Winter Is For Jeans (A Tribute To Jeans!)

After having passed quite a few days (which I don't feel appropriate to disclose :P) in a single jeans, I find it a moral and of course, physical, obligation to pay a tribute to this 'consecrated' piece of garment. Seldom has any other article of clothing consistently proven itself worthy of being the best booster of human laziness and coarseness.

Eat food and if nothing available to clean you hands, jeans it at your disposal. Feel cold, and jeans presents itself as thy humble shielder. Go to party, and jeans is the foremost code of conduct. Finally, after an uninterrupted sequence of detrition, if it gives in and wears out, it can still be put on with a distinguished quality of being an old jeans, respected and cherished just like old wine! Still not satisfied? Cut it down from the knees and use it as shorts! Or may be sew it up into a bag/shopper? It never gives up.

The more I contemplate on the multi-dimensionally utilitarian aspects of jeans, the more am I compelled not to break this perpetual stretch of days. :P

Is There Any Limit?

During a recent conversation with a prominent religious scholar, who happens to be quite an educated person, the discussion got diverted to the ‘conspiracies’ of the Zionists and the Free Masons, thanks to the conspiracy-addicted friends. But I was amazed at the measure of serious interest that scholar had in these matters. I’m more than happy that for my own sake, I was able to overcome the overwhelming urge to laugh when he said with an all-wise expression:

“These people (the agents of the Free Masons) arrange scholarships like Full bright and Rhodes for the bright students of Islamic countries and while their stay in the Western institutes, manage to entangle in them sex scandals and take their snaps. Afterwards, when these students return to their countries, most probably to serve on important national and semi-national posts, they are black mailed by these agents and hence forced to serve their purpose!”

And all I could think was: “Is there any limit to the idiocy of these people?”

Nowhere Special!

"Where you headed, cowboy?"
"Well, nowhere special."
"Nowhere special....I always wanted to go there."

- Blazing Saddles (1973)

Manifesto Di Antagonismo

Go say your prayers in your hut
And let me smoke dope in the pub
I know the shallowness of your opinions
And the wry depth of your notions

The viciousness of the charades
Thrown upon the entangled souls
Tamed by the lame goals
Numbed after perpetual anguish

And yet the fear of damnation
Takes away the courage
Of recognition, of negation
And anguish seeps through

Some things remain unaltered
And yet until they remain so
I declare my antagonism
Conscious, open and stubborn!

Exam Days

A cup of coffee

On an empty wrapper

Of cookies

And a pack in basket

Another started

Head on table, closed eyes

Trying to remember

The study chides!

Remembering The Titans

It was just a random idea, as it happens mostly, and I decided to download a few classic songs from old Pakistani movies and enjoy the beauty of our own heritage. However, after listening just a couple of them, I sort of got obsessed to them and downloaded them one after the other, from the movies of Waheed Murad, Nadeem and Muhammad Ali during 60s and 70s, thanks to you-tube. Songs like tumhain kaisay bata doon tumhi meri manzil ho, ko ko korina, socha tha pyar na karain gay, sona na chandi na koi mahel jan-e-man, yay kaghzi phool kaisay chehray, mujhay tum dil say gira to rahay ho, jab koi pyar say bulay ga, han isi morr per, aey abray karam, kuch log rooth ker bhee etc. are matchless gems and unforgettable masterpieces.

I’ve been a fan of Waheed Murad ever since my childhood when I used to watch his movies on PTV, mostly on some important national occasion. However, it was during this recent revival that I realized the exuberance, maturity and mesmerism in the acting and dancing of this Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley of Pakistan. As seems quite evident, I now intend to watch more movies of Waheed Murad. Nadeem, Muhammad Ali and Shahid etc. were great actors but Waheed Murad was an entire phenomenon who glimmered on the skies of show business more than any other star and influenced an entire generation, and sadly faced a tragic end, quite parallel to Presley.

In the end, I think again Tariq would have to come to my rescue as non of my other friends have watched old Pakistani movies and listened songs like he has. Get ready for another ‘The Conversation’, mate! ;)

Purgatory

There’s something strange and mesmerizing in these nostalgic afternoons. When you sit all alone is a silent room and no electricity is operating while you yourself are not sure whether the atmosphere is more cool or warm. And the echoing voices of some children playing in the neighborhood or birds chirping bring back so many flooding bittersweet memories. Then you get up and go out and watch the clear blue shining sky and the birds soaring towards it with enviable freedom. This perhaps reminds you of some book or a movie or simply a scene from your own past. Some of them moments that simply refuse to die and or even fade their intensity. Sometimes it takes you back to your childhood dreams and desires so valuable to you and you simply want to forget everything else and cherish them with all their exuberance. Then all of a sudden you return back to present and some recent failure, or perhaps a streak of perpetual failures, makes life look miserable. Fate seems determined to break you down. You desperately try to clutch at something bright. And you depart with mixed feelings about life, without realizing the smile on your face, helpless or hopeful.

