Let's see how far we've come

I haven't heard as many songs of Rob Thomas and Matchbox Twenty, but what I've heard ("Bent", "If you're gone" and Thomas' single "Streetcorner Symphony"), I've really liked.

But "How far we've come" is the best so far and it's currently on repeat mode on my player (just like Speed of Sound was once). Then I checked out the video and totally tripped on it too.



Brilliant song, seemingly introspective and definitely a commentary on the world if the video is anything to go by. A video of that kind, with clips of some of the most unforgettable moments in history, really takes the song to a different level.

I don't know why it reminded me of Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire", a song which also had a great video, which you can see here (embedding disabled by the poster, a certain, er, billyjoel. huh.)

Good music, I tell you, can change stuff. Ah. Must hear it hear it again.

Song of the year 2008

I doubt anything can come close to "Ay hip hoppper" by Ishq Bector featuring Sunidhi Chauhan. More than 9 months to go for this year to be over, but man, I don't know if anything can come close to this blockbuster.

And no, I refuse to hear any criticism about this song. If you don't like it, if it's not in your head if you're not clicking "replay" on that link above then I have one four-letter word for you my friend. Snob. Guahaha. Lyrics here and this bit which is what I'm tripping on for now.

Mere pyar ki basti mein, mere love ki basti mein.
Thodi masti ho jai sir!
Aye Hip-Hopper!

HBO stops Bill Maher podcasts outside US

Update: HBO has resumed podcast downloads for Real Time for listeners outside of the USA, so..er..yay!

I listen regularly to "Real Time with Bill Maher" via HBO's podcasts. A few days back, iTunes started giving an error message which went "Authorization needed to access podcast". (note in the screen-capture below how previous podcasts downloaded without a problem).


Whoo hoo. I thought Apple is at again disallowing lesser mortals from accessing stuff via iTunes (remember, they still don't allow music downloads via iTunes for India). I thought well, you know, it's Apple. What else can you expect? They've still to be pointed out India on the map. But a google search absolved Apple of this.

Yup, because I discovered that this time it's HBO. And guess what, it's not just India on their "oh no you don't" list, it's all the countries outside of the USofA. Check this thread for other users across the non-US world complaining of this. And also check this thread at the Apple discussion forum for something similar.

This kinda stuff defies sense. I mean honestly, we need to call in the Nobel Prize Committee for a new category here. Bring out the Oscars, the Emmys and all the prizes because this kinda global achievement deserves an award.

Seriously, what good does banning a podcast for users outside the US achieve? Do the Einsteins at HBO believe that "Real Time" podcast listeners do not have access to other means of technology that gives them access to - get this - not just the audio, but, hey, the video as well? You know that stuff wherein you can also see the show and not just hear it?

What riles me - as it did about two years back - is when these fruitcakes drive people to alternate methods. Which is what makes that ad which you see before the movie starts, you know the one which goes "Would you steal a car, would you steal a book? then don't go for piracy" look like a bunch of crock.

My own stand on piracy is a bit less liberal than others, i.e. I do believe in paying for content. If there was an iTunes for India, I would have paid to download music. But at this rate, what options do I have? You want to deprive me of my music, of my podcasts, of latest seasons on my TV series (remember all English TV channels in India are running more than a year behind of current seasons across all popular shows)? And you expect me to twiddle my thumbs till then? Yeah right.

See, there's a limit. There is a limit to which you can put those patronizing error messages on my computer screen. There is a limit to which you tell me that your is not available in my country.

Because guess what, M/s HBO and M/S Apple, and this will come as a surprise to you, there is something called the Internet. And hey, did you know it connects people to people. And - oh, this will blow you - it actually allows people to share things? So, if you think I'm not good enough for your content, then I guess I'll just have to find someone who does. And while you're figuring that out, please give my regards to the dinosaurs.

Happy Holidays

A term that I couldn't get when I first heard it. "Happy Holidays"? What's the deal with "Happy Holidays"? Sure I got that people go home for Diwali and stuff. And for me going home meant staying in Bombay itself. But "Happy Holidays"?

