Thursday, February 09, 2006

Saffron saga

So I went to a " Culture Exhibition" featuring the original and pristine products made by our crafty Kashmiri artisan. Commuting from Andheri West to Powai (East) is no simple task..Its more like an excursion as in Mumbai. Travelling from West to east, across those railway tracks is more like travelling back in time....for 2 hours..

Saffron ( Saffron Crocus) is well known for its aromatic & coloring properties besides its medicinal values and is an integral part of Indian Sweetmeats and desserts. In fact every Indian would hold it closer to his heart than his mouth as its forms the brightest part of the tricolor!. The Saffron grown in the Sylvan settings of Kashmir has its own glory. A tiny box priced at a whopping Rs 90/- for one Gram of this herb could tell you that. Looking for a bargain, I pointed to a slightly bigger box of 5 Grams ( of the size of a matchbox) and pat came a reply from the culture vulture that took me by total surprise..

Rs 455/-

I was never good atmath but any sane consumer would look for somethin more like 400 bucks. Who would have thought that " The law of economies of scale" had no exceptions..
When I reasoned with him on this gross miscalculation he hesitantly said that the product will have to be sent back to the warehouse ( where? Kargil?) for price clarification/reprinting if any an will be available tomorrow. He probably forgot that it was already the last day of the exhibition!

He could extend it but I ain't goin back there. Ill rather go to Kashmir!

I returned home with that Big Brown Bag full of unwanted shopping I did to get my spirits up and just to kill the time and money I saved ( or did I ?) from the Saffron Saga. Whoever said that Consumer is the King? ...King for a day, Fool for a lifetime!


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Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Accoustic Pissings

I entirely forgot to tell ye all of the latest addition to my music room....A Brand new SemiAccoustic Guitar (Imported Granada, costing just over 5k)!! Well! I broke my first guitar (Definitely not the kurt cobain way!). The bridge had given away due to wear and tear and for the past six months I had to console my music urges by just listening to those chords.

I had to strum my way thru 15 different guitars to zero on this one. In fact I guess I was the first and last customer at LM Furtado's that evening! The guide there was of great help.He patiently played several of them( albeit the same chords) over and over again to help me choose the right one.I got a good deal though..For all of 5Ks I got a lovely full length guitar, a case, a beginners book( I did'nt need that though), a complete set of strings, cord for amplifier, a belt, and not to forget a cool T shirt!

Kurt Cobain has always been my inspiration. Repeat airing of "Come as you are " and " Lithium" had drawn me into Rock Music in general and Grunge in Specific. SLTR was like an anthem!. Since I learned playing the Guitar in DIY mode, I am no compares to KC, but can strum along for most of his compositions. I could have certainly replaced Pat Smear playing Rhythm on the Unplugged!

Today I relished and sunk into the accoustic version I generated for "Territorial Pissings". It has only 3 chords(A7 , F & D) and sounds mesmerising if the chords are played slowly and fully. Of course, Unlike the chords, Kurt's lyrics were never as decipherable and that left a great room for interpretation or imagination. But it always had some underlying and eternal truths...like this one:
"..Never met a wise man....
If so.. Its a Woman..."
From Territorial Pisings, Album - Nervermind, 1992.
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
RIP
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Sunday, February 05, 2006

Flight Plan Review-2

You want a taste of Post 9/11 nightmare of a trans-atlantic air travel to USA??? Just Watch FLIGHTPLAN....from the crafty Brian Grazer( acclaimed for Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind...). Though not officially released in theaters in India, the movie is now available on VCD/DVD.
Well, I know that a crazy Sean Bean fan like myself would not write anything bad about a movie starring him, especially in one of the lead roles..Captian Rich. Nevertheless, right from the start till the last scene, the screenplay was gripping with some shrills here and there. Jodie Foster ( long time no see) played a mixture of emotions in a depressed, grieving, widowed aircraft engineer and desperate mother perfectly.

