MY TEACHER

During my recent trip home, I visited my Physics teacher. My professor who taught me Physics as when I was preparing for the IIT-JEE. I have known him since 1991-92. 17 years of knowing someone is a long time.

I didn’t make it through the JEE but I met and came in touch with a great human being. I have always been in touch with him updating him of what I was upto in life. I spent half a day with him reliving those days; sitting next to him – the man who taught me so much Physics, so well and so wonderfully. I loved Physics because of him; I couldn't solve all the problems I encountered but I enjoyed working on them, attempting to solve them; trying to apply those wonderful concepts.

That learning was greater joy to me than anything else; the intellectual stimulation; that I was learning; that my mind was sharp and active; that I was challenged and needed to solve problems that looked me in the face.

As I sat next to him and spoke with him, as I took him for a walk, sat in the park I was very humbled, feeling tiny next to a great man, felt very simple like a student should always feel and be. I was very emotional and moved that day. I bought some fruits for him. He can hardly see and hence very rarely steps out of home, apprehensive of maybe the traffic, the kids playing around or worried he might bang himself against some objects. But I told him that I would hold his hand and guide him, that he can get some fresh air.

As I held his hand and walked, thoughts were flooding my mind. It hit me hard that all of us would age, would wither, would experience weariness, the tide will turn and we might not remain as strong as now, either physically or emotionally. I took his blessings, told him that I was honored to have been his student, privileged to see and spend time with him. I updated my mobile number in his small notebook where he maintains data of all his old students in alphabetical order.

As I said good bye and left, I asked myself, what am I going to do for him, how am I going repay my gratitude, for the immense learning he gave me at that point in my life? I left extremely satisfied though for seen him in person and spent quality time; having gone back to my past and relived those days.

WELCOME HOME SON

I recently made a trip home for some important personal work. Spent about 2 weeks there in my home, my home town, where I grew, where I studied, where my roots are.

Drove around on personal tasks in my Wagon R; my first car; my first big buy; from my hard earned own money . I felt absolutely calm, wonderful, free, happy and independent. Early morning drives, late evening drives. I was off work that week. On a personal front, it was the most calm and peaceful time I have had for a long time. A feeling of simplicity, a feeling of being there for someone special; a feeling of wanting to and reciprocating for all that I have got, a feeling of calmness, a feeling just being there in person, of doing nothing in particular, of no time lines.

I enjoyed the change. I was myself....just my own self. Was thinking of what I call 'the inner circle', the people who ACTUALLY matter to me and my existence, people to whom I matter the most.

Looking back, it was as though I was in another world during those 2 weeks. A world where I was no one but myself; my true inner self.

THE WALK

I walk back home every day post-work and have been doing this for almost 3-4 months now; I catch a rick otherwise.

Its about 3-4 kms I guess and I decided to walk it one way (always the evening) coz it helps me expend some energy and makes me hungry enough for a nice dinner. Also, it helps me kind of unwind and look at life outside of work as I head back home. Though 7.30-8ish in the evening is not the best time to look at life!! Or maybe it is!!

Neways, I usually look around at people on the road, inside a shop, at the bus stand, in their cars and bikes, some waiting for someone, some on an evening walk/jog, some with shopping, some catching up with a friend at a roadside café. A wide of people and emotions are completely on display.I would look at an autorickshaw guy looking with hope at a prospective customer and looking in the eye asking AUTO?? I would look at a hawker busy preparing for his business for the evening, cutting paper and heating the peanuts. I would look at a girl waiting for her boyfriend to pick her up. I would look at someone shopping at a 50% off cloth store. I would look at someone being choosy at the vegetable shop.

I would look at the beggar at the signal full of renewed energy trying his luck around the most expensive car or a sympathetic looking passenger inside it. I would look the master sales man selling yellow colored wiping cloth at the signal neatly displaying the various sizes. I would look at the guy at the signal hoping the lights would turn green asap while another guy hopes he can make it just before it turns to amber.

All of us in absorbed in our lives, in small errands of our own, completely absorbed in it.

HUNGRY OR HELPLESS

Today as I was washing clothes and wrapping up cooking, I got really bugged with all this household chores and being stuck with it. Had some cleaning at home to do as well and that really got unnerving. Why the hell am I doing all of this? Wasn’t this my choice? No one is asking you to do this? You surely can get a maid to do all of this….This is boring and tedious. Do I need to do this? Why am I not outside visiting a place or partying or eating out?


Well then I kinda calmed down and said to myself - ''Listen dude, you have been out of town for 2 days and having gotten back, what you are doing is just getting the house in order. Food is anyways priority for you and so is getting your clothes ready for the week ahead. You have been cooking for a while now and you like it. So don’t get ruffled by small things and stop getting flustered by little things. Take a step back and relax dude''.

It was only after the first few morsels of lunch went in that I was actually back to my cool relaxed self. Guess food did the trick. HOME MADE SIMPLE DELICIOUS FOOD!!!! should I stress here (ahem!!). Suddenly also recollected my dad’s ever-wise words that one gets upset/angry only when two things happen – one, when you are hungry or when you are helpless. Nice one Pa!! It was the first one in my case surely.


There are times this happens to me….not a good thing. I need to take a deep breath, relax and regain my composure.

Coming back, I then followed it up with a weekly grocery shopping and a nice walk in the neighborhood. This relaxed me totally and now back settling into a lazy Sunday evening and awaiting the Monday blues.

Ok then!! Here goes my short next post…its out on my blog and out of my system.

THE LANGUAGE DISCUSSION

There was this very engrossing episode on WE: THE PEOPLE on NDTV a few weeks ago and the subject was HINDI AS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE and why we haven’t been able to enforce it strongly and why there are still so many widely discussed language policies.

The speakers included experts in society and culture, filmmakers, teachers to remember a few. The points discussed were as below:
· Is Hindi really the national language?
· Why do we still have issues on this and different language policies across various states?

My thoughts on this are as below: The strongest point is that a language if to be proclaimed as a national language should be able to bring people together. And Hindi doesn’t do this. At least I don’t believe so. Restricted to its usage to predominantly the Northern parts of India, that’s where it stops. Western and Southern states have their own languages and with strong history to add to that. That’s precisely why there isn’t an acceptance for Hindi in these states. Let’s not forget the passion each of these states has for their native languages and culture that flames this issue more than anything else. Last but not the least, there is the political twist for short term gains that only complicates this issue.

Somewhere I also believe that people across the country don’t believe that Hindi is the common thread. In fact English probably is a stronger and more accepted bond. The influence of the British surely has created that belief far more than Hindi I believe. Well I speak Hindi for a livelihood and so do many millions across the country whose native language isn’t Hindi. And that’s exactly where it stops. However, this doesn’t happen with English because its usage is almost indispensable.

If 2 strangers meet today in any part of India, English surely will connect them better than Hindi. And that’s reality. Also, English has opened up the world to us; for employment, business and all that’s related to growth. Maybe being even indispensable. Then, why Hindi? A language which can’t take you beyond a few states within India.

