Friday, May 18, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
I need...
a) A friend who doesn't have exams when I do
b) A friend who doesnt live an STD phone call away
c) A friend who sees a movie every weekend
d) A friend who thinks driving is a pain and not a relaxant
e) A friend who loves Seinfeld
f) A friend who worships Federer ( or atleast hates Nadal)
g) A friend who thinks swimming will be incomplete without Thorpe
h) A friend who enjoys Sarcasm
i) me??
It is too much to ask for, isnt it?
b) A friend who doesnt live an STD phone call away
c) A friend who sees a movie every weekend
d) A friend who thinks driving is a pain and not a relaxant
e) A friend who loves Seinfeld
f) A friend who worships Federer ( or atleast hates Nadal)
g) A friend who thinks swimming will be incomplete without Thorpe
h) A friend who enjoys Sarcasm
i) me??
It is too much to ask for, isnt it?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Lead Kindly Light
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which IHave loved long since, and lost awhile!
Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,Lead, Savior, l
ead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.
- Cardinal Newman
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which IHave loved long since, and lost awhile!
Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,Lead, Savior, l
ead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.
- Cardinal Newman
Friday, March 23, 2007
And the book came alive....
I love to read and " The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri is one of my all time favorites.
So, naturally i was exteremely excited about seeing this beautiful book translated onto screen and for the Ganguli's world to come alive.
It turned out to be a fabulous movie!
The author must be really proud of Mira Nair because she was able to retain the essence of the book. It must be a very tough task to turn a book into a movie. Every word is important and then to choose and show the right scenes, establish links and also try to touch the hearts of the audience.
What i loved even more about the movie was the use of Bengali. I have seen endless movies where the gujrati or the begali just talk in english making there characters a tade bit artificial. The use of Bengali made the film very real and easy to relate to.
I recently read a blog entry about how it is the little lies that hurt celebreties and not the huge controversies. A similar analogy can be drawn here.
For an avid fan of the book it is the lack of attention to the smaller details of the book that pinch slightly.
It did disturb me that Ashima Ganguli ( played by Tabu) didnt wear a Parrot green sari when she meets Ashok for the first time( It's purple in the movie) or that Ashok Ganguli's shoes are black and white and not brown as in the book.
That Gogol decides to go to Yale first and then makes a decision about being an architect ( it obviously was vice versa in the book) was just weird.
What I didnt like most was the character of Moushmi and the omission of most of Gogol's part in the book. For me it was as much Gogol's story as it was Ashima's ....
What is strange is when people claim that the movie was better than the book!
If you ask me a movie can never be better than the book. All those who think otherwise are just pretending to have read the book...
The following is the quote the book starts with. I would have loved it if they had used it in the film too.
"The reader should realize himself that it could not have happened otherwise,
and that to give him any other name was quite out of the question. "
- Nikoloi Gogol, "The Overcoat"
So, naturally i was exteremely excited about seeing this beautiful book translated onto screen and for the Ganguli's world to come alive.
It turned out to be a fabulous movie!
The author must be really proud of Mira Nair because she was able to retain the essence of the book. It must be a very tough task to turn a book into a movie. Every word is important and then to choose and show the right scenes, establish links and also try to touch the hearts of the audience.
What i loved even more about the movie was the use of Bengali. I have seen endless movies where the gujrati or the begali just talk in english making there characters a tade bit artificial. The use of Bengali made the film very real and easy to relate to.
I recently read a blog entry about how it is the little lies that hurt celebreties and not the huge controversies. A similar analogy can be drawn here.
For an avid fan of the book it is the lack of attention to the smaller details of the book that pinch slightly.
It did disturb me that Ashima Ganguli ( played by Tabu) didnt wear a Parrot green sari when she meets Ashok for the first time( It's purple in the movie) or that Ashok Ganguli's shoes are black and white and not brown as in the book.