I mean I haven't seen anyone take more than two days off for Diwali. But since Diwali is on two separate days, more often than not it becomes a long weekend. You know, leave for home on Tuesday night, Weds is off (i.e. public holiday for Lakshmi Pooja), take Thursday off and since Friday would also be chutti (public hol #2 for Diwali), you land up taking almost the whole week off. Fresh back to work on Monday morning. That's the holidays that I know here.

But to think of going home from say, 23rd (Dec) night all the way to 1st (Jan)..that's 10 days. Man, that is a lot of leave. Yet, each time I see people greet each other, or signboards and ads everywhere (all this of course when I'm watching a an American serial) which go "Happy Holidays", I can't help but wonder, what would happen if I tell someone "Hey, Happy Diwali and Happy Holidays". Yeah, yeah, I know that look.

And since you're waiting for the point of this post, it is in fact - Happy Holidays. At least to me, because this blog is now off for..um..holidays. I will see you on the other side of the New Year 2008. Oh ok, I now I've been lax in my posting. And yes, I know that posts should logically have increased since I'm on break. But well, it's not happened and I'm sorry. I am because I know I want to post more. And I won't BS by saying "My New Year resolution is to post more", because that lies next to the "I will lose 20kgs this year". I mean if you believe that you'd believe that it's gonna be Ron Paul v/s John Edwards next year in the USA. Oh I kid the Americans (talking of which, does anyone know when Bill Maher's new season begins?)

Finally, wrapping up 2007.

1. My movies of the year are The Bourne Ultimatum (English), Chak De India and I'm now adding Khoya Khoya Chand.

2. On DVD, I can't recall one single movie that I went ga-ga over, because this, for me, was the year of TV series on DVD. And therefore, my DVD of the year would have to be "The Sopranos".

3. My song of the year is Vaari Vaari (Hindi). English song would have to be Speed of Sound (I know it's not from 2007, but I heard it so many times this year that it just eclipses anything else I heard).

4. Since I didn't read any book this year, I don't have a book of the year like I did last year. But I can point you to NYT's list of The 10 Best Books of 2007 and Books of the Year 2007 at The Guardian. What a fine line-up of books. Maybe I'll even read one of them next year.

So, what were your fav movies, music and books for the 2007? Love to know.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and yes, Happy Holidays.

Born Bourne

If this was for Hindi, this below is my choice for movie of the year, English.


Relentless. Brutal.

I think those two words come top-of-mind, besides the usual stuff like thrilling, gripping, etc. These guys (Doug Liman for "Identity" and the absolutely top-notch Paul Greengrass for "Supremacy" and now "Ultimatum") have set the standard so far above that all the so-called "new, new" James Bonds and all the other crap that passes under the genre of "Thriller" is just light years behind.

Last night I watched the first two parts and today I saw the third. All three movies are cutting edge. Its just madness. The stunts, the car chases, the hand-to-hand fights, the sheer pace of the movie. And then the man himself. Or actually human weapon? Matt Damon is so comfortable in his skin doing Jason Bourne. His physique, his blank stare and his personna just brings the character alive.

For a man who can kill with such ease, its tough to call him vulnerable. He's not. He's the "man-against-the-world" in the new - how the Americans call it - post 9/11 world. Where Operation Blackbriar has taken over from Operation Treadstone.

In particular, I think the ending in "Ultimatum" was the best in the series so far. That one minute exchange between Bourne and his assassin, when Bourne says "Look at what they make you give" was the killer line of the movie (and also a nice punch at the believers of the "Whatever it takes" theory or should I just say right-wingers?).

And the music. This is the one thriller franchise that has thrilled me with the way they use music to take the overall cinematic experience to another level. I'd half-expected Paul Greengrass to dump a background score, but wow. Percussion (bhangra beats) and electronica (Oakenfold's "Ready-steady-go" in..I think "Supremacy") remain an integral part of the score throughout the series.

And I am just so glad they retained Moby's "Extreme Ways" in all three parts as the song played in the end titles. (For e.g. watch it in the "Supremacy" here). Just goes to show how you don't necessarily need a big band or a big singer to sing a title track in a big brand movie franchise, like - yes - how Bond does.

See the movie. Visit the website too. Do both really.

