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

How to Add Meaning to Your Life - An Inspirational Tale

Reading yesterday's 'Hindu' I found this inspiring story of 56 year old L. Kanaga Subramani, a bus conductor in Tamil Nadu's State Transport Corporation, who operates on the Mettupalayam - Udhagamandalam route. When the bus stops en route for a break Subramani wishes his passengers, takes a couple of minutes of their time and recites a Thirukkural couplet. He then proceeds to explain the meaning of the couplet, leaving the passengers something positive to chew upon. Road safety, cleanliness, tree plantation, blood donation and environment protection are some of the topics he speaks upon. And then he gifts a Thirrukkural to anyone celebrating a birthday (he has been giving away one Thirukkural everyday for the past 10 years). In the absence of someone with a birthday Subramani chooses to gift it to a teacher, a student or a police officer.

Motivated by a sarcastic passenger on his bus who saw a couplet and reacted - 'Do the driver and conductor know its meaning?' - Subramani decided to read and recite Thirukkural to his passengers everyday. He also organises literary and musical events for prisoners at the Coimbatore Central prison through his Trust Senthamizh Arakattalai, rehabilitated elderly prisoners, gives pep talks in the women's prison and sings old film songs for them.

It is heartwarming to see how much meaning we can add to our lives if we only wish and make a difference to all those around us. It is never about our education, our standing, our wealth - it is all about our will. For a bus conductor to have a Trust to take up these activities, to gift Thirukkurals everyday is no joke. But Subramani has connected to a higher purpose in his life, that of making a difference to people around, in his own small way. It is clear that life is all about what we make of it.

What I found most interesting is that Subramani attributes this streak to his teacher Arpudharaj who fed and clothed him during difficult times and told him to do something for society. No good deed goes waste and Arpudharaj sir must feel as proud of his ward who has made as much out of his life and more than a big businessman or a sportsman and more. It underlines the deep impact teachers have on us and how they can change our lives. To connect then to a higher purpose and take our life to another level is the lesson that Subramani taught me and I am grateful to him for that. Well done Subramani, and keep at it. Nice article by Akila Kannadasan. Now to read the Thirukkural.

The Smurfs - Movie Review

I read the comic 'King Smurf' when I was twelve and have been in a long lasting love affair with the Smurfs since then. It was a comic belonging to a friend who left it with me for two or three weeks and I read and reread the comic many times before he took it away. After that, how many times ever I tried to trace the Smurfs, I could never find them. No one had heard of them, no book stores knew of them. It was as if I had a dream about Smurfs. And now three decades later I suddenly found the Smurfs returning in a movie. I made elaborate plans to watch the movie with Anjali but by the time we actually got going the movie had left the theatres. I waited for the DVDs.

Watching the Smurfs (thankfully not in 3D) was as much fun as it was reading King Smurf. The little blue Smurfs who are as tall as three apples and live in their own Smurf land, named after their personality traits - Brainy, Gutsy, Clumsy - like Snow White's dwarfs, only a lot cuter were a delight to watch. Even Anjali got drawn into the drama and was all animated.

The story starts with Papa Smurf seeing a horrifying vision on the Blue Moon Festival day - Clumsy Smurf has led their arch enemy Gargamel the wizard into Smurf land and he has captured them. Determined to ensure that the vision does not come true Papa Smurf tells Clumsy to stay inside the village while picking Smurf roots but Clumsy goes away (but naturally) and is followed by Gargamel and his villainous cat. Gargamel enters and destroys Smurfland and chases them all to the Forbidden Falls from where the Smurfs choose an exit to the real world to being caught by G. Gargamel follows them - to New York. In New York the Smurfs find that Clumsy Smurf has fallen into a carton and chase him all the way to a young couple's house and befriend them. The Smurfs now take the help of the young couple and try to escape Gargamel and also return to their land. With Gargamel hounding them everywhere, the Smurfs somehow find it in them to find their escape route and make off but not before winning a few friends and learning some lessons thanks to Clumsy who is the unlikely hero in the end.

There are plenty of holes in the story but its interesting enough thanks to the characters. One gets the feeling that it could have been tighter and more Smurfish rather than a regular film. Reminded me of Madagascar a bit with all that New York business. The ease with which Gargamel is done away with, of for that matter how Winslow's boss lets go of a man who has made her mother forty years younger and so many bits don't add up. I loved watching the Smurfs but I did feel a bit let down. Was this the best you could do with such super characters? But still a huge thanks for getting me back in touch with my favorite characters again. Why not make 'King Smurf' into a movie next?

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.

