R2I Princeton to Pune - ONE YEAR DOWN !!

Oct 2010.

YES !!! Meri Jaan, I completed one year back home. Its time to reflect on some of my thoughts post the BIG R2I move from US to India !! (In case u dint know: R2I - Return to India)

As I drove to work today, I remembered the sprawling skyscrapers, the Hudson Bay, the New York skyline and the sunny sailing day! A vista view embedded in my eyes because that was where I worked for quite a few years.

Like many of us who went to the US in the late 90s, I probably never envisioned that I would spend so many years of my life in that part of the world.

While I really enjoyed those times and will cherish those moments for the rest of my life, today, I look back on how things felt versus how they feel and reflect in different perspectives & scenarios.

Looking back at those times, US was a techie’s dream. My early years in the US were some strong formation years, both on the career and personal front.

While career was always very important as a whole, a wholesome life called for a life partner.

I still remember sitting at RockerFeller center and I could feel my heart slipping away to the person sitting across. This person had an impressive charm, she had the prettiest smile, and yes, she could talk non-stop !

Opposites attract, and post that day, I could not find my heart !!!

Meri Jaan, moving from away my soul-curry, I think most of us would agree that initial years in the US are tough and a little lonely for all, and if you are at that age looking for companionship, you will meet your soulmate and then together you form the mutual front towards achieving that American dream;

But some pieces of life are much different; No one envisions the immense distances, commuting for hours, little public transport, credit history, insurances, immigration laws and complexity of simple chores, food and needs that we don’t have to think twice about back home.

Most importantly there is always an inherent and internal loneliness to life and the day-to-day struggle for survival can sometimes be brutal, initially. Life as perceived and as experienced can be very different in the US.

Post a few years in the US, life starts to take shape. You progress through work, education, move from simple rentals, to lavish homes and apartments. Everything is Happy!

But, like they say, “Happiness is a very relative term. What could seem happy to you may be really un-happy for someone or it could be vice-versa.”

Now, let’s cut to today! I re-located to Pune, India last year. Today, as I remembered those Hudson Bay vista images, I thought to myself about what had changed between my life there and here!

There is no denying the brilliant Infrastructure, the roads, the law and the law abidance, the concept of moral lawfulness; the cleanliness, the environment, and the small gestures of please/ sorry and holding the doors with a smile.

I miss never having to worry about gas, electricity, water, power voltage, and power cuts, phone being dead, Internet down. I miss the basic traffic and driving sense, overall, I miss the basic ease of things !

Whackjobs, nuts and psychos are everywhere, but I really miss the basic culture of been civic and accountable for your behaviour at work and in public.

Most Importantly, I miss all my friends, social get-togethers, invitation politics and all our efforts to recreate a mini India in pardes! I really miss all those wonderful calls on EBC Radio;

That really seems like a whole different world and thanks for sharing your life events, thoughts and beliefs with me. I sincerely thank you for all the ongoing communication, responses and blog following.

Well, moving on, I do feel that after spending a huge chunk of your life in those lands, I think, the living space has been a MAJOR shift. But then, what I have been observing is that most of the new developments and communities this side also have great places and amenities to offer.

Real Estate providers are providing exactly the same kind and much better options of apartments, duplexes, pent houses and twin bungalows, row houses, as are available in the US, UK or Australia (minus the neighborhoods ofcourse :), but you can even have a swimming pool, a playground with huge terraces, and car parking area in your own apartment, if you can afford it!

So, things have changed a lot with the reverse brain-drain, and builders this side want to give you the best of that world - but, it comes with a price !!

A very positive change that I have noticed is on the work front; If I look and compare my primary work, it is still global; and so is the work environment and team mates. Work flexibility, time offs, and basic work attitudes have changed.

Some things are pretty much similar, while I sat in this office overlooking the Hudson Bay for so many years, today, I sit alongside a window looking at the mountains in Pune.

If traffic jams and people spawned those NYC streets, nothing is much different at this end too. Actually on the better side, the distances to and from work have reduced drastically.

If I could walk to the corner for a local deli, a Mac-snack, or a Pizza, it is pretty much the same around here. The Deli is now a Tapri and the Large Coke is now a cutting chai !

