i now return

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I don't really know how to start this again. I feel so disconnected already. Sorry for being away, i get easily distracted. But, on the other hand i have so much news to share which also i dont know where to start from.
after my last blogpost, The Dirty Picture happened to me. I got to intern there, and thats a whole book of a story if i begin to tell. A film of mine got an international award, i've been shooting like mad. I hate my new blackberry, it doesn't let me take great pictures to upload here. Also i will be starting a new page just to post all my film work here soon. That should be fun. So this is a trailer of what's to come, "puri phillum baaki hai".
wait on posts about - the dirty picture, the storyteller, vanshaj kapur films, toffee, life, love and more. :)

I Didn’t Knew It.

If you’re laughing over my title already, I think my job here is done. Yes, that’s exactly the phrase I’ve been hearing since I joined college. No consideration for the English language whatsoever. Either you talk in Hindi or they’ll pin you down. Can you imagine this?

It’s completely preposterous. Let me tell you how we get ragged. This guy walks up to you asks you to sing and dance, most of us do it, those who cant don’t. But if you can translate you course in Hindi, you’ll be the talk of the town, and don’tforget your introduction has to be given in Hindi only. Now I am not pinning down the language, Hindi happens to be my most favourite subject in school. But I completely disagree to the fact that it should be forced down on others and someone who speaks English fluently be looked down and thought to have an extreme attitude problem.

Not only do they stress on speaking in Hindi, but also make a complete mockery of English. Here are a few good examples of our new improvised and edited grammar:

I didn’t knew it.

I didn’t made it.
I’ll ate it tomorrow.
Will you came to my house tomorrow?
Even my Microsoft word editor points out these mistakes to me. Sigh
Who? Seriously tell me, Who gave these people a 10th standard pass certificate. Us few having attained good convent education weep and sadden ourselves over the pathetic state of our language.
Now, about respect in college. A junior would only dare call a senior by his name or address him personally. I’m, serious how much freaking attention do you guys wants from us? If you think you deserve the respect then command it, and the fact that you joined college a year or two before me doesn’t prove the fact that you’re better than me at everything you do. Does not mean you get first preference for all that happens.

Now comparing this to school, I remember my juniors loosing their heads on me if I made mistakes, I never uttered a word, and I don’t even remember referring to anyone as my junior or senior. I never expected them to respect me at all, you command it. You don’t take offense for silly jokes pointed at you. You eat from the same plate in the canteen. Most of all you’re a true friend in college and no one puts on a mask in front of you.

Anyway, this is what I need to deal with for another four years; all of you enjoy school till you have it, and if you’re already in college then god save your soul.
Continue reading dfuse.in for more stories from my newly found love.

The deep well

well i see a well,

its broken,

its dark and its deep,

no one ever used it.

it never had water.

thats what makes it the best well in the world.

maybe a family lives deep down

a family of turtles

or maybe aliens

almost anything ...

maybe santa stores his gifts there

but if you listen,

and really really listen,

the well talks to you,

not to everyone,

it only talks to ones that listen

and when i did... but throw a stone inside

and thrust my ear on its broken wall

i knew, that deep deep down under

there existed water,

but that water isn't for everyone

you have to learn to listen.

*wrote this while on chat with a special friend. thought it could be a good read.

White Topi - Short Film on the Anna Hazare Protest

A film we worked on recently. Do watch and comment :)

Of chocolate toasts and rain!

