Yayawar Ki Diary

Why This Kolaveri Di Over A Fan Art?

2011-12-11T01:15:00.002+05:30

STATUTORY WARNING: The write up is quite long, but reading it wont be injurious to anyone’s health.

A few days back, I left my copy of Kirigi Ka Qeher (one of my most favorite comic book titles for past two decades) with Saumin to scan it for Chitrakatha. Unsuspecting Saumin was curiously flipping through pages one night and this comic played exactly the same role that mythical radio-active spider had played in Peter Parker’s life some five decades ago. Before he would realize, Saumin was entangled in the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime called Kirigi Ka Qeher.

Swashbuckling action, epic scale fantasy and one of the ‘tightest’ stories narrated in the history of sequential art – Kirigi Ka Qeher inspired Saumin to do his own version of Super Commando Druve (Yes… yes… I know its Dhruv but Patel calls him Druve).

That very night, not only Saumin drew his own version of the character (as a fan art of course) the daring man also decided to share it with his friends, fans and followers on Facebook and trust me we all loved this new version (with minor inputs dropping in from everywhere). Saumin’s daring act of re-designing one of India’s most favorite Superhero was backed by the most daring and open minded publisher Mr.Sanjay Gupta, who shared it with the (hardcore) Raj Comics fans on the Raj Comics FB page and as they say – all hell broke loose.

While a little fraction of fans was cool with this ‘fan art’ others seemed really offended with this version (may be they were simply scared that Raj Comics is planning a SCD reboot and a costume change ALA DC’s infamous Wonderwoman Costume Reboot). Though this fan art saw a hearty support from the artist community but as its always expected “Fans are a super-irked unforgiving lot, so this new look was able to strike terror/a ting of hatred into their hearts”.

Someone called it a Manga Ripoff, some called it Ben-10 just because of a Cargo-trouser, someone compared the cargo pants to a Dhoti and was obnoxious enough to write a back-story based in a village to mock the look. Looking at the outrage, it made me rethink why fans got so put off with a ‘fan art’. Its more or less the same thing that we all have done as kids after reading a comic book – getting inspired and try to scribble down our own version of it. No offence meant to any creator or any design that’s already been there. Knowing Saumin personally, I know he was simply kicked and this was his way of saying that the Comic was just awesmackin’ awesome.

Also, Saumin is a fan of X-Men series of movies and he has always appreciated the way they keep playing with the costumes in all their movies or spinoff titles, it was simply his way of trying out a new look for a Superhero, that he’d just discovered.

But there is more to it, X-Men franchise itself has many offshoots and spinoff series that have come out of the original source material so it becomes easier to revamp the look/costumes (out of which many have been ridiculed in the past). But other than X-Men have we seen any mainstream superhero/a superteam getting a brand new look? Even the most popular reboot The Ultimates didn’t see much of a jump in the costumes of lead players like Ironman, though Cap. America’s costume has been evolved a bit, but it hasn’t been that big a jump. Even in DC we’ve seen this happening with characters like Green Lantern etc. Costume evolution is a calculated risk with B-Level characters, who doesn’t have that big a fan following. But the publishers themselves stay away from doing such major changes with their flagship titles and whenever they tried that, sudden uproar of fans pushed them back to their roots.

Such new takes were ridiculed and rejected outright by the fans irrespective of the big names attached to the projects. One great example would be Tim Burton’s unmade Superman Lives with its Disco Superman Costume and the casting of Nicholas Cage, which has been a joke fodder for the fans for more than a decade now. Check out Tim Burton’s vision/costume/look for Superman here:

Hardcore fans are disappointed again esp. after the ‘leaked’ Man Of Steel images started appearing online. Visionary Director Zack Snyder decided to remove Superman’s iconic red undies from his costume, and people feel that makes the man of steel appear a little ‘nude’ (I totally agree). While fans loved Snyder’s choice of campy costumes in Watchmen (not to be forgotten, Watchmen was based in the 1980s and that was the color pallete of those years, remember the early 1990s Batman films with cheesy colorful costumes?), they immensely dislike his choice of costume in The Man of Steel, lets hope he has a storyline to support his vision this time as well.

Now the Million $ question – Why it irks the fans, when they see their heroes in a new (rebooted) costume?

‘Please don’t kill my hero…’

Being a fanboy, I can totally understand this sentiment. I used to be a Bheriya fan, but as soon as a storyline was introduced in which Bheriya the Hero was divided into two entities – Kobi & Bheriya, it was the death of Bheriya as I knew him. I can’t even recall the number of hate mails I’d sent to Mr.Sanjay Gupta that summer. ‘You killed my hero’. The way I looked at his stories died with him, an entire series was suddenly meaningless, because they just changed the characters all of a sudden. I can go ranting about many such reboots or redesigning of characters that pushed me away from comics series I had been an ardent fan of. I have my sentiments attached to a hero and as soon as someone tries to change or tweak it in a way that renders the earlier stories outdated, I am going to DISLIKE it. Because no matter what the creator (artist/writer) had in mind, he just tried to push me out of my comfort zone by trying to tweak my hero/heroine. I know we have to renew the material to get fresh readers in, but that doesn’t mean we should toss away the sentiments of our existing readers. It can be achieved with new powerful stories. A DKR or a Year One can make me a Batman fan and I can always go back and read the classic Batman without even demanding a reboot in its design or stories. Today’s Raj Comics readers (many of them who were born after Mr. Anupam Sinha took over Nagraj) wont mind going back and trying to get a flavour of Late Mr.Mulick’s Nagraj. Why? Because even though Mr.Sinha changed Nagraj entirely he didn’t let the old mythology slip away and this is the blueprint that creators today have to follow and get fresh readers interested in these comic books. Though as a Publisher Raj Comics has changed the looks of Tiranga in the past and are coming out with two spinoff Nagraj series, but fans have been an unforgiving lot with these spinoffs and no matter what, you don’t wanna mess with the Fans.

I remember Quintin Tarentino’s interview in a special issue of Wizard, where he said, he doesn’t want to direct a Superhero film because he isn’t comfortable with fans’ expectations that comes with all the existing Superhero franchises, but he also added that, he would love to create his own superhero to make a movie with.

We can learn a lot from the smartass Tarentino. Fan favorite writer Mark Millar has learnt a lot from him. Rather than trying to reboot/redesign any ongoing series, Millar very smartly created his own universe with his own version of spinoffs. We are walking a thin line here, and we can learn a lot from Directors like Nolan and Jim Cameron who have tweaked the storylines a lot but never tried changing a costume.

If you’ve read Cameron’s unmade Spiderman Scriptment, you will realize that even a badass director like Jim Cameron wouldn’t like to cross that thin line and face the wrath of hardcore fans. While Mr.Cameron himself says Spidey’s costume is goofy and wasn’t very keen on having Spidey’s webshooters from the comics (Cameron gave him the biological webshooters, that was later used by Raimi in all his films) but Cameron made sure that the webshooter from Spidey’s costume is still there and totally justified its presence (How? Check out the scriptment page with storyboards here.

Lesson learnt: You don’t mess with the superhero costumes and don’t piss off the fans even if your name happens to be James Cameron, and you are the hotshot director of T:2.

Another example would be Steven Spielberg who was really interested in doing a Superman movie once, but later refused the offer politely and moved on to direct Close Encounters, E.T. and Indiana Jones (creating his own Superhero). He came back to direct a film based on a comic book character much later with The Adventures of Tintin (2011), though he was developing it since as early as 1982. Despite being a totally enjoyable adventure extravaganza many Tintin fans have disliked Spielberg’s version of Tintin (While I started seeing Tintin in a new light post - Spielbergian Tintin and have started finding it much more exciting). Though Spielberg took liberty with the story, he retained Tintin’s classic look intact. Why? Coz he wasn’t ready to face the Kolaveri of Tintin fans.

But then you might have to change the costume/look a bit to make your hero work in some other medium like Animation or Movies, may be fans might be a little more forgiving when they see these little changes in animation or a film. Personally speaking I would love to tweak/rewrite a lot of characters, but I would rather do that in my Universe with my own characters and earn some new fans.

Chitrakatha in The Sunday Guardian

2011-11-15T12:44:00.000+05:30

Another brlliant story on our Documentary Film: Chitrakatha appeared in last Sunday's The Sunday Guardian. Click on the image for a hi-res version and let me know how did you like it?

Chitrakatha: 10 minutes Rough Cut

2011-09-22T14:32:00.001+05:30

A 10 minutes rough preview cut from our documentary Chitrakatha

Feel free to share on your pages/profiles/blogs. And let us know what do you think about it.

-Alok

The write up for Dainik Bhaskar

2011-07-18T01:12:00.001+05:30

Being brought up in Central India, I remember starting my mornings with DAINIK BHASKAR, one of the most circulated Hindi Dailies in India. And after so many years, when I was asked by an Editor friend to write a Sunday Special News Feature on Lifestyle for Dainik Bhaskar's front page - I couldn't resist the offer and here's the piece that appeared in more than 60+ Editions of Dainik Bhaskar all over India. Trust me, it gives a high to see your name and write up appearing on the first page of a news paper you've grown up with. Click on the image to read the write up:

My Documentary Chitrakatha featured in FHM July 2001 Issue

2011-07-18T01:02:00.000+05:30

I remember hiding issues of FHM from my parents as it always used to feature scantily clad girls. Thankfully the Indian edition of the magazine is a bit considerate when it comes to such things (besides our starlets don't really believe in exposing for the Desi version that much). But this month came with a FHM Flaunting moment for me - FHM India featured a one page article on my Documentary Chitrakatha, for those who are unaware about the project can catch up with us on our Facebook page.

Meanwhile, enjoy the article here, click on the image for a readable size.

Love U...Mr. Kalakaar

2011-06-15T00:05:00.001+05:30

I was associated with Rajshri Production's latest release Love U Mr. Kalakaar as an Art Consultant/ Cartoon Artist. Tusshar Kapoor plays a cartoonist in the movie, and I provided all the cartoons that were there in the movie.

I was asked by Mr.Triambak Sharma, Editor Cartoon Watch to do a small write up on my experience about the movie sometime back. The write up appeared in the latest issue of the magazine.

Here it goes:

त्र्यम्बक भैय्या ने जब मुझे जब अपने लव यू मि. कलाकार को ले कर हुए अनुभव के बारे में लिखने को कहा तो मुझे सोचते हुए कुंग फु पांडा के कछुआ मास्टर उगवे की वो लाइन याद आई जिसमें वो कहते हैं One Often Meets His Destiny On The Road He Takes To Avoid It ! कई बार आपका प्रारब्ध आपको उस राह में मिलता है जो आपने उससे बचने के लिए ली होती है. हालांकि मुझे कार्टूनिंग से हमेशा एक लगाव रहा है और मैंने अपने कार्टूनिंग जीवन की शुरुआत कार्टून वाच के साथ १९९७ में की थी पर एक समय के बाद मैं प्रोफेशनल कार्टूनिंग से ऊब चुका था, और वैसे भी मुझे पोलिटिकल या सोशल कार्टूनिंग से ज्यादा लगाव कॉमिक कार्टूनिंग से रहा है. एक लम्बे अरसे तक गोथम कॉमिक्स, बंगलोर में काम करते करते अचानक एक दिन मन कार्टूनिंग से ऐसा उचटा कि मैंने अपने ब्रुश और इंक को एक बक्से में पैक किया और निकल पड़ा कुछ अलग करने...मैंने कार्टूनिंग छोड़ दी थी पर कार्टूनिंग ने मेरा पीछा नहीं छोड़ा. रेडियो करते समय मैं यदा कदा अपने स्टेशन के Ads लिए कुछ कार्टून्स बना दिया करता था, कभी किसी दोस्त की Ad Agencies के लिए कार्टून्स बनाता था तो कभी अपने खुद के जॉब एप्लीकेशन को कार्टूनी रंग में रंग देता था...प्रोफेशनल कार्टूनिंग से दूर रह कर भी कार्टूनिंग बदस्तूर जारी थी हाँ मैंने खुद को कार्टूनिस्ट कहना बंद कर दिया था. ऐसे में मुंबई आने पर जब मेरी मुलाकात मनस्वी भाई से हुई तो मैंने कभी सोचा भी नहीं था एक दिन वो मुझे वापस घसीट कर ड्राईंग बोर्ड तक ले आयेंगे.
मैंने उनको अपने कुछ पुराने कार्टून्स दिखाए जो कि उनको बड़े पसंद आये बाद में जैसा कि महानगरों में होता है वो अपने काम में रम गए और मैं अपने काम में. कार्टूनिंग अब तकरीबन बिलकुल बंद थी पर हाँ डिस्नी टीवी के लिए काम करते हुए फिर ऐसा कुछ काम आया जिसके लिए ज़रूरत हुई किसी कार्टून डिज़ाईनर की और मैंने एक बार फिर दो चार कार्टून बनाये और डिस्नी छोड़ कर निकल गया पुणे बिग एनीमेशन...जहां मेरे चारों और इतने ज़बरदस्त कार्टूनिस्ट थे कि मुझे कभी कुछ भी draw करने ज़रूरत ही महसूस नहीं हुई, फिर भी मैं शौकिया तौर पर एक रोज़ एक Wacom Tablet खरीद लाया कि चलो कभी ज़िन्दगी में वक़्त मिला तो एक बार फिर कार्टून बनायेंगे. मगर न वक़्त मिला न कार्टून बने बेचारी टेबलेट टेबल पर रखी धूल खाती रही और मैंने तो तब तक शर्मसार हो कर खुद को कार्टूनिस्ट कहना भी बंद कर डाला था. अब हम एनीमेशन राईटर और assistant preproduction director थे...ऐसे में एक रोज़ मन को कुछ ऐसी खुरापात चढ़ी कि हमने अपनी जॉब से इस्तीफ़ा दे दिया ये सोच कर कि कुछ अलग करना है अब. इस बीच मनस्वी भाई से एक दो बार फोन पर बात हुई थी और उन्होंने कहा था कि अगली बार मुंबई आये तो मिलना मुझसे एक बार...अब तो वैसे भी हम थे बेरोजगार तो मनस्वी भाई से मिलने के प्लान के साथ साथ वापस ज़रा कार्टूनिंग करने का भी प्लान बनाया और बस मस्ती में आ के हमने अपनी नयी tablet पर कुछ स्केच कर डाले और उन्हें पोस्ट कर दिया फेसबुक पर, अब इसे संयोग कहिये या विधि का विधान उसी रोज़ पहले उस कार्टून पर मनस्वी भाई ने एक कमेन्ट किया और फिर उनका फ़ोन आ गया और उन्होंने मुझे मिलने बुलाया राजश्री के ऑफिस. राजश्री फिल्म्स?? मुझे अपने कानों पर यकीन नहीं हुआ कि आखिर ये हो क्या रहा है. बस आनन फानन में मनस्वी भाई से मुलाकात की तो पता चला कि वो राजश्री के लिए एक फिल्म डायरेक्ट करनेवाले हैं जिसमें उनका हीरो एक कार्टूनिस्ट है, एक सीधी सच्ची कहानी थी उनकी और बस वो सुनते ही मैं एक बार फिर वापस लौट आया था कार्टूनिंग की ओर.
मेरी एक मुलाक़ात कराई गयी राजकुमार बडजात्या जी से जो फिल्म के निर्माता और राजश्री के सर्वेसर्वा हैं. राज जी से हुई मुलाक़ात मैं भूल नहीं सकता उन्होंने कुछ ही मिनटों में मेरी पूरी जानकारी ले ली ये ही नहीं उन्होंने मुझसे उन सारे शहरों के छविग्रहों का भी विस्तृत हाल ले लिया जिन शहरों में मेरा आना जाना रहा है...उनको ना सिर्फ हर छोटे बड़े शहर की हर टॉकीज़ का नाम याद था बल्कि उन्हें वहाँ चल रही फिल्मों तक की जानकारी थी...ऐसे sharp लोग आपको कभी कभी ही मिलते हैं और मेरे लिए ये मुलाक़ात अविस्मर्णीय इसलिए भी रहेगी कि उड़ीसा के जिस छोटे से गाँव में मेरा जन्म हुआ है, जिसकी जानकारी मुझे लोगों को बहुत सारा भूगोल समझा कर देनी पड़ती है राज जी ने उसका नाम सुनते ही आस पास के कई और छोटे गाँव के नाम मुझे गिना दिए साथ ही मुझे ये हिदायत भी मिली कि हालांकि उनका हीरो कार्टूनिस्ट है पर वो एक सीधा सच्चा इंसान है इसलिए उसके कार्टून्स किसी कि हंसी उड़ाने के लिए नहीं होंगे ना ही वो किसी के नैन - नक्श बिगाड़ेगा, आपके सारे कार्टून्स प्यारे और सबको गुदगुदानेवाले हो व्यंग्यात्मक या कटाक्षवाले बिलकुल ना हो. उन्होंने बासु chatterjee का उदाहरण देते हुए मुझे बताया कि बासु द खुद एक कार्टूनिस्ट थे और उन्होंने राजश्री के लिए काफी फिल्में बनाई हैं और उनकी सारी फिल्मों का बेस होता था सीधा सरल हास्य और मेरे कार्टून्स में वो नज़र आना चाहिए.
उनसे मिल कर मैं जैसे ही बाहर निकला मनस्वी भाई ने मेरी मुलाक़ात सूरज बडजात्या जी से करवाई और जैसे ही सूरज जी अपने ऑफिस में घुसे... मनस्वी भाई ने मेरी टांग खींचते हुए कहा राजश्री में कोई तेरी तरह हाफ चड्डी में नहीं आता...मैंने हाफ पेंट पहनी हुई थी...और इसके बाद मैं जितनी बार राजश्री पहुंचा शायद मैं हर बार हाफपेंट ही पहने हुए था...क्योंकि जब एक बार गलती से मैं जींस पहने हुए ऑफिस पहुँच गया तो कुछ लोगों ने मुझे रोक कर पूछ लिया कि आज क्या कुछ ख़ास बात है? आप पूरे कपड़ों में हैं.

