farooq – Page 19 – Revering Thoughts

A post about Nothing

On January 18, 2017

Have you ever just sat down and wondered abut nothing? Yea, nothing. Simply sitting and thinking about nothing.

I have.

For the last 15 minutes, I’ve been staring at my WP-dashboard to write and I’m just not able to think of anything. So, I just thought to write about this “nothingness”.

Yes, you might think why am I wasting your time by making you read this, while you can scroll down to read “something”. Especially when this post is about nothing.

Anyways, now that I think of it. This isn’t a new thing for me. This actually is quite regular. I’ve blanked out on numerous occasions without actually thinking of anything in particular.

I love the nothingness of the moment when one does not grapple with a multitude of thoughts. They say, we rest when we sleep, but I say, this is what resting should feel like.

Nothing.

This is such a worry-free moment, right ?

We are not often given the luxury of enjoying this, of course. But as often as we get a chance to do nothing. Let’s embrace it.

Now, after reading this, you are free to do: Nothing.

The Zaira Waseem Controversy: Why the fuss?

By farooq

On January 17, 2017

In Movies & Entertainment, Politics & Social Issues

In an age where a tweet reply by a celeb can become, “This celeb gave the perfect response to a troll” and at the same time whatever happens in rural India doesn’t even make the front page. Zaira Waseem trending all-day on Twitter and other social media timelines do not surprise me a bit.

But let’s go back a little. Shall, we?

I can add ten different “Did you know” news items from rural India, and it’ll perfectly fit the title. We only like news, that’s trendy. And of course, we’re supplied the same by the media as well. You and I might think that those “noisy” TV debates can be avoided, but a sizable audience loves to watch just that. The News Channels won’t go by our opinion which will get branded as “elitist” for some reason, but will go by a more tangible (of sorts) metric called TRP!

As far as the digital medium is concerned, Buzzfeed-like headlines are a hit. It gets them the clicks. And “You won’t believe what these guys use as headlines,” but it works! Touche.

Now, lets come back to Zaira Waseem. The poor 16-year old who was bullied and is now the talk of social media and eventually the newsrooms. Yes, that’s how the flowchart works. If it gets attention on social media, it finds a place in the prime-time News debates.

Last evening when I read the apology issued by her, I was baffled! I mean what did this kid do? Did any Mufti issue another useless fatwa? Did anyone threaten her for acting in films? What happened?

I dug deeper and found out; she got trolled for meeting the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.

She had every right to meet whomsoever she desires, and if someone has an issue with that, it is their own. There’s just no argument on that. It is sad that she had to pen down an “apology letter”!

But the problem doesn’t end there!

The problem comes when people want others to toe the same line that they think is right. In this case, it may be not to be friendly with the Chief Minister whom they believe didn’t do anything for the people of Kashmir!

You can turn the table and place any issue, and the reaction of the “troll” brigade will be the same. Take Beef Ban for instance. People want to govern food choices. People want to dictate what one should wear or when one should stand up. Do you think, they’ll let this one get away?

Even though this incident is nowhere compared to what happened to other Bollywood actors who decided to open their mouth, yet this being done to a 16-year old is wrong.

And to the sympathizers, who seem to have woken up now, to add this to the list of, “But what about Malda”. Everyone can see through that.

For Zaira Waseem, more power to you. Never think that you are not a role model. Women in India, need more role models like you. We have a history of not letting them being born in the first place.

We cannot please everyone: Just a Rant

By farooq

On January 16, 2017

In Random Philosophy

There’s an inherent need of most of our elders to “please people”. “What will people say” holds the supreme status in all their lives more than anything else.

Sure, in a lot of cases this gets passed on to others in the lineage as well.

I’m not able to clearly analyze the degree of this “what will people say” is part of my psyche, but I’m sure it is lower than our previous generation.

What irks me more is how we cannot convince our elders to let this go. We just cannot. Even when they don’t like certain people, they just cannot stop themselves from “not being nice” to them. I mean, come on! You told me you don’t like them! And yet?!

We cannot please everyone. Actually, can or cannot shouldn’t even be there. We don’t need to please everyone.

But, hey! Duniyadari nibhaana is one of the may jargons which elders throw at us. Even CXO’s in our offices don’t use that many jargons as elders do in the name of “tradition”.

“Badon se sawal nahi karte”, “hamare khaandan me chale aaya hai” or “aajkal ke bache.. badon ki sunte kahan” are few of the amazing gems which does the round in a family like mine. I’m sure similar terminologies would have been thrown at you, along with whatever, your mom could grab from the kitchen.

As an after-thought, I do wonder whether this is more of an age issue than a generational one, though. But till the time, I get older, lets keep it this way.

And just to reiterate my rant, We cannot please everyone. We don’t have to.

