ಸ್ವರತರಂಗ

ಈ ಸುಗಮ ಸಂಗೀತದ ಮೋಡಿಯೇ ಬೇರೆ... ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಅಶ್ವಥರಂತಹ ದಿಗ್ಗಜರ ರಾಗ ಸಂಯೋಜನೆ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಕೇಳುಗರಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾವೊತ್ಕರ್ಷವನ್ನು ಉಂಟು ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನೆನ್ನೆ, ಅಂದರೆ ೨೯ ನವಂಬರ್ ನಡೆದ ಸ್ವರ ತರಂಗ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ.

೭೦ ವರ್ಷಗಳು, ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಿ ಸುಮಾರು ೪೦ - ೫೦ ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಸಂಗೀತದ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತೇಲಿ ಹೋಗುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಇದೆಯಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಊಹೆಗೂ ನಿಲುಕದ್ದು. ಈ ತೇಲಿ ಹೋಗುವಾಗಲೇ ಇತರರನ್ನೂ ತೇಲಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಕುತೂಹಲಕಾರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯ. ಅಶ್ವಥ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಅದನ್ನೇ.

ಈ ತೇಲಿ ಹೋದ ಮಂದಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ತೇಲುವ ಆಸೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿದ್ದು ಈ ಸ್ವರ ತರಂಗ. ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಎಂ ಎಸ್ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರವೀಣ್ ರಾವ್ ಹಾಗು ಇನ್ನೋವೇಟಿವ್ ಐ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಶ್ರೀನಾಥ್ ವಸಿಷ್ಠ ಮತ್ತು ರಮೇಶ್ ಪಂಡಿತ ಇವರ ಕನಸಿನ ಕೂಸು ಈ ಸ್ವರ ತರಂಗ. ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಮಾಡುವುದು, ನಾವು ನೋಡಿ ಸಂತೋಷ ಪಟ್ಟಷ್ಟು ಸುಲಭವಲ್ಲ.. ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳಿಂದ cycle ಹೊಡೆದು ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ರೂಪು ರೇಷೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಈ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮಂದಿ ಅಭಿನಂದನಾರ್ಹರು.

ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥರ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಮಾಯೆಗೆ ಸಿಲುಕಲೆಂದೇ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಅಪಾರ ಜನ ಸಾಗರ ಇನ್ನೂ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿದಂತಿದೆ..... ಮಾಯಾಜಾಲ ಅಂದರೆ ಇದೇನಾ?

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಆರಂಭ ಆಗಿದ್ದೇ ಅದ್ಭುತ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ. ಸಿ ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥರನ್ನು ಸಾರೋಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡಿಸಿ ರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣ ಆಶ್ರಮದ ಮುಂದಿನಿಂದ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶನ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದ ಮುಂದೆ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ಪೂಜೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ನಂತರ ಎ ಪಿ ಎಸ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಮೈದಾನದವರೆಗೆ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಯಿತು. ನನ್ನ ಅದೃಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥರ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣ ಆಶ್ರಮದವರೆಗೂ ಅವರನ್ನು ಕರೆತಂದ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ನನ್ನದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಗಾರುಡಿ ಗೊಂಬೆ, ಡೊಳ್ಳು ಕುಣಿತ, ವೀರಗಾಸೆ ನೃತ್ಯ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಹಬ್ಬದ ವಾತಾವರಣ ತಂದಿತ್ತು. ಸಿ ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥರು ತುಂಬಾ ಖುಷಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದದ್ದು ಕಂಡು ನಮಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಧನ್ಯತಾ ಭಾವ ಮೂಡಿತ್ತು. ಅಷ್ಟು ಹೊತ್ತಿಗಾಗಲೇ ಪ್ರವೀಣ್ ಡಿ ರಾವ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬಿ ವಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ್ ಕಲಾವಿದರನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕಲೆ ಹಾಕಿ ಒಂದೇ wave legth ಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಲ್ಲುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದರು.

ಅಶ್ವಥರೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ದುಡಿದ ಕಲಾವಿದರು, ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು, ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳು, ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿದ್ದರು. ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್ ಹಿರಣ್ಣಯ್ಯ, ಎ ಎಸ್ ಮೂರ್ತಿ, ಟಿ ಎನ್ ಸೀತಾರಾಂ, ಬಿ ಆರ್ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣ ರಾವ್ , ಎಂ ಎನ್ ವ್ಯಾಸರಾವ್, ಸಿಹಿಕಹಿ ಚಂದ್ರು, ರಂಗಭೂಮಿಯ ಗೆಳೆಯರಾದ ವೆಂಕಟರಾವ್, ಪ್ರಭಾಕರ್, ಶೋಭಾ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ, ಗೌರಿ ದತ್ತು, ಗಿರಿಜಾ ಲೋಕೇಶ್, ಬಾಬು ಹಿರಣ್ಣಯ್ಯ, ....... ಹೀಗೆ, ಹಲವಾರು ಹಿರಿಯ, ಕಿರಿಯ ಕಲಾವಿದರು ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರು. ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮನದಲ್ಲೂ ಧನ್ಯತಾ ಭಾವ.

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ನಾಡಗೀತೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆರಂಭ. ಅಶ್ವಥರು ವೇದಿಕೆಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಜನಸ್ತೋಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾದ ಭಾವೋದ್ವೇಗವನ್ನು ಬಣ್ಣಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಅದನ್ನು ಸವಿದ ನಾವು ಅದೃಷ್ಟವಂತರು. ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಲಾವಿದನಿಗೆ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಜನಸಾಗರದಿಂದ, ಭಾವೊತ್ಕರ್ಷ ಸಂವಾದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಬೇರೆ ಏನು ಬೇಕು?
ವೇದಿಕೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಟ್ಟಿ "ಮುಗಿಲ ಮಾರಿಗೆ ರಾಗ ರತಿಯ ನಂಜ ಏರಿತ್ತ, ಆಗ ಸಂಜಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತ" ಹಾಡಿದಾಗ, ಸಂಜೆಗೆ ಬಂದ ರಂಗಿನ ಪರಿಯೇ ಬೇರೆ.

ನಂತರ ಶುರುವಾಯಿತು ನೋಡಿ ಪ್ರವಾಹ...... ಅಬ್ಬಾ... ಜನಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊಚ್ಚಿ ಹೋಗುವುದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಈ ಮಜಾ ಇದೆ ಎಂದು ಮರು ಮನವರಿಕೆಯಾದದ್ದೇ ತಡ, ಅದ್ಭುತ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಯಿತು. ವೇದಿಕೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಇದ್ದ ವಾದ್ಯವೃಂದ, ಹಾಡುವವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮಾಯಾಜಾಲ ಹೆಣೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಯಿತು. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ೧೦ ವಯೊಲಿನ್ ಗಳ ಆ ಮೋಡಿ ಇತ್ತಲ್ಲಾ, ಅದನ್ನು ಯಾವುದೇ ಶಬ್ಧಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿಡುವುದು ತುಂಬಾ ಕಷ್ಟಕರವಾದ ಕೆಲಸ. ಸಂಗೀತದಲ್ಲಿ richness ಅನ್ನುವ ಭಾವವೇನಿದೆ ಆ ಭಾವವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಆ ವಯೊಲಿನ್ ಗಳ ಜೊತೆ ಎನ್ ಎಸ್ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ (ಮ್ಯಾಂಡೊಲಿನ್), ವೇಣುಗೋಪಾಲ ರಾಜು, ಜಗದೀಶ್ (ತಬಲಾ) ಅವರಂಥಹ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಕಲಾವಿದರು. ಅಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಕಲಾವಿದರ ಕುಸುರಿ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು handle ಮಾಡಿದ ರೀತಿ ಇತ್ತಲ್ಲ, ಅದೊಂದು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವಾದ ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಡುವ ಕೆಲಸ. ಆ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಬಿ ವಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ್ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರವೀಣ್ ರಾವ್ ಜೋಡಿ. ಹಾಡಿದ ಕಲಾವಿದರೇನು ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಸುಪ್ರಿಯಾ ರಘುನಂದನ್, ಎಂ ಡಿ ಪಲ್ಲವಿ, ಸುನಿತಾ, ಸಂಗೀತಾ ಕುಲಕರ್ಣಿ, ಮಂಗಳಾ ರವಿ, ರವಿ ಮುರೂರು, ಕಿಕ್ಕೇರಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮೂರ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ವಿನಯ್ ಕುಮಾರ್, ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನು ಹುರಿದುಂಬಿಸುತ್ತಾ ವೇದಿಕೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಮಕ್ಕಳಂತೆ ಕುಣಿದು ಕುಪ್ಪಳಿಸಿದ್ದು ಅದೇ ಸಿ ಅಶ್ವಥ್. ಸುಪ್ರಿಯಾ ಹಾಡಿದ ಬಿ ಆರ್ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣ ರಾಯರ "ಅಮ್ಮಾ ನಿನ್ನ ಎದೆಯಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ" ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದವರ ಕಣ್ಣಂಚಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರು ತರಿಸಿದ್ದು ಸುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲ. ಪಲ್ಲವಿ ಹಾಡಿದ "ನನ್ನ ಇನಿಯನ ನೆಲೆಯ ಬಲ್ಲೆಯೇನೆ" ಗೀತೆ "ಮಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಲಾಹ್". ಮಂಗಳಾ ರವಿ ಹಾಡಿದ "ಎದೆಯು ಮರಳಿ ತೊಳಲುತಿದೆ....." ಮಾಡಿದ ಮಾಯೆ ಕೂಡ ಅದ್ಭುತ. ಇದೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕೇವಲ ನೆಲದಡಿಯ ವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾದ ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ತುದಿ ನೆಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕಾಣಿಸುವಂತೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ.

ಹಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಹಾಡಿಗೂ ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಮಂದಿ ತಮ್ಮ ತಮ್ಮ ನೋವು, ನಲಿವು, ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಪ್ರೇಮ, ಪ್ರಣಯ, ವಿರಹ, ಏಕಾಂತ, ಹೀಗೆ ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಭಾವಗಳಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಆಳವಾದ visit ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಸತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸತ್ಯ... ಅಶ್ವಥ್ ಅವರೇ ಹಾಡಿದ ಹಾಡುಗಳಂತೂ ಇನ್ನೂ ಅದ್ಭುತ. ಜನ ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲೇ ತಮ್ಮ "ಗುಪ್ತ ಗಾಮಿನಿ" ಯಾದ ಭಾವಗಳಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಭೇಟಿ ಕೊಡುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು, ಅಶ್ವಥ್ ಅವರ ಹೆಗ್ಗಳಿಕೆ... ಅವರೇ ಹಾಡಿದ "ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ, ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಬೆಳೆದು ಒಳಗೊಳಗೇ ಹರಿಯುವವಳು, ಜೀವ ಹಿಂಡಿ ಹಿಪ್ಪೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಒಳಗೊಳಗೇ ಕೊರೆಯುವವಳು, ಸದಾ ಗುಪ್ತಗಾಮಿನಿ, ನನ್ನ ಶಾಲ್ಮಲ...." ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ ಪಾಟೀಲರ ಈ ಹಾಡಿನ ಸಾಲು ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಕೇಳುಗರ ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಕೊನೆಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದು ಅಶ್ವಥ್ ಅವರ ಶಿಶುನಾಳ
ಶರೀಫರ ಅನುಭಾವಿ ಗೀತೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ.

ಇದಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲಾ ಮೆರುಗು ನೀಡಿದ್ದು ಬಂದ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳಿಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ದೇಸಿ ತಳಿ ಸಸಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ ಮತ್ತು ವಾದ್ಯವೃಂದದ ಕಲಾವಿದರಿಗೆ ಕೂಡ ಸಸಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ ಗೌರವಿಸಿದ್ದು.

ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಸಹಸ್ರಾರು ಮಂದಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗೆ ಸಸಿಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದು, ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಸಸಿಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಖುಷಿಯಿಂದ ಮನೆಗೆ ಮರಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದು ಕಂಡು ಕೆಲವು ಕ್ಷಣ ನಾನು ಭಾವುಕನಾಗಿದ್ದು ಸುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲ.

ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ ಯಾವತ್ತೂ ಮರೆಯದಂಥ ಹಾಡುಗಳು, ಅದ್ಭುತವಾದ ವಾದ್ಯವೃಂದ, ನೆರೆದ ೧೦,೦೦೦ ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಂದಿ ಪಟ್ಟ ಸಂತೋಷ, ಭಾವೋದ್ವೇಗ, ಇದನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿಸಿದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕಲಾವಿದರೂ, ಮತ್ತು ಇದಿಷ್ಟನ್ನು ಹೆಗಲ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೊತ್ತ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಇನ್ನೋವೇಟಿವ್ ಐ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕೂಡಿ, ಉಂಟಾದ "ತರಂಗಗಳು" ಯಾವತ್ತಿಗೂ ಮರೆಯುವಂಥದ್ದಲ್ಲ.

So Much....

Seriously thinking of venturing into something more meaningful...

working on a proposal to create a website for Kannada literature

thinking of exploring the options of getting into media at least part time for now

want read books which are still in the Q at my home. I have around 10 books to be read.

Lot of translation work is pending.

Need to spend more time with the family

Need to spend more time in theatre

Need to listen to more music

Need to constantly keep in touch with friends

Need to keep writing blog ( should start writing in Kannada as well)

Need to meet some imporant people who could potentially be a turning points in my life.....

So much to do.... so little time... !!!!

The Cheat called Time

I always wondered where does this time go?

Once it passes through our "moments", where does it go?

By the face of it, it comes again next day... !!! Such cheating !!!! You see the same thing again and again and believe that today is different than yesterday !!! Actually it's the same....

Again, trying to become absolutely insane... I can honestly tell you that it's very difficult for me to remain sane....

Over to my friends on what they want to say about this.....

Welcome folks once again into the world of madness after months..... :)

After a real long hybernation..... I am coming back...

Updates will start from Monday onwards....

Off for a training for two days....

ಮತ್ತೆ ನೆನಪಾದರು ಖಾಸನೀಸ....

ಯಾವುದೇ ಒಬ್ಬ ನಟ ಅಥವ ನಟಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡುಕಬೇಕು ಅಂದ್ರೆ, ನೂರಾರು ಪುಟಗಳು ಪರದೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಧೊಪ್ಪೆಂದು ಬಂದು ಬೀಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಲೋಕ ಕಂಡ ಅತ್ಯದ್ಭುತ ಕಥೆಗಾರ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಹೆಸರಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಹುಡುಕಿದಾಗ, ಧೊಪ್ಪೆಂದು ಬೀಳದೆ ಕಷ್ಟ ಪಟ್ಟು ತೆರೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ನುಸುಳಿ ಬಂದದ್ದು ಕೇವಲ ಬೆರಳೆಣಿಕೆಯಷ್ಟು ಪುಟಗಳು. ಇಂದಿನ benchmark ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಈ ಪರಿ 2 - 3 ಫಲಿತಾಂಶಗಳು ಖೇದಕರವೇ. ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ವಿಷಾದ ಅಡಗಿದೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಅದು ಸುಳ್ಳು ಮಾತಾಯಿತು. ಅವರನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸದ ನಮ್ಮ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಲೋಕದ ದಿವ್ಯ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೂಡ ವಿಷಾದವೇ... ಹೀಗೆ ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಬದುಕು, ಬರಹ, ಅವರ ಬದುಕಿನ ನಂತರ ಅವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರಹ... ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಡೆ ವಿಷಾದ, ಸಂಕಟ.

ಇಷ್ಟಾಗಿ ನನಗೂ ಕೂಡ ಅವರ ಹೆಸರು ಪರಿಚಯವಿತ್ತೆ ವಿನಃ, ಅವರ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿದ್ದು ಮೊನಾಲಿಸ ಮಾತ್ರವೇ... ವ್ಯಾಸರಂಥ ಕಥೆಗಾರರ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಲ್ಲುವವರು ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ದೇಹದ ದೈತ್ಯ ಪ್ರತಿಭೆ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಖಾಸನೀಸರು. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ರಂಥಪಾಲಕರಾಗಿ ಸರಿಸುಮಾರು 25 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ ಖಾಸನೀಸರು, ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರ ಭಟ್ಟರು ಅವರ ಮುನ್ನುಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ "ಮಹಾ ಮೌನಿ...... ತನ್ನ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾರೆ ಅಂದು ಪಟ್ಟು ಹಿಡಿದು ಕೂತವರು".

ಪ್ರಿಸಂ ಬುಕ್ಸ್ ತನ್ನ ಕಥಾ ಮಾಲಿಕೆಯ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊರ ತಂದ "ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಕಥೆಗಳು" ಕೇವಲ 9 ಕಥೆಗಳಿದ್ದರೂ, ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಕಥೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅದರ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವ ತಾಕತ್ತು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಇಷ್ಟಾಗಿ ಖಾಸನೀಸರು ಬರೆದದ್ದು ಸುಮಾರು 25 ಕಥೆಗಳು. ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಲೋಕದ ಅಂಕಿ ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಅದರ ಮಾನದಂಡದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಇದು ಕಡಿಮೆಯೇ. ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಅಷ್ಟೂ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಅಮೂಲ್ಯವಾದ ಗಟ್ಟಿಗಳೇ. ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಕಥೆ ಕೂಡ ಜನ್ಮ-ಜನ್ಮಾಂತರಕ್ಕಾಗುವಷ್ಟು ಛಾಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಿಬಿಡುತ್ತವೆ.

ಖಾಸನೀಸರಿಗೂ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಕ್ಕೂ ಅದೇನು ಸಂಬಂಧವೋ.... ಪ್ರಿಸಂ ಕಥಾ ಮಾಲಿಕೆಯ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ "ಮಂದಿಯ ರಹಸ್ಯ" "ಅಪಘಾತ" "ಹೀಗೂ ಇರಬಹುದು" "ಅಲ್ಲಾ ಉದ್ದೀನನ ಅದ್ಭುತ ದೀಪ" ಹೀಗೆ ಅವರ ಸುಮಾರು ಕಥೆಗಳು ಆರಂಭವಾಗುವುದೇ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಹಳಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ, ನಿರ್ಜನವಾದ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ.. ಓಡುವ ರೈಲು, ಓಡುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೆಲ ಕಾಲ ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಗಳು ಇವುಗಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಅರ್ಥೈಸುವುದು ನನ್ನ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಕಷ್ಟವೇ...

