Student of the Year aka Fillum of the Year

*spoilers ahead*

This is your Mohabbatein meets Jo-Jeeta-Wohi-Sikandar meets Harry-Potter-and-the-Goblet-of-Fire movie. It's a totally fun movie with a couple of short heavy scenes which make you shed a tear or two if you're the senti kind who gets affected by filmy drama. But all in all, a very very fun movie!! This is the kind of movies I like for I get to put my dimaag away and enjoy the craziness and fun. KJo really knows how to spend money and give the audience what they want.

My most favorite thing about the movie was the music and songs. OH MY GOD!! Vishal Shekhar truly rock!! Absolutely loved that KJo decided to incorporate those oldies in the film like gulaabi aakhen, papa kehte hai, taareef karoon kya us ki, and disco deewaane. I'm completely hooked to the music and my most favorite parts being the dubstep and that music that plays from 1:16 to 1:30 in this clip: http://youtu.be/Y3wvsGYju60.

Completely loved the friendship that the characters shared and the HUGS!! Totally loved how they all, even the boys, give each other hugs without hesitations. I think Rishi Kapoor's character might have had something to do with it. Oh and also the fact that it's directed by KJo. *wink wink*

Hilarious were the parts where after every scene involving a kind-hearted conversation, Abhimanyu asked Rohan "ab tu kiss to nahin karega na?" and the shuddh-Hindi words conversation that involved "vaksh sthal" and "nitamb" and then the teacher going "aap dono mahashay khade ho jaaiye". Rest of the shuddh Hindi wasn't too tasteful, but I guess how the dialog writer said, he had a hard time choosing words that teenagers would use. Glad he kept it to minimal and some gestures only.

Other than that, it was nice to see the romance and fights and usual KJo-melodrama that goes with his films and the flying-in-chopper (here private-plane) and the grandeur and colorful costumes were nice and predictable. Glad they kept the rona-dhona to minimal. I can't wait to watch the film again!

Oh and last but not least, the similarities to begin with (I am sure there are more):

Ideas from Mohabbatein - big expensive school in a gorgeous location in India. Lots of friends but three main ones. Strict khadoos teacher/professor. Big group (prom) dance where boys and girls fall in love with each other.

Ideas from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar - bicycle race, rigorous practice for the BIG race, and not just that bicycle race in the hills and contestants kick each other off the road to win, girl 1 loves boy 1, boy 1 is confused and thinks he loves girl 2, boys with sidekicks drive fancy cars, main actors are two boys and a girl.

Ideas from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - the (award) cup, tournament involving multiple kinds of races/competitions, swim down to the bottom of the water entity (lake/pool) to find the clue, one clue leads to another clue in the tournament, climbing/flying around the college/school campus roof during the clue finding, four teams/participants in the tournament.

Fullmoon tonight...

..was so gorgeous! I had to run out to take a pic.

Suicide Prevention Week

It is the Suicide Prevention Week.

Some useful links are shared below:

Please, don't hesitate to reach out. There is always help available for those who seek it. But it is up to you to initiate the seeking process. You are precious.

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

http://peoplepreventsuicide.org/

http://www.youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Feed all and let them feed you

Interacting with quite a few of Saibaba devotees in the family recently has given me a good opportunity to learn more about Him and His life. It is really nice how the stories are always about feel-good things and incidents. Not that there aren't any unhappy or sad incidents, it's just the way He teaches us to see them differently. I like that.

During of the incidents, Saibaba says, "don't ever refuse a meal invitation you get, no matter who it is from" and at another, He says, "feed people who come to your door happily and with all your heart." Personal experience says that unless you have grown up in a home that has this environment, it is very difficult to start practicing this. Not impossible, just very difficult. And at another instance, He also says to "donate food." What a noble thought! Here's wishing this good gesture can be implemented thoroughly in life. For the greater good all around as well as inside.

