Filmfare Awards – An Insult to our sensibilities?

The 54th Filmfare awards ceremony was held on the 28th of February, 2009 in Mumbai, India. The annual show is ostensibly the Oscars of Bollywood, however the comparison between the two is immature at best. The awards are given by a commercial magazine called Filmfare and the process of nominating the films and the voting is opaque at best. Oscars on the other hand have a rigorous nomination process that has been in place for 7 decades and relies on the voting of Academy Members who have been or are involved in the film industry. Furthermore, the counting of the ballots is done under the auspices of Price Waterhouse Coopers an independent audit firm.
Every year the awards are handed out to the commercially successful films. Perhaps the title of the awards should be changed accordingly. Best Film? Can someone describe the criteria for selection? Take the nominations for this year as an example.
1. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
2. Dostana
3. Jodha Akbar
4. Ghajini
5. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
6. Rock On!
Can someone please explain the absence of some terrific films that were produced this year such as Welcome to Sajjanpur, Ramchand Pakistani or Khuda Kay Liye? How about A Wednesday? Does at least one best film in the nomination list must have Shahrukh Khan in it?
Best actor nomination for Shahrukh (Ruk Ruk) Khan for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is an insult to the average viewer’s sensibility. When is Filmfare stop going to pander to the biggest stars and award actors based on performances, not popularity.
Pick almost any category and you will find a complete travesty of art and cinema. Top that up with the show itself. We saw a slew of artists from Slumdog Millionaire being worshipped on the stage for a very well deserving performance but had this movie been made in India under an Indian banner it would not have made the Filmfare awards nominee list. Our actors and actresses have shed the traditional Indian outfits to don western designer clothes but have not shed the double standard that is carried in this show. Ashtosh Gowarikar and the movie Jodha Akbar won several awards but none of the small banner films even got the nod from the magazine. It is time for India to wake up and appreciate art in its entirety and not just commercially successful films and please dispense with the hip gyrating dances, even with pants on only one leg, they are still the same lame dances that are presented in every cheap show on Indian Television.

Bernard Madoff House Arrest - A travesty!

Can someone explain how a person convicted of Grand Theft Auto gets to sleep in a cold prison cell but someone who embezzles $50 Billion gets to live in a $10 Million penthouse? Who then transfers assets to friends and family. Is this a travesty of justice? Do we live in a society that has two sets of rules. One for the Bernard Madoff's of the world and another for Tyrone? Will someone with balls, please stand up and put this man in jail.

Har Ek Ghar Me Diya Bhi Jale Anaaj Bhi Ho

In these turbulent times I am reminded of this beautiful poem written by Nida Fazli, one of my favorite poets. Please take a read down this amazingly written nazm.

Har Ek Ghar Mein Diyaa Bhi Jale, Anaaj Bhi Ho -2
Agar Na Ho Kahin Aisaa To Ehatjaaj Bhi Ho -2
Har Ek Ghar Mein Diyaa Bhi Jale, Anaaj Bhi Ho

Hukumaton Ko Badalnaa To Kuchh Muhaal Nahin -2
Hukumatein Jo Badaltaa Hai Vo Samaaj Bhi Ho -2
Agar Na Ho Kahin Aisaa To Ehatjaaj Bhi Ho -2
Har Ek Ghar Mein Diyaa Bhi Jale, Anaaj Bhi Ho

Rahegi Kab Talak Vaadon Mein Qaid Khush-Haali -2
Har Ek Baar Hi Kal Kyun, Kabhi To Aaj Bhi Ho
Agar Na Ho Kahin Aisaa To Ehatjaaj Bhi Ho
Har Ek Ghar Mein Diyaa Bhi Jale, Anaaj Bhi Ho

Na Karte Shor Sharaabaa To Aur Kyaa Karte -2
Tumhaare Shahar Mein Kuchh Aur Kaam Kaaj Bhi Ho -2
Har Ek Ghar Mein Diyaa Bhi Jale, Anaaj Bhi Ho
Agar Na Ho Kahin Aisaa To Ehatjaaj Bhi Ho

Nida Fazli

Ehatjaaj = Revolution, Rebellion

Is baar Nahin - Mumbai Terror Poem by Prasoon Joshi

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi wrote this poem after the Mumbai terror attacks.
Says the ad guru and film lyricist, “I believe it should reach as many people as possible because it is our collective pain and voice”.


