Ek ghar khwabon ka....

Aisa Hee Ek Aashiyan Banaya Hei Mene Khwabon Mein
Chota Sa Ek Ghar Ho Haree Bharee Vadiyon Mein
Ghira Ho Jo Sab Taraf Se Unche Unche Chinar Se
Bus Ek Pagdandi Chotee See Milati Ho Us Paar Se
Aisa Hee Ek Aashiiaan Banaya....
Dhoop Jahan Pedon Se Lad Kar Aati Ho Mujh Se Milne
Mausam Mujhe Rijhane Ko Karte Hon Khel Itne
Dastak Hoti Ho Darwaze Pe Sirf Hawa Ke Tej Chalne Se
Kabhi Kuch Bhed Nazar Ati Hon Rasta Bhatak Jane Se
Aisa Hee Ek Aashiiaan Banaya....
Behta Ho Ek Jharna Kuch Itne Kareeb Se
Mehak Utthe Ghar Mera Uske Sangeet Se
Rasoi Se Nikalta Dhuan Jab Chootta Ho Aasman
Us Paar Base Logon Ko Karta Ho Aag Aag
Aisa Hee Ek Aashiiaan Banaya....
Mehboob Ke Daman Me Jahan Milta Ho Itna Pyar
Na Koi Dar Ho Kisi Ka Karte Hue Izhaar
Unki Diwangi Me Hee KatTein Hon Din Aur Raat
Bas Takte RahTe Ho Unko Subah Aur Shaam
Aisa Hee Ek Aashiiaan Banaya....

My take on Jyoti Arora's Dream's Sake

Dream's Sake by Jyoti Arora

I never developed a taste for books that tell love stories.  I can justify that lack of preference to more than one reason. To an extent because I never read any; possibly because I always thought the Mills & the Boons stuff was supposedly written for and read by the fairer sex; partly because I suspect that a book based on love story, unless very extra-ordinary would find immensely challenging to gain a place on the front shelf in book stores; and most definitely because I am sincerely convinced  that the intensity of the feelings and expression of emotions of two lovers, real or imaginary, can rarely be justified through text howsoever well-crafted unless the story is of his or her own love. Jyoti Arora has however, set me thinking! To be precise, she has set me to re-think and re-visit my reasons!

Jyoti kindly forwarded me an initialled copy of Dream’s Sake sometime in later part of November last year.  I promised her and myself that I will not only read it soon but also write a brief review and post it on my blog. Due to some prior commitments I could start reading the novel only this week. I finished reading it an hour ago and was compelled to write a review straight away.  That it was 3 am in the morning did not deter me. That in itself is an enormous endorsement of the book!

Yes Dream’s Sake is a love story. Fiction, I guess! The story itself is nothing extra-ordinary. Like any other love story, this story also has all the expected features and characteristics - happy moments, betrayal, tragedy, despair, revenge, hope, destiny, etc.  Sounds familiar? Well, Bollywood movies made around love stories comprise of most if not all of these facets. Yet Dream’s Sake seemed so different, fresh and innocent.

What definitely distinguishes Jyoti’s book from some of the other love stories I have read or seen is her ability to transport the reader so effectively to the virtual world of her own and the manner in which each central character of the book starts growing on you with each page turn.  Priyam, Abhi, Aashi, Sid, Raj all emerge as convincing characters. Almost real! The end came as a surprise to me though.  Her portrayal of half a dozen characters is subtle yet powerful, and the ability to convey feelings effortless which according to me, stands out as the most impressive facet of her writing.  Articulation of emotions through the multiple twists and turns is very persuasive and succeeds in invoking a variety of emotions.  I wouldn’t want to disclose its details. But without meaning to criticise the ending, I do wonder if it could have been different.  Why did she think of this kind of end? I hope to chat with her about it someday soon.

There is certain amount of simplicity and innocence about the way she writes which almost induces you to trust and accept what she writes. I liked her free flowing style combined with a selection of simple but suitable vocabulary.

Jyoti, you will go a long way!

I must compliment Pustak Mahal for having published Jyoti. I do wish the printing quality of the book was better as Jyoti and Dream’s Sake do deserve a far greater profiling!

Tujh Me Khuda

Kabhi Tujh Se Mil Kar Khuda Ko Bhee Bhulane Ko Jee Chahta Hei

Kabhi Tujh Me Hee Khuda Paa Kar Tujhe Poojne Ko Jee Chahta Hei
Is Hee Kash ma Kash Mei Jab Bhee Tuj Ko Mil Kar Ke Aata Hoon
Puja Ke Phulon Kee Tarah Teri Khushboo, Teri Yaden Saath Hee Le Aata Hoon

Ek chand uddhaar..

