Miscellani discussions with songs of AB, Discussions - added flavour of AB Songs Options

[Nimii]

Ok here it is !!!!!!!

Namak Haram song!

I have posted both versions.. with and without dialogues

Ok here it is !!!!!!! SANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII AND PRIYZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ (PRIZ I CAN PUT IT FOR YOU ON THE CD DONT BOTHER D/L RE!)

Namak Haram song!

I have posted both versions.. with and without dialogues

SUNI RE SAJARIYA.. (BY ASHA AND USHA)

TD: 3:03


TD: 3:49



N *smile* Sani owes me Rs.300 bucks *grin*

[sani_thakur]

N *smile* Sani owes me Rs.300 bucks *grin*

Cool - U did keep Ur word - thanks. Isin't there another incomplete song that you/we have to find?? I am forgetting which one.

Haa! Rs.300 is nothing (actually, that is pretty expensive) - well, to make hisaab barabar, i got 40 songs for $10 USD (the ones i am uploading) - so @ Rs.41 / $ at least - that's Rs. 410 - so U owe me back Rs.110. (hehehe..dealing with to-be engineer ). If U add all the extra tension I had to take to transform U & Ur friend - that's pricelesssss.
In any case, just to reward U for ur enterance to LM forum - i'll make it up to U in kind - that is Asha songs - all solo ones - so that U get to hear Asha throughout the song.

Well N, thanks again for those songs.

[Nimii]

hahaha I was jk!! I would rather pay for all the songs.. than that dangerous transformation you have vowed for!!!!!!!!!!

I shall keep an eye for any albums .. grrrrrrrrr whenever I am in music shop the person I miss a lot *esp since I cant even contact her* is Priyz *sad*

N *headbang*

[Priya]

hahaha I was jk!! I would rather pay for all the songs.. than that dangerous transformation you have vowed for!!!!!!!!!!

I shall keep an eye for any albums .. grrrrrrrrr whenever I am in music shop the person I miss a lot *esp since I cant even contact her* is Priyz *sad*

N *headbang*

Just today was talking to a friend abt job opportunities in Bangy and she told me she had connections in some of the international schools there. Par the living expenses in that place are so high!!!

[Nimii]

DONT even think of living in Bangalore re!!!!! IT SUX BIG TIME!!

n *sad*

[Priya]

BRRRR nothing can be worse than this place. Lovely green land, beautiful, clean to a great extent, cost of living bhi theek but the people--ayyo never seen such old fashioned and narrow minded folk.
And ya, no broadband!!!
Maybe the moon would be the right place for me.

[unni]

BRRRR nothing can be worse than this place. Lovely green land, beautiful, clean to a great extent, cost of living bhi theek but the people--ayyo never seen such old fashioned and narrow minded folk.
And ya, no broadband!!!
Maybe the moon would be the right place for me.

"Old fashioned and narrow minded" brings this to mind:

Over 20 years ago, while living in Madras, I was surprised when a friend's mother, a widely traveled, sophisticated lady, described Americans as "conservative". My notions about the USA were based on what I'd seen in American movies and in my perception it had the most liberated society, literally the 'free society'. What the heck was she talking?!!!

Now, having lived here long, I've got to admit she was right! And of late, the country has been becoming more conservative. The results of national and state and local elections seem to bear this out. The agenda of governance has to pay heed to the religious right. Maybe it is cyclical.

Priya, what you say is borne out by what my wife and daughter narrate about their experiences upon visiting my family and staying in Kerala. They could shout, "Get a life" to my sister living there! Let alone their background of living abroad, but even had they come from a metropolitan Indian city, they would have felt constrained by the reserve and restrictions of local life. For example, if they were to suggest they go out, my sister would necessarily have to wait for her husband "to give the okay" and accompany them. That three females should be out together, without a male escort! And my sister is an educated woman, exposed to the life in the cities in which she grew up. But once absorbed into the culture and mind-set of local society, she has been transformed into an abider. It is easier to adapt than rebel, na?!!!

It is natural to me to wear shorts/tee-shirt or kurta/pyjama at home. But of late, I make it a point to wear the 'mundu' (dhoti) when I stay at home in Kerala. Just so that I don't stand out like a sore thumb! So much so, that on my last trip there, I was perhaps the only person in Ernakulam wearing a dhoti instead of trousers! To me, the city seems modern as compared to the rest of the state. And comparing/contrasting with memories of earlier decades.

