Pune Blast - Economics of Terror

I have been giving it a lot of thought about the episode where the end was tragic! With 11 people having "officially"  died in a supposedly quiet town 200 Kms to the east of Mumbai .....PUNE! Why would anyone plant a bomb in a town that has barely 10% population of Mumbai, where shops remain closed from 1 to 4 pm so that the vendors can enjoy their afternoon siesta?

Answer lies in "development". Pune though small is quite a rich place! It stands for all the good things a Marathi person* can offer...Good educational institutions, peace , health care , eat outs , culture..... .Obviously there are bad aspects as well the uncontrolled growth in the name of development. The big so-called IT companies hiring people like herds of sheep, rising prices, the nexus between politicians and multinational corporations...what not. This makes pune important. Still relatively virgin compared to Mumbai, it remains a soft target for millitants. Few years back it was unimaginable that there could be a blast in Pune...even terrorists would not have thought of that! But money changes all.

The specific spot was chosen ..A Bakery that was popular hangout for many foreign tourists. Indians are often minority there. Caucasians , Mongoloids, Black all races could be seen assimilated there. They would come here often for spiritual quest in the form of marijuana, sex and meditation. The Osho ashram, where it takes Rs 500 ($10..not too much by American standards but it could be a weeks salary for many Indians) just to meditate, is very popular amongst foreign tourists. The German Bakery is a target! Why?? We need to come to terms with admitting that a white life costs more than a black life or a brown life.Is an American or a German killed equivalent to 10 or more Indians killed? We may deny this with all our heart but it is a fact! This is the economics of terror.

This is the Terror which makes us realize this difference. Why didn't the terrorists plant a bomb in much richer areas like J.M. road, F.C. road or even Camp ? Answer..lack of Caucasians. The psyche is simple . How can we cause maximum damage with minimum investment? I am sure our so called Hindi or English media would not have covered the incident if there would have been a blast in Wadia college or Rasta Peth and 20 Indians would have died! It would have been printed on 2nd or third page even in Maharashtra Times or Lokmat.  The terrorists got maximum coverage by killing 2-3 foreigners!



Aftermath of Blast: Pune is still insecure as ever. No amount of security can stop the terrorists. Terrorists are like mosquitoes. You cant go after individual mosquito but a mosquito net keeps them away. Our government should invest in border security like US.
Life will be a hell for pune residents and it will still go on as usual which is NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF! Terrorists will surely strike again while political parties like SS will threaten jesters like SRK and karan Johar who dole out crap in the name of movies. The already overburdened corrupt police will provide security to the malls to wardoff goons while terrorists make a good use of it!
While the biggest criminals in this drama THE MEDIA ( including journalists like Sardesai ) will have a gala time with their TRPs!

*Marathi Person : Person who understands marathi.

Wats Playin on My iPod!

Ahh I am actually disgusted with the crap that comes out these days in the name of music. Its all about style and less about music it self. And I am sure  half of us must be crying..." Take me to those 70's days"

where the ROCK ruled..It was all about music and the style came from whatever you do rather that what is being dictated by the media! These artists still rock! They are of a different class altogether. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Paige, Robert Plant ,Carlos Santana....These people represent class! But there are still few new artists who are trying hard to carve out a niche. I really salute them! Artists range from genres like blues , Indie Pop, RnB to what not! John Mayer, Coldplay, Death Cab for the cutie are few of them. Few their songs just stick to your head! 

Here is a list of songs I am listening:

1. Broken Hearted - Eric Clapton and John Mayer 

Genre - Blues

A calm blues song. Clapton is really a God. His voice is different ( thats what they call you when you have a bad quality of voice ) and he is THE Blues guitarist! Can you believe some one can survive for 4 decades! Well his greatness does not overshadow lesser artists like John . They blend along well in this song. Do checkout the lyrics.They are great! An Awesome song!

2. New York (Empire State of Mind) - Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

    Genre - RnB

 

I had liked this song the first time I heard it on some radio channel. Very few songs are like that. I couldn't catch the lyrics and so the name of the song for long time. It came from an extremely unexpected source! A nice song. Captures the spirit of the city. Alicia Keys plays piano jumping up and down. 

3. 21 Guns - Green Day

Genre - Punk Rock.

Its an old song but it took me some time to like this song! An awesomee song with awesome message. "...Do you know whats worth fighting for?....when its not worth dying for? ..." Its anti-war rhetoric!