What I hated the most was that the hijacker's ( conspiring US Air marshall) part was played by Peter Sarsgaard(who?& why?) in place of the ace veteran of all modern day baddies Sean Bean..How on earth was a mushy looking nextdoor neighbour kinda guy cast as the cheesy (anti)hero in place of a professional badman ? The directors have apparently not seen him in Goldeneye, Patriot Games, Don't say a word. In the US, Sean Bean shot to fame only as the Irish terrorist "Sean Miller" in Patriot Games. He being cast as a hands-tied captain of an unknown airlines was an insult to his intelligence, persona and everything he earned all the way! I Guess this son of Gondor prefers to be good guy on screen these days..

Anyway, the plot was thrilling and the treatment of asian/brown passengers was a touch of reality. The plane was the most massive and sophisticated one I have ever seen with 2 level seating schemes withall the comforts under the sun!
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Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Rock Idol Worship>>SuperFuzz BigMuff

Im dazed and bedazzled. Heard of Indian, Popstars, Rappers but Grungers?? from our Soil?? Im not talking about rockers who can occasionally belt out a NIRVANA, AIC or Soundgarden cover...

Chanced upon Rock Idol 2005 on VH1 and I was blessed with the melancholic chaotic melodies of Superfuzz Bigmuff, Delhi based collegeband. True grunge style, good self compositions and excellent vocals. Watching the trio perform, I could'nt stop recalling NIRVANA! especially, looking at the lead singer/guitarist performing with concealed angst and rage. Seamless and ecstatic! NO WONDER, they were adjudged as the best performers with Top Honors! I have been hearing rave reviews about them for past two years espcially after IIT-D festival but actually got to hear them for the first time, thanks to VH1. Great going boys.Waiting for your first album!

Superfuzz Bigmuff are Sanchal (Vocals and Guitars), Nikhil (Bass) & Abhimanyu (Drums)
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Monday, January 30, 2006

IPO mania

The flurry of IPOs hitting the market makes one really ponder.Whether these companies are flooding the market for resouces or they are simply tapping the market flooded with resources???A decade back some of these companies offer documents would'nt have even warranted a look from the investor. Check out some issues from the past year:

Ramsarup Industries
Radha Madhav Corporation Ltd
Shri Ramruprai balaji Steels Ltd
Era Constructions IndiaLtd
Saksoft Ltd
Ramksrishns Forgings Ltd
Surya Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Today, the ever discerning, IPO crazy Indian Investor would go to the extent of covertly opening 50,000 Demat Accounts to win a better lottery in the allotment of the quota for retail investors. Some of the companies came out with measly issue sizes , like Saksoft for Rs. 7.5 Crores. If you doubt whether these issues were fully subscribed, you will be surprised by how many times...

Any layperson can tell you that equity entails and contributes to high cost of capital, that too at a time when interest rates are going down the hill. So why are these corporates going the equity route??? At the macro level, the poverty level in India has come down steeply to 26%..Economy is booming, and then the market is flush with funds from increased salaries and profits with limited investment options. At the micro level the burgeoning SINK & DINK households, are wondering where to invest money, earn high returns and pay paltry tax...Enter the stock market..through the primary doors of IPO. FDs interests have fallen and so the interest in FD. Plethora of mutual funds confuse their simple minds.Hence IPO. Gone are the days of filling those long application forms, running to the nearest collecting center, getting turned away because the of broker code! Now, your DP service provider entices you with sms of the upcoming offers and that your IPO application is just a CLICK away(so is your passbookdebit!)

These hitherto unknown companies have sensed the pulse of restless Investor who is desperate to jump into the swelling stock market and share a pie. Moreover getting a bank loan involves much more formalities than IPO( specially after the exit of CCI)! But investors much excercise due caution/diligence before putting their hard-earned money into companies. Every bubble must burst.

By the way, I enjoyed a Parody on IPOs in DNA Newspaper:

Beggars jump on the IPO bandwagon
Harshal A Shah
Tuesday, January 24, 2006 19:50 IST

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Rajdhani

Last week I was on a 2-day whirlwind work trip to Delhi(or Daheli for the northerners). To begin with ,I chose the Sarkari carriers to transport me to the Rajdhani( whatever was wrong with me!) The flight scheduled for 9 am actually took off at 10 am as the inflight captain incharge pleaded "due to technical problems with the toilets at the rear end....our engineers are attending..we regret the delay."

