rating: 3.75/5
Cast: Farhan Akthar, Prachi Desai, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kolhi, Luke Kenny, Koel Puri, Nicolette Bird, Shabana Goswami
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
I liked seeing this movie as cliched as it was...There was nothing new about the movie or the story...it was just the screenplay and the acting that gave it the freshness...Right from the very start you can predict the movie and act as a pseudo director knowing exactly what the next shot was going to be...but the point it the movie was not slacking or nagging at any point...it just flowed from one scene into the other and from past to present in one continuous motion...
Aditya (Farhan) is an investment banker married to Sakshi (Prachi). They lead a rich but loveless life with Adi using his work as an excuse to shy away from family life...Sakshi bumps into KD (Purab) during one of her trips to a jewellery store which his dad owns. From then on Sakshi discovers a new side to her husband which she never knew existed. She requests KD to get all of Adi's friends for a surprise birthday party that she had planned for him.
KD gets back in touch with Rob (Luke) and also with Joe (Arjun) to join him for the party. Everyone but Joe make it to the party. Adi is also reluctant to mingle with his decade old friends. That very night after the part Adi and Sakshi get into an argument and she leaves the house asking him to rethink the life he has been leading.
From the flashback we know that KD (Killer drummer), Rob (Keyboard player), Joe (Lead Guitarist), and Adi (singer, composer, and guitarist) used to be in a band called magik...which of course disbanded due to difference of opinion and when they split Adi and Joe did not see things eye to eye...
Will Sakshi's digging into past help reunite the band? Guesses?
So ya the movie is a definite family viewer and it is an entertainer too...I am not fond of very dark movies but this one is kinda sorta an exception for me...I still wish the director had used a bit more light...I have to go and kick Santosh Sivan's ass for starting that trend and Mani Ratnam's too!
Not many actors can become good directors but on the contrary most good directors can act well...not just in the role of hero...it can be anything...because they know what they want to see on the screen and what they have to do to get the correct effect...Farhan Akthar falls into this category...He is definitely a good actor and in the movie he has done a great job...
The rest of the cast is also very impressive...From Arjun to Shabana...it is all work done amazingle well...the casting director needs kudos! I loved watching this movie and hope you do too :)
Cast: Farhan Akthar, Prachi Desai, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kolhi, Luke Kenny, Koel Puri, Nicolette Bird, Shabana Goswami
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
I liked seeing this movie as cliched as it was...There was nothing new about the movie or the story...it was just the screenplay and the acting that gave it the freshness...Right from the very start you can predict the movie and act as a pseudo director knowing exactly what the next shot was going to be...but the point it the movie was not slacking or nagging at any point...it just flowed from one scene into the other and from past to present in one continuous motion...
Aditya (Farhan) is an investment banker married to Sakshi (Prachi). They lead a rich but loveless life with Adi using his work as an excuse to shy away from family life...Sakshi bumps into KD (Purab) during one of her trips to a jewellery store which his dad owns. From then on Sakshi discovers a new side to her husband which she never knew existed. She requests KD to get all of Adi's friends for a surprise birthday party that she had planned for him.
KD gets back in touch with Rob (Luke) and also with Joe (Arjun) to join him for the party. Everyone but Joe make it to the party. Adi is also reluctant to mingle with his decade old friends. That very night after the part Adi and Sakshi get into an argument and she leaves the house asking him to rethink the life he has been leading.
From the flashback we know that KD (Killer drummer), Rob (Keyboard player), Joe (Lead Guitarist), and Adi (singer, composer, and guitarist) used to be in a band called magik...which of course disbanded due to difference of opinion and when they split Adi and Joe did not see things eye to eye...
Will Sakshi's digging into past help reunite the band? Guesses?
So ya the movie is a definite family viewer and it is an entertainer too...I am not fond of very dark movies but this one is kinda sorta an exception for me...I still wish the director had used a bit more light...I have to go and kick Santosh Sivan's ass for starting that trend and Mani Ratnam's too!
Not many actors can become good directors but on the contrary most good directors can act well...not just in the role of hero...it can be anything...because they know what they want to see on the screen and what they have to do to get the correct effect...Farhan Akthar falls into this category...He is definitely a good actor and in the movie he has done a great job...
The rest of the cast is also very impressive...From Arjun to Shabana...it is all work done amazingle well...the casting director needs kudos! I loved watching this movie and hope you do too :)
I am all about sports
Ya...I watch every single sportshow that comes on TV...some because I like it and some because I am forced to as G puts on his puppy face and of course I melt down...