And if you've not had enough, watch their DVDs and look out for the goodies (for e.g. the making of the Moscow car chase in "Supremacy". Their stunt co-ordinators and producers go "Well, the chase in "Identity" was great and we knew we had to go a level up"...how do these guys do it.)

Definitely my picture of the year and I can say without doubt that I'm looking forward to the next Bourne instalment.

Three months to go

But still...

Here's my movie of the year 2007.



Magnificent. You've either seen it or..well. "Ye le Preeti, dekha de woh launde ko" and "Acha hai, apne desh mein hi swaagat kar rahe hain aap" were among my favourite lines. I'd love anything that Jaideep Sahni's written but he went one level up with this. I'm looking forward to seeing it again - if only for those superb Delhi shots.

I seriously doubt anything in the coming three months will come even a mile close to this one movie. And here I count OD master Bhansali's "Saawariya" and Farha Khan's "Om Shanti Om". Promos for both movies are already out, i.e. two months before launch (same day - Nov 9th). They might be blockbuster stuff, but honestly, just for pure fun, spirit and emotion, Chak De towers.

I also have my song of the year.

I thought "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd." was probably among the most under-rated movies in recent times. I enjoy "Vaari vaari" simply because it sounds so fresh every time I hear it, unlike any of the chart-busters this year. The picturisation of the song was brilliant and probably adds to the overall experience. I'm a fan of K. K. Menon and as you'd see above he was just mad, mad, mad in this song.

And before I go - Amit Paul for Indian Idol.

Pandora RIP in India?

Kya hua tera vadaa? Gaayab? Sniff sniff. Now what am I gonna do? If you can't read the text, here's what it says

We are deeply, deeply sorry to say that due to licensing constraints, we can no longer allow access to Pandora for most listeners located outside of the U.S. We will continue to work diligently to realize the vision of a truly global Pandora, but for the time being we are required to restrict its use. We are very sad to have to do this, but there is no other alternative.

As if Websense wasn't enough, as if iTunes saying no to India wasn't enough, as if Go going Hindi wasn't enough*, as if Worldspace's steadfast refusal to launch car audio wasn't enough, now Pandora says sorry to India. Well done. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

* - ok, ok so Fever's got English music, but they refuse to move from Enrique, Justin and Shakira. Boo.

Songs stuck

...in my head. Both from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (oh Shaad Ali, don't you dare disappoint..after Bunty Babli and Saathiya, don't you dare disappoint)

1. "Jhoom Barabar, Jhoom Barabar, Jhoom Barabar Jhoooooooom, Jhoom Barabar, Jhoom Barabar, Jhoom Barabar Jhoooooooom"

Out damned song, out. No, ok, it's a pretty decent song. Not blockbuster material, but very, very catchy. They (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy..talking of which, don't you all disappoint either) seem to have combined quite a few nice instruments to make a very catchy number. Somehow it could've sounded better, but I'm just nit-picking. Jhooooooooom. Rabaa.

2. "Ticket to Hollywood, ticket to Hollywood"

Does the guy say "chaniya choli" after that?. And just what is "No no Moo-see-air, no no itna simple nahin.." Moo-see-air? Moo-see-air? Moo what? Duh? Ah..Monsieur. Hilarious. As long as its Preity who's saying that, I'm cool. If Lara can pull that off, bully for her.

My line from the trailer of the movie? Abhishek blurting out to Preity something which goes something like "To tum log ka sex ho gaya?"

The story is here, but I am not going to read it.

Oh, Shaad Ali, don't you dare disappoint.

On Bambai Nagariya

Laakh Roz Aake Bas Jaate Hai
Iss Sheher Se Is Dil Laga Ke Phas Jaate Hai
Sone Ki Raahon Mein Soone Ko Jagah Nahi
Shola Hai Ya Hai Bijuriya Dil Ki Bajariya Bambai Nagariya
Utar Jaaye Ragon Mein Jo Toh Teh Nasha Hai
Iski Aadat Jo Pad Gayi Toh Yeh Saza Hai
Aise Bhar De Ke Khaali Kar De

(lyrics from the song “Bambai Nagariya” sung by Bappi Lahiri in the movie Taxi No. 9211)

I said it then and I say it now. I’m addicted to this mad city.

