From fat to slim (4): exercising

Most of us who have a desk job and work for long hours lead a sedentary life. If one wants to remain healthy and burn the accumulating fat then one must exercise. Sadly there is no substitute for it!

People who start exercising after a long break must begin slowly. With time your stamina will increase.

Whether you are doing exercises at home or at the gym you should first do a warm up. You could do light exercises like moving your head, wrists, arms and toes in a clockwise and anticlockwise manner. One could also instead do a mild cardio on a treadmill or a cycle for 5-10 minutes.

Once you have warmed up you proceed to the next level which usually involves weight training. Normally the routine is to devote different days to different parts of your body to avoid straining and injuries and to alternate this with cardio. I am descrbing here a few of my favorites.

One of the exercises which are meant for the lower part of the body is squats. In this your feet are kept shoulder distance apart, hips are out with your back straight and your hands are kept forward. In this posture you first go down and then come up remembering that the knees should always fall out and not cave in. You can begin by doing one set of 20 repititions and later as the days go by increase it to two-three sets.

The exercises that everyone seems to be interested in are those that work your abs. The trenches and leg raises are two of the most useful exercises and also are easy to get a hang of.

When doing trenches you lie down flat on your back with a mat for cushioning. You then fold your hands under your head. Fold your legs up to a 90 degree angle and then lift your back up fast and come down slowly. You must remember to keep your chin up and your back straight during the up and down motion. For achieving this it is best to keep your eyes remain fixed at the ceiling.

For leg raises while lying down keep your hands under your hips. One leg is folded with the sole touching the ground. The second leg is kept straight and parallel to the floor. Next raise this leg up making a 90 degrees angle with the floor and then bring it down but allowing it to touch the floor.

As with the squats two-three sets of these exercises are done in repetitions of 20.

One must remember to take sufficient breaks in between each set to avoid straining yourself.

Once you are done with your weight training, cardio and abs exercising you must follow it up with stretching. A few examples catering to the upper part of the body are shown in the picture here. A reminder here that stretching must always be done when your body is warm. Hence you must never begin a workout with stretches.

Lagaan (3): Aamir in Blogsville!

Surprise surprise!!! Aamir Khan has plunged into the blog world!!! His entry has been coupled with the release of the Lagaan DVD after a gap of 5 years since the time the film was first screened in India. Check out: The Lagaan Blog.

The first post was put by Aamir on 17th June, 2007. So this blog is really new. The posts have been inundated with hundreds of comments. And why not. The Lagaan Blog has given all Aamir Khan and non-Aamir Khan fans to interact with him first hand!!

Isn't this exciting!! My day was indeed made today!! :)

Heartbreak

Sheesha ho ya dil ho
Aakhir toot jaata hai...

Meaning

Be it a mirror or a heart,
it will eventually break

... go the lyrics of the famous Reena Roy song from the film Asha comparing the fragility of the heart to that of a mirror. Just as a slight push can cause a mirror to fall down and break into many a pieces so can be the effect of the simplest of words or actions of someone you love on your feelings. Indeed as Emily Dickinsen says in her poem

Not with a club the heart is broken,
Nor with a stone;
A whip, so small you could not see it,
I ’ve known

If breaking of a heart is easy then putting the pieces back together is all the more difficult. One of my favourite dialogues is from the film Mann where Manisha Koirala lectures Aamir Khan when he lightly confesses to have broken many a girls' hearts saying

Vishwas jeetna bahut aasaan hai
Usse bhi aasaan hai vishwas ko todh dena
Aur sacha insaan woh hota hai
Jo us vishwas ko nibhaaye
Todhe nahi

Recently I came across an article which talked about whether couples who reunite after a period of time has passed since they had broken up can make their relationship work. The answer was somewhat in the negative. Its not a surprise because there would be no peace of mind when you are always afraid of things going wrong a second time over. In the absence of comfort you are not likely to even feel free be yourself.

A drop fell on the apple tree

A DROP fell on the apple tree
Another on the roof;
A half a dozen kissed the eaves,
And made the gables laugh.

A few went out to help the brook,
That went to help the sea.
Myself conjectured, Were they pearls,
What necklaces could be!

The dust replaced in hoisted roads,
The birds jocoser sung;
The sunshine threw his hat away,
The orchards spangles hung.

The breezes brought dejected lutes,
And bathed them in the glee;
The East put out a single flag,
And signed the fête away.

- Poem by Emily Dickinson

Lagaan (2): songs

The music of Lagaan has been composed by A. R. Rahman and the lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar. Each song has been aptly placed in the film. So here along with all the lyrics I'll also mention a little of the story around the points where the songs appear.

Ghanan ghanan...

The movie is set in a village called Champaner which is facing drought. As the narrator Amitabh Bachchan says "sookhi aankhen aankhen aakhash tatol rahi hain" (parched eyes are looking at the skies in hope). And then suddenly the villagers see dark clouds coming their way and in the excitement of the possibility of rain and all the beauty that it will bring, start singing:

Ghanan ghanan ghir ghir aaye badra

Ghane ghanghor kaare chaaye badra

Dhamak dhamak goonje badra ke danke

Chamak chamak dekho bijuria chamke

Mann dhadkaaye badarwa

Mann dhadkaaye badarwa

Mann mann dhadkaaye badarwa

Kaale megha kaale megha

Paani toh barsaao

Bijuri ki talwar nahi

Boondon ke baan chalaao

Megha chaaye barkha laaye

Ghir ghir aaye ghirke aaye

Kahe yeh mann machal machal

Na yun chal sambhal sambhal

Gaye din badal tu ghar se nikal

Barasne waala hai ab amrit jal

Duvidha ke din bit gaye

Bhaiyya malhar sunao

Bijuri ki talwar nahi

Boondon ke baan chalaao

Ghanan ghanan...

