Borders are for people...

For the past few days, I have been mesmerized by the opening lyrics of a song from the Bollywood film, Refugee (2000) directed by JP Dutta, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor. With music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the song Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan Ke was sung by Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik.

Panchhi nadiyan pawan ke jhoken

Birds, rivers, gusts of wind

Koi sarhad naa inhe roke

No border inhibits them

Sarhaden insaano ke liye hain

Borders are for people

Socho, tumne aur maine

Think about it, what have you and I

Kya paaya insaan hoke

Obtained by being born as humans?

Many of us are taking emotional stock take of our lives as 2013 draws to a close. This song speaks about what it means to be born as a human and how birds, rivers and gusts of wind have no borders which inhibits them. I don't know about you, but it's almost as if I envy birds, rivers, mountains, flowers, trees. Compared to these natural beauties, we are on this earth for far less than they will be. As humans, we continue to be arrogant, we hate more than we love and we worship material goods more than necessary.

What does it mean to live a simple life?

For me, it means having few or no material items. Think about about - the less we have, the less we have to worry about it. How often do we go away on holiday and go into complete relaxation mode? More often than not, we're worried about our home that is merely locked up and guarded by a security alarm. A house filled with valuables. Valuables? Electronics? Computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, DVDs. The list could go on.

Imagine what life would be like as an animal - either wild or domesticated. What about life as a plant? As a tree...living through harsh weather conditions, yet still remaining strong and majestic.

Think of a dog. I'm thinking of our Jack Russell, Zelda. She doesn't hold grudges and loves unconditionally. She eats when she feels like it, yet still manages to run like the wind. She doesn't have to worry about her monthly visitor (ie - period!) and doesn't have the issue of unwanted guests on her cute face (ie - zits!) I've never seen her on a bad hair day, and she prances up and down our street with no make up or ...clothes, for that matter!

Simply put, we live in a harsh world. Deadly diseases and crime rob us of our loved ones on a daily basis. We gossip about others to feel better about ourselves and kill our soul with that six letter word called "STRESS".

If you're reading this, no doubt you're a fully functional person. We can't suddenly transform into a sunflower, rose or a little mountain. However, while we're here on earth, let's try to love "things" less and people more. 

This brings me to another quote I read recently:

People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos, is because things are being loved...and people are being used.

The more I think about it, the more I would love to be reincarnated as a part of nature - a bird who soars freely through the open skies, a mountain - standing tall and proud, or a rippling brook...drifting into a river and the ocean. Never-ending. Without any borders. Borders are for people.

Fevicol Se - Dabangg 2

Borders are for people...

For the past few days, I have been mesmerized by the opening lyrics of a song from the Bollywood film, Refugee (2000) directed by JP Dutta, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor. With music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the song Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan Ke was sung by Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik.

Panchhi nadiyan pawan ke jhoken (Birds, rivers, gusts of wind)

Koi sarhad naa inhe roke (No border inhibits them)

Sarhaden insaano ke liye hain (Borders are for people)

Socho, tumne aur maine (Think about it, what have you and I)

Kya paaya insaan hoke (Obtained by being born as humans?)

Many of us are taking emotional stock take of our lives as 2011 draws to a close. This song speaks about what it means to be born as a human and how birds, rivers and gusts of wind have no borders which inhibits them. I don't know about you, but it's almost as if I envy birds, rivers, mountains, flowers and trees. Compared to these natural beauties, we are on this earth for far less than they will be. As humans, we continue to be arrogant, we hate more than we love and we worship material goods far too much.

What does it mean to live a simple life?

For me, it means having few or no material items. Think about it - the less we have, the less we have to worry about it. How often do we go away on holiday and immerse ourselves into complete relaxation mode? More often than not, we're worried about our home that is locked up and guarded by a security alarm. A house filled with valuables. Electronics? Computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, DVDs. The list could go on.

Imagine what life would be like as an animal - either wild or domesticated. What about life as a plant? As a tree...living through harsh weather conditions, yet still remaining strong and majestic.

Simply put, we live in a harsh world. Deadly diseases and crime rob us of our loved ones on a daily basis. We gossip about others to feel better about ourselves and kill our soul with that six letter word called "STRESS".

If you're reading this, no doubt you're a fully functional person. We can't suddenly transform into a sunflower, river or a mountain. However, while we're here on earth, let's try to love "things" less and people more.
This brings me to another quote I read recently:

People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos, is because things are being loved...and people are being used.