The thought for this post came when I was watching Taxi No. 9211 for the x-th time on TV. What a super Bombay movie. Besides a lovely soundtrack, I really liked the way the characters were etched, the performances, and of course Bombay in the movie.

Taxi No. 9211 also takes me back to this comment by the good Filmiholic,

One other thing.... have you noticed the central role that the city itself plays in some recent Hindi movies? Bluffmaster, Taxi No 9211, Sarkar, just to name a few.

In the "Making Of" segment on the DVD of Bluffmaster, Rohan Sippy said that they saw Bombay as another character in the movie.

That comment led to the “Reel life Bombay” series, where Filmiholic and Punds were kind enough to guest. That was one of the most fun series I’ve had on this blog.

But, coming back to Bombay, love and addiction…

See, I'm addicted to Bombay. Which is a bit different from loving Bombay, because loving Bombay can get a bit dicey. I mean, sample these oft-read, oft-heard p.o.v.s -

The outraged view – how dare you say this about a city where a woman can go home at three in the night and be assured that she’d reach home safe? a city whose cab and rickshaw drivers are so honest? a city that is so efficient and quick? with such a vibrant night-life?

Or, the are-you-a-dimwit defense - how you can love a city where traffic is so miserable, politicians are corrupt, real estate end rentals are a joke, infrastructure collapsing everyday.

Or, the “Hi-I’m-from-Fortune” move – Bombay is a city of contradictions. Skyscrapers brush shoulders with slums. Mercedes engines talk with bullock-carts. Cows walk along-side Chihuahuas.

And finally, the I-will-always-love-you gambit – oh, I’d die for a vada-pav on a rain-soaked evening at Marine Drive. Or have bhel on Chowpatty with the waves touching my feet. The hazaar, yummy, road-side food joints.

Here’s the thing. Bombay is all of that and then some. But then you already knew that.

Is that enough to declare undying love - or for that matter disgust - for this city? I don't know.

And is there a truth about Bombay? I don't think so.

So, for the record, I’ll say it again. This city is a drug and I’m an addict.

Utar Jaaye Ragon Mein Jo Toh Teh Nasha Hai
Iski Aadat Jo Pad Gayi Toh Yeh Saza Hai

Why can't I hang live crows on my wall?

Link via Neha, this simply superb 1985 interview of music legend Kishore Kumar, by then Illustrated Weekly editor, Pritish Nandy.

Today, more than 20 years after this interview was first done, I see the legend in a completely different light. Such simple, straight answers that you have to call the man a genius.

Its a long interview (full text here, thank you Neha), but I found it so rewarding as a reader that I went back to portions of the interview..portions like this (partly also highlighted by Neha).

PN: People would have thought you crazy. In fact they already do.
KK: Who said I'm crazy. The world is crazy; not me.

PN: Why do you have this reputation for doing strange things?

KK: It all began with this girl who came to interview me. In those days I used to live alone. So she said: You must be very lonely. I said: No, let me introduce you to some of my friends. So I took her to the garden and introduced her to some of the friendlier trees. Janardhan; Raghunandan; Gangadhar; Jagannath; Buddhuram; Jhatpatajhatpatpat. I said they were my closest friends in this cruel world. She went and wrote this bizarre piece, saying that I spent long evenings with my arms entwined around them. What's wrong with that, you tell me? What's wrong making friends with trees?

PN: Nothing.

KK: Then, there was this interior decorator-a suited, booted fellow who came to see me in a three-piece woollen, Saville Row suit in the thick of summer- and began to lecture me about aesthetics, design, visual sense and all that. After listening to him for about half an hour and trying to figure out what he was saying through his peculiar American accent, I told him that I wanted something very simple for my living room. Just water-several feet deep- and little boats floating around, instead of large sofas. I told him that the centre-piece should be anchored down so that the tea service could be placed on it and all of us could row up to it in our boats and take sips from our cups. But the boats should be properly balanced, I said, otherwise we might whizz past each other and conversation would be difficult.

He looked a bit alarmed but that alarm gave way to sheer horror when I began to describe the wall decor. I told him that I wanted live crows hanging from the walls instead of paintings-since I liked nature so much. And, instead of fans, we could have monkeys farting from the ceiling. That's when he slowly backed out from the room with a strange look in his eyes. The last I saw of him was him running out of the front gate, at a pace that would have put an electric train to shame. What's crazy about having a living room like that, you tell me? If he can wear a woollen, three-piece suit in the height of summer, why can't I hang live crows on my walls?