ಮಂದಿಯ ರಹಸ್ಯ ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಹೊಯ್ದಾಟ ತುಯ್ದಾಟಗಳನ್ನು ಸಣ್ಣ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವಾಗಿ ತಂದದ್ದು ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೇ. ಓಡುವ ರೈಲು, ನಿರ್ಜನ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ, ಮಂದಾಕಿನಿಯ ಬದುಕಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಥಳುಕು ಹಾಕಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಕಥೆಯ ಆರಂಭ ರೈಲಿನ ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ ನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿ, ಕೊನೆಯಾಗುವುದು ವಿಶಾದಕರವಾಗಿಯೇ. "ಸಾಸವಾಡದ ಹಸಿರು ಕೆಂಪಾಗುವ ದೀಪಗಳು ಕನಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಣಕಿಸಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಗೋಳಗುಮ್ಮಟದ ಬಸಿರಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಸಾಯುವ ದನಿಗಳು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು: "ಕಂಡ ಗಂಡೆಲ್ಲ ಮದುವೆಯಾಗುತ್ತೇವೆಂದು ಬರೆದು ಕೊಡಬೇಕೇ ? ಆಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆ ನಿನ್ನದು, ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನೀನೇ ಅನುಭೋಗಿಸಬೇಕು". ಗೋಳಗುಮ್ಮಟದಲ್ಲಿ ದನಿ ಒಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಾದರೆ ಆ ತಪ್ಪು ಅದರದೇ ವಿನಾ ಮಾತಾಡಿದವನದಲ್ಲ"

ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಕಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಮನಸ್ಸುಗಳ ನಡುವಣ ತಿಕ್ಕಾಟ ತೊಳಲಾಟ ಎದ್ದು ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ... ಅದು "ಅಪಘಾತ" ಆಗಿರಬಹುದು ಅಥವಾ "ಪುರುಷನ ಮುಂದೆ ಮಾಯೆ" ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ ರಾಮಬಾವು ರತ್ನಪಾರಖಿ ಆಗಿರಬಹುದು. ಯಾವತ್ತಿಗೂ ಇರುವ ದ್ವಂದ್ವಗಳು, ನೋವುಗಳು, ರಪ್ಪನೆ ಬೀಸುತ್ತವೆ... ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಮೊದಲೇ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದು. ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಕಥೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅದರ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವ ತಾಕತ್ತು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ ಎಂದು.

ವೃದ್ಧಾಪ್ಯದ ಬಗೆಗೆ ಖಾಸನೀಸರು "ಪುರುಷನ ಮುಂದೆ ಮಾಯೆ" ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಒಂದು ಕುಟುಂಬದಲ್ಲಿ ತಂದೆ ತಾಯಿ ಮಗ ಮಗಳು ಈ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮಂದಿಯ ನಾಲ್ಕು ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳ ಹೊಯ್ದಾಟವನ್ನು ಎದ್ದು ಕಾಣುವಂತೆ ನಮಗೆ "ಅಶ್ವಾರೋಹಿ" ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.... ಅದೇ ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ತಾಕತ್ತು... ವಿಷಾದವೆಂದರೆ... ಕಥೆಗಳು ಸುಖಾಂತವಾದಂತೆ ಕಂಡರೂ, ಒಳಗೆ, ಕಹಿ ಹಾಗೇ ಉಳಿದುಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಓದಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿದ ನಂತರವೂ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ವಿಪರೀತ ಕಾಡುವ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ತೇಲಿ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾರೆ ಖಾಸನೀಸರು.... ವಿಷಾದವೂ ಒಂದು ಭಾವ... ಅದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬದುಕಲೇಬೇಕಾದ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನು ಖಾಸನೀಸರ ಕಥೆಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಡೆ ಹರಡಿ ಕಾಡುತ್ತವೆ... ಇದಿಷ್ಟೇ ಸಾಕು ಈ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾಣುವುದಕ್ಕೆ.

Nature / Humans / Government

What's happening to this world ??? Again, the nature is beating the people in North Karnataka black and blue and still it has no mercy.. :(

Feeling very sad the way government is handling the situation.... The death toll is reaching 100 and government after 3 days, has woke up from the sleep and all morons were sitting in a temple taking classes from Narendra Modi on how to have a better government (or is it "how to save their a***e and grab the seat in next election").

The Chief Minister of Karnataka suddenly seems to be looking seriously discussing the situation with the Law Minister Suresh Kumar and a higher officer. Was he nodding his head just because the news channel cameras were on? It looked like that....

When are these idiots going to learn to be serious and when will they learn to be sensitive ?

Another area of concern is the way we human beings going against the nature. We are taking nature for granted and behaving as if the nature is a small unwanted sapling in the backyard. We are also thinking that we can fight with the nature and be a winner.. I am still not able to understand how we can think like this after looking at the way the we are struggling to walk against the gushing water !!!

I thought the weekend would be a peaceful one... After seeing the visuals, I am depressed... Called up my friends in Gulbarga, Bidar and Bhargavi's cousin in Hospet... All are safe...

Such a selfish mind !!!! :)

Rains.... Rains.... Rains.....

"Rain Rain Go away

Come again another day"

This was the poem I read when my daughter was studying in her 1st standard. Of course, when we were studying, it was always welcoming the rain and not cursing the rain to go away.

In India, it is not a culture to hate the rain. Rain is always seen a new lease of life for villages and biodiversities. Even to an extent that Rain has been given the status of GOD....

For the last few days, it's been pouring as if the sky has been ripped off.

Worst thing is that we crib about rain and crib about the mess it creates. But who is the reason for that? No one likes to talk about it.

It is we human beings who screw up the environment, screw up the roads, block the rain water canals for our greed of building more apartments and making more money. We have asphalted the roads in such a way that there is no place for the rain water to sink into the ground. If this is the case, where will you get the ground water replenishment? After doing all these things, we say that rain has thrown the life out of gear. Is it not that we are the reason for this?

I still remember. When we were children, there was never un-timely rain and there was never a flooding. Even if there were floodings, it used to be in the places where there were huge natural boulders which were somewhere on the outskirts of Bangalore.

We were taught that rains are always the best thing to happen to revitalize the life on earth... So, what are we talking about?

Why Title & What Title?

Again blogging after a gap of more than a month... what's happening ? Running out of stories?

It's tough to come to a position of deciding that I am going to write "THIS". So many thoughts, so many blanks, so many situations and so many confusions...

These things caused me not to step into blogging for almost a month.....

I always wonder that why do we human beings think what we think. Most of the time, what we think would be totally irrelevant to what the situation we are in. Sometimes, the thoughts are totally trash and illegitamate, illegal, whatever you call. But, it's absolutely true that we think all these and we think in all these directions. Somewhere it also depends on we compartmentalize our mind and open the doors of each compartment one by one instead of keeping every compartment door open.

Somehow, I always felt that it's very boring to have one door opened at a time in our minds. There is no fun in it.

This has happened to lot of times. I will be lost in some thought and suddenly a beautiful women passes by and I feel like... "wov... what a beautiful women... " . I am amazed that even when I am lost in a specific thought, that beautiful women catches my mind and it gets registered and there is a reflex action.. Still thinking what it would be.

It's not that I am one tapori and road romeo who waits for some beautiful women to pass through, it is just that I still have the aesthetic sense being an artiste.. that's all.

Here are my blabberings... :)

Friends and Facebook

It's been 11 days since I blogged...... Getting too much addicted to Face Book.... connected with 258 friends and out of whom I personally know at least 200 people. That's a nice way to connect to the outer world.

This reminds of me of all my friends who have been part of my life, who are still part of my life and who I suppose will be part of my life through the thick and thin of my life.

It's been my friends who have supported me in my life more than my relatives and I am quite honest about it. Since I grew up more outside the home rather inside, I had the opportunity of connecting with all sorts of friends. Friends, who are soft hearted, tough hearted, merciless, homely, friendly, cunning, horrible, intruding, selfish, ego-centric, actors, dancers, singers, painters, cameramen, producers, directors, instrumentalists, writers, poets, all sort... still all are my friends and each of them have been teachers to me....

Whenever I am in a particular situation, I remember my friends who would have gone through this or who are reasons for that.... that's the level of friendship I maintain and I am happy that my friends are like that.....

31 July 1980 - A Day to Remember

I am not sure what do I call this soul..... A god's gift to us, a human being's tribute to god or he himself is a GOD...... !!!

Exactly 29 years back on this day, this soul of Hindi film music left it's body and flew towards the world where there are no footprints.....

So many people imitated him and made name, fame, imitations, irritations, all sorts.......

But no one could even come nearer to him and no one can become like him.....

That's Mohammed Rafi.......

When he died, Doordarshan covered his last journey live... In the background, the which was being played was

क्यूँ संवारी है यह चन्दन की चिता मेरे लिए

में कोई जिस्म नहीं हूँ के जलाओ गे मुझे

राख हो जावुंगा बिखर जावूँगा में दुनिया में

तुम जहां खावोगे टोकर वही पावोगे मुझे........

मेरी आवाज़ सुनो प्यार का राग सुनो

What else do I say about this great soul... There will be no one like Rafi.. All those who are imitating Rafi and imitated Rafi, let them keep trying...

Coincidence....

It's quite interesting to note that Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru died in 1991 and exactly 18 years and 1 day, Gangubai Hangal ended her battle with life....

Gangubai Hangal... A Memory

It was 1990. I was jobless. I was seriously into theatre and learning Hindusthani classical music under Pt. Seshadri Gawai. I went to Hubli and Dharwad where my relatives stayed. Panditji had asked me to meet up with three of his friends and our GODs.... Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru, Vidushi Gangubai Hangal and Pt. Mallikarjuna Mansur..... Even though I could not meet Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru, I met Pt. Mansur and Vidushi Gangubai. Pt. Mansur was staying in Dharwad near All India Radio and Gangubai was staying in Deshpande Nagar in Hubli.

Those were the golden moments, when I touched their feet and my forehead was firmly on their feet and I could not control my tears thinking of my forutne.... I can bet that everyone won't get those kind of opportunities.

My mother's uncle who was a freedom fighter, teacher and also a freelance journalist, Swamirao Thirumalarao Deshpande, took me to Gangubai's house, Ganga Lahari. He knew her since her time in Kundagol.

Such a down to earth person in spite of reaching those hieghts, I could not believe. Initially I was speechless and I could only feel the softness of her feet. As I kept talking to her, I started feeling the softness of her heart.... she was very happy that I came to meet her and asked me to convey Pt. Seshadri Gawai's wishes..... She told me "sheshannanige nanna preethi vishwasa thilisu (convey my love and affection to Sheshanna).... She asked Krishna Hangal, her daughter to give us some chivuda (in Dharwad and Hubli, it is Chooda (avalakki) (not sure what they call in English) and Besan laddu and nice chaha (Tea).... I can never forget that hospitality... it was very nice of her to treat me who was a novice just like her kid.

Sad that she is no more.... her memory will always be there with me for ages to come.....

