Another touching forward..

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door

Son:"Daddy, May I ask you a question"
Daddy:"Yeah sure, what it is?"
Son:"Dad, how much do you make an hour"
Daddy:"That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing? "that man said angrily
Son:"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"
Daddy:"I make Rs. 500 an hour"

"Oh", the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said, "Dad, may I please borrow Rs.300?"

The father was furious, "if the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or other nonsense, then march yourself to your room and go to bed. Think why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior"

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: "May be there was something he really needed to buy with that Rs. 300 and he really didn't ask for money very often!"

The man went to the door of little boy's room and opened the door. "Are you sleep, son?" He asked.

"No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy.
"I've been thinking, may be I was too hard on you earlier", said the man, "It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the Rs. 300 you asked for"

The little boy sat straight up, smiling "oh thank you dad!" He yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled some more crippled up notes. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.

"Why do you want money if you already had some?" the father grumbled.
"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied.
"Daddy I have Rs. 500 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you"

Tum bin...

Tum Bin Jiya Jaaye Kaise
Kaise Jiya Jaaye Tum Bin
Sadiyon Se Lambi Hain Raatein
Sadiyon Se Lambe Hue Din
Aa Jaao Lautkar Tum, Yeh Dil Keh Raha Hai...

Phir Shaam-E-Tanhaai Jaagi
Phir Yaad Tum Aa Rahe Ho
Phir Jaan Nikalne Lagi Hai
Phir Mujhko Tadpaa Rahe Ho
Phir Mujhko Tadpaa Rahe Ho
Is Dil Mein Yaadon Ke Mele Hain
Tum Bin Bahut Hum Akele Hain
Aa Jaao Lautkar Tum, Yeh Dil Keh Raha Hai...

Kya Kya Na Socha Tha Maine
Kya Kya Na Sapne Sajaaye
Kya Kya Na Chaaha Tha Dil Ne
Kya Kya Na Armaan Jagaaye
Kya Kya Na Armaan Jagaaye
Is Dil Se Toofaan Guzarte Hai
Tum Bin To Jeete Na Marte Hai
Aa Jaao Lautkar Tum, Yeh Dil Keh Raha Hai...

Tum Bin Jiya Jaaye Kaise
Kaise Jiya Jaaye Tum Bin
Sadiyon Se Lambi Hain Raatein
Sadiyon Se Lambe Hue Din
Aa Jaao Lautkar Tum, Yeh Dil Keh Raha Hai...

Be a rebel...

This post contains some excerpts from the movie Rang de Basanti which may spoil the suspense (if I am allowed the liberty to say so). Please go ahead if you really want to.

I think that the director of Rang de Basanti has done a great job not only in making it an entertainment for 3 hours, but also in provoking thoughts. The movie showcases seven freinds who are approached by a young Britisher to film a movie on Indian Independence struggle. The friends in the process learn about the great Indian struggle and are a bit moved. They get a chance to show their own emotions when one of them dies due to MiG crash. They are outraged when the Defence Minster, in order to project himself as clean, says that the crash was due to the negligence of the novice pilot. The movie style changes hence on, which was primarily youth-full rest-less till now.

The friends in the process of living the roles of Bhagat Singh, etc get excited to create a revolution. They believe that "Behron ko jagane ke liye dhamake ki jaroorat hoti hai" (Blasts are required to wake up deafs), and thus they kill the Defence Minister. But the media projects him as a martyr which pinches the friends. In order to take the reality to the public, they capture the AIR studio and broadcasts their message.

A brilliant concept in itself as it would really get your mind on its feet. I guess, the director has made a well-thought movie. But coming to the concept that this movie wants to deliver, is this really the solution to the problem? The situation is dramatically different when you compare the perspectives on both sides - the side of the revolutionaries (I would try to avoid the term terrrorist) and the government (or public). The media is much in control of the political parties and with such constraints it is really difficult to get to the masses.

While watching the movie I compared the incidence to Naxalites. They are popular among masses in their regions, and in most of the cases they are not involved in killing of the people, like the ideolgies of Bhagat Singh. But as most of are led to believe, they are termed as terrrorists. In New Delhi they are thought of mainly as a nuissance, but for the people they represent, they are like revolutionaries. I like to believe that they had a good plan in mind, but it got lost in the politics and a profit-driven media.

