Princess Diana: ‘Dauntingly Phenomenal’

She was amazingly beautiful; the most-talked about; allegedly the most photographed; she was, also, perhaps the most misunderstood Princess. For most, it probably couldn't get any better than this: being a ‘Royal’ and even maybe a Queen some day. Their wedding was a fairy-tale. Atleast, that’s how it was portrayed in the media. The whole ceremony was televised and there were hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of London that day, and pretty much the same is expected tomorrow for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s D-day. But, I mean that not normal, right? Every little, minute detail was up for grabs in the 1981 Royal wedding, the bride is wearing what, who’s designed it, which carriage is she coming in in, the bouquet of flowers in her hands, the bridesmaids, the train (25 feet!!!); come on, so much media attention, its got to catch up with you. On the day, Lady Diana did look like a princess but all that everyone can think of telling now in hindsight (and before the Will-Kate wedding, of course) is: Why is she so sad??? If you knew she was so sad, why would say that the wedding was a fairy-tale and that the bride really looked like a princess. I thought she looked lovely, not at all sad; she was looking like any 20-year-old would if she was going to marry a Prince; she messed up with the name, held the hand of her to-be-husband in the middle of hymns with the whole of 3500 people audience looking at them at the altar, that doesn't reflect as someone who is sad.

People have the tendency to claim that things were looking bad after they actually have turned bad. But that’s the way people are, and that can’t be helped.

I think it is a big responsibility to get married. It is a huge thing. And doing service to the people, is always met with dissatisfaction. Whether queen or housewife, really.

“When no one listens to you, or you feel no one's listening to you, all sorts of things start to happen. For instance you have so much pain inside yourself that you try and hurt yourself on the outside because you want help, but it's the wrong help you're asking for. People see it as crying wolf or attention-seeking, and they think because you're in the media all the time you've got enough attention, inverted commas. But I was actually crying out because I wanted to get better in order to go forward and continue my duty and my role as wife, mother, Princess of Wales. So yes, I did inflict upon myself. I didn't like myself, I was ashamed because I couldn't cope with the pressures”

I think this is true about pressure. Lots of people tell, ‘cope up with the pressure; become stronger, there is no other way to deal with this.’ And you know what; I don’t think it’s about that. I mean I feel is more about the after-math of the handling pressure than the actual handling the pressure bit. It’s about how you deal with dealing with pressure.

I think she was a great and good person. Maybe where she went wrong was the manner in which she handled the lack of care or love that was always displayed to her. But to say that she didn’t handle the pressures well enough is wrong, I mean, she did she was told, she didn’t do what she was told not to do, and in the middle of it all, made quite a few sacrifices; but even after all that, she was not shown the care and love that she yearned for. And I think that is where she is like the rest of us; very lucky are those people who are loved and cared and that must always be cherished.

House: Everybody Lies

“Treating illnesses is why we became doctors. Treating patients is what makes most doctors miserable.”

I’ve been watching House for more than 4 years now. Trying to make a collection of all the series, but its not been that easy. (If anyone has any episodes from Season 1/2/3, would love to get a copy.) I don’t think that a doctor such as House’s character is around in real life and that too practicing medicine; but I guess there are many shades of House in various professions. His way of thinking is very sadistic to say the least, but it’s just the ting of things that he does that reminds us of him being human. Like in the latest one, he agrees to ‘kill’ his colleague who is suffering from Huntington’s. He encourages his team to get information about the patient through rather different means and methods (like breaking into their homes/workplaces and doing searches). He is almost a detective-doctor. Coz he believes everybody lies.

And I guess that it’s true. We all lie. First it’s with strangers or people whom you know you will only meet during that one time like in a train, or at a place you are visiting; we lie to them almost all the time. Then it’s the other people in life, whom we want to impress or want to prove something; we lie to them most of the times. And the worst: lying to ourselves, mostly because we want to make ourselves feel better or to make excuses.

“People choose the paths that grant them the greatest rewards for the least amount of effort.”

the weight loss tamasha

“If you have an ass, move it.”

Been reading Rujuta Diwekar’s second book for quite some time now. Hoping that I will finally start the losing weight part and get off the ‘tamasha’ bit of weight loss, or better yet, fat loss. If you know me well, (and mostly you will, otherwise would not have read till here) you would know that I’ve been trying to lose weight since god alone knows how many years.

