All that jazz

Greetings for Diwali and for a new year, dear readers. This time, I'll leave you with yet another video. The creative writing project, this is a sitcom that focuses on a college play. So enjoy this light hearted comedy and spread cheer!

Rehnuma

If you were wondering what kept me away from writing.

This is another of my group projects, a short film made for understanding cinema. A result of a lot of hard work, this movie has been a feat to achieve. Without the support of my group members and dear friends, this movie wouldn't be possible. Hina Thadani deserves a special mention as she was instrumental in writing the poetry too.

You will find Ali's poetry here:


Do wakht ki roti kamata hu,
Afsos nahi karta hu,
Jo kamatu hu wohi sahi,
kyunki mein kissi ka mohtaj nahi.


Aaj khomoshi hai,
Aaj tanhai hai,
Dil pe laga zakhm to hai,
Par woh hi sacchai hai.


Zindagi kiske liye?
Bandagi kiske liye?
Agar bantnewala koi na ho,
To har khushi kiske liye?


Sapno ka shehar hai,
Par bheed me akela,
Bhavnao ki lehar mein,
Hai uljhano ka mela.


Sarhado ke paar,
Ek zindagi dekhta hu,
Usse khushiyo ki yaadein mangta hu,
Ae khuda, kyun hai tanhai har tohfa tera?
Mangta hu mein sirf ek naya savera.

Khaali raaste the, khaali gufaein thi,
Khaalipan tha, kaali ghatayein thi,
Chalta jata tha mein issi umeed mein,
Ki kabhi toh soungaa khushal jivan ki chaav mein.

Aaj hua hai yakin,
Woh savera hai yahin,
Ab hui hai zindagi suhaani,
Kyunki apni yaari hai ruhani.



Yeh kismat ka khel toh dekho,
Zindagi ko aise mod par le aati hai,
Ki kuchh na hone ke bawajud bhi,
Puri kaynat mil jaati hai

Zindagi mein koi aata hai,
Ruh ko chhukar,
Rehnuma sa ban jata hai,
Yeh kismat ka khel to dekho,
Bas yaadein chhod jata hai.

Twist and shout!

This is a short music video project that I was part of. It was too much fun shooting. Hope you guys have as much fun watching it as we had making it. The music is 'Twist and shout' by the Beatles. Here you go!  Enjoy!

The revoltionary's prayer

This is a poem which I wrote for an event of Kiran, K.C. College's inter college fest. The theme was  the rise.(revolution) It won the first prize.

There is a rise in the echo of peace,
A fall in the noise of revolution,

There have been enough tears and talks,
Now is the time for some heroic action.

Arise like a phoenix to the occasion,
From the ashes of not only your nation,
,
But also its people ,citizens of the world,
Join this glorious rebellion
In a procession.

Leave cynicism behind this monsoon

This blog post is an article written by me and it was published in HT's column, 'Speak Easy' on the 10th of June, 2012. 

It was raining that evening as I was struggled home from my classes in Andheri (East). I had an umbrella, but it was of little use. Drenched, I sought my way through the semi-lit roads. When I reached the subway, I realized I had made a mistake. The area was completely flooded with knee deep water. I struggled to wade through it, and was finally helped by a fellow pedestrian.

            This incident took place two years ago. As the monsoons approach the city this year, I am waiting for ‘the clouds’ to ‘bring fresh showers to the thirsty flowers’’, as poet PB Shelley says.

Sure, I am a tad nervous, but that is because of a new year in college. The rains in Mumbai have a way of relieving people of their burdens.

          There are reasons to complain, but if you refuse to be cynical, there are reasons to be grateful too. We can blame the BMC officials for corruption or we can be proactive. We could try losing our cool because of the traffic or we could help divert it. When we should be saying no to plastic, why are still talking about the deluge of 26/7? When we know that the sweeper should not be throwing leaves into the manholes, why do we let him do exactly that?

The choice is all ours, really. We could curse the rains for making our children sit at home or thank it for the bountiful crops it will grow. We could fulfill our duties as citizens or crack jokes about the meteorological department’s predictions. Certainly, we could stop cribbing about the stuffy weather in the train compartment for once and try to enjoy the spray of rainwater.

         This season provides us with the perfect opportunity to give ourselves a welcome break. Be it enjoying hot beverages and deep fried snacks, a siesta or reading a book, there are several ways to spend a rainy afternoon. Smell the earth, or paint, teach your kids how to cover their textbooks or make paper boats. Romantic songs, a nice movie or a jigsaw puzzle could really help lift your mood. Nothing is better than getting away to a hill station for the weekend.

Getting drenched in the first showers was never out of vogue. For the health freaks out there, there is always a mountain to trek on. For the nature lovers and bike enthusiasts, try a trip to a waterfall. Thunder makes for an ideal companion to soothe one’s loneliness. You could always curl up with a magazine or book. Retail therapy could also put a smile on your face.

