Apprentice and the Scholar

Rab Ne Banadi Jodi (A Couple made in heaven)

humayunmanzer — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:06:05 +0000

I must say it was a fabulous outing. A replacement leave well paid to myself!

I had the opportunity to watch the movie today at Golden Screen Cinema, Midvalley for just 8RM. I don’t know why the tickets were so relatively cheap for the movie I enjoyed so much.
I enjoyed so much that I am eventually writing a review in my blog. I don’t fancy much of SRK’s movies very much but nonetheless we all watch and watch and enjoy.
DDLJ is a classical proof of that. I am no good in telling a story again but I will do my best. It contains spoilers so please be advised.

The movie revolves around an ordinary man Surinder, a geek, living in one of those crowded bylanes of Amritsar, his life undergoes a 360-degree change the moment he sets his eyes on a beautiful girl, Taani.

She’s flamboyant, fun-loving, vivacious, unlike Surinder. But unforeseen circumstances bring them together. Surinder was the brilliant student and like-a-son to the father of the girl. The father happens to be the professor of Surinder. So when a tragedy occurs and all the grooms coming for Taani die in an accident. Surinder and Taani agrees to marry each other after a heart attack of Father-and-like-a-father and his last-minute dying emotional words.

Taani becomes silent and makes it clear to Surinder that he can no longer love him or anybody but she is indebted to him and will do all she can to be his perfect wife. Life becomes hum-drum until a dancing competition is in town. Taani as she loves dancing asks Suri for permission to participate in the competition. Not only Surinder allows but he plays the good husband and tries to cheer up Taani by transforming into Raj as her dance partner without her knowledge.
Raj was the perfect image what would make Taani happy.
He wants to know whether his wife loves him or Raj and he is ready to settle as any one of them for her sake.

The Plot thickens when Taani agrees to elope with Raj, leaving her husband on the Grand finale of the competition. But a visit to Gurdwara before the night, she sees her husband as a God-figure and realizes how selfish she had become. So, she says no to Raj.
Surinder opens to her that He was Raj making an appearance like him in the Grand finale of dancing competition. Then it occurs to the not-paying-so-much-attention Wife that it was all the way his husband dancing with him.

And that perhaps is the only flaw in the movie. The first question that strikes you is, why didn’t Anushka(Taani) realise it’s him, her husband, not someone else? Sure, he has undergone a complete makeover, but how can you not recognise your husband’s voice or appearance? That’s a glaring flaw, it’s like taking the viewer for granted!
But anyways if you ignore this flaw, the movie is entirely enjoyable and a must-watch!

A life full of compromises

humayunmanzer — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:10:30 +0000

You may have to pretend to enjoy the company of a bunch of cocksure guys who believe in the motto – ignorace is a bliss.
Everybody is entititled to his or her opinion, but in doing so, you can either act like a willie, who is sure as a cock or you can just fall prey to either a bunch of ignorant frogs of the well or some conceited wise guys flaunting their affected attitude. Both will leave no stone unturned in proving you wrong or laughing at your humbleness.

You will be in deep shit talking to them. Its advisable to keep your mouth shut. Otherwise its you who will be branded as the new “willie – the dick” avatar.

But the funny thing about life could be that you have no-one else but them. You might wish for a second that if you could just run away from everyone and do whatever you like. Sadly, that doesn’t happen in this thing called life.

So you keep following the rules and regulations of the world and keep quiet and wait to die one day.

I am thirsty

humayunmanzer — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:44:10 +0000

A world of palaces, thrones and crowns

Where Man becomes the foe of Man

Where greed of wealth rules the day

What, if you win this world, what then?

Every being lies wounded, every soul athirst

Eyes glazed with worry, hearts heavy and depressed

What world is this, bewildered, distraught?

What, if you win this world, so accursed?

A world where Man is but a throwaway toy

Teeming with corpses and skeletons

Where life is a struggle and death is cheap

So you win this world-what then?

Where youth roams around in aimless distraction

And bodies adorn themselves to be bought and sold

Where love is but a sordid transaction

So what, if this world is in your hold?

A world where humaneness has no place

Where loyalty and friendship means little or naught

Where love is shorn of all nobility and grace

Winning this world , you don’t win a lot.

So burn it to ashes, blow it all up

Push it aside , far away from my sight

Let me withdraw, it is all yours to keep

For a world like this, I will not fight.

Of hide and seek and the beautiful smile

humayunmanzer — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:19:06 +0000

A journey of conscience

humayunmanzer — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:01:53 +0000

Seven hours for a mere 150Kms. It was almost unending. The long traffic jam had almost drained us out as we were crawling at snails pace behind the countless number of lorries and other vehicles.

As I peeped out from the window to see thousands of devotees bathing in the Ganges almost oblivious of the rotting jam that we were stuck in. I wished to run away from it but I had little choice than to watch it till it ends. When we got out of the jam it was late evening already, the fast was over but for us. So we cruised along, fighting our way again through potholes and bumps.

