वक्त की रेत फिसलती गई हाथों से और एक बरस और बीत गया, हम बदले न बदले एक कैलेंडर और बदल गया। कुछ वादे अधूरे रह गए कुछ इरादे भी बस आधी राह पहुंचे... कुछ मंजिलें हासिल हुईं...और कुछ चाँद की तरह नज़दीक दिख कर भी दूर खड़ी ललचाती रही...कुछ सपने पूरे हुए और कुछ पूरे होने के लिए रातों की नींदें हराम किए रहे...कभी दुश्मनों ने दोस्त बन पीठ थपथपाई तो कभी दोस्त दुश्मन बन पीठ में छुरे भोंकते रहे।
कुछ फासले तय हुए और कुछ उम्मीद से ज़रा ज़्यादा लंबे नज़र आने लगे... कुछ ठोकरें लगी...कुछ कदम डगमगाए... डगमगाते क़दमों को सँभालने और फिर राह पर वापस आने में पता भी न चला और एक और बरस बस मुट्ठी से दरकी रेत बन बीते समय के अपार मरुस्थल का हिस्सा बन गया।
आज वर्ष के अन्तिम दिवस जब करने बैठे लेखा जोखा - क्या खोया क्या पाया, तो पाया कि हर खोने में भी छिपा था कुछ ऐसा जो हमने पाया। हमने पाया तो ज़रूर पर वो खोने के गम में भीगी आंखों को नज़र ना आया।
अनुभवों की गठरी बढती जाती है पर भारी नहीं होती... ऐसे में अगर कुछ पाया और वो नज़र ना आया तो इसमें नज़रों का क्या दोष?
गुज़रे साल ने पूरी की कुछ उम्मीदें और कई बार कुछ ऐसा नज़ारा बना दिया जो उम्मीदों से कहीं परे था।
रंगभेद की दीवारों को भेद कोई राजसिंहासन पर हुआ आरूढ़, तो कभी चैन की बंसी बजाते बाज़ार की लहरों पर सवार समझदार नज़र आए गोते लगाते...कहीं निशाने पर स्वर्ण मिला और कहीं देश के अमन पर सधा निशाना।
आज वर्ष के अन्तिम दिन आनेवाले वर्ष से कुछ उम्मीदें ना रखना मुश्किल है -
ज़रूरत है एक ऐसे नए साल की, जो दे सके सुकून की गारंटी. जो आता हो आतंकवादप्रूफ़ पैक के साथ, एक ऐसा साल जो मार्केट की मंदी और मुनाफाखोरों की सुपर अकलमंदी से हमें बचा कर हमें इतना वक्त दे सके कि एक बार फिर वो खोया चैन-ओ-सुकून लौट आए जिसे खोये एक अरसा बीत गया लगता है.
बीता तो महज़ एक साल ही है मगर बेचैनी मानो सदियों लम्बी नज़र आने लगी है अब.
गहरी नींद सोये मानो एक ज़माना गुज़र गया अब तो नींद से बोझिल आँखें सुकून की नींद तो तरस सी गई हैं, पलकें और भारी और उनींदी हो चली हैं, चाहिए एक ऐसा साल जिसमें ये उनींदी आँखें कुछ ख्वाब बुन सकें. ऐसे ख्वाब जिनमें ना तो चलती गोलियों का शोर हो ना बाज़ार की मंदी का शराबा.
चाहिए एक ऐसा साल जिसमें एक बार फिर जी उठे वो जज़्बा जो ना जाने कहीं खो सा गया है...
चाहिए एक ऐसा साल जो अगर न लौटा सके मासूमों को उनके खोये अपने, कमसे कम उनकी गीली आँखों को फिर दे सकें कुछ नए सपने...
चाहिए एक ऐसा साल जो दे सके हौसला और एक यकीन कि हर गहराती रात के बाद सबेरा होता है, क्यूंकि ये रात जो गहराना शुरू हुयी तो बस गहराती ही चली गई है...कई नज़रों को अब भी है उस सबेरे का इंतज़ार जो छलिया बना छलता रहा अपने इंतज़ार में बसी पलकों को किसी झूठे वादे की तरह..