Ras agar barsega kaun phir tarsega

Koyaliya gaayegi baithi munderon par

Jo panchi gaayenge naye din aayenge

Ujale muskura denge andheron par

Prem ki barkha mein bheege bheege tan mann

Dharti pe dekhenge paani ka darpan

Jaiyyo tum jahan jahan

Dekhiyo wahan wahan

Yehi ik sama ki dharti yahan

Hai pehne saat rangon ki chunariya

Ghanan ghanan...

Pedhon par jhoole daalo

Aur unchi peng badhao

Kaale megha kaale megha
Paani toh barsaao

Bijuri ki talwar nahi
Boondon ke baan chalaao

Aayi hai rut matwaali bichaane hariyali

Ki apne sang mein layi hai saawan ko

Yeh bijuri ki payal yeh badal ka aanchal

Sajaane laayi hai dharti ki dulhan ko

Daali daali pehnegi phoolon ke kangan

Sukh ab barsega aangan aangan

Khilegi ab kali kali

Hasegi ab gali gali

Hawa jo chali toh rut lagi bhali

Jaala de jo tan mann woh dhoop dhali

Kaale megha kaale megha

Paani toh barsaao
Bijuri ki talwar nahi

Boondon ke baan chalaao

Ghanan ghanan...

Mitwa...

Bhuvan has accepted the sharat (condition) of beating the British officers in a game of cricket to get pardoned from having to pay lagaan (taxes) for three years. If he loses the whole province will have to cough up triple tax. The task is monumental. But with sach (truth) and saahas (courage) on his side Bhuvan starts gathering his team. As he sings aaja re aaja re... he asks the villagers to join him and have hope (aasa) that better days come (sukh bhare din aayenge).

Har sant kahe sadhu kahe

Sach aur saahas hai jiske mann mein

Anth mein jeet usiki rahe

Aaja re aaja re

Aaja re aaja re

Bhale kitne lambe ho raste ho

Thake na tera yeh tan ho

Aaja re aaja re

Sunle pukaare dagariya

Rahe na yeh raste taraste ho

Tu aaja re

Is dharti ka hai raja tu yeh baat jaanle tu

Kathinaayi se takara ja tu

Nahi haar maanle tu

Mitwa sun mitwa tujhko kya dar hai re

Yeh dharti apni hai apna ambar hai re

Tu aaja re...

Sunlo re mitwa...

Jo hai tumhre mann mein

Wo hi hamre mann mein

Jo sapna hai tumra

Sapna wo hi hamra hai

Jeewan mein

Haan... chale hum liye

Aasa ke diye

Naynan mein

Diye hamri aasaon ke kabhi bujh na paayen

Kabhi aandhiyan jo aake inko bujhaaye

Mitwa sun mitwa...

Sunlo re mitwa...

Purwa bhi gaayegi

Masti bhi chaayegi

Mil ke pukaaro toh

Phoolon waali jo rut hai

Aaayegi

Haan sukh bhare din

Dukh ke bin

Laayegi

Hum tum sajaayein aao rangon ke mele

Rehte ho bolo kahe tum yun akele

Mitwa sun mitwa...

Har sant kahe...

Radha kaise na jale...

Elizabeth has started helping the villagers to learn cricket. She is invited to the celeberations of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna's birth). Gauri is feeling jealous of the attention Bhuvan is bestwoing upon Elizabeth. The situation is not different from the jalan (jeaolousy) felt by Radha on seeing Lord Krishen surrounded by beautiful gopis. Gauri uses the song to express her own fears.

Madhuban mein jo Kanhaiya kisi gopi se mile

Kabhi muskaaye kabhi chede kabhi baat kare

Radha kaise na jale? Radha kaise na jale?

Aag tan man mein lage

Radha kaise na jale? Radha kaise na jale?

Madhuban mein bhale Kanha kisi gopi se mile

Mann mein toh Radha ke hi prem ke hain phool khile

Kisliye Radha jale? Kisliye Radha jale?

Bina soche samjhe

Kisliye Radha jale? Kisliye Radha jale?

Gopiyan taare hain chaand hai Radha

Phir kyon hai usko biswaas aadha

Kanha ji jo sada idhar udhar dhyan rahe

Radha bechari ko phir apne pe kya maan rahe

Gopiyan aani jaani hai Radha toh mann ki raani hai

Saanjh sakhare nadiya kinare

Radha Radha hi Kanha pukaare

Banhon ke haar jo daale koi Kanha ke gale

Radha kaise na...

Mann mein ha Radhe ko Kanha jo basaaye

Toh Kanha kahe ko usse na bataaye?

Prem ki apni alag boli alag bhaasa hai

Baat nayanon se ho Kanha ki yehi aasa hai

Kanha ke jo nayana hain

Cheen gopiyon ke chaina hain

Mili najariya hui bawariya

Gori gori si koi gujariya

Kanha ka pyar kisi gopi ke mann mein jo pale

Kisliye Radha jale...

Radha kaise na...

O ri chori...