The world of Buses

I happened to travel by BMTC from my home to Majestic and by KSRTC (NWRTC) from there to Honnavara, a coastal district in Uttara Kannada (North Canara)..... It was a strange experience though.....

what I found interesting thing was that (as if I am experiencing this now), the bus itself a world and so many things gets created, so many things shattered, so many thoughts, so many questions....

I overheard multiple conversations during my travel..... most of them conveyed one common message. I (person who was talking about something) am always right and rest of the world is wrong.... someone kept on cribbing about his friends, his relatives, about everything in the world and boasting himself that how he is too good to be a human being and he is almost god !!!!

Mutliple smells..... smell of whiskey, smell of sweat, smell of paan, smell of not brushing the teeth, smell of jasmine, smell of other flowers, smell of powder, creams, after shaves, all mixed up.... it was quite confusing for me to sort each one out even though I could sense that each one of them are there. :)..... not sure what I call this experience.....

One of the most common thing was mobile phones... believe it or not... from my house to majestic, it is a 14 kilometer journey and around an hour's journey. Throughout the 14 kilometer, a girl was on the mobile, sometimes crying, sometimes just a vague smile, sometime a big laugh.... and on another seat there was this guy who was on the mobile and was under the impression that he is in front of a microphone and the entire world should listen to his talk.... he was talking to his friend about a girl, whom he was feeling that she ditched and he eyeing for some other girl and his fight with the family.... all the things in his world were becoming the topics for this world....

Some people were eyeing for those "to be vacant" seats and were standing so close to each other that they were ready to push the next guy with force so that they can attack the seat vacated...

All these were happening at the same time and it was very confusing to watch all these and sense all these and make sense out of it.....

If this was the case with BMTC, then KSRTC was another world.... As usual the bus was late when it reached Honnavara. It was late by just 2 hours. In the bus, the voices were so clear and people were talking as if they are talking at home and they do not care for any one in the world....
The moment the lights went off in the bus, husky dusky voices started making noise. There was a couple who were sitting right behind me. Looks like they were recently married. They almost forgot that they are sitting in a public place and whatever they speak would be heard very clearly to other passengers......

Someone stamping on someone's leg in a hurry to go to the loo and war of words happened and finally, they had to be asked to keep quiet by other passengers..... Both of them looked so decent and well behaved in the beginning, but was strange in their behaviour. That's the reason I told so many things got created in our minds and so many things broke up in reality.....

It was a different experience... By the way, I am almost deciding that I would start commuting by BMTC once a week very soon......

Deaths & Remembrances

Not sure what is happening !!!! This week is totally filled with remembrances and deaths....

First it was Raju's remembrance after seeing his video on youtube (kurigalu saar kurigalu).

Then, I had a lengthy discussion with a friend about Venki, one my closest friend and TV / cinema actor and stupid fellow left us few years back.....

Couple of days back, it was Nilu Phule, one of the best artistes in the world of indian theatre and marathi cinema

Now it Maina Chadru....... Yesterday this friend of mine with whom I worked in theatre beginning my first production Kaalagnaani Kanaka in 1987 till around 2000, passed away leaving all of us to suffer.

Apart from being a namma rangabhoomi geleya, he also was a producer who produced NS Shankar's Ulta Palta, remake of Hindi movie Angoor which was based on Shakespeare's comedy of errors. Apart from this he acted in serials and one of the most remembered serial is Sihikahi Chandru's Yadva Tadva. He played the role of "inspektar asok kumar, very strict aapeesar".... people recognized him so much with this role. Actually during one of the episode's shootings, I met him and we along with Chandru had lunch together and he spoke at length with me on all his ambitions. I kept on telling him time and again to bring "Puttakkana Medical College" play on the stage once again under his direction. Now who will bring this on stage??

My sincere request with heavy heart to all my friends who are reading this blog, please do not get into an addiction of alcohol. Also please tell your friends not to get into this habit...

Seriously We do not want to loose any more friends because of this reason.....

Alocohol killed Venki and Maina.

Maina was 43 and Venki was 40 when they succumbed to death..... Both were such talented artistes

What a sad way to end the week !!!! :(

Nilu Phule - Marathi Stage / Cinema - No more

Quite sad...... Nilu Phule, one of the best stage / cinema artistes I had ever seen is gone...

http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20090714/1251/ten-phule-no-more-end-of-an-era-in-marat.html

I was in Mumbai for a theatre festival and there was this play called "Sakharam Binder". Nilu Phule acted in this play and I became totally fida about his performance. After the play , I could not resist jumping on to the stage and shake hands with him....

I also remember watching Nilu Phule in a very small role in the film Naram Garam, which had Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt in the lead.

A veteran in the world of theatre and cinema in Marathi, Phule saab's memory will be there ever with me....

Late Remembrance.....

It was 1987. Life was in full throttle in amateur theatre.... I was heavily into the theatre festivals, acting, singing, working in backstage. It was so much fun.....

Raju, walks into my life during this time. He was studying in National College, Jayanagar. He walked into the festival to work in the festival. I was happy with that addition, as I was aware of the fact that he was the son of legendary singer Mysore Ananthaswamy. I had heard him singing in some of the occassions. I was happy that I got one more friend who was a singer.

The intensity of freindship between me and Raju got quite intense. We used to meet up every evening and used to discuss so much about music. He was a singer, he had completed senior in Tabla through Pt. Seshadri Gawai, he could play quite other instruments. He was an excellent composer... more than anything, he was an excellent human being, fun loving character. We used to loaf around a lot and used eye lot of good looking girls !!!

Some of the days, we all used to sit on the stage at HN Kalakshetra with Raju during some of the afternoons, and Raju used to sing for us with hormonium... what a singing it was !! Mindblowing...

Slowly, life took a different mode for both of us... he got quite busy with his singing, recordings, music composing, studios, mastering, etc... We lost in touch with each other..... After many years, on couple of occassions, we met, but it was not the same Raju whom I had interacted earlier. Raju was totally drunk, he was not himself and he seemed to have been searching for something which he himself could not express. This was some time in 2001. After that he started getting disconnected from his old friends. Later I came to know that he got married and husband and wife did not stay together long.... It was quite sad to him... there were people in the music industry, who according to some sources, prompted him to drink more and get spoilt so that he will not be a competitor for them. I made all efforts to get in touch with him, but I could not... I also heard that he went to US and was trying get de-addict himself from alcohol. By that time, alcohol had damaged his health to a great extent.

18 January 09, my mother was going through severe health conditions and I was taking her to the doctor. I got a call from one of my friend that Raju died suffering kidney failure. I was so shocked that I suddenly applied break in the middle of the road. Even though, I was aware of his health condition, I was optimistic that someday, he will bounce back... but it never happened.. I could not even go to see his face for the last time as the situation at my home was quite tensed.

Raju, a composer, singer, music director, tabla player, a good friend, a good human being, was no longer in this world giving way to all sorts of jokers who were making mockery of light music.

All these I remembered as yesterday evening, my niece, Anupama was singing on stage for a musical evening and there was a display and sale of audio CDs. I picked up a CD containing 32 songs of Raju which had his own compositions, his father Ananthaswamy's compositions. Today morning I was listening to it and I just could not control my tears. I just cried silently to myself.

Guru Dutt – A Synonym for creativity

This is the article which I wrote in 1999 for the same day.... I am just copying and pasting that article

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39 is definitely not an age to die and that too commit suicide? But, unfortunately for a person like Guru Dutt, there was no other alternative.

Guru dutt Shiv Shankar Padukone, born in Karnataka, began his career as a choreographer in Calcutta. From Calcutta, he came to Bombay and in 1946, he choreographed for a movie called Hum Ek Hain. He was also an assistant director for the film. At that time, he was employed at Prabhat Studios where Dev Anand was also working. Both of them became quite close and they decided that whoever gets a chance to become a director would give a chance to another as a hero of that film and vice versa.

1951, Dev Anand began his home production Navketan and became a hero for the film BAAZI. As committed, Guru Dutt was made to sit in the director’s chair. That’s it. The magical wonder was born. From there onwards, Guru (that’s how Dev Anand and Johny Walker used to address him) never looked back. Jaal (1952) Baaz (1953) Aaar Paar (1954) Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955) Pyaasa (1957), Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Choudvin Ka Chand (1960), Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam (1962), it was rain of hits. A total of 9 huge hits in a span of just 10 years!!!! Might be Guru Dutt was too tired to complete the other films which he committed that he will do it.

If this is the case of his professional career, destiny had something else in store for him for his personal life.

He got married to Geetha Roy (who later became Geetha Dutt), for whose voice, he fell flat. Things were going quite smoothly in his life. Varun and Tarun were born and he was leading a comfortable life. One fine day, a storm came into his life and it did not stop till it washed him out of this world. This storm was none other than Waheeda Rehman.

Waheeda was an absolutely talented artiste. She was a good dancer, good actor and more than anything, she was breathtakingly beautiful. She acted in CID (remember the song “Kahin pe nigahe kahin pe nishana?). From there onwards, Waheeda never looked back in her career. Gurudutt and Dev Anand exploited her talent to the maximum extent. When Gurudutt started his film Pyaasa, he decided to give more emphasis on Waheeda and thus they started getting closer to each other. This turned into an absolute romantic story. Mind it, it was not a gossip. It was a true story, which was going on.

Quite natural, Geetha Dutt ignored these things in the beginning. But how long? Things started getting worse and literally every day Geetha used shout at Guru Dutt. For an extremely sensitive person like Guru, he was helpless. Geetha dutt stormed out of his house along with two children. From there onwards, Guru Dutt’s life became so lonely and he started getting depressed. In that depression, he made Kagaz ke Phool, which was based on a Film Director’s story. Was he trying to portray himself? VK Murthy, who was a permanent cameraman for all the films of Guru Dutt, felt so in one of the interviews.

In each and every frame of his films, Guru Dutt’s sensitiveness towards life was clearly visible. In spite of this flop in his personal life, he never gave up Waheeda Rehman. After this, he did Choudvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam with Waheeda in the major character.

