Ok ... I can go on writing and filling pages in this blog. I can write about how this year was for me personally. I can write about what all went right and what all got screwed professionally.
I can write about the big events that took place in this year and I can of course fill pages writing about my favourite timepass viz. watching movies which is what I am going to do. The opinions presented here are not claimed to be mass opinions. Rather, they are my personal feelings, my personal lies and dislikes. So if anyone does not agree, you may be very right, still I dont care a damn!
3 movies that I loved this year
1. Jab We Met - Yes Manish, I know you will be grinning from ear to ear, but I do recognize that I had a great time watching this movie with you. Some great acting from Kareena and Shahid with a beautiful love story.
2. Saawariya - No one can beat SLB when it comes to movies, especially for me. Lovely picture that I enjoyed with my two best friends - Shounak and Manish. I will remember this movie for the scene when Sonam runs when the clock strikes twelve.
3. Guru - The last movie perhaps that I enjoyed thoroughly in hostel with Manish (although I am not sure he saw the movie till the end :-)). "Tere Bina ..." has become a personal favourite while "Mayya Mayya ...." takes me to another world.
3 movies that I hated this year
1. 1971 - I will continue cursing Pranshu till the day I die for taking me for this movie. I hated her and I hated myself for seeing that movie. I am sure Manish will agree though Himanshu will definitely have opposite opinion.
2. Khoya Khoya Chand - Maybe its the recency effect and the movie wasnt that bad but definitely not at all upto mark. The songs still made for the ultra crap direction.
3. Om Shanti Om - All hype about a piece of crap is all that I can spare for this piece of crap.
Top 3 Actors this year
1. Ranbir Kapoor for Saawariya - I found myself in his longing
2. Abhishek Bachan for Guru - His greed for success matched my ambition for the gold medal
3. Shahid Kapoor for Jab We Met - In his loss was contained his ultimate gain. I hope the same holds for me
Top 3 Actresses this year
1. Aishwarya Rai for Guru - Yes, I am partial to her and will remain so till the day I die
2. Kareena Kapoor for Jab We Met - She was lovely. Mom tells me to get someone like her from Bhatinda (Unfortunately wahaan bhi le jaayegi ye job :-( )
3. Tabu - She was damn good in Namesake and Cheeni Kum
So this was the bolly summary of 2007, the year that went by .. Hope 2008 brings with itself many more joys and many more movies, hopefully good ones :-)
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Memories from the Golden years of my life (1)
Around 27th or 28th June, 2005
I was feeling cold. Not because of the weather. The weather was absolutely fine as far as feeling cold was concerned. It was mid June!! I was cold with the anxiety of what was to come. I was leaving for IIM Lucknow in about three hours. Away from home. For the first time.
It was difficult. Believe me it was very very difficult. I was like a grown up child. From getting a letter couriered to filling up my CAT forms I needed papa and mummy. I had never never traveled alone even to the railway station let alone travel outside station. And hence I had forced papa to come along with me and stay with me till I settled in. Dear parents as they are, did not object even once rather mummy was happy that her dear little child would not be lost. To be frank they all wanted to come, Dhiraj and mummy but again frankly I didn’t want all of them to come. After endless discussions I was able to convince them that they could always visit me once I was well settled. Maybe after first mid terms.
Anyways while papa and mummy packed for me I was busy calling up close friends : Shounak, Yuvraj, Devender, Neha, Priyanka, Varun and Navneet. Finally the moment came. Holding back tears I left home. Mummy and Dhiraj had come to see us off. Somehow every step seemed significant as if it was carrying me towards my destiny. But every step also seemed difficult. May be it was not what I wanted.
Few minutes left before the train would take me away. What to talk in such moments has always been a mystery. The four of us mostly remained quiet. May be it was just to hold back that lump in the throat that kept on forming again and again . At least I can say that about myself. They wished me best wishes and got down from train. Dhiraj and mummy. The train started moving. I said goodbye. I felt I was leaving something behind.