4. Please read the letter - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Genre - Love Ballad/Country

I was first shocked to see Robert Plant singing love songs! Many fans are disgusted! The man with the greatest vocal power is singing love songs with some country girl! Well, its appreciable to see him doing something daring! Yes , He is the same guy who sang The Lemon song, Kashmir and Stairway to Heaven! This song brings great calm. Alison Krauss is a beautiful gal with deep calm voice. They go to gether well!

5. Fireflies - Owl City.

Genre - synthpop

A weird song but a good one. This song is very catchy and thats why it climbed the charts quickly! This is my first owlcity song!

6. Tik Tok - Ke$ha 

Genre - Dance

Its a catchy song :( .Yes it is.I am guilty of liking this song!

7. Cold Desert - Kings of Leon

Genre - Alternative rock

A nice song. Too calm to be true. Its my SFO song...but no one let me play! :(

My Favourite Hindi Chord!

I used to think Hindi is not exactly a Guitar language but its not true..
I am not an avid follower of Hindi music but I feel it was just as good as western music.
Recently I went to see '3 IDIOTS'. It was an OK movie but it made me realize Amir, he really is a good actor.

Amir Khan's 1st movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak had awesome songs in its list.
Papa Kehte hai is an anthem of sorts in every college or school just like Another brick in the wall. All the boys ( not girls!) who can strum a bit come on stage and give it a try while other boy/girls become weeping audiances! Last day of school/college! Same happened in my college VIT!

This song is a simple song but it really touches some chord in you! It reminds me those times of my childhood when I went for a vacation in Lonavala at Shamiyana Lodge. Mats were spread on the floor and we had that brown portable radio from PHILIPS. This song was played many times but I was too young to understand its lyrics even though they are not as complicated as Dylan's!

It follows a very simple chord pattern of Cmaj, Amin, Fmaj, Gmaj. Its a beginners chords....Novice

Here it goes....

[C]Papa[Am] kehte hain [F] bada naam [G] karega 
[C]Beta hamara[Am] aisa kaam karega [F] 
[G] Magar yeh to koi na jaane
Ki meri manzil hai kahan

Papa kehte hain bada naam karega 
Beta hamara aisa kaam karega
Magar yeh to koi na jaane
Ki meri manzil hai kahan
Papa kehte hain bada naam karega

Baithe hain milke sab yaar apne
Sabke dilon mein armaan yeh hai
Baithe hain milke sab yaar apne
Sabke dilon mein armaan yeh hai
Wo zindagi mein kal kya banega
Har ek nazar ka sapna yeh hai
Koi engineer ka kaam karega
Business mein koi apna naam karega
Magar yeh to koi na jaane
Ki meri manzil hai kahan
Papa kehte hain bada naam karega

Mera to sapna hai ek chehra
Dekhe jo usko jhoome bahar
Mera to sapna hai ek chehra
Dekhe jo usko jhoome bahar
Gaalon mein khilti kaliyon ka mausam
Aankhon mein jaadu honthon mein pyaar
Banda ye khoobsurat kaam karega
Dil ki duniya mein apna naam karega
Meri nazar se dekho to yaaron
Ki meri manzil hai kahan
Papa kehte hain bada naam karega

Happy New Year! 2010

I have always wondered why do new year's suck so much for me! Sooo much! This year it was by far the worst. This New year did bring me some news which in one sense is not as bad as expected! Let it be alone.
Now thinking of what I learnt this whole year. It started with me being away from my loved ones in a land faar away. Making new friends, breaking from some old friends. Going back home to become a same person as I was before. But the best thing was that I tried to be a better man. And I did succeed to a large extent! How,  I would not care to explain because that is the part of betterment! 

At work my trials and tribulations started by the end of a hot Indian summer and start of long rainy season. The word of the year "Recession" , I came to know the hard way. I came to know that most of the values stand only for the namesake. Recession at my place became synonymous with harassment. Constant threat and execution of threats. Policies that break your will to protest and make you bow down before the "MAN". You know how much we loathe the MAN?


This year made me realize my short comings and my capacities to excel beyond belief. It made me realize how bad I am at spellings. How good I am at understanding things around myself. It made me realize that parents do get old along with me. It made me realize that your old mistakes never leave you. It made me realize love never stays forever neither does hate. It made me realize how equal we all are.How good my voice is! How badly I play a Guitar. There are people who know more music than me.

