Song- My Life is Dear
Artiste- Blue Void
Original Song- Wish You Were Here
Artiste- Pink Floyd
SO,
Do you think you can fell,
The wrestler Mitchell?
Make him writhe in pain?
Can you make the guy scream,
And howl a shrill wail?
Fly with his tail?
Why'd'you want me to fell?
Did they get you trade,
Your diamonds and gold?
Your hash and rubies?
Your chairs and your TVs?
Dude go check your brain,
Did you see his range?
He'll walk all over your arms, and beat bones out of shape.
He fight two big bulls and a whole pack of mules, day after day,
Running over lion's corpse, and deforms, the faces of deers,
My life is dear.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Prahlad Kakkar @ IT-BHU
Hey everybody! IT-BHU's Annual Management Fest OPULENCE is ready to rock the country. The latest buzz is of genius adman Prahlad Kakkar joining the festivities from Jan 12- 14, 2007. To register for the various events at OPULENCE, please visit the website. There're plenty of exciting events and a lot of cash to be won.
Here's a short profile of Prahlad for the uninitiated-
"To me, advertisements are like having children. You give birth to them and your full attention and focus; sometimes they turn out great, sometimes they turn out to be juvenile delinquents. You just have to give it your best." - Prahlad Kakkar, CEO, Genesis
Success in the creative world lies in your ability to capture the simple, identifiable, everyday small things. In the words of Albert Szent-Gyorgi, Genius is seeing what everyone has seen, and thinking what no one has thought. This is how I would like to define one of India's finest ad filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar. From "Khatmal Niwas" to his own cigar brand PK, Kakkar's journey has been one filled with infinite variety and innovation. Besides a hectic work schedule Kakkar manages a teahouse in Mumbai, runs a jazz club and trains people in scuba diving in his own school located in Lakshwadeep. He has been inducted into the Indian Ad Film Makers Hall of Fame. A graduate from Fergusson College, Pune, he started work in 1972, with filmmaker Shyam Benegal. His monthly income was Rs. 300, which, he spend in setting up an office table at "Khatmal Niwas''(the place was infested with mosquitoes, therefore the name). For six years, he assisted Benegal in making ad films and art films, example Ankur, Manthan, and Bhumika. He later went on to set up his own production house "Genesis". Initially he accepted anything that came his way. The difference was in the way he presented those ads. In his words they were special, irreverent and over a period of time it became a style. The one thing Kakkar detests is a "boring script''. However, if he happens to come across one that can put a smile to his face, he crafts it into a memorable film. According to Kakkar it's the human element in ad film that makes all the difference. Being able to pick up mannerisms and emotions are the key to a successful film. The idea is to be able to relate to human emotions. He is against the use of technology for the sake of technology. Unless and until it is vital to the script, Kakkar avoids it, since it has little or no value. Presently, he directs TV commercials, trains assistants and sets them up. He has no qualms about teaching youngsters his style. That's the only way to stay young. For Kakkar, being young at heart makes all the difference. Of all the ad filmmakers, Kakkar works for the youngest brands in the market. Pepsi, Kit Kat, Nestle, Maggie Sauces and many more. He believes to understand the young, you have to be young yourself.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Homeward Bound-2
It’s vacation time again! Not yet, though. I have an exam tomorrow and one day after tomorrow, but heck! I’m a final year engineering student, and am supposed to stay as far away from books as from Suniel Shetty’s movies. So how has life changed post Homeward Bound-I.
Firstly, I am two months older; hence I am more worldly wise than I was two months earlier. A direct evidence of this is that I’ve already booked my tickets and for a change, I don’t have to squeeze into that tiny side lower berth with unattractive bedfellows.
Secondly, I am a job richer.
Thirdly, I am a few hundred hairs poorer. Clinic Ayurvedic is working overtime to delay the natural disaster, but I guess evil does triumph over the hood sometimes. The difference between Marilyn Monroe and my hair is that people don’t stare expectantly when a wind blows.
Fourthly, I have a new toy at home- a brand new digital camera. Mom said she’s waiting for me to come and operate it. Considering my dubious record of damaging toy guns inside 24 hours, I doubt if this is a wise decision. Anyway, I’ll play around with the thing and read out verses from The Alchemist if I screw it up.
Fifthly, India has slipped to number 6 in the ODI rankings. All our batsmen are competing for the lowest score and Mohammad Kaif generally leads from the rear. Dada is back but I hope he doesn’t bring his grandfatherly reflexes to the field. We mustn’t forget that he’s an excellent player of left arm orthodox spin bowled from over the wicket and pitched on off stump. We mustn’t also forget that he’s an excellent slip fielder when the ball comes straight into his hands. So what if he chases the ball like journalists chase Mithun Chakraborty’s second cousin.