I was very apprehensive about going to Lucknow. Maybe because I hadn’t really heard much about the place. And of course whatever little I had heard wasn’t very positive. In fact I had even thought many times about not joining L and rather taking up the job which Infy had offered me. But you see after getting five calls and clearing none of my gds and interviews when you get a chance albeit in second list it isn’t really easy to let it go. Of course there is what you call peer and parental pressure. But frankly I wasn’t fully convinced.
Anyways now the train was moving. Delhi was being left behind. As I could see the train was full of people going to join L. Many of them had already met each other and were now chatting at the top of their voices as if they had known each other for ages.
I was feeling cold. Not because of the weather. The weather was absolutely fine as far as feeling cold was concerned. It was mid June!! I was cold with the anxiety of what was to come. I was leaving for IIM Lucknow in about three hours. Away from home. For the first time.
It was difficult. Believe me it was very very difficult. I was like a grown up child. From getting a letter couriered to filling up my CAT forms I needed papa and mummy. I had never never traveled alone even to the railway station let alone travel outside station. And hence I had forced papa to come along with me and stay with me till I settled in. Dear parents as they are, did not object even once rather mummy was happy that her dear little child would not be lost. To be frank they all wanted to come, Dhiraj and mummy but again frankly I didn’t want all of them to come. After endless discussions I was able to convince them that they could always visit me once I was well settled. Maybe after first mid terms.
Anyways while papa and mummy packed for me I was busy calling up close friends : Shounak, Yuvraj, Devender, Neha, Priyanka, Varun and Navneet. Finally the moment came. Holding back tears I left home. Mummy and Dhiraj had come to see us off. Somehow every step seemed significant as if it was carrying me towards my destiny. But every step also seemed difficult. May be it was not what I wanted.
Few minutes left before the train would take me away. What to talk in such moments has always been a mystery. The four of us mostly remained quiet. May be it was just to hold back that lump in the throat that kept on forming again and again . At least I can say that about myself. They wished me best wishes and got down from train. Dhiraj and mummy. The train started moving. I said goodbye. I felt I was leaving something behind.
I was very apprehensive about going to Lucknow. Maybe because I hadn’t really heard much about the place. And of course whatever little I had heard wasn’t very positive. In fact I had even thought many times about not joining L and rather taking up the job which Infy had offered me. But you see after getting five calls and clearing none of my gds and interviews when you get a chance albeit in second list it isn’t really easy to let it go. Of course there is what you call peer and parental pressure. But frankly I wasn’t fully convinced.
Anyways now the train was moving. Delhi was being left behind. As I could see the train was full of people going to join L. Many of them had already met each other and were now chatting at the top of their voices as if they had known each other for ages.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Ye hai Mumbai ...
"Zindagi sawalon ke jawaab dhoondhne chali
Jawaab mein sawalon ki ek lambi si kadi mili
Sawal hi sawal hai jawaab hai kahin nahin
Sawalon ke jawaab ko main dhoondhta gali gali"
Jawaab mein sawalon ki ek lambi si kadi mili
Sawal hi sawal hai jawaab hai kahin nahin
Sawalon ke jawaab ko main dhoondhta gali gali"
............ Lines taken from a song of 'Khoya Khoya Chand'. No. This blog is not about this movie. It was an utterly crap movies and there are no two opinions about it. What I am remembering today is my visit to Mumbai .. the city of dreams. God forgive, it looked to me like a city where all my dreams could be shattered. Three reasons why I never liked Mumbai.
1. People, People and People - There are just too many people in Mumbai. Wherever you go the places is full of heads and hands. From the most expensive five stars to the road side dhaba, you can never ever have a peaceful meal here.
2. The Cost Factor - Mumbai is simply too expensive to suit my pocket. To be very frank, I am extravagant. And if I want to live a lifestyle that I have enjoyed in these past six months here, I would be saving nothing for the future if I am living in Mumbai.
