From scratch to stitches and back!!

How does it feel to start a relationship from scratch... Imagine happening the same on a consistent basis... hard isn't it... HE was apparently facing the same...
SHE always used to be pleasant with him... wishing him good morning... smile when he saw her... talk to him when he talked to her... but not the first person to start a conversation... only if she had a problem or only when she really wanted to talk!!
Wanting a relationship always demands patience which HE had that in plenty... So he usually kept quiet about all that was happening... It was really hard for him to reset whenever SHE used to talk to him as if she spoke to a stranger... even when they wud have shared a coffee the previous evening...
All he wanted really was a friend whom he could talk to but one leads to another and HE was now really interested in this girl... but confused at how to move forward..
The conversations that would occur were usually very nice and pleasant and it would be on topics that both would love to talk about. There was once a day when he took her out for lunch and suddenly it started to rain... It didn't stop for the next 2 hrs and he had the most beautiful time which he thought he would remember for his life time... There were many lunches and many coffees hence forward... Whenever he discussed HER with his friends, there were mixtures of opinions... some would say that she was good in using people around her... some would say that she really liked him and he should probably take it to the next level... He was being more patient in letting himself understand this girl better... He would listen to his friends and then he used to sit still thinking about what next when he had an enchanting evening wid her... and then the next day... everything would come crashing down on him...
His friends would always advise him... No one won a lottery without buying a ticket... or atleast having it... dude when u want a relationship... U shud be ready to be taken for granted... Just a test... but HE always used to feel... ok... but how long?!!
The day arrived when he wanted to guts it out and let her know what he thinks and when that came... He went around his place to get her nice gift and then planned to say it that weekend when he met her... She accepted the gift rather in a very immature manner and asked him whether She could give them to someone who could use that... and that he knew was kinda nail in the coffin... When he told her finally... that He liked her very much... she didnt even waste a minute in letting him know that she had a steady relationship with another guy... That was the final nail...
HE still talks to this girl in a very pleasant way but now knows where and how to keep his distance. She... even now tries to get things done from him... only HE ain't falling no more!!

Shraddha - A play that makes u think!!

I feel that a Father and son's relationship is most complex yet interesting... Many of us might feel... guys usually get along with their mothers better than their dads... in most case its true... for all of us... mother always means love and affection... and dad means respect (decision maker in the family)... love will be there somewhere for dad... but we are too shy to get it out and say it loud... I have never done that so I know how it is if you feel the same...
This past weekend... ie on 27th June 2010... I became over-whelmed with emotions to see my friend Vj (Vinayak Joshi - Radio Jockey in Radio City 91.1 FM) direct a play and dedicate to his beloved. This apparently is a national award winning drama. I could relate many things that Vj said through his play... I had taken my parents who had their own experiences played out in front of their eyes... At some point or the other everyone in the room could recognize the character played by Prabhakar Rao as themselves and Vinayak as their Dad. At one such occasion my mother had tears when she saw dad giving money to his son who would be on his way to another city... She remembered her dad giving her money when she used to go to college and I could see tears in her eyes. Since this was the first time I saw a play... I was totally blown away by the artistic thinking and different dimensions a play could give you and make u understand a concept in a simple humorous way. I also loved the video that started the play where two people speak about their beloved dad who are not in this world... very touchy... and the video in the end symbolizes how the generations before us are adjusting to the existing culture and how people are closing this generation gap!!
The song Nischinthanaagabekanthi... is one of the best tracks I have heard in recent times... The theme for the play makes you hum it for a long time... ever so much in the spirits of the message given out by the play...

My Dad always had a soft corner for my sister... Oh how MAD I used to get at that... no matter she being the culprit... I used to always be blamed for it... I grew up hating my sister for this... She had unknowingly convinced my grandparents that I was Ravan!! I somehow started liking being the demon that I was... being hated was easy... being unpredictable was fun!! But then as we grew older... I started feeling that it wasn't that way... people tend to be like that with girls because any given day.. they are not going to stay at their parent's place... they eventually will get married... Not only that we usually lack the maturity to think why people bring in discipline at an early age to children... All is well now... Personally speaking... now... dad and I... sometimes we are together when we pull someone else's leg (usually its my mom or sister)... other times having huge arguments about getting things done... It would always be his pride against my ego... or likewise... Some other times... no time to talk!! Or even if we have a chat its just to the point... and beeep... the phone is cut!! Anyways... I love my sister more than anyone in my life now... and for dad... I have my respects as he is the decision maker!! well not all the time... now that mom is equal in that position!!

