Have we?!

Last night, random questions striketh at mind. Unanswerable(s). Yes, most of them. :-)

Have we ever felt love with fingertips?

Have we ever kissed a breath of emotion?

Have we ever closed our eyes and seen our destiny?

Have we ever made love to a real dream?

Have we ever pinched self to awake?

Have we ever spoke the words, I need you?

Have we ever felt our heart? (pounding through the chest)

Have we ever giggled inside?

Have we ever drawn hearts in the sand?

Have we ever felt a wave of trust?

Have we ever known 'the heartbreak' from the very beginning?

Have we ever just layed, just to daydream?

Have we ever felt scared with excitement?

Have we ever held on tight?

Have we ever longed to kiss those lips?

She has.

She has always known, she would fall in love..

Under the influence : Just another rain post..

Dear Raindrop

Far there from the skies

her bundle of joy 

returned to meet her

to surprise her.

She closed her eyes

In ecstasy at a lightning

Blinding her.

The earth and she

Together sang a song

Of joy.

Dear raindrop

Without you, not having around

How she miss being self. 

P.S.: Writing this post on the auspicious occasion of rain. Yes, Rain God smiled on the little kid. Almost jumped out of the auto, got drenched, annoyed a colleague (who thinks getting drenched in rain while on the way to work is a breach of protocol.) Ha! Poor creature, I say. :-) 

******

Random

kal raat jab soyi thi toh paani baras raha tha,

aaj subah jab aankh khuli toh paani thama nahi tha.

thoda bheeg gayi main kal raat

thoda bheeg gaya mera mann aaj..

******

Rain song on #CLT: (Currently listening to)?

A random question being asked on Twitter, just to find responses below:

dram_e_baaz: @TheMasakkali Chhoti si kahaani se, Baarishon ke paani se.. #Ijaazat

Jitts_619: @TheMasakkali Garaj baras saawan ghir aayo... 

pacemakker: @TheMasakkali rim jhim rim jhim rum jhum rum jhum :D #Boss

purplebuble: @TheMasakkali Rimjhim gire sawan or abke baras savan mein 

ChotuMissMuffet: @TheMasakkali Rimjhim gire saawan..sulag sulag jaaye mann...  

VegHyderabadi: @TheMasakkali raks karti hai by @baavri :)  

Lakhnawii: @TheMasakkali Aaj rapat jaye th hume na uthaiyo 

   
Dip_V: @TheMasakkali tip-tip barsa paani 

********

Leaving you all, with my favorite rain song. Timeless & how original:

 

Love. :-)

That's where it all began..

She can stare at that pose  

For hours on end

Her hands on his chin 

That’s where it all began. 

It caught her eye, as never before 

She knew, she just had to know more.  

That smile on his face 

Eyes that speak 

All started make her so weak (It still).

Faint at heart 

When she read his words 

Making her eyes all a blur. 

Happy tears came rolling down 

Knowing she had found 

Someone who could reach her 

In a place so warm  

Right inside  

He know, where it’s at.

He rested his head right on her 

Felt her heart beat 

And he could feel 

How this lady 

Adores him tremendously. 

His words, that pose

God only knows

How much she loves him.

Going through the life's maze..

Going through the life's maze, she will think of him. She will never sway.. In solitude, as she stand today, head held high but alas the sigh.. The journey will go on, but won’t remain the same. She will trudge the along, remembering the dame..

I Am Officially Rangrez-ed!

Rangrez: Lyrics - Rajshekhar / Music - Krsna / Singer - Krsna. 

This song from Tanu Weds Manu which left me speechless with a lump in throat. Its a song which takes me close to Ruhaniyat. A song, I don't hear. But inhale.

If thanks will be ever enough, everytime I tune to Rangrez. Scores of thanks to Krsna for this magic. For Rangrez.

Much to my amazement, Krsna not only composed but voiced it too. & how beautifully? Listen for yourself:

Rangrez - Krsna

Rangrez - Wadali Brothers

Then, a moment of discussion happened, followed by the chain of reactions. Umpteen thanks to @MusicAloud for providing every tid-bits about this song. *Claps*

Taking a further step ahead of this Rangreziyat, sharing the links:

Rangrez - Hindi Translation

Rangrez - English Translation

Krsna on his first working experience with Wadali Brothers.