Post these films, Guru Dutt became more depressed and one fine day, he felt that he had enough of this loneliness and decided to share his feelings with the people with whom he was very close. There were 4 people. Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Johny Walker whom Guru Dutt introduced and Abrar Alvi who used to write the story and screenplay for Guru Dutt’s films. He called up Dev Anand and said he is feeling alone. As usual, Dev took this in a joking sense, started laughing and kept down the phone. That was the beginning of Guru Dutt’s end. He called up Raj Kapoor but Raj said he would be able to meet him only next day morning as he was going to Pune for some work. He could not get Johny Walker and Abrar Alvi on the line. He immediately took a decision that there will be nobody for him and in that distress, he switched on his gramophone and put on the song “Waqt ne kiya kya hasin Sitam, Tum rahe na tum, Hum rahe na hum” (how the time made all of us. You were not you and I was not I) sung by Geetha Dutt. He consumed a bottle full of sleeping tablets and went to sleep forever. The song ended and almost at the same time, Guru Dutt’s physical presence in this world came to an end. This song sounded so much made to him. If you listen to each words of this song carefully, you can feel that pain and loneliness which Guru Dutt suffered in the end and it feels that this song bacame a swan song in his life. Even today the people, who said they were thick pals with him, fondly remember Guru Dutt. They were friends with him only when he was in thick of happiness.

Guru Dutt and his films
Most of his films were based on an existence of emotional bondage or ruthlessness of the society. These issues were depicted through every single character he portrayed in his films. Whether it was Pyasaa, which portrayed the main protagonist reminiscent of Devdas, or Aar Paar, where Driver Kalu (Guru Dutt played this character) thinks of eloping with the employer’s daughter made the viewers have a shock. Please remember that I am talking of the generation of 1953. His films had the audacity to take playful swipe at the bourgeois traditions of family conducts and social values[1].

Are you a communist? No, I am a cartoonist. So says his hero in Mr. & Mrs.55. Though Guru Dutt would be the last person to describe himself as a cartoonist, yet it is an equally interesting angle of vision on the man as the more conventional one of the sensitive, misunderstood romantic.[2]

As far as the aesthetics of his films were concerned, Guru Dutt can be termed as a pioneer in using the lights in the best possible way. One of his classics Kagaz ke Phool is a beautiful example for usage of light and shadows to depict brightness and darkness of life. And to your surprise, you will see the darkness more than light, which as I said earlier was an integral part of his life. His cameraman VK Murthy was one of the brain behind these classic shots and they set a standard. Guru Dutt also set the new trends for song picturization in his films.

Overall, with a very short span and less number of films, Guru Dutt is remembered among the line of classic filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Akira Kourasowa, Felini, etal.

“In the formula-ridden film world of ours one who ventures to go out of the beaten track is condemned to the definition which Matthew Arnold used for Shelly, “….an angel beating his wings in a void”. I believe one who is out to go against the winds has to be prepared for bouquets as well as brickbats, for triumph as well as heartbreaks, whether or not one makes a classical or collects the cash. It is this baffling unpredictability that gives edge to the thrill of movie-making”

- Guru Dutt

[1] Shampa Bannerjee in her article on Guru Dutt. Shampa is one of the best film critics with specialisation of Satyajit Ray and Guru Dutt
[2] Shampa Bannerjee and Ref : Guru Dutt : A Life in Cinema by Nasreen Munni Kabir

Major Tasks & Facebook

My exams and after that Deeksha's Kuchupudi dance performance.... both for me and Bhargavi were something we wanted to sail through... and we did......

Off late getting hooked on to facebook.... so much that in the last 15 days I have got 98 people connected. All my old friends, theatre fellows whom I have not met for ages, friends from the media, performing arts, cinema, all are getting connected....

Nice to be in touch with them. Some of them have totally forgotten me. I had to remind them as to where we met them, when and on what occassion. Suddenly the response comes, "oh.. it's you, where were you all these days???". or sometimes people have replied "yenlaa... yengiddeeya? (what yaar, how are you? in kannada pakka rural vocabulary)" and some of them have plainly accepted my friend request, which implies that they have recognized me and also they have met me through blogging here and also in Kannada bloggers network....

Thanks to the technology and it's very interesting to be on facebook.....

Deeksha Danced......

Finally, it happened.....

Deeksha's performance started at 7:30 PM and went till 8 PM.

I was standing on the side-wings.... It was quite a strange feeling. So far, I used to be there on stage and if I am at the side-wings, then it would be with make-up waiting for my next scene to come.... But this time, I was there to encourage Deeksha and pat on her back. It was quite a nice feeling.

Quite a few of them turned up. Myself and Bhargavi are very thankful to them .....

Srikanth Raghavan (my boss), Ravi Ivaturi, Sunil Koshy, Nagaraj, Latha (my friends) and Tejaswini (their daughter), and it was also nice to see that my friends Raama, Raaghu, Puneetha, Lakshmi, Deepa, Vinay, turned up at the auditorium to watch Deeksha and Raama was telling me that Deeksha is very graceful... he could not believe that it was Deeksha. He was seeing her after few years !!

Ravi, who could not bring his daughter (down with fever) who herself is an upcoming dancer, made sure that he was there at the venue to watch the performance. It was quite nice to see him come all the way from HRBR Layout.

Even though I was bit tensed up, I kept encouraging her and was telling her standing on the side-wing before the performance on how to utilize the expanse of the stage during her movements and to my disbelief, she literlly did that !!! She was dancing all over the stage with every nook and corner and made sure that her presence on stage was felt everywhere by everyone.

I was told that not many kuchupudi dancers are there and that too performing Kuchupudi at the age of 12 is a hard task.

Myself and Bhargavi must thank Vyjayanthi, Deeksha's Guru. It is she who literlly took Deeksha into her folds and nurtured her and still nurturing her like the mother birds feed the food for the young ones.... It is really quite emotional to see this bondage. This is the Guru-Shishya parampara.

Two more people I must mention here are Yael Tal and Prateeksha. Yael Tal, a student from Isreal, who is here in India to learn Kuchupudi dance, helped Deeksha massively along with Vyjayanthi's training. She was a second Guru to Deeksha. Prateeksha, Vyjayanthi's daughter and student, made sure that Deeksha looked graceful in her make-up and that was one of the highlighting point for me being an artiste.

Deeksha was honored with a basket of fruits, a certificate and cash of Rs.750. by Ananya Academy's Dr. Raghavendra. It will remain a lifetime memory for Deeksha.

Raama was so happy seeing her performance, he straightaway gifted Rs.500 to Deeksha. Other 600 came from others and my cousin was so happy that he lifted her like a child and showered his affection. These gestures definitely shows how much of encouragement Deeksha is getting.

I think we should get used to these kind of post-performance reactions in the future and Deeksha has begun her crawling in the field of classical dance. We are quite optimistic that she would reach the heights which Vyjayanthi has gracefully reached and of course, that's Vyjayanthi's dream as well. Lots of effort required for almost a decade to reach that level.

Deeksha - Performance on 4th July 09

The D-Day is arriving..... 4th July, this Saturday, Deeksha is performing for 30 minutes at Seva Sadana on 14th Cross, Malleshwaram. Those of you for whom I do not have the mail ID, please treat this as a personal invitation from myself and Bhargavi.

We are quite excited and tensed about Deeksha going on stage without any support from either her teacher or me and Bhargavi and being there for 30 minutes !!! This is something we are facing for the first time. I think we should get used to this kind of excitement as she will be doing lots of events like this.

Out of Sight or Out of Mind

People say that "out of sight is out of mind". I am bit confused on this. There are so many things which we are not able to see, but how come those things are occupying prime time slots in our minds?

Just because I was on vacation for 2 weeks, my office and job was out of sight. But it was never out of my mind !!! On and off, I used to think about office.

But yes, looks like I have a selective amensia. I seem to keep things out of mind per my convenience, even though it is not out of sight.

There are some people in my life, whom I always want to be in my mind even though they are no more in my sight. Of course, there are huge number of people whom I want them to be out of sight and also out of mind, but it never happens.

For example, 1988, I met noted film director / actor Aparna Sen (Shabana Azmi will kill me if I say actress !!!. She does not believe in actor & actress. It sounds more of miss and mistress and is very demeaning.... She asks is there something called doctor & doctress?? then why actor and actress ??? quite a thought provoking issue !!! ) and got totally fida over her eyes and could not resist mentioning that to her (from that time onwards, any woman with beautiful eyes catches my eyes fast !!! ) . See my blog .... http://rameshmg.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-for-eye.html

She just smilingly looked at me and said, I thought there was no one in Bangalore who told me this, but you told me and now Bangalore is also added to my list !!. That's the memory I have about her.... the oomph, the grace, the sensualness she has, can never go out of my mind. It's etched in my mind. Now she is out of my sight, but she is never out of my mind !!!

What do you say???

Age for Life & Attitude

For first year MA, there were 54 people who took the exam. I was surprised to see only 22 people from my previous batch and also some interesting new faces in the examination hall. One such face was noted Kannada film actor Shivaram. Imagine. Exam was only half an hour to go and we were talking about the trends in the film industry and he went into little bit of flashback. He is 72 years old and has been in the industry for last 52 years !!!. I know Shivaram through my theatre days. In 1987, when I stepped into theatre, it was this Shivaram, who used to watch us do the rehearsals in the rehearsal sheds of Ravindra Kalakshetra and sometimes used get involved in the discussions.

I still wonder that Shivaram at this age, decides to do an MA in Kannada and we fellows take this as one serious thing and keep cribbing that we are old and we do not have patience to study. Lot to learn from Shivaram.

I know there is an age factor for life. Is there something called age for the attitude towards life?

Deeksha - Performing on July 4th

Deeksha is starting her daily rehearsals from today. The rehearsals would be from 6 PM to 9 PM.....

July 4th is her performance and Bhargavi and myself are tensed up. As I said, she and her teacher Vyjayanthi Kashi are cool about the performance...

It's strange that me, being on stage for the last 20 years, still feel nervous about these performances.

Deeksha would be on stage for 30 minutes all alone !!! that's what is creating a little bit pounding inside our hearts.... Ananya, a cultural trust for music and performing arts, is organizing this dance series called Chiguru where they provide platform for young budding talents across Bangalore. Deeksha has been selected out of the huge list of students for this performance.... Happy for her.....