Whether it is Malhar or Umang, college fests in the rain are always a hit with students. Let it drizzle or rain cats and dogs, these festivals never go unattended. As for the real festivals, there is no dearth of them. From start to end, the monsoon is full of jubilation: Janmashtami, Ganesh Chathurthi, and even Navratri fall during this season. But celebrating again, doesn’t give us a reason to act irresponsibly. To ensure that our monsoon is enjoyable, we have to change our own habits. For instance, we could stop littering, use eco-friendly materials for the Ganesha idol and use the same clay pot for Navratri the next year.

This will definitely help us in the long run. If we join hands now, we can make a better tomorrow. We can enjoy the rains if we are responsible.

Childhood

Little folded hands, laughing faces and innocence.

Now, I stare at kids who play at the garden, while I feel like I was playing there just yesterday.  I was the carefree creature who had nothing to do except what I wanted to do.

TV meant Disney channel and shows like ‘Lizzie McGuire’, ‘Hannah Montana’, ‘That’s so Raven’, and films like ‘Harry Potter’ used to be my favourites.  Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy an episode of ‘The suite life of Zack and Cody’ or a film of the ‘Home Alone’ series, but somehow, something has changed. I no longer experience the pleasure of being a child.

‘The tale of 2 cities’ has been replaced by ‘The Immortals of Meluha’ and ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ by ‘A thousand splendid suns’ As for TV, you better not ask. My favorite genre is crime, followed by mystery and then thrillers. ‘Supernatural’, ‘Castle’ and ‘Dexter’ are on the top of my ‘must see’ list. The good old days of school seem to be days of a different birth. Guess I should just go back to watching Friends and reminiscing about school days, try to discover how I lost my innocence and came of age.

Summer, yet again

A few days age, Mumbai experienced a few showers or so the parents say. I thought this might as well presents an opportunity of sorts to write yet again about the summers, while it lasts.
There is something about summers, Indian summers which attaches itself automatically to nostalgia. For example, this season is going to be occupied by the forthcoming shifting. To the house that stocks up my childhood and other sweet memories.

On the other hand, while most of the people prefer to chill with the seasonal (king of) fruit mango, our household patronises watermelons, grapes and the raw form of the king of the fruits, prince if you prefer.  The raw mango is pickled and even a drink is prepared out of it, which although good never compares to the heavenly drink of gods, the divine 'aam ras'.

So here’s wishing to endless leisurely summer afternoons with sherbet before the thundering rains strike.

Evenings

Like abstract painting and poetry, or literature, evenings can be interpreted in myriad ways. I find evenings disturbing, as they seem to ask my soul questions. So, here is another way of looking at the soul searching evenings, from the perspective of it being a beautiful time of the day.
                                            
 Watching the sea behold the sun as it retreats in its glorious splendor, trying to speculate where the horizon exactly is, are some favorite pastimes when at the beach. When staring from the terrace, fathoming if the clouds are trying to tell a story, and if so, what characters does it portray, takes my time.

The hut beside the lake, or the feet in sand and clay, and straw filled with coconut water in mouth engage you. The dusk brings with itself, a chatter of birds. The sky is strewed with blue, majestic gold, austere red, heavenly purple, and daisy pink, blushes a deep hue as the sun bids adieu. And the sun smiles a final smile, with promises of returning on his lips. The sky lives in hope.

The strewed sky looks like a painting, with the arrival of the queen, moon. The sound of the temple tolls bells. The view from the boat is the middle of the sea. The mild breeze, the flying curly locks, the mysterious smile is alluring. The coming of the stars is amazing. The return of the birds to their nests is assuring. Thus, an account of an evening well spent reflects on the kind of a person one is. An evening determines the sleep you get at night. A good night's sleep ensures a good day ahead. And, a day well spent is a life spent well.

Summers, then and now.

So, the sweet summers are here. And, I can't help but wonder what the differences between this particular summer and the previous ones are. So, here goes.

The summers which I spent as a child were characterised by innocence, while these summers constitute lack or rather loss of innocence. Sinking my teeth into ice candies and satiating my thirst with Rasna is now replaced by Cornetto's and Tang. That apart, my summers have changed because I no longer search for picnic spots and vacations and holiday destinations, but internships. Disney channel has given way to movie channels.

Gone are the days when I sought freedom in learning how to swing, striving to touch the sky with my feet. Nowadays I have become more practical, and freedom to me means learning how to become self dependent and learn how to keep my feet on the scooter or the car's accelerator, the likes. Gone are the blue skies, green lawns and pink dreams, I now stare into a computer screen. Caps have given way to glares. Mud packs to face wash. This isn't a lament, just an account of my affair with life.

