The Best 'GoodBye' Ever !

What would you do if you came to know one fine day that you have got your last 90 days on earth?
And especially if your life till now had nothing to make you feel worthy about ?
And every morning you woke up and made a mundane , silly 'Things To Do Today' list and finished your day crossing each of those things...
And if you had no love, no wife , no close friends, no one to talk to except your old mom who's hard on hearing....
Hmm, thats the story of Amar (Vinay Pathak) the plump, bespectacled accounts manager with a penchant for making things-to-do lists. His life takes a U-turn when a routine visit to the doctor reveals that he has stomach cancer. Faced with the prospect of dying without having truly enjoyed life and egged on by his flamboyant alter ego, Amar makes his umpteenth list — 'things-to-do-before-I-die.'
He quits his job, plucking up courage to settle a score with his obnoxious boss and embarks in pursuit of his dreams — a shiny red car, a foreign trip, confessing his love to a childhood crush, guitar lessons and reuniting with an estranged brother...all within the span of his last days.

Touchy, poignant yet interspersed with comical elements and some erratic screenplay, 'Dasvidaniyan' is a film about fulfilling your wishes and dreams ...and how to say your last 'Good Bye'.
Infact , the title is derived from a Russian word 'Dosvidaniyan'which means 'Alvida' or Goodbye. Interestingly, it was modified to 'Das'vidaniyan ..'Das'(ten) representing Amar's last 10 wishes or Things to do !

I could touch an instant chord with the protagonist Amar, a kind-hearted soul who longs for love, friendship and some meaning in his life....I could feel the shy, quiet, submissive Mr.Missunderstood.

Kailash Kher's soul stirring 'Alvida' , mesmerising 'Muskura' and the eminently lively track 'Mumma' make it an exemplary musical sojourn. The background music makes up for some slack pace of the movie.
The lyrics are just too good ..."zindagi na mil ajnabi ban ke..." (hey life..don't meet me like a stranger)

A few scenes in the movie stand out , almost making you weepy, shedding your tears or smiling at yourself ...which I think is the hallmark of this film.
The interaction between Amar and a Russian hot chick who seduces him and eventually falls for his simplicity is dealt with sublime and subtle romanticism.
Almost lyrical.."pal bhar ke liye koi humein pyar kar le ...jhootha hi sahi " (can somebody love me ...for a moment , just for a moment...no matter if itsnt true or false, just love me..for a while)

And he pays her due by leaving behind an audio cd of her favorite Bollywood songs.

He pays everyone their due...even as he complained that he never received any gifts in his lifetime...
he leaves behind his new car for his guitar teacher,
his apartment for the salesgirl who helped him buy his car,
his guitar for his boss...
a photo-album for his childhood love.








Best shot : Amar meets his childhood crush after 12 years. She is married now and has a beautiful home , a nice hubby and a sweet daughter. She is happy to meet Amar and invites him to dinner.She tells her hubby over dinner that Amar is great at dumb charades and they both used to beat everyone in this game in their childhood.

He leaves and then returns after a while, walks into the rain, stands at her door, and plays this game of Dumb Charades for the last time.
In the silence of the night. With no sound except of those raindrops.
He signals. She decodes.
Three words.
English.
Last word ....
You.
First word....
I.
Second Word...

He places his hands on his heart...she decodes, moves towards him...he moves back...in slow motion...the camera shows him walking away...drenched in the rain...smiling....
'Goodbye.'

Clark Watson Writes ....

Clark Watson is a Senior Computer Scientist at CSC, US . I met him during my trip to US last year and we shared our interests. He loves music and is also the lead vocalist of music band.
I sent him my story and he read and gave the following review. After reading this, I think Clark is a great writer himself and this is the best review I have got so far this story from an American reader.