That Gogol decides to go to Yale first and then makes a decision about being an architect ( it obviously was vice versa in the book) was just weird.
What I didnt like most was the character of Moushmi and the omission of most of Gogol's part in the book. For me it was as much Gogol's story as it was Ashima's ....
What is strange is when people claim that the movie was better than the book!
If you ask me a movie can never be better than the book. All those who think otherwise are just pretending to have read the book...
The following is the quote the book starts with. I would have loved it if they had used it in the film too.
"The reader should realize himself that it could not have happened otherwise,
and that to give him any other name was quite out of the question. "
- Nikoloi Gogol, "The Overcoat"
Thursday, March 22, 2007
I am Thinking of....
a) Section 2(1)(zc) of The Information Technology Act,2000
b) How good "Namesake" the movie is going to be
c) The song Paint it Black and how it describes my mood
d) Who will win American Idol this year
e) What's mum cooking for dinner
f) How badly I am going to flunk the Computer Practical
g) How i would love to meet Gandhi
h) The freaky weather
i) Driving a car
b) How good "Namesake" the movie is going to be
c) The song Paint it Black and how it describes my mood
d) Who will win American Idol this year
e) What's mum cooking for dinner
f) How badly I am going to flunk the Computer Practical
g) How i would love to meet Gandhi
h) The freaky weather
i) Driving a car
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Departed
A dreary thursday morning,
A fantastic report card
A Board exam
Mere oblivion
A phone call from hell
and then the wait
A pit in the stomach
A teary eye
Three shattered kids
A destroyed home
The horrible journey
A whirlpool of memories
of days gone by,
of happiness that was once ours
The haunting dreams
of lonely days
The scary future
The uncertainity
Yet
There will be another morning
a hint of a smile
Till then we mourn
The departed
A fantastic report card
A Board exam
Mere oblivion
A phone call from hell
and then the wait
A pit in the stomach
A teary eye
Three shattered kids
A destroyed home
The horrible journey
A whirlpool of memories
of days gone by,
of happiness that was once ours
The haunting dreams
of lonely days
The scary future
The uncertainity
Yet
There will be another morning
a hint of a smile
Till then we mourn
The departed
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
VISA POWER, DONT "GO GET IT"
This post is with reference to excruciating process of getting a visa to travel to the US of A
We have planned a trip for this summer and decided to start the application procedure early enough.
What is surprising is the amount of paperwork that is needed along with the application.Some of the details are just ridiculously funny and to top it all the application states " Please note that a visa in no way ensures that you will be granted entry into the country. The officer at the Immigration Counter will decide at your time of entry whether you should be allowed to travel or not"
So technically you can land up and be told to go back!
After getting copies of evrything from tax returns to appointment letters to property ownerships deeds, we finally landed up at the American Embassy in Chanakyapuri.
Your forms are first screened while you are standing in the line outside the embassy. Then one has to go to another counter for "questioning". In our case the man behind the screen decided that I no longer look like the photograph I have submitted. After convincing him we proceed to enter the embassy(FINALLY!).
Then, you have to submit your fingerprints. If for some strange reason one of your index numbers is injured you cant give the interview.
The irony here is that the lady at this counter actually liked my application photo.
After all of this you have to stand in this huge serpentine line to get interviewed. The couples with kid are given priority but not the really old couples. It was really sad to see all these aged people stand for hours to get a visa.
While standing in the line you can look around to find posters of "America's Most Wanted Terrorists" and "Top Ten Fugitives" and also a plasma T.V that shows you the major attractions of the country( "its going to be worth it")
Now, the people at the embassy can be divided easily into four categories:
a) Innocent tourists like us who just want to go and see the country
b) Newly wed brides desperate to join their husbands
c) IIT/IIM pass outs going as tourists in search of lucrative deals
d) Old uncles and aunties who are going either for weddings or to meet their children
Give Indians a que and the comaradrie will develop on its own. As the hours pass by the conversation flows.
