Phir Mile Sur: The Common Man’s Magic is missing

Although I spent the Republic day humming ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ for greater part of the day (as Zoom TV released the new avatar of Mile Sur Mera Tumhara), the connection was not instant. The new version propelled me to watch the older version on You Tube and fondly appreciate the early makers.

There are a host of subtle and significant changes that the present creators have done supposedly to be in sync with the present generation. This compels me to write this blog in support of pseudo national anthem of my childhood years. Why I didn’t like the recent version is because:

• I hated the liberal dose of bollywood stars and near stars – musicians and directors (are these the two major clans depicting achievement in life?). To add to the grief, the extensive close-ups are annoying. Shahrukh representing a baazigar emoticon or Ranbir seemingly humming a love song at a waterfall nearby; in his own complete solace. There were stars last time around as well but they were real. No close –ups, no glamour, adequate glitz and some real connection.

• Differentiation doesn’t mean excellence. Why remix to such greater extent that the originality gets shaked-up. Intermittent drifting from the original tune takes away the charm; at least for me.

• All this would have been still good if we would have felt a connection. All the stars sprinkled only with a few sportsmen and artists do not make up India. Where is the common man whom I never recognized but felt close-by. Where is that ‘mahaut’ riding the elephant in Kerala waters or the fisherman, content with the daily catch? Perhaps they are more marginalized now than they were 20 years back.

• Above all, where is the spirit of unity in diversity that ‘my’ older version so beautifully represented? I distinctly remember the ‘mashaal’ being carried on and everyone coming together at the sea shore, notwithstanding their differences but rising above for the cause of the nation. This time around, they came, they sang in solace and left. That’s the new ‘Phir Mile Sur’.

Few of my friends may comment – ‘Grow up, it’s a virtual world and everyone is connected.’ A few others may comment that I have ‘grown up’ and not in sync with changing times. Perhaps they are right or perhaps we are more networked but less connected now than we were couple of decades back.

Do watch the older version one last time on YouTube…

0-10 of my New Year resolutions

My last week’s Christmas blog helped me reconnect with many friends. So, I thought why not a New Year blog to share my New Year resolutions. In hope of reconnecting with many more, here are my resolutions for the year apart from writing 100 blog entries this year (last year I did just 20)

0 – Zero cigarettes: After a long year and a half hiatus, I succumbed to the butt yet again. Not this year as I continue to strive for a smoke free life.
Zero Speculation: Markets may have gone up like forest fire, there are always more losers than gainers. Say NO to speculation.
1 – Complete my ‘one’ book so what if I am an idiot.
2 – Complete two certification courses. Did you ask which certifications? Well, there is a year to decide.
3 – Three compulsory vacations and that too not among the hills. Huh! Quite a task.
4 – Enhance all four (for family members) life and health policies so that every New Year is better than the previous one
5 – Purchase my five dream gadgets a) Power packed Laptop b) Handy cam to cover impending vacations c) PS 3 for the player in me d) Kindle for the voracious reader and e) I Phone as soon as I get successful in destroying my current mobile
6 – Reduce six kgs. of my weight; all the more better if the entire six kgs. gets reduced from my waist
7 – Seven hours of charity. Number is unimportant, intention is not.
8 – Eight percent easy home loan from SBI. My cash flow model suggests lakhs of savings.
9 – Nine months to fatherhood – well perhaps…consensus is required!
10 – Read at least ten books in the year. It is not easy. You bet me!
If you have managed to read till here, I wish you and your family a safe, prosperous and happy new year. God Bless!