Thursday, November 29, 2007

Allah Calling....my first film!


Allah Calling is my first film which was completed in December 2005. There was a technical issue that prevented me from releasing it. It is a single scene no-cut 3 minute short with a surprise ending.

I am very proud of it - may be more than Doosra Kinara in some ways. It explores the fundamental rights ie life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as guarenteed by the Constitution of the United States of America against terrorism and its aftermath ( all in three minutes!).

It has an old guy as the central character. Rafiqi arranged for the Japanese tourists but we could not find an old man. Last minute everyone looked at me( read an old man!!).....and I ended up playing that role.

My ruthless philosopher "Jadu" Shipman thought that we need to get it out as it is a great film with a powerful message. I might re-shoot it in February along with "a Jihad of my own". The only difference would be to replace me with a real old man who can act. ( There goes my one more chance of acting in a film!).

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

28 November


Main Paa na sakaa kabhi is Khalish se Chutkara
Woh Mujhe Jeet bhi Sakta tha, Jaane Kiyoon Haraa?
Kisi ki Aankh se Tapka tha, Ab ek Amanat hai
Meri Hatheli pe Rakah hua ye Angaraa...

(Javed Akhtar - Tarkash)

Monday, November 26, 2007

The nature of things to come...

It will not be too long before these services are availed by folks living in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and so on....

Friday, November 23, 2007

Taare Zameen Par...



Main Kabhi Batlata nahi
Par Andhere se Darta hoon main Maa
Yun to main Dikhlata nahi
Teri Parwaha Karta hoon main Maa
Tujhe sab hai Pata - hai na Maa...

Jab bhi kabhi Papa mujhe
jo zor se jhua jhulate hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Souchon Yehi tu aake Thaamegi Maa
Un se main ye kehta nahi
Par main saham jata hoon Maa
Chere Pe Aane Detaa Nahi
Dil hi Dil Ghabrata hoon Maa

Main Kabhi Batlata nahi
Par Andhere se Darta hoon main Maa
Yun to main Dikhlata nahi
Teri Parwaha Karta hoon main Maa

Tujhe sab hai Pata - hai na Maa...
Tujhe Sab hai Pata - hai na Maa..

PS: Advent of Democracy created another widow and another set of Orphans in Iraq yesterday. The father of these kids was a policeman and some criminals killed him along 8 others. This is a common scene in Iraq. However, what is uncommon is the sight of a woman praying right by her husband's corpse when her husband is about to be buried. Islam prohibits women to be near the dead body of anyone at this time. Appearntly, it was a small family and wife had to take up the responsiblity of giving a proper burial to her husband.

Please notice the absence of kafan ( burial shroud) on the dead body and presence of calmness in her demeanor indicating that she is a " Marad -Bacchi ( brave woman)" . If tommorow has to FEAR anything then it should fear this widow and those kids when they grow up.......

May God bless them with peace and guidance and these kids turn out to be Investment Bankers and Venture Capitalist.....

I will not be surprised if they don't....

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Honge Kahin to Kargar!


Ye Dil hi tha jo Seh gaya
Woh Baat Aisi Keh Gaya
Kehne ko Phir kiya Reh Gya?
Ashkon ka Dariya Beh Gaya
Jab Keh Ke woh Dilbar Gaya
Tere Liye Main Mar Gaya
Rote Hain Us Ko Raat Bhar
Main Aur Meri Awaargi...

Ab Gham Uthayen kis liye?
Aansoo Bahayen kis liye?
Ye Dil Jalayen Kis Liye?
Yun Jaan Gwayen Kis Liye?
Pesha na ho Jis ka Sitam
Dhoondege koi Aisa Sanam
Honge Kahin to Kargar
Main aur Meri awaargi...


(Javed Akhtar - Tarkash)
(Photo courtsey:longlostphotography.com)

Sunday, November 18, 2007

a man's life...


...unfortunately a bunch of us go thru life's motion believing that life is all about " Khao, Khujao and Batti Bujhao" ( eat - drink- and sleep)...

Pardon my french, but this is how apna Manohar describes it in his Bombaiyya language...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Doosra Kinara, Festival bound...

Folks,
Doosra Kinara has been accepted by the Atlanta Indo-American Film Festival to be held from November 15 - 18 at Cinfeset of GSU, Emory University and Georgia Tech Theatre.

For more details:

http://www.iafs.us/AIAFF/Web/Forms/frmMovieScreenings07.aspx#5

Doosra Kinara will be shown at 7:00 pm on Friday November 16, 2007, followed by a Q & A session with the Director.

Be there...

ps: I personally would like to see someone give hard times to the director at the Q&A session. That jebroni has been getting it all easy for a long time now...