This year's winter started in a desperate quest to set goals which will reap benefits in the near future.And reap they did! Now again I am far away in a cold desert! Calm to an extent. In search of true friends who don't fake smiles....in search of the music

Hope is the worst thing....so I don't hope anything for this year! Anyways these "New Years" are fake milestones which make you realize things you don't want to realize!

3 Idiots

Cast : Amir khan, Amir Khan, Amir Khan, Boman Irani

Rating : 3/5

Genre: Comedy

Verdict: Above average film, one time watch, Good but by no means a masterpiece

With 1000's of films based on doctor's lives and medical studies, here is a change with setting in an Engineering College. At-last vastly out numbered engineers found some thing, at least something to relate to! It starts with a highlight of the film, i.e. "Toiletesque Humor". Freshers getting ragged by the seniors in the ECI engineering college. They are stripped to their under garments and paraded! There comes our main character i.e. Rancchoddas Shyamaldas Chanchad A.K.A Rancho.( Amir ) who is a son of a millionaire.  He refuses to bow before the ragging seniors and electrocutes a senior in a fast ingenious way while the senior starts peeing on his door! Peeing is a favorite pastime here and Not in a subtle way!

Can you guess who is the principal of the college? Well, its is Boman Irani , the Virus. He has acted, very well! One can take a man out of theater but not the theater out of man! He is strict, as usual. and hard to bend. Rancho irritates him to the core with his wild but meaningful  theories on teaching and learning.

Rancho befriends two sidekicks...literally sidekicks, Farhan Qurashi( Madhavan) a wannabe Photographer and Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi ). Both of them have a limited role of a being Rancho's sidekicks. Farhan's Family is a middle class family which supports him in his study by doing lot of sacrifice. Same is with Raju's family only thing is that he is poor. His father is comically paralyzed and his mom is a typical B&W mom, reminding Raju the current price of okra (Rs.12 / Kg) each time.
Rancho is an intelligent guy (kinda like Goodwill in Goodwill Hunting). He has a motto that "YOU SHOULD ALWAYS DO WHAT EVER YOU LIKE". He helps people out of their mess!

 There is also a Murthy look alike nerd who has a screwed up Hindi. He is a guy who is typical Mugup! He learns everything without understanding. He hates Rancho! Rancho screws him up by replacing chamatkaar (Magic) with Balatkaar (Rape..in subtitles given as screwed!). ..and imagine the rest

There is a very good scene when their 1st Yr results come out. Raju and Farhan come last...they do not find Rancho's name and assume that he has flunked! The become sad for him. But soon they come to know that he has topped the results!!! They become SADDER!!



There is a wedding going on and the three decide to feast free in the wedding.

They go out in a marriage as gatecrashers to find the "lovely" Pia ( Kareena Kapoor). She has a fiance who is just a rich jerk! Rancho just makes her realize that HE not the one. It turns out that this wedding was Pia's sister's Wedding (Mona Singh) and Pia is Virus' daughter!!! Shocking !!! Is it? Wait till you hear this.  Pia is a DOCTOR!!!! Aaaahhhhh! Kareena is the last person on earth who can even be passed off as a doctor! Kambakth IshQ! Pia drives a cute little scooty with a cute little helmet and cute little spects! How cute!!! All three of the gatecrashers get discovered and thrown out! Meanwhile Raju's father gets a stroke of somekind and with no ambulance services ,Rancho gets hold of Pia and her scooty and saves Raju's Father. Pia becomes his friend.

Rancho makes Raju, Farhan and US realise why we fail in some thing. We fail because we dont like what we are doing...So TRUE! Rancho helps Mona singh deliver her baby using his own invented inverter and vacuum pump (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME)...and becomes virus' friend

At the end of Engineering Rancho dissappears! Raju , Farhan and the Murthy look-alike go on a mission to search and discover his real name WANGDU..and he lives in Ladkh and is inventer of more than 400 patented items! They pull Pia out of her wedding and bring her to ladakh...thats it!