अब तक मनस्वी भाई की ब्रीफ के हिसाब से मैंने कार्टून बनाने शुरू कर दिए थे, और अखबारों के लिए कार्टून बनाने और फिल्म के लिए कार्टून बनाने में जो फर्क होते हैं वो मैं समझने लगा था - जो स्ट्रोक्स चित्र के छोटे होने पर उसकी खूबसूरती बढ़ा सकते हैं वो फिल्म के सेट में दीवारों पर अगर सही ना लगे तो पूरा लुक गड़बड़ हो सकता है.
मनस्वी भाई ने फिल्म के कार्टूनिस्ट हीरो साहिल के घर कि एक कल्पना की थी कि वहाँ हर दीवार पर कार्टून होंगे - मुझे सेट का नक्षा दे दिया गया और दीवारों के डाईमेंशन को ध्यान में रख कर मैंने कार्टून बनाने शुरू कर दिए और ये कार्टून करते करते मुझे ध्यान में आया वो कार्टून जो मैंने भिलाई में रहते हुए अपने दोस्त बंटी की लाईब्ररी में बनाया था - उसकी लाईब्रेरी के एक प्लग पॉइंट में कर्रेंट आ जाया करता था लोगो को उससे दूर रखने के लिए मैंने उस प्लग पॉइंट के सामने एक बिजली का झटका खाते इंसान का कार्टून बनाया था बस वोही कार्टून मैंने साहिल के घर के लिए भी बना दिया - ये कार्टून सूरज जी को भी बड़ा पसंद आया और ये कार्टून फिल्म में भी कई बार नज़र आता है.

कहानी में ट्विस्ट तब आया जब हम सेट पर पहुंचे - अब सेट नक़्शे से काफी अलग हो चुका था और सेट के लिए बनाये मेरे कुछ कार्टून यहाँ इस्तेमाल नहीं हो सकते थे...शूट बड़ी जल्दी शुरू होनी थी और वक़्त था बहुत कम...ऐसे में जब सेट के एक हिस्से में एक बड़ी अलमारी रखी गयी और उसके ऊपर के खाली हिस्से के लिए मुझे कार्टून बनाने को कहा गया तो एक मिनट के लिए मैं सोच में पड़ गया की उतने ऊपर क्या बनाया जाए और अचानक ख्याल आया कि इतने ऊपर तो एक ही इंसान बैठ सकता है - साम्भा! बस मैंने तुरंत स्व. मैक मोहन का एक केरीकेचर किया और उसे वहाँ बिठा दिया.
सबको ये आईडिया मजेदार लगा. जब बात आई सेट पर ये कार्टून्स पैंट करवाने की तो ये मेरे लिए ज़रा दुविधा भरा काम था, ड्राईंग बोर्ड पर कार्टून बनाना एक बात है और दीवारों पर उसे पैंट करना अलग. खैर आर्ट डायरेक्टर ने मुझे दो पेंटर्स दिलाये जो मेरे कार्टून्स उन दीवारों पर पेंट करेंगे, मैंने राहत की सांस कुछ जल्दी ले ली थी क्योंकि इन पैन्टेर्स को कार्टून समझाने के अलावा ये भी समझाना पड़ता था की कुछ लाईनों को उन्हें सिर्फ कॉपी ही नहीं करना ये भी समझना है कि वो वहाँ हैं किसलिए खैर ये पूरा काम निपटने के बाद अगले बाकी कार्टून्स मुझे घर पर ही बनाने थे. और एक एक करके साहिल की पोर्टफोलियो स्केचबुक (जिसमें काफी कार्टून्स मेरे अपने पोर्टफोलियो के थे), उसका विजिटिंग कार्ड, ऑफिस कार्टून्स, फैक्ट्री में इस्तेमाल होने वाले सेफ्टी कार्टून्स, साहिल की कॉमिक स्ट्रिप वगैरह सैकड़ों कार्टून्स मैंने बनाये - मैं एक बार फिर पूर्णकालिक कार्टूनिस्ट बन गया था...साथ ही फिल्म के स्पेशल एफ्फेक्ट्स के लिए भी मैंने थोड़ी storyboarding की जो अपने आप में काफी मजेदार सा अनुभव था. इन कार्टून्स को करते वक़्त ये ध्यान देना भी ज़रूरी था की इनमें से कई कार्टून फिल्म में एक सेकंड से भी कम समय के लिए नज़र आनेवाले थे, इसलिए उनको बिलकुल सिम्पल रखना ज़रूरी था मगर चेलेंज ये था की सिम्पल होने के बाद भी उनमें कुछ ऐसा हो जो लोगों को याद रह जाए...साथ ही हर कार्टून में साहिल का सीधा सादा केरेक्टर नज़र आये... सबसे ज्यादा मुश्किल था अमृता राव के स्केच बनाना क्योंकि ज़रा सी भी गड़बड़ से उनका चेहरा बिगड़ सकता था पर किसी तरह कई ऑप्शन स्केच करने के बाद हमने उनमें से कुछ एक को चुना...और जो ऑप्शन हमने चुने थे मुझे उनके कुछ वर्क इन प्रोग्रेस ऑप्शन बनाने थे ताकि हम साहिल को वो चित्र स्टेप बाई स्टेप बनाते हुए दिखा सकें...ऐसे ही फिल्म के पोस्टर और मार्केटिंग के लिए भी मैंने कई पॉकेट कार्टून और कार्टून स्ट्रिप्स बनाई पर अब मैंने अपने कार्टून्स में ज़रा सी डिटेल डालने के लिए मुक्त था क्योंकि ये कार्टून प्रिंट में इस्तेमाल होनेवाले थे.

खैर फिल्म पूरी होते ही मनस्वी भाई ने मुझे उसके प्रीव्यू के लिए इनवाईट भेजा और मैं पापा जी को ले कर फिल्म देखने पहुंचा. उनको फिल्म इतनी ज्यादा पसंद आई कि वो अब तक इसे दो - तीन बार देख चुके हैं और मज़े की बात ये है कि अब तक उन्होंने मेरे कार्टूनों के बारे में कुछ भी नहीं कहा है हालांकि फिल्म के डाईलोगस के बारे में वो एक लम्बा ब्लॉग लिख चुके हैं...फिल्म के एंड क्रेडिट में मेरा नाम देख कर उनके चेहरे पर जो ख़ुशी की लहर आई मेरे लिए पापा जी की वो ख़ुशी ही इस फिल्म के लिए मेरा सच्चा पारिश्रमिक है - और इस पारिश्रमिक पर कोई टैक्स डिडक्शन नहीं होनेवाला... इसके बाद दूसरी बार ख़ुशी हुई स्क्रीन Magazine में लव यु मी.कलाकार की समीक्षा पढ़ते वक़्त जिसकी आखिरी लाइन में लिखा था - Cartoons shown in the film are excellent.

ना चाहते हुए भी राह में मेरी मुलाक़ात उससे हो ही गयी जिसे मैं इतने समय से टालता आया था - कार्टूनिंग! और इस कहानी का अंत भी मैं मास्टर उगवे के कथन से ही करना चाहूँगा - There are no accidents! न मेरा कार्टूनिंग छोड़ना कोई एक्सीडेंट था न वापस आना, कुछ चीज़ें बस आपको करनी पड़ती है और शायद मेरे लिए वो 'कुछ चीज़' है...कार्टूनिंग.

Some cartoons from Love U...Mr.Kalakaar

Chitrakatha Teasers

2011-03-29T13:09:00.000+05:30

Guys,

Finally Chitrakatha is taking its baby steps towards completion, and here are a few teasers that we released on our facebook page - Would love to get your feedback:

-Alok

The Reflectors of life

2011-03-06T23:27:00.001+05:30

There is this strange resemblance between created reality and real life. (By 'Created reality' here, I mean any form of make believe story telling – a simple story narration, a comic book or lets go for a better example – Film shooting. If you are present at the location of a shoot then no amount of post production can change your perception of how the actual location looked like and the number of wires and Reflectors s kept haphazardly here and there. If you have experienced it first hand the set will remain a set for you and even though you will be seeing the most beautiful take aptly edited on the screen, the memory of numerous other wrong takes will dominate your mind. Enjoying the final scene becomes a difficult task after that. Its difficult to cut away from the memories and let go of them to enjoy the final cut. Personally, I simply love the procedure of making something because the end product – well... we all know it is a mere amalgamation of everything that was worth making it to the cut.

Likewise, real life memories also operate on more or less the same rule. An incident from your life (narrated in any form) will look like a final cut on the screen to me and it will be enjoyable as if its a fictional account of your past, on the other hand you while narrating it are actually hitting a refresh button in your memory and seeing that scene again – with all its wires and Reflectors s. Enjoyable for you or not? That I'll leave up to the genre of your memory – but for me it definitely was. Why? Because not only I was unaware of 'the Reflectors s' of your life – additional surroundings, your emotional/physical/at times financial state at that specific point in time but being not present at the 'moment' also makes me look at your memory at a macro level and enjoy the final cut of your story. Guess thats what makes a memoir fun to read, as a school boy, I remember reading Dale Carnegie's struggle and used to wonder how awesome his journey would've been – traveling in carriage trains, working in farms, going to a big city with big dreams and spending years of rejection before making it big. Yes it all sounds interesting because we will never be able to see the Reflectors s that were around him while he was going thru this classical hero's journey. That remains with the person who experienced it first hand.

At times when things are simply out of control and world starts looking like a gloomy stage do we try to cut-off these additional Reflectors s and those clumsy wires on the floor, those bad takes, those silly bloopers, just to come out of the set and start looking at the final cut? Because final cuts always show – Its not the failure but the final product that counts and in the end, everything falls in place.

Questions...

2010-12-26T01:08:00.001+05:30

Well I don't think I should be blogging right now, because I still have one more write up to finish before I hit the sack, but why I am not doing that?? Why am I wasting my time writing a blog entry which I am sure not many will read... I really don't know... There are many things that we do but we don't know why we do them... and then there are things we know - we have to do! and no matter whether you want them or not you do them coz you ought to do them...well these are the things you do so that one day you might get to do what you *really* want to do... Sounds confusing, well the actual scenario is even more confusing...trust me - Quitting from my job some 18 months back was a risk that I had to take because I wanted to work on my documentary independently...

Independence like many other words is one really tricky word, you will never get to know what it *actually* means... everytime you want to get independent (or indie as they call it) you realize you have to buy your independence...and to buy it you have to earn and in order to earn you have to sell your independence... A vicious cycle I tell you... Is this really all worth it?? I don't know... but I am trying to find an answer...

I am still trying to figure out why I started writing this entry...and what were the thoughts that swarmed my mind when out of impulsion I just opened up the blog and just wrote down these lines...

Wish you all a very Happy Festive Season and a Super Duper New Year!

PS. I might try to come back and write a longer post soon...before this year ends...

एक मुट्ठी आसमान...और एक नॉन-कमर्शियल ब्रेक

2010-09-05T23:42:00.000+05:30

यायावर की डायरी के पन्ने काफी वक़्त से खाली पड़े थे...कभी वक़्त नहीं था तो कभी हम नहीं थे...ग्वालियर से लौटे करीब एक हफ्ता होने को आया..और अचानक आज डिजीकैम देखा तो ये तस्वीर दिखी...जो वहाँ रहते हुए अपनी खिड़की के बाहर चहचहाती चिड़ियों की आवाज़ सुन कर खींची थी...
बड़े वक़्त के बाद धूप देखी थी...बड़े वक़्त के बाद सांझ के ढलते सूरज को देखा था और उसे देख कलाई पर बंधी घडी पर वक़्त देखने का ख्याल नहीं था...मन में ऐसा कुछ भी नहीं था जो कहने का मन था...बस कुछ देर वहीँ खड़े रह कर चिड़ियों को चहचहाते देखता रहा...आसमान रंग बदलता रहा और मैं एक अनजान शहर में हो कर भी इन चिर-परिचित नजारों में वो टटोलता रहा जो ना जाने कहाँ पीछे छूट गया है...आसमान की ऊंचाइयों को नापते सपनों के बीच अपरिचित सी परिचित ज़मीन पर थमें कदमों का ये नॉन-कमर्शियल ब्रेक भी सुकून दे जाता है कभी कभी...वरना तो हर कोई चाहता है एक मुट्ठी आसमान...

