Being a 7 year old..

KT and I are childhood friends. We studied in the same primary school, in same class, also belonged to the same 'group of friends'. After that despite living in the same city and chance meetings, we landed together at engineering college. We are radically different (?) personalities and when we had gotten over all these years of un-attachment, we grew really close. This is a childhood kissa (incident) she told me few years back. The girl has weird memory skills, cos I somehow don't remember anything related.


So as normal kids, we were having a discussion about what we would ask our parents if secured first ranks. Someone said the new Barbie doll, someone said the kitchen collection (called bhatukli in Marathi), someone said a trip to somewhere. Ta da comes my turn and I very simply (I hope) said, I will ask Aai (mom) to make Pav bhaji.
I think she somehow thinks that was being really sorted out of me at such an early age.
On the other hand, I think I was a damn fool, because to think of it I did get a first rank that year. I should have wished/asked for anything I desired. :-/


Anywho, I think I wished/asked for Pav bhaji cos it would have been a respite in the summers, when the vegetable options were so few and so boring. (dudhi, beans, chavli etc)
But I would like to believe what I think she thought. Sorted out. Sounds peaceful to me :)


~nightflier

childlike theories

Picked the tag from Neha's blog. 
(This is more for posterity btw :D)


# Guys give birth to boys and girls give birth to girls. I know, right ? :-| 
But then it would have been a little easier for the woman kind no ? Also do not ask why. It was an original (:P) theory based on looks and traits.


# As a kid I used to think that my aaji (grandmom) has met all the people in her stories. And I used to be in awe of her. Well eventually I did understand that most of the stories are just 'stories'. But it was fantastic. 


# I used to think that mirrors had real people inside them, who would look and dress like us. It was a very strong belief. So much that I had to actually see the back of a mirror to change it. Reflection, refraction started making sense much later.


# After watching Hum Aapke Hain Kaun in standard 5, I used to think that that's how weddings happen. Good food, great clothes, songs, dances, crying etc. Before that weddings meant meeting all cousins my age and racing with them or playing out-out. Reality did open my eyes btw.


# As a kid I have eaten lots of oranges and hence orange seeds. Well, its common to swallow one of those while eating an orange. No ? Hence would go to sleep dreading a plant growing out of the navel. And be relieved in the morning that nothing of that sort has happened.


# Anyone who knows a lot about medicines was a doctor. 


# Those who ate lots of mangoes were blessed with long, shiny hair (scalp). Every summer I would eat loads of mangoes praying for them. A cousin supported me in my theory and admitted she had eaten loads of mangoes too, the reason behind her long hair!


# Not touching any tree/plant after twilight (divelaagni as they say in marathi) because plants sleep in the night like us, I was told. And if I did then used to ask them for forgiveness :D


# God is a person.


# My barbie dolls were real people for me. I would make make them drink water and pepsi. Talk to them. Play with them. Style them and what not. Had also made a small bed for them to sleep in beside my own.


# I actually used to believe that money plant's leaves had economic value. Once when I broke a vase at home, I plucked some leaves and went to aai and guiltily told her she could buy a new one with those. Not only did she not scold me, but she laughed. :D


# I had a pair of elephant slippers (there were elephants on its belt) and I would not wear them thinking I would turn into an elephant.


# Believing any and every thing told by teachers. Like a teacher once said tea is bad for health (which is quite debatable) and I did not drink it for an year despite loving it! (this was in standard 8 I think and I hate drinking plain milk) I can be stupid that way.


# The thinking that closing my eyes hard enough will make any bad stuff pass. 


# There are actual, real people inside a TV. And hence never wanting to make it on TV. Who would like to be crammed inside a box ? It was shattered (drama) when a mechanic opened it in front of us at home. (remember those old black and white box type TVs ?)


Cannot think of more as of now. 
But will update if aai tells me anything.


~nightflier

Hum aapke hain kaun and after that...

It doesn't take much to make me nostalgic. Sometimes even a song playing on the radio or aai's cooking is enough! (Sometimes I think I get it from my parents, as they keep on talking about their childhood a lot!)


So when I get down to write about Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the 2 icons of my childhood, I am not sure how to articulate. But I am going to ramble nevertheless.
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (HAHK) released when I was in 5th standard. From whatever few promos that Chitrahaar/super hit muqabla (DD National ?)/all the best (DD metro) used to air I had made secret pacts with myself that I have to make aai-baba take me for this one! I think as a 10 year old only Madhuri Dixit, the playful banter between her and Salman, the amazing music appealed to my sensibilities. As things turned out my Mavshi (mom's sister) got engaged to be married the same year. The wedding was planned for summer and most of such family entertainers (I had no clue of this term then) released in India in summers. So during the release time we were going to be super busy with the wedding preparations and shopping. The movie was a smash hit everywhere! It was almost impossible to be able to watch the movie before school started. Biggest worry on my mind was 'how would I bear my friends who had already watched the movie!' (yes brutally honest, thats being a 10 year old for you!)
Then a really cute thing happened. Once on a shopping trip my kaka (aunt's then fiance) suggested that we all go for this movie. Unfortunately we got only 2 tickets. And don't know how but me and Mavshi ended up in the theater! God's miracle ? :D
This is just the story of how god saved me from the disgrace of not watching the most amazing movie of my childhood. The re-runs kept on happening. Every time it felt like a special experience. It left me awed. Madhuri, Salman, Lakshmikant Berde, Renuka Shahane, and all the ensemble star cast still feels like family to me. All these memories came rushing while watching it for the gazillionth time on tv today! Thankfully I am not the only mad person around to love the movie so much. It is always fun to discuss all these memories and tiny tit-bits of trivia with fellow hahk lovers.


