/*Spoilers ahead*/

“True Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivalled courage among religions with regard to the facts to be observed. Never having been hampered by the priestly order, each man has been entirely free to search wherever he pleased for the spiritual explanation of the spectacle of the universe“. – Quote from the book “Life of Vivekananda” by Nobel laureate Romain Rolland, who incidentally is dedicated the book Siddhartha by its author Nobel laureate Hermann Hesse

“It’s true, I’m old,” spoke Govinda, “but I haven’t stopped searching. Never I’ll stop searching, this seems to be my destiny. You too, so it seems to me, have been searching. Would you like to tell me something, oh honourable one?”
Quoth Siddhartha: “What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you’re searching far too much? That in all that searching, you don’t find the time for finding?”

Siddhartha tells him that if we remain focussed on the destination, we remain oblivious to the experiences and pleasures of the path. As they say journey is the goal. We find that Siddhartha has evolved in his thinking from the time when he was talking to Kamala about goals.

This chapter is important as it finally crystallizes the thoughts of Hermann Hesse’ Siddhartha.

Spoke Siddhartha, “… To thoroughly understand the world, to explain it, to despise it, may be the thing great thinkers do.”

Hermann Hesse’ Siddhartha exhorts us to lessen the importance we place on thinking, analysing, explaining. He wants the thinkers to move away from explaining life by deductive reasoning of facts to an inductive deciphering based on experiences and observations. And for this it is essential that they get in touch with their emotions and feelings.

Hermann Hesse was influenced by German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer argued that the world is not rational. Therefore, a spontaneous, instinctual approach, curtailed desires and goals and striving for universal munificence is the solution to this imponderable, uncontrollable and unfathomable life. Thus, he posits an alternative philosophy than the ones based on Plato, Kant and Descartes’ “I Think, Therefore I Am”.

Hermann Hesse places the quest of unreserved love, admiration and respect for everyone, including oneself, as the lodestar of one’s life.

Spoke Siddhartha, “…I’m only interested in being able to love the world, not to despise it, not to hate it and me, to be able to look upon it and me and all beings with love and admiration and great respect.”

I would interpret the journey of Siddhartha as the expedition in which finally one is at peace with oneself, neither too happy with one’s goodness nor too self-flagellating for one’s meanness. (“a person is never entirely holy or entirely sinful.”― Hermannn Hesse, Siddhartha). Then, if one finds some things abhorrent, like Siddhartha does when caught in the material world, to strive to change that, and without ever forsaking one’s faith in the redemptive nature of human will and determination. This is the only way to get a very high self-respect. And, my hypothesis is that this self-respect and self-belief has to compulsorily predate and be necessarily present for the universal respect and admiration for others, regardless of their national, regional, religious, educational, professional, gender identity, to evolve.

This is a book which can help you in illuminating blind spots, clarifying muddled values and straightening out bigoted acceptance of one truth.

As Siddhartha says, “I have found a thought, Govinda, which you’ll again regard as a joke or foolishness, but which is my best thought. It says: The opposite of every truth is just as true!”

This book deserves a place in your bookshelf.   Buy it at a discount here

:–Multiple spoilers ahead:–

When last year I first read that Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra play a deaf-mute and an autistic character respectively in Barfi!, somehow I slotted it in the Black, Guzarish and Taare Zameen Par category which place the disability of their protagonist at the heart of the story.

But the atypical trailer of Barfi!  piqued my interest

Instead of the pathos I was expecting, it tried to induce chuckles.

Make no mistake! Even though it has dollops of slapstick and who-done-it?, essentially Barfi! is a love story. Narrator Shruti perhaps sums it best when she says something to the effect “Mujhme aur usme yehi anatar hai..usne soch kar pyaar aur shaadi nahin kiya..ki is se shaadi karne par itne paise mlilnege…usne bas pyaar kiya”…basically don’t base your love or marriage decision on ROI calculations.

