Pune Diaries : 14th March 2009 ..... KP is truly awesome !

One thing is for sure with personal issues (yea imagine a dumbass like me can also crib about them!) I couldn't catch up with Pune diaries for over a month since early February. This trip was long due with me not able to meet over with the best people in my circle at our favourite destination-Pune. My excitement knew no bounds with me booking Shivneri tickets well in advance for the journey. In the early hours of a beautifully drizzled Saturday morning me got down at University Circle. Believe me, everytime me gets down there, me has a strange feeling...something people called nostalgia...me calls it eternal love for the city that taught me everything from work to betrayal to love to friendships....nw its a part of me. Anyways moving ahead the occassional rains in the months of Feb-Mar maketh the city absolutely scenic and me loved every part of it. It was time for some reunionisin with old time chums like Manbhawan and Sahil over the their lively assortments. And then came by the original gurus of love...Amol (Santbaba) and Rajeev (Lucky Dog!). Yea dude, not the greatest description but yea me has to admit it was quite a riot with Divya joining us in the cafeteria. One of the best times of my college life, was spent like most of us at the cafeteria, whinning over the missed marks..checking the latest chic on the block to discussing abt class room dynamics (read politics). And it was no different then as well, with us starting off from where we left previously. Well Amol had just started taking on his seniors at his workplace for a very serious offence: they gave him work! Rajeev had just returned from Bangalore after his training and was enjoying his stay at the place to be KP (whatta place to live in!). Divya well, someone had again fallen for her, we were discussin plans to evade him.

This time we decided to crash over at Rajeev's latest pad . There are very few places in India where we get to find Jaguars and BMW's more than autorickshaws and KP sure wins the race hands down. His flat made our day for sure, it sure is amazing to be cuddled up in the lap of luzury with your best pals to fool around. As the eve descended we headed for some much needed KP darshan (no prizes for guessing our real motives). The crowd of Pune has always been a mix with great diversity owing to the number of foreign students flocking to Pune for a better tomorrow. This is quite evident at every corner of this upmarket area with a considerable number of eateries customized to the tastebuds of the goras. Also there is a certain level of comfort that surrounds them in a place like Pune where a fair skinned bloke would not invite the usual stares suggesting: "Oh my God he seems to be a foreigner". Our evening walk ended with some desi fare rounding up our Saturday.

Sunday mornings have always been a lazy affair and with two similar fellas around we slept in great style till we realized we were getting late for the morning show of Gulal. Besides the fact that we bonded over some common disliking for some fellow comrades, we have always believed that there is no second to KK Menon when it comes to acting in Bollywood. Gulal turned out to be much beyond our expectations, in short a complete Paisa Vasool. The fact that like most Anurag Kashyap films(excepting the very well recieved No Smoking) even this one was blessed with great music added to amazingly well scripted flow of the movie, Gulal is quite a watch. Once done with our lunch at Gold Adlabs(which is a shade of any Adlabs for Mumbaikar) we returned back to his place. As the evening drew by, we all knew it was time to bid adieu with the hope of reuniting in the near future.

However my journey was far from complete with Amol and me having to return back to the city which never sleeps before our routine began. Inter-City Express is quite a landmark train for commuters between Mumbai and Pune since its the fastest in this route. Sometimes I find it quite enthralling to meet people who actually embark on this journey every day of their lives for their livelihood. Its quite something, take my word for it, if you have to commute for over 350 kms for work every day of the year.

Gotta leave now, Thane station is up in 2 mins.......

Where has he gone?

