I have recently been delving into John Mayer. Once touted as the next Sting [dunno about that, big shoes to fill those]…his music is very appealing…easy on the years..deep ..meaningful and melodic. One of favourites is “Who Says I can’t be stoned”…Take a peak if you haven’t already.

Who says I can’t get stoned
Turn off the lights and the telephone
Me in my house alone
Who says I can’t get stoned

Who says I can’t be free
From all of the things that I used to be
Rewrite my history
Who says I can’t be free

It’s been a long night in New York City
It’s been a long night in Baton Rouge
I don’t remember you looking any better
But then again I don’t remember you

Who says I can’t get stoned
Call up a girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so
Who says I can’t get stoned

Who says I can’t take time
Meet all the girls in the county line
Wait on fate to send a sign
Who says I can’t take time

It’s been a long night in New York City
It’s been a long night in Austin too
I don’t remember you looking any better
But then again I don’t remember you

Who says I can’t get stoned
Plan a trip to Japan alone
Doesn’t matter if I even go
Who says I can’t get stoned

It’s been a long night in New York City
It’s been a long time since 22
I don’t remember you looking any better
But then again I don’t remember you

A few people [largely my Dad] have been complaining about me having given up on blogging. He even sent me a few links so that I could get “inspired”..Nice one Dad…Having already used up the “writer’s block” excuse, I am tempted to look elsewhere. I also boasted that writing a blog post has never been a “big deal” for me…I do stand by it of course..discounting when I write poetry [if you can call it that] … that can take its time..and toll

Right…excuses…umm….the first one out of the bag is that “I have been busy”. Well although cliched and used to shreds with pretty much everything; this “excuse” does summarize my life for the past 2-3 months.

To be very honest I have a lot of time…and I am fairly efficient…however, I don’t have any spare time The time on my hands gets used up to complete work assignments and the remnant get used up by “you-must-do-this-now” chores [laundry, groceries, ironing...yadi yada]. But then..I do find the time to play the Ricky Pontings [2005] Cricket game on the PS2…..I know just a soon as I said that a lot of people may start wondering…so you have time for your “PS2″ and not for me/us? This is where a large percentage of the problem lies.

Someone once said, if you love what you do, you will never work for a single day of your life. True…well mostly . The underlying idea/concept/words beg/s to be discovered…if “you love what you do”. That’s the one thing about anything and everything that falls under the umbrella “chores”. We don’t like doing these activities and thus they tend to bore the hell out of us. Agree?

This is an argument I have had with many people [again largely my Mom]. I am watching the telly…well watching can be an understatement..I am “flipping” through the channels on the telly. I see an episode of a sitcom playing…I stop…briefly…keep flipping through…my Mom goes…”hmph”…number 1. After running through the channels, I come back to the channel which was playing that sitcom…advertisement…damn…so I start flipping…well no one can hold a gun to my head if an advert “I didn’t not want to watch” was playing? So I start flipping through again…”hmph”…number 2. Probably…just as long as the episode to get over [thats if I am having a bad day]. Sometimes, I used to get through…and then…would start watching a show…which Ma “does not want to watch”…”hmph”…number 3, 4, 5 and 6. To add to her irritation, I now start mouthing the dialogues..and am not even bothered about looking at the screen…having of course seen it a million times…”hmph”…number 7, probably the loudest . Advert…I start flipping…”Stop that..you are not even watching TV…its that same episode of Friends (or Seinfeld, or Family Guy, or a movie or highlights from a game..whatever; oh yeah I can mouth a few of them…how do you mouth a game? well..Duh…I would know what the commentators would say ….told you ); let me watch the ETV/Alpha TV Marathi [used to be Abhalmaya earlier..dunno what gets her all worked up these days]“. Its interesting to note that Dad was lucky when it came to the Telly. Being the man of the house, he had the first rights to the magic wand [the remote/s]. As soon as he walked in…he would stick his hand out..smile…and well..you had to find a different time/re-run and continue with your memorizing …that was that. Actually, if it stopped at that…it was ok..really…Pa didn’t have “too” much time…what did hurt is that when for the one time it was a “new” episode/movie you had not seen…well…too bad..still not a bad arrangement. What followed was the worst bit…they..oh yeah, Ma never minded Pa weaving “magic”… wanted you to sit with them..as family..and endure . The news…Ramdev baba yapping about…you name it…With the obvious association of “whatever-they-watch-is-boring” … I could never [well 90% of the time] enjoy it . Big Bro expected the same…and actually when he came back from Switzerland…he stuck out his hand..and I handed over EVERYTHING [mobile, car keys, bike keys, farm house keys, cheque book and money ]. I think he would have done well as a extortionist LOL