But the long beach walks with coconut water sustain. The hot winds have remained the same, however, and so has my position, sleeping, with feet still dangling in the air. The books, my companions, have changed. Salman Rushdie has now replaced Enid Blyton. Nursery rhymes to poems to poetry. School vacations have now become college breaks. I have grown up, or have I?

Just a few years ago, I was one of the kids I see now. Laughing, playing, smiling, enjoying the carefree days. Wherever did my childhood go?

 But, certain aspects of life never change. Like nature. The cotton balls have burst open from the trees, and the cuckoo continues to sing melodiously. Sunshine, dew drops, flower petals, hope. Anxiously waiting for results, and the rest. Vacations, and mangoes! The ripe, juicy king of fruits is here! Summers and mangoes are eternal partners. A pair made in heaven. Both are yellow, and sweet, and make us wait the whole year round for them, desperately. I still look forward to dirtying my pious white tee with mango stains. Have I really changed that much?

Musings of a murky mind.

The mesmerizing coffee stained evenings, marking favorite passages in a beloved book, familiar aromas that comfort and caress the heart, the breathtaking and heart wrenching scene of dawn, the recurring sounds of laughter at the dining table. All - a recipe for the perfect trip to nostalgia.

The coffee beans, they laugh at you, they think you are silly. The book, the guitar, the piano, you don't want to touch them because you are scared that the last tune you composed might fade away, the beauty might subside. You don't want to wipe the dust off your precious instruments just because you fear that you might not find the time to make music again. Or for that matter, create something. So you avoid cleaning them.

You sense that the coffee beans are mocking you, so you kill them and drink. There is nobody to converse with. You are tired from the cleaning. Dusting away the memories aside, you get up, but there is a pain. A pain in your body, a pain in your soul. You are dried up, and crave company, but there is no one to soothe your pain with the healing balm or even soft, kind words. Nobody to say, 'I understand.'

You look down from the window of your flat and see crowds of people. But although you are above them, you wish you had somebody with you. You hear the whistling of a train and the jostling in of the bus. Listless, tired, rejected, you climb the bed, hoping to find the book, and read it. Share it with... but, all of a sudden it strikes you, you are all alone. And, you cry, for you are lonely in a city with a crowd of people.

Happy holi and...

The little things she does for you are priceless. You just need to appreciate her. Console, comfort, care for her. Notice her.  Her earring, her hair, her dress, has something changed? Listen to her. All she needs is a little favour, a reminder of how much you love her. She knows what she means to you, she just wants to hear it from you. The ‘everyday’ she has with you is special to her. It counts. So, forget roses, diamonds, chocolate or strawberry cakes and a grand declaration of affection, all she wants from you is to look at her, and smile. Acknowledge her, her presence, her contribution. She doesn’t need to hear that she looks great, or how much gratitude you have for her sacrifices, all she needs is a little nod, an understanding look, an ‘I’ll be there for you’ promise. She is incomplete with you, and you aren’t complete without her. Be a man, but it just doesn’t mean giving all the pretty ladies a compliment of how truly beautiful they look, but wishing them...  a happy women’s day, and doing a little special something for ‘your ladies’.

क्या कानून अँधा है ?

क्या कानून अँधा है ?
 A communication skills project has got me thinking.The project needed us to do a chat show, or a debate.

Two shows, which caught my attention(for obvious reasons) were 'आप की कचोरी' (adapted from Kiran Bedi's 'आप की कचेरी' and, the host was Karan!) and, 'बाकी का इन्साफ '(adapted from ' राखी का इन्साफ ')

Both of them made me question, 'Why isn't our judiciary competent enough to solve common people's problems satisfactorily?

Why do such shows(however different they are, I am comparing them on the basis of their formats) emerge?

Why do such parallel 'judiciaries exist'?

Agreed that at the rural level, fast track courts are doing a good job, but what about the urban citizens?

Even the recent Lokayukta issue is pressing.

Why do such kind of shows thrive? Is it because of lack of awareness amongst people, lack of trust in the judiciary, superstition, plain laziness or cynicism?

The Oscars

Sorry about the break of two days. So,yeah I got a breather from projects and will be writing about the recently concluded Oscars.

They are the most respected awards in Hollywood , and bring forward a lot of excitement. For those who noticed, the best actor award was given before the best actress award. This was followed by the best film award.

Isn't that a reflection of the society they live in? Indian actors are given so much more importance than actresses. Maybe, this is changing with the emergence of women- centric films like Fashion, The dirty business, Heroine etc.  Till then, we have to bear with best actor awards before best film. 

Tracking 'their' journey

All of us have seen them in trains, at traffic signals, etc. begging, blessing, asking, even bothering people for a rupee or two. Don't you think they should also have the same rights as we do?This is because equality is needed.What right do we have to discriminate? They should also have a chance to express. Be human. That's all I ask of you.  