Here was an attempt to say to our generation that guys... wake up... stop taking parents or any relationship for granted... well taking for granted to a certain extent symbolizes love and affection... but we do need to put a line to it... I am very thankful to Vj for bringing in this message loud and clear!!

Team - Vinayak Joshi (Dad), Prabhakar Rao (Son), Nakshatra (Prankster), Tejas (Prankster), Ajit Thandur (Teacher), Manohar Joshi (Videography), Raja (Guitarist), Varijashree, Some wonderful tracks from Varun Pradeep (Music Director), absolutely brilliant soul dancing from Umesh (Choreography), Abhishek (Lighting), Arun murthy (Lighting), Sudhee (Cameraman), Siri, Poornima sukumar, Manujunath, Ashish acharya, Pradeep, Shreedhar Rao, Shreevatsa HK, Suraj, Shadakshari, Kiran shreedhar, Bizi Kumar, Rudreshvaraiah, Uma maheshwara, Santosh, Manju, Ahmed, Adda gang, buzzin-town and Joshi Chitra productions.

PS: Please forgive me if I have missed anyone!!

Rayarannu kandaaga!! - Memorable day... (28th May 2010)

Rao actually means "Someone who is in an esteemed position... Someone called with dignity... who commands respect..." I am not saying this because my surname is Rao... Unfortunately my surname was lost when my Dad wrote his name in SSLC exam nomination forms and he became Muralidhar ever since... and my fate was sealed without the surname which I dutifully kept it myself... In-fact 'Raya' meant King... 'Rayaru'(plural form) was what they used to call people who were mostly zamindars or of higher caste!! This was 100-200 years back... now it has become Rao!! and mostly used in South India and Maharastra. For that matter an exception is... Rao Iftikar you can call him South Indian although he is a paki fast bowler... sorry for that poor joke!!

Anyways... this surname thing meant a lot when I talked to a person who was an inspiration to my Dad!! Most of you would have seen him on TV years back... He was mostly playing roles of a politician... or a villainous role mostly.. U might ask whats the difference... anyways... He is elder brother to Dattatreya ('Mayamruga' fame!!) I have never seen a person who can command that kind of respect other than my grandfather... gentle yet very much in control of what he is saying and doing... Suddenly the surname factor hit me...

My Dad used to always talk about his writings which was one of his first few works... "SomaNNana Stockninda" novel (articles) used to be published by "Karmaveera" magazine long back... my Dad being an avid reader that he is... usually would look forward for these articles... This had so much of influence on my Dad that he used to relate/read out certain instances from those articles to me... I was surprised how he could remember... Well.. last month... it was my Dad's Bday on April 23rd... I wanted to gift him something special... unusual... no flowers... no cakes... no celebration at home... nothing that would make him forget that it happened after some time... but something to cherish for a long time...

I started searching for this person back in march this year... worst part was that the publisher of the book had passed away and there was no stock at all... phew... My weekends would always be going around Bangalore searching for this book...then came facebook to the rescue... I somehow got in touch with many people who started my search again... Finally I got his residence number from a friend in facebook Beesu... one of premiere theater and film actor... now co-producer... I started talking to the one and only H G Somashekar Rao!! Such a humble person... at first he asked me many questions but I requested to meet him in person and then answer all his queries...

So on May 29th, I took my Dad who had absolutely no idea where he was going and met SomaNNa in person... Wat a feeling!! I have never seen my Dad so excited and happy... SomaNNa read out some of his newspaper columns for us... My Dad in turn stated some verses from his novel... very impressive indeed considering he never read the novel and all he read were excerpts from the magazine... SomaNNa asked me how did I come to know where he lived and I had to tell him the whole story right from the very beginning... He was over-joyed... When I told him that at one instant I went to a book store I forgot his name as well as the book's name... he couldn't stop laughing... It was an hour long meeting with many many experiences shared...

My Dad got all SomaNNa sir's works personally autographed!! Prob dated as the best gift I could ever think of giving it to him... Now Dad also has SomaNNa sir's residence number as well so that he can call him up anytime he wishes...

I would like to thank Dharmashree, Abhishek SN, Mrs. Indira Sundar (Sundara Prakashana) and finally Beesu Suresh for their help provided... invaluable indeed!!

Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!!

"The King is back!! Ajeya... You are the King of this gang!!... The way he carries himself... The way he makes his decisions... He definetely is the King!!" These were the words told by someone close to me... Prahlad uncle. I didnt know what to say really... I repeated... I am the King??!!... then it gives me the power... power to decide... power to be responsible for others... Have I been running away from them... Have I been ignoring them... may be yes... more than i actually know...

