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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Selfie Addiction And What Elders Think Of It

Image Source
After a recent family function, a discussion with Uncles and Aunts about the other side of family made me realize some funny things about our popular culture. I was already expecting the comments about how sleeveless and low cut dresses are indecent. There was much more to it this time.

Aunt 1, disappointingly : "I don't understand which type of people they are. The are all namuney."

Aunt 2 : "They don't even know how to get dressed for a wedding. One of the girls was wearing a dress made out of bed sheet."

Aunt 3 : "They are all mad. One girl was continuously taking her pictures herself. She was making strange faces. She even took pictures with her tongue sticking out".

I smiled. I knew she was talking about 'selfie'. It is obvious that my Aunties were unaware of the popular selfie culture like most other elders in family. Even I agree with them, taking too many selfies in the middle of so many people makes you appear insane. Especially if you are pouting, making duck face and sticking your tongue out.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Interstellar - The Movie Review

Interstellar is a science fiction adventure film directed by Christopher Nolan. The movie is based in near future when earth is no more habitable so NASA decides to send space travelers in search of new places which are able to sustain humanity.


Although, I was not waiting for its release, not even heard about it till the previous day. But I agreed to join my friends because I needed a dose of entertainment after a long and tiring day in office(on Saturday). I may not be following Nolan religiously but I am aware that his movies require a functional brain.

About the movie:
  • This movie is the only application of "Theory Of Relativity", which I unsuccessfully tried to understand during engineering.
  • Please learn the basics about Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Murphy's Law and Universe before booking tickets.
  • Even if you are not from Science background please participate in clapping after the movie. You can later justify that you loved the direction and physical portrayal of time.
  • One of those movies which give you homework.
  • If you are a Salman fan and watch movies only for Entertainment. Go to the same multiplex and watch "The Shaukeens" on the other floor. Later, smile at people who come out confused after watching Interstellar.
  • Like a typical Sci-fi and Nolan movie, it too leaves many questions unanswered.

(Spoilers begin)
As explained by my friend Daud,the most interesting question is the loop. In the end, Cooper is able to save humanity by transmitting the message through Gravitation. But he transmitted the message from future to save humanity in the past. If he is in future, how could he survived the past. To make it simple, the question is who saved whom? Is it people from future who sent a message, saved their past. Or people in the past saved their future.
Who came first hen or the egg?

Sunday, November 2, 2014

About 2 Movies and 1 Defect

Recently, I watched the movie, Haider, and really loved it. Although Haider is based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. It also very nicely portrays the plight of Kashmiris. Apart from great direction and story, Vishal made sure he used local Kashmiri music and real locations. Everything look and feels very authentic. I liked it more because of Faiz's ghazals which are part of movie's music(check it below).


About the defect:
This one defect(a software bug) came to my plate last week. I was supposed to fix it by Friday. Somehow, I wasn't able to focus on work last Friday so I spent most of my time working with others on their issues. I thought I will fix the defect over the weekend but all the time is already gone and now Sunday night blues.

About the other movie:
This movie is one of the reasons why I wasn't able to fix the above defect. Last night, after working for about an hour, when I was about to find the root cause for the defect, I somehow decided to take a short break. I started checking out few songs in my hard drive. Somehow, I clicked on the file containing this movie called "Khoobsurat". The idea was to check out some scenes and watch it later if it appears interesting. Within 2-3 scenes it aroused my interest and I decided to continue it for few more minutes. It turned out to be a romantic comedy which I started enjoying. The comedy iss light and all performances are very natural, I ended up watching it till the end. No actor tried to overact. Sonam's role of a quirky girl and Kirron Kher as her outspoken mother were entertaining. I have decided to copy Fawad's style soon.

The defect remains unfixed. :(

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Last Few Months

Like every blogger who posts once a month, I also feel I should write more. Its not only about finding time. Also about the mundane life I am living now a days

Last three months:

In July, I moved to a new project in office which required more aggressiveness. During the whole month of Ramzaan I struggled with sleep and guilt of not utilizing the holy month. It was during the last week of the month when I took holidays and went home, I felt relieved. After coming back I again spent most of my time in office. Facing new deadlines everyday. At times its frustrating, however, there is this satisfaction that I am learning new things everyday. My capabilities were questioned which made be more serious and dedicated towards work. And it is going to continues the same way till November. Meanwhile, I am finding solace in poetry and music.
A recommendation:

Monday, August 18, 2014

Teri Yaad Aayi

        
Image Credit- Vinot
  
جب سکڑتا دیکھ کسی نے چادر اڑھائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب کبھی کسی نے اچّھی چائے پلائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب ہارنے کے بعد کی کسی نے حوصلہ افزائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب پھٹے کرتے مے خدبخد ہوئی سلائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب کبھی ڈر کے آنکھ کھلی اور کسی نےپیٹھ تھپتھپائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب میرے بھلے کے لئے کی کسی نے میری پٹائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب میری حمایت مے کی کسی نے دنیا سے لڑائی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب ہر ٹھوکر پہ کسی کہ لب سے "الله خیر" آواز آئ،  تیری یاد ائی-
جب بیماری مے دوا سے زیادہ کسی کی دعا عصر لایی، تیری یاد ائی-
جب کبھی کسی نے اچّھی بات سکھائی، تیری یاد ائی-
کبھی بے وجہ کبھی بے سبب بس یہیں، تیری یاد ائی-


- A poem dedicated to my beloved mother.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Ghazal : Ab kiska intezaar hai.