Here it goes :


Sumran's "Palmetto Heat" is a wonderful continuation of a young Sikh's first time experiences in America...... yet so much more. It is a linear tale told with occasional flashbacks to further accentuate the absorbing tale. As I read "Palmetto Heat", I almost felt a bit guilty. There are such honest, heartfelt revelations, it was like stumbling across the diary of some misunderstood artist. The author has a brave uncompromising ability to open his heart and paint a genuine picture with his words. Something lacking in many of the contrived productions I read or see on film today. There are so many different layers to this story - An enticing autobiography; A journal recounting the exploration of America; Poetic verses of worldly observations. But, for me, underneath it all, there is an underlying theme, whether intentional or not, of loneliness and a genuine desire to find love. The desperate chances. The heart wrenching rejection. The excitement of possibilities. I could almost hear the immortal words from Freddie Mercury's song, "Somebody to Love" on each page:

I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end I take home my hard earned pay
all on my own - I get down on my knees
And I start to pray Till the tears run down from my eyes
Lord - somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me - somebody to love?

Being from America, I was afraid the India and Sikh cultural references might be lost on me, but the elements were brought into the story as needed and actually served as compelling additions which in no way alienated me from the beautifully crafted drama. It was touching to witness the wide eyed exuberance of an international visitor experiencing America in a way that I have long taken for granted. Sumran's narrative quality is elegantly poetic - "There was a powerful stream galloping out of the plateau forest, dancing through rocky rapids..." "Whispering into my ear, her glittery semblance pervading the space around me." A saga crafted by an artist. A saga whose continuation I anxiously await.









For more reviews of the story, pls visit my blog : http://whatreaderssay.blogspot.com/

I am ...me.

Accept me as I am-I have no guarantee.
A claim to perfection I have not.
Perfect I cannot be.
I, like you.....am human.
Prone to make mistakes.
Failure is not a character flaw,
Just a part of the human makeup.
I live, I laugh and I also learn.
My knowledge is incomplete.
I am searching all the time,
in waking hours as well as sleep.
I have a long road to travel,
as well as you do.
We learn our lessons on the way.
Wisdom we shall acrue.
Accept me as I am
Because I am ....me.
And You are you.
No one like me in the world.
That is my only guarantee

Who's the Big Boss?

The second season of "Bigg Boss", the Indian version of the internationally acclaimed show "Big Brother", came to its 'jumbo' finale yesterday night. The show had 14 newsmakers including controversial names like Rahul Mahajan, Monica Bedi, Jade Goody and Sanjay Nirupam.

And Ashutosh Kaushik has been named the winner of Bigg Boss 2, a show that enthralled audiences across India and had become a topic for conversation and debate in colleges, workplaces and even roadside tea-stalls.

Ashutosh was one of the three finalists on the show along with Zulfi Syed, who is better known for his brush with Bollywood, and Raja Chaudhury, who tasted a bit of fame while dancing along side his now separated wife, television actress Shweta Tiwari.

I had a lot in my mind going over this show , yes I watched almost every episode each night after coming home..Infact, it was my daily dose of TV entertainment.
I had predicted most of the twist and turns and tried my instincts on most nominations and evictions...and I wanted to write my thoughts about this silly show. It did become a great topic of discussion during my lunch breaks with my lunch partners!

Now, that it is over, I wanted to put my thoughts of 100 days into one article.
Lo and behold, I read this today..the Shobha De 's article on this show and Mr.Rahul Mahajan in particular.
And I feel her words are imprints of my thoughts...all I wanted to say and write. She has summed up every bit of it...my take, my frustration, my wonderment...etc,etc.

Here it goes...

"Rahul Mahajan is an oddball. And that’s an understatement. And yet, he has the country rooting for him after his exit from a perverse reality show called Bigg Boss. Why perverse? Because it is next to impossible to figure out why anybody would watch a show that features a motley lot of losers competing for a crore of rupees at the end of the ordeal (their own and the viewers’). To win the hefty prize money, contestants are not required to possess even a modicum of knowledge/skill/intelligence/talent. They are picked for their notoriety quotient. Obviously, the canny producers believe the sleazier the track record, the more eyeballs they attract. And they may be right! The ghastly set reflects the overall tone of this manipulative show, which provides vicarious thrills to millions of addicts who wait for their daily fix at 10 p m.At different times, the show has hosted the likes of a gangster’s moll (Monica Bedi), an item girl (Sambhavana Seth), a man accused by his ex-wife of physical abuse (Raja Choudhary), an oily politician (Sanjay Nirupam) and of course, the ‘hero’ of the show — Rahul Mahajan. It can’t sink lower.

