Thought for the Day - Just Be

Whenever I meet Patrick San Francesco I ask him - what more should I do? He smiles and says - Just Be. Just be - what?

Now I think I get what he was saying.

Just be - whatever you want to be.

So I want to be healthy. I be healthy and live and feel and behave healthy. So I want to be successful. So I be successful, live and feel and behave successful. So I want to be prosperous. Be, behave, feel prosperous.

Just be.

And let it all come to you.

Song of the Day - Dil Kya Kare

This unforgettable song from the 1975 superhit 'Julie' starring Vikram and Lakshmi is another of those songs that I associate with travel and freedom. Something to do with the mountains, the hills and clouds. The shots of the sky from the trees perhaps and the lryics. Probably the whistling does it. Once again sung by Kishore Kumar, music by Rakesh Roshan.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-woNniQJZPQ&feature=relmfu


'Dil kya kare 
Jab kisi ko kisise pyaar ho jaaye
Jaane kahan, Kab kisi ko
Kisise pyaar ho jaye

Jaise parbat pe ghata jhukti hain
Jaise sagar pe lehar uththi hain
Aise kisi chera pe nigah ruthti hain

Rok nahin sakti nazron ko
Duniya bhar ki rasmein

Na kuch tere bas mein Julie
Na kuch mere bas mein'


Aa mein teri yaad mein 
Sabko bhuladoon
Duniya ko teri tasveer dikha doon
Mera bas chale to dil cheer ke dikha doon

Doud raha hain saath lahu ke
Pyaar tera nas nas mein
Na kuch...'


Romance spilling over from the heart all through.

Song of the Day - Mere Sapnon Ki Rani

One of the best known of the train or travel songs 'Mere Sapnon Ki Rani' is a peppy, romantic number that has a love struck Rakesh Khanna singing from the jeep as Sujith Kumar drives their jeep parallel to the train in which an Alistair Maclean reading Sharmila Tagore is travelling. From the 1969 super hit 'Aradhana', composed by R.D. Burman who shows his emerging genius in this song, this is the anthem song of all love lorn Majnu's waiting for the Laila's nod. A must have in the travel collection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo1MykK4u8U

Song of the day - Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai

I heard this song first when a senior of ours at St. Gabriel's High School, Kazipet, sang it on stage for our Annual Day. It remained with me ever since. I had no clue which movie it was from and who the actors were. Just that lilting, rhythmic sounds of the train, the happy and hope filled sound of the song that filled my eleven year old heart. I heard the song here and there after and always remembered the magic of that moment when I first heard it.

Now, I see the video and find an amazingly handsome Dharmendra tavelling in the train as the titles flash by of the 1974 film 'Dost'. The lyrics cleverly use the train as a metaphor for life. It fits the travel collection anyday with its upbeat mood and sense of adventure and reflection. Listen and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i46jlVrrwdQ

Song of the Day - Koi Roko Na

This song from the 1977 Basu Chatterjee movie 'Priyatama' starring Jeetu, Rakesh Roshan, Neetu Singh, Asha Sachdev is another that sends the heart soaring. One of those fun songs with a carefree melody, a gang of friends, heady romance - it always gets the head moving to the tune. And also gets one humming along or whistling with the tune as it soars high up.

Another of the travel series, great for the road as one drives on with a bunch of happy friends. Listen and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ9XKP_53l0

Koi roko na, deewane ko,
Man machal raha, Kuch gaane ko

Yeh bheega bheega mausam, yeh bheegi bheegi raahen,
Chale do hum rahi, baahon mein daale baahen,

To phoolon ne khilke, kaha yeh dil se,
Hain din suhana, mausam salona,
Daaman se baandh lo, pyaara samah


Can't remember when I first heard this song, but I always loved it. Also love the Basu Chatterjee trademark of middle class life in Bombay in the 70s with all its frailties, aspirations and joy. A time, a mood, lost forever.

Song of the day - Musafir Hoon Yaaron

This song from Parichay always picks up the spirits. Deeply philosophical on one hand and melodious to listen to, 'Musafir Hoon Yaaron' also has Jeetendra in an unlikely role of a slightly introverted teacher. It leaves one feeling upbeat, peppy and optimistic about life.

'Musafir hoon yaaron, na ghar hai na thikana,
Mujhe chalte jaana hai, Bas chalte jaana'

'Ek raah ruk gayi toh aur jud gayi,
Main muda to saath saath raah mud gayi,
Hawa ke paron par mera aashiyana'

'Din ne haath thaam kar, idhar bitha liya,
Raat ne ishare se, udhar bula liya,
Subah se shaam se mera dostana'

I must have seen the movie when I was a kid but it left a deep impact on me. Lots of shots of the open sky through trees, Jeetendra looking up to the heavens as he walks by. None more so than this song for its melody, lyrics and the feeling of freedom and openness. Great one for the day.

Click the link to enjoy the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GDG7E1fUkU

Estranged - Musings

I have always been fascinated by the paradox of life. What is far, is near, what is near is far, what we love, we fear, what we fear, we seem to love, what we think is living is dying and what we think of dying could be actually living...rich, poor, happiness, sadness...they are all but the two sides of the same coin...so different, so near, yet so far. Inseparable, yet estranged.
1994, Mumbai

ESTRANGED
The sea to the skies
Night to day
Fire to air
Cloud to sun

Life to death
Sleep to wakefulness
Winning to losing
Love to hate

Joy to sorrow
Dreams to reality
Pain to pleasure
Confusion to realization

These I know
Empathize with my perpetual ache
Like us
Estranged – so near yet so far

The Romantics - Years Ago

I wrote a bunch of such thoughts and words and my attempt at poems while on breaks at IDBI at the WTC, Cuffe Parade overlooking the beautiful Arabian Sea. Magnificent sights, loneliness, and much love in the air (Shobha was in Hyderabad still) when I gave vent to these thoughts. I will unleash them every now and then.

Musings from the 14th floor
Your acts say what words can never convey. They are the real you. Your eyes. They epitomize love and tenderness. Wondrous. Mischievous. But intense, clear, deep and very peaceful. Eyes that make me feel at home, feel important and secure. Eyes that say that they understand. Eyes that are wary when I am in danger, eyes that light up the universe when they see me. And the way you look at me when you ask me an innocent question – those eyes bleed my heart with their sheer innocence. To me they mirror your clear soul.

LOVE SONG
The sight of a rainbow
In a waning midsummer rain
Of a drifting boat
In the deep blue ocean

Of a bright azure sky
Through the autumn forest
Of a sleeping child
On its mother’s breast

Of the mindless flight
Of a soaring eagle
Of a morning sunlight
On the breakfast table

Of a gurgling brook
In the middle of the green
Of timeless mysterious mountains
From a passing train

Of a morning mist
And dew on the lawn
These fill my heart, mind and soul
To the very brink yet
Do not compare with the sight of
The love in your eyes