Happy 4th of July

July 2. 2009

Meri Jaan, Wishing you all a Very Happy 4th of July weekend. After all those chilly and rain soaked weekends of the past 2 months, finally we have A WINNER WEEKEND !

So, let me start of with some special 4th of July Bheja Fry vacationer definitions:

Stay-cationer: One, who has a vacation by staying inside the house. (Oh, I have so much to do in the yard.. kinds)

Day-cationer: One, who has a vacation by going somewhere within the daytime only (Kids, we can only go to the park and come back in 3-4 hours)

Join-cationer: One who is always looking to join someone on a vacation.
(Where are you going this long weekend? Can we join u...types?)

Deal-cationer: One who is only looking for deals for a vacation [but never goes] (You know there is a great deal going on from EWR to Baghdad :)

So, whether you are a stay-cationer, day-cationer, or a real vacationer; dont be scared of the recent airline or train events ! Think about the only boy who survived the latest Yemenian crash with all the other 150+ dead.

Hey, atleast you still have 150:1 probability (of what?) !!

Parwaah nahin! Bhool jao sab kuch Meri Jaan, and take a break from those work dead-lines and look at those sad-lines on your face !

Go somewhere, go to Aruba or Atlantis and whichever category you fall into-or not fall into, but pleaz-pleaz enjoy your summer !

And then with Ponzi Made-off sent to prison for 150 years, Shiney Ahuja inside for atleast 3-4 years, South Carolina governor finally revealing his flings with so many other women than the alleged mistress, and MJ off to his moon-walk, I think we all should feel a little safer.

Even if airlines crash in the Indian ocean, gas trains flip over in Italy, and Parking lots and bridges crumble in Atlanta , hey we still have 150:1 chance right? Tou, live -n-enjoy this weekend like there is no tomorrow !

Well, while bridges are breaking in some places, they are getting built in some others (even if it takes 10 years to build a bridge).

Did you take a look at the recent 5.6 mile Mumbai Worli Bandra Sea Link? That is an achievement worth Rs. 1600 Crores (original budget was 400 crores) and will need Rs. 9 Crores spent/yr just to light the bridge.

That reminds me that New Delhi CM Sheila Dixit who has been complaining about the power crisis in Delhi should really think about the Khuda Gawah dialog:

Roshni (Bribery) agar Khuda (corporates and govt) ko ho manzoor, Tou Aandhiyon (andhon ko) main bhi chiraag jaltey (miltey) hain, Khuda (Koi) Gawah hain?

All criticism apart, I think it is a real big deal for Mumbaikars and this bridge definitely worths a mention in the Indian Construction history book as

1 - It was a project mar-red by lots of obstacles and bag filling (both $ands and Grands) but the project finally did see the end of day and not end of De (Damn ! She is still alive :)

2 - People can now reach Bandra 2 Worli within 10 minutes at 80-90 Kmps speed limit (Or in 3 hours 10 mins at Zero Kmps: Did you see the traffic snarls on the bridge?

It has no offshoots, so all the traffic is essentially running into a BIG CHAOTIC JAM !! (Don't blame the govt if the suicide rates increase in Mumbai, bridge ka toll-tax tou mil gayaa na?)

I am sure lots of people are just going to jump off the bridge and either swim in or swim across!

Tou whether you are the swimming types or a to-be-suicider on the bridge, I am sure you will see lots of people taking a life-long vacation on this WBS bridge. (finally gareeb in our desh can also live the long awaited dream of dying on top of the bridge, rather than under the bridge)

But people, yo-all do'nt think of dying because you still have to get tortured sitting through -n-watching New York. Did you see that movie? OMG !!

These actors should be really sent to an acting school instead of letting them spending time at the Gym ! To top it all, why did they have to imitate issues and scenes from Crash?

I am not going to review the movie because I dont want the best brown bread, I am ok with Shop-rite or the Family brand, and I also love Pasta !

Tou Family fun or brown skin, it is definitely raining movies in Bollywood this summer, starting with Akki's Kambhakht Ishq,
followed with Saif's next Love, Aaj Kal, and Shahid's Kaminey.