Some differences do need to be taken in humor; like, if sailboats and ocean liners razed those bays and seas, I now see cows and buffalo’s grazing the mountain greens and roads.

If HOV lanes were reserved for 3 people or more, here, one lane is permanently reserved for cows, buffaloes or basic non-functional vehicle parking :)

But, moving on to the most important pieces in life: Friends and Family, OH!!! No comparison ! Abundance is thy name in India. The whole perspective of family, friends, festivals and relationships changes once you start living in India.

It’s like you suddenly move from the loneliness of life to the abundance of it (sometimes too much :)

The most wonderful part is there is so much happening around you all the time, that you really do not need that **myspace** time.

So, if work is the same, and living space is a bit of adjustment, the happiness of being with friends and family is beyond any comparison in India.

If I extend the feelings to my 4 yr old kid, well, she is enjoying every moment. My lil one can rush around to the neighbour’s house without a **playdate** appointment, or me worrying about her **safety**.

She can still play down in the complex without supervision and post her dinner. Also, as a result of the cosmo-crowd, she has actually learned 4 languages in the last 6 months. Plus she still gets to see all her favourite programs on TV (Disney, Nick, Dora and likes plus many more).

Meri Jaan, no one can control destiny of a person, but I always feel that 4-14 years of a person's life form the basic upbringing format of attitude and vision for life, and I hope, I can build a very positive format for my kid.

Family and relationships are the core fiber for life, and above everything, the happiness of been able to visit or be visited by Grandma’s, Grandpa’s, uncles, aunts, cousins and enjoy their company anytime lays the foundation of basic social format for any individual. I think that is brilliant in "des" !!

If I talk about my RockerFeller mate that became my checkmate, she is all set to never set her foot in the kitchen again!

No Dishwasher, No Weekend chores - thank God for the house help! Cleaning, Washing, Drying, Folding, Grocery Shopping, Cooking, Even Driving – she needs to do none of the above, if she does not want to!

Meri Jaan, THIS IS THE REAL PRIVILEGE LOBBY!

Sometimes, it really makes me think if that $ollar comes down, would you still be there?? If you can make around 2-3L a month, tell me honestly, is life not much wholesome in "Swades" ??

Well, there is no denying on so many things and areas where "Apna Des" is still galaxies behind these much newer and developed nations. Day to Day struggle can be a nightmare sometimes and the bureaucracy and legal formalities can be abolutely PROPOSTEROUS !!!!

Honestly, though there have been lots of improvement in India in the last 10 years, but our core societal fibre will take decades to change, and that’s a big killer.

We can have BMWs and Mercs spawning the roads, but we cannot maintain basic lanes systems! We can have skylounges and Huge penthouses, LEDs and Multi-Sim phones, but we cant provide basic 24hr water and electricity.

We can portray the best of our tourism, but we cannot prevent those crimes and rogues on the streets. We can talk about Tiger savings and wildlife tourism, but we cannot keep dogs, cows, buffalo’s and goats off our roads.

So, you might ask, has it been a good or a tormenting one year??

Meri Jaan, let’s say if I survived a WHOLE YEAR, it cannot be that bad !!!

Also, lets not go into comparing the individual attributes, because whatever said and done, I seriously believe life has its pro-s and cons in every part of the world.

I am in my late 30s, and I have stayed 22+ years of those 35 years abroad, I do feel that overall - life is much much happier and wholesome in India; but thats because of my experiences in life, my personal values of family & relationships, my enjoyment of events, functions, marriages, my upbringing with my cousins, siblings, my parents and my upbringing format, the same may not apply to you !!!!

So, let’s just say, when today some of my friends ask me if I feel happy or sad retuning to India after so many years, I always say, Pune or Princeton, Hinjewadi or Hudson, “Happiness is a very relative term. What could seem un-happy to you may be really happy for me or it could be vice-versa" :)

Meri Jaan, so till we meet next time, Stay Safe, Stay Happy and Stay in Loeve !!!

- Pankaj

Happy Monsooning !

Aug 2010.