Mahajan’s popularity is what baffles the most. Either, the late Pramod Mahajan’s errant son is a master strategist, capable of shrewdly judging audience expectations and cleverly playing to the gallery, or he is a born (lady) killer, who successfully managed to fool the buxom ladies on the show into believing he was the man for them! Playing Krishna, may have been scripted, but eventually it was Rahul playing himself that got the TRPs soaring. Reportedly, bookies had Rs 80 crore riding on Rahul winning the show!
There is something vividly fascinating about Bad Boys. Sure. But here was a guy whose antecedents reek of the worst human traits imaginable. Caught half-dead in a drug-induced orgy with his murdered father’s confidant/secretary. Accused of violent behaviour by his battered bride of three months (divorced soon after). Known for his debauched and despicable reputation in social circles, today this same man is being propped up as a hero of some kind. Ever since his departure from the show, he has been in the papers and on TV channels giving lengthy interviews and discussing a future in Bollywood (as what? Mogambo’s successor?). While even such a crazy scenario is possible, what is shocking is the suggestion that Rahul could or should stand for elections. That he is being wooed by political parties... that he himself is playing hard to get (his sister Poonam is already in the fray).

Have we lost it completely? Next, Sanjeev Nanda will declare his candidacy. Sanjay Dutt has been courted and feted for a while, too. These are but a few examples of aspiring politicos with criminal records cashing in on their badnaami. It is not them, but us — their audience/supporters, whose collective judgement is in question. If disrepute is all it takes to make money, acquire fame and win TV shows/ elections, why bother with anything else?Ask urban, educated viewers of Bigg Boss why they watch it, and they will confess sheepishly that they are riveted by the inanity on display. They know they are being fooled, that most twists and turns are scripted, that the entire thing is rigged to boost ratings. That they are being made monkeys of. And yet...

Perhaps people watch such shows to feel better about themselves — “How would i have behaved in so-and-so’s place? Would i have said this... done that? Never! I would have taken a different route...” Vicarious thrills at their best! It makes one feel superior... instantly better about oneself. “Look at those idiots... God! What a bunch of jerks.” But the real jerks and losers are us. As I watched Rahul with a puke-green face mask (to improve his complexion!), swaggering around the set and talking about his ‘honesty’.... as i read his subsequent quotes charitably nominating a rival (Ashish) as the winner (“He really needs the money”), i had to doff my hat. This is pure ‘Dostana’. All Rahul has to do now, is seal it with a kiss a la Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham. This ma ka laadla can’t get any worse!"

Thanks Shobha De, I havent read your books yet but I like your articles...and this one is just too perfect to be edited or cropped...its just me , straight from the heart and into your words.

Haute Couture

Set against the glittering backdrop of the glamorous but ruthless world of haute couture, ‘Fashion’ tells the story of one small town girl with a dream and the determination to make it a reality.

Madhur Bhandarkar’s movie ‘Fashion’ chronicles a tale that brings to light the hitherto unseen shades of the fashion world. The film is about the rise and fall of a supermodel, and her subsequent resurrection.



It is essentially a Priyanka Chopra movie and she does make you feel that she has got it what it takes to carry off such a role with great panache and touche'. And yes, she does become a supermodel and yes, she does look like one.

Kanagana Ranaut as the 'showstopper' early on in the movie looks awesome. The 'wham bham I care a damn' girl is just too crazy to handle.
She bears the consequences of a steep rise to fame and fortune.She is the poster child for glamour and for self-destruction. Famous, envied, lost and confused she is a prisoner in a world, which will be her ultimate downfall.

But hey Kanagana...stop doing this lunatic hystronics time and again....do something new , fresh, experimental...time for an image change.