To add to the heat, Yash Raj just released previews for Dil Bole Haddipa with Shahid and Rani, Rocket Singh with Ranbeer and Pyar Impossible with Priyanka.

Meri Jaan, while summer looks all that HOT, here are some of the song previews to kewl-down your weekend drive:

Some of the songs played:

1) Om Manglam - Kambhakht Ishq
2) Aaya Re- Jashn
3) Yaaron - New York
4) Raunak Shaunak - Love Aaj Kal
5) Khuda Ke Liye - Runway
6) Patli Gali - The Con is On, ShortKut
7) Chor bazaari - Love Aaj Kal
8) Mareeze Mohabbat - The Con is on, ShortKut
9) Teri Yaadein - Runway
10) Mere Sang Chal - New York

Tou, whether you bar-be-que, surf-on-the-beach, or just sit around and watch the fireworks, have a blast this 4th of July weekend.

Till next week, stay safe and stay in loeve,

- Pankaj

Are these Signs for 2012!

June 25, 2009

Meri Jaan, He's Bad ! Yes, He's bad, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson finally takes the moonwalk to the unevitable!

Call him Whacko-Jacko or Mai-Ka-Lal-Jaikishan, there never-ever will be an artist that can touch the entertainment industry's height of popularity as did this Dirty-Diana Mickey.

I am not going to psycho analyze his childhood, or all those lurid accusations, but as an musician, entertainer and perfomer he was an ACE. (though in real life he was an ass).

This Thriller-Beat It-Billy Jean-Bad-Black or White-Smooth Criminal really needed to look at the Man in the mirror (not only the planet of the apes face).

Michael, I am sure many of us will miss you, not for the creepy and freaky pedophile that you were, but definitely as a performer and yes that incredible Moonwalk.

Now lets move on the next sad news ! Lets wish congratulations to Pakistan's Cricket team for winning the recent Twenty20 series !

Think about it: The Pakistani cricket is still reeling under the most harrowing incident of the game (death of the coach in SA). Add the Taliban infiltration, the Mumbai attacks, the attack on the Sri Lankan players, the constant bombings and the Swat valley events !

Whatever said and done, I am pretty sure the disintegrating political arena in the country does have a mental impact on the team's morale.

But, I think some of the above pieces worked in their advantage, like the team players were completely fresh (not having played in the IPL and other recent matches). So, I think there was some sort of non-fatigue advantage in playing against the other burn-ed out players, and thus finally making through the championship game of the 20-20 series.

Either which way, Congrats to the Pakistani Cricket team!

I was speaking with a friend (who is hugely into Cricket , Cosmology, Culture and Couture and not to mention was seriously disappointed on Pakistan winning the tournament) mentioned this is a sign that we are slowly and steadily moving towards 2012 - The Doomsday!

Oho! Do not be too excited, you still need to wait 3 years to see the Dooms-Day!

Meri Jaan, 2012 is almost here (Just 3 more years to go) and as I look at the news events that have been unfolding over the past year, it does make me think

Is there really a big event waiting to happen in 2012?

Look at the recent news of the missing airplane that was flying over the Amazon (can you believe this happened in today's times of satellite monitoring and all?)

They are still fishing for the tail end of the plane, and oh yes-yes the passengers.

If we look at some stats, last year, there were about 5-6 horrible incidents, Itek Air 737-219(Adv) EX-009 accident in Iran, then you had the Continental 737-524 N18611 accident in Colrado.

Then, there was a Fedex plane crash in Tokyo, and yes the Turkish airline that went down in Istanbul and the last I heard, there was a recent news about the Quantas jet that plunged 800ft around Hong Kong.

Talking about these unfortunate airline events, lets not forget the miraculous near miss of the US Airways plane that landed in Hudson?

Not to forget the so many others, like the Continental plane crash in Buffalo, another one in Russia.

So I am hoping that if you are still reading this blog, you are never-ever going to fly by airplane, but in case you are still considering travelling by trains, keep reading...

Something has been happening on that front too, did you see the pics of the recent subway train knife-jacking on top of the other train in DC?

Or, the other one about the train crash in Poland?

Ok-OK, I will not give out the list of all the train crashes in the last year, but the train crashes have been so bad that even Chiranjeevi (actor-n-trying to be a politican in India) has removed the symbol of the Train Engine as his campaign symbol for the next assembly elections.