Bhuvan finally confesses to Gauri that he loves her and cannot think of a life without her. Gauri tells him the truth of him being the only one for her. Oblivious to this is Elizabeth who has developed feelings for Bhuvan. She is dreaming her own dreams of being with Bhuvan and sings happily in the confines of her palace "Yes I'm in love".

O ri chori...

O ri chori maan bhi le baat mori

Maine pyar tujhi se hai kiya

Tere bin main jiya toh kya jiya

Tere nayanon mein yeh jo kaajal hai

Sapno ka baadal hai

Mann tere hi kaaran pagal hai

O goriya...

O re chore...

O re chore dil se nikle bol more

Maine pyar tujhi se kiya

Haan... main tujhko hi maana hai piya

Tune thama aaj yeh aanchal hai

Mann mein ek hulchul hai

Main na bhooloongi yeh woh pal hai

Sawariya...

My heart it speaks a thousand words

I feel eternal bliss

The roses pout their scarlet mouths

Like offering a kiss

No drop of rain no glowing flame

Has ever been so pure

If being in love can feel like this

Then I am in love for sure

More mann mein...

More mann mein thi jo baat chupi aayi hai jabaan par

More dil mein kahin ek teer ho tha aaya hai kamaan par

Sun sun re sajan rahe janam janam

Hum prem nagar ke baasi

Thaame thaame haath chale saath saath

Kabhi doori ho na jara si

Chaloon main sang sang teri raah mein

Bas teri raah mein

Sawariyan...

Koi pooche toh main boloon kya ke mujhko hua hai kya

More ang ang mein hai sugandh jo tune hai chu liya

Tan mehka mehka mann behka behka

Mujhe tu gulaab si laage

Jo hai yeh nikhaar aur yeh singaar

Toh kyon na kaamna jaage

Tera ujala ujala jo roop hai

Yauvan ki dhoop hai

Goriya...

O ri chori..

Yes I'm in love...

O re chore...

Chale chalo...

The Champaner cricket team is formed. Bhuvan, Deva, Ismail, Arjan, Baagha, Bhura, Lakha, Kachra, Goli, Guran and Issar Kaka are now waiting for the day to come when they'll be able to beat their oppressors at their own game. They are encouraging each other to keep going as they sing:

Baar baar haan bolo yaar haan

Apni jeet ho unki haar haan

Koi humse jeet na paaye

Chale chalo chale chalo

Mit jaave jo takraave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Ghan ghor andhera chaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Koi raah mein na tham jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Toot gayi jo ungli uthi

Paancho mili toh ban gayo muthi

Eka badhta hi jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Koi kitna bhi behkaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Koi na ab roke tujhe toke tujhe

Tod de bandhan saare

Mila hai kya hoke tujhe nirbal

Tu hi bata

Kabhi na dukh jhelenge khelenge

Aise ke dusman haare

Ki ab toh le lenge

Himmat ka rasta

Dharti hila denge sanko dikha denge

Raja kya parja kya ho...

Hum jag pe chaayenge ab yeh bataayenge

Hum logon ka darja kya ho...

Ab darr na mann mein aave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Har bedhi ab khul jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Chala hi chal haanf nahi kaap nahi

Raah mein ab tu raahi

Thakan ka saanp nahi ab tujhe dasne paaye

Wohi jo tera haakin hai jaalim hai

Ki kai jisne tabaahi

Ghar uska pachim hai yahan na rukne paaye

Dharti hila denge sanko dikha denge
Raja kya parja kya ho...
Hum jag pe chaayenge ab yeh bataayenge
Hum logon ka darja kya ho...

Jo hona hai jo jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Ab sar na koi jhukaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Baar baar haan...

O Paalanhaare...

The final day of the 3 day test match remains. The Champaner team is 99 for 4. It is way behind reaching the final target of 323 runs. With Ismail's leg badly injured and other good batsmen having got out Bhuvan has to somehow achieve the near impossible with help of the weaker members. In despair all the villagers call out to God (Paalanhaare) to bring them out of the darkness (andhiyaare) into the light (ujiyaare).

O Paalanhaare nirgun aur nyaare

Tumhre bin hamra kaunhu naahi

Hamri uljhan suljha o bhagwan

Tumhre bin hamra kaunhu naahi

Tumhai hamka ho sambhaale

Tumhai humre rakhwaale

Tumhre bin hamra kaunhu naahi

Chanda mein tumhai toh bhare ho chandni

Suraj mein ujaala tumhai se

Yeh ganan hai magan

Tumhai toh diye ho ise taare

Bhagwan yeh jeewan

Tumhai na sawaaroge toh

Kya koi sawaare

O paalanhaare...

Jo suno toh kahe

Prabhu hamri hai binti

Dukhi jan ko dheeraj do

Haare nahi woh kabhi dukh se

Tum nirbal ko raksha do

Reh paaye nirbal sukh se

Bhakti ko shakti do

Jag ke jo swaami ho

Itni toh araj suno

Hain path mein andhiyaare

De do vardaan mein ujiyaare

O paalanhare...

O paalanhare

O paalanhare

Lagaan (1): dialogues

Lagaan is one of my all time favourite movies. I have seen it n number of times but on each time I watch it with an enthusiasm as if it was a first. Every time I get all excited when the film reaches its climax.

I had first seen the film in Delhi in 2001 after having finished with a series of MSc entrance exams. I was pretty crazy about Aamir Khan then (still am) and when the titles showed "Aamir Khan Production" I felt a rush as if I had only made the film. I found the music and the images rolling in the background during the titles very grand. It was but a slight flavour of what was to come. The cast, the costumes, the setting, the music and the dialogues just blended perfectly.