My interview in today's The New Indian Express

2010-07-03T23:13:00.003+05:30

The New Indian Express ran a story-feature on our Documentary Chitrakatha. Click on the image for a better readable size.

मेरा शहर

2009-12-20T16:39:00.002+05:30

1. मकान मेरे शहर के कभी 'घर' बन ही नहीं पाते,

खरीदते ही लोग Property Appreciation Calculate करने लगते हैं.

2. मकानों की दीवारें भी यहाँ हैं कुछ कच्ची सी,

बगल के कमरे में धड़कते दिल की धडकनें भी साफ़ सुनाई दे जाती हैं…

अलबत्ता दिल की दीवारें काफी मज़बूत बनवा ली हैं सबने…

3. आज फिर लीकेज है दीवारों पर, छत पर फिर कोई अकेला रो रहा है...

Paglaa

2009-12-05T05:32:00.000+05:30

Last days in Pune

2009-12-04T01:01:00.002+05:30

Abke Santa Christmas Mein : My Chhoti Si Wishlist for Christmas

2009-11-30T03:25:00.002+05:30

Dear Santa,

I have been a good boy this year or at least I think so...Time for a payback...

Here's my Chhoti Si Wishlist for this Christmas:

A Disney Sketchbook (Hardcover)

.Walt Disney Animation Studios -- The Archive Series: Story

Walt Disney Animation Studios -- The Archive Series:Animation

New MacBook Pro 17"

Aur ek chhota sa Ghar! (Even if it has a couple of bedrooms lesser than KRK's Villa, I'll adjust).

Arre Haan, Oscars to main bhool hi gaya...koi naa next year Oscars bhi le lenge...

Updates!

2009-11-17T00:54:00.000+05:30

I haven't been too active on Blog front for past few weeks. Neither active as a blogger nor as a reader. Reason, well there are plenty - I have been shuffling between Pune & Bom..err...Mumbai for more than a month now. I quit from my job to work on my documentary - Chitrakatha (which now has a dedicated Domain Name and hopefully will be having a dedicated website too along with the already running blog).

Chitrakatha again had to be put on hold for my house hunt in Mumbai. Hopefully I'll be finalizing a house soon and will be moving back to Mumbai.

Another big reason was my Reliance Data Card which has been generating some insane bills despite my limited usage, I fight with them, they disconnect it and I am forced to stay away from my blog.

As the day's approaching when we'll be bidding goodbye to Pune, I want to spend sometime in the city living the Puneri Life. I am definitely going to miss this house, rented hi sahi but this one was the bestest of them all.

I also took a deliberate break from reading comics and graphic novels for sometime and have started reading other books. Just finished reading two books by Argentinean author Guillermo Martinez: The Oxford Murders and The Book of Murder. The stories didn't appeal me that much, but his story telling skills were really commendable. Though I found the stories were not so gripping I would like to read more of his work, just to enjoy the narration, Martinez certainly is a master in that.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is another fun read, meant for teenagers but IMHO will be appreciated by the grown ups more.

Last but not the least, if you haven't joined the Chitrakatha Group on Facebook. Join the group and bring in all your friends, fans & followers. We will be having our 1st online contest on the Group soon!

Thoda Sa Relax Ho Jayein!

2009-10-07T13:56:00.009+05:30

How to start writing when you have too many things to say, but don’t know how and where to start from? It happens when you come back home after a long journey, a journey where every single moment was so extra ordinary that you want to pour your heart out as soon as you reach home but when you reach, you are so overwhelmed and also, tired and saturated with all the thoughts that you can’t express things. Slowly its all forgotten or remains there somewhere in subconscious and comes out in fractions. It can also happen when you come back to your blog after a longtime and see you haven’t ‘actually’ blogged for sometime. Random updates don't count as Blogging, right? Now everything that you wanted to say is so jumbled up in your mind, that you can’t think of a thing in particular and start writing about it.

So I am planning to let my mind wander and write as it’s coming to me right now.

Congratulations Manna Da : I wanted to write when Manna Dey was honored with Dada Sahab Falke award last month. Manna Da is one of my most favorite singers and his songs have an aura of honesty because of his voice. His soothing voice has an assurance that the he understands you and your deep emotions. I always feel a deep connection to his voice and songs. I consider myself lucky, that my first professional Radio Assignment was a Manna Dey Special, a 3 hour long Manna Dey Interview for Musical-E-Aazam in December 2005. I not only got to meet the maestro after the show, but also discuss some of his non-filmy albums like Bachchan’s Madhushala composed by Ravi and rendered in his own voice. I also managed to get my Madhushala CD autographed.

I am sad to see how media which neglected the 90 year old genius until now, was hunting for his contact after the award was announced (I was still in touch with him and gave the contact to many a friends from media, who didn’t even know anything about him except Tu Pyar Ka Sagar Hai and Pyar Hua Iqraar Hua).

KANK: I just quit from my Job and cleaning my cupboard. There are bundle of papers, notes and research for the stories I was working on. Feels funny to see the chunk of work I did here in the past 18 odd months (my longest tenure with one job ever). I find it funny when people get emotional while cleaning up their desks in their last days in office. I often find it strange when people decorate their work desks like they’re going to be stuck with the same desk throughout their lives. Those nauseating big warm hugs to colleagues, Bye Bye, Tears, Last emotional mail sent to all and all that jazz… Kinda Vidaayi Scene! It was your office! Grow up! for crying out loud! Pardon me if I am getting too harsh! LOL!

What bring tears to me is the F***ing paper work: A Bigtime Headache, which I’ll be going through before the legendary full and final settlement with the company!

Finished reading The Oxford Murders by by the Argentine author Guillermo Martínez. The story is interesting although the climax was pretty predictable. For the first time I felt, Mathematics can also be intriguing. Damn mathematics teachers!

I am also, watching Heroes Season 3: Villains. I was disappointed with the Second Season, which in retrospect looks like a precursor to the third season. Jeph Loeb one of my most favorite Comics Writer who is also, one of the Co-Executive Producer of the show was recently fired by NBC because of some 'creative differences' & 'budget issues'. I am wondering if Tim Kring (the Producer) will be able to manage season 4 (Volume 5: REDEMPTION) of such a massive multi character show without him.

Comics I read!

2009-09-12T23:27:00.008+05:30

It was a hectic week, which started with a lot of stress but everything eventually settled down or is settling down. My trustworthy laptop is at HP Service Center, hopefully I'll be getting it back by next week.

With laptop away and TV in possession of reality shows. I had no other option but to read. The Books I read last week:

Astroboy 3 : Osamu Tezuka (Dark Horse) Osamu Tezuka is called The Father of Manga. Despite being a huge fan of his work and his visual story telling, I avoided reading Astroboy for years, thinking of it as a kiddie stuff. While reading Pluto Series I was astonished to see Urasawa referring to the original Astroboy story - The Greatest Robot On Earth (1964-65) as one of the must read titles. After reading Pluto, I had to read this volume which has the original story and before I could finish the book I was an Astroboy Fan! Highly Recommended!

Pluto : Astro Boy 3 Comparison courtesy : Warren Peace

Scalped: Indian Country & Scalped: Casino Boogie : Jason Aaron (Writer) R.M.Guera (Illustrator) (Vertigo Comics)

Aaron's wonderful story telling also shows the amount of research went into the series and Guera's moody drawing style adds a new dimension to the story and once you start reading it, it kind of grows on you slowly (though there is an ongoing debate on how this series portrays (Red)Indians. The twists in the story, the flashbacks, the characterization everything is so cool that I am hooked to this title.

To The Heart of The Storm : Will Eisner (W.W.Norton & Co.)

Read any Eisner Graphic Novel and you'll understand why he is called The Leonardo of the comic-book form. To The Heart of The Storm is a story told in a series of flashbacks; another installment in Eisner's series of semi-autobiographical graphic novels told by the maestro in his inimitable style. IMHO this is Eisner's is simply one of his best work.

Last Day in Vietnam : Will Eisner (Dark Horse)

Frank Miller once said, "Eisner's the best. He can still kick all our butts." and he really mean it! Last Day in Vietnam contains 6 short stories based on Eisner's experience as a soldier (during the 2nd World War) and as a correspondent for P.S. Magazine (during the Vietnam War).

Mouse Guard Fall 1152 : David Peterson (Villard Books)

David Peterson's Mouse Guard is an Eisner award winning mini series. Brilliantly written and superbly drawn Mouse Guard is a story about an underground mouse civilization, their culture and some dark secrets. Second installment in the series Winter 1152 is in NYT Bestsellers list for more than 5 weeks.

Back Ache, Books & Bakbak

2009-08-28T12:43:00.007+05:30

Suffering from Back Ache for almost a week now.

Tied up with a lot of things. Spending my time reading, writing and contemplating. I really don't have much to say or tell...
Detached from everything and away from the discussions, plannings and 'we can do this' conversations...I want be in this zone for some more time...

Doing what I am supposed to do and working on what I really want to do...

Inner Peace...Inner Peace, as master Shifu chants in Kung Fu Panda.

Meanwhile, I just finished reading Crying Freeman Vol.1 By Kazuo Koike (Writer: Lone Wolf & Cub) with beautiful art by Ryoichi Ikegami. The story reads like a fast paced crime thriller film. Really impressive but I doubt if I'll be following this title like I am digging Pluto Series (already on Vol.5 of 7). But I would definitely be watching the 1995 film adaptation Crying Freeman directed by Christophe Gans.

Also read over the last week:
Fables 1 (Vertigo) - I really liked the set up but the climax of the whodunnit story in Vol.1 was pretty predictable. Anyway, its a good series which I am gonna follow for at least next 2-3 TPBs before coming to a conclusion. You can download the 1st preview from Vertigo Site.

Hellboy Vol.7 - Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Others : Which collects Hellboy short stories from many other collections from the Dark Horse Stable and one unpublished story by P.Craig Russel & Mignola.

Divine Right : The Adventures of Max Faraday Vol.1 (Wildstorm/DC) : Written & Drawn by Jim Lee, this book blown me away long back when I read it for the first time in Gotham Comics Library. Was it the story or the art...I don't know.

Ordered it from Flipkart to re-read it and find out. This time, I really find it a run of the mill Image Comics Plot where all the characters keep on coming up with one wisecrack after the other...all of them have very shallow personalities. The progression of the story suffers a lot because of the long (sometimes meaningless) dialogues. Jim Lee's writing can't catch up with his art where he is exploding the pages with super energetic spreads. And yep! like all the other Image Comics from that era, there are long legged beauties with Guns.

DISCLAIMER: These are my personal views and thoughts on the books as a reader, please don't take them seriously and read the books before making any opinion on them.

Dhen Te Naan The Original & A Zee TV Promo

2009-08-22T17:58:00.006+05:30

Dhen Te Naan has become a nationwide rage just like Emosanal Atyachar. But did you know Dhen Te Naan was the name of a story directed by Vishal Bharadwaj for TV Serial GUBBARE which used to air on Zee TV some 10 years ago. Here is the song, and yep that's Sharman Joshi dancing to the beats of original Dhen Te Naan, and accompanying him in floral red shirt is Teddy Maurya, national award winning Art Director who also art directed the latest hit Love Aaj Kal & many other movies. This song shows if the product is good it will find a market sooner or a decade later.
Lyrics by Apne Gulzar Sahab, music Vishal Bharadwaj Ka, ye lijiye original Dhen Te Naan:

On a different note, long-long ago, I did the visual scripting for some Promos on Zee TV. Stumbled upon this one for their Women Only Stand Up Comedy Show - Ladies Special : Hasya Ka Divya Tonic, (a show which was in making since the stone age, but saw the light of the day this June).
It was the second promo where they wanted to introduce all the contestants and I suggested to spoof Sansani & introduce the contestants, have a look:

Though my personal Fav. is the first promo. A silly, funny, spoofy limerick script I wrote introducing the show. The script was liked by everybody in the channel and was shot and broadcasted before this one, I am yet to see that one, if I find it, will share it with you guys.

Reading the Pluto Series and some more classic Manga Titles like Tezuka's Astro Boy, Crying Freeman...I think Japanese story tellers are far more evolved and smarter than their western counterparts.

PLUTO 001 : Urasawa X Tezuka

2009-08-09T00:39:00.009+05:30

Disclaimer : Well for most of you, this post might sound like the usual useless rantings of a fanboy, but I can't help sharing the magical experience of reading this wonderful book : PLUTO 001 : Urasawa X Tezuka
I came to know about PLUTO when Skottie Young (one of my fav. artists whom I follow on twitter) was tripping over it for over a month. With so many trashy manga titles around in the market, I generally keep a safe distance from most of them until its by my favorite artists, publishers or referred by somebody I can trust. Last it was (almost 2 years back), when Vikram introduced me to Lone Wolf & Cub series, which is really awesome. Before that it was Osamu Tezuka's Buddha series and some more titles by the maestro.

Anyway, after Skottie's non-stop praises and numerous reccomendations for the series, I really wanted to read it. Wiki said its Naoki Urasawa's take on one of the very old Astroboy stories by Tezuka - Astroboy and The Greatest Robot on Earth. A contemporary take on my most favorite manga artist's story! this one reason was more than enough for me to search for PLUTO. When I wasn't able to find the book at any bookstore, I ordered it from Flipkart (last entry).

I wanted to save the book for Sunday, but once I started flipping thru the pages, I couldn't help but finish it in one reading.

A wonderful book, which thankfully is presented in its original form (unlike other mirrored mangas published in America), so reading from right to left was a unique experience. Wonderfully planned narrative structure which takes a classic story and twists it with a contemporary story telling style. Brilliant use of imagery, compelling characters and careful selection of words while translating it from Japanese have made the book a worth read for anybody and everybody.

Urasawa is a master storyteller with very evolved sense of visualization which makes the book look as good as any aesthetically shot good movie. His command over emotions and dialogues is just outstanding and this humane story says it all. I can't wait to read more of his stuff especially - 20th Century Boys (which Skottie is tripping over these days) & his Monster series, along with other volumes of PLUTO.

Junot Diaz, winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Brief Wondorous Life of Oscar Wao) aptly said, "Urasawa is a national treasure in Japan, and if you aren't afraid of picture books, you'll see why."

Now I am looking forward to read the original story by Tezuka and rest of the PLUTO Volumes, as and when my pocket allows.

Went to Landmark this afternoon, just to check if they have the Astroboy Story, which sadly was unavailable with them, but I ended up buying The Art of Up:

Yours Truly,
The Fanboy
(High on Books, Low on Bank Balance)

Books, again :)

2009-08-07T21:12:00.006+05:30

Bought some more books. Can't help it. I am addicted.

Sometime back I was searching for the book - Directing the Story, when I stumbled upon Flipkart.com.

