Zany Films

 Not sure if the word zany prevails, but my gen. might understand what it means. There are a few films which are a lovely ride and make you forget yourself and your worries, if you had any. Mostly, it has to do with editing, not the story necessarily. Some fun films of this kind-

Satte pe Satta- I think it was baed on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Well-adapted, and all the actors did a good job. The songs were also good.

Finding Fanny- I liked it for its quirky humour, and Shahid Kapur's dad- he is awesome. Pankaj Kapur.

Gol maal- with Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt. Plot, direction, acting, all superb.

Angoor- Based on Shakespeare's play, Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Varma added zest.

Albela..Just for the songs and the unlikely lead pair (Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali), this gets in my list.

The Indian version of Irma La Douce was Manoranjan. Very entertaining. Sanjeev Kumar, Zeenat and Shammi Kapoor excelled.

Hum Kisise Kam Nahin..the foursome of songs, and in general, an entertainment-oriented plot. Bachna ai haseeno was also a chart-buster.

Hathi Mere Sathi was one of the biggest hits of its time. Novel plot and great songs.

Oktoberfest

If there is an Oktoberfest, why not a Novemberfest? Decemberfest? You get the idea.

Every day is a celebration-or ought to be. Why celebrate only a birthday? Aren't we growing everyday? (I did not say growing up, please note).

A year is too long to wait. Find something that you can celebrate today. A good conversation (for those who like them), a nice book (for those who..), a nice look, a set of smileys on your post (everybody likes them), a walk in the rain...
you get the idea.

If you are short on entertainment, turn on your TV, ..not to the entertainment channels, but to the news debates. You will either die laughing (they are juvenile), or smash the TV..and have something to cry about, instead of crying out for entertainment.

My new mantra in life is to just do it-celebrate it, I mean. Hope you will too. All the best!

What the Prime Minister Cannot Do For You

Thought I would make it clear for those who think God and after him/her, the PM ought to do things for them. These are the things, folks, he cannot do for you.

1. Change your kid's diaper
2. Clean up your house and the adjacent plot where you dump your waste
3. Teach your kids (good) manners
4. Stop you from discriminating against your girl child
5. Stop you from taking/giving dowry
6. Help you be a nice human
7. Develop your potential and help you search for a suitable career
8. Entertain you by giving you one-liners like a stand-up comedian (or Lalu Yadav)
9. Fix your broken marriage
10. Grow things in your garden

A related joke that I am reminded of- A man complained to God that he wasn't looking after him. He was so unlucky compared to his fellow earthlings. Why, for instance, did he not win a lottery?
God replied that HE had made all arrangements for the man to win a lottery, but he had to buy a ticket first!

Radio Days- Vividh Bharati

I used to listen to the radio a lot in my first 24 years- mainly because TV had not come to India. Now that TV has taken over most of our non-working hours, I succumbed and watched it for many years. But the last few days, having just moved and awaiting the transfer of baggage, I became less 'idiotic' and rediscovered Vividh Bharati, the entertainment channel from All India Radio.

Some of its programs and features are outstanding. The quality of the announcers is mostly good. They have also relaxed a bit from their stentorian (dull?) avatars, and smile (you can hear it) occasionally. The selection of songs is invariably good, and there is an attempt to provide a glimpse into Indian classical music through some of their programs. Chhayageet, presented by one of the RJs each night, and Bhoole bisre geet (forgotten gems) are two that I like listening to. There are interviews with film personalities too- Ujaale unki yaadon ke, interspersed with songs. One of these was an interview with Rammohan, a character artiste, who spoke very well, articulating his many experiences over decades with stars right from Prithviraj Kapoor to Manoj Kumar. In case you can't figure him out, he was the train driver in the film 'Kitaab' on whom the song "Dhanno ki aankhon mein raat ka surma" (sung by RD Burman) was picturised.

Conversations with Storehouse of Compassion

That's of course a person with whom conversations could be lost in translation. Because he is from a Southern state and not from the heartland (did not say badlands). So a conversation with him could go like this, or any which way...

Heartland Hero- So SoC, what are your plans for today?

Storehouse of Compassion- I am doing a pullout.

HH- From where? Iraq? Afghanistan? But you aren't even there!

SoC- No, no, those I leave for Obama and Cameron..small fry. I am after the biggest democracy in the world..big fry!

HH- Did not know you were so fond of fish fry..I will bring you some next time. But what makes you wanna pull out?

SoC- Bahut din se vella hoon ..kuch kiya nahi, yeh dikhane ka waqt aagaya hai ki hum bhi maujood hain...

HH- Wah, SoC sahab, aap ghazab ki Hindi bol lete ho...aap Pradhan mantri kyon nahi ho jaate?

SoC- Ab umr kahan rahi kuch hone ki? Sirf apne manoranjan ke liye pullouts karta rehta hoon, bus..

HH- Achcha, understood. This is a media conspiracy to increase their TRPs. Nobody was watching TV anymore after India thrashed Australia..and IPL is yet to start. So you are filling the gap.

This could go on, but like all TV shows, we need a break. Milte hain, break ke baad..with a lot of compassion! Ravana, Kalicharana, ennada..