A Sugar Free Sweet Entertainer

I saw the movie Cheeni Kum(Literally means less sugar) and it was a delight to watch an unusual couple on screen .The movie promises to be a sugar free romance .But it has a lot of innate sweetness and charm (and traces of dark humour too)due to the presence of actors like Tabu , Amitabh Bachchan and Zohra Sehgal (who is simply unbelievable for her age ). The movie was a good entertainer and may be the 2007 equivalent of movies like Chupke Chupke ,Bato Bato Mein and similar Hrishikesh Mukherjee flicks . Of course the subject is radical for Indian tastes but it has been treated gently with a generous helping of humour.The movie deals with the unfolding of an uncommon relationship between a 64 year old chef(Amitabh Bachchan at his best again )and a 34 year old software engineer (Tabu-who is poised and yet extremely charming ) . The acidic tongue of the chef and the soothing effect of the 34year old charming lady make a funny combination . It is garnished further with the witty remarks of the chef’s really old mother and a very young ( but ailing ) neighbour whose wise remarks and practical tips make you wonder how could a child spout such wisdom…. The climax has a bit of a “ filmy ‘ ending with the marriage being solemnized between the pair and Amitabh’s buddy and neigbour funnily called Sexy breathing her last . The movie overall was very entertaining and crafted well in terms of its dialogues , locations , lighting etc . For a first time director R Balki has done an excellent job …

The Character of the Taj

Character associated with the Taj Mahal is very peculiar -that is how someone described the beautiful monument the other day . A lot of people now are trying to organize an SMS and email campaign to get it listed as one of the wonders of the world officially !! That is a very good expression- a character associated with any place , person , situation .What is it ? I think it is the unique feature of that place , here a monument which probably sometimes is even beyond the physical characteristics . It is the personality that is knowingly or unknowingly formed by that place , person etc and etched in the minds of the significant others or even casual bystanders . In case we are talking about a person then the person can actually put in efforts to build that unique character …. It could be a unique skill, the overall behavior pattern , the indelible stamp that the person puts in every transaction . That is being done all the while .I think the earlier we understand it the better . And then what is the whole blogging movement all about? To create a blog with a character most probably ….

The character
Is the peculiar beauty
Associated with a person , place or object
Gives it a hue
Come light , darkness, dusk or dawn
The seasons fade and arrive
The particular character is retained
Like a Taj
Towering high
In the sun , rain , wind

Need for expression

The need for expression
Of various interests
At various points of time
Requires various mediums …

On writing…
A lost habit
Is to be restored
How was it even a habit
If it was lost ..


The sea of emotions has many innumerable waves
Some touch the shores of expression
Some just die a natural death
Trying to express themselves ..

A vast ocean of humanity
Walking purposefully
From one end to another
Yet is the individual wave recognized
In this mass…..

Creative Ramblings

A beginner’s guide to the world
With so many beginner’s guides
Readily available everywhere
Where is the beginners guide to the world
Dealing with the nuts and bolts of the journey
Is there an instruction manual to construct and reconstruct life
In the two minute culture ?
Or is it a series of trials and experiments
That would take some years to
Understand and master the process and yield some results
Like a research lab…



The Quest
The quest for knowledge
Takes one through many hills and dales
Through a path
With many experiences and observations
Many interesting by-lanes intersect each other
To lead one to
The grand highway
Of a continuous quest


The multiple influences playing
An important part
To create the
Quest
With its multitudinous hues , sounds , tastes , feelings and thoughts
All carving a unique pathway for each traveler

Mumbai Life Series-Mumbai Food

What is a city without its peculiar cuisines and food habits .. Life in Mumbai where the action is on round the clock is unthinkable without its special food and related habits . Mumbai is a bundle of contradictions as far as its food habits are concerned .There are extremely high end places which serve a variety of international cuisines .Most of these specialty restaurants are attached to the five star hotels . Then there are the stand alone ones which have created a name for themselves not just because of the food but also because of the ambience , the celebrity quotient etc . Olive bar , Indigo , Athena ,Mainland China would be some of them . But if you closely look at the ones that serve specialty Indian cuisine then one should mention Mahesh Lunch home which serves one of the best sea food specialties , Gaylords for the Mughlai and North Indian kind of cuisine and the list goes on .Then there are the ones like Samovar (which is attached to Jehangir Art gallery ), Tea centre , Yokos which belong to a different league and probably have an old world charm around them .