Krsna in talk with Shubha Mudgal. (On Rangrez)

Listen. Inhale. Enjoy. :-)

:)

Tere paas lautna hamesha acha lagta hai. 

Par main gayi nahi thi. Yahi thi. Tere aas paas. 

Kabhi office deadlines ki zinda rakhne ki koshish karti hui.

Kabhi 140 characters me uljhi hui.

Aur kabhi.. (khair choro)

Laut aayi hoon ab.

Par main gayi nahi thi. Yahi thi. Tere aas-paas.

(Last post - 23rd April. Long time. Yes. Post dedicated for being away from this space. My space).

kuch bache ache hote hain..

Post dedicated to Moin (or for thousands of Moin-in-Making).


कुछ बच्चे अच्छे होते है, बहुत अच्छे होते है,

वो विडियो गमेस नहीं मांगते, खिलोने भी नहीं मांगते. 

जिद भी नहीं करते, और मचलते तो बिलकुल भी नहीं है.

बड़ो का कहना मानते है, और इतने अच्छे होते है 

की छोटो का कहना भी मान लेते हैं. 

इतने अच्छे बच्चों  की तलाश में रहते हैं हम.

और मिलते ही उन्हें ले आते है,

अक्सर १०० रुपैये महीने और दो वक़्त के खाने पर.

In amidst of usual excel/power point stuff, received a text last evening, which goes like this: 

“If thinking/passing by India Gate today evening, make yourself to drop in there for few minutes. A candlelight vigil is being organized by ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’ - Kailash Satyarthi. Let's stop child labour.”

What annoyed me most, was the sender who recently hired a 14-15 year old kid for household tid-bits. DISGRACEFUL. OUTRAGE. (I replied).

Back home, was disturbed. Tried, failed and re-tried. But could not find the answer. Wonders what is with this attending-a-candle light-vigil-thing? Is it become fashionable these days? Or does it sounds cool?  Can Child Labour get curbed just by gathering the crowd who don’t even know or bother to know about the ghastly reality?  

When will we introspect rather than just-attending-a-vigil/dharna? Will we ever? 

Under the Influence. (Part I)

हिचकियों के काफिले

कुछ हिचकियों के काफिले आये तो लगा,

उसने मुझे याद किया होगा.

इसी वजह से नींद ने कल रात मुझसे मुह मोड़े रखा,

तो लगा शायद वो जागकर मुझे याद कर रहा होगा.

पूछा जब मैंने तो बड़ी बेरुखी से बात को टाल गया. 

फिर भी आज यूँ लगा की उसने मुझे दिल से याद किया होगा,

की आज अनजाना सा एक एहसास भरी पूरी महफ़िल में फिर से मेरा 

तस्सवुर चुरा गया.

**********

मैंने तुमसे कब कहा 

मैंने तुमसे कब कहा, की हमेशा  मेरी आँखों के सामने रहो, 

चाहा बस यही की आँखों में मासूम सपने की तरह बसे रहो.

मैंने तुमसे कब कहा की मुझे अपनी ज़िन्दगी में कोई जगह दो, 

चाहा बस यही की मुझे अपनी यादों के तस्सवुर में समेटे रखो. 

मैंने तुमसे प्यार पाने के लिए प्यार नहीं किया,

मैंने तो तुमसे प्यार में होने के लिए प्यार किया. 

मुझे तुमसे वो सब नहीं चाहिए

की शायद तुम मुझे 'वो' सब दे भी नहीं सकते

सिर्फ इतना कह दो की

बस यही रुक जाओ, मेरे 'वजूद' के कही आस - पास.

**********

तमन्ना

तमन्ना है मेरी हमेशा से यही

शहर भर में तेरे दोस्त भरे रहे,

तेरी नजदीकियां मगर सिर्फ मुझे मिले. 

गैरों की महफ़िल में ठहाके तेरे बुलंद रहे

तनहाइयों की वो मुस्कुराहटें मगर सिर्फ मुझे मिले.

तेरा साया भी तुझसे रहे दूर

की रत्ती भर भी दूरी बीच में ना रहे.