चाहिए एक ऐसा साल जो ले कर आए उस रात के राह भूले सवेरे को...
चाहिए एक ऐसा साल जो ले कर आए मुस्कुराने के और भी बहाने....
उम्मीदों पर दुनिया कायम है और उम्मीद के पालने में झूलते नन्हें 2009 से बस यही उम्मीद है कि उसके बढ़ते कदम कुछ ऐसे बढें कि उसकी ऊँगली थामे हम भी नाप आयें उन मंज़िलों को जिन्हें पाने कि चाह इस बरस अधूरी सी ही रह गई। छू लें वो आसमान जो अब तक नज़र आ रहा था हाथों की पकड़ से दूर ।
आप सभी को नव-वर्ष की हार्दिक शुभकामनायें ।
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Dhoom Dhoom Luck Luck!!!
I recently met an old friend from real old days (when I was a student and was trying to break into cartooning). We were chatting on various topics and slowly (and as I feared) his conversation started diverting towards my life.
“You really are a LUCKY Guy, Alok!!” He said.
The conversation went on till late night. I left from there thinking about Lucky- No Time For Love (which IMHO everybody should miss), Oye Lucky!Lucky Oye! (which I missed)…Luck By Chance (which I don’t want to miss) and yet to be released Luck...and many other things on my way back...Whatever I thought was complete nonsense so let's not talk about it...
It’s Christmas Time…and I think my new post should have a Happy Ending Feel Good Story for all of you.
(Hope you gonna enjoy the story of a cartoonist who desperately wanted to get into Radio.)
So..here is the story-
There was a cartoonist with lots of dreams. Some of the dreams looked almost impossible to realize, but he was too stubborn to accept it. One such dream was to enter the world of Radio. He dreamed to become an RJ (which actually remained unachieved for many reasons, we’ll talk about them later).
Well like every aspiring Radio Professional, he sent a mail to the only Radio Station in the city and to his surprise, the very next day he got a mail which asked him to appear for an audition that very day.
The unprepared, inexperienced cartoonist appeared in the audition and for a guy who had never seen a Radio Station or a Studio ever in his life; it was easy to get confused and nervous.
The nervous Cartoonist auditioned. His performance was really bad. (Good thing was he himself knew that he had just messed up this wonderful opportunity to realize his longtime dream).
The results of the auditions were not shocking at all. The info which actually shocked him was- He won’t be able to appear in any audition for next 6 months. 6 months is a longtime but if one has decided to practice and overcome one’s limitations, it is actually a very little time. He marked a red circle on the day this six months period was going to get over.
The cartoonist worked on his voice, script writing skills, researched on the fundamentals and formats of Radio Programming and Packaging. He practiced day and night and one fine morning he woke up to see that Red Circle on the calendar. 
Six Months were over, but the problem was the changed Radio Programming Policies, Jock Talks were going to be in 100% English with a bit of Kannada words here and there…
“Well…” thought the Cartoonist.“Here go all my chances...Here go all my dreams...”
Still adamant to give it another shot, he sat down to write a letter to the Programming Director of the channel.
Writing was a bit difficult; instead he felt he could draw something that would convey his message to them. And the cartoonist spent the whole day sketching something.
Next day the PD had a mail in her inbox :
She smiled and replied to the Cartoonist, telling him that she actually liked his application but sadly they don’t need a Hindi Speaking RJ now, but they might need some producers, will he be interested in joining them as a Producer?
“Producer…sounds cool…infact better than an RJ” he thought.
The management still wasn’t in favor of hiring an outsider (a guy who doesn’t belongs to the city and hence won’t be able to understand its ‘sensibilities’) as a Producer. The cartoonist was offered the job of a Production Coordinator.
Something is better than nothing; he thought and entered the world of Radio as a Production Coordinator (whatever that meant).
Within three months of joining he got his first promotion and became not only a Producer but many other new responsibilities also were assigned to him (well…some of the responsibilities were the ones which nobody else wanted to accept, but that’s a different story).
Most of these experiences not only taught him lots of new things about packaging and producing Radio Shows but also helped him in learning how the world operates. And those experiences are still helping him in his life.