3. Its cold out there! - No. I am not referring to the climate. But to people living in Mumbai. In their daily struggles with traffic with jobs and with of course destiny poor souls of Mumbai have lost their human touch. You get the feeling of talking to machines when you ask way from a stranger or help from a neighbour. Believe me, the family I visited in Mumbai (my 'near' relatives) lived like strangers in the same house. It had nearly been I guess 6-7 years since the whole family had dinner together!
Maybe I am generalising too much but then thats the impression that I got. Now you must be wondering why did i write that piece of poetry in the beginning? It was just that I was contemplating, I successfully avoided Mumbai in my final placements. But for how long? Till when would luck favour me (keep me in Delhi?). A 'Sawaal' with no 'Jawaab' :-)
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Saawariya ... A lover's dream
Finally, I got to see Saawariya ... and to say the least, I loved it and I lived it.
This post is not supposed to be a review of Saawariya. The critics are there for that and I must say that they have done a good job indeed. This post is for me, my feelings and my saawariya (or whatever you call the female version of it). At times I was breathing with the characters, undergoing the same emotions as they were. At times I could relate to Sonam's longing for her lover, I could relate to Ranbir's loneliness in his walk of life.
Agreed, the movie is made in a larger than life frame, but at the same time the movie never loses connect with the reality. The movie takes you away from physical reality to connect with the reality of life. The reality lies in the story and not the picturisation. Not every person in this world gets his/her love and nothing else can be the biggest reality of life. You may never get what you wish, but that does not stop you from loving her.
A special mention to the sequence where Sonam runs away from club after she realises that the clock has struck twelve and her lover might be waiting for her on the bridge. A mesmerising one, the sequence holds a difficult to accept but true lesson. In the walk of life, relationships are not forever. When the clock strikes twelve, you will run for some one or some thing else. And then a dream shatters. Should we be prepared for that? In fact how can one prepare for that? Does one keep a constant watch at the clock for the penultimate hour and the sub-penultimate hour? Will that not take away from a relationship all that it has to give?
These are questions that just run across a sleep laden and a silly mind of a 24 year old. So dont take them too seriously :-) I am myself going to forget them very soon (or at least I hope so). All that will remain is Saawariya ...
Thank you SLB for a few best moments of my life and for reminding me a few hard truths. God bless you ...
This post is not supposed to be a review of Saawariya. The critics are there for that and I must say that they have done a good job indeed. This post is for me, my feelings and my saawariya (or whatever you call the female version of it). At times I was breathing with the characters, undergoing the same emotions as they were. At times I could relate to Sonam's longing for her lover, I could relate to Ranbir's loneliness in his walk of life.
Agreed, the movie is made in a larger than life frame, but at the same time the movie never loses connect with the reality. The movie takes you away from physical reality to connect with the reality of life. The reality lies in the story and not the picturisation. Not every person in this world gets his/her love and nothing else can be the biggest reality of life. You may never get what you wish, but that does not stop you from loving her.
A special mention to the sequence where Sonam runs away from club after she realises that the clock has struck twelve and her lover might be waiting for her on the bridge. A mesmerising one, the sequence holds a difficult to accept but true lesson. In the walk of life, relationships are not forever. When the clock strikes twelve, you will run for some one or some thing else. And then a dream shatters. Should we be prepared for that? In fact how can one prepare for that? Does one keep a constant watch at the clock for the penultimate hour and the sub-penultimate hour? Will that not take away from a relationship all that it has to give?
These are questions that just run across a sleep laden and a silly mind of a 24 year old. So dont take them too seriously :-) I am myself going to forget them very soon (or at least I hope so). All that will remain is Saawariya ...
Thank you SLB for a few best moments of my life and for reminding me a few hard truths. God bless you ...
Monday, November 19, 2007
Another Memory For a Lifetime ...
In one of my previous posts I had written ....