After having some real bad experiences and some unimaginable adventures in online shopping, I am always a little skeptical about these kind of 'Bookstore at your doorstep' websites. Besides there are a couple of Book importers in Mumbai where you can order these books (that's what I did for this one).But the collection of Books (esp. Comics & Graphic Novels) on Flipkart was irresistible (which these book importers don't import comics for some reason known only to them. Finally when I couldn't resist the 'urge', I decided to give Flipkart a shot, by ordering just two books.

I am really impressed with their service. Flipkart is as good as amazon. (Wish they pay me for saying this).

It has all the features (which actually work) like tracking your order and getting prompt replies to your queries (which is very rare in the case of Indian Websites) and above all your order arrives in a neatly packed courier within the promised time (mine arrived much much earlier than the expected delivery date).

I was so excited with their prompt service (and the two comic books I recieved), that I logged in again to place an order for other comics I have been drooling over for a long time. Sadly most of them are out of stock now :(

RIP - Gulshan Bawra

2009-08-07T15:14:00.009+05:30

Gulshan Bawra passed away today (7th August 2009).

A poet/ lyricist, who gave us memorable songs like - Mere Desh Ki Dharti (Upkar), Yari Hai Imaan Mera (Zanjeer) for which he also got the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist.

He mostly worked with Kalyan ji -Anand ji, and penned less than 250 songs in a career span of 42 years.

I still remember his interview with Ameen Sayani on Radio, where he told how Distributor Shantibhai Patel gave him the title 'Bawra'. Gulshan ji, who was in his 20s wrote some real meaningful songs for his 1959 Film Satta Baazar (Music:Kalyan ji - Anand ji) like - Tumhein Yaad Hoga Kabhi Hum Mile The (Hemant Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar), when Shantibhai came to know that these deep meaningful songs were written by this crazy looking young guy, who sports long hair and flowery shirts, he named him 'Bawra'.

Long back I was playing 'Chandi Ki Deewar Na Todi...' on my two in one. When I asked Papa ji about the lyricist of the song, without a second thought he said "Gulshan Bawra...self pity se bhare kisi song ko aise interesting way mein aur kaun likh Sakega.."

Multi-talented Gulshan ji sang couple of lines for Pyaar Humein Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya (Satte Pe Satta, 1982). He also did small roles in many films, out of which the Harmoinum Playing street singer's character from Zanjeer (1973) deserves a special mention, as full song was featured on him, he also wrote the lyrics for the song, Music : Kalyan ji- Anand ji. Have a look at Duble-Patle Gulshan ji with that heavy weight Harmonium :

RIP Gulshan Ji...

Nitin Sawhney & A Throw of Dice (Prapancha Pash) (1929)

2009-07-27T12:30:00.005+05:30

Came across this wonderful post/review of 1929 Himanshu Rai and German director Franz Osten's Silent movie - A throw of Dice (Prapancha Pash) on Memsaab's Blog (which I think is the best blog dedicated to Indian Cinema). Check out Memsaab's blog for an awesome review of the film and some real cool screen grabs to see the grand scale of the movie. Can't wait to get a DVD of the movie.

She mentioned Nitin Sawhney's wonderful background score in her review, which caught my attention. Being a big fan of Nitin Sawhney's music I was wondering whether there was one more Nitin Sawhney during the silent era of Indian Cinema.

To know more, when I checked the official website* of the film. I was pleasantly shocked to know it's actually the same Nitin Sawhney. Nitin composed a new symphony to accompany this classic silent movie from 1929 in 2006. check out the video of song Koyal composed by him for the movie.

Not so long back, I was astonished to see (the video recording of) John Williams performing with his live orchestra for the 25th Anniversary screening of E.T. Its wonderful to see Nitin attempting the same with Prapanch Pash. He is doing a couple of Live Orchestral Screenings where his orchestra will play live background music along with the screening of the film.

PS. (*I would've never thought there can be a website for a movie from a long forgotten era, thanks Memsaab for putting it up on her blog.)

Pehli Tarikh (1954) & Dairy Milk Ad

2009-07-26T16:56:00.004+05:30

Recently saw Varun Badola mimicing Kishore Kumar in a Dairy Milk Ad. Thanks to the retro look created by the art directors, "Pehli Tarikh Hai" song has again become a rage like it used to be in the late 50s till early 70s. The original song was the most Farmayish-ed song on the 1st of every month on all the request shows on Radio Stations all over. It was kind of an unsaid programming policy (if we may call it) Radio Ceylon used to follow by playing the Pehli Tarikh Song on the 1st of every month.

The original song is my favorite because this is one of the songs which Papa ji used to sing for us, when we were kids. He always talk about this song and fondly remembers the good old radio days. So when this ad started airing on TV, it was kind of nostalgic for him and for all of us in different ways. I haven't seen the actual song ever in my life but as far as I remember the song is from the movie Pehli Tarikh (1954), Lyrics by Qamar Jalalabadi and music by Sudhir Phadke Sahab.

Qamar Jalalabadi not only wrote some real funny songs for Kishore Kumar (Remember Guni Jano Bhakt Jano from Aansoo Aur Muskan, 1970) but also wrote dialogues for many classic films. Phadke sahab was one of the pioneering music directors from Marathi Cinema. Phadke composed music for only two Hindi Films - Pehli Tarikh (1954) & Bhabhi Ki Chudiyaan (1961), which has one of my most favorite Lata Mangeshkar song-Jyoti Kalash Chhalke (which I think is one of her best songs too).

Anyway before I start my own Radio Show here, here is the Original Pehli Tarikh Song for you

Cadbury's Dairy Milk Version:

I really love the kid's Jhatkas and Ticket Blackiyas' expressions in this video.
___________
Chalte-Chalte- Pics from my Lucknow trip, where they invited me to speak* on Story Telling, Content Creation & Pre-Production in Animation.

(*Statutory Warning : Inviting/Asking Alok Sharma to Speak can be extremely dangerous...)

Jim Lee draws for Google

2009-07-23T22:20:00.005+05:30

My most favorite artist JIM LEE draws for Google.com home page (which we can't see in India as it keeps on redirecting us to google.co.in) for San Diego ComiCon, a historical moment for all the comic book lovers like us.

Yayawari, Comic Books & lots more...

2009-07-22T14:43:00.017+05:30

There was so much to say and so little time that I had to write and delete several posts before I realized its more than a month since I updated my blog.

Anyway, without wasting words and time anymore, I think I should say what I wanted to say. I wanted to talk a lot about the journeys we made in last one month (a little more than a month, to be precise) and the fun we had. But as its already over and most of the journey stories will sound stale, I think I should save those stories for some other time.

Har safar Ek Nayi Shuruaat

Without Neeshank none of these stories would've been as interesting and fun filled as they are. Neeshank was the 'driving force' behind all the fun we had in Delhi and otherwise too...

SP and his tactics to safeguard the luggage was another funny addition during our South India visit.
I can't thank Amrit & Amol enough for making our Delhi visit one of the most memorable experience. With all the Hawabaaziyaan we did there (check out the size of Mango Shake), we almost forgot that Delhi isn't our hometown and we are actually out of home.

Bangalore Trip was more like a deja vu. Having spent a considerable time in Bangalore (back then it was called Bangalore), it was nothing new for SP or Me. Besides we were roommates for such a longtime that throughout on our way from Station to Mayunk n Abha's, we felt like we are going back from some friends place to Mrs.Pinto's at Brigade Road. Bengaluroo trip became zimbly subaarb, all thanks to Mayunk & Abha ki Mehmaannawazi. I so wanted to steal Mayunk's treasure of old comic books but before I could do that, Mayunk booked our return tickets and we had to leave Bangalore..oops...Namma Bengaluroo. But on our way we raided Blossoms and bought some superb comic books from there.

Neeshank & Me

Our trip from Bangalore to Chennai was really eventful. In true Indiana Jones fashion, we fought rogues (in this case the rowdy travel agents), deciphered codes to unearth a mysterious platform (no. 14 B) made by some mysterious civilization at Kempegowda Bus Terminus, just to get a Bus (which plays some trashy 1980s Kannada Movie on its way which none of the passengers wanna see, on its way) to Chennai.

On our way to Kempegowda Bus Terminus

SP & Neeshank, Chennai ki Or...

Poochho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitayee

Chennai was pure awesomeness. Spent the night on the floors of a friend's office, which was a true 'Kasam Se Mazaa Aa Gaya' Experience. The next morning after having a delightful brunch at Sarvana Bhawan, T Nagar, we met some real cool people and after buying dozens of DVDs from Burma Bazaar, we returned back to Pune the same day. Our journey back home could've been a disaster, if we wouldn't have met this awesome TC, who 'helped' us out and we got an 'upgradation' to 2 Tier AC wunnly for wunn naayiitt!

Other trips and meets were awesome too, but I think Sabka mention kiye bina kaam chal sakta hai...so what I will mention here is THE GIFTS!
Somebody (I would love to mention the person's name, once I am allowed to do that) gifted me 200+ Indrajal Comics.
All the publishers I met gifted me massive bunches of comic books. My greed made me buy another bunch of comic books from all of them and every time I returned home from any trip, I had another carton full of comic books with me.
Bunty sent me his collection of Comic Books (easily 500+). I was going through the comic books last night and was getting all nostalgic about the years when I used to run a Lending Library with Bunty, where we used to share even an athanni and our fights on these comic books, almost every book has a personal memory attached to it. I can't thank him enough for this.

I am yet to start reading the comic books and books I have acquired in last one month.

To Err is...??

I also wanted to write something on some silly mistakes I noticed, while I was travelling -

Number 1 is the trailer of Kambakht Ishq: where they play the Mantra - "Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnu, Mangalam Garudadhwaja, Mangalam Pundrikakshah Mangalaya Tanoh Hari" along with the text on the screen... I was shocked to see 'Mangalam Pundrikakshah' wrongly written 'Mangalam Kundrikakshah' going on air unnoticed by so many people. This one mistake changes the meaning of the Mantra and nobody was actually bothered about bringing this to the Director's/Producer's/Media's notice. STRANGE!!!

Second is a DVD released by Shemaroo: How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way, which is based on the very popular book by the same name by Stan Lee & John Buscema. It was a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this DVD at a Planet M outlet in Mumbai. But I was shocked to see DC's Superman on the cover of the DVD which will teach you How To Draw Comics 'The Marvel' Way. I would love to see Stan 'The Man' Lee's reaction on this cover. I think, we need a serious 'Comic book Education' in India. Nevertheless, despite the blasphemous cover, the DVD is an awesome product and a must have for every comic book lover/creator/'self proclaimed' creator. Check out the videos on youtube here.

Quick Updates

2009-06-12T09:54:00.005+05:30

Longer blog post will take sometime. Here are quick updates:

My blog turned one year old this 5th. Wanted to write something on that, but couldn't.

I am in Delhi. The journey was remarkable & really funny.

Meeting some of my most fav. comic book creators.

Enjoying Delhi ki Mehmaan-nawaazi, which is simply mindblowing.

Two stories : Challan Karaogey ya Dosti Nibhaogey! & 'O Koi Load Nahin Hai Yaar' deserve a dedicated post which I will be posting soon.

Milte hain break ke baad!

A Dream realized after 2 decades :

Met Cartoonist Pran finally...something which my Dad promised me in June 1989 was finally fulfilled in June 2009. (A Long story...may be some other day)

Past Ke भूत

2009-05-24T01:48:00.009+05:30

Sometimes I wonder if the word भूत which stands for Past in Hindi is because the Past acts like a Ghost most of the times. Ghosts of the Past can be haunting, tempting or both. It's nearly impossible to escape them as we all love to see things in retrospect and get nostalgic about the past- the भूत !

Most of the blogs I visit everyday are full of posts which are nothing but a nostalgic record of the past. What makes past so hauntingly tempting??

Something happened today...and I am unable to decide, if The Past was more beautiful than The Present? Can't do much about it....but still can't help contemplating over it...

Listening to Star Wars Background Score by the Master - John Williams! Awesome...Music is something which can never become past...it just get better and better as the time passes!

Speaking of which, here is a Rare Kishore Kumar song from his unavailable film Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein

Meanwhile Neha has just posted a beautiful post on her blog, check it out!

One Kharaab DVD Player, Boom & Piano

2009-05-19T13:53:00.006+05:30

Last night my DVD Player refused to play any DVD for more than a couple of minutes after which it stopped automatically. I have to get a new DVD Player but before that I called up the ONIDA Service Center and gave them a piece of my mind.

ONIDA's after sales service sucks big time! Their engineers are not qualified, but are an expert in giving temporary solutions and permanent excuses.

My Resolution : I AM NEVER GONNA BUY OR USE ANYTHING FROM ONIDA EVER IN MY LIFE! & I'll Suggest you to stay away from this Brand!

As the DVD player played up games again. I decided to read something and while reading this wonderful essay by Alan Moore called Alan Moore's Writing For Comics, I downloaded Kaizaad Gustad's BOOM, which I wanted to see for a longtime. BOOM is a classic example of good plot going into a brainless direction. It's like Kanti Shah (Director/Producer of Gunda) trying to make a Guy Ritchie-sque diamond heist and all of a sudden feels he can add all the elements from Gunda to make the plot more interesting.

One good thing happened while watching BOOM was Jackie Shroff humming Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re Panchhi, one of my most favorite Bhoola Bisra Geet from Maya. Last I heard this song was some 5-6 years back on Vividh Bharti. I was searching for the song in my Hard Disk when I came across the instrumental version of the song, rendered wonderfully on Piano by Brian Silas. Since morning I am listening to some real rare old songs played by the maestro. Its truly a wonderful experience to listen to these old classics played on Piano.

Meanwhile, came across this really funny site, you shouldn't miss - The Editing Room : Abridged Scripts for Movies. Do check out...its hilarious!

Sunday!

2009-05-18T01:24:00.012+05:30

Sunday just got over. I am really sleepy but wanted to write and post this before hitting the sack.

(Edit: I was just gonna post this when power failed and my laptop went off : these days my laptop runs on raw power, battery has died sometime back).

Last night I decided to be at home on Sunday and spend the day aimlessly to compensate for all the Sundays I have missed in last couple of weeks...or shall I say months. 2 Movies, one good reading session (I am reading and a book signing event later, I can say Yep! It was a day well spent...

I was lazying around, watching BBC's Documentary Divine Michelangelo between my afternoon naps when a very close friend called up to remind me I have to get a copy of Paths of Glory (the latest Jeffery Archer novel) signed for her at the book signing Jeffery was doing this evening at the Landmark.

I didn't know much about Jeffery Archer or his work (Mujhe Duniyawalon Maaf Karna). Anyway I did my research and was astonished to learn, his books do more business in India than any other nation in the world! No wonder the man was here to promote his latest book and do book signings (I'll wait for the day when Indians will read Neil Gaiman & Alan Moore the way Archer guy is being read here).

I planned to check out what this Ho-Hulla is all about, took Neha for company and went to Landmark. Landmark, Pune was so crowded that it reminded me of Andheri station at peak hours (Ahhhh I miss Mumbai!).

