Long Road to Eden- that’s Manali for you!

Situated about 270 kms away above Shimla, the convenient route to reaching Manali is taking a train to Kalka and then hitting the road by cab. Of course, you could also hitch a ride in the frequently plying Volvo buses from New Delhi but that is if you are up for getting cramped in a seat on a winding, uphill journey for a good 15 hours of a day, giddy passengers included! Either way, be ready to invest a day’s time to actually reaching Manali, known to be one of the most popular hill stations in the snow-bound state of Himachal Pradesh.

Your main reasons for subjecting yourself to this arduous journey should be an escape from urban civilisation, much needed rejuvenation in a pollution free zone, tramping on snow while breathing in the refreshingly chilled air, and basically spending some quality time at a high altitude with your loved one. If not these, how about a food trail across the hills with every kind of cuisine on offer- Continental, Indian, Chinese, Italian…hell, I even bumped into a Korean food joint so far up in the hills! Give the butter heavy North Indian fare a miss, trust me there’s more that can please the palate here. So if a smoked chicken grill sandwich and syrupy pancakes at Johnson’s Café doesn’t kickstart your mornings, there’s always chicken stroganoff with herbed rice and mashed potatoes and apple wine to wash down the fatigue after a long trek uphill. When in doubt, go for the good old safe and wholesome comfort food- Maggi. Trust me, I have never relished this humble snack anywhere as much as the piping hot delicacy they belt out in the hills on a cold wintery day.

What romanticises the long road to Manali is the fact that you get a glimpse of rustic Punjab de khet, sweeping shots of the valley as you climb further, the gushing river Beas that accompanies you through much part of the way after crossing Kullu, the pine and deodar trees that line the slopes like silent sentinels and the orchards around every bend that bear ripe and luscious fruit every season. Manali is known for its fruit produce of apples, pears and peaches which means it is a great place to look for by-products of the same- juices, murabbas, jelly, jams, papads, chutneys and even pickles. What particularly caught my fancy was the amazing wines and cider drinks that they make for- if Eve fell to an apple, try getting seduced by an intoxicating glass of apple wine!

Pardon my non-adventurous nature but if skiing and paragliding give you a high, then do the Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley routine. It will get your adrenaline rushing like never before but be warned, the fun is over-priced, short lived and depending on which time of year you head there. If you are really one for the thriller mode of travel, try hiking up to Lahaul, Spiti, Bara, Bhangal and Zanskar. Further up is Leh-Ladakh if you are up for it!

As for me, I got my thrill chills the moment I felt the cold but pleasant Manali breeze hit me in the face when I rolled down the window of my car en route. The sight of serene snow peaks lit by the moonlight was a sight to remember for life as we made our nocturnal journey towards Drifter’s Inn, our address for the next two days. The moment I stepped out of the car though, I was shivering like a leaf even until I reached the warm dining lounge inside the cosy little Inn. A hot dinner of kheema pav and mushroom mutter masala with rice coupled with warm Honeybee brandy was the perfect ending to a road trip that looked like it would never end. A fitful night of sleep later, we were ready to explore the city’s length and breadth but frankly speaking don’t go in with too many expectations. The Manu Temple after which the place gets its name (Hindu lawgiver and creator of the human race Lord Manu), the Hadimba temple, the Vashist hot springs and the Buddhist monastery didn’t meet my sight-seeing expectations. I rather savoured a lazy morning playing pool at the Club House followed by some vigorous boat racing at their in-house lake.  By the way, the mouthwatering food, hookah and drinks we hogged over at Drifter’s is the stuff fantasies are made of. Think freshly baked waffles, bacon and eggs, chilli garlic fries, pan grilled trout with veggies, cous cous and rice in garlic butter and Himalayan style lamb curry. Add to this, countless number of hours spent over bargaining and shopping for authentic Kullu shawls and mufflers, Nehru jackets, knick knacks and fruity treats to take home from Mall Road till my nose turned stiff, red and running and I can say my trip was a fulfilling one indeed.

