Friday, June 26, 2009

India Is Racist, And Happy About It

I am ashamed but there is quite a bit of truth in this statement. Outlook published this article recently. A while back I told someone (and it is not an original observation) that the caste system in India is a form of color based discrimination and they did not accept it. In Sanskrit it is referred to as The Varna system. Varna means color.

My former CEO is an Indian American and his VP is a white American. He would tell us that when the two went to India on business trips, everyone would automatically assume that the VP was the boss!

I am not sure if India will ever stop discriminating on the basis of color. It is so deeply rooted that I am not sure of a lot of the people think of it as discrimination!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Top 10+10 Kishore and Asha - Part II

Here is Part II of Top 10+10 Kishore and Asha. Observe the preponderance of RD Burman in this list (Songs 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19). RD and Asha had a very productive relationship since his first film Teersi Manzil.

10+01) Sharaabi - Intaha Ho Gayi (Video)
This song should be in the previous list, so putting it on top is my way of making amends. Bappi Lahiri can be a good music director when he chooses to not copy pop songs.

10+02) Aankhon Aankhon Mein - Aankhon Aankhon Mein (Video)
Great song but Rakesh Roshan is nuts.
When Rakhee says "Mujko Apni Bahon Mein Sone Do"
His reply is "Shaadi Ho Jaane Do"!

10+03) Seeta Aur Geeta - O Saathi Chal (Video)
Just before the song starts Hema cutely mispronounces the word skate as kates. She plays the role of a uneducated but confident girl.

10+04) Chor Machaye Shor - Le Jayenge Le Jayenge (Video)

10+05) Deevar - Kehdoon Tumhe Ya Chup Rahoon

10+06) Hum Kissi Se Kum Naheen - Hum Ko To Yaara Teri (Video)
I do not know if this girl ever acted in any other movie.

10+07) Jhootha Kahin Ka - Jeevan Ke Har Mor Pe (Video)

10+08) Khel Khel Mein - Ek Mein Aur Ek Tu (Video)
Every song is a hit, but putting Iftekhar in the role of a jealous romeo is absurd.

10+09) Yaadon Ki Baarat - Meri Soni Meri Tamanna (Video)
The only redeeming feature in this movie is Zeenat Aman. The hero's acting is worse than my writing!

10+10) Zakhmee - Jalta Hai Jiya Mera (Video)

The End

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Top 10+10 Kishore and Asha - Part I

After my previous post, my wife requested that I make a similar list with Kishore and Asha. She also added that a Top 10 list would not suffice and she was right. But that is not surprising since duets by Rafi-Lata and Kishore-Asha are more common than the cross pairs, Rafi-Asha and Kishore-Lata.

I was easily able to identify my Top 10, but I found that there were several others that were good and worthy of being mentioned in a list. So I decided to create a list which I titled Top 10+10 to be presented in two parts.

I feel that one of the important aspects of these songs is the absence of quality lyrics. Kishore songs are known for their energy and I think such songs do not lend themselves well to convey deep thoughts. Consequently these songs do not have great lyrics. They are simple and the songs invariably revolve around both the quality of the music and the voices of the singers and their abilities. Poetry and yodeling somehow do not go hand in hand.

This is by no means a put-down of Kishore songs; I personally feel that Kishore songs with pathos in them tend to have better lyrics, not his happy ones, with a few exceptions of course.

So let us jump into the without much ado.

01) Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi - Haal Kaisa Hai Janab Ka (Video)
Are you surprised that Kishore is the actor? I do not think anyone else could have done justice.

02) Baap Re Baap - Piya Piya Piya Mora Jiya Pukare (Video)
There is an interesting story about this song that Asha describes in details on one of her CDs. She made a mistake in one of her lines during recording and you can clearly hear it in the middle. She confesses to Kishore who assures her not to worry. He then informs her that he is the lead actor for that movie and that at the moment when Asha makes the error he would put a hand over the heroine's mouth!! Watch for that in the middle of the song at about the 2:15 minute mark.

