Imagine that you have to reach someplace at 10 am. Its 10 minutes away if you walk and its 9.55 am. And you start walking with a cup of hot tea in hand. (the cup is wobbly and the tea is hot) If it spills your shirt will get stained. And you are a tea addict. If you dont have this tea, you day will go bad.
Now its a time to prioritize, to tea or not to tea (run for the time to be punctual) that is the question. But you love tea and hence you saviour the perfect blend of aroma, the incredibly rewarding taste and the strong flavour which dissolves in your mouth.
Then the clock strikes ten and you are late as you keep rushing to reach but you had a the last tea and yet the perfect tea.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Mumbai Watch - The Drowning. (Come early next year)
Its interesting the way hundreds / and more idols of lord Ganesh get submerged in water during the Visarjan (the drowning) {sounds like a tittle of 90's Bollywood movie which had gems like - Takhat the Power. Vasthav - the reality and Himmat - the daring}. It was also interesting to see hundreds of devotees pray, for well being, for a better life, for their children's future.
So much of creativity is on display during the festival. The decorations. The chants of Shoklas, the mini/short cut poojas performed for the very emcompassing/adjustive God. {We lack Priests in Mumbai} http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=9/10/2010 and the best part about life is that we actually get to socialize during this festival.
We are an interesting bunch. We pray, hope, believe and then we say goodbye and then ask him to go away and come back next year.
But we are Mumbai afterall, everything is based on time. No soon no after. Only when it is due. Each day is work and each day is worth it.
So much of creativity is on display during the festival. The decorations. The chants of Shoklas, the mini/short cut poojas performed for the very emcompassing/adjustive God. {We lack Priests in Mumbai} http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=9/10/2010 and the best part about life is that we actually get to socialize during this festival.
We are an interesting bunch. We pray, hope, believe and then we say goodbye and then ask him to go away and come back next year.
But we are Mumbai afterall, everything is based on time. No soon no after. Only when it is due. Each day is work and each day is worth it.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Innovation through necessity
So the stage was set. 20 minutes. 7 people. All untrained actors. To perform on an unscripted street play which we were creating as well as performing.
So the going was tough. One could not speak Hindi. One could barely speak confidently. One could not act in middle tone. Worse that person was missing for 15 minutes out of the 20. One could not remember the lines. And thus everyone had a flaw.
But bad times bring in innovation. So the non Hindi speaking person became a mute, a very vital element of the story. The one who could not speak confidently barely scrapped through the lines. The non middle tone guy was given a high tone role.
But most important the one who forgot all his lines just reacted spontaneously on stage to situation and did not actually say any lines.
Final result. A successful content and appreciation.
Thus today once again innovation was done during necessity.
So the going was tough. One could not speak Hindi. One could barely speak confidently. One could not act in middle tone. Worse that person was missing for 15 minutes out of the 20. One could not remember the lines. And thus everyone had a flaw.
But bad times bring in innovation. So the non Hindi speaking person became a mute, a very vital element of the story. The one who could not speak confidently barely scrapped through the lines. The non middle tone guy was given a high tone role.
But most important the one who forgot all his lines just reacted spontaneously on stage to situation and did not actually say any lines.
Final result. A successful content and appreciation.
Thus today once again innovation was done during necessity.
Lost - the poem
When you feel lost
amidst everyone
Should you look for a shoulder to cry on
Or should you see old photos for nostalgia
Or should you skip lunch and ponder
over what's going on
or should you aimlessly wander
amidst everyone
Should you look for a shoulder to cry on
Or should you see old photos for nostalgia
Or should you skip lunch and ponder
over what's going on
or should you aimlessly wander
When you feel lost
amidst everyone
Should you smile with vacant expression
or should you just shut down your brain for sometime
and
then restart all over again.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Why comedy is so hard.
I think I am funny. But me thinking so, is like me calling myself talented. Thats not usually true.
But then I do find myself creating jokes (good ones and the bad - {a lots of bad ones}) all the time. Which in turn brings forth a doubt. Why is something so funny to me not funny at all to others and why something which is funny to others not funny for me.
Basically the golden question - why is comedy so hard?
To make someone laugh is one involuntary service human have engaged in since time began. It could be as unsophisticated as a fart, or a burp or sophisticated like a pun between words or a stand up act. But comedy is dealing with human mind. And each human mind is whole and complete. In-essence a human needs customized comedy to tickle his/her funny bone.
You have to engage the audience. You have to tell the story. Hence with my limited understanding here are golden rules of comedy.
Golden rules of comedy.
But then I do find myself creating jokes (good ones and the bad - {a lots of bad ones}) all the time. Which in turn brings forth a doubt. Why is something so funny to me not funny at all to others and why something which is funny to others not funny for me.
Basically the golden question - why is comedy so hard?
To make someone laugh is one involuntary service human have engaged in since time began. It could be as unsophisticated as a fart, or a burp or sophisticated like a pun between words or a stand up act. But comedy is dealing with human mind. And each human mind is whole and complete. In-essence a human needs customized comedy to tickle his/her funny bone.
You have to engage the audience. You have to tell the story. Hence with my limited understanding here are golden rules of comedy.
Golden rules of comedy.
- Start each funny routine with the thought that you know nothing.
- Don't expect unrealistic rewards
- Every single humour you achieve makes a difference.
A facebook post - memory
Grishma Nair Golu, usski Maa, usska bevda Pita, Sarpanch, Mitthu, Babloo, Dadaji, a nasal singer, phool wali, and many more...................... Few hours in the Modern Rural India!! :) :)
Thursday, September 02, 2010
A chat with the enemy - a short story
His big bulky eyes stared at me and his question lead me deep into the spiral of silence. The very fact that I existed bought out the worst in both of us and we knew that we were better off avoiding each other.
But then one fine day the enemy walks up to me and offers me a cigar.
“Have it” he says “Its my birthday”
I look at him and few moments go by in complete silence.
Something seemed wrong in those big bulky eyes and that sly smile. (One which know it all have).
“No its not poisoned” he says.
But I still linger with the cigar in my hand.
I did not smoke. But today was not about what I did not do. Today was about what I can do.
“I quit smoking, 35 years ago”. I said and I felt it was a nice joke.
But he not feel so, no laugh not even a chuckle
But he was an enemy after all.
So many times I tried to not think about him. So many times I left the place he was with pleasure so I could avoid him. I felt anger every time I see him, but strangely I still respect him.
So Cigar it was. And I finally lit one.
How’s family ? I asked.
Family is good. Family is always good.
In my head (Yeah right how they must be bearing with you…)
How’s yours ?
Excellent Never been better.
I must say you turn out OK , old sport
You are doing Great Gatsby with me.
Get out of here
No you get out of here.
And then we did actually moved on. We are still enemies. But we did share a little moment of peace.
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