Chand daurey dil key

Roj kaa aaj

Yaa ek-aadh baar kal ?

Aaj kaa bukhaar

Ya kabhi-kabhi khumaar ?

Dhadakti dhadakan

Ya chand daurey dil key ?

रोज का आज 

या एक-आध बार कल ?

आज का बुखार 

या कभी-कभी खुमार ?

धड़कती धड़कन 

या चंद दौरे दिल के ?

Freedom Songs

01.

Kaun karega free

Azaadi ko

Is do-moohey, sarpaakaar, aap sey ?

कौन करेगा फ्री 

आजादी को 

इस दो-मुहे, सर्पाकार, आप से ?

02.

Let one have

The freedom to be

Perfect in one's blemishes

And blemished in finesse

Good

Bad

Or just plain human.

The Facebook Poet

The Facebook Poet
Has Things To Say
Everyday
Sometimes More
The Words
Pouring Out
Like Ants On A Hill
Uncertain Of Reaching 
The Summit
And A Long Shot 
At Life

Khujlee

Tera yoon paas na aana mujhe khujlaata hai

Saton din yoon na nahana mujhe khujlaata hai.

Desh kaa haale muqaddar mujhe khujlaata hai.

Gandhi topi ka samandar mujhe khujlaata hai.

Unki magroor imarat mujhe khujlaati hai

Antilia ki yey himakat mujhe khujlaati hai.

In makanon ki yey ghichpich mujhe khujlaati hai

Roti kapdey ki yey khichkhich mujhe khujlaati hai.

TV soap-on ki haqiqat mujhe khujlaati hai

Sabun aur paani ki killat mujhe khujlaati hai.

Tera yoon paas na aana mujhe khujlaata hai

Saton din nahan na paana mujhe khujlaata hai.

तेरा यूं पास ना आना मुझे खुजलाता है

सातों दिन यूं न नहाना मुझे खुजलाता है।

देश का हाले मुक्कदर मुझे खुजलाता है

गाँधी टोपी का समंदर मुझे खुजलाता है।

उनकी मग़रूर ईमारत मुझे खुजलाती है

अन्तिलिया की ये हिमाकत मुझे खुजलाती है।

इन मकानों की ये घिचपिच मुझे खुजलाती है

रोटी कपड़े की ये खिचखिच मुझे खुजलाती है।

टीवी सोप-ओं की हकीक़त मुझे खुजलाती है

साबुन और पानी की किल्लत मुझे खुजलाती है।

तेरा यूं पास ना आना मुझे खुजलाता है

सातों दिन नहा ना पाना मुझे खुजलाता है।

Licentiousness Continued...

01.

Chand par jo daag hai 

Chand ko bhata nahin 

Par chandni ka noor wo 

Rokey ruk pata nahin.

चाँद पर जो दाग है 

चाँद को भाता नहीं 

पर चांदनी का नूर वो 

रोके रुक पाता नहीं। 

02.

Suit boot gent key

Skirt top mem

Dhool bhare raaste

Wo bolen shame shame.

Shining hai India

Ka khaas aadmi

Na aam aaye haath mein

Na phooti guthali.

सूट बूट जेंट के 

स्कर्ट टॉप मेम 

धूल भरे रास्ते 

वो बोलें शेम शेम

शाइनिंग है इंडिया 

का ख़ास आदमी 

ना आम आये हाथ में 

ना फूटी गुठली। 

(to be sung to the tune of the Bengali folk song "Bodo loker biti lo, Lamba lamba chool...")

03.

God created

Men, Women

Plants, Animals

Disappointments

And Dreams

04.

To be sane

Is boring

To be mad

Intense

What should I

By nature slack 

Do ?

Poetic License

1.
Speech
Imprisons
The Unspoken
The Unspeakable
Words
Set them free

02.
Miley, bichhdey, miley
Aur milney ka intzaar kiya
Pyaar ki aah mein, ai moorkh
Milke kabhi phir pyaar kiya ?

मिले, बिछड़े, मिले 
और मिलने का इंतज़ार किया 
चाह की आह में, ऐ मूर्ख
मिलके कभी फिर प्यार किया ?

