...of warm hugs, subtle kisses n family reunions

Last night me and Ritesh went to pick up a friend coming from Spain. We had to wait for around 1 and a half hours for them to come out.

And during this wait we witnessed so many families and friends reunite. It was a very exhilarating experience. The long waits...the searching eyes...then a glimpse of their loved ones...and then a sudden smile...the rush to meet them...the hugs...the kisses...the laughs...the questions...the compliments...the sound of shutter to capture the moment forever...the jumping around...wow!!!

That reminded me of the times when Ritesh came to Tokyo to meet me and when I cam back from Tokyo... :-)

Why are they doing this to me???

It was a beautiful evening, with clouds on top and a chilly breeze. I took my kinetic and started from my home, though for some work, but that was an excuse, what I really wanted was a speed ride in this climate, but but but... Why the hell do they have to spoil my speed ride???

They recently laid new roads in my entire area, beautiful roads...attracting and enticing and goading me to accelerate. But you suddenly realize that its all to just lure you and out of no where comes the monstrous, grizzly, huge and highly irritating speed breakers, aaaggggghhhhhh!!!!!

The road builders in Bangalore are really sadist, they lay beautifully good roads, but they just dont know how to make speed breakers. The speed breakers are narrow horizontally and rising to such heights that it really bogs you out of your mind to take your vehicle through them. Specially my poor little kinetic :(

And there goes my romantic, thrilling little speed ride! :(

Flights of Fantasy!

I got a call from my uncle about a music concert, and he asked whether we will join them. I was all agog about it but hesitated and said I will call back after asking my roomie. I was a bit wary while calling my roomie...she will be interested in classical music or not...but my excitement was not subdued...she said yes.

So we both set out for "Chowdaih Memorial Hall". On reaching there, the first surprise was the building itself. I had heard about the building, but to see it in front of my eyes was a different experience. It was in the shape of Veena. There was quiet a crowd so we got inside with some trouble and found seats after scanning carefully through the overflowing hall.

The first performance was by Ustaad Shahid Pervez. The melodies of his Sitar were spell bounding. Even the hum of the strings was so enchanting. Specially the last piece that he played was just amazing. I almost held my breath through it. The Tabla was also amazing. Next performance that day was by Begum Parween Sultana. I had heard her long back on one of the television talent hunt shows. But listening to her live was captivating. But due to time restraint we had to leave in the middle of her performance. But whatever I heard has got inscribed in my memory forever :).

The second day was all the more vivid. It started with a performance by Pandit Ullhas Kashalkar. Though I am not the right person to ask about it...as I am not much inclined towards Vocal...but I can definitely say that the people around me enjoyed it to the most. I sat through the performance just waiting for the one performance I had been waiting since my uncle told me about the show. And atlast he came.

As truly said by the hostess, we Indians have the privilege of having two such artists who are not known by their instruments but their instruments are know by them. I was dawned with the privilege of listening to Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Everyone just waited for him with an excitement. He took some time to adjust his instument Santoor. Such small instrument and yet so much of sweetness in the sound..its really amazing. Even while he was adjusting it, it was music to my ears. I was wondering if this is so melodious what it will be like when he actually plays it. And it was something out of the world. It seemed to me that the music played by the Harps of the Heaven can not be more melodious. I was taken into a different world. A trance followed it. Time just flew by and my ears were blessed and my senses treated well. Everyone in the hall was just mesmerized and awed by his magic. There was complete silence. All you can hear is the ethereal sound from the Santoor. His hands moved so dexterously over the instrument, it appeared as a sculpture is chiseling the marble. When he finished he got a standing ovation. But the junta got greedy, they wanted more. And so he played Raag Pahadi in the end. I wanted it to be everlasting. But alas, all good things come to an end :(.

Oh my, what a performance it was. I am smitten by his music. The sound of those strings are still echoing inside my mind. I would recommend all of you who love music and melody, to grab a CD of his and experience the best of the best concord. Truly the Indian Heritage and Culture is beyond distinction.

Hanging in the middle...

I had a funny incident today. In the afternoon, as me and my friends started for the lunch. We took the second elevator for going upstairs to the 7th Floor. There were quiet many people inside, say about 10. The elevator was going at a steady pace and by the time it was about to reach the 7th floor...Boom...there was a huge sound and the elevator stopped. But the doors didnt open. My friend was standing next to the user panel, so she pushed the Open-Door button quiet a number of time but to no avail. Somebody yelled push 6th Floor button, we can go down. It didnt work. Somebody suggested to press any damn button. Nothing worked. So we just kept pressing the alarm button. Please somebody come and take us out. Another voice came, call the reception. A person tried from his cell...but damn the airtel network...there was no signal. Thankfully, my cell had FULL B-) network. So I called up the reception and told the receptionist that we all are stuck in the lift, send someone to rescue us :D. She said people are on their way and we will be out soon. Till that time, people started talking...I heard someone asking to call parents, some were worried about their insurance :D. And after gruesome 10 mins, the lights in the lift went out and the door opened a bit. We could clearly see that we were somewhere in the middle of the 6th and the 7th floor. And suddenly, the lights came on and the doors got closed and the lift started moving downwards. It didnt stop anywhere but directly on the 3rd floor. Everybody rushed out. It was such a relief to finally be out of the lift :D.