Was the Cartoonist lucky??
I really would like to know what’s your opinion on this?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
By the way coming back to myself…I really feel I am lucky...It was a dream come true situation last evening.
Now this is what I call- LUCK!!! And I really feel I am Lucky!!
Sapney Dekhna Zaroori Hai…Kyonki Sapne Sach Bhi Hotey Hain…
Happy Festive Season.
“You really are a LUCKY Guy, Alok!!” He said.
The conversation went on till late night. I left from there thinking about Lucky- No Time For Love (which IMHO everybody should miss), Oye Lucky!Lucky Oye! (which I missed)…Luck By Chance (which I don’t want to miss) and yet to be released Luck...and many other things on my way back...Whatever I thought was complete nonsense so let's not talk about it...
It’s Christmas Time…and I think my new post should have a Happy Ending Feel Good Story for all of you.
(Hope you gonna enjoy the story of a cartoonist who desperately wanted to get into Radio.)
So..here is the story-
There was a cartoonist with lots of dreams. Some of the dreams looked almost impossible to realize, but he was too stubborn to accept it. One such dream was to enter the world of Radio. He dreamed to become an RJ (which actually remained unachieved for many reasons, we’ll talk about them later).
Well like every aspiring Radio Professional, he sent a mail to the only Radio Station in the city and to his surprise, the very next day he got a mail which asked him to appear for an audition that very day.
The unprepared, inexperienced cartoonist appeared in the audition and for a guy who had never seen a Radio Station or a Studio ever in his life; it was easy to get confused and nervous.The nervous Cartoonist auditioned. His performance was really bad. (Good thing was he himself knew that he had just messed up this wonderful opportunity to realize his longtime dream).
The results of the auditions were not shocking at all. The info which actually shocked him was- He won’t be able to appear in any audition for next 6 months. 6 months is a longtime but if one has decided to practice and overcome one’s limitations, it is actually a very little time. He marked a red circle on the day this six months period was going to get over.
The cartoonist worked on his voice, script writing skills, researched on the fundamentals and formats of Radio Programming and Packaging. He practiced day and night and one fine morning he woke up to see that Red Circle on the calendar. 
Six Months were over, but the problem was the changed Radio Programming Policies, Jock Talks were going to be in 100% English with a bit of Kannada words here and there…“Well…” thought the Cartoonist.“Here go all my chances...Here go all my dreams...”
Still adamant to give it another shot, he sat down to write a letter to the Programming Director of the channel.
Writing was a bit difficult; instead he felt he could draw something that would convey his message to them. And the cartoonist spent the whole day sketching something.Next day the PD had a mail in her inbox :
She smiled and replied to the Cartoonist, telling him that she actually liked his application but sadly they don’t need a Hindi Speaking RJ now, but they might need some producers, will he be interested in joining them as a Producer?
“Producer…sounds cool…infact better than an RJ” he thought.
The management still wasn’t in favor of hiring an outsider (a guy who doesn’t belongs to the city and hence won’t be able to understand its ‘sensibilities’) as a Producer. The cartoonist was offered the job of a Production Coordinator.
Something is better than nothing; he thought and entered the world of Radio as a Production Coordinator (whatever that meant).
Within three months of joining he got his first promotion and became not only a Producer but many other new responsibilities also were assigned to him (well…some of the responsibilities were the ones which nobody else wanted to accept, but that’s a different story).
Most of these experiences not only taught him lots of new things about packaging and producing Radio Shows but also helped him in learning how the world operates. And those experiences are still helping him in his life.
Was the Cartoonist lucky??
I really would like to know what’s your opinion on this?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
By the way coming back to myself…I really feel I am lucky...It was a dream come true situation last evening.
If you remember I left a Chhoti Si Wishlist in my last post. Somebody actually played Santa and gifted me two of the books from the list last evening and I am on cloud nine browsing through the pages of these two wonderful books:
Now this is what I call- LUCK!!! And I really feel I am Lucky!!Sapney Dekhna Zaroori Hai…Kyonki Sapne Sach Bhi Hotey Hain…
Happy Festive Season.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Ooh Aah Ouch!!....My Wallet!!
