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.

Ajmal Kasab Wanted Jannat : So be it!

There are various articles, discussions, forums that have talked about how the infamous and ongoiing trial of slain accused Ajmal Kasab is prsently undergoing in Mumbai. At first the controversy whether such a person carrying out such gruesome acts needed a trial, but then as a democratic country we needed to stamp our said position by giving the accused a fair trial, ok, alright. But at day 51, with still a long way to go and all of the tax payers money being used up to feed such a criminal, are we really justifying or stamping anything? One one hand the special Public Prosecutir Ujwal Nikam claims that kasab is a terrorist and ofcourse which we belive with all those evidencies of him holding a AK47 and shooting at the CST been flossed around in the media, to top it off there are eye witnessess from all over the country and from small to old who have identified Kasab, yet Kasabs lawyer maintains that he dosent understand a thing going on in court. So what is all this happening here? The media rightly covered the happenings during 26/11 with all their possible possibilities, but then why dosent the media campaign for a quick trial in this case. For millions its just a open n shut case with the punishment being of the maximum yet why are we sitting here and reading, discussing and writing about it. I would personally like to see the media take a bold step to start a campaign to put the words of the public at a level where it matters.

Reading some of the articles and blogs by renowned journalists on the day to day happening at the special court undertaking this trial, one wonders whether Ajmal Kasab is truly sane? He has been pursuing some out of the world acts like grinning and smiling about instances and witneses that have been accusing him of hosting the bloody bath on that night of 26/11. Is he making a mockery of the whole thing? Or does he really dosent understand? He had been promised with a little money and jannat for doing such a heneious crime, so why don’t we fulfull his desire of jannat on a fast paced trial by convicting him on all the charges that are being filed against him. How long will our judiciary system be an irony to itself, preach of being fair and then take light years to give judgement on an open and shut case. Why is ther being so much of prcecious time being spent of the honorary judges, lawyers, administrative officers and all others invloved in a case where everyone is watching. Are these people scared that they would give a wrong judgement?

After all this and if by luck the murderer gets a conviction, will there be more beurocratic loops in the system to keep his judgement at bay and take the matter upto the supreme court, I as a citizen of the country wonder and wonder where is this going to end up in. All those people who lost their lives have gone to a place beyond our understanding, yet those who live on with those memories have somehow taken the path back to their life’s. Is there anyone other then Ajmal kasab who wants this to get over, I wonder if he does too.

Everyone needs an explanation to the complexity of this case, if there is any?

Is everyone Reading ?

In the task bar on the right side corner of my machine in office, appears one tiny envelope, indicating I have a new mail in my outlook, thankfully I don’t have those that were showed in the movie “U’ve got mail”, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks which graphically says “ U’vvve gotta New Mailllll “ with a sound TINNNNNGGG!. The thought of it being a work related email arises only for a mere millisecond but the thought of it being a much so called internet fwd rules over it. So then I open it to much of my delight that indeed it is an internet fwd. Internet fwds have been a common pastime for all we outlook users( or rather internet users) who have the MS outlook open forever on their machines as long as they r on their desk. What you get in these fwds are varied forms of expressions, information, do n don’ts, a hello fwd, a good morning fwd, it’s the weekend fwd, and the list goes on till eternity. What makes us read these fwds? The first thing that comes to my mind is inquisitiveness, hell we all are inquisitive about what’s going to be inside of that email. Be it of great importance or rather just a blonde joke, as long as there is a mail fwd from an acquaintance, it needs an opening. Sometimes though, I wonder if some emails need a Grand Red Carpet Opening. Ha !

Many a times than not, most of the emails are nothing but some passing chain of crap which comes bundled and covered with the best wrapping paper u could ever imagine. Or sometimes you receive a fwd of some insane incidents happening in some bizarre place in the universe and then u come across it again claiming that it happened in your neighborhood, I pray, God have mercy. This takes me to the thought of the originator or shall we call him “ Mr. Jack Ass “ of such emails; sure does the person need help I wonder. But nevertheless some of the fwds are ridiculously funny, creative and etc. So then comes a point, where each of us, the smart ass of all, needs to be vigilant of what he/she grabs into his life. There indeed comes a time where one needs to decide for himself the difference. The difference between what? The difference between your willingness to accept and what not to accept. There is always a thin line between the truth and fiction, in cases, where you aren’t the performer, but just the audience for such a performance. To applaud such a performance lies within us, to applaud for oneself coz random it is that the next person who would receive such information doesn’t care about the person sending it to him. Arguably in some cases yes but more than often it is a no.