Red Means Stop

I was really amazed at seeing "Red Means Stop" written on one of the signals in bangalore and started laughing that do this need to be taught to people. But lately it seems it is required. I guess many bangaloreans dont know the meaning of red in traffic signals or else they have become color blind.

Recently, I have seen this trend too many times in bangalore, people breaking the traffic signal rules and speeding across a Red Signal. With a woofing traffic on the roads, this habit is a very fatal one, not just for them but for everyone else who are driving on these roads. I have myself escaped quiet a few accidents because of others breaking the signal. And the worst part is, they dont even accept their mistakes. Say them something and they scoff at you. God, what kind of educated people are these?

I guess we need to spread this message around and have more stricter system to avoid this. Atleast teach people that "Red means stop".

My Base Shifting!!

Last week was a very eventful week for me. With my Demo on tuesday I suddenly didnt have any work left to do...gosh its so difficult to sit idle after a long month of only work in life. But I had a really nice week. Many things worked out and many changes happened. My comapny shifted to a new and much bigger building and thus even I had to shift into a new place. Searching a house in Bangalore is the biggest headache of life...phew...but with much efforts from me, my now-roomie, her friend and my best friend...we finally found a decent place to stay. Thus I had a complete shift of the base...from working place to living place...that too a drastic change of living in a PG and in a house. But I had one of the best sleep in bangalore in my own room though all my luggage was spread across the floor...but whatever it was my own room...the feeling was so good.

With a week filled with no work and so many changes...I feel replenished and fully charged to work again. Seroiously one should have some time off in between of the work to experience the life and enjoy the moments and refuel oneself :-).

The Mega Giga Events

From Friday night onwards there were three mega events as a part of bangalore habba in palace grounds. Fortunately or unfortunately i could attend only two of them. Here is my account for those two.

9th Dec:

This was the day when my ears were blessed by the enchanting music from two of India's leading personalities. One was, the living master of bansuri, Padmabhushan and PadmaVibhushan Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. And the other maestro, one of the best known classical vocalists in India, Padmabhushan Pandit Jasraj. First, it was Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia who entralled the audience in the divine sound created by a simple bamboo stick. I, wondered, how can a instrument as simple as a flute create so much of magic. And I really admired his stamina, for he could pump in so so much of air into it for such a long time..phew!! The next was a solo performance by Pandit Jasraj. His voice was charming, soothing to hear to. Then came the best part of the show, the jugalbandi. It was like a play between two gods. The audience was held spell bound. The performance was so gripping, that I guess nobody moved. Time just flied away and it was 10 pm in the night. The show came to an end. But it left me with a yearn for more. I was satisfied, yet had a pine to listen to it all the way again. I can still close my eyes and listen to the bansuri...bringing a smile to my face. :-).

As soon as the performances by the maestros was over, we started and were coming out. I was on the second step, when I heard them say "Dhol Foundation"...I instantly turned around and asked my friend if we can see this too. Most of the people had left. But believe me, whoever stayed back would have never regretted for that.

The Dhol Foundation is a UK based band, led by Johnny kalsi. The band has five drummers...dhol waalahs, one on dholak, one on drums and two on guitars. The band has fuses the urban music with the dhols and music from the villages of punjab. This was their first performance in India. And the audience just gave in to these dhol waalahs with their "electric" dhols (yup...even i saw it for the first time). Overall, the numbers were too good....make u tap ur foots and even jump. The intensity of it I saw, when there was an elderly grey haired man jumping off his feet on the rhythm of the band. I could hardly see anyone sitting during the entire act...it just filled everyone present with so much of energy and enthu. Anyone fond of percussion instruments (which are my fav instruments) should not miss out on the "Dhol Foundation".

11th Dec:

Next in pipeline was the "Bollywood Nite". We reached their on the right time. We just came in and the show was on a roll. The first performance was by a singer called Ishaan. The moment he sang the first song of the show, we thought...are we at the right place? Shall we just get up and leave? The next two songs were just adding fuel to the flame. But then came in the next performer, Lalit pandit, of the jatin-lalit fame. At that time we were like...ok. He sang some of the best numbers of his career.

Then came the best part of the show. Performance by my fav, Shaan :-) :-). The public also just went wild with Shaan on stage. He started with his first song for jatin-lalit, "Tune mujhe pehchaana nahin" from movie Raju Chacha. And then came a series of all his hit songs. My favs like "Musu Musu Haasi" and "Tanha Dil". You can see the magic of his voice everywhere, people swaying back and forth with every tone of the music. Girls going just over the top on this good looking and ever smiling hunk. He even danced for the song "Main Aisa Kyon Hoon" and "You are the one for me". And he ended his performance with the biggest hit of the year, "Dus bahaane karke le gaye dil" :-) and he took away the hearts of the all the people present in the palace grounds.

Then came a singer with one of the most sweetest voice, Alka Yagnik. She sang some really good numbers. The environment became so soothing with her melodious and balming voice. Followed up by her was a High-Energy performance by "The Dance Diva" of India, Yana Gupta. The guys just went crazy for the beautiful dame on the stage. You should have heard how the public roared and revelled.

