And the Music Plays!

What is yours today,
belonged to someone else yesterday, and
will belong to someone else the
day after tomorrow.
You are mistakenly enjoying the thought
that this is yours.
It is this false happiness that is
the cause of your sorrows.

~Excerpts from the Bhagwad Gita

30th September 2010

Dear India,

Keep your cool today.

Remember, be it a Mosque or be it a Temple, they all lead to the same God.

Love,

PA

There are some incredibly brilliant book bloggers on the silky web and Suko’s Notebook is one such blog which I enjoy reading. Suko had recently announced a contest which required the participants to write something and the prize was a vibrant book on poetry by Sweta Srivastava Vikram, titled ‘Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors. Name your favorite color or colors, or tell us about the importance of color in your own life, said Suko. The thrill of getting a book as a prize has a charm of its own. What say? I was game for it and this was my entry.

~

I am a color enthusiast, if you ask me. Literally. I love the vibrancy attached to them and how they have the power to pep you up at times. Part of it stems from the fact that colors play a significant role in the lives of South Asian women. Colors play an important role in Hinduism and have been an integral part of our culture and tradition, besides being a part of our upbringing. Visit any traditional Hindu household, and you will be a graced by the very colorful and deeply fascinating ‘Rangoli’, primarily during festivals. It is an intriguing & enchanting traditional art form used to decorate the entrance of the house, to ward off the evil eye and to welcome Lakshmi Mata, the Goddess of Wealth. We, Hindus have an unsaid emotional bonding with colors and their choices are more or less occasion dependent. In fact, in India we also have a festival of colors, Holi.

Although my personal perennial favorites have been light blue for formal wear and red for festive times, my pick of colors are predominantly occasion, season & mood based. I have a colorful wardrobe with a color for each occasion. For summers, I go in for fresh and playful colors. My pick is usually a soothing palette of pristine whites, baby pink and turquoise. This Diwali – the Hindu Festival of Lights, I am all for rich luscious tones of Emerald Green, Red, Antique Gold, Salmon, and Tiffany Blue.

My earliest memories of colors have been the vibrant hues in my mother’s wardrobe. Those sarees in various shades of the spectrum are the best I have seen till date. I could know her mood by her pick of the color of the day. And the way her eyes light up till date at the sight of sarees in various tones & hues of blue. That’s her favorite, by the way. For me the word, color also somehow brings to mind the richly spiced up Indian Curry. Ah! There speaks my love of food and all things good and colorful! On that note, let me tell you, try out a food item in a color of your choice and see the way it peps you up! My childhood memories also conjure up an image of me prancing around in frocks of different shades. You name it, I had it. Baby pink was my pick for birthdays. I had a collection of Ladybird Fairy Tales where the main protagonist wears beautiful colorful gowns. The more colorful the book, the more I stuck to it like a bee. Give me a canvas and a set of paints, and I could probably forget the world around me. Doing up the house with a play of colors, artifacts and colorful flowers has a charm of its own.

As I open my wardrobe today, I see an array of colors. Same counts for the refrigerator. As I look out of the window, I see gracious greenery ready to soothe my soul and vivid nature at its nurturing best. Take out a single color from my life, and it would be incomplete. I love all my colors. Colors add life, to my life.

~

Last night I received an email from Suko saying that PA had won that wonderful colorful book! Yippppeeeee! The book is on its way.

This is to say Thanks to Suko from PA

Maala To Kar Mein Phire, Jeebh Phire Mukh Mahin
Manua To Chahun Dish Phire, Yeh To Simran Nahin

~ Kabir Doha

Bigg Boss is back with a new season. The crash course in games-people-play starts on October 3, 2010 and will last for duration of 3 months. It will be aired on sabka favorite channel these days i.e. Colors. By games-people-play, I don’t mean kho kho, kabaddi, pakda pakdi though if you think on a deeper level, it can actually be. It’s about the politics of life, the politics of survival, dog eat dog atmosphere, kissa kursi ka. Got it.

That’s one show that everybody openly hates but secretly watches. Coming to the specimen err… participants in Bigg Boss Season 4 – as usual they’ve roped in everyone who has a penchant for controversy. Let’s have a look:

The Men

Chunky Pandey

Claim to Fame: Bollywood Actor; Hide and Seek appearances on the big screen in fancy dress costumes

Whenever I hear his name, I can’t help but ask – Why Chunky? I mean who names himself or his kid, Chunky? Think about it. As an inmate, Chunky the Monkey may just enlighten us about the rahasya behind his name in addition to some fancy dress competitions.

Rajesh Khanna

Claim to Fame: The Bollywood Superstar-Casanova of yesteryears turned desperado-sleazy-actor of today / Dimple Kapadia’s estranged Pati / Akshay Kumar’s FIL

Remember, you won’t get alcohol in there for three whole months. Three Whole Months. And keep a check on that Casanova trait dude! You will be on national television and in all possibilities your grandchildren will be watching it. Keep your superstar-giri at home and come.

