I am currently drowned in sufism… may be through music. Read about the term zikr and I loved it. I don’t believe in any particular religion, but sufism and its beleifs attracts me…

Here is an part of zikr below… in a way ’speaking out’ would solve lot of issues than keeping quite.

Ahl-e-talab aja tum ko bulai ahed Allah
zikr se burh ke nahin hai amal koiee hai farman-e-rasool Allah
nijaat milti hai unko yaqeenan karein jo qalb se zikr Allah
zikr se sur kat-ta hai Nafs ka beshaq zikr hai saif-ullah

Those of you, who seek Allah’s attention, Come, as you are called byAllah.
There is no better deed than ZIKR, said the Holy Prophet of Allah.And those who do ZIKR of Allah from core of their hearts, become successful.
And Zikr cuts Nafs (a human being’s desire to do whatever he wants,good or bad but used mostly for the desire to do evil things) so Zikr is sword of Allah.

zikr aman hai zikr hai fatah zikr shifa hai zikr hai dawa
Allah ho baqimil qule fani aur fana hai sub wo muqab-Allah

Zikr is peace, Zikr is victory, Zikr is remedy, and Zikr is prayer

Only Allah is eternal and will be there when nothing else will bethere, as everything other than Allah will get destroyed one day.

peace!!

translates to… my heart fell of a sudden….

listening to this one with my eyes closed, takes me in to a romantic ride….. feels like falling in love….

‘teri khamosh zulfon ki gehrayian
hai jahan dil mera, uljha hua hai kahin kho gaya… tu magar, hai bekhabar, hai Bekhabar …’

When I was watching Rang de Basanti… I was thinking, wat does the director wanna say and where is the story heading, but when it ended… I was moved… and later this movie became my favorite movie. I have seen it 7 times on the big screen and may be a 100 times on DVD. When
I was watching Delhi6, I had the similar effect and in the end, the movie did move me!
The way Rakeysh has passed on the message using the metaphor of ‘kala bandar’ is highly applaudable!
In the end it leaves you to think about the ‘kala bandar’ inside ourselves.

Don’t miss out the movie for – a great performance by Abhishek, the beautiful n honest picturizationof old delhi. You’ll feel like a part of the movie if you have ever stayed in delhi n have felt it.

There is one reason, i’ll hit back to the theater again to watch this one – the amazing picturization of the song ‘dil gira’… great fusion of old delhi roads in to new york. Have heard a lot of fusion in music but never seen a fusion of video.

My Verdict: 3 out of 5. Out of the 3 starts, 1 goes for the picturization of ‘dil gira’. Another one for beautifully capturing the namaaz at the Jama Masjid.

‘dararein dararein hain mathe pe maula, marramat muqaddar ki kardo maula’! – hope hez listening.

After being frustrated by the services of my ISP and now being ‘forced’ to follow the IT policies at my office.. wasn’t regular to blogs… thanx to WAP browsers, now i’ll try to be regular.

This is a ‘test’ post which m posting through my cell phone.

If you blog on wordpress and want to post blogs directly from your cellular phone, type http://m.wordpress.com on your phone browser. Don’t expect a cool n jazzy webpage, but thanx to the lite n simple design which makes it faster and cheaper to use..

and while I have been typing all this… I ‘really’ missed my iphone keyboard ..

Sometimes you come across instances in Life, where you forget your pain/anger and start believing that yes I am at a better state.
Woke up today morning to see that my car was a bit ‘high’ in the air, elevated from ground using bricks… ( remembered a scene from slumdog millionaire, also the various articles written against it for showing the ‘real’ India on ‘reels’… crap! ) . I had guessed rite.. someone broke in to it through the window… took my beloved ‘blaupunkt’ which always made sure that my long drives were less boring. My brain started calculating the effect on my wallet… and in next one hour I was with the law keepers of our country, at the police station.
 
Had to wait for 45mins to get an appointment with a cop ( probably its true what bollywood shows, the police always reaches after the crime and the criminal! )… not my frustration did not stop here… I had to give him a ride on my bike to my house and back from the police station for investigating the case… reason: he had 3 bikes at the station but with an empty fuel tank!
 
Adding to my frustration – I returned to drop the police guy and now he realises that these cases come under criminal department, and I need to comeback in an hour to meet the cop who handles the department. While I was leaving the station I saw two kids standing on one corner… I asked ke a cop what did they do.. the reply I got… “Sab chori kartein hain… saale musalman!”. This reply kind of moved me… if the law keepers have this attitude then, how can we be sure that they are not biased while enforcing it?
 
