A window to my world ...

Bengaluru habba is back and yes ! we are making the most of it. The inaugural ceremony was good with a classical Drupad Gayan performance by the Gundecha brothers,followed by a fultoo Bollwood Shankar Ehsaan Loy performance. Then we watched a Kannada play on Monday. [Maybe i didnt get the funny dialogs right ,bcoz Guru was having a blast ] We attended an Oddisi and bharatnatyam dance performance on Tuesday and i was mesmerized by the Oddisi dancers from Nrityagrama [Bijoyni and Surupa Sen]. Tommorrow there's a play "Hamlet" by Evam which i think i have watched before,but i will ,again ,coz I like the troupe . Good night! A follow up by Guru... Events that we watched in this year's Habba: --------------------------------------------- 1. Umakant & Ramakant Gundecha (Gundecha Brothers) - Classical Hindustani - Dhrupad Music 2. Shankar Ehsaan Loy - Bollywood music 3. Samsaradalli Sa Ni Da Pa by Spandana, Sagara (Shivamogga) - Kannada Theatre 4. Nrityagram (Bijayini Sa...

Our breakfast discussion at office generally these days is focussed on the rampant conversions of the lower-tier-worker classes into Christianity. D,P,S and myself have had very vocal arguments on whether what is being done is right or wrong. But first its a fact --If you have ever stayed around the Banaswadi/Kammanahalli area in bangalore you will see lots of people getting converted.And its a no brainer that these people have been given strong incentives of a better education for their children and possibly financial help as well by the missionaries. The debate is whether all this is right or wrong : P,S and I keep stating that there is nothing wrong abt it --At least they get to lead a better life that way and probably that's what any poor man would do -- What does religion mean to me when I have no food and shelter ?But also, i do believe that if you aim to reach out your hand to someone in need ,it should be unconditional . D however has a different view point. This method he...

I dont want the "layoff at office" post showing up when I open my blog :) the best way-write another mindless blog. Well for me blogging is all about killing time and adding more junk on the web. Because i have read some really serious good blogs --so i believe i am just wasting space .But nevertheless i will continue to do so ! at the cost of another reader's time --the next chap/chappeee who surfs by to kill some time like me. Some random thoughts ** Learning to laugh at yourself an asset.Life's biggest troubles will vanish before you. ** Its good to look at yourself as the best ,etc etc but considering yourself a small spec in the bigger system of things called life also easens your burdens at time. Bottom line : Let go .. and learn to take it easy .You cannot please everyone at all times . ** Marriages : It begins with love and lust ,then its love and then its secure ,reliable companionship .Expecting anything beyond that will give you deep deep heartaches.

Well it was surely not a regular day at office. Well,not one that I would want to experience again. I happily went to office,blissfully ignorant ,carefree ,picking fruits,singing a song to myself. Reached my cube space when I saw my colleagues all huddled up and discussing something. And ... Then read the not so pleasant early morning mail from the CEO abt how very "important and painful" it is ,but how necessary it was and blah blah. The air was tense-I too got panicky,felt super guilty for all the hours wasted at the carrom table/crosswords and could visualize myself being pink-slipped ! I knew it had to be me .Well many others also were feeling the same.I guess its a very common tendency to think it'll be you and still hoping that it shouldnt be you. The day went on .. Well,Miracles do happen and I truly believe considering my own performance that I am very lucky to not have been kicked out. It was an important day in my life as I have learnt not to take the job for gr...

I tend to introspect and reflect everytime I visit my in-laws.It makes me don the philosophers cap. We lead contrasting lives ,if I may so put it ; as they make me believe .What seems a perfect existence to me is non acceptable to them and vice versa. Not that I am an angel / all understanding to get into their shoes to understand why they live the way they do . Anyways its not abt inlaws here : Its abt opinions of ppl in general. Whats the perfect life ? Where does this continuous pursuit of happiness lead us to. What is happiness ? I believe I am happy ,but the wise ppl around me tend to believe that there 's much more to life than spending some weekend outside /and lazing away ur time,etc etc . Which makes me believe its all an illusion . You are what you think you are [ Not a great revelation !!! ] .If you want to be unhappy ,you will be even if you're a millionaire have the perfect spouse and the so called perfect life.The same "me" feels superhappy and super d...

Last week we went to Pondicherry.We actually planned a 2-day stay over the weekend.But A and G got bored on day 1 and we returned .Pondicherry looked apt for either those who want to drink and lie around the beach or for the very spiritual types who'd like to spend time in the Ashram and in Auroville . To our further disappointment Maitri Mandir was also under renovation and we were only allowed to see it from a distance . I wouldnt have minded spending another day there but since the rest of the gang was not too keen ,gave in . :) The evening stroll on the beach road was definetly worth remembering,since we stuffed ourselves with all the possible bytes sold by the hawkers there -from roasted peanuts to fruit bowl and pani puri. Also enjoyed the idlis and dosas fultoo at one "Sabthagiri restaurant" ,which was very close to the bus stand.They served the real khatta sambhar --unlike sweetish sambhars served in most eat outs in bangalore. If you could spend lots of money a...

An interesting read. What was really good abt the book,besides the plot was the simple language.G who is not the novel reading types got hooked on to it and actually completed it.

