Are you guys Biologists?

We two Photo-enthusiasts planned a photo run to Cubbon park situated in the middle of Bangalore. Our aim was to capture some candid shots of  "Morning People". My intention of not calling this as Photo-walk is mainly because we run to capture the most in a limited time frame, though patiently. But at this walk our run was halted by small ants.....

We reached Cubbon Park early morning and took out our tools to shoot Nature and People and their connection. We reached near King Edwards IV statue and I found some Ants moving up and down against an electric pole. The Sun was in favor of us and I couldn't resist my temptations. Soon I was lashed with 75-300mm Lens and started shooting those little red ants. 

These Fire Ants were moving rapidly up and down the pole as if they were stung by their own stings.

I was not satisfied with my earlier shots and kept shooting with different angles. It was like a kingfisher waiting for the right fish to strike. After some half an hour, Gautam was tired and he gave up. However he got one good shot. It was a shot of Ants carrying one dead ant.

I, However, stuck to my thirst and was busy experimenting some Macro shots at 300mm. Suddenly a family of three appeared besides us, thrilled to watch us with our burly cameras.The girl - child was holding her father's hand, when her mother asked us: - "Are you guys, Biologists?"

and I said --"Hell No!".

Know about Eggs

हम जब इंजीनियरिंग में  पढते थे , तब की ही बात है| चार दोस्त हुआ करते थे; बड़े, छोटे, मीडियम और क्योंच्हन  | हमनें मिल कर उसका नाम भाई ग्रुप रखा था | लम्बाईयों पर हमारा नाम रखा गया था, छाबरा सबसे छोटा था तो वो बन गया छोटे, मैं मीडियम और प्र्तयुष बन गया बड़े | बाद में आया कुक्कड़, चुइंकी वो प्रशं ज्यादा पूछता था , उसे हमने  क्योंच्हन बना दिया|  वैसे उसका असली नाम अंकित है, लेकिन शायद ही उसको कोई इस नाम से बुलाता होगा, नजदीक वालें तो बिलकुल नहीं|

हम साथ कॉलेज तो कभी भी नहीं जाते थे, पर ठीक साढ़े बारह बजे दिन का खाना ज़रूर साथ करते थे | नीरू उस मेस का कर्ताधर्ता था, यूँ तो संध्या मेस नाम था, जहां हम सभी खाना खाते थे पर नीरू से बहुत ही लगाव होने के कारण हम सब उसे "नीरू मेस" बुलाते थे |  मजेदार आदमी था नीरू, हमारा अकाउंट उसके यहाँ चलता था बिना किस्सी तकलीफ़ के | मेस का मासिक खर्च कुल मिलकर कुछ ४०० रुपयें हुआ करते थे | फिर भी हम चारों का बिल हमेशा १२००/- से ज्यादा हुआ करता था | और उसका कारण था "छाबरा" | जी नहीं, हमारा दोस्त छाबरा नहीं, बल्कि its a delicacy |

हुयां यूँ की कमल छाबरा हर रोज़ Egg Fry खाने के साथ आर्डर किया करते थे | हम लोग कहाँ पीछे रहने वाले थे | कुक्कड़ जैन होने के बावजूद मांसाहार का सेवन करता था | शायद संगत का असर होता है | खैर , हम चार लोग तो आर्डर भी चार प्रकार के | किस्सी को Double Egg Fry , तो किसी को Single Egg fry , या दो अंडे का  Double Egg Fry , या एक अंडे का  Double Egg Fry वगैरह वगैरह | पर अंडे सबको खाने थे वरना दक्षिणी भारत का खाना हमें कहाँ रास आता है | अंडे ने हमें हमेशा खाने के लिए प्रेरित किया | 

हम अपना आर्डर हमेशा नीरू को ही देते थे, जल्दी के लिए | छाबरा का एक अंडे का Double  Fry fixed आर्डर हुआ करता था, क्यूंकि वो कुछ और खाता नहीं था | मैं नीरू को हमेशा बोलता था जो छाबरा ने आर्डर किया उसका double या single ले आओ | धीरे धीरे हम सभी DOUBLE CHHABRA या SINGLE CHHABRA बोलने लगे, विथ और विथआउट मसाला | च्यूंकि हमलोग Dude हुआ करते थे, तो देखादेखी हमारे बाकी के दोस्त लोग भी Double Egg Fry को छाबरा कह कर पुकारने लगे | 

आज पुरे पाँच साल बाद भी अगर आप नीरू मेस जायेंगे तो बच्चे लोग आपको छाबरा आर्डर करते नज़र आयेंगे |

हमारा छाबरा दावनगेरे में वर्ल्ड फेमस हो गया, वो भी एक अंडे के डिश के रूप में|

 Single "Double छाबरा"  with masala

Single "Single छाबरा"  without masala

Double "Single छाबरा"  without masala

Double "Single छाबरा"  with masala

Double "Double छाबरा"  without masala

Confused--

Chhabra is simply Fried Eggs, fried on both sides with the yolks broken until set or hard. It can "Over Well" or "Over Hard " where , yolk is cooked from both sides until solid. However It can also be "Over medium" with Yolk cooked from both side but still not so hard.