Okay, my comeback blog after more than a month had to be special, which could be compared to the comeback tours of the all the famous bands across generations. Well hailing from Mumbai, over the pst 3-5 years there has been one man, who has made enough noises(from various places!) to stamp his authority as a force in Bollywood. As they say, like him or hate him you just can't ignore the Himesh Reshammaiya or HR as he likes to call himself. Since the early days of Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya he made a name for his peppy tracks which could easily be related to Indian audience  being re-introduced to Sufiana style of music with the likes of Kailash Kher, Atif, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. But somehow, limelight eluded him, despite belting out hits like Humraaz, Tere Naam, and many more(Okei, I may sound like a self professed HR fan, but his music was good in those days!) The real big change factor which impacted him was his launch vehicle as a rock star cum pop artist as he loves to potray himself in the movie Aashiq Banaya Aapne. And if things were not bad enough, we had to bear with the slew of cheap publicity gimmicks arising from disgruntled spirits tp insulting legends, to also adding up to become the messiah of all loverlorn people in the world,to his modest acceptance of the fact that he managed to deliver 36 hits over a period of 6 months! Wait there was more to come, he decided to launch himself, well quite expectedly, as himself, in the real "luv" story. My friend Karan, had returned back after watching the movie(Shows that his Gujju fan followers club managed to save the film somehow!) I asked him about the same. Quite animatedly he replied,"Jishnuda, what can I say, there were portions of the movie in which he over acted, and portions in which he under played so much, well I could not figure out till the end, what was the crap all about?" My sympathies with him for bearing through the 2.5 hours of non stop nasal bytes, but the fact remains he did watch the film. And if you though its over, its far from being over, there are rumours floating that by the end of this year, there are 4 more HR starrer's on the anvil...........

Pune Diaries: 31-08-2007 ... romancin....the city.....

Life down here has been one amazing journey so far. My initial days were plagued by emotions of me getting overtly esctatic even at the sight of a Shivneri headed to Bombay. However as time has passed by, I've slowly started kinda liking this city!

Yea I'm sure Pooja would be commenting "See, I told you so many times!" Pune has its own charm for sure, whether that be the slow frenzied lazy morning walks enjoyed by both young and old alike or the trips to E-Square (I still haven't been to KP much...so still to write about that....) The best part of this city is its weather. As rightly said by some, its centrally air conditioned as the weather remains pleasant thru most parts of the year, monsoons and winters being heavenly. After experiencing super duper heavy seasonal monsoons in Bombay I was expecting quite the same out there, however it was quite the opposite. Rains come down drizzling, never too harsh, yet touching your soul with mother earth calling out to you with its effervescent fragrance. There is something about it, seriously I mean it, even amongst the most mind boggling software engineering presentations and project submissions, the occassional drift in the air, just about made me feel,fall in love with life again. Is it possible in any other metropolis in India? I really doubt coz its something too personal a feeling that I'm beginning to share with this city. Yea, is quite the opposite of whatever I considered it to be. Life is short, and as my friend Amol often remarks with great propheze, that "Have no expectations with life, you shall remain always happy!" It holds true and I'm learning the same. I'm still getting to know my classmates, some of them have a great set of real life experiences, some are quite senior, have dabbled in jobs previously, so have a far greater insight of life, some have drifted along to this college just like me. I've got close to my roomies, its a lot of them, seven in totality, each one bring something unique in our stay. Our late night ventures into Uno and Monopoly, are sure folklore have spoken of, and great times we spend counselling each other, on handling the most complex intricacy of our times, women. Its exciting ragging the hell out of some of them as it sure brings out our innocence quite a rarity today. I recently visited Level-9, a coffee shop on top of the 9th floor of ICC tower(supposedly a big corporate park in Pune). I must admit the view was fabulous. I could not only view more than half of Pune, I could also see the airport from there. Quite a place, and it filled a great sense of pride to spot my college standing tall amidst the SB Road skyline. We all have a child to us, and it just about brought it out of me, the moment I spotted the drizzle on the terrace area and me felt like shaking a step or two. A sure stop for once, one of the best places to groove over some coffee and conversations in Pune, surely a must visit, for some golden moments to be cherished (Robin has this theory that all the so called coffee joints loot customers over their golden moments:)

Silsilay: The strange case of Neil Constantine

I was living out of my suitcase(literally) in the early 80's with me frequently travelling overseas on clientele meets. Often  these trips would leave me wanting to spend more time with my family but would be denied over months. Once I was enroute from the Heathrow, London to the JFK, NewYork. While waiting at the transit I happened to see an array of policemen surrounded around a thin frail man who somehow seemed vaguely similar to one of my old school friends. He was chained form top to bottom like one of those Fidayeen terrorists they showed in BBC the previous week. Just then, it hit me it was my old school chum, Neil 

