Aal Eez Naat Well

At the book launch of ‘2 States’ in a Mumbai suburban mall, which I had opportunity to attend, Chetan Bhagat thanked Vidya Balan, (who was a co-host at the Book launch and is, in his own admission, believed to be his harbinger of good fortune) for handing over his earlier book “Five Point Someone” (FPS) to Raju Hirani. Without this, as he put it, the making of the movie titled ‘3 idiots’ wouldn’t have happened! When well-known and reputed Bollywood filmmakers want to make a movie based on your work of fiction, you’ve come a long way! In fact, some writers cannot even find a publisher, let alone movie makers come forth for your piece of fiction, unless it is really worth it.

Firstly, Chetan Bhagat (CB) has done a great deal to writing English fiction, in that he has drawn several youngsters into a habit of reading books – a habit that is on the wane and needed just that kind of boost to draw youngsters back into the book-lovers’ club, as his books have done recently. If fiction-writers and the book publishing industry needed a shot in the arm at this juncture, he has provided just that. Even though there would be several book-lovers, who find Chetan Bhagat not exactly producing great literature, like Salman Rushdie, and kind of, find “masala content” in his work, to spice up his stories making them just the grist for the Bollywood mill. I would still give due credit for what he has successfully achieved – to increase new young readers in India, without really comparing his work to great English literature and scouting for his shortcomings through comparisons.

When several friends praised the latest released movie ‘3 idiots’ for being hugely entertaining, I watched the movie with my family this long weekend. Fortunately, I had read the book FPS recently. As a matter of fact, some book-lovers, known to me, had spoken not-so-highly about CB’s books so I had not been so keen upon reading them. But finally, I did pick up FPS and One Night @ Call Centre from a local library so that I can have my own opinion about his books.

Last evening, when CB and the makers of 3i played tug-of-war on the TV Channels, arguing how much of the movie was the book, I wondered whether there was any software or scientific instrument to measure it? The 3i Team said it was 5% -7% and Chetan Bhagat said it is 70%, based on the feedback he had from his readers of FPS and conveyed to him on his blog. His blogpost does cite the “aal eez naat well” episode in detail here.

Newspapers carry more about the CB-3i spat here

Having read FPS and watched 3I’s, I am obliged to say that it is neither 5% nor 70% it is really 50-50! Now that is not to promote the popular biscuit or its advertisement campaign – that is just my own judgement. Having constructed around the core plot and adding several variations to it does not make it substantially different. I am as much deprived of a scientific instrument to measure the %age of the content of the book in the film, as you all are, so I am quantifying based on my own analysis to arrive at this middle figure. At least i have read it, unlike that poor journalist who got shut up by Vidhu Vinod Chopra yesterday!

The 50% that the movie makers have added is constituted by large doses of humorous incidents (+20%). There is no denying that the script/dialogues has been substantially improved upon by the script writer namely Abhijat Joshi (as I understand) (+15%) and the message to take up a vocation that suits students has been punctuated to a greater extent (+15%), has lent the storyline greater credibility and structure to stand upon.

But if one analyses the humorous content, one may find several jokes and instances straight from the email forwards that one has received - all without credits by anonymous writers that dwell upon this planet and do not aspire to claim ‘credit’ for their gems among jokes – like how the induction motor works, or the pencil in space or the women clad in burkhas being photographed etc – are from email forwards. So the 20% added humour is not original! I did laugh at them, I must admit, though. But the subject is about originality, right?

To conclude, let me cite an anecdote on originality. An aspiring writer once sent in his write-up to a reputed writer, who responded thus “Your piece is both interesting and original”. The young chap was pleased – albeit for a short while. “But the original part is not interesting and the interesting part is not original”, he added to his horror!

The makers of ‘3 idiots’ may have to credit the core plot to CB and also consider giving credit to the countless anonymous joke contributors for making the movie so much fun to watch! Only then can they sing and dance “Aal eez Well”

Keeping the credit stuff aside, it is really a great entertaining movie to watch!
I enjoyed watching it!