" When we want to relive the experience, we should know that we experienced true bliss. ........ Going by my theory ... is it true that I have not been truly happy since long? Or is it that the happiness that some of my past times gave me was so enormous ... that everything else fades in comparison??"
I now realise how close I was to truth. Yes. I had not experienced true happiness for a long time after the 'L' chapter of my life ended. What had actually followed were short sudden bursts of being happy. Thanks to almighty, I now have another period in my life, when I experienced true happiness.
I am talking about my US trip. Surprise? Well, so was I. In my previous post, I had written how everything went wrong at the start of the trip and how I was not looking forward to the trip at all. Well as often happens, underdogs sometimes outperform and the very things from which you have no expectations leaves you completely satisfied.
To start with, my bag which had been lost by the airlines, was returned to me two day after I arrived at Q-Center. But that is not what really made my trip. I would say it was my attitude towards all that had happened that made for a good start. I had decided that whatever has happened cannot be changed. I could sit there, cry, curse myself and God for all but I decided that none of this is going to help. Instead I chose to make the most of the trip which I did.
Secondly, I would have to give it to Q-Center. Although I firmly believe that people actually make or break a place, but if you take that apart, in my opinion it was the most beautiful place I have seen in my life so far. Especially since the autumn season was on, there were 'Mohabbatein' style leaves everywhere, trees in red, brown and yellow colours and an air in which there was no pollution at all. There was a beautiful pond which I could look to from my room window which made the place look like a fairy land with the fountains and lights in the night. I have yet to come across a more comfortable room than I had. Everything that I required or did not require was present there. And the staff was so good. Sarah, Lori, three cheers for you!
Finally, I was very apprehensive about the company I had. But then people are just different. They are not necessarily good or bad. And I somehow allowed myself to open up and interact with as many people as I would normally not do and by sheer like found a very good company. Whether that good company would translate into a friendship or not, cant say at this time but then it made all the difference to my trip.
Although, nothing can ever match the time spent at 'L', this period has still given me another memory .. for a lifetime. (More to come on this trip :) )
" When we want to relive the experience, we should know that we experienced true bliss. ........ Going by my theory ... is it true that I have not been truly happy since long? Or is it that the happiness that some of my past times gave me was so enormous ... that everything else fades in comparison??"
I now realise how close I was to truth. Yes. I had not experienced true happiness for a long time after the 'L' chapter of my life ended. What had actually followed were short sudden bursts of being happy. Thanks to almighty, I now have another period in my life, when I experienced true happiness.
I am talking about my US trip. Surprise? Well, so was I. In my previous post, I had written how everything went wrong at the start of the trip and how I was not looking forward to the trip at all. Well as often happens, underdogs sometimes outperform and the very things from which you have no expectations leaves you completely satisfied.
To start with, my bag which had been lost by the airlines, was returned to me two day after I arrived at Q-Center. But that is not what really made my trip. I would say it was my attitude towards all that had happened that made for a good start. I had decided that whatever has happened cannot be changed. I could sit there, cry, curse myself and God for all but I decided that none of this is going to help. Instead I chose to make the most of the trip which I did.
Secondly, I would have to give it to Q-Center. Although I firmly believe that people actually make or break a place, but if you take that apart, in my opinion it was the most beautiful place I have seen in my life so far. Especially since the autumn season was on, there were 'Mohabbatein' style leaves everywhere, trees in red, brown and yellow colours and an air in which there was no pollution at all. There was a beautiful pond which I could look to from my room window which made the place look like a fairy land with the fountains and lights in the night. I have yet to come across a more comfortable room than I had. Everything that I required or did not require was present there. And the staff was so good. Sarah, Lori, three cheers for you!
Finally, I was very apprehensive about the company I had. But then people are just different. They are not necessarily good or bad. And I somehow allowed myself to open up and interact with as many people as I would normally not do and by sheer like found a very good company. Whether that good company would translate into a friendship or not, cant say at this time but then it made all the difference to my trip.
