A warm windy town called Wellington...

The Letter 'W' has a whole new meaning to life now... 5 months and rejuvenated !

A few Whitteker's cravings as I swiped my snapper and got off the bus on Courenay Place, 

A quick stop at the Reading Cinemas, just to browse through a few sections at Whitcoulls.

The ride on the No.2 bus to Miramar from Courtenay Place. To a magical 'Peter Jackson' Land- The Weta Workshops and The Weta Caves.

The most unbelievable bond of friendship in a town so far away from home. The best times spent at Johnsville, Boston on Blair, Botanical Gardens with Welly Wede and their 'What a Talent moments... 

An unforgettable weekend at a wildside getaway... overlooking the snow peaked mountains... with some "what a talent" moments

A walk in the clouds at Karori park and the Makara bench. 

Some windy weather tales while walking uphill  56 david crescent.

And many many Warm n Wonderful Memories... of Windy Wellington!

Starry Starry Night.....

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land.....

After a lot of arguements and squabbles with my friend yesterday; I finally had an amazing insight on something really fascinating.... An impressionist created a master piece and then left us to decide and argue about his prized possession...or should I say possessions!

Vincent Van Gogh’s famous – Starry Night is known to all of us... I thought I knew it too until yesterday my friend enlightened me that the starry night which I claimed to be Van Gogh’s "THE Starry Night" was ‘not’ the Starry night people are aware about! It was a completely different masterpiece which I thought was the Starry night by Van Gogh!

I was shattered...and thought of looking deeper into the matter.... and then the Mystery unfold... There were 2 ‘Starry Night’ paintings....

Starry Night: Van Gogh painted Starry Night while in an Asylum at Saint-Remy in 1889.

Earlier in Arles in 1888 (which was the Starry Night over the Rhone)

Starry Night: Van Gogh painted Starry Night while in an Asylum at Saint-Remy in 1889.

Starry Night: Over the River Rhone; one was created before the starry night everyone knows as 'the starry night'... it is known that the piece is not the only Starry Night painting that Van Gogh ever created. Gogh was quite proud of a piece he had painted earlier in Arles in 1888 (which was the Starry Night over the Rhone) that depicted stars reflecting in the Rhone River.

Starry Night (over the Rhone River) contains one final aspect that is not featured in the Starry Night piece; humans. In the bottom right corner of the painting there is a couple walking along the river. This gives the painting a down to earth feel with a natural quality. Although this painting is not nearly as popular as the seconded Starry Night piece, it still creates a pleasurable and life like environment to look at. It is also resides as a very sought after piece when it is placed with Starry Night and the following painting to create a montage of Van Gogh's Starry Night works.

And as Gogh rightly quoted... Great things are done by a series of small things brought together..... Starry Night is one of them!


For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.



-Vincent Van Gogh

A 'SILKY' OVERDOSE! A disappointing Dirty Picture!

All through November, a lot was heard and written about this so called 'entertaining sizzling package' ! Must say, a well marketed, promising Balaji product which assured to shock the audiences soon! The curiosity bubble burst today when I finally saw this much awaited 'silky' overdose!
A poor adaption of a 'Madhur Bhandarkar' genre which lacked the most important ingredients which make a Madhur Bhandarkar film 'Madhur' .....the important ingredients being, Character Graph, sensitivity and Depth!
The Dirty Picture missed out on these! When a biopic tale is told, the least one can expect from it is honesty.
Sluggish story/screenplay writing and a few miscast (especially Tushhar Kapoor) brought in monotony which translated to boredom.
The film begins with a narrative from one of the characters in the film (Imran Hashmi- at least bearable) about Silk (Vidya Balan) and her dream to become a star, but this later changes into a messy plot revolving around Silk's affairs/addictions/excessive smoking habit; leaving behind her turmoil and desperation!
One waits for a journey of Reshma to Silk; the rising star to Silk; the diminishing star.... but gets only Vidya putting it all out there, literally, and being content in what she has delivered to her role! A bold role to accept, I agree, but if done with a little more conviction, detailing of internal character rather than the external, would have sizzled the screen most definitely!
The Media overdose of clever reviews and perfect marketing left the audience confused. Most of this confused lot believes that what they saw was a Bold actor, a gutsy attempt and a great effort put in by her to gain weight for a role!!!!
Cleverly concealing a superficial performance, shabby narrative and cocky dialogue delivery; The Dirty Picture parks itself in the 'good films' category by the audiences!