Blogger’s Post-script:
1. Rashmi Bansal (author of the book 'Stay Hungry Stay Foolish') has this to say about the episode. I wanted to say the same thing too but didnt have the details.
Do read it in her "Lucky Idiot" post here
2.Tweeple have been voicing their views on Twitter saying
“Controversy is the new advertising” and
“There is no such thing as bad publicity”.
Search for the hashtag #30millionpointfiveidiots on twitter!

Wishing all my readers a Very Happy, Safe, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year 2010!

I do hope that Aaal eeez Well, folks!

Three Amazing Videos

While movie buffs are planning to end this year with 3 Idiots, I would like to end this year with 3 Videos that I would like to share with my readers.

Three must-watch, must-listen must-experience videos!

The First Amazing Video – that of Nivedita Hattangadi, an 11-year old girl, playing an instrument called “Samvadini”, which is a modified form of Harmonium. I was fortunate to attend her live performance on Sunday 20th Dec 09 at the Vamanashram Hall, Borivali (W) and talk to her after the performance, when she informed me about her Youtube video.

Click on this link and don’t miss listening to this amazing classical solo Samvadini performance .



Wah! Wah! Chhote Ustad!
Her live performance was really a treat! If I lay my hands on the recording, which I am trying to do right now, I promise to share it with you all.

And now for some fun to wind up the year 2009!

Second Amazing Video -
“Bandra Re” Song conceived, written and sung by Dr. Dilip Nadkarni a.k.a. Baba Calmdev

Dr. Dilip Nadkarni, my childhood friend sang at the Celebrate Bandra Festival. Click on the link!



Urbanites anywhere in India will be able to relate to it, though it is all about the princess amongst the suburbs of Mumbai, Bandra. I am sure you’ll love it!

Dilip is a versatile phenomenon, apart from being an Orthopeadic Surgeon, he is a musician, singer, sportsman, golfer and author!

Why does he call himself Baba Calm Dev?
Do check out his website Calmsutra.org here.
This page will tell you more about Dr. Dilip Nadkarni

Dilip was a national level competitive table-tennis player in his early years. His current passion for golf has resulted in bagging the DSP Merrill Lynch Trophy at the DLF Golf Course, recently. He sees golf as a stress-relieving game. No wonder people at the helm of affairs unwind with golf!

He has written the following books,
“Knee Problem, No Problem”
“Calm Sutra – The art of relaxation” and
“Real Fitness”

Way to go! Amazing Stuff! Carry on, Doc!

Third Mindblowing Video
Finally an appeal to my friends and blog-readers is presented to you in the form of this Mindblowing Blog Song Featuring Wilbur Sargunaraj



Wasn’t that a Simply Grr~ee~aa~t Performance? This song is indeed a prayer in the hearts of all bloggers around the world and the pleas to one’s friends and blog-readers could not be better expressed, could it?
Wilbur, I must say, you did it for us bloggers - A big Thank You!

Season’s Greetings to you all!
And yes, I am singing and dancing - “Please read my blog – Please read my blog – Please read my blog – Please read my blog – in 2010!”

My recent favorites

Here is a list of my recent favorite posts.

In case you have missed reading any of them, do click on the links and read them now.

1. Expert's Predicament

2. Highness in Goa

3. The Giver of Joys

4. The Tweet that wasnt

5. No such thing as a stupid question

6. Magical Treachery - Breaking Codes, Vanishing Charms

7. Mee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Boltoy

8. Lest we remember

9. Sulochana-Kaki, The spirited septuagenarian sculptor

10. Just how many - a guessing game

11. Feeling Like Barack Obama

You may find my old favorite posts in this link below

My old best blogposts

These are my favorites, which of them is yours?

My First Short Story

I have been regularly reading Corinne Rodrigues' Blog "Everyday Gyaan" for sometime now.

I found every post of her blog thought-provoking, inspirational and one that motivates the reader towards self-improvement.

So when I got this email recently from Corinne, requesting me to contribute a guest post for her blog, on the subject of "making a choice to be happy", I was at a loss for ideas. I had read several of her posts and knew exactly the kind of posts that her readers would love. But how could i write a post like that, i wondered?