I desired for a second, “Oh God, Let me not have to to experience this again” The unaffected and unpretentious love of my parents soon made me regret what I said and that I was ready to experience this a thousand times for them, for them alone.

It is small town of U.P., A state which is notorious for its power cuts. People here rejoice if they get power for 10 hours a day. A place where sometimes a running fan is a luxury and not a necessity in the scorching sweaty heat of summer here.

Material comforts and wealth are no doubt attractive but the soul instead craves for contentment. But not for those with a dead conscience already.

When you say hello as a greeting

humayunmanzer — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:32:39 +0000

I have the habit that I don’t like to impose myself of a different faith on others. And don’t let others impose there radical beliefs on me.

I was taken to class recently by a fellow muslim when I didn’t greet him with the usual salam and a handshake.

Although there is no harm in saying Assalam o alaikum i.e. Let peace, mercy and kindness of God be upon you. I just don’t want to feel and change my ways according to the “names” people have or “race” they are from and act accordingly.

But there are people who’d avoid and prefer not to side by people just because they have a beard or are devout muslims (or atleast they look like one) This disgusts me and I eventually take the route that disgusts me even more.

I am hardly, hardly an archetype of a complete muslim and don’t mind much of religion but this not respecting of my privacy and religion puts me into a disarray. Its a human tendency and quite natural. I begin to sympathisize with my fellow brothers.

“They bomb them, raid them, fuck their mothers and sisters and then call them terrorists” Then force them to take a route from “I love USA” to “I love USAMA”.

I, personally believe that Islam is the most idealistic religion and should be a path to follow for everyone. Its only that a lot of misunderstandings keep floating about it. And also the lack of right information.

It is a different story although that I still couldn’t persuade myself of being its perfect follower.

moments of quietness

humayunmanzer — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:06:00 +0000

I remember talking to a good friend of mine sometimes back. Although its a little cliched but I just feel like writing it down now.
She goes like,
“The fairer sex always favor and like the company of smart talking boys, who can make them laugh. Not someone who travels around a dreamland twice and ask, Can you share the joke?”

Sometimes memories make us weak, they stop us from going to the extra mile just because we have never been there. But at the same time, they give us valuable means to live, to carry on and never give up.

She carries on,
“You should never try to rescue them stupidly and in turn earn their loathsome kindness. Infact the last thing you would want from them is to be kind to you.”

I remember her words and I speak, I trip and fall down and pretend to laugh. She cruelly starts laughing.
I don’t mind being called dumb by others as long as my intense thoughts don’t go in vain.

As nostalgia befalls again, I remember

humayunmanzer — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:51:00 +0000

This is the land of my hopes
This is the land of my dreams
This is where men with zeal stayed
Men who answered the leaders’ call
It is here that torn-off love
Found the cohesive chords
It is here that wayward passions
Formed into frenzied love
It is here that the wild tulip learnt
How to make the scar of heart aglow
This is the land of my hopes
This is the land of my dreams
This is the place of men of vision
And of those with a challenging thought
Every morning here is new
And every evening newer still
Different is this tavern
And different are its norms
Different are the dancing cups
And different is their dance
Here drinking begets thirst a new
And different is this tavern’s call
This is the land of my hopes
This is the land of my dreams
Here, conscience is the beacon light
And conscience is the guide
Here is the Mecca of heart resides the guiding faith
Ceaseless movement is our faith
And blasphemy it is to stay still
Here, the destined goal is the march on and on
Here, the swimming urge seeks
Newer and newer storms
Restless wave itself is our resurrected shore

My Zameer

humayunmanzer — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:43:00 +0000

I had a little chat with her a few months back and I don’t know why I am indulging in reminscence of her now.

I spoke to her and as was expected of me, I put forth all that I had in my mind.
I really wish I could be lesser forthright than I am.
Anyway, It was a wonderful experience talking to her. When I took or seeked her help in the decision to be made. She simply said, “I should listen to my zameer (Inner voice)”.
Now it was funny because I didn’t want to listen to my zameer. It had misguided me several times before.
But now after so long when I reflect upon it a second time, I realize our zameer also takes into account the information you have.
A better informed zameer takes better decisions. So I guess, it wasn’t entirely my zameer’s fault.

So next time if I ask my zameer, what? why? or even which? and I am not satisfied with the answer in conjunction to the practical world.

I can always backtrack and know for myself.

Language Combat

humayunmanzer — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:34:00 +0000

The inferiority of one race or language over another is abominable for me. I am coming to know of this more in a foreign land, where we say we are from India and not from Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai.

Its believed that the British Raj exaggerated differences between northern and sourthern Indians beyond linguistic differences to help sustain their control of india.
But looks like we were too innocent to understand that then or I can say we are too stubborn still to get over the arrogance we have developed so far.

The thing that eats me is not a virtual wall that stands between us (Indo Aryans and Dravidians) but the pretense we all live in.
We are one, we will all say but I have seen disgust and unfriendliness deep inside some people for our national language.
I won’t suggest forcing down one language over somebody or a group of people because it can have undesirable repercussions. But If we understand this, we will sure win hearts and develop respect of each other.