But you know, I’ve been reading this book, and it talks more about women and Indian women’s lifestyle (mostly after marriage and kids) and how to inculcate the ‘looking after yourself’ bit for housewives and that its equally important for them to look after themselves so that they don’t tire and frustrate themselves out.

The reason the book is really good is that it actually recognizes the day-to-day lifestyle of a typical housewife and it encourages bringing about a change in the thinking of the housewife: she doesn’t only have to think and look after her family, (read: husband/in-laws/kids/extended family) and that eventually if she doesn’t start giving herself time to look after her body and health, she will have wear and tear and end up feeling tired and frustrate in life.

That’s true. It’s really not that easy to keep putting others before yourself and feel good about it. It only happens in Indian daily soaps.

It’s the world’s most unthankful job: being a (Indian) housewife.

I think the only way to get over this notion is for every (Indian) housewife is start looking after herself in the form of health and exercise and to keep herself fit.

So Happy House-wifying.

Pesto v.1

Thanks to Dolly Di, Shyla & Shyam Jijaji , we have Pesto. There she is now, chewing on her first victim: the brand new red aerosoft chappals that she attacked on since day two. She was in discovery mode and probably felt that the whole 1000 sq. ft. house was palatial-like for her, roaming around endlessly in each room, sniffing and licking and getting her self familiar to her new home. I still remember the first day we got her, she hardly did anything apart from whining and eating/drinking just about anything that came in front of her. She doesn’t whine that much anymore (apart from becoming a dukhiyari when Kuldip out of the house); but she still eats…pretty much anything. She’s gotten used to the house, she recognizes her house. She knows which room she sleeps in, where Mom-Dad’s room is, where the bathroom is (to keep stealing scrubs from) and the best of all, she doesn’t forget to fall asleep right over my head.

As I speak, she’s chewing on some other piece of plastic, god this girl. Is she ever really going to learn and give up these different plastics which are harmful for her?? Do dogs learn from mistakes?

Thanks to her, there are lots of changes around the house: starting with waking up earlier (esp for Kuldip) in the morning as she’s now the alarm clock; keeping things orderly around the house so that she cant hurt herself; Cerelac and NAN have entered the house (which would rather have happened at a later stage); there is meat (even though only in kibble format) in the house and isn’t objected to; cleaning of susu-potty numerous times a day; accompanying me to welcome everybody who comes to the door; alerting me when my phone rings in a room and I’m around the house working (she actually barks and takes me to where my phone is); but I guess we’re ready for many more firsts with her. Thanks Pesto, for all joy that you give us.

PS We just started using the newspaper method to toilet train her, does anybody know that it works or if there is something else that works out better??

kyun???

y is it that people dont like sad/un-happy/depressing messages for status messages or taglines??

i mean just coz they have a sad/un-happy/depressing message doesnt necessarily mean that the person is sad.un-happy/depressed; they probably are, but not always...and just coz they post a happy message, doesnt mean that they are happy...i mean it the most difficult to write sad/un-happy/depressed words or pieces of writing, a song, or poem...its very difficult, i mean someone like gulzar made almost a living out of it, i mean i know that he doesnt only write sad songs or movies; its known more for its simplicity than for the sadness part, but still, he is so amazingly 'connectable' with his ghazals and all...its very very difficult to write sad stuff, u really have to alot of searching within urself to make sure that u're writing the right stuff....anyways....enough for now...im sounding sad now...more on this later...

here's one that i penned some time ago...(but was not in a sad/un-happy/depressed mood)

dafan kar do iss bachpana ko,

isme zimmedareyon ka ehsaas choot jata hai;

dafan kar do iss hasi ko,

isse gambhir soch chhup jati hai;

dafan kar do khud ko,

khud ka toh wajood he kya hai??

am back...and this time want to stay

on recovery mode!!

haha, well, if u r reading this, then most probably u understand what im talking abt.

want to start off writing again, atleast on this blog for starters.

heard this fantastic song from indian ocean's 16/330 Khajoor Road, Sone Ki Chidiya

...'sone ki chidiya ke sau-sau hai raja, andhe raajaon mein kaana maharaja...'-- apt for the situation that the PM finds himself to be in today; u think???

finally...

ok, have finally gotten something worth posting....and something that should keep me logging in here...hopefully this one lasts...

have started utilizing my time for cooking more and more now...not the mundane dal-roti-sabzi...over the past few weeks, i started cooking italian, thai-chinese styles of cooking, and surprisingly, they turned out edible...hehe...

so am going to be posting the adventures of my kitchen-life....

maa...mummaa

a lovely song i came across. composition of kailash kher, this guy has come amazing talent that will take him places. dasvidaniya, altogether a movie i'm looking forward to.

have a listen, to download click here.