But nonetheless, the movie is great in the sense that at least it forces the audience to think. Everybody realizes that something needs to be done. What they did (in the movie) was just a starting. The movie does not encourage violence (since the friends at later stage do not approve of their act fully), but encourages good people to join Civil Services and Politics, and also to let only good people come to power. The movie asks people to be aware of their own duties, and to really fulfill them. As the Indian tradition is, we should first perform our duties rather than thinking about our rights.

By the way wishing all the readers a very Happy Republic Day.

Jai Hind!

Badee sunee sunee hai....

Badee sunee sunee hai, jindagee ye jindagee
Mai khood se hoo yahaa ajanabee, ajanabee

Kabhee ek pal bhee, kaheen ye udaasee dil meraa bhoole
Tabhee muskuraakar, dabe paawn aa kar, dukh mujhe chhoole

Na kar mujh se gam mere, dillagee ye dillagee

Kabhi main na soyaa, kaheen mujh se khoyaa sukh mera aise,
Pataa naam likh kar kahee yoon hee rakh kar, bhoole koi jaise

Ajab dukh bharee hain ye, bebasee ye bebasee

This is one of the beutiful songs of the film Mili. In the film, Mili (Jaya Bachhan) suffers from leukemia but still lives a lively life. On the other hand Amitabh Bachhan is well-off but had a few cruel incidences in his private life, and is unable to get out of depression. Mili teaches Amitabh to forget the pains and to welcome each new day with hope and light.

Mili is in bed at night, when she hears Amitabh singing the song. She is moved by the pain in Amitabh's voice. Amitabh is living a lonely life with nobody to really look forward to share his emotions with, and the song is very apt in reflecting his state of mind. In the song he shows how he is suffering from chronic sorrow, and how he feels himself unable to forget the past. A masterpiece in itself.

Judge Me By The Footprints I Leave Behind

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've got a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know," the son continued. "He was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone.
The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

From another forward.

Haath choote bhi to rishtey nahin chhoda karte ..

Haath choote bhi to rishtey nahin chhoda karte,
Waqt ki shakh se lamhe nahin toda karte.

Jis ki awaaz mein silwat ho, nigahon mein shikan,
Aisee tasveer ke tukade nahin joda karte.

Shahad jeene ka mila karta hai thoda-thoda,
Jaane waalon ke liye dil nahin toda karte.

Lag ke saahil se jo behta hai, use bahne do,
Aisee dariya ka kabhi rukh nahin moda karte.

This is yet another beautiful song from the album "Marasim", composed by Gulzar and sung by Jagjit Singh. The word Marasim means relationship and Gulzar has indeed been very good in his lyrics to capture the beauty of the pain of unsuccessful relations. Jagjit Singh has been criticized by a few due to his repetitive and monotonous style, but even then he is able to have an impact.

This is probably the only song in the album with a positive angle, suggesting one to forget the unsuccessful relations which can provide nothing but sorrow. One should try to forget the past and look forward towards a better future.

Sham se aankh mein nami si hai..

Sham se aankh mein nami si hai
Aaj phir aapki kami si hai
Dafn kar do hame ki saans mile
Nabz kuch der se thami si hai
Waqt rukata nahi tik kar
Iski aadat bhi aadmi si hai
Koi rishta na raha phir bhi
Ek tasleem lazami si hai

~Gulzar

It must have been love..

Lay a whisper on my pillow, leave the winter on the ground.
I wake up lonely, there's air of silence in the bedroom and all around.
Touch me now, I close my eyes and dream away.

It must have been love but it's over now.
It must have been good but I lost it somehow.
It must have been love but it's over now.
From the moment we touched 'til the time had run out.

Make-believing we're together, that I'm sheltered by your heart.
But in and outside I've turned to water like a teardrop in your palm.
And it's a hard Christmas day, I dream away.

It must have been love but it's over now,
it was all that I wanted, now I'm living without.
It must have been love but it's over now,
it's where the water flows, it's where the wind blows.

~Roxette

Yeh to nahin ke gham nahin...

Yeh to nahin ke gham nahin
Haan meri aankh num nahin….

Ab na khushi ki hai khushi
Gham ka bhi ab to gham nahin….

Hum bhi to aaj hum nahin….
Tum bhi to tum nahin ho aaj

Maut agar shey-maat hai
Maut se zist kum nahin….

Don’t say, no sorrow ever strike me
It did but nobody could however see

No big happiness now enchant me
Nor for any sorrow do I grieve

Neither are you, the true you
Nor me, the real me

For death be my check-mate,
Life I live is no less than dying each day....

