Heading for A Change

It’s been a while since I have written on my website. The time schedules apart, my motivation for new creative thinking has almost dried up.

I have been on WordPress since 2005. However I have found that it takes a lot of effort for a single person to update and maintain this highly acclaimed application. I have to take constant back-ups of my database/files/wordpress files and keep up with the current version as and when it has been released. It’s time consuming and stressful and sometimes puts me in a panic state of mind – what if the new upgrade doesn’t work for me.

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Absolutely No Smoking!

Smoking ProhibitedI was visiting my favorite restaurant in south Mumbai along with a couple of my colleagues. We were the first customers ushered to the mezzanine floor which was surprisingly partitioned into a smoking and a non-smoking area but not clearly indicated anywhere. We had no clue about it until we found a lady bellowing smoke sitting behind us. I signaled the steward bringing my apathy to his attention but he’d only shrug in helplessness. So we continued with our lunch and the bonus passive smoking. However when I visit the place next time I am going to be the one shrugging vehemently at the steward. Continue reading…

Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008)

When I had read about Shyam Benegal directing a movie with Shreyas Talpade in the lead, it was called Madhav Ka Sajjanpur. And I wonder why the title was anglicized later to Welcome to Sajjanpur when the story is perceived and described through a village erudite called Madhav. And indeed traces of the original title still remain on the censor board certification displayed before the movie starts if you pay attention.

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A Report from Kochi

My business trips take me to places in and around India and it’s exciting to meet new people and enlighten them on the delicate facets of design. Though my sojourns have been curbed drastically by the company I still managed to sneak in a few days to go to Kochi on a deputation.

I had a tough time digesting the idea of working in a world renowned holiday destination. It was a pathetic feeling to say the least, that I would be ignoring the swaying palms, the flowing backwaters and the gentle breezes. An impossible situation like you’re sentenced to 5 days of imprisonment albeit in a hotel room, all by yourself watching STAR World! Even the gods would have laughed at my apathy.

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Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008)

It all seems like the Indian art cinema movement has come alive with the making of such sensitive movies like Aamir and now Mumbai Meri Jaan which deal with present day issues like terrorism and cultural & religious cliches. The latter has been the subject of much discussion in the media for its strong portrayal of the Mumbai train blasts of 2006 – branded as India’s 7/11. It’s to be noted that Mumbai is one of the few cities of the world that has repeatedly been in the eye of storm. On the one hand is the human saga of hardships and the rigor that the Mumbai lifestyle is bound to guarantee. On the other is the repeated assault on its self-confidence and dignity which the citizens have bravely overcome through their high spirits.

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