I had the real experience of watching Lagaan in the IIT Bombay Auditorium. It was jam packed on the night on the screening. There were people of all age groups. Old uncle-aunties who needed walking sticks for support, bachas and bachis, and ofcourse all IIT students... everyone turned up in full flow. Or as some ads say "overfull" flow. From the word go the audience was in raptures. We were clapping at every scene. People were reciting dialogues simultaneously with the film. There was such excitement towards the second half of the movie when the cricket match begins. Everyone was hooting, shouting, whistling, dancing, jumping with joy as Bhuvan scores a six on the last ball leading the Champaner team to victory and relief from teen guna Lagaan.

I haven't seen any other film following Lagaan to get that kind of response and this makes it even more special for me.

I am putting here some of favourite dialogues. The favourites amongst the favourites are typed in italics.

Mai: Hey Ram! Bakhat se pehle hi khushiyaan!

Arjan: Chaon dena ped ka dharma hota hai. Hum toh sirf itna jaan-na chahit hain ki aakhir bhookhe pet kab tak unki malaalein gaadhe? Kab tak unki kodaamein bharen?

Bhuvan: Mukhiya ji! Chahe dahine haath par dharo chahe baayen haath par… lagaan toh humka dehi ke padi. Hum toh kehit hain ke sab jane milke rajmahal chalo aur Rajaji se baat karo. Ee baadal unse chupe nahi hain. Unse kaho ki ee saal hum lagaan nahi de payenge. Ekho daana bhi nahi.

Bhuvan: Toh phir saari alag-alag ungliyan ki muthi ban jaaye Mukhiya ji.
Mukhiya: Matlab tum ladoge?
Bhuvan: Agar jaroorat padi toh woh bhi.

Mukhiya: Tohar khopadi ghoom gayi hai. Rajaji ke saath gustaakhi karoge toh khud toh dooboge hum sab ka bhi laike dooboge.
Bhuvan: Abhai kaunsi zindagi sukh bhog rahi hai. Doobe nahi hain ka?
Mukhiya: Jo bhi ho... lekin hum poore gaaon par dhool nahi udhne denge.

Out! (Umpire raises finger pointing towards the sky.)
Bhura: Baadal aa gaye ka?

Rajaji: Yeh ladka toh waise bhi naadaan hai.
Capt Russel: Itna bhi naadaan nahi hai.

Capt Russel: Lekin yeh mumkin hai. Bataata hai. Theek hai hum lagaan maaf karega. Lekin ek shart hai.
Mukhiya: Sharat? Ka sharat hai?
Capt Russel (to Bhuvan): Tum... idhar aao. Kya kaha tha tumne hamare khel ke baare mein? What did he say? Sadiyal. Bhadda sa khel hai. Tum is khel ke baare mein kya jaante ho?
Bhuvan: Bachpan se khelat aa rahein hai. Hum ika gilli danda kehte hain aur aap na jaane kaa.
Capt Russel: Cricket! Toh tumhara yeh kehna hai ki yeh cricket tum khel sakte ho.
Bhuvan: Haan. Aasaan hai.
Capt Russel: Theek hai. Toh main lagaan maaf kar deta hoon. Lekin tumhe is khel mein humein haraana hoga. Shart yeh hai ki tum humko is khel mein harao aur hum tumhara lagaan maaf kar dega.
(Rajaji laughs in bakground.)
I am serious. You beat us in this game and I’ll cancel your tax.
Lekin kahin tum haar gaya toh tum humko triple tax yaani tin guna lagaan dega. Theek hai. Bolo sharat manzoor hai?
Team member: Sir I think the cat has caught his toungue.
Capt Russel: Quiet. Theek hai hum shart badhata hai. Tum humko is khel mein haraoge toh tumhare is saal ka toh kya hum agle saal ka bhi laagaan maaf kar dega. Hai manzoor?
Villagers: Bhuvan kuch mat kehna! Chup rehna! Kuch mat bolna!
Capt Russel: Theek hai. Hum sharat aur badhata hai. Sirf ek saal ka hi nahi agle do saal ka lagaan maaf kar dega. Yaani teen saal. Sirf tumhare hi nahi saare praant ka. Ab manzoor hai?
Villagers: Humka phasaane ki khatir gaddha khod raha hai!
Capt Russel: Tum bolo. Dugna lagaan doge ki sharat manzoor hai?
(Long pause.)
Bhuvan: Sharat manzoor hai.

Mukhiya: Hum toh pehle kehit rahen kaunhu badi bipda aa sakat hai. Nahi kehit rahen Bhuvan?
Bhuvan: Aur kaunhu chaara tha? Main poochon tha kaunhu chaara? Ka kar sakte the hum? Dugna lagaan jabardasti nahi hai? Bhare ki taakat hai? Bataiye? Bhar sake hai koi? Ee bipda nahi hai Mukhiya ji hai mauka. Hum sirf jos ma haan nahi kiye hain. Choolhe se roti ko nikaalne ke liye chimpte ko apna mooh jalaaike padi. Maanat hai. Maanat hai ki hamar palda halka hai. Par ee maa umeed toh hai. Aur yehi umeed ka hum sacchayi maa badhalna chahit hain. Ee khel hai hamare khet khaliyan ke liye. Bhool gaye agar jeete toh teen saal sukhi rahenge. Teen saal! Zara socho! Teen saal kaunhu lagaan nahi. Jaane ho eeka matlab? Matlab hamaar anaaj hamra apna hoga. Kisiko daana nahi dena padega. Ee ma hamre bachon humri humaare gaaon ki khushaali hogi. Humra paseena hamare tan mein khoon ban ke daudega.
Arjan: Sabaas! Choti choti aakhen aur bade bade sapne.
Bhuvan: Haan Arjan. Hum sapna dekhat hain. Aur sapne wohi saakar kar sakat hain jo unhe dekhat hain.

