Latest Obsession..

Nana re Nana re.. (Choopultho Maatlade Bhaashedho..)
Movie: Sasesham
Singer: Suchitra
Music: K.C.Mouli


Naake theliyani maikam.. naalo modalaindhi...
yedo theliyani lokam... cheruva kaanundhi...
nee jatha cherina vainam.. muripisthu undhi
iruvuri madhyalo sneham kaligisthu undhi...

Choopultho Maatlaade bhaashedo nanne cherindhi
Nee navve manthram la naa manasuki pranam posindhi
o o o  yemantaaro dheenni yemavuthundho maree...
Naa shwaase parugulu theesthu nee tho nadichi ninne cheri nee jatha korindhi..

Choopultho Maatlaade bhaashedo nanne cherindhi
Nee navve manthram la naa manasuki pranam posindhi

Naake theliyani maikam.. naalo modalaindhi...
yedo theliyani lokammm... cheruva kaanundhi...
nee jatha cherina vainammm.. muripisthu undhi
iruvuri madhyalo snehammm kaligisthu undhi...

ooo aavu waaa ho waavu waavu.. ooo aavu waaa ho oo waa waavu ..

**************music *****************
**************music *****************

Nannila.. nee oohallo munchesi vodalakila..
ho oo.. Nuvvila naa lokam lo vesavu naa yava la
KAnu moosthe nee roopam naa yadure vasthundhi
Kanutherichelope nanu kavvinchesthundhi
dooram naake neram   ... chesthunnattundhi ..
Nee dari cheralante madi kalavara paduthundhi..

Choopultho Maatlaade bhaashedo nanne cherindhi
Nee navve manthram la naa manasuki pranam posindhi
o o o  yemantaaro dheenni yemavuthundho maree..
Naa shwaase parugulu theesthu nee tho nadichi ninne cheri nee jatha korindhi..

eee vintha santosham nee valle naake thelisindhi
inkevaru lekunna nee thodu chalani pisthondhi..
oo oo ..vaddanna vinadhee manasu vechindhi aashaga vayasu
nee talape chilipiga valapai kalane visiri ala la musiri okatai pommandhi

Naake theliyani maikam.. naalo modalaindhi...
yedo theliyani lokammm... cheruva kaanundhi...
nee jatha cherina vainammm.. muripisthu undhi
iruvuri madhyalo snehammm kaligisthu undhi...

Can you stay home tomorrow ?

4yr old : Mommy.. when will summer arrive ?
Mommy: Soon.. 
4yr old : Can we go camping ?
Mommy: sure..
4yr old : Summer is lot of fun.
Mommy: Yes. I like summer too...
4yr old : Mommy.. I have a great idea..
Mom : What is it ?
4 yr old : How about you stay home from tomorrow ? And we can play everyday.. and have lots of fun even before summer arrives..

Mother Tongue - Is it really a big deal.. ?

I was reading something on a friend's blog which got me thinking about this -

Is it really a big deal if you are not thinking or talking to yourself in your own native language/mother tongue ? Like my friend, I seem to be more comfortable speaking, typing, arguing or discussing in english more than in my mother tongue.. But, is that a bad thing ?

Agreed, we grew up speaking our mother tongue at home.. its what we first learn from childhood, so we are "supposed" to be most comfortable speaking it than other languages.. But, is it something bad if you are more comfortable speaking some other language than your own ?!

Back when i was about 8/9 may be ..when my english teacher used to tell me that to know a language and speak it really well, you must think in the language.. and I remember consciously making myself "think" in english.. I guess most of us convent-school-goers kinda grew up.. thinking in "english" even though its not our mother tongue... So, may be we got used to thinking more in english than our own language.. Ofcourse attending schools in places where the students come from different regions also makes it such that one cannot use their native language everywhere.. Not to mention higher-education books are all in english and sometimes there is total lack jargons in the regional language.. which gets us using english more often.. Its almost like a necessity.. especially in the corporate.. globalized job market.. too..u cant get anywhere in most parts of the world without english..