Although, nothing can ever match the time spent at 'L', this period has still given me another memory .. for a lifetime. (More to come on this trip :) )
Monday, November 5, 2007
A-Broad ...
From about 2 months back only ... I was not looking forward to this trip. I dont know why ... I had an intuition that all will not be well at the end of the day ... but still I had to come. Like a foolish person I had made bookings in advance which could not be cancelled. Reasons were many because of which i was apprehensive of this trip ... probably the main one was I would be missing Diwali ... This would be the third Diwali I would not be at home ....
Apart from that ... the company ...Frankly, I had my doubts .. how much would I be able to enjoy with the kind of company I have here ..... and then to top it all ... I fell ill !! Very Very ill ... I was not well for almost three weeks . ... 3 weekends I was in bed ... and my position was particularly bad one day before trip ... Papa mummy were worried like anything ....
Finally, I came here ... and as I had thought .. not all is well ... one of my bags went missing at the Chicago airport... As if it was meant to be ...
But still ... this is an opportunity for me to be strong ... this travel will make me strong ... I wont tell anyone at home regarding this .. already they are worried for my health .. this would only increase their worries ... I thank God that it was the smaller of the bags that was missing .. You still saved me God ... One prayer ... Please Please ensure all is well at home while I am here .. because I can live with this loss and will in fact even try to make the most of my trip while I am here .... But God, if ever i have done something good in life .. please take care of my parents and my brother while I am not there. ... Its a genuine request from your child .
Apart from that ... the company ...Frankly, I had my doubts .. how much would I be able to enjoy with the kind of company I have here ..... and then to top it all ... I fell ill !! Very Very ill ... I was not well for almost three weeks . ... 3 weekends I was in bed ... and my position was particularly bad one day before trip ... Papa mummy were worried like anything ....
Finally, I came here ... and as I had thought .. not all is well ... one of my bags went missing at the Chicago airport... As if it was meant to be ...
But still ... this is an opportunity for me to be strong ... this travel will make me strong ... I wont tell anyone at home regarding this .. already they are worried for my health .. this would only increase their worries ... I thank God that it was the smaller of the bags that was missing .. You still saved me God ... One prayer ... Please Please ensure all is well at home while I am here .. because I can live with this loss and will in fact even try to make the most of my trip while I am here .... But God, if ever i have done something good in life .. please take care of my parents and my brother while I am not there. ... Its a genuine request from your child .
Friday, September 21, 2007
Wisdom dawns ...
Wisdom often dawns upon us when there is nothing to lose. Things become good or bad only in retrospect. I read somewhere ... How do we come to know when we were truly happy? .... When we want to relive the experience, we should know that we experienced true bliss. Does this mean that we can never be happy and have the realisation that we are happy at the same time ???
Why I am writing all this nonsense (I am sure some people will agree with me when I call this nonsense) is because I have realised that it has been a long time since something happened that I wished to relive ... to experience again. Going by my theory ... is it true that I have not been truly happy since long? Or is it that the happiness that some of my past times gave me was so enormous ... that everything else fades in comparison??
As anyone close to my might have guessed, I am referring to my days at IIM Lucknow. They were the two best years of my life. And contrary to my own belief, I knew that ... at least in second year. On one of my late night walks with Manish, which i miss so badly now ... I remember telling him ...
"Now that term 4 has begun ... aisa lag raha hai naa .. ulti ginti shuru ho gayi hai ... the time is not far when we will be saying goodbye to this place and all the joys that it bought along. ... Lets try and make most of the time we have left here."
And we did that .. .. we did exactly that ... we had the time of our life there ... And if God asks me one wish today .... I would not think twice before saying out aloud ....
"I want to relive IIML days ..."
