Matters of the heart

During college days, reading Sudha Pillai’s article in TOI on the ‘Matters of the Heart’ made me feel like a typical teen. I could identify with it. Today, when I’m no more a teen, it still makes sense.

When you are a teen you are all ‘mushy’ and waiting for your Prince charming! He/she makes your heart skip a beat and you hum love songs all day! It’s a phase that we all go through, until we find that someone special in our life who is meant to be that – ‘special’. Some find their special person early on and build dreams and cascades whereas for the others it takes a while. And it’s worth the wait.

‘Love’ has been man’s greatest strength and weakness. Men and women love differently but is it love that makes us all feel secure and confident? A single woman may have tasted the essence of love but chooses to stay single for various reasons. Many couples have loved truly and with all their heart and soul. Destiny chooses some to be successful whereas some others do not materialize but it does not fail.

In today’s fast paced world, loving means texting each other, calling up each other, Facebooking (while most avoid it) and of course enjoying the little time that they have like there is no tomorrow.

Love as they say makes the world a safer place. Look around and it is ‘love’ that makes us all look forward to a bright day. Differences have distanced people away from each other. Loving one another has become a ‘business’ than a ‘matter of the heart’. Hold onto it, all is not lost. People do seek ‘matters of the heart’. Let’s not lose the innocence and the joy of loving. We love to be loved and when you give love it is the most beautiful feeling ever :)

Break free and open up to a world of love!

Welcome Happiness into your life!

Happiness is a state of the mind. The ultimate aim of all is to achieve happiness in every aspect of our life. The best way to seek happiness is to give it to people around you. This creates a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. You are at peace with yourself and people around you. It is said that “It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown.”

Why do we have stress balls with smileys, why is every advertisement showing love and happiness with all the primary colors, why does every ad show a child or kid with a happy and uncomplaining mother? Because these create a positive energy and most of all honesty…Honesty is a virtue, which attracts us towards it making our lives much simpler. Children speak the truth, it may put you in an easy situation but that’s the beauty of being a child. Purity and innocence describe them.


Happiness is when you see a baby sleeping peacefully, happiness is when you look up at the stars in the sky, happiness is when you lend a helping hand to those in need, happiness is expressing love to your dear ones, happiness lies within you…

A silent prayer or a wish can make your day calm and serene. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states self-actualization as the highest aim of all mankind. To reach this state, we need to move up the pyramid fulfilling the physiological, security, social, and esteem needs.

This isn’t as easy as it seems. Determination, integrity and a powerful personality will make you achieve success in all aspects of life.

Keep smiling and do pedal your bicycle of life with great energy and enthusiasm, spreading joy and cheer :))

Men will be men!

We want to take public transport, why? Because it reduces the need to get your own vehicle, traffic jams and it’s inexpensive...

But, traveling by the bus can be disastrous for a woman! This may sound like and old topic to write about but trust me it happens every day and women just zip their lips!

A man sitting in ladies seat is akin to victory! I would like to narrate an incident a 'bus incident'. I was traveling by the bus (which I do rarely, but need to in order to save money). The last ladies seat had just one lady sitting beside the window. This shameless man happily parked himself. I was just there waiting for a seat. I looked at him and said 'Ladies Seat’; he got up feeling not very embarrassed.

I was proud of myself and was feeling good :)) but the girl next to me got down at the next stop. Now what? All the men were vying for that seat! I didn’t budge. One of the men asked me to push in. I again said 'Ladies Seat'. They began to talk among themselves and express frustration.

I just couldn't sit there any longer. The seat in front of me was empty, I immediately went and sat there. Two shameless men sat there in the ladies seat like they had won the battle!

I was so proud of myself but eventually those uncivilized men won the battle. The problem also lies with women; they don’t have the guts to ask what is theirs. There were so many women who were standing who could have grabbed the seat next to me but they chose not to. Why? Only because men will be men!

Fight for your rights and when you have got it, make use of the rights given to you. It's not just about getting a seat in the bus but it’s about who you can be!

Be the change you want to see in the world

Indians will never learn civic manners and etiquette ever! Look around and you are sure to find every single person behaving the worst. It might include yourself too!

How many of us Indians are encountered by rude and ignorant auto drivers who complain about traffic and one-way roads? Traveling by the auto rickshaw is a nuisance and convincing them to go anywhere you want to makes it tougher. Also, a slight drizzle in namma Bengaluru will get them to charge extra and demand higher than the usual fare! Take a bus ride and you are sure to find women and men quarreling over seat or the conductor speaking rudely to the passengers.

We Indians love talking and with more than half of the population in India, now having a mobile phone, (According to Gartner, the mobile penetration in India will reach 82% in 2014), all hell's going to break loose! Talking non-stop with increasing decibel rate will certainly leave our ear drums damaged! Also, I don't get the point why people talk so loud so that others can hear what you say? Does it matter to me that you just had a bad day at work?

We complain of bad roads, and missing pavements, how many of us use the pavement for walking? What about two-wheelers using the pavement to escape the traffic jam! And then there are others who love spitting, littering, and running into others while walking or crossing...