Despite my vow that I won’t be spending any money on DVDs/Books this month thanks to the bloody recession and some unexpected kharchas,
I couldn’t stop myself when I saw the Wall-E Special Edition 2 Disc Set released by Excel Home Videos. Loaded with tons of extra features and Leslie Iwerks’ award winning Documentary The Pixar Story, it becomes a must have for any animation/Pixar Fan/Enthusiast/Professional.
I couldn’t stop myself when I saw the Wall-E Special Edition 2 Disc Set released by Excel Home Videos. Loaded with tons of extra features and Leslie Iwerks’ award winning Documentary The Pixar Story, it becomes a must have for any animation/Pixar Fan/Enthusiast/Professional.
Another irresistible blow came in the form of Kung Fu Panda 2 Disc –Kung fu Master Special Edition DVD. Though this one is also released as a single DVD set and I think one should go for the single disc edition only, 2nd disc mostly contains promotional stuff which in my opinion most of the people won’t be interested in. Anyway it was heartbreaking to see they released it in
There was this DVD Sale going on in Mumbai and I ended up buying 5 more DVD Titles – A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo (have lost my 2 DVD Edition), Miller’s Crossing, Thelma and Louise and Little Miss Sunshine. I decided- No more DVDs for this month, and this is when I realized they have released The Dark Knight Special Edition 2 Disc Set too. Guys it's again a must have for everybody who loved this Masterpiece by Chris Nolan, one of the smartest film of this year. The extra DVD is loaded with many Extra Features, and its coming in a beautiful Bag with a free Tee and a sexy black Dark Knight Pen.
Well I promised myself I’ll save the money next month for sure and bought this one too (this is the same promise I make and break every month when I see a new DVD). Went to Landmark yesterday and was surprized to see they’ve got The Art Of Wall-E in their books section….
The book I have been drooling for almost 6 months and more recently was contemplating if I should order it from amazon, how could I ignore this irresistable beauty giving me that come hither look from that book shelf? I am not heartless…but yup after spending so much I am penniless right now!!
I have been/or atleast tried to be a good boy the whole year, anybody wanna play Santa???
My chhoti si wish list – The Art Of Kung Fu Panda, Hans Bacher’s Dream Worlds, The Visual Story 2nd Edition by Bruce Block. The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition) DVD.
Edit: By the way in case if you are interested in the art of script writing and screenplays, Warner Bros. have uploaded The Dark Knight Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan on their website. Click here for the PDF Version of Actual Shooting Script.
Disney has also put up the Wall-E screenplay by Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon. Click here to read one of the best Screenplays written for an Animation Film.
Chitrakathaa: A New Begining
Hey guys, after dilly-dallying for almost six months, we started our work on Chitrakathaa - Understanding Comics: The Indian Way.
The Begining
Kick started Chitrakathaa with Mr.Aabid Surti.
Meeting with Aabid Surti ji (creator of Bahadur, Indrajaal Comics and many other syndicated comic strips and highly popular Dhabbu ji series from Dharmyug) was an experience. Though I had an opportunity to meet him in my student days but this time it was more personal, he invited us to his residence in Meera Road and we had a long chat on Stories, Comics, Superheroes, his way of setting up a story (or Setting the chessboard as he calls it), creating a new comic book universe, creating new characters, his novels, collaboration with legendary comic book artists like Govind Brahmanya and Pratap Mulick, his fixation with the stories of Daakus of Chambal, his bollywood days, his association and experience with Raj Kapoor and Raj Khosla, his comics that were almost turned into films, his love for art and painting, his stories which were far matured and ahead of their time and current bollywood films.
Saw his Short Films and a film made on him.
Can't explain the experience, the fun and the excitement. But this was THE WAY to kick start Chitrakathaa!
Have started a blog which will be updated on regular intervals, sometimes with the updates on Chitrakathaa: The Project and sometimes with some write ups on Indian Comics.
-Alok
The Begining
Kick started Chitrakathaa with Mr.Aabid Surti.
