Two happenings of the recent weeks have reinforced the belief that the mind is a wonderful instrument for either staving off negatives or performing extraordinary things beyond one's ability (Case in point being Leander Paes in Davis Cup matches ). The first one being Roger Federer's victory at French and Wimbledon ( Both the tournaments he was expected to win , but the scrutiny that he was subjected to would have killed anybody. ) Still remember Boris Becker after his 1987 defeat to Peter Doohan at Wimbledon saying " Nobody died . The sun will still rise tommorow " .
People actually feel relived at not being the centre of attention for once. It requires a man of extreme self belief to block off all that is happening around him. One look at The Centre court and it was filled with champions across eras be it Laver, Borg, Mcenroe and Sampras. Imagine this your are working in your office in what seems a pretty much routine job and there are thousands of eyes rivetted on you. I can bet my life that you shall fluff it. It's human nature to be conscious of the microscope.
The second incident is Paul Collingwood staving off the Aussies in a classic test match. Despite losing partners he instilled in himself and the new batsman that this could be done.Too often we crib that if people dont own up why should I ? The good are separated from the great in exactly the same manner in that the will is a bit more stronger.
We expect our heroes to be of a certain type, certain mental fortitude, but is in times of stress do they actually tell us that they have taken control of the situation and the rest can breather easy.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Romance
We all live in an age where respective loves are dumped via sms so as to save the embarrassment and agony of a communication otherwise. Extremely apologetic of having started the post on a negative note. But couldnt help thinking how the mind has strayed or looked out for love in the strangest of places.
Buildings in Mumbai are the perfect for romances. Fed up on a diet of who like whom and who meets whom in which corner of the suburb, it rarely dawns as to when you get caught in the vertex. For starters in the days gone by ( say 20-25 years ) there would be one or two decent looking females on an average of 5 buildings. I know that I am exaggerating but if this isnt creative license what is ? You are fighting known devils ( buddies of your building and unknowns of 4 other buildings ) in attracting the attention of the lady in question. I am of the firm belief that along with exams this has been the single most contributory factor in the 35-40 year old's corprate success. It's a dog eat dog world and you better stack up.
On the pretext of a contribution for the building picnic or an inormation of the latest cultural activity of the building , trips to the house are made. Parents of good looking girls are either extra friendly or excessively grumpy never figured that one out. This process last till the time the board results are not out. Post 10th , the innocence gives way to a little bit of worry on the future ahead, the burden of studies et al.
Rarely have I heard or seen the building romaces reaching the altar of marraige. But what the hell it was good while it lasted!!!
Buildings in Mumbai are the perfect for romances. Fed up on a diet of who like whom and who meets whom in which corner of the suburb, it rarely dawns as to when you get caught in the vertex. For starters in the days gone by ( say 20-25 years ) there would be one or two decent looking females on an average of 5 buildings. I know that I am exaggerating but if this isnt creative license what is ? You are fighting known devils ( buddies of your building and unknowns of 4 other buildings ) in attracting the attention of the lady in question. I am of the firm belief that along with exams this has been the single most contributory factor in the 35-40 year old's corprate success. It's a dog eat dog world and you better stack up.
On the pretext of a contribution for the building picnic or an inormation of the latest cultural activity of the building , trips to the house are made. Parents of good looking girls are either extra friendly or excessively grumpy never figured that one out. This process last till the time the board results are not out. Post 10th , the innocence gives way to a little bit of worry on the future ahead, the burden of studies et al.
Rarely have I heard or seen the building romaces reaching the altar of marraige. But what the hell it was good while it lasted!!!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Summer Vacations
Was thinking this morning as to how April/May nowadays holds no great anticipation. Rewind this to 25 years five or take + 15 in the case of senior people, April 10 seemed to be the day when all worries ceased. The last paper invariably seemed to be Geometry or Marathi . Both the subjects were designed to harass the poor kid. The former because in the parents eyes it was a scoring subject and the latter because the parents could not teach the kid due to lack of knowledge. That 12'0' clock or 6'o clock depending on the school timings was the most awaited. The last one hour in the exam seemed to zip by, glances exchanged with fellow benchmates or parallel friends about the freedom to be granted. If Nelson Mandela had not captured the Walk to freedom so succintly some of our old time memories would have come close. The dinner that day was eaten with a sense of superiority, that parents have no control over our lives for 60 days. It is as if we were tickling toothless and clawless tigers.
The next morning was even greater. Short of demanding a bed coffee ( dont think the concept existed in our homes !!), our yawns would suggest that a bigger crime thn waking us up was not known. Games such as cricket ( with a contri MRI ball), lagori, dabba is spy , what my father used to term as " No money invloved games ".
There was also a huge demand for 50 p an hour bicycles from the local cycle shop.
Circa the early 80's also saw the nights being livened up with a video cassette in the terrace
The week from April 23 to April 30 was a tight one in anticipation of the result , but post May 2nd things would return to normalcy.