On repeat mode on the player

Speed of Sound - Coldplay.

Perfect. I can't ask for more. Except the video, perhaps.



"Where to, where do I go?
If you never try then you'll never know
How long do I have to climb
Up on the side of this mountain of mine" [>>]

The Fray - How to save a life

What an absolutely brilliant song.

From the website on this song by The Fray:

Bittersweet inspiration: The song How to Save a Life was influenced by Slade's experience working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens. "One of the kids I was paired up with was a musician. Here I was, a protected suburbanite, and he was just 17 and had all these problems. And no one could write a manual on how to save him. ... I got a lot of e-mail about it. One kid died in a car accident, and I guess it had been the last song he downloaded from his computer. They played it at his funeral, and some of his friends got 'Save a life' tattooed on their arms. The response has been overwhelming."[link]

I can't get over the lyrics. Or the video. Watch it. Then watch all the other videos made on this song after the Fray invited fans to make their own videos for the song.

"Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life"

iTunes - not made for India

The world’s not kind to someone who likes to listen to contemporary English music on the go. At least not in India. WorldSpace isn't interested in car audio and in its earlier cruel and random decision Go 92.5FM stopped English music altogether before transforming into a 24*7 Hindi music station - Radio One (and no, I don't think Tarana is coming back, so get used Sangraaam and Jaggu in the morning).

So what else is there ? There’s downloading stuff from the net through sites like seekasong, mpeg-search, and other sites which allow free MP3 downloads. But hell, how can you download a song before hearing it ? I mean the entire use of these sites was in the days when you heard James Blunt belting out “You’re beautiful”; or felt blessed on discovering bands like Vertical Horizon. You listened to the songs a couple of times on the radio and then downloaded them. Free of cost.

Today, I'm willing to pay for downloading music from the biggest online seller of music - iTunes. And I can't. Which gets me to my peeve of the day - Why hasn’t Apple launched iTunes in India ? No, I’m not talking about tie-ups with Hungama (what a ghastly website) or Saregama. Those tie-ups are specifically for making Indian music available to a global audience. I’m talking of how iTunes can make global music available to an Indian audience.

How much does it take for Apple to add “India” to its list of countries ? Currently – and as Apple’s teeny-weeny disclaimer at the end of its web page reads – “Purchases from the iTunes Music Store are available only in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.” Dude, that’s 21 countries and India is nowhere there.


So if I’ve got it right, I can’t buy any music on iTunes because I’m in India. But anyone, in any of those 21 countries, can download Gulzar, Bhupinder and even the OST of the new Don from iTunes. Ironical ? Probably because catering to niche audiences doesn't get you the moolah. Probably because Apple believes that they can’t crack the market for Hindi music downloads (read piracy) the way they revolutionised music downloads in the USA. As for English music downloads, Apple firmly believes that no one in India is interested in the Billboard hot 100. We wouldn't know Rihanna from Shakira, leave alone wanting to download Justin Timberlake’s sexyback. Oh right, we’re still in love with Abba, Boney M and Osibissa.

If all this is true, then why is Apple so gung-ho about launching its latest ipods in India ? Why is Apple tying up with HCL Info to set up a distribution and after-sales network, not only for ipods but Macs as well, in India ? Why is Apple opening up retail outlets in India ? All this hype and hoopla, without including India in their list of 21 privileged countries authorised by Apple to have a valid iTunes account?

I’ll tell you what else is ironical. Even if I can’t download the #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from itunes, I can listen to Bill Maher’s completely brilliant talk-show "Real Time". I can also listen to Ricky Gervais and Chris Moyles. Hell, I can even get the most e-mailed article on the New York times read out to me. Glory be – all these are free podcasts.

Perhaps there is some justice in this world.

PS- This post eventually got printed in "Man's World" magazine (Nov-06 issue, page 34, no link available), attributed, unfortunately, to a pseudonym (don't even ask why).

Technorati tags: India, Bombay, Music, Entertainment, MP3, Itunes, Apple.