Jackie Shroff

Claim to Fame: Became a household name with Subhash Ghai’s ‘Hero’ decades ago, and then went on to do many memorable Bollywood roles before fading away.

My heart still flutters when I see you in a re-run of Hero and Ram Lakhan. Tu mera jaanu hai tu mera dilbar, the flute tracks and the various other songs from Hero makes me feel like having a crush on you again. But that’s about it! I don’t like the way you have maintained yourself nowadays. I mean look at Anil Kapoor and look at yourself, even though I am not a big fan of your Lakhan. You are looking like a hooligan these days. Are you behaving like that as well? Do something about it.

Manoj Tiwari

Claim to Fame: Bhojpuri Actor – apparently known as the Shah Rukh Khan of Bhojpuri Cinema

Dear SRK, are you aware about this? That he is called The Shah Rukh Khan of Bhojpuri Cinema. Don’t you object to it? Anyone around who watches Bhojpuri movies, tell me is this true? A Bhojpuri actor seems to be becoming a permanent contestant in the show after Ravi Kishan’s antics and wise cracks got the TRP game soaring.

Shaan

Claim to Fame: An Indian heartthrob singer; untouched by controversy

Loved by millions of people around the world and by me as well and is usually a permanent feature for the Alumni Meet in my college. I don’t know if he is actually an alumnus or is just invited for entertainment. All I know is his live performances during the Alumni Meet are the best I have ever seen. Usually accompanied by his wife and kids and often gets the kids on stage during the performances. Enough to make a women go weak in her knees. And the saga started many years ago when he crooned into our hearts with the wonderful – Woh pehli baar jab hum mile hathon mein haath jab hum chale and the mesmerizing Dil yeh mera tumse kuch keh raha hai… suna na. And I saw seen and heard him perform Live all his best numbers.

Now my question is, why Shaan as a contestant? We women would be a happy lot if we get a song a day with that effervescent constant smile of his.

Shiney Ahuja

Claim to Fame: Small time Bollywood actor went on to become famous due to his performances with his maid.

He was earlier offered Salman Khan’s role in Dabangg by Abhinav Kashyap, just to let you know. He kept on doing dilly-dally and kept Kashyap waiting. Good for us. I shudder to think what would have happened to Dabangg had Shiney Ahuja been Chulbul Pandey. Just like Chunky, I would like to know why is your name Shiney? Did your parents keep that name or did you yourself do that naamkaran? Why, Shiney? Let me tell you I didn’t even like you in Hazaron Kwaishein Aisi even when everybody liked you. And the chances of you being liked by anybody else are almost nil. What were the people at Bigg Boss thinking before getting a rapist on the show? Just because the maid goes back on the statement doesn’t mean the world is going to believe you. Got it? A rape is a rape. And oh ya, just disassociate yourself with that surname of yours. Doesn’t go down well with me, you idiot!

Vinod Khanna

Claim to Fame: Yesteryears famous Bollywood actor

I am not a big fan of yours though a lot of people I know, adore you for some reason which I can’t understand neither am I interested. Can you please step aside and send in Rahul Khanna on the show? He looked like a piece of chocolate cake in Hollywood Bollywood, that movie which he did with Lisa Ray. I am sure having Rahul on the show would rake in more TRP. Are the channel guys listening? Do you need more female audiences? Oh you want to negotiate and bargain! Is it! Wokay chalo Akshaye Khanna ko bhej do!

The Women

Dimpy Mahajan

Claim to Fame: Rahul Mahajan’s wife via Rahul ka Swayamvar

She isn’t new to the masala-magic of reality shows. Dimpy is not her real name. It’s Somashri or something like that. She is the item-girl-Mahajan-bahu. Three months on the show may just help her stay away from the domestic violence that Rahul subjects her to.

Sneha Ullal

Claim to Fame: Aishwarya Rai lookalike. Made her Bollywood debut opposite Salman Khan.

Sneha, your co-actor is the host of the show. So chill. There’s not much to say except whatever has been said above.

Sangeeta Bijlani

Claim to Fame: Salman Khan’s ex-flame. Once upon a time small-time Bollywood actress. Indian Cricketer Mohd Azharuddin’s estranged wife.

Too many controversies around you, eh? Bigg Boss and other reality shows need people like you.

Sara Khan

Claim to Fame: Played one of the lead characters in Bidaai – An Indian saas-bahu daily soap with some high TRP

She had been Miss Madhya Pradesh a couple of years ago. Do I see you laughing? Hawww… that’s bad. Frankly I don’t understand why she is here.