Chiru bhaiya, damn these trains !! Look for a symbol that is safe Meri Jaan. These trains and airplanes have no certainty in today's words !

So, should we move on the Buses? :)

Well, I really dont want you to just sit in the house and avoid all modes of transportation for the next 3 years, because did you hear about these people who were sitting in their house when the plane landed on their house in Buffalo?

Are you thinking what I am thinking?
Arre, tou kya karein Pankaj Meri Jaan? Should we just dig a tunnel and live like nomads for the rest of our lives?

Dont dig the tunnel now, but you have to dig soon. Don't you see the changes?

Obama becoming the first African American US Prez, Iranian women on streets as protestors, the weather changes (we were wearing jackets till end of June) and the ongoing natural disasters (Austria and Chez is under flood waters) all around the world.

To add to the confusion Korea is threatening to wipe out USA and US shifting its terrorism focus from Taliban to Lashkar, something is bound to happen?

So, something is definitely moving people. Some cosmic change is happening !! Its upto you, take it or not.

2012, The Doomsday is coming soon [definitely to a theatre near you] !!!

I tell you what, whether doomsday is coming or not, I may not know, but it is definitely coming in Hollywood, when you see Mallika having a date with Yanni and Usher!!

Well, it appears that apni Maal-ikka has been making the rounds of LA a little too much and hanging out around the Hollywood entertainment circles with people like Yanni and Usher.

Meri Jaan, thats a DOOOMSDAY right there !!!

So, while you all cry over spilled mallika, here were some of the songs played in the show:

Songs Played:

1) Aaya Re - Jashn
2) Jumme Raat - Phir Hera Pheri
3) Dil Vich Lagya Ve - Chup Chup Ke
4) Tere Bina - Kal Kisne Dekha (sung wonderfully by Wajid, the composer)
5) Rock the party - Aa Dekhein Zaraa
6) Lamha Lamha - Gangster
7) Jaane kahaan woh duniya - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

Meri Jaan, keep those emails with dedications-n requests coming at pankajonebc@yahoo.com

Till we meet next time, stay safe and stay in Loeve,

- Pankaj

Shiney Days Never Again!

June 18 2009.

As I look out of the window today, I remember the mumblings of the street-tamashe-waala alongside marine drive (a sight that I have only seen in movies).

Tou bol jhamboore, aaj kaisa din hain?
Kitnaa cash hain, aur kitna trash hain?
Aaj kaun fasaa, aur kaun aaj safe hain?
Kaun crimey hain, aur kaun aaj shiney hain?

After watching all the Bollywood-crazed media news, and reading across the Internet forums, I think, Led Zep should definitely change his song (sunny days are here again) to "Shiney days are never here again."

Oho! not the box-office shining! That will always keep shining because the strike has now ended in Bollywood !

I am talking about the Scumbag-Deuce-bag-n-Perv-Shiney Ahuja

While the industry is rejoicing the end of the multiplex owners strike, "Life in a Metro" star Shiney Ahuja is joining hands with all-life pervs-Aditya Pancholi, Ethan Hawke, Shakti Kapoor, Jude Law and others in the maid-n-nanny-perv club!

Shiney Meri Jaan, I know that you worked in movies like "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Sins, Gangster, Karam, Bhool Bhulaiya and Woh Lamhe, but I did not know you really believed so much in your movie titles :)

As I laugh on Shiny's movie titles, some of you had requested the dialogue that I mentioned in the show. Meri Jaan, it is modified version of the dialogue from the movie "Aks" (Can you believe that movie was by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra? Rang De Basanti, Dilli-6)

Bhalaa-Buraa, buraa bhalaa,
[good-n-bad, bad-n-good]
Woh Ek Pal, Ek Badi Balaa Hai,
[That one moment can be bad omen]
Chaal Dhaal, Sab Ek Jaisa Hain,
[It may seem like a normal routine]
Par, Mat pe Kaam ka Saaya padaa hain,
[But your sinful soul takes over the brain]
Yeh Saara Kuch Hi, Napaa Tula Hai,
[You need to pay for your deeds]
Buraa-bhalaa, bhalaa buraa !
[bad-n-good, good-n-bad]

Damn! I am a good translator ! Anyone needing these services? :)

So moving on from Shiney A to Tiny Paa. Have you seen those pictures of Big B in Paa?