But, thinking about the question of whether its something one should feel bad about.. I am not so sure.. Granted, we need to speak our own language.. its who we are.. our identity.. to preserve our culture and rich history and heritage... etc .. But, ultimately, isnt language a means to express your feelings and thoughts.. ? a tool that enables us to interact with the other social beings in the world... Does it really matter what exactly it is ?

OK ...after saying all of that, I should probably add, living outside of India, I do try to enforce speaking in our regional language at home.. with my kids..esp.. I teach them every word quite religiously.. and they might wonder the same in future.. But, if they wont learn it, they wont be able to appreciate or enjoy some things I do.. they may not be able to communicate with grandparents and other relatives who cant speak english.. and that would be a shame.. :)

So my take on this.. the most number of languages you are comfortable with, the better it is for you in this world.. :) I would learn spanish and chinese.. if I get a chance...

Thought for the day..

Read this somewhere today -

"Winners see the dream and develop plans while the rest see the obstacles & develop justifications."

Very very true..

Ugadi Wishes !!

Avatar

Watched Avatar over the weekend. Pretty entertaining 2 hrs 40mins.. We watched the 3D version and I would recommend the same to anyone who is yet to watch.. Havent been to a theater in ages.. Got so used to the comfort and convenience of watching DVDs on my big screen HDTV..that I never felt the need to go watch something at the theater.. but this was fun.. Now if one could have the same 3D HD experience at home.. whats better than that ? 3D HD DVDs in the market ?

Back from hiatus.. (atleast for now..)

After a long hiatus.. I am back to blogging again...I figured that if I put off things due to lack of time, I'll probably never get to them.. My life is getting busier day by day.. and if I want to do something, I should probably try to squeeze it in the hectic schedule somehow.. :) We'll see how long i continue on this thought process..

I am not sure if I can keep up with the blogging.. but, at least resolving to start again.. is a big deal.. right ?!

मेघा छाए आधी रात - शर्मीली

मेघा छाए आधी रात
बैरन बन गई निंदिया
बतादे मैं क्या करुँ
मेघा छाए आधी रात

सब के आँगन दिया जले रे मोरे आँगन जिया ...
हवा लागे शूल जैसी ताना मारे चुनरिया ...
आई है आँसूं की बरात ...
बैरन बन गई निंदिया
बतादे मैं क्या करुँ
मेघा छाए आधी रात
बैरन बन गई निंदिया

आ आ
रूठ गए रे सपने सारे टूट गई रे आशा ....
नैन बहे रे गंगा मोरे फिर भी मन हें प्यासा ....
किसे काहूँ रे मन की बात
बैरन बन गई निंदिया
बतादे मैं क्या करून
मेघा छाए आधी रात
बैरन बन गई निंदिया

कुछ दिल ने कहा..- अनुपमा

कुछ दिल ने कहा.. आ आ..
कुछ भी नही ... ई ई
कुछ दिल ने सुना ... आ आ
कुछ भी नही ....ई ई

ऐसी भी बातें होती हैं
ऐसी भी बातें होती हैं
कुछ दिल ने कहा.. आ आ..
कुछ भी नही ....ई ई

लेता है दिल अन्ग्दायिन्यान
इस दिल को समझाए कोई
आरमान न आँखें खोल दे
रसुवा न हो जाए कोई
पलकों की ठंडी सेज पर
सपनों की परियां सोती हैं

ऐसी भी बातें होती हैं
ऐसी भी बातें होती हैं
कुछ दिल ने कहा आ आ
कुछ भी नहीं ..

दिल की तसल्ली के लिए
झूटी चमक झूठा निखार
जीवन थो सूना ही रहा
सब समझे आई है बहार
कलियों से.. कोई पूछता ...
हस्तीं हैं वोह या रोती हैं

ऐसी भी बातें होती हैं
ऐसी भी बातें होती हैं
कुछ दिल ने कहा ...
कुछ भी नही ....ई ई ...

कुछ दिल ने सुना आ आ ..
कुछ भी नही ....ई ई ॥

सारे सपने कहीं खो गए..