Maa...Mammaa - Dasvidaniya
Maa, Meri Maa, Pyaari Maa... Mammaa
Haatho Ki Lakerien Badal Jayengi
Gum Ki Yeh Zanjeerein Peeghal Jayengi
Ho Khuda Pe Bhi Aasar, Tu Duaon Ka Hai Ghar
Meri Maa, Meri Maa, Pyaari Maa... Mammaa
Hoo Maa, Meri Maa, Pyaari Maa... Mammaa

Begdi Kismat Bhi Sawanr Jaayegi
Zindagi Tarane Khushi Ke Gayegi
Tere Hote Kiska Dar, Tu Duawon Ka Hai Ghar
Yun Tu Mein.. Sab Se Nyara Hoon
Tera Maaa Mein Dulara Hoon
Duniya Mein Jeene Se Jyada Uljhan Hai Maaa
Tu Hai Amar Ka Jahan....
...Tu Gussa Karti Hai, Bada Accha Lagta Hai
Tu Kaan Pakati Hai, Badi Zor Se Lagta Hai, Meri Maa...

holiday mode

happy diwali, i know i'm a day late, but still, HAPPY DIWALI.

hope everyone is enjoying the festival and having a safe diwali.

me in bangkok, having fun shopping, visiting new places and spending my time with my parents. but no brusting crackers. damn.

will post pics once am back in pune.

take care. vp.

me on ibnlive.com

i had earlier written couple of articles which were published on http://www.ibnlive.com/
for quite sometime, my article link was published on the front page of ibnlive.com
for more, read here.

Dooba Dooba

One of my favorite songs by Mohit Chauhan of Silk Route.

Dooba Dooba - Boondein
Dooba dooba rehta hun aakhon mein teri
Deewana ban gaya hun mein chaahat mein teri

Ab din guzarte nahi,
Raate kati nahi
Tasweer se baat banti nahi,

To Aaja...
..Koi jaane na, Pehchane naa yeh hua kaise,
Tum aagaya khabon mein aise

Koi jaane na, Pehchane naa yeh hua kaise,
Tum aagaya khabon mein aise

Tum jo mil gaye, Diye jal gaye mere khaboon mein
Ban gao tum mere humsafar

Bewafaa, suno bewafaa
Bewafaa Na jaaaa....

Dooba dooba rehta hun aakhon mein teri
Deewana ban gaya hun mein chaahat mein teri
Ab din guzarte nahi,
Raate kati nahi
Tasweer se baat banti nahi,
Doobe............

aankhon hi aankhon mein

another good song, have a(nother) listen.

Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein - EMI
Baithe Rahe Khayalon Mein Yu..Uljhe Rahein.. Sawaalon Mein Yuun Hi
Umm Kitni Baatein Hai Jo Kehna Paaye Unko
Hum Toh Na The Iss Tarah...
Hooo Hoooooo Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein Yuun

download here.

tu saala, kaam se gaya...

been listening to lots of radio as the studying continues for exams...

came across a good listen. download here.

Tu Saala - Golmaal Returns

Tujhse Pyaar Kiya Hai, Tu Hai Meri Jaan
Meri Har Dhadkan Kehti Hai, Mein Tujhpe Qurbaan
Tera Zara Sa Bhi Dhola Jo Imaan, Tu Saala Kaam Se Gaya, Hhaa
Hua Tera Kaam Tamaam, Tu Saala Kaam Se Gaya
Tera Dil Jo Huwa Beimaan, Tu Saala, Tu Saala, Tu Saala Kaam Se Gaya

(hahaha)...

ps: exams starting on 20th oct. (and going on till forver...)