This past week... a decision I had taken 2 years before... came back to haunt me... and haunt it did for 3 days... One thing I couldn't understand is that people whom I called friends... who left me high and dry came back and started apologizing for things they dont even remember what they did or why it went so wrong between us... The toughest part was to think what they wanted from me now... what next... why now... why me?! This time I gave it a thought... and boy am I happy with the result or what...

It took a lot out of me in thinking on how to get back... because even this time I had given a mouthful to everyone and I still had the same kind of anger I did 2 years ago... but then Ani came to the rescue... She started simply by stating the experiences we have shared with the group and the happiness... She assured me that she would stand beside me with whatever decision I took... When I had a chat with my mother... she explained me how difficult it had been for her for the past two years talking to people she loved so much and telling them not to visit her at our home just because she feared for me... I lost my hunger listening to my mother... Never had I thought that my decision would hurt so many people... I still had loads of love for them in a corner which I failed to recognize because I was so blinded by anger... I decided to leave my ego out of this and to get back to the people I loved so much...

I called Shatta the day before Nidhi's marriage and I apologized to him... He answered one of my question when he said "You are still hanging on to the reason for our separation while people are thinking beyond it..."

The marriage was a huge success and I finally met all of them... Everyone had one thing on their lips... Glad you are back!! Dhara said... "You are my husband's friend... and mostly people would just be a hi-bye types and mind their own business... even though we have just met just a handful of times... I really like you so much and you have a place in my heart... This again might be because of the way you are!!"

All my life I have thought and practised one thing... All or Nothing... Yes or No... all boolean but it works for me... Very complicated for many but I minus the emotional content from the decision I take on anything... I may be right or wrong... but then its only a perception... This was my thinking and will be... but I shall have to make certain amendments to this rule of mine... I always believed that its easier to gain and very hard to lose friends... because its as if you are tearing your heart out... In taking this decision to leave my friends alone... I left people who really cared for me and loved me... and whom even I missed and loved too... I have never seen so many happy faces...

A special mention of my sister ani... in this entire episode... who was instrumental in making me take the right steps towards this re-union... She is all grown up now and lot more mature than what people think she is!! And ofcourse hemibu and rajibu who are always present next to me all the time...

Le Roi Est Mort Vive Le Roi means... The King is Dead... Long live the King!!

The Wait!!... a Decision...

HE was struggling at his office because he had to leave in another 10 mins to go meet his girl whom he used to drop every day from her office to a nearby bus stop... Not that SHE couldn't manage that but this was their only time to discuss... plan... rather just talk about their day and peace out... They used to be on phone for almost 2 hrs a day but still this meeting was very much needed for both.

It was raining... and November rain that was... he left his office at 5:30 PM... only to reach her office at 6:20 PM... she expected him to be there by 6 PM... damn... as always he wanted an excuse... well... rain it was!! He had the fastest road bike... still couldn't be on time when she needed him... well most of the cases... but he used to make the effort!!. She used to tell him... for every mistake that he committed he would be forgiven but the incident would not be forgotten!!

He started dialing her number and there was just ringtone at the other end... she did not pick the call... Has she already gone to the bus stop... can't be!!... He dialed again... no luck... well... he couldn't go inside her office as she had strictly told him not to go there... Lets try this one more time... She picked up the call eventually and could only muster three words... In a meeting!! before she hung up on him...

In every relationship you come across a time where you have to make a decision that would eventually mould your relationship based on it. He decided to wait for her... in the rain.. shivering... The decision was that he had taken the responsibility to wait for her no matter what... this, in long term, even meant that he shouldn't complain when he waited for her later... he wouldn't complain even if she didn't come... He thought over all these things in a matter of minutes and decided to WAIT... She eventually came out of her office at 8:15 PM... hugged him... sorry I couldn't come out of the dreaded meeting soon enough... why didn't u go home?!!?... he didn't reply nor did he complain... I love you so much he said and as usual dropped her to the bus stop...

After several years... HE has now realized that SHE loved him more that evening... She loves him even today but things are way different now... She is a mother of two and happy with her family... They still keep in touch and talk... only HE didn't realize that the WAIT was a DECISION of a LIFETIME!!

Friday night fever...

Enthralling was the word that came to my head when it finished...

Well for starters, we got the passes for a concert that held in Palace grounds on 27th Oct friday night... It had my favorite singer Raghu Dixit, Parikrama and Farhan Akthar singing!

The show must have started 45 mins earlier... thanks to da rain... it was late... but the wait was worth it and more...

In any concert, I really love the start when the artists are getting ready... usually the guitarist, drummers, violinists... will have a go... and what they do is something totally out of the book... and those innovations will make the atmosphere ready for more... and this was the same on friday evening as well... lead guitarist of raghu dixit's band and the violinist were out of the world in displaying what they can do!!