Gauri: Bharosa hai mohe... tujh pe... tohri himmat pe. Bas itna hi kehne aayi thi.

Bhuvan: Sau kaude manzoor hai magar hum maafi nahi maangenge.
Rajaji: Maafi ki toh ab baat hi nahi uthti. Ab jo kar diya hai use bhugato.
Mukhiya: Toh phir ka karen Maharaj?
Rajaji: Unka khel seekho.

That is out Sir! (Umpire raises finger towards sky.)
Tipu: Oo phir se aasman ki taraf ungli kahe dikha raha hai?
Bhuvan: Yehi toh humhu samajhne ki kosis kar rahein hain.
Guran: Apni amma ko yaad kar raha hai. Upar baithi hai na!

Goli: Bhuvan toh ka humra lagaan maaf hoga?
Bhuvan: Haan Goli.
Goli: Ka hum bhar pet khaayenge? Ka hamare sapne sach honge? Bhuvan tu gili chutki mein namak pakad raha hai!
Bhuvan: Bharosa kar Goli. Sach aur saahas hai jike mann mein anth mein jeet uski rahe.

Ismail: Dekh! Dekh! Ek Angrez chori hamra tan-pet bachaane ke khatir gaaon ki madad kar rahi hai. Aur hum gaal phoolaye baithe hain. Laalat hai sasuri! Alaah nigehbaan. Humein Bhuvan ka saath dena hi hoga.

Ismail: Bhuvan. Taang se kapda hate toh poore tan ki laaj jaave. Maine us din jo bhi bura bhala kaha uske liye main sarminda hoon. Aur ee kosis maa main tumhare saath hoon. Maula kasam. Namaaz ka imaan nahi gawaya hai.
Gauri: Kitni badhiya baat hai Bhuvan. Ismail bhaiyya ne kitni himmat badha di. Ab kaun hai rokne waala!

Bhuvan: Ka dekh rahi hain Memsaab?
Elizabeth: Yeh statute... murat kiski hai?
Bhuvan: Yeh Radha-Kisen ka mandir hai Memsaab. Bhagwaan Kisen aur Radha ji ki murtiyan hain yeh. Aaj Kisen ji ka janamdin hai. Isi liye humne in murtiyon ko sajaaya hai.
Elizabeth: Kya yeh pati-patni the?
Bhuvan: Arrey nahi-nahi Memsaab. Kisen ji ki shaadi Rukmini se hui thi aur Radha ji ki Anay se. Lekin dono mein bahut gehra prem tha. Jo ek misaal ban kar reh gaya. Aap samajh lo kamal ke patte par sabnam ki boond jaisa... ek bhi nahi hue aur alag bhi nahi.

Gauri (about Lakha): Bhuvan isse hargiz mati lena. Mann ka kaala hai.

Elizabeth: Tum khel ke baare mein kya jaante ho?
Deva: Do baatein Memsaab. Agar gend phenkoon toh teeno lakdiyan di dhajjiyan udha doon. Aur jo agar kheloon toh gend nu cheer ke rakh doon.

Bhuvan: Ae Gauri. Saare gaaon mein ek hi ghar hai jike aangan mein neem ka ped hai. Bagal ma bada sa khet bhi hai. Ek joda bel, do gaay, teen bakriyan bhi hai. Aur main jaanu hoon pagli ki woh ghar mora hai. Aur ek baat sunti ja. Tu Mai ko pasand bhi hai.

Mukhiya: Goron ke saath ladna dharm hai. Par ek achoot ka saath laike poora doodh bhrast nahi hone denge hum!
Bhuvan: Kachra. (Touches him.) Doodh par choot achhot ki chaap lagai ke doodh ko aap bhrast kare ho. Saare gaaon ki saans ee choot achoot ki dohe se kahe ghot rahe ho Mukhiya ji? Chamdi ke naam pe mann ko chalna kaunhu nek kaam hai ka.? Phir kahe pujte ho raam ji ko jinne sabri ke jhoote ber khaaye? Jo bhagwaan sabki naiyya par lagawat hai uki naiyya ek choti jaati ek naawik ne paar lagaayi. Ee sab jaan ne ke baad bhi choot achoot ki baat kare ho! Aur aap Issar kaka... aap toh vaid ho. Peedha harte ho. Rogi ki naadi parakh karke uka ilaaj karte ho. Ka aapka sastra yehi kehta hai ki achoot ka ilaaj na kiya jaaye? Uka marne diya jaaye? Agar aisa hai toh ee insaaniyat ke naam pe sabse bada kalank hoga. Aaj ke baad koi bhi vaid ko Bhagwaan ka doosra roop nahi maanega.
Lakha: Oo sab chod Bhuvan. Tu toh tagda khiladi chahe tha na. Ee Kachra toh lula hai.
Bhuvan: Tere haath salamat hai na. Devi maa meherban hai Lakha so keh raha hai. Magar jis kalai ko tune lula kaha hai wohi hamri sabse badi taakat banegi dekh lena. Ee bejaan sa panja hi humein jeet dilayega. Ek baat sab logan ka yaad dilayi doon. Yeh sirf khel nahi hai jo hum aapke manoranjan ke liye khel rahe hain. Yeh ek ladayi hai jo humka jitni hain. Hamara maksad sirf ek hi hai. Lagaan se mukti. Gaaon ki khushaali. Aur uke vaaste main marte dam tak main kisi ke saamne nahi jhukoonga. Aap log mera saath de ya na de magar Kachra khelega!
Issar kaka: Bhuvan beta. Jo aakhen poori tarah se khul gayi hon unmein toh saram bhi nahi aa sakat.
Arjan: Main Issar bhai ki baat se sehmat hoon. Tum theek kehte ho.
Mukhiya: Kachra humre saath khelega!