Picture...

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Please ignore this....

I needed a URL of a good looking jebroni for something official. I asked Manohar for his photograph who refused and so did Mullah. I found this dude who ain't that bad looking either. Please ignore this post and bear with me...

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Life...

A jebroni from Wall Street heard saying these lines after GOOG dropped $50...

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati hai....




Raat Dhale Jab Tanhayee
Apne Ghar ko Jaati Hai
Jab Door Kahin Koi Shenayi
Wohi Prem Geet Dhoraati hai
Jab Neend Meri In aankhon se
Kosoon Door Chali Jati hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai..
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai..

Jab Suraj Ki Kiran mere Takiye se
Subah Jab Sar Apna Uthati hai
Aur Koi Ghadi Mere Kamre ki
Wakt Poore Saat Bajati Hai
Jab Chai Ki Piyali Chan Se Gir
Ek Lamhe Main Bikhar Jati Hai
Jab Car Ki Chabi Itne Sawere
Jaane Kahan Chali Jati Hai.?
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai...

Jab Dheere Dheere Chalti Hawa
Ek Lamhe ko Ruk Jaati Hai
Jab Bel Lata kisi Ped se Lipat kar
Jhuk Jaati Hai, Simat Jati Hai
Jab Bhanwara Ban Main Aata Hai
Aur phir Koi Kali Muskaati Hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai

Jab Jaate Suraj Ki kirnen
Kayi Rangon Main Badal Jati Hain
Jab Panchiyon Ki Lambi Kataren
Door Gagan Ud Jati Hain
Jab Din Ki Thakan Meri Ruhon main
Lamha Lamha Ghul Jati Hai
Jab Main Apne "Makan" Aata Hoon
Aur Duniya "Ghar" Ko Jaati Hai
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai


Aise Alam Main Uff Ye Tanhayee
Jab Roop Tera Liye Chali Aati Hai
Wohi hansi, Woh Ithlana, Woh Itrana
Bas Pehron Raat Jagaati Hai...
Main Us ko Bhi Khoob Chataa Hoon
Woh Bhi to Mujhe Bahut Chaati Hai..

Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai..
Tab Yaad Tumhari Aati Hai...

(C)Shahid Sayed, Nov. 4th, 2007@ 1900


(Pic Courtsey: nycaddict.com, myopera.com)

Thursday, November 01, 2007

A few good men in America...

Poet and Philosopher Dr. Sir Mhod. Iqbal

I was invited by a literary organization to attend an evening of poetry and philosophy honoring Allama Iqbal in Atlanta recently. I showed up with Sandhya Bhagat hoping to hear some insights from the experts on Iqbal so that I could reduce my " Jahiliyat" to a minimum.

Well, the evening went well. The entire hall was full and had folks from all walks, all colors of life. One experts who flew in from Chicago came up the stage and began talking about Iqbal. About half way thru his speech, he deviated from the topic of the evening and began a tirade against some "other people" on the planet. I started getting restless.

Alvi Saab who were sitting beside Sandhya objected in a civilized manner but the speaker was in full flow and did not stop. And then Mushtaq and another jebroni broke all the protocols of the gatherings and gave their peace of mind to this speaker, finally running him off the stage.

The next item on the agenda was a humours " Political mushaira" which reduced tensions and brought audience back into the game again...I was happy people stood up to the hate speech and gave a befitting reply.

Iqbal's poetry is universal in nature and speaks for the downtrodden of the society irrespective of caste and religious affiliation. If one travels the world over, collects friends from all colors and races and nationalities one tends to think universal by default and Iqbal, who studied in England and Germany was no exception. ( Unless of course you eat, drink and sleep hatred).

Iqbal said:

Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas main bair rakhna
Hindi hain Hum Watan hai Hindustan Hamara!

I can not stand people who divide things, places and people among themselves. These are the people that have confined and copyrighted Ram to the Hindus, Jesus to the Christians, Moses to the Jews and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the Muslims only. They have even given identities to famous historical places along the same lines. This excludes a lot of us who do not believe in man made boundries of any kind whatsoever as this breeds ignorance and hampers establishing a heart to heart connection between 6 billion of us.

The bombs that are falling in Iraq today have hatred for "other people" written all over them. This has always been the case, but it's about time these stupidities are checked before they result in catastrophes like Holocaust, Hiroshima and Gujrat.....

BTW I went to the organizers after the show to confess that I was among those that misbehaved with the esteemed speaker and ran him off. I apologized for my actions and felt sorry for hurting the feelings of this senior gentleman.

But that night I slept so well....