Delhi -6 ... Hmmm

Well I am not from Delhi 6. I am from Delhi 1. New Delhi. But I love all of Delhi just as much. So as we returned from the movie and as the guys in the front of the car were discussing if a certain character should have been brought back from the dead or not, my thoughts were on something else. This film is not the Ode to Delhi I was expecting it would be. Its not about the magic of Delhi, that city of seven cities. Its about people. How superstitious and narrow minded people can become. Dilli dilwalon ki? I don't see that here. Its also not about Rakesh Om Prakash's early years as the early rumors going around had you believe. Its about the Monkey Man. Its about people and how they react when prodded with external stimuli, in this case the homo nigerous or as they call it "Kala Bandar". I had an idea for a movie in which the residents of an apartment go crazy with suspicion and doubt and turn on each,when they chance upon a mysterious writing(in blood) on a wall. That is the second half , almost.It could have been set anywhere. Its a character study. I guess I was put off by a lot of these elements. Still, its a good movie.But people going in expecting to be bowled over RDB style, beware. Rakesh just pulled a Jackie Brown.
I loved the songs, and the picturisation of Dil gira Dafatan is amaaazing. Its a dream sequence of Delhi taking over Times Square and its just shot so well. It looks so real with CNG autos and cycle rickshas plying through 42nd street.Except for one song, none are lip synced and I don't know if it was just my theater, not all songs from the soundtrack were even in the movie.Rishi Kapoor was wonderful in Luck by Chance and here too he is lovely.Loved the Ram Lila sequence. Meanwhile,like Kushwant Singh's fantastic novel -"Delhi- a Novel",I am still waiting for that definitive movie about Delhi.All of it, not zip code prejudiced.

Ahl-e-jauhar ko watan mein rahne deta gar falak,
Laal kyon is rung se aataa Badakhshaan chhor kar,
In dinon garche Dakan mein hai bari qadar-e-sakhun,
Kaun jaane Zauq par Dilli ki galiyan chhor kar

Agrasen Ki baawli

Who would have guessed that just 50 m from hailey road lies a historic wonder piece.A well that once quenched the thirst of many a travellers.A bath frequented by many a nobles.The place is Agrasen ki baawli and its hidden smack in the middle of the city.It is a great looking piece of construction with different layers and steps leading down to the main well.As you can see in the pic its quite steep.this is where "Bol na halke halke" from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom was shot.Its also featured in Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi.Well I and Arun made a little trip to this place this friday.I also saw the deepest well ever.Its situated rt at its backside.Though it is great looking, The place reeks of Guano.Bat poo ie.There are probably hundreds of bats hanging at the end of those steps.And there are so many pigeons,that its bird shit central.And there are lots of feathers,everywhere.I wonder how they shot here.The ASI could do well to maintain this place.It could turn out to be quite the tourist attraction.

A Grand Reunion

I noticed something recently,All i do is describe events.i never comment,or state my opinion.

We had a reunion of sorts at our school today.I must say it went really well.Though not everyone we expected ,turned up the turnout was real good.Ok rollcall... Me,sam,arun,vipul,harpal,gireesh,karthik,pinky,sid b,udit,sachit,oinku
those who couldnt make it:Ab roy,Anang,Kunal,Soumen,piyush,prateek,satty,gaurav

We gathered first one by one at mammaji's house, which is our regular meeting place.we chatted for a good hour or more.It was amazing how everyone talked like it was a regular day in school.Old incidents flowed out like a river. And several interesting college occurrences were also spat out. We hadn't decided anything,so we started off by playing basketball, while another group splintered to play cricket.after a grueling sweat inducing session of BBall and cricket ,with hunger calling out to us, we headed out to galeena, our fav central delhi haunt.There over rounds of Butter and kadhai chicken ( i donno what the veggies ate) we talked and talked and talked.Everyone had so much to say.so much to describe.So much catching up was to be done.Then we decided to head out to barista but it us a bloody hour to come to the decision ,by which some guys had to head home.So the rest of us packed into pinku's car and headed back to school.The weather was fine, though dark clouds loomed and while we were sitting near the bball court, it started to rain.We headed indoors and had another good hour of chatting.after which everyone decided it was time to head home.

many of us would be seeing each other for the last time.Probably.Sam's going to Pune tomorrow.pinky's off to the US on Aug 5.Pinku too is headed to Gujarat.Some may be in Delhi. But honestly how often do we meet?I just hope we keep having these reunions yearly if possible.Though not everyone is gonna live in Delhi.I certainly had a great time, and I am not just speaking about the food.It was a much needed meeting, and I am glad it took place.Everyone left with renewed vigour and revivified friendship.