Testimonial for Kuldip

Perfectionist. Businessman. Production Manager. Photographer. Blogger. Cook. Good listener. Movie buff. Psychedelic music lover. Jugado. Mr. Photoshop. Mr.Glove-Hands (Cricket Fielding). Athletic. Organizer. Fast learner. Webmaster. Traveler. Creative. Treasurer. Helpful. Trustworthy. Dynamic. Marketing guy. Prankster. Chicken lover. Good soul. Great Human Being. Rarest.

What more could someone possibly want in one single person? Talk about multitasking.

This creature once lived in a movie-rental store-cum-restaurant-cum-computer repair shop-cum-newspaper production office-cum-disco-cum-photo gallery. And now anymore “-cum-” then the room shall not exist anymore.

Now here is one guy whom you run to for a solution to for the following things: something wrong in the computer/laptop? Want go to on a photo trip? Want to plan an event/trip? Want to play cricket/badminton/table tennis/pool table/swim? Want to make a PowerPoint presentation/Photoshop/InDesign/ or any other various documentation on the computer? Want to make a website/blog? What to organize a barbeque dinner party? Want to eat some good food? Want to go to KFC for Zababs? Want to watch movie/exchange movies?

When in Webster University Thailand, few years back, all these were answered in a certain Room # 595. The resident of which was responsible for various memorable moments in many people’s lives. The list would be endless, so no real point in putting it up. But hopefully by now you know who I’m talking about. (Else, I’d doubt you would read so far.)

You’d be running faster to him if you want to play a prank (or as is often told “mess up the brains of ___). He is the king of pranks. Hopefully, you’re not his next target.

Warning (for women): Don’t worry if he suddenly changes your gender from female to male in any of his conversations, in any languages such as Hindi, English, Bengali (the little that he can speak; no more comments please) or any other languages that he claims to speak in; he blames it on the English education he got in his school, but there are other theories that are currently in being processed in this matter and which shall be disclosed when the right time comes.

And as someone has quite aptly coined a name – he is truly adwitya (Dwitya means second and Aditywa means for whom there is no second, therefore is UNIQUE).

For further details, please contact Veeni Patel at veenipatel@gmail.com.

new blog update.

Well, well, well...one that was meant for the calling, really.

Hope the new avtaar will keep you entertained (and as should the written content, too). Exams are literally around the corner, but will try and have something or the other.

PS: Kuldip, thanks for all the hard work in this blog. But your photo blog, is a great piece of work too.

Pappu Can't Dance Saala; But Pappu Can Act Saala...

Is love being able to spend most of the time together, happy times; be opposites but still feel complete without the other because they complete each other; want to keep each other happy and smiling.

And is it possible that despite having all these things the two concerned people don’t know it? Then again if love were so easy, it couldn’t be love. Or could it?I don’t know what it is with this movie; script ok ok, newcomers, the best performance is by a dead man in a portrait played by Naseerruddin Shah; music ok ok, (little disappointing for a Rahman movie); script ok ok, nothing too great. But still there is something which makes you not want to get up from your seat; I guess it’s like what Abbas Tyrewala said “it’s a movie with clichés, but in a very non cliché manner”.

The first half way better than the second, it has the gripping affect, to a certain extend. The flashback trail starts at the airport; and then the journey starts: a funeral, Juhu beach, fight in the college canteen, home to a talking portrait, farewell party, the pub, a painter’s room, the police station fights at parties, on a horse to the airport; with short glimpses of a black stallion in the middle of a desert in search of justice. The second half is where all the clichés add up and get caught on to each other.

Imran Khan (Jai) gives justice to the character, and proves to become a true Ranjhor ka Rathore after all. Genelia D’Souza is the pampered brat whom you just want to kill at times, but looks as cute and fragile as need be. Prateik Babbar’s acting deserves a mention; small role but played to the T: a useless, not-to-do-well nothing. As I’ve said before, the best performance is still the dead man in a portrait hanging on the wall. Overall, decent movie, worth the ticket’s movie. Just don’t go in with too many expectations.

Jaana, dil, jaana kaise maine na jaana,
Ke pyaar yehi hai, yeh jaane tu ya jaane na…

Yeh dosti...