I am so grossed out looking at those pictures, it reminds of an out of the world alien or little bit like the Gollum character from Lord of The Rings.


I just hope Paa does not start speaking My Precious-Precious ! :)

Meri Jaan, not sure about the look, but I am sure Big B will deliver a memorable performance in this one too. Whatever said and done, the man still keeps himself busy. Paa, Teen Patti, Shoebite, and yes Alladin...

Well, hopefully none of these movies are not too embarassing for Big B fans :)

Coming to paani-main doob-marne-waali-embarrassment, Shahid Kapoor had a very embarrasing moment as he had to re-shoot some scenes with (Be)-Kar-(d)ee-(ya)-na for their ever pending movie Milenge-Milenge.

Meri Jaan Shahid, dont keep any hopes, Kareena nahin milegi, she is mill-ing safely with beau - Saif, tou your movie might just end up just being a Serenditpity-inspired-movie and nothing beyond !

Shahid, what can I say, you are working in a movie called Kaminey, tu Saif ko khul ke bol:

Kaminey, is this the Tashan of Love Aaj, Kal?

And moving on to another Yeh bechaara Ishq ka maara

Please welcome - Mr. Kisi ke bhi man ko na bhaane waala, Hurman Baaweja!

Hurman is finishing up his next schedule with Priyanka Chopra in a movie called What is your Raashee? (This is Ashustosh's next after Jodha Akbar)

Hurman must be feeling good about his Raashee, kyonki Priyu-baby is said to have broken Shahid's heart to stay on with Hurman.

Hur-Man, now be a He-man and say these words to Shahid
- By the power of my Daddy, Kaminey, I am Her-Man :)

and before we end this blog on a "Kaminey" note to Not-So-Shiney, these were the songs played in the show:

Song List Played:

1) Chaiya Chaiya - Dil Se
2) Tu Maike mat Jiyo - Pukar
3) Sunta hain mere khuda - Pukar
4) Dance Pe Chance - RNBDJ

5) Soniye - Kismat Konnection
6) Pappu cant dance - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
7) Kuch Is Tarah - Tasveer 8X10
7) Suraj hua madhyam - KKKG

Meri jaan, while you hummmm on those tunes, a big Thank you for visiting the blog and keep your emails-n-requests-n-dedications coming at pankajonebc@yahoo.com

..till next time...Stay Safe and Stay in Loeve !!

- Pankaj

Say Whag?

Friday, June 12.

Meri jaan, let me first THANK ALL OF YOU

[BTW: That is not me, that is Al-Gore doing Namaste]

The BIG THANKS is for all the wonderful people who read this blog and respond on a weekly basis. I will try and keep up your expectations and hopes !! KOSHISH - As always !!!

Tou, once again - SHUKRIYA (thanks in Hindi - the desi dilect)

Coming to this weeks blog, Meri jaan, in the Cricketing World of India, this Sehwag episode has been stretched too far. Does it really matter if he is fit or not, or whether there is rift in the Indian cricket team?

As long as the players can perform on the field and Win the match - hey who is included or not, should really not matter ! Chak De India or Jai Ho should not be based on the calibre of a few players, it is a team effort public. Tou agar Tendulkar is out, or Ganguly is not in, or Dhoni is kept out, do we really care? (As long as it does not affect the overall team morale, and they continue to keep doing their best and hopefully win?)

PHEW - I am glad that is finally out of my system!!!

Now that is out of the system, coming to Dho-Dho-ni, do you know that he has fetched USD1.5ML/season for a 3 yr contract in the recent IPL bidding for the next season, foll0wed by players like Jayasurya, Adam Gilchrist, Muralitharan and likes. Whoa !!

Well, that is not too much in line with what the athletes get down here, but for Desi standards that is A LOT !!!

Go play cricket kids - forget those studies to get into -engineering-medicine-technology.