Back after a long hiatus

Somehow, I was able to zip through my exams and I am back into action.
I was not in touch with the world. Music system in my room was powered off for almost 20 days !!!! From 8th June, till 20th June, my laptop was kept inside the cupboard and locked. My only mode of communication to outside world was my dabba mobile......

The exams, I found to be too excruciating.... not because I am writing my exams after a span of 20 years.... I always felt exams to be too sense less and too life less. It does not care who you are and what you think about them. Their only aim is to grill you and make your life tough.... So, what do we learn from exams? For me it's time and again proof that me and exams don't go hand in hand.....

However, I hope I am out of this rut called exams and I also hope that I will never get a chance to sit for an exam once again in my life.... I hope to see that I get my masters degree certificate and be done with it... It's too much... it's too tiring..... Bindu, a friend of mine jokingly commented on a little goof up I created in the office on Friday and she said that "Ramesh, I know ur brains are overworked after ur exams….ask ur boss some more leave!".... seriously, it is true, but unfortunately, I do not have that option of going for some more leave !!!! If I do that, I will be asked to leave !!! :)

It was 5 papers in Kannada literature covering literature from 5th century till 19th century. Even though I went through my text books 4 times, every time I was reading them, I was feeling that how come I know so little???

One paper on the inscription literature (these are the literatures inscribed on stones, metals and other materials.... these are the source of finding out how were the old days, what were the wars fought, how was the society? who were treated how? what did the king give to whom? and lots of other stuff) was quite tough but it's quite interesting to see how was the life then in 5th century. Even in 5th cetury, all human characters were there in every human being. Love, hatred, greed, war, peace, literature, beautiful and gorgeous women, handsome men, nature, everything. There was also one more thing which was there during those days which is not available today. Peace of Mind !!!!

Anyway, bygones be bygones....

I am happy to put my thought into this blog again and connect with the people on different planes... I happy to be back into this space again !!!

Blog se bhaago !!!

Okey !!! I have decided to return to serious blogging only after 17th of June. Till then it's a sanyaas from the blogging as my exams are nearing and there are loads of things to do in office.

I am on vacation for the exams from 8th - 17th June.

Until and unless something really comes up (rather goes down !!) and I am not able hold it any more, I will come back to this space and throw it into this space.

Till then, take care.. Ciao.....

People who influened My Life - Nagaraja Murthy

KV Nagaraja Murthy

Sometime during mid 80s, I was wishing to get actively into theatre. I was not sure whom to contact. Someone told me (I seriously do not remember who it was who told me and it's my unpardonable mistake on my part for not remembering the name) to go Ravindra Kalakshethra and talk to someone. That was the first time I went to Kalakshethra in the afternoon. So far, I went in the evening with all those glitz. On the steps of Kalakshethra, Nagaraja Murthy and CG Krishnaswamy (CGK) were sitting. I went and asked them as to whom I can meet if I wanted to be part of any of the plays. CGK and Nagaraja Murthy looked at me and asked me what can you do? Can you act? I told them I can act and I can also sing. Suddenly Nagaraja Murthy sprang up and said.. oh.. haagadre ondu haad haadu kelona (oh... in that case, sing a song, let us hear). I was not used to singing in open areas like that and felt awkward. However, I sang a song. Nagaraja Murthy, suddenly said why did you not meet me earlier? Hew told CGK, Saarr... why don't you take him for the play Kalagnaani Kanaka? CGK said ok, come for the rehearsals. That was my entry.

From there onwards, Nagaraja Murthy has been my mentor, my god father, everything in theatre. He took me into his folds and nurtured me like his own son. 1987-88, 88-89, two years successively I won the inter-collegiate theatre festival awards. This was the festival organized by Nagaraja Murthy. He made me part of the street play "Cancer" and asked me to be the lead singer for this. A good break for me was here. I got a chance to perform at least around 80 shows of this street play in all nooks and corners of karnataka. The next immediate break was Manteswamy Katha Prasanga a play directed by Suresh Anagalli, one of the major productions I worked in my theatre life. Nagaraja Murthy chose me as a Lead Singer for this production.
When times go bad, wrong things happens. For some trivial issue, he shouted at me during one of the shows (which I know was not intentional) and I was too childish and just came of out of the team Prayoga Ranga which gave me a foot hold into theatre. From there onwards, life took a total different unexpected turn and so many things happened. Started focusing on my career and was in touch with theatre, but never worked in that. It was bit painful to remain like that. This went on for almost 10 years till 2004

Since I was unemployed during 1991 - 92, Nagarajamurthy used to give me 100 rupees for every show I perform. He used to drop me home, he used to feed me lunch, dinner. I can never forget his affection towards me. I think I did not remain faithful to him. Today, whatever I have achieved in theatre, all those credit should go to Nagaraja Murthy. He was the one who recognized my "potential". He was the one who introduced me into Shankar Nag's team. He was the one who introduced me to well known theatre personality MS Sathyu and pushed me into his production "Mote Raamana Sathyagraha". He was the one who introduced me to film actor Ashok and Ashok involved me in his theatre productions. He was the one who made me a part of the theatre workshops and asked me to compose music for the play "Napolean maththu Naayi" (Napolean and the Dog). I played a major role in this production as well.

So much to write about Nagaraja Murthy. He still remains my god father, my mentor and I am always indebted to him for making me whatever I am today.

People who influenced my life - Hari Babu

Hari, as he was affectionately called by all of us is a person who came into my life influenced and just went off. I do not know where he is today. Some of my contacts says that he is in Kerala and is actively into politics. Well, that's nothing new for those who know Hari.

When I joined Equations, he was one of the persons with whom I really got to work very closely as Hari was an expert with the issues related to Coast (he is from Kozhikode, which is a town on the coast). It was the time when the Anti-Cogentrix movement was at its peak. There was a protest rally organized by the network in Mangalore. Hari and myself traveled to Managalore for taking part in the ralley. Hari introduced me to so many people in the coast and few of them I still remember. Yathish Bykampady, Natesh Ullal, Ranjan Guruvayanakere, Leo Saldanha, Dr. Ravindra Shanbhag, Dr. Sharatchandra from DANIDA, so many other people. I was amazed at the knowledge Hari had about the coast and the violations on the coast. He was prolific in the area of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). No one could beat him in this subject. I kept on wondering as to how simple and down to earth a person can be. Hari spoke to me in length about the issues faced by the fishing community, the threat to the coastal environment, ecology on the coast, deep inside the sea. His knowledge was as huge as the ocean itself. I always dreamt of thinking like him and gaining knowledge like him. I cannot even imagine of reading like him. He used to read so much and it's a wonder that he had so many thought processes in his head.

Hari had a lean towards communist ideologies in Kerala. He was from Kozhikode and during his heydays has been part of so many movements in the state. He is an avid reader, he was into film making. He used to tell me about the film he jointly produced "Amma Ariyan".

More than anything, one thing which bonded both myself and Hari was the craze for hindi film music. I still remember, whenever we used to go traveling, he asks me to sing some Mukesh numbers and just gets emotional. The song "Humne Tujh ko pyaar kiya hai itna" sung by Mukesh became so popular for me only after Hari spoke to me in length about the intensity of that song and the love. Another song of Mukesh "o jaanewale ho sake tho laut ke aana" is one song which he just loved and today, whenever I listen to that song, I just remember him and the picture of Hari's eyes filled with tears comes in front of me. Such was the intensity with which Hari loved music. I never knew that a song can be loved so much. I learnt a lot from him. I learnt to listen more of malayalam songs because of Hari. He made me taste the kerala paratas in Thippasandra, he used to joke about Arvind Swamy's face in the song uyire uyire from the fillm Bombay, mentioning that the guy makes his face as if somebody is squeezing his bottom.... :) Such was the zeal of Hari.

Not sure where he is. Hope to meet him some day

Remembering People who influenced me in my life - KT Suresh

Few blogs from now on, you will see me writing about people who made a tremendous influence on my life and changed my life forever.

It was in January 1995 / 1996, I was introduced to Equations by Manjunath, an IES officer with Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fisheries where I was working as Admin Assitant to the Technical Consultants. Manju felt that I am sensitive enough to be part Equations, an NGO who were into research and documentation for tourism.

Well, I was venturing out into a new world and was not sure what my goal was. I had to meet Suresh, who was popular as KT among his friend's circle. This was supposed to be an interview. I finally met him. He had a broken leg and was plastered and I could see the art works all over the plaster of paris and maximum was from Dhanaraj, one of the artiste who was working with Equations. Suresh sat in the balcony of Equations office in Indiranagar behind Indiranagar Club sorrounded by plants and spoke to me. I blabbered all sorts of things which came to my mind. About theatre, my life thus far, etc. etc. Manju had told me that I should speak something about environment and so I did.

Suresh said... hmmmmm... ok ondu kelsa maadi.. send me a small write-up in Kannada on environment protection by fax. Let us see. During the discussion I came to know that one of their resources Yamuna left the job of coordinator for Karnataka area and they were looking for someone who is politically, culturally and also mentally sensitive person to work with them. Manju felt I can deliver what they were looking at. I wrote something about environment protection including something from Krishna's Bhagavadgita which goes like "Patram Pushpam Phalam Thoyam....." and very little I did know that I was sending it to the person who was a total Aethist !!!

After few days later, I got a call from Suresh, mentioning that I had been selected. I was thrilled that I am into something new where none my family members have ventured (that's the case till today !!!)

I went along with Bhargavi to collect my "offer letter" which mentioned I also will be part of internal policy related decisions .

On March 1st, First day, I go to Equations and I could not see Suresh or any other people whom I expected. Only Mr. Sundaram, who was managing Admin and Finance was there and when I asked about Suresh, he was hiding something from me. It was quite fishy.

A day later, Suresh met me and gave a shock of my life. Manju, who introduced me to Equations, committed Suicide because of some personal problems !!!! I could not control my tears...

