Don't stop me now....cause I'm having a good time!

I like working. Contrary to what i hear in general, I never really get the Monday morning blues, though I do fear the ride to Saki Naka. After the regular late Friday night movie, lazy coffee shop Saturdays and Sunday studies, theater and drama, music etc., I'm generally charged to go to office again on Monday.

Given this backdrop, I never thought I would appreciate the concept of a mandatory two week vacation from office so much. But now that I'm living those two weeks - Don't stop me now....cause I'm having a good time :)

No deadlines to meet, no 2 hrs to travel, no Mumbai heat. I finally traveled for "non-business" purposes in 2009. Vizag and Hyderabad - rediscovered how much I loved teaching.. when I taught my 4th std, 6th std and 12th std cousins maths. Rediscovered the music of the Beatles, Queen, Freddie Mercury's immaculate voice, the joy of singing aloud with friends in a fast moving car - playing the board game of pictionary with so much focus that you forget everything else in the world, losing and winning at games of poker.

Am now about to head out with old friends, together at one place after 6 years - one's broken his neck and the other's been sleepless in some remote place, very much like that Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan movie that you've seen. The location is ditto.

Meg Ryan- I came across a sketch of hers I was gifted, that came with a really clever joke. Goes up on the pin-board over my desk today.

** For people who have not already, please listen to this song called "Don't stop me now" by Queen, its fantastic

The best things in life are free

1. Swimming in the sea/river/lake vs. swimming in the pool of your club
2. A three hour long conversation with your best friend as opposed to a party with 100 people, half of whom you don’t like in the first place
3. A jog by the seaside as or in the woods vs. the treadmill in a fancy gym
4. Singing!
5. Dancing in the rain
6. The cool breeze on your face on the train ride home after a long day at work
7. Your school friends, your childhood memories
8. Your family
9. The view from the window of your house, even if it is not a good one by conventional standards, you can find a way of romanticizing it
10. Getting high on life as opposed to alcohol

The music of the night

Darkness, silence clouds covering the moon,
Something tells me there’s no happiness soon
Until the clouds fade and the night is bright again
Let’s get together; this time should not go vain

The sounds will fade, the world will sleep
Along with us the notes we shall keep
The stars will shine, and keep us company
Until we reach the end of our journey

The trees will watch and protect us
The nightingale will lead the chorus
The bells will ring, the piano will play
The rivers will harmonize when you say

Let me warn you of the miserable plight
That awaits you if you lose sight
Won’t you join me in this journey, in this fight?
Help me make the music of the night

Close your eyes let the dream begin
In this intoxication, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night

You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night

As I sat alone in that grand theatre on 44th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue, amongst a diverse crowd representing all countries of the world - I saw for myself that music holds no boundaries.

The Phanotom of the Opera is the longest running Broadway musical of all time. It is inspiring. Andrew Lloyd Weber's music is captivating. And the phantom is arguably the most intriguing character ever written. Every song in the musical is powerful. The sound of the church organ infuses your blood with ten emotions at the same time. It energizes your brain and each muscle of your body.
The songs of The Phantom of the Opera must be heard, I bought the CD for $24

Iktara in a New York subway

Last month in Bombay I saw Wake up Sid thrice in 15 days. I still can’t get over it.

I’m in New York now. There is something special about this city. In some very weird way it’s almost like a home away from home. I can relate to its fast pace. I can relate to its diversity. I can relate to its culture.

Anyway...
I was coming home after taking an exam on 32nd street. Yes exams have followed me here too.

If I were in Bombay, I would be celebrating the end of an exam, even though I may not have put in any effort what so ever to prepare for it. Well, this time I had no one to celebrate it with. I could feel my mood swaying towards depression. As this realization struck me, I reached the subway station. Got in. Bought a ticket. Switched on my i-pod thinking, “let’s sink into melancholy with some music”

In shuffle mode, the first song that played started with the most soothing tone the guitar has known, followed by the warmest voice the mic has faced. A voice which combines the comfort of your mother’s lap, the chirp of your best friend, the beauty of Konkona Sen’s character in the movie and the heartiest love you have ever received. I had heard Iktara a hundred times before this, but in a New York subway, the song felt different.

Needless to say, I went from melancholy to joy in 4 minutes and 14 seconds. Soon I saw myself get off the subway, head all the way back to JC Penny. What happened there was self indulgent shopping: Three pairs of shoes, three shirts, two formal trousers, and a pair of jeans. And for the first time in my life I enjoyed shopping for myself.