Anyhoo, I watch Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, football (soccer), ping-pong, even American Football of which I understand nada...I am also into watching golf the whole 6 or 7 hours while most golf players find watching golf on TV boring...ya I do all that...and there is one thing I really feel very strong about...the renumeration for the players...
When you watch WNBA (I don't) the women play as much as the NBA players do...but they get paid far less...I am also assuming that the women golfers also do 18 holes and not 9 becuase they also get paid less than half of what the men get paid...it is unfair...
But on the other hand you have tennis...which is my favorite sport ever...I am not like one of those girls who know a few names and throw it around here and there...I have been watching tennis since the days of Borg and McEnroe and I have hardly taken a break from following it...so trust me, I know what I am talking about here...in tennis BJ King...who of course I have never had the chance to see playing (I was a baby probably) made sure that men and women get paid the same amount...
Which is the most brilliant thing that any sport can do...no wonder women's tennis is as popular as men's tennis now...unlike any other sport...where only men's game gets the primetime viewing and the rest are shoved away with minimal sponsors and such...I understand how the renumeration works...more viewers=more sponsors=more pay...ya but we are talking about less exposure too!!!
Anyway...my point is...I am grateful for BJK to have done what she has done and now she even has a tennis arena named after her in Flushing Meadows...Great job and a step in the right direction for women's lib folk...but here is what I do not agree with...how come men play 5 sets while women only play 3...is this not unfair to the men? I strongly believe that men and women both should either play 3 sets or 5 sets...weren't we just talking about equality for both men and women...hmm...I wonder how that got lost!
So everytime I see the Women's tennis it irritates me that women get away with a two setter on a good day and three on their worst...but the poor men have to fight it out for 3 on a good day and 5 on their worst...isn't women's lib all about empowerment and women are equal to men and all that?
There...I have gotten you to think too...Hope they change this too...
PS: I know that most of the ATP and US Open tour games are 3 sets for both men and women...I am talking about the slams...thanks :)
Anyhoo, I watch Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, football (soccer), ping-pong, even American Football of which I understand nada...I am also into watching golf the whole 6 or 7 hours while most golf players find watching golf on TV boring...ya I do all that...and there is one thing I really feel very strong about...the renumeration for the players...
When you watch WNBA (I don't) the women play as much as the NBA players do...but they get paid far less...I am also assuming that the women golfers also do 18 holes and not 9 becuase they also get paid less than half of what the men get paid...it is unfair...
But on the other hand you have tennis...which is my favorite sport ever...I am not like one of those girls who know a few names and throw it around here and there...I have been watching tennis since the days of Borg and McEnroe and I have hardly taken a break from following it...so trust me, I know what I am talking about here...in tennis BJ King...who of course I have never had the chance to see playing (I was a baby probably) made sure that men and women get paid the same amount...
Which is the most brilliant thing that any sport can do...no wonder women's tennis is as popular as men's tennis now...unlike any other sport...where only men's game gets the primetime viewing and the rest are shoved away with minimal sponsors and such...I understand how the renumeration works...more viewers=more sponsors=more pay...ya but we are talking about less exposure too!!!
Anyway...my point is...I am grateful for BJK to have done what she has done and now she even has a tennis arena named after her in Flushing Meadows...Great job and a step in the right direction for women's lib folk...but here is what I do not agree with...how come men play 5 sets while women only play 3...is this not unfair to the men? I strongly believe that men and women both should either play 3 sets or 5 sets...weren't we just talking about equality for both men and women...hmm...I wonder how that got lost!
So everytime I see the Women's tennis it irritates me that women get away with a two setter on a good day and three on their worst...but the poor men have to fight it out for 3 on a good day and 5 on their worst...isn't women's lib all about empowerment and women are equal to men and all that?
There...I have gotten you to think too...Hope they change this too...
PS: I know that most of the ATP and US Open tour games are 3 sets for both men and women...I am talking about the slams...thanks :)
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Amu (2007) - Hindi/English Movie Review
Rating: 3/5 if you like riot movies...if you are like me then 0/5
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Ankur Sharma
Director: Shonali Bose
I hate it...absolutely...when people make movies on riots and then dedicate it to people who died in it or people who suffered through it...don't make a dedication of movies that the victim's relatives and friends have to live through once again...dedicate something fun instead...or how about build a school in the money you spend making a movie on the subject? However and noble the motive is, it affects people who were affected by the riots and trust me not in a positive way...by bringing awareness to the riots you are going to make the government change its stance or do anything for the victims...so let sleeping dogs sleep and do something more productive...thanks...
