Dil dhoondhta hai, phir wohi, fursat ke raat din
Baithe rahein, tasavvur-e-jaana kiye hue
[Ghalib]
Galiyon mein baarishon mein, bach kar chalo jo tum
Hans dein hum, dhaani chunri pe chheente uchhaal kar
Dekha karein, aankhein teri shikwe liye hue
Phir gungune patjhadon mein, shaakhein chuna karein
Yaaron ke beech baith ke; yaadein buna karein
Chuskiyon mein chaai ki, ghul kar hanste hue
JaaDon ki narm dhoop aur, aangan mein let kar
Aankhon pe kheench kar tere, aanchal ke saaye ko
Aundhe paDe rahein kabhi, karwat liye hue
Yaa garmiyon ki raat jo, purwaaiyaan chalein
ThanDee safed chaadaron par, jaagein der tak
Taaron ko dekhte rahein, chhat par pade hue
Barfeeli sardiyon mein, kisi bhi pahaaD par
Waadee mein goonjti hui, khaamoshiyaan sune
Aankhon mein bheege bheege se, lamhe liye hue
.
This song never fails to make me yearn for the leisurely days back in Rewa. I tried adding two more verses to the first one (written by Ghalib) and the last three (written by Gulzar).
.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Foodies
Delhi for sure is food-lovers' heaven! Last weekend we got a glimpse of it.
Eating doesn't get better than this! :)
[Connaught Place - Gole Market - Karol Bagh - Ghulaabi Bagh - Ramjas Road - East Patel Nagar - Connaught Place - India Gate]
.
What a delicious trip! :)
Eating doesn't get better than this! :)
.
[Connaught Place - Gole Market - Karol Bagh - Ghulaabi Bagh - Ramjas Road - East Patel Nagar - Connaught Place - India Gate].
What a delicious trip! :)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Farishta
Intezaar hai, tumhara
Aao, aur ek baar saare ankahe lafz sun lo
Saari khwaahishon ko samajh lo,
Zinda kar do mujhe
Saari khwaahishon ko samajh lo,
Zinda kar do mujhe
Bejaan aankhein panaah chaahti hain,
Thak chuki hai zindagi,
Berukhe sannaton se
Thak chuki hai zindagi,
Berukhe sannaton se
Chhoo kar apne haathon se meri ungliyon ko,
Jaan daal do badan mein
Sukoon do rooh ko
Jaan daal do badan mein
Sukoon do rooh ko
Kahan ho tum?
Intezaar hai, tumhara -
Lamha-lamha bujhti zindagi ko!
Intezaar hai, tumhara -
Lamha-lamha bujhti zindagi ko!
.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
So Bad It's Good
Okay, so this is not yet another philosophical / dark post :)
Instead, I'll talk about (after a long, long time) a favorite topic of mine - movies. Indian movies, to be specific. Indian movies of the 80s and early 90s, to be even more specific. Remember, the movies that were so bad they actually made you laugh? The movies of, well, 'Jani Dushman - Ek Anokhi Kahaani' kind? [Okay, yes, you caught it right - the movie was released in 2002, and not in the 80s - but it was the first example that came to my mind - suits the blog title so well, you know]
So, when was it last that you saw an ichchhadhari naag, or the Indian version of superman? This reminds me of another evergreen SBIG movie. And you thought the legendary Duryodhan's was the only role played by Puneet Issar?! Well, watch this movie to learn how animation works [or worked, at least in the initial stages of animation in Bollywood]
And then there was this Bhojpuri movie I stumbled upon [I've heard they're almost just as good] in which the hero, with his hands cut off mind you, shoots the villain with the gun clutched in his feet! This, we must admit, is the supreme example of the Indian determination and certainly deserves a standing ovation.