While Single Chhabra is like Runny Yolk or "Sunny Side Up" or it is also termed as "Poached" or "Bull's Eye".

अरे भाई अब जल्दी से एक Double "Double छाबरा" लेते आओ मेरे लिए, और हाँ कारा ज्यास्थी....

The Unusual Goa

Everybody who has been to Goa talks about The Beaches, The Babes and The Boozes OR The Sun, The Sand and The Sex. The usuals come down as a part of Bandwagon Effect and eventually become the carriage wain. 

• -          There are more beach stalkers and vendors than the beaches. They will even sell sand if you wish to purchase them. Don’t forget to bring dollar$.
• -          The Hippies are long gone, legacy remains. You search whatever; you will end up meeting desperate Indians in search of lost legacy.
• -          Each and every Hotel calls themselves a Beach resort and they are just 200 m off the beach. In other words: The average distance between the beach and the beach resorts are around 2 minutes walk.
• -          Not all shacks are funky and plays trance. Some are dead like fish and smells like one.
• -          The beach reclining chair will be cheaper if you buy them from a furniture shop than renting them on the beach. Yes, the prices go up to 200 Rs per Hour till sunset.
• -          Still the butter chicken and Naan are cheaper than Sea-foods. Goa does not boast a good seafood collection cheaply available. Lobsters and king prawns are way costlier than Russell market in Bangalore.
• -          Cows go on strike at dusk on the road. Try maneuvering your vehicle instead of honking.
• -          There is only one Discothèque- Tito’s and it’s crowded and ill mannered as BMTC bus. The staff will treat you like a “Feni –drinker” even if you wish to go out of Tito’s.
• -          Don’t forget that Feni is not cool and cannot be compared to Vodka. It is officially classified as ‘Country Liquor’ and stop blaming Tequila.
• -          Xacuti is actually a Goan curry dish and it’s excellent with its spices. So is vindaloo and there is no Aaloo (potatoes) in it.
• -     Remember to keep your Beach towel in front of your eyes, Don't keep them hanging behind the recline. There are many street (Beach) Dogs, who are ready to lift their leg. 
• -  Goa is not just churches and beaches, there are some amazing breathtaking picturesque Forts. The great myth with Dil Chahta Hai and Aguada Fort is actually true. Try Chapora Fort too.
• -          Just remember that whatever the name may sound like, French, Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Israelis’, or German- they are truly Indian. Casa Portuguese, Britto's, Souza Lobo, Le Casa, Bella Ciao and many other are run by Indians. So expect an Indian touch to international flavor and please give them some 30 odd minutes to take down your order. Remember you are on relaxing tour.
• -          Famous Water sports only include Para-sailing, Water scooter / speed boat.  I see Baywatched beaches with Jeeps doing some round to cater safety to tourists. That a good thing, but don’t except Pamela Aunty to rescue you.
• -          Last but not the least- the Liqueur in Goa at shacks and beaches are not cheap. Obviously if you buy them at the Wine Shop then its dirt cheap, but remember you are a tourist.  A beer worth 25 rs is only worth 25 rs if you buy them at Wine shops.

Apart from the unusuals, the usuals are great when compared to any coastal region in India, which brings me back to Goa again and again. Right from the 30^th Day till 30^th year of my life, I ve been to Goa 30 times.

Salmanator

You will chuckle, you will laugh, you will smile and you will pity on yourself for being a part of billion. Welcome to the true form of Bollywood. A new superstar is Born, Rajnikanth can retire now; Salman, at least he doesn't need a wig. A movie which never intended to have a story, direction or acting but there is Salman Khan- A protagonist, who cannot dance,  nor can deliver a dialogue, cannot cry, and above all who cannot act. Aren’t these enough?

Dabangg is a masterpiece of the lowest level and it can’t get bigger than that. Salman is Dabangg or Dabangg is Salman? Definitely a Mustache and an Aviator looks great on Chulbul.

