The Prestidigitator

go flat hunting - see shady houses in shadier streets - realise that flat hunting is serious stuff and that salary may not cover initial expenses  -go to Hyderabad Central - check out all the book shops in town - too many to buy, too little money - curse the skies - buys pink (yes pink!) t shirt - come back to room - go back to watch Fast and the Furious 3 - tickets sold out - eat ice cream - listen to Swen complain - complaints turn to accusations - call up Ms Imperfect - go to Harahs - Chicken Stroganoff - Lamb chops in barbecue sauce - triffle pudding - caramel custard - burp - realise dessert may have had alchohol content - laugh like little girls - come back - blog.

When you said Happiness is
Is all you wanted
You said this
Is all you wanted
How I miss
We almost made it
Happiness

_The Believer by Rhett Miller

“Well, maybe it’s true,” Clevinger conceded unwillingly in a subdued tone. “Maybe a long life does have to be filled with many unpleasant condition if it’s to seem long. But in that event, who wants one?”

“I do,” Dunbar told him.

“Why?” Clevinger asked.

“What else is there?”

-Catch 22

Dear Sir/Madam,

I know it seems weird that I’m writing to you considering that I don’t know you at all but I feel that I may go crazy if I don’t.

I’m a 22 year old working a mundane job in Hyderabad and leading a pretty boring existense. Every other day or so, I come to Reliance Webworld (the one near Anand theatre in Begumpet) and spend a few hours checking my mail, reading stuff, listening to music and updating my blog. This is where I happen to chance upon your child/children. A smart bunch of boys I must admit. You must be immensely proud of them right?

Allow me to open your eyes…

I do understand that you may have busy lives. You may both work 9 to 5 jobs or may be involved in businesses that require round the clock attention. You may think that you are being good parents by sending them to good schools and giving them pocket money that would put many professionals such as myself to shame.  You may think that making/keeping them happy is of utmost importance. And hence you go out of your way to provide them with everything possible. I understand.

Have you ever taken the time to wonder what your precious son/daughter does outside of home?

I have been sitting here for the last 2 hours and have painfully listened to a bunch of 10-14 year olds using words that would surely make you cringe. They have surprised me with their extensive vocabulary and knowledge on the male human anatomy that includes words that I cannot even use on my own blog. Your children are selfish, materialistic and thoroughly uncivilised little rascals and I pity you, most of all.

Do you really believe that by keeping them happy now by lavishing them with money and gifts will secure your future? I think not! They will treat you like dirt and probably kick you out of your home by the time they turn 25!  One of the kids actually managed to mouth off “**** you, old man!” to a guy working here!

Seriously, learn how to treat your kids. It’s sad knowing they’ll grow up into future citizens of our country. I know we live in an ugly world, but you’re fully responsible for the way your kids turn out and there’s no use blaming peer influence by the time they go to college and start snorting coke!

So, sit down and think about it for a while. Don’t give your kids everything the want…give them a little of your time instead of giving them cash to play computer games on a Sunday morning.

If you don’t do anything about it, I swear I’m going to punch one of them in the face!!!

Thankyou

Yours Sincerely,

PS

This review is 4 years too late but I can’t seem to help it. The Pianist by Roman Polanski is a masterpice of film making. It will move you more than you ever thought possible.

The film follows 5 years (1939-1944) in the life of Wladyslaw Szpilman, played superbly by Adrien Brody, a Polish Jewish pianist from a considerably well off family. Once the Germans attack Warsaw, his family is forced to live in a ghetto. Soon they are hunted by the Gestapo and everybody except Wladyslav is sent to a concentration camp. The rest of the story follows a man’s will to survive and the apathy he encounters in his own country. A story of human will, tolerance and most of all, grace.

The scenes are beautifully shot and the piano music is haunting. The acting is par excellence. This is one of those movies that are simply perfect!

10/10

Wladyslaw Szpilman: I don’t know how to thank you.
Captain Wilm Hosenfeld: Thank God, not me. He wants us to survive. Well, that’s what we have to believe.

Here’s the deal. I’m happy! And I don’t have a damn reason to be happy and that’s driving me crazy!!!

Every single morning, I get up with this huge power house of energy and cheer (that may have sounded weird) but I simply can’t put it to any good use. Feels like all that happiness is somehow being wasted away! To top it off, I simply can’t figure out for the life of me where all this damn cheer comes from! I have a lot of reasons NOT to be happy!