A honest case in a world of today gets lost within the very diasporas of such smart ass vigilant audience, who for the smart ass they are tend to make the wrong decisions. Decisions where one could have a possible contribution towards achieving or rather giving contemporary happiness to ones that matter and of course to the ones that don’t matter. But for the short term individualistic gains that we are known for we don’t, because after all its just a piece information that could be incorrect coz of our assumption. So what does this all bring to? That information be withheld? Or we continue to admire and applaud without making a difference? Well I certainly don’t have the answers yet for sure, so I continue to open every tiny envelope that pops up at my task bar and so shall Mr. Jack Ass.

Michael Jackson - A name, lived with Time and Now Beyond

25^th July 2009 , what a day it was for millions of music buff’s. The tragic and shocking news of the death of music industries undisputed star in the history. Micheal Jackson. MJ as he was known to all. I don’t think there is any person with a little sense of life that does not know about MJ, not necessarily for all the good reasons, but for reasons without reasons as well. MJ might have been an icon a star an epic a hero, but in the end succumbed for the end.

An end that brings anxious moments for people who hear the details about his end, and what an irony hearing details about life after death.

When I first heard the news on Friday, it was like normal disheartening news that one hears on TV, but then as days went by, 6 to be specific, when closely followed this news, it brought me lot of agony and some concerns. Agony coz it made me wonder what a life he led to come to an end like this, and concern coz the final details of his death will not be known for another 2 weeks. A country that boasts about being “thee best” in technological achievements, cannot categorically put down in black n white the reasons of someone’s death. Ha.

This person MJ, has come out with music of its own class. I am not an out n out MJ music fan, but yes the music that he came up with, definitely needed an ear or rather ears to listen to it. He made some great tracks like , thriller, bad, Billy Jean , Black or White , Cry , You are not alone, Earth Song, Dangerous, Blood on the dance floor, just to name a few which I can recollect. Every song of his had this over the world, over the universe feel to it. The videos of each song were different, creative and amongst the best. This music was what made him a billionaire and these billions too brought an end to him. His lifestyle for the past years has always made him a target. A target which people thought was worth aiming at. From the 90’s child abuse to the latest his ex-wife alleging that MJ didn’t father the kids, was way of life to him. His eccentric behavior, frequent change in appearances bought him to the limelight forever.

After his death pathologists confirm that at the time of his death MJ didn’t have any food in his stomach but only had tablets. The abuse of prescribed drugs is what people are talking about, drugs that are narcotic was his prescription. MJ started getting acquainted with these drugs after his downfall during the child abuse case that started in the 90’s, a child abuse case which ended in 2005 which acquitted MJ of all charges due to lack of evidence. He always maintained that he was being targeted by some cheap stints, which now proves to be right as the child’s father Evan Chandler asked his son Jordan Chandler to tell lies regarding the child abuse by MJ, and now Jordan Chandler has decided to speak up in guilt, to say sorry. Sometimes one wonders isn’t this murder? It was because of this very reason MJ went into depression and got addicted to narcotic drugs. But then a sane mind would not do to oneself what MJ did to himself. The report that came out in the media was shocking, Insomniac MJ literally begged for sedatives to put him to sleep, didnt he know that these drugs were one day going to put him to sleep forever? The findings which apparently were not revealed yet leaked in the media said that injection wounds were found above or near to Jackson's heart. All appeared to have resulted from attempts to pump adrenaline directly into the organ in a failed bid to restart it. The autopsy also found unexplained bruises on Jackson's knees and on the fronts of both shins. There are also said to be cuts on his back, indicating a recent fall. The King of Pop's face bore scars, while the bridge to his nose had vanished and its right side had partially collapsed. He also suffered several broken ribs as rescuers pumped his chest after he collapsed in cardiac arrest. Michael's fans will be horrified when they realise the appalling state he was in. He was skin and bone, his hair had fallen out and had been eating nothing but pills when he died.