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PS: Lyrics of some of the songs from Lagaan I am reserving for the next post.

Pratibha Patil Who?

In today's (20th June, 2007) Indian Express Shobha De has written a column titled "Its not about her" talking about Pratibha Patil who is being fielded by the Congress as a contender for the post of the President of India. The article which begins with the tagline Can we please appraise Pratibha Patil without this stifling regional tokenism and gender symbolism is an interesting read. Shobha De's sarcasm is at its peak when she rubbishes the lady's claim to simplicity because of her khaadi saris.

I am putting here this article which I am sure you'll get hooked on to from the word go.


The presidential election is beginning to come out of my ears. Like a lot of people, I’ve reached a stage when I feel like screaming, “Just get on with it — but spare us the tamasha.” The latest embarrassment to derail the anointment of Pratibha Patil involves her comments on the purdah. If the lady doesn’t know her history, one wonders whether her knowledge of geography is stronger. Would she be able to defend our borders as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces? Someone aptly described her nomination as a ‘monumental joke’ being played on the nation by Sonia Gandhi. It’s likely to turn into a joke that backfires if the lady does in fact waltz into the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Though, going by the lack of enthusiasm even within Congress party ranks (and her purdah faux pas), she may just make it easier for the pro-Kalam or pro-Shekhawat lobby to rush past her in the final run-up.

The real tragedy in this debacle is not Pratibha Patil per se — poor thing, she is once again playing a familiar role of handmaiden to the Gandhis. It is the abject denigration of the post itself. From the sublime to the ridiculous, to the downright shabby, the pathetic wheeling and dealing, horse trading and lobbying that have scarred this election, this is nothing short of an insult to the high office. Kahan Radhakrishnan aur kahan Pratibhatai! Besides, nobody cares, nor is anyone convinced with the overnight ‘image makeover’ attempts to position and sell her as the ultimate Bharatiya Naari — a shining symbol of women’s empowerment. What a bogus claim. And as phony and suspect as the nomination itself.

Let’s face it, Pratibha Patil has been pulled out of her mothballed existence and shoved into the spotlight for one reason alone — she is the most accommodating and pliant of the uninspiring bunch that make up the list. She will ensure the safety of the seats of her political masters if it ever comes to that. Lacklustre? Of course. But loyal and obedient — prized attributes given the sensitivity (and fragility) of the numbers game. What if...? Yes, indeed, what if a situation does arise when a crucial presidential vote would decide the fate of the government? Will Pratibhtai have the credentials to take an independent, non-partisan stand? Will she dare to snub Sonia Gandhi and rise above party politics? Put the country first?

It is meaningless to argue the lady deserves a shot at it, or to be asked why we are writing her off without giving her a fair chance. My point is: can we afford such a luxury? If we are being asked to extend our generosity and “give her a chance”, why not be still more large-hearted and give Bhairon Singh Shekhawat the same chance?

Sorry, this isn’t about either petty nit-picking or witch-hunting. The truth is, most Indians don’t know who Pratibha Patil is. And what they have come to know, post-nomination, has left them cold. I wish I could get excited over a former table tennis champion or someone who organised kho-kho and kabbadi matches during her college days. There is nothing impressive or remarkable about any of her touted ‘achievements’. But the problem is, any voiced criticism against the lady is seen as a strike against women.

Come on, let’s leave phony sisterhood and solidarity out of this. It angers me each time a feminist angle is introduced into the debate. A true feminist will never endorse the wrong woman, for that itself goes against the tenets of empowerment. Unfortunately, gender has been superimposed in this case, and an attempt is being made to damn any woman who does not automatically sing hosannahs to Pratibhatai. I resent this sort of manipulation. Call me anti-women, if you wish, I feel like telling these newly-minted champions of stree shakti, but I will not join the chorus singing Tai’s praises.

Where was she all these years? Has anyone heard a peep out of her during numerous debates dealing with atrocities against women? What has she done that is pro-women? Has she raised her voice even once? Not that I know of. So, can we please leave gender out of this, for it communicates the wrong message. Patil’s accident of birth as a female is being flaunted as a badge of honour. God help us. By that definition, any and every woman of India qualifies for the prestigious post.

Let’s be upfront about this. Pratibha Patil simply does not have what it takes to be the President of India. As for all that rubbish regarding her simplicity, spare me the baloney. As if a khadi sari is the ultimate or only description of simplicity! Khadi happens to be one of the most high maintenance fabrics in the country. Ladies who make khadi their big statement invest a lot of money in it. Sonia’s saris are homespun too. But are they cheap? Half the women in India wouldn’t be able to afford these designer khadi one-offs. So, let’s not delude ourselves. Forget about her lack of a Page 3 presence, that’s the least of her problems. Can she make it to Page 1, without most of her countrymen asking, “Who’s she?” It’s time we grew up and stopped playing immature games of tokenism, symbolism, etc. The important thing is to rise above any and every kind of ism, from feminism to regionalism. Just because I am a woman and a Maharashtrian, should I support Pratibhatai? No way.