मोहब्बत पलकों पे कितने हसीं खवाब सजाती है..
फूलों से महकत खवाब..
सितारों से जगमगात खवाब..
शबनम से बरसत खवाब..
फिर कभी यूँ भी होता है की
पलकों की डालियों से खवाबों
के सारे परिंदे उड़ जात
हैं..और आँखें वीरान सी रह जाती हैं"

सारे सपने कहीं खो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए..
दिल से तन्हाई का दर्द जीता
क्या कहें हम पे क्या क्या न बीता..
तुम न आए, मगर जो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए॥

सारे सपने कहीं खो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए..

तुमने हमसे कहीं थी जो बातें..
उनको दोहराती हैं गम की रातें..
तुमसे मिलने के दिन तो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए..

सारे सपने कहीं खो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए..

कोई शिकवा न कोई गिला है..
तुमसे कब हमको यह गम मिला है...
हाँ नसीब अपने ही सो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए..

सारे सपने कहीं खो गए..
हाय हम क्या से क्या हो गए..

ఏ దివి లో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో ...

ఏ దివి లో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో
ఏ కవి లో మెరిసిన ప్రేమ గీతమో
నా మది లో నీవై నిండి పోయెనే ....
ఏ దివి లో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో
ఏ కవి లో మెరిసిన ప్రేమ గీతమో..

నీ రూపమే దివ్య దీపమై
నీ నవ్వులే నవ్య తారలై
నా కన్నుల వెన్నెల కాంతి నింపెనే....

పాల బుగ్గలను లేత సిగ్గు తో పల్లవించగా రావే
నీలి ముంగురులు పిల్ల గాలి తో ఆటలాడగా రావే
కాలి అందియలు ఘల్లు ఘల్లు మన రాజ హంస ల రావే.....

నిదుర మబ్బులను మెరుపు తీగ వై కలలు రేపినది నీవే
బ్రతుకు వీణ పై పరనయ రాగములు ఆలపించినది నీవే
పదము పదము లో మధువులూరగా కావ్య సంధ్య వై రావే...

ఏ దివి లో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో
ఏ కవి లో మెరిసిన ప్రేమ గీతమో
నా మది లో నీవై నిండి పోయెనే ....
ఏ దివి లో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో
ఏ కవి లో మెరిసిన ప్రేమ గీతమో..

दिल चुरालिया साथिया - साया

Few years ago..on a sunday afternoon... when I was listening to our 3 hour community radio show .. (which plays movie songs from the subcontinent), I heard this song.. that just touched my heart.. too bad I missed the name of the movie.. But the tune of the song lingered in my mind.. especially the chorus/pallavi ;) of the song.. And I just remembered... " Dil churaliya .. saathiya.. " (and no other words)..which I thought was the best of the whole song.. The whole song is decent .. but the chorus and the tune its sung in... is just superb.. !! All these years...I..forgot about it.. many times.. and then remembered many other times.. thought of googling it.. but never made it..until today..

And wonder why ? this morning at 5:20 AM when I got up to start my day and get ready to go to work, I woke up with this song in my head.. !! Sang it all along(..yeah only the Dil churaliya saathiya.. part..).. while getting ready... and decided today I must listen to it somewhere and find out what the rest of the lovely chorus was so that I could learn and sing more than 3 words..... :) and here it is... the chorus/pallavi of the song.. thats so addicting..

रुत मस्त मस्त ये दिन ये वक़्त
मौसम ने क्या जादू किया ...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया ......
दिल चुरालिया साथिया.....

And after listening to the whole song again.. I still love the chorus the best.. The rest of the song has nice lyrics.. but a little bit slow.. But, I cant help myself from not listening to it on repeat..just for those 4 lines of chorus.. above.. when ever I listen to it.. causes goosebumps..all over !! .... music and songs incite feelings like nothing else.. in this world... LOVE IT...

Here is the whole song... if you are interested... tried translating into english .. but it sounds kind of silly in english... I cant come up with the right english words that can convey what I feel when I listen to that particular hindi.. word.. so I wont ruin it by translating.. ! But, if you are still curious.. its worth learning hindi.. if u are a hopeless romantic music fan like me..
many many songs you will love.. :))

Movie: Saaya
Singers : Alka Yagnik & Udit Narayan
Music Directors : M.M.Kreem and Anu Malik
Pictured on : John Abraham & Tara Sharma

ओ साथिया..... ओ बेलिया .....
देखी है पहली बार...... आंखों ने यह बहार
रुत मस्त मस्त ये दिन ये वक़्त
मौसम ने क्या जादू किया ...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया ......
दिल चुरालिया साथिया.....