03) Dilli Ka Thug - C..A..T.. Cat Mane Billi (Video)
Good spelling tutorial.

04) Paying Guest - O Nigahen Mastana (Video)
Amazing song. Asha sings not a single word, so technically it is not a duet. Nutan is great, but I feel Dev Anand did not do justice on screen.

05) Nau Do Gyarah - Aankhon Mein Kya Jee (Video)
Again the chemistry between Dev Anand and and Kalpana Kartik is clear.

06) Paying Guest - Chhod Do Anchal Zamana Kya (Video)
Nutan was an underrated star from that period. She was probably more famous for her histrionic abilities. She won five Film Fare awards.

07) Baton Baton Mein - Suniye Kahiye (Video)
I wish to make no R-rated comments and I am sure you will agree that Tina Munim is not in this movie for her acting skills. Good thing, since she cannot act if her life depended on it.

08) Budda Mil Gaya - Bhali Bhali Si Ek Surat (Video)
Who is this heroine? You do not know? Neither do I!

09) Humshakal - Hum Tum Gum Sum Raat (Video)
I have always liked Moushmi since I saw her play the role of the ditzy wife as the wife of Sanjeev Kumar in Angoor. A steamy song for its time (India in 1974)

10) Javaani Deevani - Jaane Jaa Dhundtaa Phir Raha (Video)
This song shows RD Burman at his experimental best. He makes Kishore sing at certain times at a very high pitch and Asha down a whole octave!

Well which one of your favorites did I miss?

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Top 10 - Rafi and Asha

This article was revised on 1-16-2011. See details of the changes at the end.

Ahmed, a friend of mine says on Facebook that this song makes him want to fall in love all over again. His comments reminded me of a resolution I had made - to come up with my Top 10 list of Rafi-Asha Duets. Naturally this is just my opinion and I am sure I have missed a few that could reasonably make the cut, but somehow coming up with a Top -12 or Top-17 did not sound appealing. I have tried to find both audio and video links for all the movies and songs and I have verified that all the links work. Hope you like them too.

01) Hum Dono - Abhi Na Jao Chod Kar (Video)
-- If I have to list only one song, this song would be IT, a song that would make you fall in love again. So married folks stay away from this song!

02) Kala Pani - Accha Ji Mein Haari Chalo (Video)
-- What a wonderful way to say sorry! Madhubala is sooooo ..... I am at a loss for words

03) Kashmir Ki Kali - Deevana Hua Baadal (Video)
-- Barson Se Khizan Ka Mausam tha
-- Veeraan Badi Duniyan thi meri
-- Haathon Mein tera aanchal, aaya Ke Bahaar Aayi

What a wonderful sentiment!

04) Bambai Ka Babu - Deevana Mastana (Video)
-- A very happy song, very good music. Otherwise no deep meaning.

05) Ek Musafir Ek Hasina - Aap Yunhi Agar Milte Rahe (Video)
-- Aap Yunhi Agar Hamse Milte Rahe, Dekhiye Ek Din Pyaar Ho Jayega

Well I am sure you would not be surprised when I tell you that Sadhana was my first crush!

06) Teesri Manzil - Aaja Aaja Mein Hu Pyaar Tera (Video)
-- Shammi is truly nuts. There is a scene in the middle of the song when Shammi to comes the end of his stanza and Asha Parekh who is in the background throws her jacket over the chair and twirls her way into the foreground with Shammi moving into the background. This is an unusually long shot for a song and really well done.

07) Kashmir Ki Kali - Ishaaron Ishharon mein (Video)
-- Bahaaron Ko Bhi Naaz Jis Phool Par Tha, Wohi Phool Hamne Chuna Gulistan Se.

08) Nau Do Gyarah - Aaja Panchhi Akela Hai (Video)
-- The chemistry between Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik, spouses in real life not just reel life, is palpable. I am not an expert in Hindi, but I wonder if this movie spawned the phrase "Nau Do Gyarah Hona" which means to run away!