That is my contention. Funnily our diversity is what’s killing this acceptance of Hindi as a national language. That’s India for you and we need to live with it. And funnily or ironically should I say, an invader’s language has a greater acceptance here. But there are a few logical reasons which I spoke of earlier.

That’s what I wanted to write about recollecting the NDTV episode of WE: THE PEOPLE. Very thought-provoking. Bye for now!!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

· When there was this big hue and cry over SRK’s questioning in a US airport, Salman in an interview with Arnab said ‘why this big fuss? Don’t we allow security to inspect us every time we visit a star hotel? Let’s support them do their job better. It’s unfortunate a particular community is being subject to this due to a stereotype...but that’s reality’. I remembered and liked his thoughts since they sounded very practical and different.

· Why do we press the elevator at least twice when it would respond with just one push!!!???

· And yes…why do we press it once even if the guy next to us just pressed it once before us a few secs earlier!!??? Lack of trust!!??

· Swades is a nice movie…ya this is an almost fossilized review of the film (hahaha), beautifully picturized and with a great theme. SRK has acted very well…subtle and understated. Gayathri Joshi rocks with great portrayal of her character. ARR music is perfecto!!!

· Kurt Cobain has this completely lost & whatever look in the unplugged version of MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD...what was he thinking?

· The lighting on stage in the PINK FLOYD: LIVE IN EUROPE CONCERT is absolute brilliance….must have been great music experience

· Suddenly cricket has gotten a lil more exciting with the ODI format…T20 sucks big time…believe me!!

· Someone pls plan and get a 5 test match series between India and Aus in Australia started asap….test match cricket and its loyal followers need it. I do surely!!

· ‘Jalwa’ title song is nice and catchy…check out the last few dance steps with Prabhu Deva in it.

· F1 season is over and I am depressed puzzled if I will see Kimi race again F1…..he might move to McLaren they say….pls pls pls do that!!!

· Why isn’t the Honda Jazz selling much? Or is it?

· The Yamaha power bikes look stylish and really muscular.

· There is nothing like eating delicious idli dipped in hot sambhar

• Wake up Sid club remix is a very peppy number and Lenka The Show is a very cute feel good song

WHAT’S COOKING & ONE SURE WAY TO DE-STRESS!!??

After close to 10 years of living out of home across many cities and eating out 3 meals a day, I am entering my sixth month of eating simple and delicious (I promise it is) home-made food. I make it just with my own hands in case you are wondering.

But why didn’t I do this before? Why didn’t I prepare food for myself prior to this? Well, 2 reasons: One, I thought cooking was too much of hard work to invest one’s time and energy. I totally realize today how incorrect that thought was. Two, I had restaurants/eat outs around to ensure I didn’t really feel the pinch of stepping out for every meal (that kills leme tell you)

The second reason was probably what pushed me to start cooking now. Believe me, there isn’t a single outlet near my home for a quick early morning breakfast or a simple lunch. This precisely got me thinking even as I was about to finalize this house ( I liked the place on first view) to get started on my culinary skills and boy, I am happy as punch to share that I do make a decent meal. I am so happy and thrilled about this. It has brought to me so much self reliance and a feeling of contentment that it’s hard to exactly describe.

Having said that, it surely is a big de-stresser for me especially at the end of a week day even if it means I am back home 8.30-9ish. All I need 30-45 mins to make something up and its yummy tummy!!!!Well I just about finished my dinner and now you know why there is a zing in my tone JJJ

THE INTERVIEW - VIR SANGHVI

I have been watching a lot interviews for some time now (on TV I meant)...NDTV, CNBC or Times Now. The interviewers I mean here are Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vir Sanghvi, Omkar Goswami, Karan Thapar and many more. The interviews I am referring to are the one-on-one kinda sessions as in not related to news or a short interview. It is a one hour session if you know what I mean.

The one interviewer that remains strongly in my mind is Vir Sanghvi. In every interview I have seen of his when he is probing, questioning or grilling a celebrity/business tycoon/actor; I see a strong attitude of self-confidence, of a body language of not being over awed by the persona opposite him, of a certain nonchalant air of wanting to demand more from the interviewee, of a chilled out yet an intense listener.

I vividly remember his interview with Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways especially where I closely observed all of these; something I don't quite see in others.

Anyways, this has been long pending small post…it’s out on the blog, out of my system and I am done!!!

LUCKY ALI or LUCKY ME!!??

Every time I get my IPod turned on or play some old cassettes on my ‘just-about-working’ tape recorder, there is this feeling of being in another world…feeling a high…elated…happy and kicked about life.


This particularly happened when I recently played a Best Of Lucky Ali collection (an old cassette) on my even older tape recorder.


Almost every song that played got me kicked. When I was listening to TU KAUN HAI….and visualizing the OST video of BHOPAL EXPRESS, it was like listening to the waves as they quieten, build up and hit the shores.

When I was listening to TERE MERE SAATH, the video shot in Cuba had to play inside me…the chorus and strumming of the guitar taking you back into another era maybe and with a light breeze of romance and happiness in it


When I was listening to KITNI HASEEN ZINDAGI, well…Malaika had to pop up in my mind but it was a beautiful feeling remembering or recollecting someone you are fond of…the small things about them…maybe the laughter…their voice or even their mannerisms…awesome feeling

When I was listening to another track (don’t remember the name) where the video portrays the circus clown…it was about the feelings that all of us keep buried within us and move on with life…it was very sacrificial and those of a do-gooder with no expectations of returns…made you feel heavy and not to forget the beautiful Urdu in it and powerful lines of poetry


When I was listening to ANJAANE RAHON MEIN, it made me look closely at people and life when we are so close to what we actually yet don’t see it. It seemed to seek companionship, someone who is there for you; moments that life I believe is all about…to treasure and cherish.

So thanks Lucky Ali or like I have named this blog, Lucky Me coz you made my Sunday morning full of zing, made me start the Sunday on a high, the coffee seemed that much more delicious despite not being filter coffee (AHEM!!), the breeze in my balcony seemed that much more relaxing and pleasant

Bye for now :) :)

When I look back

I have been over last few days thinking and did wonder as I asked myself...when I look back at life what would I remember...so let me think..ummm...


I would remember moments when I sat with a friend or colleague on a free wheeling chat..talking about each other's lives...apprehensions...fears...joys and aspirations...laugh a lot...laugh at ourselves or at the world around us


I would remember moments when I was myself...lost in my thoughts..being a nobody....just Jagan and no one else....maybe sitting by the roadside...on the platform observing the world around


I would remember the long cycle rides to JEE classes, the long hours of play in my beautiful neighbourhood


I would remember the 9AM -3PM classes during undergrad days and the amount of free time then..that looks a rarity now


I would remember the number of physics problems I tried to solve and wasn't too successful....yet was kicked with the learning and concepts I learnt


I would remember the yoga and shloka classes, the coming back school - home at 4PM, playing for 2 hours and back home doing my home work


I would remember the open cycle rickshaw rides to school and back


I would remember imitating my teachers and actors, both body language and voices


I would remember the incessant laughter with friends/cousins when a silly joke would have tickled us a little too much


I would remember walking aimlessly....wanting nothing to do or anything else to happen


Think about all of the above and smile...be happy and laugh a lot : ) :)

RIP – COLONEL ANAND KUMAR SINGH

A classmate of mine, Anand from the ISB passed away last Friday to the complete shock and disbelief of the entire ISB community.

