A cozy, zen afternoon at the SJC Club Lounge

1:15 pm, Jan 23, 2025. 

The Club Lounge at SJC is mostly empty. I'm trying to find a perfect spot where I can charge my laptop and watch United's UEL game versus Rangers, while having access to another table to keep my food. To my pleasant surprise, my eyes land on one of the many screens and the United game is on! I settle down with a prime view, not having to worry about the logistics of streaming the game now. 

I place an order directly via the QR code, waiting for a bowl of thai curry rice, and strawberry shortcake (the only 2 veg items on the menu) to arrive. It's a pleasantly sunny afternoon, making me momentarily forget that I have to go back to a chilly Seattle where it might snow today or tomorrow. 

There's still over an hour to go for boarding, the lounge is lightly playing some classic songs from the 90s with a good mix of BSB, Madonna, J-Lo, N-Sync, and United are winning like the United of old. The cumulative effect of this musical nostalgia, mostly-empty lounge, cool breeze blowing at the perfect temperature, United winning, and not having to rush for the flight makes me find myself in a zen that I haven't experienced in several years. I'm grateful for this moment. 

The test of time!

How often do we hear a success story and get moved by it? It happens once in a while that we are spellbound by a mere story of someone who has achieved his transcendence .. and it might moisten our eyes to hear the story behind it.
Today morning, I got up and went on my Facebook.. only to read one more story of a kind. It was about Poland football team's captain Jakub Blaszczykowski and I was more than moved by it. Last night only I witnessed a terrific strike from this guy, only to wake up today morning and read something about him which made the goal a bigger treat.
This guy saw his dad stab his mom at the mere age of 11. Shocking! It's a wonder how he grew up, defied all odds and became captain of the Polish national team... scoring a much needed equalizer last night! After scoring, he dedicated the goal to his mother. Emotions ran high, and respect grew tremendously after knowing the story behind his life. It's not just about this goal.. he's already been voted the Best Polish footballer twice, in 2008 and 2010. He's won the 'Footballer of the Year' by readers of 'Sport' Magazine... and he's also won the Borussia Dortmund 'Player of the Year' in 2010. And all this... after he had literally planned to give up football... after his mom's death... only to be persuaded by his uncle Jerzy Brzeczek, ex captain of Polish national team.
It just makes me wonder about the tests time has in store for people... and only those who manage to defy all odds and run ahead of time become such special people. Take any example... and you will know of the adversities people have faced to emerge heroes. Such 'underdog facing odds to become hero' has been immortalized n number of times in our Hindi cinema.. but it's far from what these people actually go through. Cinema can capture an emotional scene from 10 feet away, but there's no lens that can capture the emotions running within the heart.
Just a salute to all such people whose lives are a constant motivation to the world. 

The Dictators around us

You've been studying History.. Sociology.. World Issues and much more. So, can you name some great dictators the world has seen? Kim Jong II of North Korea..? Or King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia? Well, they might be, but I feel there are greater dictators then the ones mentioned above. The dictators I'm talking about often dictate you the terms under which you live. They dictate you your reason for living, and your destination for future. They dictate you whether what you're wearing is right, or whom you're befriending is right?

Isn't it really strange when I tell you about all of these? It is actually strange, that we often allow people from our society, our neighbours, our distant relatives and everyone else to dictate terms to us, because approval is really important to us. Everything, right from wearing your tee-shirt to making a career decision, people influence your choice and you go with the choices which gets maximum approval.

Is it your uncle who will study engineering in college for 4 years and spend all the tough time, or you? Then why! Why did you take up engineering when YOU didn't want to do it? Is your neighbour going to the party to enjoy in your place? No! Then why do you change your clothes when he passes a comment on your clothes and laughs? Has he enjoyed your life ever? No..! Don't let him bother you.

We just have one life, and it's short enough to live it someone else's way. Don't try to be like someone else, because then what will happen about the original you? No one can be a better YOU than you yourself. So be your best, and be yourself!

Mumbai's rendezvous with the Underworld

        Bombay's had a long history and will definitely have a long future with the Underworld. Immortalized umpteen number of times in films, serials, crime journals, newspapers and novels, Bombay is undoubtedly the most interesting city in the world. The nexus between Bombay and underworld is unavoidable, for Bombay cannot stay without underworld, and the underworld thinks of Bombay as its bride.
        Bombay, I won't use Mumbai, is the most strategic city in India, or rather, one of the most strategic cities in the world. It offers the perfect advantage of being a port city. Port = Smuggling. Apart from the location, the division of Mumbai into distinct areas like harbour line suburbs and the adjacent down town is a perfect contrast. Harbour line areas like Dongri are still living in abject poverty since 1947 where as neighbouring areas like Malabar Hills command the highest residential prices in the world. Youngsters from Dongri eye plush neighbouring properties and dream of setting up a house there. The easiest way to earn a fortune is by smuggling and entering the deadly yet rewarding black world of crime. It simply begins this way, and a whole group of people follow, because peer pressure is too influential in this city.
     The police system in Bombay is the most powerful and efficient in the world they say, after Scotland Yard. In Chhota Shakeela's own words, the underworld knows that the Mumbai Police is capable of finishing them all off. Yet, is doesn't happen. The Mumbai Police officials draw a meager salary and it is not enough to support their families living in the world's third most expensive city, Bombay. Most of these police officials are on an underworld payroll and thus, crime flourishes in Bombay under the watchful eyes of the Police. Within a few hundred metres of every police chowky, there will be a thriving den of smugglers, drug dealers or a bar.
      Illegal business thrives in Bombay only because here, we accept an 'honest bribe'. In the entire world, bribe is not honest, because the one who gives doesn't tell anyone else and the one who takes never lets anyone know. In Bombay, everyone knows that everything can be obtained with a bribe. Everyone gives it, and everyone takes it. Yet, no one complains about it. There's an honesty to the bribe here. Because once taken, a police personnel will not interfere in the work of the criminal, however bad the work might be.