Express your appreciation

Some of the recent incidents and examples in life have reminded me. If you appreciate something or someone, or someone's gesture, then let them know. Not only they will feel good, you'll feel great. Sometimes it is too late to let people know that they are appreciated, because they're not there any more. Telling myself to do this on regular basis and thanking God for reminding me of this. Here's a note to self to continue to remember and do this every day.

Toone O Rangeele Kaisa Jaadu Kiya!

Having been so sad after knowing that the superstar left us all, I say it's time to remember Kaka's happy songs, celebrate his life, and spread/share the love and happiness he gave to us. Here are selected happy, romantic songs of Rajesh Khanna sahab!


1. gulaabi aankhen jo teri dekhi, The Train (1970)

How cool, silly and oh-so-un is Kaka's dancing and he actually lifts Nanda up. :) And I say to Kaka: "gulaabi aankhen jo teri dekhi, sharaabi yeh dil ho gaya.. "


2. chala jaata hoon kisi ki dhun mein, Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)

Do all RK movies have a car and he paints the girl he loves? It seemed like it. This one is a fun yet philosophical number with some lovely yodeling by Kishoreda.


3. chhup gaye saare nazaare, Do Raaste (1969)

You get a chance to get lost in those gorgeous RK eyes once again and play with him in the rain. Oooh so exciting!!


4. yeh shaam mastaani madhosh kiye jaaye, Kati Patang (1971)

Yup, this is how the girls got attracted to him and couldn't take their eyes off of him, like a magnet he was. To him, I say "teri nazar ban ke zubaan lekin tere paighaam diye jaaye".


5. kora kaagaz tha yeh man mera, Aradhana (1969)

His signature adaayen and the way he talks with his eyes steal your heart. Love how they match the blues and reds in his and her clothes. I say people who got to work with him, see him in person, live with him are so fortunate. Something about him that makes him a simple man but so magestic!!


6. o mere dil ke chain, Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)

I know all of this (the never-ending craze for RK songs) wouldn't have all that possible without Kishore Kumar's singing. But you have to admit that RK was that icing on this cake that made it more delicious to enjoy!! To Kaka I say: "aap ka armaan aap ka naam mera taraana aur nahin... jachta hi nahin aakhon mein koyi"


7. achha to hum chalte hai, Aan Milo Sajna (1971)

*sigh* think of meeting such a gorgeous man and watching sunsets together in such gorgeous places. Who'd be able to say "achha to hum chalte hai"? No one.


8. bindiya chamkegi choodi khankegi, Do Raaste (1969)

Who wouldn't sing a song if you have to manaofy Rajesh Khanna? Anyone would. How adorable does he look upset. Just more lovable!


9. baagon mein bahaar hai, Aradhana (1969)

The playful Rakesh Khanna shows his magic to woo once again. How dashing does he look with a mustache!! For this one, to RK's question "tum ko mujhse pyaar hai" I say "hai, haan hai, hai hai.. " :)


10. bheegi bheegi raaton mein, Ajnabee (1974)

Only way to describe this one: So playful! You not only get showered with the rain but the Rajeshness too.


11. naino mein nindiya hai.. main kahaan rahoonga, Joru Ka Ghulaam (1972)

This one is a favorite since the Rangoli days. It makes me want to break into dance.


12. roop tera mastana, Aradhana (1969)

THE romantic song of RK! Love this song and the fact that the whole thing is shot in single take. What acting man!! Hats off!!


13. yeh jo chilman hai, Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971)

The magical effects of THE eyes continues even here. This one makes me want to keep watching him. Bas, yoon hi.


14. jai jai shiv shankar, Aap Ki Kasam (1974)

Ultimate talli-ho-ke-naachne-wala song!


15. suno sunaaye.. prem kahaani mein, Prem Kahaani (1975)

I love this for the pinks and the happiness it spreads around. RK and Mumtaz team up yet again to shower us in their magical on-screen chemistry and mega-watt smiles.