I didn’t know him very well but surely remember chatting up with him on and off (he was from another section) but what struck me was his ever-smiling face, a vibrant attitude and an energetic, brisk walk. All characteristics that constantly reminded you that he was (formerly) a man in uniform.

He was also in my group that was part of 3-4 feedback sessions to the ISB senior management. And I clearly remember that he would be calm, observant yet make his point in a measured manner. And it always concerned a policy matter or for creating better opportunities for the student community.

I also noticed in all my interactions with him that he was itching to do something…something different...something innovative...that’s the sense I got of him. He would always talk of an idea or what-if-I kinda situations…saying I wanna try this….

But yes….I can’t help notice the number of times I am using words like WAS, REMEMBERED, WOULD….because he is no more with us. That’s the bitter truth.

I feel a certain emptiness within as I think about all of this and saddened that a soul...a bundle of feelings….a human being…a heart full of hope was alive and kicking….till about 4 days back…and today it is no more…

RIP Anand.

WIND BACK TIME!! REVISIT ‘’THALAPATHI’’

Being a big fan of Rajni I couldn't resist watching 4 movies of his…all in this weekend. SIVAJI: THE BOSS one more time….along with Thalapathi, Padayappa and Chandramukhi…..only this time on a large screen, with a fellow Rajni fan..good enough to add to the frenzy!!
Thalapathi (The Lieutenant) was released in 1991…and I saw it one more time today..I couldn’t help but revisit this film and the Rajni magic apart from Mani’s brilliance

Thalapathi is a Mani Rathnam film, loosely inspired by the Mahabharata; the Karna-Arjuna-Duryodhana connection. The film stars apart from Rajni, Mammootty, Arvind Swamy and Shobhana. So here is a quick view of plot:

Rajni plays Surya; orphaned as a baby by his then teenager mom (Sripriya) and brought up by the poor in the slums. He grows up on other side of law and initially is pitted against the rival local gang led by Devarajan (Mammootty). Circumstances drive Devarajan to save Surya from being jailed for murder. This indebtedness drives Surya to be faithful to Devarajan and he turns a trustworthy lieutenant (THALAPATHI). The plot thickens here as Sripriya moves into the same city with her husband and IAS son, Arjun (Arvind Swamy). Despite giving Surya up as a baby, she is living constantly in his memory and wondering where and how he is. Arjun starts to tighten the screws on the local mafia and clashes with Deva and Surya; completely ignorant of his elder brother in Surya. Sripriya’s husband played by Jaishankar reveals the truth about his parentage to Surya (much to his denial) and Sripriya does the same to Arjun. This happens just before the clash between the police and the gangs is to occur; a move to wipe off Surya and Deva.

Here is when connect to the Mahabharata plot of Arjuna-Karna-Duryodhana shows up strongly; Surya refuses to move away from Deva and renews his commitment to Deva’s friendship. In the meantime, the aging mafia lord, Karivardhan (Amrish Puri) seeks revenge on Deva and Surya. As the relationships are revealed and the loved ones are out to save one another, Karivardhan kills Deva; Surya seeks revenge by killing him. The story ends with the complete family reunited; Sripriya deciding to stay with Surya as her IAS son, Arjun leaves to another town for an assignment.

This plot of friendship and rivalry is beautifully interspersed with love between Rajni and Shobana which doesn’t materialize into their marriage due to both his orphan and anti-social status; Shobana ends up marrying Arjun whilst Surya accepts to marry Bhanupriya on Deva’s request; Surya had killed her husband in an gang encounter.

I surely need to write a long piece on Rajni – about his acting in the film to be precise. No style, no big fights, no jazzy hairstyle, no fancy costumes, no makeup. Just raw Rajni magnetism and ruggedness to see for all his true fans. The actor inside Rajni I have always believed has immense potential and has never been fully exploited. After seeing Thalapathy I was convinced that Mani has done justice to this great actor. Rajni has over the years, fallen into the trap of his onscreen persona as SUPER STAR and expectations from his fans that his style and stunts have often been the only visible aspect of his acting. Through the film, he displays a range of emotions – the angry man fighting injustice, the orphaned son seeking motherly love, the one in denial of his mother’s identity and fight with his younger brother, the unflinching friendship and loyalty to Deva, the caring do-gooder to the slum dwellers; to name a few.

The highlights of this movie in no particular order are as below:
· A no-frills/no-style/no-makeup Rajni with loads of sheer magnetism and presence; and acting that shows his true mettle; needing someone like Mani to unravel
· Close-ups and brilliant yet subtle lighting that captures the emotional intensity of the plot
· Terrific songs by Ilaiyaraja – every song a masterpiece; melancholic, full of melody and connect with the plot
· Background score precisely and brilliantly captures exactly the mood in the movie at every stage
· A strong cast of actors apart from the 2 pillars – Jaishankar, Sripriya, Bhanupriya, Geetha
· Crisp dialogues that are integral to any Mani film and a fast paced narration that keeps you riveted throughout
· Amazing use of silence to capture the roller coaster of emotions, situations and characters in this film
· Mammootty’s presence as Deva and his understated acting

I can write endlessly about this film; blame it on my craze for Rajni if you wanna......but trust me the film is a must-must watch. Next to come – revisit to another masterpiece from Mani – IRUVAR…

I WONDER!!!

I wonder why I need to work hard for everything
I wonder if this actually means I am just unlucky or does it show how perseverent I am
I wonder why I need to be pushed to the limit in anything to break free or do something drastic
I wonder if all his indirectly validates the proverb - the best is always reserved for the last
I wonder if attention to detail is a virtue or a vice
I wonder how best one can live for TODAY yet work for TOMORROW
I wonder what the best way is for a great work life balance
I wonder if people can be as successful in both personal and professional lives
I wonder how tolerant is tolerant – when should one say ‘’that’s it’’!!
I wonder if patience and tolerance is still a virtue or a vice
I wonder if I didn’t do stuff that I ought to have done at the right time
I wonder if there is at all a right time for anything
I wonder if one needs to stop, reflect & ponder or just keep moving forward
I wonder what life will be in exactly 2 years time
I wonder if I can chill out a lot more without any pre-occupation

WHAT IS & HOW SPACIOUS IS ONE’S PERSONAL SPACE!!??

I got thinking over the last few weeks on these two very important words – PERSONAL SPACE.

