A prisoner's diary.

Sitting at home on a Sunday evening, I am just wondering about the numerous changes that have happened in the last few months. These things happen, especially when you just slept the weekend through.

Three days back, I turned 26 – entering the (supposedly) not-so-exciting part of the 20s. I beg to differ though. I think life is just starting and there is so much to discover so much more to explore and learn. After realizing that this was the “over rated” turning point of my life, I also heard, what we all wait for – the calling.

What I would like to call the Hippie-calling. Because suddenly I just knew that the sole purpose of my existence – is not to make money, not to make babies and definitely not to be bound by societal norms.

It is the music; it is the desire to travel; to evolve and to fulfill the un-quenched thirst to break free.

Nope, not anti-social. In fact it is exactly the opposite. To meet more people,

To change perspectives. To think differently. To forgive you’re self.

To realize that love is not a destination, it is a journey.

To understand, that you need to let go of a few prized possessions, not because you want to but just because you have to.

Realizing that I might not be young and happening any more. I have started to make a list of things that I would want to do before I hit 30.

Get a tattoo.

Travel more.

Get over my ex.

Do the hippie thing – at least once, for a month.

Try and look 24.

Get regular with pedicures.

Hit the gym (again)

Get over the outdated arty-farty look - get classy.

Ironically, when I am just about to evolve – mom starts talking about marriage, sister complains about how I don’t spend time with my niece, friends demand undivided attention, boss expects you to be on the roll 24/7. Suddenly you are hit by a breath of fresh reality.

All you do is, put your wish list to the side, and start wondering about what jobs do you have to complete on a Monday morning.

I have just started another blog called, Not Just Bikes and Beer.

Well, what do I say, its just another side of me?

Check it out. http://www.notjustbikesandbeer.blogspot.com/

On a Creative Pursuit

I was having a dosa & prawn curry lunch topped with chilled beer the other day with my brother. As we were catching up on each others lives, the conversation silently paved its way into how I could have been better off, if I had done my MBA. I wasn’t surprised or offended; this is something I have been listening to in the past couple of years from my cousin, who had been busy making his own life (abroad) for more than a decade and has absolutely no clue about what kind of a person I am nor about who my friends are and what I do.

No, not that I was being cynical about his good intentions, its just that even after repeated assurance that it was a conscious decision not to pursue an MBA, and I didn’t regret it a bit, he seemed to have concluded that either I was naïve or not good enough to enroll into one.

After detesting my science subjects during pre-universuity days I had decided that I would never do anything just because ‘I have to’ but rather because ‘I want to’. That is something that I have inculcated in my life, and have religiously followed it ever since – somehow, this path has never given me failures; obstacles - yes; failure - never!

During my degree days, I had opted for Mass Communication, Psychology & Literature as my core subjects. Thanks to all the brilliant teachers we had, subjects instantly turned into Passion. I used Stream of Consciousness to write, I loved Freud – had an opinion on Carl Jungs theories, could relate to ego defense mechanisms, could read a piece of poetry and re-read it again and again, remember every word that was said to us during our Cocktail Party sessions (It is btw a play, not a party with cocktails).
My teacher had said: “I am not teaching you from the examination point of view, but I want you to carry these lessons for a lifetime” – and we all had.

Post, graduation, I enrolled for a master program in mass communication in pursuit of creativity. ‘Creativity’ - not in terms of strategies/concepts as the ad world terms it, creativity in terms of building a certain thought process, appreciating simple pleasures of life, expressing emotion in words, accepting simplicity, developing patience to read a book and respecting silence. It was a slow, gradual, well thought out step by step process.

Now, I stand here as a budding advertising professional, sharing a drink with someone who thinks that I can never be an Account Director – since I don’t have the MBA tag attached to my resume.
I am surprised that my cousin is so sure I wouldn’t make it: I tried to respect it as constructive criticism, but immediately turned cynical when I knew where it was coming from – Someone who has never worked in the industry, and his opinions were mere reflections of his friends’ thoughts (who is an account director himself).
I marvel at his surety.

Sure, ad world doesn’t pay me a heavy pay packet, nor do I believe that an MBA cannot fine tune me into a better professional – it’s about neither.

It's not about money – It’s about job satisfaction.
It’s not about being a good professional – It’s about being a good human being.
It’s not a job – It’s a Passion.
I stand up to to my faith in doing, ‘What I want to’ as opposed to ‘What I have to’.

And I will, forever.

Life has just come around in a full circle - in the form of a friend. :)

From Rags to Riches

I am still guilty as charged for watching the Slum dog Millionaire on a pirated DVD.
Couldn’t resist it.

The movie is all about the lives of street kids in Mumbai; or rather slum dwellers, whose life takes a disastrous turn as things change around them. Having lost family and friends, they move on to find a way to survive in this big bad world. What’s amazing about the movie is not the story in itself, but the way two alien concepts – the ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ theme has been intricately sewn with the life of a young boy – in order to create an honest but a heart wrenching tale.

Within a couple of minutes, you sit right up and start noticing the way the movie has been shot. The camera angles, the “India-ness” attached to it gives it an authentic flavour. The filthy slums, and the scene where the protagonist of the movie dives into a pit of crap, just to get an autograph from Amitabh Bacchan leaves you with a sense of disgust – but the point is the director has achieved his objective – he didn’t want you to be a passive viewer, he wanted you to cringe your nose at that instant, and you did.

The treatment, followed by building of characters has left me appreciating the movie. The character played by Madhur Mittal, was seen for the first time on screen yet has done justice to the small but effective role that he was entitled with. My verdict? He is someone to watch out for - very distinctive face, loads of confidence, with the right attitude.
All my praises immediately turned cynical, just after I realized that it was a Brit who had directed the movie and the actors were mostly NRIs, who probably had no clue how Indians lived. Lets face it, the movie does depict India in a very third world perspective, and as a non Indian you would just assume that this is how all (or rather most) Indians lived. Its one of those movies, which would make you want to believe that everything shown in the movie is true. And, there is absolutely no scope for fabricating truth.

