Bappi da is dead ... Long live Bappi da!

 (Note: This piece was penned as a tribute to Bappi Lahiri, on his demise)

 The passing away of Bappi Da, is an opportune moment to reminisce on his musical genius. He not only introduced and popularised Disco music in Bollywood, but he took it to a frenzied level, amongst the Baby Boomers and Gen X. At club nights, birthday parties, and camp-fires, in the late 1970s and 1980s (there weren't any discotheques back then), kids and adults alike would groove to Bappi da's tempestuous beats and melodies. In short, he was the rage those days (besides of course, the cross-border import, Biddu and his exotic, precocious star, Nazia Hassan; but that's another story for another day).

 There's hardly a genre missing Bappi da's repertoire - save perhaps, devotional songs (I'd be delighted to be corrected on that - would love to listen to his devotional number(s), if any, in any language). Besides being the undisputed king of Disco, he was the emperor of melodies romantic, and equally at ease belting out peppy songs and gazals. No movie in the 1980s would be complete (or a hit) without his trademark numbers – Sharaabi; Namak Halaal; Armaan; Himmatwaala; Disco Dancer; Suraksha - the list is rather long to be recounted here. 

 Wall Street and Dalal Street gurus will tell you, that gold as an investment, is inflation agnostic - its price always appreciates (new age gurus may of course opt for bitcoin, ether and their like, claiming, they are equally safe bets). Bappi da, loved to display a lot of gold, earning the sobriquet, “King of Bling”. His songs, just like gold, will continue to appreciate, and radiate as much brilliance, as the yellow metal he was so much in love with.

 My personal favourite of Bappi Lahri, is the Yesudas song from the movie Tootè Khilonè - perhaps, the only one that the redoubtable KJY sang for him. The lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi, and the song is coincidentally picturised on his daughter Shabana, paired with a lanky Shekhar Kapoor (unrecognizable, minus his trademark beard). Shekhar and Shabana, btw, were at one point in time, the thinking woman's and thinking man's sex symbols - but then, that's another story, for another day ...

 

A Master of all Arts

 (A tribute to the genius of Kishore Kumar)

 In Malayalam there's a terminology called “Sakala Kalaa Vallabhan” - it loosely translates to “the gallant overseer of all arts”. If ever, any persona fits that bill, it has to be Abhas Kumar Ganguly, more famously known by his popular name Kishore Kumar. Actor, producer, director, music composer, singer - he donned several hats, and all with the practiced ease of a perfect professional. 

 He was arguably, the most dynamic singers in Bollywood, nay, in Indian cinema. With a rich repository of songs, he had a range so versatile, in moods so diverse, that it was virtually impossible to slot him into any niche. Sad songs, cheerful ones, romantic calls, naughty numbers, yodeling doodles - he had all of them in his repertoire. His best though, were reserved for the company of Sachin Burman and Rajesh Khanna. The trio came together to dish out hit after hit in the late 1960s and 1970s, becoming a rage for a generation of music and cinema lovers.

 Among his all-time romantic greats is “Mere Sapnon ki Raani kab Aayegi tu”, from the movie “Araadhna”. Kishoreda's melodious voice is the tool unleashed by a handsome Kaka in an open Jeep, to woo a doe-eyed, pretty as peach, ravishingly radiant Sharmila T in a train. An apocryphal account has it, that the hero and the heroine were never together during the shoot of the song and were captured on camera, on entirely different dates - the reason perhaps, that in the entire song, they are never in a frame together. Anand Bakshi Sahab presents the perfect pitch with his lyrics, for Pancham da to compose a tune that really melts one's heart.

 Fathers' Day Musings ... from a Father

This fathers' day, rather than extol the virtues of fathers the world over, laud their sacrifices, and glorify how they mentor and guide their kids (torture them - from the perspective of those at the receiving end!), I decided to use the reverse swing and ruminate on what kids teach their fathers. It's expedient and logical, since an old ball like me (at 55 years), doesn't swing as well as a new one does - but then, the new ball can't reverse swing either.

So, what do fathers learn from their kids: here's my take, on a couple of such learnings ...

1. Time Value of Money. No B School education or Financial Management text books are gonna teach you this concept, the way the kids teach you. As a kid from a previous generation, one's idea of what is expensive, is determined by the value of currency three decades back. So, shelling out five grand for a movie at the premium PVR in a mall, is a king's ransom for you; for your kids, it's chicken-feed.

2. The Bottomless Tummy. While still at the movies, during the bio-break, you scrounge by opting for the smallest pack of the plebian, plain, salted popcorn (low on butter, lower on salt, lest you should enrage your hypertension and your doctor!). You also stick to the smallest glass of diet coke to go with (lest you should enrage your blood sugar and your doctor!). But, when the delivery boy deposits the snacks order of your kids, you realise, there's enough and more on that gargantuan tray, to feed an entire army of semi-starved recruits (not the Agniveers, but their predecessors). From caramelled popcorn to nachos and dips, from pizzas and pastas to Pepsis and popsicles, it’s a veritable feast that would satiate your need and greed, for at least a fortnight. Then you see all of it vapourise in a trice - vanishing into the ravines of your youngsters' tummies. And, once they step out of the movie, their eyes are scouting the nearest fine dining experience, that exotic set-up with exorbitant rates, that hastens the exodus of cash from your wallet (or from your credit card).

