Dil to bachchaa hai ji

The art of story telling which Basu chatterji, Guljar knew..in the new age directors I see Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Kashyap in the same league. I have seen Makbool, I have seen Omkara and Kaminey and now I see Ishkiya. The same art of story telling. Simple stories with complex human emotions where there is no villain no hero all are characters and each one is trying to outsmart other one. You take abba ji you take langda tyagi you take bhope all of them are neither hero nor villain but simple characters yet they have made their presence felt.
Ishkiya is simple tale of love where each one of characters are following their love and the results is some time comforting to each other some time confronting. There is no villain, no hero. Even a small character like Mushtak bhai and tai,  who fires the lamp is and Kakkad leaves his style. For me Arshad did best of all in front of seniors like Naseer. His language his timing his body language. He is too good. Vidya has done fabulous acting but she couldnt adopt the typical Eastern UP dialect. Her love making scene with Arshad shows the maturity of her as an actress. The small roles like Nandu and Verma also has done excellent acting.
Coming to story, it has some loose ends. Did mushtak bhai got his money back, did he kill the trio, whom did Krishna married in end, did they get money or just their lives back. First half was griping but second half became slow. Ibne batuta song could be put in movie. Over all movie is average. I will not consider it in the same class as Kaminey, Makbool or Omkara. But abhi to Abhisek bachha hai ji....So lets wait for some more from him.....

5 point someone aka 3 Idiots

The book was good but movie is superb. The book was for engineers and young, movie is for masses. Only youth cant make it 300 crores. The story telling redefined by Raju Hirani and Vinod Chopra. Abhijat Joshi and Chetan bhagat prepared the background. After all its a Amir movie which each one of us waits for 1 year. Far better than Gajhni less touching than TZP.
3 idiots impressed my family so much that they removed all the astrological rings from their finger. In todays world, where movies just pass 3-4 weeks in a Multiplex, time is fast, who has such impact. The theme was good, story was superb, actors justified characters, a bit of over acting by Boman and unnecessary delivery scene in end. Barring these small things it was perfect. Kareena looked good after Jab We Met. In very few movies, I like kareena, K3G, JWM and 3 Idiots.
Amir is now becoming an icon of acting. Every time he comes, he surprise you. God knows what will be his next surprise. Even in close ups he looks just like 20 yr old college going as he was in Kayamat Se Kayamat Tak. His body language his dressing, no doubt he is Mr Perfectionist.
I really liked the movie. Watched it twice. The betterment could be in music as except songs like Behati hawa sa tha wo and all is well, no other songs are good. Mr Mahadevan should have got some inspiration from Amir and tried to reduce his tummy. Overall All is Well

Aao chalo kartoons banaye....

Another Good Movie: Jab We Met

So finally I watched it. It was long pending and I have not seen a good movie since ages. This one is best performance by Shahid. He acts so flawlessly, effortless acting. Remember scene where he is in train and Kareena is doing bak bak. Watch his face. Or when he meets dara singh(Kareenas grand father) first time. He is superb. What to say about music. After a long time there is a movie for which you would like to buy all songs. My favorite is Tumse Hee. Director Imtiaz Ali finally got his piece of success. His other movies as Socha na tha, ahista ahista, black friday..all were simple movies with no extreme action or extreme comedy or romance. Even this Jab we met is a simple movie which doesn't leave you heavy head.
Kareena looks pretty. She has lost lot of weight and is looking very gorgeous. As usual did overacting but in this movie may be it was required. Other casts were OK. The film becomes a bit slow after interval. May be director should have shown us more of India tourist spots. We can make a cinematographic good movie without going to Switzerland also.
Last but not least, worth to mention the song "ye ishk hai" picturised in manali. It beautifully captures local himachaly dance and local things.
Final word is that movie is paisa wasool. Should be watched in theater only.

