From Jaipur To Lucknow

Bikaner To Jodhpur

From Jaipur To Bikaner

From Jodhpur To Jaisalmer

From Jaisalmer To Mount Abu

Saddest Song - Ab Ke baras bhej bhaiya ko babul - Bandini

Long time back in a program Asha Bhonsle told us how she recorded this song.Initially, Asha Bhonsle could not bring the depth of sadness in her voice as required for the song. S. D. Burman knowingly asked her if she doesn't remember her brother. This brought tears to her eyes as the relations between the two were strained which Dada knew. After that the song was recorded in one take,then when she sang this song it was filled with all melancholy,sadness and yearnings.Its such a well written song that every time you hear it you will cry,Asha's voice evoking such pathos in your heart that your eyes wells with tears.

"1963 film Bandini’s song Ab Ke Baras Bhej Bhaiya Ko Babul is perhaps the best example of Asha’s superb rendition of sentimental songs. It is also a painful reminder of a dark chapter in her checkered personal life.

 

At the age of fourteen, Asha ran away from her family to marry a neighboring rationing inspector. Those were conservative times and her family – the redoubtable Mangeshkar family- led by her strict and stoic mother Maai was so shocked and angered by this impetuous action that they totally cut off the relations with this errant girl.

 

This family stand-off lasted more than a decade. The marriage too turned sour and Asha was practically left on her own, fending for survival. Singing was the only vocation and she pursued that with fervour, singing any song that came her way. Composers like O.P.Nayyar and Sachin Dev Burman were among the first ones to recognize her vocal ability and as the ‘50s came to their end, Asha had slowly become a top notch singer capable of challenging the might of anyone.

 

When S.D.Burman composed this touching folksy tune for Shailendra’s heart-rending lyrics portraying emotions of a married young woman, remembering the long-lost father’s loving place and pining for her brother to come and fetch her home, Asha wasn’t able to do justice to the song in the initial rehearsals. Then to get her into the mental frame of the song, Sachinda suggested her to remember her own brother, her own family. As the singer broke down remembering her lost family, Sachinda ordered the take for the song. It has become an immortal piece of emotional and expressive singing.

 

Listen how the sense of loss of innocent childhood experienced by the young bride comes through the metaphoric lyrics – Bairan Jawaani Ne Chheene Khilone Aur Meri Gudiya Churayi and her heart-breaking realization of becoming a stranger to her own family after the marriage comes forth in the next line -Babul Thii Main Tere Naazon Ki Paali Phir Kyun Huyi Main Parayi. Asha is simply brilliant in this rendition and no doubt, telling her own story through those words.

 

Soon afterwards, Asha’s family reconciled with her, bringing the estranged siblings together after years. Four decades have passed since that momentous recording, still every time one listens to that song it brings a lump in the throat with its heartfelt emotions. It is a memorable song from a memorable artist- an artist for all seasons. "

http://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/down-melody-lane/abke-baras-bhej-bhaiya-ko-babul.html

Na Jane Kyon Main Bekaraar - Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka (1989)

Recently I came upon this song and realized how I loved this song when I first heard it 25 years back.My father had brought the cassette of Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka.All songs were nice but I loved this song most for it was absolutely romantic with breezy youthful music and sung so well by Udit Narayan and Anuradha Paudwal.I used to hum it all the time,imagine not hearing it for so long.

Udit Narayan has a voice different from we usually hear for he was younger then,its less soft and more masculine.Song is much better than the visuals we see,I would rather hear the song and imagine,then watch the video.

This album and TV movie was the first major success of Gulshan Kumar who died so tragically.Anuradha Paudwal was in every song of T-series and in duets her male counterparts changed.Gulshan Kumar established song bank in T-series where producers or directors may come and choose the song of their choice for their movie.

Saiyan Jhoothon Ka Bada Sartaaj Nikla - cult song from Do Aankhen Barah Hath

I heard this song after more than 25 years yesterday and was just blown away by it,the lovely Ektaara music,Lata singing it so differently and the funny witty lyrics leaves indelible impression and you remember it hum it.I remember when I was just a kid this movie came on Doordarshan and we were all so influenced by it.Our adults kept talking about the movie and its songs and actors.But we kids were influenced by this funny lady with basket on her head,ektaara in her handa and a drummer following her.I kept singing the song for days as used to sing what ever songs I took fancy to.Today I saw the song on youtube and found song as visually appealing as it was when I heard it.

