Test of endurance...

Heard of the story of a caterpillar, which did not make it through the process of metamorphosis? You know why it failed? Apparently, a person sitting in the lawn noticed the caterpillar struggling it's way through.. and out of the kindness of his heart, tried to help it by slightly cutting open the cocoon/ chrysalis. Don't know if the caterpillar would have or wouldn't have made it's way through. But, the person certainly did no good to the caterpillar, which would have been one of the most enchanting colorful butterflies!

This also is very common among the human species.. Some are very kind.. especially toward loved ones.. We would at times want to shower so much love, that it might even kill the other one. Death by love, ha! Doesn't sound nice, anyways.. It's a common belief that 'survival of the fittest' is a jungle law is not applicable  the human species.. but matter of the fact proves otherwise..

We all have our tests of endurance from time to time, and that's our metamorphosis process. Some fail, some succeed, and the ones that succeed certainly are adorned with success, a charming and glowing personality in unique ways...

When it comes to your loved ones, who's going through such a test of endurance. Be loving; loving enough not to shower so much kindness lest you hinder the caterpillar from coming out with flying colors.. That's a lesson that I learned.. and I share it.. not that someone didn't know.. but just reminding it.. as my friend Manoj Albert did remind me.

Slumdog Millionaire - What's the fuss all about?

Yea.. finally I saw it - the 'Slumdog Millionaire'

As the movie unfolded, I really was questioning myself, if this police investigation style was as bad as Ghajini's where the police has forgotten their duty and got more interested in the personal life of the hero. Thank God, it wasn't.

The next disappointment was of the style of Anil Kapoor, playing the host of 'Who wants to be a millionaire'. In all his 'art of acting', he never came close to the actual host - Amitabh Bachchan, but, he made his character loathsome, by his demeaning modus, tone, expression the way he calls Jamal (Dev patel) a chaiwallah, which in our current evolved media, none would think of. Just when we thought Indians have started acknowledging equal rights of an individual irrespective of his occupation, caste, we had to see this in international media. Huh!

Well.. the vulgar 'MC' was used as if it was a common slang and.. well, I really do not know if the script is as sacrosanct as the novel describes, but I guess it is safe to assume this one distorts the book version just as many other movies have done. The portrayal of the characters seem to be exaggerated. However, the way the movie unwinds and describes the slum life, the creative construct of how Jamal knew the answers to the various questions, the art direction among others is plausible.

Well, towards the end, it was enjoyable, but it was as typical as any other good bollywood movie would be. I guess Rang de Basanti (RDB) was much better when measured this by its theme, characters, art and class of acting, music and quite a few other significant parameters if you will. While RDB is top of mind, I'm sure there'll be many other deserving movies others may think of. What's the fuss all about? My question here is - Why couldn't 'RDB' or even 'Taarein Zameen par' make it to the Oscars? What did this have that the others didn't? I guess it has to do with the name of Director, the scale and level of promotion and the orbit of the directors' influence if nothing less..

Nonetheless, if not by Indian directors, Indian cinema surely has come of age by virtue of Hollyood making the Indian cinema and showcasing it in their land!

Let's see.. if the play on an Indian slumdog also sweeps the Oscars and also win the 'Best Picture of the Year'... Congrats to A.R. Rahman.. and many more for awards already won.. And for the Big Day of Oscars, Best Wishes team!

Called to be faithful, not successful!

In a fast world, where competition is the order of the day, to rise over another and be successful comes to all naturally. But, as a young Christian, I am touched by the thought Mother Teresa puts across "I am not called to be successful, but to be faithful."

That's the essence we all, who believe, need to tell to ourselves time and again. It's not success that should matter to us, but how faithful we are in obeying God's word.

I start this blog in a hope that this goes on to be a rich blessing to all.

Don't let them steal your dream...

Look after your dream, or a thief will!

There's a lot of 'Dream Stealers' out there! After a week long training session, I'm high on its theme: Change, Success & Leadership... and most of all... I'm tipsy and Crazy so that I DON'T LET THEM STEAL MY DREAM!

There come times in our lives when we feel that we're loosing control of the direction of our lives, when someone's influencing our jobs, relationships or any other key aspects of our lives. I've written about it earlier also in --

• So, who’s managing you now-a-days?

• When someone else controls your life...

• Longing to break free!

Well, only a few could know what that feeling's like, and definitely, any person who's
on a job led by a 'Boss', one who's limited by resources, control-freak parents or dominating partners among other categories...

But, you see, it's not just that they control, but even those negative energies they release over our determination to achieve by displaying disturbing attitudes, negative words and strong actions as well. However, to overcome all this, one needs to actually KNOW what their DREAM is! Do you know what your Dream is?

Where Dreams Fail...
Many peoples dreams fail! Not knowing what ones dream is will only make them so accommodating that every other influence or a negative word will be accepted whining, or sometimes even without the slightest whimper. A few have such feeble dreams which can easily be replaced by another one. For a few more, the dream fades away with the passing of time, and for few others dreams not achieved will not matter at all.

Folks, get serious, cos we get a life only once. Wake up, realize your dream, and Go get it!

Get a little Tipsy and a lot Crazy!
Realizing your dream is just the beginning. You may want to get over with any hangover, but never get over the hangover of your dream. Get Tipsy (rather drunk) with your dream... and a Lot Crazy, so that no one would even dare to approach to steal your dream away! Even if someone does, you'll be so well guarding it, that you'll not allow it.

Realized your Dream? Look after your dream, or a thief will rob you off it!

If you want to know the end, look at the beginning

A year of failure, a year of success; A year of losses and profits... a year of new-found love, friendships, a year of heart-aches... uh!

As another year goes by... perhaps it's the opportune moment to make a new beginning, for, hope springs anew!

I am reminded of Mark Sanborn's, 'The marks we leave', that in the sands of time, every thought and act of ours, the things we've said, the people we've met; the love we shared, the hearts we've bruised... we've left impressions all the way. The world keeps spinning and life goes on. The many demands of people around us, our untold plans to achieve greater heights, the never ending to-do lists... and for many a soul, the ghosts of their past still haunt them, and keep them fast forwarded in life. Whoa! 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week seem too short a time to live life fully at our own pace. Isn't it?

Can you help it? Guess not! Nevertheless, to live life to the fullest in the given time, I believe, we need to stand still for once and take time to reflect on the time that has passed by, and just look at how we've lived it. Perhaps, that'll help us know if we've been walking straight to where we need to be heading towards or not. Accordingly, we can correct our ways, and chart our way ahead.

And, when you plan ahead, do it wisely. Take help if required... remember that quote: 'Smart people ask for help'. One of my favorite speaker Bishop Jakes opines that we are not self-sufficient, and in our ignorance, we might even destroy ourselves. The wise king Solomon said, 'In all your ways acknowledge Him (Lord God), and He will direct your paths'.

So, kick-start the new year by kicking away the ghosts of the past and make a new beginning, in a new partnership with Him for a great ending... can't believe, look at the (new) beginning!