Nevertheless, I would like to remain the TG to whom the movie is targeted at, and the amateur film critic that I am trying to be. From the creative perspective, the movie has gone leaps ahead; moreover I do appreciate the director’s attempt to make an independent film with so much of authenticity attached to it.

On a scale of ten, Slum Dog Millionaire bags an 8 from me.
A movie, you just can’t afford to miss. Go watch it.

Free Hugs in Bangalore!

When I bumped into the Free Hugs campaign, I was thrilled and forwarded it to all my friends.
I had thought it was one of those really sensible and warm messages, which you hardly get to see now a days - but my spirit had died down in a matter of few hours. What I had missed out on was the fact, that there had been a message in the video for me - and I had chosen not to see it - I realized this only after I saw an article in TOI which spoke a about a bunch of college students from Bangalore, who had actually taken this same concept and spread the message across.
Now, it has become so famous that it has been used as a music video by A R Rehman!

Have a look.

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=2FNG9-NdDg8

The Free Hugs Campaign

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

"Sometimes, a hug is all that we need. Free Hugs is the real life controversial story of Juan Mann, a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger put a smile on their face. In this age of social-disconnection most all of us lack that simple human touch from another, the effects of the Free Hugs Campaign are now felt around the globe. As this simple gesture of kindness and hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs Campaign BANNED. What we then witnessed was the true spirit of humanity as people came together in what can only be described as something awe inspiring. In the spirit of the Free Hugs Campaign please pass this video to a friend and HUG a stranger! After all, you CAN make a difference" - As quoted by Anonymous

Today, I am filled with disgust.
It is hard to believe that a person whom you hold in such high esteem, show respect towards, proves himself to be such a petty human being.

Finally,
I loathe.

LHC - For those who didn't watch it on TV.

Opinion? I'm sitting tight on the fence.

"Are you from Bangalore"? I asked.
"Yes, I am", she said.
And it had lasted for about a 20 mins - A sensible and meaningful conversation.
As she left she said, "I might never meet you again, but I hope to see you on TV one day".

Now, even after explaining that am into advertising and ad is not journalism, our lady had concluded that Mass Communication was all about appearing on NDTV. Nevertheless, I gave her a friendly smile and said, "You never know how life turns out to be".

Within a couple of minutes the place was occupied by another. Not a word was exchanged, in fact I was more than eager to leave the table for her.


It was over lunch today. I happened to share my table with an elderly but friendly looking lady. I initiated a conversation, and ended up having a pleasant lunch with a stranger. The best part was she enjoyed my company, and wished me all the luck in the world - free of cost. :P

She was special. One of those you instantly like and respect. Just like one of my friends' mom. I think I was more in love with her than him.

Carrying my thought forward (from the previous post), isn't it wonderful how people touch lives in the most unusual way. They come and leave at the right time...to make you the person that you are today.

A few have touched mine, and I, constantly try my best to leave good memories behind...

Your sweetness disgust me.

Just finished watching Into the Wild. I just have one word for it WOW!
I have rewound again and again, paused a hundred thousand times, took a moment to let those thoughts sink in and proceeded. Over and over again, I keep wondering about the kind of thinking this man had. Hats off to the gut to lead a life he wanted to. Short, but intense.

'Rather than love and money and faith and fame and fairness - Give me Truth' - It stirs your thoughts.
Look around, can you find one thing that hasn’t been infected by deceit and despite.
Look within, is truth inside us. Or have we been sugar coating a can of worms.
Life – is it ours. Or is it for others.
We have been molding ourselves into what others wants us to be. Forgetting, what we want.

We believe human relationships are the core for human existence. Is there nothing beyond it, is there nothing above it?
What about:
Me + Me = Relationship
Me + Nature = Relationship
Me + Books = Relationship
Me + Music = Relationship
Aren’t these the ones that keep you alive?
Don’t these keep intact the spirit within us.
And New experiences?
New experiences with people = A Relationship.
Relationship with people = ...the need for human existence?
We have just come round in a big circle.

Alexander Supertramp proves his own theory wrong.

I am stuck in between.

When heaven seemed like Earth,

And, Earth seemed endless...

LOL

A mystery unrevealed.
A tide that never ceased.
Calm waters deep inside.
I rise to touch the skies.

A puzzle u cant break.
A challenge u wouldnt wanna take.
I cringe. I cling.
But, i am reborn everyday.

I try. I cry.
A fight within.
But,I will let u go
for self esteem.

The problem is, the one I love, loves me.

'Disappoint me. Say something. Do something. Disgust me', she battled over her thoughts.

And, then he had.

It was not I miss you nor I really like you; and definitely not I love you.

It was 'I wanna live with you'.

It had remained the most beautiful thing, ever said.

Bang-Bang-Bangalore

I have been really really reaallllllyy excited about this new campaign doing the rounds in the streets of bangalore.

The I believe in Bangalore, grabbed my attention the day it was put across almost all the hoardings in prime destinations in the city. As soon as I reached office I saw almost everyone asking one another, "Did yu see that" "Did yu see that"?? The campaign has managed to achieve its first step. Initiated 3 primary objectives: Intrigue, Excitement and Expectations.
Waaat it iiiiizzz??!! was the buzz word.


After a good 2 weeks, the campaign unveiled itself- a little.

The "I believe Bangalore - Because its in ma DNA"; announced the caption.
Nice. New. A little let down, probably because I was way to excited about it and was expecting something really 'hard-hitting?'. Nevertheless, the campaign managed to talk to one fo the youngest cities in India (the city has the highest percentage of youngsters) in India, the product's TG of course. According to sources nearly 68% of the 'Banagloreans' were not from Bangalore, leave alone hard core kannadigas. The kannada speaking population has in a way lost their identity, in the process of being over welcoming and extra warm to others. This campaign, am sure has managed to touch the inner self. The lost ethnicity of every authentic bangalorean.

