Moving on...

My long relationship with unemployment finally ends. A crazy British bank has been brave enough to offer me a position as a Management Associate. And I've taken it up. Quite a few formalities are still to be completed but I think the deal is done. I've signed the offer letter, so I think its safe...
Well the first feeling that washed over me once the call came was one of immense relief, rather than happiness. It was getting a little difficult living the life of a 'bekar jubok' (unemployed youth) indefinitely. I guess happiness will make its presence felt in due course. I was also in contention for a higher paying job with a smaller French bank, and when that didn't come through, dejection and hopelessness reached new levels. Wet hens would feel quite ecstatic, compared to my situation. Months of waiting, calling people, getting rejection letters, hounding contacts made at networking sessions was taking its toll, but I guess it has finally yielded something. But its all about the 'Bhagvan' (as someone recently said), and He took care...
So things will change now. The boy must turn into a man. The frivolity and the boisterousness must go and gravity and focus should replace them. Family life and responsibility will soon approach and I can tell you that fear and panic has arrived sooner. Will I cope? Will I be able to balance all the acts well enough? I don't know. I guess these answers will only come with time. Lets see where life takes me from here. For now, I'm good. And ya, Mr. Bartender, I'll have another one...

Cheers!
Abhishek.

The Nanyang MBA Series - 3 (The Rooftops) - Photoblog

The 'Rooftop' was something that the class of 2004-06 had turned into a lifestyle. What a few years ago was a bunch of haphazardly arranged benches and clothes lines, quickly turned into the most lively junction on campus. The concept isn't too complicated. You enter Graduate Hall. You take the lift to the 8th floor. You plonk yourself on the benches with a motley collection of Graduate students, PhD uncles and assorted strangers. You connect with people from different countries, backgrounds and courses. You leave having had a blast. Note - You don't get do any of the above if you don't bring alcohol! True, we had the odd hiccup (no pun intended), with campus security warning us to keep the decibel levels down and sleep deprived students in adjacent rooms threatening to throw stuff at us in an attempt to catch up on much needed sleep before class the next day...but by and large the gatherings were peaceful and without incident. It was almost a weekly ritual. We've met the warmest and the craziest of people there. Exchange students were initiated, birthdays were celebrated, 'F' grades were railed against, sparks of

romance were ignited and drunken songs sung. We did it all at the 'Rooftop'. See for yourselves...

Hello people..space for one more?

Ashwin through a smoke haze.

'JD' gets ready to enthrall...'today was gonna be the day...'

Ashwin, yours truly and Gaurav

The devil woman reads Simi's future while Bruno looks on

Cheers!

Abhishek.

Songs of a lifetime - 5

'Four seasons in one day'. This classic by one of the most underrated bands ever, Crowded House, is one of the most bittersweet numbers that you'll ever hear. The Finn brothers infuse magic into the insightful lyrics with a great melody. The song is about life's full circle. Whatever goes around comes around. There are days where you are elated, demoralised, happy, sad, anxious and carefree all within 24 hours. Its like all the emotions you had played out one after the other. Its like you receiving all of life's lessons all at once. Its a warning as well as an uplifter. This song has got a lot to do with how I'm feeling recently and hence is close to the heart.


Four seasons in one day
Lying in the depths of your imagination
Worlds above and worlds below
The sun shines on the black clouds hanging over the domain
Even when you’re feeling warm
The temperature could drop away
Like four seasons in one day

Smiling as the shit comes down
You can tell a man from what he has to say
Everything gets turned around
And I will risk my neck again, again
You can take me where you will
Up the creek and through the mill
All the things you can’t explain
Four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day

It doesn’t pay to make predictions
Sleeping on an unmade bed
Finding out wherever there is comfort there is pain
Only one step away
Like four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day

Cheers!

Abhishek

Apaharan

Prakash Jha's 'Gangajal' was engrossing fare, hence I was eager to catch his next venture, 'Apaharan', based on the state of general lawlessness in Bihar and focusing specifically on the kidnapping trade there, which has almost taken shape of a parallel industry.
The movie didn't disappoint. It is an honest effort by a talented director. The story line shows how normal, middle class, educated youth lose their way and enter the underworld due to a lack of options. The end of all this can only be bad and the director leads the film onto its tragic and bloody conclusion. The casting is superb. Ajay Devgan as the youth gone astray is very good and gives an understated performance. The other actors, Mohan Agashe, Mukesh Tiwari and Dayashankar Pandey are very good as well. But Nana Patekar as the corrupt politician steals the show with a brilliant performance. He steers clear from being loud and verbose, something he has been guilty of doing in some of his past performances. He also delivers some of the best lines in the movie and gets ample scope to show his range. Bipasha Basu, in a blink and you'll miss it role, is unnecessary and wasted. The story could have done without her.
Some people might think of the film as dark and depressing, but I felt that the subject deserved to be treated in this manner and films like these are only diluted if subjected to too much of the commercial formula. Prakash Jha, however could not resist adding a mindless item number. The second half tends to be longer and more dragging than the first and this is my only major criticism of the film. Otherwise, a well made picture with solid performances.

3/5

Cheers!
Abhishek.

Crash

The new year, unfortunately did not start as smoothly as I had hoped. I fell sick on the 1st itself! I'm guessing it was the influenza bug. Was laid low with high fever, a congested throat and an acceptable amount of phlegm. Did feel a bit better over the last couple of days, so my flatmates brought home a couple of movies. 'Crash' happened to be one of them, so I was immediately interested. I had heard very good things about this film.

The movie was better than I had expected. 'Crash' takes an unflinching, head on and sensitive look at the state of racism in America today, post 9/11 and Iraq. People are scared, confused and misguided. Not many are free today in the 'land of liberty'. Paul Haggis, uses the same formula he tried in 'Magnolia' to tell this story. Five or six different stories run parallely, each with different characters, who keep colliding into each other, thus giving racism a chance to raise its ugly head. The movie has a deeper message though. It drives home the point that we all carry some misunderstandings with us much longer than necessary. It also sensitively shows how essentially good people are capable of despicable deeds and even the not so holy can sometimes be your only helping hand. The only minor drawback I felt it contained was that that it didn't offer any solution. The film just leaves us with the problem, but does such a great job of it, that the view alone leaves you spellbound.

The acting is first rate. Don Cheadle, Matt Dillion, Brendan Fraser, Sandra Bullock, Thandie Newton, Terence Howard and Ryan Phillipe are do a fantastic job. The movie also has one of the most memorable opening lines in a long time. A must watch!

4/5

Cheers!
Abhishek.