If Manali is not enough to satisfy your wanderlust, worth a dekko is the Naggar castle built in stone and wood , approximately 20 kms away from Manali, once a medieval castle built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu around 1460 A.D and now a mid-segment heritage hotel run by HP Tourism. Those interested in getting a whiff of high art can go admire the private collection of paintings that cover the local landscape by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich at the Art Gallery in his name, also in Naggar. Like many foreigners who have found home and haven in various scenic locales of India, the museum is what used to be his residence after he arrived in India way back in 1917.

Likewise, many an Indian or overseas tourist has found Manali calling for the sheer joy of lying idle in the lap of nature. After all, every human being craves the joy of isolation, peace and sanctity at some point in their life. Whether you are an artist, drifter or plain old tourist in need of novelty and inspiration, Manali promises you comfort, charm and chill- like no other place in India.

Telly Belly 1

A lot seems to be happening in Indian telly world these days. While the Asarams and Tarun Tejpals of the country are keeping news journalists on their toes with newer and sleazier developments, there’s the Arushi murder case verdict that is sure to keep TV news channels buzzing with the who, what and why of it all, long after the case is closed. 

Now that Mallika Sherawat has finally found her match in a small town guy through her much hyped and controversial swayamwar, we can breathe easy. Another one bites the dust or should we say lust? Err…censored conversation. Let’s just hope this pair manages to add further credibility to the concept of choosing a life partner through an extremely dramatised courting process packaged in a typical filmy way on national television. The only survivor who has lived to tell the story of a successful nuptial through the televised swayamvar show has been Rahul Mahajan so far and that is thin crust proof of how well such shows eventually do in the long run.

One show I am looking forward to however is the new season of Koffee

with Karan. Salman Khan is supposed to be on the hot seat or should we say sofa (?!!) with his Dad Salim Khan making a rare appearance on television together. What the normally charming, suave and extremely articulate Karan manages to glean out of this close knit dad-son duo will make for perfect warm, friendly and candid conversation the famed filmmaker is known for. Farah Khan and Preity Zinta tried it but failed. Koel Purie doesn’t try too hard. And the likes of Anupama Chopra end up sounding avuncular and staid without intentionally meaning to most of the times. Interviewing stars and superstars is not as easy as it seems and to get them comfortable, confiding and conversational is a rare art that only Karan has mastered, wit and easy camaraderie attached.

Star Plus meanwhile is going berserk with its promotional drive for the new avatar of Mahabharata. Yes, so they spent crores on the production of this one. That doesn’t necessarily translate in to a well-etched,well-enacted and well-rendered telling of the epic tale. Not only does it have to walk the thin line between authenticating the original story but also make sure it adds a unique something that helps us wash away the impact of the well received and wonderfully narrated and picturised Mahabharata that DD gave us. The challenge that the makers of the new Mahabharata face is two pronged- they need to appeal to a generation that has grown up on the old Mahabharata where actors like Mukesh Khanna, Puneet Issar, Pankaj Dheer and Gufi Paintal are still remembered as Bheeshma, Duryodhan, Karna and Shakuni Mama resp. On the other hand, they must also cater to the urban and highly westernised young generation that has no inkling to the old version and no particular interest in making themselves sit through the new one. This facebook and twitter generation wants its TV content snappy, pacy and relatable and that is where a mythology-based TV show fails big time. Mind you, The Immortals of Meluha is still a trending literary series among the youth so do not dismiss this generation as unworthy of following an epic scale saga. Now if only TV producers manage to blend in old world sensibilities with modern and strongly opinionated mindsets of youngsters, the new Mahabharata may actually work.

 

As for Colors, after the sudden oustre of the lovable Gutthi from Comedy Nights with Kapil, the show has somehow lost its sheen. The jokes are getting repetitive, Sidhu’s rejoinders seem stale and too much pressure seems to be on host and comedian Kapil Sharma to keep the audience laughing, the stars on his show entertained and the TRPs rising. It doesn’t help that Bigg Boss Season 7 on the same channel seems to be in the last 5 weeks of its existence. Last inmate to have exited was pretty young thing (PYT) Eli Evram. Last inmate to gain entry again was sulky young gun Kushal Tandon. Last two people I want to see winning are ‘doormat meets bouncer’ couple Tanisha and Armaan, notwithstanding the ugly rumours around their so called affair in the House. If you have preferred to keep out of the proceedings in this much publicised and talked about show, you aren’t missing out on anything earth shattering. Except that this is the only show in which you will find humans making life hell for each other with a dog called Heaven for company. Bizarre huh? Well, you can say that again.