Coming back to what were talking about, the campaign had obviously saved the best for the last.
The 'why' factor that completed the part as its whole. I was finally at peace, and happy.


Here it is.



Check this jingle out. You just GOTTTA watch it!!
Am looving it!

http://www.afaqs.com/news/news_story_grfx/2008/dna.html

Watch over me
You,
Yes you.

Watch over me now and then
Till dawn breaks into night
And night splits into light.
Watch over me, with your wistful eye
When the winds change to spring
And spring beats the skies

Watch over me.
When I born
As the time goes by
Watch over me,
Cause if you don’t
I wouldn’t survive.

Innovation at its best! (Quite funny)

Lets talk books

The Prisoner of Birth - signed by yours truly - Jeffrey Archer himself.
Have just started it, will keep you updated about what I think about it.

What are you reading now?
C'ommon guys wake up! Lets keep this interactive.

Chaotic Conclusions

Product: Hanes 'tagless' innerwear.
Caption: Because the world has enough tags for you

Interesting set of ads. Created chaos.

McCann Vs Hanes.

McCann got fired.

When for once
you are yourself.

When heaven seems like earth
and earth seems endless.

When alone, you know
you aren’t on your own.

When you see new things
and don’t wonder ‘Why?’

When life has just taken a
roller coaster ride.

When you reach out,
and kiss the purple skies.

When life,
hits a high.

Ad - Sense?

A bright green billboard stared back at me, as I was riding towards electronic city on hosur road. I had had a long tiring day, and all I wanted to do was unwind, have a beer and listen to some good music. Suddenly, it struck me that this hoarding mounted up on the left hand side of the road didnt make any sense at all. About 70-80% of the population that commutes through this road day-in & day-out are the ones who work at Electronic city. And most of them, take the common mode of tranportation like buses or cabs. And, almost all these people are either bored or sleeping while they are travelling - right time to grab their attention & a good oppurtunity to break away from clutter . And, yes, while putting up a billboard on this road made sense, exposing your consumers to a signature drink at the wrong time of the day didn't. Most of us either plan for the day or are wondering about how to crack the week ahead in the morning. Doesn't it make more sense to have the hoarding on the other side of the road, when people are done with work, and all they wanna do is have a drink and unwind? Aren't you helping them in brand-recall. Aren't you reinforcing the fact that they deserve a drink? Isn't your job already done?
Disagree? Rip me apart.
Btw, I even saw a Vaio hoarding right after that: rightly placed - reinforcement - made sense to me.

Imagine having a wafer thin handset, that could ‘bend’ according to your tunes, show you the way around the city and even talk to you. Nope, it’s not just another imaginary friend. This has come true, in a crisp new package.

Nokia 888 – The Future.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkwVt08i_Co

Perspectives et al.

Human beings easily become redundant. We live within four walls and assume there is nothing beyond that – our perspectives become structured and restrictive. Do we bother to look at a bigger picture?
For starters try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6yHKE9dg0g

is it the butterflies in your stomach,
or is it the first kiss.
is it the look on his face,
or the heartbeat you nearly missed.

how is it that you define,
with words, phrases or poems.
or is it the very fact
that he makes your life complete.

what is it my love,
what is it that you see.
how is it, my love,
what is it that you cannot be.

If you ask me, I would have just stuck to ‘Less words, More News’, and not really get my readers ‘addicted’ or even call it a ‘youth paper’. Yup! I am frustrated and confused looking at all that Deccan Chronicle is trying to be – all at the same time!
As I was passing through this jam-packed road, a brightly colored hoarding caught my eye. Nothing much over there, a bright yellow background with simple captions written in sms lingo – “Smrtr - Less Words, More News”. These four words said it all – I am new, I am fresh and I am you. – coz I speak your language. I mean, common, how many 40+ year olds use the sms laguage? Right tone was used to target the right audience in a way they would understand. I didn’t find anything wrong with this. Infact, I thought it was simple and straight, and bang on the head

When all was well, and everything seemed perfect, BANG – came the new set of ads – Addictive- Which just said I am sleaze! Nope, I am no feminist, nor a conservative I have no problems with a skimpily clad model promoting a paper, but yes I am a die-hard ad professional. I just have one question to ask these people. – WHAT ON EARTH ARE YU DOING???!!! I couldn’t just simply sit back and watch this very interesting campaign going a waste, just because someone trusted a confused mind!!

To top it all, they have also come up with a radio spot, and I hear this little chirpy voice saying – Deccan Chronicle – for the young minds. Like, duh! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Alright, may be I am over reacting. Or may be I am too naïve to understand all this, But, can I get an explanation to this? Can someone clarify it?

Btw, if you have read the newspaper, you will realize that the paper is not anywhere close to any of the positioning it has tried to create for itself. I was disappointed, again. Have a look at the hoardings that they put up in Hyderabad, where the paper was launched long before it hit bangalore – here a bunch of t-shirt slogans were followed the caption “News Made Exciting”.

Confused? Have a look!

Blink!

Have you ever wondered why the top half of the burger bun is always bigger than the lower half? Isn't it supposed to be the other way round? And, that it makes more sense to tilt the burger upside down while eating and save some lip-smacking mayonnaise?
Yet, we morons still wanna eat it the 'right' way.

P.S.

Oh! btw, I noticed something very interesting at KFC the other day. Remember the all time fav Zinger burger, well these burgers are actually packed upside down! The first half goes into the box first, topped with lettuce and mayo, and then a platter of 'base-buns' are strewn all over the place. I was so fascinated that I actullay stood there for a couple of minutes, and watched our 'chef' pack these packets of pure pleasure!

Advertising is a high.
Once bitten, You are intoxicated for life!

A trip to Down Under!

