Well, its over for this place. I am no longer at deeksha. That realisation has taken a while to hit, but it has sunk in now. In the past year, I have joined NITK, mechanical engg, gone for a unsupervised trip to the himalayas, and been dumped. Made a lot of friends in NITK, as well as a few outside. But most importantly, im not in deeksha any more. so the change of address. hence forth, please address all queries / suggestions / abuse to www[dot]gonephut[dot]wordpress[dot][com]
Hope to see you there!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Bombay
There's just something about the city which captivates my imagination. Maybe its because its the city of my birth, and my first friends. Or maybe its a city which somehow calls you across the distance. Its something very difficult for me to understand, let alone put in words...
For someone who's never seen Bombay, my best advice would be to watch Batman Begins. The picturisation of Gotham City is exactly like the first view of Bombay through an airplane. The shanties with a spire of smoke coming through and the hint of millions of bustling humans and their myriad activities, not all of them legit, is common to both.
The activities of the city is an oft repeated tale, what with Bollywood and Dalal Street and Shiv Sena. But what is more commendable about the city is its spirit. Through its life, its been pockmarked with so many (for lack of a better word) events, that it just picks itself up and walks right along. In the recent past, the rains of July 31st, the local train blasts, the recent activities of the Mumbai Navanirman Samiti, or whatever...Assal Mumbaikars (Marathi for True Bombayites) just go on. Some call it not caring for thy neighbor, but i defend them through and through. These poor chaps dont have the time to meet their own family, leave alone the neighbor!
My favorite memories of Bombay are quite a few. In the seven years i stayed there, there are a large number of fragments which linger on. Out of that treasure trove, I'd recommend a walk through Fort. Its pretty simple, actually. Catch a local train, and get off at Churchgate. Then walk in the general direction of the Gateway of India. Make sure you check out Jehangir Art Gallery, Modern Art Gallery and Rhythm House. All haunts of mine when i was a little kid, just 2 " 2 '. Then walk past the Prince of New South Wales Museum (now officially renamed Shivaji something or Tilak something else. By the way, this area is all British, or atleast was, when they were around. The architecture is very characteristic of the period, and do keep an eye on it.) and see the upmarket crowd of Bombay at Regal Cinema (one of the oldest theaters in the city). Cut across the ground, and take a small walk through the Bombay University Campus. Don't miss the watch tower! After a trip to Gateway, its time for a little refreshment. If you've got the cash, please go to Taj hotel. Take me along too, cos I've never been there. If you have more modest means, proceed to Cafe Mondegar. Good liqour and Italian food availabe for very reasonable rates. Add to that a very old worldly experiance, surrounded by Mario Miranda's cartoons on the walls, and a grand old jukebox make for an excellent evening, after all the walking! After this, a leisurely walk to Chruchgate, and then back home...with your mind still savouring the evening gone by!
For someone who's never seen Bombay, my best advice would be to watch Batman Begins. The picturisation of Gotham City is exactly like the first view of Bombay through an airplane. The shanties with a spire of smoke coming through and the hint of millions of bustling humans and their myriad activities, not all of them legit, is common to both.
The activities of the city is an oft repeated tale, what with Bollywood and Dalal Street and Shiv Sena. But what is more commendable about the city is its spirit. Through its life, its been pockmarked with so many (for lack of a better word) events, that it just picks itself up and walks right along. In the recent past, the rains of July 31st, the local train blasts, the recent activities of the Mumbai Navanirman Samiti, or whatever...Assal Mumbaikars (Marathi for True Bombayites) just go on. Some call it not caring for thy neighbor, but i defend them through and through. These poor chaps dont have the time to meet their own family, leave alone the neighbor!
My favorite memories of Bombay are quite a few. In the seven years i stayed there, there are a large number of fragments which linger on. Out of that treasure trove, I'd recommend a walk through Fort. Its pretty simple, actually. Catch a local train, and get off at Churchgate. Then walk in the general direction of the Gateway of India. Make sure you check out Jehangir Art Gallery, Modern Art Gallery and Rhythm House. All haunts of mine when i was a little kid, just 2 " 2 '. Then walk past the Prince of New South Wales Museum (now officially renamed Shivaji something or Tilak something else. By the way, this area is all British, or atleast was, when they were around. The architecture is very characteristic of the period, and do keep an eye on it.) and see the upmarket crowd of Bombay at Regal Cinema (one of the oldest theaters in the city). Cut across the ground, and take a small walk through the Bombay University Campus. Don't miss the watch tower! After a trip to Gateway, its time for a little refreshment. If you've got the cash, please go to Taj hotel. Take me along too, cos I've never been there. If you have more modest means, proceed to Cafe Mondegar. Good liqour and Italian food availabe for very reasonable rates. Add to that a very old worldly experiance, surrounded by Mario Miranda's cartoons on the walls, and a grand old jukebox make for an excellent evening, after all the walking! After this, a leisurely walk to Chruchgate, and then back home...with your mind still savouring the evening gone by!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
An Inconvenient Truth
Presenting another film review: An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore's award winning documentary.
