Cinderella Prakash

It is quite inspiring to watch people who can’t fight for themselves when young, turn out to be mighty, go-getters later. Cinderella Prakash’s story is no different. I heard her initially talk to youngsters at AG church at Hyderabad last year and was totally amazed at her crisp rhetoric and appalling courage. That’s also when I came about knowing she also featured on Satyameva Jayate, where she boldly admitted to Aamir Khan and millions others that she was abused as a child. Imagine saying that on national telecast!  One needs sheer guts. The aftermath repercussions of such incident could be stigmatic. Eyebrows would be raised. All sorts of questions popped. Doors of indifference thrown open. But I believe she took an unwavering stand on this one. Precisely the thing that’s sets apart the winners.

After what she had gone through as a child, if you thought she had only contempt for god and others, you are wrong again. She goes on to paint god’s love in hues you have never seen or heard. Admiration manifolds, when she describes the agony she fought back to pardon the individual who committed such a heinous and disgusting crime. She elucidates; forgiving that individual was near impossible but god compelled her to do that so can be totally healed.  What a transformation that has led to! When she walks on to the dais, you don’t see an abused child but an energetic lady that’s all ready to set fire to the stage.  Her ability to sing, her mercurial skills to turn the tables around, her talent in winning crowds and oodles of resilience & confidence …is simply enigmatic! 

The evening that day was organized as an interactive session with a couple of youngsters posing as interviewers and Cinderella as the interviewee. She took the questions head-on. Though the subject was rather sensitive, she threw some amazing curve balls that put the audience at ease and sometimes in splits. I still recall the googly the interviewer threw at her, “What is the strangest thing that happened after you featured on Satyameva Jayate?” She promptly replied, “I got tons of letters from guys asking me to marry! Gosh! That’s ridiculous, for god's sake; I don’t even know anything about these individuals! How could they even think of marrying me?!”

In between the interview, she sang some numbers on the guitar. 150-odd young crowd was a small gathering, I felt. She taught new songs, made feet tap to new rhythms, delivered some gyan on how to handle crisis situations.  

The evening was a totally enriching experience. Before it all concluded, the interviewers taking a dig at Cinderella’s earlier comments suggested those interested in talking to her can meet but should ensure that they don’t pop the question: “Will you marry me?” To which, Cinderella, turned in a quick repartee with a smile, “Those who are really keen on it, can meet me outside the church” amidst roars of laughter. I would say she charmed herself into everyone’s hearts. Hey, before it slips out of my mind, there’s this number “Mehfuz”, which she sang on Satyameva Jayate sans guitar. I guess it shouldn’t be too difficult to google it out if you are keen on listening to her sing.

Fair, Unfair.

Welcome.

Screams fantasy land.

Tottering feet;

Cheerful faces

Indeed, a sight to behold.

Cries of “Bravo!” echo

As torches of fire

Spin in fearless hands

Kids watch wide-eyed

Funny faces with crimson bobs

Clouds of pink candy

Gently flicker in air

Alongside horses that run

But never really strut

Offering a ride into a mystic world of fun                      

Giant wheels of amusement

Spin tirelessly

Keeping emotions on fire

While men become kids

And kids, striking men of valour

The dazzle of lights

Lost in endless chatter

As cheerful parents; gleeful children

Relish the company of peers

Fair - it’s so unfair - it happens so rare.

Woody Allen. If you have a funny bone, the man is guaranteed to find it. The perplexing thing about him is one can hardly make out what’s cooking in his brain. But when he dishes it out, he is sure to whet your appetite for more!

I believe it’s his ability to put humour in life’s mundane things that makes up for such an endearing personality. Or else how would you explain his whacky lines like “It’s not that I am afraid of death and all, I just don’t want to be there when it happens”. And one that never fails to tip me off with delight is “If you want to make god laugh, tell him about your plans!”

So when I stumbled upon a book by the wayside titled “Side Effects” by Woody Allen, I had no second thoughts about jumping at it. The book, as every Woody Allen’s book, never fails to take your IQ a few notches up and drop it a few notches below, making you wonder what truck just hit you.