Our appointment was at 11:15 a.m but our chance came at quarter to three(phew!)
It lasted for exaclty fve minutes at the end of which we were told to enjoy the trip.But there were also people who were intimidated and were crying at the end of their interviews.
Our passports have now arrived (with the visa stamp) but I hope i never have to do this again, I'd rather go to another country!
We have planned a trip for this summer and decided to start the application procedure early enough.
What is surprising is the amount of paperwork that is needed along with the application.Some of the details are just ridiculously funny and to top it all the application states " Please note that a visa in no way ensures that you will be granted entry into the country. The officer at the Immigration Counter will decide at your time of entry whether you should be allowed to travel or not"
So technically you can land up and be told to go back!
After getting copies of evrything from tax returns to appointment letters to property ownerships deeds, we finally landed up at the American Embassy in Chanakyapuri.
Your forms are first screened while you are standing in the line outside the embassy. Then one has to go to another counter for "questioning". In our case the man behind the screen decided that I no longer look like the photograph I have submitted. After convincing him we proceed to enter the embassy(FINALLY!).
Then, you have to submit your fingerprints. If for some strange reason one of your index numbers is injured you cant give the interview.
The irony here is that the lady at this counter actually liked my application photo.
After all of this you have to stand in this huge serpentine line to get interviewed. The couples with kid are given priority but not the really old couples. It was really sad to see all these aged people stand for hours to get a visa.
While standing in the line you can look around to find posters of "America's Most Wanted Terrorists" and "Top Ten Fugitives" and also a plasma T.V that shows you the major attractions of the country( "its going to be worth it")
Now, the people at the embassy can be divided easily into four categories:
a) Innocent tourists like us who just want to go and see the country
b) Newly wed brides desperate to join their husbands
c) IIT/IIM pass outs going as tourists in search of lucrative deals
d) Old uncles and aunties who are going either for weddings or to meet their children
Give Indians a que and the comaradrie will develop on its own. As the hours pass by the conversation flows.
Our appointment was at 11:15 a.m but our chance came at quarter to three(phew!)
It lasted for exaclty fve minutes at the end of which we were told to enjoy the trip.But there were also people who were intimidated and were crying at the end of their interviews.
Our passports have now arrived (with the visa stamp) but I hope i never have to do this again, I'd rather go to another country!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
A WEEKEND NOT TO REMEMBER
Normally the thought of the weekend bring huge amount of solace to my mind but this last weekend has been nothing short of a disaster .
FRIDAY:
Out of the three days this was the best! Even though it was a holiday (courtesy mass bunk from college) I had to get up at 7(courtesy my mum's school bus).
It wasnt much of a day. I practically did NOTHING the entire day.
SATURDAY:
Started of as a nice ,bright ,sunny morning. I had a great lunch (oredered in from Subway).
I am a HUGE movie buff( movie ever weekend is included in my staple diet). Thus, my parents and I decide to go and see " The Departed"(Dont ask me why I havent seen it as yet!) at the Pacific Mall, Kaushambi.
As a result I had to give up my afternoon nap(also on my staple diet) to go and see the movie. We reach there well in time for the show.
I still havent seen the movie because apparently the newspapers had the schedule wrong!
The movie hall is having an Oscar festival and they show one nominated movie a day and Departed was on Friday(Damn!)
Cresstfallen my parents decide to explore the mall. Apart from being movie freaks we are also shopping addicts.
And the journey begins from one store to another till we decide that we have exercised enough to reward ourselves with some food. This brings us to this massive food court in the mall.
After dinner the shopping expedition begins and finally ends when all the stores start to display their"closed" signs.
With great satisfaction we returned home to find out that one of our shopping packets/treasures was missing!
I still havent figured out where that packet went.
SUNDAY
Mum & Dad decide to finally see Blood Diamond and after confirming the show land up at Wave for the 11 a.m show.