The more I think about it, the more I would love to be reincarnated as a part of nature - a bird who soars freely through the open skies, a mountain - standing tall and proud, or a rippling brook...drifting into a river and the ocean. Never-ending. Without any borders. Borders are for people.

Chammak Challo (Ra.One) The Making...

Chammak Challo (Ra.One)

Impressive vocals by Akon!

Criminal (Ra.One)

Lotsa booty popping going on in this song from Ra.One!
(Vocals by Akon)

 

RA.ONE

Today I watched Ra.One on the big screen - not usually my kinda thing (Sci-fi / Action) but I really enjoyed this!

RIP Shammi Kapoor

This morning I read with sadness that Bollywood's veteran actor, Shammi Kapoor passed away. Growing up, my folks had a VHS of Shammi Kapoor songs and I used to love watching it. With his facial expressions and signature dance moves, I credit my initial attraction to Bollywood to this legend.

RIP Shammi Kapoor

1931 - 2011

Chammak Challo - Akon's (leaked) song from Ra.One

Akon's new Bollywood song in Shah Rukh Khan's Ra.One
which was apparently leaked recently.

I wrote this on BollySpice back in February:

Acclaimed singer, Akon will soon be making his Bollywood debut in Anubhav Sinha’s latest venture, Ra.One. Sources say that the director and lead actor of the film, Shah Rukh Khan were keen to have an international star to be included in the film. 

Apparently, on his recent trip to the USA, SRK had a meeting with Akon who is willing to be part of the Bollywood production which also stars Kareena Kapoor. 

Other international stars who have appeared in Bollywood films lately include Snoop Dogg in Singh is Kinng and Kylie Minogue in Blue.

Akon, who performed at the closing ceremony of the IPL (Indian Premier League) in South Africa last year has been signed for an undisclosed amount. 

Ra.One will have music scored by Vishal and Shekhar.

Shah Rukh Khan, Akon & Kareena Kapoor

Yeh Chaand Sa Roshan - Sharmila Tagore & Shammi Kapoor

They just don't make Bollywood movies/songs like this anymore! I absolutely loved Shammi Kapoor's songs when growing up... this brings back such memories.  My parents had a VHS of Shammi Kapoor songs and I loved watching it!

Sheila ki Jawani / Single Ladies

This was done as a class project where students had to synchronize an English music video with a Hindi Song. Here is Beyonce's Single Ladies edited with Sheila ki Jawani from Tees Maar Khan. Very cool!

Munni Badnaam (Dabangg)

Finally! The full length song (Munni Badnaam) brought to life by the sexy Malaika Arora in Dabangg.

Saiyyaji Se Chhupke (Beta)

Yesterday, Beta (1992) with Anil Kapoor & Madhuri Dixit was on TV. This song is so old-fashioned and it's about Dixit's friends trying to get her to tell them what she was up to with Kapoor (in the previous scene). 

Herschelle Gibbs offered a Bollywood role

From Bollyspice.com

Image from Google Images

Herschelle Gibbs, former South African cricketer has revealed in his autobiography, To the Point that he has been offered a "lucrative role" in a Bollywood movie.

"A totally unexpected surprise came my way recently when I was offered a role in a Bollywood movie that will start filming at the end of May 2011. I'm not sure what the part is or what I'm supposed to do, but my agent has told me it's very good money for only a day's work," Gibbs wrote in his book.

Saying that "India is always full of surprises", Gibbs says that he is not interested in playing a negative character and would first find out more about what his role entails. He wrote, "Playing a bad-boy cricketer who gets involved in a match-fixing probably won't be the smartest career move."

Gibbs has said that he loves going back to India. The former Proteas batsman stayed away from the country for about five years in fear of being arrested by Indian police, who wanted to question him about his role in the 2000 Hansie Cronje match-fixing debacle. "I always used to love coming back to India as it is - especially after the match-fixing issue was settled and I knew I wasn't going to be arrested the minute I set foot in the country," he said.

The autobiography has caused a great deal of controversy in which the veteran batsman has made "startling revelations", the main one being of his sexual escapades while on tour with the South African cricket team in Australia. He also revealed behind the scenes of the 2001 dope-smoking scandal in the Caribbean.