देखी है पहली बार...... आंखों ने ये बहार
रुत मस्त मस्त ये दिन ये वक़्त
मौसम ने क्या जादू किया ...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया ......
दिल चुरालिया साथिया.....

दिल था प्यासा... बस हमने सारा..... सागर को घूँट में पी लिया ...
पल दो पल में बस आज ही कल में .... हम ने सौ साल के जनम जी लिया॥

देखा है पहली बार जीवन के आर पार
रुत ये मस्त मस्त यह दिन यह वक़्त
मौसम ने क्या जादू किया ...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया...

फूलों को तो खिलते देखा था कांटे भी आज तो खिल गए॥
लोगों को तो..... मिलते देखा था .....
यह धरती आसमान मिल गए
आया है पहली बार
किस्मत पे ऐतबार

रुत ये मस्त मस्त यह दिन यह वक़्त
मौसम ने क्या जादू किया ...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया...

देखी है पहली बार...... आंखों ने यह बहार

रुत मस्त मस्त ये दिन ये वक़्त
मौसम ने क्या जादू किया ...
दिल चुरालिया साथिया ......
दिल चुरालिया साथिया.....

Why buying gift cards is not such a good idea anymore ?

Do you give and receive a lot of gift cards ?? If yes, then you better get used taking the risk they come with...

When the store gift cards were first introduced, it seemed like such a great idea.. !! It is a great idea for the most part..if you know the receiver will want to buy something from that store.

But, these days with the economic melt downs, you dont know when the stores are going out of business/declaring bankruptcy.. ! If you dont follow up with all the news, and find out a little late, you may be surprised to know that the $50 gift card that you were saving to use at a mega sale.. wouldnt be accepted any more..

A New Beginning...

With so much media focus on the elections ... there is no way anyone would have missed the election news... I have been following the reports pretty closely.. for the past 2 yrs almost..and yesterday.. finally.. it came to an end. My belief in "nothing is inevitable"..."everything is possible".. in the land of opportunity and hope.. has been renewed.. !! Not only will these elections go into the history books.. about the many firsts involved in it.. but it also showed that the people of the country can ...in one voice.. say what they feel....through their fundamental right to vote...

I tried to stay away from blogging about the "sensitive issues"... on this blog.. for quite sometime now and found myself in short of words to say.. It almost seems like all I have to say these days.. is about topics that are deemed as "sensitive".. But, then I thought, the whole purpose of why I started blogging was to share my thoughts with the world.. and if I am holding back on the real important things.. then there is no point.. ! So, today I decided to move my self-imposed blogging boundaries a little farther.. and let loose..

Change has been pending in America..for a while now.. and no matter which candidate was chosen to be the 44th president, change seems inevitable. Its what kind of change, that we want and how we make it happen..are the things that divide us.. But, everyone agrees.. that change.. is needed.. a change..

Where the goodness of the people and greatness of the country is still alive and thriving..
Where the world looks up for leadership..that can unite..not divide..
Where it is still the land of hope and opportunity for everyone in the world..
Where this great country is viewed as a friend, philosopher and guide.. not a bully..
Where the leaders understand war is the absolute last resort ..if nothing else works..
Where family values and moral ethics are strong and unshakeable..
Where people dont worry about their jobs being secure and providing for the family
Where people dont have to think twice about visiting a doctor when they are sick
Where kids can go to school and expect to get top-class education that would make them very competitive in the current global market
Where hard work is appreciated and rewarded...
Where people can live their lives peacefully without fear of crime or terror
Where everyone realizes the need to conserve the diminishing.. invaluable natural resources
Where people are able to buy and sell homes.. without panic..
Where people of different religions, national origins, colors, culture..coexist as people of one country as fellow human beings
Where personal freedoms of different sorts are valuable.. and cherished by individuals..not abused or misused
and the list goes on and on...