Meri Jaan, I did not forget this month's edition. I have just been really rekindling my romance by visiting the wonderful nature in tis monsoon season !

My part of the world is called Pune. It is a relatively decent size city in a state called Maharashtra. To complete your geographical positioning, all these names are in a country called India.

Monsoon is really big around tis part of India; you can have rains for days and days. I literally mean days-n-days of non-stop rain. This keeps the city water reservoir's filled with water and it is also a great time to visit neighboring areas like Lonavla and Khandala !

The best thing about visiting anywhere in India is food ! Cutting chai, pakodas, paav, idili's or samosa's can be found anywhere around those wonderful vista points! Jai Ho !

Well, thats India Meri Jaan, always awake and eat-xciting !

But, if you are still in a state of slumber denial because Chelsea got married , Waka-Waka season has ended, Big B has been signed to endorse ESPN for the Airtel Champions League Cricket T20 tournament or Wiki-leaks are all over the place, let me WAKE YOU UP, before you say lady Gaga !!


Next month, I will be completing A FULL YEAR in India, and so all those well wishers that made those bets of non-survival with me, I have survived a full year in India, so please make sure my cheqs are ready with the amounts ! YEAH BABY !!! SHOW ME THE MONEY!!


So, while you still look at the US economy and the ever increasing unemployment figures, let me tell you something to upswing you - Ms Mallika Sherawat has signed her 3rd Hollywood film, she has also made a house in Hollywood and yes, Julia Roberts has now accepted Hinduism ! Jai Ho.

Tou, Meri Jaan, till we meet next month, stay wet, stay safe and stay in Loeve !!!

- Pankaj

Viva Vuvuzela !

July 2010.

Meri Jaan,

This week no post, only FIFA FEVER in 7 points !!!

1. Ma blog readers and fa'ns, if u be no interested in So-kaa, dan dis post is nat fa u!

2. If u no go buy vuvuzela, dan dis post is nat fa u!

3. If u no herd waka waka by ma gal Shakira, dan dis post is nat fa u !

4. If u steel cry becoz soud afrika, frans, nigeria, idaly is oud, dan dis post is nat fa u!

5. If u no know Diski Dance, samaya dancin styl or makhari styl, dan dis post is nat fa u !

6. Befo Ma Leave, led me tel u, Diski is local soud afrika lingo fa Soccer

7. If u cheer fou Argentina, Pordugal, Brasil, Jermany, Slovenia, Ghana, Uruguay or even Koea, hav a chillin beea ma man !

Go Vuvuzela !!

Meri Jaan, Till we meet next, pray u neva hav to sid and wach Tennis like the mach bidween Isner and Mahut, so ma peepal, stay safe and stay in loeve (wid sokka)!

- Pankaj

Collapsitarians Boom !

June 2010.

Meri Jaan, is the doomsday really coming near?

North Korea- South Korea are already on brink of "tan-tanaa"; Israel-Gaza is always doing "aaja-aaja"; Ranbir-Katz have decided to do "dil nichode" of Deepika and the oil rig in US has already created the "raat ki matki phode" effect.

To add to this mix - the ambassador of IIFA did not attend the event, so I am sure others are looking for "Koi good luck nikaale" there, and with all the European countries going bank-corrupt, financial biggies around the world, and specially in Greece and Portugal, must be waiting to "koi gullak tou phode" :)

Its catastrophically and ri-donk-i-louslily sad really!

No, Na-Paro, I am not a Collapsi-tarian or looking to gain blog-eadership in these doom times, "par sacchai chup nahin sakti, banaavat ke asoolon se, ke khushbu aa nahin sakti, kabhi kaagaz ke chand $$ikko se."

How much more $olar money is America going to print or how many Euro$ more?

If you are really wondering whatz up with this guy today, well I just came back from a refreshing time off without watching any world news, and it is no fun to return to this jhamela Meri Jaan.

The world economy has not recovered! We all need to keep waking up to this news everyday.

We cant keep sitting and becoming fools to the false media projections of low employment rates, improving company financials, great memorial day sales and all these false stock indexes.

Seriously, I just hope and pray for three people that the world economy is not on a break brink?

