Addendem: Happy Birthday

Adding a few more numbers (in no order of preference):

1. Aaj Kal Paon Zameen par - Ghar
2. Tujhse Naaraz nahin Jindagi - Masoom
3. Yeh Mera Dil to Pagal Hai - Gardish
4. Tumhe Chorr kar Ab jeene ko - Basera
5. Tu Tu hai Wahi - Yeh Wada Raha
6. Jab Andhera Hota hai - Raja Rani
7. Jeevan ke Har mod par - Jhoota Kaheen Ka
8. Roz Roz Aakhon Tale - Jeeva
9. Rah Pe rahte Hain - Bamkeen
10. O Mere Sona Re - Teesri Manzil
11. Ek hi Khawaab - Kinara

There are many many more of them. It is impossible to capture his genius in a couple of lists!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Pancham! Thanks for all the music!

Most of the pre-90s generation has grown up with RD’s music forming the background score of our lives. Most of the time we have associated him with the wild beats and pulsating music that the songs like ‘Dum Maro Dum’, ‘Mehbooba’, ‘Poocho na yaar’, ‘Aapke Kamrein mein’ etc. While he defined music for the angst filled generation of the 70s, he was one of the most melodious music directors that have had anything to do with Indian film music.

All time Favourite Pancham Melodies:

1. Chotti Si Kahani Se – Ijjazat
2. Phir Wohi Raat hai – Ghar
3. Huzur is kadar bhi na – Masoom
4. Kaheen na Jaa – Bade Dil Wala
5. Khamosh sa Afsana – Libaas
6. Chaand Mera Dil – Hum kisi se kam nain (the wakau number)
7. Kis mod se jaatein hai – Aandhi
8. Aye Ri Pawan – Bemisaal
9. Tumne Mujhe Dekha – Teesri Manzil
10. Gum hai kissi ki Yaad Mein – Rampur Ka Lakshman
11. Tere liye Palkon ki Jhalar Bunoon – Harjayee
12. Kahana Hai aaj tumse Pheli baar – Padosan
13. Tumse Milke AISA Laga – Parinda
14. Yaadon ki Baraat – Yaadon ki Baarat (especially the antras)
15. Gulmohar gar tumhara naam hota – Devtaa
16. Aane Waala Pal – Golmaal
17. Kis liye maine pyaar kiya – The Train
18. Chingaru Koi Bhadke – Amar Prem
19. Tum Bin Jaun Kahan – Pyar ka Mausam
20. Sholay Theme – Sholay (Honorary Mention)

You might notice that all these songs were either the songs of sadness, separation or longing and even philosophical… all of them in minor chords. But absolute soul stirrers nonetheless!

Yeh thi khabarein aaj tak

Many of us would remember ‘The World This Week’ that was presented by Prannoy Roy in his signature style in the 80s. The program remained our window to the world news for long. Many of us would also remember ‘Parakh’ that was hosted by Vinod Dua in his booming voice. But as I read this article today, I realized that how much I have forgotten and how much I miss SP… SP who? Surendra Pratap Singh of the Aaj Tak days. Aaj Tak not the news channel of ‘Shweta Tiwari’s married life in tatters - breaking news’ fame but of the most charming sign-off line in the history of Indian News reporting. Remember SP’s spirited 'Yeh thi khabarein aaj tak; intezar khijeye kal tak.’

I still believe that it was one of the best news shows on Indian Television. I would tend to favour it because it was in Hindi but even if I take off the hindi bias that I have, it was a hard-hitting no-nonsense show that was exemplary in content and style. Most of our modern day journalists have styled their delivery style on SP. Over the years, the number of news channels has proliferated but sadly there are hardly any good anchors at least in Hindi. We have to make do with a watered down Dua, an over-the-top Rajat Sharma and air-between-the-ears kind of non-sensical bodies. In such times, SP you are sorely missed…

Madam President

Finally, the Congress government has been able to grab a spot for itself in history. Of course, this is under the foregone assumption that the 54% strong majority will not jump sides over a minor issue like the president’s election. What is even more astounding (and scary as well) is that we would have the same woman as the Prime Minister as well? There are absolutely no-limits to what Sonia Gandhi can achieve. I mean she has a full-time job as the Prime Minister but she wants more! So another unsuspecting (?) dummy candidate is being brought into the fray.

We are in a situation where the Prime Minister’s Offices have been brought into such disrepute that the constituents of the government have scant regard for anything to do with that office. The parallel power centre rather the power centre of this government resides in 10-11 Janpath and each member of the coalition know which side of the bread is buttered! I have admired the astuteness with which Sonia has managed her political courier. Even with her legacy, it was a tough job and she has done well for herself. Whether she has done well for India would be a discussion that would die even before developing into a full blown argument!

However, this inexplicable urge of sullying the President’s office cannot and should not be ignored. I would like to believe that being a staunch loyalist to the Gandhi family should not be the only qualification under consideration for the country’s highest office. Some might want to argue that the President is nothing but a figurehead – so it does not matter. That is the precise reason why it matters! The same figurehead is one of the brand ambassadors of my country to the rest of the world. Governor Patil might have had a clean record as a politician but I will be unable to stand her as my president because she at best would be a façade for the Italian lady who governs our country. This would be nothing more than a re-run of the Indira-Jail Singh episode. From the reports that I have been hearing & reading, irrespective of the desires of many of us, the inevitable is bound to happen…