God wasnt on our side as the projector refuses to work leaving my parents crestfallen yet again.
Thus, they are offered seats for "Flags of oour Father" and a refund. Even though my dad is a huge Clint Eastwood fan, you really cant enjoy a movie if you miss the beginning.
The prospect of a wedding reception at IIC brightened our evening and all of us got ready to enjoy the free food!
We're half way to the venue when my Dad realises that he had left the wedding gift on the stairs outside our flat ( at which point i am thinkingg of my Blog post titile)
And, the groom was thus given only flowers.
But as a consolation the food turned out to be quite good.
FRIDAY:
Out of the three days this was the best! Even though it was a holiday (courtesy mass bunk from college) I had to get up at 7(courtesy my mum's school bus).
It wasnt much of a day. I practically did NOTHING the entire day.
SATURDAY:
Started of as a nice ,bright ,sunny morning. I had a great lunch (oredered in from Subway).
I am a HUGE movie buff( movie ever weekend is included in my staple diet). Thus, my parents and I decide to go and see " The Departed"(Dont ask me why I havent seen it as yet!) at the Pacific Mall, Kaushambi.
As a result I had to give up my afternoon nap(also on my staple diet) to go and see the movie. We reach there well in time for the show.
I still havent seen the movie because apparently the newspapers had the schedule wrong!
The movie hall is having an Oscar festival and they show one nominated movie a day and Departed was on Friday(Damn!)
Cresstfallen my parents decide to explore the mall. Apart from being movie freaks we are also shopping addicts.
And the journey begins from one store to another till we decide that we have exercised enough to reward ourselves with some food. This brings us to this massive food court in the mall.
After dinner the shopping expedition begins and finally ends when all the stores start to display their"closed" signs.
With great satisfaction we returned home to find out that one of our shopping packets/treasures was missing!
I still havent figured out where that packet went.
SUNDAY
Mum & Dad decide to finally see Blood Diamond and after confirming the show land up at Wave for the 11 a.m show.
God wasnt on our side as the projector refuses to work leaving my parents crestfallen yet again.
Thus, they are offered seats for "Flags of oour Father" and a refund. Even though my dad is a huge Clint Eastwood fan, you really cant enjoy a movie if you miss the beginning.
The prospect of a wedding reception at IIC brightened our evening and all of us got ready to enjoy the free food!
We're half way to the venue when my Dad realises that he had left the wedding gift on the stairs outside our flat ( at which point i am thinkingg of my Blog post titile)
And, the groom was thus given only flowers.
But as a consolation the food turned out to be quite good.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
HURT..I'M Ok
Ha ha! fooled you this post is NOT about what I am feeling right now.
This one is for all Christina Aguilera fans. The post's title is made up from the names of two of her songs.
Now a lot of artisits write about their traumatic childhood experiences, what i havent seen is a change in opinion.
But if you notice the lyrics of the two songs that follow, there has been a drastic change of opinion!
She goes from blaming her father for all the pain and then ends up saying sorry for treating him that way.
HURT ( this is from the new album "Back to Basics")
I would hold you in my arms
I would take the pain away
Thank you for all you've done
Ohh I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you
If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been awayOoh, it's dangerousIt's so out of line
To try and turn back time
Now the next song is I'm Ok ( this is from the previous album "Stripped")
Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
And I'm OK
I wonder what brought about the drastic change .
This one is for all Christina Aguilera fans. The post's title is made up from the names of two of her songs.
Now a lot of artisits write about their traumatic childhood experiences, what i havent seen is a change in opinion.
But if you notice the lyrics of the two songs that follow, there has been a drastic change of opinion!
She goes from blaming her father for all the pain and then ends up saying sorry for treating him that way.
HURT ( this is from the new album "Back to Basics")
I would hold you in my arms
I would take the pain away
Thank you for all you've done
Ohh I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you
If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been awayOoh, it's dangerousIt's so out of line
To try and turn back time
Now the next song is I'm Ok ( this is from the previous album "Stripped")
Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
And I'm OK
I wonder what brought about the drastic change .