There would also be the compulsory trip to the native place in the second class compartments of trains that used to take ages to reach destination. Is it my fantasy that trains no longer run late these days ? You wouldnt know a soul with whom your parents would be merrily chatting away for hours. You second/third cousins couldnt give a damn about you as they would eye you with the same respect that Ganguly does to Buchanan. In all it would be a totally waste of a trip save for the temples and sight seeing, but thou shall not be allowed to crib.
Till the first flush of rains , would mean the buying of the next year texbook/workbook/classbook with brown covers.
Some things were part of life , till it stopped one day and all that we have is to lead a vicarious life thru our children who have no idea on how much fun their fathers had in the days of no telephone/mobile/TV/laptop/swimming/malls/multiplexes/hill stations.
If only we had a rewind button...
The next morning was even greater. Short of demanding a bed coffee ( dont think the concept existed in our homes !!), our yawns would suggest that a bigger crime thn waking us up was not known. Games such as cricket ( with a contri MRI ball), lagori, dabba is spy , what my father used to term as " No money invloved games ".
There was also a huge demand for 50 p an hour bicycles from the local cycle shop.
Circa the early 80's also saw the nights being livened up with a video cassette in the terrace
The week from April 23 to April 30 was a tight one in anticipation of the result , but post May 2nd things would return to normalcy.
There would also be the compulsory trip to the native place in the second class compartments of trains that used to take ages to reach destination. Is it my fantasy that trains no longer run late these days ? You wouldnt know a soul with whom your parents would be merrily chatting away for hours. You second/third cousins couldnt give a damn about you as they would eye you with the same respect that Ganguly does to Buchanan. In all it would be a totally waste of a trip save for the temples and sight seeing, but thou shall not be allowed to crib.
Till the first flush of rains , would mean the buying of the next year texbook/workbook/
Some things were part of life , till it stopped one day and all that we have is to lead a vicarious life thru our children who have no idea on how much fun their fathers had in the days of no telephone/mobile/
If only we had a rewind button...
Monday, May 11, 2009
R.D.Burman
Enough trees have been felled or keyboards been tapped to project the genius of the man. However I thought it would be a great injustice if I did not add my two bit ( or more ) to write about a man who though I have not met feel him all around.
There could have as well been a & between R D considering the kind of experimentation that he did during his lifetime. Seems surreal but almost have a karmic connection. Family folklore has it that the first song that I sang was " Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Chodenge " ( Sholay 1975 ),the first remix song ( yes they existed even then ) was " Yamma Yamma " ( Shaan 1980 ), the first cassette listened to ad infinitum was Masoom 1983.
Haling from the royal music family of Tripura , with a father as peerless as S.D. Burman there could have been no other vocation than music. For starters the harmonica piece in Hai Apna Dil To Awara ( Solva Saal 1958 ) was by R.D. at age 19. The pupose of the blog is not eulogise the obvious but to pick up rare gems which might have skipped attention /not got their due.
a ) Heeralal Pannalal ( 1978 ) : The seventies were flooded with lost and found formula taken to another level by the master of madness Manmohan Desai. No wonder that producer director Ashok Roy embarked on this safe venture. With a very in house starcast of Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Singh , Zeenat Aman and Premnath this film has 6 songs . 4 of them were written by Majrooh Saab and 2 by Verma Malik. The piece de resistance being Aaja Mere Pyaar Aaja sung by Hemant Kumar and Jayshree. The strains of the song's music can heard in the form of an alaap in Sagar 1985, the very first time that Rishi Kapoor sees Dimple Kapadia. There are other nuggets like O Padosan Ki Ladki and Kahiye Kahan Se Aana Hua.
Sample this lyric :
Seedhe Raste Chaloge To
Aisa Dhamaka Milega
Jhopdi Mein Birla Aur Tata Milega
Aur Bata Ki Dukaan Mein Bhi Atta Milega
Does raise a chuckle.
2 ) Swami Dada 1982 : Navketan films was till the 80's to Hindi film music what Bridgetown Barbados was to West Indies cricket. They simply couldnt lose out. Whatver be the fate of the movies , the music stood out. After a brief hiatus R.D came to the fold of Navketan. With Anjaan penning all the six songs, keeping the mood of the movie it was a very spiritual kind of lyrics. With a very bhajan and satsang feel two songs stand out a ) Ek Roop Kaee Naam Manmandir Tera Dhaam b ) Zindagi Yeh Kaisi Hai Jaise Jiyo Wasi Hai
Go for these two albums.
Sometime later Harjaee and Sitamgar
There could have as well been a & between R D considering the kind of experimentation that he did during his lifetime. Seems surreal but almost have a karmic connection. Family folklore has it that the first song that I sang was " Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Chodenge " ( Sholay 1975 ),the first remix song ( yes they existed even then ) was " Yamma Yamma " ( Shaan 1980 ), the first cassette listened to ad infinitum was Masoom 1983.
