Video recommendation

I am starting a weekly video recommendation on my blog. Videos featured are intended to have high interest content.

To start with here is a talk by Joshua Prince-Ramus: Designing the Seattle Central Library.



Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus takes the audience on dazzling, dizzying virtual tours of three recent projects, including the Seattle Central Library, Museum Plaza in Louisville and Dallas' Charles Wyly Theater. Adopting what he describes as a "hyper-rational" approach to architecture, Joshua Prince-Ramus explains how logic can act as the catalyst for extraordinary buildings. He previews an ambitious new theater in Dallas, a hyper-customizable performance space in which everything -- stage, seats, walls, ceiling -- can be altered on the fly. He concludes with an animation of the 1.1-million-square-foot Museum Plaza in Louisville, scheduled for completion in 2010. (borrowed from ted.com)

Sanjaya says

The last verse in Bhagavadgita.
Sanjayauvacha (Sanjaya says)

Yatra yogeshwara Krishna ,Yatra partho dhanurdharaha
Tatra shri vijayo bhutir druvo nitir matir mama

Sanjaya concludes with his opinion that,
Where there is vision and acumen (Yogeshwara Krishna) along with readiness to act with conviction (Dhanurdharaha Partha) there would be wealth, success and justice.

Snakes and ladders

We all have played this game while growing up. Easy board game on a hot holiday summer afternoon. I recall having played this game with various changes in rules to accommodate the younger members of the family. I remember my sister (much younger than I am) would get to roll the dice again if she was bitten by a snake. The snake bites were not poisonous for her once she had crossed the block marked ninety. It was still interesting to play instead of frying oneself in hot south indian sun.

Recently I was introduced to a very different view of this game. My niece who is about 3 years old comes up with this theory. She says when you are at the tail of a snake you race like a snake and move up to the block where it has its head. And when you hit the top of a ladder you slide down to the block at the bottom of the ladder. I felt this was very intuitive. If you look at this theory closely snake is not considered dangerous, its positive qualities of swiftness in motion defines the rule. The idea of going down the ladder too fits well with the laws of gravity. We all know it is hard to climb up the ladder and easy to slide down. Well I buy the argument, I might play it like this the next time around.

Happy Independence day

Nehru's speech on the eve of Indian independence 1947.

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.


Some rare videos



More inspiring words from our former prime minister Atalji

Vande Mataram

Rajasthani folk

Rajasthani folk inspiring mainstream bollywood melodies.

"Rajastan" brings to mind vibrant colors energetic folk with feet tapping rhythms and mind calming melodies. Time and again the popular bollywood music gurus have taken refuge in the nomadic singers of rajastan getting "inspired" and bringing these tunes to a greater audience.
Folklore is such an integral part of any land, singing words of wisdom, telling stories with young princes, talking trees, animals, daemons everything under the sky, earth and beyond.
The manganiar and langa folk musicians from Rajastan sing balads praising kings, Hindu gods
and qawaalis by sufi saints. A range which cuts across all communal barriers.

Here are a few sample tunes you might have heard in a famous bolloywood number.

Performer: Chanan Khan Artist
Songs: 1.Dama Dam Mast Kalandar / 2. Nimbula / 3. Holi Song / 4. Sufi Bhajan
Place: Jaisalmer, India


Piya to se naina lagere..



I had to share this for its rhythm.

Lazy dinner.

On a lazy Saturday evening, when hungry and no mood to cook but eat good food.
Hot chapatis, spicy mixed veg pickle, banana chips and raita to cool down all the spice.

My birthday card

My 3 year old niece sent me this beautiful card for my birthday :)

Arthasya purusho dasaha

Arthasya purusho dasaha - Mahabharata
Artha - money, wealth
purusha - man
dasa - slave

Haal Kya Hai Dilon Ka

For all qawali fans...



Movie : Anokhi Ada (1973)
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Music Director: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Actors: Jeetendra, Rekha, Vinod Khanna

Haal Kyaa Hai Dilo.N Kaa Na Puuchho Sanam
Aap Kaa Muskuraanaa Gazab Dhaa Gayaa
Ik To Mahafil Tumhaarii Hasii.N Kam Na Thii
Us Pe Meraa Taraanaa Gazab Dhaa Gayaa
Haal Kyaa Hai Dilo.N Kaa ...