बचपन की कुछ यादे - भाग १

आज कुछ खास वजह नही है इस ब्लोग को लीख्ने की, बस यूँही अकेला बैठा बीबीसी हिंदी की कुछ कहानिया पढी और अपना बचपन याद आ गया। अब बचपन तो सबका एक जैसा होता है। कम से कम मेरी हम उम्र सबका बचपन एक जैसा था, चाहे वो किसी छोटे शहर में रहे हो या बडे में। मेरी बचपन कि कुछ धुंधली सी यादे मेरे नाना जी के घर कि हैं। उनका घर पहली मंजिल पे था जहा जाने कि सीधी सीधिया थी। एक गंदे से बदबूदार नाले के किनारे वो घर था। सड़क के उस पार एक पार्क था जिसमे एक मंदिर भी था। इन सब बातो कि तसदीक मेरी मा भी करती हैं। मेरे नाना के घर के नीचे एक और परिवार रहता था जिन्हें मैं नीचे वाली नानी कहता था। उनके हाथो मेने दाल और रोटी बहुत खाई है। कुछ धुंधला सा मुझे भी याद है, पता नही मेरी माँ ने बताया इस लिए या वाकई मेरी याददाश्त इतनी तेज थी क्योंकि ४ बरस कि उम्र में हमने वो घर छोड़ दिया।
मेरे पिता जी कि नौकरी एक छोटे से शहर के चीनी मिल में थी। वो घर तो मुझे अछे से याद है। खपरैल का बड़ा सा माकन, सामने खूब बड़ी खेती लायक जमीन जहा हमेशा बैंगन, टमाटर मूली उगी रहते थे। घर कि चौखट से अन्दर जाते ही एक बड़ा सा आंगन जहा बाई और एक टिन शेड मी सूखी लाकदिया और कोयला नहरे रहती थे। दाहिनी और शौचालय और स्नानागार थे। उसके बाद एक पानी का पाइप लगा था शायद बर्तन मांजने के लिए। दाहिनी और ही उस खुले पानी के पाइप के बात रसोई घर था। अन्दर से केसा था इसकी कोई याद नही। रसोई घर कि दीवार तक आँगन ख़त्म था। फिर बाये हाथ पर एक दरवाजा था जो कमरों का प्रवेश था। अन्दर शायद एक सीधी गैलरी थी या कुछ कमरे थे। कुछ ठीक २ याद नही। दर असल ५ बरस तक होते २ मेरा समाया मेरे नाना और मेरे पापा के बीच में कटा। अब जो कुच्छ आधी अधूरी यादे हैं बस यही हैं।
पर हाँ एक बात अछे से याद है और वो है चीनी मिल के गेट पर एक मंदिर। रोज़ सुबह वहा आरती होती थी और हम उस आरती के बाद एक बताशे का प्रसाद लेने पहुंच जाते थे। हमारे घर के पीछे कि खिड़की चीनी मिल के अन्दर खुलती थी जहा एक सुन्दर सा बाग़ था जिसमे गुलाब के फूल लगे थे। मुझे आज भी अछे से याद है कि एक बार उस बाग़ में पर्दा लगा के एक फिल्म दिखाई गयी थी और मैं खिड़की पर बैठ कर वो फिल्म या शायद फिल्म दिखने वाले प्रोजेक्टर और तरीके को देख रह था, मेने अपन खाना भी खिड़की पे बैठ के खाया था। पापा के यह मिल मी जाने का सबसे आसान तरीका था कि गेट पे जाओ गर्द अंकल को बताओ कि फलने आदमी बेटे हैं और बस..आप मिल के अन्दर। खैर ये सब तो थी ५ बरस तक कि धुंधली यादे...

