Awe-inspiring Manali and Shimla

After the sultry beaches, lush greenery, the cityscapes it was definitely an informed escape into the great mountain ranges of our country. Yes and this time it was Manali and Shimla of Himachal Pradesh.

The road trip from Delhi to Manali though a little longer than expected was indeed beautiful with the Beas River accompanying us till Manali and thereafter too.

Manali, in the Beas River valley, a hill station in the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh was mesmerizing with its amazing snow capped mountain ranges so huge and vast to have captured by a pair of our petty eyes.

Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 13,050 feet above sea level, is another adventure tourist site. It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. The clouds are at their playful best encircling, tangling, shooting, raising, hiding and seeking in these mountains. The route to the Rohtang Top was an absolute adventure on its own passing through Gulaba Camp, Rahala Falls, Marrhi…et al. The view from the top …what to say....needless to say...it must be experienced and breathed moment by moment ....It was ravishingly and boisterously fantafabulous!

Solang Valley, popularly known as Snow Point, was a picturesque spot and offered splendid views of glaciers and the snow-capped mountains. We trekked to the top of this valley to visit the ice Shivling there which again was a naturally magnificent creation of the water falls falling from the top of a rock above on to the Shivling which had all turned into ice.

One dare devil act of mine on this trip here was to get into something like paragliding… Wow!! I can’t just imagine I did it. Now I clearly understand why people get high on risking their lives for these kinda thrills … the only reason being …the thrills just give you moments of thoughtlessness where you only dwell in the absolute present and nothing at all matters except all your six senses coordinating with each other to their maximum extent in being one with the nature and here I was gliding amidst of these incredibly stunning, colossal structures all adorned in white and enjoying the bliss which to me was totally divine.

As humans we can only attempt to express our feelings on what we feel about such pristine panorama. The amazement what one experiences on such instances cannot be expressed in words as one falls short of words and superlatives here and only little one could possibly do is stop feeling but just flow in this experience. Nature cannot be questioned…cannot be described …and cannot be explained…..It would be a futile attempt to breach in and unfold the mystery it offers each time. The three days spent in Manali with clusters of these gigantic snow laden mountains seen everywhere has been recurring in the dreams every night to date….truly euphoric to say. That’s the beauty and brilliance of these overpowering structures on me that I haven’t still got enough of them!

Every time I think of their measureless majesty it only makes me realize where I stand and how inconsequential I feel about myself. I have grown to regard and adore these awe-inspiring creations. Whatever you might have achieved in your life, standing tall and spreading out vast, they still make you feel that you have a long way to go and achieve. Every time you climb a peak and say you have done it, you still have a point higher to climb. As they say…“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” The strength and grandeur that they exude is matchless and inimitable. I do have this sense of pride as I consider myself amongst the fortunate ones to have experienced such flawless beauty of my nation.

Shimla, the queen of hill stations offered a different landscape altogether as opposed to what I anticipated it to be as - lush green. It is beautiful and surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests. Seasons contribute so much to the beauty of nature that it really makes the place wear a different dress and give a distinctive outlook each time. Winter in Shimla is amazing! Shimla was adorned in white snow and looked bewitching. It becomes a frost glistening silent city in no time as a gathering of dark clouds and fog sets off the approach of snow, generally a slight fall first, followed by a heavier one when the snowflakes sweep down bending long branches of the trees to the ground and then we see the town as a fantastic fairyland of white beauty. We experienced the season’s first snowfall in Shimla. Jakhu Hill is the highest peak and supposedly offers a beautiful view of the town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Hanuman. We could hardly get the glimpse of the Himalayan ranges from the top as there was immense fog and snowfall all over.

Alls well that ends well….. To sum it up it was an amazing treat on my seventh wedding anniversary!

-Manasi

From the highest mountains in the world, Men seek for higher places to climb, When in their heart, It is where the climb always continues. - Jason Berg

“Yes, it's hard to write, but it's harder not to.”

My posts have been very mechanical lately and I know that, but I blog anyway, even if I have little to say of real interest.

It is about discipline and for some reason I find this stuff easy to do, just throw words at your key pad and hit publish. Perhaps it is because I have done enough historical research (for fun) to know that what is interesting now is not necessarily the most interesting thing for people at a later time.

So if I haven’t blogged for awhile, I will sit down and write something, anything as long as it is done.

My apologies to those who read blogs looking for well written, insightful posts and get tangled with my irrelevant literature. I don’t actually think I write anything well or insightful, but I strive and will sure come up with something interesting very soon ....till then....cheerio!

Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow...

-Manasi

“Just did it!”

Nike’s catchphrase - “Just do it!” made me really do it and boy… I just did it!!