All documentaries are made with the noble purpose of bringing about some change in this world, creating awareness about little known issues. Sadly, a large number of them are quite drab, dwelling on very sordid tales of humanity. In the past, a few documentaries have, however managed to permeate social consciousness. Along with Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth falls into this category. The film is a taping of his presentation on global warming, which he has been giving in various locations across the world, to people of all age groups.
The film / presentation addresses both the people who are sceptical about global warming and those who are aware about the problem, but are not aware of the seriousness of the situation. Finally, it ends with the mandatory hope that with people power, the crazy juggernaut of global warming can be slowed down. Gore's presentation is serious, with a number of facts, statistics and studies, along with simple interpretations of what these big numbers translate to in simple English. Gore makes no bones about the importance of USA in the issue, and neither does he dither from accepting that the world's sole superpower has been shirking from taking a stand on the issue.
The film segues into parts of Gore's life, including his son's near fatal accident, his sister's death due to lung cancer and his loss to George Bush in the year 2000 Presidential Elections. Which do seem a tad bit pointless, but aren't as bad as they sound...All in all, this movie is definitely worth a watch. And encourage other people to watch it too. Because it will make more and more people aware, and cause a revolution. Because its all we have left.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
You should try this at home
Its very satisfying to teach something new to kids. More so if they lack the financial means to gain this knowledge themselves. But what takes the cake is teaching a 30 year old the Kannada alphabet...He was just a little peeved at the fact that his son knew more than he did...watching the sheepish smile on his face when he messed up was probably the best thing I've seen in a long time. You should try it sometime...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Requiem for a Dream
----------------
Now playing: Clint Mansell/Kronos Quartet - SUMMER - Overture
via FoxyTunes Requiem for a Dream. Four words which still send a chill down my backbone. its half past midnight on a saturday morning, and i cannot, for the life of me, get the film out of my head. everywhere i look, everytime i blink my eyes, haunting, terrifying visuals cover the screen of my eyelids. Its one of those films whose effect stays on with you for a while.
The story is pretty small. The life of four interconnected people. Guy, guy's girlfriend, guy's best friend and guy's mom. the younger generation gets started into the business of distributing coke, but get addicted themselves. In the meantime, the mother is obsessed with a game show, which she hopes to get on. This obsession translates into a want for a slim weight. After a few unsuccessful attempts at dieting, she gives up and goes to a doctor, who gives her a few pills. Little does she know, its the same shit her son peddles to make money. the film goes through their slow but sure spiral descent.
What chills you the most while watching the film is the realism of the actors, as well as the special effects. The director keeps track of all the characters by cycling through their separate lives..each one as fucked as the next. I realise this review doesn't do any sort of justice to the film, as people who have seen the movie will realise. But then, this is for people who haven't, so...well, suffice to say that a guy like myself, with quite a strong temperament, was shivering for a full half an hout after watchin the film, along with three of my friends who watched it with me. My rating- 4.5! Watch it now, but only if you have a strong mind...
Now playing: Clint Mansell/Kronos Quartet - SUMMER - Overture
via FoxyTunes Requiem for a Dream. Four words which still send a chill down my backbone. its half past midnight on a saturday morning, and i cannot, for the life of me, get the film out of my head. everywhere i look, everytime i blink my eyes, haunting, terrifying visuals cover the screen of my eyelids. Its one of those films whose effect stays on with you for a while.
The story is pretty small. The life of four interconnected people. Guy, guy's girlfriend, guy's best friend and guy's mom. the younger generation gets started into the business of distributing coke, but get addicted themselves. In the meantime, the mother is obsessed with a game show, which she hopes to get on. This obsession translates into a want for a slim weight. After a few unsuccessful attempts at dieting, she gives up and goes to a doctor, who gives her a few pills. Little does she know, its the same shit her son peddles to make money. the film goes through their slow but sure spiral descent.
What chills you the most while watching the film is the realism of the actors, as well as the special effects. The director keeps track of all the characters by cycling through their separate lives..each one as fucked as the next. I realise this review doesn't do any sort of justice to the film, as people who have seen the movie will realise. But then, this is for people who haven't, so...well, suffice to say that a guy like myself, with quite a strong temperament, was shivering for a full half an hout after watchin the film, along with three of my friends who watched it with me. My rating- 4.5! Watch it now, but only if you have a strong mind...
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