Shocked by details of Robin William's suicide

In my teen years Mrs Doubtfire came and everybody was talking about it and it topped the box-office charts.Though I never liked Mork & Mindy.But he was a major influence on children of 1990s,his work in films and animation movies brought joy to millions of kids worldwide.I fail to understand how Robin became this crazy and hurt himself first with a knife cutting his wrists then hanging himself with his belt.Why he lost reason and hurt himself in a way we would not like even others to hurt us.Its inexplicable,when I read about it I could hardly hold back my tears of anguish,but now I just feel angry with him.How he let himself sunk in to such darkness,how he with his immense knowledge and experience not fight out and be a winner.After our dark phases nice times too come,as I heard in a recent trailer of a movie,we have downs only because we can bounce back up.Only thing I am thankful about now is that he didn't went hurting others,why mental sickness in US has reach such uncontrollable proportions is a major question to answer.


http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/robin-williams-animated-legacy-20140812Genie (in Disney's 1992 Aladdin) was a tour-de-force vocal performance by Williams (and visually by animator Eric Goldberg) but it was an important landmark in two ways. First, it was the first to break the structured script-driven vocal performance (compare it to Williams earlier recorded V.O. in Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest, also from 1992). Allowed to break free and improvise upon the written dialogue, Williams created a character that will live forever - and be forever tied to his unique genius.

Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer to me seemed like "The most Artistic city of Rajasthan" for almost every second house seemed a work of art.Bricks are hardly used for stones are easily available.And then in the middle of the city is Jaisalmer fort sitting on a low hill,you know like in Nainital we have a city around the Lake here we have a city around a fort.Plus we have this walled fort area above on the hill which is a small city in itself.It has narrow lanes dotted by many Jain Temples and ancient "Havelis".

I had visited Ambedkar Park in Gomti Nagar Lucknow few months back,seems like Ms Mayawati or the architects took inspiration from Jaisalmer.Those Palatial stone structures would certainly remind you of Jaisalmer,interestingly in Dilwara Temple Mt.Abu you see row of marble elephants just like in many memorials including Ambedkar Park build by Ms Mayawati our ex Chief Minster of Uttar Pradesh.

Beyond the fort are the lanes housing multitude of shops selling things for you to take home.This market is so much like Aminabad in Lucknow.Down the main street adjacent to the hill is a vegetable market too and there are some fruit vendors in front of it.For the first time I tasted raw dates.

There are several good Restaurants,Desert Safari Tourism,Camel Leather goods and metal and stone works.Behind Neeraj Hotel is the Bus stand and in front of it is a Temple.People are nice and friendly and you see a lot of Europeans wandering the labyrinthine streets care-freely even in July when sometimes its hot and humid while other-times it may get cloudy cool and breezy.

My guide,my Auto driver Prakash was really nice and informative allowed me to take as much time I wanted to wander around and take snaps and videos.When inside fort we kept in contact by mobile phone.He may be around 20,really smart with nice colorful ear-rings like flower petals.In Rajasthan its very common for men to wear some sort of ear ornament.He told me they had scanty rainfall this Monsoon,dark black clouds hover over the city and just go away with out raining.In Truecaller app his name came as "Auto Parkash Jaisalmer" Mobile No. 09001597644.Call him if you ever visit Jaisalmer,it was nice to be shown around the city by a guy who was born here and love his city so much.

Glad I came to Junagarh Fort in Bikaner

It was like visiting an old friend and circumstances led me to Bikaner.Not only I but others too had feeling of gladness and happiness written over their faces.Its like you have been here before may be lived here in previous life,aura of humaneness shrouds the fort,you feel nostalgic and as happy as a child visiting his granny after a long time.

"Things of Beauty are a joy for ever".And here in Junagarh Fort there are so many things of beauty that you can spend your all day marveling them. And those pigeons just entrance spectators with their flight over the Fort.Looking at childhood pictures of Princes you wonder how they look like any ordinary next door child,these family pictures are really nice and make you connect.