1. Mallika Sherawat!

She has still not found her suitor people? Will she find her suitor before Boney Kapoor releases his Milenge Milenge, or before Salman find his mate?

Think about her? Will she just keep "Hissing" between Google and Giggle? Rocking between Bolly-woods and Tiger-woods?

2. If not her, think about Baba Ramdev's single family Island in the Caspian Sea.
Kya hogaa unke karodon baccho ka, kahaa jaayenge??

3. Gud-Ol George-of-the-Dallas-Bush Jingle - he finally had the time to come on facebook to face the world and the bush virus spread all across his face and facebook.

Twitter ka tou Ra-van ya phir Ra-1 Jaane !

Tou Meri Jaan, till we meet next time, stay safe (go to FIFA - they are giving 2 condoms per visitor to the event) and try to Stay in Loeve (atleast till the doomsday :)

- Pankaj

Hooray - Its May !

May 2010.

Meri Jaan, lets all give a lovely welcome to the Springing-n-Blooming Summer.

C'mon people Mother's day is already here !

We only have the next 5 months to n-joy! So lets get in the groove for some landscaping, turnover dat soil and add that mulch to the new flower beds. Gear up to join Gold-Gym !!

If you are one of those who still needs to be in bed, not a bad idea, as lots of people just want to stay in their beds after getting stuck for dai-es in the UK airspace. It might just be a good time to catch up on "Space Jam" again :)

Meri Jaan, wherever you are get ready for a lot of axn comin your way.

Oho ! Not the Lady Gaga American Idol Action, or the Kasab Ka Kasoor Series or the Times Square action !

If you follow the Indian sports scene, the IPL volcano is done with and people have already moved on to the 20-20 cup !

Once that gets over, you have the FIFA world cup coming this year, and by the time that ends, you will be in October awaiting the deadly snow-zilla's, going to those desi diwali, halloween and xmas parties and watchin some gud-old American basketball and football.

If you love movies and specially apna Bollywood, tou roll up your sleeves for the biggies coming your way.

SRK comes in "RA-ONE" a James Bondish flick with Kareena, and the same duo will be seen again in "DON-2"

For Hrithik Roshan fans, the long wait is over and you will see the star flying some "KITES" along with Mexican star Barbara Mori.

He is also in "Guzarish" alongside Aish. This one is by Sanjay Leela, so it better not be another "Blue-ish Savariya"

Aish's next is RA-van, this is with hubby Abhishek Bachchan. When you have Mani Ratnam, Abhishek, Aish and AR Rahman, the combination better be lethal on the Box office.

Akshay Khiladi Kumar has 3 releases this year with "Housefull" already rocking the "Apni Tou Jaise Taise "floor, Akshay's next is Vipul Shah's take on Back to the Future with "Action Replayy" and end of the year will see Akshay in Farah Khan's "Tees Maar Khan"

If you love the new Bollywood beau-s, you have will see Shahid Kapoor in "Badmaash Company" and Ranbir in Prakash Jha's "Rajneeti" rocking the screen alongwith Ajay Devgan and Soniya Madam-aka-Katrina.

So, watch out, while all this action is coming your way, dont forget to let another year just go into digging "Gold" man or trying to dance to the tunes of "Greece" :)

Meri Jaan, till we meet next - stay safe, stay-in alive and Stay-in loeve !!

- Pankaj

The Changing World

March-April 2010.

Meri Jaan, sabse pahle tou apologies to the folks who eagerly await the next blog.

Like I mentioned earlier, I will be posting the blog only once a month. In Bollywood bhasha - "Mere Paas waqt thoda kam hain varna apun tumhare liye yeve-ry week blog likhtaa."

So, while some of you get ready for St. Patricks Day, or Easter; Whether you enjoy the March Madness in Basketball or the IPL Kraze in Cricket;

While some of you lament over the Desi budget and some are rejoicing Obama's healthcare reform plan, dont fret Meri Jaan as I am ready to take you through the OTHER devastations happening all around you! (Oho - apart from the Pune IPL team :)

In case you did not know, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit Cuba in the last few days and as we speak Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in Iceland is erupting Lava on Ice.