On air there was a foul smell emanating from the rear end and no one complained( probably being used to this).My seat being only third from the rear, I was squirming with discomfort and cursing those engineers. Anyways engineers are not trained to be janitors!

I was famished but didnt feel like touching the breakfast or anything coming from the rear end. The cabin temperature was appropriately set lower than usual to cool our tempers! Just when I was hoping for a cup of hot beverage to soothe my throat and defreeze my fingers,our good-old captain incharge PAed "due to technical problems no coffee/tea will be served in this flight...we regret.." and left me pondering:

Are coffee/tea made in toilets? How are they related?
Do coffee/tea come under any technical discipline?
Did the toilet engineers drink all the coffee/tea?
Was the coffee/tea maker out of order?If so will it be the Janitor who shall attend to it as a return favor?
Will I get a free beverage at the airport inlieu?

While I was searching for answers the flight landed at IGI airport in Daheli. Soon I was scrambling towards the same rear-end.......to EXIT ASAP and while I was at it, I saw the suggestion box very cleverly placed .................at the Rear End!!!!

Cardinal BottomLine: A change in logo cannot bring a change in service!


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Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Mumbai Festival

Mumbai Festival is on..there are stalls eveywhere selling everything from a safety pin to ur dream holiday!
This city is never short of shopping holes. Almost every third day you have a new exposition/exhibition/utsav/ fair being held in some corner of the city sprucing up hitherto abandoned grounds to airconditioned Free Market domes. To catch hold of the kiddies you have fun zones and food courts. To couple that you have sarkar sponsored handicrafts exhibitions where you can find wares from plastic(!) to metal((!!)The previous year just passed leading up the shopping mania to the pinnacle. Now when it just seemed that the wallets felt a bit relaxed and safe, Mumbai Festival takes over.

I really dont know how different it is from any of the usual exhibitions except for the extensive press coverage. The organisers have even managed to rope in some artists for stage/culture shows..Like a mumbaikar cares! Mumbai and culture? Although it might do some good to new artists wanting to catch some attention

Ok after all said and one, if you still be a part of this festival, BE MY GUEST! (PG ofcourse!. Like I said, Mumbai and culture?)
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Thursday, January 12, 2006

The Picture of Dorian Gray



If you have watched the movie " The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" you can instantly recall the titled character "Dorian Gray" potrayed by Irish Actor Stuart Townsend. While each person in the league possessed unique and singular skills (Aceshooting,Immortality, scientific wisdom, vampirical, Split personality,invisibility..etc) I was puzzled by the inclusion of the vain and corrupt Dorian Gray, who apparently did'nt seem to possess any special area of expertise..

Only as the plot progresses we get to liken the character to the protagonist of Oscar Wilde's Gothic Novel " The Picture of Dorian Gray". In fact all the league members are literary charactersfrom the 19th Century. In " The Picture of Dorian Gray", his friend Basil paints a beautiful portrait of Dorian. When Dorian sees the finished portrait he exults"...I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June.... If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that — for that — I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!"

By saying that Dorian sells his soul and his yearning for eternal youth soon comes true and the picture ages instead of him. This boon corrupts him and turns him into a vile, wicked and treacherous human being. All his crimes and sins are reflected by the aging and hideous visage of the potrait, which he dare not look at. In the book, towards the end, he seeks redemption for all his sins which he achieves (supposedly) after attaining Death by looking at his own painting.

Although there was a twist in the potrayal of Dorian Gray in the movie (He was actually forced to look at his own portrait), it suited well with the plot , as he was the traitor in the league! Im not sure whether he sought immortality more than endless charm!

Our Vast English and Indian Literature have numerous examples of Vanity of the woman..the female form priding on its female form.. I guess Dorian Gray was created to bring some pride to Male form ?!?

BTW Stuart Townsend played the part with exceptional style and panache! Watch out for his witty oneliners and repartees !
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Sunday, January 08, 2006

A Promise Kept- Wedding Crashers

Well, I made a promise and I kept it...I promised myself I'll watch " Wedding Crashers" and did catch it, albeit the second day first show(small lapse). This friend of mine got free passes to the show and I was thrilled beyond words..Then when I actually went to the theater we both made 20% of the total crowd..you do the math..So much for free passes!