एक छोटी सी कहानी

वो दोनो बहुत डरे हुए थे। शायद ये उम्र का तकाजा था या पहली बार ऐसा करने का डर..लड़की ने बहुत समझाया कि नही मुझे ये नही करना। पर लड़के ने उसे अपने प्यार का वास्ता दिया। "क्या तुम मुझसे प्यार नही करती? मुझपे भरोसा नही है?" अब वो भी तैयार थी। लड़के ने उसे समझाया "बहुत मज़ा आएगा हमे और मैं भी तो हूँ न तुम्हारे साथ!"
लड़के ने पैसे दिए। दरबान ने उन दोनो को घूर के देखा। लड़की ने अपनी नजर नीचे झुका ली। अब वो दोनो भीतर आ चुके थे। लड़के ने अपनी जैकेट उतार दी। लड़की ने भी अपना दुपट्टा उतार दिया। वह पर कुछ अल्मारिया बनी थी। दोनो ने अपने कपडे उसमे रख दिए। लड़के ने लड़की से कहा " पहले तुम!" लड़की ने लड़के का हाथ पकडा और बैठ गयी। लड़का भी उसके बगल भी आकर बैठ गया। उसने अब दरवाजा बंद कर दिया। लड़की ने अपनी आँखे मूँद ली और लड़के का हाथ जोर से पकड़ लिया। उसकी साँसे ज़ोर-जोर से धड़क रही थी। उसके सांसो कि गर्मी लड़के के कंधो पर महसूस हो रही थी। लड़के ने प्यार से लड़की के माथे पर आ रही लटों को सुलझाया। और अपनी हथेली से उसके गालों को थपथपाया।
तभी जोर कि आवाज हुयी और लड़की जोर से चिल्लाई। अब वो दोनो ही बहुत डर गए थे। कभी ऊपर कभी नीचे। दोनो ने अपनी आँखे मूँद ली। लड़की ने लड़के के सीने में अपना मुह छुपा लिया। उसकी सांसे अब और जोर से धड़क रही थी। अब लड़के कि भी धड़कने तेज हो चुकी थी। अब तक वो अपने डर को छुपाने कि कोशिश में कामयाब रह था पर अब उसके चेहरे पे ऐसा कुछ पहली बार करने का डर साफ दिख रह था। या शायद हर बार ऐसा ही डर लगता।
अचानक सब कुछ शांत हो गया। लड़की ने अपनी आँखे खोली। उसने राहत की सांस ली। सब कुछ शांत हो चुका था। लड़के ने दरवाजा खोला। पहले लड़का बाहर निकला फ़िर उसने अपना हाथ बढाया और लड़की ने उसका हाथ पकड़ा। उसके हाथ अभी तक काँप रहे थे। कांपते कदमों से वो बाहर निकली । बाहर जाकर वो बोली " ख़बर दार जो आज के बाद तुम मुझे कभी रोलर कोस्टर पे झूला झूलने लाये तो?"

A new radio channel in town - Meow

This is my latest addiction. Though this channel claims to be indias first radio station, by woman, for woman and of woman. But its also Indias first radio station which is based on talk show. That means there are very few songs and rest is just people calling in and expressing their views on some topics which are sometime picked up from morning Times of India or contemporary.

For me, I normally dont listen FM radio, because I want to listen to the songs which I want not which some body else make me listen. So I always carry a good collection of Cassettes while I drive, yes i still have Cassette player in my car. Now with this new channel, most of the time, while driving long hours from Noida to G.Noida or back, I am tuned to Meow.

In morning, some shows are specifically for woman, related to kitchen, beauty and other stuffs. But in evening, you have tu-tu meow meow where they ask both genders to participate and express ur views. The best thing is that they dont pass judgement and there is no conclusion. So its just a way to listen what others think.

Also one of their programs, between the sheets, which I am not able to listen much as I myself between the sheets. This program is about the topics, strictly related to physical relations what women think about such things. The host is very popular among woman and even the show.

As I get bored with things easily, lets see how much time I am going to stick with this channel. I know I will come back to my good old RD Burman songs very soon..Till then I am enjoying it. And haan I once called in one of the show by Dr Kiran bedi to give my feedback about police reforms.