With such a battered death, I wonder if those things what he did good did any favors upon him? Apparently Michael donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations and charity. Ironically, Michael now has a 500M $ debt which nobody knows how its going to be collected. But he was preparing for his come back, a series of tours starting in London on the 13^th of July. Some say the funds that will be raised through his incomplete music will fetch more then what he is indebted to. So I guess its all settled in for those of whom he owes. But those millions of fans wanting more of his music will have to be content with what he has left for us to cherish. Cherish in times where one needs happiness, cherish in times where one wants to be alone with music, cherish in clubs, cherish in sadness, cherish for the unfortunate, cherish in times of war, cherish in times of hatred, cherishing all those heartfelt songs that he has given us.

So heres some great lines from MJ to MJ :

"Gone Too Soon"

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

Down Memory Lane...Mombasa, Kenya

I moved to Kenya somewhere in August 2002. I was the Engineer In-charge to build an extension to the already existing floating Dock in one of the major shipyards in Mombasa, Kenya. My decision to take up this job in a “place” like Kenya did raise a lot of eye brows within my fraternity. I kept getting sarcastic “ All the best” during my tenure when they learnt about my would be venture. Neither did I exactly know what is going to be my fate on this safari of mine. Infact as the person I am I would not think too far away from what I am being offered. It never crossed my mind regarding culture, people, food, time, place weather, etc. But I took it up, at first it was the monetary demand which made me think in favor of it, it was nothing that I can boast about but just the thought of earning 5 times more to the existing made me make that decision. The thought of fulfilling my dreams, dreams that were seen and pledging to fulfill them were at hand now. Dreams that were seen when times of hardships have overcome you, time when you have seen your parents wanting to give you the best and in return keep their desires at rest. That’s when my dreams emerged, to give them back 10 times more what they need.

I landed the Nairobi airport somewhere mid morning, the morning cold breeze sweeping through. Nairobi they say is cold for 12 months a year, I wondered if the warmth in people too had been eroded by this cold. For the first time I saw the local African beings. Never at their first sight could I imagine any kind of characteristics that were visible. I was on a high vigil as stories told to you while traveling always kept coming to my mind, I was then swayed through the rush of people to the Domestic terminal where I would board my flight to Mombasa.

Mombasa, the commercial capital of Kenya, and the entry and exit point of goods from the world over to the interior of Africa. The natural harbor made it possible for ships to come in the port from various parts of the world. The only other port which did not come even close to the Mombasa port was Dar-es-salam in Tanzania, but due to the available water draft, Mombasa could harbor in bigger ships. What infringed me was the difference in temperature between Nairobi and Mombasa, 45 minutes ago I was shivering in the cold and now here I am sweating my guts off while loading my baggage in the back of Salim’s car. Salim, a stout, small, curly haired dressed in faded jeans and T was waiting at the exit with the placard surprisingly with my name spelt correctly. Blazing he’s ever naughty smile nodded to me as he saw me approaching towards him. With a gentle yet robust handshake we moved on. A 35 min drive from the airport to my destination awakened me if I had made the right choice to come to Africa.

I lived for 5 years in Mombasa, traveling around Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya. I spent most of those 5 years working in Mombasa, a place known as a tourist hotspot for its beach resorts. The sand at the beaches are white unlike in India, and if you want to spend some great amount of time at the beach got to make sure you cover your eyes with sun glasses or else the harmful sun rays could really do the damage to your eyes. Nothing like a chilled bottle of Tusker beer at the beach, I have indeed tasted some of the best beers and this one comes up right there at the top in terms of taste. All beer lovers know that a beer is all about the taste.

Most people imagine that the local African people could be violent or harsh but with my experience living there I can comfortably conclude that these people are most humble and ever inviting. As long as you don’t have any foul interest they don’t mind your existence. Every Kenyan is well aware of the political happening in their country; a political debate over a chilled beer is always on the cards at nearby tables.

Right choice , we all make choices and when we make them weigh our pro’s and con’s which suit us, sometimes we manipulate our pro’s against the con’s or the con’s against the pro’s because that’s what we think is right. Its about the mind v/s the heart, we make choices to suit us, if we come out of it victorious it was the right choice and if we don’t we manipulate it again.