The only thing I am happy about is that my opinion about  Vidya Balan as an actor still remains the same!
No Comments!

RICK WARS! A New Chapter everyday!

Train Travels: Toothless, frail, old lady in train asked me..."Baandrra kab ayega" I asked..'Kya?' She mumbled again...baandrraa...I told her.."Baandrra gaya" she struggled to get up and ran to the exit...and asked again.. The lady nxt to her understood whr she wnted to get off..she replied " aunty..paarala ayega..agla station!" Old lady nw givin me dagger looks...feelin guilty I dint undrstand baaandrra and paarlaa...diff! :(
Rick Wars to Cab wars: a new chapter : Amazed @ my skill... getting 'ek se ek namoona' cab/auto drivers...every day! :s
Rick Wars: Chapter travelling back home: Exactly an hour ago...a colleague and I left office with a smile on our faces! An hour later... We are still travelling in a rick... With a frown...wading thru the trafffic!
Rick Wars: Chapter Ganesha travels:- its tough to find a rick which is ready to take u thro' the rains and the ganpati visarjan fiasco! Its even tougher to find a rick which has a 'parda' (curtain) to avoid the gulaal n splashes of the rain on u! Wht does one do??? OH GOD.... Pls help!
Rick Wars: Post-Strike Chapter:- a change noticed post the auto strike is tht the dead faces of auto drivers atleast respond by nodding a yes or a no now..when one screams out the destination...unlike earlier when they just looked thro' you and drove away!
Rick wars chapter 105...finally I win...I get a rick and an old lady ask fr a lift... its pouring...she looks helpless and defeated!! so I offer a lift! moral: good deed fr the day..dnt expect one in return!...in this case I expect such miracles evryday...mornings will be happier ! ;)
Rick Wars: Chapter 106 - It rains inside the rick too!
Rick Wars: Chapter 107- A lucky day..rick wars betwn drivers... It seems everyone wnts to go to malad today!
Rick Wars: Chapter 108- If u've missed out on a good workout today... Try this! A bumpy rick ride thro' the pot holes of suburbs!
Rick Wars: chapter 109- Agression is the key to success!...or else these stone-faced, pea-brained auto drivers dnt respond!
Rick Wars: chapter 109a- my colleague turned CID! Kahani badhte meter ki! ;)
Rick Wars : Chapter 109: A bandaged arm can do wonders... Women surrounding a rickshaw suddenly seem to be very sympathetic...offered me a ride to work! Cheers to the sprained arm! :)
Rick Wars: Chapter 110. A moment of pride n success experienced when 20 ppl hound a rickshaw n the GRT,The Almighty Auto Driver chooses you as his humble passenger! Amen.
Rick Wars: A happy Chapter- sadistic pleasure to see others struggling to catch a rick today while I get a lift to wrk! ;)

AND THE WAR CONTINUES!

Ingredients of a Brother:

• ·         3 tablespoons of wise cracks
• ·         A dash of arrogance
• ·         2.5 teaspoons of bossing around
• ·         A pinch of affection
• ·         5 full cups of Hidden Love for his Sister!

LOVE U BROTHER!

  

Times of Yore!

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.


My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.


He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of the easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep. ----- FROST.

 

 
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. ----TAGORE

 

The quality of mercy is not strain'd.

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:

It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown.