बातें मेरी या चरचें सभी

तेरे ही किस्सों से भरपूर रहे

तुझसे जुदा होके जो मिले है दिल को ज़ख़्म

खुदा करे मेरी चाहत की तरह, ये भी हमेशा 'हरे' रहे. 

TheMasakkali's photostream

TheMasakkali's photostream on Flickr.

.. I love being 'unavailable'!!

Disclaimer: Few of you, might find the post annoying, silly or high chances of finding it weird. But then, am not allergic of 'i don't like it' thoughts. So fraan, do share whatever popped in your mind post-reading this piece. :)

So last week, it all started from that office terrace,

@ around 4 pm. (tea-break yeah!!)

While fingers playing around with its sleek body

Sipping not-so-hot tea

Gorging on cafeteria maggi

And busy tweeting, RT-ing, replying

Checking FB Updates.

All of sudden, it slipped off

Tried to grab it

But, it (oops) gone..

It managed to slip from my grip (sigh)

Very next moment, memories attached to it are ‘there’.

Thirteen floors down. 

There on the ground. 

Shattered. In bits & pieces. (might ran over by some skoda or some such)

My cellphone!!

And for 'exact' three dayz

I was a wanderer without a 'hello, where are you' string. 

There were no more, 

battery connectivity/low battery/network issues. 

In between, to get a feel, how it feels,

I dialed the number.

Just to hear, ‘the Vodafone number I am trying to reach is currently unavailable’!! (weird i know, but all fun)

Now, there were nothing but just 'me' 

& the surroundings.

 

Then I realized, there were 8 stations in between of the track, I use.

Realized there is a beautiful locality park,

With kids still playing 'gulli danda'.

Realized, the gurudwara nearby is now all renovated,

And started looking like a groom-celebrating-his-25th Wedding Anniversary.

Realized, what I was missing 

I didn't notice all these. 

Coz with 'cellphone' in hand

I was always busy texting/tweeting/checking FB Status Updates!!

So, wasn't  I liking it? 

Answer is 'sure yes'.

Yes, I loved it. Loved being 'unavailable'

For I love to wander with 'no strings attached'!!

Some stories are better unfinished..

Cleaning the cupboard
last sunday morning,
found a book
soiled by a layer.

of dust and indifference.

This work of emotion (read 'fiction')
which got to live
a reality of its own.

I meet one. 
Yet unfinished,
with a railway ticket,
used as a bookmark
still @ page no. 169.

This one has tarnished
a little more.
Weathered by a baggage
of expectations

or an everlasting wait??

Then realized, 

Some stories are better unfinished..

Can You Imagine Yourself Working With An NGO?

 

Forget those age old days where people were neither serious nor willing to peruse a career in an NGO (Non-Government Organization) sector. They planned to work with an NGO only after their retirement and hence it never became a good career ground for them. However, with increased volume of professionalism, ample growth opportunities and a challenging career ahead, there has been a quantum change in the thought process of young aspirants who today foresee the NGO sector as an excellent blend of earning-while-giving-back-to-society. Moreover, I believe, with so much industrialization and developments happening everyday, this sector also in a dire need to of future leaders who have a vision and mission to serve the society. 

Now, by this time, NGO sector has passed the transition phase. They are ensuring good practices in terms of communication, accountability, responsibility & authority. There have been major investment by multi nationals which are helping them to enable upbeat support by foreign donors, thereby making NGOs more structured in their approach. Needless to say, gap between resources and social needs are being successfully consummated. People who are putting their foot forward are far more responsible who can link such an act directly to their business results. 

Why an NGO ? And Why not a Corporate? 

Number of professional are leaving the corporate world in order to joining hands with an NGO. They are using the same skills that were earlier being used by them to boost an organization’s bottom line however today they seems to be much happier as their efforts/skills are making this world a better place. 

But does an NGO will offer any of that?

If we compares the current scenario, where unlike other sectors that offer lucrative remunerations, ensures career growth and several other activities to hone one’s skills, question that bother people generally, DOES working with an NGO will offer any of that? Answer is yes. One just needs to dig out the right thing. 

