Monday, June 24, 2013

Notes from Here and There - II

Allow me to share some of the comments/opinions/personal reflections I got around posting on various so-called social networking sites… scrolls and scrolls and scrolls of ‘em! Quite apt to say that this is my own Swachh ‘Personal Viewpoint’ Abhiyaan! Hehe!

1. A quiet goodbye to 'Swathi Photo Studio':
Last week, one of the photo studios (goes by the archetypal Indian shop name Swathi Photo Studio, Secunderabad) I frequent near my place shut shop.

It was a good customer-friendly studio. They offered their photography & video services, always politely and courteously. Sadly, they have pulled down the shutters and had to shift to one of the lesser-known residential bylanes in the same area. Imagine if you had to start from scratch all over again even after close to 18 years of service at the same place! It hurts deeply.

Apparently, low footfalls (no steady stream of customers) and rising operating costs are the prime suspects for the shutdown! Apparently, the studio guys were being charged high rent including other sundry maintenance charges that are nothing but a total rip-off and hoodwinking on the part of the owner of the commercial building.

I don't know but I wish the studio guys well where ever they are.

2. On the book 'Midnight's Children':
Midnight's Children... a profound book of life and living after India's independence. The sheer brilliance and perfect felicity of the English language used by Salman Rushdie is to die for. Every bit of the story is unusually dealt with. I loved the book Midnight's Children to the core!

 I am on my way to read Rushdie's latest: Joseph Anton. I wish he now offers to write a great new story depicting today's globalized life in India, its political wasteland: Delhi, India's marginalized people, and their inspiring stories, without forgetting to dash in some love historical potion into it. 

 Maybe on the lines of Midnight's Children.

 3. A literary advance for Amish! Well-deserved!
A very well-deserved compensation for Amish! A good 5 crores (50 million rupees) as advance money for this next trilogy! Of scores of people who are passionate about his books and Indian mythological themes, I too will be looking forward to his books.

Meanwhile, I am on my way to reading the remaining two books of the Shiva Trilogy, namely: "The Secret of the Nagas" and "The Oath of the Vayuputras".

Meanwhile, I picked up a comment from a social networking website that the former book is good whereas "The Oath of the Vayuputras" (the last work in the trilogy) was a disappointment.

"Disaster!" is the word she'd used, to be precise. Oh! Sherlock! I must find out now...

A riposte: I just don't think so! I beg to differ. (Oh yea, I am not supposed to 'beg,' for I am delivering a riposte here! How silly!) On the contrary, it's a beautiful engaging book; a well-conceived storyline and a great pace are what make the book a good work! Lovely work!

4. On the book "The Girl Who Played With Fire":
Left with the last few pages to be read from the book "The Girl Who Played With Fire" (by the genius of an author Stieg Larsson) ... got to know who killed the Svenssons and Bujrman, waiting to see how Lizbeth Salander ultimately deals with Zalachenko, her former Russian spy father...

Tonight, I am gonna know it all! Can't hardly wait!

This crime trilogy is truly one of the most astounding works I have ever read in my life.

5. On Amit Chaudhuri's new book "Calcutta - Two Years in The City:
I am presently reading Amit Chaudhuri's new book "Calcutta - Two Years in The City". Last night I've devoured the 1st chapter. In one word: Marvellous! Truly a masterpiece.
A sure-fire masterpiece! Ratings and reviews (on one of the social networking sites) of such a wonderful masterpiece are so critical. I know one needn't pay heed to them, at best should be ignored as junk. I don't trust any of the social networking sites for proper book reviews anyway, as these twerps who give their 'reviews' can really ruin your day.

It is almost like they don’t know how to appreciate a good book and yet have the gall to write about it. Useless reviews they are!

6. My erstwhile Orkut profile: (R.I.P., Orkut):
About Me: I have a passion for books and warm Tea. And great shirts. I read voraciously night and day. Like traveling a lot, in jeans (!!); I love my Spanish Nautica perfume. Socializing with friends is my forte. Global warming, personal poems; writings, blogging, miracles, experiences, and happenings; most especially books are the subjects for my alter egos. Between adding and attempting to reduce calories, I am a software professional bored to a stupor.