And we can't forget to remember fondly all the movies that started with "Aaj tumhare pitaji hote to ...", or "Behan, dekh main tere liye laal joda lekar aaya hoon", went on to "Bhagwan ke liye mujhe chhod do" or "Is ghar ke darwaaze, tumhare liye hamesha hamesha ke liye band ho chuke hain"; and ended with "Police ne chaaron taraf sey tumhe gher liya hai, Apne hathiyaar phenk do" or "Kanoon ko apne haathon mein lene ki koshish mat karo. *Sigh*
It's a matter of immense grief for hardcore bollywood lovers like me that such movies are becoming a rarity. So, let me take this opportunity to call out to all bollywood fans out there to suggest some more unheard movies of the SBIG genre.
"Himmat hai to saamne aa!"
Instead, I'll talk about (after a long, long time) a favorite topic of mine - movies. Indian movies, to be specific. Indian movies of the 80s and early 90s, to be even more specific. Remember, the movies that were so bad they actually made you laugh? The movies of, well, 'Jani Dushman - Ek Anokhi Kahaani' kind? [Okay, yes, you caught it right - the movie was released in 2002, and not in the 80s - but it was the first example that came to my mind - suits the blog title so well, you know]
So, when was it last that you saw an ichchhadhari naag, or the Indian version of superman? This reminds me of another evergreen SBIG movie. And you thought the legendary Duryodhan's was the only role played by Puneet Issar?! Well, watch this movie to learn how animation works [or worked, at least in the initial stages of animation in Bollywood]
And then there was this Bhojpuri movie I stumbled upon [I've heard they're almost just as good] in which the hero, with his hands cut off mind you, shoots the villain with the gun clutched in his feet! This, we must admit, is the supreme example of the Indian determination and certainly deserves a standing ovation.
And we can't forget to remember fondly all the movies that started with "Aaj tumhare pitaji hote to ...", or "Behan, dekh main tere liye laal joda lekar aaya hoon", went on to "Bhagwan ke liye mujhe chhod do" or "Is ghar ke darwaaze, tumhare liye hamesha hamesha ke liye band ho chuke hain"; and ended with "Police ne chaaron taraf sey tumhe gher liya hai, Apne hathiyaar phenk do" or "Kanoon ko apne haathon mein lene ki koshish mat karo. *Sigh*
It's a matter of immense grief for hardcore bollywood lovers like me that such movies are becoming a rarity. So, let me take this opportunity to call out to all bollywood fans out there to suggest some more unheard movies of the SBIG genre.
"Himmat hai to saamne aa!"
Monday, May 26, 2008
Ten Years
It was 10 years ago that I left home for studies.
I completed my higher secondary school, graduation, post graduation and 2 years of working.
I failed, faulted, learned and unlearnt. Lived, loved, lost and moved on.
Got spectacles. Got a job. Got appreciated, loved and hated. Got above it all.
Changed cities, my life and myself. From Rewa to Jaipur to Noida to US. And back.
There's so much still to come. So much more to see. To discover. To be done.
[And after all this time, what I feel I need the most is some peace of mind.]
I completed my higher secondary school, graduation, post graduation and 2 years of working.
I failed, faulted, learned and unlearnt. Lived, loved, lost and moved on.
Got spectacles. Got a job. Got appreciated, loved and hated. Got above it all.
Changed cities, my life and myself. From Rewa to Jaipur to Noida to US. And back.
There's so much still to come. So much more to see. To discover. To be done.
[And after all this time, what I feel I need the most is some peace of mind.]
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Jaipur Blasts
'Why?' was the first thing that came to my mind. I've never seen a more peaceful / peace-loving city. In fact, why any place at all?
[And National Handloom (Johri Bazar) was the last shop I had been to on my last trip to Jaipur :( ]
.
[And National Handloom (Johri Bazar) was the last shop I had been to on my last trip to Jaipur :( ]
.
Monday, May 12, 2008
It's only words!
The room was dark, damp, empty. And the words, fluorescent, floated in the air. She sat in a corner, face buried in knees, trying to lose the sound and sight of the words.
The words were not accusing, or at least so they claimed. Some said they were here to help. Why then wouldn’t they let her be? She felt she must sleep, but with eyes shut that hard, sleep wasn’t possible.
And then there was silence. An almost ominous silence, she thought. There also was a sudden chill in the air, as she thought she felt the words closing in on her, silently. She also thought she could feel them breathing - on her arms, her shoulders, on her neck.