Pune. The first thing that comes to your mind is students, education, universities. I thought so too until i came here and found out for myself. No more does one find a student's innocence and hard work. Over here its a completely different ball game. At least in my college it is.
My article here is not about my events in this city, but about the change I found in the attitude of people here. The most interesting part about a college like mine is that you have students coming from all parts of the world coming here to study and they all have their own way of dealing with their peers. The mixture is what brings about the most beautiful confusion.
Some of them stick in groups, these are the people I cannot stand, they are very possessive about their friends, if you were to hang out with another bunch of students one might actually get offended. I mean how boring is that? There is a whole world filled with people waiting to be met and all you’d rather do is sit around a bunch of people and limit yourself. Another is the kind who has had many restrictions in their earlier life and once given so much freedom doesn’t know what to do with it. These people I genuinely feel sorry about, you would see them awake all through the night cause for them there is always something new to do, or something new to try out. A few other are the horribly rich; they couldn’t care less about anything that happens in college or around them. As long as they have the most fashionable attire and the best of food they are content. The sad part about these kind of people is that no one really gives them too much attention, maybe cause they’re completely useless and ignorant, or they’re happy with their little fantasy island. Another interesting kind are the ones who are goal oriented, and when I say goal oriented I mean goal oriented. They will not let a spec of dirt come in their way , these are also the students who are the popular lot, in a way their work speaks for them. Then, last and probably the least are the people like me, the ones who don’t really care about class assignments and modules as long as the end product is reached, we also generally end up surprising the class when we get our grades cause we hardly ever attend college.
Now for the climax, when all these people were in their own group of friends they probably got along very well. The fun is watching them adjust with each other, doing a group project, put a goal oriented fellow with someone like me and disaster strikes, I wouldn’t end up starting on a project till the eve of the submission, till then the other guy is probably in depression with the amount of frustration he shares with me. Or put the rich and the freedom deprived together, the rich guy ends up dying out of embarrassment and is probably irritated to his optimum with the energy the other shares. But no one can ignore the other; every student is like pawn to the other. No one came here to fool around my friend, no one. Everyone here has a motive, a goal, everyone here leads a fake life, it’s the design industry, either you’re in it or you’re not. Every single word spoken here is manipulated; every gesture has a hidden benefit. Every friend is only a step in one’s ladder to success. This isn’t the world of don vito. Its way worse than that, one wouldn’t give a second thought of trampling over another to get to somewhere. But to my fortune, I am a part of this politics. This is the real world people and we have arrived. My school always said,
“We here not only provide basic education, but also prepare you for the real world. ”
Dare I say , “THEY WERE NOT JOKING.”
OH!! By the way Pune has some awfully delicious chocolate toasts that go well with the rain.

*Something i wrote almost a year ago

Puttaparthi - A visit

Tuesday, 26th April, 2011.

My mother and I left for Puttaparthi to seek darshan of Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba. Having heard the news on TV channels, it was a very courageous move on our part. I had mixed feeling about the trip, although having visited the town before, i knew the scenario was very different. Devotees who had arrived from abroad had apparently given up hope of seeking darshan and had to go back. The media had many stories to tell and many brains to wash. Our relatives stay in puttaparthi so my mother knew a DCP in Puttaparthi through my Uncle's contact. Although reaching Puttaparthi was not very strenuous, getting inside the city was. Every entry to the city had been blocked by the police, they just wouldn't let us go inside. After hours of convincing and waiting we finally got through. Every check point was a task, but we managed it.

We were still very uncertain of reaching inside the temple, we saw massive crowds, tents had been built to save the devotees from the harsh heat. Huge Screens had been put up showing a video coverage of the temple from the inside. We reached the house, had our lunch and soon left praying we'd get darshan. Our driver and me left together to join the men's line.

Upon entering the line I noticed marvellous things and I was taken aback. The que moved at a very fast pace, No one was beeing pushed around. The Seva Dal (Ashram's Helpers and Volunteers) had made excellent arrangements to manage the crowd. They were also distributing free water, buttermilk, food etc for the visiting devotees on the way for FREE. Many local citizens were also helping navigate the crowd, they had infact laid out stall giving out water to the thirsty, many small children ran about offering water and buttermilk to everyone. Many restaurant owners had laid out stall giving free food to the visitors. The Police had never been calmer in such a situation and tended to everyone with care and affection. The attitude of the people was just a treat to one's heart.