Cuisines: Ethnic Bengali cuisine (anytime!): Sample this:  Macher Jhol, Chingri Macher Karry, Begun Bhaja, Luchee Torkari, Egg Roll, Mangsho Kosha, and Suktoh too.

I am a passionate lover of ethnic Bengali cuisine. 'Chinese' too, goes well for this insatiable specialist gourmet. I love to eat. I'm an incurable foodie for whom life is one long (losing) battle with the bulge. Anything edible goes inside me like a soul saved from certain extinction. I have a bottomless pit...Tank, I think.

Movies: Love movies from the west. Have a passion for Bengali classics, especially Satyajit Ray's unforgettable pictures. I love those Uttam-Suchitra black-and-white films.

TV Shows: I like watching TV now. Give me Discovery, National Geographic, Animal Planet, Star Movies; or HBO any day. 'Knight Rider' is still an unforgettable TV series: (The car says: "Micheal, where are you?").

Sports: Like Lawn Tennis, Soccer. I am no lover of sports, but love watching Olympics the most.

Music: I love the 1980s and 1990s music, today's music doesn't bother me much barring a few of course. Richard Marx, Lionel Richie, Bryan Adams, Kishore; Lata, Robindro Songeet, et al.

Passions: Long walks, Books, shopping, mall-hopping, ... And I love Kolkata. Scratch my skin and you will find Kolkata!

Welcome to my fish market:
Disclaimer: I don't sell fish. It is not my "side business"! In fact, the other day I got bored (and I know I am supposed to go hit the gym), but I am lazy as I am ever. But thanks O thanks, I wised up a little; rolled my wheels into a fish market and bought some fish (to die for). What else! There is nothing fishy about me or my visitation to the market. Just plain ribaldry!

7. Book Review: 2 States by Chetan Bhagat:
The most hilarious book published by Chetan Bhagat so far. On the contrary, the profound tale that he ever weaved, according to me, was Five Point Someone. I thought Five Point Someone did have some basic literary quality to it. All other books that came after were mere "school or college tales".

Perhaps, "Three Mistakes of My Life" was a close second. Chetan Bhagat's books are a study of simplicity and are not to be taken seriously! No, I don't mean that in a degrading way. Certainly not. One primary element of his books is that he manages to pull off the whole account quite convincingly, the story propels ahead into a simple and sensible finale. There's nothing “literary fiction” about his books and none should be taken as anything near that suggestion. If any “writer” is clever enough to do that, then the battle is already half won and you can move on, stylishly if you want to, yes please do, and dub yourself as an author.

8. Book Review: A Writer's People by VS Naipaul
VS Naipaul is a genius. His winning Nobel Prize is one of the noblest deeds mankind can forever feel proud of. There’s not an iota of doubt on that. But this book is essentially the most despicable book that I got to lay my hands on.

The way this individual lampooned the Indian subcontinent and the Indians is very demeaning and disheartening. Absolutely no wonder that he could be experiencing old age dementia could possibly be Alzheimer’s or something! Such vitriol; it is only to be read to believe such a tosh! His old flash of genius is hopelessly missing from the latest works that he presents us with.

Of late, VS Naipaul has been in the news for his bold and pithy comments concocted against female writers of the world. To some extent, I think that’s really pathetic of him! I can only take pity on this old man of great repute. Oldie, what’s up? Get a life.

9. Fogg Napoleon Deo Spray: Good deodorant spray! Go ahead and buy it.
Overall, the Fogg deo spray is really good! I agree with some people here when they say that it is more like perfume than a deo spray. Presumably, Fogg wanted to be a little different from other deodorant sprays! 