Is baar nahin
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko

Is baar nahin
Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey

Is baar nahin
Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankhein band karlo,
gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav

Is baar nahin
Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake

Is baar nahin
Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye

Is baar nahin
Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur seThoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisleyAur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai
… Prasoon Joshi

Jaane tu ya jaane na

Jane tu ya jane na

What a great song collection. A.R. Rehman has done a superb job and I can't say enough about Rashid Ali. I am floored by his rendition on Kabhi Aditi Zindagi and more so on Kahin to Hogi with Vasundhara Das. Fabulous composition, fabulous singing and great Lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Here are the lyrics to Kahin To Hogi followed by the list of songs with singers and lyricists etc. I am not sure about the movies itself. Would like to go see it soon.

Kahin To Song Lyrics - Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na

Kahin to.. kahin to
Hogi wo,
Duniya jahan tu mere saath hai..

Jahan mein, jahan tu,
Aur jahan, bass tere mere jazbaat hai,
Hogi jahan subah teri,
Palko ki, kirano mein,
Lori jahan chand ki,
Sune teri baahoin mein..

(Jaane naa kahan wo duniya hai,
Jaane naa wo hai bhi ya nahi,
Jahan meri zindagi mujhse,
Itni khafa nahi..) - 2

Saasein kho gayi hai kiski aahon mein,
Mein kho gayi hu jaane kiski baahon mein,
Manzilon se raahein doodhti chali,
Kho gayi hai manzil kahin rahon mein..

Kahin to, kahin to,
Hai nasha..
Teri meri har mulaqaat mein,
Hoton se, hoton ko,
Chumti, o rehte hai hum har baat pe,
Kehti hai fiza jahan,
Teri zamin aasmaan..

Jahan hai tu, meri hassi,
Meri khushi, meri jaan…

(Jaane naa kahan wo duniya hai,
Jaane naa wo hai bhi ya nahi,
Jahan meri zindagi mujhse,
Itni khafa nahi..) - 3

Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na List of Songs... MP3

Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Rashid Ali
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 3:41

Pappu Cant Dance
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Blaze, Mohd. Aslam, Tanvi, Anupama Deshpande, Benny Dayal, Tanvi, Darshana, Satish Subramanium
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 4:27




Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Runa Rizvi
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 3:41



Nazrein Milaana Nazrein Churaana
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Swetha Bhargave, Naresh Iyer, Satish Chakravarthye, Tanvi, Darshana, Benny Dayal, Anupama Deshpande
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 3:57



Tu Bole Main Boloon
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: A R Rahman
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 4:36



Kahin To Hogi Ho
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Rashid Ali, Vasundhara Das
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 5:05



Jaane Tu Meri Kya Hai - 1
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Sukhwinder Singh
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 5:44




Pappu Cant Dance - Remix
Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music Label: T-Series
Singers: Anupama Deshpande, Benny Dayal, Benny Dayal, Blaze, Tanvi, Darshana, Satish Subramanium, Mohd. Aslam
Lyricist: Abbas Tyrewala
Music Director: A R Rahman
Choreographer:
Picturised on:
Genre:
Duration (mm:ss): 4:27

Blues

I have always been a big fan of Blues Music. Last week while driving on my way home I was listening to "All things Considered" on the radio. Little did I know that I was in for treat. I am sharing the link here for those who may have missed it. You can listen to the episode on the NPR website and also listen to the album on Rhapsody.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92423408


What was so great you might ask? Well, for one the Blues players are 16, 14 and 9 years old and are siblings. The 9 year old plays the drums and she is fabulous. The guitars are made out of mufflers of cars. You have to listen to the piece and listen to the music to believe it. I was floored by their sheer talent. I think these youngsters will achieve much acclaim in their life and I am so happy for their parents.

Graduation Note for Kanika

Under normal circumstances children come into their parent’s lives, but in our case, we both came into each other’s life about 12 years ago. If you begin to search, you will find many stories, movies, books that have been written about stepfathers and stepchildren, but standing here today, I can safely say our relationship does not fall under any of the stereotypes. A lot of that credit goes to you. I stood here this very day last year and spoke about Priya during her graduation and how much I had learnt from her. You Kanika have also enriched my life in ways you will probably never realize. Your demeanor, your maturity and the poise with which you handle yourself is something for you to be very proud of. I have said this before and I will say it again, if there is anyone in this house who knows how to best handle me, it’s you.