Its a new beginning.... On a brand new morning.. of hope and opportunity that the people of the world are longing for.. !! The one that our new president-elect promises...You can tell from my tone, that I am especially feeling patriotic/sentimental today ... and I am eager to see the change everyone has been talking about these past couple of years.. Lets see what is in store.. and how the change will come about..and lets all be a part of it..

నువ్వే నా శ్వాస

నువ్వే... నా శ్వాస...
మనసున నీకై.. అభిలాష...
బ్రతుకైన నీతోనే ...
చితికైన నీతోనే...
వెతికేది నే నిన్నేనని..
చెప్పాలని...... చిన్ని ఆశ..

ఓ ప్రియతమా ఊఁ ప్రియతమా....

నువ్వే... నా శ్వాస
మనసున నీకై.. అభిలాష

ఓఓఓఓఒ....
తారననమ్ తనన తననం..
తరననం తనన తననం..
తరననం తనన తననం..
పువ్వుల్లో పరిమలాలన్ని పరిచయమే చేసావు
తరాల్లో మెరుపులన్ని దోసిలి లో నింపావు
మబ్బుల్లో చినుకులన్ని మనసులోన కురిపిమ్చావు
నవ్వుల్లో నవలోకాన్ని నా ముందే నిలిపినావు గా
నీ జ్ఞాపకాలన్నీ ...ఏ జన్మలోనైనా..
నే మరవలేనని.. నీ తో చెప్పాలని..చిన్ని ఆశ..

ఓ ప్రియతమా ఓ ప్రియతమా....
నువ్వే... నా శ్వాస
మనసున నీకై.. అభిలాష


సూర్యునితో పంపుతున్న.. అనురాగపు కిరణాన్ని
గాలులతో పంపుతున్న ..ఆరాధన రాగాన్ని
ఎరులతో పంపుతున్న.. ఆరాటపు ప్రవాహాన్ని
దారుతులతో పంపెస్తున్న..అలుపెరుగని హృదయ లయలన్ని
ఏ చోట నువ్వున్న...... నీ కొరకు చూస్తున్న.....
నా ప్రేమ సందేశం విని వస్తావని....చిన్ని ఆశ..

ఓ ప్రియతమా ఓ ప్రియతమా....

देखा तेरी मस्ती..

देखा तेरी मस्ती नीगाहों में
नशा है अदा है मोहब्बत है हो
आजा तुझे बाहों में ले लू मैं
रूप यह गज़ब है क़यामत है
धड़कने तेज़ हो जाने दो॥
प्यार में होश खो जाने दो॥

यह हुस्न और यह मस्तियाँ
छाने लगी है मदहोशियाँ
उफ़ दो दिलों के साज़ पर
गाने लगी हैं खामोशियाँ
अपनी जुल्फों की खुशबू उड़ा
और मुझको दीवाना बना

रुसुवायीयों से डरता है मन
अच्छा नही दीवानापन्
तू ने मुझे यूँ चूलिया
कांप उठा मेरा बदन
यूँ न देखो मुझे ओ सनम
डगमगाने लगे हैं कदम

सुन ये समां कहता है क्या
रुसुवायीयों का डर भूल जा
दिल को सनम समझा ज़रा
यूँ न मेरे नज़दीक आ
आँख झुकने लगी है मेरी॥
सुनके ये बातें जादू भरी॥

देखा है मस्ती निगाहों की
शौक ये गज़ब की शरारत की॥

One more farewell...

Farewell... as per wikipedia - "is a wish of happiness or welfare at parting, especially a permanent departure"..

Well, thats just only a part meaning.. ! There is the other big part of sadness because the permanent departure means you will not see the person(s) as often as you could now.. (I am optimistic of meeting all my friends at some point in life.. inspite of the farewell. .So, I'd like to think I'll see them less often.. !!) So, you are sad you cannot do all the things you did together while you were in closer proximity.. I thought I was done with farewells when I left college.. ! But how naive I was to think so.. ! I am not done making friends after college...so how can there be no farewells ? There will be the bitter-sweet emotions associated with it always.. as long as I keep making friends.. hmm... ! Even though I kind of know it theoritically, somehow everytime I have to say goodbye to someone... I have to go through the same thought process.. .from square 1.