After all the dancing and singing, there was time for some ramp walks. The first fashion show was from the Pantaloon Stores. Then was the marvellous collection from the studio of Vikram Phadnis. Got to see some of very good designs and yes ofcourse some very comely models and ooohhh some hunks too ;-).

Then Alka yagnik came again and sung yet another set of songs from her long list of hits. And lastly the day was called off with a superb item number from Yana Gupta. And with this the Bangalore Habba came to an end. I had a nice time during this Bangalore habba and will look forward to it with all the more eagerness next year :-). Till then bbye bangalore habba!!

Brewing Literature

I am back with my stories from the Bangalore Habba :-). There was a series of "Art Espressos" in many CCDs around the city. I happened to attend the last one in the M.G. Road CCD.

It was supposed to start at 10:30 pm. Me and my friend got a little late (IST you see ;-) ) and reached there around 10:45 pm. Anyways, there were not much people there but we could hear something going on. We took one of the tables and sat there. There were two people sitting on the chairs in the front and were reading into the mic. The piece they were reciting was a story of a guy and a girl which was very hilarious :-). It was follwed by yet two more readings and it was so much of fun!!

Well Art Espressos are actually readings of prose and pieces of literary work. It is really nice to actually listen to the work rather than just reading it on your own. This is widely practiced in western countries. You can actually hear readings in many book stores etc. Specially for kids. I hope this culture increases more in India and I could hear more of such things on a regular basis, not to wait for habbas for that.

The team cast that played it here consisted of two guys, names i forgot, and two girls, aditi and aviva. The way they articulated their voice and even their expressions, it was as if the piece was actually lived. It made me actually animate the whole scene so perfectly in my mind.

The best was one was in the last. In which the guy played the role of the female and the girl played the male part. Both of them were stunning in their respective roles and the air was filled with many smiles and laughter. :-)

Bangalore habba!!

Translation in English: Celebrating Bangalore

But it is much more than celebrating Bangalore. It is a celebration of art and culture. It is a celebration of the long lost spirit of creativity. It gives a platform for all the contemporary artists in a variety of genres to come forward and let their arts be known. It doesnt only promote the classic and folk art forms but the modern art forms too. It is even more important in a place like bangalore, where we have people from very diverse cultural backgrounds. And for software professionals like me, it is a delighful treat of the things that are almost out of my life.

In Bangalore Habba, you can listen to great music and see some fantastic dances. Now these are the major events happening in habba. Infact my most awaited event will be the jugalbandi of Pandit Jasraj and Pandit Hari prasad chourasia and the performance by Amaan and Ayan Ali Bangash.

Apart from these mega events, there are many small small and very interesting things happening in the habba. You can see some Street plays, Street Magic, Literature readings, watch some outstanding movies, good theatrical performances, some sports too (even adventure sports), a vintage car rally, fashion shows, and my most favorite "The Artist's Walkway".

I first had a feel of the habba when I went to "The Artist's Walkway" yesterday. The M. G. Road Boulevard is converted into a walkway where artists can come and promote their arts through small kiosks on the boulevard. I was really amazed at the variety of arts that I got to see at same place. The thing that attracted me the most was exhibits by a few photographers. I even bought some photographs in the form of postcards :-). Then there was this small street play by few girls. It was very intersting and very well done, with a message for the society. Then there was this puppet show and even the ghoomar dance :-). There were many painting exhibits too. And yeah, if u want a caricature or a portrait done of yours...land up in the walkway :-).

Overall habba is an entralling experience which every bangalorean and non-bangaloreans should try and catch. Though its tough to get time out of our busy schedules, but believe me you wont regret taking that time out of it and going for an event in habba. I feel lucky that I got such a golden chance of experiencing this celebration :-). Will keep telling interesting picks from the events that I will attend :-).

Any one interested for more information, can visit Bangalore Habba.

SE7EN

This is in response to the tag from raja ....

SE7EN Things I Plan to do:

• Travel more frequently and to more exotic locations
  
• Do a PhD
  
• Buy a camera and take loads of snaps
• Keep updating my blog
• Get up early and do yoga
  
• Buy a pulsar and race with the guys in bangalore
  
• Keep planning :D
  

SE7EN Things I can do:

• Watch TV
  
• Eat a lot
• Be a Walter Mitty
• Use the IM services to the max
• Sleep at wee hours
• Fill my gmail inbox
• Keep yapping
  

SE7EN Things I can't do:

• Become an astronaut
• Marry my love "moon"
• Sing well
  
• Grow taller
• See my moon daily
  
• Get up early
  
• May be gain some weight
  

SE7EN Things I say most often:

• Guss it
• Hey Bhagwaan
• Hmmmm
• Stupid Idiot
• Accchhha
• Ohhhkkkk
• Helllloooo
  

SE7EN persons I want to tag:

• Vini
• Mipple
• Samyak
• prince
• pommu
• Magician
  
• cutie

I found this quiet interesting...made me think what I can do...that part was the most difficult one *chuckle*.