• I’m working in an industry that will slowly and surely suck the life out of me.
• I feel like I haven’t planned my life out the way I should have.
• I’m still a very irritable person who gets annoyed with people easily but somehow I’m a lot more subtle now.
• For the first time in the last 22 years, I feel totally useless (perhaps even a hindrance to usefullness as such). The above revelation comes thanks to the mock project we’re doing at work.
• I still want to direct a movie and I have no idea where to start.
• etc…

I know, most people would be happy just to be…well…happy but somehow I get the feeling that something, somewhere is terribly wrong. Or then again, maybe I’m like Dr Cox from Scrubs who’s happy only when he’s miserable. Have I been reading too much Catch 22?

Anyhoo, if there was a TV show based on my life, I’d want the theme song to be When you’re on Top by The Wallflowers.

I feel fine with the sun in my eyes,

The wind in my hair,

I’m falling out of the sky!

I’m doing better than I thought I would but nothing’s ever as good as when you’re on top!

I’m also reminded of that wise wise saying that goes. “When you think all’s right with the world and you couldn’t be happier, just close your eyes and take a deep breath for it too shall pass!”

Adios

Yesterday was one of those days I was all smiles and the reason being that I was part of a group (Pankhudi) that visited an orphanage, Sidur in Hyderabad.

It’s amazing how little things like these can put some of the bigger things into perspective. It’s still more amazing that there were kids there who were extraordinary dancers! The things we take for granted are the things that they don’t have but somehow they still manage to have a smile on their faces that would put many of us to shame.

All in all…a great trip and can’t wait for the next one. Take note Ms Imperfect!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CC60HJvZRE]

This was a movie released around 2 years back and had made waves at the Sundance Film Fest not only because it was a pretty good movie but because it was made on a budget of $7000 (the average hollywood budget is $50 million).

If you think the trailer above is ambiguous, watch the movie! I couldn’t figure out what it was about until I rewatched it atleast 3 times. It’s beautifully shot and well acted, considering the director Shane Carruth, worked a cubicle job and found time to act and direct with help from his friends. It was shot with a handy DV cam and most of the lighting was ambient. Watch it and you’ll know why it’s so amazing.

The plot revolves around time travel and the moral implications that rise out of it. Very very very twisted stuff!

http://imdb.com/title/tt0390384/

I don’t really recommend this one for the average movie goer, but if you appreciate originality, go for it. The DVD is pretty hard to come by but I fortunately came across a copy in Cochin a few months back!!

Aaron: [voiceover] Now I have repaid any debt I may have owed you. You know all that I know. My voice is the only proof that you will have of the truth of any of this. I might have written a letter with my signature, but my handwriting is not what it used to be. Maybe you’ve had the presence of mind to record this. That’s your prerogative. You will not be contacted by me again. And if you look… you will not find me.

Later

Listening to How to Save a Life by The Fray ( a very very neat track!)

The last few days have been sort of wierd, not that they were exceptionally bad or anything, but they weren’t  great either. I think it’s probably the whole training thing that I’m really getting tired of and I sure as hell can’t wait for it to get over! Haven’t we spent enough time in a classroom already??

Anyhoo, been reading Catch 22 and it’s the kind of book I’d rather not read too fast. It’s black humor at it’s best and all those ‘important’ questions on life are dealt in the most straightforward and funny manner!  Could be plain absurd to some but great and enlightening stuff to many!:-)

Thanks to Swen (who happened to turn a day older today) , I’ve decided to listen to a bit more of the older stuff and believe you me, listening to classic rock is like nothing else.

The songs currently listened to most on my SLVR L7 are:

• Under Pressure by Queen (Has to be the most awesome song on coming of age)
• Hole in my Soul by Aerosmith
• Janie’s got a Gun by Aerosmith
• Making Love Out of Nothing at All by Air Supply (Go ahead and mock, mockers!:-))
• Promises by Deff Leppard
• Somebody to Love by Queen
• Bitter Wind by Bon Jovi
• The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon & Garfunkel
• Knocking on Heaven’s Door by Guns ‘n Roses

Something I’ve been wanting to try out for sometime is beer…but somehow still haven’t managed to get myself to do it! And I don’t even know why!

Later

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdUogUT4xkA]

Really neat video! That’s the kinda stuff I’d like to shoot!