Lets just say a twist of fate landed me down under. Apprehensive about quitting a secured job, and what life had in store for me I found myself one among the ‘previledged’ few in the whole world to catch the first glimpses of the early morning sun’

The wonderful journey lasted about a couple of months, yet it was the most soul searching experience of my life. Not only in terms, how much of ‘fun‘ it was, but also how ignorant I was. Clumpsy, and confused I did feel out of place in the beginning - for instance it took a couple of minutes for me to count the cents and would make the guy at the ticket counter wait for me – everyday; would hop on to the bus through the rear door and get dirty glances from the drivers; traveled ticketless on my first trip to the city and could almost imagine myself handcuffed and dragged along the streets; or the day when I went upto a guy in a train and asked “If anyone was coming here”- the bad news is I went RED! The good news? Well, he didn’t. Phew! I am soooo Indian.

The first time I was left alone all to myself, I bushed walked for 4 hrs and almost got lost in the rainforest. Well, I didn’t regret it a bit. The trip to the Blue Mountains on the first weekend, got me all energized for the days to follow. Instead of following the much-civilized path, I ventured out into the mountains – meant for bush-walkers. A two-feet muddy path would take us deeper into the hills and into the valley. As you strutted along with two cameras, bottle of water and just silence around you. You would suddenly have this weird thought at the back of your mind – what if something happened. Putting my thoughts aside, I did explore the place a bit – bumped into this beautiful waterfall. Majestic and Graceful. Deviated right into the fall, and even caught a white woman going topless and taking picture of herself under the falls – you know like those models in FTV. :P . Now, what’s wonderful about this place is its just blue. Its blue coz the liquid produced by rubber trees reflects a blue tinge of light, and that’s what makes the mountains blue.

One of the most exotic experiences I had was when I visited the acquarium. Having decided to relish every moment of the journey, I walked in to a world under the sea. What they attempted to create is not just a sight seeing escapade, but create an experience – the music, the light, the ambience everything complimented to this. Sea horses, the clown fishes, the brilliantly colored corals makes you wish you were a mermaid, swimming amongst them. But, the best was yet to come along. A huge aquarium, that had sharks, turtles and stingrays in it.
Most memorable moment was when this large stingray just sweept over me...
It is considered to be the most graceful sea animal.

My sister happens to stay in this, 7th floor apartment with a terrace which has an almost 360degree view. Dusk is the best time to catch a glimpse of the city, as those tiny lights starts flickering one by one; the city sleeps into the darkness.



To your extreme left is the Olypic Stadium, where Olympics 2000 took place.

Other than the places of course, what interested me most were the people. I gotta see True Australians on the Australian Day. People flocked into the Darling harbour, here there everywhere. Yellow and green, were the colors of the day. Munching on my spinach pizza and a can of coke I sat on the deck and watched. Watched them. What was so different about this people, when compared to us. Not better – mind you – but different.
Their lifestyle. They had time for life, whereas we slogged almost 13hrs a day. Their responsibilities were equally divided. If I cook, you wash the vessels, If you mow the garden, I vaccum the house.

If you handle the finances, I handle the kids. Absolute division of labour. Talking about the essence of Australia day, I gotta capture the various caps on display. A few were easy to capture, while I had to be careful about clicking theres in order not to offend any ozzies.

Hardcore Australians on the Australian Day. People flocked into the Darling harbour, here there everywhere. Yellow and green, were the colors of the day. Munching on my spinach pizza and a can of coke I sat on the deck and watched. Watched them. What was so different about this people, when compared to us. Not better – mind you – but different.
Their lifestyle. They had time for life, whereas we slogged almost 13hrs a day. Their responsibilities were equally divided. If I cook, you wash the vessels, If you mow the garden, I vaccum the house. If you handle the finances, I handle the kids. Absolute division of labour. Talking about the essence of Australia day, I gotta capture the various caps on display. A few were easy to capture, while I had to be careful about clicking theres in order not to offend any ozzies.

Great Classics.

Expecting a Casablanca or a Gone with the wind? Na...Go on, have a look, you will be pleasantly surprised. :)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0sYpE2HXZ9I&feature=related

A simple introduction

You wanna know about me.
Why,
I dont know you.

You wanna know what i think.
Why,
I have no opinion.

You wanna see how I feel.
Why,I don't react.

You wanna know where I belong.
Why,
I am neutral.

Check that out baby!!

Watched that brand new ad on stands..oops..on TV?
It took 15yrs for d brand to come up with a TVC in Indian Market.
New agency - new look - new touch...did i say touch? teehee..feel it!lol!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZ7Ou9B9qc

Comments..comments..i need more comments!!

Mind over matter

Accidents happen every time. Especially, when you travel a good 40 kms a day you would be the fortunate one to see, dogs getting crushed under wheels, broken glasses and a little bit of hulla gulla once in a while. The other day I was returning home after a long day at work, when a tata sumo bumped into my bike from behind. Though startled for a moment, I parked at the side of the road. This cab driver, instead of speeding off, he parked the vehicle, expecting something worse to happen. Me, after checking my bike, sped away without uttering a word.

The trouble started, when all my friends heard this story. You should have called the police…you should have abused him…you didn’t say a word? …you should have asked him to pay up…and many more…
Somehow, nobody seemed to understand my point of view. According to me the damage was already done, irrespective of whose fault that was. There was no point in arguing or making matters worse. Money? Well, I couldn’t imagine standing in the middle of the road at 10’o clock in the night, and argue with a cab driver to pay a couple of hundred bucks. That was something I wouldn’t do.

May be, because I was so used to seeing fights every other day on road; and unconsciously had decided that I wouldn’t do that if it happened to me. People abusing each other, slapping one another and trying to prove who was right and who wasn’t. Little do they realize that, all this while the only people having a good time are those onlookers. Ironically, nothing comes out of this hungama. No point proved. No one wins, no one looses. Yet, a lot is said than done.
They fail to realize it was just an accident.
Carrying along my thought with me, I was wondering if it is all about the choice we make. It is difficult to step back, and stop our selves.
Was I right in doing so? Or, was I being utterly foolish?

...Quitting to write
quitting reading...

