Oh Sandy

Hooked on to the news with super storm Sandy updates.

Wondering how crazy it must be over there in New York and New Jersey with the Holland tunnel and the subways closed.

Thinking of the citigroups building in Pavonia with a strange wish to to look out of the window.

Thinking of that old, almost ruinous building in Jersey city where we used to live and  wondering how our old care taker is managing out there.

Worried about all the friends  in New York, New Jersey and rest of the east coast.

The fallen Hero

Few years ago when I was going through the most difficult phase of my life, a book helped me to pull myself together and gather some sense of direction.

Well, Let me rephrase that a  bit. May be it was not the most difficult phase of my life. Actually it could have been the happiest phase. I was pregnant and back  home in India away from the responsibilities and it was exactly what I wanted at that period of time more than anything else. But certain things happened which totally changed the course of life there after. I was utterly tensed and helpless and the most important person in my life was sinking in to a deep depression. I couldn't even master enough strength to tell him everything was going to be alright.  So I kept to my room reading , it was the only thing that took me away. From Milan Kundera to Vaikkam Muhammad Basheer, from Ruskin Bond to 80's issues of Amar Chitra Kadha  I read what ever I could lay my hands on. It was then that  my sister in law found me a copy of 'IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE" by Lance Amstrong.

Of course I knew who Lance Amstrong was and I knew his story, but the book was something else. From his passionate pursuit of success to his unyielding struggle and final victory over cancer, I couldn't help but salute his courage and spirit. So I decided to set aside all the self pity and embrace the blessing of life which was growing inside me. I convinced Kiran, my husband that we could actually turn things around and make our 'situation' an opportunity ( which he kind of did).

The recent allegation on Lance Amstrong has literally shattered my belief system. I know millions of fans all around the world must be going through the same bewilderment and confusion. I wish he proved himself innocent. But all the news channels tell me it is not going to happen. Hope he breaks his silence and at least owns up everything.
 So It was really 'not about the bike'?

Life and Bollywood - 1

My husband constantly teases me about my obsession with 60's film stars. Its true that I devote many an hour of my newly acquired free time researching on their lives. But that doesn't make me a celebrity worshiper. Frankly I don't really care about the' who is dating who' of the present times. But there is something about the yesteryear's doomed romances, bad career moves and over night successes that completely fascinates me. I take it as examples of human life as we can always find out what happened to the star later in life. And we have images from different phases of their life in celluloid and understand what time does to any living creature. Stars are no exception, try as they might time always catches up.



Lets look into the life of Rajesh Khanna , the star who is often referred as 'the original super star' of Hindi cinema.

Born as Jatin Khanna in Amritsar , Khanna was adopted and raised by foster parents in Mumbai. The young Mr Khanna started taking interest in theater from his school and college days and won many prizes. In 1965 he won a talent contest organized by United producers and Filmfare which made his way to 1966 films Akhri Khat (by Chetan Anand) and Raaz( by Ravindra Dave). These are the first images we get to see of him and we  see a handsome young man in his early twenties. There is a certain vulnerability about him which actually makes him even more attractive. Then comes Baharon ke Sapne 1967 in which he acted with the fabulous Asha Parekh. I don't know if this film was a critical landmark in his early career but I can watch this video of Aja piya Tohe pyar doom a million times (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep10GUjctvw)

With Aradhana 1969 he became a national sensation. We see a more confident style of acting with that eye twitching and smile. I read in many articles that he had the largest female fan base in the history of Indian cinema. Girls were marrying themselves to his photograph. They would stand in lines just to catch a glimpse and would pull at his clothes and he often had to have police protection.
Now lets take a look at the star's personal life. He was dating the young starlet Ms Anju Mahendru at the time. Their relationship presumably withstood the craziness of his popularity and success. He was giving hit after hit and went on to give a record of 15 consecutive hits from 1969 to 1971.

1972 showed a decline in his success chart. As his films failed to do well at box office his personal life also took a toll. His relationship of 7 years with Anju Mahendru came to a bitter end. It is said that he went on to sabotage her career and married the then 16 year old Dimple Kapadia immedietly after the break up. His baraat was deliberately taken  outside Anju Mahendru's house. They didn't speak to each other for 18 years.

In 1973 BBC recorded a documentary 'The Bombay superstar'. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWmucHoZN3U). We see Rajesh Khanna coming 2 hours 'fashionably' late to one of his sets, his wedding ceremony and him boycotting an award function as he was not the winner. Even the interviewers had to go to his house 5 times before he finally kept his appointment.

As years went by he saw many ups and downs in his career. In the eighties he starred in many critically acclaimed films. We see him with that special freshness of youth gone, though the larger than life 'Rajesh Khanna' charisma was still at large. Around this time his marriage to Dimple Kapadia also dissolved.

He had a successful career in the television post eighties. He also served as an M.P from 19991 - 1996.

I remember reading in a news paper many years ago that his son-in-law Akshay Kumar helped him out when his prestigious villa Aashirwaad was under the threat of being auctioned out. I wonder what made his financial situation this bad.

During his last years both his estranged wife and his first love came back to his life. Anju Mahendru reportedly held  Rajesh Khanna's hand as he took his last breath .Both women were crying inconsolably at his funeral.

So what does all this teach us about life. If even stars are mere puppets at the hands of time where do us, the mere mortals stand? Then why do we still take grudges to grave?

A little splash of magic

My Navneeth is a little science enthusiast ( Of course he got it from his father). He likes to play with magnets and experiments with their polarity. Usually at bedtime he moves his night lamp and make shadows move. Then he will explain to his 'uninformed' mother that they are moving because he is changing the source of light.

 Last week I started singing this song about teddy bears before putting him to bed. It goes something like this.

When the mid-night s striking
When everyone s asleep
Teddys yawn and stretch and shake
Out of warm beds creep

.............

Then the teddy bears sneak out and gather in the dark and walk along the empty streets to the park. There they play on the slides, the swings and the see-saws beneath the moon. And when the sun comes peeping they tip toe back to bed and snuggle down next to unsuspecting children.

This information about the thrilling night life of teddy bears have brought a change in my son. He now looks at teddy bears with respect. When he is in the park he takes a moment and looks around before running for the slides .

I am actually glad. What is childhood with out a little bit of magic.