I am writing this post after seeing an Indian movie with English dialogues (also available with Hindi dubbing) called Amu. When G picked it up at the Punjabi store I saw that the Singh behind the counter was very happy at his choice...I wondered why...when we got home it was already 10 in the night so G decided that we can watch the other DVD's later and see this one now as it is should be a short one and we could go to bed at a decent time.
The movie started out pretty fine...the casting is also good...the story seems tight...Kokona as Kaju visits India from LA. She is an Indian born but American raised girl and she visits her hometown to figure out her roots...she befriends Ankur Khanna as Kabir and he helps take her around the city of Delhi. Slowly she starts unravelling the truth behind her identity, which is not very pleasant...
The movie revolves around the 1984 riots in Delhi which followed the assasination of Indira Gandhi during which as many as (apparently) 5,000 Sikhs were hunted down and killed mercilessly because the people who killed Indira were Sikhs...the movie has done a decent job in terms of not showing too many visuals regarding how rape/murder/torture happen in such circumstances...but the fact is we can feel the fear...it is imminent...
I should say the movie is well shot and everything is good...but I personally hate such movies...the same reason why I was not in favor of watching movies like Bombay, Parzania, and Hey Ram among others...I get scared and being a girl the very fact that we are more vulnerable under such situations scare me a lot and render many a unpleasant dreams...and now that I have a daughter I only get more and more protective of her everytime I see such movies...
I am sorry I just cannot understand what drives people to watch such movies and also claim that it was shot so realistically...when you should not be enjoying reality of this nature...the tears that roll down my cheeks after seeing these movies cannot describe the feeling of hatred that arises inside me for these directors...they are torturing people who are seeking movies as a medium of entertainment by calling their movie a work of art...I would rather watch boring Sawariya ten times over than watching Amu, Parzania, etc...
IMHO...the movie was good...but I regretted watching it...bad after taste!
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Ankur Sharma
Director: Shonali Bose
I hate it...absolutely...when people make movies on riots and then dedicate it to people who died in it or people who suffered through it...don't make a dedication of movies that the victim's relatives and friends have to live through once again...dedicate something fun instead...or how about build a school in the money you spend making a movie on the subject? However and noble the motive is, it affects people who were affected by the riots and trust me not in a positive way...by bringing awareness to the riots you are going to make the government change its stance or do anything for the victims...so let sleeping dogs sleep and do something more productive...thanks...
I am writing this post after seeing an Indian movie with English dialogues (also available with Hindi dubbing) called Amu. When G picked it up at the Punjabi store I saw that the Singh behind the counter was very happy at his choice...I wondered why...when we got home it was already 10 in the night so G decided that we can watch the other DVD's later and see this one now as it is should be a short one and we could go to bed at a decent time.
The movie started out pretty fine...the casting is also good...the story seems tight...Kokona as Kaju visits India from LA. She is an Indian born but American raised girl and she visits her hometown to figure out her roots...she befriends Ankur Khanna as Kabir and he helps take her around the city of Delhi. Slowly she starts unravelling the truth behind her identity, which is not very pleasant...
The movie revolves around the 1984 riots in Delhi which followed the assasination of Indira Gandhi during which as many as (apparently) 5,000 Sikhs were hunted down and killed mercilessly because the people who killed Indira were Sikhs...the movie has done a decent job in terms of not showing too many visuals regarding how rape/murder/torture happen in such circumstances...but the fact is we can feel the fear...it is imminent...
I should say the movie is well shot and everything is good...but I personally hate such movies...the same reason why I was not in favor of watching movies like Bombay, Parzania, and Hey Ram among others...I get scared and being a girl the very fact that we are more vulnerable under such situations scare me a lot and render many a unpleasant dreams...and now that I have a daughter I only get more and more protective of her everytime I see such movies...
I am sorry I just cannot understand what drives people to watch such movies and also claim that it was shot so realistically...when you should not be enjoying reality of this nature...the tears that roll down my cheeks after seeing these movies cannot describe the feeling of hatred that arises inside me for these directors...they are torturing people who are seeking movies as a medium of entertainment by calling their movie a work of art...I would rather watch boring Sawariya ten times over than watching Amu, Parzania, etc...