Mugdha Godse as Janet is the tough talking girl with a heart of gold. A model who may not have reached the heights yet remains more carefree as she lives life by her own terms with no demons or regrets.Anything goes with Janet. She seems like she has made a deal with life - 'You keep me alive and I'll walk about with a smile on my face.' But Janet has something the others who survive like her don't: She has a heart. She values the importance of a family. And she knows that you can find love in the strangest places.
Even, if it means marrying a Gay friend! And if somebody wanted to know a thing or two about 'gay' world, here's a good peek into it .
The rest of the cast is just about perfect in their bit of roles especially the fashion tycoon Arbaaz Khan who manages to don the mantle easily.

"Fashion" explores the world of style through the emotional personal journey of the key people that make the industry, the dream-weavers of that elaborate world of glamour: the models, designers, photographers, businessmen, agencies etc.
And how dark is the 'green room'?
In the world of image-makers is it possible to conquer it and remain true to yourself?

Madhur strikes a fine balance between realism and entertainment in every film. Given the fact that Fashion is all about the fashion industry, the narrative is inevitably filled with lots of glam-n-glitz moments. The fashion shows, the stunning models, the superb styling, the vibrant colours and the behind the scenes drama simply engrossing.
I simply loved the background music...it blends superbly into the narrative.

Two major sequences that are simply outstanding. One, Kangna's wardrobe malfunction and two, when Priyanka exposes Arbaaz to his wife [Suchitra Pillai].

And the penultimate scene, watch Priyanka walk the ramp as a 'showstopper' with tears in her eyes, her mind lost after hearing a tragic news seconds before the catwalk yet she walks down in her glittery attire, stands, poses and smiles. Click!
Well done!

November Rain

It rained today. In the early morning. The first rain of November. Its been getting colder everyday. And today as I woke up, I could feel the chill in the air. It was sweet, it was bright and the sky was all grey with a hint of sunshine.

As I drove to office today, this song came drizzling into my mind :

When I look into your eyes I can see a love restrained

But darlin' when I hold you

Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever

And we both know hearts can change

And it's hard to hold a candle

In the cold November rain
We've been through this such a long long time

Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go

An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today

Walking away

If we could take the time

to lay it on the line

I could rest my head

Just knowin' that you were mine

All mine

Soif you want to love me

then darlin' don't refrain

Or I'll just end up walkin'

In the cold November rain
Do you need some time...on your own

Do you need some time...all alone

Everybody needs some time...on their own

Don't you know you need some time...all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart

When even friends seem out to harm you

But if you could heal a broken heart

Wouldn't time be out to charm you
Sometimes I need some time...on myown

Sometimes I need some time...all alone

Everybody needs some time...on their own

Don't you know you need some time...all alone
And when your fears subside

And shadows still remain

I know that you can love me

When there's no one left to blame

So never mind the darkness

We still can find a way

'Cause nothin' lasts forever

Even cold November rain

An eternal song by Guns and Roses...and ...a cold novemeber rain.

Fall Winter Collection...

Collections from Last Fall

The 'Roamer' Look

The 'Metro' Look

'The 'Analyst' Look

The 'OffPro' Look

A Weird "Dostana"....

Saw it today...'third day' after release...got free tickets actually...otherwise I would have regretted spending money on this flick.
Initial thoughts: 'hey , read that fantastic reviews...movie is a laugh riot' ...ok, so my expectations rose high.

and then, second thoughts..."its a Karan Johar flick...expect some high emotional quotient and lot of 'mush'...but the director is a new one so there might be some fresh technique"...and especially all that 'gay' thing being talked about ...I was looking forward to some nice real fun.

Thoughts after watching : "All gloss, hot and punk, seriously foolish, nonsense, extremely stupid in parts, tested my patience to the hilt....thanks for those 'gay'gags....it could have well been a headache !!"

