21km in 2:10 ....Just did it

After having heard so many times about the marathon run and the 'zing thing' in it from Saand, just to make him stop teasing me, I finally registered - with a slight doubt in mind. The deal is 21km and his dos and don’ts involved 'eat lot of carb... samosa, kachori.... etc, have a good rest before the day of the run, don't push too hard, get yourself into a rhythm,... tried to do just that.... somehow got a week’s time to 'train' my poor legs. So this Hyderabad run is an annual event here.... and mood of the city is to have it filled with gala events where there is live band (making sure some gals are there to jam and dabble with electric guitar), singers who hold you in the tired moments after the ordeal, then some eye-candy parachute landing manuvers, ... Unlike usual Hyderabad beaming sun over your head, we got a surprise hill station-ish weather and slight drizzle. Amidst the recent terror events in Mumbai, the mood was sombre but people were brimming with patriotic fervour and groups with different agenda's and motivation for the run were also there, a group of displaced Kashnmiri pandits, green movement groups, some loksatta volunteers with placards raising the right questions about the security lapses etc.... The IST was followed sacrosanctly and we were flagged off at 6:20 .. 20 minutes late than the scheduled start. First 14km were breezy, me and my buddy could cruise smoothly looking at each other and pushing ourselves, then things started to slow down, on the psychological tiredness than physical, eagerly watching out for the intermittent sight of the board showing distance left. Somehow got past the finish line. The last 7 km took as much time as first 14km. Lessons were learnt, got richer by experience and promises were made to make it for the next time even better. Let us the sea. Did I mention, this is by far the most well organised event by any city administration I have seen. I am starting to admire the outlook of the city as a whole. She knows she is not as big to be in the leagues of Mumbai and NCR ...but she is getting there.

Edge of Heaven (German/Turkey)

So far have not watcvhed many German movies, but of those I have watched (gigantic, Im july, etc) there is always a mention and fascinating reference to India. Feels good to be perceived by a different culture this way. Reminds me of one exchange student from Germany we used to have in IDC, she was just amazed by vibrancy and clamour we live in. Being a Fine arts grad, she succinnctly put, back there in germany its all shades of gray. She liked in here. And she actually rode a bicycle with her friend from Mumbai to Kanyakumari. OK...I was digressed to some distnat memories. I was talking about movie.
'Edge of Heaven' is a movie lying on my hard disc for some time and I kept wondering what could it be about. Never wanted to land into another supernatural or crappy version of period movie. And at one assuming moment I happend to open it finally to watch it. The movie has multiple perspectives at a turkish population living in germany, stigma a migrant family generally has to go through. Migrated alienated and living in some country trying to fit in and once that phase gets over, what remains is a longing. The plot is annotated with two deaths..thats what connects the dots in this movie. In fact two chapters of the movie open with titles and like reading a novel which gives feel of "while this was happening..". Nejat (pronounced neshat), A turk who teaches German in German university who speaks less but means lot, his brutish but loving, old-school father living in Bremen who manages to save from his pensions and tips from horse racing to get another turkish "woman of loose virtue" to be his live-in wife in old days. Her name 'Veter' that means "that's enough" in turkish, being the seventh daughter in family. Veter's daughter, Aayten, a student of sociology back there in Turkey involved into political activities against the tyranny of state regards to freedom of speech, right to education. Now as the story unfolds Najat is led to his quest for Veters daughter in turkey while Aayten to germany in serach of her mother.
Its all about loving your parents, tag line go well than Johar's melodramatic mutlistarer. In new country, ties with family becomes so significant. These days near and dear are all a phone call away but that feeling is what keeps us going. When Nejat tell the story of Ibrahim and the God, the message of the movie comes to effect. Movie is about telling a story that leaves it mark than a quick shot of entertainment. If you share the same mood and expectation then this is a good watch.

nothing personal about loans... :)

कर्जे जो उठाये हमने बाज़ार से
हमारी जान की दुआ करने वाले बढ़ गए....
बेहिसाबो मे रहना सीखते गए यूँ ही
गिने गिनाये जीने मे क्या ख़ाक मजा था