Arrey yaaron, dosti bahut hi haseen hai, yeh na ho toh, kya phir bolo yeh zindagi hai…

…these words are not only part of a good song to listen to; it’s a thought that brings peace and assurance at heart. It reminds you of the inseparable group that you once had in school and college. The bunking of lectures and attending sessions at the canteen; making revenue generating business for coffee shops/ cineplex(s)/ restaurants.

But you know what, har dosti mein kichav hai…

Sorry, boss, I’m not here to put you in dream-land...

har dosti mein kichav hai. But wait, before we get to this, let’s rewind to the start first.

In a new place, organization, or any new beginning; as we get to know people around us, the initial ‘bonding’ (as they call it) is one of a very symbiotic relationship. You might go out with a group of people because they are going to a place that is unfamiliar to you or for a common cause. From there, a symbiotic relationship starts because either you and/or the person(s) need something from the other to stay together. It’s a give and take relationship where the binding element could be as tangible as money to as intangible as the fear of being seen alone by all people around you.

And this practice of nautanki continues in some cases for days and in some for months, till there is a breakdown. A breakdown could be where either of the person(s) in the relationship feels either that there is nothing else to get out of the other party and when the other party fails to give what is needed. That’s when there is a fallout. Friendships break. Awkward looks and weirdness of silence takes place when there is a future encounter.

That’s why there are so few true friends.
Friends for life.
That’s what friends are for. Remember?

Taare Zameen Par: Kya Hai Problem, Kyun Tera Bheja Kum?

Idiot, Duffer, Lazy, Crazy; Kyun Karte Nahi Try, Why, Why Why,Why Can’t YOU???…Akshar Jo Nache, Kya Khayi Hai Bhaang?

Not all fingers are the same length,but how we sometimes wish them to be. Then again, its God’s creation, and there’s a reason for it. What a thumb is capable of doing, other fingers can’t do. Just like that, TZP is about opening our minds to things other than academia and its pressure. Your destiny is where your true happiness lies.

Following the steps of an elder brother who is perfect in studies, as well as a tennis champ, can sometimes be hard to fall in the same footsteps. Top that with failing 3rd Standard once. As the teacher asks Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) to read a paragraph from the text, all that comes out are the dancing letters in a language that really isn’t. But the importance of staying in a classroom and learning is all forgotten as more and more time is spent outside the class in punishment; faking burps and moon dancing in the cooridors. The world is perfect as long as there is day dreaming, cathcing fishes and lots of painting to be done even with failing tests and getting into fights with the other guys. As his parents send him to boarding school to bring in ‘discipline’ and fix the boy up, something inside him closes up. A substitute teacher Ram Shankar Nikhumb (Aamir Khan) sees Ishaan and wants to help him help himself.

If Aamir Khan the actor is labelled as a perfectionist, then I don’t know what to label Aamir Khan the director. I’ll leave the labelling to others. The first half is a little slow, but it lays a foundation that ensures that Ishaan is thoroughly understood by the viewers. Of what he is and what he is not.

The music need not hold the film together, but it does. Prasing Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy and lycrisist Prasoon Joshi would be adding salt to the wound. Duniya ka naara, jame raho.
Imagine if life were really all of academics and getting good grades, where would Sachin R. Tendulkar be today, for that, where would the Indian Cricket Team come from, most of them, barring a few, don’t hold degrees, probably don’t even have great handwriting, but see where they are today. Where would Shah Rukh Khan, Big B, and the endless list of brilliant actors be? Musicians, artists, businessmen, where would they be, if all that mattered was written in books just to be regurgitated?

…Bhej na itna door mujhko tu, yaad bhi tujhko aa na pao Maa;
Bhed mein yun choodo mujhe, ghar laut ke bhi aa na pao Maa;
Kya itna bura hoon mein Maa?
Tujhe sab hai pata, hai na Maa?

winning isn't everything, its the only thing...right???

That life is not just winning and losing; it’s not always black and white; it’s not always about the right and the wrong; that most of life is what lies in between. It’s about taking a decision against your wishes. It’s about not taking the easier but wrong path. Although you think that doing one thing would be correct for someone else, sometimes you have to do what the other person wants. What is morally correct is it really always the good thing to do? Sometimes you can be wrong and still do the right thing.

meri dava, mera ghav hai

"duniya ne kata, katt te gaye, khudko kahan tak kaato ge?"