So what is the personal space???
· Does it mean time to be just alone with yourself?
· Does it mean physical space around you?
· Why do people need personal space?
· Does it mean being independent?
Lot more questions!! Lot more thoughts inside my mind…

As human beings we all surely have our own unique set of opinions, apprehensions, habits (physical and emotional), experiences. So these create and develop our day-to-day actions..because we all do and perform actions in both personal and professional lives…based on all of the above. Amidst the sea of humanity around us, our actions, reactions and emotions are completely unique. In all of this change and action, we all have this amazing ability to cut off, be lost in thoughts, chase our pursuits and live in our own small world.

So, when someone enters that small world (or should I say SPACIOUS!!??), it helps us understand, wonder, analyze or even question the similar/different perspectives that comes along. This person could be your mom, sister, girlfriend, spouse, co-worker….None of us likes being told what we should do, how we should think…simply because it questions our intrinsic thoughts/views/mindset….it is like being taken out of our comfort zone!!! Isn’t it??

And that I think is personal space…our thought process….having said that, it is only when we realize all by ourselves what should have / should our thoughts, actions and emotions be, that we get a different perspective….or reflect back on what other person might have intended…so I think personal space is surely also virtual…can be any size….and is constantly evolving!!!

My Name is Rajnikanth!!

The last 2 weeks of my mind share (or should I say heart share) has been dominated by Rajnikanth. Ya ..ya the superstar himself. Well chill…he doesn’t know me….I know him very well though :P


Watched one of his recent movies called KUSELAN. The name is from Indian mythology. Kuselan or Sudama is the name of Lord Krishna’s close childhood friend. With the passage of time, Krishna becomes King of Dwaraka while Sudama leads a life of poverty and distress in a small village. While Sudama/Kuselan is ashamed of his progress in life vis-a-vis Krishna and hence stays away from even trying to contact him; when he finally does, Lord Krishna remembers him fondly and in the memory of true friendship provides him wealth and comforts of his life.


The movie is based on this old mythological tale. Rajni plays himself while Pasupathi plays his childhood mate who is now a barber. Shy as his friend is to get back to his now celebrity friend, he lives a life of penury. Rajni lands up in his village for a 40 day shooting but Pasupathi is unable to meet Rajni in the midst of all the security and thronging local public desperate to catch a glimpse of the superstar.


Coincidentally, the school where Pasupathi’s children study wants to invite Rajni for their annual day function and knowing Pasupathi’s relationship with Rajni, expect him to ensure the star’s participation. The barber fails here again. Rajni accepts the invitation on his own and attends the function. His speech at the function is the highlight of the film where he remembers this old friend from the same school and recollects how what he is today is only because of that friend and his sacrifice of money to make Rajni pursue a film training course.


I was very touched and moved by this film; the underlying message and theme of the film. FRIENDSHIP!! A leaf out of Rajni’s real life. A friend from his days in Bangalore invested in paying the fee for Rajni’s course at the Chennai Film Institute. The lines in the film where he addresses the school annual function were written by Rajni himself. Probably a pouring out of feelings that were in him for years and something he has been conscious of.


I also picked up the biography of Rajnikanth (the title same as that of this post) just to get a closer look at this phenomenon. I have always been fascinated by him, a fan of his since childhood; better said, intrigued by his charisma and inner persona.


Well, he even came in my dreams; a sign of a high level of mind share that I started off this post mentioning about!!!

Under the Tuscan sun

I caught a movie recently a movie by this name on HBO and mighty liked it.


The story is about a recently separated woman writer (played by Diane Lane) who in a bid to recover from the personal sorrow hops onto a tour bus going to Tuscany (somewhere in Italy I guess). She suddenly grows fond of a old villa there in Tuscany and decided to buy it!!! Being an old villa, she spends an entire year redoing it with the help of a few random workmen who are busy recreating the home the way she likes it.


She says in the movie ''I want to stop being afraid of doing something and be fearless!! If that means doing something as weird as buying a villa in Tuscany (!!) then so be it. I am at least not scared of action and went ahead with what my heart said''


The personal sorrow also turns her to constantly seek love and be SOMEONE SPECIAL for that someone. She also yearns to cook for someone and have a wedding in what is now a beautiful villa.


The story moves onto her search for love and people who belong to her. First it is love at first sight with an Italian businessman which doesn't take off as planned. But then she supports the marriage of a young couple (whom she knows well) despite being against the wishes of the parents. This is the sense of belonging she craves for and finally finds love in the form of a fellow writer.


The wedding of this young couple happens in the villa she recreated and as she finds love, there is a sense of magic she feels that Tuscany and the Tuscan sun created for her. She then realises that all that she wished for came true; people to cook for, finding love and belonging to people who matter to her.


One of her close friends in the movie says ''Whatever happens, never let the childish innocence in you die!!''. I was very moved by this thought. I also saw a strong underlying theme of HOPE in the movie. Searching constantly with the HOPE that there is a better tomorrow. The fact that all of us yearn for love and care; giving or sharing was depicted beautifully in the film.


And who better to play this role than Diane Lane?? She has this sense of adventure, a constantly ticking mind yet looking vulnerable & longing for simple human needs of love and care. Check out how amazingly well Diane Lane portrays being a woman and a girl all at the same time.


Check out:

• That strong emotion called HOPE seen in the movie
• Strong human emotions like LOVE sprinkled throughout the film
• The picturesque Tuscany
• Diane Lane's ever-ticking & resilient mind
• Nice Italian background score & 'that' accent
• Fast paced narration
• For the women (ladies first you see!!) - the good looking Italian men with that above mentioned accent ;);)
• For the men - Diane Lane herself ;);)

Ogays!! Enjoy watching this film..bubye!!

Ilaiyaraja & AR Rahman

This used to be the very subject of intense discussions, debates, fights and rivalry during my days in undergrad and engineering college. For the uninitiated, these are 2 legendary Tamil film music directors. Ilaiyaraja ruled the Tamil film world in the 1970s into the early 1990s. AR Rahman, took over from the early 1990s to where he is today.

Now, a quick look at their backgrounds. Ilaiyaraja (translated the young king/crown prince) came from a small village in Tamilnadu, from the grassroots as a performing sessions guitar artist to break into Tamil film music in 1976 and never looked back. He had strong roots in Tamil folk music, something that could be seen throughout his musical compositions. He also brought in the Western form of music, pop and instrumental into Tamil music. His music had a terrific sense of melody that draws me to him even today. That’s the biggest reason for his fan following across India.

AR Rahman, formerly Dileep, was a Chennaite by birth but came through difficult times in his youth due to family conditions. He in fact played under Ilaiyaraja before breaking into Tamil music on his own with Roja (1991). Rahman came in as the refreshing new sound of Tamil cinema and Indian cinema over the initial years. The sound of his music had immense clarity, a lot of Western influence, strong dose of technology and a modern touch.

