Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

Raj was meandering through the mind boggling traffic of the bustling metropolis unmindful of the constant yammer and chatter of the auto rickshaw driver talking non stop about the teething at the edges infrastructure which was losing its sheen every single day.Raj was a bundle of nerves : in a few minutes he would pick up his new sedan from the showroom centre positioned in MG road and in a couple of hours surprise his wife - who had no inkling on this purchase which was supposed to celebrate their five years of wedded bliss and end the day with a Chinese dinner (How he loved Indian Chinese).Raj left the office premises as per schedule reorganizing the conference calls and meetings with the ever demanding diverse and multicultural clients ensuring his evening was free for the first of the many rides in the dream machine.He had got promoted a year back thanks to the work smart not hard - dictum notwithstanding the Mrses never ending complaints of no work life balance and family planning ( yes it was always work in progress).He had zeroed down on a couple of sedans ,test driven a few and fell hook, line and sinker for the Toyota Etios which was a lot like what he wanted a car to be -stylish,irresistible, innovative ,sporty and much more. The sedan was reasonably well priced and had a smooth finish and quality to it helped in no small measure by the simple but practical design which enabled a person( irrespective of geometric proportions) to slide in and out with ease. Raj was a few metres away from the show room and his heart was pounding away.He walked into the showroom in an excited manner, exchanged pleasantries with the sales manager who wanted a photo op with him whilst the staff explained the very many varied features of the sedan .The sedan was a visual spectacle -a flaming red dream boat resplendent in all its crowning glory looking like a be-jewelled wife ready to go for a joy ride .Raj parked himself in the drivers seat taking a moment in what seemed like an eternity to admire the upholstery ,leather embellished steering wheel and the blue back lighting of the odometer which looked mesmerizing and ominous in the afterglow of the evening. He revved up the engine feeling his way albeit slowly through the huge gates of the car showroom exchanging a smile with the

Break the chain

Break the chain

We are living in interesting times.Not too long ago we were a country headed by a woman president and had four powerful members of the fairer sex as chief ministers for certain states which quite ironically is a telling statement on where we stand in terms of safety for women.Bangalore is what I call home and I have been living in this sprawling metropolis for the last 13 years loving each and every moment of it. Bangalore has undergone a sea change akin to an old banyan tree. The tree with its deep roots accommodating itself to the change which is currently happening at the speed of light around it with the only constant being the safety for women which has reached it's lowest nadir. Our society which in simple terms is a a group of people related to each other through persistent relations dominated by cultural expectations with the women quite paradoxically transforming themselves from bread makers to breadwinners in a male dominated stratosphere plagued by increasingly inane and anarchic thoughts. Rome interestingly was also a society which was never built in a day which brings me to to the moot point on how can Bangalore be a safe haven for women. I have listed 6 key points which can make a big difference and increase the plight and safety of the she women. 

Education- the government should partner publicly and privately with NGO's , Human Right activists and corporate companies in ensuring the vast populace of Bangalore is given basic and primary education at a subsidised cost. 

Law and order- There needs to be a larger representation of women in the armed forces. The police stations should make the filing of an first information report as seamless as possible with minimum paperwork and a a process driven approach backed by a solid team of analyst and experts transitioning to cases in courts which should be redressed immediately with a quick resolution. There should be increased policing after evening hours with police in plain clothes manning vulnerable and crowded areas.

Public infrastructure- Public infrastructure is the lifeline of  a metropolis like Bangalore. The toilets,buses,metro service and auto rickshaws are the touch points for most of the female populace using these modes of transportation and facilities on an everyday basis. Strict action should be taken against individuals who resort to Eve teasing, writing graffiti with the police maintaining a strict vigil and employing A clear and strong approach for repeat offenders. There  needs to be a 24 hour manned fully functional helpline which should be advertised and promoted

Coffee Table Conversations

Coffee shops have a character of their own.The tables and the assorted chairs are  privy to many such a conversation.

  Diya had just cleared her junior level certification in music and the "I Love Music" t shirt she was wearing seemed like  a second skin  mirroring her euphoric state of mind  She was feeling mighty pleased with herself as it was no mean achievement and wanted to share this piece of incredulous news with Pooja who has similar leanings towards music and the creative arts. Over a steaming hot cup of coffee and mouthwatering croissants the awesome twosome  connected on music ,movies and the art of making the perfect lemon rice with just the right concoction of nuts and bolts.  They were seated bang in the middle of the coffee shop oblivious to anything happening around them. Pooja had a train to catch in a few hours for the monthly trip to her native place and she was looking forward to some much needed TLC (Tender, Love and Care) with her extended family. Cometh the moment, Cometh the time - On cue her phone silently signalled its intentions and  her He Man  at the other end checked enthusiastically if she was going to make it in time to  the railway station . Pooja and Diya  hugged and bid their good byes. Diya wanted some me time to partake in the cool environs of the coffee shop, she meandered across to the cashier and ordered a cold coffee on the rocks to calm her mangled senses. Whilst ambling back to her designated table with the cold drink in tow amidst the din of the familiar strains of rock music  from the 80's playing softly in the background, she marvelled at the awe inspiring  elegance and magnificence of the Fresco painting sharing soul space with a Tanjore mural.


