One surefire way to lift sagging spirits and morale is to loose oneself in/to music. For me, a day's highlight would mean listening to or coming across - by sheer serendipity - a compilation of hits of fav. singers.

Ankhon mein bassee ho
Par door ho kaheen
Dil ke kareeb ho
Yeh mujhko hai yakeen
O Sanam tere pyar ki kasam

But if you want someone more desi in the Indipop variety, you should end your search with none other than Lucky Ali. And so, it was certainly my lucky day when I chanced upon, recently, the Best of Lucky Ali, a VCD containing a mix of his sombre and upbeat songs accompanied by great visuals & superb camera-work.

Jaane kya doondtha hai yeh mera dil

Tujhko kya chahiye zindagi

Among the many cliches that are bandied about is the one about the 'noble profession' of doctors and nurses. There's nothing noble, you think cynically, when you hear the amounts that are paid as donation for medical seats. Certainly nothing noble when many subsequently dangle their professional tag for dowry sake or in their desire to rake in the moolah with astronomical fees and charges.  

But when you are down and out with illness and your mind begins to plays tricks, its truly a revelation to experience how much of power - with kindness, compassion, empathy, solace and for healing - that a doctor can impart with a couple of words and a hand on the shoulder.

At such times, they ARE truly the most noble and selfless of all human beings.

:) 

Am I the only one around who can't write, yeah, write - more than 5 lines at a time without

a) feeling a pain in my forearm and
b) yearning for the familiar clickety-clack of a keyboard?

Somebody tell me its not just me who's lost touch with writing!

:(

While at Bangalore, I was able to get my hands on the first issue of Spider Man India. I felt elated - like I always do - when I get my hands on comics that are not in my possession. For someone who used to literally scrounge around bookshops, roadside shops (still do!), book fairs and libraries to read/buy/steal them, they are now too easily available. Not that I'm complaining - at least the li'l guy (who's perhaps crazier than me about Spidey) will not have difficulties in getting them.

Anyway.

From its conceptualization right through to its appearance on bookstands, Spider Man India should be a proud moment for us. Why? Coz in the approach used to bring to life Spider Man India, it is yet another indication and acceptance that our customs, culture, mythology etc. are slowly reaching a global audience. (Never mind that my friend in the US just could not understand why people tonsure their heads while in Tirumala or why people walk over hot coals, as a show of faith!). Secondly, just as our much vaunted skill sets in software, call-centres, BPO's, bio-tech, mathematics, space-reseach et al are now gaining recognition, so are the ventures in fields such as animation, film production and comic-book design! This is the very first time and get this - only in India - that a superhero, globally recognised and adored, will be adapted - " transcreated " is the word used - and seen in an ethnic identity so as to make him relevant to our Indian audience, allowing for an interweave with local customs and mythologies. Of this Indian audience that I mentioned, I have to ask you - what percentage of our 1 billion strong are youngsters in the school and college going age? I could hazard a guess but I don't really care and don't really want to know...there are still guys like Van and me who will continue to read comics, come whatever age!  [Wont we, Van?] Besides at price points like 15/- and 25/-, almost any kid with pocket money can afford to buy comics these days!

So what's in this comic that I seem to getting worked up about?

In this India based comic, or, rather this 4 part series, Peter Parker has been re-invented as Pavitr Prabhakar, Mary Jane as Meera Jain, Uncle Ben into Uncle Bhim, Aunt May has morphed into Aunt Maya and boy, oh, boy, Norman Osborn replaced as Nalin Oberoi. The transformation of Pavitr into Spider Man has undergone a wee bit of a change; however, the premise - with great power comes great responsibility - has remained intact. And oh, he will be fighting a desi version of the Green Goblin - a Rakshasa. See how everything fits as far as this transcreation is concerned?

As Spider-Man India, Pavitr is shown leaping around rickshaws and scooters in Indian streets, while swinging from monuments such as the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal. How much of heartburn will this cause to true blue spidey fans, I wonder. I certainly don't care. I'm just proud as hell.

*Cut*

Lil Guy: Dad, cut out all this and come to the point.

Me : Which point?

Lil Guy: You know what I'm talking about right? About Jeevan J Kang.