She was afraid to scream or protest, ‘coz that would mean adding more words to the clamor. The air was getting colder, and she wondered if she would die. But, of course, words don’t kill. She felt them oozing, seeping from the ceiling, the walls; crawling on the floor. The air hung, heavy and humid, barely breathable, almost liquid.
She wondered how longer she could resist them, and would it be better to let them feast upon her heart, brain and soul. They said it was painless. She thought of robots and zombies. Then she knew.
She walked out of the room, her room, into the sunshine. The words followed, but out here they didn’t seem ominous. She thought they looked almost ridiculous. The sun winked at her from behind a cloud, and she laughed back.
.
The words were not accusing, or at least so they claimed. Some said they were here to help. Why then wouldn’t they let her be? She felt she must sleep, but with eyes shut that hard, sleep wasn’t possible.
And then there was silence. An almost ominous silence, she thought. There also was a sudden chill in the air, as she thought she felt the words closing in on her, silently. She also thought she could feel them breathing - on her arms, her shoulders, on her neck.
She was afraid to scream or protest, ‘coz that would mean adding more words to the clamor. The air was getting colder, and she wondered if she would die. But, of course, words don’t kill. She felt them oozing, seeping from the ceiling, the walls; crawling on the floor. The air hung, heavy and humid, barely breathable, almost liquid.
She wondered how longer she could resist them, and would it be better to let them feast upon her heart, brain and soul. They said it was painless. She thought of robots and zombies. Then she knew.
She walked out of the room, her room, into the sunshine. The words followed, but out here they didn’t seem ominous. She thought they looked almost ridiculous. The sun winked at her from behind a cloud, and she laughed back.
.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Safar
Yun lagta hai ki sirf chalte rahne ki dhun mein is safar ke maani kahin kho gaye hain. Bas, chale ja rahe hain - kabhie aadatan, kabhie majbooran.
.
.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saath Tera
Jashn-e-hasti, raahat-e-rooh; mire janaab
Saath tera
Hijr ki sab raaton ka durust jawaab,
Saath tera
________________________
Jashn-e-hasti : A celebration of one's being
Raahat-e-rooh : Peace for one's soul
Hijr : Separation
Durust : Apt
________________________
Saath tera
Hijr ki sab raaton ka durust jawaab,
Saath tera
________________________
Jashn-e-hasti : A celebration of one's being
Raahat-e-rooh : Peace for one's soul
Hijr : Separation
Durust : Apt
________________________
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Andhere-Ujaale
Yeh kaun sa pehar hai?
Maano mazaak-mazaak mein kisi ne din ke andhere aur raat ki roshni ke beech ki lakeer mita di ho!
Yeh shaam hai ya sehar hai?!
Yeh kaun sa pehar hai?
Maano mazaak-mazaak mein kisi ne din ke andhere aur raat ki roshni ke beech ki lakeer mita di ho!
Yeh shaam hai ya sehar hai?!
Yeh kaun sa pehar hai?
Monday, February 04, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Gham-e-Hasti
Gham-e-hasti ka Asad kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
Shama har rang mein jalti hai sehar hote tak
[Ghalib]
Translation:
If you're suffering from the pain of existence, there's no cure for you (save death)
A candle has to burn (in all its colors) till dawn
What I think it means:
Just like a candle has to burn (be in pain) constantly till the morning; in a similar fashion, for someone in love, life itself becomes a constant suffering , and there is no respite till death.
Word meaning:
Hasti = existence
Juz = other than
Marg = death
Ilaaj = cure
Shama = candle
Sehar = dawn
Shama har rang mein jalti hai sehar hote tak
[Ghalib]
Translation:
If you're suffering from the pain of existence, there's no cure for you (save death)
A candle has to burn (in all its colors) till dawn
What I think it means:
Just like a candle has to burn (be in pain) constantly till the morning; in a similar fashion, for someone in love, life itself becomes a constant suffering , and there is no respite till death.