The Crowd

As I suspected earlier; the place was full of silly college girls and some Mahila type ki Yuvtiyaan &/or Mahilaayein trying hard to be Yuvtiyaan... Let me remind you this bunch of ladies is the most powerful lot we have in our nation, they can turn any Jeffery Archer into A Best Selling Author & any SRK into A Super-Duper Star...
(DISCLAIMER : I am not questioning JA/SRK's talent, they both are very talented and both deserve to be where they are, I am just praising the Naari Shakti & its shakti in mera gaaon mera desh).

Jeffery was yet to come, so I grabbed a copy of Brian Azzarello's Joker and started flipping thru the pages wondering if they will have a book signing by Brian Azzarello ever in India.

Jeffery arrived and as he started talking I was amazed. This man who sounded like a big snob in all his interviews is actually an interesting snob. I was really impressed when he said "I am not a writer, I am a story teller..." and made his point clear with a funny example to a bunch of college girls (I can't call them silly everytime) with blank expression on their faces.

I really wanted to read his work now! Kane & Abel looked really interesting, may be because the name sounded like the names of biblical brothers Cain & Abel. Picked a copy, the desciption given at the back cover was really interesting.

Book Signing

Book Signing started. I had to get a copy of Paths of Glory autographed, I planned to get my book signed too.

Jeffery signing My copy of Kane & Abel

I flipped thru the pages of Kane & Abel and I find the book pretty interesting! Will be reading it soon...

It's raining tonight...Weather will be good tomorrow...

I was going to write more ki Achanak:

"Doctor...Mujhe Chaaro Or Blue-Blue Nazar Aa Raha Hai...!!!"

"Koi Naa Puttar, So Jaa...It's Monday..."
__________________________________________________________
Prakash Mehra the man behind Zanjeer and many other Amitabh Hits passed away. RIP Prakash Ji, you truly were Muqaddar Ka Sikandar!

__________________________________________________________

Coming Up : Toony Version of another character from Watchmen :)

Rorschach test on Photoshop

2009-05-16T18:35:00.009+05:30

After a long-longtime, I tried my hands at sketching and coloring this afternoon.

I wanted to draw cute versions of The Watchmen. I haven't drawn or sketched for ages, so had to struggle a lot and before I could come up with something and I still was/am miles away from the result I was looking for.

Somehow managed to draw this toony version of Rorschach, my most favorite Character from Watchmen. Coloring has always been a challenge for me. I mostly do flat coloring on my cartoons. But this time I am determined to learn Photoshop properly and color my cartoons in a better way. So here are few colored versions of Rorschach. Have tried a little molding/shading in the following two versions & I think the outcome is yucky! Need to study more and practice harder...

Waiting for your feedback!

Contemplations Aur Do June Ki Roti

2009-05-13T16:19:00.012+05:30

After working round the clock for more than a month (without a single day break), life has started settling down.

May of the new year is almost half over and before we know it will be June.

June means- I'll be completing my one year with BIG Animation, one year in Pune, one year of many new things. Anyway, I'll be taking a month long (unpaid) sabbatical from work this June.

Have lots of unfinished stuff to work on and hazaar other things to do in June. I have been postponing almost anything and everything to June. Things are getting added almost everyday to the to do list, which means June is going to be a little tighter month for me.

Have loads to read & write. Unable to decide from where to start. I hope by god's grace I'll be able to sit back and plan things properly before June. Contemplations...Contemplations...

Meanwhile:
Finished reading first two chapters (Dormant Beast & December 32) of Enki Bilal's Beast Trilogy.
Bilal is a master of sci-fi fantasy graphic stories, all his stories have a very strong emotional central thread which makes them stand apart from other sci-fis.
This trilogy was later converted into Beast Tetralogy with the release of fourth installment in 2007. The two chapters I got to read were collected in Bilal Library imprint of DC. I am desperately looking for next two stories as the story was getting interesting when the book ended with a cliffhanger climax!
I was looking for more of Bilal and finally downloaded Bilal's movie Immortel (Ad Vitam) based on his 1980 Graphic Novel The Carnival of Immortals. (Disclaimer : I don't download a movie till it's available, but Immortel is almost impossible to get anywhere). I have heard a lot of good and some not so good things about the film. I am yet to see the film so I'll keep my mouth shut till I see it.

Other books I am reading are:
Ashwin Sanghi's The Rozabal Line. If you are a sucker for conspiracy theories, ancient cultures & civilizations with a lot of factual information hidden in fiction, this is the book for you. I am loving the research which went behind the book more than the story of the book.

Gotham By Gaslight : Batman - 3 Part Miniseries by Mike Mignola.

Just saw Disney's Jungle Book (which is apparently the last movie supervised and produced by Uncle Walt). I liked it in bits & pieces. Disney's Animation is always of superb quality, but I wasn't very happy with the way Disney took liberty with Kipling's classic story.

After too much of naatakbaazi, which includes rubbing toothpaste on the scratched DVD, I got to see The Lion King on my Laptop & I immensly loved the movie, some of the sequences are simply mindblowing! This movie (and all the naatak, that went into getting and seeing it) deserves another post!

Things To Do :

Start finishing the work piling on my desk.
A back to back run of STAR WARS original trilogy on my khatara DVD player this weekend. IMHO the original trilogy rocks, I am simply blown with the narrative structure of it. It's like a text book for anybody who wants to write stories...
Read all twelve 100 Bullets TPBs in one go. Then there are other books too DKR, HUSH, SCALPED, Fables.
& then there are other DVDs too...

Ahhh so much to do...so little time...

PS. Planning to get enrolled for Symbiosis' Diploma in Creative Writing in English course. Let's see...

Came across this wonderful blog on Golden Age Comic Books with a lot of Frazetta Art!

Another Little Post on Little Krishna

2009-05-12T01:46:00.006+05:30

This is going to be the third consecutive post on Little Krishna. First Episode, which premiered this evening has got some real cool reviews, not only from the industry people but from the audience too. Seems like everybody loved it. Many more episodes to go... I know if I spoke a little more about animation, either it will start a debate or it's gonna result in a massive fall in visitors/comments count ;)

It happened to me once when I posted two posts back to back on Pixar. Though both of them are quite a hit with Google & one of them - 7 Creative Principles of Pixar by John Lasseter has been linked by many animation/non-animation educational sites, and it still fetches me a good number of visitors everyday thru those links & google. Anyway time to shut up and before I do that, I request you guys to see the show, if you haven't seen it already.

Will be back with my regular posts soon.

New Trailer : Little Krishna (Debuts Today)

2009-05-11T01:08:00.004+05:30

Here is the new trailer for the series, hope you guys will like it :

Don't miss the show today @ 6.30pm on NICK! The super action packed first episode broadcasts today!

Fanboy Explodes!

2009-05-06T17:40:00.006+05:30

My DVD Player is again playing games, its either not playing some DVDs or giving some major scratches to the DVDs it is able to play. It gave some Khatarnaak scratches on the Lion King DVD & I can’t express my angst and frustration after I saw the scratches on the DVD.I have decided to throw it away and get a New DVD Player ASAP.

Anyway, recently somebody asked me, “You still see (animated) Films like Lion King…”

What followed was a 45 minutes long debate and the last message she sent was, “I don’t ever want to talk to you again…”

When will Indians (sorry to generalize us here) grow up/evolve as an audience and start understanding things (read animation & comics) properly?

Not all the Animation & Superhero Films are meant for kids. Thankfully our market doesn’t have a supply of Hentai DVDs or else the DVD stores would keep them in Kids Section (like they kept Hardcore Adult Vertigo Graphic Novels in Kids Section in Landmark, Chennai) and parents will buy Hentai* for kids or might take kids for some intense animated films like Ghost In The Shell or Grave of the Fireflies just because its animated.

Grow up guys! Animation doesn’t always means Tom & Jerry!

Recently I saw a father taking his kids for ‘Watchmen’. Thankfully the ticket vendor refused to issue tickets for the Kid who was 8 years old & I heard the Father mumbling – “Comics ke upar bani film bachche nahin dekh sakte to kya matlab hai phir…” (Why can't kids see a film based on a comic book?)

This reminds me of a scene from one of my most favorite Shyamalan movie Unbreakable. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) who runs a Comic Art Store gets annoyed when a rich father wants to buy an original comic art for his four year old kid (comics are for kids, right?). Elijah shows him the door, but after giving him a piece of his mind :

Elijah Price: Do you see any Teletubbies in here? Do you see a slender plastic tag clipped to my shirt with my name printed on it? Do you see a little Asian child with a blank expression on his face sitting outside on a mechanical helicopter that shakes when you put quarters in it? No? Well, that's what you see at a toy store. And you must think you're in a toy store, because you're here shopping for an infant named Jeb.

(courtesy : imdb)

Anyway (changing the topic, otherwise I’ll go on & on & on…), talking of Watchmen, I recently got something which is real cool from a friend Alan Watts from UK. Alan stays in London and attends almost every book signing there, he has got a collection of Graphic Novels signed by great artists & writers like – Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Art Spiegelman et al.

I always drool looking at the pics of signings he posts on his Facebook Profile. One fine day, he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse – He would get me Alan Moore’s autograph this free comic book day. Alan Moore was supposed to sign with longtime collaborator artist Kevin O’ Neill (they have worked together on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

I kept on making and changing the list of books I wanted to get signed by Mr.Moore and bugging Alan (Watts) almost everyday.

Just one day before signings Paypal played games and my credit card (yep yep the same infamous credit card of Exuberant Shopper’s Guide fame) also expired. I wasn’t able to get books signed. But Alan was really kind to get me Alan Moore’s and Kevin O’Neill’s personalized signatures on his sketchbook (I have the digital copy, hard copy is yet to arrive). Here are the pics:

The Que

Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill signing (Alan was wearing an Indian Kurta that day)

Alan Watts with Mr.Moore & Kevin (Kevin is signing for me in the pic)
Signatures!!!! Yay!!

UPDATE: Yun Hi

2009-04-02T19:16:00.012+05:30

Oops its been more than a month since I updated my blog or visited any of your blogs. Extremely sorry...there was too much of work and some restlessness in mind and the reason behind not updating the blog lies in that restlessness more rather than the 'too much work' I am talking about.

Good News - I have Broadband Connection at home now. Bad News - Its Reliance Broadband+ the so called Fastest Internet on the move which boasts of 3.1 Mbps Speed which it has never achieved till date. Speed is OK but there are so many terms and conditions levied by Reliance that its really hard to use this device. They charge you some insane amount every month end even if you have applied for the Unlimited Broadband Plan. They call it Unlimited and then the fine print says - Unlimited Plan User gets a fair usage of 10 GB per month, if the usage exceeds 10GB you'll be charged Rs.2 per MB. Since when did 10GB become Fair Unlimited Usage? & Rs.2/MB is INSANE!!!!

So if anybody wants to buy this device, please try some other option (there are so many in the market for the IMPATIENT Generation) or be ready to pay some insane bills every month to make Mr.Ambani even richer!

Meanwhile my good ol' DVD player refused to play movies, which kept me upset for a longtime as I wasn't able to see movies and unable to find a single good model of DVD Player with some basic features I was looking for. So finally after three days of endless search for a new player and living almost a week of DVD Less life, I decided to get my DVD Player fixed but sadly by the time it was fixed, I'd to come down to Mumbai for some office related work. Can't wait to go back home and watch some movies on DVD back to back.

I am going to be in Mumbai till this month end and thanks to the dispute between Multiplex Owners & Producers' Guild there is not a single good movie to watch. Saw some real horrible films like Dashavtaaram & My Mom's New Boyfriend. Saw Monsters Vs. Aliens 3D twice and if it wasn't for the 3D Experience I think the movie's storyline (if there was any) was pretty average with some real cool 3D Shots. PVR was having Spielberg Film Festival and finally I got to see one of my most

favorite Spielberg Films - Munich which IMHO one of the most aesthetically shot film by Janusz Kaminski.

Another good news - After hunting for years I finally got The Lion King Platinum Edition 2 DVD Set. Second Hand Hi Sahi...Black Mein Hi Sahi...but finally I have the DVD set !

Was feeling a bit lazy this afternoon, browsing aimlessly I came across some real cool blogs, one of them deserves a special mention. It’s called Eastern Eye, dedicated to Bollywood Music, Sitars, Jazz & Ragas. This is a blog where you can find some real kick ass Kalyan Ji Anand Ji Instrumental pieces from movies like Professor Pyarelaal & Don, real rare stuff like a Rag Todi in Jazz- a track from one of the rarest albums Raga Jazz Style by Shankar-Jaikishan,et al. This blog is a must visit for you if you love the Guns, Cars & Sitars from the 70s Cinema.

Will visit all your blogs soon :)

PS. Finally I am getting back to drawing. Have started sketching again, hope am able to draw something decent enough someday to share on my blog. Now have to get little organised and start writing too...

Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein Khayaal Aata Hai!

2009-03-25T19:48:00.006+05:30

Mind was too distracted and restless, I was unable to concentrate on anything. Wasn't able to read or write or even to think something. Don't know about others, but a situation like this when I am unable to read and write makes me nervous like hell.

Ever experienced this - the book is open, you are reading something and so many thoughts are popping up (like those prohibited sites pop-ups) that you are unable to understand the simplest of sentences (students with text books aren't allowed to answer this question).

Finally, when I couldn't take it anymore, last night I decided to meditate in order to gain some mann ki shanti. I was meditating after years and it looked pretty difficult to meditate with this super restless mind. Somehow I started feeling bit calm after some 20 minutes and continued it for next 20-25 minutes. Felt super relaxed, reminded myself, I have to start reading Bhagwad Geeta once again.One of my most favorite chapters in Geeta is Chapter 6, which talks about the science of self realization thru meditation. The shloka I remember since I was in school is verse 35 from Chapter 6. Which goes like this -

Translation:
Krishna Said : O Mighty Armed! Undoubtedly, the mind is restless and can be controlled with very difficulty. But O Son of Kunti! By practice and apathy, mind can be controlled.

By morning I was super charged up. Wanted to read Geeta for sometime after reaching office. What do you do when you want to read something online? I googled:Geeta and the first images Google showed me were of skimpily clad Geeta Basra. So much for Mann Ki Shanti. Huh!

Anyway there are some real great links for Srimad Bhagwad Geeta, and google can be really helpful if you don't google Geeta but type Bhagwad Geeta there. I am planning to meditate regularly now. Try Meditation...Achha Hai!

Abhyasen Tu Kaunteya Vairagyen Cha Gruhyate as Krishna said.