Me : Oh right. Sorry.

Lil Guy : That’s better. I was about to web you up and dangle you from the nearest fan, the way you've been going on and on and on...

Hmmmmm.

Behind the success of Spider Man India is the singular tale of Jeevan J Kang. Jeevan, being an architect by profession, chucked it all up and turned his talent to comic book design. He's Gotham Studios Chief and on SP India, he's the story-writer, penciler, inker and colorist for this 4 part series. Usually, these are separate functions done by different creative people. Its a vindication, no less, of his wide ranging talents by those controlling folks at Gotham, USA. The artwork is different but perhaps that the characteristic of this series of comics. Also, now and then, you might wonder – how comfortable will he be in that dhoti and a mojri type slipper, as he fights villains with ease. Doesn’t he look way too young to be Spidey? I’m just nitpicking here, folks.

Jeevan was also very kind meeting us while at Bangalore last. We swapped stories as to how far back our love for anything/everything that had to do with Spidey comics/TV shows went. He was happy to see the li’l guy and give him his fullest attention and autographed a poster too! Li’l guy’s face beamed, his happiness went ballistic; last seen or heard, he was spotted somewhere high above, his cherubic face, all aglow...dreaming about his “ ….one and only Spiderman, Spiderman…just whatever a spider can.. spins a web, any size ..catches thieves, just like flies”

J

From an ugly duckling to an almost graceful swan - that's the transformation of Ulsoor Lake. All that money - how much was it? About 450 lacs? - seems to be well spent! If it looks this neat in summer, I can imagine the lake with the tank full up, during the monsoon!

Real estate development is big business in Bangalore. Every time I'm there, some old building has vanished and another, invariably with chrome and glass, has taken its place! This is in Kamaraj Road, adjoining Commercial street.

Chrome and glass allright, with colourful - should I say flowerful - facade. No doubt, its meant to attract the fairer sex! Eva is the building name or is it the name of the designer store? No idea, for now.

This showroom, on 100 ft Road, Indiranagar, once housed a STD booth, a beauty parlour and a shop frying/selling potato chips. I used to make calls from there..it was just another faceless single storied building! In its place, seemingly overnight, is this Reebok showroom!!!! Its difficult even for me, without sputtering, to comprehend these sudden and awesome changes in the landscape that was Bangalore. I can only imagine for old-timers!


Amidst all these changes are old-world buildings that seem totally  incongruous! For God's sake and mine, I hope these are allowed to stay. L & G, the Mythic soceity building, on Nruputhunga Road.

Nope, I did not have the time to have lunch here but what a cute name for me, er, the restaurant??

I'm sure this is unintended but the photo arrangement makes it almost appear as if Kennedy is garlanded by shoes and leather paraphernalia. However, the fact is that in many shops in old Bangalore, there are 3 photos that are guaranteed present - Gandhiji, Nehru and Kennedy! Somebody tell me why he's so popular with old timers. Perhaps his sundry romances captured the feverish imagination of our guys back then?

A nice thing on the part of Bangalore City Corporation  to help redesign and get private sponsorship -
Cobbler Kiosks!

2 things that I could eat any/every day and in any quantity - corn ( boiled or charcoal-roasted ) and groundnuts. I freaked at this shop in Food World complex, MG Road, that sells corn - boiled, of course - in many different combinations using butter, chaat masala, coriander, chilli powder, other pulses etc. God, I could travel to Bangalore again to have just corn! LOL!

Ok, drum roll for the Superstar! Here's a pic of a newspaper report in Kannada about Superstar. Its says " Rajni style-a bere " meaning "Rajni has his own unique style! " Hmmmph, as if his fans don't know!

Here's a pic of the posters splashed at the entrance to Naga Theatre where Chandramukhi is running, houseful, since its opening. The collage features a pic of the Superstar from each of his earlier movies. Isn't this nice? I mean, how did they manage to get it all? High-tech are Superstar's fans in Bangalore!


;)

From intending to having a cup of coffee with 2 fellow bloggers - Prabhu and Sowmya - it snowballed into something like a mini-bloggers meet of sorts! A couple of requests over the phone and email and voila....lots were done!

