Bipasha and Kissing

I read Bipasha Basu's interview on TOI where she's quoted as saying, "I’m totally ok with lovemaking scenes, but I hate kissing". It reminds me of a scene from the Brasilian movie Estômago. In the movie, Nonato, a cook while having sex with a prostitute Iria tries to kiss her. She in turn tells him that that "I don't kiss anyone. I do everything else, but kissing....because it's not ethical"

Its funny to note that at both the places, the characters later end up kissing someone else. Bipasha with Emraan Hashmi and Iria with Nonato's boss Giovanni.

Hypocrite women. Huh.

The President

Five years ago I wrote about how Pratibha Patil's elevation to the presidency was a step towards weakening the nation. Five years later how I stand corrected!

Wikipedia entry on Mrs. Patil has a section on controversies. Here is the entire oeuvre. Some of the gems include spending more than 200 crores on her foreign visits, murder cases against family members, misuse of her position and finally grabbing Army land for her palatial accommodation.

As I write this, another farce is revealing itself and this looks far more worse than freaking Indian Idol!

May be I'll check again in 2017 :-)

Bike and Car

 Exactly my thoughts.

"You see things vacationing on a motorcycle in a way that is completely different from any other. In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it, you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer, and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame.


On a cycle the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming. That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing, the same stuff you walk on. It's right there, so blurred you can't focus on it, yet you can put your foot down and touch it anytime, and the whole thing, the whole experience, is never removed from immediate consciousness."

Source: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

10 Most Popular Pakistanis in India

I am presenting a list of 10 Pakistanis who are most well known in India. They are admired, loved, idolized (and sometimes pilloried) by millions across the country.

Is your list any different?

1. Imran Khan
Surely the most inspirational cricketer to have come out of Pakistan, Imran had stunning good looks to boot. His leadership skills were pivotal in Pakistan lifting the World Cup in 1992.

He wasn't as successful in his political career where he was dubbed a 'Spoiler politician'. He still remains an inspirational figure well respected in India.

2. Wasim Akram
Akram was one of the best fast bowlers in the world and one of the finest exponents of reverse swing bowling. His two sublime deliveries to dismiss Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis in the 1992 WC final are etched forever in the minds of crickets lovers.

Although his career was later tainted with match fixing scandal he remains popular in India appearing in dance shows and commercials or even denying a marriage with Sushmita.

3. Ghulam Ali
Who can forget his heart rending song Chupke Chupke Raat Din in the 1982 movie Nikaah or for that matter his ghazal Hungama Hai Kyon Barpaa.

Armed with a baritone voice and subtle vibrations he used to convey a whole range of emotions in his ghazals. Along with Mehdi Hassan he contributed immensly to the revival of Ghazal in the 70's.

4. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Nustat Fateh Ali Khan is probably the most well known Pakistani musician outside of Pakistan. He was primarily a Qawwali singer who has performed in over 40 countries.

He collaborated extensively with western musicians producing exquisite music. His album Intoxicated Spirit was nominated for a Grammy in 1997 for best traditional folk album.

5. Shahid Afridi
Boom Boom Afridi is certainly a maverick. He started out as a leg spinner but made his mark for his explosive batting and now considers himself a better bowler! In his first international innings, he smacked 11 sixes to score a century in 37 deliveries.

He is the only player to score 6000 ODI runs with an average of under 25. When captaining, he likes to helps his team by chewing the ball or scuffing the pitch.

6. Atif Aslam
Atif Aslam is to the youth what Ghulam Ali was to the oldies. A soulful melancholy runs through his songs be it Pehli Nazar Mein, Kuch Is Tarah, Aadat, Woh Lamhe, Tera Hone Laga Hoon or Tu Jaane Na.

He is expected to make his acting debut this year. Lets hope he dazzles us again, this time with his histrionics.

7. Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Malik is perhaps known (in India) because of his marriage to Sania Mirza than for any other cricketing reason. He has currently been dropped from the team and perhaps will never get in again given Pakistan's seemingly unending talent pool.

His marriage/divorce with Ayesha Siddiqui left a bad taste in mouth. His subsequent marriage with Sania was given a cold shoulder by most celebs (other than Raja Murad of course). Shoaib's current pastime include cheering his wife along the ATP tour, feeding her with drinks during practice and getting banned from playing in Indian grounds.

8. Veena Malik
Veena Malik was not so much successful as an actress but much better recognized as a comedienne on a popular TV show Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain. In fact I saw her first time on this show parodying Shoaib and Sania. She was later charging enstranged cricketer boyfriend Mohammad Asif with match fixing charges.

However Veena Malik came into her own while appearing on reality show Bigg Boss 4. She was berated in Pakistan for her immoral un-Islamic behavior on the show. But she fought admirably well, took on a Maulvi and silenced him (You Tube clip). Hats off to this gutsy lady!

9. Asma Jahangir
I would be taking a bit of liberty saying she is Pakistan's Arundhati Roy. The fact is she gives them hell and we loves it. She is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

I think she is a very brave woman; a beacon in the dark age of Pakistan. Hope this beacon shines forever.

10. Pervez Hoodbhoy
It would be fair to call him one of Pakistan's greatest intellectual. Armed with a PhD in Nuclear Physics from MIT, he is also a prominent social activist.

He has written on a plethora of issues like feminism, education, environment, philosophy and nuclear disarmament. In 2001, he refused to accept the Sitara-e-Imtiaz award from President Musharraf. Also read his article on a month long lecture tour in India here.

Images: Courtesy Wikipedia

Sachin... Sachin...

Sachin Tendulkar got his 50th century today. I don't know what more can I write about this man, that has not been written in last 21 years. The God, Maestro, Little Master, Tendlya you can call him whatever you want but he is the best-est.

In every sport, there are champions who master the game and go on to rule it but none has had the sheer longevity of Sachin. 21 years and counting - highest number of Tests, runs, centuries whatever there is! He even has a bowling average of 50+ in Test - an avid fan might quip. Every run he scores today is a record. He's even got a double in ODIs. I don't have enough space on this page for listing out all his records. 

This picture courtesy my dear friend Neeraj who was in South Africa watching the match. Lucky dude!

I can just say I am fortunate enough to have watched him play.

Respect.