25 Random Things About Me

1. I see dreams in Eastman colour since childhood. Occasionally, I can even remember vivid images and people in my dreams a long time after.

2. I love being organized. Making lists, sorting stuff and putting things in order are daily chores for me.

3. I lose my appetite when people look at me eating.

4. Among so many other things, I am most grateful to my parents for believing in me and letting me chase my dreams.

5. I would love to see a ghost but haven’t still figured out if I will live to tell the story.

6. I am not drawn towards extreme adventure sports but climbing heights fascinates me. The view from the top is always worth it. Besides, biking is also one of my favourite sports.

7. Words have always been my favourite weapon of injury.

8. I try very hard not to hate people. But there are people who try even harder to make me hate them.

9. I do think men have had it easy for a long time but I am not a hard core, bra burning feminist. In fact, I am quite awed by the do-it-all women who work, cook, clean and manage to endear themselves to everyone around. They take woman power to the next level.

10. I am not a jingoistic rashtravadi but I do feel patriotic in many ways. I think I was a freedom fighter (writing anti-Raj journals furiously sitting in an underground bunk) in my last birth or at least a humble soldier fighting, on the LOC. Fortunately, both ways I must have died a martyr to be reborn as an Indian again.

11. Universal love and tolerance are God’s eternal gifts. Religion is a man made tool, often abused and manipulated by forces of evil.

12. I have been blessed to find fulfillment in the very simple and basic things. I might not exactly be living an austere life but I value spiritual well being to materialistic fancies, anyday.

13. I have been very lucky to have found love, rejected it, found love and rejected it again and yet found love a third time. Of course I have wisened and this time it IS for keeps.

14. Some secrets are best kept veiled. There is an eerie thrill in being slightly mysterious.

15. Out of all the mistakes I have committed in life, I regret none. All of them have been lessons I learnt the hard way.

16. I hate the intrusive nature of the media when it comes to celebrities. It exaggerates and castigates the exact vices we all have within us. We’re just lucky the camera doesn’t catch a glimpse of it.

17. I am half Bengali and half Maharashtrian and trust me, both halves have made a fabulously full culture curry when it comes to me!

18. God made me petite but he also made me love wearing heels. It’s only fair!!

19. The first Bollywood hero I remember being completely floored by was Jeetendra (sheesh!). It evolved to Anil Kapoor in the ‘80s and currently Hrithik Roshan. But Naseeruddin Shah silently made his way in to my list at some point, and has remained there since.

20. I am a complete foodie and the thought of putting on weight hasn’t troubled me so far. I am hoping it continues to be this way.

21. I am a thorough ‘handle-with-care’ person. The word ‘delicate darling’ was coined for me. I have fainted at bus stops and public gatherings. I have also fallen ill on every childhood vacation trip. I also, unfailingly pass out on airplanes if not administered anti-nausea pills, exactly two hours before I board one.

22. Unlike some people, I love living alone. I have had a keen sense of independence right from my kindergarten days. Self-introspection, meditative thoughts and books can keep me engaged for countless hours at a stretch.

23. Studying people is a personal hobby. I also go out of my way sometimes to please other people. It’s an irritating habit and usually ends up with those people taking me for granted.

24. I hate indecisiveness. I also pity people who don’t love children, music, nature, art and culture.

25. At 25, I have realized that age, education and wealth, don’t necessarily make a wise person.

THE HAPPY DESCENDANT!

“Parents give you everything. It starts with the gift of life and then evolves into the person you will become. Your values, your morals, your codes — they all come from your family. A child is only as good as her upbringing, which is why being a parent is the hardest job in the world. One you can never resign from.” ---- Eye, The Indian Express.