Har Nazar Uth Rahii Hai Tumhaarii Taraf
Aur Tumhaarii Nazar Hai Hamaarii Taraf
Aa.Nkh Uthaanaa Tumhaaraa To Phir Thiik Thaa,
Aa.Nkh Uthaakar,Jhukaanaa Gazab Dhaa Gayaa (wahh wahh)

Did I say.. I am flying .. I mean kites

My new found passion flying kites.... more to come on where, how and how much fun it is.

aam... aam... nahi khas hai

aamras with warm ghee and hot chapatis... !

I wanna be like this.. full of life at 80

Seetha mami and her Jalatarang... I haven't heard her perform nor have I heard any of her records, but sure she is an inspiration to live life the fullest ...! for more read on.......

Itna To Karna Swami

A traditional bhajan. To listen a rendition by Anoop Jalota click here

Itna To Karna Swami

itna to karna swami, jab prana tan se nikale
govinda nama leke, tab prana tan se nikale

sri ganga ji ka tata ho yamuna ka vamsivata ho
mera sanvara nikata ho jab prana tan se nikale

pitambari kasi ho chavi man men ye basi ho
honthon pe kuch hasi ho jab prana tan se nikale

jab kanta prana aye koi roga na sataye
yama darasa na dikhaye jab prana tan se nikale

us waqt jaldi ana nahin syam bhula jana
radhe ko sath lana jab prana tan se nikale

ek bhakta ki hain arzi khudgarz ki hain garzi
age tumhari marzi jab prana tan se nikale

I love saturday mornings....

Put your feet up

A strong cup of filter coffee, a light chat with folks at home...
some simple melody at the background... catch up with easy reading...

zimbly.... simple pleasures of life...

When Hunger Strikes

Upma served with coconut chutney (Italian style)

Below is a competing dish, my sister cooked the same day ( of course copying mine ;) )

( halli ooru baleyele uppittu )

Jab thi mein chotti sochthi,
Kyun kehete Khane ko Khazana
Ab samj aya khushise pakakar
Haste Hasate Khane se mile kushiyon ka Khazana.

(these lines are by her, and no copying there)

Amazing song

Amazing lyrics and beautiful music ! from the movie Gharaonda...
Credits to Gulzar for lyrics, kudos to Jaidev for simple melody.
Could not have sung better than the way Bhupinder and Runa laila have and finally
Amol palekar and Zarina wahab bringing it to life... a perfect team.

Note the contrast between the two renditions. There is sea difference !

aabodaanaa dhoondhate hai, yek aashiyaanaa dhoondhate hain

in bhoolabhoolaiyyaa galiyon mein apanaa bhee koee yek ghar hogaa
anbar pe khoolegee khidakee, yaa khidakee pe khulaa anbar hogaa
asamaanee rang kee aakhon me, basane kaa bahaanaa dhoondhate hain

jab taare jameen par jalate hain, aakaash jameen ho jaataa hain
us raat naheen fir ghar jaataa, wo chaand yahee so jaataa hain
palabhar ke liye in aakhon mein, hum yek jamaanaa dhoondhate hain

do diwaane shahar me, raat mein yaa dopahar mein

Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein Raat Mein Aur Dopahar Mein

Aabodaana Dhoondta Hai Aashiyana Dhoondta Hai

Din Khali Khali Bartan Hai Aur Raat Hai Jaise Andha Kuan
In Sooni Andheri Aankhon Se Aansoon Ki Jagah Aata Hain Dhuan
Jeene Ki Vajah To Koi Nahi Marne Ka Bahana Dhoondta Hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein...

In Umar Se Lambi Sadkon Ko Manzil Pe Pohonchte Dekha Nahin
Bas Daudti Phirti Rahti Hain Humne To Theherte Dekha Nahin
Is Ajnabi Se Shahar Mein Jaana Pehechana Dhoondta Hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein..

What I am listening

Great melody by Rahul Sharma (Son of santoor legend Shiv Kumar Sharma)

click on the image to see...

fun pics - on road

Confluence of good and evil

Yesterday I passed by chord road which used to be not so busy while I was growing up.Bangalore and its majesty ( majestic - pun intended, a place in Blore) were impressive when I would come here to spend part of my summer vacation.

Now why "Confluence of good and evil", given two words "ice cream" and "home work" does it make you wonder ? I wondered the same... how can ( a place which sold some thing so divine ) ice-cream shop have the name "Home work" (hours and hours of repeating the same stuff you did the entire year ufffff). All kids at home walked every evening to "homework" to enjoy the cold delicacy, an important class I would be eager to attend on a vacation day and wouldn't hesitate to repeat ;).

Journey home

My read on plane

National Art Museum Taipei

story behind the above painting

This blog comes to you from Singapore Changi airport.