Raghu began the show with amazing number "Hey Bhagwan!"... (I am checking my videos to see what next!!) "Mysore se aayi!"... and then came a number I hadnt heard before... beautiful... "Gudu Gudiya seedhi nodo..." and the introduction to this song was hilarious... but in the middle of the song there was a commotion and the organizers (and the police who graced the occasion for a while!!) had to reduce the volume since there was another performance going on next to where we had this rock concert... Raghu took on them displaying great courage and sang for the crowd... involving everyone of us in his songs... He sang many more numbers like ambar, khidki and a kannada track "Ee Thanuvu ninnade" from "Psycho" fame.... Awesome... The best part was the combo of guitar (base, rhythm and electric) along with the violin!! The extension provided to all the songs in the end was fabulous... fantastic music... Raghu thanked the audience and thanked parikrama for lending their guitar... nice gesture indeed...

Next on the scene was Parikrama... Now for those who haven't heard rock music and parikrama in particular might feel that Nitin Malik screams a lot and stuff... but then he is brilliant in doing that... I have loved all his shows that I have been to and this dude can sing... His opening song was a blast but I bet more than half of the crowd were waiting for Farhan rather than wanting to watch Parikrama sing... until parikrama's violinist took center stage!! and people had to momentarily forget Farhan for a while there... The one thing I would like to add is that one of parikrama's guitarist didnt look that he belonged to the stage at all... that was kinda sad part but then these guys had been testing sound since morning and it showered in the evening taking away precious time for their concert... need to give them credit for hangin in there...

Farhan Akhtar is a brilliant artist if I say so... because there are very few people in the industry who can sing as well as he can and act as well as he can... even direct movies like him... He is a perfect package. He had the same kind of clothes which he wore in "Luck by chance" simple but trendy... But then... all these promotions has made his voice tire a bit... cos he couldnt hit the highs on the song "Where the streets have no name - U2" which he sang well though... To very much crowd's displeasure, he sang only one song from "Rock on" and that was just the title track from the movie... people really wanted more hindi songs... but then he had already prepared certain songs and... well any ways it was a good show...

After the concert, the food at chung wa was awesome... thus ending an eventful day at a high note!!

Meet the bu's!!

Sometimes feel that I should write about a subject.... but then... I don't usually find time to think on a subject as much as I have time to write about the days I have been through... Many may feel that I usually hand out lavish praises to my near and dear ones but I feel that this is not true as these praises come straight from the heart... no pretensions...

Coming back to the topic... saturday... I happened to meet two of my closest friends... I lovingly call them the bu's!!... perfect couple...

My friendship with rajibu (jibu) goes back... way back... to just 5 years... hehehe... but then it seems longer... I happened to be in US for the first time... and I knew he would be coming to US and to the same hotel after 9 days... Actually I didnt even know him then... but when we met eventually I was overjoyed since I was almost down and out in that place... Rajiv sensed this and gave me much needed advise to keep my positive energy. I will never forget that. Jibu became a close friend when we got a friend's place for rent. Here we had a deal every morning without even talking that I would make the breakfast and he would do the dishes... served us well... I learnt that behind that sense of humor there was a very methodical, practical, decisive... man if ever I had seen one. I have learnt many many precious things from him that has made me be the person I am today!

Hemibu... well we were friends even before we met!! and when we met, I was too shy to talk... (The day she came for Agile Interview!!) we were not at all introduced but then we both knew each other!! Hemibu was jibu's fiancee when jibu and I were in USA... I had sacrificed my room to jibu and used to sleep in the hall since he would be busy with hemi and her calls most of the night and I didnt intend to be kabab mein haddi!! May be when jibu used to talk about the day he has been thru... my name would have slipped more often than not because I was such an idiot at that time!! Well... with jibu's training!! (:-p), I was a changed man by the end of that trip!! and I pledged to be excessively happy hence forward!! May be all this were in detail posted to hemi!! So we kinda knew eachother before we actually met...
The best part about a friend's wedding is that all the other friends who happen to know eachother casually will become closer... This is what happened when Joshi bhai got married... Hemi, Jibu and myself became fast friends thanks to tat!!. Hemi is funny, articulate, and most tolerant creature. She can be hurt very easily but wid jibu and me around can come out of it as well and she will be her chirpy self in not more than 10 mins!!

I strongly feel that both bu's and me have a I love the bu's for the simple reason that they love me more!! They know everything about me and its viceversa... even with our busy schedule, we keep in touch and make sure we meet up atleast once in two weeks!! depends more often than not how much of work jibu has!! :-p