For posterity I am going to share some seemingly stupid stories related to the same movie.
The same year I read an article in a newspaper about Madhuri Dixit which also had her address at the end of it. I immediately drafted a letter for her birthday (sometime in May I guess?) and sent it to the said address. If it was the true address, if it was ever received and read by her remain a mystery. Devil may care. But there! I have shared it on the blog and am now open to judgments!
In school gathering the next year we performed a dance on 'Maye na maye'. Our school had this weird rule of allowing only decent hindi movie songs. Dunno how one can decide that. Anywhooo for all the girls involved the highest point of the extravaganza was getting to wear Madhuri Dixit style Ghagra! The endless practice sessions, getting the expressions like MD, dress rehearsals! 


All these very happy memories are attached to the movie in a way. May be that's why despite its much approved and acclaimed greatness, its still so dear to me. I shall leave KKHH for some other time. Got any such childhood connections ? Remember nostalgia is very much welcome on this blog :)


~nightflier

Irresistibly fashionable !

Roomie was listening to this, when we started talking about him and thus my mind went back to the time when I had these.


If you were born in the same timeline as me, and if you have grown up watching all the mush, that we were exposed to as kids, I know you must not be laughing at me.


Fashion in the end is comfort :P


And I was quite comfortable carrying them on my shoulder. (Mind you I had 3-4 matching ones! And we used to get them for Rs. 40 /each in Archies Gallery!)


~nightflier


P.S. Of course fake ones laah, not the real ones ;)

Parody no. 1

I know all of us have watched and enjoyed this movie :D

I love this parody. It is awesomely wonderful. The kids and actors (Sridevi and Anil Kapoor) must have had so much fun. It kinda looks evident. 

I particularly love the part when Anil Kapoor joins the gang of brats and sings 'lafda hai ye kya mujhko batana' and uses his hat as a dafli and finally the kawwali. Damn funny and awesome!! Kudos to Laxmikant Pyarelaal, Javed Akhtar and Shekhar Kapur for a super refreshing sequence and movie.

Enjoy people !!!

And don't miss Sridevi's antics. I think she is one of the finest female actors we have, who can carry off comedy so effortlessly.

~nightflier

Of bedtime stories and fairytales !!

I just finished reading 'The tales of beedle the bard' !!

Rowling is right when she emphasizes the importance of bed time stories in the raising of children. It's a good attempt to revive the old genre. Actually she did it with the Potter series. 

Well my sole aim behind this read was to gather as much wisdom as possible from the great Albus Dumbledore! I was not disappointed but it was not quite up to my expectations. May be I was expecting a lot from what is supposed to be a book of bedtime stories :D 

The grown up in me can be greedy I tell you !!

So it is basically a collection of stories about virtue, valor,  good vs evil and all the routine. Perfect recipe for fairy tales. The stories have a lot to offer to us muggles. They take you to the lands of magic to tell us that many times magic alone, also cannot solve life's greatest mysteries. I liked the story of the fountain of fair fortune and the warlock's hairy heart particularly. Some more addition to the list of stories I will read to my kids !! 

And at this point I should also thank my parents who let me join a library when I was 8. I remember one summer I ended up reading their entire collection to the astonishment of the library caretaker. She actually told me that there was nothing left for me to read for next summer. In this library I was introduced to the magic of Graeme's' fairy tales, endless stories of Birbal's wisdom, the kid detective Faster Fene (most of the books are Marathi), Ramayana, Panchatantra. I also developed the habit of bartering books with friends. Teenage was spent in reading and re-reading Sherlock Holmes and treasure island. And also Sidney Sheldon and Agatha Christie!! Many times books have shown me other worlds, vicarious feelings, but they have been great teachers. Always!

Coming back to the book, every purchase of the book contributes to the Children's high level group, a foundation formed by Rowling. It works to make life better for vulnerable young people, something I totally believe in. So at least buy the book for improving lives :)

I sign off with a quote from Dumbledore : 

The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing and should therefore be treated with great caution.

Until we meet again,

nightlfier!

More innocence !!

More on childhood fantasies!! My idea of a perfect romantic date as a kid :)
'a whole new world' from alladin !
(lyrics copied from a website and pasted in lavender :D)


I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me

I still think sometimes, may be 'my alladin' will come. But if it wasn't for dreams, a chunk of me would have been dead already!! No kidding there.
Time sure changes you. From a dreamy eyed teenager to a srk fanatic, when it comes to romance, one thing that has not changed is this, 'practicality loses meaning' :) And I am thankful that these dreams, about mysterious unknowns make it all worth!!
I am still feeling those goosebumps, i used to get, after watching this song!
Do i love disney or what ? :)