But you cannot simply miss the road side food which is available everywhere in Mumbai . The growth engine called Mumbai probably runs on a fuel called the vada pav . The vada pav(combination of bread and fried potato balls ) is economical , tasty and easily available . Millions and millions of people eat it all the time . Then there are the ubiquitous tea stalls and the juice vendors who also make brisk business all the while . But Mumbai without a visit to Juhu beach or Elco market and a sip of the legendary ice gola and bhel is unthinkable . Then there are the typical Mumbai specific food varieties like pav bhaji , dabeli , different kinds of chats and the unforgettable gol gappas ( light round crispies dipped in flavoured water ).The list goes on and on . The common characteristics being that this kind of food is spicy , dripping with oil or butter, tangy , sinful and terribly tasty ….There are also some spots which are renowned for authentic cuisines. A special mention has to be made of Mohammad Ali road which is well known for its kababs, rolls and lot of other meat preparations .Also hats off to all the Udipi joints who promptly serve dozens and dozens of idlis and dosas to a hungry city .

Mumbai thrives on this kind of tangy and tasty food . And in fact this type of food is perfectly integrated with the texture of a dynamic and vibrant city like Mumbai ..What say you ?

Creative Ramblings

Some Random Thoughts

The confusion that arises
Without any finite cause
To pursue
Or too many causes to pursue
At the same time
In a working day or
A non working life ….


The Web
The complex web of thoughts and feelings
Can entangle the dreamy mind
Can entangle the alert mind
The point is to detach from the web
And watch it weave itself
That leads to an understanding
Of the various strands

The need for expression
Of various interests
At various points of time
Requires various mediums …

On writing…
A lost habit
Is to be restored
How was it even a habit
If it was lost ..


The sea of emotions has many innumerable waves
Some touch the shores of expression
Some just die a natural death
Trying to express themselves ..

A vast ocean of humanity
Walking purposefully
From one end to another
Yet is the individual wave recognized
In this mass…..

Creative Ramblings

These poems are a collective impression of the day to day saga that unfolds itself in society and life in many forms- the Mumbai local train blasts, the cruel handling of many national tragedies , the exaggeration of trivia and many more . All these impressions have come together and led me to “exhale” like this .They were written sometime back . It is only at the insistence of a friend that I am publishing them today ….


The Tsunami

The first stirrings of pain
The gush of angst
The brave struggle to face the avoidable and yet sustain
The turbulent waves of agony and bitterness
Touching the shores that perhaps never were still or stable
Always shifting
The storm of anger and disgust
The calm at times at the centre
And then the tongue of fury all over again
Trying to engulf whatever it can
Like a gigantic tsunami
Leaving but shreds and pieces in its wake
Pretending as if it never came


The saga

The stillness in the surroundings
The calm that perhaps had an antithetical predecessor
The peace after the wholeness is just pieces strewn everywhere
This is the silence of the cemetery
The light that burns pyres and dispels darkness
This is the unfolding of the saga of existence


The Blur

Everything is just a blur
A haze that has folded clarity in a neat envelope and posted it to a neverland
As we take steps blindfolded
Not knowing where the next blurry step will land
The slaying of goodness , light , purity
In the blur
No one knows what happens in such hazy environs



The Journey

Fleeting from one point to another
Trying to find solace wherever one can
The milestones at times like huge boulders
Blocking the way
But dissolve in the bright light of the day
The darkness that falls everyday and brings with it uninvited passengers
Followed by light which again fleets from one point to another


Dysfunctional

Whatever was hanging loose on the last hinge of hope
Has fallen apart
The antique piece has become dysfunctional
It does not affect the passers by though
They do not use it
They do not care for its value
It just exists like an eighth wonder of the world
Taken for granted by its sheer existence and presence


The warp and weft

The warp and weft woven dexterously many times
Woven together sometimes by the sleight of the hand that has got used to the daily ordeal of weaving the same old rug
The warp and weft of relationships
That bind us all to each other
Bindings of affection , love or worse -habit !