These are things that we see everyday and let it happen cause we too are culprits. We travel abroad and follow the rules and have a disciplined life. As they say, “In Rome, do as the Romans do”. Once out, we are back to our old ways. Yes, old habits die hard.

But it is up to each individual to bring about a change. Lets make a difference and begin with ourselves first, so that others can follow.

As Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Dearest Mom,

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers round the world! The most caring, beautiful and forgiving people on earth. A woman wears many hats, but it is motherhood that makes her a strong person. Love from a mother to a child is inexplicable. It is unconditional love that makes a mother-child relationship strong.

We all take this very relationship for granted and I do too. My mother pampers me with so much love and care that I want it more and more. The more I get, the more secure I feel.
Thank You, Mom for putting up with my foolishness and silly acts. Thank You for everything!
Love You!

The twinkle in your eyes, light up the house
Your sunshine smile, makes my day!
Your amazing talks is a source of inspiration
Your touch is heavenly!
Your the greatest joy I could ever ask for,
Thank You Mom!
Love You lots!

You Are All of This to Me

We have all grown up reading Chicken soup for the teenage soul... me too. Here is a poem that I enjoyed reading!

You're the thought that starts each morning,
the conclusion to each day.
You are in all that I do,
and everything I say.

You're the smile on my face,
the twinkle in my eye.
The warmth inside my heart,
the fullness in my life.

You're the hand that's laced in mine,
and the coat upon my back.
My friend, my love,
my shoulder to lean on.

You're my silly, mature, caring,
thoughtful, bright and honest guy.
The one who holds me tightly,
when I need to cry.

You're the dimple in my cheek,
the ever constant tingle in my soul.
The voice that makes me weak,
the happiness of my life.

You're are all I've wanted,
you are all I need.
You are all I've dreamed of,
you are all of this to me.

- Melissa Collette

Celebrating Women's Day

Tomorrow March 8, 2010 is Women's Day and I have never given it any importance. Cause, I believe every day is a celebration of womanhood.

At 24, my mum tells me to behave like a 'woman' and not a college kid. Being a total tom boy in an all-girls school, it takes a hell lot of time for you to be like any other normal girl.

But as you grow and move into different phases of life, you realize the need to be 'you'. Still, I don't want to fall into the conventional or stereotypical way of being a woman. I do believe that each one has their own way of looking at life and achieving success. For me a woman represents strength of character, epitome of patience and having the courage to take on anything in life.

Being in a family where the majority are girls, I enjoy every bit of it. I have never asked God 'why don't I have a brother?' Never! I thank God I don't have one! In this post, I'm gonna share with you some of the women who have inspired and made a difference to my life.

1)Only a mother can offer unconditional love and care to her children no matter what! I love my mother! She treats me like a kid, pampers me, cares for me and makes me love her all the more! But what I love most about her is the fact that she has stood by her values and principles and does not care a dam about what others think or say.

2)My elder sister and I have always quarreled over trivial things. We are both blunt and extra rude too. But I miss her a lot! Its been five years since she married and I love her for what she is. I wait eagerly to meet her in the weekends, and most of all to play with my little nephew. Motherhood has changed my sister in many ways. My mum says I gotto learn many things from her...I'm sure I will.

3)Being a Bollywood buff, I cannot miss this gutsy and zesty woman. Its Preity Zinta! The 'only male' in Bollywood! She is intelligent, and dares to speak her mind and has achieved fame and success through hard work and sheer love for life. Amazing!

4)The world of journalism always attracted me and Barkha Dutt in particular. A journalist who dares to be herself and connect to millions of people especially the youth. Truly a woman of courage.

So this Women's Day, enjoy being 'you'.

My Name is Khan - Review

Hats off to KJo for venturing out on something so different. Being a fan of SRK, I couldn't miss MNIK. Well, MNIK touches your heart. It's a story of humanity and love. In today's world of suspicion and doubt, we forget to love oneself and others. MNIK portrays love as a means to unite people and nations. It showed love between two different worlds can be a success.

SRK as Rizwan Khan is fantastic. Seeing SRK as a romantic hero and watching him in MNIK is a completely different experience. His body language, dialogue delivery, and his innocent expressions make you love Rizwan Khan (make sure Khan is said from the epiglottis!)

Kajol as Mandira is magical! No size zero Kareena or mini skirt Piggy chops can beat her! SRK and Kajol continue to have a crackling chemistry. It's pleasing to watch them together.

The music of the film is soulful. 'Tere Naina' speaks volumes of Rizwan's attraction towards Mandira. 'Sajda' celebrates the joy of love and peace. 'Noor-e-khuda' resonates Rizwan's journey and quest for love.

If you haven't watched MNIK, do watch it on the big screen!

Photography in Coorg! Part II

Mouthshut.com

Want to know the fate of the next SRK movie? Want someone to recommend you to read a good book over the weekend? Does 'Little Italy' serve pasta to suit the Indian taste buds? Will the new L'Oreal product really straighten my hair?