Sixthly, Hexaware Technologies has acquired FocusFrame. Ok, I think Powder Metallurgy is getting the better of me.
Before leaving for Secunderabad, I will visit the Sunderbans in West Bengal. We’re a group of five, and plan to enjoy these last few months to the hilt- the Sunderbans now, and probably Goa or Kathmandu in March. Of course, our Goa plans hinge on the appetite of the tigers in Sunderbans. I just hope this jungle isn’t like Sariska in Jaipur. After waiting with a finger on the camera for hours, all we* saw was a few crows, monkeys, and dogs. We saw a few donkeys and tried to convince ourselves it was a sambar or something.
Each time I go home I resolve to spend time judiciously and watch as little TV as possible. Needless to say, TV hours end up being as little as 15 hours a day. This time too, I’m determined to read a few novels. I’ve already asked Pondy Baba (kabaadiwaala turned gyan guru) to bring me a few books. Let’s see if this time the spiders touch it before I do.
I don’t have much to write today. I have an exam tomorrow, and though I’ve read everything, I can’t say I know enough to breeze through the paper. Also, it’s 1:30 am and I could do with some sleep before my standard exam wake-up time of 5:30 am. Wish me luck for the paper. I promise to return and post updates of my trip to the Sunderbans and my stay at home.
Firstly, I am two months older; hence I am more worldly wise than I was two months earlier. A direct evidence of this is that I’ve already booked my tickets and for a change, I don’t have to squeeze into that tiny side lower berth with unattractive bedfellows.
Secondly, I am a job richer.
Thirdly, I am a few hundred hairs poorer. Clinic Ayurvedic is working overtime to delay the natural disaster, but I guess evil does triumph over the hood sometimes. The difference between Marilyn Monroe and my hair is that people don’t stare expectantly when a wind blows.
Fourthly, I have a new toy at home- a brand new digital camera. Mom said she’s waiting for me to come and operate it. Considering my dubious record of damaging toy guns inside 24 hours, I doubt if this is a wise decision. Anyway, I’ll play around with the thing and read out verses from The Alchemist if I screw it up.
Fifthly, India has slipped to number 6 in the ODI rankings. All our batsmen are competing for the lowest score and Mohammad Kaif generally leads from the rear. Dada is back but I hope he doesn’t bring his grandfatherly reflexes to the field. We mustn’t forget that he’s an excellent player of left arm orthodox spin bowled from over the wicket and pitched on off stump. We mustn’t also forget that he’s an excellent slip fielder when the ball comes straight into his hands. So what if he chases the ball like journalists chase Mithun Chakraborty’s second cousin.
Sixthly, Hexaware Technologies has acquired FocusFrame. Ok, I think Powder Metallurgy is getting the better of me.
Before leaving for Secunderabad, I will visit the Sunderbans in West Bengal. We’re a group of five, and plan to enjoy these last few months to the hilt- the Sunderbans now, and probably Goa or Kathmandu in March. Of course, our Goa plans hinge on the appetite of the tigers in Sunderbans. I just hope this jungle isn’t like Sariska in Jaipur. After waiting with a finger on the camera for hours, all we* saw was a few crows, monkeys, and dogs. We saw a few donkeys and tried to convince ourselves it was a sambar or something.
Each time I go home I resolve to spend time judiciously and watch as little TV as possible. Needless to say, TV hours end up being as little as 15 hours a day. This time too, I’m determined to read a few novels. I’ve already asked Pondy Baba (kabaadiwaala turned gyan guru) to bring me a few books. Let’s see if this time the spiders touch it before I do.
I don’t have much to write today. I have an exam tomorrow, and though I’ve read everything, I can’t say I know enough to breeze through the paper. Also, it’s 1:30 am and I could do with some sleep before my standard exam wake-up time of 5:30 am. Wish me luck for the paper. I promise to return and post updates of my trip to the Sunderbans and my stay at home.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
S.O.S in S.A.
Saying that the Indian team is in a rough patch is like calling Mount Everest a speed braker. - Muckshay
Don't argue about Silly Points and blame a Third Man when all you do is Slip.
- Muckshay
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Screw-Ups VI- The Lanes They Are A-Choking by Robbed Vylan
The Lanes They Are A-Choking
Artiste- Robbed Vylan
Original:
The Times They Are A-Changing
Artiste- Bob Dylan
Cream, lather and bubbles
Work up a foam,
And applied on the face where the beard has grown.