The controversy has gone legal, with South Africa's cricket board asking its legal counsel to investigate the allegations that were made.

Jozi (4) We Are Family - Bollywood film

After lunch at Monte Casino, AK and I decide to watch a Bollywood film: We are Family starring Kajol, Arjun Rampal and Kareena Kapoor. The film was directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar. I feel pretty close to this film because last year I met a friend of Malhotra's in Seoul and he told me about the "exciting film that Siddharth was working on in Australia" at the time.

We Are Family movie poster

Throughout its production process, I was following tweets from the director and producer for articles I was writing. Reviews of the film warned that it would pull at heart strings and oh damn... did it?! The film is an adaption of the Hollywood movie, Stepmom.

After the film, we go out for drinks and then head home and turn in.

Shakira to play Goddess Kali

Columbian singer, Shakira

The World Cup's Waka Waka girl whose "hips don't lie", Shakira may soon be on screen playing Goddess Kali in an Indian film that will be shot in London and another European city.

Kali - The Warrior Goddess will be produced by Karan Arora who reveals that the film will be made in 3D and will be a 2-hour long film in Hindi.

The Latin-American singer is currently in talks over the fee of the film. If the project materializes, it will be the first time that a foreign artist would portray an Indian goddess in a Hindi film. 

Arora says, "We wanted someone dusky and Shakira is dusky. Besides, we wanted an international star."

Goddess Kali

Goddess Kali is a Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. The name Kali is derived from Kāla meaning black, time, death and lord of death. Kali, also known as The Dark Mother, is a deity with whom devotees have a loving bond, in spite of her fearful appearance. In this particular relationship, the worshipper becomes a child and Kali assumes the form of the ever-caring mother. (about.com)

Images from Google Images

Bollywood Remake: Archie Comics

I've been an Archie (comics) fan for many years now and I've just learned that our favourite characters will soon be seen on the silver screen. However, instead of being set in Riverdale, Archie and the gang will be in Delhi. The film will be called Boys Toh Boys Hai directed by first time director, Amit Chauhan and will star Anshuman Jha and Raj Kumar Yadav, who both debuted in Dibakar Banerjee's Love Sex Aur Dhoka.

The storyline isn't very original - it will revolve around four young guys who are all searching for...yeah, you guessed it: Love!

According to Bollywood Hungama,

"Anshuman plays a sardar in the film, complete with a beard and turban. He is learning Punjabi language to do justice to his character and is even learning to tie the turban from his Punjabi friends. Raj Kumar, on the other hand, plays a baniya. There is a character called 'Atal Bihari Bakshi' who is a Punjabi born in Bihar and will be played by debutant Anuj Kumar."

Apparently the film will maintain the look and feel of the original Archie comics by using the same colours.

The film is being produced by KE Entertainment and written by Manu Rishi of Oye Lucky and Aisha fame. The first schedule will commence in Mumbai this month.

Anshuman Jha 

Raj Kumar Yadav

Images from Google Images

Vaseline skin-whitening commercial in India

A few weeks ago, I posted a story about Vaseline launching a skin-whitening Facebook app for India. Here is the commercial of the Vaseline campaign in India urging men to whiten their faces. It comes as no surprise (to me) that it has caused a lot of international controversy.

First Look: Love, Barack

Here's my article that ran on BollySpice in February about the film:

Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar star, Laz Alonso in a political comedy, Love, Barack. The film is set during the frantic days leading up to the 2008 US Presidential elections. Mallika will play the role of Democrat Aretha Gupta, a devoted Obama volunteer coordinator who unexpectedly falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), a handsome African-American working for the local McCain office.

The inspiration for the story comes from the numerous publicly-documented campaign romances that sprung up around during the Obama Presidential win. Experts have speculated that this resulted in an “Obama baby-boom”

"Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I'm very lucky to be working with him," said Mallika in a statement.

The film will be directed by Doug McHenry and will also star Ruby Dee, Gerry Bednob and Loretta Devine.

Mallika has previously made Hollywood news when she landed a small role in a Jackie Chan movie, The Myth. She is currently doing another Hollywood film, Hisss directed by Jennifer Lynch which also stars Irrfan Khan.

Judwaa (1997)

I was taken back to 1997 when I came across this music video. It was one of the first Bollywood films I watched when I started getting into Hindi films. It was also one of the films that sparked my love for Salman Khan :-)