Came back to the station after an hour to find that the cops were beating up the kids turn by turn… it was like every policeman was trying to dump their frustration on these little kids…  I just could not see it… its easier to close your eyes, but could not stop the loud voices of the kids crying for help… ( for help… from whom? ) entering my ears. Later found out that these kids were crying out in telguthat they will never do it again… my house owner who accompanied me in to the station told me “I too feel like kicking these #$%#@, If they are not treated this way… they will end up doing a bigger crime!”. I am not sure if to agree to this or not… 
 
I asked the cop to take down my complaint..  which he tried his best to make it as ” I lost my car wheels and stereo ” ( you loosing the wheels of your car, is it the keys to misplace!!) … so that they have less work to do… After half an hour of argument .. he finally rephrased the sentence ” the wheels and stereo from xyz car was stolen!”. Then they again started about the muslim factor… and many more statements which if I mention it here might lead to a communal riot! 
 
India on one part connect to every part of the world inside modern architectural wonders, a little far away from that lies a world which is not even connected locally! – Yes, a diversified nation it is !!

People critisized Slumdog Millionaire for showing the real India, only when the movie was a big hit… and since my blog has a limited coverage… I am sure I wont be critisizedfor anything like this.. and even if someone does it.. I dont care.. Its easier for people to sit and write everything …  it applies for me too! 

And wise men know that  – India is much more than Slums and Dogs!

1. Kaise Mujhe Tum -  The most repeated track in a short span of time. Plus points – Vocals – Benny you are a great find and Shreya – my favorite female vocalist, Lyrics, Correctly placed in the movie
2. Kahin to – Sounds fresh…. listening to it with closed eyes will take you to the world as described in the song. Plus Points- Amazing vocals by both  – love the way Vasundhra starts with “Saansein kho gayi hain..” in a kind of rough way and the harmony in the background smoothens it. Also the part were Rashid says .. ” mulaqaaat mein… “.
3. Tum ho to – Unleashing the singer in Farhan – a rough sound which fits in to magik to create magic! A song which is not just meant for your better half or your love…. its  your best friend ( the way its picturized in the movie ). I already have done the dedication … Plus points: Farhan – Man you rock!! The way you pulled zindagiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii… is amazing ! . Lyrics – Your dad rocks too always! you simplify poetry… love this line.. “Tum ho to rahein bhi hain…. tum nahi, to raste kahan!!”.  SEL – If Rahman started the revolution, you are following it with perfection. Rock on is a perfect album where you proved to non-rock listeners that it is one of the rare genres of music where you can express all kinds of expressions.
4. In Lamhon ke – This songs acted like a slow poison to me. I am not a big fan of Sonu Nigam…. though listening to this one moves me closer to becoming one! Plus Points – One of the best Compositions I have heard ever,  Amazing use of instruments… loved the use of sarangi ( 0:45), drums through out…. and the way heavy chorus stops… ( 02:44).. leaves a silence and Sonu starts off again with jal tarang ( not sure of this ) playing in the background… and madhushree starts off.  My fav part of the track is when Sonu starts with “Mere khwabon ke… ” and then the chorus takes it from there with “Kyun hain yeh aarzoo… “. Amazing lyrics and an Amazing Composition – which makes Rahman stand out always.
5. Manmohani - An ignored track of the year – but this is an example where techno beats can carry off Hindustani Classical music. Perfectly Inter-woven… and if you like Sargams, this one is a gem in your collection. Plus points – Great fusion, amazing vocals – Vijay Prakash… who has sung this not-so-easy to sing track.
6. Kuch Kam – I had started under-estimating Vishal Shekhar after listening to their recent compositions… like Golmaal or Om Shanti Om. Dostana was ‘kind-of’ their comeback… its a pity that only their peppy numbers become hit and people kind of ignore the gems in their album. Kuch Kam is one of them….. the lyrics of the song are superb, perfectly describes the empty space in your life. Plus Points – Lyrics and perfectly woven in to the movie.
7. Zindagi - If Kuch Kam makes you realize that you are missing something in life… and how life has changed without it… then you ask “Zindagi Zindagi Kya kami reh gayi….” . I have reviewed this song before in my blog and its currently called ‘A ghazal on synth’.  Plus Points – Lyrics – Gulzar, not known for his simple lyrics, but simplifies it here. Vocals – Srinivas… Loved you ever since i heard ‘Kaisi he yeh ruth’ from Dil Chahta Hai.
8. Khuda Jaane – Another song which makes me beleive that Vishal Shekhar is back to quality music. Not a big fan of its lyrics – but I started listening to this song after hearing the Female Voice – later finding out that its Shilpa Rao.. I dnt remember hearing her before, but i am sure she will have a huge fan following after this one. KK – as usual.. yes its always as usual for him, rocks in this song.
Plus points – Shilpa Rao  – Love your voice girl.. specially when u sing.. “Karti hun sau baatein tumse…. “, I dnt know why it makes me feel I am in love.. .. .Music: Love the way Table starts off at 0:44…. and also the mixing part. But Vishal – Shekhar.. you guys have a lot to improve on the engineering part.. for example.. towards the end starting 4:50.. you guys have added and amazing harmony… but its hardly heard!
9. Jaane Kyun : I love Songs about friendship…. started with Yaaron.. Tum ho to… and now Jaane Kyun. Love the beats when it starts…. and in most songs I hate it when they mix english in to hindi just for the sake of it… but in this one its done greatly well. Love the lyrics and the peppiness of the track. Plus points : Lyrics and livelyness of the song.
10. Sindbad the Sailor : This song rocks… the lyrics which takes Sindbad as an example to prove that try again n again and you will succeed one day. Sindbad went through a lot of troubles before he succeded in his travel… similarly to be happy you need to go through lots of them in life… but sometimes.. you are still looking for that! Plus points : Inspiring Lyrics…. Love the picturisation and also the way “Tum ho to.. ” comes in the end…….