The point I'm trying to make is that each place has it's own peculiarities in terms of conservatism, whether it be in the USA or in the backwoods of Kerala.

But members of HF have no right to complain about "old-fashioned" and 'traditional values"! Just that we seek the fastest internet connection to obtain rare old tracks!

[Priya]

That is true.
Just a few points.
One abt easier to adapt than rebel--not me. I can adapt if I feel something is right or better not for petty reasons. I am not a rebel. I just want to lead my own life in peace. Is that so much to ask? If I wear jeans to the grocery store, it is not bec I wanna show off but bec waering a salwar kameez means my having to wash 3 pieces of clothing, wearing jeans means just one.
Regarding sticking out like a sore thumb--yes it happens to me all the time bec even if I wear a sari, mine would be probably an Oriya cotton or a Pochumpalli or something diff ethnic. And difference seems to irk the people around so much. I hate people staring at me and I hate the men who just imagine it is their right to comment on any woman walking on the street. I hate the women who are both jealous of my independence and yet look at me as a freak. I remember my friend coming back from the US and saying--no I do not wish to come out shopping. people just stare so. She, born and brought up here!!!
I hate this pervasive interference in one's life--where are U going, what are U doing, x, y, z, bla bla bla. Curiosity, malice, talking behind one's back.
I dunno abt US society but I know that even in the metros--Mds, Bombay and so on, no one gives a damn how U dress, how U wear Ur hair, whether U take a bus or an auto (yeah that is a big point of discussion here for people) whether U stay alone or in a house of 10 or anything at all. Sure it is the same in the US too. That U can walk on the road without feeling a 100 eyes on U.
I have been to areas in Hyd on my own or with a friend, us in jeans--areas where all the women in sight for a mile wear burkhas and not a peep from the men there. No comments, no sniggers, no nasty looks, no sly winks. U feel good in such places. U feel happy and confident.
That is why I say Kerala is narrow minded. I have been to a tiny place like Haridwar. The whole city is vegetarian. No no veg allowed. Traditional place with a temple wherever U look. Yet there is more freedom on the roads. Maybe bec they are used to tourists. But aren't Mallus too?
Kerala probably has the largest percent of working women. Working as in with jobs--not farm or such work. Most number of educated women. Most number of educated men!!!! What is it all worth?
There was a survey too on this in one of the local papers on how 'eve-teasing' is most prevelant in Kerala and how working women are harassed. But more than all this what bothers me is the women themselves. The worst enemies of any woman diff from them.
Khair not really a thread to be discussing all this but I do think the relative anonymity one gets in a big city is a luxury.

But members of HF have no right to complain about "old-fashioned" and 'traditional values"! Just that we seek the fastest internet connection to obtain rare old tracks!

What on earth is that!!!!!
BTW where U born like this?

[unni]

I guess, with time and exposure to other cultures (primarily through TV), the situation is changing. Maybe not fast enough. Yet.

The influence and effect of TV is just astounding. In the 60's, as a teenager, I visited Kerala for the first time after my family had moved to a metropolitan city when I was just 4 years of age. Cricket was virtually unknown in Kerala then. It was termed as "kirkan-maaradey kali" (game of madcaps). Soccer and Volley-ball were the prevailing popular sports. Whereas today, cricket is played in every street-corner, all because of its pervasive presence on TV.

It is changing, as one like I can testify. I'd mentioned the 'dress culture' I was used to, and how it has changed since. These changes are more likely and more noticeable in cities. Over time these changes permeate wider. Now, even in my home-town one can see as many youngsters in trousers/jeans as there are older folk in traditional 'mundu'. The salwaar-kameez has become the 'normal' outfit for younger women. But of course, it is not permitted in the local temple! Such contradictions will exist during transition from one way of life to another.

As you said, the anonymity afforded by a big city is a "luxury". My sis-in-law was born and brought up in Madras, part of a traditional, conservative family. Work circumstances took her to Bombay and now she swears by that city and hates the thought of returning to her "home-town". Bombay does no plague her with the restrictions and interference in her life imposed by curious traditional society in Madras. But as I can vouch, even Madras has changed over time. I remember the days when the city would go to sleep by 8 P.M. Just two restaurants that stayed open late! Recently I was shocked when teenage couples walked into a hotel lobby at 3 A.M., having just come out of a disco!

If you prefer, we can move this discussion to another forum/thread, but must say, it is an interesting discussion.