~Firaq Gorakhpuri

Juda hoke bhi..

juda hoke bhi tu mujhmein kahi baaki hai,
palkon mein banke aansu tu chali aati hai,

juda hoke bhi..

waise zinda hu zindagi bin tere main
dard hi dard baaki raha hai seene mein
saans lena bhar hi yaha jeena nahi hain
ab toh aadat si hai mujhko aaise jeene mein

juda hoke bhi tu mujhmein kahi baaki hai
palkon mein banke aansu tu chali aati hai

saath mere hain tu har pal shab ke andhere mein
paas mere hain tu ujale savere savere mein
dil se dhadkan bhula dena aasan nahi hai
ab toh aadat si hai mujhko aaise jeene mein

juda hoke bhi tu mujhmein kahi baaki hai
palkon mein banke aansu tu chali aati hai

ab toh aadat si hai mujhko aaise jeene mein
yeh jo yaadein hai ..
sabhi kaatein hai ..
katado inhe ..
ab toh aadat si hai mujhko

(from the movie Kalyug; Some people thought it to be my creation :P)

Tonight!

"And then,tonite...
he scribbled 'dat' name on a piece of paper...
again...
despite the pain,
despite the rain..

soft, blushing paper,
soft, giggling heart...

He & the stars woke the night long...
n d night today..seemed not so long..
n they talked for hours straight,
about.....'dat'...
morning came,
the sun woke up again..
the stars,who shared the rain, disappeared...
n he safely folded the piece of paper,
wid 'dat' name written on it...
n kept it in between pages of his book....

n then,tonite...
he scribbled 'dat' name on a piece of paper...
again...
despite the rain,
despite the pain...

soft,blooding paper..
soft,aching heart...

He & the stars woke the night long..
n d night today...seemed so long..
n they talked for hours straight,
about...'dat'...
morning finally came,
the sun woke up again...
the stars,who shared the pain, disappeared...
n he 'safely' tore the piece of paper..
wid 'dat' name written on it..
n kept it in between pages of his book..."

~ Yaser

Luka Chuppi

Luka Chuppi bahut huyi, saamne aa ja naa
Kahan kahan dhoondha tujhe, thak gayi hai ab teri maa
Aaja saanjh hui, mujhe teri fikar
Dhundhla gayi dekh meri nazar, aa ja na

Kya bataoon maa, kahan hoon main
Yahan udney ko mere khula aasmaan hai
Tere kisson jaisa bhola salona jahan hain yahan, sapno vala
Meri patang ho befikar udd rahi hai maa
Dor koi loote nahin, beech se kaate na

Aaja saanjh hui, mujhe teri fikar
Dhundhla gayi dekh meri nazar, aa ja na

Teri raah takey aankhiyaan,
jaane kaisa kaisa hoye jiyaa
Dheere dheere aangan utre andhera,
mera deep kahan
Dhalke suraj kare ishara chanda tu hai kahan
Mere chanda tu hai kahan?
Luka Chuppi bahut huyi, saamne aa ja naa
Kahan kahan dhoondha tujhe, thak gayi hai ab teri maa

Aaja saanjh hui, mujhe teri fikar
Dhundhla gayi dekh meri nazar, aa ja na

Kaise tujhko dikhaun yahaan hai kya?
Maine jharne se paani maa, tod ke piya hai
Guchcha guchcha kaee khwabon ka uchal ke chuwa hai
Chaaya liya bhali dhoop yahaan hai
Naya naya sa hai roop yahan
Yahaan sab kuch hai maa phir bhi
Lage bin tere mujhko akela

Aaja saanjh hui, mujhe teri fikar
Dhundhla gayi dekh meri nazar, aa ja na

I had been listening to this song from "Rang de Basanti" for some time now, and found it really touching. The good lyrics are coupled with a very good music and beautifull voice from both Lata and Rahman.

Some of the lines are particulary tender, like the one in which "ma" (Mother) cares about her son as its dark now. Indian society (or rather Eastern world) is rather different from the western world, where family bonds are valued more than most other things. Its customary for all the members of family to be at home after the sun sets and have the dinner together. Mother is concerned about her son and waits for him to return.

Similarly the lines "jaane kaisa kaisa hoye jiyaa" shows how concerned the mother is about his son and various ill-thoughts trouble her. Moreover, in Indian culture the child is often compared with the "deep" (candle) lighting home. The son is also troubled living away from his mother for qutie some time now, and even though he has so many conformts, he really misses his mother.

Though I havent seen the movie, I believe it is to motivate NRIs to return.