Yeh Delhi hai mere yaar!

A few days back I suddeny fell into deep thinking when I realised that all the current films and one element in common. Haven't guessed it already? It's our capital city. All leading commercial films have its story based in Delhi if not the title itself - From Chandani chowk to China town to Delhi 6. Even Dev D was a film based in Delhi so was Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye!! and news is out that a new film which Abhishek Bachchan has signed which is supposed to be made by Abhinav Deo is called "Delhi Belly". Though my critques may argue that there have been a lot of ilms based on the city in the recent past like Sarkar Raj, A Wednesday or more recently Luck by Chance and Stoneman's Murders. But we must realize that these are not commercial films and haven't really tried to capture the pleasant mood of the as the Delhi based films have wherein Delhi is more or less like another actor if not the protagonist. 

Coming back to the main theme of my article i.e. my deep thinking about the issue made me conclude that the reason Delhi is being seen everywhere might be a conscious attempt by the Government to promote the city which has been accused of being unsafe and filthy before the next Commonwealth Games which is being hosted by Delhi. 

Hopefully, the drought will end soon and we will once again start seeing films like Bluffmaster or Taxi No. 9211 which were entirely shot in the city as well as beautifully captured the positive spirit as well scenic landscapes of "Amchi Mumbai"

Encyclopedia of Congress Interpretation!

I saw this written on the discussion board of the Orkut Community - Rashtrya Swyamsevak Sangh. Well, it was interesting to read as well as educative and hence it seemed that it desrved a place in D World. So here we go, 

Encyclopedia of Congress Interpretation!

Isn't this a Blatant Example of Pseudo Secularism?

Sikhs getting slaughered in thousands = A MISTAKE.
Hindus getting killed in Kashmir = Political problem.
Muslims getting killed by a few hundred = Holocaust.
Poor protestors getting shot in WB under Left Govt = Misunderstanding.

Banning Parzania in Gujarat = Communal.
Banning Da Vinci Code and Jo Bole So Nihaal = Secular.

Kargil Attack = Government failure.
Chinese invasion in 1962 = Unfortunate betrayal.

Reservations in every school and college on caste lines = Secular. Reservations in Minority institutions = Communal.

Fake encounters in Gujarat [Sohrabuddin] = BJP Communalism.
Fake encounters under Cong-NCP in Maharashtra [Khwaja Younus] = Police atrocity.

Talking about Hindus and Hinduism appeasment = Communal. Talking about Muslims and Islam = Secular.

BJP freeing 3 terrorists to save 100 Indian hostages = Shameful
Congress freeing 4 militants to save just a life of one daughter of its minister in Kashmir [Rubina Sayed] = Natural Political dilemma.

Attack on Parliament = BJP ineptitude. Not hanging Afzal Guru the mastermind despite Supreme Court orders = Humanity and Political dilemma.

BJP questioning Islam = Communal. Congress questioning Lord Rama existance = Clerical Error.

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An interesting read isn't it! The profile which had posted it is - http://www.orkut.com/Main#Profile.aspx?uid=720920759545966697

Typealyzis of D Blog

Hello people, I found this link while going through a blog and thought of trying it on myself for fun. Going by the content I have been writing on the analysis has been made. So as of now, my the type of articles I have written suggest this which is subject to change with introduction of new arctiles and regular blog updates. Do remember this and we will check after a few days if there has been any change in my writing content!

The analysis indicates that the author of http://www.devendrapai.blogspot.com is of the type:

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves. 

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions. 

Well Guess What! I do have a brain and check out how it is focussing right now according to the website. I don't know how true is it but it isn't stating anything bad or offensive. Its upto you people to judge me whether the above said is true!

http://www.typealyzer.com/ - Try out yourself!

Billu - A waste of time

The latest SRK flick was up on the internet on Saturday night (USA time) itself. The print too was of excellent quality. Sharply in contrast last week's film DEV D which isn't a family film like Billu hasn't yet made its way on the internet. Though a copy of the film has been uploaded the print is a camera recorded one. I think this itself explains the fate of Billu.

No marks for guessing what does SRK do in the film? He just plays the very same good guy which we have seen him play since ages - time immemorial. Please gimme a break. I am tired of watching the same character being potrayed in the movies. The self-obsessed SRK doesn't mind showing off his self love and promoting himself like the God of Indian film industry on screen so shamelessly! In sharp contrast, Lara Datta makes a wonderful appearance in a deglam avtaar. Irffan Khan is okay but quite quite monotonous. The film has been dragged a lot. There isn't any point watch the first 4/5th of the film as it revolves around a hesitant Billu who is scared of going and meeting his school friend turned filmstar - King Khan. The script looks helpless as suddenly when invited for a school annual day event the Khan breaks down remembering his old school friend (by this time SRK doesn't know Billu stays in this village)

A very pathetic film which also tries to clean the image of the film industry (especially after SRK was criticized heavily in OSO) which is a subtle break after films like OSO and Luck By Chance. Overall a movie which can be skipped. The modern day Krishna-Sudama story could have been narrated in a prettier way. A sub-standard film with big names. 