I suddenly felt like a clown in a circus being asked to counsel a wayward mischievous kid in the crowd to behave himself and not do anything remotely funny.

The next thing i read is a message from Jeans on Twitter about the Kreativ Blogger award (that i announced in my last post). Must write...must write...
A short story would be the right way to go about it, i thought.

Do read my first work of fiction - a short story,
"The Chosen One" in Corinne's blog.

I am no great story teller and this being my first attempt at writing fiction of any kind, I sincerely hope you all do like it!

Feeling like Barack Obama...

When Jeans or Jeena R Papaadi who blogs at The Garden City LENS, awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award, my predicament was no different than Barack Obama’s when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.


Thanks, Jeans! I will try to justify this award… I promise!

If there is any prize for the number of cartoons that a single event prompted around the world in 2009, it was Barack Obama being conferred the Nobel Peace Prize, that would win - hands down! Click on each of the results of this google-page search below and have a look for yourself!

Google Search Link here

And therein lies the difference! Not a single cartoon of me receiving the award and pronouncing “Now that I have been awarded the Kreativ Blogger Award, its time for me to do something Kreativ”. How about kreating chaos and confusion, wherever I go, does that count, folks?

Again, unlike Barack Obama, who continues to go about his global agenda, increasing troops in the Af-Pak region, I immediately decided to do something creative to justify the award bestowed upon me. Not having written a single piece of fiction – not even a short story, (can you imagine?), I began wondering if the world would even classify me as a writer, let alone a creative one if they had to StumbleUpon my whatnonsanz? “A creative writer! Whatnonsanz!” Must write something creative….must write something creative….

Did I hear someone knock on my door? Hey I was just trying to be creative guys, don’t come over to take my award back – even Barack Obama has been given lotsa time, hasn’t he? And as one cartoonist observed, he has already brokered peace between a black professor and a white cop over beer, hasn’t he? Just hang on, folks, we’re still trying!

Meanwhile I also need to tell you 7 things about myself which you don’t know (or at least I can pretend not to know):

1. I play a musical instrument… didn’t know na? The second fiddle… at home.
2. My only ambition in life was to become filthy rich – I have already achieved 50% success. Already, I am filthy - just need to be rich…
3. Before I could spell “ambition”, I wanted to become a bus conductor - of a double decker BEST bus in Mumbai. Just thought he was the most powerful person on earth!
4. When in need of better blogpost ideas, I put on my Thinking Shoes, unlike most people, who put on their Thinking Caps – I get all my writing ideas during my long, brisk walks.
5. I plan to do research on how shoe-laces manage to untie themselves so that the principles of self-motivation can be applied to humans.
6. I don’t drive. I do drive….people crazy, though.
7. I owe my success so far, entirely to my socks. If you’re confused about which success I am talking about, do read more about it in Srl. 2 above.

Finally, I give the award to the following deserving bloggers for their creative contributions in their blogs:

1. Sakhi, who blogs at “Sakhi’s Laghukatha” for her fascinating short stories, which make you think about the varied social subjects. Amazing us of her creative talent of writing fiction.
2. Corinne Rodrigues, who blogs at Everyday Gyaan, who posts inspiring and uplifting anecdotes, incidents, real-life experiences of her own and those known to her for her readers.
3. Rachana Shakyawar, who blogs at “Humming Today”, and posts thoughtful, information and links about social subjects, while stressing on the need to celebrate life as we live it.
4. Nita J Kulkarni, who blogs at “A Wide Angle View of India” and writes extensively about varied important matters that affect us, through her highly-researched work, loaded with statistical data and her own take on the subject.
5. Manju Joglekar, who blogs at “Of Cabbages and Kings” , posts unusual stories and incidents bringing into focus matters that would otherwise escape our attention.
6. Priyank Thatte, who blogs at “Final Transit” The pictures and travel experiences of this back-packing youngster holds your attention and you’ll almost think you were with him in that journey he describes.
7. Krishnan, who blogs at “Musings & Miscellany”, for posting great stuff which he invariably finds and shares it with us enriching us with every post.