Picture this, Sholay’s Director Ramesh Sippy and Debutant Director Abinav Kashyap’s discussion:

RS: What is there in your Film, Sholay has everything, iss movie mein action hai, drama hai , comedy hai , tragedy hai……

AK: Issme Salman Khan Hai.

An old story like an old wine but surely with a knack and you won’t get any loo time during entire movie. You will need to hold ‘em till the end. This is entirely Salman Khan’s Launch to superstardom.  He has delivered the silly bathroom dialogues at his best which nobody else could ape, Forget Amitabh, Clint or Pacino.  It’s a 2 minute Maggie Masala Noodle pack with no exclusive ingredient but surely comes with a Masala tastemaker, which will be licked each time when served on the silver-plate.

There is a term in Bollywood – “Paisa Vasool”. And you will get your worth from Dabangg. The promos itself came with guarantee. This is one such of a cult movie which was declared hit before it was released. The only marketing which lowered the expectation was trailer itself which featured all the best punch lines from this movie. Pandeji a.k.a Robinhood a.k.a Chulbul was everywhere in the movie, such that you will miss presence of any other actor. Although the new kid on the block was impressive even while sharing screen with none other than Salman Khan. Sonakshi Sinha, The muse from Patna, revoked the Gaon ki Gori’s Fantasies. Promising lass, her eyes were expressive and had depth. Wait and watch the Real Khamosh Girl.

No comments on any other character both behind the screen or on-screen, include the director.

No star for this Movie, But it’s worth a watch.

This Ain't a Love song

I was shocked when i went through your Oct'99 issue (Fundas), as you guys don't take love as love no more. It has got bounded only by physical satisfaction. Let me tell you one thing: Love is love whether it was in 746 BC or it is in 1999 Ad. what's worth thinking about is why to teen today, love only means dating, going dutch, sleeping over at his or her place etc, instead of sharing each other's joy and sorrows and helping each other out.

Now. we switch partners when we feel they are no longer good. I, m not saying you must stick to one person for the rest of your life, even if you don't gel. But we must think before we act. Despite getting virtually unlimited freedom we still want more. To us, freedom means the freedom to do everything we wish. But just think, there are people who don't agree with each other, so if we were free to do whatever we want, so many people's thinking will clash. So I think there should always be some rules in life. after all, this is not just your or my world:It's "our world". So, even freedom will have to have some kind of limit. don't you guys think we enjoyed life more when we were kis with restrictions than now, when we have more freedom?

All I want to say is that love should always have the prefix "true" and freedom the prefix "real".

Saurabh Raj Sharan, Ranchi.
Published in Teens Today! (Target) December 1999.
@ RSVP, Page 4 , India Today

www.teens.india.today.com

My article when I was in 12th Std
http://www.india-today.com/ttoday/121999/plus.html\

Treacherous but Emotional Atyachar

A Dark, Gloomy Road movie… where is EA?

After watching the movie you will wonder why the title Emotional Atyachar, with a prefix ‘the film’. That too after winning a lawsuit against UTV movies that air a reality shows by the same name, of course without the prefix.  "Emotional Atyachar" is not every one's cup of tea. The movie takes a leap out from Guy Ritchie’s gore and dark humor with blood splurging like Quentin Tarantino’s movies.

Definitely Akshay Shere had watched “Lock Stock and two smoking barrels” and “Snatch”, but guys this one is original and not a copy. The thriller is stitched with vendetta and slack humor. As Taran Adarsh said:-“One has to be attentive, sorry, very attentive while watching The Film Emotional Atyachar. This one's not the leave-your-brains-at-home types, for sure. The story of the film is truly hatke and its execution, double hatke. In fact, it takes time to grasp the goings-on initially because the characters aren't connected with one another and also, there're multiple stories running concurrently.”

The non-linear story line and an abrupt time-scale will keep you glued to your seat till first half, then the story will unfold to a filmi- unpredictable but comfortable ending. Akshay has definitely learned from Ram Gopal Varma, being his assistant director in the classic Sarkar and a good Shiva. Moreover the actors are either from RGV’s factory or Anurag kashyap’s Camp.

Anand Tiwari scores full after learning from Slumdog millionaire, Udaan and Mumbai meri jaan. He is too good in all the small roles, focusing on ethical and moral accomplice of the clan who is very far away from the same. A noticeable act and well done.

