Harsh Reality... at the Golf Club

Memories.... and the Group!

Words were never truer...

Andrea: Sorry. It's a busy day. My personal life is hanging by a thread, that's all.

Nigel : Oh, join the club. That's what happens when you start doing well at work, darling. Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke. That means it's time for a promotion

- The Devil Wears Prada

Man, I love this city!

Pehchaan...

A complete album. Enough said. And too wild a weekend for blog-details. Lets just say, what happens in Philly, stays in Philly :-)

Song Alert! do check out "Main Jahaan Rahoon" from the OST of Namastey London - sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Krishna. The kicker is the line "teri yaad saath hai", and the wicked chord change. Unfortunately its only available on Smashits here, so watch out for annoying pop-ups. And if you do venture onto the "Mehfil" mix of the song, watch out for Lispy Javed Akhtar's outpours (sic!) of poetic lines in the middle. Would recommend you stick to the original.

Heading to Philly tonight!

Another weekend of mindless hedonism and good music.

The PM spring show. Tomorrow nite. Irvine.

In other news, blackberry blogging rules!

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld.

Ek zara haath baDha le to, pakadle daaman,
Uske seene mein samaajaaye, hamaari dhadkan,
Itni qurbat hai to phir, faasla itna, kyun hai?

Get that song outta my head!

Yeah, its still Sajnaji vari vari from HTPL. And its worse after seeing the movie. Dozen remixes of this song, and they're all brilliant. Reminds me a lot of Dhol Vajda, 'cuz of the breakbeat.

So, a busride to Goa with a desi dozen? This movie was rather neat, more so because of the adequacy of the characters and the free-flow of the film, which seemed rather unscripted. I loved the picturization of the track, and the way Bollywood has awoken maturely to themes like homosexuality and real-life superheroes (no, they do exist, I assure you :-)). Minnisha Lamba was a pleasant surprise, Shabana was a tad bit overtly preachy, but tolerable being the legend that she is, Sandhya Mridul's face looks like a badly-kneaded caricature, and I'll have whatever the guy who dubbed for Vikram Chatwal (?) was drinking or smoking or both. Also, Ranvir's role was mercilessly short and Amisha should be mercilessly shot. But all in all, glad I took the busride, and the movie belonged to two individuals - Boman Irani and Kay Kay Menon. Performances A Pointe!

Sonu's events in Dubai are always mystical. Almost spiritual, because they remain with you for eons. Its more than his voice, its more likely his aura, his intense love for his art, his music that becomes an integral part of the evening.

Especially the events he does with Dad, because those nights are the product of two die-hard music aficionados.

Salaam Dubai is going to be another one such night.

Thursday.
March 22nd.
@ the glitzy-ritzy Madinat Jumeirah.

If it wasn't for my breakback schedule, I would've definitely flown down for this one.

More info here.

All the best, Team OME, and congrats on your 50th Event :-)

Technocrazy

Notice when two people from a common technical background meet, its almost natural for them to exchange words or phrases completely ununderstandable to people around them - purely in an effort to prove their esoteric commonalities. Almost like they're trying to justify to themselves, to the other guy, and to people around them, that they worked their bezonkers off to get to their technical mantle.

Like say, two computer programmers?

Hey, Hi, I'm Arun, I'm a programmer.
Hi Arun, I'm Shyam, I'm a programmer too?
Really? Tango-Charlie BCD+ QQWERTY QWERTY.... and then they go off on some wierd blimpy language to establish that they are one, find common ground, and then return to earth to talk to the commoners. Meanwhile everyones standing around them with a short circuit.

Even two university students?
Hey, meet Alex, he went to University of Yonkers too, just like you.
You did? What about that Prof. Lieberman. What a hard-ass, no? Didn't breakfast at the Quad suck?

Yeah I know. Didn't have too much of a point there. But its a thought, no doubt!

In other news, Penn Masala Spring Show, March 24th, 7 PM, Irvine. Launching Pehchaan! Looking forward to a ridiculous weekend with the crew!

Many an Overcoat

Images from the recently attended talk/book signing of Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake, also promoting a short coffee-table picto-tour of the making of the movie by Mira Nair.

Basically a book about a film about a book.

In attendance were ice-princessy and monotonic Jhumpa Lahiri and the ever-so-gregarious and sweet Mira Nair (hmm, you're probably wondering whom I like better). Jhumpa went on at length about the inspirations behind the book, while shoving under the carpet several things that she couldn't remember, blaming bad memory as the book is nearly 4 years old (ignoring the fact that all she's done ever since is bask in its glory). Mira, on the other hand, spoke entertainingly about the making of the film (which was phenomenal, undoubtedly). She added, much to Lahiri's chagrin, that Jhumpa had one scene as an extra in the movie, which was edited out in the final cut. Hyuk hyuk!

Without a shadow, I feel that the book and the film, together, are beacon testimonials of the Indian immigrant experience. No two individuals have effectively captured, visualized and represented emotions and nuances, with the epic perfection and class of Mira and Jhumpa.

While I was getting my book signed by the two talented divas, I asked Mira what made her pick Nitin Sawhney to do the background score for Namesake. She replied "The Boatman Song". Its on the soundtrack, listened to it later that night, and its outstanding! Strongly recommended and in this order - read the book, watch the film, then buy the soundtrack. Its so very rare, but in this case, capital, that all three products will either meet or exceed your expectations.

In other news, what self respecting parent would name their kid Jhumpa, and which self respecting adult would still stick with the name for the rest of their existence (Jhumpa claims that her name doesn't mean anything, by the way). *sigh* you need a big hood on that Overcoat, sweetheart.

The song that defined...

.. the trip was, without doubt, Sajnaji Vari Vari (OST - Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.) Outstandingly addictive!

Still recovering, bloggizens. Will be cranked up into form on Monday. Until then, here are a few points to ponder:

* If a man with multiple personality disorder is threatening to commit suicide, is that considered a hostage situation?

* What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

* Whose sadistic idea was it for the word LISP to have an S in it?

Man walks into a library and asks the librarian "Can you tell me where the self-help section is?". Librarian says, "No, I can't, because that would defeat the purpose".

Later!

Bombay Awakens

6 AM view from the Taj Lands End on Bandstand, looking out at the new bridge (the same one which was shown on the India Poised video). The view of the city is lost in the morning mist.

And I'm off... ... to London/Mumbai for work.

Conference in Aamby Valley (picture inset) in Lonavala. Supposed to be pure paradise on earth. Will testify once I taste the goods, for myself.

Will try and post from there. (Who am I kidding, right?)

Back on Fri 3/9!

Stay cool, cats!

Church vs. State

5th Avenue. See this everyday, but it doesn't cease to fascinate me.