The que reached the Kulwant hall, where the Sai's body was kept in a matter on 20 minutes. I couldn't believe that in a span of half an hour i had already finished my darshan. I would have time to do it at least 10 more times before they shut for the day. The media had definitely hyped the situation to a large extent. The school students and all the staff of the ashram, the super speciality hospital and everyone connected to baba were all in such grief. But, the media not only pressured them to come in front of the camera but also blocked paths in the town with their vans and cameras being a great inconvenience to everyone. Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister's visit also blocked the lines and roads for a while. The next day, the burial with State honours and the Samadhi were to take place with only the close devotees and relatives being present.

The day ended in after i had a tour of the place after my darshan, i slept early as the day had been very tiring.

Wednesday, 27th April, 2011.

We got up early, My brother told me that the darshan was for everyone. He took me with him, having lived there for years he knew the Seva dal members and easily got the two of us inside. Sitting with everyone was a little hard at first. There were continuous tears rolling down and that was all could see in every direction. Although my reactions were not the same,I could connect to their grief accurately somehow. It was like i could feel their pain although i didn't feel any at that moment. The state honours, followed by the Samadhi took place. Soon after the Mangala Aarti, the devotees were allowed to go near the Samadhi. I left after the Aarti and went home. That was the end of my Darshan.

Conclusion
I learnt a lot of things from this trip:

• The media hyped the Sai baba situation a lot. Something (TV News channels) i believed in as Gospel truth was far from what it seems. Very very far.
• The world is not blind, they don't follow things blindly anymore. The contribution of this ONE man to this world has been remarkable. Free education, Free Treatment including open heart surgeries, Free water to so many villages, and a lot of devotion and faith. That has what really made him what he is today. That is why he is missed by so many people across the world.
  
• One must always leave his signature behind, he created such a powerful trust that has an approx value of almost 40,000 Cr which in the future is going to do many great things for this world over.

Media vans blocking roads

Huge Display screens for onlookers and visitors

Media personell reporting 

High security at one of the gates we passed through. 

Stacked cars and buses on the circumference of the town

Another police checkpoint

Police stops us near the Puttaparthi Airport.

Inside Prashanthi Nilayam

Que of people waiting to take Darshan

One of the lanes in Puttaparthi

Free water and medicines for the devotees/visitors by the Seva Dal

Seva Dal help out

Two devotees sharing a meal

Free food being distributed

27th April - Samadhi Function

Birds hovers above the temple

Police force after the Samadhi function

Tents that had been put up to prepare free food for the devotees

Fellow Cottonian Series - Introduction

Bishop Cotton Boys'/Girls' School has been a key factor in the development of many young minds and a source of many great men in this world. I plan on introducing a series of articles based on experiences, lives, works of the school and its students.These articles will be published on my blog http://vanshajkapur.blogspot.com
I realised how much our childhood bloomed in a school like ours. Many of us long to share our old moments and new ones. I'm sure the present cottonians have enough news about the school and a lot of appreciation/criticism/complaints to offer and speak their mind out.
So in this series any cottonian (Past/Present) can write their experience, share photos, post comments.
So write in to me : vanshajkapur@gmail.com
I'll post your articles/photos with your name and year. It would be great to share between us and remember some old memories and taste a few laughs.

Rio - A Film Review

They say,"Watch a film with a blank mind." That is exactly what i did today when i went to watch Rio in 3D. The screenplay structure was rather common and applied in most of the children's films i've seen. It followed a very familiar pattern. Apart from that,Rio is a brilliantly directed film by Carlos Saldanha. After his Ice Age series, the humour and content has just not died down. I struggled to keep myself bored through the film, it kept me enthralled throughout. The characters where beautifully portrayed, even the minor characters of the bull dog(Luiz) and the small birds(Pedro and Nico) had a lot of depth in them. Nigel's character was something that proved that animation is as much, if not more expressive than reel films. Powerful acting and voice. The main character's of Blu and Angel stood out, and the supporting roles made a great contribution to their presence.
The script had some beautifully written dialogues, very well timed and extremely funny.

