Unbeknownst to You, I am a reluctant Blogger who is just trying to celebrate the Symphony inside the Cacophony of the Chaos from the Classroom to the Cosmos...
Freedom -Raj Gaurav Debnath Spaces are there in Space and Time Characters are floating for a Story to be told I do not care about Rhythm or Rhyme He makes the Rules who has the Gold A Poem, a Prose, an abstract Art To Hell with monotonous Creativity Towards your Heart I have thrown my Dart Will meet You accidentally in this City A Beginning, an End, the Circle is Full Life comes, Life goes, Life is Elsewhere Whatever they tell You is all Cock and Bull Only I can give You the truth, I swear Freedom is a Word I rarely use Freedom is a Song I rarely sing But I still Love You in all your hues Love is indeed a many-splendored thing Love comes, Love goes, Love dies Oneday Whether You are Smart, Stupid, Bold or Shy I have nothing more to say Therefore I bid here Goodbye...
Today in the morning I made two videos of the songFreedom Sung Together and uploaded them later on Facebook as well as on my Youtube account. The english version was sung by Anjan Dutta and friends. The bengali version was sung by Indranil Sen and friends.
Back in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of India's independence, I had bought this cassette from Melody at Rashbehari. There were only these two songs in the cassette.
In those days I was a huge fan of Anjan Dutta and used to buy anything with which his name was associated. I am still a very big fan of his. I am in my early thirties now and today whenever I listen to his songs, I get transported back to my teenage days.
Today throughout the day I searched for this long forgotten cassette thoroughly in my room. Sadly couldn't find it in my heap of old cassettes. Once I find it, I will surely scan its album cover and upload it here. Also will upload all the details about this album. In the evening it rained a lot. The road in front of our house became water-logged. In my childhood days whenever this kind of a scenario happened, I used to make paper-boats and gently put them on the water. Unfortunately nowadays I have almost forgotten the technique of making paper-boats.
I have lost my childhood innocence. Today I don't know whether I will be able to extract pure happiness from sailing paper-boats. The definition of happiness has changed in my life.
I was supposed to go and watch
a theatre with a friend but the plan was abandoned due to heavy rain.
The FM was on. Shilajit's song Swadhinota started playing on the radio. A heart-touching and thought-provoking song indeed.
When I had first heard this song, quite a few years back, I was so inspired and in love with this song that I wrote my own version of the lyrics. If I were Shilajit then I would have written these lyrics : (My version of the lyrics to be updated soon.) Also remembered Nachiketa's song Swadhinota from the album Ke Jaai which was released in 1994. It was my favourite album.
And also remembered Suman Chattopadhyay's songSwadhinota. The last four lines were : Taar thoNtey keNpey othho Swadhinota Taar nokhey dhaar hao Swadhinota Traffic thhamiye Chumu Swadhinota Taakey niye Protirodh Swadhinota... And here is the song. Please note that this song is very rare and here I am uploading a live version.
Also another four lines from Suman's song Somoy Taakey Kaamrey Dhoro came to my mind : Tomar Jonnyo Aamar Jonnyo Chinta Korey Dhonnyo Jara Tader Gupto Pocket Gulo Dhonodhannye Pushpey Bhora... In one of Suman's concerts at Kala Mandir, he beautifully sang Donovan's Yellow is the Colour of my true Love's hair and laid particular emphasis on the last stanza : Freedom is a word I rarely use Without thinking, mm-hmmm Without thinking, mm-hmmm Of the Time Of the Time When I've been Loved...
Also I am remembering Richie Haven's song Freedom from the 1969 Woodstock.
Two hindi songs are also playing inside my mind. One is Lata Mangeshkar's song Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo and the other one is Manna Dey's Aye Mere Pyaare Watan.
And lastly here is a song named 15th August sung by Neel Dutta from the album Aami aar Godot.
PS : On 8th April 1997 I had gone to see the Hollywood film 'Independence Day' at Lighthouse Cinema Hall. I was 14 years old then. This was the first time that I saw an english film in a cinema hall. I had gone for the evening show. I had written down this date in my diary. I was tremendously excited. Loved every second of the film. Didn't take my eyes off the screen for even a split second. I didn't want to miss even 0.000000001% of the film. It was a very good film.
In those days Lighthouse used to showcase the best of Hollywood movies. Lighthouse, along with obviously New Empire, were the best destinations for english films. The day Lighthouse closed down forever on 22nd February 2002, I had felt great pain and extreme sadness. It was as if a part of my childhood was being murdered. Somethings shouldn't change because Calcutta is actually described and defined by them. Without them Calcutta will no longer be Calcutta.
As a revenge I have never shopped at the Esplanade CitiMart which has taken Lighthouse's place. I have also requested my friends and relatives to never shop there. I really miss Lighthouse. Today when I see 'Independence Day' on various TV channels, I immediately get emotionally transported to that special day of 1997...
Today is my birthday. Sms-es and phone-calls started pouring in from yesterday midnight. The first person to wish me on the stroke of midnight is really a very special person in my life. Loved the above Google doodle first thing in the morning. My ChildhoodSweetheart wished me at 6 a.m. after quite a few years. It made my day. Was sub-consciously missing her for a long time.