 Those who like their deos strong then this product will please them. I prefer mild deos, so Fogg is a little too strong in its fragrance and smell. When applied to the underarms, it felt a little burning for some time before subsiding. The USPs of the product are a) the fragrance stays for at least 4 hours! and b) the fragrance is really good. You can try this new deodorant; you'll not get disappointed. I'd say true value for money. Don't worry. Go ahead and buy it. My verdict: 9/10

For you Flipkart: Excellent packaging and on-time delivery! That's a WOW! for you there.

10. Book Review: Mahanayak Revisited: The World of Uttam Kumar by Swapan Mullick
This is one of those books that one always wishes comes about once in a while. The great Bengali actor Uttam Kumar was reason enough for me to pick this book up and get home to read it as soon as possible.

For those (English language readers) who agonize over the unavailability of any authorized biography/autobiography and hardly know anything at all about Bengal's most famous luminary, who had the Bengali cinema audiences spellbound throughout the 1950s, 60s & 70s post-renaissance Calcutta, then this book is perhaps one of very little of what is available today!

Uttam Kumar’s screen presence combined with his awe-inspiring acting elegance, mellow voice, and dazzling smile made him the famous son of Bengali cinema.

I liked the book enough to write this review. The author Swapan Mullick wrote a fine account of the person, who had us bedazzled with his serene performances. I wish I was born in the late 1940s or early 1950s to be able to see and cherish it all with my own eyes, but alas!

I have one objection about the book and that is this book could have dwelt more on Uttam Kumar’s personal life. I mean, we hardly know anything about his childhood experiences with his numerous cousins, brother, and sisters in Ahiritolla and Bhowanipore. Even his own sibling Tarun Kumar’s personal account of his brother has been left out of this book; it could have been included, even his costar Suchitra Sen’s account. Not to forget his life in a much-visited sanctified place called Bhowanipore in Calcutta. Much has been written about his aspirations to make some name in Bombay filmdom of those days, even his failed film projects there. But not much has been dealt with as far as his encounters, circumstances behind which he got himself into trouble he couldn’t get out of and people who duped him (perhaps that amounts to name-calling?), and his dismal projects, disappointments with the filmmakers in Bombay are concerned, but only superficially though.

Read this book and you’ll have felt a little richer. Hardly though there are any books, leave alone any comprehensive account of the great star the Bengali cinema has ever produced.

11. Barbasol Shaving Cream: Worth a buy! Fine stuff!
Dear Barbasol Shaving Cream can,

WOW! I remember you; you have a familiar face. You are that famous can-guy from the film Jurassic Park. One of the characters who modified your shaving cream and smuggled dinosaur embryos from Isla Nublar island! Why didn’t you sue him?

Alright, I was a little skeptical to make a buy. But thank God I overcame it by reading the reviews here, which were good. I think you are an awesomely great shaving product. I still feel the freshness from a nice shaving experience I get daily after using your lather cream/foam. May your tribe increase!

Your "Beard Buster" byline is quite apt! You are true to your name and now fame!

I confess I have become a fan of yours and I am sure I am going to buy you again and again. You are worth a buy! Fine stuff!

Best regards, AM
PS: I Love you! Will you be mine...like forever?

12. Sajanwa Bairi Ho Gaye Hamar...
"Sajanawaa bairee ho gaye humaar
Chithheeyaan ho to, har koee baache, bhaag naa baache koee,
Karamawaa bairee ho gaye humaar.
......
Jaaye base parades sajanawaa, sautan ke bharamaaye,
Naa sandes naa koee khabareeyaa, rut aaye rut jaaye,
Doob gaye hum beech bhanwar me, kar ke solaa paar,
Sajanawaa bairee ho gaye humaar..."

Have been humming this heart-numbing Hindi song all day today. I like this song for its lilting quality and it almost always haunts me whenever I listen to it. Memories come flooding by. The acclaimed Hindi film "Teesri Kasam" is directed by Basu Bhattacharya and the song is sung by Mukesh. In the film, Raj Kapoor, a naive bullock-cart driver sings to Waheed Rehman, a travelling courtesan. A landmark film.

By Arindam Moulick

Pix courtesy: Internet
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