Is the beginning of the destruction of human spirit.

Passing Thoughts...

You were, as I always said, pre-tested-tested-and post-tested.

Endurance test. Tested both, you and I.

Tested if I could fight against myself. I had and succeeded.

Yet, my emotion became more stable and stronger. I connected to you; without any physical presence. I was there, yet not there, I was present at the back of your mind-as an intriguing factor. I wanted you to come to me. I left clues behind. One following another. You picked them one by one, but couldn’t put it together. For you, it was an unsolved jigsaw puzzle. For me: you had responded.

It is funny when you tell me, ‘may be it was always there, I had failed to recognize it’.

Cause yes, it was always there…and it was me who had made you recognize it at the right time.

I had waited for it.

I was patient. Something kept me going. You were intriguing. There was something that I hadn’t seen before. Now, I know. Endurance.

You could stop yourself.
You could stop from asking questions.
You could be neutral.
You were the taste of my own medicine. And, I was relishing it.

Did I play with your mind? Or did I try to understand you? I don’t know. All I know is that I had occupied a place in your mind.
I was creating a brand identity*.

I communicated; I knew you would read between the lines. I knew only you could. You tried to break it. A few you did. A few you didn’t. I waited, patiently.

I wanted a stage, where ‘nothing was said but everything understood’. I was leading you there. You weren’t blind, but you followed. I was, no, we were creating something unknown, something intangible, yet felt, sensed & created. We were creating a bond.

I read through you. Without seeing, without meeting you. I was sensitive to every move you made. I knew it when you were happy; I knew it when you withdrew.
I was the silent spectator.

I had watched you for months. I had fought within myself. I had fought against attachment and had let you go. Yet, I waited. I knew you would come.

When you did, you weren’t new. You weren’t unknown. A step further, there was no element of surprise coz I knew this day would come. Above all, it was meant to be. Cause if it wasn’t we wouldn’t have been together.

And now, you fail to see. You fail to comprehend. You have made a choice.

You have left.

Ladies n gentlemen presenting..

Cat Calls

I came home after a travelling a good 40 kms at a stretch. Living in a hitech village called electronic city pushes you to do all that you have never thought you were ever capable of. As soon as I arrived, my maid informed me about the big hungama that was happening in my colony. According to her, the colony association had a problem with my cats and they wanted it out of the premises immediately. Hence, they had taken the matter into their ‘hands’, and were bent upon throwing these cats out. According to a few ‘affected’ houses, these ‘cats’ had entered their kitchen on more than one occasion.

Now, before you jump into any conclusions let me make few things clear. I don’t own a million cats. I just have one female cat. Whenever, she litters I make it a point to find homes for her kittens. Because, I understand that if goes astray these kittens might multiply and might actually turn out to be a nuisance to my neighbors. As a responsible member of the colony I take enough responsibility not to cause trouble to my peers. Ironically, I was wrong. I had caused damage. One such kitten, which I had given away, had returned and refused to budge from my house. Having not able to adopt it as my own, I do provide it with food whenever I can. Numerous attempts to ‘pack it off’ has failed.
According to the association it is this cat that causing the trouble, and hence they had ‘decided to do away’ with it by getting rid of both my cats.

I mean, the point I am trying to make over here is straight and simple;
“ Don’t I have the right to own a pet”?

• First of all, I wasn’t informed about this. The association decided it on their own and plunged into action. So, where do I stand here? What happens to lakhs of rupees I have invested in this colony to buy a house? What happens to the monthly maintenance I pay every month for the association to work smoothly?
• Association: What association are these people talking about? Is it registered? Even if it was, who made this association? Was it voted for? No, it wasn’t. It was self-elected. Where a bunch of power hungry wolves have pounced in to the bandwagon, to make the maximum use of the slightest opportunity. [And we blame the politicians for being desperate for power.]
• Even if I acknowledge that the association was rightly formed, What makes me abide by these rules. Nothing. I haven’t signed any contract that forces me to abide by them, neither do they have a set of rules or regulations, even if I consider that these regulations exist, does any of these talk about members are not allowed to own a cat?
• There are 230 houses in this colony. So, these guys are trying to tell me that they are going to stop, all these 230 houses from having a cat at home? I mean they are ok with it as long as these cats are tied up in the house. I mean, how hilarious can that get. In which part of the world dot they ‘tie up’ cats?
• Finally, how on earth is this man in question, sure that the cat that entered his house is the same cat that I own? There are quite a few other cats and kittens roaming around in the colony. Want proof? How else can you explain my female cat getting pregnant in a place where we have nothing but acres and acres of empty land surrounding us.
• Well there are always chances of looking at nuisance cases. I find that kid behind my house pretty annoying she cries all through the night and hardly lets me sleep. It’s a nuisance to me. Can I book her off too?
  
  Here the point is not about whether to have the cats or not. The point is about how snobbish people can get as soon as they have ‘arrived’ or the one who assume to have ‘arrived’. I am sure all these would have been living in independent houses or flats, and we sure would have experienced incidents where we have stray cats entering the house. I mean how difficult is it just shoo them away, or just to keep an eye on your kitchen windows. The point is no that they can’t put up with it, its just that they don’t want to. Because they are the privileged lot who lives in Silicon Valley. All I can say is I see a bunch of immature morons who have no better work in life, but to make a big issue out of nothing.
  
  Is everyone falling Adolph Hitler now a days?

Cross roads. I wrote about cross roads in life about couple of months back. Yet, it is now that I stand there… ‘wondering which road to take’.. Had I foreseen my future…had I foreseen myself.

Sharing my weekends and my time with someone, I have come to realize how much I miss being with myself. I had been alone then. I could spend time with myself, for myself.

I haven’t kept in touch with the real me, in a long time. This is the time you realize, how important it is. When you do, you are clear in your thought, you speculate and analyze and then decide. But, your decision is strong and there is no looking back. You are sure of your self. You don’t ask for suggestions cause u don’t need them.