09) Ek Musafir Ek Hasina - Bahut Shukriya Badi Meharbani (Video)
Joy Mukherji is lucky to have so many amazing songs. As an actor, well the less said the better.

10) Hum Kissi Se Kum Nahin - Hai Agar Dushman Zamana (Video)
About 5 years ago, they had a three violin Carnatic concert at the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Maryland. In the middle of a long Ragam Tanam Pallavi, one of the violinist, smiled at the other and played this song. No jokes. I asked her at the end why she did this and; she explained that this song is based on the raaga Valaji. She is from Bombay and grew up listening to Hindi film songs and tried something different. Also I had to do justice by putting Zeenie baby back in after removing "Chura Liya Hai" from my original list.

What do you think?

Changes made 1-16-2011

I am deleting "Chura liya hai" and "Aaye Hai Door Se" from this list

09) Yaadon Ki Baarat - Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko (Video)
-- Zeenie Baby, Wow! It took 25 more years before the rest of the Indian Film heroines had a figure like that! I am sorry I had to delegate this song so far down the list. I definitely am partial to the classical period of Hindi Film Music if I may refer to 1950s and 1960s in that manner.

10) Tumsa Nahin Dekha - Aaye Hai Door Se (Video)
-- I just like this song, nothing particularly quotable about this song

Saturday, June 20, 2009

My Weight Problem

Long ago, I wrote about my my wife's weight problem. She really does not have a weight problem. No, I am not in denial. She just thinks she has one. Even now she looks just the way she did when I first met her. I am sorry, I did not phrase that well. I mean, she now looks prettier, if possible. Phew, I think I got over that land mine well. As far as weight goes, she has maintained her trimness over the past 20 years, that include two pregnancies, and a Madrasi crowd around us that focuses exclusively on food during any get together!

I do not have a weight problem either. No, I am not in denial again. Let me explain.

First of all, if you twist my arm I would admit that I could lose a few grams. Unlike my wife I have gained a lot of weight in the two decade since I left the shores of India, at least the shores of Yamuna. Good thing I did too. I mean, good thing I left the shores of Yamuna. It was and still remains now one of the most polluted rivers in the world. In the intervening years, depending on how you do the math, I have gained anywhere from 28% to 40% in weight since I came to this country!

It looks bad, but that is not the complete story. You see when I came to the US, I was an anemic 132 lbs although I stood nearly 6ft tall. I am told that it made me look like a drug addict! Within three months I discovered the weight room at a Bay Area gym funnily called the Supreme Court and by the end of year I had gained 30 lbs and I stood a very reasonable 165 lbs.

So taking out the one time rapid weight gain, what it boils down to is that I have gained about 1 lb for every year of my marriage. That is not really bad.

The one place where this extra poundage does show up more and more prominently is in the waist line. Even my adoring and admiring wife and daughter have started taking pot shots at the commencement of a protruding abdominal region colloquially known as a pot belly. So I do a Seinfeld. Remember that episode where Seinfeld tells his girl friend that he changes the label on his jeans from a 32 waist to a 31. I do not go that extent. I just confidently tell everyone that I wear a 32 and that I just ate a few minutes ago! No one has so far bent down to verify the number that adorns my Gluteus Maximus muscle!

So although I believe I do not have a weight problem, I would like to one day really fit into that jean with a 32 inch waist hanging in my closet. So I want you to be the witness that I have stated a definite goal to lose weight.

Here it is - by the end of this year I want to go down to a trim 180 lbs. Why such a modest goal?

Well I am a man of few words and fewer actions. I am very retiring when it comes to things that require too much effort on my part. In short you could say that modesty in action is my middle phrase!

Geek alert - If you chose my initial weight as the reference then the gain is 40%. Whereas it is only 28% if my current weight is the reference.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Pittsburgh - My Path to Salvation

We, my wife and I, went to graduate school at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and after my wife got done with her doctorate, we moved to the suburbs. My sister-in-law and her family on the other lived in Maryland. Every other year we would drive late Friday evening and either travel non-stop to Maryland or take a break somewhere in the middle. That place was the Steel City, Pittsburgh.