I slept well that night with Iktara echoing in my ears and Konakana Sen’s innocence in my mind.

Play Review: Salesman Ramlal (4.5/10)

Salesman Ramlal is an ordinary story presented in an ordinary way. Even then, it appeals to one’s sensibility at times because after all the story of a loser somehow does gather some sympathy.
Ramlal is entangled in the web of financial debt, lack of skill and technological expertise, and humiliation. He adopts the escapist strategy and weaves a dream world in which he entraps his family. This hampers his child raising abilities severely and his children never really grow up. The play explores the relationship between a father and his eldest son; a typical relationship wherein the father believes his son to have a lot of potential but at the same time doesn’t endorse any of his actions.
The character of Ramlal, played by Satish Kaushik is conflicting and interesting! He is an egoistic, self centered and closed-minded individual who ever so often displays a boyish charm. He shows no respect to his wife’s opinions and thoughts but at the same time expresses fondness towards her. He is disloyal to her, but at the same time wishes to give her as much happiness as he possibly can. He is dedicated to his work, has spent his blood and sweat for the sake of the toy manufacturing company he works with. But in the process, over the years, he has failed to acquire any additional skills. With modern technological advances, he is now obsolete in the professional world. His ego prevents him to take up a job under his best friend Thadani and he spends his life in petty jealousy and comparison with others.
Satish Kaushik does a decent job. I think he would have been better in initial performances. He seems too well rehearsed to be natural any more. Most other actors are quite average…Ramlal’s kids in particular seem to have been picked up from the street, with no acting background. The eldest son’s childhood friend, Ramlal’s friend Thadani, and Ramlal’s elder brother are by far the most interesting characters. They make a dull play lively.
Overall, what this play lacks is something fresh. You will not see anything in this play that you have not seen or read about before. Even then, it could prove to be a reasonable outing on a lousy day when you’re stuck at home.

Play Review: Some Girl(s), 7 (+0.5)/10

Some Girl(s) is an entertainer. Written by Neil LaBute, this play is a hilarious take on a today’s modern young man who is about to get married. Before he takes this “big step” he visits some girls…his ex girlfriends – four of them to be precise.
The most striking aspect of the play is the sheer variety in the four girls he meets up with in hotel rooms of their respective cities. It symbolizes the confusion he’s always been through in “search” of the perfect girl. The first is the homely kind who is married and settled with kid(s) but dreams of a more “exciting” life, the second is this adventurous and super- hot interior designer who does not believe in marriage and the third is an older woman who has an even older husband! The fourth girl has a twin sister, who also happens to be one of our guy’s ex’s.
The play is equally divided as conversations with each of these four girls. The conversations are light, humorous, witty and truly entertaining. This is intelligent comedy almost as good as it can get.
Like The Shape of Things, another Neil LaBute play which I loved, this one too has a nice twist in the tale. It’s not something which will blow your head off, but like the rest of the play, it is light and humorous.
If you’re a guy and have ever been dumped/ broken up with a girl (which I presume is around 40% of people who’ll be reading this, the other 50% probably being girls and a small 10% guys who’ve never been dumped) you’ll really enjoy this play. Living vicariously through the protagonist, this play is going to make you feel that you CAN command some power in your relationship. Well, in real life, this is not true. If it is a relationship, the girl will have all the power. But this is a play, wishful thinking is allowed. :D

Play Review: Waiting for Godot (I can’t rate this)

Waiting for the interval is what we were doing while watching this play. And what did we do in the interval, well, we left!
Written by Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett, this play, is voted by some as “the most significant English language play of the 20th century”. Wikipedia says so. This has left me quite perplexed. I asked myself a million times, is something wrong – why have I found the “most significant” play of the last century to be “rather insignificant”. But when eight other friends who were watching echoed my thoughts, I let out a sigh of relief.
Some plays are better off left behind in the century to which they belong (“pal do pal ka shayar” and all). With all due respect to the writer and actors, Waiting for Godot, in my opinion is one such play. There may have been some relevance in the 1950’s for this kind of thing. Today, in fast moving times, though people love their entertainment they do not have the time to wait for some random person named Godot.
Like I said we could only let ourselves watch the first half. There were these two tramps, talking things which didn’t make much sense. Fine, we laughed a few times when they did or said some silly things. They were waiting for some Godot. No further information was ever given. After sometime Naseer-ud-din Shah entered. We chuckled a few times because he did a few silly things too.
There was something commendable though. These actors had amazing diction, pronunciation, a general command over the English language and all of that. It was amazing how they could go on talking without ever having a subject or theme. And perhaps that is what the audience was supposed appreciate. Maybe some people can do that…in these times may be one in a hundred.
Before the play begun, some guy had come and announced that Waiting for Godot is a play in which “nothing happens…twice”. I had not imagined in my wildest dreams that he meant it LITERALLY. Because, really nothing happened! (dint wait to see the "twice" part of it)