03.
The thing about life is
It is not the thing
And yet
It is

04.
Har roz subaha neend sey
Uthatee hai yoon phir ek baar
Kuch raat key waade hain, kuch
Ummidey din key aitbaar

हर रोज सुबह नींद से 
उठती है यूं फिर एक बार 
कुछ रात के वादे हैं, कुछ 
उम्मीदे दिन के ऐतबार

05.
Neki kar dariya mein daal
Daal mein hai kuch kala
Apna ullu seedha karke
Ab Raam naam ki mala ?

नेकी कर दरिया में डाल
दाल में है कुछ काला
अपना उल्लू सीधा करके
अब राम नाम की माला ?

06.
Keh to diya ki keh ke lenge
Par lagi huyi hai aapkee
Kuch mardangee ke khyaab wo
Kuch khwahishen wo dhaak kee

कह तो दिया की कह के लेंगे
पर लगी हुई है आपकी
कुछ मर्दानगी के ख्याब वो
कुछ ख्वाहिशें वो धाक की

Blast From The Past 02 - Avakash Kal

Vimeo Link: Avakash Kal (अवकाश कल)

My diploma film at FTII, Pune. The year was 1986. For more reasons than one (many of them obvious) this is a favourite. The Story & Script was also mine.

A man and a woman meet after years. Both have moved on, and yet the past lingers, enticing one with its tale of an unsullied longing, on a lonesome day that held a slow drizzle, at the soggy bus stop.

LIKE YOU I HAVE A MEMORY, I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO FORGET - from the 1959 French film 'Hiroshima mon Amour' by Alain Resnais.

Blast From The Past 01 - Teer Kamaan

Rok Tok Chhodo, Pabandee Uthhao

Bade Ho To Kya Hai, Dhons Na Jamao

Hame Samjho Bhi, Na Sirf Samjhao

Moohn Mein Hamare Bhi, Lambee Hai Jabaan

Teeer Kamaan!

Papa Ki Wo Daant, Tarbooz Lal Lal

Chhutiyan Garmi Ki, Sarkas Ke Kamaal

Badtameez Ladke, Cricket Ya Football?

Sach, Duniya Mein, Hai Koi Bhagwaan?

Teeer Kamaan!

Heavy Schoolbag, Udta Hooya Panchee

TV Ke Programme, India Is My Country

Vriksh Bhi Lagana, Yuddh Ki Bhi Dhamki

Aakhir Kya Chahta Hai Ye Insaan?
Teeer Kamaan!

रोक टोक छोड़ो, पाबन्दी उठाओ 
बड़े हो तो क्या है, धोंस ना जमाओ 
हमें समझो भी, ना सिर्फ समझाओ 
मूहँ में हमारे भी, लम्बी है जबान 
तीर कमान!

पापा की वो डांट, तरबूज लाल लाल 
छुट्टियाँ गर्मी की, सर्कस के कमाल 
बदतमीज़ लड़के, क्रिकेट या फुटबॉल ?
सच, दुनिया में, है कोई भगवान ?
तीर कमान!

हैवी स्कूलबैग, उड़ता हुआ पंछी 
टीवी के प्रोग्राम, इंडिया इस माई कंट्री 
वृक्ष भी लगाना, युद्ध की भी धमकी 
आखिर क्या चाहता है ये  इंसान ?
तीर कमान!

'Teer Kamaan' was a popular talk-show (between adults and children) on Zee TV, aired in the mid-90s. I directed it for one of the later seasons. We created a new set (designed by Omung Kumar) and a new signature song (Lyrics: Ravinder Rawal, Music: Uday Mazumdar). I love the words, the music, the setting, and the kids - who must be mostly 30 plus now...

Remembering Hampi

Patli kamar matka ke...

कमर मटकाना, 

पतली, या शेट्टी, 

एक इश्वरीय देन है। 

मुझसे पूछो,

कमर का मारा,

यूं बिलबिला रहा हूँ,

गुजरात में। 

Kamar matkana,

Patli ya Shetty,

Ek Eeshwariya den hai.

Mujhse poocho,

Kamar ka mara,

Yoon bilbila raha hoon,

Gujarat mein.

Kuch Tope Panktiyan...