Come to say what… I drove my Alto right from home… filled in the petrol at the bunk and made it to the office all by myself alone (without him even being aware of the whole thing)!!
“If Not Now, When?” So Let's Go Alto!!

Cut through all the busy signals in my way midst of all sorts of vehicles in all sizes and shapes impelling and squeezing in every direction and every way….traffic in Hyderabad is absurdly hopeless… I must say I made it to the office and rested only once I pulled in the car at a safe space in the parking lot and realizing only then how profusely I had sweat over this feat of mine!

-Manasi

Enigma of Time!

We indulge in exercising. We flex. We commit to work out. We don't work out. We complain about not working out. We eat. We don't, and starve for no reason. We talk about eating good food in a good place. We talk about eating bad food in a bad place. We talk about good ambience while eating. We complain about poor service in restaurants.

We are impetuous. We are enthusiastic and live for the moment. We prepare for the future. We plan scrupulously. We are egoistic. We aim to please others. We think nobody notices our stark whimsical behavior.

We say bombastic things. We ask profound questions. We ask inane questions. We claim to speak for humanity. For men. For women. For people of our kind. For people of the other kind. We are all supposed to have similarities that connect us like threaded beads on a lace. We share common differences and different commonalities. We are all supposed to be different and unique.

We define ourselves. We denote ourselves. We like this kinda movies. We listen to that kinda music. We are duty bounded and responsible for we are told that's a sign of character. We know character is important. We carry the burden of our past on our shoulders. We mother and smother the dear ones. We are confident. We give into the circle of unknown.

We are entitled to certain things. Peace. Love. Happiness. Dignity. Universal fraternity. Freedom. Our pet peeves. We are to be treated with respect. We are to be cared for. We are to be loved for. These are important things. We get misty eyed over these tenets. We play. We have fun. We bond. We are smart. We are entitled to prestige, position and stature. We are entitled to social welfare. We are well read. We are entitled to a finer level of consciousness. We are inexperienced. The universe owes us experience.

We hop and shop. We wear good clothes. We adorn ourselves with good accessories. We outdo the undone.

Things don't work out for us. We work out the things. The world owes us this one. Things do work out. We deserve that. We form communities. The world owes us that of course. We are entitled to get invited everywhere. Everyone is. We are someone. Therefore. We socialize. We live up to expectations even if anybody doesn’t. We are entitled to get mad at anyone when we are in a bad mood.

We say things out of line, randomly. Casually. Hypocritically. Out of scope. Inarticulately. Inaptly. Irrelevantly. Irreverently. Unemotionally and incoherently. We behave juvenile. We cry over the spilt milk. We do more than what is required to be done. We stretch like elastic.

We hold persistent opinions. We don't consult anyone's opinions but our own. We entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. We have faith in lot of things. We have a strong conviction in them because they make us warm inside. We believe in them because they are honest. We don't know that of course. No one does. That again is unquestionable.

Till next time...

-Manasi

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. - J. R. R. Tolkien

Check out my new Nokia XpressMusic phone

I am very excited today as I got a new phone for myself.
Released only on Saturday...probably I was the third customer in Hyderabad to buy this piece!
Nice, sleek, smart and stylish I am yet to explore its features.
Till then check out the phone here.....

http://www.nokia.co.in/A4598125

I celebrated the event with a sweet, heart shaped balloon and Baskin Robbins' Chocolate a la mode with a brownie and two generous scoops of chocolate on the rocks and Fig cream... and sure had chocolatee fun!

A good Sunday I must say, as I treated myself in a spa, snacked on fish made by me in the evening... later got this phone....celebrated it with a healthy subway and chocolatee icecreams...back home played cards with friends....and now gonna hit my bed!

I am gonna explore the phones's features tomorrow....

Song of the day:
Tere bin there aint no desire
Tere bin my world’s on fire
Tere bin I can’t fly high high higher

Mood of the day: Excited!

Manasi

Apples and Bananas

Dunno where I came across this... anyways

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays
I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays

I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees
I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees

I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys
I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys

I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos
I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos

I like to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos
I like to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos

Dil hai to phir dard hoga....dard hai to dil bhi hoga....mausam guzarte rehte hain

It’s hard to keep things simple when people are selfish, too proud to admit they’re wrong or break into tiffs just because some things are not yet working as well as it should be.

I hope I could step back, detach myself from the fray. I believe there’s a better and simpler way of doing things to make life more meaningful, but it will need each of us to swallow our pride and help each other out, instead of readily doling out blame or parceling responsibilities around like it’s the plague.

Strange, but I don’t think I have changed on a fundamental level. I have changed the way I do things though. I was the same person at 15 and 17 and now at 30 plus, I have learnt a lot more, but I am still the same.