   Out of the corner of her eyes , Diya noticed a nattily dressed man with his hair neatly partitioned reading  a book  interestingly titled "conversations with death". No he did not seem like a looney

Love is all around me

Hi Netizens,

I  also write on movies for a website by the name of  www.madaboutmoviez.com

I have written a story around a strong four letter word  and the common thread it has with our songs from the movies. Have a look and spread some Love. It's been originally  published in the above mentioned website on Jan 17, 2013

the link is - http://www.madaboutmoviez.com/2013/01/love-is-all-around-me/

Love, Life, Luck and Laughter
Shekhar Vijayan

Chunnu Munnu di Pappa di Gaddi

A Bike is a Bike and then there is a Bullet.

What is it about bikes (geared and un-geared) that has a connect with us mere mortals? Is it the wild spirit of freedom and independence it gives and a sense of balance on two wheels or just the pure un-adulterated and bohemian joy of riding? During my growing up years like many of you I went through the same gamut of emotions when I got my first cycle during my schooling followed by getting a motorbike during my last year in college which was not an easy task as my late father was hell bent on getting me a scooter thanks to a bunch of underachieving sycophants in his office (that explains the tag line Chunni Munnu Di Papa Di Gaddi) which was very uncle type and and I just couldn’t see myself driving into college in a scooter. Lo I woke up and I rebelled in the way I could –cajoled and sweet talked my mom and sister into making the motorbike the dinner table conversation and getting Dad to change his preference. Yes I did get the motorbike and it was one helluva ride. The bike in question was a Yamaha RX 100 and it was a dream on wheels in all aspects from the engine to the top speed of 120 mph (yes it was a key differentiator).

With time I evolved in more ways than one (facial fuzz turned into 5'0 clock shadow for starters) and my love for motorbikes also underwent a sea change.

The Yamaha gave way to a Bullet and I was spell bound by it. The bike was a connoisseur’s delight- it had old world charm written all around it. It's aristocratic black and gold insignia and thumping engine made my heart skip a beat and marvel on the technical wizardry. It was regal and if the bike could speak –only class would ooze from every nut and bolt. Legend has it that this bike is handcrafted by skilled technicians with love, engineered with purpose and

Braveheart- You Live on

Brave heart – You live on

What a sad way to end 2012

I woke up this morning with a bad headache which worsened looking at the headlines streaming across the social as well as print media. Yes I am referring to the 23 year old  rape victim and now survivor who got gang raped in a gruesome manner and has brought the nation to a standstill because of her untimely death This is not a one off case and the bastardly act has touched the entire geo political landscape  across India eons ago.

The idiot box and the social media is abuzz with demonstrations and RIP messages streaming across all spectrums for the Brave Heart (  Sad-we don’t even know her real name ) whose plight and misery due to the Rape resonates with the entire nation irrespective of class or caste standing shoulder to shoulder. The visual media may have gone a bit overboard with the emotional rhetoric but heck if that’s what it takes to make the white elephant dance … then so be it.

Spare a thought for the 23 year old rape survivor (I prefer the moniker- survivor instead of victim though she does not live to see the change) who would not live to see the dreams, live a fuller and a larger life because of some random beasts who decided to rob the girl of her modesty in the worst possible act in a  grotesque manner. I feel gutted and shamed when I read the graphic details of the rape and it sends a shiver down my throat and entire being.

Shakaal ka koi baap nahi hota hain

While flipping through the numerous channels on the television I spotted on an old re-run of the 80’s multi ---starrer -Shaan and it got me thinking what is it about this campy movie that the channel plays endlessly every weekend to garner eye balls and TRP's.

Shaan was directed by Ramesh Sippy , yes the man who made  the inimitable spaghetti curry western Sholay and I am sure his epitaph would surely read “here lies the man who made Sholay and the rest is history”. Shaan was an entertaining film in all aspects- Stellar Star Cast lead by the likes of Sunil Dutt , Rakhee , immensely likeable Johnny Walker and the Trimurthi of Shotgun Sinha , Shashi Kapoor and yes of course the Superstar Par Excellence – Amitabh Bachchan complemented in no small measure by Parveen Bhabhi ( she could kill it in a silver gown) and the lively Bindhya Gowswami.