रात के एक बजने को हैं 
यहाँ, मेरे घर में 
तुमने सुनी है क्या 
मेरी घडी, जो सो गयी ?

Raat ke ek bajne ko hain
Yahan, mere ghar mein
Tumne suni hai kya
Meri ghadi, jo so gayi ?

------

सर्द शोलों से बयां है रहती है मोहब्बत मेरी 
धूप भरी छाओं में आओ तो मजा आ जाए 

चांदनी रात के उजालों में बुझा हूँ कबसे 
स्याह कुछ आग जलाओ तो मजा आ जाए 

Sard sholon se bayan rehti hai mohabbat meri
Dhoop bhari chhayon mein aao to maja aa jaye

Chandni raat ke ujalon mein bujha hoon kabse
Syah kuch aag jalao to maja aa jae

------

इतना सन्नाटा क्यों है भाई 
कोई तो लाइक करो 
लिखी हैं तोप पंक्तियां 
मुझे न यूं साईक करो 

मुझको लगता है के एक 
भूला भटका शायर 
आ बसा बीच मेरे 
ले के पंक्चर टायर 

चार पैरों की है अब 
उसकी मोटर, न बाइक करो 
इतना सन्नाटा क्यों है भाई 
कोई तो लाइक करो

Itna sannata kyon hai bhai
Koi to like karo
likhi hain tope panktiyan
Mujhe na yoon psyche karo

Mujhko lagta hai ke ek
Bhoola bhatka shayar
Aa basa beech mere
Le ke puncture tyre

Char pairon ki hai ab
Uski motor, na bike karo
Itna sannata kyon hai bhai
Koi to like karo

Kuch Aur Zee...

Rajni (Jalan) was my principal assistant while I was Directing seasons of "Teer Kamaan" and "Positive Health Show" at  Zee TV, sometimes in the mid-90s. A post-graduate in Communication Media for Children from SNDT, Pune, she was a great help (and endured a lot of shit from me). Thank you, and sorry, Rajni.

Zee Ley Jara...

 

On the sets of the Zee TV Talk Show "Teer Kamaan" which I directed for a season, sometimes in the mid-90s. The set design and construction was by Omung Kumar (also called OK), familiar to the then television audience as the very popular host of the game show 'Ek Minute' (also on Zee)

"The Positive Health Show" - another show I directed at Zee in the mid-90s. It was anchored by one Dr. Batra (yes, the famous homoeopath who helps you deal with hair loss and other sundry deficiencies). One of the show's sections dealt with health cooking. I remember at the end of this one all of us unwholesomely rushed in to eat the just cooked gourmet dish. Incidentally, the smart boy intently observing me at the back is Sagar Ballary (later to become famous as the Director of 'Bheja Fry'). Sagar was a young college student then, assisting me in Zee while bunking his classes at Ruia :)

Offline Rant

Get off Facebook, you dumb ass
You have a book to write
Get a life
Go for a walk
Fight with your neighbour
Make odd shaped balls
And odder sounds
Ones that you say sorry after.
Or don't.

Ek Choti Si Love Story - Top Left, and Top Right

Once upon a time (some time it was !), there was a boy, top, left. He loved the girl, top right. But the guy in the top middle kept coming in the way. So did the girl in the middle right, whose shoulders (and counsel) the top right girl trusted; while the one in the middle middle kept scoring aces in exams, in accomplished ignorance. Meanwhile the graceful guy at the bottom (middle) quietly rose up in ranks, to become the Vice President, Special Programs, International Campaign for Tibet, Washington, D.C. (not joking, this). End of story.

Facebook Fry

Fifty two years

And just two hundred and ninety-one friends

Doesn’t quite add up, Facebook.

Are you up to something?

Should I be talking to your superiors?

Only yesterday

I got two likes, one comment and

Strong possibility of

A friend request

While honourably clicking

Every post I saw

On my news feed

Or theirs.

Those assholes

They never honour

With likes, comments, and sharing

Stuff that I put up

Stuff that is tepid, cold

Occasionally a wee bit warm, even daring.

See

That is almost a rhyme

I told you I am good.

Like me, like me, like me, please.

People half my age

Are baking their cakes

And eating them too

While I

Am still eying the recipe.