Movie starts with a foot tapping “picture shuru” song during the initial casting. (If you have link to this song, please do leave a comment) Ileana D’ Cruz, Saurabh Shukla and Ranbir Kapoor are quickly introduced and then on movie goes in analepsis and the inter-weaving of  three different time periods to bring twists and turns in the narrative and keep you glued.

Barfi is a damn-good-character and is closer to an Anand than an Ishaan or a Michelle McNally. He just accepts that he can’t listen and speak. But that never seeems to diminish his joie de vivre..always ready with a new prank, always testing his friends with dares, takings setbacks on his chin and moving on. I mean the scene in trailer where Shruti (played superbly by Ileana) kicks his imginary heart and still he finds “Oh, you are smiling. There is still hope” is not one-off. Later  he offers the same heart on a plate, with a rose. She tells him a no. With a “koi baat nahin” attitude and “I am deaf-mute but good from heart” sign communication, he passes it on to her friend. After any setback to his plan, he just says c’est la vie! and moves on. He may occasionally get angry….as he does during his outburst after she picks the more certain, convenient, comfortable choice, but he doesn’t hold that against her long.

He is the Jerry to the Tom played by the inspector Saurabh Shukla (as he laments, “Aaap pucchti hain kya kiya hai isne..ye dekhiye”, showing his loose pants with oversize belt,”Iske picche bhaag kar maine apani kamar 52 se 42 karwa li” ).

Songs are the soul of this movie. Watch Ala Barfi sung by Mohit Chauhan

 Swanand Kirkire (of Three Idiots & Munna Bhai fame) etches the character though lines like

“Ala ala matwaala Barfi
Paanv pada mota chhala Barfi
Raaton ka hai yeh ujaala Barfi
Gumsum gumsum hi machaye ye to utpaat
Khur khur khur khurafati kare non stop
Khur khur khur khur bud bud bud bud 
Gud gud gud gud maula isi se bachaai le

Aankhon hi aankhon mein kare baatein
Gupchup gupchup gupchup
Fus fus fus fus
Khwaabon ki nadi mein khaaye gote
Gud gud gud gud
Bud bud bud bud.

Kabhi na rukta re kabhi na thamta re
Gam jo dikha usey khushiyon ki thokar maare
Palko ki harmuniya naino ki gaa re saare
Dhadkan ki rhythm pe ye gaata jaaye gaane pyaare
Bhola na shamjho yeh chaalu khiladi hai bada
Sooraj ye bujha dega maarega phoonk aisi
Top talaiya, peepal chaiya
Har kooche ki aisi taisi”

Ranbir Kapoor keeps setting new bars and is becoming the Bubka of Bollywood He is turning out to be the most versatile amongst his contemporaries and equally shines in a subtle, under-stated movie like Rocket Singh,  screwball comedy like Azab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani or a bad movie like Rockstar with his angry portrayal of rebel-without-a-cause (script’s flaw). He has the difficult task of enacting scenes which inevitably draw comparisons with greats like Chaplin and Raj Kapoor (even the pants are only up to the hem of the socks in some scenes), but more than holds his own. BTW, did you notice how uncannily he looks like Abhishek Bacchachan from Guru with mustache (both characters situated in Bengal in the same period)

Shruti gets torn between love and a comfortable life and has to keep making harsh decisions. She asks for one more ticket after getting handed over first ticket and director subtly provides the clue to dilemma in her heart. Then, she gives Barfi just one ticket and doesn’t entrain herself till the very last moment. In the last scenes, when Jhilmil shouts Barfi and Barfi is carrying on dejectedly oblivious of her shouts, you can notice the drama going on in Shruti’s divided heart reflected in her face as she is deciding whether to tell or carry on. Many a times we know that we want A and still go on and do B and perhaps that is what makes us humans.

After Yami Gautam in Vicky Donor, Ileana D’ Cruz plays the role of a Bengali girl and wife better than many of the actual bong girls in Bollywood.