Today, I'll be bidding a farewell.. to another dear friend..! We laughed, danced..fought..played.. watched movies.. shared feelings..and even baked a cake together :)) I would miss having her around..And hope the best for her always.. ! Like with all my other friends that I had to say farewell to.. I hope to see her sometime again in future... ! And ...in spite of the physical distance that keeps us apart.. she will always be near and dear to my heart.. !

Movagagh Bashi Azizam ! (Goodbye Dear Friend ! In persian.. my friend 's native language)

Old friends.. New Intros..

Today, I was going through an email account I hardly use and found a message from an old friend. And I happened to notice that he has his own domain now. I went to the site and checked it out. The first thing that striked me is the template theme and I smiled to myself. Then I quickly scrolled through the content and found a few articles about music, reviews, tributes and ramblings... There is a lot that seems interesting.. and lots I have opinions about.. and like to comment on. So, for now I just linked to his site here and posted this article.

Now the interesting part - though I haven't been blogging as much, and haven't been in regular contact with my friends, our blogs seem to have many similarities.. Guess why we became friends in the first place.. :) I'll have to look up on more of my friends' blogs.. :) Its like getting re-introduced to them again.. through the blogosphere.. !

Activities for Summer

Here is my activities list for this summer :

1. Go camping on a weekend (some place close by)
2. Picnic in a local park (just an afternoon thing)
3. Barbecue & Dinner party (early meeting around 4 pm ..upto midnight on saturday night)
4. Visit the zoo
5. Visit the park
6. Go to the pool
7. Fly kites
8. Fruit picking
9. Vegetable Gardening
10. Take advantage of all the free events/activities on weekends

e.g:Hot air balloon festival, Pumpkin Picking, Fruit Picking etc..,

diivaane ho ke ham

One of the most wonderfully sung.. and written romantic songs..of Sonu ! I cant explain enough in words.. ! His voice is just made for songs like this.. I think..

Album : Jaan
Singer: Sonu Nigam

diivaane ho ke ham milne lage sanam
jab se jude hain silsile
aankhon se rut kar niindhe chaliigaayii
na jaane kaise gul khile
na jaane kaise pyaar huaa
na jaane kaise ikaraar huaa
ke apnii baat ban gayii

dhadakataa hai dil tumhaare liye
eye husne jaan zaraa sochiye..
ye kyaa dillagii.. ye kyaa hai sitham..
aaye abhii abhii chal diye..
mitenge kaise yah faasale...

diivaane ho ke ham milne lage sanam
jab se jude hain silsile
aankhon se rut kar niindhe chaliigaayii
na jaane kaise gul khile

mukaddar meraa savar jaane do
dil jo kahe vo kar jaane do
merii baahon mein chale aao tum
had se mujhe guzar jaane do
ke aao lagaaloon tum ko gale

diivaane ho ke ham milne lage sanam
jab se jude hain silsile
aankhon se rut kar niindhe chaliigaayii
na jaane kaise gul khile
na jaane kaise pyaar huaa
na jaane kaise ikaraar huaa
ke apnii baat ban gayii...
he laa laa la la..

O My Friend...

Over the weekend, we had a surprise farewell party for one of our close friends who is moving back to India for good.. ! And some of us sang the song from Happy Days (O My Friend) .. brought tears into all our eyes... became very sentimental and emotional.. Even some of the guys had watery eyes.. though they didn't really cry.. like us mortal gals :) Its kind of a mixed feelings..occasion.. we were happy.. they were able to make the hard decision that many of us wish to make.. but are afraid of doing it ! on the other hand we would miss them here..

Looks like there is no way to NOT MISS anyone.. in life these days.. ! First move to a new place in search of opportunities..and better life.. while we are here, miss our family in India.. then as time goes on, somehow we don't see it as being better anymore..we start to question as to why we are where we are..and think about going back.. and when we do go back to where we came from, we miss the life here. Some people are bold enough to realize and make a decision to transition early, some take more time.. ! And then there are another group of people who never moved anywhere else, and they itch for change.. ! whatever people do, nothing is ever satisfactory..to anyone.. Why do we impose such things upon ourselves.. ?

चलते चलते मेरे ये गीत याद रखना कभी अलविदा न कहना ... कभी अलविदा न कहना॥