Meeting with Aabid Surti ji (creator of Bahadur, Indrajaal Comics and many other syndicated comic strips and highly popular Dhabbu ji series from Dharmyug) was an experience. Though I had an opportunity to meet him in my student days but this time it was more personal, he invited us to his residence in Meera Road and we had a long chat on Stories, Comics, Superheroes, his way of setting up a story (or Setting the chessboard as he calls it), creating a new comic book universe, creating new characters, his novels, collaboration with legendary comic book artists like Govind Brahmanya and Pratap Mulick, his fixation with the stories of Daakus of Chambal, his bollywood days, his association and experience with Raj Kapoor and Raj Khosla, his comics that were almost turned into films, his love for art and painting, his stories which were far matured and ahead of their time and current bollywood films.
Saw his Short Films and a film made on him.Can't explain the experience, the fun and the excitement. But this was THE WAY to kick start Chitrakathaa!
Have started a blog which will be updated on regular intervals, sometimes with the updates on Chitrakathaa: The Project and sometimes with some write ups on Indian Comics.
-Alok
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
This is what I feel..I Think...
Hey I am extremely sorry for not being active (as Vidooshak and many of you complained) on my blog space for a while. Magar kya karein ye Naukari cheez hi aisi hai ki achhe achhe nikammo se kaam karwa leti hai, phir hum kis khet ki Mooli hain.
It's good to see Mumbai and life finally back to normal (or so they say), its better to see the anger in common public, it was best to see Politicians giving some stupid bayaans and getting caught on camera. Though we all know how they really are but its great to see the real faces of these vultures which are otherwise hidden behind those ever smiling masks.
As far as our foreign policy and diplomacy is concerned, I think its high time now. We have to act fast and fight terror by evoking terror in the minds of those who think they can easily plan and terrorize us.
This reminds me of the poem- शक्ति और क्षमा (Abilities and Mercy) one of my most favorite Poet रामधारी सिंह दिनकर' -(this poem is an excerpt from his Mahakavya - कुरुक्षेत्र).
श्री कृष्ण who went as a Shaanti Doot is insulted in Kuru Sabha, he is back and trying to make Yudhisthir understand that his Humbleness could be percieved as a cowardice by his opponents if he doesn't display his real abilities and bravery on time, I think this poem suits the condition India is in today, we need to understand-
क्षमा, दया, तप, त्याग, मनोबल
सबका लिया सहारा
पर नर व्याघ सुयोधन तुमसे
कहो कहाँ कब हारा?
Mercy, resolve, tact, tolerance
You've tried everything and some
But o my king of men
When did Suyodhan succumb?
क्षमाशील हो ॠपु-सक्षम
तुम हुये विनीत जितना ही
दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको
कायर समझा उतना ही
The more forgiving you were
In your humane compassion
The more these rouge Kauravas
Pegged you as cowardly ashen
अत्याचार सहन करने का
कुफल यही होता है
पौरुष का आतंक मनुज
कोमल होकर खोता है
This is the consequence
Of tolerating atrocities
The awe of machismo is lost
When one's gentle n kindly
क्षमा शोभती उस भुजंग को
जिसके पास गरल है
उसका क्या जो दंतहीन
विषरहित विनीत सरल है
Forgiveness is becoming of
The serpent that's got venom
None cares for the toothless,
Poisonless, kind, gentle one
सच पूछो तो शर में ही
बसती है दीप्ति विनय की
संधिवचन सम्पूज्य उसीका
जिसमे शक्ति विजय की
Truth be told, it's in the quiver
That lies the gleam of modesty
Only his peace-talk is reputable
Who is capable of victory
सहनशीलता, क्षमा, दया को
तभी पूजता जग है
बल का दर्प चमकता उसके
पीछे जब जगमग है
Sometimes war is neccessary to bring in peace....Such wars are called Dharmyuddha in our historical myths, and it's time for another Dharmyuddha.
Are we ready to fight or we have become so timid that we'll keep hiding in the same shell and witness many more such events is the question that's still giving me sleepless nights.
I am still finding myself unable to accept what happened in those 60 Hours. Saw some Pakistani Media Videos and I am unable to keep my cool after listening to the explosive language they used against India while we were struggling to fight those coward terrorists trained in Pak.