Romance between Barfi and Shruti is developed in the foreground with Main Kya Karoon song forming the background. Main Kya Karoo song is sung by Nikhil Paul George and Swanand Kirkire pens it with beautiful lines like Is pe toh dhun chadhi Hai pyaar ki Na jane Gum hai kahan Baton mein hai pada Bekar ki Ulti yeh baat hai Aise halaat hai Galti kare yeh Main bharu Uf dil ka main kya karoon Main kya karoon..Is dil ka kya karoon Main kya karoon.

Jhilmil is autistic and has difficulty communicating. But Barfi finds it is only she among his friends who doesn’t flinch during his “dare”. She is insecure of losing Barfi to Shruti and clutches to his shirt in the train or puts an outright challenge to Shruti to come closer in the last scenes with her hand around Barfi. Initially Barfi isn’t in love with her. He likes her and was just making sure that she gets taken care of well. He leaves her with Maasi till she comes following the bus.

Priyanka Chopra is strictly ok. Don’t ask me why because I don’t really know. May be the same thing that Rani Mukherjee’s performance was good in Black but not out-of-this-world.

Anurag Basu is in command of his material, both as writer and director. He adds many deceptive directorial touches (check out Main Kya Karoo video at 0:47s), almost as if he is feinting with viewer’s mind dodging its next move. Except for Kites, he has been mostly good from the usual low standards of Bollywood. (Though I wouldn’t be the first to testify in his favor if charges of derivative film making and outright plagiarism are leveled against him). As the writer, he must be applauded to write a great love story meandering in mystery genre, in which the fact that some protagonists suffer from disabilities becomes just a footnote. The conflict of this story is not the dangerous albeit box-office friendly core of TZP, Black “in spite of their unfortunate condition, will they achieve that elusive dream  – painting or graduating -  which will redeem them?”. (What happens if they don’t? Do they become less of a human?)

Lastly, it is refreshing to see that filmmakers are discovering cities other than Mumbai. There have been many in recent years capturing Delhi. Kolkata and Bengal, with Parineeta, Kahani, Vicky Donor, are getting their due share now. Watching Chhau is a good sign that at least some directors are moving beyond just using the conventional tropes (Howrah Bridge, India Gate et al) to geographically situate a movie.

Gangs of Wasseypur music released recently and I have been hearing it almost on a loop. Gangs of Wasseypur may become the magnum opus of Anurag kashyap.  It shows that he has the guts as well as the gumption to pull off the music which suits the grand vision of Gangs of Wasseypur…revenge drama covering three generations.. powerful actors Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui (who played nasty inspector Khan in Kahaani), Richa Chadda (check the video from Oye Lucky Lucky Oye below in which she catches the body language, mannerisms, lingo and accent of a Delhi girl  to perfection when saying ”Touch Ho Gayi Main, By God” and “Main Tujhe Hoat Nahin Lagti” in an attempt to seduce Abhay Deol)

Sneha Khanwalkar is a dynamite of talent..Her choice of singers in Gangs of Wasseypur is impeccable (Listen to Hindi singers in Hunter song)..Varun Grover as a lyricist stamps his mark on the whole album with his authentic, precise, often unusual but seldom incongruous choice of words..

O Womaniya is a delightful song sung by Rekhaa Jha and Khushboo Raaj..It has its origins from the culture of wedding songs in Mithila and other parts of Bihar where ladies sing suggestive or abusive songs teasing brides/grooms..it is in the same category as “Saas Gaari Deve” from Delhi 6..Only it goes a little further in terms of saying what many a times remains unsaid..”Bole ka babuna, chal jahiyo Patna; Patna bahane woh chahe hai Satna“…pronouncing “O Womaniya” as “O Omaniya” is fresh and one more proof of how much research must have been done to create the rooted feel of songs ..This may be the first time I have heard the word “Kaniya” (Bahu/bride/daughter-in-law) in Hindi songs..With Gangs of Wassepur set in Bihar/Jharkhand and Richa Chadda, playing a role which ages from 16 years to 60 years, there may be lot of wedding occasions which may cry for this type of song to create the feel of the area.