About the PS2. Well its uncanny…how I always tend to play the challenge in the Ricky Ponting 2005 PS2 game…I try hard to rewrite history by helping India win the 2003 World Cup; and well … sort of sustain history with India winning over Pakistan . Games and why people play them can be a question which baffles many…I just do so to vent the frustrations..and just sort of…escape .

One of my housemates, who is a great cook..always cooks better..when he is hungry. With me..it could sometimes be detrimental as I get impatient and try to rush things…when I am starving

A lot of people…try very hard to curb their temptations [like eating out, partying, travelling or holidaying even..] to save money…people have two tags for them…”boring loser” or “cheap”…or some variant of the same. And at other times…people who work hard..or HAVE to work hard and are simply too tired to do anything else…get labelled the same .

Don’t you think that its weird when people say…”where the hell have you been? I was so worried about you? How come you didn’t call … its been like…3 months”….why I appreciate their concern…I always find myself wondering…why the hell didn’t you call ..even if it was to just ask me this question ?? LOL

Where the hell was I ? I was talking about not having time…and people doing what they liked…and managing to do it without a fuss . Whatever was the point I was trying to make???

Oh yeah…whay have I not been blogging and been antisocial for the past few months…well answers to both these questions lie in the conversations and scenarios listed above…there have been negative connotations associated with these activities…while that may sound strange..just as my escapist tendencies of playing PS2 …. If you start everything..with “I don’t feel like it mate”…nothing is going to come your way…unfortunately…looking at a screen [which is not 36 inches big = my TV]; just has too many negative connotations….WORK, WORK EMAIL, CLIENTS and PAYING BILLS.

This probably is one of the most incoherent blog posts…ahh…some positive connotations are coming back

Bottom line..I am over worked..stressed and have been very busy..honest…I have been. If you feel as though I have been neglecting my blog…you are partly right..it just has not been on my list…which can barely accommodate Work, Food, TV and Sleep.

Note:
Title inspired from the movie “Wake up Sid” [2009]. Any other resemblance is purely circumstantial…as I have not seen the movie.

I have gone from Pop, Country, Hindi, Indian Folk, Rock, Ghazal, Soul, Hip Hop….quite a strange progression of music genres. Every now and then..I go back to the favourites of each. If I look back on the Ghazal era of my life [also read as 2nd and 3rd year of Engg; for obvious reasons], a few ghazals still flood back a lot of memories…pent up emotions…and a myriad of feelings. One such unforgettable Ghazal is Mehdi Hasan’s “Ranjish hi sahi”.

I played with the idea of [attempting] a translation, but quickly dismissed the thought. It simply cannot be done justice. A few other people have attempted it and these can easily be found using Google Search .

While rendition of a ghazal [and there have been a few of this particular one] holds its true meaning and feeling, it is important to understand the “bol” [lyrics] of a Ghazal as it is the core or the heart of the same. So as you listen to the ghazal [courtesy Youtube]; here are the ‘bol’ [lyrics].

Ranjish Hi Sahi…Dil Hi Dukhanay Kay…Liye Aa
Ranjish Hi Sahi…aaa phir se…Mujhe Chhod Ke jaane ke liye aa…

Jaise tumhein aate hai…na aane ke bahane…
Aise hi kisi roz na jaane ke liye aa..

The lyrics are not just powerful, they are meaningful, blatantly true, and tantalizingly full of pain and angst. I have a kinship with this ghazal as there was a point in my life, when I had these exact feelings towards a certain someone .