Play Review: Flowers (8.5/10)

Points to note before you think of watching this one
1. It is a monologue (only one actor talking for long without an interval)
2. The actor is Rajit Kapur
3. The play is NOT for pure entertainment – it’ll make you think, NOT make you laugh even once
4. Don’t make this the first play you watch – you need a little bit of maturity and play-watching experience to be able to appreciate something like this
5. Make sure you watch this with good company – it’s important that the person sitting next to you is also able to appreciate it
6. When you do go to watch this, make sure you sit behind. Believe me, you will not regret it.

Girish Karnad captures the thoughts of a priest and flower decorator who is caught in the severe tug-of-war between his love for god and love for a courtesan. The priest has dedicated his entire life to the Shiv- ling in the kingdom temple, decorating it with flowers. His art is appreciated widely and so is his devotion and loyalty. Then one day a courtesan who visits the temple comes into his life and chaos unfolds. He is torn between his feelings for his wife, his devotion to the Shiv ling who he considers as his friend and guide, and his responsibility to the society. It is a situation which can make the strongest of people, fall down like a pack of cards. As Rajit Kapur narrates the events, you realize why the play is a monologue. Simply because the narration makes you imagine the story and other characters. That’s unique.

Rajit Kapur does a mind-blowing job as he submits himself to the character and spills his heart out to the audience. To single-handedly keep the audiences captivated, to remember line after line of top quality dialogues and to do it all making it look easy – that’s what makes Rajit Kapur one of the most respected theatre actors in the country.

The ambience created by the lights, set and background music is spectacular. Monologues require these details to be correct and they were. Watch out for the last scene – it’s like two parts of a mysterious painting.

Flowers is not merely a play. It is an experience. I should actually thank my friend who planned this, for making it a memorable one.

Play Review: Chaos Theory (10/10)

Yes, this is the best play I’ve seen!
In contrast to the name of the play (and for that matter my other reviews), I thought I’ll write this review systematically.

1. The Theme: The play provides a new take on love. Unlike all previous insights into this phenomenon as a perfect chemistry between two people, the writer explores it as an imperfect branch of physics – as chaos theory.

2. The Story: It is a tale of unarticulated love between two English academicians, spanning generations and continents. They meet in the 1960’s in Stephen’s College of Delhi and move on to become English professors in US universities of Boston and New York. They witness each significant and non-significant event of each other’s life, without ever really being with each other. In the fast changing eras from the 60’s to the 70’s to the 80’s with changing social and cultural trends, changing lifestyles and fashions one thing remains constant – the presence of the other person in each of their lives.

3. The Dialogues: This is the department in which Chaos Theory blows away any of its competitors. The lines are brilliantly crafted – hit you right in the heart when needed, make you laugh out when that’s the intention. “You, my friend, are a semicolon in the sentence of life” and “I would rather take conscious advantage of livestock than unconscious advantage of you!!” Shakespearean quotes and references to literature are precise and classy. The remarks on Calcutta and Delhi are written in such a subtle style, they convey the characterization while making you laugh. Anuvab Pal, the writer – Hats off to him! Well, this play was actually a finalist in the BBC World Playwriting Contest in 2007 and won the Julliard Playwriting Fellowship in 2004.

4. The Actors and the director: Anahita Uberoi stands out. She seems to be at such ease with the character it’s almost surreal. I always thought natural acting to be an oxymoron, till I saw her performance in Chaos Theory. Zafar Karachiwala has also done a spectacular job. He seems well rehearsed and polished - amazing dialogue delivery. Shaana Levy and Sohrab Ardeshir provide awesome comic relief. Sohrab’s monologue on the “samosa” and the “vagina” is hilarious. Watch out for it! Rahul Da Cunha is the director – I don’t see anything that could have been better in this play. So I’m sure he deserves most of the credit.