There was a time when there were no friends beside me. Only she was there then. She has always stood beside me through thick and thin. I have always loved her for that. She never had
any lack of friends in her life. She was always the centre of gravity
and attraction in her group of friends. On the other hand I was
always lonely to the point that I actually felt nirvana in my loneliness. Still today I don't understand what she saw in me and
why she has always kept the flame of our friendship burning through all
these 16 years.
In school we used to sit side by side. Two students shared a single desk. In our school and college days she used to call and wish me Happy Birthday at midnight. She was my best friend.
She will remain my best friend throughout my life. No one can take her place. I am really blessed to have someone like her in my life. Many times I have behaved badly with her, was rude to her and on several occasions have avoided and neglected her intentionally. Still her Love for me was and is intact. She still continued being my best friend. She has proved time and again what real friendship is all about.
Friendship is trillion times better than those stupid boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. In the last 16 years that we know each other, our friendship never developed into romance, though there were several chances of that happening, but fortunately or unfortunately it didn't. What we had between us was something extra-special. Our wavelengths matched perfectly. Even before opening our mouths one would exactly know what the other one was going to say.
However for the last few years we were not on talking terms because of some silly misunderstandings. I am to be blamed for that. It was all my fault. Whatever happened was entirely because of my misinterpretations. The people who read my Blog know by now that I am a very bad boy and am ill-behaved, arrogant, obnoxious,
dominating, selfish, demented, hot-headed and bad-tempered. I am a very difficult person to be friends with.
I would have never sms-ed or called her number because of my f*****g ego. I didn't even wish her on her birthdays in the last few years, though I wanted to wish her from deep inside, but still didn't wish her. But she is sweet enough to forgive me and wish me today on her own. I guess everything will be fine now and we can resume our friendship. Life is too short for silly feuds. Anyone who is reading this right now, please realize this fact. Life is indeed too short and this World is just too wonderful.
Uploaded the above pic as my Facebook Cover. Searched almost all the folders in my Computer and finally found the above pic. As a child I used to have great birthday parties. All my cousins along with my uncles and aunts would come and celebrate. We all used to have a gala time. My mother cooks the best food in the entire cosmos and on my birthdays she used to make extra delicious items. And I loved receiving gifts. I remember those big bags which we used to fill up with all kinds of goodies and then hang them from the ceiling, and then the kids would burst it with sticks and collect all those little toys, toffees, chocolates etc.
Eleven years back my First-Love had come to my place on my birthday. That day it had rained a lot and our Lake Gardens area was waterlogged. She almost swam across to meet me. She had also made a special birthday card for me. I still have that card. She thought that the birthday cards available on the market would not be able to convey her feelings properly. So sweet of her. These personal touches matter the most. Last year she got married on my birthday. Today is her first marriage anniversary. I wish her a very happy married life. May she have all the pleasures of the World and be the happiest woman in the entire Planet.
I have always loved chocolate cakes with those eatable red roses. Actually I prefer all kinds of cakes, but just have a slight soft-corner for chocolate ones. And I don't have any particular fascination for any particular cake shop and love all of them - Nahoum's, Kookie Jar, Upper Crust, Monginis, Sugar nSpice, Jalajogetc. On the subject of cakes, I follow Saif Ali Khan's principle from Dil Chahta Hai and that is Cake khaane ke liye hum kaahi bhi jaa saaktey hai.
And here is today's birthday cake from this new shop beautifully named Paris Cafe at Ballygunge. The cake was heavenly and it just melted inside the mouth. Eating this cake was like french-kissing Catherine Deneuve, Laetitia Casta, Brigitte Bardot, Juliette Binoche, Eva Green, Sophie Marceauand Marion Cotillard all together. Loved the cake-box too. Very cute and yet elegant.
Went to dinner at Mocambo with relatives. We got a table within five minutes only because it was a monday night. Otherwise I just hate being part of the waiting crowds in front of restaurants. Even today there were like twenty-five people waiting in front of Peter Cat. At Mocambo I simply love their sizzlers. Had Prawn cocktail, devilled Crab and Irish Chateaubriand Beef Steak.
And I love their ambience too and those reddish and yellowish lights. Recently I watched this soft, serene and sensual poetry on canvas named Looterawhere a scene was shot in Mocambo. After dinner we had gundi-paan at Park Street. I just love gundi-paans and can easily and effortlessly swallow around ten of them. Other favourite places to have gundi-paans are at paan-shops near Jai Hind Dhaba and Soho's. Tonight Park Street was quite empty with very little traffic. Crossed the road, as our car was parked on the Peter Catside, and stood for some time in front of Music World. While having dinner I had sms-ed "Missing You" to my Childhood Sweetheart. While coming back home, she sms-ed me "miss you too"...
PS : The day I was born in 1982, that day was Janmashtami too. And it had rained a lot on that day too. It was a thursday. The doctor had told my mother, "Krishno jonmechhey..."