Starts with a hot item number , courtesy Shilpa Shetty who is dancing to 'Shut Up and Bounce Baby' on Miami beach with hot bod John Abraham and cool dude Abhishek . So I thought this was supposed to be a head start!
And half a dozen songs later...the movie stands nowhere...!. But yes, those half a dozen songs are peppy and will last longer than the movie, esp "Maa da laadla" and "Desi girl".
So where are we....the so called 'laugh riot " had no script, no story, no message, no 'Gay' factor , just a few splits...thanks to Kiron Kher and Boman Irani for that. Even they disappear before the interval...ah God, they were the saving grace and did fire my imagination during their brief stay.
Okay, so 'Dostana" or 'Friendship"...now, where is that coming from??
Two dudes out to woo a hottie (Priyanka, who does manages to look ultra hot here!) and the hottie is a wanabe in persuit of her dream man. Lo and behold, we have Bobby Deol , father of a 5 year old.
So time for some real fun? Na........even I thought so...but then it was just a swagging tail (tale!) after interval that kept me up in bouts and helped me munch my popcorns and pepsi . And did you get to the end of the movie....was there really an end to this crappy tale ?
Ya, John kisses Abhishek in full public view...thats the end. Hilarious? Gimme a break...it wasnt...
Respite : Abhishek was funny ....a fine performance by him...loved his 'Gay' interpretation.

Weird flick, It looked more like a David Dhawan or Anees Bazmi direction with some doses of Karan Johar's 'mush mush' hota hai!

I am still wondering : Why do they put all their money in those hot bods and no sense....give me some...I ll make a masterpiece worth your 100 bucks!!

"Heroes"....

"Heroes" turned out to be a well made movie with some great moments.
If the first 15-20 minutes of the film about two mad cap youngsters and their stupid and irritating antics are ignored, the rest of the two hours are worth a dekko.

When the guys kickstart their bike and set out to capture some footage for their graduation movie...its then that the real story about real heroes begins ....

The first stop at a village in Punjab is the most engrossing and delivers the maximum punch in the form of a widowed wife(Preity Zinta) 's courage act.

I liked her characterisation , her expressions, her silence, her emotions , a perfect 'sardarni' in every inch of her character.
Salman looks good as the Jat Sikh , though his dialogue delivery was erratic in Punjabi , quite typical of him...but he did well in his portrayal of a true war hero of the Sikh Regiment.

The best part of the show was Salman and Preity's little kid. It was brilliant acting by the young actor who was perfect in his act as die hard war hero's son. One of the best shot was the scene where he flies a kite with the Sohail and Vatsal and the kite cuts down and lands on a nearby field which incidentally is in Pakistan.

"border aisa bhi hota hai!" Vatsal's exclaimation is absolutely touching !


The next stop is at a 'An Airforce officer on a wheelchair' (Sunny Deol) 's house in the mountains of Himachal. Wow! and as expected Sunny does the bravado act perfectly , complete with a one man army punches ...man, that wasnt neccessary at all...but leave it there...the showstopper was the relentless cry and salutation this handicapped officer gives as he sees the fighter planes doing a sortie in the free skies. Great moment again!
The next stop on th valley of Kashmir is the turning point for the young filmmakers who end up realising that 'Garv' or 'Honour' in serving the country is one word that defines the lives of millions of soldiers. Some of the last scenes make you sit up and notice ...and may leave one heavy eyed.
Overall...a great attempt to make a film on such a topic and with such passion...if only you subtract the initial and the very last touchups ...this movie would atleast stand up to be one of my finest.

'Mera Bharat Mahan" ...as this movie was originally titled...but "Heroes' , nevertheless lives upto it!
Good cinema.

'I Resign"...

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult.

I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities
of an 8-year-old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and
make ripples with rocks.

I want to think M&Ms are better than money because
you can eat them.

I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade
stand with my friends on a hot summer day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple.

When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables,
and nursery rhymes,

but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what
you didn't know and you didn't care.

All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should

make you worried or upset.

I want to think the world is fair.

That everyone is honest and good.

I want to believe that anything is possible.

I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and
be overly excited by the little things again.

I want to live simple again.

I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news,

how to survive more days in the month than there is
money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip,

illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind
word, truth, justice, peace, dreams,

the imagination, mankind, and making angels
in the snow.

So...here's my checkbook and my car keys, my credit
cards and all my responsibility.

I am officially resigning from adulthood.

And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to
catch me first, 'cause,

"Tag! You're it."

Love...Undercover...