16. dil sambhaale sambhalta nahin, Raaz (1967)

Totally my kind of song!! Brings huge smile on my face just watching/listening to it. When you think Rajesh Khanna you think the 70s but he has had some most lovely songs from the 60s too. Mukesh sahab's singing just proves yet again how much even his voice matched the legend's. Kaka looks so young in this one, only of age 25.


17. kya jaanu sajan, Bahaaron Ke Sapne (1967)

To him, I say "jal uthe sau diye jab liya tera naam" in my heart that is. This one sums it up. Did you see his smiling eyes in this one!?!? He doesn't need words to talk, just his eyes.


18. aaj na chhodenge bas humjoli khelenge hum holi, Kati Patang (1971)

And when we're talking about romance and masti, how can there not be a holi song!! And he finally manages to color her in his color.. like everyone else!


19. gunguna rahe hai bhanwre khil rahi hai kali kali, Aradhana (1969)

And Mohd. Rafi gives us his share of songs to prove that he's got the voice for him too. And what romantic song! It makes you feel that bhanwra are indeed gunguna-rahe and kaliyan are also khil-rahi. But that's only because it's Rajesh Khanna & Sharmila Tagore.


20. yoon hi tum mujhse baat karti ho, Saccha Jhootha (1970)

This masti-bhara song makes me want to fall in love. She says "adaayen dil ki jaanta hi nahin, mera humdum bhi kitna saada hai".. what does she know of how many adaayen he knows of. ;)


21. karvate badalte rahe, Aap Ki Kasam (1974)

Watching this one as a kid on chitrahaar I was so fascinated by the mahaul created by this one that I just wanted to be there on those snowy mountain slopes with Rajesh Khanna. And when I started to understand lyrics, this was my most favorite "couple" song, even above "jab koyi baat bigad jaaye" and "tere mere sapne ab ek rang hai". I think it still is.


22. goro ki na kaalo ki yeh duniya hai dilwaalon ki, Disco Dance (1983)

In this one, Kaka tells us what motto to live by in your life. "jeena hai din chaar yahaan khush ho ke jeele yaar.. karna hai kuchh agar tujhe jee bhar ke kar le pyaar.. kya tera kya mera bhula de mere yaar"


23. zindagi ek safar hai suhana, Andaaz (1971)

Said so playfully this great philosophy of life. "maut aati hai aayegi ek din, jaan jaati hai jaayegi ek din.. aisi baaton se kya ghabrana, yahaan kal kya ho kisne jaana.."


24. duniya mein logon ko dhokha kabhi ho jaata hai, Apna Desh (1972)

All the glitter and glamour equal to coolness unlimited in this one! RK generates ultimate entertainment with his red velvet jacket, cool aviators, mighty mustache, blinding ruby-like ring, saxophone playing, sliding on floor, very strange screaming with his blonde-girl Mumtaz!


25. duniya chhute yaar na chhute, Dharam Kanta (1982)

A lovely friendship song with Jeetubhai :) "jaan se badhkar yaari hai.. dil ke dharam-kaante par dekha pyaar ka palla bhaari hai"


26. saath mein pyaara saathi hai, Dil Daulat Duniya (1972)

A seductive song of sorts.. there aren't too many of those Kaka has to his credit so it's a nice change to watch and listen to this one.


27. naina hai pyaase mere, Aavishkaar (1974)

Ultimate smiles!! I've never seen RK smile like he does here. This one just spreads so much happiness. I wish I can see the whole song. *sigh*


28. aankhon mein hum ne aap ke sapne sajhaaye hai, Thodi Si Bewafaai (1980)

It's the eyes again. And the smile too! The romance continues in the 80s. :)


29. hum aur tum tum aur hum khush hai yoon aaj mil ke, Daag (1973)

Romance in snowclad mountains once again and snowball fights and making up! Sharmila & Rajesh Khanna make the best romantic pair followed by Mumtaz & Rajesh Khanna, I think.