TVF’s Humourously Yours: Not A Review

By farooq

On January 15, 2017

In Movies & Entertainment

The Viral Fever Videos, or the TVF as they are better known as have hardly ever disappointed when it comes to good content. They are everything that we want our TV to be. They’ve taken Youtubing to another level in India. Pitchers, Permanent Roommates or even the Tripling, have all become our favorite web series. Each of these had plots that echo well with our sensibilities. Be it the aspiration to be entrepreneurs like in Pitchers or making relationships work in Permanent roommates or Tripling.

But what makes Humorously Yours, different?

It takes us backstage and shows the drama behind a Stand-up comedian’s life. And it isn’t like Sienfield’s “a show about nothing” and has a lot of TVFisque elements to it. The perfect wife, the (super)asshole friend who’ll always be there for you and the fantastic slice of life metaphors that run throughout the show.

The lead character, Vipul Goyal, is funny on stage. But a lot goes into making those jokes funny. How real-life humor transcends to the stage and in a comedian’s material, is an exciting journey. The show is loosely based on Goyal’s life and has just two other main characters, Vipul’s wife Kavya (played by Rasika Duggal) and friend Bhusi (played by Abhishek Bannerjee, the “Tu Beer hai..” guy from Pitchers).

Humorously Yours features a few other standups now and then, right from the introductory scene.

Humorously yours sits right at the top of TVF’s content and notches above anyone else.

With each episode running for just over 30 minutes, season 1 got over today. You can binge watch it today and show up late to office. It’ll be worth it.

Watch it on TVFplay.com. It’s not on TV. It’s TVF.

The Youtube Tamasha

By farooq

On January 14, 2017

In Movies & Entertainment, Random Philosophy

When there’s no TV at your place, you end up scanning through Youtube quite often. And when I end up clicking the “trending” tab, my immediate reaction is, “Why am I even looking here?!”.

Anyways, there are a ton of things that you end up discovering when you’re hanging on Youtube. Yes, some amazingly addictive Youtubers whom you love to follow and await their videos to get uploaded but at the same time, a lot of unwanted gibberish also flows through the network.

Sure there’s good content original generating channels which we all are big fans of, like the TVF for instance. Or others like AIB, SnG comedy, East India Comedy and the likes. Of course, there are quite a few which makes you wonder, are we going back to TV and making this just extra sleazier to get the eyeballs.

One of the most irritating ones are these “Prank channels.” Yes, the kind where they assume they can get away with anything, just because they have a camera in hand. If you thought the guy seen kissing and running off in Delhi was bizarre, you’d be shocked to see what others are upto. It is great that this fellow got arrested and it might help in stopping the flurry of those channels. These channels are like the “Item numbers” in movies. Not required but just because people watch it, they are there.

Shockingly these channels have thousands of ardent subscribers. The number of subscribers shocks me more than these channels itself.

It takes a lot of effort to create these videos. I’m sure. Why not do it for something more relevant, than asking people “Do you look at a guys’ junk ?” to girls on the street or “What do you look first in the girl?”!

If generating clickbaity videos is what you’re good at. Don’t you think there are other “better” sites for that?

Political tidbits: Achievements

By farooq

On January 13, 2017

In Politics & Social Issues

Political tidbits: Achievements

Just three of the masterstrokes by our Government in recent weeks!

Digital India!

We’re finally witnessing results of the Governments “Digital India” campaign!

Leave aside the village folks; the usually “inaccessible” armed forces are finally Vlogging!

Why should they be left behind? Huh ?!

You see, all because of the Government’s Digital India Campaign!

And hey, don’t you dare say anything against our Jawans

2. Being National!

Anyways, apart from the Digital India Campaign, our Nationalistic outburst seems to have reached Canada as well! Yes, all thanks to Amazon. And Sushma Swaraj! I mean she made the likes of Amazon to issue an apology letter!! Bravo! What were they thinking, giving jobs to Indians or investing heavily in India, huh? We’ll not coy down to their “insult” on our National Flag. Even though we throw our national Flag all across the street after our Independence Day celebrations, it is all done by us! You foreigners! Go to Italy!

3. Bringing Khadi Back!

Yes, all these years, Khadi was neglected. We’re finally giving it a brand new ambassador! Someone who can fly across the world and sell Khadi worldwide. This won’t cost an extra dime for us as well. He’ll anyway be traveling around! Another Masterstroke by us. The previous Brand ambassador was showing too much skin! Not suitable for our Bharatiya Culture, eta all!

Uff, there are so many more achievements, but I’ll list them down tomorrow. You must be bored with speeches by now, right?

Jaane wo kaise log the

By farooq

On January 12, 2017

In Movies & Entertainment

Yesterday I shared one of my all time favorite, “Jinhe naaz hain hind par, wo kahan hain ?“.

Sharing another one, “Jaane wo kaise log the jinke pyaar ko pyaar mila” from the same movie, “Pyaasa”.