I Think I love you, keep it under cover, keep it under cover,

I was nine at my first rhyme took a shine to her
I was young, parents dint mind me spending time with her.
I met her at this party
Am I lying?
-Yea I am lying,
What I am tryin to say is that I met her around mine.
There was curry in the air; I could smell the masala,
Around the time Gurdas Mann came out with Challa
I am taking you way back when the rain was purple
Before Michael Jackson became controversial
She would dance with me, tell me about the places she had been
People that she had loved and everything in between,
And I would listen to her, and so would every body else
Sometimes I wish I could keep her to myself.
So I spent time with her, just me n her alone
Have to keep the noise down while my parents came home.
It was nothing nasty I only loved her like a brother,
But still I had to keep it under cover.


I Think I love you, keep it under cover, keep it under cover, keep it under cover
I Think I love you, keep it under cover, keep it under cover,

In my teens I was checking her a little less discrete
And I started falling for her deeply
But not completely, I loved her the way she spoke
My parents knew about it but they act like they didn’t know
I was told now that I was getting a little bit older
I should focus on my studies and that I should let her go
But what
-hold up what they don’t understand
Is that the future I am planning and hoping for; damn
Damn, they told me that she is not reliable,
I know that they hate her but they dint have to call her a liar too
So I finished with her, she kept calling me back
Always at the same parties and wedding I was at
I got back with her but we are on a more serious thing,
If my folks found out they would do a furious ****
But to me she was everything, more than a lover
But still I had to keep it under cover.

I Think I love you, keep it under cover, keep it under cover, keep it under cover
I Think I love you, keep it under cover, keep it under cover,

Now I am splitting my time between studying and her,
Working hard at uni, but I know which one I prefer,
She’s helped through the highs and lows
I would like to know if I could go on and ride the flow, inside her sole, the night is cold.
But she’s not here; I truly need her in my life
Hoping that one day she could be the one who I make my wife
But the folks don’t know, they want my marriage arranged
Cos they believe that their kids life should be the same,
A doctor, lawyer, pharmacist or business studies
If I did IT then they wouldn’t have to worry
But I been in love since I was nine years old
Couldn’t live life without her cos she was my sole.
She respects our culture and other cultures too
Represents what’s true,
They don’t see my point of view
We got a mutual trust and I would never abuse it
Cos the women I am in love with is music, music!

The Renault F1 Roadshow !

The Event :

The ING Renault F1 Team held its F1 City Road Show in New Delhi on Sunday, November 09, 2008. ING Renault F1 team was invited by Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games of India 2010 as a part of the '700 Days to go for the Commonwealth Games 2010' celebrations. The team has successfully done road shows at Johannesburg, Mexico, Istanbul, Moscow, Kiev, Paris, Lyon and Warsaw.

New Delhi's road show would be a part of the multi-city world tour, conducted in 6-8 select cities across the world every year by ING Renault F1. The road show is considered the best amongst all the F1 teams' road shows. The unique opportunity to see F1 team face to face makes the show an attractive event. Visual spectacle, executed by the ING Renault F1 Team makes the event the most coveted.

The show is done on open road, showcasing the amazing ING Renault F1 cars, driven by the official ING Renault F1 Team drivers. The caravan of F1 cars includes stunt drivers too. However, this one is the first event when a motor sports event of such magnitude held on the streets of any city in India.

So, walking all the way from Khan Market to India Gate (3.5 Kms) in the Sunday afternoon was a daunting task. But the 'Fuel' was already there :)

The entire area was bustling with activity...around 3000 strong crowd....may be more!

The Cars that stole the show :

The Megane Trophy car

Gone in 60 seconds
The real speedster :


The creeper:

and the Stuntman...well, he is the man who was behind all the action in James Bond's 'Goldeneye'!
They literally burnt the track!

Awestruck !

The Glitches...
and that "you know how it went...it was amazing" before the camera...

and 'we just dont drive cars..u see"...

The Cheerleaders...or 'Carleaders'..Formula 1 Drivers....

and some 'security' drive :
on road and off it ....


Some pretty faces ...
And the crowd....a eclectic blend :
..of all colors, styles, race and religion ...

the Organisers as usual...happily parked :

and me too :)
Some posing ..in the end.
Overall...a great event!