    And as they say, it's a MAXIMUM City!

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KslC0SXm9po

The Kings of Bollywood Music Industry

... and here comes a post again on a topic I love the most. Music.
We've had such brilliant music composers in Bollywood that it becomes rather difficult to choose which one was the best. At times, I feel Shankar Jaikishan were the best, and as a testimony to support my choice, I often state that it is them who have won the maximum number of Filmfare Awards for Best Music. But then, the sides keep on changing when I look at SD Burman, RD Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji, Viju Shah, Vishal-Shekhar, S-E-L, and so on...
RD Burman was nothing less than a Scientist. The amount of experiments he's done with music and instruments, I doubt whether even Einstein did so many with Physics. His father SD Burman was not just his father, he was actually the BAAP of music! Then I look at Kalyanji Anandji, and I think that their fast paced music, their rhythms are unparalleled. Also, no one can give a background score as effective as them. The only person who can perhaps beat them in music arrangement or background music is Kalyanji's son Viju Shah. Of course, it was Viju who also arranged most of their amazing music.
Cut To: New Generation! The 90s started, and Anu Malik largely dominated the scene. And apart from the allegations of "Garam Chai", I believe that Anu Malik is one of the most amazing musician our industry has ever seen. The amount of amazing originals he has composed is beyond imagination. He has one of the best sense of arrangement. AR Rahman has remained largely constant, except for movies like "Jhootha Hi Sahi". He's done us proud by winning the Oscar and his life is an inspiration for many, including me. His music has been different and beyond description. 90s ended too soon, and by the time I started understanding music properly, Vishal-Shekhar, S-E-L and Pritam had entered the industry. I commend Pritam for the fact that inspite of copying, he turned the original songs into brilliant pieces of music, full of life. Vishal-Shekhar started off like Rajdhani superfast, but somewhere down the line changed their track and have become too commercial off late. Break Ke Baad, I Hate Luv Stories are all examples of how even the most amazing people can go off track.
You might have noticed, I spoke about so many musicians but I missed the best of all. Jatin-Lalit. Now you might be wondering I've changed sides like I always do! But yes, Jatin-Lalit have something different to them. Their compositions remind us of RD Burman, yet they are largely original. The fact is that they are so melodious and amazing, that the only parallel we can draw is RD Burman. Their arrangement was always a step ahead than Anu Malik's (all thanks to Bablu Chakravarty, who was also the assistant arranger for RD Burman and son of Basu Chakravarty, RD's chief assistant). Let's take a closer look at their work.

Jatin-Lalit's Masterpieces

1. They started off with Yaara Dildara, which had BIN TERE SANAM! The song is still a rage, and the remixes still play in Discos across the World.
2. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander followed soon in 1992. Who can forget "Woh Sikander Hi Doston.. Kehlata Hai"? The song is an anthem for youth, in every generation!
3. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa came in 1993, and had brilliant songs like Woh to Hai Albela, Deewana, Dil Deewana, Aye Kaash Ke Hum...!
4. The ultimate love soundtrack - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge came in 1995, and swept away all possible records! (And it's still playing at Maratha Mandir, 11:30 am!)
With Yes Boss, Pyaar to Hona Hi Tha, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya, they created benchmark after benchmark in compositions!
Sarfarosh deserves a special mention here. The kind of mood the songs created for each sequence largely affected the movie, and the brilliant masterpiece became a notch higher. The ghazal sequence with "Hosh walon ko khabar kya", is sung even today by people across all age groups. "Zindagi Maut Naa Ban Jaaye" is every Sufi lovers choice, where has "Jo Haal Dil Ka" is the ultimate romantic scene anyone can project.
Sadly, Jatin-Lalit decided to part ways in 2006, but not before they gave their last yet best work in the form of FANAA. Chand Sifarish broke all records and set the new standards. It won the Filmfare for the best song of the year. It had "Mere Haath Mein" too, with amazing performance by Sonu Niigaam and Sunidhi Chauhan.
All in all, I simply would sum it up in a couple of words. Jatin-Lalit are the best..

Spirit of Mumbai = Cliche?

Not even a week has passed since the triple blasts that rocked Mumbai on 13th July took place, and we already seem to have forgotten it. Every year, a series of blasts take place in Mumbai, and within a couple of hours, we find ourselves out of it and back to our routine lives. I want to ask you all one thing - do you think owing to the frequent blasts and using the term 'Spirit of Mumbai' too often, it'll become a cliche?
I think so. Because I know it will. The Spirit of Mumbai will no more remain what it actually stands for. It will be one more of those "I can't live without you Tina" which every predictable Bollywood romantic movie has towards its climax. And yes, the SPIRIT of Mumbai stands for something really important and close to every resident of this city, the world's best city.
Guys, it is all up to us now. Either we should do whatever we can do in our capacity to make our city 'unbreakable' or else let the blasts continue every year, thus making the 'Spirit of Mumbai' a cliched term in a couple of years to come.

Test Run!

Why does a charge disrupt the varying mystic?