The most hilarious part is this strange dialogue that passes between Abraham Lincoln, the former president of United States, whom with all due respects Woody calls, “Abe” and the press secretary, whom with all due respect calls him “Jennings”. This hilarious conversation puts on a diaphanous analysis of the inner workings of Allen’s mind. Few excerpts from the paperback:

 (The following is a one-act play based on an incident in the life of Abraham Lincoln. The incident may or may not be true. The point is that I was tired when I wrote it)

I

 (Lincoln with boyish eagerness beckons George Jennings, his press secretary, into the room)

Jennings: Mr. Lincoln, you sent for me?

Lincoln: Yes, Jennings. Come in. Sit down.

Jennings: Yes, Mr. President?

Lincoln: (Unable to suppress a grin) I want to discuss an idea.  

Jennings: of course sir.

Lincoln: Next time we have a conference for the gentlemen of the press…

Jennings: Yes sir…

Lincoln: When I take questions…

Jennings: Yes, Mr. President

Lincoln: You raise your hand and ask me: Mr. President, how long do you think a man’s legs should be?

Jennings: Pardon me?

Lincoln: You ask me: how long do I think a man’s legs should be?

Jennings: May I ask why, Sir?

Lincoln: Why? Because I have a very good answer.

Jennings: You do?

Lincoln: Long enough to reach the ground

Jennings: Excuse me?

Lincoln: Long enough to reach the ground. That’s the answer! Get it? How long do you think a man’s legs should be? Long enough to reach the ground.

Jennings: I see.

…The story actually rolls into a very complex situation after Jennings questions why he had thought of this answer and who had earlier asked the question which prompted this reply.

Dialogues are sharp. Thoughts, simply outstanding. I guess his books are complete unputtadownables. For those, who haven’t read his works…I can only say you are missing some delightful stuff. 

Ed Sheeran - The A Team

Some things in life are nothing short of genius. I happen to chance upon a song that falls into this exceptional category. The song is called “A Team” by Ed Sheeran.  It’s about how a woman, who is a prostitute, wastes her life on drugs. At the end of the song, she passes away. The song’s kind of sad. But the video is very deftly shot complete in black and white. You’ll also find Ed Sheeran, the singer, playing a cameo in the video. The lyrics don’t make any sense unless one understands what the song is all about. I got to listen to the song with only the lyrics first. Honestly, I felt it’s got an incredibly bewitching tune. Ed Sheeran sang a number of songs, but I personally believe nothing stands out as this one…more for the tune than for the lyrical or graphical content.

Beach

Fringing palms

Whispering nothing

Stretches of blue

Sets hearts fluttering

Sweet smell of salt

Afloat in the air

Kids building castles

Without a care

Coloured umbrellas

Dot the land

While the sun basks

On golden sands

Goggled boys

And sandaled girls

Happily tan

On dunes of sands

Pretty women

On colourful mats

Tempting men

With bared backs

|Ah! Lures of beach

Beckon me

Tangled in toil

I am forced to flee

Skyfall

Got to see the movie sometime ago. Let’s be honest. Was it really worth all the hype?  Definitely, a big “No!” from me!  The story is loosely strung. Bond looks like he’s aging fast and beyond repair. Madame M, with her veteran looks, wasn’t impressive as the woman in command of an elite force. Javier Bardem acts like an incompetent adversary.  The last straw however is the realization that ‘Skyfall’, contrary to what one imagines, is actually the name of a deserted estate in the damp London suburban, where bond used to play as a kid. All in all, the movie is a sheer squander of money.

The saving grace of course is the theme song with deadly graphics which hit you right in the eye and make your heart burst with admiration. It shouldn’t come as a surprise the song’s been nominated for an Oscar. Adele’s fever-pitch singing in a gripping composition, delivers a number that is destined to haunt hearts as it rolls alongside the credits. Don’t believe it?! Listen to it!

Greetings for 2013!

The hiatus has been longer than I had planned. But nevertheless I miss scribbling my thoughts and putting them across. So, I am kind of making a comeback. Yes! But before I do that, I would like to wish my friends and readers a fabulous New Year. Here’s hoping 2013 will steadily and surely nudge each one of you closer to your dreams and aspirations.