In my opinion, we all have these personalities inside of us, what people see though is the one we have decided to give the reins at that moment. So at weddings, parties or outings I let my Sanguine lose, being lonely my melancholy can go wild, on long walks Phelgmatic is in charge and when I am tormented for being a wife, Choleric gets a work out.

Right now listening to Dil Se Re..... and munching on the Swiss chocolates....

-Manasi

A good for nothing day!

Wednesday, Oct 24th, 2007, I supposedly was having my final round of interview… For the first time I was in my brand new formal attire to strike that corporate statement.

It did not neways go as per my expectations…and I blame myself for not being in the right frame of mind. Never mind! I reassured myself …. That’s besides the point… And now I feel so hopeless and restless as if the entire world has doomed over me. It has started this bad… and what’s it that’s gonna be still worse than this…

I feel so lost and confused…lost why, coz I lost my cell phone right after that….I just cant explain how hopeless a feeling that I’m dwelling in right now …. Oh God!! Its such a terrible and dirty feeling to lose something! Its really been a while that I lost something mine. I cannot even call myself being careless….but then I just behaved like one careless woman who was so engrossed in arguing over the appropriate auto fare that I was never aware of getting out of that auto having left my mobile behind. How did I do it ….I cursed myself!! Aah… t’was so very irritating when I had already reached the 11th floor to my office after clearing the security check, signing in for the day and then realize about the missing phone and again take an elevator down and go all the way and search in vain for the phone where I got down from the auto. I knew there wasn’t any slightest chance of finding it.

Should I blame it on my stars who didn’t play it up well for me today… Very mean that’s exactly what they have been…. responsible for this uneasy, sunken, good for nothing kinda state that I am in right now…..

I should definitely blame it on my little hand bag which has million things and all of them shouting ….very important. I wished it was a little bigger than it is ….so that I didn’t have to fidget each time to remove something out of it and put that back into it. I remember having fiddled with my goggle case in one hand and then trying to mange a file and the cell phone in the other, at the same time even arguing with the auto fellow for the shooted up meter and also trying to sort out the auto fare from a wallet ….all in a matter of two minutes…..

Things cannot change now… I am here all so pissed off with what happened….a not so impressive interview, losing my phone…..basically angry and hurt at the same time … don’t even know whether I should laugh or cry at my state…. as I have not even started working so far… whatever took place in the morning keeps playing again and again…. without my even trying to rewind the scenario…I have no clue as to why I ain’t getting over it as yet. I keep recalling…. the auto went…and went with it my old dear mobile with all my phone numbers….lovely stored messages…my favorite ring tones…. my memories! I wish I got my mobile back. Damn day! I don’t even look forward to know what’s in store for me in the rest of the day. I hope to go home as early as I can …. I want to unwind this whole thing by sleeping over it and hope to be cheerful and happy tomorrow.

Manasi

What does it mean to be a Modern Enlightened Woman....

A cousin of mine posed this to me some time back when we had met .... whether I was a modern enlightened woman myself, that really forced me to think on these lines and come out with a blog which I feel every woman of today would recognise herself with.

What does it mean to be a Modern Enlightened Woman.... Today's woman is far better an intellectual being than she thinks she is.....What She is certainly not is.....stupid! She knows who She is and what She can do. I think She is someone who doesn't feel confined by gender stereo-types, who is confident and can go after what She wants with determination, She surely knows what she does'nt want, She has her own opinions on anything and everything, She knows whats good for her and whats definitely bad, She is strong but also embraces the delicate shades of her personality that highlight her feminity.

She always walks tall and wouldn’t mind spending extra for the few inches on her heels
She always wants to look stylish and different and ends up looking.... absurdly different!
She often listens less and understands more
She is quick to decide on .... whether its now or never
She never tires of reiterating on her say and ever tired of the others' repetitions
She tries to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack her at once
She is not dependant anymore..... This makes her feel independent all the more!
She looks almost ten years younger her age and thinks almost ten years beyond her age
She wants to work out on her body...but ends up working hard in her mind!
She is tangled in her daily struggle for life but tries to untangle and straighten her hair
She tries to juggle between her work and home and constantly advices her man on how to combine marriage and a career.
She has strong intuition of everything which is the result of years of not thinking
She certainly knows when things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse
She wants to cook but ends up doing the laundry
She is either eating when excited or shopping when depressed
She is in the mood of movies anytime and holidays every time
She flares up fast and extinguishes soon....
She goes wrong.....and then fights for her right
She runs her horses of creative imagination wild and drives everyone around her crazy wild
She likes compliments coming in abundance but weighs it out while giving off

She doesn't have to be made-up pink and pretty, but if She's in that mood, so be-it! No one can put her in a box and limit her flight sky-high!
-Manasi

Pal Do Pal Amitabh Bachchan Ke Sang.....