Moreover, growth opportunities in corporate are limited and so is the remuneration which majorly being set as per to the industry standards. While today’s generation NGOs offer better perks and are also investing in Employee Welfare Activities. 

How one can get full-time associated with NGO? 

    At first place, tick down your preferences. Broadly, they can be categorized as:    

1. Organization Set-Up: larger the set-up, smaller the role. And vice versa. 
2.  Issues: Child care, Micro finance, Social Security, Education, Healthcare and so on. 
3.  Type of NGO: Grassroots, Technical Support Agency, Donors, Multilaterals Institutions, like, UNICEF, UNDP etc.

If have a willingness to chip-in, don’t hesitate or wait for the right thing to knock at your door. Go, approach them directly. Call them, visit them. At maximum, they cannot show, more than a NO to you.

Last but not least, don’t have better words to conclude:

Heal the world

Make it a better place.

For you and for Me

And for the entire human race.

There are people dying

If you care enough

For the living

Make a better place

For you and for Me

And for the entire human race.

The Tussle of Two (2)..

 

There are two of me,

Like light and shadow.

One behind the another,

Whispering but never loud enough.

They never race each other,

Neither never face each other,

Just one behind the other.

There is ONE…

Who wants to cross the seven seas

Wants to hold the sky in her arms

Wants to find a bird’s nest

Catch a wink or two

She wants to ride the wild horse

Wants to get hold of the mane

& reach the constellation..

And the OTHER one…

Who feels proud to watch

Her poems marching to school in neat uniform

Her smile doesn’t fade

Who thinks herself as the proverbial sandalwood

That gets rubbed to give out a sweet scent

She is content.

Well, as she always says..

The two never meet,

It’s not right

If they ever touch

They burn the each other out

After all it’s only one body

And not two!!!

& once again, its all about "JhankAAr"

Enough has been written & said since its release, but ain’t we want more & a bit more? Of behind-the-curtain dopes? Of the Man & His crew who made Jhankaar Possible? Here are few excerpts from an interview, all ‘JhankAAr Beaters’ love to read: 

And here it starts: 

Sujoy Ghosh, the first time director of Jhankaar Beats, somehow born and partially raised in Kolkata, Ghosh found his way to Bollywood and wrote a script and eventually became the director for his own script. Jhankaar Beats stars Juhi Chawla after a long absence from filmdom, Sanjay Suri, Rinkie Khanna, Rahul Bose, Riya Sen, and Shayan Munshi.  The music is by amzing duo Vishal and Shekhar, who had already tasted success with "Chod Na Re" from Kaante, and the album of Pyar Main Kabhi Kabhi.  With a great banner like Pritish Nandy Communications (Kaante, Sur) behind him, there is no telling where Ghosh can end up!

Excerpts: 

AR: First of all, congratulations on your first film as director. I heard that you gave up your job in London in order to make this film. What made you do this?

SG: Thank you. I was infact working in India when I decided to take the plunge. I suppose I had it coming for a while and it took around seven odd years to mentally prepare myself. Its extremely hard when you get used to a salary and also its very tough on the family. They are ones who actually suffer. But in my case they allowed to me to pursue my dreams. Quite nice of them.

****

AR: Tell me more about your life in London.

SG: Well more up north than London. Normal life. Studied. College. Music. University. Film Club.  Films. Music. Part time jobs. Waiter, Store attendant, maths tutor, telesales, selling vaccum cleaners. Business School. Snooker. More films. Lots of Kebabs. Even more films.

****  

 

AR: What is the film about?  What inspired your script?

SG: Two things. The hidden humor in our daily lives. And about prioritizing issues. As life goes ahead priority changes and JB is about six individuals learning to prioritize and often a decision is not always a favourable one. But that's what life is about and JB is about these six characters facing life with a smile on their face.

JB was inspired by a song called "Duniya Mein" from the movie Apna Desh. It was composed by Rahul Dev Burman and starts with a deafening scream by Mr. Burman. That scream always stayed with me and defined a lot of life and energy in that one line. I wanted to write a script around that and one line lead to another.

****  

 

AR: Why a condom campaign?