His scepter shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptered sway;

It is enthroned in the heart of kings;

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. ----SHAKESPEARE

NOTHINGNESS to HOPE....

NOTHINGNESS to HOPE.... 
(don't let your emotions take over your thoughts!)

Feelings remain....

There is a void.....

Uneasiness, unaccomplished dreams....

Wanting to move on...

But something pulls you back....

Are these the same emotions?

Why does it feel nothing yet everything?

Help me understand....

Lonely in a crowded train....

Waiting for comfort...

So much to share and no one around to hear....

Stifled, cheated, blamed....

Who was at fault?

Why 'me' is the question....

Finally all gets solved.

Running towards nothing....

Trying to achieve something....

Why this struggle,

Why this pain?

After all its an unending chase!

It could have been a special story...

With orchids and white horses....

Scented candles and rain

But struggle is a part of life....

Dont take is too seriously since nothing is at stake.

Live for You...

Love for You...

You have the right...

You deserve to explore 

Something new.....

Cease the moment...

this is for real...

Life is a box of chocolates

enjoy every flavour...
Old or New!

The Idiot Box - the 'Super Star' key to success!

Its the new career option for anyone and everyone!

All you got to do is join our Training school of daily soaps n shampoos.

Tips and Training to attain 'Nirvana title' - the TV star!

Only for freshers...for those who knw nothing!

let's begin with...

Lesson no. 1...

A for acting: Of course that is important to be an actor... Why? What did u think?

C for characterization: It's what you play as, on screen...no no... It's not just for effect!

T for talent: It is something inborn...You either have it or u don't!

Try to identify it in you asap... Before its to late to understand that you need it to be here!

I for improvisation: Yes students... That is a word!

N for never mind...I mean the 'improvisation'

G for grasping power: Not just to mug up those thousand lines each day! To understand what you are saying..so we understand what you are doing!

So today we have learnt the word ACTING... Ya just the word!

Good luck to you...

KITES!!!! Flew high for me!

Watching Kites yesterday-first day first show was entertaining! People have no patience to watch a Film these days since there is a lot happening all around. So 'our' attention has lowered to a level where only a ‘half hour’ package works (it’s a vacuum in emotional depth created by television shows. Some old-school romantic movie emotions just don’t hit the audience of today!)

Anyway, Kites was no doubt a ‘sure’ love story! Smooth sailing shots, some sweet subtle moments (especially the hand shadows and the silence in that scene!), and scenic beauty!

Hrithik- Barbara, a handsome parcel, sizzled in every shot!

This love story had a good guy fighting for his love, a bad guy chasing him around to steal his love, a good guy from the bad guy gang who helps the good guy and his love to sneak away! There is a ‘guy meets girl’ and love at first sight feeling, betrayal, lust, love, shoot outs in dingy lanes, car chase sequences! In a nutshell… everything a BOLLYWOOD FILM always encompasses. The 90’s filmy love stories were loved though they had loud dance numbers and bright off-fashion clothes.

Kites- A bollywood combo-pack almost like the new age ‘QSQT, MPK’… We all had loved those that time!! This time it’s with a dash of action n thrill!!!

NOT BAD- KITES!!!! Flew high for me!

THE NEW SECRET...

Let there be hope,

But not pride.

Let there be belief,

But no blind faith!

Let thou be powerful,

But show humanity!

Let thou be confident,

But be humble.

Let there be love,

And show pure positivity.

Let there be motivation,

Along with honesty.

Let thou be focused,

But not casual.

Let thou set dreams,

And have authenticity to achieve.

Let thou be happy,

But no trouble inside.

Let thou have strength,

But not vanity to flaunt.

Let there be miracles,

Which only thou can create.

Let there be thirst for knowledge,

But no hunger to preach.

Let thou be good,

But not greedy towards goodness.

Let thou listen to the heart,

And follow its path.

Let there be a will,

And the way will appear.

Let there be no expectations,

And surprises will follow.