काराओके Karaoke bar in Delhi

Those who know me well, also know I have recently developed a passion for Karaoke Singing. Karaoke is a form of singing in which you sing along a pre-recorded background music of some famous song. I have setup a small studio at my home with 5 speaker system and have a good collection of new and old songs.
Karaoke started in Japan where there are bars/clubs where you can go and have lunch/dinner and also share your singng talent with other like minded people. Its something like you have some salsa nights in delhi discos. I also caught some KARAOKE bars in Milan.
Last week while visiting Pacific Mall in Ghaziabad, Near Anand Vihar ISBT, I entered, I suppose, Delhi's first Karaoke bar. Its nice and well decorated located at 1st floor of mall, in front direction as you enter. The bar has small cabins in which you have a TV, a karaoke player and a big couch. You can order, from a limited menu(just snacks and drinks(soft)..dont expect lunch or dinner). Then you can opt for a karaoke session. There exist a karaoke song menu, very exhaustive, both hindi and english including old kishore songs to new Shanker Ehsan Loy songs.
The rates are a bit high. They charge 150 bucks for a half and hour session of karaoke which is extra of what you order for food.

Movies I saw in last month

Please dont consider it as movie review. Its my personal say on the movies(old and new) I watched in last couple of weeks. To begin with, I started with a DVD containing Namesake, Provoked, Salam-e-Ishk and Guru. Well I wont discuss the last two.
Namesake: Story of a Indian bengali couple living in US of A trying to adjust with changing values of their kids and still retaining core. The protogonist is Gogul, played well by Kal penn, who is stuck in middle of his parents,Irfan khan and Tabbu, value system and his inherited US culture. The movie is different from other movies based on this topic as it shows a middle of path approach. Specially a scene where these yound bengali couple get marry in bengali style and then they celeberate honeymoon typical US style. A bit slow movie but good watch on DVD.
Next was Provoked. A sadistic movie trying to show a fight of woman against domastic violence as well as herself to be able to get freed from jail for killing her husband. Ash does her role well and some times you want to kill Naveen Andrews for beating her. I didnt like the movie that much.
Then I recently watched two World War-II based movies. Schindlers List and Life is Beautiful. Well what to say about them. Both won so many oscars. Now I think that if you wanna win a Oscar, just make movie on plight of Jews in Germany. Oscar gauranteed. Schindlers list is master piece and will certainly bring tears in your eyes. I cant imagine something like that happened in so called civil society and how One man alone, Hitler, could convince whole of machinery and people of Germany to do something so in-human. But history says that 60 Million jews killed in 6 years. But history is written by winners. May be US will right off Saddam Hussain killed all Iraq's in 10 years war(though 80% got killed in US Bombings).
Life is beautiful is about a Jews family kept in such concentration camps where father(Robert Bertini) shows a false and beautiful picture of this prison to his son। He tells him that its a game and we live like this so we earn points and in end who has maximum points will ride a Tank. In end, when germany get defeat, the child really rides a tank and believes his father(who got killed by germans). Movie is good and you feel good how our parents make life so beautiful for us taking all atrocities over them.
अंत मे मेने कितने दिनों बाद एक गोविंदा कि फिल्म देखी। पार्ट नर । एक इंग्लिश फिल्म Hitch का हिंदी रीमेक कह सकते हैं परंतु दविड़ धवन ने अपनी छाप छोडी है और सुमधुर संगीत इसे और भी अलग बाना देता है। कहानी है एक प्रेम गुरू और एक असफल बेवकूफ आदमी कि जो अपनी कंपनी कि मालकिन से प्यार कर्ता है। प्रेम गुरू उसे कुछ तरीके बताते हैं जिससे वो अपने प्यार को पा सके। साथ मे प्रेम गुरू का अपना भी प्यार चल रहा है। अंत मे कुछ गलत्फह्मिया और फिर सब मिल जाते हैं। अभिनाय्के मामले मे गोविंदा ने सलमान से बजी मारी है पर सलमान भाई तो दिन पर दिन जवान होते जा रहे हैं। गोविंदा कि उम्र अब दिखने लगी है लेकिन अभी भी उन्हें कैटरिना कैफ़ जैसी सुन्दर नायिका मिल जाती है। फिल्म का कमजोर पक्ष है थोडी बहोत asynchronization गोविंदा और सलमान मे। बाकी बधिया टिम पास हैं