The Paradoxes of Life - The Approval Paradox

Asking favors is likely to get one closer to people, than not asking for favors.

This is brilliant. Most people think that they can get closer to people, or rather that they can get people to like them by doing them favors. Buying gifts, calling them for parties, giving money etc. This method could have its own set of downsides attached such as expectations and resentment. Mostly it is known as a failed method of getting closer to people. People do not somehow value people giving them unwanted stuff.

However, the one who asks favors (instead of doing them one) is the one who gets closer to people. He or she makes the other person feel greater, bigger and thereby opens a new bond between them. Nothing works better to a person's heart than the seeking of an honest favor.

To ask, however, one must let go of the ego that one is above asking anything. And by asking, one finds that people tend to draw them closer, take care of them and love them for the simple fact that they have recognised some worth in them. (It can be used deviously by some and has been all through history.) But a genuine request for favor (especially from those from whom they are not asked normally) can bring the most unexpected friendships, mentors and benefactors. It kills the ego and brings great loyalty, friendship and following,

To get closer to people, to enter their hearts, ask them a favor.

Song of the day - Chala Jaata Hoon

This song from the 1972 movie 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' was wonderfully sung by Ramesh at our Osmania University College of Commerce and Business Management in those 1989-1990 years. A superb singer, especially of Kishore Kumar classics, Ramesh hardly needed any provocation to belt out this number. His yodelling was superb and his love for the song and singing came through in the way he sang this number. In the college corridors, in booze parties later at night, on walks and in functions I have heard Ramesh sing this song many times. Probably more times than the original itself. Another of those peppy travel songs, it is bound to lift the spirit anytime. Thanks Ramesh, Kishore Kumar and Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Click on the link and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uv8r9pD_rc

Throne of Blood - Movie Review

This is originally a Japanese film 'Kumonosu-jo' directed by Akira Kurosawa, an adaptation of Macbeth. The movie begins with the Lord of the region waiting in the castle, listening to reports about an enemy attack. The mood is sombre as the enemy is gaining upper hand but miraculously his two generals Miki and Washizu turn it around, chase the enemy away and win the battle. They return to the Lord from their posts amidst thick fog in which they lose their way many times. While returning they run into a spirit in the forest that foretells their future - that Miki will be leader of Fort One and Washizu the commander of North Gate. But it does not end its forecast there and predicts that Washizu will become the Lord and Miki's son as well.

The two warriors get their promotions exactly as predicted by the spirit. Washizu's wife is in a hurry that her husband be Lord and provokes her husband to kill the Lord when he visits the North Gate on a hunting trip. Washizu and his men chase the Lord's son and another faithful, but they escape. At the castle Miki tells Washizu to become the next leader and also adopt his son, since Washizu has no son anyway, as the spirit had forecast. It is then that Washizu's wife tells him that she is pregnant and complicates things. Miki does not come to the banquet offered by Washizu in celebration of his becoming the Lord. Instead Miki's head is brought there His son escapes and joins the enemy along with the young master and the other general.

Washizu sees the forest spirit sitting in his banquet and in his fear blurts out the truth of having killed the Lord. His wife covers it up to the other officials at the banquet but the damage is done. The pregnant wife loses the child and goes crazy trying to wash the imaginary blood off her hand. Washizu's castle is under siege by the enemy. When he meets the forest spirit again, it tells him that he will not lose until the spider web jungle moves Thinking this to be impossible Washizu is convinced of his victory and relates the story to his forces to make them believe in their invincibility. But then the forest actually moves as the enemy uses the branches as cover and moves closer to the castle which has a difficult approach. Washizu's own army kills him for his betrayal of his Lord.

This is easily the best adaptation of Macbeth I have seen. It is told so lucidly and clearly without making any fancy departures from the original - something which filmmakers tend to make when they adapt stories. I can't remember the original story better than by seeing this film. As always Akira Kurosawa leaves great impact on the viewer with superbly conceived images, tight screenplay and minimal dialogue. Washizu (who is played by Toshiro Mifune and who appears in most Kurosawa movies) plays Macbeth, a bit too loudly for my liking, but he is fantastic as the samurai general. His posture and demeanour is aggressive, alert and angry. Apparently the castle scenes were shot on Mt. Fuji where there is a great amount of fog. Akira Kurosawa excels in the action scenes with the horses and the last scene where the soldiers mutiny against Washizu and shoot arrows at him gains even more significance when we realise that they used real arrows for that scene. You cannot forget some of the scenes ever. Frankly I'd never fully remember Macbeth even after so many readings and viewings but now, I think its sealed.