There is nothing on earth like lying down on your comfortable bed and watching test cricket on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It is raining here in Calcutta now while in Chester-Le-Street the sun is shining happily. 'Star Cricket' was not coming on our set-top box for quite some time but thankfully now there is no problem with its transmission. Therefore I am basking in the glow of test cricket. And I absolutely love this song.
But I am simply hating the irritating Durex commercials. There is nothing f*****g intense or f*****g passionate about this ad shot in broad daylight. Its simply a turn-off!!!
Brian Lara's 'Masterclass' during the lunch break made my Sunday. It felt so nice to see and hear him, and also watch him with the bat, after ages. Just started writing a post on him.
Throughout the 90's and till 2005 Australia had a firm grip on the Ashes. The affairs used to be pretty one-sided. However in 2005, Freddie Flintoff almost single-handedly won the series for England. (to be continued...) ---
--- Friends of Old Age -Raj Gaurav Debnath Friends are important in old age When you are there all alone When your children are busy No time for even a single phone You really miss them a lot You sit waiting for their call But the bright day turns into dark night Still the phone doesn't ring at all Even then you hope against hope That they will call you the very next day It is this hope that keeps you alive It is this hope that is your life's ray But you start making new friends Because your loneliness is unbearable And they are always there for you And they keep you sane and stable The newspaper is your new friend At daybreak he comes with news He shares with you the whole world's tales And he also listens to your own views The electric kettle is your new friend He makes that special morning tea And again in the evening too He really loves it, you see The walking stick is your new friend Firmly he holds your fragile palm He never leaves your side for a moment His support gives you a sense of calm The spec is your new friend He gives you a clearer sight He narrates little incidents happening around And stays with you all day and all night The music system is your new friend He sings for you beautiful songs While you are lost in your own thoughts Contemplating life's rights and wrongs The denture is your new friend He makes you laugh at ease At the autumn of your Life, you feel Oh! What a wonderful World it is! ---
In the 90's, Sunday nights meant Superhit Muqabla on DD Metro. This was the brainchild of Harish Thawani of the Nimbus Group. In those days there were no sms-es and therefore the number one song every week was selected through, hold your breath, Postcard-polls. Even I once sent a postcard. In those days Baba Sehgal, as a VJ in this musical countdown show, had become the most popular entertainer in India. He rocked us with the song Dil Dhadke and its music video featuring Pooja Bedi had become a rage. Baba Sehgal with his fast-talks, raps and his sense of humour became a phenomenal success in the early 90's. Even Shah Rukh Khan as a guest VJ with all his tomfoolery was no match for Baba Sehgal!
Then there was Apache Indian too.
Also some obscure guy named Style-Bhai had become a one hit wonder. Daler Mehndi gave us the earthy rustic feel of rural Punjab. The music director Biddu was back with newer music videos of old songs. Remakes and remixes were the order of the day. And then Alisha Chinoy created history with Made in India.
I also loved Colonial-Cousins very much. From the 80's, Doordarshan showcased the talents of names like Sharon Prabhakar, Gurdaas Mann, Penaz Masani etc. With the 90's, names like Ila Arun, Anaida, Suchitra Krishnamurthi, Suneeta Rao, Shaan and Sagarika, Rageshwari, Shweta Shetty, Bally Sagoo and many more came up. Palash Sen made us euphoric with his band. And finally there was the one and only Amitabh Bachchan with Aby Baby. Remember Ek Rahen Eer?
During the early part of the 90's, Michael Jackson was supposed to come to India and perform at Bombay. India was witnessing Michael-maniain anticipation of his arrival. Kruttika Desai as a VJ of Superhit Muqabla was damn smoking hot. In one funny scripted episode, most probably shot in Singapore, she was trying very hard to get an interview of Michael Jackson. She even 'pataoed' MJ's bodyguard. However she failed to gain access for the interview. She came back to her hotel room, got sad, depressed and kept on sulking. Suddenly she saw Michael Jackson standing at her door. She fainted!
However this India tour was later cancelled by MJ due to health reasons and subsequently many Indian hearts were broken, including mine. Found this picture in the internet :
Here are some of my favourite non-filmi songs which I used to relish on Superhit Muqabla :
And here is an interesting trivia. Superhit Muqabla used to play only Bollywood and Indipop songs. But only once the show had included the title track of a Doordarshan serial named Kismat in its countdown. But it was no coincidence that the serial was produced by the same company that made the Countdown Show. Here is that soulful song sung by Sanu :
If I remember correctly then this serial Kismat had its own music album which was launched in the mid 90's. And here are some of my favourite filmi songs from Superhit Muqabla. Hardly hear these songs anywhere nowadays, though in those days these songs were chartbusters :
To counter the growing popularity of Superhit Muqabla, other Countdown Shows started erupting like mushrooms in monsoon. BPL Oye appeared on Channel V. Philips Top Ten emerged on Zee TV. Also Ek Se Badkar Ek came on DD1 and All The Best aired on DD Metro. But none could match the magic created by Superhit Muqabla. It was so popular that it launched its own Superhit Muqabla Awards and artists from the music industry would almost kill each other to win this award. Plus its own title track proved to be immensely popular. And again there was Baba Sehgal with his pep-talks and his raps and his coolness and his Yo-Yo attitude...
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