For Indians and more specifically, Hindus, this city is quite important. The best known Venkateswara temple out side of Tirupati is in Pittsburgh. We have seen this temple grow from a small temple to one where it is now hard to find admission for aarti.

A decade ago we moved to the Maryland area, but we still have friends in Michigan. One such couple is Pria and Ravi. Along with Jeshmi/Krishna and Jyothi/Ram, they are so important in our lives that we talk to them 2-3 times a week and try to meet them at least 2 times a year. Think about the magnitude of this commitment; we talk to them more often than with our parents; we see them more often than we see our parents or my sister and her family. Let us just say, Ravi and Pria are family.

When we were newly married we traveled light and had little to worry. With two kids it is no longer easy to travel long distance. So now Pittsburgh has assumed an even greater importance in our lives. From being a pit stop in our travels, Pittsburgh is the place each family now drives to. It is 5 hours by road for Ravi/Pria and a mere 4 hours for us. We start early Saturday and drive to Pittsburgh, check in to a motel by afternoon. We then go to the temple and here is the best part. The temple serves some of the best food at amazingly low prices. We spend 4 hours in the temple and the kids have a blast since there is a lot of space outside where they can play. We check out Sunday morning go back to the temple and after an early lunch drive back to our respective cities. Now here is the interesting thing; none of us are very religious and we do not particularly care whether we go to temples or not.

My parents on the other hand are staunch Vaishnavites and a trip to the US is not complete without a trip to Pittsburgh. Although they also know my opinions well, they have not given up hope. Even if I keep going to the temple not to worship the Lord but for secular reasons, it is OK. In their minds his blessings are still with me whatever my motivations and one day I will understand the Lord's eminence and grace.

They hope that my travels to Pittsburgh will somehow put me on the road to salvation!

Where Red Wings are concerned - The Cup is always Half Empty

As I told you earlier, I am a huge Red Wings fan. Unfortunately I do not enjoy watching them play. Unlike true fans of the game, I do not enjoy the triple overtime 1-0, 2-1 3-2 victories or worse 1 goal losses. My heart takes permanent residence in my mouth and I turn into a cannibal; I chew my fingers to the bone!!

With so many victories; and by golly the Wings have been phenomenally successful by almost every measure of success; you would think I have so many happy memories to choose from. Although I remember all the victories, I remember even more vividly the times Wings blew a one goal lead with less than 2-3 minutes left in the game and the subsequent heart wrenching overtime loss. I have been known to consider a 4 goal lead, as the third period winds down, to be less than ideal! The only games I consider fun or worth watching are blow out Wings victory.

In close games, I tense up and I get so caught up that I lose my temper and curse which of course makes my wife cringe and get mad at me for using inappropriate language in front of children.

Besides the stress of watching my team play, I am one of those steeped in sports superstitions (read this, this and this for a few examples). I have this irrational feeling that when I watch the Wings always manage lose the game. Not only that, I am also a believer in conspiracy theories; at least those that affect the Wings. It is of course a known fact to all Wings fan that the NHL and the umpires do not like the Wings and do not want them to win!! I have seen so many games when it looked like the Wings would eke out a victory, when the umpire would call a penalty and allow the opposition to tie the game and change the momentum of the game.

Having said all this, I am going to make an admission that would shock you. I think that the Pittsburgh Penguins are the better team in this year's Stanley Cup Finals. In both the games played so far they they out shot the Wings, had better scoring chances, and in general seemed to be doing all the little things that the Wings were known for. Usually I believe my teams does not get the breaks; but in the first two games of this years of Stanley Cup finals I feel that it is the Penguins that do not have Lady Luck on their side. I personally saw at least 3 times the puck hitting the posts. Yet it was the Wings that won both games.

But, I do not feel too bad!

So if the Wings win 2 more games and win the Cup, remind me to buy you a beer.