CRY
The angst and the pain
At the cry that has gone unheard
The shout and howl
Of a generation that has expended
Itself on things that have
Suddenly lost value
In the stock market of relations and personal interests
The CRY for the stock that was nurtured fondly
But remains undervalued in the myriad jostles and pushes
Of the daily market hours
And perhaps will remain so


Insanity
The ravings of insanity
Pleading the cause of sanity
Trying to establish sanity and logic
In a topsy-turvy world
So the crutch of insanity to
Ensure that sanity is able to hobble
On a road strewn with rashness and thoughtlessness


The memories
The fondness of sweet , salty and small memories
The happiness in little pleasures
The small acts of goodness that would light faces
The pure laughter that would fill all kinds of voids
All these are but memories etched on the stone called passing time and the papyrus of fleeting whispers


The aftermath
The Tsunami has struck and gone
The shore is littered with all kinds of objects
Known and unknown
The waves will wash off all
Yet some remain stuck in the sinking sand
Persistent , unwilling to get washed off so soon

Of clones and creativity

A television advertisement proclaims that if you use a particular set top box for your TV your child will become Einstein. And in fact the ad shows an entire class full of little Einsteins with the now famous mop of hair and moustache.. Well is that what today’s system is doing - Converting all kids into clones of each other .Then there is the pressure to take up as your vocation a so called in field . I happened to visit a couple of premier educational institutes as part of work and one trait that I deciphered across all the bright young minds was that they are extremely focused and talented . But the pressure to perform probably is so high that there is very little scope for creativity to thrive. At the same time there is not much space or time for so called liberal thought process to emerge where attention is given to all domains: literature, theater, society, economics, politics etc. There might be still quite a few young people who take the off beat path, but their numbers are fewer. At the same time students cutting across all mind sets and orientations are encouraged to take up the so called commercial fields (eg management) that might make more economic sense in the short term. There is lot of investment done for the same purpose. Probably if the same amount was spent on a vocation suiting the student’s aptitude probably the returns would have been better in the long run for the individual. A lot of this is perpetuated on an ongoing basis and what we get is a set of students who have common aims and aspirations (funnily enough!!!-where is the room for individual goals and journey here …).But what kind of society will we create with only technology, business thought and economic principles playing a mission critical role in our life? Where are those leisurely moments where at least as students one could read, think and chat about critical and interesting matters not really confined only to the syllabus? On second thoughts we might ultimately produce a system full of clones much like the TV ad.

Mumbai Life Series-The North South divide

The North South divide has polarized and divided the world and then it has been extended to life in Mumbai too!!Surprised, this North- South divide is the real and imagined difference between the suburban Northern part of Mumbai and the more elitist South Mumbai area …A suburban Mumbaikar might probably travel for all the good things of life including earning for living to South Mumbai. For most South Mumbaikars all those good things are at a stone’s throw distance .Then there are many South Mumbai residents who have not traveled beyond the boundaries of Bandra( almost the area where South Mumbai ends -bordering on the Centre ) and keep on wondering how people can travel such long distances for everything ranging from education , shopping , working etc . The North Mumbai residents on the other hand keep on wondering about the astonishingly high rate of property prices and how their South Mumbai counterparts were literally born lucky ….

The divide is further accentuated by the fact that the orientation and moorings of many residents differ according to their geographical locality . The residents of the Southern part of the city might hold an opinion that their counterparts in the Northern part do not exactly keep up with their Joneses. On the contrary the South Mumbaikars are supposed to be a more trendy and “in “. Of course that perception is changing with the advent of the ‘mall culture’ and all residents of Mumbai getting access to a whole lot of luxury and contemporary lifestyle products .But many old residents(on both sides of the border!) just love to hold discussions about the divide – well the difference in the landscape ,the eating joints , travel patterns , lifestyle…and the divide continues....

Creative Ramblings - May poems

Learning
The planned and unplanned
Thoughts that lead to the events
The events that are lesson are by themselves
Sow the seeds of future learnings
Big or small


On Life
The ebb and flow of life
The daily cycle of this touch and go
Sets in motion the circle of existence
Which encompasses in itself
Both life and death

What is sweet ?
The sweetness of the past
Makes the present bitter
But is this bitterness
Then reserved to be
The sweetness for the future


What is writing
But an expression
Of what is seen by the eye
And reflected by the mind
Sometimes not reflected
Just poured


Inspiration
Inspiration in unknown pockets
At the entrance of plush buildings
In verdant surroundings
In the passing day
The approaching night
It is there everywhere
Yet hidden many times from the discerning eye and the
Alert Mind …..