Now this line especially the word Kaunteya makes me think something, everytime I recite this shloka. Arjun is called Kaunteya after his mother Kunti which is quite surprizing as normally the practice is to call a son by his father's name (remember Paandavas after Pandu). Though Arjun is called Panduputra at places but Kaunteya is used more in Geeta. Was that to pay respect to the mother goddess in Kunti or was that to avoid any confusion as two of Madri's sons Nakul & Sahdev can also be called Pandava or Panduputra, I don't know. But I personally think it was better to call them Kaunteyas & Madreya after their mothers as technically speaking they were not Pandu's sons.
Now coming to Kauravas (the 100 sons of Dhritarashtra & Gandhari, which was not her actual name BTW) were they actually Kauravas? i.e. somebody who belongs to Kuru Vansh? IMHO The last pure Kaurava was Bheeshma. As Bheeshma's father Shantanu's other two sons - Chitrangada & Vichitraveerya from fisher girl Satyawati died heirless and their wives gave birth to Dhritarashtra & Pandu resp. who were fathered by Ved Vyasa. So going by their father's name they can't be called Kuauravas or Kuruvanshi. Which means Dhritarashtra's sons technically can't use the Brand Name Kaurava, which makes Bheeshma the last Kaurava! Now I am thinking what shall we call those 100 guys?

Trip ki Trip Mein

2009-03-12T17:55:00.009+05:30

Har Safar Ek Nayi Shuruaat

Chatni Se Lithde Wade....

Dhiskyaaon....

We, The People! ;)

Mera Background Bilkul Bedaag Hai Your Honor!

I always wanted to visit Varaha Mandapa in Mahabalipuram. Finally got to see it and felt it looks far more bigger in pics. Discussing the same with SP.

Mujhe Bhi Khidkiwali Seat Chahiye....(Back from Chennai)

Dakshin Se Uttar Ki Or....

@ Fatehpur Sikri

Aditya Aur Uski Pose...

Safedi Ki Chamkaar

Papaji says 'Apna Dhol Nahin Peetna Chahiye...'So I thought to Peeto somebody else's Dhol @ Sikri.

Sikandara Mein Itihaas Par Charcha

Chappa Chappa Charcha Chaley...
Yun Ki...Yun Hi...

Doodh Ki Tapri....

Kannada Superduperstar Shivrajkumar's Poster in Rajasthan. Bangluru Se Aage Jahaan Aur Bhi Hain.

Avshesh...Buland Itihaas Ke

Stambh Paramparaon Ke

Jharokhe Sanskaaron Ke...

Yun Ki...Yun Hi Part 2

Fursat Se...Fursat Mein...

Neela Aasmaan So Gaya....

Q& A

2009-03-10T19:12:00.007+05:30

Slumdog Millionaire के ऑस्कर जीतने के बाद हाल ही में किसी समाचार पत्र में मैंने एक सवाल देखा कि हमारे देश में स्वदेसी फ़िल्म मेकर्स ऐसी फिल्में क्यों नहीं बनाते? फिर पता चला कि दरअसल Johnny Gaddar वाले श्रीराम राघवन को इस उपन्यास पर फ़िल्म बनाने का मन था पर तब तक Q & A के अधिकार चैनल 4 ने खरीद लिए थे। वरना राघवन ने ये फ़िल्म बनाई होती और चाहे जितनी भी बेहतरीन बनाई होती ऑस्कर की छोडिये उन्हें एक चिंदी सा फ़िल्मफेयर अवार्ड भी नसीब न होता। खैर ये एक बहस का मुद्दा है और मैं बहस के मूड में नहीं। मैं सोच रहा हूँ Q & A बॉलीवुड में ना भी बनी हो तो भी अपने यहाँ ज्वलंत मुद्दों पर प्रश्न उठाती फिल्मों की कोई कमी नहीं, और फिल्मों में ज्वलंत प्रश्न पूछने वाले चरित्रों की कोई कमी नहीं।
आज बैठे बैठे मैंने सोचा तो पाया कि प्रश्नचिन्ह या अंग्रेज़ी में कहें तो Question Mark वाली ढेर सारी फिल्में बनी हैं अपने यहाँ - ये आग कब बुझेगी? , आख़िर क्यों?, जाने होगा क्या?, वो कौन थी? (बाकी के नाम काफ़ी सी ग्रेड हैं, और मेरा ब्लॉग बाल-बच्चेदार लोगों के अलावा बाल बच्चे भी पढ़ते हैं सो उनके नाम यहाँ ना ही लिखे जाएँ तो बेहतर है) । खैर हम बात कर रहे थे प्रश्नों की तो IMHO गब्बर सिंह का स्थान बाकी चरित्रों से कहीं ऊंचा होगा। ज़रा सोच कर देखिये कितने चरित्रों का Intro Dialogue एक प्रश्न से शुरू हुआ है-'कितने आदमी थे?'
और उसके बाद तो गब्बर ने प्रश्नों की बौछार ही कर दी -
कितना इनाम रक्खे है सरकार हम पर?
क्या सोचा था सरदार खुस होगा? साब्बासी देगा...क्यों?
इस बन्दूक में कितनी गोलियाँ हैं?
तेरा क्या होगा कालिया?
होली कब है ? कब है होली?
ये रामगढ वाले अपनी छोकरियों को किस चक्की का आटा खिलाते हैं रे?
'कालिया तो कहता था दो हैं? कहाँ है रे फौजी नम्बर दो?

हिन्दी फ़िल्म इतिहास में शायद ही किसी विलन ने एक ही फ़िल्म में इतने सवाल किए होंगे। मगर शोले में सिर्फ़ विलन ने सवाल किए हों ऐसा नहीं। हमारे हीरो लोगो ने भी काफ़ी सवाल किए थे -
'क्या बोलता है पार्टनर?'
'तुम्हारा नाम क्या है बसंती?' वगैरह।
चरित्र कलाकार मेरा मतलब कैरेक्टर आर्टिस्ट्स भी क्यों पीछे रहते सो A.K.हंगल साहब ने अपनी कांपती आवाज़ में सवाल किया - इतना सन्नाटा क्यों है भाई?
अगला सवाल जो मैं नहीं भूल पाता वो पूछा था एंथनी भाई ने फ़िल्म अमर, अकबर एंथनी में - "ऐसे तो आदमी लाइफ में दोइच टाइम भागता है, या तो ओलिम्पिक का रेस हो या पुलिस का केस हो, तुम किस लिए भागता है भाई?"
भाई शब्द से मुझे याद आ जाती है फ़िल्म दीवार, जिसमें सलीम-जावेद कि जोड़ी ने कुछ बड़े ही बेहतरीन सवाल लिखे मगर इस बार सवाल दो भाइयों के बीच थे -
'भाई तुम साइन करते हो या नहीं?'
'आज मेरे पास बिल्डिंगें हैं, Property है, बैंक बैलेंस है, बंगला है, गाड़ी है, क्या है तुम्हारे पास?'

सिर्फ़ संवादों में सवालों को जगह मिली हो ऐसा नहीं है। कई सुपर हिट गीत सवालिया हैं। अब नागिन के गाने तन डोले मेरा मन डोले को ही ले लो। वैजयंती माला को टेंशन है की इतनी रात गए आख़िर 'कौन बजाये रे बाँसुरिया?' । सही भी है कल को आपके घर के नीचे कोई बेसुरी बाँसुरिया बजा कर गुस्से से आपके तन-मन दोनों को डोलने पर मजबूर करनेवाला कोई पड़ोसी आ गया आप भी पूछेंगे 'कौन बजाये रे बाँसुरिया?'
फिर कुछ भक्त टाइप के सवालिया गाने भी होते हैं जैसे - 'ज़रा सामने तो आओ छलिये, छुप छुप छलने में क्या राज़ है?' मगर इस तरह के सवालों में प्रायः उनके जवाब भी छिपे होते हैं, सो उन्हें स्यूडो सवालिया गाने बोलना बेहतर होगा।
उसके बाद छेड़छाड़-नुमा सवालिया गाने होते हैं जिन्हें लिखने में मजरूह साहब और आनंद बक्षी बड़े एक्सपर्ट थे।
मजरूह साहब के लिखे सवालिया गीतों में मेरा पसंदीदा है - "C A T CAT...Cat मानें बिल्ली, R A T RAT...Rat माने चूहा, दिल है तेरे पंजे में तो क्या हुआ?" आनंद बक्षी ने तो शायद सैकड़ों सवालिया गीत लिखे हैं - बागों में बहार है? और भी न जाने क्या क्या। मगर जब नये छोकरे नितिन ने सवालिया गीतों पर अपना हाथ ट्राई करने के लिए लिखा - 'आती क्या खंडाला' तो ये मजरूह साहब को नागवार गुज़रा और उन्होंने बेचारे नितिन पर ऐसी टिप्पणी कर दी कि दुखते दिल से नितिन ने उन्हें उस उमर में कचहरी का मुँह दिखा दिया और मजरूह साहब को उसने दुहाई भी दी तो उनके लिखे चूहे बिल्ली वाले उपरोक्त गीत की ही। मजरूह साहब को लिखित में इस नए नवेले गीतकार से माफ़ी मांगनी पड़ गई थी।
इसके अलावा होपलेस सवालिया गीत भी एक ढूंढो हज़ार मिलते हैं जैसे 'अब कहाँ जाएँ हम?' या 'जाएँ तो जाएँ कहाँ' वगैरह।
तो कहने का मतलब ये कि जिस देश में पहले ही इतने सवाल मौजूद हैं वहाँ अगर कोई आ कर Q&A पर एक फ़िल्म बना ही लेता है तो उसपर सवाल क्यों खड़े करना? और वैसे भी श्रीराम राघवन अगर ये फ़िल्म बनाये तो हमारे देशवासी वैसे भी फ़िल्म देखने नहीं जाने वाले, Johnny Gaddar जैसी शानदार फ़िल्म को हमारे लोगों ने नकार दिया। हाँ अगर Q&A इम्पोर्टेड माल बन कर हमारे पास पहुंचे हम उसे हाथों हाथ लेंगे ठीक उसी तरह जैसे योग वहाँ से लौट कर योगा बन जाए तो हम खुले हाथों से उसे अपनाने को तैयार हैं।
अच्छे फिल्मकार हमारे यहाँ भी हैं पर क्या हम उन्हें स्वीकार करने को तैयार हैं?

अब मुझे ये सवाल सता रहा है कि मैंने ये पोस्ट आख़िर किस विचार से शुरू की थी? मैंने होली की शुभकामनायें देने को पोस्ट शुरू की थी, होली की सोची तो गब्बर का सवाल याद आया और गब्बर के सवालों की सोची तो बाकी के सवाल दिमाग में आने लगे। आदत से मजबूर हैं क्या करें। बुरा ना मानो होली है ! आप सभी को रंगों के त्यौहार की रंगभरी शुभकामनायें.....

होली कल है....कल है होली!!!

How To Use Your Credit Card : An Exuberant Shopper's Guide

2009-03-07T12:24:00.020+05:30

Just saw my credit card bill and almost had a heart attack... All the muhavras learnt in the Hindi Period of that small primary school danced before my eyes- 'Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni', 'Paanv Utne Hi Failaane Chahiye, Jitni Lambi Chaadar Ho' et al. Have shopped like crazy the last month and the tax saving investment plans have already drained all my savings (whatever little I was able to save the whole year) so I am wondering How am gonna pay this HUGE Credit Card Bill?

Here is a 'How To' guide from an expert to turn your Credit Card Bill into a 'Big, Fat, How 'am gonna pay this Credit Card Bill'.

Book all the travel tickets online, using your Credit Card and just chill, you don't have to worry till next month. Going to travel, don't forget to buy a good Laptop Bag first, and yep, don't forget to use your Credit Card.

Laptop Bag (The Bag actually looks better than the image)

A friend is coming down from US to India, so order following DVDs from amazon and get them shipped to her address and save yourself the shipping charges, Jai Ho Credit Card Ki!

Visiting Chennai? Don't forget to check out The Landmark Store at Spensor's Plaza, they have some real cool books. Buy The Art Of Madagascar 2 & Will Eisner's Last Day In Vietnam, a rare graphic Novel. Swipe the trusted credit card again.

Sale in Crosswords, Sergio Aragones' Fanboy is available and is on sale. An unmissable opportunity. Credit Card just pops outta wallet and winks at you. Your library gets one more title to die for.

Ring Ring...
"Sir, I am calling from Landmark, you've ordered The Visual Story Second Edition, that book has come..."
Ohh how can I miss this one.
Rush to Landmark.

Just checking out the Graphic Novel Section...I am not gonna buy anything as I have already bought enough for this month. Wh...What's That Book....Is tha.....t....Will Eisner's Comics And Sequential Art...Have been looking for this book for years...

Wellllll...I can stretch my budget a bit...(but what was my budget? ehhh...leave it..just buy it!)

Credit Card again plays the friend in need...

No more shopping for this month but a little window shopping won't do any harm..right?

Enter Sports Planet, just to check out some shoes...Anyway most of the time I don't get shoes in my size...esp. in the designs I am looking for...

Converse Jack Pursell Vintage on display.Cool shoes, no harm in trying out, anyway I am not gonna buy anything.

"Ohh woww...they look cool, are comfy and are available in my size, besides they are on SALE!!"

"Paying by cash or card sir?"

"...Credit Card..."

Gulaal, Geetmala, 2in1 Aur Aditya

2009-03-04T19:53:00.003+05:30

I have been listening to Anurag Kashyap's Gulaal songs since sometime and trust me this guy knows how to choose lyrics. The songs are just awesome...Piyush Mishra's lyrics, music & voice has set the mood like nobody's business. (That's not all Piyush has also acted in the film)
The anger and sarcasm in the lyrics remind me of poems by Baba Nagarjun, Dinkar & Nirala.
The trailer looks bloody promising and I can hardly wait for it's release. Anurag says it's his tribute to Saahir's song 'Ye Mehlon..Ye Takhton...Ye Taazon Ki Duniya...' from Gurudutt's Pyasa. The ultimate song from a dejected heart.

Music se yaad aaya, I'd been looking for this 2CD Set of Binaca Geetmala Silver Jubilee Presentation by Ameen Sayani for a longtime but its just not available in the market for years. Finally found somebody, who has them and was kind enough to upload it on Rapidshare in MP3 format and I just downloaded it from here. The audio quality is pretty poor as compared to the original CD and Ameen Sayani's commentary missing before the second song of Vol.1... but chalta hai.
This compilation means a lot to me personally. I was a school boy when I got Vol.1 in a recorded cassette and just got hooked to it. For months this was the only cassette that played on my two-in-one (remember those one speaker 2in1s?). Which annoyed my brother Aditya like anything.
I started mimicking Ameen Sayani even while talking to my parents (which they never appreciated) or reading some book. My only support in this exercises was Bunty (only friend I had in those years and the only friend whom I am still in touch with). I used to write some silly letters to comic book publishers and read them in Ameen Sayani's voice to Bunty, who would occassionally correct me if I start sounding like Alok somewhere. I started making a list of Musical hits mentioned by Mr.Sayani in this cassette and get them recorded from a neighboring Recording Shop (remember the days when there were no mp3 Cds or Internet download available and if you were from a small town, you had to rely on your friendly neighborhood recording wallah and his collection to get a recorded compilation on cassetes).
The Recordingwallah was a kindhearted college guy, who always tried to sell me R.D.Burman as the best Composer ever and I was a hardcore Shankar-Jaikishan, Kalyan ji-Anand ji fan. The debate always ended up, with him saying - 'You'll understand the feeling of love he brings in his songs, when you'll grow up.'
I started maintaining a diary where I used to write my nonsense thoughts on music and composers. I came across one tribute to R.D.B. by Ameen Sahab on a Radio Show and I started following his music and made notes in my diary too. Very soon I was helping the recordingwallah with a R.D.Burman compilation for his girl friend. I don't know how successful his love story was, but I always got special discounts on recording thereafter.