Would like to mention two songs which I have not Included in the list… “Khwaja mere Khwaja” and “Man Mohana” from Jodha Akbar. Both of these tracks stand somewhere above the rest and are beyond comparison….

I cant wait for this movie to be released in India… Have only heard positives about this Danny Boyle flick. It is said that this movie can bring home an Oscar for Rahman. 

Here goes the A R Rahman Interview on New York Times for Slumdog millionaire… 

In India, fans love A.R. Rahman almost as we love David Archuleta — and he’s reportedly sold a few more albums: 100 million records and 200 million cassettes. A huge pop star in South Asia, he’s famous for scoring Indian classics like Rojaand Lagaan (among the dozens of other films) — and he’s recently begun to cross over into Hollywood with Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Bombay Dreams. We spoke with him about his Slumdog Millionaire score — which Fox Searchlight is pushing for an Oscar — and his collaboration with M.I.A.

How’d you hook up with Danny Boyle? 
I literally had to leave another film to do this. When Danny met me, he said, “I’ve heard a lot of your stuff’ and he talked about it. That’s about the first time I’ve heard a compliment from a Western director, apart from Andrew Webber. He’s a good human being.

Was it different working with him than a Bollywood director?
Usually, it’s very different. Danny used my stuff in a very different way. I really loved the film, so I would compose pieces to fit the images, so I would do a lot of templates. With this, there’s not many cues in the film. Usually a big film has 130 cues. This had just seventeen or eighteen: the end credits, beginning credits, that stuff.

What were you going for?
A lot of things. I had to do stuff from modern India, eighties Hindi film soundtracks, mixing modern India and the old India.

What did Boyle suggest?
He wanted something very pulse-y. He said he hated sentiment, hated cello. No cellos! He said, “Never put a cello in my film” — he was funny. I worked fast, like him. It took two months of planning, two weeks of completing. Usually it takes six months with the musical films I’m doing in India.

The soundtrack really drives the film. That seems like something Boyle has in common with Bollywood. Do you think so? 
What’s good about [Boyle] is that he likes how Indian films mix music. You push it and it comes out. We wanted it edgy, upfront. He said every piece of music was going to be a piece by itself. Normally some directors suppress music — they always want the effects to be loud and the music to be softer. Danny wanted it loud.

And you worked with M.I.A. on a new track. 
We met before but never worked before. M.I.A., she’s a real powerhouse. Somebody played me her CD and I thought, Who’s this girl? She came here and knew all my work, had followed my work for ages. I said “Cut the crap,” this “my idol” crap. You have to teach me. We started working in India, then we e-mailed the track back and forth. She did the vocals in England. I did the rest in India.

How does the film’s Mumbai compare to the real thing?
For me, it’s not about India at all. It’s about human emotion, how we suppress so much and it all comes out. It’s a human film, not about India at all. The soundtrack isn’t about India or Indian culture. The story could happen anywhere: China, Brazil, anywhere. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is on in every damn country.

