It is book time now!

Every now and then , as life becomes very routine-like, I start craving for new books, new hobbies and new songs. Since a long time, I had been reading the reviews of "Paths of Glory" by Jeffrey Archer. I have always been a great fan of his books. So I wanted to get my hands on his latest book.

Finally, yesterday I got an opportunity to buy it. And while I was there, two more books caught my attention - " The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga and "Every Second Counts" by Lance Armstrong. I could not resist myself from buying them.

Now that I have all these interesting books in front of me, it is hard to do anything else. So catch you all soon after I finish atleast one of them.:)

A farewell to the king

Honestly, I was actually looking forward to the world tour that Michael Jackson was about to begin. So today's news that MJ is no more, came as a shock.



I have always been a fan of MJ's talent. As a person, I always thought that he was a very insecure, eccentric and weird. But as an artist, I think he was the greatest performer ever. His music and dance never ceased to amaze me. His music was very lively and foot tapping. Even though he was known for his fast numbers, I always liked his slow ones more. His " You are not alone", "Dangerous", "Thriller", "Beat it" and so many other hits of his are evergreen numbers and I am sure our future generations too will enjoy his performance.



Of course, his dance has been a great inspiration to lot of artists- be it the performing singers and dancers. The concept of stage performance by singers probably was initiated by MJ. He nurtured his talent amidst all the controversies. Donno how many of them were true and how many were actually created to make him famous.



Whatever it is, MJ was a and is always the king of pop. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest artists that the world ever saw.

Ouch! that hurts

Sometimes you want something so much and you almost get it. Yep, I said 'almost'.:) And then you don't get it. This leads to a throbbing pain somewhere inside. It hurts so much that tears invade your eyes very easily and you find yourself sobbing about any thing and every thing.

But you know that the thing is lost forever. No amount of tears can restore it. Hmmm....and then you realize that those CDs and cassettes of sad songs prove so helpful. Every sad song seems to be tailor made for you.

The heavy heart will take some time to get lighter. But, you know that gradually it will become light. After all "time is the best healer".

Meanwhile, thinking of this beautiful ghazal ( sung by Jagjit Singh) right now:

Apni Marzi Se Kahan Apni Safar Ke Hum Hain
Rukh Hawaaon Ka Jidhar Ka Hai Udhar Ke Hum Hain

Pehle Har Cheez Thi Apni Magar Ab Lagta Hai
Apne Hi Ghar Mein Kisi Doosre Ghar Ke Hum Hain

Waqt Ke Saath Mitti Ka Safar Sadiyon Se
Kisko Maaloom Kahan Ke Hain Kidhar Ke Hum Hain

Chalte Rehte Hain Ke Chalnaa Hai Musaafir Ka Naseeb
Sochte Rehte Hain Kis Raah Guzar Ke Hum Hain

Whom does your baby look like?

For all you to-be mums, I wanted to share something with you.

There is gonna be one important debate once your baby is born. No, no, it will not be about the name. I am sure you or your hubby or both of you would have decided about it. The main topic for the debate will be " Whom does your baby look like?". :)

The discussion on this never-ending topic is gonna start from the day one. Even before the baby gets accustomed to the outside light, the guessing and the assessing game begins. Some will say - "She looks like her father (or mother which depends)". Some will say -"She looks like her father only ( or mother only- again that depends)." And after every such assessment, they will look at you- no, no, not for approval but for your reaction. Nah, nah, never join them in this debate. You are better off as audience in this debate. So just nod your head and smile.:)

Believe it or not, I never knew that this issue could actually be debated upon. Even today I do not know whom do I exactly look like. Some say I look like my dad and some say I look like my mom. I think I have both their features in me. And I really don't care about it.:)

Anyways, after listening to all the debate around me, I look at my daughter and silently wish for her to have all the positive points from all of us. I wish for her to be just like herself- just her.:))

Where are they?

Do u remember the refreshing songs of "Tere Mere Sapne" or the chart busters of "Gupt"? Of course, can u ever forget the famous number "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast"? For your information, all these hit songs were given by the talented music director - Viju Shah. After all those hits, one would think that he is a very busy man. But I have not heard his music at all in the recent times. Where has he disappeared?

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He is good at music direction as well as singing. His music in films like " Kaante", "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai", "Masti", "Pardesi Babu" nad the recent " Dus Kahaniyan" rocked the charts for some time. His rendition of "Dil De Diya Hai" from "Masti" is a treat to music lovers. Being such talented musician, I don't think he has been given due credit for the talent he has. Definitely I would like to hear more of him.

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The creators of "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak", "Vansh", " Hero No.1", "Beta" and "Dil" - Anand Milind- are nowhere to be seen.

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The one film wonder guys- Sanjeev Darshan - who gave music to "Mann" do not appear even on Page 3.

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The creator of the soul touching music in "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and "Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya" and of course "Devdas" - Ismail Darbar- seems to be busy in judging music competitions now a days. Is he also planning to take up acting like his buddy "Himmesh Reshammiya"? I really wish Himmesh would get back to directing music because that is what he knows the best.

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For some, fame is so short lived. The above music directors are so talented and creative but their popularity periods have been so small or broken. Rahman definitely needs more competition, especially after the Oscar ( I am a big Rahman fan too). So come on, guys, blow off that dust and tune yourselves so that we music lovers get to enjoy a wide variety of music.:)

Notes from home

Finally we are back to "Namma Bengaluru". Ah, home, sweet home! Nothing can beat that feeling of coming home.:)

I have been very busy since I came here. Lot of "to-do" things on my list. Donno if I can complete all the tasks on my list. On the blog front, I still have to write a post on our stay at Sydney.

Sometimes, the commitments made to ourselves are tougher than those made to others. Sometimes, it is difficult to live upto one's own expectations. Hmmm, lot of work to be done. But, this time I will not disappear from the blogging world coz I have made a commitment to blog as frequently as possible.:) Let us wait and see.

Wise words

There are times in our lives when too many voices seem to be pulling us this way and that. Our very confusion in such situations is a reminder to seek silence and centering within. Only then are we able to hear our truth.



Zen, or meditation, is the method which will help you to go through the chaos, through the dark night of the soul, balanced, disciplined, alert. The dawn is not far away, but before you can reach the dawn, the dark night has to be passed through. And as the dawn comes closer, the night will become darker.

- OSHO

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Many times I have been in the jaws of death, starving, footsore, and weary; for days and days I had no food, and often could walk no further; I would sink down under a tree, and life would seem to be ebbing away. I could not speak, I could scarcely think, but at last the mind reverted to the idea: "I have no fear nor death; never was I born, never did I die; I never hunger or thirst. I am It! I am It! The whole of nature cannot crush me; it is my servant. Assert thy strength, thou Lord of lords and God of gods! Regain thy lost empire! Arise and walk and stop not!" And I would rise up, reinvigorated; and here I am today, living! Thus, whenever darkness comes, assert the reality and everything adverse must vanish. For after all, it is but a dream. Mountain-high though the difficulties appear, terrible and gloomy though all things seem, they are but Maya. Fear not, and it is banished. Crush it, and it vanishes. Stamp upon it, and it dies.

- SWAMI VIVEKANANDA