They are laughing at us and our toothless tigers are playing blame games sitting in Delhi.
We are lighting candles while they are training thousands others to repeat the 26/11 incident.
Till when are we going to boost candle sales and blame the politicians?? It's the time to display our courage!!!
PS. I am sorry for sounding so prejudiced, biased or paranoid but I strongly feel we all should feel the same.
Thanks to everybody who commented on my last post. My brother is safe and so are all of us till those bastards are back. Are we waiting???Are we ready???
It's good to see Mumbai and life finally back to normal (or so they say), its better to see the anger in common public, it was best to see Politicians giving some stupid bayaans and getting caught on camera. Though we all know how they really are but its great to see the real faces of these vultures which are otherwise hidden behind those ever smiling masks.
As far as our foreign policy and diplomacy is concerned, I think its high time now. We have to act fast and fight terror by evoking terror in the minds of those who think they can easily plan and terrorize us.
This reminds me of the poem- शक्ति और क्षमा (Abilities and Mercy) one of my most favorite Poet रामधारी सिंह दिनकर' -(this poem is an excerpt from his Mahakavya - कुरुक्षेत्र).
श्री कृष्ण who went as a Shaanti Doot is insulted in Kuru Sabha, he is back and trying to make Yudhisthir understand that his Humbleness could be percieved as a cowardice by his opponents if he doesn't display his real abilities and bravery on time, I think this poem suits the condition India is in today, we need to understand-
"Tolerance, forgiveness and clemency
Are respcted by the world
Only when the glow of strength
From behind it is unfurled."
(Providing English Translation which I found online for the Hindi Text)
क्षमा, दया, तप, त्याग, मनोबल
सबका लिया सहारा
पर नर व्याघ सुयोधन तुमसे
कहो कहाँ कब हारा?
Mercy, resolve, tact, tolerance
You've tried everything and some
But o my king of men
When did Suyodhan succumb?
क्षमाशील हो ॠपु-सक्षम
तुम हुये विनीत जितना ही
दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको
कायर समझा उतना ही
The more forgiving you were
In your humane compassion
The more these rouge Kauravas
Pegged you as cowardly ashen
अत्याचार सहन करने का
कुफल यही होता है
पौरुष का आतंक मनुज
कोमल होकर खोता है
This is the consequence
Of tolerating atrocities
The awe of machismo is lost
When one's gentle n kindly
क्षमा शोभती उस भुजंग को
जिसके पास गरल है
उसका क्या जो दंतहीन
विषरहित विनीत सरल है
Forgiveness is becoming of
The serpent that's got venom
None cares for the toothless,
Poisonless, kind, gentle one
सच पूछो तो शर में ही
बसती है दीप्ति विनय की
संधिवचन सम्पूज्य उसीका
जिसमे शक्ति विजय की
Truth be told, it's in the quiver
That lies the gleam of modesty
Only his peace-talk is reputable
Who is capable of victory
सहनशीलता, क्षमा, दया को
तभी पूजता जग है
बल का दर्प चमकता उसके
पीछे जब जगमग है
Tolerance, forgiveness and clemency
Are respcted by the world
Only when the glow of strength
From behind it is unfurled
Sometimes war is neccessary to bring in peace....Such wars are called Dharmyuddha in our historical myths, and it's time for another Dharmyuddha.
Are we ready to fight or we have become so timid that we'll keep hiding in the same shell and witness many more such events is the question that's still giving me sleepless nights.
I am still finding myself unable to accept what happened in those 60 Hours. Saw some Pakistani Media Videos and I am unable to keep my cool after listening to the explosive language they used against India while we were struggling to fight those coward terrorists trained in Pak.
They are laughing at us and our toothless tigers are playing blame games sitting in Delhi.
We are lighting candles while they are training thousands others to repeat the 26/11 incident.
Till when are we going to boost candle sales and blame the politicians?? It's the time to display our courage!!!
PS. I am sorry for sounding so prejudiced, biased or paranoid but I strongly feel we all should feel the same.
Thanks to everybody who commented on my last post. My brother is safe and so are all of us till those bastards are back. Are we waiting???Are we ready???
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