Turning 65 is a big deal, especially if you are Amitabh Bachchan, an actor celebrated for his films, voice, performance, style, stature and poise. The perfect actor, this man has become the 'ideal hero' of the masses, and remains looked up to by the classes. Amitabh Bachchan still rules the roost in Bollywood. No other actor has enjoyed such iconic status in filmdom as the mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan

The man, the eminence, the Indian film legend. A hero of all times and for all times.
I thought why not write for the man, watching whom I have grown over the years...A man: work in progress….He is not the man in the movie but the movie himself. The pages cannot contain him, history cannot stop narrating him, and today even after having featured in all the possible permutations in over 150 films, he is still rewriting the rules of superstardom in the Indian film industry. Here is to celebrate the ‘Man of the Millennium’. I will not be able to chronicle all of my favorite movies of Big B….but surely want to mention two of his movies dear to me.

Kabhie Kabhie:

Yash Chopra’s movies showcase romance and love at their best. ‘Kabhie Kabhie’ is made with a theme that he is good at and that’s Love- A journey through several emotions and moments of recollection, remorse and repentance.

‘Kabhie Kabhie’…Love …poetry in action... watching the sunset in each other's eyes... dreaming of a perfect future together... two souls becoming one... fate deems otherwise... one generation later, friendship prevails... Kabhi Kabhie, life comes full circle.

The movie amazingly sets off with the dulcet poesy of “Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon" and, ends with the song "Main Har Ek Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon". What lies between the two songs of the poet is a very well narrated love story spanning two generations that shows the transformation of the poet from "Pal Do Pal Ka Shaayar" to "Har Ek Pal Ka Shaayar". This movie cannot be solely called an Amitabh Bachchan movie. The movie cast deserves a special note as to have carried out spectacular performances…. Ofcourse it is Big B who steals the show. I have watched Kabhie Kabhie several times myself and in company of many others and can never get tired watching the movie from any scene that’s playing. The main reason for this is that as an audience I can associate to Kabhie Kabhie in different ways, to the characters, to the story, to the music or simply to the musings of the poet. Amitabh Bachchan looks at his absolute best in the younger version of his role.

Music has always been the salient feature of Yash Chopra's movies. Kabhie Kabhie is among the top ones in that list. Khayyam not only composed delightful music for beautiful songs written by Sahir Ludhianvi, but also scored one of the best background music in Hindi cinema. The songs melodiously rendered by Mukesh, Lata, Kishore to date are chart busters. Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry is simply breathtaking!

My personal favorite goes here...

"Mein Har Ek Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon, Har Ek Pal Meri Kahani Hai
Har Ek Pal Meri Hasti Hai, Har Ek Pal Meri Jawaani Hai

Rishton Ka Roop Badalta Hai, Buniyaden Khatam Nahin Hoti
Khwabon Ki Aur Umango Ki, Miyaden Khatam Nahin Hoti
Ek Phool Mein Tera Roop Basa Ek Phool Mein Meri Jawaani Hai
Ek Chehra Teri Nishaani Hai, Ek Chehra Meri Nishaani Hai Maein
Har Ek Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon...

Tujhko Mujhko Jeevan Amrit, Ab In Haathon Se Peena hai
Inki Dhadkan Mein Basna Hai, Inki Saanson Mein Jeena Hai
Tu Apni Adaen Baksh Inhen Maein Apni Wafaen Deta Hoon
Jo Apne Liye Sochi Thi Kabhi, Woh Saari Duaen Deta Hoon
Maein Har Ek Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon”

"I'm the poet of every moment, every moment is my tale
I exist in every moment, every moment is my youth

Forms of relationships change, their foundations remain intact
Dreams and aspirations, their durations do not expire
Your beauty lives on in one flower, my youth in another
One face bears your features, and another mine

You and I have to drink the elixir of life now with these hands
Make a home in their heartbeats, live in their breaths
You grant them your charms, I give them my fidelities
What I had once wished for myself, (I) give all those blessings"


"Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayal aata hain

Ki zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chhaon main guzarne pati
to shadab ho bhi sakti thi

Yeh ranj-o-gham ki siyahi jo dil pe chhayi hain
Teri nazar ki shuaon main kho bhi sakti thi

Magar yeh ho na saka aur ab ye aalam hain
Ki tu nahin, tera gham teri justjoo bhi nahin

Guzar rahi hain kuchh iss tarah zindagi jaise,
Isse kisi ke sahare ki aarzoo bhi nahin