From there on, Equations totally gave a new perspective in my life. I started seeing so many things which I had never seen in my own world. Suresh introduced me to all the colleagues there. Hari Babu (about whom I need write another piece), Shirley, Dhanaraj, Lakshman and Mr. Sundaram. It was a different world altogether where there were no gender discriminations, no hangups, no egos, no artificial lives, nothing... all so natural, so true and so clear. That was my impression about equations and I am happy that even today, it remains so.

I must tell about Suresh. One of the most interesting persons I have ever met in my life. I am not sure whether I am going to meet anyone who can be like him. Those days, a smoking Chimney with beard, Suresh never sounded like a boss to me. I was so much used to the boss-subordinate culture and it was a culture shock for me. I was surprised that can bosses be like this also??? He used to suddenly infuse kannada words during the discussions with me and whenever he was angry, I could see his nostrils exapand and his ears go tomato red.. always I used to read the article what I wrote in Kannada in front of him and he used to keep staring at me while I was reading the article.

Suresh changed me forever. He spoke to me about so many things in life which I never knew, they existed.

A great friend and a even more great human being, Suresh put me on to so many of his friends and few of them, I can never forget. Rose, Vish, Sreeni, Joy, Ganesh, Mirza Yawar Baig, et.al. More than anything he put me in the middle of this great gang through the mehfils which used to happen in Rose's house.

Suresh sensitized me about environment, forests, coasts (of course, Hari had a great influence on me aboout coasts as well), Adivasis, how to establish network, how to maintain it, what to write, what not to write, what to speak, what not to speak. Overall, Suresh put me into the world of NGOs of which I never knew anything. During our struggle against Taj hotels in Nagarahole, It was Suresh's support and guidance to me along with Susan Mathews (again this is another person about whom I will write), which helped us succeed.

Today, if I am anything good, a huge portion of the credit should go to Suresh. Because of him, I stopped using plastic covers, I never drank pepsi or coke, I started getting sensitive about people cutting trees, I started becoming eco-concious, I even tried making my home an eco-friendly one, and I can say that Suresh is the reason for it.

Today, Suresh sitting in Mumbai still inspires me and I am indebted to him and will always be. Thanks Suresh for making me a human being from being a total insensitive fellow.

Jaayen Tho Jaayen Kahan - In Memory of Talat Mahmood

Talat Mahmood with Rafi and Manna De

Photo Courtesy : Tribune India

11 years back, 09 May 1998, Talat Mahmood moved out of this big bad world. May be god might have got bored and he wanted to listen to Talat Mahmood....

Very few people of my generation, would like to listen to Talat Mahmood. I can challenge, some of them have not even heard of his name, forget about listening to him.

.......... Producer-Director-Studio Owner Mehboob Khan of 'Mother India' fame, would always put his finger on Talat's throat and tell him " Khuda ka noor tumhare gale mein hai ! "

Talat Mahmood, who was popular for his ghazal singing, had a very interesting voice which had vibrations and so far, till today, there are huge number of people who could imitate Kishore, Rafi, Mukesh and even Manna De and succeed as well. But none to imitate Talat Mahmood as it is not easy to do so. Such was the voice of Talat Mahmood.

Some of the songs which I remember today are here:

1. sham-e-gham ki kasam
2. Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhaayee
3. Aansoo samajh ke kyon mujhe aankh se tumne gira diya
4. Jaayen tho jaayen kahan
5. Meri yaad mein tum na aansoo bahaa na, ne jee ko jalana, mujhe bhool jaana
6. Hum dard ke maaron ka, itna tho phasana hai
7. Aaj ke mulaaqat bas itni, dekho humein tumse hai preet kitni (Sung with Latha Mangeshkar)
8. Dil-e-naadan tujhe hua kya hai, aakhir is dard ki dawa kya hai
9. koi nahin mera is duniya mein aashian barbaad hai
10. Tasveer Banata Hoon, Tasveen nahin banthi
11. Jalte hain jis ke liye (this is one song which I cannot forget and makes me quite emotional)
12. Zindagi Denewaale sun
13. Seene mein sulagthe hain armaan (with Lata Mangeshkar and one of the ever memorable composition of Anil Biswas. You should listen to this song to enjoy those vikrit sur, sharp notes suddenly coming and flying off !!!)
14. Dekh li teri khudaayee

Well, the list goes on......

Talat used to sing Bengali songs in the name of Tapan Kumar

Talat has sung for very few films compared to the thousandwallahs like Rafi and Kishore. Talat is miles behind in terms of number. But, the quality is unmatchable.

Weekend Weakness....

Bit of disturbed mind since morning...... Issues will be there... all part of life..... These are short lived ones.....

Weekend - Event 1 - Planning to be part of the protest against the metro morons.....

Weekend - Event 2 - Studies, Studies and studies...

Weekend - Event 3 - Planning to go to Rangashankara for 3:30 PM show on Sunday

Nothing special beyond that....

All 19 Down !!!

Sad to know that the morons from Metro Rail have cut down all the 19 eucalyptus trees in Lalbagh.....

The count of killed trees for the purpose of Metro Rail has gone beyond 700 !!! These bastards will never learn in their life... They will suffer and are making us suffer even more....

Rabindranath Tagore - The Soul

It's quite difficult to write about him. Writing about Rabindranath Tagore is like the blind touching the elephant. However, I am one more blind who is trying to put across my thoughts.

Today is the Rabindranath Tagore's birthday.

He is a great soul, who gave a new branding to West Bengal and to the field of art, culture and philosphy of India. He gave us the national anthem (forget about the controversy created around it, saying that Tagore wrote it to please George IV !!! We do not know whether it is true or not).

Geethanjali - The noble award winning work from Tagore, is a collection of poems and is one of the greatest works of Tagore (It's a sad thing that our own country men's work is known only when recognized internationally !!!)

Rabindra Sangeeth - This is one form of music which I always liked. I have collections of Hemanth Kumar singing Rabindra Sangeeth. Very unique and very very bengal. The music gives you the feel of Bengal land. I have heard other singers singing Rabindra Sangeeth. Very interestingly, There is a tinge of Thumry style.

Shanthinikethan - This is one dream place for me. I always wanted Deeksha to study here. Not sure whether the dream will come true or not. Bhargavi has been protesting on my proposal of sending Deeksha to Shantiniketan. Need to wait and watch.

Tansen - The Epitome of Music

Tansen's Tomb in Gwalior
Mia Tansen

The one and only name which stands out still after hundreds of years of Dhrupad Gaayki is Sangeet Saamrat Taansen. The moghul emperor Akbar just bowed down to this genius. Akbar had sent his army to the king Ramachandra Baghela to get Mia Tansen into his court. Tansen was granted the highest rank in the court of Akbar.

An anecdote - Some of the musicians who were jealous of Tansen, conspired and asked him to sing Raag Deepak so that the heat creates uncomfort for Tansen (After all, human beings !!) . All the lamps were lit with this raag and the heat in the atmosphere was too much to tolerate. Tansen asked his daughter to sing Raag Malhar and the impact was unbelievable !!! The atmosphere became cool. That was the power of Tansen.

Another incident - Akbar was praising Tansen and was saying, you sing so well, obviously your Guru must be really good. Tansen nodded his head in agreement. Akbar said, why don't we get your Guru Swami Haridas into our court and organize for a baithak? Tansen said, no point, he won't come. If you want to listen to his music, you need to go where he is. Akbar agreed to this with bit of uncomfort feeling. Mughal Badshah and going to someone's house to listen to music?? Well, They reached the hermitage of Haridas and they could hear Haridas singing. Akbar was about to get in, Tansen stopped him and told him that he do not like getting disturbed when he is singing. The Badshah stood outside the hermitage for couple of hours listening to Haridas's music and the king was in tears !!! He could not control his emotions after listening to his singing. Akbar told Tansen that he is nothing in front of his Guru. Akbar was curious to know the reason on how Guru Haridas's music is more sweeter and mellow than Tansen's music. Tansen answered "The reason is simple. I sing for you, whereas my Guru sings for the God"

Tansen was introduced to Sufi Saint Salim Chisti by Akbar. This widened the horizons of Tansen.

Tansen created many Raagas. Darbari Kanada, Mia ki Thodi, Mia Malhar were just the tip of the iceberg. We are really fortunate that Tansen lived in the same as we are living and he sang and composed so many compositions which till today are held in high esteem in the world of Hindusthani classical music.

Just a remembering all these as it is his 423rd Anniversary today.

Thanks to Sunaad for pushing all these thoughts in my mind.

Karl Marx - The Pioneer in Labor Movement

Photo Credit : www.marxists.org


Sometime during 1995, I was attracted to Karl Marx and his philosphy. That got intense once I moved into the NGO world in 1996. Thanks to my friends who were (are) hard core marxists.

Karl Marx, who was born on 5th May in 1818 in Germany is more worshipped across the world more than Germany itself !!!

I always wondered what this marxism is all about. I got the answer only in 1996. During 1970s and 80s when my mother was working in BHEL, she used to be part of the Gate Meetings by the Trade Union leader MS Krishnan who was part of Communist Party of India. So, I had a little bit of exposure about the trade unions and their philosphy which spoke about Marxism.

The Communist Manifesto which is a kind of sanctum sanctorum for the communists, is something which I can say is one of the biggest contributions by Karl Marx. This manifesto, which was arrived at in collaboration with Engels, spoke about communist League's purposes and how they would go about it. (Forget about it. Today's "communists", be it, Karats, Yechuris, Bardhans, DasGuptas, Basus, and etal can't even swear by this manifesto as their work does not even come close to it) This document very surprisingly did not talk about anything concrete.

It was Das Kapital, which in English means Critique on Political Economy, which brought forward Karl Marx's thoughts, where he spoke about capitalism which exploits and eliminates labor. How true it is in even today's world. Even though Das Kapital focused on the labors, artisans and peasants, this still holds good for every person who is a "Labor" who works more for others than himself. Very sad part of it is that the Governments are being run by these same capitalists whom Karl Marx calls" dead labor which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor, and lives the more, the more labor it sucks"

But, I believe that most part of what Karl Marx believed was relevant to the kind of society he was living in. Not sure whether he anticipated the concept of "Global Village". Possibly yes and possibly no.