Mumbai Life Series -The Malls in Mumbai

They malls have happened to Mumbai recently. Hence they sport a splashing and brand new look. They are the hang outs and social networking sites for Mumbaikars
(Mumbai residents as they are called). The malls have given the new suburban elite access to international brands and a wide variety of products .Thus in the process they have created a richer lifestyle for the once quality deprived suburban residents. Most of the malls are situated in the suburbs of Mumbai as property prices are at an all time high in the commercial district ie South Mumbai . Thus suburban Mumbaikars do not have to travel great distances to purchase the so called good quality stuff in far flung areas of town anymore.


If you are caught on a weekend in the mall the sea of humanity can be overwhelming. There are people and more people everywhere. There are families and groups of friends all thronging to the shops, cinema halls and food courts at the same time. Then there are the first time users of the elevators who would hesitate , think twice, put one step behind and then put that final foot forward only to reach their destination safely …The malls in the Northern part of the city are spread over a large area and will have multiple format stores . You can be assured of spending anywhere from 4 to 5 hours in the mall once you enter it.Once you see these malls you are assured that yes the India retail story is in fact happening .Some of these well known Malls are –R Mall , Nirmal Lifestyles at Mulund, Infinity at Andheri , Inorbit at Malad . The malls are also the favorite hangout of the numerous BPO/KPO employees . They are young , earn reasonably well( as compared to their non BPO/KPO peers) and thus have a huge disposable income .Some malls are even situated next to the commercial /office areas housing the BPOs or KPOs. Thus you have easy accessibility thrown in along with high income and there you have a huge customer base willing to splurge and take the Retail story ahead….

Indian Food Habits

The normal Indian meal across the nation generally comprises of pulses , rice , rotis , a vegetable preparation . I am not including the other trappings and frills that could accompany the food based on the geography . And these add ons could be pickles, jams , papads etc . I have two observations to make a)This combination of high proteins and carbohydrates that has been designed since ages and passed on to the average Indian as a full meal best suits an agrarian life style b)It is time that we start rethinking about the composition of the normal Indian meal . This might sound a bit drastic to many folks . But I think that we were traditionally an agrarian society . The particular food composition and pattern that we consider as normal Indian diet has been existing since ages . But who consumed that food before the industrialization of society took place ?They were the people who were used to physical labor and a rugged lifestyle shorn of modern day amenities . Thus a rich diet suited that lifestyle . Our society definitely has changed -at least the urban one, but the food habits remain the same .Thus the modern lifestyle which is characterized more by mental labor rather than the physical variety requires an alteration of the traditional Indian diet . We definitely need to cut the carbohydrates and the oil / ghee involved in cooking . India, if lot of health reports and studies are to be believed , will potentially have the highest number of diabetics in the world after a few years .I think diet along with other factors will contribute to a large extent to this medical pandemic .

This change of diet requires a change in mindset and a break from old habits . The breaking of old habits will involve a transformation in the vegetables , snacks , cooking medium that we use and thus calls for a change of lifestyle . Now this is very difficult to bring . There are several reason for this . Some of the important ones being that a) we are used to a certain pattern of purchases and consumption of food items and that would be tough to change b)Availability !!! That is the biggest challenge . Even when you travel , go to work the food that is available in India is mainly rich and full of carbs and proteins . It is difficult to get what is called light lunches or snacks easily c)Our palate as such is conditioned to a certain taste and in case we want to adopt a different food pattern we will have to cultivate those tastes . It will not come naturally . There are a lot of people who have already made that transition and have adopted a more healthy food pattern . But this transformation needs to percolate to the masses as well . In addition to this the so called health or diet food as it is called also comes at a premium . So how will the masses afford that ? There are other alternatives present eg instead of a fried snack one could go in for a lighter food item like a dosa, idli ,roti . Then TEMPTATION too plays a vital factor . We have such tasty food easily available everywhere …. How do we consciously take to food( read health food) that is not so terribly tasty and may be even bland at times … Well that is a matter of individual choice even as I try to resist a tasty ( but fat and carb filled ) pav bhaji or samosa as I see it daintily spread in the office cafeteria most of the times !!!

The Onslaught Of The News Channels .....