Congratulations, fellow-bloggers, do pick up the award and do all those things, that I just did – except post some whatnonsanz, of course - Do let us know 7 things about yourselves, award it to 7 of the deserving bloggers that you’d like to pass the award and let them know about it as I have done too.

Just How Many - A Guessing Game

Tiger Woods is reported deeper in the woods and even though the world knows about his decision to quit golfing, one observes that whether on the golf-course, or off it, he will face the same question:
“How many holes?”

An ad spoof doing the rounds here;


Jokes apart, we are faced with such questions all the time. Indians are now faced with questions like “How many states?” Just how many states do we need? How many are enough? Promising the creation of Telangana has meant hopes for others too. Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Bundelkhand, Vidarbha, Harit Pradesh….

So just how many states would India have in 2020? According to one tweet, we’re going back to as many as the number of princely states that existed in our country and that could be over 500! What’s your guess?

How about Gopiland? I could be the CM! And if my right index finger, the editor in chief refuses to publish this post by not clicking on the "PUBLISH" icon, let us promise him a separate state!

Someone may plan to write a book titled “2 Many States” to cash in on the popularity of the best-selling book and the most-happening trend that have swept our country. Chetan Bhagat is unlikely to title his next book with that title – reason being….refer Tiger Woods episode. He wouldn’t want to answer too many questions!

So lets play this small guessing game.

In the year 2020, How many …
1. States in India?
2. Tigers left in the world? (Here I mean the four-legged wild cat not the two-legged celebrity)
3. Glaciers left (spared of global warming)?
4. Rivers left in India (spared of contamination)?
5. SEZs would be operational?
6. Malls would be functional?
7. Scams would be under investigation?
8. Scamsters would be convicted and money successfully confiscated for public good?
9. people will still go to bed hungry?
10. states will still continue to neglect some district or town while pampering another, causing more hunger strikes in demand for another state?

We could go on...but how many of such questions are really enough?

Sulochana-kaki, the Spirited Septuagenarian Sculptor

Thank you, Blogadda, for picking my post for the Spicy Saturday Picks!
Readers may have seen our daughter Supriya’s painting in my earlier blogpost here.

If Supriya took a keen interest in painting, we owe it all to her “Sulochana-kaki”, Mrs. Sulochana Haldankar, a kind-hearted elderly woman who lives in our locality. We heard about the art classes, which she conducted in her house from our neighbourhood friends. It was apparent from our first meeting that “Sulochana-Kaki” was extremely talented and loved to teach the little kids residing in our locality, the basics of drawing and painting. Once at her place, she would often forget the time and be at the assigned task for several hours, until we would go over to fetch her home. That Supriya was able to get an "A" grade, both in her preliminary and intermediate arts examination held by the state can be largely attributed to her art teacher!

Sulochana-kaki at work with her portrait painting

It’s been some time now that we hadn’t called on her and we heard that Sulochana-kaki had stopped teaching kids and was busy day and night with her sculpting and painting activities in preparation for an exhibition planned to be held at the Jehangir Art Gallery! It is not often that we come across such spirited septuagenarians, who have so much to do these days, do we? So we called on her last week-end to chat up with her find out she has been doing lately.

The gallery had been booked 2 years ago and it would be another 3 years for her exhibition to be hosted, she informed. Sulochana-kaki, who turns 75 on 17th December this year, is toiling to give shape to some of her sculptures and also on some oil-on-canvas portraits of eminent public figures which some institutions in her village of Malgund want her to do.

It was really kind of her to find time from her hectic schedule and let us know how she had begun her journey into this wonderful world of creativity where her hands would pick up mud and clay and create life-like busts and statues. Fortunate to have been born in a family, which held art forms in high regard, it was not difficult for her to pick up drawing and craft. Her father was a singer and stage-artiste and her mother would encourage her to make decorative articles like cloth-dolls, rangolis, embroidery and so on, on festive occasions. But as was the norm in those days, she married at the age of 16, even before completing her matriculation in 1953. She was not allowed to leave her house for 7 years after marriage, so she had to curb her creative urge to pursue her interest in the field of art.