My unlucky week..

I remember when i lived in Kerala House , I was told that seeing a single mynah is unlucky and seeing two together is lucky.At the time I thought it was a load of bull,but recent happenings suggest otherwise.
On Monday I was supposed to join for yoga classes and give the learner's driving test.I saw a mynah when i went for a walk with my parents rt in the morning.that was when i was reminded of this belief.I couldn't go to for the driving test and i wasted a lot of time at the MDNIY, though I did join for yoga.
On Tuesday i had to wake up at 5:45 to go for yoga.Since there was no direct bus, i had to walk a good kilometre and more and that was when i saw the mynah.The class was Ok, I was surprised to find Gireesh( he was in my school) there.It was decided I would go for the driving test today,but by the time I got there it was 11 am.No probs I thought , since on the website they said they were open till 4:30.But I had to take a couple of photocopies, which I figured would be very ner to the office.. but none were in sight.I had to again walk in the sweltering sun to finally find a photocopy machine and get a auto back only to be told that the test were only till 1230(It was 1:00)Major bummer.Ok, I can come again the next day, I thought.They also told me to get the copies attested.
On wedneday,again i had to wake up at 5:45 to go for yoga and this time I got on two buses to get there.(Suddenly I noticed there was a dearth of buses in Delhi.It was late realized that was because of 600 blueline buses getting their licences cancelled)Again I saw the mynah. actually 4 times.It was around 11 when iset off from home.I had forgotten to get the copies attested, I thought since i am going to a govt office, i could get it attested there.But no one was willing.I scouted about 7 govt offices ion the region but no one agreed.Then i was told there was a place where they attest these copies for you,for a charge.It turned out to be the place I took the copies from in the first place.However.They only notarized, i needed to get it attested.Only some one who know you could attest it for yu.It was 1245.time to go home.I got it atested by my father.
On Thursday I got up early to stand in queue for getting a tatkal passport issued, since my other one was going to expire.We reached there at 7:30 and were sitting there for a 2 hrs before i got the to the counter.But , again i had goofed up.I needed to fill up form 1 not form 2.however my father knew a guy there, he told me to go to his room, where he handed me form no 1.i filled it up and again stood in the queue,but when i reached the counter i was told i needed Annexure I.Since that was the first time i was hearing of Annexure, i knew it was time to head home.( its something you get written on a 10 rupee stamp paper).
Tomorrow, i have to go for yoga nd then to the regional transport office.and if I see a mynah on the road, i swaer I am gonna have it for dinner.

MDNIY:Morarji Desai National Institute for Yoga

Mutant Space Conductors from hell....

Beware!! its their day.their night.They have taken over!! Soon you too will be overwhelmed...

ok.. that was a super lame attempt at trying to be like a b grade horror flick..What i wanted to write about was the ultra rude conducters you come across in the buses of delhi these days.I remember an article in week a couple of months ago that classified delhiites as among the rudest ppl in India.I did not believe that one bit.I was in trivandrum,homesick as hell and no one was gonna tarnish my good memories.But today and yesterday when i had to escort a friend to an interview in noida i came across two of the most vile people i have ever laid eyes on.
Yesterday,on the 355, the guy was unshaven brute of around 27.He talked in the most pedestrian manner, leering at passengers and acting like an all around idiot.He made a guy get up from the conductor seat,a very innocent looking guy who didn't even protest.He then went on to announce his supremacy, by smiling triumphantly around.He also went on to scold a passenger for resting his arm on the window(kitni baar bolu? tera haath koi udaa le jaayega).The meek passenger complied.Ok he was doing his duty but the way he bossed around, i had a good mind to give him a piece of my mind,but i restrained myself.
today ,again on the 355( is the problem with the number?)a conductor made a passenger get up and that too rather rudely.I wanted to stand by the passenger, a ticket entitles you to a seat.its the conductor's courtesy to stand up for a passenger.He argued that he had to shout out through the window.Couldn't he do that through the door??he made a timid passenger get up for a lady,while the ladies' seat was way ahead.But when a poor family of farmers got in he was unconcerned about seating the lady.no concern for the poor ppl eh??He then went on to have a little nap while his asst did all the collecting.This guy too ,made me wanna hurl punches and swears.But again the coward in me prevailed.
The rude conductors seem to be only in the blue lines not in the DTCs.I have seen some very menacing conductors over the years.One guy was so fat he occupied two seats and bellowed at passengers ,promising to come to their homes and collect if they did not buy tickets.But there are also wimps who even accept "Staff hai" from school kids.I believe they should go through some basic etiquette course.Anyone can become a conductor,isn't it??.there is no min qualification.Well ,its time there was some...