REL 201

It was a long cherished dream for me to have a formal academic study of Religion as a subject and finally I got a chance this semester here in Greenville Tech. Not surprisingly at all, the textbook starts with Hinduism (well the the western authors can't get the difference between religion and dharma) followed by chapters on Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism (another fallacy that they fail to see it that these 3 varied sects are somewhere a branch of Sanatana dharma i.e. Hinduism). The question arises why so? Because, the textbook authors for the book have all been western researchers with no Indian author being included on 2 chapters of Hinduism considered by the text as the oldest religion in the world!

As the class went on I felt like a proud Hindu as Hinduism had the origins of not just Secularism but also Democracy as it was so much more decentralized than any "ism" has been. At one stage in the class, there was reference to Bhagwad Gita and our Instructor asked all the students (read American) to read the Gita. Also, we were shown a documentary on Gita. It was a film done with Chinese actors. 

These experiences made me realize that in spite if being the oldest, richest civilzation we have hardly take pride in our rich heritage. Firstly under the excuse of secularism we do not have an academic study of the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ramayan, Mahabharata and Gita which the American students of the class are doing and Secondly, I also felt pity on ourselves not doing enough documentation on our civilization. The Chinese Gita version was stupid and people were making fun of it. The costumes weren't ancient but medieval.

  I mean the whole thing was non sensical. It was then I went back to youtube and got the old B R Chopra's Mahabharat and showed to them but the nearly 2 deacde old one has to be repolished with today's technology and the film industry and the Govt of India along with the Indian inc. to come out with Mahabharat and Ramayan (not the Ekta Kapoor one, please!) which not only can be nurtured by the future generations but will also act as a window towards Indian civilization. 

This is our history, the history of the Great Bharat Varsha which has to be retold in today's context. And we, the youth of the today should resolve to take a step towards this goal.

Sippets of my 4th chat with Abhishek Bachchan

This is the short summary of the chat I had with AB today. Abhi chats with the profile Delhi 6 and the other profile mentioned is of my co-Abhishek Bachchan's Crazy Dronahead – Nitish. Sorry for the errors in timings there were at least 3 peoplee who were chatting with AB along with me, so there was some gap in answers.

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:22

Hey RAJ thnks for the change in display. Actually we ABCDs had decided to have our display pictures to be from D6 to promote the film! N hence, you find Nitz, Nayan, Piyu and all other ABCDs with AB or D6 as their display and AB loved it actually!

Delhi 6 wrote

at 06:30

devendra; not loved. love! no past tense. i continue to love and appreciate all that you guys are doing for D6.

AHHHHH so all done now. now its a quick shower and off to inorbit mall. have to be there by 6 so don't want to be late.

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:32

hey thanks AB.

So all that wait was worth it. 

N thank God I made that mistake, got a correction from you! 

 

Lov u loads bro

Dev

Nitish S Murthy (India) wrote

at 06:33

@ AB Bhaiyya :

 

Can you Post up Some Videos Broadcast message like you used to do for DRONA .. ??

 

PLEASE!!!!!!!

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:34

Yes, please do some special video broadcast like you did for Drona. I still watch them. Cos they are very special!

Delhi 6 wrote

at 06:37

ok guys will look into it. try and post. but i'll be travelling from tomorrow with the film so don't know if it'll be possible. but will try.

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:33

AB 

did you like our new name - ABCD ???

Delhi 6 wrote

at 06:37

by the way can't believe you'll have actually named yourselves the ABCD'S.... thats INSANE ( said in a good way).

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:41

hey thanks for appreciating the name 

thanks a ton bro....you made by day 

I thought of it as you had asked a name for this group

Nitish S Murthy (India) wrote

at 06:36

@ AB Bhaiyya :

 

I'm passing on all the love and Wishes from Gayatri to you .. 

 

She's Busy wid her preparation of her Marriage, Please Reply so taht i can make her day wid it..

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:37

AB bhaiyya yes, she has sent her greetings for you and was online early in the morning before anyone could get up in her house.

 

Its her marriage in 2 days and she can't come online cos of the guests. Do try to wish her on her marriage. Its on the 15th. You will be in NY and busy but if you come on FB so wish her

Delhi 6 wrote

at 06:39

ok dev. but if you can do me a favour and remind me please? thanks buddy

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:40

Sure AB

Will certainly do that. Thats so kind of you

Nitish S Murthy (India) wrote

at 06:41

Dev buddy .. o_O

 

Am i Dreaming ??

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:42

I dunno about you guys, 

but I am !

 

Lov u AB

Delhi 6 wrote

at 06:42

so guess we have a new ABCD member!!!!

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:43

Thanks a ton AB

Thats so so so great 

me and Nittu are jumping with joy rite now!

Devendra  Pai wrote
Yesterday, at 06:39

AB, 
so post something for her now. We will pass on teh message

Delhi 6 wrote

 at 06:44

Gayatri, as you embark on what will surely be the most beautiful journey of your life i wish you and your husband all the happiness, good health and togetherness in the world. god bless.

lots of love,

ab

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:45

thanks a ton for this one for Gayu!

