The era of Remixes

Last night, I was enjoying my tryst with late night radio music. There is a certain fun when the next song about to be played is not known. I guess that's one of the things which draws me to the radio.

A little while later, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the remix of the song - "Hum bewafa hargiz na the par hum wafa kar na sake". As it played in the encompassing silence of the night, I remembered its famed remixed video as well. The guy from the city in his open top white car getting attached to the scorching hot sexy village belle; the villagers grouped together against their alliance.

I recalled the time period when Instant Karma had recently released a remixed album of choicest songs. There might have been other remix done but i can't think of one which had become as famous as this. So much thought had been put into those complete set of songs, changed the music in such a way that it was soothing and subtle and quite alluring. They brought back the old songs to the lips of everyone, the crucial point being, that all of it was done without degrading the original essence of the songs. Even today I can remember them: "Meri soni meri tamanna", "Saamne yeh kaun aaya", "Baahon mein chale aao", "Nahi nahi abhi nahi" and lots more..

But then an era of remix erupted and every other song was being used and abused. Yes, I use the word "Used" because the originality of it was snatched from it. Even the videos were colored, dirty, so was the music, the changes made so the song would seem sexy though in the first place it was not, hoping and rooting that the modern populace would love it. A business had begun which required not much talent and yet fetched money.

But I am glad that such work has reduced over the time. No wonder as the general public rejected it with feeling.

Making remix also needs finesse and talent. When moulded carefully and gracefully, another art form can emerge.

Little joys of small moments..

With our stress induced lives, all moments in time worrying or thinking about one thing or the other, small magical moments make a refreshing change.

Since I don’t know from how long I have been working constantly with a all too near deadline. But though the work is enjoyable, sometimes it becomes a wee bit tedious and monotonous; a large part of it being the absence of near and dear ones at office.

But these small pockets of happiness bring a beautiful smile to the face..

Since two days, Ahmedabad is resembling a hill station. A light drizzle, almost no sunlight, wintry winds, foggy atmosphere, it’s beautiful. This Sunday my boss was giving a party to all the team mates celebrating his wedding anniversary. It was Sunday afternoon, though afternoon was not the word one would have used to describe the time. The venue in question was almost more than 20 kms far from my home. Before starting, to me, it felt like an uphill job (yes, job!! that's how it felt..) I am not much into driving. The thought of a long a drive through the crowded streets of Ahmedabad, crossing the old city was overwhelming.

But when I started, plugging my cell's earphones into my ears, the journey did not seem huge. With the wind blowing through my hair, very few people on the streets, everything felt marvelous. I was singing the songs along with the music player at the top of my voice coursing through easily without having to pay much attention to things other than the sheer pleasure I was experiencing. The speed of my vehicle was a bit more than it usually is, giving me a thrill. Not a single thought passed through my head, only the lyrics of the songs..

I felt free, on top of the world with nothing following me, not a worry in the world and as if i was cruising through the clouds fully attuned to the musical world.

Across the Wall

It stood unyielding and strong
Running miles long
My hand lightly traveled
It’s rough mossy surface
Over me the ancient wall towered
What lay beyond, not giving a view of the space

Everyone crosses to that side
One time or the other
With someone standing beside
An almost stranger
Or with a known ride

The moment comes late for some
For others it is ahead of time
As for me, I don’t know what it is
Made me a bit worrisome
I assume it’s going to be a life changing find

A lone figure I stood
But together two can cross
I was seeking the one with whom I would
But my eye tried to glance across

I was curious
A little bit anxious
Of what lay beyond, of what would happen
What will I discover
Will my spirits fly or will they dampen
Uncertainties hover
I force them to sink
Hunting for a crack to glint

Just a glance
A small peek
To quell my mind’s thirst.

Living in the virtual world

Technology has aided our lives that now it cannot be lived without. Specifically the social networking sites have made the world smaller and people closer – this has become the definition of these sites. Now we can connect to any number of people sitting anywhere in the world. All this is quite true, but there is a huge drawback to this rosy scene.

It is the human touch the people have started living without, getting completely dependent on the technology. Some of the people have gotten so engrossed in the virtual world, they have forgotten how to communicate with real persons. These people literally live in the virtual world. They are utterly active on the social networking scenario, they provide updates of their every moment to their so called millions of friends over the internet, they talk, they smile, they even celebrate in that world. But when it comes to talking to the people who live with them, are part of their lives, they are reclusive. It needs efforts to pull them out and yet there is an itching they have to return to the virtual world.

In that alternative world, people portray themselves the way they wish to be, they try to show themselves as a happening and interesting person so that other people come to recognize them and acknowledge them. But the reality might be completely different. The problem for the normal people is to get attached to them and vice versa.

The virtual touch cannot replace the actual human connection of a relationship. Talking on the phone even is better than just commenting on each other’s status. The attachment and alliance of a relationship is with actual people and not their dummy virtual counterparts.

A Walk in the Woods

A few days back, I dreamt a beautiful dream. There were a lot of reasons why it was beautiful. But the scenic exotic nature does not play a main part in that description, but the divine feeling it gave.

There was a narrow muddy path surrounded by the lush green trees. The woods were everywhere, till the eyes reached horizon. The path was winding downwards as if I stood on top of a hill. Somewhere, water was flowing and its sound made a backdrop for the complete silence in the woods. It must have rained recently, as there was moss everywhere. Slow wind was flowing rustling the trees silently. Feeling all this made me marvel at the nature.

But the moment my eyes turned from the scenery around, towards the people with me, I was amazed to see the lot. It completely switched my attention from the scenery. I saw the whole bunch of my friends. Some were school friends, some were college friends and the others were office friends. There were faces which I didn’t remember having seen since some years. Also present there, were some of my cousins with whom I had lost contact, the ones with whom in my childhood I had shared a great camaraderie.

As I walked through those glorious woods, chatting with all the people there, I felt contentment which I hadn’t felt since a long time. The talk I shared with everyone there, though bordering on trivial things, made me feel full of life. It felt as if I had been searching for this destination and now I had found it.

Remembering the dream in the morning brought a smile to my lips. I memorized the dream and the faces that I hadn’t remembered in my real life. I looked upon that dream as a treasure. When I unconsciously sought the ‘why’ behind the dream, I realized, may be somewhere deep inside, I wanted to be able to talk to everyone who, at some point in my life had been close to me.