The beauty is not limited to the song but how before the mukhda begins, a sort of prologue to the song. Like it was a story in itself.

Humko apna saaya tak.. aksar begaar mila..

Hamne to jab kaliyan maangi.. kaanton ka haar mila..

I clearly remember the first time I watched Pyaasa, I took my Dada’s shawl and draped it like Guru Dutt and tried my best to sing this. Walking in front of the mirror, holding out my arms on the corners of the door, and being at my gloomy best.

The lyrics of the song, written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi, pierce through you. Especially, since the nature of the song-format is such that every word has a clarity, giving meaning to the scene. And of course, Guru Dutt, the legend at his very best.

I’d request you to take some time and watch this gem of a movie, Pyaasa, If you haven’t. It not only is Guru Dutt’s best but also has some of the best songs of that era. Thanks to Sahir Ludhiyanvi.

Jinhe naaz hai hind par wo kahan hain ?

By farooq

On January 11, 2017

In Movies & Entertainment

Whenever I watch any of Guru Dutt’s classic, a question pops up in my mind, always!

How did we reach to what we’ve been watching now, considering many other of his classics were released in 50’s!

Anyways, I could go on and on about Guru Dutt, but that’s for another day and needs a lot more detailing.

Today, I just wanted to share this video of “Jinhen naaz hai Hind pe wo kahan hain?”. Of course, I’ve shared this on multiple occasions and I never get tired to watch or share it again. This is my attempt to make his films reach new audiences.

“Madad chahti hai ye hawwa ki beti..
Yashoda ki hamjins, Radha ki beti..
Payammar ki Ummat.. Zulekha ki beti..
Jinhen Naaz hain hind pe, wo kahan hain?”

Sahir Ludhiyanvi simplified his original, “Chakley” to make this reach out to the masses for the film, “Pyasa”. To think how much our new-age “filmmakers” have to dumb-down content makes me laugh at what they did in 50’s!

The song although just captures the life in Kothas amidst red-light areas can be easily transported to any setting to ask, “Jinhen naaz hai hind pe wo kahan hain ?”

And it’s not just about the beauty of the song but the less over-powering music by SD Burman and the visible pain in Guru Dutt’s eyes and the adaegi .

How I wish to be born in times when he was alive.

When Meryl Streep spoke..

By farooq

On January 10, 2017

In Random Philosophy

When Meryl Streep spoke at the Golden Globes Award, the 1st World along with the people who aspires to live like the 1st world, listened.

She wasn’t the first big name to openly come out and speak against Trump. Sure, she didn’t had to take his name. People not on the “right” side lamented as to why the “celebrities” cannot do the same in India as well ?

Among a whole other things it is the inconvenience which stops them from being honest in their opinions.

People didn’t leave Aamir Khan when he carelessly mentioned something his wife said. People even “expressed” their thoughts when Om Puri died because he had said something which they didn’t agreed with.

I’m not trying to say, looking at these incidents, they should stop or even start speaking up. At the end, it is their right to.

After all, they are people too. I’ve stopped writing about politics because it is an inconvenience. Inconvenience to argue and debate and waste time, while I can indulge in something productive.

In the last 10 days, I’ve added 10 different posts at this time of the night before the clock strikes 12. Had they been anything related to political viewpoints, I would have spent 10X more time on Facebook, which is the least I want.

On a lot of levels, I feel it was good that the so called Liberal Left as well as the complacent non-right or center (whatever you call it) got a big jolt, around the world. Sure, it’s not correct and this shouldn’t have happened. But, isn’t a dark night required, before another Dawn ?

Meanwhile, do watch Meryl Streep speak, if you haven’t!

The Why’s

By farooq

On January 9, 2017

In Random Philosophy

“Why” is that one question which is the most difficult to figure out. We can look up for a “What” and there can be a definition for it. If we’re not able to figure out the “how” of something, we somehow manage to do that as well. But it is the “Why” that gets really difficult to figure out.

“Why” is highly opinionated. Sure, the same argument can be made for a “what” or a “how”, but if one has to compare the degree of it all, then most definitely, “Why” will not only top the charts but remain there undefeated.

“Why is this happening?”! “Why this?”, or “Why that” is a question that has as many variations as a windows update!

And even after a while, when we develop a little age-wise wisdom, the answers to those “why’s” keep on changing.

The usual answers that echo, include karma (which has the habit of biting back) or “maybe something good will come out of it”. Yeah, Right!

The “Why’s” make us very restless. They overlap other emotions. They interfere in our work. Our mundane lives and continuously push us to keep asking ourselves, “Why?!” Yes, with an exclmation marks! They love the over-dramatized effects. They love when we add adjectives or even ask God for the answer! As if!

All we end up doing is, either to keep ourselves occupied, or to write some useless thoughts like the one I just did. Hah!

Author: farooq Page 19 of 45