If Pratibha Patil does make it to Rashtrapati Bhavan, how will it benefit the women of India? Will it lead to fewer thrashings, beatings, torture, murders? Give me a break. This 73-year-old lady deserves to spend her retirement years with more dignity than as a puppet of her long-term patrons. Zail Singh had his jhaddoo. What will Pratibhatai use? Her pallav?

From fat to slim (3): cheeni kam

The above title Cheeni Kam has nothing to do with the latest Amitabh Bachchan-Tabu starrer but with my reduced intake on sugar. Infact I have now started taking Sugar Free Gold in my tea. The back of the bottle reads "It is your healthier alternative to sugar as it is made from Aspartame- a protein derivative. One pellet of Sugar Free Gold is equivalent in sweetness to 1 teaspoon of sugar and gives only 0.4 calories (2%) as compared to 20 calories from 1 teaspoon of sugar."

A table on naturetherapy.com shows how by using Sugar Free Gold you can end up cutting down 480 calories per day! This is provided one has the habit of taking 6 cups of tea/coffee, 1 cup of cereals, 1 glass of milk, 1 glass of nimbupaani, and 1 sweet dish every 24 hours.

On wikipedia one can find details under the heading sugar substitute. Also take a look at the external link there to an article on artificial sweetners.

Mera kuch saamaan

Film: Ijjazat
Music: R. D. Burman

Mera kuch saamaan
Tumhare paas padha hai
Ho... saawan ke kuch bheege bheege din rakhe hain
Aur mere ek khat mein lipti raat padhi hai
Woh raat bujha do
Mera woh saamaan lauta do
Mera kuch...

Patjhad hai kuch, hai na? hmmm?

Ho... patjhad mein kuch patton ke
Girne ke aahat
Kaanon mein ek baar pehenke lautayee thi
Patjhad ki woh shaakh abhi tak kaanp rahi hai
Woh shaakh gira do
Mera woh saamaan lauta do
Woh shaakh...

Ek akeli chatri mein jab aadhe-aadhe bheeg rahe the
Aadhe sookhe aadhe geele sookha toh mein le aayi thi
Geela mann shaayad bistar ke paas padha ho
Woh bhijwa do
Mera woh saamaan lauta do

Ek sau solha chaand ki raatein
Ek tumhare kandhe ka til
Gili mehndi ki khushboo
Jhooth moot ke shikwe kuch
Jhooth moot ke waade bhi sab
Yaad kara dun
Sab bhijwa do
Mera woh saamaan lauta do
Sab bhijwa...

Ek ijazzat de do bas
Jab isko dafanaaoongi
Main bhi wahin so jaaoongi
Main bhi wahin so jaaoongi


The song Mera kuch saamaan... has been soulfully rendered by Asha Bhosle in the film Ijaazat, meaning permission, starring Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah and Anuradha Patel. In the movie Naseeruddin Shah and Anuradha Patel were in love but N. Shah gets married to Rekha. This song comes at a point when Rekha tells her husband to send away all of Anuradha's things (saamaan) that were lying in their house. But as the lyrics tell us the things that Anuradha wants back are very different. What she asks for are the rain soaked days (saawan ke kuch bheege bheege din...), the night she had spent writing a letter (mere ek khat mein lipti raat padhi hai), her wet heart (geela mann shaayad bistar ke paas padha ho), the insipid fights (jhooth moot ke shikwe kuch) and the silly promises (jhooth moot ke waade bhi sab).

Often those who've lost in love wish if they could get back every moment that they'd spent laughing, crying, loving and hating while dreaming, thinking, imagining and remembering this one person. As you go about realizing the futility of this desire, you begin to think yourself as a fool to have spent every every moment laughing, crying, loving and hating while dreaming, thinking, imagining and remembering this one person.

Faye puts it much better in the climax of the Tom Hanks movie "That Thing You Do" when her long time boyfriend Jimmy breaks up with her. She sadly admits,

"I have wasted thousands and thousands of kisses on you. Kisses that I thought were special because of your lips and your smile and all your color and life. I used to think that was the real you when you smiled. But now I know that you don't mean any of it, and you just save it for all your songs. Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight."

From fat to slim (2): take it easy policy

Today I completed a week of going to the gym!! The first few days when I was simply exercising were great fun. I was learning new things. It was exciting getting used to all the equipments. The treadmill for instance. It had an inbuilt sensor such that if you kept your hand on a particular spot on the bar then your heart rate would come on screen. On one instance it showed 120 beats per minute. What freaked me out more was a heart shaped symbol flashing a red light and I pressed the stop button! Then my trainer cooled me down by informing that I needn't worry as the flashing implies that the heart rate is being measured and 120 is a normal value. As I looked around I found people running on the treadmills at way higher speeds and then I felt relaxed.

On Fri I met my dietician at the gym who made a new routine for my food intake to be followed for the coming week. Basically she told me to include more of dals (lentils), fruits, salads and milk products and reduce my sugar, cheese and rice quantities. As I did this, after every lunch and dinner, I started suffering from acidity and for one hour I'd feel winds (a more refined phrase for having gas :P). I couldn't understand why this was happening. We all know that when we start doing exercises after a long gap then we feel pain. But what I was feeling was it normal too?

