Love is an art, Art glorifies Love!

Art has always been a fascination for me. Be it painting, music, drama or any attractive vibrant creation. I get pulled into it. Thus writing for Rajesh Nakar- Visual Merchandiser, Interior Designer, Artist and a personal inspiration, also for whom I earlier wrote Aberrant is indeed a pleasure.

Currently in Ghana, West Africa, and lending his services to Melcom, a No. 1 departmental store having more than 15000 products under one roof, Rajesh has come up with yet another pleasing window display for Melcom's Kaneshie branch (Melcom plus) that has instantly evoked a brand image for the company. Brand image is always unique and one that sets them apart from competitors and ignites a positive vibes among the customers.

‘Pamper Your Valentine’, thus seem to be clearly fitting the bill. With the able inputs from Marketing head, Raja and his own creative flow, this concept seems apt for the upcoming Valentine’s Day! When I asked him online, how did he conceptualize the whole thing? How did he manage to express it so easily and in a simple, non-congested way? He said,
“The answer is ‘simplicity’ itself”. I always use one formula for any creation of mine, and that is KISS formula.”KEEP IT SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT”. He continued, “We as humans are always attracted towards beauty. Add simplicity and soothing colours to it & you have your job done. Also, having no restrictions and a clear thought from the department, led me work beautifully”.
As we can see, he clearly has worked wonders. Red, according to me, conjures well on different emotions like love, poetry, beauty and passion. This display has no other colour as magnificent as Red. Thus, the concept of only using red to express love with poetic affection, ‘Pamper Your Valentine’ for your dear girlfriend/wife is simply impressive.
The line ‘Pamper Your Valentine’ against red background convey it best - the message of "I love you"- and for me speaks loud of the care and passionate love that we have for loved ones. Having seen this, I strongly believe that every body’s search for an ultimate surprise this coming season of love should end at this beautiful store. Or May I say the quest for the best, and most enchanting gift begin from this glorifying art work. Love, definitely is an art and art glorifies love! 

Filter your thoughts!

I left my job in August 2010. Since, then I have changed! YES. I have a confession to make. I was little more lazy then. I was little less organised compared to what I am today. (Yes, I have my schedule and a diary today that I don't simply carry, but also make entries into it, or simply save it as a note in my draft SMS messages)

I almost have a planned day. Sure, things go off sometimes, and there are uncertain times, but mostly I know what I am going to do. Most of the times either I am reading (Yes, I have been reading a lot, I have read more books in the last 6 months than I had ever read in the last 23 years) or I am thinking (not day dreaming) about my next move. (I think a lot, may be that's were all the protein I consume goes)


All these changes didn't 'just' happen. I made conscious effort a deliberate decision to change for the better. I knew this change is very simple and effective. Though I mentioned a few bad elements in me above, that I am changing, I was never unreceptive to things that were generally good. The reason I made mistakes and didn't realize it was only because of the fact that I was just not 'aware' in and out of it! Even then, I had this 'respect the speaker' manners that I had learned early in my life and most of the times accepted the good points, the most suitable thing, for a given situation.

Thus, when I meet people who are just so locked in their own zone, not willing to 'accept' other's view point, not willing to listen and then react, not open to new ideas and have their 'narrowed' view point on every thing you say (they have reasons or justification even to your most valid and generally accepted point) I feel sad and pity for their ignorance and such awful state.

"Agyani manyusha aur pathar dono saman hain! Chahey jitna sar phodlo dono apney gunon ko nahi chodtey!"

All I am trying to say in this post is, stick to your point or opinion when you know it is generally acceptable and a right behavior or a manner, but never averse to something that is going to make a long lasting impact on you and the thing which is right! Never 'just' oppose something because you are unaware of it and have never experienced. You never know, the point or view you are so dearly holding to yourself is actually a misconception or just your unselfconsciousness!

Micro to Macro- Back in Style!

The last time I wrote, in May, was about the Khoi Hui Zindagi, about the turmoil in my heart. Which way to chose, how to follow my heart, about the consequences of the path and all that a person running behind dreams; experiences with the relationships he shares with the people around.