SG: Why not? Its about time we stopped shying away from issues and start biting the bullet. The primary reason is its great fun and we hope you will agree once you see the movie. On a more subtle level there is a social message hidden. We are not here too preach but I strongly believe a film should say something. No point sitting on the fence. Safe sex is an important issue not only in India but across the world and as responsible inhabitants we all should chip in.

**** 

AR:  Were you originally planning to direct this script, or were you thinking about hiring another director?

SG: Initially I wasn´t very sure as I had never seen a camera let alone direct. But when I was begging I must have narrated the script a good hundred times to potential cast and crew. In the process I realized I probably knew the script better than anyone and that’s when the itch started. And thankfully my producer Mr. Pritish Nandy is one of the bravest man alive who trusted me with the baton. He is very happy with the final product and now to see if the general audience is of the same sentiment.

**** 

AR: Jhankaar Beats and Dil Vil Pyar Vyar both star Sanjay Suri. Also, the RD Burman theme with music and love stories is consistent with the two movies. You commented earlier that Viveck Vasvani, the producer for DVPV lifted the idea from you. Is that true? Explain.

SG: I am really tired of this issue. The controversy was over using Mr. Burman´s music. Initially JB was scripted with old songs of Mr. Burman but then DVPV happened. But in retrospect I am very happy with my soundtrack.... even you appear to be, judging by your review. All reviews have been very kind to us and the music has been very well appreciated since its release. Other than the music I expect the two films to be completely different in its genre and sensibility.

**** 

AR: It seems that you approached Vasvani to produce this film before he went and launched DVPV. Comment.

SG: I knocked on every possible doors. Yes Vaswani was one of them.

****  

 

AR: Vasvani comments in another magazine that your script is smutty. Comment.

SG: I have no idea. All I can say is my script is as it was from day one. There are individuals like Sanjay Suri, Rahul Bose, Juhi Chawla, Rinke Khanna and Mr. Pritish Nandy involved in the project. Not sure if they would have been if the script was not upto the standard. I rest my case.

****  

 

AR: Why are Rahul and Rinkie’s roles both in English for the most part?

SG: Because its how the characters are. Everyone in India speaks English. Like it or not, it is the unofficial national language. Rahul and Rinke portray a modern yuppie couple and as they would in real life, they speak in English sometime. All of us do.

****  

 

AR: How did you enjoy working with Sanjay Suri? Do you feel as though he should have picked working for only you or Viveck only?

SG: Sanjay is the dark horse in JB. Through out the shoot he kept asking me questions to which I had no answers to. His penchant for perfection can drive you nuts but then his mother cooks the best Rogan Josh in the universe. I will always be Sanjay´s friend even if he doesn´t want me to. You have to taste the Rogan Josh to know what I mean.

****  
AR: Why Juhi and Sanjay Suri as a couple? Why not a younger heroine for Suri?

SG: ....  and with that question, went all your hopes of ever interviewing Juhi. You better work out some serious groveling tactics to right your wrong. Jokes apart, Juhi is senior but definitely not old. In fact, I was the oldest person on the set. Can you imagine how mentally taxing that was?

**** 

AR: Why did you sign Juhi in the first place? There are so many youngsters in the film and Juhi seems as the odd one out. Comment.

SG: Put it this way. If Juhi did not agree to do the film we would still be in the casting stage.

**** 

AR: I know you were thinking along the lines of RD Burman, but why music by Vishal and Shekhar?

SG:  Apart from the fact that they are talented and made me a soundtrack which is spectacular by my book the main reason remains they are friends. Those two stood by me through thick and thin when I was trying to get this project off the ground. There was no way I was going to walk out on them. We were in this battle together and we were going to fight it together. There is no point being a friend unless you behave like one.

****  

 

AR: If you had to pick any actor you would want to direct, who would you pick and why?

SG: There is no one singular person. But would give my left kidney to work with Mr. Naseeruddin Shah, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Dilip Kumar. Why? Naseeruddin Shah!! Amitabh Bachchan!! Dilip Kumar!!.... and you ask why?? So put all this together and you are in for good times ahead if you ask me. Better start saving money for your popcorn.

****


And here the interview ends! But not the SEARCH of, what the hell is a "Mundu"? If find the answer, let's go to the laundary..