Indeed ! A Father Now.

It had been a speculative 9 month ordeal, or rather 8 months and 2 weeks, the due date as per the gynac's spherical calculation was on 12 Dec 2010. My in-laws were scheduled to come in a week earlier to help us bask into the glory of our bundle of joy, but thanks to some sixth sense ( who’s i don’t remember ) to have brought them 3 weeks earlier instead. Since it was their first trip to UAE, as tradition flows we did take them out in the glitterati world of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They I am sure will cherish their day tour to Dubai making them tell us stories about the glitz and fancies around.
Come 22nd of November 2010, He had different plans, out for shopping after work seemed too normal as the groceries had run out. And shopping inside the humongous hyper market in Abu Dhabi makes it equivalent to a brisk 45 min evening walk in terms of calories lost. This evening walk, ended at about 11pm at home leaving us all waiting to crash at around 1 am that night. But it was not to be. Dear Wife had the water burst, and it was with a gush, but didn’t take notice of it at first. But then when the gush got real steady it was for M-i-L to intervene and suggest driving right to the hospital without thinking twice. A life saver advice, how many of such have been proven so. Another one being that we had already packed a handbag with all essentials in case of such emergencies. And Ola!

Not a single day passes without swearing at the parking woes in Abu Dhabi, and it was a string of swearing rather a whole thread of swearing, when I reached my parked car and found out that there was no way I could get my car out from a block of wrongly parked cars, well at least people left their cell numbers just incase they need to be called, but time was the key. I couldn’t be wasting time calling 6 or 7 car owners to get their rides out, and considering them to be their deepest sleep at 1am I thought of alternative option. And thank god for Cabs, available 24x7, hailed one and got to the hospital without any time lost.

On the ride there, a butterfly was probably hunting for nectar in my stomach. My mind was trying to come in terms to the fact that I was carrying my pregnant wife to deliver our bundle of Joy and so was it trying to tell me that it wouldn’t be the case and we would all return back after a brief check up and I probably hoped for the latter too. That brought me to conclude Was I ready? Thoughts at thoughts speed were bombarding my irate mind with so many questions to which I had some very unconvincing answers, but I took them head on. Probably I was feeding the butterfly a nectar of thoughts, what ever it was, it was terribly tingling.

After a short checkup, which included rather painful aahhs and oohhss from the mother to be, reality had struck me hard just like the "bolt of lightning" had hit Michael Corleone during his stay in Sicily. She was to deliver, and deliver it in the morning. Since the water bag had burst, there was no other way but to have the baby come into this world. After periodic fetal rate checks and checks for the labor pain or the passage opening it was indeed decided to have it the way dear wife wanted it to be. End in a jiffy. A brisk clean up and preparation and there we were all looking at her go inside the OT for a LACS. Wow another term I learnt which simply meant Lower Abdominal Cesarean section. The butterfly in my stomach was really hungry for nectar I guess that night. It never stopped buzzing. After much anxious moments and deliberation and giggles from and with the staff it was time. Time to know that I was a father or a healthy baby boy born on 23 Nov 2010 at 8.26 UAE time. It was only after 10Pm that I got the first glimpse of the baby.

My first glimpse, vaguely if I remember was a hazy look onto his face. A moment even if I cant recollect will stick in my mind forever, not for being numb, but for that butterfly to grow in the size of a chirping bird. The evolution for sure I can’t explain. After the long gaze it was time I turn my just born child into a semi nude sleeping male model, and my digi cam turning into a high speed hi-tech cam. The ever so helpful sisters hushed me away so that the baby can continue his sleep.

2009 – Just a Glance

Just as the whole world was reeling up to a recession, the Indian IT industry received a severe jolt when fraud by the owners Ramalinga Raju of Satyam computers was unearthed. A massive loss to the entire software industry was curtailed by brisk actions of many including the regulatory authority. However the company was then taken over by Tech Mahindra and promises were made to keep a great company just afloat.

A huge corruption racket by Madhu Koda , the former CM of Jharkhand was unearthed. Rs 2500 crore rupees are said to be laundered by the ex CM, and now has an alias in the form of his wife elected by the janta in to the assembly. So should we say the Laloo-Rabri saga continues.