Na koi raah, na manzil, na roshni ka suraag
Bhatak rahin hai andheron main zindagi meri

Inhi andheron main reh jaoonga kabhi kho kar
Main janta hoon meri hum-nafas, magar yoonhi

Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayal aata hai"

"Often a thought comes in my heart
If I have life under shadow of your hair
It would have been more peaceful
The ink of pain and sorrow on my heart
Could've been lost in your eyes
But it didn't happen
But it didn't happen; now life is on a fringe
That I don't have you nor sorrow nor hope
My life is going on in such a way that
It does not expect any supporting hand
No road, no goal, nor a way to see light
My life wanders around in darkness
I will be lost in this darkness someday
I know it's my love of life, but
Often a thought comes in my heart"

Silsila :

Beautiful and stylish, romantic and dreamy, indulgent of emotion using the melodramatic elements without going over board… yet another Yash Chopra’s romantic saga Silsila is one of my favorites for its rich haul of lyrics, lilting music, lovely songs, terse dialogues and a theme that explores myriad aspects of romance, both young and mature.

This movie apart from being a romantic musical can be signed off as sensitive, humane and intense of movies ever made. The subject of infidelity is handled delicately in this movie trying to maintain the dignity of love. It showcases the burning flames of desire at blaze for the lost and found first love twisted with the society’s demands and obligations. Amazing casting complementing one another’s performance at their best.

Amitabh’s sizzling on-screen chemistry with Rekha worked wonders in the film. They look so much made for each other. No wonder, the delectable duo was considered one of the most successful Bollywood pairs.

One of the best romantic verses of Javed Akhtar recited by Amitabh and coupled with the song Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum sung by Lata Mangeshkar renders a magical feel to the entire song picturised on handsome Amitabh and scintillating Rekha. I mean the duo just rocks on the screen.

"Mein aur meri tanhai aksar ye baatein karte hain
Tum hothi tho kaisa hotha, tum ye kehti tum who kehti
Tum is baat pe hairan hothi, tum us baat pe kitni hasti
Tum hothi tho aisa hotha, tum hothi tho waisa hotha
Mein aur meri tanhai aksar ye batein karte hain

Yeh raat hai ya tumhari zulfein khuli huyi hai
Hai chandni ya tumhare nazron se meri raatein dhuli hui hai
Yeh chaand hai ya tumhare kangan, sitare hai ya tumhara aanchal
Hawa ka jhonka hai ya tumhare badan ki khushboo
Yeh pattiyon ki hai sarasarahat ki tumne chupke se kuch kaha hai
Yeh sochta hoon mein kab se gumsum
Ke jab ki mujhko bhi yeh khabar hai ke tum nahi ho, kahin nahin ho
Magar ye dil hai ke kah raha hai ke tum yehin ho, yehin kahin ho"

Another romantic duet, sung marvelously by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, for the most beautiful and picturesque song picturised on this lovey dovey duo in the colorful tulip gardens is an yet another favorite. Superb song which is like a breeze of fresh air….

"Dekha ek khwaab to yeh silsile hue
Door tak nigahon mein hain gul khile hue
Yeh gila hai aapki nigahon se
Phool bhi ho darmiyaan to faasle hue
Dekha ek khwaab...

Mera dil hai teri panaahon
Aa chhupa loon tujhe maein baahon mein
Teri tasveer hai nigaahon mein
Door tak roshni hai raahon mein
Kal agar na roshni ke kaafile hue
Pyar ke hazaar deep hain jale hue
Dekha ek khwaab..."

Yash Chopra has done a great job as a director, handling the theme of the movies very well. He keeps the story telling simple and linear, develops each character very well, and never goes far from the crux of the story even when touching issues like premarital relationship and infidelity.

Initially I thought I would write a few lines on each of my favorite Amitabh Bachchan movie…but restricted myself to only two of his movies. Listed out are my absolute favorite ones which I feel can be passed as once-in-lifetime kind of movies.

Some famous dialogues and trivia from his films….

Anand (1971)
I like Amitabh Bachchan in this movie although he plays a secondary but crucial role.

Abhimaan (1973)
I like all the songs of Abhimaan… “ Teri bindiya re”… “Loote koi man ka nagar”

Chupke Chupke (1975)
"Jis tarah gobhi ka phool, phool hokar nahi hota, waise hi gainde ka phool bhi phool hokar phool nahi hota"

Deewar (1975)
"Haan, main sign karoonga, lekin main akele sign nahin karoonga, main sabse pehle sign nahin karoonga. Jao pehle us aadmi ka sign le ke aao jisne mera baap ko chor kaha tha; pehle us aadmi ka sign le ke aao jisne meri maa ko gali deke naukri se nikal diya tha; pehle us aadmi ka sign le ke aao jisne mere haath pe ye leekh diya tha..ye.. Uske BAAD, us ke baad, mere bhai, tum jahan kahoge main wahan sign kar doonga."