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
I LOST SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT!!!!
As my first year in college slowly draws to an end( only two more months to go), I have realised that i have lost something very important....
I have always had people in my life who didnt like me or couldnt stand me and I really didnt care about them
Then i came to college....
For the first time in my life everybody seemed to like me ( probably because they havent been exposed to my mean temper). The feeling gave me such a high. I was the favoured one in all my friend circles.
But i reacted very differently to this situation. Throughout school life i was very forthright about what i felt was correct and what wasnt. In college when you are liked by all it becomes very difficult to actually disagree with anyone. I mean the thought of getting my point across to somebody would mean hours of pondering.
It was as if i just couldnt be firm anymore . I would feel that one disagreement and nobody would like me anymore, my real side would be exposed.
Now i have realised the importance of having your opinion. I dont want to lose it. What i just need to learn is to calmly get my point across..after all they are my friends...
I have always had people in my life who didnt like me or couldnt stand me and I really didnt care about them
Then i came to college....
For the first time in my life everybody seemed to like me ( probably because they havent been exposed to my mean temper). The feeling gave me such a high. I was the favoured one in all my friend circles.
But i reacted very differently to this situation. Throughout school life i was very forthright about what i felt was correct and what wasnt. In college when you are liked by all it becomes very difficult to actually disagree with anyone. I mean the thought of getting my point across to somebody would mean hours of pondering.
It was as if i just couldnt be firm anymore . I would feel that one disagreement and nobody would like me anymore, my real side would be exposed.
Now i have realised the importance of having your opinion. I dont want to lose it. What i just need to learn is to calmly get my point across..after all they are my friends...
Thursday, December 28, 2006
ME!!
I am going to write about myself. This is something i have been wanting to do this for a very long time. Its amazing, the power of the written word. I have this strange idea that writing about myself will bring a greater level of self acceptance.
So here goes...
My name is ghazal. I love my name, its a great conversation starter( i mentally thank my mother every single day for my name).
I am ccurrently doing B com (hons)..just started college this year. i am not a great fan of college(that i think deserves a separate post)!!
Someone once told me that i only talk about stuff around me, stuff happening but not about how i feel. I think its true so maybe writing will make me more expressive.
At points of time there is so much going in my brain its amazing!!..I am really sensitive ( not really fond of that quality). Sometimes the smallest of things can hurt me. I think it stems from the fact that i expect too much from others. Its my belief that others owe me as much as i owe them. If i do soemthing for u , u cannot forget it you have to be ther when i need u . But this doesnt mean that i help others just for them to help me.
I am also very stubborn about things i strongly believ in and dont like it when people disagree with me. it takes a mountain of an effort to change my viewpoint.
If i belive in something my passion is unwavering. i can go to any extereme to protect and defend that idea...
Thats enough for a day...
Till we meet again...
So here goes...
My name is ghazal. I love my name, its a great conversation starter( i mentally thank my mother every single day for my name).
I am ccurrently doing B com (hons)..just started college this year. i am not a great fan of college(that i think deserves a separate post)!!
Someone once told me that i only talk about stuff around me, stuff happening but not about how i feel. I think its true so maybe writing will make me more expressive.
At points of time there is so much going in my brain its amazing!!..I am really sensitive ( not really fond of that quality). Sometimes the smallest of things can hurt me. I think it stems from the fact that i expect too much from others. Its my belief that others owe me as much as i owe them. If i do soemthing for u , u cannot forget it you have to be ther when i need u . But this doesnt mean that i help others just for them to help me.
I am also very stubborn about things i strongly believ in and dont like it when people disagree with me. it takes a mountain of an effort to change my viewpoint.
If i belive in something my passion is unwavering. i can go to any extereme to protect and defend that idea...
Thats enough for a day...
Till we meet again...
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