Even though there were no major terrorist attacks by external elements, our in house internal elements like ULFA and Naxalites kept the security men on their toes. Lalgrah in WB was in flames as the Maoists who had cordoned of areas had to be flushed out by military operation. The ULFA suffered a setback as their top commanders Arabinda and Raju Baruah were arrested.

Even though if the Indian Moon mission Chandrayan developed technical snags and had to be aborted, the mission was in itself a success as it had accomplished a major task of finding presence of water on moon. It surely was a proud moment for Indian scientists. The findings were also confirmed by NASA.

The year for Indian Railways could have been a mixed bag of emotions running for them as we saw some major mishaps in terms of accidents occur. In October, 22 people were killed and as many injured near Mathura station when Goa Express hit the stationary Mewar Express from behind. In less than a fortnight following the mishap, another accident near Jaipur claimed seven lives when Jodhpur-Delhi superfast derailed. Not forgetting the Rajdhani which was ceased for several hours in a hostage like situation by the Naxals.

However the railways would be proud of the completion of the Kashmir rail project between Qazigund and Baramulla which was an important achievement during 2009. Railways earnings registered a steady growth with about nine per cent rise till November.

A clear majority to congress led alliance apparently meant that people rejected the communal agenda and voted for development. Man Mohan Singh calmly weathered the opposition to take oath as Prime Minister for the second successive term. Jaswant Singh’s expulsion from BJP following publication of his controversial book on Jinnah stirred and showed us the underbelly of the BJP. It showed the immaturity of the opposition party when it came to its own house further putting doubts in peoples minds if they could ever bring a great nation like India on the global forefront.

Indian sports fraternity always have given the Indians something to cheer about. The cricket team was on a roll in 2009, the year began on the backdrop of Indian team’s successes against mighty Australia and England last year. Earlier in the year, India recorded its first series win in New Zealand in 41 years. This year’s ICC awards were dominated by Indians. Gautam Gambhir was honoured as best Test Player, Indian captain MS Dhoni was rated as the best ODI player as well as best Captain in both the categories. The year was memorable for Sachin Tendulkar. He completed 20 years of international Cricket. This year he achieved the distinction of becoming the only player to score 13000 runs in Test Cricket and 17000 runs in ODIs.

Early in 2009, Somdev Devburman showed promise as he sparkled on the courts of Chennai open. His gusty performance in US open was praised by one and all.

Saina Nehwal, another Hyderabadi girl is the Great Indian Hope. Continuing her fabulous run last year, she began by winning World Junior crown and gold medal in Commonwealth Youth championship. She also became the first Indian to win Super Series title in Indonesia Despite consistent performance in World Series matches, she is still unable to break into top five and all Indians hope she does it in the coming year.

The , impressive show of Indian boxers continued with Olympics bronze winner Vijendar Singh becoming first Indian to win a medal in world championships. Suranjay Singh won gold medal in recently held President Cup to underline India’s potential. India had won Gold (by Suranjay), two Silver and four bronze medals in Asian Boxing championships a truly remarkable achievement considering the pathetic state of the Indian Boxing Federation.

Some notable achievements of Indian sportsmen include Pankaj Advani winning World Billiards crown, and the Indian Hockey team winning the Azlan shah Cup after 13 years, but slipped badly in Asia Cup wherein it could not make it to Semi finals. The team could not qualify for next years champions Trophy

Thinking Firang - Working Desi

I was born and bought up in India, did all my schooling in India, and worked for a year exactly in India too. Yet all my childhood I dreamt of only one dream, to earn some substantial amount of money. Since I lived in a port city in India, all activities related to shipping and logistics were always heard off, and my father being in one of the reputed export companies, Ships were always on my mind. Through known acquaintances I learnt that if you would sail on a ship you not only earn good money but see the world. So I carved my career in a way so as to be in the shipping world forever. But then destiny had its own idea and denied me the chance not once but thrice. So then my next available opportunity to earn some good money was to work abroad, be an expatriate and do all that I wanted to.