"Sapne bhi samundar ki lahron ki tarah haqeeqat ki chattanon se takrakar toot jaate hain."

Mili (1975)
Mili belonged to Jaya Bachchan…I liked the role played by Amitabh as a stubborn alcoholic self-made loner

Sholay (1975)
"Tumhara naam kya hai, Basanti?"
"Pehli baar suna hai ye naam.”

"Ghadi Ghadi drama karta hai, saala."

Kabhie Kabhie (1976)
"Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai."

Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
"Aisa to Aadmi Life mein Doich time bhaagta hai. Olympic ka race ho, yaa Police ka case ho. Tum kisliye bhaagta hai bhai?"

Don (1978)
"Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hai."

Trishul (1978)
"Sahi baat sahi waqt pe kiya jaye to uska maza hi kuch aur hai, Aur main sahi waqt ka intezaar karta hoon."
"Mai panch lakh ka sauda karne aya hoon, aur mere jeb me panch phooti kaudi bhi nahin hai!"

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1979)
Like the song “ O saathi re…tere bina bhi kya jeena”

Kaala Pathar (1979)
"Pain is my destiny and I can't avoid it."

Silsila (1981)
“Main aur meri tanhaai -- aksar ye baatein karte hai...." Very intoxicating!

Namak Halal (1982)
"I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English because English is a very phunny language. Bhairo becomes Byron because their minds are very narrow."

Satte Pe Satta (1982)
"Daaru peene se liver kharab hota hai. Bahut boori cheez hai."

Shakti (1982)
"Hamare desh mein kaam dhoondhana bhi ek kaam hai."

Sharaabi (1984)
“Moochein ho to Nathulal jaise warna na ho."

"Zindagi ka tambu teen bambuo pe khada hai."

"Do aansoo is aankh se gire, phir do us aankh se. Phir do is aankh se, do us aankh se. Phir do is aankh se, do us aankh se. Kitne huye?...Nau lakh ke haar ke liye, barah lakh ke aansoo? Daddy hote to kehte: Vijay, tumhe business karna nahi aata?"

Black (2004)
While watching this movie, I laughed, I cried and I enjoyed myself. This movie was an experience to watch … direction, performances….everything was amazing!

Cheeni Kum (2007)
And when Ghaas Phus (64).. meets this Delhi gal Tangdi Kabab (34), they keep talking, all about chhatris, vegetarianism….. perhaps this movie is the best movie evermade in this genre with everything keeping good balance, nothing more nothing less. You would have never heard or felt such a fresh treatment and dialogues with sarcastic humor laugh and comic but still with strong messages which you will always carry in your head.

Romanticism at its finest!

Like to end my post citing some lines from Silsila…….

"Meri baat ka meri hamnafaz tu jawab de ke na de mujhe
Teri ek chup mein jo hai chupi woh hazaar baaton ki baat hai
Meri zindagi ka harek pal tere husn se hai juda hua
Tere honth thirakein to hai subah, teri zulf bikhare to raat hai"

-Manasi

Where did my childhood go?

Little did I know when I was young that I was probably living the most beautiful part of my life or that the bygone days of my childhood were to be remembered as the golden period of my life.

Why is that today I just want to live my childhood again? Why is that I am missing my carefree life of my past? Why is that the moving pictures of my childhood are so vividly flashing on my mind today?

I miss so many things of my childhood today that if I were to be given a choice I would just roll twenty years down the memory lane and embrace those wonderful years of my life and would never let them go.

Where at all did my childhood go…

Where it was fun to even wait on water for hours to get our pots filled when water was scarce in the city.

Where it was fun to drench in the rains and consciously jump in the mud puddles on our way back home from the school.

Where is was fun to flock around the murmura/phalli wala (puffed rice and peanut vendor) with coins in our hands to get our pockets filled with the peanuts.

Where it was fun to bully my sis and and then laugh our bellies out while we went asleep.

Where it was fun to ride my Sunny with my sis seated at my back and speed up to hit on every available bump on our way making her jump behind and go wild.

Where it was fun to plan and pack for a month’s summer holiday to be spent at our granny’s place in Pune.

Where it was fun to go to sleep on Granny’s tales.

Where it was fun to fearlessly walk the brink of the terrace of our building at midnight.

Where it was fun to eagerly wait for the Monday outings which meant go movies and eat out.

Where it was fun to sleep with a small transistor on which almost needed a blow to get it back to function every now and then.

Where it was fun to play ‘chikkad-billa’ (hopscotch) once back home from school.