You know what you want; you know how to get it.

And, you know you are right.

A walk along the Country lane

Half a mile I walked away
Under the blue blue skies.
I met some green
and a cauldron of brown,
With a dash of ginger
and the farmers clown.

Another half, I drifted away,
Pebbles at my feet
and the sun scorching high.
Looked for a pot
to quench my thirst,
Didn’t realize the time slip by.

Found an inn, and walked inside,
Ordered a draught and a pipe.
Torn jeans and rugged men.
A hearty laugh and a fight.

I walked further, to meet more
A beautiful maiden, lo and behold!
A basket of berries,
and a smile she had.
Took my heart
But, never came back.

Loved a moment and lost another
I walked further
to meet crossroads.
All four sides, it lay ahead.
I stopped and wondered...
which road?

I took the fifth and didn’t regret.
Without wondering where it lead.
Another half a mile
I walked again...

Found myself where I began,
Older, yet wiser
every crossroad’s the same.
I get ready to walk again...

Last four lines are Shenoys contribution...thanks man!!

Its Magic!

Of late there has been a lot of hue and cry about Sharukh Khan smoking in his new movie, Don. This whole issue is stale. This controversy has been going on from ages, but nothing much has been done about it. We need a couple of articles in the first page of Bangalore Times, to remind us that smoking is injurious to health and passive smoking is even worse. Then we need another enthusiastic journalist who would come up with a different angle to it- About how cinemas and celebrities negatively influence children, and how it is their duty to protect 40% of the one billion people in India. We claim it as our birth right.

What I am trying to convey here is the fact that we forget the most basic aspects and try to worry about things that far beyond our reach. I happened to be at an inaugural function last weekend. Didn’t want to miss out on, ace percussionist, Shivamani’s performance. Like the buy one get one offer, a magic show was also organized. The show started off well with a few interesting tricks, until it got a little uncomfortable, at least for me.

The magician, K.S. Ramesh, well known for his performance in movies like King Uncle, Pushpakavimmanam and internationally acclaimed for his performance in 25 countries, was doing well, until he shifted to his cigarette tricks. He picked up a cigarette lit it up and ‘magically’ floated it in the air. He not only used these cigarettes as a part of his tricks but also lit it and smoked it front of nearly 20-30 children present there. All wide eyed, at what their uncle could do; these under 15 category, soaked in a good amount of harsh reality.

Violence in movies and video games increases aggression in children, as they grow older these pent up feelings come out as violence during riots. Footages from news channels would reveal that a lot of men involved in riots are a part of it, not because of personal prejudice but because it’s one of the ways to express their pent up frustrations. However, psychologists reveal that parents have greater influence on children than video games. Children take in what they see and not what they are told to do. If the father smokes, there are good chances that the child might take up to it when he/she grows up or even worse, when he is quite young to realize what is happening.

Children, tend to repeat the behavior of people they look up to; their parents, teachers and sometimes even magicians who have ‘extraordinary powers’. A person, who seems like ‘God’, did not take enough responsibility to decide what he could and could not do on the stage, especially when it involved children. These tricks got even worse, when he tried couple of knife piercing tricks on a 10 yr old boy. Forget the parents, my mom couldn’t take it though it was just a trick- an illusion. Ironically, nobody seemed to have objected to it. I might sound a little over sensitive; my article might be another classic example of sensationalizing issues, but if one person of all the visitors I get, starts thinking about it, I would consider my job done. Because, I, believe in chain reaction.

Candy Floss

I stood there watching the cauldron spin. My eyes going round and round in circles in tune with the humming sound. Up and down… up and down…up and down…to see strips of colored sugar forming into a web.

It was one of those Sunday afternoons when I was lazing around listening to some good country music. My friend barged into the room, and announced that there was a candy man outside. All excited I grabbed a handful of coins and rushed to catch him before he left. I had expected to see a young boy carrying a bunch of ready made candies, neatly tied in small plastic packets in different colors – pink, yellow and pink(er). What greeted me was, a pleasant surprise.

An old cartwheel painted bright blue. It was what you call the ‘uniform’ blue that children wear to school in villages. The planks broken, the edges torn, four strong wheels balanced the cart. Modern tires in good condition. It had a board too. All painted in bright yellow. Don’t remember what was written on it. All I do remember, is that they were bold, colorful and could make you give it a second glance. Synonymous with…lets say a Porsche? ;)

It’s funny that such simple things can bring back memories. Memories of your childhood. When you wait for that candy man on every Sunday evening and watch him magically spin threads of sugar into a multi layered web which is broad at the base and grows to form a high peaked cone. Miraculously.

It was something you wanted to feel but couldn’t touch…something that you wanted to eat but didn’t want to finish...something that you wanted it to linger on your taste buds…but simply disintegrated.

Coming back to what I was talking about, I was surprised to see this machine after a good 15yrs. Now, we have those electrified, modern spinning machines that could make twenty candies in couple of minutes. What I am talking about is the hand spun, kerosene filled, manually operated magical cauldrons that cast a spell on us.

The old man informed me that the machine was about 30 yrs old and he had it repaired just about 6months back. He had restarted his business and was trying to make some money out of it.

As he spun my candy, I watched wide eyed, still trying to figure out how colored crystals could be melted at that the right temperature exposed to right amount of hot air could spin itself into a bundle of joy. Call me silly, but I was wondering how today’s generation had missed out on such simple pleasures. As they say, it was not about eating it; it was about watching them make it. It had affected me. It made me relive the moments I had lost touch with, that even after three weeks after the incident, I am still thinking about it and have almost finished writing a 500 word feature on it and you, were dumb enough to read it!!

P.S.
Oh btw, he just charged me 5 bucks for it…how on earth can the prices remain the same even after 15 yrs…!!!…Hey…I do see a story idea over here…shit!! Could have written a 1000 word on it…ok…ok…I’ll stop!!!

This happens only in India!!!