Expatriate I became when I first got my overseas appointment, the management though being Indian was influenced by the phirang way of working and implementing, in certain ways of the entire operations. I worked for almost 5 years in that company and later joined another one in a different country where the entire manager’s string was phirang. An influence which molded me in a certain phirang way of working in my professional life as well as in my daily life. Almost not realizing I was in a way shedding my negative desi being . For good or bad which I now contemplate and still question myself on my way forward.

There is always a certain way that a phirang would address an issue. Be it in work or play. He decides. Not always he makes the right decision, but to err is human, be it desi or phirang. Taking a bull by the horns is what I have grasped, patience is what I have learnt and a positive attitude is what I endorse. You may loose but give it your best shot, be the hammer instead of the anvil, are some of the aspects which can be inherited blind folded. But there have to be lines drawn, as the phirang way of operating is never ‘the’ best always. That’s when the desi dude should be awakened. The desi style is nothing but unique, tolerant, resilient, humble, flexible, modest. Yet sometimes that’s when the desi attitude fails in possessing these very characters at an extremely fanatic level. That brings nothing but sheer downfall of the great character wall if I may call it.

What needs to be attained is an amalgamation of the phirang with desi. A burger roti with Dal pasta. That’s a perfect combination. The result being a man with immense sense of esteem with no boundaries in attainability. The sky is not the limit when you know you can amalgamate those two individuals within u.

PAA - Moview Review

Star Cast

Amitabh Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan

Vidya P. Balan

Director

Raj Balki Balakrishnan

Producer

Abhishek Bachchan

Music Director

Ilayaraja

With the over flow of movie reviews for PAA, I halted for a few days to see if my excitement to write a review for this movie disengaged, but I guess no, with all the clippings and interviews I wouldn’t dare stop myself anymore to write something about this wonderful tell a tale.

I crisply remember reading Mr. Bacchans blogs some time ago, where he used to narrate incidents that happen on the set, one such blog contained a quick narrative about the prosthetics that were involved and the pain that he went through to have the prosthetics done. That ouch written in those blogs hurt me now after watching the product.

Paa, as the word must have been uttered a zillion times by now, is said once and only once in the movie. I thought that was special about the screenplay. And such tiny miny instances make the entire movie so special. One might wonder if it takes intense drama and over the edge climaxes to attain the title “biggest hit of the year “, but I guess R. Balki’s this small, pawn size feelers in the movie will definitely make Paa the “biggest hit of the year”.

I am definitely not going to write the story in short for the sake of a review, but what I am going to write in my feelers for the movie and the characters.

Amol Arte, ( junior B ) is a dynamic politician, someone who wants to see India be the best. Visionary they called him. Articulately played by Abhishek, the manner in which he wants to prove that not all politicians are dirty in a way drives into you. The look given to Abhishek I thought was a cross between Rahul Gandhi’s charisma and Sachin Pilots simplicity. Dons on to Abhishek very cutely. Even in the flashback mode when as a student, he is impressive, though not many lines are spoken there but the core of the idea that brings Auro into this world depicted by Abhishek in a brat manner was very impressive. His crystal clear idea about his future and his career makes him do things which he later repents. Abhishek can now proudly add this performance into his kitty of best performances. What stands out the most in the second half is the bonding between father and child, though unknowingly from Abhishek’s view, the manner in which one holds onto another is inspiring. It’s really amazing to see an actor perform the way Abhishek has done in Guru and the same actor perform in Paa, So immaculately different yet linked by simplicity.

