Get Well Soon!

He is charming He's joyful!!
Everyone loves him by virtue.
When he speaks, people listen
Not everyone possesses the knowledge to question!

Now in his dearth,
Collectively we scratch our head.
People be patient,
In time his absence shall pay back.

A blush on his face shall not satisfy,
We want him back with a big smile.

The dark office makes us sad,
We are charged-up to welcome him back.
Hope he returns quickly for everyone's joy,
Cello-Pack misses him, Big time!!

In awe of Idol!!

It's been two years I came to US, and gradually have lost track of any Hindi serials currently telecast on Indian channels. (I don't have Indian channels on my cable network!)

Two years back TVS SA RA GA MA (now with an additional PA at the end) and Channel V Popstar were the two famous singing competition shows. Lately there is a phenomenal craze for Indian Idol-2 show (Indian version of the famous American Idol).

Yesterday while browsing through my usual web-sites, I found the latest episode of Indian Idol-2 on desivideos ( www.desivideos.net). Casually I clicked the link and started watching it.

Guys, I should say the show is really awesome, it gradually grew on me !! By the end of the show I felt, I should also vote from here, unfortunately I was too late!!!

I really thank the person who added to the world of video piracy, by uploading the episode. I am eagerly awaiting for the next episode to find out who is selected in the final two!!.

If you guys get time, then you should also watch Indian Idol-2 , its cool to watch the participants performing and above all the master of copy-cat "Anu Malik" trying to act like Simon of American Idol!!

http://desivideos.net/2006/04/indian-idol-april-3rd-episode-misc.html

Filmi ho to filmi raho!!

A couple of days back I read Aamir Khan’s interview. Lately Aamir had stopped giving interviews, and he was trying to justify himself in this interview.

According to Aamir, he had lost faith in Indian media, as he was always mis-quoted and they were trying to intrude his privacy. He even raised allegations against Times of India (TOI) publishing his photographs without his permission, and another news channel aired his audio interview, which he never gave! Now these all looks very absurd to me. Publishing articles without permission can happen, but airing some celebrity’s voice without him being interviewed seems a bit fishy!! ( I know sound can be altered!! But news channel will not take such big risks!!).

Aamir Khan has always tried to portray himself different from the league, so called Tom Hanks of Indian Cinema. I personally like his movies but clearly he is no Tom Hanks.

About his shying away from media, I believe its more of a career move than anything else. Aamir always tries to intrude into his director’s work and later when the film is a success, he is credited in some way or another. Now with Mangal Panday a disaster, Aamir should be considered responsible for its failure, which the media did. With no answers to defend himself, he opted for silence. Then came Rang De Basanti where he gave a power-packed performance. But in RDB Aamir’s character was equal and not above the rest of the actors. It made sense for him not to come out with blazing guns, else the movie could have been over-hyped and people might be disappointment with his less important role.
To me his not giving interview was a strategic career move than any other absurd reason given by him.

Coming back to the current interview he gave. He has openly criticized TOI and favored The Hindu and Indian Express. That’s publicity for the rest of the newspapers. It's well-known Aamir does not attend Filmfare Awards (which belong to TOI) and now when no one cares weather he attends them or not, these fresh allegations are aired!

Aamir is a public figure and with fame comes paparazzi. One needs to accept it and work along with it. Amitabh Bachchan is a bigger star yet he has never complained about media, Why? Does Amitabh not want a personal life? Sure he does, but he accepts his professions pros and cons and lives with them. There is no need to complain about privacy. All film stars know from the beginning of their career, that their life shall be closely monitored.

To summarize, Aamir is an excellent actor but his current stand of trying to create a saintly image is totally absurd. To me he is one of the Three Khan’s of Bollywood, one of the finest actor of Indian cinema, but by no means he is different from the rest of the league!

Fanaa

He saw her at the stairs, standing timid and confused,
The stripes turtle neck added to her looks.
How could he know, she will change him in time,
He considered her just another girl passing by.

But as destiny had its call, they met again,
Sat for a brief chat and things were never the same.
Suddenly he realized, she's the one,
Not knowing what she was thinking in return.

Time passed by often they met,
Trying to know each other, those were brief yet sensible chats.
Hopes started to built, peers pushed him from behind,
How could he know, the future ahead of time.

Twice in a row the phone rang,
Thing became clear, it was not him but his friend.
Earth shattered; he had the shock of his life,
Not able to react, he wished he could cry.

But strong character was he, regained his sense,
Decided, if not him, he shall help.
As always helping others was what he liked,
Here he was standing with the chance of his life.

As always destiny had a bigger surprise,
Things didn't work for her either and she lost her smile.
How hard did he tried to fix her life,
Facts are facts which one needs to accept as they come by.

Now she was alone looking for a friend,
Who better could have hugged her than a past admirer and a friend's friend!

With tender and sweet thoughts he tried to console,
Trying to explain world is beautiful be brave and bold!
Considering her situation he understood she needed time,
His only request was don't be disheartened; with winter passing, again sun shall shine!

Home calling was his duty and he had to leave her alone,
Those were the best times when she found a new mentor.
Coming back he saw the change in her eyes,
Happy for her new avatar he let time drift by.

Then came a shocker, which I shall not describe,
Friend turned stabber, and she believed he lead the crime.
How I wish, she could have understood,
He was under a vow what else could he do?

As truth prevailed, trust was broken,
Slowly she drifted away leaving him alone in this world.
Yet they were friends, but things were not the same,
Suddenly he found himself in her awe again!

Firmly believing, she will not change,
This time he chose not to reveal his thoughts like a pouring rain.
But things had to explode, so did they
As expected once again she ran away!

That was an end to the story of his life,
As asked by her, he killed himself inside his mind.
Time passed by and still they meet around like minds,
He's the only person she never hated in the group of five.

Now the times are stable and they make fun of those times,
She is busy chasing her dreams like a furious knight!
I wish someday, she would stop visiting him in his dreams,
The only regret he has, why didn't destiny choose her for him.

Hey my fellow readers, don't weep to the sorrowful end,
As hope is his best friend and time his only enemy!


-Purvin

Indian Retail

Mukesh Ambani (Chairman of Reliance Industries-India) is planning to plunge into the booming Indian retail market. As always, Reliance thinks big and this time is no different. From the news sources it seems Reliance is planning a retail chain, similar to Wal-Mart; Single destination for all daily and house-hold needs.

Indian retail market is typically made-up of small individual shops selling generic products. An average Indian consumer has to visit different shops to satisfy all their needs. With Reliance entering retail market, this might change!!

I am personally not against growth of any sort of business. But I do believe there’s a distinct fun in visiting small shops for one or two products and then move on to another store. Also the surprise element of what’s in that store shall always remain. Sometimes it’s not only a decision of what you want to buy, but also a decision of, from where to buy? Then arises the question of bargaining. Indian consumers (especially mid-age women) do not feel satisfied with there shopping until they pay less then the quoted price!! I think bargaining (which shall never happen in retail-chains) gives a personal satisfaction over the prescribed discounts offered in retail chains.

I am not against Wal-Mart style shopping; which definitely saves time and energy. But to me that is too monotones. Each time you visit Wal-Mart you know exactly which aisle you need to look, and sometimes the rack for a product is also know to you. They do have different varieties for each product, yet the scope of choice is not the same as you will get in a small store. Lastly the personal touch of individual store is always missing in retail chains.

I feel shopping in India is a cheerful and delightful activity; it’s an outing for a family. Where as shopping in Wal-Mart seems more like a necessity.