5. The background music, set and costumes: The play uses the changing genres of music to depict the flow of time. From the Beatles to Queen and Kishore Kumar, the music is what sets the tone for everything portrayed in the play. In some ways it’s the soul of the play. The costumes are well chosen. A friend of mine noticed the way Anahita Uberoi changed her scarf/shawl in each scene to set the tone of the character. Details like this separate the men from the boys. They make good plays world class.

Play Review: The Shape of Things (9.5/10)

To put it short, The Shape of Things is a bullet through your brain. Especially being Indians, this play will shock you to the core and shake your belief systems. At least that’s what I experienced watching it with a couple of friends. Written by Neil LaBute, the play is set in the American Midwest and involves 4 young art students who become romantically involved with each other.

A random rendezvous between a guy working part time in the Museum security with an enchanting girl, with surprisingly iconoclastic views, gradually turns into a captivating romance. The guy who was once docile and introvert turns confident, much to the astonishment of all his friends and acquaintances. People who once ridiculed him now appreciate the clothes he wears and the confidence he steers. He goes through a complete transformation in personality, induced and encouraged directly by his girl-friend. Slowly but surely his life changes, as he is so lost in his relationship which definitely seems to be doing wonders for his personal growth.

A “double date” with another couple, the guy’s best friends, unfolds a new twist in the story. And as the play progresses the plot thickens and draws your attention 100%. As you approach the climax you can’t be thinking of anything going on in your life as you’re glued to the events in the life of these individuals.

The play delves deep into the psychology of relationships and how far people are willing to go for their sake. It is an intense, and at the same time a disturbing study of power within relationships. It poses questions on the ethics in a relationship. It shows that there exists but a thin line between art and life. The play dares to question centuries old social beliefs about love and its existence. And trust me, how much ever your heart tries to disagree with the point of view elaborated in the play, your head will not succeed in finding a logical flaw in it! You will try to disagree, but the thought will follow you.

Watching plays of this class makes you hate your job, your education and your ambitions. Why couldn’t I be doing something like this!! If you’re a science, engineering or commerce student…go watch this play..to get a crash course on psychology and arts, which, let me tell you, is far more complex than anything we do. If you're a psychology and arts student, watch this play to get a new perspective on your subjects, perhaps make it the topic of your thesis!

Play review: Me, Kash and Cruise (8/10)

Me, Kash and Cruise is a saga of three friends, in the back-drop of the city of Mumbai and its ephemeral social, political and civic scenario. Pooja Thomas (Me), Rajesh Kashyap (Kash) and Cruise Khan (Cruise) begin their journey in 1984, in the field of theatre and witness the ups and downs of the city from the 1992 riots and corrupt civil officers to the marketing gimmicks and bollywood gaga.

The USP of the play is the characterization- and that’s where Director Rahul Da Cunha is a sheer genius. The play probes into various perspectives on the city of Bombay. Cruise, a Delhi-ite who has come to the city in hope of making it big in the acting business faces the struggles associated with the city, from the pains of traveling in local trains to the misery of having to sustain the high cost of living. In contrast, Kash who belongs to a rich south Bombay family is the kind who romanticizes with Greek philosophical plays and looks for social meaning and relevance in theatre. He is not on stage to make money or sustain a living; he looks for complex characters, deeper meanings and cannot care less about audience appreciation. The usage of a Muslim (Cruise Khan), a Hindu (Kashyap) and a Christian (Pooja Thomas) character each is a sheer stroke of brilliance. The subtleties in their mannerisms the “che man, wat men” for the Christian, the Muslim using the word “begum” and the Hindu describing his religion as “moderate” are just some of the nuances Rahul da Cunha has managed to capture with real class.
Cruise is played brilliantly, especially the metamorphosis from a fun-loving, unsophisticated and blunt north Indian, who sees humor in everything and can be the life of any party to someone who faces the strife of Bombay life. Kash, on the other hand, being measured and sober, someone who typically blames the system and does nothing about it, jumps off his fence only to face blood shed and tears.

The surprise package, (or packages rather) is played by Rajit Kapur. If you think you’ve seen him do everything, think again. He plays multiple cameos, from a Mumbai Police guy, to a high profile event manager, he manages to put the audience into fits. To me personally it was amazing how “Byomkesh Bakshi” could play such a variety of roles especially the ones which provided comic relief in the true sense.

The play is also a satire on the problems plaguing the city and perhaps the country as a whole. The journey of 25 years takes one through a whole gamut of issues, Hindu Muslim violence, dug up roads, problems caused by festivals to name a few. But the bottom line still remains that the city is still loved. With all its flaws people have learned to live with it. Whether this is the right thing or not is left open. The play doesn’t talk about revolutionizing the way the city is run. It rather concentrates on the journey, on friendships that can take you across the biggest hurdles in life and the spirit of humanity which eventually is bound to win.