Where it was fun to show around places of interest whenever there were guests at home

Where it was fun to go to school only to meet up with friends and play antakshari whenever and wherever possible.

Where it was fun to just hide behind the door and scare and ‘bhow’ at Baba when he returned home from work.

Where it was all fun and laughs to play on the toy game of a ‘chicken laying the eggs’, where all four of us strived to get highest number of eggs from a moving chicken which laid eggs at the press of a button.

Where it was fun to cuddle up at night and listen to Baba telling us magical stories of of Dumbu and Chotu going to moon!

Where it was fun to build imaginary houses with the pillows and cushions to play a girlie ‘house-house’ with the toy kitchen sets or arrange dolly weddings or get decked up in mom’s sarees and play ‘teacher-teacher’ with a little blackboard and duster.

While writing this post I’ve realized that its very difficult to capture, share and synopsize so many years of treasure into one single page. Life had brought all these simple pleasures and many more in everyday life of my childhood that they just happen to remain as wonderful memories for me to look back and cherish them.

They say memories are golden and may be that is true.Though there’s volumes to speak on my favorite people, favorite places, favorite memories of the past...These are the joys of a lifetime...These are the things that last. To me it’s my travel bag for the lifetime.

Manasi

If it weren't for flashbacks I'd have no memory at all.

Eyemotion...the love light in her eyes!

I think I'd describe myself as having a huge imagination and everyday at work I'm constantly pushed by the people to challenge myself with new concepts and ideas. Gradually, I'm beginning to understand and explore ways to help evolve my daydreams into reality. It is a very demanding task but I'd say the more you apply yourself, the more you benefit from it. I'm always listening to my own music in my free time and I love the fact that I can integrate other passions, such as this, into my work.

Instantly fell in love with mood of these musical melodies ....

aankhon mein teri, ajab si ajab si adaayein hai,
dil ko banade jo patang saansein yeh teri woh haawaaein hai.....

lage re lage re lage re nainwa lage re lage re....
Jab se tere naina mere naino se lage re ....
Jab se tere naina mere naino se lage re....
Tab se Deewana Hua ....aah haaa
Sab se begaana hua.......aah haaa
Rab bhi deewana lage re.... oye oye
Rab bhi deewana lage re!

"Oh come on! That hurt a little!"

Have you ever wondered which hurts the most: saying something and wishing you had not, or saying nothing, and wishing you had?

Are you aware?

Someone said ninety percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable. These days I find myself watching every single thought crossing my mind. Yes, I feel I am trying to make a conscious effort as to what is eligible for entry and what is forced to exit. I’ve come to realize one thing so far and that is, we are what we think!

And what we think usually has no definite parameters or boundaries. Millions of thoughts just keep hovering across and we eventually allow these thoughts to rule over us and take control of our being.

Whether one realizes or not we are all entangled in the ocean of thoughts most of the time. If I am speaking or listening to someone I am thinking. If I am reading the newspaper or watching television I am thinking. I am thinking when I recall memories from my past, I am thinking, when I am considering something in the future I am thinking, when I am riding I am thinking, when I am driven I am thinking, when I am cooking I am thinking, when I am working I am thinking. For most of me, the only time I am not thinking is when I am asleep I guess, however the forces are still operating on my last thoughts as I fall asleep.

Thoughts…. good or bad…the thing is you think! I mean you let yourself think anything and everything that’s dispensable. What is the reason for these unwanted, unnecessary and good for nothing thoughts to come and demand a space in my life….and that too a forceful one. Why is it an ordeal to deal with such nuisance happening every moment?

Probably one thing which I feel could control this superfluous ness could be being aware of my thoughts! To help myself become aware of my thoughts, I would remember to remember and wait for a gentle nudge from the universe to bring me back to the present whenever my mind is taken over and is having a party at my expense. A gentle nudge could take the form of I getting bumped myself or dropping something or some loud noise far off or a siren or a beckon. All of these things act as signals to me that my mind has taken off and I got to come back to the present. When I receive these signals I stop immediately and ask myself, “What am I thinking? What am I feeling? Am I aware?” And of course the moment I do that, I am aware. The very moment you ask yourself if you are aware, you are there. You are aware. And this awareness could be harnessed to think right and positive thoughts each time.

"all your power is in your awareness of that power and through power in your consciousness"

Cool one!

This one is real cool to lighten my day!

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep.
Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemosabe, look towards sky, what you see?"
The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars."
"What that tell you?" asked Tonto.
The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says,

"Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.
Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.
Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.
Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.
What's it tell you, Tonto?"
“You dumber than buffalo chip. Someone stole the tent."

-Manasi

The only way to avoid mistakes is to gain by experience. The only way to gain experience …is to make a mistake.