Well there are answers for all this. It is not word-of-mouth but the 'reviews' that our experts in the field offer us. Today, there are reviews for almost everything under the sun. There are websites exclusively for Reviews. For instance my favorite - Mouthshut.com.

This website allows 'you' the consumer to review the product and you don't have to be a professional here. You can either choose to read someone else's review or write one yourself. It's simple. All you have to do is choose the category that you want to pen your thoughts on. Say – 'Entertainment' and then it could be your favorite T.V. channel, or programe or a film that excites you. Also you can read and rate other reviews that you just loved or completely hated. The comments space allows you to share your thoughts on the review or give your opinion on it. This leads to great interaction and feedback from your readers. It also leads to trusted members and readers who want to read your reviews solely because your reviews are genuine.

I personally signed up on Mouthshut.com after watching the movie 'Swades'. I thought the movie was so beautifully made and wanted to share my views on it. Writing in the entertainment section gives me the zest. Today, the online space gives each one of us an opportunity to be heard. Why not use this medium to the fullest?

Next time, think before you catch Omar Qureshi on Zoom to give his verdict on the latest Friday release, or Priya Bala's food review to take your girlfriend for a date!

3 cheers!

3 cheers to the makers of 3 idiots! The best movie of 2009 teaches us how to live life and to pursue one’s dreams. All of us cherish the times spent in college. College life is all about having fun, bunking classes, catching the latest movie, crushes yada yada yada…For 3 idiots – Farhan, Rancho, and Raju , college was all this and more.

Rancho played by Aamir Khan is a guy who thinks out of the box. Loves to implement what he has studied. Is inquisitive and believes in striving for excellence and not success.
Farhan played by Madhavan is a care free guy who admires Rancho’s outlook towards life. He’s an engineering student by default. His only passion is wildlife photography.
Raju played by Sharman Joshi likes sticking by the rules of life. Is a wimp who has an ailing father, unmarried sister and poor mother. Raju dreams to be an engineer.
Piya played by Kareena Kapoor is a medical student who is attracted to Rancho for his innovative ideas. And is the professor’s daugther who hates the 3 idiots.
Virus played by Boman Irani is a professor at ICE – Imperial College of Engineering. He hates students who bend the rules. Has a stereotypical outlook towards education and does not encourage imagination and innovation.

But all this does not stop the 3 idiots. They believe ‘aal izzz welll’ and that one must study to be capable in life. Rancho is a constant support in Farhan and Raju’s life. Rancho is a pillar of strength…It is the life of the 3 idiots, how they follow their dreams due to Rancho’s persistent efforts…

The movie conveys the message of student suicides, parental and peer pressure, ragging, the drive to be at the top and the need to move ahead in the race of life beautifully. Hats off to Rajkumar Hirani for conveying the message of life with ease and simplicity. It’s a must watch! One of the best movies of its time!

Movie Review: Welcome to Rocket Sales Corp.

Shimit Amin’s Chak De! India struck gold at the box office and gave SRK his most memorable role, that of Kabir Khan. His second film, Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year may have not done well but the critics have appreciated the current favorite Ranbir Kapoor’s performance. It’s a film that every one of us can relate to not just the people involved in ‘sales’.

Background: The story revolves around Harpreet Singh Bedi or HB who wants to ‘sell’. He joins AYS which deals in computer products and services as a trainee. Though he goofs up in the interview the CEO is impressed with his never-give-up attitude. Field inductions, rule of selling all interest him but it sis the corruption (bribery and politics) that disturb him and put him in trouble. He ends up being a ‘zero dimaag’ in the eyes of the CEO. So, here starts his discovery of selling himself to the world. Starts his own firm called Rocket Sales Corp (besides being a trainee at AYS). Gets a small team of people from AYS who trust each other and have the will to go higher with an honest outlook to life. His firm is known for its service and very soon the sales of Rocket Sales Corp grow higher than AYS’. This disturbs the CEO of AYS who is eager to know all about Rocket Sales…
Watch the movie to know what happens next…I don’t want to give out everything.

Cast: Ranbir as HB is fantastic! He has amazing screen presence. Guahar Khan as the receptionist of AYS is a pleasant surprise. Good acting from Giri as the IT guy and Nitin who’s the Sales Manager. And not to for get Prem Chopra who is adorable as HB’s Dadaji.

Watch the movie…It conveys the idea of selling effectively. Remember we are all selling at every point in life.
As HB says, “Spiderman ko bhi risk lena padtha hai.”

Aman Ki Asha

It’s 2010! A new year and a new beginning for all of us.
As a reader of The Times of India, I was eager to see the first page and it brought a smile on my face. I’m sure it got many readers smiling too. It read ‘LOVE PAKISTAN’. Aman Ki Asha, an Indo-Pak peace project is an effort to bring the two nations together. One of the articles titled ‘Peace with Pakistan. Give tomorrow a chance’ by Jaideep Bose ends with these lines…
‘You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us…’
Lets work together for peace and harmony between the two nations.