Dr L.Subramaniam at the Violin,vocals by Kavita Krishnamurthy and the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dr Michael Koehler : What more can I ask for a perfect evening .And not to mention free passes!!! All courtesy Times of India Bangalore Infinity concert . I had never been to a live orchestra before and so it was a very new experience and a wonderful one .It has also inspired me to learn some musical instrument!!!

The makers of the calendar called Jan 1st as the beginning of the new year. Its just another day,but something truly makes it special. For those who've had a bad times,it brings in hopes for something better - I've seen ppl actually saying --hope this year's better.So the concept is doing some good ,to someone. I believe that the world thrives on faith and optimism -- a pursuit of something better to come. So am rejoicing with the rest of the world -- Happy New Year to one and all alike!!!!

Beautiful lyrics and very well sung by Shaan Kuch kam Roshan hai roshani Kuch kam Geeli hain Baarishein Kuch kam lehrati hai hawa Kuch kam Hai Dil main khwaishein Tham sa gaya hai yeh waqt aise Tere hi liye tehera ho jaise ... Hmm hmm hmmmmmmm From the movie Dostana ... The movie too is fun to watch

At crossroads. Unable to decide what next. The best part of getting married is I believe is being able to offload a lot of decisions to your spouse and steer away from them -financial,organizational.Life should be simpler with responsibilities divided.When you have a very nice spouse who says --Whatever you say --well the onus is on you to make some decisions ,and there life gets tricky .Do you just take the plunge and leave it to time or continue to live in the comfort zone.Just thinking.

Another escape from the bustling noisy bangalore. Ragya,Shilpa,Guru and i set out to visit the Gaganachukki and Barachukki falls.It was a pleasant drive.We stopped by maddur's tiffany's hotel which served some very bad Mallige idlis . Kamat Lokaruchi is any day better for a breakfast on the Mysore road highway. Gaganachukki offers some breathtakings views of the waterfalls,but you cant play there and there is nothing much to do there. So we set out for the smaller Barachukki falls and headed into the water.Reaching right under the falls was a little tricky and fun. The feel of water hitting you with so much force is good . Playing in the beach is great in a way and under the waterfalls its a different experience altogether. We also visited Talakadu and it has so many stories associated with it,the whole masala with kings,queens and the queen's curse.Perfect for a movie.The local guide there took us to the Panchalinga temples.He showed us some excavations.It is said that a w...

Lovely song from Yuvraj .. Love is in the air :) !!! The weather is so perfect these days ,as i travel from home to office in the mornings,i feel i should be out for a picnic ..

Our Gang with the guides Trek to Chandrakhani Pass The Timeless Taj Mahal So damn cold that brokeback mountain made sense ;) Krishna Janma Bhoomi : Mathura Temple When : Nov 8th to Nov 16th Places Visited/Touched : Vrindavan,Mathura,Agra,Delhi,Manali and a 3 day trek to the Chandrakhani pass over the Pir Panjal ranges in Himachal Gang of 4 : GuruDakshina,Arun and Deepa

A Friday Evening ... A Live concert by Shankar Mahadevan ,Free passes ,courtesy TOI Bangalore Festival I was there and had a blast !!! Savouring life's little joys bigtime...

Went thru Ravi's blog,Rashmi's blog,played crossword,played carrom Dont feel like reading the horoscope. Downloaded a nice song .Copied a nice movie from a colleague's system,attended another meeting that was a longer than routine monologue from my manager.Whatever he says is true though-but guess where all the energy comes from for talking at a stretch...it finally ended with him asking "Do i make sense" -- I wanted to scream --Of course you do --but who needs all of it .. Life's been rather nice inspite of the fever that got on to me on a holiday--what a bad timing. Chalo bye ...

I watched the movie Wall-E and it got me seriously thinking. Will our planet one day become a repository of trash ,gadgets and goods and finally be non-habitable .Every person uses up around 100 different electronic goods/gadgets over his lifetime (Eg. will change at least 15 mobiles ).Where will all this go?How will we be able to sustain all this development,need for extra fuel and power.Where are we going to dispose of all the nuclear waste ?Are we seriously giving thought to alternate means of power,recycling. Where are we moving towards in this rush for development and advancement.We have surely put ourselves in a self destructive mode. A hundred questions unanswered.Only time can tell.

Attended the Ganesh Utsav festival organized at APS Grounds Basavangudi last friday. It started off with soulful bhajans, then pooja by Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [founder of Art of living] and then by an awesome concert by Pt. Shivkumar sharma and Rahul Sharma on Santoor.Santoor,[or the shat-tantra-veena meaning 100 strings] has been modified by Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma to make it suitable for classical music.There were 2raagas which were performed :Raga Rageshwari and Raag Mishra Pahadi,accompanied by tabla and Ghatam. I can only say that the whole experience was great,the artists wove sheer magic with the music they created and it left me wanting more.What an evening!! I am proud to be born in a country with such great musical diversity. Come to think of it,music is inseperable from our tradition.Our Gods are also associated with Music/Dance.Like Saraswati Devi with the Veena and Lord Krishna with the flute,and lord Shiva is called Nataraj,the king of dance .

Wont say much abt the story ... Fastpaced Great Cast Does not drag Crisply edited No faltu songs,no stupid parallel comedy Great performance by the best we've in the industry Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher Not preachy but has a strong social undercurrent Relevant to the times We need more such movies Do Watch it In the Genre of "Mumbai Meri jaan", "Aamir"