This is an extract from a recent article I read by Nonita Kalra about her recently deceased father and his steadfast altruism which stretched towards people beyond his clan and community. In some way or the other, her father left a legacy of kindness that she hopes to inherit and live upto through her life. This got me thinking. There are so many traits and attitudes that we actually directly take on from our parents that make us start relating to them, being characteristic of their personality and become reference points for people to comment, “Oh, that’s so like your Dad” or “That’s your Mom talking.” 

So here I am compiling a list of attributes I believe I owe to my parents. Since they all have enriched me in becoming a better person, I have time again felt fortunate enough in being born to my beloved Mom and Dad. 

1) LIVE YOUNG, DIE HARD: That’s my Dad’s primary philosophy. He swears by it and his infectious zest for life is worth imbibing. No matter what troubles or strife he may have gone through, his amazing sense of wanting to overcome all this and move on, has taken him places. Today, he is a man who has fulfilled all his ambitions, travelled the world, achieved an indelible position in his field of medicine and been the indulgent man of the house every woman would want to live with. His secret to a long life and staying forever young: lead a disciplined life while you eat, drink and be merry. Know where to say ‘No’. It works. He looks at least ten years younger than he is!

2) INDEPENDENCE DAY: Yeah, when you know how to fend for yourself no matter the weather, place or people, every day can be truly called Independence Day. So my parents have mastered the art of managing home, hearth and all the responsibilities that come with living alone without letting a frown or lament. These are people who are comfortable living with themselves, far apart from their loved ones and without making any of them feel guilty about it. They are great hosts when those festive gatherings come calling, they love the annual family holiday with grandkids in tow and do experience pangs of separation when they can’t be there for those special occasions in each other’s lives, yet they don’t lose that unflinching smile and that positive attitude towards life. 

3) THE CONSTANT PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: There will be many people and circumstances in life to put you down, to make you want to turn against the world. There is strength in knowing that they are not worth your diatribe. 

4) CASTE AWAY: My parents being intercaste themselves, both my sister and me have always been brought up to believe that exposure to other communities will make us that much richer by the experience. Living in a truly cosmopolitan city like Mumbai where Tamils, Malayalees, Christians, Muslims, Tulus, Bengalis, Marwaris, Jains, Punjabis, Gujaratis and so on jostle for space with the native Maharashtrians, in all likelihood there are minor chances of this not happening. So we have been able to participate in activities and appreciate people across barriers of caste, creed, race and religion. It has helped us become liberal, respectful and knowledgeable without being intrusive, judgemental and dismissive of others’ practices or lifestyle. If there was one rule for outsiders it was: Please keep your chappals and orthodoxy outside the door. 

5) PRACTICE BEING PRACTICAL: So yeah, there are times when you just want to go into your shell and not want to talk to anybody. There are times when you want to cry your heart out and all you are left with is an emotional void. There are times when emotions get the better of us and cripple our sense of reasoning and our ability to solve problems. Without being cold hearted and impervious to other people’s sensitivities, there is a way of not letting your emotional ties to a person, object, place or situation get all knotted up only to leave a long streak of regret, pain, guilt, tension or deep seated grievances. Try detaching yourself from the problem at hand, look at it objectively and find a realistic solution to it. I have tried, it works every time.

The A-List of B-music!

Never thought this would actually give me enough dope for a story but yeah, looks like there is an A List in place when it comes to our good old Bollywood music! We are living in interesting times when it comes to this genre of music in India. Not only are Hindi film songs the most sought after and ‘downloaded’ kind of music across all ages, it cuts across barriers of race, culture, community and geographies. Even the West is acknowledging us and no I don’t mean it as having reached the pinnacle of popularity but it definitely means we are hard to ignore as a country when it comes to our music! I doubt if regional music has caught on, if it does, it would definitely be time to take a bow because I know there is so much talent and beauty waiting to be explored in there. 