3. Time Value of Time. Alvin Toffler had warned me of this, long years back, through his classic tome on futurology, “Future Shock”. Simply put, when a 50-year-old dad asks his 15-year-old son to wait for five years for his bike, for the dad, it's just 10 percent of his life; for the kid, it's one-third of his lifetime. This logic has however been turned on its head. While I hold on to my gadgets (smartphones, tablets, laptops), to as long as I can (which can stretch anything from 4-5 years), to squeeze out the last ounce of juice from its chips, drives and memories, my kids badger me for next-gen gizmos, every six months, or even earlier (depending on the OEMs definition of generation - I often wonder, how can six months define a generation). Suffice to say that, what's one generation for me - 5 years - is just 6 months for my kids.

Happy Fathers' Day to all my ilk, who share my pangs and pains, and thrills and frills of fatherhood.

 

From the 'City of Pearls' .... to the 'City of Djinns'
 

(Note: In April 2021, I moved from Hyderabad to Delhi, on transfer, as part of my official duties; this piece was a sort of an adieu and a tribute to “The City of Pearls”)

 Three years in Hyderabad (give or take a few days), and it's time to move on. Change is the only constant, but leaving behind the magnificence and magnanimity of the Nawaabi city, that opened up its arms for me, to accept me as its own, and endeared me to its heart and soul, is not going to be easy. But I trust, that the fond memories associated with its places and people, that is indelibly imprinted in me, would help, in a large measure, to tide over the separation.

 As I bid adieu to Hyderabad, here's a small nonsensical ditty, that portrays my exposure, experience and perception of this fine specimen of a metropolis, that blends its glorious, regal past with a vibrant, high-tech present. I have also tried to capture the emotions of the rich-in-heart real PEARLS - the people of Hyderabad - that I had the privilege of meeting and interacting with, during my sojourn there.

 So, here goes ...

Kukattpally, Bowenpally, Kondapur and Miyapur,

Time to say au revoir, and hit Dwarka and Chhatarpur.

 Bowenpally, Gachibowli, Tolichowki and Lakdi-ka-pul, 

You gave me enough and more, of thrills, delightful.

 Falaknuma, Golconda, Salarjung and Charminar,

Tata, bye bye, adieu; here I come, Qutub Minar.

 Kaaykoo, uno, boltè boltè, tima kab nikal gaya,

Ab, assi, tussi da vaari hai, aur waqt hai, to be behaya.

 Telugu, Urdu, Hyderabadi; sab boli hai chalta yahan,

Ab Hindi, Punjabi aur Haryanvi, ka hoga intehaan, wahan.

 Pulla Reddy, Almond House, Karachi Bakery and Paradise,

Their culinary delicacies used to irresistibly tantalise.

Now it would be Bengali Market and Karims,

With mouth-watering roshogullas and Mughlai cuisines. 

 And what do I say, of the people of Hyderabad, 

They are PEARLS indeed, who bombard with adab and regard. 

 Am gonna miss this “Paradise” big time,

A place that engulfed me with love, in no time.

But am sure, I'll be back for gossips khatta,

With Irani chai and Qubaani ka Meetha.

 

The Constant Refrain of Lovers ... “Abhi na jao chhod kar”

 Ever wondered, how and why, years ago (read, before marriage), time used to fly, in the company of your sweetheart (if it still flies for you in that company: lucky you!!). The separation, at the end of the romantic date, used to tear your heart asunder. The yearning to stay back for a moment more, to enjoy the bliss of your consort's love; the longing for a longer duration of that feeling of being on cloud nine; the desire for a wee little bit more, of that unadulterated joy of that affectionate company, and finally, before tearing apart for departure, a long parting hug (or kiss, as the case might be) … they were priceless treasures that MasterCard couldn’t pay for!

 That unalloyed pleasure has been well captured in myriad movies in Bollywood. One such specimen, is arguably the best romantic duet of Rafi Sahab and Asha Tai, enacted by our very own version of Gregory Peck, aka Dev Anand Sahab, and the vivaciously beauteous Sadhna, in the movie “Hum Dono”. The lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi melts your heart; sample this endearing entreaty, extolling the beauty and allure of one's lady love: “Bahaar ban ke chhayee ho, hawa zaraa mahak toh le, nazar zara bahak toh le”. Couple that with Jaidev Sahab's mastery of music that drives this melody into the realm of divinity, and you have the perfect recipe for walking on air. 

 If you're lucky to be out of earshot of your kid(s) as you listen to this piece, try this - grab your partner for a quick hug (or kiss!), and rewind and relive your old romantic memories. You won't regret it one bit! I bet!!