Word meaning:
Hasti = existence
Juz = other than
Marg = death
Ilaaj = cure
Shama = candle
Sehar = dawn
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Parvaaz (Flight)
Dastakein dein, dar naye kuchh khol dein
Hansein, khilein,
Chup geeton ko phir bol dein
Andhera chubh raha hai aankhon mein
Syaah raaton mein chaandani ab ghol dein
Dilon ki bandishon se nikaalein raaz ko
Khula gagan dein, pankh dein parvaaz ko!
Milein, puraane doston ko naye naam dein
Thak chuki aankhon ko kuchh aaraam dein
Hadd mein baandhein kyun zehan ke khwaabon ko?
Khwaahishon ko aao hum anjaam dein!
Chalo, aawaaz de bula lein apne aaj ko
Chhoo kar hawa ko, pankh dein parvaaz ko!
Hansein, khilein,
Chup geeton ko phir bol dein
Andhera chubh raha hai aankhon mein
Syaah raaton mein chaandani ab ghol dein
Dilon ki bandishon se nikaalein raaz ko
Khula gagan dein, pankh dein parvaaz ko!
Milein, puraane doston ko naye naam dein
Thak chuki aankhon ko kuchh aaraam dein
Hadd mein baandhein kyun zehan ke khwaabon ko?
Khwaahishon ko aao hum anjaam dein!
Chalo, aawaaz de bula lein apne aaj ko
Chhoo kar hawa ko, pankh dein parvaaz ko!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Kabragaah
Chand (चंद) khwaab dafn hain yahan
Ek rooh bhi.
Aur dekho, kitne pyaar se
Koi roz berukhi ke phool chadha jaata hai!
.
Ek rooh bhi.
Aur dekho, kitne pyaar se
Koi roz berukhi ke phool chadha jaata hai!
.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Echoing Silences
If I lose you, my love
I'm scared, not of
Years wasted
And neither shall I
Find myself unable to live without you
[I'll be strong and move on
And all that, you know!]
What does scare me, love
Is the thought of
My dreams, trashed -
Rendered pointless
Of pain excruciating,
But meaningless
Of a pain that will
Fade away with time -
Like a fading rag in the sun
There are things you're not supposed to
Talk objectively about
And I dread being talked of
Objectively - as your past
Like a long-forgotten taste of
Vanilla flavored coffee
And, sunshine, don't let my memory
Come as a lump of guilt
Or a pang of heartache
Or a moment of sundown
Let it play in the twitch of your smile
And promise me,
That a part of me will continue to live in you
And I swear, that
A part of you shall forever be in my soul.
I'm scared, not of
Years wasted
And neither shall I
Find myself unable to live without you
[I'll be strong and move on
And all that, you know!]
What does scare me, love
Is the thought of
My dreams, trashed -
Rendered pointless
Of pain excruciating,
But meaningless
Of a pain that will
Fade away with time -
Like a fading rag in the sun
There are things you're not supposed to
Talk objectively about
And I dread being talked of
Objectively - as your past
Like a long-forgotten taste of
Vanilla flavored coffee
And, sunshine, don't let my memory
Come as a lump of guilt
Or a pang of heartache
Or a moment of sundown
Let it play in the twitch of your smile
And promise me,
That a part of me will continue to live in you
And I swear, that
A part of you shall forever be in my soul.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Mostly Harmless
My creation! :p
Anyway, with working hours stretching infinitely, this is how I feel.
And 'Mostly Harmless' is the novel I'm reading - Fifth in the H2G2 trilogy. (yes, I've already read the other four! ^_^)
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A Sleepy Hello!
From Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's famous speech (Tryst with destiny) on Aug 15, 1947 -
So, a sleepy hello to all of you, and to the nation! I wonder if it's awake after all these years.
As for me, I'm very much alive, though very very much sleepy and tired and what-not. If time permits it, you'll see frequent posts on the blog in a few days :)
"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again. [...] "Well, actually, just wanted to write a blog and all that - after all this time. And since some unforeseen event see me sitting at my desk at this ungodly hour (it Aug 14, 11:58 hrs), and fortunately I came across this speech, I don't really have to write something on my own!