This is THE TIME to make money in Desi Cricket. Do like 2-3 IPL, T20, and World Cup series and you are set financially for atleast 20 years :)

For all the dimag-ka-bheja-fry-types who have been wondering about how this bidding for the IPL is done, All bidding is being done electronically in a sealed room, where eight teams owned by a variety of Indian companies in the petrochemical, cement and infrastructure businesses bid for 78 of the world's finest cricketers.

The IPL reserves four "ICON'' players from the auction. These players are the team captains Ganguly (Calcutta), Yuvraj Singh (Mohali), Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai) and Dravid (Bangalore) are guaranteed 15 percent more than the highest-paid player at their franchise. Each of the franchises repeatedly checks details on a computer that elaborates the list of players on auction, the number of players already won by the team, available balance and the number of foreign players bought.

Tendulkar stands to earn US$1.15 million from Mumbai after the second round of bidding, earning 15 percent more than the amount paid for Jayasuriya.

I know-I know! Enough about cricket..lets move on.

Well, moving on to the bollywood ki filmy duniya, it seems Shahrukh is really hush hush on his recent venture My Name Is Khan. Is this is family film? Terrorist background? Or a combination of both is still under covers. Whatever you do, we know Shahrukh, you will do a fantastic job alongwith your screen-soulmates: K-johar and K-jol.

All this K is bringing another K in the industry - not Kambhakht Ishq, Meri jaan, this one is Vashu Bhagnani's son - Jacky Bhagnani's movie called Kal Kisne Dekha. The movie is the first one out after the strike, so far the reviews dont seem too dekhne-laayak, but we wont know the fate till monday, coz, kal kisne dekha hain public?

Vashu has another nice one lined up called Do Knot Disturb - another one with a K in the middle, but I am sure that should be a funny one coz it has Govinda, Riteish, Sohail and Sush ! It has also been a long time since the trio of Govinda-David Dhawan-Vashu Bhagnani's came together, beyond all those No.1 series with Govinda.

Well, we will have lots of times to talk about all these upcoming hurricane of movies, tou that we will keep for the next few week's and months ...!

For those who missed out on the songs and the conversation yesterday,

Songlist played:
1) Haaaye pappi - Movie: Kismet Konnection (This one has 2 K's :)

2) Teri Meri Gal Bangayee - Movie: Kal Kisne Dekha
3) Sun Rubiya - Movie: Mard (Gosh!! this is just so stupid)
4) Pappu Cant dance - Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (All thanks to Rohit - the sport)
5) Main hoon don - Movie: Don (Starring Big B - Kishore Kumar song)
6) Ba Khuda tumhi Ho - Movie: Kismet Konnection (Thanks Sirish, I love this one)
7) Lets rock the party - Movie: Aa Dekhein Zaraa
8) Aisi chale jab hawaa - Movie: Aaja Nachle (Mads unbelievable as always)

Tou Meri Jaan, we catch up on more next week, till then Stay Safe and Stay in Loeve,

- Pankaj

Mere Dil Main Aaj Kya Hain !

EBC Show
June 4. 2009

So, Kakaji-Aka-Rajesh Khanna is getting a lifetime achievement award in the upcoming IIFA awards in Macau this year. This year is the 10th year for this award ceremony.

Wow! Its been 10 years? I still remember the 1st International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards that were held somewhere in UK. Priyanka Chopra, who was very new on the bollywood scene at that time was the poster honor for the awards alongside Mr. Amitabh Bachchan.

Meri Jaan, so our this week's blog sends out a big shout-out to Rajesh Khanna for receiving the lifetime achievement award.

Jai Jai Shiv Shanker - Kakaji !

This is Kaka-ji's second lifetime achievement award, the last one was in 2005 when Filmfare gave out the lifetime achievement award to Kaka.

Kaka - don't cry re (or are all of you crying on seeing that Kaka got the award :), all I will say is that - "I hate those tears re"!

My memory of been associated with Kaka-ji's movies stays around the 80s and 90s (movies like Amrit, Avtar, Kudrat, Souten, Agar Tum Na Hote and likes). I somehow never cared much for Kakaji's style of acting; to me, he was more of a ham artist and was just lucky during his time. The right scripts, co-actors and songs just worked out for him.