Coming back to our topic today, music in Bollywood has widened its gamut to embrace new talent, unconventional voices, international influences- regional strings attached (thanks to shows like Coke Studio and earthy ethnic musicians getting their due on music reality shows on GECs)! All this brings good music to our ears and manages to surprise us every time we fall in love with a particular song and realize, it may be sung or composed by a name you didn’t know existed but can’t seem to get enough of! No longer do you need to count the good guys on your fingers like the Shankar Ehsaan Loys, Salim-Sulaimans, Vishal-Shekhars and so on. Giving them company today is a crop of musicians who are off beat without being off track and not reluctant to show it.

So here’s to the A-list of Bollywood’s musical mavericks made of established and budding artists both, who seem to have not only carved their niche in the pulsating and competitive music industry today but also seem to be thriving on their individual might and identity. These guys are pushing the limits of how music should sound, innovating with new styles and strings and finally emerging triumphant, with their fans screaming for more. Put them in a concert together and see what a storm they can whip up!

A R Rahman- He went full-fledged Bollywood with the much touted Rangeela, following it up with the mellifluous Bombay, with his guardian angel Mani Ratnam. He made a befitting impression with Roja which although a film from the Tamil film industry, effectively established Rahman as a man to watch out for in the Hindi film music scenario.  His music transcended the film’s eventual success at the box office, so endurable was its effect. Songs from Dil Se and Swades can still send true lovers of soulful music in to raptures. Rahman’s music even rose the standard and contributed to the success of the film by several yards. Pukar, Zubeidaa, Fiza, Taal, Yuva, Guru are cases in point. An Oscar may have evaded him at this stage but the Academy Awards nominated Lagaan nailed it in terms of its music, firmly positioning him among the top musicians of the industry. Suddenly, there was no stopping this guy. He could churn out a youthful Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na alongwith the historical Jodhaa Akbar and the breezy Ghajini the same year.  In fact 2008 saw him at his peak with Slumdog Millionaire which finally won him the covetable Oscar.  A brief lull was followed by his resurgence with the power packed Rockstar that made one out of him as well. And just when we thought he was getting too techno-western in his language, he threw a Raanjhanaa in our faces with all its small town grandeur and desi beats. Take a bow Rahman.

Ajay-Atul- Make way for the Maharashtrian brigade. Brothers in arms Ajay and Atul are firmly

rooted in their Indian traditions, which comes through in a very zany, soulful, sun kissed way. They have already given music to commercial potboilers like Bol Bachchan and Singham. But it was the soundtrack of Agneepath which gave this National Award winning duo the fame they deserve. Abhi mujhme kahi and O Saiya are my personal favourites. Watch out for more!

Amitabh Bhattacharya- He catapulted himself to instant fame with Dev D’s  chartbusting songs which made pathos sound so trendy, every youngster wanted to drown himself in his music. His wall of work includes hits like Udaan, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Band Bajaa Baarat, Ready, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, Ek Main aur Ekk Tu, Cocktail, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani for many of which he has also flipped to being playback singer apart from being the lyricist. Anyone who doubts this man’s calibre has to tune into Lootera and listen to his rendition of Ankahee and Shikayatein among others.

Arijit Singh- He was raw yet likeable in his first public appearance as singer on a national

platform with a show called Fame Gurukul on Sony. He didn’t go on to win in spite of being the best which says a lot about the quality of reality shows. You cannot ignore the power of sheer talent though and true to his mettle, Arijit bounced back resurgent with back to back hits in Cocktail, Barfi! and finally his comeuppance in Tum Hi Ho and Meri Aashiqui from Aashiqui 2. Want to see his versatility- he is the same guy who also sang Dilliwali Girfriend from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. Take that!

Amit Trivedi- There’s one name that links Dev.D, Wake Up Sid, Ishaqzaade, Kai Po Che! and Lootera and that is this man’s. Labelled as edgy, quirky, avante garde- simply put, Amit’s compositions are path breaking, uplifting and dynamic without losing the melody. No wonder then that the youth is lapping up everything he belts out. With a consistency that has surprised even the harshest of critics, looks like Amit is upping the ante with every project he takes up. His next being Bombay Velvet, one can only hope his career graph has yet to see its peak!