The Duo is back with a bang again, their chemistry that too dark one is something to cherish. Yes, Ranvir-Vinay are the king of humors. The dialogues and monologues’ between them are complimenting each other and a pleasure to watch. While Abhimanyu Singh was wasted like a virgin gangster wearing Ed-hardy T shirts and drinking beer. Whatever small role was given to him as an incompetent casino Casanova was played well. Ravi Kissen is always good in Tapori lingo and his character was too dark. Snehal Dabhi entertains us with his fat body and acts. Mohit Ahlawat is looking shady and innocent like always and good to watch. A job done with perfection. The only female character, Kalki was good as a charming, flirtiest and cunning cunt.

There is a scene which can inspire Pulp-Fiction, a scrappy knife looking for a bullet but yields everything else from the body…A very nicely captured scene. The camerawork is perfect with some wide angle CCTV look and top shots. The background score too supports the camera in a subtle way. There is only one unnecessary short song; however it didn’t distract the movie. Kartik Krishnan’s dialogues are great and punched with some hard hitting humor.

At par with Johnny Gaddar, a perfect watch for those who would like edgy and knack of raw & dark movies.Oops Did i miss Reservoir Dogs !!!??

It actually gets three (3)stars but half is discredited for a misguiding title.

Creativity in Smoke

I always feel that why there are people who spend their creativity out for social cause? I will talk specifically about Anti-Smoking ads, where the creativity has been spent without any fruitful outcome.

My subject is primarily inspired from one of my friend’s conceptual and pictorial message. This message talks about comparison between an electrical mosquito repellant and cigarettes. The message is loud and clear, esp. for Non-smokers, who knew these behind the back of their mind.

A Smoker will see this message as an immunity boost. Like mosquitoes, like smokers. They tend to breed from low lying gutters and saturated waters. Similarly smokers have a saturated brain, dwelling and shaking just to hold a nicotine breath. Coins always have two sides, irrespective of the thickness of each side.

From Quitters, Inc. to “No Smoking”, the difficulty in quitting is often portrayed as the roadblock for smokers.

World No Tobacco day has issued an ad, as good as it can be. It’s like parking reserved for privileged persons and the vacant space is shown for non-smokers and without any surprise it’s vacant.

Strikingly, smoking is often related to masculinity. The irony is that it makes you impotent hardly make a bell ring.  There are few print ads depicting it very creatively. and the serious fun part is the smokers are not art lovers. They need the message direct and in straight format.
The advertisements below clearly shows that erectile dysfunction as one the major side effect an smoker should worry about. after all, there are other good things than mere  smokes.
In one of the ad below, "taking rubbish in your mouth" is actually a metaphor for smoking and you know the job. However more feminist will agree with this comparison.

Personification of cigarettes are also done to make an impact. Always the human characteristics, life span, hearing ability are depicted with a vanishing cigarette/s. The time is ticking, blowing time in smoke etc are used so often that one can become immune to it. 

Mostly all the ads have humor attached to it, where the message is delivered ineffectively. In this case the art and creativeness is appreciated but message.
The ad where an animal lover, esp, cockroach lover pleading smokers not to pass cancers to the lovely cockroaches is funny. The humor will never come out of the joke book into the deep frying pan, where it should hit. A pity on smokers.

There are some beautiful ads which can be also missed by smokers. They will never think twice to know the hidden answers behind the questions asked.

"Cancer Cures smoking" will always make you read the line twice, sure a head turner and thought provoker. It cannot be simpler than this. it's a non pictorial ad, simply straight forward. A warning between lines, often missed by smokers, as they do from cigarettes packets. 

         

However I believe that even 20% of world’s population will watch these meaningful creativities, then it will somehow remain in their brain. In turn the effective rate to recall them will be 1%, totaling to 1 million people, which is a large number.

This is a unique anti-smoking print advertisement campaign launched in Riyadh to urge people to quit smoking. The campaign has used a very innovative approach for the campaign that has apparently showing far reaching negative implications of smoking. The advertisements are showing burning cigarettes having its ashes intact where they have shown what else are burning with tobacco. The campaign has displayed many structures and buildings are being burnt while the second ad shows people are being burnt with the cigarette. The campaign apparently aims at conveying the fact that tobacco does not only kill the smoker but people around them as well.

                                                                                           

People often portray smoker as males, however the above ad doesn't forget the pregnant women who smokes. A great message indeed. The human and its humanity has to born unadulterated.

Smoking also causes amputations and some missing tissues. Its a bullet with slow poison, so slow and addictive that you may never realize the pun.

.

There are so may campaign with so many great messages; let’s hope that smokers do take a hint from them.

Special mention : Gautam Dogra : A friend and a photographer