There were thoughts, that I could have posted, but rather I chose to post it on micro blogging site from time to time. The larger, macro thoughts, I better kept reserved to my blog here. But of what little I posted on the sites like www.ionisee.com, www.facebook.com kept me alive and connected with the so called socially virtual world.

Today, when I am at the brink of very happening, fascinating acting career that coincides with the release of the much loved film 'the social network', that could shape the real world (me in terms of where I go from my first performance, and more real films like this may come) this seemed to me as an apt time to write on this most loved space of mine.

The Social Network, directed by David Fincher and starring Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg founder of widely popular facebook.com is an amazing and 'most' real film in these times. The movie traces the journey of Mark, a Harvard student, who invented facebook.com with fellow students.

Based on the non-fiction book 'The Accidental Billionaire' which comprises the narration given by Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of facebook.com and his lawsuit against his friend and founder Mark, the film holds you from the scene one and establishes Mark as a very smart, ambitious person who went social about his girlfriend ditching him and thus tries hard to seek social acceptance.

Film cuts sleekly between the lawsuit and the flashback story, leaving on you to decide, whether whatever Mark does is right or wrong. Although you know what's the end of the film gonna be, your anticipation just builds with every razor sharp defense that Mark puts forward. Surely, this one is the movie of the year!

Spiral Bound-The play in which I got to recently act, has been a beautiful experience. With every line and with every word uttered, I just learned and enjoyed my most passionate craft - acting! The play, addresses the eternal question of identity, of self and society yet again, through a group of characters that lose and gain themselves in different stage of reality. I am glad that I happened to be a part of this and now the joy has just got even bigger as, we have been shortlisted to perform!

The journey, the pehla padav to my most desired path is set and I know there is miles to go before I sleep. But this feeling of joy and the experience and learning that I am carrying will help me to sustain in the difficult things to come in this beautiful fascinating journey.

Patriyon ki khoj main (c)

Mumbai jo Sapno Ka Shehar hai, har vyakti har mazhab ke logon ko paalta hai unke sapno ko sinchta hai... Par jab kuch mutthi bhar log apni taakat dikhane ke liye, hazarron lakhon logon ke sapne, mehnat or ummedon ko patri se uttar dete hain toh, toh vaise hi apni ummedon ka bojh dhonewale vyakti ke dil main shayad aise hi kisi dard ka ehsaas hota hoga....

Kho gayi zindaagi
Patriyon ki khoj main
Kho gaye rishtey bhi
Patriyon ke beech main

Apne hi hain sabhi
Par patri par nahi…
Chalte kuch saath par fir bhi hain dur sabhi…
Tham gayi aas hai milne ki ab kabhi
Kho gayi zindagi patriyon ki khoj main
Kho gaye rishtey bhi patriyon ke beech main

Milkar wo judtey hain…
Par fir alag wahi
Saathi sab saath hai
Par dil bilkul nahi
Jhoot ka milna hai…
Par doori ab bhi wahi

Kho gayi zindagi
Patriyon ki khoj main
Kho gaye rishtey bhi
Patriyon ke beech main...

Well Done Shyam Benegal

Well Done Abba tells the story of Armaan Ali (Boman Irani), a Muslim driver working in Mumbai, who takes a one month leave from his employer to find a groom for his daughter Muskaan (Minissha Lamba), who lives in a village near Hyderabad, India. Armaan does not turn up for three months, and his employer makes the difficult decision to sack him, but he asks his boss to listen to why he could not come. Getting soft, his employer allows him to drive to Pune where he has a meeting. Armaan starts the story from here.

In Armaan's village, many problems include a rising drought situation and financial difficulties due to the antics of his twin brother, who has a bad reputation for debt addiction and theft. In the opening, a man named Arif demands 500 rupees from Armaan. Eventually, Muskaan pays the debt to Arif and Armaan's brother is arrested, later on released. To solve the drought problem, he goes to a government office to build a well, with a friend. There, he goes through stages such as explaining what he wants and even having his photo taken. Muskaan, on the other hand falls in love with Arif, of which Armaan does not approve at first but later is pleased with.