I have had this debate/discussion about these 2 pillars of Tamil music and here are a few:
· Ilaiyaraja still holds the slight edge on melody than Rahman
· However, Rahman’s melody numbers are unbelievable and given the sign of times where popular numbers rule the charts, one hasn’t heard of them unless one had a collection of his melody numbers.
· Ilaiyaraja’s popularity is limited to Tamilnadu and South India; and across a strongly rural audience
· Rahman on the other hand has gone beyond Indian shores; he is now a global player. And that’s what amazes me. Blame it on the media and hype created by it. But you should have a reach to then promote it.
· Ilaiyaraja used almost the same group of singers for all his movies – SPB, Jesudoss, Chitra, Janaki; ARR on the other hand has introduced innumerable voices to the Indian masses – Karthik, Hariharan, Sreenivas and many more. This I think clinches it for ARR – creating and grooming the future.
· ARR brought in the culture of different singers for each song of a movie which was non-existent that time.
· Ilaiyaraja had a very mediocre group of chorus singers and never gave them credit; ARR had a brilliant bunch of prominent chorus singers and he would always name them in every album of his – Febi, Kanchana for eg.
· ARR would bring in the best instrumentalists from wherever for just one song – Kadri Gopalnath for saxophone for Duet, Vikku Vinayakram for Ghatam and many more. It was horses for courses approach. But only the best.
· ARR always comes up with something new and seems to change himself just when you think he is predictable – say from jingles to movies, from movies to non-film music, from Indian to world movies, to Broadway. Always reinventing himself.
· Ilaiyaraja was a volume player – scoring in many movies at one time; unlike ARR the perfectionist who would score for one/two movies in a year. There have been reports of him turning down film offers which demanded from him a quick film release.
· ARR has often been accused of stealing numbers from Western music; something unheard of from Ilaiyaraja.

So that’s my take on these 2 legends of Indian music. Whatever said and done, the ultimate beneficiary remains music and that’s what matters. It has to pass hands, keep the relay going, progressing from strength to strength.

A NEW CITY…A NEW LIFE…

I just completed a month of living in my rented . Umm nice…

It is a 1 BHK apartment, on the second floor with a nice balcony facing a lot of trees and is snuggled in reasonable amount of quietness (given the noisy, concrete jungles that our cities have become). There are so many pet dogs around; it made me wonder if there are more pets than humans around me!!!!!

Oh breaking news!! I have started cooking and believe me it’s an amazing feeling. Having eaten out for close to 8 years, I surely relish the taste of simple home cooked food. It also made me understand and realize at first-hand the tough and demanding life, women live in the kitchens. Look back at all the early morning running around our moms did to get us up and running to school (literally) …it all came back to me and made me feel so grateful for all those years of unconditional love.

Well coming back to my cooking - it started with breakfast stuff, milk and corn flakes, toast and stuff to poha (Indian breakfast dish). The last week saw an upswing in this department; to more full fledged lunch & dinner. The rasam and sambhar (south Indian dishes) got done and I even carried home cooked lunch to work. And like I said earlier, it just felt great!! The fact that you are self-reliant and its very much in your hands what and how much you want to eat. This is one YUMMY feeling I tell ya.

One of the best times I have had in this apartment is the piping hot cuppa coffee I have sitting in my balcony in the morning. Its one helluva feeling. Birds chirping, otherwise quiet green surroundings, the morning breeze and the strong taste of Nescafe.

So here is to my home, its coziness, my new found culinary skills and happy living out here!! Cheers!!! :):):)

FATHER'S DAY

While being online sometime last week, I came across the fact June 21 is WORLD FATHER’S DAY. I wonder many a time that fathers are surely less recognized / celebrated as compared to mothers. I am sure there was more publicity and hype around MOTHER’S DAY.

Now why this step-motherly treatment to a father (the usage sounds weird right?)…see even there mothers rule!!!! :):) kidding!!!

I do believe there is a reason for this. A mother has a biological connect to the child simply because that’s the way it is. No two ways about that. And hence the influence a mother has on her child. It’s that simple. Do a quick check: you will surely be closer to the relatives/cousins on your maternal side than the paternal side. RIGHT? That’s how strong her influence is.
I believe that dads don’t get their due as the equal half in parenting. Isn’t that so unfair? Poor men!!! They might typically not be as outwardly emotional or affectionate as the mom but come on; they have done stuff for you, cared for you as much….and hence deserve their share of receiving.

In a typical family system like in India, the father is your window to the outside world: sports, education, employment, money to name a few. These tend to gain more importance and self-realisation towards the later years compared to the early formative years where the mother exerts a huge influence and impact. That’s probably the reason that a father’s contribution seems rather intangible and hard to measure when compared to a mom’s. Importantly in the above aspects mentioned, the influence of peers and friends by then becomes as important. And hence further dilution in his perceived contribution and impact.

These were thoughts even as I sent out FATHER’S DAY greetings to my dad and spent an hour thinking of what he has done for me. What he means to me and my life.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!! And I wish we could say like the Maruti Suzuki SX4 commercial – ‘’MEN ARE BACK’’!!! ;););)

25 Random Things to break the block!!

I haven't written stuff on this blog for exactly 20 days :(:(



A fellow blogger suggested that I break this writing block by putting down 25 random thoughts as they come to my mind....I have taken this seriously and let me see what I can make up

1. Why have cheer leaders been force fitted into IPL? Something I believe is not part cricketing pedigree. It certainly fits like a glove in say NFL, NHL coz it is integral to them; starting from high school and college games.


2. Film stars and politics seemed quite connected in India. Now film stars and cricket!!!....should I say in the business of cricket?


3. Why don't our film actors lend their business acumen and presence to revive / support sports like hockey and badminton?


4. Boris Becker stormed in and won the 1987 Wimbledon. When he couldn't defend it in 1988 and there was a big hue and cry in the media, he simply said ''I just lost a match...no one died here''.


5. Nothing compares to watching Test Cricket in Australia on Channel Nine at 4.45AM with the hallowed commentary team of Bill Lawry, Richie Benaud, Tony Grieg and Greg Chappell.


6. If people think and believe that SRK is full of himself, isn't he aware or doesn't he know it at all? It's all part of his strategy to craft and sustain an on-screen persona.


7. On the same lines, was shocked to see SRK look just himself playing a character as explosive and intriguing like King Ashoka.


8. Why can't boys wait to wear full pants while grown up men roam around in shorts?


9. There is no rock band like Guns N Roses; Axl and his voice remains in my mind as fresh as always


10. If we as Indians have made pizzas and colas an integral part of our food habits, why haven't dosas and tender coconut water done the same to the Western world? Are we missing a strategy here?


11. Why do we continue drinking colas despite knowing and reading enough about their ill-effects - is it sheer neglect or is it an everlasting fad?


12. We usually never haggle on price at a branded store or an expensive outlet, but can't wait to push for best prices at food malls and lowest air fares.


13. Why a sudden spurt of flying shoes in Indian and global politics? hahaha...look how we are keeping our young politicians on their toes!!!