30. toone o rangeele kaisa, Kudrat (1981)

And last but not least... RK sahab, waah, aap ne kaisa jaadu kiya!! Words are not enough. The magic lingers even after the so-very-handsome magician is gone!

31. mere sapnon ki raani kab aayegi tu, Aradhana (1969)

OMG! And how can I forget the "sir-taaj" song of the Super Star!! I can't. It can't get any better than this. No matter how silly those hand and arm movements look and the head-tilt and eyes-wink just gets better and better and you can't take your eyes off of that gorgeous face, those lovely eyes, those coral lips. Makes me go swoon. Sapnon ka raja indeed! Totally heart him. May God bless you wherever you are, dear Rajesh Khanna.

Remembering Anand aka Rajesh Khanna...

Looks like that time has arrived to post the dialogs I typed up a decade back. There could not be an appropriate time than it is now. So sad and brutal reality. I had typed these up during the time when I went crazy for the Anand and Safar dialogs and would listen to my only-dialogs audio cassette that had selected dialogs from both of these films on each side of the tape. I'd listen to them on a repeat mode until they were all memorized.

As Isabhai Suratwala in Anand conversed with his father and later as Anand, Rajesh Khanna (Kaka) recited them to Babumoshai (Amitabh Bachchan):

"tere jaise bete ko paida karke main bahot sharminda hoon"

"apni galti pe sharminda hona har aadmi ka farz hai"

"teri yeh majaal? hum tumhe zinda gaad denge"

"lagi shart? agar gaad denge to zinda nahi rakh sakenge"

"tu paida hote hi kyon na mar gaya?"

"zindagi aur maut upar wale ke haath hai jahaan-panaah
usse na aap badal sakte hai aur na main
hum asb to rang manch ki kath-putliyaan hai
jinki dor upar wale ki ungaliyon mein bandhi hai
kab kaun kaise uthega koyi nahin bataa sakta
hahahaa"
(wicked laughter echoes)


"maut tu ek kavita hai
mujhse ek kavita ka wada hai, milegi mujhko
doobti navzon mein jab dard ko neend aane lage
zard sa chehra liye chaand waqt tak pahooche
din abhi paani mein ho, raat kinaare ke kareeb
na andhera ho na ujaala, na aadhi raat na din
jism jab khatm ho aur rooh ko jab saans aaye
mujhse ek kavita ka wada hai, milegi mujhko"

You're being missed, Rajesh Khanna sahab. Absolutely loved you in so many of your films and have watched you and would continue to watch your works tirelessly in future. May peace be with you.

Om shanti.

Why do we keep relationships?

This is about all the relationships, not just the kind couples have.

Yesterday, I heard a quote that said something like "you keep relationships (with them) for your kids could have relationships with their kids 50 years later." It was quite a thought provoking sentence. It made me think. It's funny bathrooms are the places where the thought process actually moves forward and makes significant process. Things are much clearer when the steamy fog clears up. May be because it's the only time these days we have with ourselves. Or I should say I have. It's good and bad. But that's a thought for another day.

I was thinking about relationships. We keep them because we want to. It's same as in a marriage. You know how they say you have to work at it. Every single day. All the relationships are the same, not just the marriage. At least in my opinion. You work at each and every single relationship of yours because you want to. For today, tomorrow and for 50 years later. Regardless of the age of the opposite person. The storm in my head still continues...

Hugs

Talking to CN today reminded me again as to how hard it is for us to start the hugging process. With anyone, especially if it's the people we like, people we care about, people we love. She has a hard time hugging her parents. I remember going through something similar myself years ago and have managed to change that. It was a gradual change but it has worked so I know it does. So I told her that she can definitely change it if she really wants to. She said she gets to see her parents once every week and feels awkward to start the process but with the suggestion I gave her, she's gonna give it a try. I hope it works. :) Even her kids have noticed, "mommy, how come you never give a hug to grandma?"