I must say a big sorry to Krishna Kumar for screwing up in not calling him well in time for the meet.

"See you next time, guys" to Karthik L.G, Mohan, Van, Karpagam, Sowmya and Anita.

Best of all, a big thanks:

To Prabhu -  I won't forget the awesome pleasure we shared watching the Ferrari model rip on the Forum parking lot tarmac!

To Madhu - certainly envy  your courage to strike it out on your own in an area that appeals to me tremendously - "cooking" !

To Suman - what an astounding moment it was for me to know that we share the same reason for blogging! Even as it appears, oh-so-far-fetched!!

To Prabha - for helping get Deepak over to the meet and for your shy and warm smile(s)!

To Ram - for soldiering on with worthy cause(s) like helping children-in-difficult-circumstances, getting corporates to accept & add to their social responsibilities, using sport for development and peace etc!  More power to you, good sir!

To Deepak - for your company & provoking debate with a couple of issues.

To Lalith - for your presence and all the hearty laughs that Madhu & Suman generated using your comments/observations ( "patriotic c......" / 'rear ....' etc )

Here are the related snaps:

Its an experience that is best seen to be believed!! Steering, nay, racing an amazingly fast model Ferrari with digital precision and breathtaking speed! I don't think Prabhu would have slept that night reliving that experience, time and over again!

Coffee Art!

I think this mosaic best explains what a blog meet is all about - having a cup of coffee, spending some time with friends - new and old! What's psychology got to do with it?

:)

• There are about 9 million blogs out that there in blogosphere....i.e 90 lac blogs!
• 40,000 new ones everyday
• 27% of Internet users in America actually spend their online, internet surfing time reading blogs!

It would be interesting to know an India perspective to the above statistics! That is, how many people from India ( or, Indian origin ) are onto blogging, how many are coming up every day, wherefrom, age-groups, time being spent blogging and inter alia, how much of bloghopping happens really!

More insightful would be to really know how we fare with the rest of the bloggers out there. As with everything in life where higher benchmarks are aimed at, shouldn't there be an index to the quality of blogging?? By that I don't just mean getting them damn types, er, typos out. I mean, sheer q-u-a-l-i-t-y!! 

I say this because our voting for blogger popularity seems to be more for our personal rapport with the person & our comfort levels with his/her blog rather than - and I say this for arguments sake - for the factors mentioned above : honesty, insight, sheer quality of writing and in my opinion its relevance/ topicality, creativity, wit - subtle or otherwise, intelligence and other qualitative factors.

Somebody tell me this is a stupid argument and goes against the basic tenet of blogging - freedom!!!

I'm all yours....er, e-a-r-s!!!!

Sigh! Am slowly realising the impermanence of all things in life (Gah! Another angsty post from you,eh? Ed!)

Owning a 29" TV is the ultimate I felt and looked forward to hours and hours of entertainment. What with the kids holidays starting and their monopoly with the cartoon channels, I just don't get my share of the idiot box.

I thought it great shakes to upgrade to the latest DVD player. A few days into it, the year-end came about and what with its related work, I hardly get time to watch films or am just too pooped at the end of these dog-days of summer!

Cut to listening to music. ARR is the best...one can't stop listening to him, i thought. A week of listening to his numbers and I can't help but switch to Illayaraja, for his melodies. I don't have to tell you what I feel about the dabbankuthu songs from the other so called "music-directors!" (YSR excluded, please!)

I've bean....er, been quaffing coffee since ages! 3 days back, my doc tells me to cut back on them as a possible remedy for sleeplessness & anxiety!

A week of freedom, i thought, getting to ride the bike to office daily! Bad decision! Aack!!! I'm grateful I haven't choked on the pollution riding in the Teynampet-Pondy Bazaar-TNagar-Duraiswamy Road subway area! I can't wait to go back to them MTC buses (its anybody's guess when these long awaited new stands - you recall my rants on them earlier, dont you - will come about!)

Blame it on circumstances, blame it on my fickle nature, blame it on change. Whatever.

Am I the only guy around who watches wistfully, as life changes with the waxing/waning of the moon?

Go ahead, share your thoughts, make my day. A sunny one, please!

:)