I remember a very touching anecdote, which makes this ghazal even dearer. I remember my cousin, [who I reckon is one of the best ghazal singers I have had the privilege of knowing], singing it out to me and brother in his Mumbai home. It was late, on a rare cool Mumbai night; we were in true “spirit” of ghazals and we even had accompaniment [from the ceiling fan of the flat below!!]. It was near perfect; as for the first time, I understood what a ghazal is all about, how it is composed, rendered and presented. I am glad that we had that session; without which I would have never ventured into the Hariharan-Ghulam Ali-Mehdi Hasan-Talat Aziz phase of my life.

What just hit me is that because I showered heaps of praise on my cuz [mostly deserved] and took a great fancy to this ghazal, he started referring to me as “ranjh”…well…if only it were “ranjeet hi sahi” I guess he equated “me” to “ranjh” which is pain/angst..amplified.Which..most people will agree is not that far off anyways

Today I just felt like re-living that ‘mehfil’ and remembering…
.
Footnote:
Mehdi Hasan [Khan sahib; Shehenshah e ghazal] was born in Rajasthan, India 1927. Belonging to a family of singers…Mehdi Hasan has won many a heart across the globe. He has sung for Pakistan Radio, and in Lollywood movies, but was mostly known and loved for his heart warming Ghazals and Urdu poetry.

Music has always been one of the ‘must haves’ in my life. Even as I was growing up, music had a big influence in my life. Be it choir lessons [its not the 'choir' people come to think of in Indian schools is it? ] at school….strong influences of Indian and Western classical music at home, Pop, Rap, Hip Hop and what not on the telly; blaring radios [cars or otherwise]..Music was omnipresent. I think at times, it was so intrusive that you learned to turn a ‘deaf ear’ to it. Of course it also brought with it strong likes and dislikes.

Cut to my life in Australia…I have always had a MP3 player/iPod/iPhone in my pocket..and am always hooked on to Music whenever and wherever possible. Actually I always like it most when traveling/commuting. Recently, after a couple of years, there is some real good Hindi [Movie OST] music on show.

Gone are the days….
…with Music Directors ‘acting’ on the sets of a singing bee …
…with AR Rahman’s music being the best,
…with Sonu Nigam/Hari Haran/Udit Narayan/Shaan bagging all [vocally] ‘backing-up’ the honours…[the female scene is still dominated by Sunidhi & Shreya]
…with barely “one” song being the stand out….
…of fall…
Please welcome spring time in Hindi Music .

This sudden change is a result of multiple factors…lesser movies made in first quarter of 2009 [owing to IPL and other factors], immense competition in the Music Direction Industry in Bollywood…and all and all… better circulation of creative juices and talent on show .

In these times of change, one name definitely seems to have created a niche…Mohit Chauhan [Band: Silk Route]. I remember the time when Lucky Ali first burst on the to movie scene. A fairly limited singer, who used audio enhancements and gave a few hits. Mohit Chauhan, packs a better punch. But the rustic yet silken simplicity of his voice is what sets him apart. Over the last couple of years he has given many hit numbers…He deserves mention as he has fast become the ‘it’ singer and he sings at least one song for almost every movie [definitely the big banner music movies].

This artist definitely deserves the popularity and acclaim. To be honest, I also feel a sort of kinship with this singer, as I used to kid myself that I could [almost] perfectly mimic his voice and sing ‘Dooba Dooba’ exactly like him

The (attractive) Mohit Chauhan playlist:

- Dooba dooba, Boondein, Silk Route, 1997
- Khoon Chala, Rang De Basanti, AR Rahman, 2004
- Guncha Koi, Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, Sanjay Jaipurwale, 2005
- Tum Se Hi, Jab We Met, Pritam, 2007
- Is This Love (Kahin Na Laage), Kismat Konnection, Pritam, 2008
- Ek meetha marz de ne, Welcome To Sajjanpur,Shantanu Moitra, 2008
- Kuch khaas, Fashion, Salim Suleiman, 2008
- Aankhon hi aankhon mein, EMI, Chirantan Bhatt, 2008
- Masakali, Delhi 6, AR Rahman, 2009
- Gulon Mein, Sikandar, Shankar Ehsan Loy, 2009
- Haafiz Khuda, 8 X 10 Tasveer, Salim-Suleiman, 2009
- Kuchh Is Tarah, 8 X 10 Tasveer, Salim-Suleiman, 2009
- Jaana Hai, Let’s Dance, Vipin Mishra & Tarali Sharma, 2009
- Tune Jo Na Kaha, New York, Pritam – Pankaj Awasthi – Julius Packiam, 2009
- Ye Dooriyan, Love Aaj Kal, Pritam, 2009
- Pehli Baar Mohabbat, Kaminey, Vishal Bharadwaj, 2009