What the hell is happening people?

Volcano under Ice and 10 earthquakes in less than 3 months? Is the Godzill-ing or is the Earth hill-ing?

For the Deemag ka Bheja fry types, the seismologists are associating these quakes to the San Andreas Fault in the earth Line or the "Newtons Cradle rule".

But, is that really the reasoning behind all these events?

First, in January, we saw the earthquake in Haiti.
Second - Big one occurred in Indonesia - off Sumatra Coast
Third - Earthquake in Okinawa, Japan
Fourth - Earthquake in Chile
Fifth - In Turkey and in Hawaii around same time
Sixth - 3 Earthquakes in succession in Chile again
Seventh - Earthquakes in Himachal, Los Angeles, and Melbourne
Eighth - Earthquake in Indonesia again
Ninth - Earthquake in Chile again - 90% power outage in the country
Tenth - Next one in Southern California

Let's not forget the other ones in Taiwan, China, Kashmir, and Illinois.

Meri Jaan whatever the other reasons, I dont want to say "Sky is falling", but I also don-wanna believe this is just a fat guy walking down the road causing all the tremors.

Yeh kya ho rahaa hain Raja? Something is not right people!!

You also know for sure something is not right when Warren buffet moves from his New York home to his 5 BR house in Omaha, Baba Ramdev starts owning a Scottish Island, Google decides to shut its shop in China and something is definitely wrong when you have an IPL team for Puneri people.

Aai-gaa, Amaalaa pann Kirkit Khelaa-ychey Aahey :)

Amongst all these events, one person that is happy is Tiger Woods wife.

Tiger has finally asked for forgiveness for being the "ghar ka bhoola- jo ghar ko lauta" and has given a NOTE of Sorry to his wife.

The only thing to add is the note was a cheq of 150million USD.

Tou Meri Jaan, till you hear about the next Dharti-Quake, stay safe and stay in Loeve !!

- Pankaj

Sach Mere Yaar Hain!

March 2010.

Meri Jaan, while I write this blog, I am extremely saddened by the events in Chile ! Do you know that 53 countries on a Tsunami watchlist? Something BIG is coming people, what-n-when, lets keep a close watch.

Moving away from all that uncolorful news, I wish you all a VERY HAPPY HOLI !

May the Colors of this Holi keep you Rangeen and in vibrant spirit of Gulaal, Gubbare, Pichkari and Bhaang !

As we move through this season, whether you are stuck in snow-daggon, snow-zilla, shovelling through the snowi-cane, or simple stuck in traffic; lets give a BIG SALUTE to the im-mortal com-BAT-ting of Sachin's double ton.

Sachin Tendulkar IS THE BEST CRICKETER IN THE WORLD, and any doubts on his recent capabilities, or fitness must have got slashed post his world record innings of 200.

Sachin has changed the face of Indian Cricket since 15th Nov, 1989 - remember that debut against Pakistan? It is not a small feat that Virgin Comics is starting a new comic strip by the name of the one and only superstar of Cricket - Sachin Tendulkar !!

Nothing more can be said except - "Sach (in) mere yaar aye, bas tuhi yaar hain, ek tu hi hain jo hamesha apna saath de - baaki bekaar hain - yaar mere" !!

Looks like India is on a great start this year. Apart from this great start in Cricket, we also saw the Indian movie going audiences becoming smart and smart-er.

They acccepted an offbeat movie like Ishqiya and outrightly rejected a movie by someone, whose Name is Khan :)

Also, while the Winter Olympics witnessed Ice Skating on Bollywood beats, Buckingham palace saw Vedic chants in Sanskrit. India Rocks !!

So folks while I enjoy the Bhaang-ke-pakode, and Gaanjey ki roti with Charas ka saag, you can open your vocals to some Holi ke Raag - Rang Barse or Holi Khele Raghuveera !!!


Meri Jaan, till we meet next, enjoy Holi, stay safe, and satay in Loeve !!!!

- Pankaj

Hola My Valentines !

Feb 2010.

A Very Happy St. Valentines Month to all of you !