Constantine, from my John Connon and Catherdal days back in Bombay. We were fairly good friends as I termed  "chums". But to see my old friend after 25 years being handcuffed across the terminal by a military of policemen sure seemed weird to me. After some initial inquiry, however there was little I could do to change anything neither find out anything, I decided to board my flight to JFK. Once I landed in JFK, I happened to find a huge commotion at the airport exit. I soon figured out it was some celebrity who was being whisked away in a limo. Not suprising till the moment I realized it was the same man,my old chum turned convict Neil Constantine, who was chained to the root a few hours back. It took me sometime to recover to my senses as I just was not able to make any sense of the weirdest situation which was just happening in fronta me. Since he left with the airs of a celebrity I was left with none to really find out about him and I returned home disappointed. Around 3 years later, I was enjoyin a mug of beer alone at a bar in Prague, when this gentlemen came and sat next to me. He seemed to vaguely familar to me, I couldn't make out who he exactly was. Just then he spoke and his baritone reminded me of the one and only Neil that I knew of in school, someone who had mastered the art of elocution, and also the same person who has keys to one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of my life. He then started narrating me his tale of ups and downs which made it look like even Mariana Trench was flat! He had been convicted of murder and deceit across Central Europe, no wonder he was chained by the police. He was being deported to US since he had become a US citizen and had applied for extradiction. 15 mins into the flight the pilot had joined the cabin crew for some small talk when the plane was set on auto pilot. All of a sudden the cockpit door bolted and the pilot was left stranded and clueless as to how to enter back into his mecca. There was no way one could break open into cockpit owing to its nature of built. Everyone in the flight were tensed to the hilt coz it was death on the radar. Just then the Police realized that they did have a propfessional safecracker and he could help them out. They turned to Neil for his expertise. Sensing an oppurtunity to escape Neil demanded his immediate release once they landed safely in JFK. Also in the flight was Mr. Onassis, one of the wealthiest blokes in that part of the world, who fearing the worst and overcome and stung by the situation on the anvil, proclaimed to bequeath 25% of his fortune,to to the man who would save his life. Neil, got down to work and broke all his previous records, everyone around stared in amazement. Within 10 mins he had broken open the door of the cockpit understandbly saving the lives of hundreds. When he left the airport one of the passengers in the flight gifted him his limo which he drove away with great pride and elan with all charges being dropped amidst the cheer of "Long live Neil! Our Saviour!" with his new multi millionaire status.....

Bombay Talkies: Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa

"Kabhi kabhi aditi zindagi mein yuhi koi apna lagta hai,

Kabhi kabhi aditi wo bichad jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai,

Aise mein koi kaise apne aasuon ko behne se roke?

Aur kaise koi soch le everything’s gonna be ok?"

I had to write about the most refreshing movie I have seen in a very long time. I still remember the vivid happiness in our eyes when 12 of us bunked our lectures and headed to E2 for the matinee show of the already hit movie which had 2 promising youngsters, one Aamir Khan's nephew(Imran Khan) and the other one, who had us vowed with her cute Parker pen ads(Genelia D'Souza). The movie comes as a much needed break from stereotypical bollywood fare of action and romance with multiple starrers. With no superstars to boast of, Abbas Tyrewalla scores heavily on the simplicity of its storyline and the easy to relate characters amongst the general youth. Add to that the ever so youthful music of AR Rahman, its no suprise that even today we keep crooning to the tunes of Pappu can't dance. It captures the already treaded upon path of college friendship turning into love, but the predictable storyline as it unfolds sure keeps you wanting to know more. Not to forget, a special mention for a stellar performance by the highly talented Prateik Babbar who makes it quite a scene when he falls off his seat listening to Aditi say, that she is out to search a girlfriend for Jay! My personal fav tracks is the soulful "Kahin to hoga" and the title track "Tu bole" which you will be humming by the end of the movie. The movie stands out as a winner right from the onset which showcases Jay having weird dreams about his past to the ultra dramatic climax scene when he ends up winning his love over the famous Kishoreda track "Jaaaane tuu yaa jaaane naaa, Maane tuu yaa maaane naaaaa". So get your act right, if you still have had a boring day, its sure one movie you will remember for a very long time. 