Those of you who know Shibani’s dad, he has always made fun of regular DNA testing of various members of the family to check the integrity of parenthood. Well, I can safely say that if they ever checked your DNA, they will never find my genes in your blood, but I don’t think for a moment that our relationship needed a medical validation. I feel that you are no less my child than Priya. You have an amazing way to uplift people around you. I will miss your smile, your humor, your positive attitude and our conversations. I will not however miss your messy room and the trunk of your car, which reminds me of vagrant bag ladies.

I don’t have much words of wisdom to give you other than this line that I read a while back in a book. “Remember, The person who you’re with most in life is yourself and if you don’t like yourself you’re always with somebody you don’t like”.

You are about to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing, but what you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself.

Good Luck and always remain happy.

Another great song and lovely lyrics

I wanted to sing this song so badly for my wife's 40th, that I went and purchased a nice guitar and tried really hard to learn and play this specific tune. Alas, the learning was very hard and I was not able to play the song. Here are the lyrics though, it's from a really nicely made movie called CARS.

Cars soundtrack lyrics -- Find Yourself .. Brad Paisley

When you find yourself in some far off place And it causes you to rethink some things You start to sense that slowly you're becoming someone else And then you find yourself When you make new friends in a brand new town And you start to think about settling down The things that would've been lost on you Are now clear as a bell and you find yourself Yeah, that's when you find yourself When you go through life So sure of where you're heading And you wind up lost And it's the best thing that could've happened Cause sometimes when you lose your way It's really just as well Because you find yourself Yeah, that's when you find yourself ---- Instrumental Interlude ---- When you meet the one that you've been waiting for And she's everything that you want and more You look at her and you finally start to live for someone else And then you find yourself Yeah, that's when you find yourself We go through life So sure of where we're heading And then we wind up lost And it's the best thing that could've happened Cause sometimes when you lose your way It's really just as well Because you find yourself Yeah, that's when you find yourself

Demise of a Friendship

We all know that death is inevitable. It is the purest form of truth there is, but does friendship die? The answer is an obvious yes. As early as kindergarten, you realize the importance of friendship and for as long as you live, you continue making friends, yet there are friendships that die. Even the closest ones. In some case, you simply move and lose touch, in others you outgrow your friends, some fall apart and some just die a natural death. I am intrigued by this a lot and would like a perspective from you on what your opinion is about this subject.

Simple Pleasures

There are many times that you find extreme joy in simple things. A song well sung, nice lyrics, tasty dish. The most amount of joy I get is from a song that is nicely written and well sung, of course the music adds a dimension to it that is hard to explain. I do get goose bumps. I recently heard a song that had all of the above components. They lyrics are by IRSHAD KAMIL, music is by Pritam and it is very nicely sung by MOHIT CHAUHAN and the movie is JAB WE MET.

This goes out for my wife on our 11th Anniversary.

TUMSE HI - JAB WE MET


Na hai yeh pana
Na Khona hi hai
Tera Na hona jane
Kyun hona hi hai
Tum se hi din hota hai
Surmaiye shaam aati hai
Tumse hi tumse hi
Har ghadi saans aati hai
Zindagi kehlati hai
Tumse hi tumse hi

Na hai yeh pana
Na Khona hi hai
Tera Na hona jane
Kyun hona hi hai
Aankhon mein ankhne teri
Bahoon mein baahein teri
Mera na mujhe mein kuch raha hua kya
Baaton mein baatein teri
Raatein saugatein teri
Kyun tera sab yeh ho gaya hua kya
Mein kahin bhi jata hoon
Tumse hi mil jata hoon
Tumse hi tumse hi

Shor mein khamoshi hai
Thodi se Behoshi hai
Tum se hi tum se hi
Aadha sa wada kabhi
Aadhe se jayada kabhi
Jee chahe karlu is trah wafa ka
Chode na chote kabhi
Tode na tute kabhi
Jo dhaga tumse jud gaya wafa ka
Mein Tera sharmaya hoon
Jo bhi mein ban paya hoon
Tumse hi tumse hi

Raste miljate hai
Manzile miljati hai
Tumse hi tumse hi
Na hai yeh pana Na
Khona hi hai
Tera Na hona jane
Kyun hona hi hai

Lean On Me Lyrics

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
So just call on me brother,
when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem
that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Lean on me...