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/20870/these-bjp-men-cant-sing-vande.html

The 'I' Factor

Fountain Head. The book was referred to me by quite a few. Having read about objectivism I was ready to explore the depths of it. I read, I almost finished…till I reached the turning point. Howard Roark’s, court scene. No, not that I didn’t have time, but because, I wanted to be in the ‘right’ state of mind when I read it.

Objectivism is something that has intrigued me over a long period of time. Much before I had even heard of the term or realized that something like that even existed. Life seems to be the best teacher. Certain incidents make you think. Think on our own for the first time, that’s probably when you get an ache in your mouth, and you stand in front of the mirror with your mouth wide open, in time to realize that its just your wisdom tooth tearing your flesh.

There have been times when I have felt, why we have always been taught all the wrong things in life. Not wrong, actually, unimportant. Altruism, for instance. Is ‘selfless’ service towards others so important? Or is it just another rosy word for hypocrisy.
NGOs: Non-Governmental Organizations. A service minded, non-profit oriented set ups which works for the betterment of people at the grass root level. Grass root level? Guess, the ‘Ignorance is pure bliss,’ factor works well in this case.

Don’t let your mind rule your heart. This is an interesting and probably the most complicated statement. As we grow up, we tend to pick a few things around us to make us a better person. The first thing I learnt was the very fact that a lot decisions taken without any logical thinking leads to a lot of f***k ups. C'ommon its just an emotion. Why does an emotion become so important, why does other’s feelings become so important? Is it because we fail to realize that the world is ruled by the mind?
Name it: Psychology, Marketing, Communication, Terrorism, Advertisements, Management, Relationships, Spirituality, Branding all exists merely because of the Power of mind. It works under the “I, Me, Myself’ concept, which according to me, is the sole purpose of our existence. Will you be able to reach a stage when nothing becomes important. Both...Possessions and People. Can you buy something you want and give it away…Can you love enough to let it go…Can you resist temptation… Can you fight against yourself…

How many of us can actually eat alone? Shop alone? Forget it, How about a coffee…"Excuse me ...Can I have coffee with myself?” Not many. Just because we are scared of what others might think of us. Scared, we might be branded losers or weirdos. For those who do, can you stop justifying to your friends as to why you have your coffees alone?

A lot of us live alone. No, we aren’t lonely. Just alone. We aren’t lonely cause there is no ‘need’ for another. We are the kind of people who can find happiness in ourselves. There are no expectations and there are no disappointments.

A state where nothing can make you happy but nothing can hurt you either. We are with people, among people yet don’t bond.

We, don’t connect.

Movies and Books

In an effort to understand different perspectives, I have taken an ‘on the fence’ aspect, you might even find me contradicting my own statements. Criticism? Welcome.

A very common statement, “The book was much better”, a review we hear from everyone who has read a book and go the theatres to watch the motion pictures. Well, there are two kinds of people, the ones who read a book and then go watch a movie, and the ones who watch a movie and then read the book. All for the same reason: To relive the experience. Somehow, I am not convinced. Relive? The same experience? Is it really possible?

This thought triggered in my mind, when I started a similar topic in my community at Orkut. One response caught my eye: ”c'mon.... how can a movie be better than a book...”. ‘Interesting perspective’, I thought. Because I had never felt that a movie cannot replace a book. Just for a simple reason, that these, are two completely different arts, which cannot (for heaven’s sake) be evaluated on the same platform. They stimulate different senses, in different proportions providing us with completely different experiences.

From ages we have blindly accepted the ‘acknowledged fact’, without a reason. Have we ever found ourselves asking, why are we even comparing these? Its like comparing, rock and carnatic music. Can anyone tell me which music is better? Both are. In their own ways.

The second point I want to make here is, even if we end up comparing a book to a movie, can a movie be better than the book? Definitely, why not? I think there have been various instances in which movies have been better than (or equivalent to) a book. One such movie, according to me is the movie Peter Pan by P.J.Hogan. The movie is about the boy who never grew up and the ‘fantastical’ journey of three kids into the never land. The moviemaker has looked into the intricate details and has made an attempt to bring out the essence of reliving a fantasy, and has been successfully in doing so. The actors are a perfect fit into the characters. Peter Pan, with his boyish grin, Wendy as the mother and Tinker bell as the fairy. Awesome. One of the most innovative scenes is the situation where, Peter Pan loses his shadow and his quest to get it back. The director takes us into a world which we all know of, yet haven’t experienced. A world, which we want to believe in, still clinging on to the fact that, there, just might be a fairy living in our backyard. We have all lived it in our yester years; we want to relive it…again…and again…believing, in something that might not just exist at all.

Peter Pan: Brilliant pictuarization with tastefully composed music, that blends well into the mood of the story. A story well told!

Blog Block

I woke up in the morning and headed straight towards my comp. I need my daily dosage: Orkut, Chats, News, Blogs. Blogs. I tried opening mine. Didn’t work. Assuming that there might be some problem with it, I tried everything possible, from mailing them my complaint and cleaning up my cache to updating my windows. Nothing worked. Quite concerned about loosing my blog, I tried consulting my friends just to know that blogspot. has been completely banned in India!

Government of India has taken this drastic step of blocking 12 websites. And blogspot, one of the major sources for Indian blogs has been banned too. According to an article I read in www.outlookindia.com , people who w re in charge of cyber security and threats, decided to ban a few websites like Dalitstan.org, Clickatell.com, Hinduhumanrights.com and Hinduunity.com, which were spreading extreme religious views. And one such blog, princesskimberly.blogspot.com, contained such offensive material. Since, they didn’t know how to block a particular page, they blocked the whole website!

In the process of blocking blogspot.com, they are curbing an Indian citizen’s most basic right: Freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). The government has taken such a drastic step without even informing the public about it. Isn’t the government responsible for such an action or should we consider this as an authoritarian regime, in one of the most liberal democratic countries. What did they expect, that this issue would die down amicably? Have they forgotten that these blogs were the most helpful tools during the Mumbai blasts?