I personally do not give much credit to Kakaji as an actor or his nodding style. I think people needed some change from the Kapoors and the Khan's of those years, and Rajesh Khanna was there at the right time in the right place !

But I guess it is the same with most actors, you either like their style or not. But, the folks that I know who still love Kakaji are people like my khala-or-mausi's and mama's, uncle's and aunt's.

These folks were in their college years during those Kaka-ji times and for them movies like Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Do Raaste, Anurag, Anurodh, Daag, Aradhna, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Andaaz and Prem Nagar re-defined their concept of a romantic hero, much like Shahrukh did after DDLJ.

Though, some of these folks moved over the Big B wave that swept the nation after 1972, these people still swear by those movies.

I know an aunt that has probably seen Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Aradhana, and Do Raaste some 15-20 times. Now, that is what I call a fan following - be it for the movie, the story, the songs or the actor, but something somewhere just clicked big time between the audience, the movie and yes - Rajesh Khanna!

Leaving my personal opinion aside (vaise bhi - who cares about that anyways), if you really thing about it, 1969-1972 is just 4 years but in these years, Rajesh Khanna gave back-to-back hit movies like Aradhana, Do Raaste, Kati Patang, Aapki Kasam, Prem Nagar, Dushman, Saccha Jootha, Anurag, Haathi mere saathi, Safar, Aan Milo Sajna, Ajnabi, Amar Prem, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Mehboob Ki Mehndi, Anurodh, Andaaz, Daag, Roti and many more.

So, you are talking about more than 20 Super-Duper hits in 4 years? That is a definitely a big achievement for any actor!

Tou meri jaan, whatever you think of Kakaji, one thing is there for sure that you cannot say say no to those melodies in his movies: Mere Sapno Ki Rani, Roop Tera Mastana, Kora Kagaz tha yeh man, Vaada tera vaada, Yeh shaam mastani, Pyaar deewana hota hain, Yeh jo mohabbat hain, Kuch tou log kahenge, Chingari koi bhadke, Yeh kya hua-kaise hua, Karwate badalte rahey, Mere dil main aaj kya hain, Ab chahe maa roothey ya baba, Hum dono do premi, Yeh jo chilman hain, Chalaa jaata hoon kisi ki dhun main and Zindagi ek safar (with the Kishore Da-classic yoodeling), Aap ke anurodh pe, Aatey jaatey khoobsurat aawara sadko pe, Yeh public hain, Samaa hain suhaana, Humein tumse pyaar kitna and many many more..

So, whether you love Kaka's movies or not, please-please do check out some of those songs, the combination of Kishore-Da and RD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal (music composers) is a Killer and I am sure you will love those songs!

Meri Jaan, so in any case, congratulations to Kaka on the lifetime achievement award!

Well, talking about Awards, seems like Big B always gets chutnied in the news due to one reason or other. The latest been his decision to reject the OZ honor; an honorary doctorate from the Queensland University in Brisbane.

I honestly also do not know about the rating of the university, or the reason to honor Big B in an OZ university, but I do feel that probably the Dean is a huge Big B fan and must be willing to meet Bachchan from his hay days, so what better way to meet-n-greet, then to honor the man via the university. I am sure the Dean is singing - Aye Jee-OZ-Big B se milo JEE :)

So, people that pretty much sums up the blog for this week.

Songs played in the show:

1) Jai-Jai Shiv Shanker (Movie: Aap ki Kasam)
2) Chalaa Jaata Hoon (Movie: Mere Jeevan Saathi)
3) Kora Kagaz tha yeh man mera (Movie: Aradhna)
4) Pyar Deewana Hota Hain (Movie: Kati Patang)
5) Yeh jo chilman hain (Movie: Mehboob ki Mehndi)
6) Zindagi Ek Safar Hain Suhaana (Movie: Andaz)
7) Mere Dil main aaj kya hain (Movie: Daag)
8) Oh Mere Dil Ke chain (Movie: Mere Jeevan Saathi)
9) Humein tumse pyaar kitna (Movie: Kudrat)
10) Karwate Badalte Rahey (Movie: Aap Ki Kasam)

Dont forget to keep emailing your requests and dedications at pankajonebc@yahoo.com

Till next week, stay safe and stay in loeve!

- Pankaj