Why I am writing all this nonsense (I am sure some people will agree with me when I call this nonsense) is because I have realised that it has been a long time since something happened that I wished to relive ... to experience again. Going by my theory ... is it true that I have not been truly happy since long? Or is it that the happiness that some of my past times gave me was so enormous ... that everything else fades in comparison??
As anyone close to my might have guessed, I am referring to my days at IIM Lucknow. They were the two best years of my life. And contrary to my own belief, I knew that ... at least in second year. On one of my late night walks with Manish, which i miss so badly now ... I remember telling him ...
"Now that term 4 has begun ... aisa lag raha hai naa .. ulti ginti shuru ho gayi hai ... the time is not far when we will be saying goodbye to this place and all the joys that it bought along. ... Lets try and make most of the time we have left here."
And we did that .. .. we did exactly that ... we had the time of our life there ... And if God asks me one wish today .... I would not think twice before saying out aloud ....
"I want to relive IIML days ..."
Saturday, September 8, 2007
I miss sharing my feelings ...
About two years back ... I found a true friend, with whom I could share everything. By everything .. I mean everything. And it helped a lot .. it helped clear up my mind .. relieve my tension and of course some sound advice from him was always useful. Time flew by and our days of being together ended. And with it .. also ended my clarity of looking at things. If I describe my current situation, my mind is cluttered with hundreds of issues. And I fail to resolve even one of them. For the simple reason ... I cant share many things with everyone .. not even my family ... Makes me realise the importance my this friend ..
God bless you Manish Peter .. may you live a happy long life ... and be there always for me when i need you :-)
God bless you Manish Peter .. may you live a happy long life ... and be there always for me when i need you :-)
Sunday, September 2, 2007
No more Ankita Mishra ...
I had told someone that I will not write about Ankita any more. After all she is no relative of mine and she is not going to give me a single paisa if she wins that 1 crore ka contract. But then .... i decided against myself. She deserves ... one last post. Coz no longer will we hear the name of Ankita Mishra on Indian Idol. But let me tell you one thing ... this girl is going to make it big one day.... and wherever you are and will be Ankita .. my good wishes will be with you.... May God bless you/
Friday, August 24, 2007
Its rocking !!!
Saw Ankita in Indian Idol today ... she was absolutlely rocking ! Man ... am getting crazy about her ... She was in a bright red gown and looked absolutely stunning. And she sang "Aap jaisa koi meri zindagi mein aaye ....". I have always admired her and will always keep on doing so ... Hope she makes it to the next round ...
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Everything that I am not ...
My friends question my undaunting support for Ankita. I am referring here to indian idol contestant Ankita Mishra if you havent got it yet. Yes. I do support her simply because she is .... everything that i am not. Opposites do attract after all :-). She has spunk, she is naughty and more than everything else, she is intelligent !! This I believe has been proved time and again. Firstly when she made everyone realise her 'singing' talent by singing the bhajan "Tu Vishaal Hai", which made even judges sit up and take notice of her and she made her way to the galas. Second, her choice of songs .. "Babuji dheere chalna.... " and "Babuji zara dheere chalo ...". She bought a theme to her singing at the first chance she got.
To be frank, I had thought I will bid her good bye yesterday, because definitely i believed hers was a weak performance. But I was pleasantly surprised when Puja was voted out. [I have nothing against Puja. She sang really well but if thats the price for Ankita to remain on the show, I am all for it]. Anyways, time has come Ankita when you need to prove to the world once again what you are .... Let those who criticize you sit and take notice. My well wishes are with you .. always. For me you are the INDIAN IDOL.
To be frank, I had thought I will bid her good bye yesterday, because definitely i believed hers was a weak performance. But I was pleasantly surprised when Puja was voted out. [I have nothing against Puja. She sang really well but if thats the price for Ankita to remain on the show, I am all for it]. Anyways, time has come Ankita when you need to prove to the world once again what you are .... Let those who criticize you sit and take notice. My well wishes are with you .. always. For me you are the INDIAN IDOL.
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