Shweta Tiwary

Claim to Fame: Played the lead ‘Prerna’ in Kasauti Zindagi ki – A TRP raking daily soap from Ekta Kapoor

She’s been in a couple of reality shows earlier, hence an obvious choice especially after her two-piece bathing act under a jharna / waterfall in some jungle-based reality show. Her ex-husband was also a contestant in the earlier season.

Simone Singh

Claim to Fame: Played the lead in popular Indian television series ‘Heena’

The stunner has done off-beat roles in films and television on an on-and-off basis besides being a regular on the Page 3 party circuit.

Avika Gor

Claim to Fame: The ‘Balika’ Vadhu in Balika Vadhu – Indian daily soap on child marriage

Dear Balika-trying-to-be-a-chick, this is not a place for you. Just because your role as the child bride in that show of yours has ended doesn’t mean that you or your parents will pounce on this reality show. Who signed the contract? The balika-chick or her parents? What about her school for three whole months? Is it okay to send a kid in the Bigg Boss house? Do her parents know that there are some objectionable characters inside the house? Are you okay with a balika or balak inmate in the Bigg Boss house?

There have been rumors of Pamela Anderson also being part of the show. Will this be a Bigg Boss Adults only Season? Oh how can it be an adults-only season? There’s a balika there! Oh what’s happening? I don’t know!

Bigg Boss is known to have last minute additions and subtractions to the list of contestants. So a note to the male janta, don’t start drooling right away with respect to Ms. Pam. Overheard – What if some lame contestant on the show asks, ‘Kaun Pamela Anderson?’

PS – Get Rakhi Sawant on the show. I am not a fan of her item numbers, but I am certainly a fan of her outspokenness and her ready view on everything under the sun. And how can one forget her hilarious mimicry sessions! We also have a poll here. Participate in the poll, wokay?

If you are a part of Twitteratti and other social media paraphernalia, you will realize that The Kalmadi Saga wouldn’t have been the same. Our people sure have a self depreciating humor but make it clear that such things are indeed unacceptable. Read between the lines and you will know. Tharoor’s store was shut for his satirical hundred odd characters because certain people in power could. But they somehow cannot and will not be able to hold the satirical antics of the aam janta on the social media scene. Instead of making a fuss about why things are written and the other whats whys and hows, it is better to get hold of the underlying message and clean the bureaucracy. It will take more time than cleaning the toilets, mind you but it will be worth it.

Here are some knick knacks from the Kalmadi Puraan:

• Ek waqt aisa aayega, kalmadi bhi sharmayega
• Don’t know why athletes are complaining about lack of water in the residential blocks. We built the village next to the Yamuna for a reason.
• Terrorists set to skip CWG 2010 citing unlivable conditions and fear for their safety.
• Delhi badnaam hui darling tere liye! Saddkein bhi jaam hui, CWG tere liye
• Prince Charles is actively convincing the Queen to visit dengue hit Delhi, this may be his last chance to become the king!
• Suresh Kamadi just tried to hang himself in the CWG stadium. But the ceiling collapsed!
• Ba ba Kalmadi, have you any shame. No sir, No sir, we are having a Common Loot Game. Crores for my partner, crores for the dame, crores for me too, for spoiling India’s name!
• Thanks to Guernsey and Jersey for threatening to pull out of games! We now know these countries existed!
• People can get tired of Santa Banta jokes, but no one can ever get tired of Kalmadi jokes… Coz they’re NOT jokes, they’re the TRUTH!
• A collapse a day keeps the athletes away
• `Hang me if I am proved guilty, Kalmadi declared. It means you already decided the panel of Judges. Either Sonia G has assured him of full support or he has become suicidal
• Background song while showing the messy happenings at the Games Village – Jadugar jaadu kar jayega kisi ko samajh nahin aayega
• A special hygiene lane would become operative for concerned athletes, linking Khel Gaon to the nearest Sulabh Shauchalay
• In a Hindi/kannada combo, Kal-Madi means kal karo – do it tomorrow..no wonder everything is promised for tomorrow under him
• If you re-arrange the letters “Sir U made lakhs” you get “SURESH KALMADI
• The truth behind bulk sms banning is to stop kalmadi jokes and not Ayodhya!
• The Snake at CWG was Kalmadi’s way to make African athletes feel at home.
• Which movie title best sums up CWG 2010–Delhi? a) Monsoon Wedding b) Gol-Maal c) Any Ramgopal Varma movie d) Chori Chori e) Chupke Chupke
• Look at the brighter side; the more countries pull out, the higher India is ranked in the final medal’s tally.

Note: These jokes have been doing the rounds of social media. Personal attacks and trolls on this blog will not be entertained with kindness. Remember, the aam janta has a voice. And a loud one. So don’t get back telling me that jokes or jibes won’t help. The people of my country have an underlying seriousness even when they joke. In my opinion, having a voice and having a say helps. Also don’t get back saying that the aam janta should have wisely elected during the so called elections. You and me know what happens when you are asked to choose between the devil and the dead sea. Don’t you?