Ref: Mohit means ‘attractive/mesmerizing’

I came across a video called ‘Indians in 90 seconds‘….through the news feed on Facebook. One of my good mates, had this up on this profile. It is quite an interesting video. Take a peek…

Why do we do this?
We fight…to save a few cents [read paise]…
And also fight..to pay a big bill…

That’s just the way we are..

Thanks, Pankaj for positing this video. Thanks AG [a.k.a Goti baba] for bringing it my notice !

Reference:
Cat got your tongue is a phrase used in everyday English.
Context:
People ask/wonder if the Cat has got your tongue, if they want to know why you are not expressing yourself, when they think you should.
Relevance:
I have not been blogging for a while.
Reason1:
I have been very busy.
Reason2:
I have not had too much inspiration.
Reason3:
I really did not feel like it.
Reason4:
Someone has said if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all…
Reason5:
I have been two timing with another blog
Reason6:
I have a very demanding girlfriend and her name is WORK
Disclaimer:
I am hale and hearty…just have been busy and will be back to full swing soon…
Conditions of use:
If you have read this, please come back in about 15 days.

I was born intelligent – education ruined me!!

I am always right, Never wrong. I thought I was wrong once, but I was wrong….

I got my looks from my dad…He’s a plastic surgeon….

Hard work never kills anybody… but why take a chance????

Practice makes a man perfect…..But nobody’s perfect……so why practice?

Who says nothing is impossible??? I have been doin nothing for years….

Don’t feel bad. A lot of people have no talent….

I know KUNG FU KARATE….and 47 other dangerous words….

I am in shape…Round is a shape….

I alwayz arrive late to the office….but I make up for it by leaving early….

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station….

If at first u don’t succeed….destroy all evidence that u ever tried….

Most desired things in this world are either illegal, banned….or married to someone else!!!!

You can’t buy love, but it is a big expense

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband….

There is only one perfect wife in the world and every neighbor has it!!

They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak….

Don’t drink and drive, you risk spilling the holy spirit

Alcohol doesn’t solve any problems, but if u think again, neither does milk!!!!

Tequila Mantra…1 tequila..2 tequila..3 tequila..Floor!!!!

I love animals….They are so tasty….

Don’t hit me, my lawyer is in jail….

Continuing from the last thread…This is also one of my current favourite songs….I hate this part right here…by Pussycat Dolls…

Largely due to the lyrics…

We’re driving slow through the snow on 5th Avenue
And right now radio’s all that we can hear
Now we ain’t talk since we left, it’s so over due
It’s cold outside but between us it’s worse in here

The world slows down
But my heart beats fast right now
I know this is the part
Where the end starts

I can’t take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don’t wanna try now
All that’s left’s goodbye to
Find a way that I can tell you
I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can’t take your tears
I hate this part right here

Everyday, 7 takes of the same old scene
Seems we’re bound by the laws of the same routine
Gotta talk to you now ‘fore we go to sleep
But will we sleep once I tell you what’s hurting me

The world slows down
But my heart beats fast right now
I know this is the part
Where the end starts

I can’t take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don’t wanna try now
All that’s left’s goodbye to
Find a way that I can tell you
I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can’t take your tears
I hate this part right here

I know you’ll ask me to hold on
And carry on like nothing’s wrong
But there is no more time for lies
‘Cause I see sunset in your eyes

I can’t take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don’t wanna try now
All that’s left’s goodbye to
Find a way that I can tell you

That I gotta do it,
I gotta do it,
I gotta do it
I hate this part
I gotta do it,
I gotta do it,
I gotta do it

I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can’t take these tears
I hate this part right here

(Lyrix.com)

As many would know already, the party scene is quite grand in Sydney. Parties are on every night…and go on till very late. At times this comes as great surprise to Indians new to Australia. In India, there is a ban on pubs to run past midnight. In Sydney, parties normally start warming up at midnight .