The answer is yes. After having raw salads or sprouts some people do feel winds. In that case its advised to eat them boiled.

The other reason for me to have acidity could be because of the change in my lifestyle not just in terms of food habits and level of activity but in terms of my hours of functioning. I consulted a doctor who said that my body hasn't still got over my old timings of getting up at 8am and going off to sleep after midnight. But everyone doesn't go through this. He told me in hindi tension nahi lene ka (don't take tension). So did my trainer. His advice to me was to remind myself that all the things that I am now doing like going to bed early, rising early, drinking lots of water, eating healthy food, coming to the gym... are all good habits. At the same time I shouldn't become too serious about it.

What I have realized is that the change in eating habits should be brought about slowly. One shouldn't just simply give up taking sugar and cheese. Neither should one over-exercise in a bid to loose weight. All of these should be done in small bits. The idea is to not to get worked up but follow a take it easy policy.

Or else you'll end up feeling like Garfield here :p

From fat to slim (1): facing facts

If you've read my few days old post Farewell Adipose then you'll know that I have for the first time in my life joined a gym! Its confirmed now that I am pretty overweight (:p) and need to reduce with a combination of excercises and diet control. As I set about to achieve this goal I've decided to write my experiences in this "new world" in the form of a series which I've titled From fat to slim.
Quoting Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music "lets start from the very beginning, shall we?"

For quite sometime now I'd known that I had put on weight speically since leaving IITB. But I always ignored the nagging in my mind. In the last one year it however became increasingly difficult to do so. I had the good fortune of having friends who brought me face to face with reality from time to time. Lots of suggestions were thrown my way. For example: I should not eat after 7 pm, that I should take sugar free tablets, that I should go for walks, that I should exercise, that I should join a gym and so on. Obviously all this did the needful though not immediately.

I first gave a thought to doing something about it around September last year. But the enthusiasm soon fizzled out. There was no gym close to home… I had a lot of work pending… I didn't want to get up early in the morning… I was also supposed to take one course work examination, attend two conferences and give an interview for Senior Research Fellowship. So I decided to postpone the idea until after New Year. Eventually even that came and went away and so did another 5 months!!

And then suddenly a few days back I was filled on my own (!!) with a strong urge to do something about my extra flab. I found that the gym was not too far away from NCL... my work pressure itself recently lessened... no conferences or interviews were in the pipeline... getting up 2 hours early didn't seem so huge any more.

I guess eventually it came to down to one thing and one thing alone. My finally facing the facts and following that up by taking action. A friend of mine had told me that no one else could make me do that. No amount of bribe, friendly banter or blackmail would work if your heart is completely against an idea. You have got to want to go for it yourself. This indeed was my first step in going from fat to slim.

Garfield and the art of being fat

Blackle.com

This is what I received in an email recently. It sounds interesting and so I am putting it down here.

The idea of how using a black version of google.com to help saving nearly thousands of mega-watt energy in a year was made a few ago by Mark Ontkush on his blog EcoIron in a post titled "Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year". The post says "An all white web page uses about 74 watts to display, while an all black page uses only 59 watts." Google, which has a white background and gets about "200 million queries a day" could reduce global energy use by 750 Megawatt-hours a year by simply changing the color of its homepage to black.

In response to this post a black version of Google emerged called blackle.com. This search engine has been created by Toby Heap. The site encourages users to make a difference today [by] … Blackling as energy is saved with each search.

No wonder Blackle has also made it to Ibnlive! Check this news snippet with the headline Log on to Blackle, save energy.

Farewell adipose

No longer is my reaction going to be like Garfield's because:

My dear adipose
you have only left another day
Coming tomorrow
you'll start vainshing away
I've paid a lot of money
to join the gym
I am gonna tuck in my tummy
and become slim and trim
No more late nights
no more getting up at eight
Now it'll be daily work outs
very soon you'll see me losing weight
Fat, you have been there long enough
but now its time to go
The next 4 months are sure going to be tough
I will survive somehow
I have decided
I am determined
to say my farewell
A new life awaits me I know, I can tell.
:)

Nice quotes

A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
-Charles Gordy

So go ahead uncles, aunties and boys and girls and become beautiful in a matter of seconds.

Sometimes you have to let go to see if there was anything worth holding on to.
-Anonymous

And as they say if its your's it'll do an about turn.

Patience with others is love,
patience with self is hope and
patience with God is faith.
-Adel Bestavros

Aren't these the simplest and most apt definitions for the three words!!

(Note: These quotes are taken from today's TOI.)

Dew on the roses

Check out the post with the above title that Daddy has written on his blog: http://rrkelkar.wordpress.com/2007/06/01/dew-on-the-roses/

The reason I am mentioning it here specially is because the meaning of my name is "dew". :)

Michael Moscovitz

I saw a rerun of the movie Princess Diaries a few days back. Though the film story and its characters are quite different from those in Meg Cabot's book of the same name, I happen to still like it. A huge reason for this is seen in the photo above: actor Robert Schwartzman who plays Michael Moscovitz. He looks a total sweet heart with his hair falling almost upto his eyes. :)

In the movie Michael finds himself surprised at being invited by Mia to the Genovian Ball and asks her "Why me?" The reply to this question: "Because you saw me when I was invisible." is my favourite dialogue.

PS: The story of the film has been nicely summarised on yahoo movies. For more on the book check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Diaries.