On a serious note, what do you think should be done with Kalmadi after the Games? What’s your take on Sheila Dixit? What should be done with her? What’s your take on the entire CWG 2010 saga?

PS – I was sent this  —– You are who to ask anything to kalmadi and anyone you are a lady and never cross your limit otherwise you will suppressed by men

The Bookworm is hosting an international giveaway for The Life O’Reilly by Brian Cohen. Winners will be announced on October 1.

Where the Mind is Without Fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection:
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is lead forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action–
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Yeah Yeah! You heard that right!

Our friendly neighborhood pocha goes branded!

Make way for the branded pocha, ladies and gentlemen! That is, if gentlemen are interested in Pocha Politics!

Pocha, branded ones, all the way on national television!  A la Scotch brite Pocha

And it has a fancy saas-bahu ad to do the good deed!

According to the makers, the pocha comes with a scrubbie that can be used to clean the corners of floors that normally gather more dirt than the rest of the floor.

Gharelu Pocha is now feeling intimidated. Neglected. Shattered.

Gharelu Pocha to Branded Pocha: Mere pet pe laat maar dee tu ne! Yeh tu ne acha nahin kiya kambaqqt. Main badla le ke rahoonga. Main phir aaonga. Punar janam le ke. Before that I will go on Razz Pichle Janam Ka to figure out ke tumne mere saath aisa kyun kiya…

Branded Pocha: Yeh waq waqt ki baat hai lafange!

Movie – Patthar Ke Phool

Song – Kabhi tu chhalia

One of my favorite songs from yester years! Happened to hear it again by chance playing somewhere this morning and it has stuck in my mind since then!

Vodafone India has come out with a new TVC called ‘Blackberry Boys’ targeting the non-business segment and emphasizing on the various uses of the smart-phone for daily use.

Advertiser: Vodafone, India | National Creative Director: Rajiv Rao | Creative Directors: Rajesh Mani and Mehul Patil | National Account Head: Kapil Arora | Account Management: Sarang Wahal and Prithviraj Shetty | Director: Prakash Varma | Producer: Sneha and Lisa | Production House: Nirvana Films | Creative Agency – Ogilvy India

Lyrics of the Jingle: We wear cool suits | We wear shiny Shoes | We’re the Blackberry Boys | Oh yeah | We’re the Blackberry Boys | We’re special, we’re clever | We’re very very clever | We’re the Blackberry Boys | Oh yeah | We’re the Blackberry Boys | We do chat | and we do mail | We do surf | We do all on the move | Oooo, ooo, ooo, hoooo | Cos We’re the Blackberry Boys | Oh yeah | We’re the Blackberry Boys | Na na na | We’re the Blackberry Boys | Oh yeah | We’re the Blackberry Boys

~

So what if there is hullabaloo over banning Blackberry services in India

We will increase the reach

And then let the janta create a hullabaloo to stop the ban

Methinks, this is what they think, what say?

~

Well, the first time I saw this advertisement, I thought it’s a local cable TV ad Then when I realized that its not, I went ‘eeks!’. A few days later after being subjected to their jingle constantly, I found myself humming along. Yes that’s what it does. It sticks to you like chewing gum. And then you start enjoying it beyond a point. Some things just grow on your with their subtle demeanor. And before you know what’s happening, you are grooving along!

What did you produce,
which you think got destroyed?
You did not bring anything,
whatever you have, you received from here.
Whatever you have given, you have given only here.
Whatever you took, you took from God.
Whatever you gave, you gave to Him.
You came empty handed,
you will leave empty handed.

~Excerpts from the Bhagwad Gita

Sometimes a moment of happiness

Just sums up into

Feeling the rains and the breeze on your palms

And Sometimes

A lifetime of happiness

Sums up into

Feeling the rains and the breeze on your palms

Here’s a fantastic blog that I have been reading for a while. It’s called – The Key Bunch. Why is it called so, you may wonder? Here’s why as per Sharon and Rekha, the blog owners – Traditionally in India, the lady of the house carried a key bunch on her waist. It was a sign of wealth and standing, as it contained keys to the important rooms of the house, especially the granary and the treasury. The Key Bunch here is as precious, and opens doors to beautiful homes, offices and spaces.

They are celebrating their second blogversary by having a wonderful giveaway contest – courtesy Clean Planet.

About Clean Planet – Clean Planet is the brainchild of a group of designers, marketers, and all-round good people who are committed to creating products that are both stylish and eco-friendly.

Hop over and participate! You may just win a cool Tote err The Wise Tote for sharing your nuggets of wisdom!