There are two Temples at the entrance and ringing bells during evening prayers fills you with spirituality,you feel vice-free and ethereal.Thanks to a local kid who guided me to this Fort.This is a pearl of a memory which I will cherish all my life.

Quintessentially Romantic Mt. Abu

As I was sipping my morning Tea in Mt. Abu beside a Stall run by a traditional Rajasthani Man wearing a big red turban.The dew was falling in tiny droplets and Fog was flowing around like wandering spirits and there were these young kids all bathed and in clean dresses going off to their schools.I was reminded of Shree 420 song "Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua" .Where Raj Kapoor and Nargis have Tea at a stall and later in the song Nargis points to three young kids.

Beware of Langurs of The Adhar Devi Temple

As you ascend steps to The Adhar Devi Temple Beware of Langurs,who act like little goons snatching things with such suddenness and force.

Little Kids of Dhorimana Bus Station,Barmer

I saw these young kids at the bus station selling water bottles and snacks,I took picture of one of them.They got excited on seeing my camera and urged me to take their picture too and cajoled me into buying a roasted corn cob and snack.I obliged them just to see them smile.Its sad that these kids have to work when they should be attending school or playing.Hope Vasundhra Raje government does something about it.

Later when the Bus started its journey again I was reminded of "Phoolon Ke Rang Se" song from Prem Pujari where Dev Anand is surrounded by all those happily laughing European kids.Its one of my favorite Kishore Kumar songs.

Scary Spooky Eerie Foggy Lakes of Mt.Abu

Scooby Doo would really be shivering with fright if he takes a walk around these two Lakes on a foggy Monsoon morning or worse at Night.Windermere Lake and Nakki Lake are shrouded by a thick blanket of fog which seems flowing over their calm waters like spirits flying.Its unusually desolate in the morning with folks having the sense to remain indoors.

Dazzling Rajasthan

From desolate Landscape to lush green valleys of Mt.Abu,from arid regions of Jaisalmer and Barmer  to Lakes of  Udaipur and Jodhpur.,Rajasthan takes your breath away and springs up one surprise after another.

Be it Jal Mahal or Jaisalmer Fort,be it City Palace of Jaipur or of Udaipur or be it cultured colorful people or delicious exotic cuisine Rajasthan never disappoints.If Suzlon wind park surprise you in Jaisalmer ,winding roads across green valleys of Mt.Abu where Langurs sit beside the hilly road watching people go by fill you with awe.There are completely desolate highways where as far the eye goes the sky spreads to the horizon with nothing in sight,then there are crowded markets of Jodhpur and Jaipur and Temples in every corner of Jaipur's old walled city.Then there are Dilwara temples that mesmerize and enchant you and The Brahmakumaris which impress you with spirituality.And when its time to return you are most reluctant to leave wanting to stay a little more for you know there is more to see.

From Lucknow to Jaipur

Lucknow Junction

Babaji in out train got impatient in Gandhi Nagar and got off,its a small Railway Station before Jaipur

upcoming Metro in Jaipur

upcoming Metro in Jaipur

upcoming Metro in Jaipur

What's the big deal - Aamir Khan bare all poster of PK

Today when I went to see Kick in PVR an Aamir Khan fan was bragging that he is the first Bollywood actor to go nude.Which is false as we all remember Neil Nitin Mukesh going nude for Jail and John Abraham for New York.And he is not getting any younger so "much ado about nothing",I think Aamir and Juhi had some raw sex appeal in pool scene of "Love Love Love".Aamir of today can't stop blinking his eyes.Why as we grow old our eyes change shape I don't know it happened to Kamal Hasan too but he is no blinker just his eyes widened up.

In fact this pose is so reminiscent of Jackie Shroff who plays his dad in Dhoom 3.I remember a poster of his appearing in filmfare completely nude in late 1980s except a pen hiding his vital parts,as if he  just got out of sea and is walking on beach.And who can forget Rishi Kapoor's nude scene from Bobby.Though people critical of Aamir want him to be more careful,his "rape" joke in 3Idiots was thought to be extremely insensitive and now people think his bare all poster will inspire youngsters to do the same,which seems too far-fetched.