LADIES SPECIAL!

After about say twenty five minutes of restless wait for an autorickshaw on my way back home from office today I see a tattered Govt APSRTC bus pulling on to where I was standing with quite an unusual board. The board read ‘LADIES SPECIAL’. I never gave a second thought about the route its gonna take and just boarded what came my way with the rest of the female crowd following the suit. I comfortably seated myself on the first seat available. The lady conductor came in for the tickets. I handed over the change for my destination for which she cut me a ticket. I was glad to be able to find a seat in the bus after a long wait.

Funny!! I thought, that Hyderabad offered such special buses which ran only for women. I knew there were exhibition specials, studio specials, company specials but never knew of one Ladies Special. The bus pulled at the next stop to scoop in a lot of females the majority of which consisted of the office crowd. The bus then stopped at a crossing and here again twenty-thirty high school girls flurried in with their scrapbooks, long paper rolls and files with colored pens and pencils probably from their field trip accompanied with their teacher. Apparently everybody had to stand in with no seating at all. The bus was packed!

This reminded me of my long waits during my school days where in my home was just two stops away from the school and I would take a long one hour to reach home from the bus stop. Though a good frequency of buses always went my way, I for some weird reason would wait for this number 10 to arrive and then board the same and gladly reach home….strange affinity on cost of my time, inspite of hot summers or rainy seasons.

Lot of cackling and commotion shook me back to my present and I just turned in my head to get a look at my back and I could catch an eye on a mother feeding her baby in that crowd, some two grannies seated beside her, one yawning and the other looking ardently away from the window. I then thought this could happen only in India. So much of female energy in here. A very strong community of only we females except the poor driver. I strangely felt good looking at these women who appeared to me in all sizes, ages, colors and forms. All playing different roles being daughters, daughter in-laws, sisters, wives, mothers, grannies each to their own. It definitely felt good to be one among them. At the end of the day it never mattered from where and what we belonged to or where we came from, the only thing that was obvious was we all were juggling in to reach our destinations in one bus …in one LADIES SPECIAL!

Me

A Bus Is A Vehicle That Runs Twice As Fast When You Are After It As When You Are In It

If the Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Mine!

I can never be called a mobile phone person...for one, I don't have lots of people calling on me and two, I was never attracted to these electronic gadgets.

Lately I was toying with the idea of treating myself with a fancy piece as my phone had started to behave a little strange! ( its become a bit crazy these days!) It shows missed calls but I would not have heard it ringing at all! Thanks to my usage... Its still alive and is definitely working as opposed to a few who always are behind me to go for a new one!

Finally thought of looking out for a good piece. This inkling I developed looking at today's younger lot here, showing off their fancy phones which look very chic and cool. When ever I saw these guys playing, clicking snapshots and having fun chat about their phones I had a strong want of owning one myself too! A teenager apparently is never too tired to hold a phone! The ads on the television with two big stars of bollywood endorsing two rival brands catch my attention every time I see them. I am fascinated by Hrithik's hot jig in the latest ad for Sony Ericsson W200i (The Thump ... is here). Abhishek Bachchan's MOTOROKR E6 ad is weirdly funny..... but the crowd swears by the phone.

Mobile or cellular phones have changed dramatically over the past two or three years. The generation today is so very obsessed with their phones..... Crazy ring tones... Vast music downloads...MP3 players and the camera phones all make it such an enticing device after all... The new generation of WAP phones now allow the user to connect to the Internet, send e-mail, have integrated GPS and GSM and even listen to the radio....lot more stuff to add on to this which I'm unaware of. Someone sometime back was also referring to these I-phones in India which are picking up slowly and are now every mobile phone freak's dream to own one.

The other day I was browsing the Nokia N series phones and was just curious to know whether my phone was listed out.... and boy! could I find it... No!!... I guess it has already become obsolete in India. The complete collection on the Nokia India website never showed my model, which I suppose is as sturdy and shock absorbing as possible (you know why!) Beneath the compact body lies a multitude of features like a color screen, Tri-band compatibility, cheerful screen savers and couple of games. I guess I am real happy with the one I am carrying at present.... coz choosing another piece from a sea of phones is an ordeal ... Technology is moving crazy forcing all the choicest features and integrating the same into one small device!

For the many who wanted and influenced me to go for a change.... Let's live with what I have ... and that's Nokia 3120!

-Me

A new beginning!

It was one of those days....One of those days when you get really lazy, when you have lots to do and then come to think of it you want nothing to do.... Just in case I'm trying to sound a bit confused about my ownself ... let me try and make a start at pouring down my thoughts which I hope I will continue from here on, like somebody said... “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

-Me