And spread the mix soon,
Or the date will postpone,
If her smile for you is worth saving,
You better start shaving or be skinned to the bone,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
Come writers and journos
Who scandalize with your pens,
Grab your mikes fast
The chance won't come again.
We've caught the goon
And his head's still in spin.
There's no tellin' when he'll be wakin'.
Move fast now coz we can't drop a pin
For the lanes they are a- choking.
Come cricketers and groundsmen,
Please leave the ball,
If you don't stop your play
They will lock up the mall.
Then he who has thirst
Will see no stall.
There's a traffic outside,
Suffocating.
If you go on wielding willows
You'll get only salt,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
Come lecturers and teachers
Who throw out the lads,
Don't teach the science that you can't understand.
Your son wants his father and your wife has errands,
The main road is rapidly fillin',
Please get on to your luna which is parked in the stand,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
The line it is long,
The purse it sticks out,
The poor man's sorrow will later be past,
As the peasant now will later be boss,
But the police is constantly staring,
The brave ones now had better be fast,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
Artiste- Robbed Vylan
Original:
The Times They Are A-Changing
Artiste- Bob Dylan
Cream, lather and bubbles
Work up a foam,
And applied on the face where the beard has grown.
And spread the mix soon,
Or the date will postpone,
If her smile for you is worth saving,
You better start shaving or be skinned to the bone,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
Come writers and journos
Who scandalize with your pens,
Grab your mikes fast
The chance won't come again.
We've caught the goon
And his head's still in spin.
There's no tellin' when he'll be wakin'.
Move fast now coz we can't drop a pin
For the lanes they are a- choking.
Come cricketers and groundsmen,
Please leave the ball,
If you don't stop your play
They will lock up the mall.
Then he who has thirst
Will see no stall.
There's a traffic outside,
Suffocating.
If you go on wielding willows
You'll get only salt,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
Come lecturers and teachers
Who throw out the lads,
Don't teach the science that you can't understand.
Your son wants his father and your wife has errands,
The main road is rapidly fillin',
Please get on to your luna which is parked in the stand,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
The line it is long,
The purse it sticks out,
The poor man's sorrow will later be past,
As the peasant now will later be boss,
But the police is constantly staring,
The brave ones now had better be fast,
For the lanes, they are a-choking.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Screw-Ups V- Lemon Tea (The Beat Less)
When I prise myself from piles of rubble,
Neetu Bhenji comes to me,
Selling packs of fruit bun, lemon tea.
Though it was cold and tasteless,
It was no less than nectar to me,
Sipping it in hunger, lemon tea.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Dipping buns in cups of Lemon Tea.
From all the flattened houses people
Screaming in one voice for tea,
We're dying of hunger, lemon tea.
And though they may eat cream buns,
There is still a chant for pots of tea,
We'll starve till we get lemon tea.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
We'll starve till we get lemon tea
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Waiting for a cup of lemon tea.
And even if it's salty,
There is still a group that pines for tea,
Pine on till tomorrow, lemon tea.
They waited, waited on and fell sick,
Neetu Bhenji said sorry,
We're out of supplies, stay hungry.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Waiting for a cup of lemon tea.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
We'll starve till we get lemon tea.
Original Song:
Title: Let it Be
Artiste: The Beatles
Neetu Bhenji comes to me,
Selling packs of fruit bun, lemon tea.
Though it was cold and tasteless,
It was no less than nectar to me,
Sipping it in hunger, lemon tea.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Dipping buns in cups of Lemon Tea.
From all the flattened houses people
Screaming in one voice for tea,
We're dying of hunger, lemon tea.
And though they may eat cream buns,
There is still a chant for pots of tea,
We'll starve till we get lemon tea.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
We'll starve till we get lemon tea
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Waiting for a cup of lemon tea.
And even if it's salty,
There is still a group that pines for tea,
Pine on till tomorrow, lemon tea.
They waited, waited on and fell sick,
Neetu Bhenji said sorry,
We're out of supplies, stay hungry.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Waiting for a cup of lemon tea.
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
Lemon tea, lemon tea,
We'll starve till we get lemon tea.
Original Song:
Title: Let it Be
Artiste: The Beatles
Sunday, October 22, 2006
A Weekend, A Festival, And Loads Of Fun
The only problem with strong winds in Varanasi is that they throw life out of gear and blow clothes out of the corridor and down on the grass below, which explains my fervent hunt for my Rupa Macroman. But all’s well that ends well, and I thank god for not giving me the good advice of buying spare clothes. Enough said about strong winds and underwears.
It’s approximately 11:30 pm now. I just visited a website which promised free live F-1 action. Obviously, when the page opened, they asked me to register and pay a few hundred dollars for the service. Anyway, it marks the end of an eventful weekend.