IMHO...the movie was good...but I regretted watching it...bad after taste!
Hate it!
I hate it...absolutely...when people make movies on riots and then dedicate it to people who died in it or people who suffered through it...don't make a dedication of movies that the victim's relatives and friends have to live through once again...dedicate something fun instead...or how about build a school in the money you spend making a movie on the subject? However and noble the motive is, it affects people who were affected by the riots and trust me not in a positive way...by bringing awareness to the riots you are going to make the government change its stance or do anything for the victims...so let sleeping dogs sleep and do something more productive...thanks...
I am writing this post after seeing an Indian movie with English dialogues (also available with Hindi dubbing) called Amu. When G picked it up at the Punjabi store I saw that the Singh behind the counter was very happy at his choice...I wondered why...when we got home it was already 10 in the night so G decided that we can watch the other DVD's later and see this one now as it is should be a short one and we could go to bed at a decent time.
The movie started out pretty fine...the casting is also good...the story seems tight...Kokona as Kaju visits India from LA. She is an Indian born but American raised girl and she visits her hometown to figure out her roots...she befriends Ankur Khanna as Kabir and he helps take her around the city of Delhi. Slowly she starts unravelling the truth behind her identity, which is not very pleasant...
The movie revolves around the 1984 riots in Delhi which followed the assasination of Indira Gandhi during which as many as (apparently) 5,000 Sikhs were hunted down and killed mercilessly because the people who killed Indira were Sikhs...the movie has done a decent job in terms of not showing too many visuals regarding how rape/murder/torture happen in such circumstances...but the fact is we can feel the fear...it is imminent...
I should say the movie is well shot and everything is good...but I personally hate such movies...the same reason why I was not in favor of watching movies like Bombay, Parzania, and Hey Ram among others...I get scared and being a girl the very fact that we are more vulnerable under such situations scare me a lot and render many a unpleasant dreams...and now that I have a daughter I only get more and more protective of her everytime I see such movies...
I am sorry I just cannot understand what drives people to watch such movies and also claim that it was shot so realistically...when you should not be enjoying reality of this nature...the tears that roll down my cheeks after seeing these movies cannot describe the feeling of hatred that arises inside me for these directors...they are torturing people who are seeking movies as a medium of entertainment by calling their movie a work of art...I would rather watch boring Sawariya ten times over than watching Amu, Parzania, etc...
IMHO...the movie was good...but I regretted watching it...bad after taste!
I am writing this post after seeing an Indian movie with English dialogues (also available with Hindi dubbing) called Amu. When G picked it up at the Punjabi store I saw that the Singh behind the counter was very happy at his choice...I wondered why...when we got home it was already 10 in the night so G decided that we can watch the other DVD's later and see this one now as it is should be a short one and we could go to bed at a decent time.
The movie started out pretty fine...the casting is also good...the story seems tight...Kokona as Kaju visits India from LA. She is an Indian born but American raised girl and she visits her hometown to figure out her roots...she befriends Ankur Khanna as Kabir and he helps take her around the city of Delhi. Slowly she starts unravelling the truth behind her identity, which is not very pleasant...
The movie revolves around the 1984 riots in Delhi which followed the assasination of Indira Gandhi during which as many as (apparently) 5,000 Sikhs were hunted down and killed mercilessly because the people who killed Indira were Sikhs...the movie has done a decent job in terms of not showing too many visuals regarding how rape/murder/torture happen in such circumstances...but the fact is we can feel the fear...it is imminent...
I should say the movie is well shot and everything is good...but I personally hate such movies...the same reason why I was not in favor of watching movies like Bombay, Parzania, and Hey Ram among others...I get scared and being a girl the very fact that we are more vulnerable under such situations scare me a lot and render many a unpleasant dreams...and now that I have a daughter I only get more and more protective of her everytime I see such movies...
I am sorry I just cannot understand what drives people to watch such movies and also claim that it was shot so realistically...when you should not be enjoying reality of this nature...the tears that roll down my cheeks after seeing these movies cannot describe the feeling of hatred that arises inside me for these directors...they are torturing people who are seeking movies as a medium of entertainment by calling their movie a work of art...I would rather watch boring Sawariya ten times over than watching Amu, Parzania, etc...
IMHO...the movie was good...but I regretted watching it...bad after taste!
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