[Priya]

Nay, I have no problem with discussions here. Aap admin log hi object karte hain!!!
Oh Madras has changed a lot. In fact I have never seen traditional Mds. Reminds me of the time when my cousin younger than me by 5 years was bugged with her parents bec they told her she must get home by 11 in the night while her friends all dance late into the night in discos and go for beach parties and what not!!! (As they were working in a call centre no timing was odd for them)
I was shocked--my parents even after I was 25 used to give me hell if I got home by 7.30-8 from a harmless shopping trip on my own in neighbouring Ernakulam!!!!
Ya Cochin is far better. More liberal tho not like the metros. The small towns will take a long long time to change. In the small towns wearing lipstick is equal to prostitution, some old folks also say only whores wear flowers in their hair!!!
Waise yahan ladke log to sab kuch karte hain. U see some coming to class in Salman Khan kind of net shirts with odd jewellery and what not. But for women the rules are still different. And I really do not think I wanna waste my life waiting for the city to change its outlook. I remember the campus life in the University of Hyd. The women there were just like the men. No hierarchies, no notions of superiority or any such thing. Our teachers were strong independent admirable women. One was a writer, most of them were involved in some social work or the other, helping in the slums, educating the poor, one was a practising homeopath and excellent Veena player apart from being a genius in critical theory. But what marked the atmosphere was the way there was no distinction between men and women whether teachers or students. Whether in the area of responsibilities, mutual interactions, friendships, work or theatre activities or literary ventures outside the curriculum.
One thing that I find funny here is the way men my dad's age will not smile at me if they see me on the road. Unke ghar mein ya mere parents ke ghar mein yeh sab uncles hain jo hanste hain, joke karte hain but bahar we become man and woman and 'what will the world think!!!' Infact people smile little out here.
Today we had a staff meeting and a girl from the US was introduced. She is part of some mutual student exchange programme for a yr. She was smiling at everyone during the introductions. Here people would say --enda illikyanne (grinning like a fool). Infact one of my students in the BA class told me: Maam, U have no reservations abt smiling. I was taken aback. Obviously I stand out!!!

[unni]

I was shocked--my parents even after I was 25 used to give me hell if I got home by 7.30-8 from a harmless shopping trip on my own in neighbouring Ernakulam!!!!

Purely out of compassion for the general populace afflicted by the 'P' menace during the daylight hours, so that the poor things deservedly get some respite, at least after dusk! (Refer: "Rules of Ancient Warfare", e.g. Mahabharata).

[Priya]

I presume the Mahabharata will not object to this.

[Nimii]

ayyo yahan pe maine khazane u/l karne ke liye sochha thaa.. lekin lagta hai Mahayudh ka taiyyariyaan shuru huyi hai *grin*

N *whistles*

[Priya]

Jo jeete khazana usko mile !!

[bigger_than_bollywood]

Unni and Priya,

Fascinating discussion about conservatism and values. Esp. because I just watched "Matribhoomi" last night and it shocked the day lights out of me. The treatment of women shown in that film will disturb me for a long long time (If you have a strong stomach i suggest watching it- but not with your parents/kids).

I always thought this abuse of women was a UP-Bihar thing and that the situation was different in Kerala. For one thing, isnt Kerela a matriarchical society? And for another, the education level is 100% in Kerela. So why this maltreatment of women?? I dont get it. Is basic disrespect for women ingrained in Indian culture, whether it be Northern or Southern?

A few weeks ago, I had an argument with a friend who works for an womens' lib type of NGO here in the US. I was arguing that all of South Asia (India, Pak, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) has had women as Heads of State, while in the US all Presidents have been white Christian males for the last 200 years. Unfortunately this success for women in the political sphere has not translated into equal rights and treatment for women in day-to day lives. What explains the dichotomy?

Unni, you are right. Much of America (in fact, all of "middle America" i.e. everything between the two coasts) is conservative. But this conservatism is not half as bad as what you see in India. Women are not treated like animals here. And as prejudiced as Americans may be about "foreigners" esp. in the middle states, they do not treat them as badly as people from the "lower" rungs of the caste system are treated in India.

I have a heartfelt hope that the new generation in India will bring new values and ideals. Certainly exposure to TV, internet, etc. should assist this transformation. Media has a very powerful role to play in transforming the lives of people and I really wish the Indian media will play its part well.

-Manoneet