“Jiyo ho Bihar ke Lala” is the signature song of Gangs of Wasseypur..

It looks almost paradoxical that for this movie which is all about dhishoom dhishoom, knives and guns, singer should urge the Bihar Ke Lala to “Tanin Taan Khinch Ke Tansen Kahlawe ho Bhaiya“.. basically urging him to sing, dance and create a maahoul…And when I heard “Tani auka bauka teen tadoka, tani chandan maati chauka kaathi” in this song, touch ho gaye hum by God BTW, It is sung by Manoj Tiwari.

Hunter song may easily win the award of double meaning song of last two decades… I mean after the spate of such songs initiated by Choli song in Khalnayak in early nineties, I really don’t recall such song in commercial movies. But this song has the potential to become the next Emosional Atyachar. Reportedly for the Hunter song, Sneha Khanwalkar  traveled to Trinidad-Tobago to find the authentic Chutney Music which is a heady concoction of Bihari and Carribean music (with its roots in migrant Bihar labourers)…Rajneesh, Shyamoo and Munna pitch in for Hindi part of songs and what a contrast it creates with calypso style singing of Vedesh Sookoo! (who incidentally also pens the predominant English part of song)..Check out for “Hai Bahut Bhokali” “Heyllo” “Phamous” “Bebas” “Hum hain sikaari”. If you are planning to listen to just one song this year, I think this may be that..You don’t believe me! check its cool trailer below.

Ae Jawano is a peculiar song. I just can’t figure out in which situation in Gangs of Wasseypur, it would serve as the backdrop. It starts with a public address system voice used in large gatherings. In a very thick Bihari accent, lead singer of Ranjeet Baal Party (Gaya) (I am not kidding! they indeed are the singers ) recites philosophy of life encapsulated in the catchy couplets and pithy cliches found behind many rickshaws or trucks in North India. ”Ae jawano! garibi tod deti hai jo rishtey khaas hote hain…Aur paraye apne hote hain, jab paise paas hote hain” “Har yaar wafaadar nahin hota, har pathhar chamakdar nahin hota! na jaane bun mein kitne phool khile hain, har phool khushboodar nahin hota”. This song fizzes out after the promising start and I didn’t particularly like it.

After Gulal, Piyush Mishra once again displays his metier as a wizard of words in the Ek Bagal song (IMHO, he is a much better actor, lyricist and singer than music director. His music lacks the range..this song is very similar to Gulaal’s dark songs.. It is perhaps understandable given he is not a trained composer)..It has great lines like “Honi ko thenga dikhakar khikhilate jaenge”

Teri Keh Ke Lunga catchphrase may sound vulgar and double meaning even by the permissive standards of this album but as Anurag Kashyap explains in his Rediff interview that in the geographical areas where the movie is situated and takes its inspiration from, it basically means “I will not attack you from behind. I will tell you the date, time and place and then will attack and kill you”. Lyrics of the song “Bicchoo se hoth kat ke, lori jahreeli ga ke, keh ke loonga”. It is sung by Sneha Khanwalkar and Amit Trivedy. Sneha at many places sounds almost like Sunidhi Chauhan. Music is by Piyush Mishra. I din’t find the music very exciting. Even then I can’t stop myself from repeating this song endlessly just because of the verve and vigor infused by Sneha in song. That girl sure needs to take breaks from composing music and get behind microphone more often!

Opening scene from the movie Match Point by Woody Allen

“Christopher “Chris” Wilton: The man who said “I’d rather be lucky than good” saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It’s scary to think so much is out of one’s control. There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net, and for a split second, it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward, and you win. Or maybe it doesn’t, and you lose.“

Last year was an annus mirabilis for me with marriage and admission to IIMK. This year my promise to myself is what Eldo Raine says to his soldiers in Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds,
“We’re gonna be doing one thing and one thing only, kill the Nazis“

In my case, it will be extra-curricular reading.