Just remembered all these things as today is his birthday and interestingly, this is very close to the May Day which is called as International Labor Day.

Do we still relate ourselves to Marxism and May Day??

My Memories - Satyajit Ray

This was the logo which Satyajit Ray designed for his film Devi, through which Sahrmila Tagore came into the film industry

Photo Courtesy : Nimoy Ghosh

Even though 02 May is his birthday, I am punching in the lines now which I hold so close to my heart.

It was 1991 and I was working as Staff Reporter for a weekly tabloid called City Tab. I was covering Cinema, Theatre and Music. It was the time for an International Film Festival. Almost all the biggies of the cinema movemement were there at the festival. Somehow, I caught hold of Adoor Gopalakrishnan through my contacts. It was so strange, that I requested Adoor to help me in connecting with Satyajit Ray who was part of the festival. Adoor gave one curly look at me and smilingly said "why? don't you want to interview me?". Was it intentional ? Not sure. However, I got an opportunity to shake hands with Satyajit Ray during a retrospective of his films. I still remember very clearly that his movie Ghare Bhaire was being screened.

Me, a 5 feet 1 inch character was standing in front of Satyajit Ray, who was 6 feet 4 inch tall, clad in white kurta. I, who was in disbelief that I met him, did not know what to talk to him and Adoor said "this man wants to meet you". Satyajit Ray looked at me through his angled spectacles and said "what are you?". That question brought me back into this world. I told him " I am staff reporter from the local weekly tabloid and would like to talk to you about your films". The moment I told him local news paper, his expression changed. "Haan, teek hai. Dekhenge". I was sure by now that, I lost the opportunity. Next day, I again went behind him and said "sir, time milega?" He just looked at me and said chalo, kahin baitenge". We sat in one of the corner and he told me. "Before you ask me questions, let me check your knowledge on my films. What do you know about my films? What do you think I am trying to convey to people?". This came in as a shocking thing for me. I blabbered whatever I knew about his films beginning from Pather Panchali (which has 5 characters of Apu, Harihar, Sarbajaya, Durga , and the old Indira who comes into their life to make their life even tougher) till Gana Shatru. He said, hmmmm... ask me now what you want. It was like god standing in front of a devotee asking him what boons he want. This time I was prepared and the interview went for 40 minutes where must have talked at least 25 minutes. He mentioned about Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, the film which inspired him to get into the world of cinema to make a difference.

In the end, he shook my hand and said you have a long way to go. You have raw talent. I think you should polish it quite a lot...

This was my memory of Satyajit Ray. I can never forget his baritone voice and I felt so small infront of him. We fellows, who have so little talent, behave as if the world is because of us. and here is a person who is so down to earth and so simple, that he spoke to me, who knew so little, but was thinking myself so big. Interaction changed my perspective on how human being should live.

These moments, I will always cherish and today, after 53 years, when Pather Panchali created a history and a trend, he will always remain a person who from being advertising and graphic designing, came into the film industry and totally changed the cinematic world forever across the globe. He was a director, set designer, composer, editor, and what not? A great soul whom we miss in today's big bad world of insensitive cinema.

May Day & Other Murmurs....

A Sort of hybernation for 4 long days.... Too much of eating, too much of reading and too much of laziness....

Over the last 4 days, what did I do? Surprisingly nothing solid. The whole day of 30th April I was in Mysore enjoying the food at cousin's place because of his son's upanayana.

On 1st May, even though it was a labor day, I remained as if there is nothing to bother me, which is a strange thing about me. I always used to get into different websites to take an update on how meaningful the labor day was across the world and how is the perspective of people towards being a "Labor". Interestingly, everyone thinks that this must have originated in one of the communist countries. But the fact is that the may day was originated in Australia in 1856 and this was a struggle for 8 hours day (I don't think it holds any meaning for us as we never stick to 8 hours a day !!!). This was the struggle of Peasants, artisans and others. Incidentally, police opened fire and killed four strikers at the Haymarket Square in USA in 1886. During the "supposed" to be a peace rally, someone threw a bomb into the police crowd, which created havoc. There was a trial on the "culprits" and seven people were hung publicly. This public handing happened on 1st May and hence from that day onwards, among the labor world, it was decided to observe this day as International Labor's Day aiming at improving the life of peasants, artisans and workers in unorganized sectors (not bad... I still remember all these things since I was actively involved in some of the labor movements in Bangalore during 1995 - 1998) . But is this improvement happening?? Sad state of affairs. We sit in the ivory towers and never realize those people because of whom we are in the ivory towers with AC running and office remaining clean. We don't even care for them. We don't even smile at them, don't even talk to them. What sort of human beings we are? First of all, are we?

02 & 03 May 09 - Again excellent festival food and reading for my MA exams. Nothing else.

I am getting bogged down by the fact that I am being a total insensitive character who do not care about the pain in the world and I think only me and my family is important. Am I becoming that self-centred?

Deeksha & A Lifetime Opportunity

Punching the lines sitting at Chancery Hotel in a workshop.

Come July 4th, Saturday, at Seva Sadan in Malleshwara, it would be a milestone in Deeksha's life in Dance. There is a dance festival being organized by one of the most prestigious organization in music and dance, Ananya, on 4th July. They happened to get in touch with Vyjayanthi Kashi, Deeksha's Guru and asked her to suggest her student's name who can perform in this festival. Vyjayanthi suggested Deeksha's name and I have already sent Deeksha's profile and photos to Ananya. So, she will be performing Kuchipudi classical dance on 4th July. She will have 30 minutes to exhibit her talent. This is her first solo performance ever and myself and Bhargavi are bit tensed up as there is a lot of expectation from her teacher and also the RASIKAs of dance from her since she is Vyjayanthi's desciple. But Vyjanathi is confident about Deeksha and assured us that Deeksha will be able perform to people's expectation. Deeksha has a long way to go.

Metro Rail - The Killers

During my NGO days, there was one thing which I questioned in all my discussions, be it on the stage or off the stage. What is the definition of development? If we destroy something that is natural and create something on our own, is that development? If we feel that we have taken control of nature by creating clones of animals, hybrid seeds, that is development? If we just remove the habitat and create a super structure like ports, harbors, hotels, resorts, factories, mines, is that a development? So far, I have not got a convincing answer. But heart of heart, I know that all these are not development, but destructions.

One more to add to the list is the Metro in Bangalore. Metro has decided to cut few of the Eucalyptus trees in Lalbagh. By the way, is this a development? More specifically, is it a people-focussed development? Development for whom? What the hell the metro rail team who are planning to kill the trees are thinking of themselves, they are god-send from heaven? They are giving a reason that they are cutting Eucalyptus tree and not any other tree. What sort of a justification is that. Already, the metro has eaten up lot of trees across Bangalore. If you want to see the impact, come to Vijayanagar. Me, having lived in that area for 25 years, know how Vijayanagar was and how it is now. What kind of bullshit planning near lalbagh they are having which has zig-zag alignment with four 90 degree turns in the 4 kilometre stretch which is the most disastrous design. what the hell Government is doing? Is there a clear agreement between Metro Rail and Goverment of Karnataka?

Yes. It is true that the Eucalyptus trees could be cut without the permission from the Tree Officer as per Karnataka Preservation of Tree Act. If this is the argument, they are putting across, fellows, please note that this applicable for those eucalyptus trees which are there outside the protected areas like Lalbagh which legally has the status of a national park. Now, the trees which are targeted for killing are inside the lalbagh are within the protected area. So, why are the goverment machinaries violating the law made by the govement? Is the law applicable only for the common people like you and me? Why are we so silent on all these? Is this the responsibility of only some groups like Hasiru-Usiru? When are we going to be awake?

Let us protest on this. Do log in to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savelalbaghfrommetro/index.html
Sign the petition and express your solidarity for this. SAVE THE EARTH. SAVE BANGALORE. SAVE LALBAGH

The Super Star & A Human Being

Image Courtesy : Veersh - Chitraloka.com
I am quite emotional about his performances, about his nature. I had opportunities to sit with him and have lunch 3 times !!! That's something, which I treasure in my life

It was around 1992 - The dubbing for the film Jeevana Chaitra was on at Chamundeshwari Studios on Cunningham Road. I was doing my Diploma in Computer Application and I happen to have Appu (people call him Puneeth Rajkumar) as my classmate and also project partner in the course. He took me to the studio. Entered the studio and saw "him" there !!! I almost felt unconcious. He was the person whom I was seeing on screen since my child hood and we used to prepare stars outside the theatre to get free tickets for the first day first show of his films. We used to sleep on the floor in front of the ticket counters as, usually the tickets for his films were sold at 3 AM in the morning. The moment he comes on screen, we used just run up to the screen and touch his image and feel as if we have touched the GOD. We used to imitate his dressing and always used to think ourselves as "him". So childish.. But that's the level of hysteria at which we were.

With all these history, how do you expect me to react? I just fell at his feet. I can never forget his reaction. "you people are educated. You should not touch my feet as I am not educated" (he was just 3rd standard passout. Again I get this question in my mind. What is the meaning of being "educated"??).

That was Rajkumar, the super star and the great human being. After that episode, I was there at Chamundeshwari Studios for 3 days watching himdoing the dubbing for the "Jeevana Chaitra".

All the days, I was there with him sharing the lunch table. He was very fond of Appu's friends and invited us home. We went to his home and it was same warmth. Me, being a chatter box among my friends circle when it comes to the topic about him, was in a state of shock and speechless at the kind of warmth I was getting at his home. I did not know what to talk to him. I wanted to tell him so many things.. but did not know how to tell him. I wanted to sing so many of his songs which I used to sing on various occassions, but I forgot everything. It was as if I was on the clouds.

He always insisted that we fellows should lead a healthy life, both mentally and physically. He always complained that we don't eat properly and we waste a lot of food. It was treat watching him eat. He never used to waste even a grain of rice on his plate. He had high respect for the food and did not like anyone wasting the food.

There could be many actors in this industry, but none can even dream to come closer to him. It's not possible. Today is his birthday, it's just another nostalgic moment for me remembering that great super star and a human being.