The one who turned twenty one

Have you seen her around, lately ?

The one I used to know,

The one who turned twenty one.

She wore glasses

And the Principal’s son

(May he rot in something not so nice)

Fancied himself to be

The suitable boy

While I

Looked the Sun

Squarely in the eye

Calmly awaiting

The invitation to

Her secret brotherhood

Of the not-so-sighted.

She had almost blond

Sunsilk hair

And chubby cheeks

(I did not even get to touch them – honest!)

But we talked

Rather I did

Of Marx, and the meaning of life

Outstaring her

Opinionated tom cat

And doggedly dating

The bus stop

To her home.

Have you seen her around, lately ?

The one I used to know,

The one who turned twenty one.

Winter loved,

And summer strung.

Rimzhim, rimzhim, Esselworld...

An ad I made nearly two decades back, while working in Zee. The idea was to sell Esselworld (their amusement park, off Mumbai) during the monsoons (a traditionally lean season), as a romantic destination for the young. A busload of enthusiastic hip youngsters were transported from St. Xavier's College, working for fresh air, junk food and being taken on rides. The result did not particularly boost the sales of Esselworld or the confidence of my bosses in my evident talents. However my takeaway was this jingle, WRITTEN by me (Music & Voice: Uday Mazumdar). 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड 

देखा जबसे मैंने तुझको हुआ है दिल दीवाना 

बारीश के प्यारे नग्मे और एस्सेलवर्ल्ड में आना 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड 

प्यार की बातें, प्यार से करले 

अन्दर, बाहर, ऊपर, नीचे 

छोड़ दे गुस्सा मान ले कहना 

तू आगे में पीछे पीछे

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड

भूल भूलैया, चक्कर टक्कर 

मिले हैं सुर अब सात 

झूम के नाचो, भीगो, गाओ 

बनी है अपनी बात 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड 

रिमझिम रिमझिम, एस्सेलवर्ल्ड

(Banegi Apni Baat was a popular 'youth love' serial on Zee, during my times there)

'Bin Tere' - Lyrics (Vishal Dadlani) & Song

"राह में रौशनी, नी है क्यूँ हाथ छोड़ा 
इस तरफ शाम ने, क्यूँ है अपना मुह मोड़ा 
यूँ, के हर सुबह, एक बेरहम सी रात बन गयी 
है क्या ये जो, तेरे मेरे दरमियाँ है 
अनदेखी अनसुनी कोई दास्ताँ है 
लगने लगी, अब ज़िन्दगी, खाली, खाली 
लगने लगी, हर सांस भी, खाली
बिन तेरे, बिन तेरे, बिन तेरे
कोई खलिश है, हवाओं में, बिन तेरे" 

 "Raah mein roshni, ni hai kyun haath choda

Iss taraf shaam ne, kyun hai apna muh moda

Yun, ke har subah, ik bereham si raat ban gayi

Hai kya yeh jo, tere mere darmiyaan hai

Andekhi ansuni koi dastaan hai

Lagne lagi, ab zindagi, khaali, khaali

Lagne lagi, har saans bhi, khaali 

Bin tere, bin tere, bin tere 

Koi khalish hai, hawaon mein bin tere"

Film: I Hate Love Stories (2010)
Lyrics: Vishal Dadlani 
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Singers: Shafqat Amanat Ali & Sunidhi Chauhan

Ek nirantar bhoot, ek work-in-progress vartaman...

सोलह साल

बारह महीने 

और तिन सो पैंसठ दिन 

वाले 

सोलह साल

साल 

जो यूं गुजर गए

दिन 

जो गुजरने को 

तरसाते रहे 

बरसाते रहे 

तिन सो पैंसठ दिन

बारह महीने 

और सोलह साल 

एक निरंतर भूत

एक वर्क-इन-प्रोग्रेस-वर्तमान 

Solah saal

Barah maheeney

Aur teen so painshath din

Wale

Solah saal

Saal

Jo yoon gujar gaye

Din

Jo gujarne ko

Tarsaate rahe

Barsaate rahe

Teen so painshath din

Barah maheeney

Aur solah saal

Ek nirantar bhoot

 Ek work-in-progress vartaman