The number of fiction novels read by me in 2008-09 can be counted on fingers. Most of them were trashes except Wuthering Heights and Surely You Are Joking Mr. Feynman. I need to reduce the number of novels from my “Good But Haven’t Read” list this year.

I’ll keep you updated on the novels I am reading. Current one is Animal Farm

Most of these are from FB status updates, emails I have sent to friends

1.) Someone asked me my birthday but you know, in this era of gender equality, if I can twist that one-liner , I would say “Never ask a man about his age and a woman about her salary”:-)

2.)Finally started cleaning the room…whenever used to be fed up with the room’s bad state in the last 3.5 months here , I used to go for long nap , wishing things would be a little different when I get up…but now have accepted the finality of Newton’s First Law of Motion, “Things at rest remain at rest unless acted upon by external unbalanced force” and NO! mental force doesn’t count

3.)Me – “With a quiz happening daily, I get an empty feeling if I don’t have a quiz after the lunch.It seems the whole purpose of my life is to rush through my lunch at 1:30 PM to revise quiz portions for the 2:30 PM.Will my life lose its meaning after today afternoon with no quizzes in sight?”
Wise,Bearded Sage(tries to look pensive and sound intelligent)-”Ahem,Ahem!! Just wait for the announcement of next quizzes of FM and OM.My son, you’ll find new meaning.And then Mid Term.Next round of quizzes.End Term”
Me-”Baba, this is your Spiritual Consulting fee”

4.) I wrote the following when promo of Rocket Singh came

The most awaited film of the year “Rocket Sing Salesman Of The Year” Shimit Amin’s 3rd film after Ab Tak Chhappan and Chak De India Writer is Jaidep Sahani (lyricist of Chak De and RNBDJ) Ranbeer Kapoor in a Sardar’s role..
fave dialogues from Rocket Singh promo
“Kucch log bade lucky hote hain saale. They get 90%, go to IIT, IIM, AIIMS. lekin Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year un boring(:-)?) bando ke baare mein nahin hai. baakiyon ke baare meinhai. Aapke aur mere baare mein.49.6%, 40.2%, 37% with grace marks..”
“Kyonki life maachis se nahin chalti boss,life heartbeat se chalti hai”
“So film coming up..11 December..Hum bech rahe hain..aap kharid rahe hain”

5.)A joke from my Macro Economics notebook (Credit to Sir) “What is the politically correct term which Economists employ when they want to call someone ‘kanjoos’? His Marginal Propensity to Save (MPS) is higher than others”

6.)2 days back

“Aaajkal tum apna room band kyon rakhte ho?”
“Main exam time mein Open Door Policy follow nahin karta”

7.)Contexual joke KGP 1st year

Miss World competition or something like that was there..and models were getting scores of 9.3, 9.2, 9.8 out of 10 …
“Inka CGPA hai kya yeh”

Following two are from marriage invitation emails

8.)Belying all my hopes of preserving the bachelorhood status till the third decade of my life and refuting my doubts about whether any girl would agree to spend the rest of her life with me, this girl has done the unthinkable. She has actually agreed to marry me. NO NO ! I didn’t have to hold the gun to her head to elicit an aye from her (though , between you and me, I was prepared for that eventuality too , you know, just in case )

9.)The only FDA-approved remedy for that pain which you feel when you skip one of your friend’s wedding is to actually attend it.
Attendance is compulsory.
Genuine excuses of absence like attending some other friend’s wedding at a temporally proximate but geographically distant coordinate will be considered on a case by case basis.

On slowdown/recession, from one of my email

10.)I thought this slowdown has not touched my company until they started giving us bananas instead of apples in the morning canteen