I haven’t been out a lot in the past couple of months. Not really a new year’s resolution, just haven’t had the chance. Owing a lot to the partying before, I have become a huge fan of RnB (Rhythm and Blues). Some of the artists currently hot in my playlist are: The Pussycat dolls, Rhianna, Chris Brown, Craig David, Jordin Sparks, Kate Perry, Shontelle, Ne Yo, Wyclef,  and Kanye West.

If you haven’t, please get hold of Kanye’s new song: Heartless

The lyrics of the song (courtesy Lyrix.com)

In the night I hear them talk, The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road, He lost his soul,
To a woman so heartless…How could you be so heartless?

How could you be so, Cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo
Just remember that you talking to me yo…You need to watch the way you talking to me yo
I mean after all the things that we been through….I mean after all the things we got into
And yo I know some things you things that you aint told me
And yo I did some things but thats the old me

And now you wanna pay me back…You gonna show me
So you walk round like you don’t me…You got them new friends
Well I got hommies…But at the end its still so lonely

In the night i hear them talk,The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road…He lost his soul,
To a woman so heartless

I just like the song…does not imply or suggest anything else…not at this point in time anyways

I was deep into a conversation with my Dad. About life in general, work, what lies ahead….family….and so on…Suddenly he said…”Oh yeah…I forgot to mention, your snap was on television”….and I am like…”WHAT??”

Apparently this was on a programme, titled “Housefull” on Zee TV Marathi (8th Jan 2009). Curious I asked them, what was it about. Although I should I guessed. Housefull normally showcases new plays, playwrights and whats happening in general in the theatre scene in Maharashtra.

Mahesh Elkunchwar was being paid a tribute in the “22nd Arvind Deshpande Smruti Mahotsav (Festival)” produced/sponsored by the “Avishkar” group. I have mentioned before that Mahesh Elkunchwar is my grand-uncle on my father’s side.  I am sorry to say that there was little/no information available on Arvind Deshpande. I will have to some more digging and I promise to have someone knowledgeable (mostly my Dad) to fill me in on this. The Festival itself is said to run from the 6th-10th of Jan in Mumbai (not Pune, I stand corrected) at the Yashwant Rao Chavhan Theatre. They are to showcase numerous of Mahesh-kaka’s plays.

While this tribute comes as no surprise, since he is one of the most well known playwrights in Marathi Theatre, it always is heart warming to see people rekindling his magic on stage. While we all Elkunchwars feel proud and are in awe of his achievement, my parents just got a tinge of pride to see his snap with me on the Tele. Take a peek for yourself…This was taken at his residence some 3-4 years ago or so.

Thanks Dad for uploading this video. I am sure Lucky (the neighbour’s dog) and their squeals of laughter and pride when I come on, do not interrupt the user experience . I hope you watch the video, and if you are keen on knowing I appear for 1 second…between seconds 57 and 58 .

It is funny, to even think about this, but I am curious to know if they asked for his permission to display these snaps.I would be most surprised if they did. I guess, they could have used so many snaps…I just tried to Google Mahesh Elkunchwar under images and got a lot of good snaps. I saw some of them in the video….this one with me and him…appeared third on the list …. I guess I am partly to blame as I put it up on my blog before….and as far as I remember I don’t recall seeking his permission either That doesn’t mean this was “ok”.

Taken out of context, snaps could be shameful and disastrous in the tabloids. I am not a famous personality caught doing suspicious things on camera. He is one though….thankfully…neither is he…in this case and well…. I am not flinching one bit. May be my only concern was that the snap could have been a touched up a bit …I am not as dark as I seem in that snap….come to think of it, neither is he .

I hope one day, people will look at my snap…and the person next to me…will well up with pride….for now…I will take the other stance….cherish my 1 second of TV fame…congratulate Mahesh Kaka….and well…bask in the glory of being an Elkunchwar