14. If we spoke of anger and flying footwear...someone got into trouble for showering love and affection on his political opponent!! Love..where art thou??


15. I wonder how e-mails made letter writing redundant...and how now online chats have made e-mails redundant...how SMSes may shortly make telephone calls redundant?


16. Why do women never/hardly follow women's cricket? especially when there is much women's emancipation in the air.....


17. I love the Beatles song...ELEANOR RIGBY...check out the lyrics..very melancholic and has deep meaning


18. Why do the westerners in general have a clear line of divide between personal and professional time whereas they are completely inter twined for us Indians?


19. Why is WORK such an integral part of life for some (Indians for eg.) while it is just a fragment of life for others (in the Western world)?


20. All said and done, Mandira Bedi is a first mover in this whole glamorous-women-broadcasters-in cricket phenomenon...others are just following her.


21. What happens at all to all these winners from reality music, comedy and dance TV shows?


22. Despite all the professionalism talk in corporate world, why is still the BOSS ALWAYS RIGHT??!!


23. Rocking line from Metallica ''What I've felt...what I've known..never shined through in what I have shown''


24. Why do we pay rich (??) tributes to others only after they are no more with us or leaving us? Almost as though we had forgotten their achievements..and their parting/death reminded us just in time


25. Isn't the above almost like a reactive vs. pro- active strategy?

A dichotomy in belief

Imagine this situation: Let's say I applied for a job position and didn't get thru or I didn't make it to some top university despite putting in a lot of effort. I surely would have heard a friend or parents / elders consoling me with words like 'Don't worry, it wasn't destined that you would make it here' OR 'It's all planned and something better awaits you'.

But wait!!! Didn't the same friend/elder tell me (while I was preparing for this very job interview/exam) that one can make his own path; that destiny and best efforts are always rewarded and you would make it.

So what happened suddenly? Didn't I put in my best or did destiny take a last minute U-turn? Why does this dichotomy of belief exist? Are we/others consoling ourselves? Am I being the ostrich and not facing up to reality? Would I call it destiny or my own efforts had I instead been successful? Am I being fatalistic here? Was I not good enough to shape my own destiny?

I wonder many a time why I do the above and try to interpret the consequences or the actions?

The answer to this in my opinion, is two fold. First we are all human and it is natural to be subject to a plethora of emotions and such thoughts. At the same time, are we taking a hard look at effort and then objectively looking at the consequence? Maybe that's what is needed. It's a mind vs. heart thing when it comes to reflecting and looking back at such stuff.

If that happens and can be done consistently, there will probably be no slowdowns...no U-turns...only drive-aheads with an extremely clear rear view mirror.

Charity Anyone!!

I was reading some articles or news about some celebrities adopting kids, donating millions to charity. So how should I view this? Was left wondering if I should think - What's so great if Madonna adopts a kid? I am sure she has a caretaker....What's magnanimous about another celebrity donating millions to charity? They anyway make millions, don't they?

Or should I be thinking - They are giving back to society that made them what they are today. This is amazing?

Then I rationalised. Madonna or Angelina or Sachin Tendulkar are as human as each one of us; when it comes to emotion or feelings. They surely would have a perspective or a view towards society and their contribution as co-occupants in it.

It is just that the bright lights of the media and their glamorised lives have blinded us to their human side.

What about the countless people among us; mere mortals if you want to call so, who donate to charity within their limited monetary capacities, or adopt an orphan into their family? Am I even aware of these people? Do I stop and acknowledge their contributions? These are probably the unsung heroes within us.

So its best left when everyone & anyone is treated for what their inner human self does or calls for. Maybe I shouldn't be reading too much into their status in society but take an objective look at what they are actually doing.

Face the Brute

I remember my father telling me this story of Swami Vivekananda. It seems that while he was walking around in the city of Banaras, a bunch of monkeys started getting close to him and seeing this he started running. They chased him and he ran until gasping for breath, Swamiji slowed down only to try again to run. Right then an old ascetic sitting nearby told him ''STOP!! DON'T RUN!! FACE THE BRUTE!!'' Swamiji did exactly that; turned around and looked at them...THEY FLED!!! He later spoke to people about this experience and told people that the monkeys in the story are not different from the problems we face in life. One needs to take the problem head on and it just vanishes.

I remember my Math professor used to say the same; he used to say ''never get scared of a Math problem or a Geometry rider....look at it hard, think deep and you will see that the problem is then suddenly scared of you''.

At work recently there was one small pending issue which I was lil lazy and apprehensive to take on, kinda letting linger in the background. One morning I was like WHAT THE HELL...let me find out what it is all about....I did exactly that and believe me, the issue was resolved in minutes and there I was leaving it bother me for days together. Simply because I didn't make the effort to take it head on and solve it.

It is about FACING THE BRUTE of any size or intensity. The effort is what is required. Well the results could vary and need not be always in one's favour. But yes, at least we would have the satisfaction of having been responsible and brave to face the issue.

Mumbai - Part II

My first few months in Mumbai was crazy coz I was coming to terms with East and West of every suburb, central, eastern and western lines of a massive local trian network and the fast paced life of Mumbai.


But slowly and surely I started falling in love with Mumbai and here are a few reasons why

• There is something the watery shores and the sea of Mumbai did to my mind - very fascinating and intriguing - carrying hopes of millions that grow, die down and resurface just like the waves of this sea.
• A city that carries so many dreams and can support with its heart, millions of people who eke out a living - a true melting pot of people and cultures.
• Something for every one - take your simple roadside eat out serving value-for-money lunch right upto the swankiest hotels; there is something for every one; intrinsic accomodative nature of this city, it seems.
• I have lived in many cities but none as time-conscious as this one. Everyone knows that you have a schedule and values it - the cabbie, the pizza delivery boy..and so on.
• Public transport despite being overburdened is user friendly and you are never stuck in any place at any time for want of transportation. This is the beauty of Mumbai.
• Within a few hours of occupying your new apartment, you will have at least 3-4 menu cards from nearby restaurants promising door delivery; just a phone call away
• Mumbai is usually the Lead Indicator market for most consumer products or lifestyle trends; you will see most trends / marketing campaigns here at least 6 months / a year ahead of other cities.

That's it for now on Mumbai. Maybe some more..maybe later!!