Image Credit : Khawar

Is tarah dhadakne ki kya wajah hai,
Aye dil, tujhe ab kiska intezaar hai.

In khamoshi se behte aansuon ka kya hai matlab,
Kyu itna yakeen hai, kyu ab bhi aitbaar hai.

Us khudgarz ke jhootey waadey they ya koi jaadu.
Jo mujh par ab tak asardaar hai.

Mujhe kya mila apne jazbaat, khwab-o-khayal luta kar,
Bas ek jism baaqi hai aur vo bhi beemar hai.

Khwaabon me mulaqaat ki hai ek aakhri  ummeed,
Magar soney ke liye bhi uski zulfon ka saaya darkaar hai.

Us ke chehre ki kashish ka nahin koi muqabla,
Jis ne door se ek jhalak dekha vo ab tak qarzdaar hai.

Chand khushiyon ki khatir kitne aasu bahaye aur minnaten ki,
Kehne ko to hum bhi badey khuddar hain.

Aur kuch na mila to uske sarey ghamon ko hi apnaya,
Usko ghamon ki kya zaroorat, uska khushiyon ka kaarobaar hai.

Khushiyon se dil bhar jaaye to usse kehna mujhse aa kar mile,
Jahan mera jism dafan hai, uske ghamon ka bhi wahin mazaar hai.


 Urdu Version:

اس طرح دھڈاکنے کی کیا وجہ ہے اے دل
تجھے اب کسکا انتظار ہے

ان خاموشی سے بہتے آسوں کا کیا ہے مطلب
کیو اتنا یقین ہے کیں اب بھی اعتبار ہے

اس خدگرز کے جھوٹے وادے تھے یا کوئی جادو
جو مجھ پر اب تک اسردار ہے

مجھے کیا ملا اپنے جذبات  خواب و خیال لٹا کر
بس اک جسم باقی ہے اور وہ بھی بیمار ہے

 خوابوں میں ملاقات کی ہے اک آخری امید
مگر سونے کے لئے بھی اسکی زلفوں کا سایا درکار ہے

اسکے چہرے کی کشش کا نہیں کوئی  مقابلہ
 جسنے دور سے اک جھلک دیکھا وہ اب تک قرضدار ہے

چند خوشیوں کی خاطر آسو بہاے اور منّتیں کی
کہنے کو تو ہم بھی بڑے خددار ہیں

اور کچھ نہ ملا تو اسکے سارے غموں کو ہی اپنایا
اسکو غموں کی کیا ضرورت اسکا خشیوں کا کاروبار ہے

خوشیوں سے دل بھر جائے تو اس سے کہنا مجھسے آکر ملے
جہاں میرا جسم دفن ہے اسکے غموں کا بھی وہیں مزار ہے

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Finished TV Series: Shehr-e-Zaat

Today, I finished watching a TV Series called Shehr-e-Zaat which means "The City of Self". It was just 19 episodes long, still it took me more than 2 months to finish. The series is very interesting and requires attention. The problem is with me, I cannot finish one thing before moving on. Anyway, it is based on a novel by the same name.


The title track, Yaar Ko Hum Ne Ja Ba Ja Dekha, of the drama was sung by Abida Parveen. It is haunting, devastating and stirring. It is somehow magical. I listened it time to time for several weeks, on loop. It made me Abida's fan.


I loved the series more because unlike most Indian TV shows I can very well relate it to our culture. And the message it conveyed about love, desires and relationships somehow applies to me, maybe all of us.

 It is about a very beautiful, modern, self obsessed and spoilt girl. And how she adapts simplicity, patience, humbleness and finally manage to get rid of unnecessary worldly and hollow pursuits.

Dialogues I remember:
  • Dil ajeeb shay hai....Ajeeb cheezain mangta hai....Ajeeb kaam krnay ko kehta hai.
  • Allah Ki Mohabbat Ke Siwa, Har Mohabbat Ko Zawal Hai.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Voted for Identity

It is not very normal for me to get up early on a holiday. Still, I decided to get up early to cast my vote before its too hot and crowded outside. It looked like a normal morning in Zakir Nagar with minimal traffic. It was after reaching Batla House Chowk, I observed something different. There were more than a dozen Policemen, two of them on Horses. Road was blocked for vehicles from one side to allow only pedestrians. Few people were sitting on a chair-table in a corner and were browsing through sheets of paper. I moved on towards Jamia School, my polling booth.

The whole School campus was full of security personnel. The buildings, walkways and atmosphere inside the School felt very familiar. Within seconds I went down the memory lane and imagined younger version of myself looking at me from one of the classrooms on the top floor. "It is my school", I thought and smiled. The Good old days. I spent four most memorable years of my life in that campus.
My Electoral Stain / Voter mark
Although I am yet to receive my Voter's Id card, my name was there in the list. After several levels of verification, I was inked and allowed to vote. I pressed a button, a red LED blinked with a sound. And the woman, who inked me, confirmed that my vote was successful. I thanked her, smiled and left with a sense of achievement.

The place was't very crowded. I found more women than men at the polling booth. Even while returning I observed women coming in groups or with their husbands. They all looked more excited than men. When I came out one man, while starting his scooter, said to another man sitting on his bike, "Umeed hai is baar kuch to Gandgi kam hogi", and smiled. The other person nodded. It was clear that he voted for a clean system.

I voted for identity and self respect. I hope well deserving and responsible people come to power. And I am so glad that this election season is over.