Auro, ( Amitabh Bacchan ) like everyone said is the new kid on the block, the newest kid sensation. I would like him to be termed as old kid on the new block, or true sensationalist. What a performance. I am sure Amithji, gives due credit to Agastya and Navya naveli for unknowingly helping him to play Auro. Amithji quiet often writes about the kids in his blogs, and that is why I make this assumption. But not taking anything away from Amithji, I second the thoughts of everyone from fraternity regarding experimenting to play something like AURO. Yes and also the fact that nobody has and nobody will ever try such a thing. I try to understand the passion Amithji has for his profession, acting. But to my amazement and bewildered mind I don’t even get a foot close to what it is in reality. His performance in intense scenes in the second half are truly breathtaking, not his expressions but his eyes do it all. Auro who is 12 year old has progeria, a rare genetic disorder, where one ages faster than normal. The prosthetics done by Chritien Tinsley and Dominie Till show us why they are the best in the business. They have done prosthetics in other movies including Passion of The Christ, Catwoman, Lord of the Rings, etc. Not a single frame in the movie indicates that Auro has been played by Amithji. The expressions in some scenes like when Auro is playing the playing station, or the fuss of eating Khichdi everyday are truly shot with immense sense of deliberation. You need to watch the movie on a big screen to actually feel Auro’s presence next to you.

Vidya ( Vidya Balan ) playing as a gynecologist and mother of Auro , does immense justice to Auro. Not only does she look beautiful and gorgeous, she carries motherhood to a different level. Stubborn yet lovable, is what all mothers are and that’s what she has played to perfection. Sensitive children need sensitive mothers, be it to protect them, love them, cuddle them, or scold them, shes done just that without being fussy about it. Wonder what went on to her mind when she accepted the role of playing a mother in a type cast bollywood, that too mother of Amitabh Bacchan.

R. Balki, the director, must say created a goldmine out of waste land. The script to be frank is not something that one would say yes instantly to be acting in, but the mere chance taken by adding prosthetics, and then adding the Bacchans was definitely a path to take head on. As a writer Balki tried to venture in the opposite of what his first film Cheeni Kum had, a complicated story with simple performances. Paa is complicated performances with a simple story. I don’t think he can ever boast about this film as being Best Writer or Best Script award winning story material, he needs to be content about making an attempt to make such a film. Credit of Paa’s success wholly lays with the protagonist and of course all the co stars.

A special mention about Ilayaraja and his scores do complete justice to the flow of the movie. The song Udi-Udi played in 3 different tempos does make sure you are hear the music whilst you watch the movie. Scores never offset your vision from Auro and his various pranks. Also a special mention about the cinematography by PC Sreeram is absolutely awesome.

My Overall rating – **** / 5

AIDS – BE AWARE, MAKE PEOPLE AWARE.

On this special day of the world Aids Day, its time to reckon with reality. Truth of coming in terms with HIV & AIDS, a global concern. Its time that every human being helps himself just by being aware.

The basics :

HIV stands for a Human immunodeficiency us. It’s a virus that affects the cells of the human immune system, destroys and impairs their function. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is a definition based on signs, symptoms, infections, cancers associated with the deficiency of the immune system that stems from the infection with HIV. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stage of HIV infection. The majority of people infected with HIV, if not treated develop signs of HIV related illness within 5-10 years, but the time taken between infection with HIV and being diagnosed with AIDS can be 10-15 years, sometimes longer.

How does it occur?

HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk. The most common ways HIV is passed on are:

Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV

Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment

From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding (but with effective treatment and care the risk of transmission can be greatly reduced)

How can you contribute in raising awareness about AIDS?

Find out facts about HIV and talk to your friends, family and colleagues about HIV- make sure they know the reality, not the myths.

Know your HIV status: get tested if you have put yourself at risk.

Talk to all new sexual partners about using condoms. Using a condom during sex is the best way to protect yourself and your partner from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If someone tells you they are HIV positive, treat them with respect and don’t tell others without their agreement.

Wear a red ribbon as a symbol of your support for everyone affected by HIV<>

Facts & Figures :

UNAIDS and the World Health Organization released its annual AIDS Epidemic Update on 24 November this year, indicating that 33.4 million people were living with HIV in 2008, up slightly from 2007. Overall, the data indicates that new infections have dropped 17 percent over the past eight years. Despite areas of progress, children still account for 2.1 million of people living with HIV, although the number of deaths has declined. The number of children newly infected with HIV in 2008 was roughly 18% lower than in 2001.