But the movie was really enjoyable..very hilarious throughout . The performances from Vince Vaughn(Jeremy) & Owen Wilson(John) trying to potray ladykillers after crasing into weddings were a laugh riot!! Except for some risque /smutty dialogues,the screenplay was generally good. Christopher Walker maintained the whacky persona as always. All the chracters of his disfunctional family were well cast! Towards the end, he supporting his daughter's wishes to choose "John" with his dubious background over the mighty/obsessive fiance "Zack" was convincing! Vince &Owen make a really good team and share excellent on-screen chemistry. The audience was in splits watching their frequent arguments over the "Cardinal rules of crashers".

Watch out for the scene where Owen reverently lauds the funeral crasher as "Innovator" !!

We could really learn a tip or two to crash into weddings!

Vince Vaughn can add one more to his fan list!
Im waiting to catch him on "Be cool"!!

Cheerio


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Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Monkey See Monkey Do

Its no news that I am a big Kurt Cobain fan. But why I wrote that title line was not just to allude to his famous track but to really mean it " STAY AWAAAAAY"!!! from that Ape movie of the year...KING KONG.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360717/

Worst, I wacthed it with a Peter Jackson (PJ) Freak who shivers even at the sight of a roachling. PJ, the creator of the oscar winning Lord of the Rings Trilogy has come back after years of sabbatical (and aerobics!) with the remake of the ever popular KING KONG. Most of us remember the earlier one starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange in supporting roles( ;-).

Now the point is, when a LOTR buff like me, goes on to watch a much hyped PJ movie with great expectations and then comes home crying.. its not out of fright or sadness but for unwarranted waste or 3 precious hours of your life( sleep if u were stupid enough to watch the night show). The KONG actually graces the screen only after first-half .Till then you are not even sure whether you are in the right theater.

Most of the snares are predictable. Most of the backgrounds looked so run of the mill ( as if lifted straight from LOTR)! The actions of Ape looked really made-up..Despite several fight sequences between strange, weild looking CG creatures( Dynos, Goblins, Pods, Creepy Crawlies..you imagine it, they got it) , there was no "shrill" factor"..Not a drop of blood, for that matter!

BUT, Jack Black and Adrien Brody saved the grace by bringing in their best! and the panoramic view from on top of the Empire States Bldg was good.. The natives of the forbidden Skull Island looked really disgusting!

Watch at your Own Risk or Just Stay Away !

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Monday, January 02, 2006

Sad But True

I had nothing(absolutely) to do the last two days and so watched a lot of TV. VH1 aired "Big in 05" - a taped event showcasing the top acts in Music in 2005. What struck me was one of the live performances was of "Def Leppard" doing "Pour some sugar on me"...What is it???1985? Scott Weiland ( Ex STP, now GNR, future???) was a presenter and looked awful. It was all Rap/R&B/Funk that took centre stage. Could have played some Rock, for crying out loud or may be Nirvana-Unplugged!

I switched to HBO and watched LOTR-"Chapter-1" for the n+1th time. Old Habits die hard..So despite irritating adverts, patience got the better of me and I watched the movie till near end( I have no heart to watch after Boromir's death). "Freak!!!!" my dad called me after getting no response when he asked Why I owned DVD of the movie and still watched the movie on HBO in between the adverts!!
The decision is "Mine!, My Own!!!, My Precioussss!!!"

My cousin(a.k.a Gollum) went a step ahead and watched LOTR-"Chapter-2" on HBO that aired soon after LOTR-1, and watched the very same on DVD with a friend in the following morning and Iam called a FREAK???? When you are crazy, you abandon reasoning...like Saruman!

I also got to see "Equilibrium" on SM and it was gripping..Kudos to Christian Bale. His transition from a cold human exterminator to an emotional friend was compelling and mindblowing. Its plot was Matrix Superlative! WB Yeats' poem recital by Sean Bean was poignant and excellent.

Last few months I was praying for "Wedding Crashers" to release in Mumbai and looks some somebody listened!
It opens on Jan 6 and I'll be there FDFS.

Will be back with reviews..
HNY

Ps: Im looking for
1) some cool recommendations in Alternative/Grunge music..Suggestions/Links welcome.
2) "Posies"Music, specially "start a life"
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