I am shocked. I have nothing important in my blog, other than a couple features and some poetry. Nevertheless, It is my blog. Something I have created and nurtured for such a long time. It is an extension of myself. A platform that made me express my opinions and views on everything. I could criticize and appreciate, yet get away with it. And no one has the right to take that away from me.

When the officials were contacted this is what they had to say: ‘We would like those people to come forward who access these (the 12) radical websites and please explain to us what are they missing from their lives in the absence of these sites.’ (www.outlookindia.com)

Now, this campaign of bloggers against censorship will answer them all: http://censorship.wikia.com/wiki/Bloggers_Against_Censorship

Reported: Live ;-)

Perspectives. The key to 'innovative thinking'. Interesting link, do wait till all the clips open. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/13/zidane_headbutt_outrage/

La Da Vinci Code

In an effort to relive the book, I had read about couple of years, I was one among the last few to catch up on Da Vinci code. Had been trying my best not to get over enthusiastic about the movie for a month-didn’t want o be disappointed u see. I sat there hushing my friends up and munching on popcorn, I watched - my presence unfelt and the world unfolded.

La Da Vinci Code- The movie touched upon the major incidents of the movie, it was not thought provoking. As the movie unfolded I realized that though the movie was interesting to certain extent, it failed to create suspense in the viewers mind. It did not make us ask ourselves, ‘What’s next’, like the book did - unexpectedly.
Poor editing skills. It could have been better if there was enough consideration given to the editing procedure of the movie. It was flat. Slow paced. And lacked the, ups and downs of the intense quest for truth.
The director has taken it for granted that everyone would have read the book. If a person with no knowledge about the background, watched the movie it would probably be not worth his money. Its confusing, with important details from history, put very subtly and unimportantly. The moviemaker has tried to fit in a whole lot of details within those 90 mins.

Well I know, this review has come quite late, but couldn’t resist adding to the sea of criticism this movie has received.

My verdict: Movie was good, but not good enough to be thought provoking. Nice try, could have been better.

We relived tomorrow.
Watched our past unfold,
Planned today

The present. A gift?
to be taken or given.
A gift, lost.

We meet again.
Rekindling the moments,
We retreat to our own abode,
With hope.

Faces n Phases.
Pass through us.
A few common,
A few unknown.

Parallel,
We walk beside each other.
Watching.

I look ahead,
A burning desire.
I foresee the future.
I foresee us.

Rang De Basanti: 2

Gruesome videos of the lathi charge against the medical students, haunts me. I sit at home helplessly, trying to figure out, what would be the outcome of this whole issue. In the process I am reminded of a similar incident that happened a couple of months back.

The incident took place at Jyoti Nivas College, Bangalore. One of the most prestigious colleges in Bangalore known for imparting standard education. Being an ex jncite, I have no complaints against that.

Come February and it is the time for all the students to pay up their examination fees. Nearly three thousand students are expected to pay up their fees at the bank within two days. And the bank is open for about four hours a day. This brings a lot of confusion at the ‘only’ counter. In an attempt to keep it more ‘organized’ the watchman of the college manhandled a girl on the chest area and even went further to slap her on the face. The watchman got a slap back in return and the girl went straight to the principal’s office to complain. The principal, who had already heard the watchman’s side of the story, turned a deaf ear towards the girl. She not only asked the girl to kneel down and apologize to the watchman but also called her a ‘third rate north eastern girl’ and threatened expulsion from college.

Discriminated in her own college, the girl poured out the whole story to couple of her friends. Unfortunately the girl stayed in a hostel. The news spread. All the sixty girls from the hostel had a meeting and decided to protest against this. They started messaging the others.

Day 1: About fifty students gather near the canteen to discuss the whole issue. They have a meeting with the principal, as expected all the acquisitions are denied. Expulsion of the watchman from the college is not even taken into consideration. The news reaches the media.

Word Spreads.

Day 2: Around 200 girls, clad in black, protest against the management outside the college. Slogans are used, looking for justice. More reporters covering the issue. Traffic comes to a halt.

Day 3: Meeting is organized, apologies accepted and the man in action thrown out of the college. Classes resume as usual.

Christ College: Another not so well known episode. One of the students, happen to submit his project about five days after the deadline, due to some personal problems. The Consequence: On the day of the exam the internal examiner claimed that he hadn’t submitted the project at all. He said: “Arent you rich? Go buy a certificate for yourself”. The boy couldn’t write his exams and lost a year.

After listening to all these episodes, I thanked my stars for not falling into s*** during my college days. When I heard about the incident in JNC, I was shocked but not surprised. Because it rekindled my memories: Of my friends going through, a good, negligible amount of racial discrimination on various occasions. On the second situation, all I could do was pity the forthcoming students, as the college was going autonomous. Their lives were at the stake of the teacher’s fingertips. They could make or break them. Personal prejudices, mood fluctuations, dominance, obligations and the ‘this will remain between the four walls syndrome’ have lead to Rang De Bansanti like episodes in the country. Atleast now, thanks to technology, I can voice my opinion…am sure there are hundreds out there who want to.

I..me..myself...

I listen
I dont speak.
I listen
I dont speak.
I speak
You dont listen.

You hear
You talk
You see
You live.

I exist.
I wanna live.
We talk
I want to communicate.
I see
I want to look...
into you.

A flight.
High-spirited.
Spending every minute with myself,
Relishing every bit.

I crash against a handful of air.
Twisting and curling,
I look underneath.
A world, which gave birth to me.

Higher and higher I plunge deeper,
Away from it all.

Silver stars on my fingertips,
Infecting my nails with glitter.

Higher and higher I plunge deeper,
Away from it all.

A vaccum space envelope.
My senses comfortably numb.
I sense it…feel nothing
In my deep.

Higher and higher I want to rise,
I plunge deeper.

Reach the core.
My skin touches something never felt before.
Restless, I want to explore.
I explore.
I explore
within myself,
I explore.