Bhala iske sar mein wig kyun nahi hai??

Today’s Times of India, New Delhi edition had an image of the millennium – actor Amitabh Bachchan hugging warmly South Indian superstar Rajnikanth.

Ever since the hoopla of Tamil movie Sivaji – the boss started, the non-Tamilians all across the globe, who read at least one newspaper or check one news site seriously, cannot stay away from these two names – Sivaji and Rajnikanth. Some may think the rise is out of the blue, but never to be mistaken that Rajni is 58 years old and it’s his 3rd decade of reign in Tamil film industry. The fact that ‘regional’ superstar Rajni is the second highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan following his 35 Crores remuneration for Sivaji must be giving the ‘national’ superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan chuckles over their tea sips. If interested to know more, read here.

But surprisingly, just behind these gimmick-stridden-marketing gizmos, the ‘real’ Rajni stands poles apart. With patches of leftover hair spread on his bald head, Rajni doesn’t hesitate to tell
the interviewer the ‘wig’ history that how he gave sittings with hair (read wig) stylists, how they took the measurements and how special wigs were imported from the USA just for this particular movie!

In the morning when I saw the image in TOI, the first thought that struck my mind was, behind this calm smile of Amitabh Bachchan, he must be wondering ‘Bhala iske sar mein meri tarha wig kyun nahi hai?

An American, Europe and Hemingway

An American in some part of the Europe; a beautiful woman; war or post-war time; traveling from one country to another; visting wine bars; and most certainly the mention of bullfight and Spain.........don't all these seem to be very familiar? This is Ernest Hemingway. I always wonder, how does he weave magic with the same English language that crores speak and millions write?

Currently I am reading Fiesta - The Sun Also Rises and I swear, am loving each and every part of it; especially each time the mention of Spain comes.

Rains and ARR!!!!

It has nothing to do with my poem on rain. Just like – when a palm dropped from the tree, the crow went flying!!!!! I posted the poem on Thursday and from Friday the sky of Delhi became dark and melancholic not letting anyone know it’s sad story. While not being able to control anymore, the sky poured all raindrops in the city. It’s heavenly, it’s celestial though causing a thousand and one difficulties to go out, get bus, get auto, go office, go vegetable market and al last come back home. Still, the rain is desperate and warm. Yes it’s kosa and I felt its bosa a number of times on my face!!!!

There are some songs, which don’t care my invitation to come to my mind as soon as it rains. They are –

Bheegi Bheegi Jadubhari – A magical song. Don’t know whether Sujata sang it better or ARR composed it better! The wet charm keeps yearning long after it finishes.

Ghanan Ghanan – This Lagaan song has shared a number of special moments with me. I remember, then I was in Kolkata and it was a sweaty, sticky summer. While coming back home at the end of the day, standing in the bus not getting to sit, I almost drowned myself humming it bit-by-bit, tune-by-tune. Suddenly I came to consciousness as I found it started raining heavily outside! I got down two stops earlier and enjoyed every drop of the heavenly rain as it was
especially for me!!!

Puthum Pudhu Boomi – Though I don’t understand the meaning of its lyrics, but do music have any language? For all these years I have been considering it as a rain song, still I don’t know its literal meaning. But then, who cares?

Water Songs – All water songs are someway or other related to rains and ever since the OST released in India, none of rainy day passes without remembering Piya Ho, Bangari Marori or Ayo Re Sakhi.

AAI BRISHTI JHENPE

AAI BRISHTI JHENPE, DHAN DEBO MEPE

NA BRISHTI JASH NA, KHUB KARE BHIJIYE JA

UPCHE PORCHHE PUKUR, SHABDO TAPUR TUPUR

CHHATA HAOA URIYE NEI, BHIJBO BHIJBO SHUDHU

RASTA SAB BANDHO, OFFICE KINTU NOITO

EBAR KI HOBE? THANDA LAGE JE BORO

ORE TOR BARI KOTHA? AAR BARANG DARANSH NA, 

JA BRISHTI PHIRE JA , LEBU PATAY KARAMCHA

A R Rahman Concert in Delhi !!!!!!!

A R Rahman is supposed to do a concert in Delhi on 30th June 2007 at India Gandhi Indoor Stadium to promote voting for Taj Mahal.

I am still trying to believe and digest the news!!! Though came from a very reliable source, I am a bit apprehensive to reckon on my dream!!!! I don't want the history of 2003 'Unity of Light' concert in Kolkata to repeat again. But again, there are some things which are not in our hands and I really dont know what's going to happen when A R Rahman will be taking the Indira Gandhi Stadium audience for a magical journey - will I be present there then?

As I cant predict on my fortune, I can just hope to be there. I can just hope to see my dream come true - listening my God singing!!! In spite of all speculations, confusions, obligations and expectations, I am enjoying my present status of being celestial!!! I am enjoying my sessions of day-dreaming!!! Yes..exactly...I am at Cloud 9!!!!!

Refuge to Buddha

Buddhang Sharanam Gachchhami
Dharmang Sharanam Gachchhami
Sanghang Sharanam Gachchhami

The three verses were pronounced by Kondanna, one of the first five disciples of the Buddha in Sarnath on the occasion of ordination ceremony of new bhikkhus. It means - I take refuge in the Buddha, the one who shows me the way in this life. I take refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and love. I take refuge in the Sangha, the community that lives in harmony and Awareness.

World Wide Web

What is a World Wide Web? Ask any kid of even 1st or 2nd standard, you will get the answer.

Tim Berners Lee, the modern Galileo, inventing a virtual world rather than discovering the existing one, grabs the credit for spreading this infectious net around the world. A Briton and a genius, though not the topic of discussion here, Tim Berners Lee could give Bill Gates a run for his money had he kept the right of www to himself.

But I'm not here to write the biography of Tim but just want to explore the never-talked-about relationship between Tim and the maestro Rabindranath Tagore. Now what is that? How can there be ANY connection between these two???

Well, let me explain. Nobel laureate Tagore was a person with amazing foresight. He predicted long before the discovery of www that there sustains a web that surface the entire world with its impeccable magical spell. Want to know how?

“Premero Fand Pata Bhubane
Ke Kotha Dhare Pare Ke jane”

Tim just got the hold of it. Isn’t so?