So, a sleepy hello to all of you, and to the nation! I wonder if it's awake after all these years.
As for me, I'm very much alive, though very very much sleepy and tired and what-not. If time permits it, you'll see frequent posts on the blog in a few days :)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Intehaa
Raat gaye chaand, chup-chaap
Doodhiya syaahi faila jaata hai.
Lamhon ki ibaarat
Dhundhli ho chali hai ab
Yaadon ke zard pannon par
Doodhiya syaahi faila jaata hai.
Lamhon ki ibaarat
Dhundhli ho chali hai ab
Yaadon ke zard pannon par
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Reality Check
"Ek hi khwaab kai baar dekha hai maine"
Wrote Gulzar once, and quite a number of couth Indian men went "Aah, wouldn't I love a life/wife like her!". Things, ofcourse, are not always as good as they seem. And neither was Gulzar's dream. Sigh!
"Gungunaati hui nikli hai naha kar jab bhi
Apne bheege hue baalon se tapakta paani
Mere chehre pe chhidak deti hai, tu Tikku ki bachchi!"
Sounds romantic, doesn't it? Well sure it does (sound romantic), but that's about it. Welcome to reality, Tikku! Chances are, Patidev loves his slumber more than you, and the scene would be - Patidev's in the bed, trying hard not to get woken up by your crooning, and if so much as the tiniest droplet of water from your hair reaches his face, all hell breaks loose! "Tikku, shut up with that stupid song and lemme sleep! I had been in the office the night before till eleven!! And it's just 9 in the morning for God's sake!!! *&%$#" ... And you wish you still stayed with your female flatmates (who'd break into an antakshari on the hint of a song!)
"Taash ke patton pe laDti hai kabhie kabhie khel mein mujhse
Aur kabhie laDti bhi aise ki bas khel rahi ho mujhse"
Very well written. But, ahem, reality check - The moment you start "laDna" (however playfully, however outta love), Patidev goes on the defensive "Can't you talk to me even for a moment without cribbing, complaining or sulking? I can't recall when it was last that we talked for an hour without arguing!! Blah Blah Blah?!!! Blah Blah Blah???" Oops!
So, wake up, women! Charm, courtesy and chivalry are not necessarily your guy's everyday adornments. Neither is romance. And wake up, men! Wake up before your girl runs away screaming.
Life's not a dream written by Gulzar, after all.
Wrote Gulzar once, and quite a number of couth Indian men went "Aah, wouldn't I love a life/wife like her!". Things, ofcourse, are not always as good as they seem. And neither was Gulzar's dream. Sigh!
"Gungunaati hui nikli hai naha kar jab bhi
Apne bheege hue baalon se tapakta paani
Mere chehre pe chhidak deti hai, tu Tikku ki bachchi!"
Sounds romantic, doesn't it? Well sure it does (sound romantic), but that's about it. Welcome to reality, Tikku! Chances are, Patidev loves his slumber more than you, and the scene would be - Patidev's in the bed, trying hard not to get woken up by your crooning, and if so much as the tiniest droplet of water from your hair reaches his face, all hell breaks loose! "Tikku, shut up with that stupid song and lemme sleep! I had been in the office the night before till eleven!! And it's just 9 in the morning for God's sake!!! *&%$#" ... And you wish you still stayed with your female flatmates (who'd break into an antakshari on the hint of a song!)
"Taash ke patton pe laDti hai kabhie kabhie khel mein mujhse
Aur kabhie laDti bhi aise ki bas khel rahi ho mujhse"
Very well written. But, ahem, reality check - The moment you start "laDna" (however playfully, however outta love), Patidev goes on the defensive "Can't you talk to me even for a moment without cribbing, complaining or sulking? I can't recall when it was last that we talked for an hour without arguing!! Blah Blah Blah?!!! Blah Blah Blah???" Oops!
So, wake up, women! Charm, courtesy and chivalry are not necessarily your guy's everyday adornments. Neither is romance. And wake up, men! Wake up before your girl runs away screaming.
Life's not a dream written by Gulzar, after all.
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