Positives:
1. Humor is good. Students are able to relate themselves to the movie. Each class has a bunch of nerds, back benchers,flunkers...
2. Amir Khan is the centerfold. He is the movie. He, even though above 40, can be passed-off ( though not easily) as a 20 yr student!
3. First of its kind mainstream movie in which the forbidden humor is used. Kinda like American Teen movies. At last Indian teens will know where a baby comes from :)
Negatives:
1. All the movie revolves around him. Others have acted well but its pure one man show!
2. The humor is over cliched and is used from some joke books and forward emails! E.g. Starting of induction motor, American astronauts using hi-tech pens....
3. Its too long...it should have been 15-20 mins shorter.
4. Bowman Irani's character seems to be unpalatable!

Over all a good movie...one time watch...better than many other films. I am now waiting for Salman Khans Veer to come out!

Stairway to heaven- Part I

This is early 2000's.You think you know too much about Music.Nick Lachy Rocks ...what a hair style ...whenever you hear this word 'Stairway to heaven'  all that comes to your mind is that band which has sung it. This song somehow got to your folder in PC named "ENGLISH SONGS" along with more popular "singers" like Justin Timberlake , Backstreet Boys, Peter Andre (Ohhh God!). You listened to 'Stairway to Heaven' many times..I did not like it the first time or for that matter even second time ! how could you compare such a silent-and-noisy-song-at-the-same-time to 'As long as you love me'  and there ends your romance with LED ZEPPELIN the greatest band on earth..till date ...LITERALLY! For many years Led Zeppelin meant to me just an ordinary song 'Stairway to Heaven' which was also supposed to the greatest rock song of all time!

This is the case with most of us..with some going at the most to 'Kashmir'. But if you persist they hit you...HIT U LIKE HELLL...this is Zeppelin for you! You will never like a zeppelin song in its first wave! Perhaps this makes this band the greatest of all!

Zeppelin consisted of 4 Masters with extremely British sounding names John, Robert, Jimmy and John, not one lesser than other..now only 3 exist.

John Paul Jones is an in instrumentalist. He is a master of all and jack of all...God on Keyboards, Hammonds organ, Bass Guitar and what not! Robert Plant I doubt if there is a better vocalist than him...he literally screams! You should listen to 'Since Ive been loving you' to gauge his prowess! He was rated one of the best rock vocals of all time. He also plays Harmonica. Jimmy Page ( for some also Paige) is the lead guitarist! Rated the fifth greatest guitarist of all time..He ruled the 'Stairway to Heaven'. John Bonham the drummer rather the greatest drummer! Herez a sample of Moby Dick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRuTcnd8YLU .Alas he died after he took more than 24 shots of Vodka! His death spelled the death of Led Zeppelin. This is a 1979 picture in same order (L to R). They were active from 68 to 80 and they ruled as the rule now! Genre...Hard to say they are a genre in themselves..but if we do need to classify it would be Blues Rock.

Here is the list of songs you must not miss

Ramble On: Ahh! Why do good things always stick around? This song is my all time favorite. The song introduced in Led Zeppelin II in 1969 is Silent but powerful . I'll call it a Page song, what a master strummer. He got inspired from his favorite story The Lord of the Rings.which is mine too He clearly mentions  "...Gollum the evil one...crept up and slipped with her..."

Whole Lotta Love: I was watching American Idol recently. It was the final round. Some guy dared to sing this song! He killed the song, and in-part, me too! This song is all Plant and Page.. The Jimmy's solo in the middle is the heart of this song.This guy is pretty close to it!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8G5A15CaW8. In one of his LIVE sessions jimmy used a Violin Bow! They were very experimenting!

 Dazed and Confused : "...been dazed and confused for so long its not true.....wanted a women never bargained for u...." The producers of the movie Dazed and confused tried a lot to get this on their OST but were unsuccessful! Their angst against the women is out here like many of their songs! '...Soul of a woman is created below..". This song is a JPJ song...amazing Bass..and also Plant. I feel this is the most Chic song from them.

Since I've Been Loving you: Well what do I say about this song! True Masterpeice ! It starts with a verry blue scale much like B.B.King.. "...Working from 7..." This song is a pure LZ song and all 4 have it! Its one of the most heavy and powerful non-death metal song! Its the same angst against the women. JPJ on Hammond 's organ. Bonham on drums...simply awesome. The guitar solo in between is beyond this world. Plant is well plant...you cant match his pitch! A live version is also great!

 

Enough of "Mann Ka Radio".....

...Now I want "Tann Ka Radio"...dont take me badly I meant the full Film.. A short review from my end.