Experience :

My experience with a patient of AIDS came about in the year 2003, 2 years after I had first landed in Kenya. I lived in Mombasa Kenya for 5 years almost, and I crisply remember the first anecdote I would get from colleagues before I left for Kenya is how much the place is infested with people living with AIDS. Even from those who were not aware of AIDS neither tried to be aware of it. It’s a beautiful place with amazing people but it was also a place where people faced death as if it was a source of life. Death in Kenya was an everyday affair. Be it from flu or from AIDS. The socioeconomic situation in that country didn’t give many opportunities for people to avail basic needs leave apart good medication.

Mambo was a good chap, in his late 30’s. He was the cross border driver for the company I worked for. Since the companies operations stretched as far as the Mozambique through Tanzania, frequent trips were made by vehicles to assist in the operations. So he was the guy who would take, man, money and materials in to Tanzania. Help clear border formalities, etc. On a number of occasions I have traveled with him to Tanzania for work. The excellent driver he was, he was an excellent story teller, be it stories about his experiences during his drives, or stories about his native village, they would all come handy during the long 5 hour drive to Dar-es-salam, Tanzania. After all those years of working and knowing about the place, and people, I had learnt that Kenyans always shared. Almost everyone there had a shortage of money, be it for weddings or burials. People and communities always contributed, be it for a joyous occasion of be it for mourning. One fine day a similar request came to me for contributing towards medication of some employee, upon reading the details I was shocked to see Mambo’s name being written on it. Upon enquiry I found out that Mambo was no longer working in the company and was seriously ill. A thought never came in my mind about that illness being fatal. Days went by fast, and on a busy Monday morning I happened to meet Mambo at the company gate waiting anxiously to meet somebody. The sheer sight of him gave me tremors. It was a sorry sight, to look at a healthy person who you’ve known for so long and within a period of some months all the health eaten away, just bare into skin. It was like seeing a live skeleton with skin. To be frank, I didn’t have the courage to ask about his health because it was all visible. I knew he hadn’t any time left, but the mere breathe he took was because he was lucky, God maybe loved him to give him those extra moments. And then some days later he died on his way to the clinic. I was told later that he was infected with HIV.

I still recall the moment , when I saw him in that state which brings me goose bums, not for the state in which I saw him, but because in today’s world AIDS & HIV exist. And better for us to accept that fact and even better if we can spread the word of its existence, spread the word to make people aware.

Something which Karan Johar just twitted “safe sex is not just a necessity...its a responsibility... “ cannot agree more to this. Pls pass on the messege. Pls pass on the word. Be aware.

Love Aaj kal - Movie Review

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Gieselle Monteiro, Rishi Kapoor, Rahul Khanna

Director: Imtiaz Ali

My Rating : * * * * / 5

Well to ponder over this movie tells you that it’s a love story about yesterday and today. And we all know the difference what it was and what it is. The Good and the bad of yesterday and today. Though most people of the older generation would completely agree that their era was the only era where love was treated as it should have been treated. What Imtiaz Ali has done in his stupendous storytelling skill is that whatever the era is, if you are compassionate about your love then the end of your love story will indeed be an happy ending.

LOVE AAJ is about Saif and Deepika playing a very hip and mod couple from London who meet and then are in a relationship for a year but then with the cool kinda attitude of " No strings attached" decide to break up coz career beckons. Deepika comes down to India for her architectural restoration works, and stays in touch with Saif thro the net phone and sms, today’s relationship mode.

LOVE KAL is where you get the desi ghee smell to the plot. Rishi Kapoor who’s playing an acquaintance to Saif is narrating his passionate story, how he had been jolted with a thunderbolt after seeing Harleen ( Debutant Gieselle Monteiro) for the first time and how he travels thousands of kilometers to Calcutta from Dilli( not Delhi) just to have a glimpse of her loved one Harleen.

The key to his apt story telling is about the plots moving concurrently together. The Love of Aaj with the Love of Kal, so there is a every chance of oneself to get entangled with it and get mysterious about what’s happening, so my advice is to stay alert for the first half untill u get the grasp of the movie. The shots in the beginning tend to confuse you more coz as I had talkative audiences around me. The abrupt melancholy song doesn’t help to the cause too.