Haling from the royal music family of Tripura , with a father as peerless as S.D. Burman there could have been no other vocation than music. For starters the harmonica piece in Hai Apna Dil To Awara ( Solva Saal 1958 ) was by R.D. at age 19. The pupose of the blog is not eulogise the obvious but to pick up rare gems which might have skipped attention /not got their due.
a ) Heeralal Pannalal ( 1978 ) : The seventies were flooded with lost and found formula taken to another level by the master of madness Manmohan Desai. No wonder that producer director Ashok Roy embarked on this safe venture. With a very in house starcast of Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Singh , Zeenat Aman and Premnath this film has 6 songs . 4 of them were written by Majrooh Saab and 2 by Verma Malik. The piece de resistance being Aaja Mere Pyaar Aaja sung by Hemant Kumar and Jayshree. The strains of the song's music can heard in the form of an alaap in Sagar 1985, the very first time that Rishi Kapoor sees Dimple Kapadia. There are other nuggets like O Padosan Ki Ladki and Kahiye Kahan Se Aana Hua.
Sample this lyric :
Seedhe Raste Chaloge To
Aisa Dhamaka Milega
Jhopdi Mein Birla Aur Tata Milega
Aur Bata Ki Dukaan Mein Bhi Atta Milega
Does raise a chuckle.
2 ) Swami Dada 1982 : Navketan films was till the 80's to Hindi film music what Bridgetown Barbados was to West Indies cricket. They simply couldnt lose out. Whatver be the fate of the movies , the music stood out. After a brief hiatus R.D came to the fold of Navketan. With Anjaan penning all the six songs, keeping the mood of the movie it was a very spiritual kind of lyrics. With a very bhajan and satsang feel two songs stand out a ) Ek Roop Kaee Naam Manmandir Tera Dhaam b ) Zindagi Yeh Kaisi Hai Jaise Jiyo Wasi Hai
Go for these two albums.
Sometime later Harjaee and Sitamgar
Parenting
I write this in all earnest that nothing and I mean nothing prepares you for the joy of parenthood. Compare this to an exotic location that you always wanted to visit. The tourist guide ( if it's a pre arranged tour ) tells you that sunrise at x point is the greatest from the vantage point specified. You and your spouse deciding to abandon the sleep that has been so precious all these years decide to venture ( after all your pocket has been lighter in making the trip !!). Also you think of all the hardships that you/family have undergone all these years. So would want to make this the most exciting spectacle. Woolens wrapped up, thermos flasks carrying coffee, in the stillnes of the night you trudge along in the vehicle provided.
And then from the point the sun decides to throw light ( pun unintended !!). You could be mistaken in thinking that the sun too has a marketable angle to it in the sense that there is coming soon, a shorter edit and a full length promo ( pardon these jargons !!). The joy of that vision multiplied many times over is what in my mind would give to the first touch of the baby. You are so accustomed to the husband /wife syndrome that most of us end up asking the doctor " How's my wife ? " and then to the enquiry of the baby.
Creations dont come better than this. You have been at it for 6 months right from the time the tests have been proved to be positive. Every visit to the gynaecologist is tinged with a sense of expectancy about the development , about a life being formed. There is a feeling of being the supreme creator.And when the d day arrives ( and in this case it is delivery day ), your entire childhood zips past in a flash as somebody else would be ready to take on the mantle of childhood. It's a bitter sweet feeling as you dont want to let go of that piece of attention that the family has bestowed on you either being the only child or the youngest. But the old order changeth and so it shall be.
Following is the note that I wrote to my child on her birth :
I had to write this note 2 days back but as you would realise in the years to come your father has a little habit of procrastinating things. You are the grandchild of four of the simplest souls who believed in doing good rather than appearing good. You have a strong pedigree and I am sure you would do well. In the years to come you would hate us for the restrictions imposed, for the suggestions which would be deemed unnecassy. However whenever you are in a distant land some years from now and reading this note , the intensity of love shall remain the same.
Your dad
And then from the point the sun decides to throw light ( pun unintended !!). You could be mistaken in thinking that the sun too has a marketable angle to it in the sense that there is coming soon, a shorter edit and a full length promo ( pardon these jargons !!). The joy of that vision multiplied many times over is what in my mind would give to the first touch of the baby. You are so accustomed to the husband /wife syndrome that most of us end up asking the doctor " How's my wife ? " and then to the enquiry of the baby.
Creations dont come better than this. You have been at it for 6 months right from the time the tests have been proved to be positive. Every visit to the gynaecologist is tinged with a sense of expectancy about the development , about a life being formed. There is a feeling of being the supreme creator.And when the d day arrives ( and in this case it is delivery day ), your entire childhood zips past in a flash as somebody else would be ready to take on the mantle of childhood. It's a bitter sweet feeling as you dont want to let go of that piece of attention that the family has bestowed on you either being the only child or the youngest. But the old order changeth and so it shall be.
Following is the note that I wrote to my child on her birth :
I had to write this note 2 days back but as you would realise in the years to come your father has a little habit of procrastinating things. You are the grandchild of four of the simplest souls who believed in doing good rather than appearing good. You have a strong pedigree and I am sure you would do well. In the years to come you would hate us for the restrictions imposed, for the suggestions which would be deemed unnecassy. However whenever you are in a distant land some years from now and reading this note , the intensity of love shall remain the same.
Your dad
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