It might be awkward at first so start by the sideways hug. This is the kind where you just put your arm on the shoulders of the person standing next to you that you wanna hug and do *pat pat pat* on their other-faraway shoulder. This kind of hug works great for starters. It also works for those completely awkward people who wanna stay 10 miles away from and steer clear from, but are forced to hug because you're hugging every single other person and they might feel left out. Make sure you don't turn them into the Aspi-hug ;) when you don't want that to happen. But seriously, give hugs to people. Don't hold back. It's like a therapy for the hugger and the huggie and increases love and reduces stress.

Hug times: the best times are when you're leaving to go out, just coming home, just meeting the person, or saying bye to them. This way, it's like a hello or bye-bye, but with a hug and doesn't look too emotional, if you care about such things. And then once you feel comfy, hugging becomes so natural and doesn't feel like something out of place.

Here's a reminder to give hugs. As many as possible. To all.

More Public Restrooms Please! For Celebrities Only

Yup, that's my request. To start with India first. I feel bad looking at all these lovely ladies who just don't have any where to GO! Crossed legs and all.

Images from http://www.highheelconfidential.com/

Why isn't there a license for parenting?

I think there should be one.

Reasons: being brainstormed.

Updated: 2012-06-12

Who is accountable for things like these?

- kids who attempt or committed a suicide
- kids who run away from home (doesn't matter for what)
- kids who are never taught about how to be polite, considerate or respectful
- kids who don't study, drop out of school
- kids who kill or hurt others or themselves
- kids who get abused by others (parents do get an opportunity to train the kids about how to face such  situations)
- kids who turn obese or don't care for their diet or living style
-
-

As you'd probably imagine, the list continues.

Some of the things that I don't understand are:

When a parent does not have time to do things, such as having a meal on time, for themselves, why would they even choose to have kids in the first place and ruin another human being's life by doing so by not paying enough attention to them?

For owning a gun you need license because the gun has a power to hurt or kill someone. For a drivers license, the same rule applies as you as a driver have an ability to misuse the power of driving. Shouldn't the same be applicable to a child? That kid would have a power to hurt or kill someone, if not trained correctly.

Even a thing such as a marriage needs a license, then why not parenting?

And why do so many others need to suffer from bad parenting of one/two people?

So why aren't there rules or licensing for parenting?

Enlighten me, if you can.

The jo-bhi-hai-achha-hai attitude

So as recently as three months ago, I heard these stories and totally loved the moral that was behind them. They’re probably from some scriptures but I don’t know about that.

~~~~~*~~~~~

Story I:

Once there were three rishi kumars (sons of a saint) who lived near a riverbank. They were very religious and did no harm to other living things. Every morning, they woke up early and came to the river to bathe. While they bathed, because of their righteous characters, their fresh clothes would hang all by themselves in the air without a line. This is how it had been. One day, while they were bathing in the river, a frog jumped out from the river and an eagle flying over saw the frog. As is the nature of a flying eagle, it dived down to catch its prey. The frog didn’t have a chance to jump back in the water. And all of a sudden, two sets of clothes that were hanging in the air, fell on the sandy riverbank. Three kumars looked at each other. As they came out and got dressed, they started talking about this strange incident. With quite a surprise, first one, whose clothes had fallen on sand, said, “I wonder what just happened.” Second one, surprised too, said the same thing. Third one asked them both, “so what were you thinking when the eagle attacked the frog?” The first one said, “I wished for the eagle to not attack the frog. Watching that poor frog struggle in the eagle’s claws was so sad.” The second one said, “I wished for the eagle to catch the frog. It had been circling the skies since so long, it must have been so hungry. I’m glad the eagle finally found some food in form of the frog.” They both then asked the third as to what he thought. Third one said, “it’s not for me to decide whether something is good or bad. I was just an observer of the incident and it was out of my control to stop the actions of either of them so I let the situation be and moved on with what I was doing.” All three of them now knew why the clothes of the third rishi kumar stayed hanging in the air without support.