Kuch Khushbuyen
A whiff of fragrance
Yaadon Ke Jungal Se Beh Chali 
drifted out from the wilderness of memories
Kuch Khidkiyan
Windows
Lamhon Ke Dastak Pe Khul Gayi
opened with the knocking (on the door of my memory) of past moments
Kuch Geeth Purane Rakhe The Sirhaane
Some old songs came into my head
Kuch Sur Kahin Khoye The Bandish Mil Gaye
Some forgotten melodies found new verses

Jeene Ke Ishare Mil Gaye 
Signs of (new) life appeared
Bichde The Kinare Mil Gaye
The separated shores joined together

Meri Zindagi Main Teri Baarish Kya Hui 
Your rain fell into my life;
Mere Raste Darya Bane Behne Lage
my roads became a river and began to flow
Meri Karvaton Ko Tune Aake Kya Chhua
You came and soothed me when I was tossing and turning;
Kahin Khwab Neendon Ki Gali Rehne Lage
and my dreams began to stay within the bounds (lanes) of sleep

Jeene Ke…Kinare Mil Gaye

Meri Loh Havaaon Se Jhagadkar Lee Uthi
(lau, as in flame?) The flame of my spirit was lifted up in the winds (I have no idea what jhagadna – to fight – is doing there; perhaps it’s jagakar, as in “to wake up”)
Mere Har Andhere Ko Ujale Pee Gaye
The light drank up all my darkness
Tune Hasken Mujhse Muskurane Ko Kaha
You laughed; smiling, you spoke to me
Mere Man Ke Mausam Gulmohar Se Ho Gaye
My mind’s season turned to spring
Jeene Ke…Kinare Mil Gaye

Kuch Khushbuyen, Saanso Se Saanso Me Ghul Gayi
Our breaths mixed into a shared fragrance
Kuch Khidikyan, Aankhon Hi Aankhon Me Khul Gayi 
Our eyes met and windows opened
Kuch Pyaas Adhuri
An unsated desire
Kuch Shyam Sindhoori 
a scarlet evening
Kuch Reshmi Gunahon 
in silken sins
Main Rate Dhal Gaye 
our evenings passed
Jeene Ke Ishare Mil Gaye
Bichde The Kinare Mil Gaye

On public demand by my friendz.. here goes the translation for the song which impacted a generation … 

aye saala
Dude …

abhi abhi huaa yaqeen ki aag hai mujh mein kahi
hui subaah main jal gaya
suraj ko main nigal gaya
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy – 2
I just realized that I have a fire inside me somewhere
Its a new morning and I am aflame
I overpowered the sun
I’m face to face with light

jo gumshuda-sa khwaab tha voh mil gaya voh khil gaya
who loha thaa pighal gaya kichhaa kichhaa machal gaya
sitaar mein badal gaya 
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy
I have found my lost dream and it had started to blossom
It was a block of iron before but now it has melted, stretched
And has transformed into the melodious strings of the sitar
I’m face to face with light

(dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera
nayi dagar naya safar mera
jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera
nazar mila zara) – 2
The fog clears and I can now see my open blue skies
I can see new paths and journeys ahead of me
If you could be my traveling companion
Match your stride with mine …

aandhiyon se jaghad rahi hai lau meri
ab mashaalon si bhad rahi hai lau meri
naamo nishaan rahe na rahe
ye kaaravaan rahe na rahe
ujaale mein pee gaya
roshan huaa jee gaya
kyon sehte rahe
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy – 2
My ardent desires fight with hurricanes
My ardent desires burn bright like torches
I don’t care if I disappear without a trace
I care not if these caravans no longer exist
I soak in the sunlight
I am radiant and alive
Why keep suffering?
I’m face to face with light.

dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera
nayi dagar naya safar mera
jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera
nazar mila zara
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy – 2
The fog clears and I can now see my open blue skies
I can see new paths and journeys ahead of me
If you could be my traveling companion
Match your stride with mine…
I’m face to face with light.

Probably this was the best ever movie made in bollywood… far more better than sholay!

I love to click.. and I hate artificial lighting (i.e. using flash)…  I love to click pictures with the available natural light, and the best time I love to click is early morning.. before the sun rises… but still it throws some light… if u check out the header image of my blog… it was shot at such a time.. say around 5:45 to 6:15 am…. 

Santosh Sivan, who is a genious in capturing the perfect light says.. “Worship light..Adore it, appreciate it and steal it when you can.” …. and I agree with him. Probably “Light” is something which attracts any photographer… and a good photographer is someone who creates a magic using light and his lenses… 

And if you are also one like me .. who is crazy about capturing light… do visit Santosh Sivans website… read this http://www.santoshsivan.com/html/eng_cin3.htm

He is the one who cinematographed movies like Roja ( Picturisation of Dil hai chota sa song is amazing! )  and Dil Se ( The title song picturisation is enough to prove his abilities to play with light!) … 

Live with the light… and capture that light, it would help you kill the darkness !