Meri Jaan, while you cheer for the New Orleans Saints, feel pain and sorry on the SRK-Sena episode, Laud over Palin's hand notes, Shovel out the snowmaggadon or Love and hate the I-Pad or the upcoming Aperture 3, Do not forget to enjoy this 14th Feb with your love !

Its St. Valentines Month yaar !

People, Its the month of romance and lets all blush into the romance that lies in the petals, the fall, the snow, alps, the khets and the whole mohabbat ka mo-jo.

Whatever you say, you cannot deny the fact that you all fell in love once. Remember - once, at that time. Woh pahli baar jab tum miley, haathon-main haath jab hum chale!

They say that love knows no lakeerien or deewarein and always goes beyond those lines, bricks and walls !! Some people's love gets into those walls and for some, it stays out, but everyone, kabhi-na-kabhi does fall for that FIRE-WALL or the Disease called Loeve-aria!!

So, lets today break all walls and take a peek into I love, u love, we all love Bolly-love movies.

If you ask my favorites, well I grew in the era of Rishi Kapoor, so you name a Chintuji movie and it had ROMANCE written all over most of those movies. Oho! Not the Kumar Gaurav one !

Movies like Khel Khel Main, Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin, Zamane Ko Dikhana Hain, Rafoo Chakkar, Karz, Doosra Aadmi, Sargam, Laila Majnu, Badaltey Rishtey, Yeh Waada Rahaa, Bade Dil Wala, Prem Rog, Kabhi Kabhi and yes the movie that started it all - BOBBY.

Rishi Kapoor's movies were very romantic, and his potrayal of loeve was very youthful. I think movies in Bollywood have changed a lot over the years but Loeve has always been a very Eternal theme.

Whether you go back to days of movies like Rattan, or Street Singer, Awara or Aah, Kashmir Ki Kali or Rajkumar, Guide or Taxi Driver, Devdas or Deedar, Mere Mehboob, Dil Ek Mandir, Mera Naam Joker or Sangam, loeve has been the quintessential note in the movie's script.

I do not need to say that eternal movie loeve-rs always swear by the feather romantic scene between the king of dard and the queen of beauty - Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in the epic movie - Mughal-E-Azam.

As times changed, the backdrop of Classical music, the huge sets, the costumes, the strong dialogues changed into regular life romance and issues.

Rajesh Khanna -Kakaji changed the face of the Indian lover boy in movies like Aradhna, Kati Patang, Do Raaste, Safar, Mehboob Ki Mehandi, Aan Milo Sajna, Daag, Prem Kahani, Anurodh, Anurag, Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Prem and many more such movies.

While 80s was primarily about the angry young man, movies like Chitchor, Baaton Baaton Mein, Gharonda, Rajnigandha, Chashme Badoor, Saath-Saath and many others changed the scene and loeve started flowing into day to day lives.

Over the recent years, with the onset of globalization, things on the loeve front have changed a lot. If Aamir took the Romeo-Juliet approach in QSQT, Salman went the Kabootar route in Maine Pyaar Kiya.

People have also moved a lot for loeve globally. Sometimes from UK to Patiala (DDLJ), UK to Delhi (Cheeni-Kum), India to Pakistan and back (Henna, Veer-Zaara), and even stopped weddings (KKHH, Jaan Tere Naam) or gone beyond weddings for loeve (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam).

I think this later re-trend of Bolly loevy-Doevy movies started from the one and only sarson-ka-khet and that beautiful cow with the bell. Oho- I am not talking about animal-loeve but that khaliyan, the dusky Kajol and the desi cow-beau apna SRK RE in the Come Fall in Love movie - DDLJ!

Aur Baat SRK ki chali hain tou who can deny that he is the King of Mohabbat Meri Jaan. Lets not forget his trio-twist with Mads and Karishma in Dil Tou Pagal Hain, With Rani in Chalte Chalte, Aish in Mohabattein and Preity in Veer Zaara.

Meri Jaan, from Saigal to Dilip Saab, From Dev Anand to Shami Kapoor, From Rajesh Khanna to Rishi Kapoor, the list of Bolly-loeve movies and romantic stars is so long that we can keep visiting each and every romantic movie, but instead, lets just keep humming ...