Mumbai - Part One

I started my career in Mumbai. Having never left home till then, I was posted to Mumbai to manage business in Mumbai and coastal Maharashtra. My first thoughts about the city in no particular order then:

• So many people in sight and all seem to be in a hurry. But where are they rushing to?
• Apartments and apartments and apartments; what about individual houses?
• Most apartments look dilapidated and appeared as though they were crying!!!
• All of them have windows with a standard protective grill (the grill maker must have surely become a millionaire)
• People wait in queues at bus stops; they always board the bus only from the rear door and alight only from the front door. Anyone trying to jump the queue would be suitably hospitalised
• Buses would stop AT the earmarked bus stop and not 10 metres ahead/beyond
• Trains scheduled at odd timings (9.17AM, 10.22PM), no 9.15AM/10.20PM here. By the way, they would be on time, all the time, every time
• Bus conductors and drivers smartly dressed in well maintained bearing name and ID badge
• Auto/rick guys would quietly flick the metre and get you to where you wanted to go and not where they wanted you to go!!! (unlike most other Indian cities)
• These guys always seemed to have enough rupee change and importantly, enough fuel in the cab/rick (you know what I mean!!??)
• Auto/taxi waalaas pay back change to the rupee; coming from Chennai, something I was shocked looking at coz in Chennai the minimum return-worthy change was in denominations of 5/10...MIND IT!!
• A huge number of coin operated phones and people not wanting to part with them and go (someone has a bag full of one rupee coins hunh??!!)
• Restaurants all over, each with door delivery (customer centricity at an all time high here)
• People having breakfast in the car, women plaiting their hair in trains, some even chopping vegetables on their way back home
• Local trains that are scarily crowded; when the train approaches you, it is as though humanity is headed towards you (btw 'local' I learnt means 'suburban train')
• And in these crowded trains, people play cards, read a 10:1 folded version of the ET. New lessons in space management here

Well these were a first aspects that stood out as I went around the city.

More thoughts and life in Mumbai follows!!!

Zyaada Ka Iraada (Resolve for More)

I was seeing this very interesting TVC of Max New York Insurance...the punchline being KARO ZYAADA KA IRAADA ( meaning 'make a resolve for more'). Let me run you through it (those who remember and have seen it, please bear with me).

A youngster with long curly hair and music on his ears crosses a road. As he does, he looks at a slightly older guy waiting at the signal on a macho bike and wonders ''WISH I HAD A BIKE LIKE THAT''. Now the teenager on the macho bike looks at another guy on a bike with a hot girl behind him and wonders "WISH I HAD A GIRL LIKE THAT BEHIND ME"....The hot girl behind the 3rd guy looks (as she waits at the signal) at a woman taking care of her child in a pram and wonders '' WHEN WILL & WISH I COULD BE AS CARING A MOTHER AS SHE IS"....This young mother as she walks her baby passes a jewelry store and inside sees a rich middle aged man holding a beautiful necklace and she wonders " WISH I HAD MONEY ENOUGH TO BUY THAT OR WISH I WAS THAT LUCKY WOMAN WEARING THE NECKLACE"....Finally that middle aged man is in his car, looks at a teenager with long curly hair crossing the road (remember that first boy?) and brushes his bald plate wondering " WISH I HAD NICE LONG HAIR LIKE THIS".

Run this entire sequence with Kishore singing the track in the background with his trademark yoodleiooooe!! Isn't it interesting to look at so many thoughts flying at a traffic signal and I am sure all these thoughts are for real.

I was left with the strong thought that humans despite all that we may have, constantly crave and aspire for those we don't. A slightly different version of 'the grass is greener' funda.

As I write this, I remember watching SRK saying in an interview (when asked how he looks at what he has & doesn't have in life) - "What I have was meant to be mine and hence I am happy. What I don't was never meant to be and hence I am never sad about it" Nice one SRK!!

Imagine this

Usually when at airports or calling your telebanking, we are subjected to so many instructions and announcements like do this, go there and press 1/2/3 and so on. I get imaginative and make up some announcements myself, make them kinda funny and keep laughing quietly inside. Check out below for examples:

• This is a paging announcement for Mr. XYZ, Mrs. ABC travelling by 3J123. You better get onto the plane right now or you know what? We will wait another 2 hours for you.
• Welcome aboard flight PK420, we take pleasure in serving you with a fleet of pathetically maintained and totally unsafe aeroplanes. Our cabin crew have been randomly picked from among the choicest roadside dhabas across the country. I have specifically ordered them to treat you like servants in my own home. Sit back and don't you sleep!!!
• When you wrongly type in your bank account number on the call centre number, you will hear an ''I AM SORRY!! THAT WAS AN INVALID NUMBER''. Note the really sad and shocked tone of that lady's voice. Well, I would be like WHY ARE YOU FEELING SO SORRY...ITS MY ACCOUNT!!
• One more flight announcement - ''We are thrilled to announce a 24 hour delay in our flight to Mumbai. Passengers are requested to now quietly go home ''on your own'', get a good night's sleep and better get yourselves back here tomorrow morning'' OK?.
• Telebanking or mobile call centre- Press 1 if you haven't had breakfast today (??!!), Press 2 if your boss sucks, Press 3 if you are married (again !!??), Press 4 if you want to surely watch SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, Press 5 if you are still holding onto this nonsensical call. At any time during this call, Press 9 if you want to hear this or any fresh nonsense all over again in Swahili. You diligently press 9. ''I AM SORRY'' (you know the tone rite?) our Swahili speaking representative is busy attending other cartoons like you. Press 2300479828834 to speak to our Mongolian representative!!
• Welcome abode flight 55RHJ, all you guys won't get even a drop of water on this flight. You are like dead..I tell you. Our music and television sets have been deliberately taken apart to give you one memorable flight. No blankets or pillows. Temperature has been turned down to 4 degrees centigrade. Now, better sit straight, don't slouch and enjoy this rotten flight.

The Past, Present & Future

The title sounds like one of those cult movies right (Kal Aaj Aur Kal types in true Bollywood eshtyle)!!

Now this is something I was discussing with a classmate of mine recently. Basically one looks ahead and wonders what the future might hold; planning what one should achieve / gain and work towards them- both personally and professionally. We did think that it helps and that all of us should do a kind of stock taking as we stand right now in this moment in time - THE PRESENT.

Someone rightly said - The past is gone, the future is unseen. Today is with you...it's a gift. That's why it is called PRESENT. Nice one!!

Now, when one looks at the future and what it holds, it invariably touches areas, aspects and things that one doesn't have and hence wants to have...a happy family, home, a car, a vacation, a successful career and so on.

But what about looking back at the past, the path one traversed and how things have changed surely for the better in all aspects of life. It's all in the way one sees it. There surely will be some bitter memories, some want-to-forget incidents but all in all, one needs to happy with whatever transpired (contented at least) to move on and ahead with life.

One needs to feel proud and happy with what life has given him/her. I often recollect visuals of someone offering a small prayerto God thanking him for what he has given them; for there are people who don't get even one meal a day. How different is this thought / gesture from all our other needs and wants; something that we yearn for in the future?

It is but human to look at people better off than us (in whatever be the aspects) and strive to move up a notch. It is not wrong that one needs to move ahead in life and will have more needs and wants but we felt during our reflective session that since no one ever knows how much is enough, maybe it makes sense to be content and happy with what has happened.

Contentment is the gist of life; someone so beautifully said.

Why the crying baby always gets milk

How many times have all of us seen this happen? at home..at work..in school/college..almost always and everywhere. If this always happens, wouldn't there be a reason for it? A proper reason I mean...