Saanjh Ne Dhoop Se Daman Chuda Kar, Jab Raat Ka Aanchal Oddha
Har Taraf Hua Andhera to Kaha Khuda Ne Dar Kar Mujhe Thoda
Kar Diya Hei Chand Ne Aaj Nikal Aane Se Inqaar
Chehre Tere Dildar Ka Chahiye Mujhko Toh Uddhaar

Yoon Toh Khuda Ne Kuch Bhee Manga Hei Mujhse Pehli Baar
Vaise Bhee Bahut Mushkil Hei Kar Paana Khuda Se Kuch Bhee Inqaar
Magar Sochta Hoon Phir Bhee Kar Doon Kaise Usko Khuda Kei Havale
Phir Suna Hei Hotein Hein Sitare Bhee Bahut Diwane

Phir Yeh Na Ho Kee Khuda Bhee Lotane Se Karne Lage Bahana
Khoobsurat Hei Itna Mehboob Mera Ho Sakta Hei Khuda Bhee Diwana

Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman

He was the brooding, intense actor-director, a connoisseur of lights and lyrics. She the embodiment of classic beauty, a persona of resplendence and one of the greatest actresses the Indian cinema has ever seen. And their romance - a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman, together with their intense on-screen chemistry, creating magic in every film they shared.

He spotted the gifted maiden with the veiled charm, and together they created history. During the making of Pyaasa, the 1957 near autobiographical masterpiece, Guru Dutt fell in love with her. The struggling poet, Vijay trying to make his works known sought respite in the arms of the noble-hearted courtesan ‘Gulab’ who eventually helps him get his poems published. Rehman delivered an absolutely brilliant performance in her first major lead role in Hindi cinema that has held up beautifully till date. Her blend of nuances of love, desire and despair as she follows Guru Dutt up the stairs to the terrace to the strains of Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Laga Lo leaves inerasable impressions in mind of viewers. It is ironic that his wife Geeta Dutt's sensual voice was used on Waheeda Rehman the actress as she 'sang' for Guru Dutt on screen.

 

Dutt was a man ahead of his time and the manner in which he played with cinematography and protracted her characters, transformed the simplest emotion into the countenance of a goddess.  In no time, the starry eyed duo shot to stardom, their romance dominating drawing room discussions and one would never be named without mentioning the other. 

But as all good things pass, so did this famous fairytale. He took his life and she took to silence, never to talk about him again, but the forlorn lovers, Dutt and Rehman, together bejewelled the Indian Cinema with the most eternally soulful moments in celluloid history...

My review of Amit Shankar's Chapter Eleven

Chapter 11. No, this is not a reference book on the nuances of the chapter by the same name in the USA Bankruptcy Code that deals with corporate insolvency. Amit Shankar’s second book is a pure fiction but yes, based around an event of insolvency. His first book – The flight of Hilsa was a bestseller.   In Chapter 11, Amit weaves a fascinating story around the event to articulate a number of powerful emotions, of personal faith, hope, dejection, love, courage and self discovery.

Amit makes a brilliant use of the protagonist, an ambitious boy from a small town, who arrives in a big city to join his dream job only to find that his employer has become insolvent, to tell a compelling tale of corporate sleaze and manipulation. The protagonist serves not only an effective but an interesting medium to communicate the author’s message. Like his many other colleagues, for many days, the protagonist refuses to believe that such a mammoth sized enterprise could ever go bankrupt. As their fate hangs in fire, they anxiously wait and watch the fast-unfolding developments around them shocked by the mediocrity, nepotism, and irresponsibility of their leadership. They witness everything - blame game, cover-up, scapegoat-finding-exercise but no sincere effort to revive the business.  Without revival their jobs are gone, their dreams are shattered. Emotions and anxieties of employees are portrayed beautifully by Amit.

Before he realises the protagonist himself gets sucked into the corruption muck. What eventually happens I leave for you to find out! An extra-marital affair and a number of other fashionable indulges of the corporate world have been thrown in by Amit to provide an added impact. They serve a bit like Bollywood masala in the book but remain relevant and provide the twists and thrusts any book needs.  Full credits to Amit for employing a brilliant approach to make an otherwise boring subject of corporate greed and insolvency, not simply interesting but equally exciting!  A gripping book which moves at a desirable pace! Amit mixes a number of diverse ingredients to produce a dazzling cocktail. A must drink (read).

The book demonstrates an impressive understanding of the fundamental issues of corporate functioning by the author. Having served in a corporation which filed chapter eleven proceedings Amit was probably a witness to the proceedings that went on behind the scene. His narration is no less than the story of a whistle-blower.  Brilliantly told.

Clearly Amit seeks to serve many objectives using his book including conveying many strong messages. He does it commendably. And all this while retaining the charm of  a fiction which is what he claims it indeed is.