I am talking about trans-genders. No need to be hush - hush. It isn't a taboo word. It is present in our scriptures. Aren't they holy and pious? Then, so are transgenders. They bless you. But do you care?

 Today, I am going to track the trans-gender's journey in popular media, other countries, even other states, and even in our own beloved country, in mythology. Consider this:

1. In Shyam Benegal's critically acclaimed film, 'Welcome to Sajjanpur', we all have seen how a trans-gender comes to power. It is time we realise their political rights and support them. Otherwise, the world's largest democracy wouldn't be a democracy in the true sense of the word. 

The fact that we have such filmmakers in India is phenomenally great, isn't it?

2. In Bangkok, transgenders participate and perform in shows and concerts. They also work as serving staff in hotels. Don't you wish we had more respect and awareness like this in India?

The media should show how there is a change of attitude towards transgenders and the treatment meted out to them. They are just like all of us, like you and me, a part of society. So why cant we accept them? They have made their presence felt in our culture right from the times of the Mahabharat and the Mughals. So what problem do today's people have? Why are they not comfortable co-existing with the transgenders?

3. In the Mahabharata, as the result of a curse he was compelled to honor, the hero Arjuna takes a "vow of eunuchism," that is, to live as the third sex for a year, Vrihannala by name.

Another important character, Shikhandi, is born female, but raised as a boy. Shikhandi becomes a skilled and famous warrior, playing a pivotal role in the war by helping kill Bhishma. 

4. A recent example of the portrayal of transgenders in popular cinema is Agneepath.

Most of you have seen Agneepath. But have most of you voted? No. Why? 

Realise how fortunate you are that you get to vote! Do not show apathy towards anyone! Do you realise how important a vote is for our democracy? अरे तुम क्या जानो एक मत की कीमत ?

5. India gives each citizen three basic political rights. They are as follows:

i) Each citizen is entitled to exercise the universal adult franchise that is vote if s/he is above 18 years of age. There can be no discrimination on the basis of gender, caste , creed, region etc.

Exactly my point!

ii) Each citizen can participate in the working of his democracy. He can raise a voice to change the system. One has the right to get elected in elections, stand as an individual party candidate. Consider this: In fact in Madhya Pradesh, there is a trans-gender minister. Shouldn't Maharashtra take inspiration from  M.P and try to do the same. After all, imitation is the biggest form of appreciation, not flattery.

iii) Each citizen has the right to criticise the government. Exactly what I am doing.

Did you know this ? or the facts stated below?

 That India gets its first trans-gender pastor! 

Pak eunuchs get new identity.

Even if you knew, do you care? Show me if you do.

street smart

Post no.2

So, I thought interacting with masses was easy. I was wrong. A street play enlightened me.

A street play by my team Taali Bajao at Churchgate station. Practices followed practices. Finally, we were ready  to perform. Then, we began looking for a spot to 'just do it'. Our search ended when we saw the perfect corner, a spot where we wouldn't obstruct traffic and, where we found Dabbawalas resting after a tiring day. Dabbawalas = spirit of Mumbai and good luck charm!

Our play began with the loud beats of the drum to attract the oh-so- busy passerby's concentration. It was rather difficult to stop potential passengers from boarding their trains and catching their short term attention spans. But, we managed to grab their minds with engaging dialogues.  Viewers watched spellbound as we enacted out our scenes with passion and drama. Drawing towards a close, we ended with a song.

The spectators greeted us with a loud round of applause. I bet all of us had goosebumps at that time. The street play's ultimate moment was when our petition was signed  with great enthusiasm and zeal.

You had to be there to see it and feel it. But then, what I am for? Writing post no. 2! Lol.

my first blog post!

post number 1

Hi, so this is my first blog and I am obviously excited.
           As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.
              Here goes!

Abraham Lincoln said famously, "Democracy is  a government for the people, by the people and of the people." Did he know that the vox pop or masses were going to be called ppl or peeps  in some time?
Jokes apart, democracy has now become "far the people, bye the people and off the people."
The poor voting in Maharashtra reflects that. But consider this,            

did you know that transgenders in Maharashtra didn't have voting rights? And, we thought we lived in a democracy. 
            
Doesn't the Indian constitution guarantee universal adult franchise without discrimination of gender, caste, class, region etc.? Then why this injustice?They have a considerable population in Maharashtra. They do have voting rights in Tamil Nadu and abroad.

If you did not know this and want to know more, support our movement called "Taali Bajao", an initiative for voting rights for transgenders in Maharashtra. Like us on face-book, follow us on twitter, extend you support! The links are http://www.facebook.com/#!/taalibajao and https://twitter.com/#!/taalibajao . Thanks peeps!