Entrepreneurship diaries: The elusive start

It seems like the latest catchphrase everyone uses right from the road side baniya to Aravind Adiga's Booker winning hero. Its something that has just about caught the fascination of everyone around us speaking about entrepreneurship. I've been actively involved in some activities in my heydays(those days!) and sincerely believe that its no more an option, its a sheer compulsion to be an entrepreneur today. So what does entrepreneurship teach one? Well for starters it can be traced to Antar Prerna(Entre-preneur) which leads to the idea being enveloped. It sure needs materialization, which is enhanced upon by some serious research into the same. Why do we entrepreneurs? Our economy is in a turmoil and some believe this is the best time to enter into the same. Entrpreneurs have the ability to take risks, to venture into territories unheard of before, to question the written paradigms of business paraphernelia. Why is that we tend to remember a Narayana Murthy or a Dhirubhai Ambani even today? Its sure not for the x billion dollars they make every quarter, but for the fact they have established 

companies which employ more than 80000 people around the globe in turn affecting the lives of more than a million people directly. Tell me where else can you feel the ability to be more empowered? You sure control your own life more powerfully, than ever before and sure can impact the lives of many. Its been said that the greatest nation of the world,America was built 

over the efforts of some 50-100 entrepreneurs in the early 1900's. Entrepreneurship has never been more exciting and challenging, its time we the youth start believing in the same. My friends down in college have already begun their work. I would like to mention some of their commendable work :

1) Sahil Khan     - www.thetossedsalad.com (e-magazine)

2) Pheroze Verma  - www.smsyantra.com (online sms portal)

3) Ankit Das      - www.infinovo.com (outsourcing)

4) Shamsundar     - Brandzz(Branding and marketing solutions)

5) Jalay Pandya   - Full MarxX(Short films production, distribution, showcasing), 9m Knowledge Soldutions(Branding Solutions)

I often wonder at  amazement at their courage and faith in their abilities to have followed their dreams, their instincts despite all odds. Some have already made it big, Full Marzz celebrates its 2nd Short Films Fest this year with celebrated names likes Shyam Benegal and Markhand Deshpande lined up, Thetossedsalad in its completion of 6 months, went aboard with the

book reading session and panel discussion with likes of Vatsal Seth and noted novelist Mr. Anand Gore. Smsyantra already boasts of a clientele of above 500 people with over 200 hits per day. The others are also doing very welll for themselves. They sure did face their initial challenges but they have gone ahead with their plans. Its all about an idea in the true sense of the word 

that one needs to beleive in, that can really change the world. The rest as they say is a hardwork and a little bit of innovation that can one a long way being an entrepeneur. Mind you, being entrepreneurial needn't imply you start your busines s today  but change the way one thinks,its a way of life. You ought to get tired with your daily work at one point in your life and want to live a more fulfilling life. What better time, is it than to explore it today? I would love to start 

something of my own someday, till the elusive start, let me just work along and learn from my friends about their business venture and beyond......

Monday Blues........zzzzz.........

I hate Sunday evenings, they stare at you like an impending journey that stands ahead of you. Its something I have been faced with since eternal times. Its the "Monday Blues Syndrome". But you know the good part of it,more than half of the world suffer with the ignominy of waking up to a day which reminds you a week ahead full of challenges. So how does one make a difference to this sheer feeling of downgraded spirits? 

1) For starters, you look at life with a different perspective, go out to work with the sprint of an athlete, making the most of the day that lies ahead, ou sure need to take everyday like a new challenge(yea something like Mick Hussey that every cricket match is his last match!). 

2) You could date someone pretty/handsome, well the person needn't be that special one, just have fun!

3) Start your day with a dossier of Mumbai Mirror gossip(Believe me its more exciting than ne of the Taliban newsbytes)

4) Hang out with friends in the evenings and vent out your day's frustration on them!

5) Try doing things at work which are not characteristic of you, something like helping out someone, or maybe working your arse up to finish something before schedule (Unless you know you would be overloaded with something else!)

6) Try reading a book,nt something heavy like Salman Rushdie, go for the Chetan Bhagats on the weekdays.

7) Listening to motivating music, not mind stirring depressing music

8) Stop orkuting in office hours, move onto facebook you still not hooked onto it??

Before you even get off them,you would have realized that Freaky Friday has come, its time to get into your shoes and dance yourself to glory this weekend(okay, I agree the tips did sound like they would help a guy get over his broken heart in 7 days but it can be applied to this context as well!)