Baseball at the Sunken Diamond at Klein Field

The Sunken Diamond at Klein Field is considered one of the most beautiful college baseball stadiums in the entire nation. I decided to go check out the stadium on Monday the 5th of May (Cinco De Mayo). It was a gorgeous day, the Stanford Cardinals were playing the University of Pacific Tigers and I could not have scored better seats. I bought 2 tickets online and to my amazement, they were in Section 5, Row A, Seat 1 and 2. It was slight right to the home plate but I could not be any closer to the field. Front row, from where I could hear the "whirr" of the ball. Best seats I have ever sat on since I have been watching baseball.

I got there early and with my coke, hot dog and peanuts in hand, I proceeded to my assigned seat. I was sitting there enjoying the sun, batting practice as there was still plenty of time for the game to start. About 5 minutes elapse and here comes an elderly lady (an usher) and quite politely asked me if I had tickets as "this is a reserved section". I pulled out the ticket from my shirt pocket and handed it to her. She inspected the ticket and handed it back to me and asked me to enjoy the game.

Ten more minutes go by and here comes another senior citizen usher. "Sir", he says, "I am sorry, but this is a reserved section. You cannot sit here unless you have tickets." As if I dropped from the heaven's onto that seat. I explained to him that someone had already stopped by and checked my ticket and I went back to my eating my peanuts. "I am going to have to ask you to show me the ticket, otherwise I am going to have to ask you to move from this section".

I take out the ticket from my shirt pocket and show it to him and he hands it back to me after inspecting it, leaving me alone, a bit disappointed. Perhaps this was the night where he would have finally got to show some power, alas, he will have to wait another day.

The stadium, I might add, had no more than 50 people at this point. I could have taken my peanuts and thrown it in the air and it would been a miracle if it hit another person.

I go back to watching the young talent practice on the field, immerse myself in eating salted peanuts and lo and behold. Here come another portly old man, walking towards me. This can't be true. I am sure he is going to ask me if I am enjoying the game. No such luck! "Hello Sir, This is a reserved section......". Now, I am a reasonable guy most of the time, but I am a bit irritated by now. I repeat what I had said earlier, except there was an inflection in my voice this time. "Oh really? I am sorry, but I am going to have to check your ticket."

"I am going to show it to you if can guarantee that no one else will stop by again to check my ticket". I say to the usher, wistfully. "Is there something about my face?" I ask. "You can't believe that I can actually be sitting here with a purchased ticket? He looked at my ticket and apologized and left.

Now, I have been in the USA for 23 years. I have been a citizen for about 19 of those and have experienced considerable amount of racism over the years but you never expect it at a place like Stanford. The game was great, the ambiance was wonderful but the experience left a lot to be desired.

PS. The picture above is not of the actual game. It is a stock photo from the Stanford website

India Trip March 2008

One man eats "roti" (food)
Another man makes "roti" (food)
There is a third man who plays with his "roti"
Who is this third man?
The electorate of my country is quiet!!


I don't what is about going home that brings out the desire to start writing in my blog. The last time I updated my blog it was after a trip to Delhi. I visited New Delhi & Bangalore in March and was in India during Holi for the first time since I left India 23 years ago. It was quite a blast. Anyway, first things first. I travelled to Delhi via Munich on Lufthansa and every flight segment was full (going and coming back). Not a single empty seat. Where is the recession? High oil prices? I just don't see it being translated to fewer load in terms of passengers.

Arriving in Delhi is always an adventure. I guess a large company in India called GMR has been given the contract to renovate and build a new airport in Delhi. Well, the airport looks worse than the New Delhi Railway Station. All I ever hear on every trip to India for the last 23 years is how much progress is being made but again, it is not evident at the airport. It truly is a shame.

Sorry for being negative but it seems to me that India has become a land of the greedy. I have not seen a chasm bigger than what I see in India between the have a lot's and the have not's. Sure the middle class has enlarged but that is not where most of the countries population resides. I don't have real number but you don't need real numbers to see the number of poor in the city. All I ever hear is the number of new cars being manufactured in India and how everything is now available in India and that India is now more expensive than even USA. I am not suggesting that USA is superior or India is inferior but there is a false sense of pride at play. On one hand the rise of India as a economic superpower is admirable and is something for every Indian to be proud of (including myself) but where is the civic pride? Who are we trying to fool?

The state of the infrastructure is not just measured by the number of flyovers being built but also by the cleanup that needs to be done after the flyover or a highway is built. It is not normal to leave post construction mess littered on the side of the road at least not in any country that has norms.
Leaving India was as much an adventure as going there. 2 hours in line for security check with littered plastic bottles all over the place and this is an International Airport.

Enough of ranting for the day. I took a photo of a 3 wheeler that had an interesting message. It's posted above.