Yiou are the best AB

 

Love you loads...i am so very over-whelmed at this movement!

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:47

AB, 

I sent Gayu a text of your message!

I think this will be her BIGGEST gift on her marriage

Devendra Pai wrote

at 06:51

AB, 

I uploaded some snaps of you and retiesh and there is one snap were you guys are having fun. What were you exactly trying to do?

Delhi 6 wrote

at 06:55

dev: was trying to hide from the photographers... just fooling around with my little bro riteish

Delhi 6 wrote

at 07:02

ok guys gotta leave for the mall. take care.

be cool,

ab

Devendra Pai wrote

at 07:04

okies sir 

bye for now AB 

take care 

 

and don't worry we are just pulling each other's leg...masti karte hain. Don't worry 

we love each other!

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My Reactions - "OHHHHH MYYYYY! AB called me BUDDY. I am feeling DIZZY. Bye for now. Let me enjoy the moment as I am on a HIGH rite now"

D FEST 2009 - The fest goes international Brief-up

Back to this year's celebrations of D FEST, one week before to go for the same and I really had this bad feeling that I was all alone on this birthday with hardly any people who remembered the day (that is what I had assumed). But I had decided to make my first international birthday special so had a range of things planned up for the same. Yet, there was one small confusion as in when D Fest starts and when it ends because of the difference in time zones of India and the US. But then as took this opportunity to celebrate it in an extended format (after all it was the first time D Fest has gone international)

 Here is the brief summary of how the celebrations went by 

Day 1 (31st Jan - USA) - 1.30pm here was midnight back home and there were hosts of people who managed to wish bang on time (Indian time i.e.). Received calls and online greetings 

          Lunch at Mexican place with Jason, Salem and Dahouk

Dinner at Italian place with Sudarshan, Amit, Raju, Krutik and Manik

Day 2 (1st Feb - USA) - Bang at midnight (USA) I launched my blog

        Still receiving calls from friends who decided to keep a track of the time difference and call me according to my US birthday timing

        Went to North Carolina for skiing 

       Day concluded with my roomies - Romany and Shehab giving me a small surprise celebration getting a cake and some gifts. This not only happened to be the first surprise celebration for me in my life but also happened to be the first cake I cut in maybe last 10 years

 

Day 3 (2nd Feb - USA) - Spent time in replying to each and everyone who wished me on Orkut and Facebook along with making a blog entry thanking people who wished me on my birthday.          At midnight, I went shopping to an average American's economic backbone - Walmart

 

Day 4 (3rd Feb - USA) - This I call was the biggest day of my celebrations here. It was D day of D Fest which I will always remember. 

         Logging on to my computer after coming back from College, the first thing I saw was AB wishing me "BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY" on FB which drew me nuts.

         This was the biggest surprise of all the birthdays I ever had. This wasn't just the biggest surprise of all the past birthdays (except for all those gifts which I used to get and still get and hopefully will continue to do so. People please don't stop!) but the first surprise Birthday party in itself. The NESA team arranged a surprise birthday bash for me and managed to get all available foreign students on campus to join in the celebrations. The planning led by Jason (USA), Maad (Yemen), AbdulRehman (Saudi Arabia), Shehab (Bangladesh) and Wael (Egypt) made it an unforgettable event for me which I will never ever forget in my life. Thank you guys. You are the best. I was also given the most expensive birthday gift ever - A Wacom digital pen. Do check the sketch made by Maad.

Day 5 - (4th Feb - USA) - Was spent in sleeping. After all the sleepless nights spent on making the blog, skiing and all the celebrations my mind and body was in dire need of some sleep. So the day was spent in doing nothing but Sleep!

 Day 6 - (5th Feb - USA) - Bang at 12 midnight wished AB on his birthday and made a cake (which looked splendid but tasted the most horrible thing I ever attempted in my life)

Evening saw me go to Club 221 with my American buddy, Anthony

 Day 7 - (6th Feb - USA) - Went to the Observatory which boasts of having one of the largest telescopes in the country with Amit and Kruttik. Saw planet Venus and Moon along with 3 films in the theatre in that campus.

            Dinner time saw us go to another Mexican place. I just love it!

 Day 8 - (7th Feb - USA) - Field trip to Columbia - visited the State Legislative House and the State Museum.

           Lunch time at Tabouli for some Mediterranean-Lebanese cuisine

 

Day 9 - (8th Feb - USA) - Went to an African-American church with Jason, Wael and Shehab to experience the African-American style of preaching

            Lunch at a Chinese Buffet. All you can eat!

Well this marks the end of the 9 day D FEST 2009 - THE FEST GOES INTERNATIONAL. The first and I wish the last D Fest I celebrate without my friends and family. Once again I thank all the ones who participated in D FEST 2009 and my birthday really special and the celebrations which I will never forget in my life. And yes never expected that this fest will be a 9 day loooong one. But don't regret any of it!