There are multitudinous news channels today and hence lots of employment opportunities for budding journalists. But alas the quality of news is far from satisfactory .The recent outrageous coverage of the Abhishek Bacchchan and Aishwarya Rai wedding was a good example. Lot of news time and print is spent on presenting a wedding which would hardly affect the life of the ordinary Indian. Then there is the debate that this is what the public or ‘aam janta’ wants. I am sure if you take an opinion poll of ten people outside Churchgate railway station at least 7 will say that the media did go a bit overboard in that case . In the past newspapers were given to children to improve their language. But today other than the editorial most of the newspapers seem to have taken the the tabloid culture route .Thus the stuff is far away from enhancing language skills of young adults . I think the national dailies and news channels that have otherwise good content should leave the star chasing and gazing to the Hellos and People Magazines of the world …It is their job …

The news channels have to present news 24/7 and hence one finds discussions related to politicians’ visit to temples, their attendance in marriages, someone being declined hospital admissions and other trivial matters which are given a different flavor and also portrayed with a different fervor. In fact there are round table conferences and chat shows around these topics. This does not mean that the entire picture is dismal. Of course there are a couple of interesting news programs as well . But they are relatively fewer and hence do not have that kind of mindshare amongst the viewers .As result the younger generation is fed on newsreels of star weddings , political debates on issues like phone tapping , constituency visits rather than events that would have a greater social , economic and political impact . The impression one gets is that quantity is important , it should be presented fast and if possible in a neat package . The viewer has all the rights to switch the channel or not watch television . But that is just wishful thinking . Television has such a powerful impact on the masses that one cannot say that the effect of this kind of news reporting or journalism can be effaced by controlling the remote . Most people will not even have the time or space to think or act on those lines and hence the media onslaught continues unperturbed . I think sooner or later the news channels and newspapers will have to relook at the whole process of news reporting …

Mumbai Life Series- The Local Trains

Mumbai they say is the most cosmopolitan city in India . It is crowded , the traffic moves at a slow pace and yes there is a mad rush to do anything and everything . Yet it is a city that grows on you and you might leave the city but the city never leaves you . It is spread over a huge mass and different localities have their distinct culture , style and personality . I have mentioned in my blog that it will capture the milieu surrounding me .Thus the idea of a Mumbai Life series struck me … I would try to capture the different personalities of the city through this Mumbai Life series . Some topics would be typically Mumbai specific eg local trains( as they are called in Mumbai parlance ), while some would be my observations of the city specific idiosyncrasies , habits and patterns . I would like to inaugurate the series with the chugging and whistling of the local trains .

Local Trains
The local trains are the lifeline of the city . Millions and millions of passengers use the trains to reach their place of work and go back home . The trains are a thriving community by themselves . They are exceptionally crowded during the peak hours ie in the morning when commuters proceed to their place of work and in the evening when most of them embark on their homeward journey . The commute many times is long and there is a lot of crowd . So commuters have created their own comfort zone in the trains . If you look at the ladies compartment most of them would have what is called groups – groups of friends . They celebrate birthdays , festivals and any other event that calls for some fun. They decide on common lunches , visits to movie halls and exhibitions all in the train . Then of course it is a platform to vent ire to the day to day complaints related to a variety of people from servants , in laws , bosses even spouses ….. Different age groups would have different concerns and priorities and hence the topics of discussion would differ. But the train acts as a social and economic leveler and most of the groups would have a diverse profile – different age groups , occupations etc . All this can get a bit confusing for the first time traveler or a source of discomfort for someone who wants to spend a quiet moment traveling ... About the Gents compartment( the compartment for men- as they are called) – the view that one gets may be is slightly different . There are groups of card players and yes singers . The card players I believe have their place under the sun marked since ages and no one occupies those places . Then there are groups of singers who start singing devotional songs once the train starts .

All commuters try to make themselves feel at home during the daily commute despite the vagaries of nature ( ie it gets very hot during the summer season and the rains can drench you thoroughly ) .Each season has its own challenges e.g. the summers could get very hot and the train becomes like a furnace especially during the morning peak hours . During the rainy season the strong rains coupled with the usual breakdown of the system would cause delay and also there are unexpected showers that are sprayed on the unsuspecting commuters through the gaps in train windows and doors . Many commuters by now with the unfortunate incidents that have hit Mumbai in the last couple of years like floods, bombings have even suffered together in the trains .Yet the trains are the easiest and most convenient form of travel from the suburbs to the main commercial areas and thus play a crucial part in the commercial development of Mumbai .