We moved to Orissa in sometime, where nobody understood or appreciated such things :(( My Ameen Sayani Mimicry was still on, though Bunty was nowhere to appreciate it. Geetmala phase would've been over, if I hadn't come across this T Series pirated copy* of Volume 2 of Silver Jubilee Presentation, which was great but I personally feel Vol.1 rocks. Ameen Sahab was back on my two-in-one.

I played both the cassettes so much on rotation for sometime that it bugged my family esp.Aditya like hell.

Do Bhai (clicked by Chhoti Behen)

Sometime back we did this show on a Film based TV Channel, where I wrote and spoofed Ameen Sayani in my voice. Aditya himself is a Media Professional now, and he don't hate Geetmala anymore. Talking of which, he just called up to say, he has bought this 5 CD set for me called - Geetmala Ki Chhaon Mein (Vol.1-5). A compilation with Ameen Sayani's Commentary. Time Time Ki Baat Hai.

Ab Aditya Kabhi Kabhi Meri Sun Leta Hai (Clicked by Neha)

* Until 2 Decades ago T Series used to be a company which used to release duplicates of Original HMV & Polydoor Cassettes in much cheaper cassettes with peculiar Jai Mata Di Stickers.

Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai....

2009-02-13T19:32:00.008+05:30

Ahhhh Finally....I am done with all my pending work in time. The most scary bit was Financial Planning and Tax Declaration stuff, which I somehow managed to do in time and now I am all set to go on my most awaited (can I say 'well deserved') Vacations. It's been almost one and a half year since I went on a Chhutti.

I'll be leaving for Chennai early morning tomorrow and as soon as I am back, I will be packing bags for My Long Awaited Rajasthan Trip. I might/might not be able to check my mails/comments/messages in between. So all of you who believe in V Day - A very happy Valentines Day. Those who don't care, a Very Happy V Day to you too. Those who are planning to send Pink Chaddis to M.Muthalik (Thanks Abha for introducing the Man & the mission to me) send him one on my behalf. Those who are getting Pink Chuddies, Bhagwaan Ram Unhein Sadbuddhi De.

A Peshull wala thanks to Trinaa, who called me A Gentleman on her blog. (Koi serious Galatfehmi ho gayi hai kahin, jo wapas aa kar theek karni hogi).

I'll be travelling by train after a long-long time, can't wait to sit on those blue seats and have moongfali, read the books I'll be carrying...borrow/lend newspaper...buy cheap film magz...have Nimboo-Kakdi, Chana-Masala, Jhaal-Mudi, Allam-Gallam...(Hawayi Safar Mein Wo Baat Kahaan Jo Chhuk Chhuk Gaadi Ke Safar mein Hai...)

Song of the moment : Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai...Seeti Baja Rahi Hai...

Poem of the moment : One of my most favorite poems

पथ की पहचान - कवि : हरिवंश राय बच्चनपूर्व चलने के बटोही, बाट की पहचान कर ले
पुस्तकों में है नहीं
छापी गई इसकी कहानी
हाल इसका ज्ञात होता
है ना औरों की ज़बानी

अनगिनत राही गये
इस राह से उनका पता क्या
पर गये कुछ लोग इस पर
छोड पैरों की निशानी

यह निशानी मूक हो कर
भी बहुत कुछ बोलती है
खोल इसका अर्थ पंथी
पंथ का अनुमान कर ले

पूर्व चलने के बटोही, बाट की पहचान कर ले

यह बुरा है या कि अच्छा
व्यर्थ दिन इस पर बिताना
अब असंभव छोड यह पथ
दूसरे पर पग बढाना

तू इसे अच्छा समझ
यात्रा सरल इससे बनेगी
सोच मत केवल तुझे ही
यह पडा मन में बिठाना

हर सफ़ल पंथी यही
विश्वास ले इस पर बढा है
तू इसी पर आज अपने
चित्त का अवधान कर ले

पूर्व चलने के बटोही, बाट की पहचान कर ले

है अनिश्चित किस जगह पर
सरित, गिरी, गहवर मिलेंगे
है अनिश्चित किस जगह पर
बाग बन सुंदर मिलेंगे

किस जगह यात्रा खत्म
हो जाएगी यह भी अनिश्चित
है अनिश्चित कब सुमन कब
कंटकों के शर मिलेंगे

कौन सहसा छूट जाएंगें
मिलेंगे कौन सहसा
आ पडे कुछ भी रुकेगा
तु न ऐसी आन कर ले

पूर्व चलने के बटोही, बाट की पहचान कर ले

(Image: The Wanderer Above The Sea Of Clouds by Caspar David Friedrich)

Chalte-Chalte:
For Indian Comic Book Lovers - Here is an interesting article in Time Out Mumbai on Sunny The Super Sleuth- The early 80s comic book series where Sunil Gavaskar played a Superhero. Besides I have started a Chitrakathaa Group on Google Groups here, you can join it and discuss/share your favorite Comic Books/Characters/Superheroes etc.

For all you Animation Enthusiasts and Professionals, this one is a must read: Design With A Purpose - An Interview with Ralph Eggleston.
Oscar Winning Director*/Wall.E Production Designer Ralph is interviewed by Ron Barbagallo, Director, Animation Art Conservation.
(Ron was genrous enough and permitted me to post a link to this wonderful interview on my blog.)
*2002 - Best Animated Short Film - For The Birds

For those who love cute posts and lovely baby pics, check out Abha's Blog.

Musical Malfunctions

2009-02-11T18:57:00.004+05:30

Last weekend I met Jaidev after almost three years. We went for Dev D, which IMHO is one of the best Indian Movies I’ve seen in a longtime. Only thing I disliked in the film was the interval. Adlabs, Pune was playing Delhi-6 songs in the interval, which started another very interesting (atleast for us) conversation on music. They were playing the 8 minute 42 seconds long Arziyaan from Delhi-6 sung wonderfully by Javed Ali & Kailash Kher.

“You know there is a glitch in this song, exactly at the 2^nd second of 8^th minute, which wasn’t corrected and the song is being released and played with the glitch,” He told.

I played the track as soon as I reached home to find this not so prominent glitch in the song exactly at 2^nd Sec. of 8^th minute of Arziyaan.

But this is not the first time when a glitch has passed from a music studio to the final released tracks. Swades, which is one of my most favorite A.R.Rahman Albums has one such glitch in the Shehnai Version of Ye Jo Des Hai Tera, if you have heard the track carefully the Shehnai player (if I remember correctly it’s the Great Bismillah Khan Sahab) caughs exactly at the 59^th second of first minute, the cough never got edited or removed from the track (knowingly or by mistake, we don’t know). This cough is very prominent in the track.

Another song I remember with a glitch has a funny anecdote about it. The song is Piya Piya Piya Mora Jiya Pukare from 1955 Kishore Kumar film – Baap Re Baap. Music- O.P.Nayyar.Lyrics- Jaan Nisaar Akhtar (Javed Sahab’s Father). This song was recorded in 50s, the era of one track recording, when singers used to sing in a soundproof cabin and live music played by the orchestra was also recorded simultaneously. Asha ji & Kishore Kumar were recording for the song and by mistake Asha ji jumped in with an aalaap in Kishore’s lines. This was a massive mistake, O.P. Nayyar was just gonna stop the orchestra to re-record the whole song from scractch. Kishore waved from inside the recording cabin and recorded the whole song.

KK came out and laughed at restless Nayyar.

“I am the ‘Hero’ of the film and I know how I am going to cover this mistake, don’t worry,” He said.

Nayyar wasn’t convinced but the song was recorded and released with that one minor mistake on KK's insistence. This song became one of the most popular songs from Baap Re Baap. Film was released and when O.P. Nayyar saw how beautifully Kishore covered the mistake on screen, he just went to the 'Hero' and hugged him.

In the audio track the mistake comes around 20^th Second of 2^nd Minute. Check this video to see - Chand Usmani lip syncing Asha’s mistake around 8^th second of 2^nd minute and how Kishore saved the day?

Piya Piya Piya – Baap Re Baap (1955)

On a totally different note, here is Sintex Water Tank – Permanent Ho Gaya commercial, where yours truly plays a blink and miss role of the Dulha (thanks to an actor who ran away) in the begining of this commercial - My first PAID acting gig ;)

DNA covers Adtalis Ghantey

2009-02-04T14:10:00.007+05:30

DNA Mumbai has a story on our latest...(or shall I call it second) 48 Hour Film - Adtalis Ghantey, which covers snippets of the troubles Team Limboo Mirchi went through while making the film.
Read it here

Hurry-Hurry Bolo!

2009-01-29T20:02:00.004+05:30

I remember my mom loved to keep pet parrots and one of them used to repeat – Hari Hari Bolo!
I must be around 4 and for a 4 year old, the beautiful green tail and red beaks of the parrots were far more fascinating than their ability to mimic. After getting bitten several times, I learnt never to play with their beaks, but the soft green feathers on their tails were totally harmless. Once I realized that I started pulling their tails mercilessly.

That way I killed a couple of parrots. My mom never tried to keep any other pet after that, to save me from the sin of Jeev Hatya.

She sometimes tells me about my first school entrance exam. She says I was much much faster than all other kids but my handwriting was too bad as compared to most of them.

She repeats the story whenever I am trying to do something very fast.

Well I always laughed when she told me this story.

“Being in IP business I need my handwriting to be as unreadable as possible, and whenever I need to express my thoughts I can type them.” I used to tell her until last weekend.

I was shooting another 48 Hour Film last weekend. The Genre I got was Horror.

Horror is one of my least favorite genres.

I never see, read or write anything that has got anything to do with horror. I don’t get scared or anything but feel uncomfortable and disgusted seeing/reading stories on – Horror, extra marital affairs (Silsila etc.), stories with prostitutes as central characters (films like Umrao Jaan or Memoirs of a Geisha are the films which disturb me a lot, no matter how much they romanticize it).

I wash my hands several times while reading horror stories/comics or watching a horror movie. I really find them very unhygienic.

I panicked as soon as I got this genre and I decided I’ll mix horror with some other genre to make the film. A horror spoof was the first thing that came in mind, and I was able to use all other elements that the competition needed in this funny story, but my team wasn’t sure about it. (I was working for the first time with most of them).

A brainstorming session went on for hours and I decided I’ll mix a thriller appeal to a horror story.

This time I wanted to go the bollywood way. My game plan was - I wont write a screenplay but decide the scenes and start shooting. I can always stitch them together to make a film on the Editing Table.

As we were already running out of time, I started doing what I am really good at – Hurry!

We started shooting the film, I mean the scenes. Thanks to Neeshank, our very talented Cinematographer, we managed to shoot some real cool scenes.

Sharib Bhai also joined the gang as an actor and said the only dialogue I had in the film.

Rest of us played the Zombies…

We shot for almost 24 Hours.

I reached the editing suite around midnight the next day. My editor was just going to start editing, when his stomach rumbled and before I could realize the poor guy was hospitalized for food poisoning. Getting an unpaid second editor at 2:00 am was impossible. (Besides the way we shot the whole film, we needed an editor who could understand what we wanna show in the film and edit the 3 hours footage into a 4 minute film.)

Next morning we started hunting for another Editor. I called up Devang, an editor friend and hijacked him while he was coming out of his studio after finishing his night long editing shift. Devang (who worked the whole previous night) edited our film the whole day, while our in-house musical jodi Dhirendra and Rishabh worked on the music.

After 48 Hours of complete madness, we were able to submit the film on time.

But as the screenplay/story boards were not done in the beginning, many things I feel went wrong with the film. The outcome of a hurried process can never be satisfactory. I am sure this version of the film looks exactly the way my handwriting would’ve looked like in that school entrance exam.

I am really unhappy with this cut of the film and going to re-edit the whole thing and redo the sound for some of the scenes soon. If I can try and make my handwriting better than what it used to be, I can improve the film and my habit of hurrying everything too.

“Slowdown Speedracer!” – SP always says, when I hurry things. Bro, wish you were there to say those magical words!

Slums Ka Saya : Aaskars Mein ‘Jai Ho’

2009-01-22T21:05:00.016+05:30

(This post was written yesterday (22nd Jan) evening, just before I left to see Slumdog Millionaire.)Oscar Nominations are out

And by now it's an old news that Rahman has got three nominations for Slumdog Millionaire
(Hans Zimmer has no nomination for TDK and is out of competition).

Rahman's Nominations-

One nomination for Best Music (Score) for which he is competing with - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Defiance, Milk (haven't heard scores of any of these films so can't comment) & Wall - E. I feel he is going to face a tough competition in eight times Oscar Nominee Thomas Newman (Shawshank Redemption, Little Woman, American Beauty, Road To Perdition, Finding Nemo, Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events & Good German).

Two Nominations for - Best Music (Song) - 'Jai Ho' & 'O Saya' here he is competing with Peter Gabriel (& Thomas Newman's) song Down To Earth (for which Peter has already won World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for Film).
IMHO looking at all the probabilities Rahman's songs have a much-much stronger chance to win in this category.
(The only thing that can work against Rahman is the lyrics of the SM songs. Gulzar's lyrics are too poetic and can't be translated/dubbed on the other hand Peter's Lyrics which are in english will be easy for the Jury to understand).

Let's hope Rahman brings back the first Individual Oscar to India.

I saw Slumdog Millionaire and strongly felt - the film is over hyped. I feel its an okay okay film, with brilliant cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle (who was the DOP for wonderfully shot - The Last King Of Scottland as well), great performances by the slum kids and brilliant soundtrack by Rahman.

In many ways the film reminded me of Bombay Talkie (1970).

Wanna write more about SM but there will be lots of spoilers, I think I should wait atleast for a week before I post my SM Review here.

Oscar Se Aaskar Tak

India is celebrating on Rahman getting 3 Oscar Nominations, forgetting the great sacrifices made by Mr.Oscar(pronounced Aaskar) Ravichandran, who recieved a legal notice from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the spring of 2008 to change his company's name from Oscar Films to something else. The creative genius came up with a new name- "Aaskar Films Private Ltd" and also replaced the logo he had been using (which was ~~similar~~...identical to the one used for the Academy Awards)

So much for ~~Oscars~~ Aaskars!

PS. Do read this hilarious post on AaskarAwards on Son of Bosey.