So let's think through this....What actually happens when the baby cries? (not literally folks..please grow up!!)? Well the baby is expressing itself...expressing its concern..pain..displeasure...non-acceptance right? So take a step back and try looking at a baby which is unhappy but isn't crying - ''How would I know you are concerned...pained...unhappy..."I WOULD NOT RIGHT??!!! Coz I am not a mind reader or an ace psychiatrist or an astrologer? So how do you expect me to know what you are thinking?

Now, how many times have we heard the other person (parent, teacher, boss, peer worker) say this - " Had you told me this at all....then I would have taken care...." and you were mumbling inside to yourself - " I thought you would understand without my saying...!!!!" This happens in personal lives as well surely; between friends or couples or siblings and within families....

Recollect the essentials of communication - SETTING EXPECTATIONS. Remember? Most if not all of us seem to have missed it completely. Speak up....Express Yourself. At least do we remember that non-verbal communication is 93% (rite?) of overall communication. So why aren't we crying and making ourselves heard?

Having understood it so well, why haven't we tried changing it and become CRY BABIES!!!??? Me thinks (at a philosophical level though) that it is probably because as we grow older, we physically and emotionally are becoming less fragile and weak (which as babies we actually are) and hence are expected to and be able to put up with things around us.

Maybe a good bunch of us took that too seriously and stopped crying completely. I am surely not acting preacher here, coz I am very much in that 'MOST OF US' gang.

Another angle to this thought is a very subjective aspect; some or most of us have gotten more tolerant to what happens to us and hence maybe dont CRY!!! Take a deeper view, can anyone define HOW TOLERANT IS TOLERANT? Who sets the metrics for tolerance and for whom? THE good manufacturing organisations continuously define and redefine tolerance limits, don't they? So the VERY humans who created these organisations also should? What say??

The line of thinking in engineering & then in B-school

I was wondering and looking back about the thought process and intellectual takeaways (apart from pure academics) as one progresses from an engineering campus to B-school.

One aspect came out strongly to my mind. In the engineering course (non engineers pardon me!!), you are taught at a very generic level that everything is well defined, structured and hence needs to be adhered to. I am not sure if this is because engineering is applied science after all.

However, at B-school you are trained to think and believe that everything can be influenced, can be restructured, and modified to suit conditions and scenarios.

These thoughts are at a 30,000 feet level and might not be pin point. Also, not sure I am right in viewing this change of thought process but this was what flashed in my mind. Hence finds a place in today's post :):)

Connecting the Dots

Who can forget Steve Jobs saying these words during his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech? It is a treat to listen to him speak...it is like a demo on public speaking with the crowd just riveted to his crisp words and powerful narration. Add me to the fan list!!! :) :)

Now, he refers in his first story to CONNECTING THE DOTS. Not sure how many of us believe in it. I stand by this belief though. For starters, Steve Jobs says that we can always look back at life and knowing what has happened, tie the loose ends, review our past actions and make a coherent story...CONNECTING THE DOTS. Only by looking back...Only in hindsight!!!

However, it is the ONLY simple yet practical way to look happily at the past, the path traversed and thereby make sense of it. I call this 'one-sided' because those who manage to connect the dots and talk about it, usually have been successful in what they strode out to do. To turn this thought on its head, you wouldn't find anything tangible (if you weren't successful) to try to connect the dots and make a theory out of it.

For example, when a successful actress says 'I always wanted to be an actress or model and hence was focused and never did anything else but act in plays and model...blah blah'; we would applaud and put her up as a role model. Picture this - If a wannabe star or a flop actress (to say it in Indian filmi style!!!) said the same, would someone give it a serious hearing?

Another typical example, Mr. XYZ wasn't an Engineer/MBA ..wasn't he a pioneering entrepreneur? You know what such theories exactly do....CONNECT THE DOTS. Who would remember him and that he wasn't an Engineer/MBA if he hadn't made it big. That's the point.

Reality is, that it is always IN HINDSIGHT and usually with the sweet fragrance of SUCCESS that one makes sense of actions and his/her life. I wonder if it is just a pat on one' s own back by appearing prophetic but all the while being just a historian.

My Latest Movie Reviews

I have been bitten the last 2 weeks by the movie bug and a sudden urge to see movies. Something atypical of me. So here goes (btw not that i have seen like a movie a day..so people chill!!!)

Movie No. 1 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Movie No. 2 - 13B

My thoughts are as below:

Movie No. 1 - I liked the underlying theme - something that Brad Pitt's character spells out towards the end of the movie as he reverse ages...You can be anything that you want in your life and at any point in time, ITS ALL IN YOUR HANDS..he talks of the lady who wanted to swim across the English Channel and after missing out in her prime, manages to do it finally at the age of 62 (if I remember rite?) or his own self as he explores the world, Tibet (I think) and does what he actually wanted to do. I could sense a message of what people refer to as INNER CALLING...something i guess all of us deep inside crave or want to do.

I also kinda interpreted the message my own way as 'staying young mentally is critical to one's self at any point in his/her life'.

The chemistry between Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is amazing and her aging has been depicted beautifully as is Brad's reverse aging (I could sense most women in the theatre melting you know...every time he apparently grew younger!!)

Movie No. 2 - Somehow reminded me of 'THE RING' right from the day I saw the promos or even the movie today. I liked the theme or the intended plot so to say, of paranormal intervention through diverse media. However, I felt it didn't instill fear in the audience...I felt so at least from the reaction of people around me at the theatre, in fact it kinda invoked laughter at times!!....surely not something the director ultimately intended!!

However, I also appreciated the courage of the director to try out a screamy thriller theme like this without blood and gore (something kinda new to Indian viewers)...and ya...the song and dance had to be there to bring in that Indian flavour. The narration i felt was fast paced though I didn't feel it was scary (like BHOOT for eg.)..i hardly could hear any screams around...

Next target on the list - THE READER

Reclaim Your Life

WELCOME TO MY BLOG AND ITS FIRST POST!!!

I suddenly got thinking, during my morning fast-walk and breakfast about the tagline for TATA SAFARI - 'RECLAIM YOUR LIFE'. The last couple of weeks as I have been in a reflective mood, this line seemed to strike a chord.

So, what do i want? What did I want 5 years back? Or even as a young boy? Obviously those wants have changed but is the core still intact? I wonder...

The sales & marketing professional that I am, I couldn't help think about the vibes this line would create in prospective SUV customers; RECLAIM YOUR LIFE. Isn't an automobile a reflection of your inner self; the go-getter, the follower, the innovator and so on...okay I could go on and on talking sales and cars here... END IT!!

But this line has gotten me thinking of what my inner self actually is? Have I lost it on the wayside as I went through the routine of graduating, working and earning money?

A school mate of mine recently advised me that the best thing to do when alone is to use that precious time to introspect and improve self awareness. A time to discover one's self, ask questions and seek answers. I am trying to take her inputs seriously and do this.