As Pooja Thomas takes you along their journey, you get involved. You can feel what the characters feel and very soon you consider them as your friends. Anyone who has spent time in Bombay will appreciate and be able to relate to some character or perhaps a combination of characters. Infact, I recommend watching this play only once you can feel the pulse of Bombay…

5 most loosely used words in investment banking

1. Investment banking
2. Investment banker
3. Model
4. Relative value
5. Trade idea

Golden era for Indian music?

I look back at the last 6 to 8 months.. something has changed! Yes..I now work in an office and instead of "studying" in a college..i live at home instead of a shabby old hostel room..but all thats fine.
Well what is that change then? Its the fact that there has been a sudden surge of top quality music in Indian cinema...its literally "raining" good music. I now spend more time listening to music than I ever did..(what with the bombay travelling to work in the train and traffic) and even then music related conversations with friends make me realise there are a good number of good songs that i still have not heard and vice versa. Compare this with a year ago when I tried hard to look for songs that were worth listening to. Each Rahman album was eagerly awaited. (well i guess that still hasn't change and never will).
Just to prove my point I'll list a few songs/albums which have led me to believe that we very well may be witnessing the "golden era" of Indian cinema music.
1. Jaane tu ya jaane na - title song of the movie..India's first original jazz song..sung by Rahman himself
2. Kahin toh - same movie..its a personal favourite (its made for the piano)
3. Kabhi kabhi aditi - this one is obv the most popular..its amazing to have someone's name in almost each line of the song (tu khush hai toh lage ki jahaan mein chaayi hai khushi!..wow!)
4. All the other songs of this one too..nazrein milana, pappu cant dance..gr8 stuff.
5. Rock on, sindbad the sailor, socha hai!..hats off to Shankar ehsaan loy and farhaan akhtar.. bulls eye!
6. Phir dekhiye and yeh tumhaari meri baatein..both from Rock on!- multiple hearing..awesome lyrics.. khush hai wahi jo thoda betaab hai!
7. Kuch khaas hai, mar jaawan..and the backgrnd music of Fashion
8. Slumdog millionaire...wow!! Oh saaya, Jai ho, Mausam and escape, dreams on fire, paper planes
9. delhi 6.........Rehna tu!!!!! i dont understand the genre of this song..seems arabic+jazz+blues god knows wat...agen sung by rahman himself
10. and obv the other songs of delhi 6.. masakalli, title song, genda phool(with its sudden beat change after "saiyaan hai vyapaari") , arziyaan....tujhe kya gham tera rishta gagan ki baasuri se hai, pavan ki guftagu se hai sooraj ki roshni se hai :D
11. And something class apart.. the album of Dev D...its mind blowing..to be very honest no single song of the movie in my opinion is extraordinary..but wen you put it all together and in the context of the movie...wat emerges is something completely different..imaginative..including such a wide gamut of genres that will appeal rickshaw walas upto music connoisseurs!
12. There is the standard good music of yash chopra type movies...even that got better.. with rab ne bana di jodi..chance pe dance..it shows that even dance songs can be musically appealing..and musically appealing songs can be danced to!
13. rahman and ghajini too...kaise mujhe tum mil gayi...its a classic
14. Luck by chance...sapno se bhare naina! shankar mahadevan proves his classical backgrnd with very well scripted digital music.

Im sure I have missed a couple...yeah..kismat connection for example..bakhuda (finally atif aslam has come up with something good)..even bachna aie haseeno..ahista ahista and khuda jaane. And funny numbers like cool cool from roadside romeo..charlie ka laila and laila ka charlie :D
Now who has had the largest role to play in this transformation??
For this we have to thank someone...who does not feature in the list above..the guy who is almost single handedly responsible for this era....Himesh Reshamiya..
God bless him to say that he'll only give music and sing in movies he acts in :)
and well also composing so much of nonsense that everything seems so refreshing now!!
Well im not totally against his music..and wud like to have two songs in a year or somethin by him...well who else can come up with hilarious stuff like "tandoori nights!" but 40 songs in a year by that nut...please no!!
Anyway..Rahman,shankar ehsaan loy, salim sulaiman..and now amit trivedi (dev D)..you guys have a lot to live up to..hope this is just the beginning of the "golden era".