Armaan does not receive the well he wanted and sits in despair. He and Muskaan try to tell the police inspector about the well that was 'stolen', but the inspector finds the story rather silly and is even stubborn enough to not listen to what they have to say. Disturbed, Armaan and Muskaan launch a protest with several villagers against the police inspector, later on to the justice minister, where the minister punishes the inspector for his slack behaviour. The inspector, realising his mistakes and behaviour, then starts to approach the people in a more orthodox way. The justice minister then allows the government people to build the well for the villagers and punishes them all for not doing what they are supposed to do.

With the drought problem solved, Armaan decides that Muskaan should marry an Arab Sheikh Muskaan does not accept her father's offer and even has an argument about this. The issue is even more heated when she receives a letter from her friend, Sakina, which involved her getting beat up by her sheikh husband and getting kicked out, shocking Armaan and Sakina's mother. Disturbed, Armaan then decides that Muskaan should marry Arif, much to her delight. With the two of Armaan's problems solved, he ends his story at an awards ceremony, which in his perspective was a 'big drama', as the stage literally collapsed, delighting people. With his employer convinced, he then allows Armaan to work for him again.

Anupama Chopra of NDTV writes "The end result is that Well Done Abba is heart-felt and intermittently funny", while Nikhat Khazmi of the Times of Indiawrites "The film is a sheer delight, with the events unfolding in a breezy, comic vein which keeps the ribs relentlessly tickling". Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOL.in gave it 3 out of 5 and pointed out, "Leaving aside the last 15 minutes which were not required at all, this film actually entertains." Vinayak Chakravorty of Mail Today gave it three stars.

Well Done Abba is a 2010 political satire Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal, starring Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba and Sameer Dattani in pivotal roles. It is the remake of the 2007 Marathi film, Jau Tithe Khau. It was based on three short stories: Narsaiyyan Ki Bavdi by Jeelani Bano, Phulwa Ka Pul by Sanjeev and Still Waters by Jayant Kripalani. The screenplay was written by Jayant Kripalani and Ashok Mishra, who also wrote the dialogues. It won the 2009 National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues.

Well Done Abba's music is by Shantanu Moitra and the main promotional song "Jab Bhi Muh Kholta" was composed by Vishal Khurana. The lyrics are penned by Ashok Mishra, Swanand Kirkire and Ila Arun.

• "Meri bano hoshiyar" (wedding song): Ila Arun and Daniel B George
• "Sandesa sandesa": Shreya Ghoshal and Rupankar
• "Hum toh apni bawdi lenge": Mohit Chauhan, lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
• "Rahiman ishq ka dhaga re": Raghab Chattopadhyay
• "Pani ko taraste": Raja Hasan
• "Jab Bhi Muh Kholta" (promotional song): Ila Arun and Boman Irani, music director: Vishal Khurana, lyrics: Ashok Mishra

IPL begins tonight!

Guys, finally the most unpredictable format of cricket is back in its highly successful glamorous 'Avataar'- IPL.

First edition saw the underdogs Rajasthan Royals lift the cup, Second year we saw the 1st year's bottom ranked team, Decccan Chargers, top the chart. Who will win this year???

The teams that look strong on paper are Mumbai Indians: After double hundred against the Proteas in one day, we just have to expect more from the God of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar- may be six sixes or a quick 100 is not too much too ask seeing his current form. His opening partner in the team is no less, Sanath Jaysuriya on a given day can be brutal. So are likes of Zaheer Khan, Bhajji, Malinga and JP Dumminy.

Delhi Dare Devils, Chennai Super King and Kings11 Punjab also carry a very very strong team and literally very strong contenders for the trophy since last two editions.

KKR and Rajsthan Royals have good side too, but their success (and failure) totally depends on how their captains lead them in the game.

Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore have their pride at stake. Both teams will have to prove that their journey last year in the game was not mere case of luck.

So this years IPL also offers lots of thrill, adrenaline rush, gossips and the above all cricketainment!