Now sitting here in Abu Dhabi as I write this post I am definitely sure I did make the right choice then, the experience of Life in those 5 years were exhilarating, and experiencing life is what I look forward to.

On this day..

On this day the 28^th Of April

In summers of the year 1982

When the lovely breeze defied the scorching heat

They tapped their legs and danced to every beat

They ran with a smile helter & Skelter

And must have ran brushing my shelter

They announced to the leaves

And they announced to the trees

They announced to the rooftops

And they announced to the shades

A girl has arrived with a smile that shall never fade

Years drifted like an Ocean tide

They come back today in my sight

Same Old Breeze defying the scorching heat

With their soft and hazy smiley treat

I hear them giggle as they whisper in my ear

Wishing my wife a blessed year

On this day the 28^th of April.

- Makarand

NewYork - Movie Review

Star Cast: John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan;

Director: Kabir Khan

Music : Pritam

Rating : *** ½ / 5

New York. By far the best flick for the Yash Raj banner after Chak De! In terms of performance, direction and whether for box office is much needed to be seen. But the film drought factor might be an additional booster apart from that it is a good movie.

The movie starts with a very intriguing scene in New York where the FBI nabs Neil for smuggling arms in his cab. This scene by far exceeds expectations, and is definitely worth comparing to some of the Hollywood scenes within the same genre. Neil is detained by FBI agent Irrfan, who reveals to him that his college buddy John is a terrorist suspect and persuades Neil to act as an infiltrator into the married life of John and Katrina. John Katrina and Neil have been close friends during college sharing some great moments as pals, but at the end of their college days Neil falls in love with Katrina but at the same time is heartbroken as Katrina expresses her love to John.

That’s when 9/11 happens, Neil because of the heartache leaves his buddies and disappears.

7 years post 9/11 when Neil is nabbed by Irrfan , Irrfan convinces Neil to bring in information about John. Neil agrees to do so because he wants to prove that John can’t be a terrorist neither can he run a terrorist cell and also puts in a clause that the FBI wont kill John if he surrenders. If John is a terrorist and whether he truly runs a terrorist cell is for you to see when you watch the movie.

Kabir Khan is just 2 movies old, but shows what an entertaining director he is. He’s knack of creating scenes and bring the audience to the edge of the seat is repeated in various scenes throughout the movie. The very first scene of Neil being nabbed is definitely one of them, some of the scenes about the tortures in the detention cell are good, one particular scene where Katrina , wife of John is frisked by a NYPD officer and then the scenes that follow it are some of the best shot scenes. Another one worth mentioning is the climax of the movie, which arguably couldn’t have been shot in a better way. All in all this Kabir Khan is all set to entertain us movie buffs for a long time to come.

Talking about performances, the all talked expressionless, John Abraham is simply amazing. He definitely has grown, and as John himself says it’s like writing a new series of John himself. His performance stands out as an actor now. He’s definitely proves that he can be a good actor if it can be extracted from him. Katrina, well well surprise surprise, this broad can act too. What ever is said about the electronic voice makeover and stuff, is all useless if the emotions aren’t depicted on the screen, and she has done it remarkably. Neil Nitin Mukesh is good, though he could be better, with the amount of screen space he had in this 2 hr 20 min film he could have added a touché better, but nevertheless doesn’t let you down. Irrfan Khan, well this guy is like Mr. Cool, as if the screen is meant for him. The timing of his dialogues his body gesture, just explicit. He actually could talk you through his eyes only. Infact some scenes with his FBI seniors are damn good. His got his own way of convincing or putting the agenda right through you.

The music is very airy to the ears, Pritam once again proves his worth. None of the songs are in lip sync mode but travel through the entire movie to give you that feel of the emotions.

So all said and done, watch the movie without any intentions to see any ground breaking reasoning towards global terrorism. This movie though is based on terrorism is a Yash Raj production which does not include gruesome Lovy dovey part in it. So if the atrocities shown in the detention centre are diluted by including a slow track don’t mind it. But watch the movie for some good bollywood entertainment.

Happy Watching.