The Child Is The father of a (Great) Film Maker"

2009-01-20T22:31:00.006+05:30

After a long long time last Sunday I spent the whole day at home. Saw four films back to back. All were great but two of them – A.I. & Oliver! touched my heart. My intention behind seeing these two films was something more than just seeing another film on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I wanted to see and learn how the character of a kid is being portrayed or explored as protagonists in such films. But once the movies started playing on my DVD Player, I forgot what I wanted to see or make a note of it and was completely lost in the fairytale-ish story telling. One was a period based story and other a Sci-fi fairy tale but both of them had the soul and innocence in place. Stories with heart I must say.

The minute detailing of the sets, the music, and wonderful cinematography, everything takes a backseat and compliment the wonderful performances of the teenage protagonists. The kids perform so well that you totally forget about the efforts of the directors, which actually propelled the performances to another level. Directing kids is fun but it takes very little to turn all the fun into a nightmarish experience.

Meri Kahani

I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to work with a Kid’s TV Channel Network, where I got many chances to direct children. Its sheer pleasure to work with kids who are experienced, but it’s a real pain when some non-actor kid surprises you with a brilliant take and then spoils everything by looking at you within a fraction of a mili-second (which spoils the whole take) after completing his/her lines for your approval. You can’t even shout at a 5 year old looking at you with those curious eyes. Don’t even try telling them s/he has spoilt the whole thing because of that, just tell them what s/he shouldn’t repeat in the next take and get ready for a next take.

Re-takes again is a pain, most of the time they are shaken when you tell them you going to need another take, some of them get so nervous that the following takes will become a series of disasters. Keep them interested, keep them motivated, keep them cheerful and never make them realize their last take was pathetic. Long shooting hours are again a pain while working with kids, there were a couple of late night shoots, which were painful for both, us as well as the kids.

But at the end of the day its real fun and trust me the kids will teach you a lot of things which they never teach you in Film Schools. Then there are fringe benefits- listening to their (nonsense) stories, (horribly boring) jokes and have lots of fun playing with them to keep them occupied and interested.

Confession - I distinctly remember this Sardar ji kid from Delhi who was all of 5 but gave me a lecture on SMS driven contests and how we channel-wallahs rob the viewers with such contests (he himself was a contest winner). I asked him who taught him all that, my guess was right; it was his father the Senior Surd, who was also present on the sets. I made sure the production guys kept him away, while I was shooting with his son.(the excuse I made was- kids get conscious with their parents around, the actual reason- I wanted to settle scores with the guy who is bhadkaao-ing his innocent son to not to send SMSes, come on Channel Kamayega Nahin Toh…Meri Salary Kahaan Se Aayegi…huh).

Anyway I wanted to talk about something else (rather than sharing my silly stories).

While seeing all these films I realized not every director can direct kids, but the ones who have done it and done it tastefully are actually the best of the lot. It’s not about the abilities of the director but his/her sensibilities and understanding which are put on a test while doing such films. Think about the best films with kids and their directors-

Steven Spielberg and the way he directs kids is simply brilliant, E.T., Close Encounters of The Third Kind, Jurassic Park Trilogy, A.I. and many other films where even if kids are not the central character Spielberg captures them so wonderfully that his films simply become study material.

Gulzar Sahab and his films like Parichay and Kitaab. He is the man who can write Chaddi Pehen Ke Phool Khila Hai and Dil Dhoondhta Hai Phir Wahi Fursat Ke Raat Din with the same ease.

Majid Majidi - Children of heaven, Color Of Paradise and many others.

Shekhar Kapur – The way he directed kids in Maasoom, Mr.India & Bandit Queen.

Vishal Bharadwaj - Makdee and Blue Umbrella.

Nagesh Kukunoor - Rockford.

Last but not the least Aamir - Taare Zameen Par.

I strongly feel, the way these film makers have depicted a child’s story in an adult world and have achieved it so wonderfully that it is worth studying and learning. Their understanding of kids psyche is marvelous, which proves their mastery when it comes to understand and picturise human psyche. These are the things, which make them better and greater film makers even when they are not working with kids or working on a subject which sometimes can be inappropriate for kids…

I saw glimpses of Slumdog Millionaire and was amazed to see the way Danny Boyle has used the kids in his film. The stunts, the chase, the acting...everything is just superb...waiting eagerly for it's release in India...

(Wanna write more will continue some other time...may be)

The Moody Slums & Gotham : The Music of Rahman and Hans Zimmer

2009-01-15T13:20:00.006+05:30

Viplav, a very young and talented friend visited me last week and we had long discussions on films, and that's when this debate started on what he calls - 'A.R.Rahman Vs. Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard'. I strongly felt Hans(with Howard)'s score for The Dark Knight is a better contender for any Award this year than the fabulous score created by Rahman for Slumdog.

I have been listening to all the tracks of both the films for a longtime (TDK's score for more than 5-6 months and Slumdog's OST for more than a month by now).

Slumdog's OST is something I really find truly amazing, one of the bestest A.R.Rahman Album in a longtime. Instrumental Themes - esp. Riots, Latika's Theme, Paper Planes, Liquid Dance (which reminds me of the Spirit of Rangeela in a way) are really good. I am yet to see the film so there are chances I will start liking the tracks even more after I have seen them in the film.

Dark Knight OST is something which I have been playing in rotation for past 6 months (almost) and I am hooked to it. I don't forget to play it whenever I am reading something (currently Angels and Demons, a co-incidence- Hans is also composing the background score for the movie based on the novel) and the moody tracks gel with anything se well, that it feels like a universal background score which can set up the mood for almost anything.

Currently as I said it's The Dan Brown Novel and with TDK tracks, the story plays smoothly like a film in my imagination with words and music flowing together in harmony and create some amazing visuals in this otherwise idle mind of mine. I listen to the tracks otherwise too and find them truly compelling, it was a great learning experience going through the documentary - The Sound of Anarchy which shows Hans working on the OST of TDK, which makes one understand what does it take to create a music which can set the mood and make the visuals even more compelling.

We had a long debate on Sunday whether Rehman should win this years Golden Globe or not. Monday morning I was shocked to see a delighted Viplav up early in the morning (which was a rare sight) -

"RAHMAN WON THE GOLDEN GLOBE!!" He shouted...

"Woww..." I said and felt proud being an Indian, but somewhere deep inside I felt bad for The Dark Knight Team. What a score, but its ok as long as Ghar Ka Ladka Rahman wins.

Viplav's Facebook status reads - 'It's A.R.Rahman Vs. Hans Zimmer' for past one week.

Well my opinion differs here again...there is no 'Versus' here. Both the maestroes are so humble that it looks like they aren't even bothered about it.

I was going thru a recent Rahman interview where he tells about his meeting with this big composer from Hollywood - Hans Zimmer and I find another news where Zimmer says Rahman's tracks are really beautiful. I feel both of them share something more than music and awards, both are too talented and humble.
Personally speaking, I am a bigger fan of Hans's music and its well justified looking at the range of his music - from Epic Films like Gladiator, King Arthur, to fantasy classics like- The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Pirates Of The Carribean trilogy, The Last Samurai and animated classics like - Lion King, Prince Of Egypt, Madagascar 1 & 2, The Simpson's Movie and Kung Fu Panda et al. (his scores for Thelma and Louise and The Da Vinci Code are my personal fav. too).

IMHO I find Mr.Zimmer's music unparalleled and truly fascinating so it came as a surprize to me when Viplav forwarded me the link with the news - Academy decides Dark Knight Score not eligible for Oscars, and I was like - "WHATT??Are You Serious??"

The news reads - The Academy committee has decided that the score for The Dark Knight will not be eligible for an Oscar. The committee plans to tell composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton that their score for the movie will be disqualified because too many other people were also listed as composers (three other composers are also credited). The Academy only allows scores where over 70% can be credited to the main two principles. The Academy was given a signed letter by everyone involved with the score that Zimmer and Newton were responsible for over 70% of the score, but the Academy decided not to allow it anyway.

This isn't the first time Hans & Howards are disqualified by the Academy. It happened to them in 2005 also, when they were disqualified on the same grounds for their previous collaboration on Batman Begins.

By the time I wrote these lines thankfully The Academy reversed itself on The Dark Knight Score - here is the News -

After banning The Dark Knight’s musical score from the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture’s music branch committee reversed its ruling today, now making the film eligible to win an Oscar for best original score. It was originally said that the cue sheets had five composers, but after reviewing the paperwork they were informed that only two composers, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, were being credited for the work.

The Academy stated that the nomination ballots have not been mailed out to its members yet, so the addition of The Dark Knight will not have an affect on the voting.

The Indian in me will celebrate if Rahman wins and the Fanboy in me will rejoice if Hans & team wins. All I can say now is (lines from a Rahman song) - Sach Aur Saahas Hai Jiske Mann Mein Ant Mein Jeet Usi Ki Rahey.

Quick Update: 9th January

2009-01-09T20:31:00.005+05:30

First of all A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who went thru my Photolog - The 1st Day Of New Year (Show Off as one of my friend called it) and commented there...
I am feeling more energectic and looking forward to jamao my DVD Collection soon (hopefully before the 1st Day of 2010) and if my sis is kind enough to click some pics will post them here for sure (Sadistic Pleasure of showing off)...

But before doing all that there are too many other things I wanted to write about here...sadly time schedule isn't allowing me to do so and following my own self-discipline resolution I am keeping away from internet. There was this post which I wanted to post right after the Books Arrangement Post (It was a brief account of what year 2008 was to me) has become total obsolete...It is still incomplete...

One more quick update - I have turned my Bollywoodland Blog into a 100% Hindi Blog- यायावर की फिल्मी बातें , this new year and though I was away from the internet I managed to update it twice this week (older posts are still in English but all the latest posts will be in Hindi now on) I am enjoying writing in Hindi after a longtime...एंड आई लव राइटिंग ऑन...I mean...and I love writing on (and about) Bollywood, so when you wanna read my bollywood bakwaas you know where to find it...The blog will have regular entries on regional films and music too...

Links I am loving and visiting these days are :

Creative Screenwriting Magazine and it's Podcasts which can be downloaded for free and you can listen to some in depth conversation with script writers like Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo/Wall-E), Jonathan Nolan (Dark Knight, Batman Begins etc) there. (Vidooshak was complaining about The Dark Knight DVD, which doesn't have Director's Commentary, dude go through the J.Nolan Podcast, its really awesome (approx.40 mins long) though it wont make up for the director's commentary we all were looking forward to but still...its not bad at all...

Baba Jain's Blog which has some brilliant advices for everybody who wants to start Financial Planning (like me).

Indian Temples and Iconography a wonderful blog with some brilliant info on Indian Temples and Iconography (one of my most fav. subjects).

And then there are too many wonderful blogs...literally too many to list here...

Keep visiting...keep commenting...I'll catch up with you all soon...

-Alok

Random Thoughts: on The 2nd day of 2009

2009-01-05T10:52:00.009+05:30

It was really great to see most of you guys responding to my last post which was in Devbhasha. I just wanted to write something on the last day of 2008... there were some vague thoughts..I wanted to say a lot but was unable to express myself properly so I decided to express myself in Hindi. (I always find it really comfortable talking/writing in Hindi, which is my mother tongue and was a 100% Vishuddha Hindi Reader/Writer till I moved to Bangalore in 2004.)

Learning correct English was (and still is) a difficult task for me, I had to push (and am still pushing) myself a lot to learn to express myself in correct English (I still make stupid grammatical mistakes in my posts, most of you must be aware of it) and this blog was actually started as an attempt to write more in English and learn from the silly mistakes I make while writing (some of my friends not only read almost all the blog posts but also tell me whenever and wherever my English goes awfully awry).

Anyway learning from past mistakes and move on – Jeena Isi Kaa Naam Hai! I don’t know if I am actually learning anything or not but I am trying to learn- new things, new words, new usages everyday. Some of you blog-buddies are also instrumental in my learning as I read and try to learn a lot from your beautiful posts – Thanks Guys!!

Wish to learn more this new year...

असतो मा सद्गमय,

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय

मृत्योर्मा अमृतंगमय .

PS. This post was written on 3rd day of January, wasn't able to post it till now, two more posts are yet to be completed, will post them soon.

Next: A photo blogpost on how I spent 1st of January 2009। Keep visiting, keep commenting.

Edit: The Photo Blog was started on 2nd of Jan. so it's showing just below this post...dated 2nd Jan. :) wish we could do such things in life..start something on a date and after completion it would show getting completed on the same day it was started...

The 1st Day of New Year

2009-01-02T20:00:00.011+05:30

Being a compulsive procrastinator, I love to postpone things till deadlines are breathing down my neck. But if the work isn’t a professional obligation then it can wait till eternity. I had been dillydallying a lot of things like arranging and cataloging my books for past 6 months and there was this story (of many other stories) I had been thinking for more than a year, but the idea was yet to be written down. I am an old believer of - Better late then never. In other words I love to be late.

I was so late this time that the year ended by the time I could start some of the pending work.

So as soon as they started showing a countdown clock on TV and fireworks started making sky look beautiful and atmosphere polluted, I locked myself in my room and started writing the story idea on my note pad...I wrote till late night and when I stopped I had a basic story and the concept note ready (I am yet to work on the event flow and a proper script, though some events and story moments are crystal clear in my mind but I am yet to write them and work on various ways of approaching them).

Finally I was able to see a lot more happening in the story which was a vague idea till few hours ago. I could sleep now...

The next morning I don't know how or why but I was up early in the morning. Mom had a pleasant shock when she entered my room with her diya-batti and found me awake. (Even I was surprized!)

"U awake...do you have a meeting in the office..." she asked. (She usually wakes me up whenever I have an early morning meeting in office).

"Well..we have an off today.." I smiled..."..Magar Kaafi Kaam Poora Karna Hai..so woke up early..."

(I really enjoyed her reactions)

Had a quick breakfast and decided to arrange my books. Neha (my sis) not only helped me in doing this but also was kind enough to click some pics of the whole mission.

Have a look :

When Parsaai ji Met Pran and Shailendra Met Doga

Prized Possession - Batman: Black & White - Single Issues...

My Preciousss

The Tower

Yeh Toh Two Much Ho Gaya...Need a break!!

Back after a break

Aayi Cataloging Ki Baari

Help Me Help Me Help Me Ohh God!

Cataloging done...!!

The Arranged Bookshelf

PS. I felt really good and wasted 3-4 days in this 'feel good' mood. I am yet to write down couple of story ideas which I have been discussing with many friends but procrastinating for more than a year by now...will start working on them soon...very soon...

Do let me know how was your 1st day of 2009?

चाहिए एक ऐसा साल...

2008-12-31T20:19:00.002+05:30

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 ।

Dhoom Dhoom Luck Luck!!!

2008-12-24T17:55:00.012+05:30

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.

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:

Dream Worlds: Production Design For Animation by (Legendary) Hans Bacher

The Art Of Kung Fu Panda by Tracey Miller - Zarneke

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.

Ooh Aah Ouch!!....My Wallet!!

2008-12-18T17:58:00.008+05:30

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.

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, 2^nd 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 India without the short film– Secrets Of The Furious Five, which was specially created for the DVD set called Pandamonium Set. Why they are always biased about releasing such cool stuff in India.

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 2^nd 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

2008-12-18T11:56:00.006+05:30

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