The shots used in the film, with brilliant animation rendering is a joy to watch, especially for a film maker. The camera goes wild in the film with a lot of conceptual match cuts in the film. Although the 3D technology was not justified in the film. the characters appeared out of the screen at wrong and random times. I doubt it would make any difference if i saw the same film in 2D.
The music and choreography was another marvelous feature of the film. Will.I.Am did a great job voicing pedro and with the music. Also Black eyed peas' 'Magalenha' and 'Mas Que Nada' made an appearance in the film.
Over all the film is a great watch. I would definitely recommend a theatre watch. Also, i will be looking forward to Carlos' ice Age 4 soon. The trailer looks promising.

I Didn’t Knew It.

If you’re laughing over my title already, I think my job here is done. Yes, that’s exactly the phrase I’ve been hearing since I joined college. No consideration for the English language whatsoever. Either you talk in Hindi or they’ll pin you down. Can you imagine this?
It’s completely preposterous. Let me tell you how we get ragged. This guy walks up to you asks you to sing and dance, most of us do it, those who cant don’t. But if you can translate you course in Hindi, you’ll be the talk of the town, and don’t forget your introduction has to be given in Hindi only. Now I am not pinning down the language, Hindi happens to be my most favourite subject in school. But I completely disagree to the fact that it should be forced down on others and someone who speaks English fluently be looked down and thought to have an extreme attitude problem.
Not only do they stress on speaking in Hindi, but also make a complete mockery of English. Here are a few good examples of our new improvised and edited grammar:
"I didn’t knew it."
"I didn’t made it."
"I’ll ate it tomorrow."
Will you came to my house tomorrow?"
Even my Microsoft word editor points out these mistakes to me. Sigh
Who? Seriously tell me, Who gave these people a 10th standard pass certificate. Us few having attained good convent education weep and sadden ourselves over the pathetic state of our language.
Now, about respect in college. A junior would only dare call a senior by his name or address him personally. I’m, serious how much freaking attention do you guys wants from us? If you think you deserve the respect then command it, and the fact that you joined college a year or two before me doesn’t prove the fact that you’re better than me at everything you do. Does not mean you get first preference for all that happens.
Now comparing this to school, I remember my juniors loosing their heads on me if I made mistakes, I never uttered a word, and I don’t even remember referring to anyone as my junior or senior. I never expected them to respect me at all, you command it. You don’t take offense for silly jokes pointed at you. You eat from the same plate in the canteen. Most of all you’re a true friend in college and no one puts on a mask in front of you.
Anyway, this is what I need to deal with for another four years; all of you enjoy school till you have it, and if you’re already in college then god save your soul.
Continue reading dfuse.in for more stories from my newly found love.
I’m off to go do grammar exercises now, else my next article will … umm… you know what …

*This article is Copywrite http://dfuse.in *

Bangalore

This city definitely deserves a mention. A few days ago before i came back from Pune again. I wasn't looking forward to the trip at all. I was beaten down with work, frustrated, nervous about my internship, but bangalore has its way of getting you back on your feet. THE WEATHER, yes the weather drives you mad, it does not scorch your brain when its sunny, it doesn't soak you into a fever when it rains. It just remains pleasant letting you go about your business and have a happy day.

Yesterday, while i ran errands for brother and had to repair my mac. The mac is still in a bad condition, but i got a guy to fix his iphone and his shoes. So its quiet sorted. While on this tour around the city, it started to drizzle and rain. Having brought my mac along i was frustrated and looked up to the sky and asked god, "why? what do you have against me? My mac doesn't work to begin with and now you bring in rain to spoil it further". No sooner did i finish my conversation with god than my phone rang. It was Aditya from bombay, who had called to confirm my internship. This also meant that i owed god an apology and had to rephrase my comments on him. The drizzle died out too. I also met abhin along the way which made last evening quiet fruitful.
Another thing I die for in this city is the biryani, which reminds me that I'm invited to Abhin's place for dinner.
The Royal Challengers are much spoken about. Must start following cricket before its too late. the only thing me and dad loved.