~~~~~*~~~~~

Story II:

Once upon a time, there lived a courtesan at the edge of a forest. Right across of her house, lived a sage. Everyday, completely different kinds of people visited both of these houses. The courtesan respected the sage for who he was and treated him so. The sage being the saatvik (of having pure nature) person he was, couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, and sometimes even detested her when he got tired of having her as a neighbor. Years and decades passed like this. The courtesan wished for her life to be like of the sage and the sage, along with trying to live his life normally, kept on thinking of the bad things in the courtesan’s life. When their lives came to an end, and they had to go to the better worlds, the sage was being taken to hell, and the courtesan to heaven. And the reasons happened to be, that the sage, still being the simple and pure person he was, could never stop thinking of the negatives in others’ lives and the courtesan, being the person who she was by profession, could only think of the positives in the lives of others around her.

~~~~~*~~~~~

Both of these stories made me think. Think about how one should be thinking about others and not judging anyone. May be none of these principles/ways of life are practical and none of them could be applied in today’s life. I don’t know. It reminded me of a scene from Lagaan. These Hindi movies have so many levels. Don’t they? It reminded me of the scene where Bhuvan, Guran, Bagha, and Tipu are watching the match played by the English cricketers from behind the bushes, and trying to learn the game. Elizabeth finds them sneaking around, and walks over to meet them offering to teach them the rules. The fly-in-the-beard incident happens, and then introductions start between them. She says, “my name is Elizabeth.” To this, Bhuvan says “Eli aur ka? …naam lo to sasuri jeebh tedhi ho jaaye…”, and Guran adds, “achha naam hai, jo bhi hai achha hai (whatever it is, is good).” This is the dialog that stuck. That's where the title of the post comes from. I just couldn’t help, but kept going back to it at numerous incidents in life. And new year 2012 was around the corner. I stopped making resolutions since a few years but thought of developing this as a habit. Whether it will happen as often as I'd like or whether it will stick, I don't know. Lets see. Trying to apply the morals of the two stories above and this attitude to life. It’s hard, but not impossible. Practice, that too gradual, is definitely an option. Hoping this one sticks!

Hindi Film Pictionary

Trying my hand again for Emoji emoticon pictionary with Hindi film names this time. :) Let's see how that works.

Thanks to all who played and attempted. Here come the answers:

 1.  (chameli ki shaadi)

 2.  (pyaar hi pyaar)

 3.  (begani shaadi mein abdulla deewana)

 4.  (teesri mansil)

 5.  (kashmir ki kali)

 6.  (prem rog)

 7.  (rockstar)

 8.  (aradhana)

 9.  (boot polish)

10.  (andaaz)

What's your EQ? Emoticonal Quotient, that is!

This stuff is viral, totally! You catch it like a fever, and it never goes away. Or you hope that it won't. At least, I do hope that. :)

In any case, for the newbies this is a test of how good you are at recognizing your emoticons. But here it's taken one step further. To Bollywood music!! You get to figure out what Hindi song it is by looking at a line of emoticons. Can you guess any from the list? Good luck!

Thanks for playing everyone! Here are the answers:

1.  chand mera dil

2.  dekha hai teri aankhon mein pyaar hi pyaar beshumaar

3.  oongli mein angoothi angoothi mein ek nagina

4. [] joote do paise lo

5.  kabutar ja ja ja kabutar ja

6.  phool tumhe bheja hai khat mein

7. [] hum ne dekhi hai in aakhon ki mehekti khushboo

8.  tere chehre se nazar nahin hatthi nazare hum kya dekhe

9.  hamari shaadi mein abhi baaki hai hafte char

10.    chhatri na khol barsaat mein bheeg jaane de