It was only after an incident that happened seven years into her marriage, that her husband learnt of her artistic skills, when her society organised an art exhibition and she painted a woman offering her prayers to the sacred Tulsi outside her house. This humble work singularly proved to be the proverbial key which opened up the world for her! Her husband took keen interest in developing her special skills and provided her with any art material and also encouraged her to join a 3-year Diploma at the Modern Art Institute at Dadar. After completing this course, she had the opportunity to assist an artist who worked on portraits. She then joined the JJ Institute of Fine Arts and completed her Diploma in Drawing and Painting in 1965 and her Diploma in Sculpture and Modelling in 1970 in which she secured First Class.

“You are a girl, do you really want to sculpt?” everyone would ask her. “Yes, I just don’t want to do the course for some academic diploma – I want to sculpt!” she would reply firmly. In those days, no one had heard about female sculptors apparently. Soon she put to rest the doubts in the minds of one and all when her sculpture, depicting the court scene of Shivaji, won the Gold Medal at the annual exhibition at the JJ School of Art in 1970 and another sculpture, Mother and Child won the Bronze Medal at the exhibition organised by the Sculptors Association at the Jehangir Art Gallery in 1970. She thus became one of the early women to break the clay barrier, if I may say so.

Shivaji Maharaj in his court a classic depiction of the period

The artist receiving an award from the well-known writer, Shri Mangesh Padgaonkar.

Sculpting involves hours of toil, often standing or sitting in the same position, is that not very tiring and does that not stress her out, really, one may wonder. Firstly, she is so deeply immersed in her work that she often finds herself up at it upto 3 am and some times well into the next morning! “One normally does not get tired of doing what one enjoys”, she replies “and for the stress, I do some exercises” she replied. “One should always pursue hobbies that keep one engaged”, she concludes “so today when I live alone, I don’t really live alone I have my hobby which I cannot live without.”


So much was her love for sculpting and painting, that when her nephew suggested her to begin teaching kids, she was not at all inclined to do so. How could she teach such young kids the basics now? But then her nephew had a point – “If you teach youngsters, you will keep the art alive and your students will create beautiful work more than you alone can! Moreover the satisfaction will be immense”, he persuaded.

She liked the idea, and expresses gratitude to her nephew for this suggestion. Besides immense satisfaction and adoration from her students, she has also received support and help from their parents! So it was with a heavy heart that she had to stop the classes when she learnt there was much to do and could not carry on both these activities simultaneously.

Finally it was time to leave so we informed her about my blog and that I would need some pictures I would like to put up with the write-up, and she was kind enough to provide them. “Thanks for all the trouble you’ve taken” she said as we prepared to leave.

Trouble? She also has a great sense of humour, doesn’t she?

Post-script: Must thank Supriya and Amita for joining me in doing this post!

Images of Smt. Sulochana Haldankar's work below:


Goddess Amba Devi with 18 hands her creation that has stayed with her all along!


A Panel of Child God Bala Krishna helping himself to some curds hung high up


Mother and Child sculpture


Lord Krishna playing his flute


An old photograph of the artist in her younger days with her husband along with the bust of her mother.


Swami Vivekananda's Bust and Shirdi Sai Baba
All images posted above taken by me during the visit.

All images posted below are Courtesy: Image Photo Studio, Dahisar (E)

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Statue


Goddess Amba Devi another image of her majestic creation made with great devotion


A passionate piece of sculpting


Lord Ganesh - intricate and artistic depiction


A statue of Poet Keshavsut - Kavi Krushnajee Keshav Damle Interestingly, the poet never had his photograph taken and Sulochana-kaki had to depend on the sketches of another artist to create this statue to be installed in the memorial behind Bhageshwar Temple. Some trustees objected in doubt of it being really representative of the great poet's looks, but finally accepted it and still stands at the memorial at Malgund.


The Trimurti at Elephanta Caves


Lord Dattatraya


Shirdi Sai Baba Statue


A close-up snap of Amba Devi - so you can notice the detailing!