Tum-mein hum-main kuch tou hain, kuch nahin hain kya?
Aur kuch ho jaaye tou, kuch yakeen hain kya?
Dekh lo yeh dil jahaan tha, woh wahin hain kya?
Arre Re Arre Yeh Kya Hua koi na yeh jaana !
Arre re Arre banta hain tou ban jaaye afsaana !

Kya karein, Meri Jaan - Yeh Pyaar to aisa hi hota hain !!

People, this valentines day, spend time with your loeved ones and please try and spare some time for your someone special.

Remember - Good Times & Bad Times will come and go and our lives will keep moving, but you might not get that moment to say - I Love You !!

Till we meet next time - Stay Safe, Stay Happy and Stay in Loeve !!

- Pankaj

Namaste Avatar-ed's !

Jan 2010.

Meri Jaan, humble apologies for the delay in posting the new blog. "Woh kahte hain na, ke main deyr karta nahin - deyr ho jaati hain."

My sincere thanks to all of you for bringing all your intensity and passion to this blog and tuning in with all your fervour.

So, let's begin this month's blog with a "Katot täftxu-oel" to all you Avatar'ed's.
(Is that really a word?)

Incase you are still a nubee to Planet Pandora, in Na'vi dictionary that means - "Greetings" Meri Jaan!

Once again - Katot täftxu-oel !

Well, word or not, If a Terminator converted everyone into a fan-inator and Titanic mesmerized all into becoming titani-cians, James Cameron's new flick Avatar has created a whole new fan world of Nu'vi's, Toruk's and home tree worshippers.

So, whether you did or did not believe the story of man setting foot on moon, or if you changed or did not change your PC wall papers to the shuttle that kept running all over mars, you better believe in this PANDORA's Box and its Princess Nyitri!!

Meri Jaan, if you have still not seen this flick, atleast go see it one time to see the visual splendor created in a movie that has production costs equivalent to the annual GNP/GDP of Lithuania :)

And - LITHUANIA is not a Na'vi word !

Moving beyond "Din-Mahiney-Saal" (Not funny people)

If Avatar was about a Paradise - lost to our Greed, the disaster in Haiti was a sign of the omnious.

Like I mentioned in my last post, YOU KNOW NOT WHAT IS COMING !!!

Haiti's earthquake should be a wake up call to all you waiting for the next moment; please do not wait, for THERE IS NO NEXT MOMENT.

Call up your loved ones, apologize for any hurt feelings, reach out to someone you love and/or who is in need, do it today - for there may be no tomorrow.

That paradise is lost for ever - 3 million people injured in a population of 5 million.

Not to forget the real and surreal dust that has accumulated in the hearts and lungs of rest of them. This has to be one of the most horrific disasters that I have seen after 9/11.

Meri Jaan, but you please Do'nt wait - do'nt lose your chance to make your paradise ! Jo bhi karna hain woh aaj karo! Remember that song - Har Ghadi badal rahee hain roop zindagi, jo hain aaj samaa - woh kal ho na ho !

Talking about Kal Ho Na Ho, I recently saw promos of Shahrukh's new movie "My Name is Khan" and it seemed like a mixed version of "A Beautiful Mind" and "Forrest Gump".

While Kajol definitely appeared effervescent- as usual, Apna SRK kept up the lame look- as usual. The movie will definitely hit the bullz-eye not only for SRK and Kajol but the music seems kewl too.

I really love the Sufi sound of Tera Sajdaa and the Naina song. Kudos to the team of SEL! Good luck KJO, you did not have to say it, we know that your name is Khan - Mrs. Khan :)

With that people pump up your Bollywood spirits for the New Year! Rann from Pyaar Impossible and if you meet Ravan, be Veer and do some Rajneeti. Just one Guzarish that Don2 get into Action Replay for Teesmaar Khan will take the Kites from your Dhobi Ghaat.

Ishquiya Nahin if you dint get the above, we will talk more about it next time.

Meri Jaan, till we meet next , dont wait to reach out to your near and dear ones, keep them loved, you stay safe and always stay in loeve !!

- Pankaj