Diwali is the only time of the year when bombs don’t kill. I’m not fond of crackers, and certainly don’t like bombs. This shouldn’t be misconstrued as under aged aging (as people seeing my scantily clad head are wont to do)- I’ve always hated bombs. My last few Diwalis in Varanasi were not exactly fruitful. In the last 2 years I wasted time and money on Naach, Veer Zaara, and Garam Masala; redeemed that somewhat this time with Don.
20th October, Friday
The festivities began on Friday night with a trip to a Pizza joint. The last time I ordered a pizza in Varanasi, I remember staring down on a Tandoori roti with a topping of aloo and capsicum. What I thought was the hair of an old woman turned out to be grated cheese. The pizzas here though, were quite delicious. We sat in the balcony, facing the Ganga. Anand, Rahul, and I pigged on Vatica Special Pizza and a mouth-watering apple pie. We were the only Indians there. But a million insects hovering around the streetlight and a few thousand lazing at the puddle kept reminding us we were still in Varanasi. I’ve always held Anand Kashyap in high regard, and after advising me to try Bob Dylan, he’s done absolutely no harm to his image. I really love The Times They Are A-Changin and Tangled Up In Blue.
21st October, Saturday
The weekend started early with a Mock CAT at 8:30 am. Obviously, I didn’t bathe before the test. And when I later went to bathe, I realized 1) that for the 7th time in the last week I forgot to buy a new soap. The old one already looks like an ant’s shoe, and my body is a little bigger; 2) that for the 4th time in the last week I forgot to buy a new shampoo. I’ve been pumping the life out of that poor bottle, and given the unspeakable service it does, I deserve to treat it better; and finally 3) that the water was COLD.
Abhinav, Dhishan, Sanjeev, and I proceeded to watch Don in Varanasi’s only Cineplex- called KCM; won’t be surprised if it expands to Kashi Cinema Mandir. We were there an hour early. We sat in an air-conditioned Café (it’s not easy to find an Air Conditioner and a Café in the same compound in Varanasi) and delighted at the prospect of spending an hour there without ordering a thing. An authoritative hand placed a menu on the table, one thing followed the other and before long, we were digging into 3 sundaes.
The movie was quite entertaining. The locations were breathtaking, the background score was pulsating, and the storyline was more intriguing than Serena Williams’s hair. The acting was decent too, with Shahrukh Khan almost succeeding in breaking out of his mould. His dialogue-delivery was contrived at times, but on the whole, it was a refreshing break from his Hey-hey-hey (to be repeated 10 times with a gap of 0.1 seconds between every 2 recitals) roles. Priyanka Chopra was really hot, as was Kareena Kapoor. Isha Kopikkar played the role of not making her presence felt to perfection. There were too many songs and that marred an otherwise fast-paced film. I haven’t watched the original but a learned few said the story departed from the original in quite a few places.
At the interval, it seemed the entire hall was emptied into the toilet. There was a long queue with men shuffling uncomfortably awaiting their turns. Being one of them, I must say I empathized with them. Also, given the oomph quotient in the movie, I can’t promise that all of them were waiting to just answer nature’s call.
We dined at Kashi Chaat Bhandar and followed it up with paan. I’ve decided to eat paan more often, now that it’s time to say goodbye. On the way back I decided to buy a pair of shorts or run the risk of wearing the same pant day and night for one week straight. Upon our return, Abhinav and I went to attend a Diwali Puja in Vikalp’s room. The puja wound up at 9 but our gossip went well past midnight. It’s been long since Murali, Ravi, Vikalp, and the two of us gossiped, and we had a terrific time bitching and trying to check if alcohol had illicitly entered Abhinav’s system.
22nd October, Sunday
Sunday was a lot lazier. Dad’s call woke me up, lunch put me to sleep, and corridor-cricket woke me up again. I bowled with a lot of vigour and little success.
With expenditure rocketing in the last 2 days, I decided to make it a hat-trick and we proceeded to Rahil for dinner. We followed that with ice-cream and a round of meetha paans. I don’t spend too often, but when I spend it’s like a running nose- flows till it drains out.
Speaking of draining out, I’m exhausted. I’m supposed to study for tests beginning on 26th. Kind well-wishers remind me that CAT is on 19th November and that it takes more than 97 percentile to get calls from the IIMs. I agree, but please leave me alone till tomorrow. Let me spend the night with Bob Dylan playing in Winamp and mosquitoes playing closer to the ear. If I find time, I’ll post a review of Don, but if I don’t, you can go watch the movie.