Radio: Love in the airwaves.

Genre : Comedy, Angst, Apathy, Garibi

Cast : Himess, Himessss, Himessssssss  (apparently this was the only film made without casting couch)

Contributors : Darren Hayes ( from the Savage Garden), Quintin Tarintino, Ronnan Keating

Direction: Directors were on strike during the film making

Song Recording: Gulshan Kumar ( still going strong)

Rating: 13/5 ( way off the charts)

**** NO SPOILER ALERT! **************

The story is well told. since it is complicated they have divided it into chapter's. They give you a feeling of infinity...from chapter 1 to chapter infinity. Kill Bill had got inspired from this...these bloody Hollywood directors!  All the chapters have unique names with a rubberstamp of "ITS COMPLICATED". Really innovative names like Encounter and Kadhi, Mera Denial Mode, Karwachauth Ke Light aur Kurma. Well, I was impressed! Bollywood ( I hate to call it this! ) has come a long way...

The Story starts with Himess the world famous in Borivali RJ getting a divorce with Pooja. Himesh is kind of LOVE GURU advising people about their love life. One thing about the movie is that it is too emotional. I cried right in the first scene! What an acting! Himess aka

Diwan shah fits the role perfectly .Young, Famous and Restless. He separates with Pooja and a new girl comes in his empty RJ life. The new girl is Shanaya ( If u remember MTV select ! ) She hates him at first....well, who wouldn't....and then falls in love with him....well, who wouldn't..I HAVE !

Even her sister asks her.."TUMNE USMEIN KYA DEKHA?"

She introduces him to FACEBOOK, LAPTOP, APPLE, iPhone and what not. ( This movie is for hip youngsters ONLY!) She spends most of her time in CCD ( Infy guys dont mix it with our CCD!). Ultimately she becomes the "Mystery girl" who is a part of Himesses show. The show becomes a HIT with revenues more than the budget of this film (abt 10 Crs...i would have made this film in Rs 10) 

Himess becomes more popular than ever. People flock him to get his autographs.

But himess has bigger dreams! to be a singer...apparently shanaya is also a part time singer...ahh great naaa. She sings with him. She also takes him to her house n introduces him to her Punjabi Father and Parsi mother and skimpily dressed to-be Saali. Himesh shows his softer side by accepting them and repairing their DISH ANTENNA atleast 21 times. Her family wants himess as their DAMAD...whenever he gets into Shanaya's house a song DAMADJI starts playing.If i ever get married...if i ever have a child if i ever have a second child if she/he ever grows...i would like to have Himessss as my "Damad" i.e. Son-in-laaa

Now here is the TWIST. Pooja is a choreographer and is as usual in trouble. Himess again falls for her...Such a lovely lady. I always wondered why did these two girls act in this movie! Could it be

as the saying goes in Colorado "washing your ass off in holy colorado river" equivalent to "behti Ganga mein haath dhona"? Could be! He tries to help Pooja.

While helping Pooja he gets streched between these two dames! Some luck here ! Now the radio station decides to reveal this "MYSTERY girl" and induct Shanaya as a full time RJ. Here comes the famous dialogue "What is your relationship status?" Himess replies "ITS COMPLICATED!". This scene goes down in time of Indian cinema. They reveal Shanaya and the story turns.She refuses to do another show in turn pissing off the producers. They call Shanaya a selfish *itch (where * stands for B or W).Himess becomes emotional and hits the producer. I would have done the same thing. i.e. Hit himess.

The story ends with Himess becoming the damad! and the live happily ever after!

I missed the most important part. The funniest part JLT i.e. Jandu Lal Tyagi. He too is an RJ ...he calls people and asks them stupid meaningless questions! I was just holding my bowels, it was that funny!

PRELUDE: The highlight of the film was of course Himess. Weirdly he was looking like a camel..like a camel with a HUMP but there is some difference in camels and Himess. Camels are expressive.They can show range of emotions.  Himess is like a Roman gods statue with emotions so deep they are not visible on his face. In the sense If you replace his own ASS with his face you wont notice a difference!

Songs are another highlight. He paid an homage to his previous film KARZ by these lines from his song MANN KA RADIO : "Kya khoya kya payaaa ispe rona tu chodd dee"! This film already ranks amongst the legends! The most good thing about this movie is it discourages piracy. I had to search for an original copy since no one was willing to waste a DVD!