The movie as a story teller is complex, coz Saif and Deepika for the hip couple they are are in denial about being in love hence break up just like that. Infact even throw a breakup party, Rishi Kapoor who is all watching this remembers his days and narrates to Saif about what a lover he had been. But Saif would always think how silly and naive one can be to attain his love. But then the second half has its most gritting moments. The second half is the soul of the movie, this is where the brilliance of Imtiaz Ali as a writer director comes in full view. The time when Deepika decides to marry until their last union, it simply keeps the spirit of emotional desires at the apex. Saif's interaction with Deepika at her wedding or the gradual depletion of Saif's Hip attitude in America shown in the course of a song , or Deepika's realization that the wedding was a mistake, is absolutely brilliant the way it has been brought out to the audience in a way bringing them to hazy heights.

The music as it is are on the top of the charts, and so also are not a let down in the movie. They indeed harness the flow of the narration. Imtiaz Ali is definitelty a genius, for portraying such a complex love story the way he has. The river could have easily flown into the ocean like any other mundane love story, but he manages to keep this river, off the normal, and keeps it off from flowing into the ocean. Saif , a truly mature and seasoned actor now. This role is not different to the urban guy he has played in other movies, but this one is more complex, which only a seasoned Saif could have played. Deepika looks gorgeous, and has played the act well, but the script desired her to be the quieter one, and so she was. But the bubbly charming Deepika is much desired.

Dont expect to get romance in multiple dishes, coz love for today’s Saif and Deepika are the buddy types. the hang out types rather than dying to each other types. The affection and passion can be seen in Rishi Kapoors young age story where emotions and feelings can be only felt by the ever quiet Harleen's words. We get trendy pick up lines like "I’m not trying to pile on, says saif; then why pile on, shoots back Deepika . Go watch this flick to some good bollywood entertainment which we have been missing for long.

Earn to Live & Yearn to Leave

Teacher : what is the use of our nose?

Student: To pay for rents in UAE. My dad says he’s paying the house rent through his Nose.

Well pretty much is the case for most “Asian expats “ living in the UAE. The rents especially in the capital Abu Dhabi have reached soaring heights in recent times. The fact that I started my comment by saying Asian Expats is that all the European, Americans and the rest expats from the more “developed” countries either have their companies paying for their houses or their salaries are ridiculously high that they can easily afford the rents. One might wonder, but isn’t it the same in all the countries where expats work for a living. In my experience it is, so why should UAE be an exception.

With the ongoing unprecedented economic downturn, which effected most of the countries worldwide, Dubai was no exception, and reached a level where rumors had it that Dubai would never rise again, which is yet to be seen though. In an emirate where real estate was at a major boom, property prices where at a peak, people who cashed in at that time were the major winners, but it turned out that most people lost in the bargain. Companies merged, split, and did what they could to survive, some held on, some went deep under. Result, rents in Dubai came down to a staggering low, affordable places to live were available in plenty, so much so people in Abu dhabi now opt to commute a 2 hour journey and live in better and affordable homes.

But then why does an emirate 175Kms away from Dubai does not experience the property meltdown. Simple, Abu Dhabi is one of the richest metros in the world. It generates 55% of the GDP of the UAE. One of the worlds largest producers of oil, well then in such torment times did a pillar move? None. And so the market rulers rule everything. Not to spare the property sector. The demand being greater than the availability black marketers cash on the scenario by setting a value which does not actually exist and then slowly pushing this value for it to hold itself, and holds itself sternly into the minds of a commoner like me. The average yearly rent for one BHK would be somewhere close to 130,000 dirhams ( 16,90,000 rupees / 35500 USD), which of course is unaffordable at any levels of my sane mind. Recent reports stipulate that rents have indeed dropped in the capital due to the influx of new apartments and villas being available after completion of construction and also the fact that a considerable population is moving out of the capital into Dubai as cheaper and better quality dwellings are available. The same reports suggest a further drop in price till the year round, which definitely will be watched by me with all of my 4 eyes open. A question arises; will I still be able to afford a spacious dwelling with no external hindrances? With the value already set to a scorching unreachable value. Needs to be digged further, in a desire / need that remains to be accomplished.