It’s approximately 11:30 pm now. I just visited a website which promised free live F-1 action. Obviously, when the page opened, they asked me to register and pay a few hundred dollars for the service. Anyway, it marks the end of an eventful weekend.
Diwali is the only time of the year when bombs don’t kill. I’m not fond of crackers, and certainly don’t like bombs. This shouldn’t be misconstrued as under aged aging (as people seeing my scantily clad head are wont to do)- I’ve always hated bombs. My last few Diwalis in Varanasi were not exactly fruitful. In the last 2 years I wasted time and money on Naach, Veer Zaara, and Garam Masala; redeemed that somewhat this time with Don.
20th October, Friday
The festivities began on Friday night with a trip to a Pizza joint. The last time I ordered a pizza in Varanasi, I remember staring down on a Tandoori roti with a topping of aloo and capsicum. What I thought was the hair of an old woman turned out to be grated cheese. The pizzas here though, were quite delicious. We sat in the balcony, facing the Ganga. Anand, Rahul, and I pigged on Vatica Special Pizza and a mouth-watering apple pie. We were the only Indians there. But a million insects hovering around the streetlight and a few thousand lazing at the puddle kept reminding us we were still in Varanasi. I’ve always held Anand Kashyap in high regard, and after advising me to try Bob Dylan, he’s done absolutely no harm to his image. I really love The Times They Are A-Changin and Tangled Up In Blue.
21st October, Saturday
The weekend started early with a Mock CAT at 8:30 am. Obviously, I didn’t bathe before the test. And when I later went to bathe, I realized 1) that for the 7th time in the last week I forgot to buy a new soap. The old one already looks like an ant’s shoe, and my body is a little bigger; 2) that for the 4th time in the last week I forgot to buy a new shampoo. I’ve been pumping the life out of that poor bottle, and given the unspeakable service it does, I deserve to treat it better; and finally 3) that the water was COLD.
Abhinav, Dhishan, Sanjeev, and I proceeded to watch Don in Varanasi’s only Cineplex- called KCM; won’t be surprised if it expands to Kashi Cinema Mandir. We were there an hour early. We sat in an air-conditioned Café (it’s not easy to find an Air Conditioner and a Café in the same compound in Varanasi) and delighted at the prospect of spending an hour there without ordering a thing. An authoritative hand placed a menu on the table, one thing followed the other and before long, we were digging into 3 sundaes.
The movie was quite entertaining. The locations were breathtaking, the background score was pulsating, and the storyline was more intriguing than Serena Williams’s hair. The acting was decent too, with Shahrukh Khan almost succeeding in breaking out of his mould. His dialogue-delivery was contrived at times, but on the whole, it was a refreshing break from his Hey-hey-hey (to be repeated 10 times with a gap of 0.1 seconds between every 2 recitals) roles. Priyanka Chopra was really hot, as was Kareena Kapoor. Isha Kopikkar played the role of not making her presence felt to perfection. There were too many songs and that marred an otherwise fast-paced film. I haven’t watched the original but a learned few said the story departed from the original in quite a few places.
At the interval, it seemed the entire hall was emptied into the toilet. There was a long queue with men shuffling uncomfortably awaiting their turns. Being one of them, I must say I empathized with them. Also, given the oomph quotient in the movie, I can’t promise that all of them were waiting to just answer nature’s call.
We dined at Kashi Chaat Bhandar and followed it up with paan. I’ve decided to eat paan more often, now that it’s time to say goodbye. On the way back I decided to buy a pair of shorts or run the risk of wearing the same pant day and night for one week straight. Upon our return, Abhinav and I went to attend a Diwali Puja in Vikalp’s room. The puja wound up at 9 but our gossip went well past midnight. It’s been long since Murali, Ravi, Vikalp, and the two of us gossiped, and we had a terrific time bitching and trying to check if alcohol had illicitly entered Abhinav’s system.
22nd October, Sunday
Sunday was a lot lazier. Dad’s call woke me up, lunch put me to sleep, and corridor-cricket woke me up again. I bowled with a lot of vigour and little success.
With expenditure rocketing in the last 2 days, I decided to make it a hat-trick and we proceeded to Rahil for dinner. We followed that with ice-cream and a round of meetha paans. I don’t spend too often, but when I spend it’s like a running nose- flows till it drains out.
Speaking of draining out, I’m exhausted. I’m supposed to study for tests beginning on 26th. Kind well-wishers remind me that CAT is on 19th November and that it takes more than 97 percentile to get calls from the IIMs. I agree, but please leave me alone till tomorrow. Let me spend the night with Bob Dylan playing in Winamp and mosquitoes playing closer to the ear. If I find time, I’ll post a review of Don, but if I don’t, you can go watch the movie.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
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