Hunt!

have you ever

felt the ecstasy

of surrounding the king

killing the queen

and hunting him down

like a helpless wretch?

under his very crown?

Time For Movie Reviews, Amigos!

DEAD MAN (1995):

“The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn from the crow.”

Surrealistic, dark and deep - a masterpiece, and an underrated one. Johnny Depp is fabulous as always and at more than one places you are truly amazed. Dialogues are great and so is the acting. One of my favorite Depp movies.

ED WOOD (1994):

“Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else's dreams? “

Once again Johnny Depp eloquently proves himself to be one of the most versatile actors of his generation. A movie about an uber-enthusiatic yet untalented director, Ed Wood, who made some of the worse movies of all time. The combination of Depp and Burton plays it’s magic and Martin Langau as the unfortunate Bella Lugosi is simply amazing!

DON JUAN DE MARCO (1995):

Yes, it’s again Depp but this time the package incorporates THE KING, Marlon Brando! An interesting and fanciful story about a psychotherapist who, on the verge of retirement, becomes entranced with a new patient, a fervent young man who believes himself to be the world’s greatest lover. Good watch.

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993):

“May be it’s better not to be the best. That way, you can lose, and it’s still OK.”

How I loved this movie! Such an amazing movie with an awesome acting by Max Pomeranc as a 7-years old kid whose gift for chess is discovered and the near and dear ones try to polish it. He has to remain at the top while tackling with the problems that prodigies are destined to face. Based on the life of Josh Waitzkin, a young chess prodigy who is impressed by the legendary Grandmaster Bobby Fischer and tries to follow his genius. Emotional, intense, beautiful and exceptionally well done movie, which other than chess, depicts the relation of a father and a son. The black-and-white flashbacks depicting Bobby Fischer are great.

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983):

“Come to Laugh, Come to Cry, Come to Care, Come to Terms. “

Along with “Searching For Bobby Fischer”, this movie made it’s way in my list of all-time favorite movies. During the first half of an hour or so, I though this is an average overrated movie, but eventually I realized what a gem it was and there were moments when it brought tears in the eyes! – Basically, about the exquisite relation of a mother and a daughter but enshrouding other relations along the road. Jack Nicholson, as always, amazes with his cool and versatile acting while Shirley MacLaine is equally amazing.

And yes, I consider it’s score/theme to be among top 3 scores of all-time. You can lisen it here: Terms of Endearment theme

Conversation With A Theist Friend.

(This conversation took place via SMS and includes several Urdu and even Punjabi words. So, read on your own risk!)

*Initiated in response to a usual bullshit religious SMS*

"Dude, don't send me such religious shit from now on. To be more precise, I'm an atheist."

"Atheist, eh? I'd say you merely give this name to your laziness. Are you sure you've read and have enough knowledge to refute all religious norms? This atheism is a baseless matter and is a mere fashion among Pakistani youth."

"Come around my blog sometime, and see how your dear religious friends get bashed. They are not able to answer the most basic questions and you ask ME about knowledge? I don't need to get complex with religion when it fails at the very foundations, now do I?"

"Yeah? If you really believe in atheism, who don't you preach it and tell people about the hazards of religion?"

"Dude, mujhay pagal mullay nain nai kata kay I start preaching atheism in this fucked up country. But yes, when I get out of this hell-hole, I DO intend to devote my abilities unveiling the hedious face of religion. You don't even need to suggest."

"Beta jee, main cheekain nikalwa don ga, I do promise. Aap nain bohat jaldi kee atheist ban'nay main, but abhee bohat waqat baki hay. If religion failed to answer your questions, it doesn't mean that religion does not have them. You may deny irrational religious things but almost every religion has rational practices. So be ready, I come on very hard on such issues. Pasay pan diyan ga, tay ron vee nai dyaan ga. Paki atheist are just half teetar tay half batair. Na teen main na tairaan main. So, be ready."

"Be my guest. I'll remember your 'paasay pen'nay wali baat' and give it to you after you terribly fail in the debate you're so eager for. Till then, so long!"

A Tribute To The Best: Bobby Fischer

"The greatest genius ever to have descended from the heavens of Chess!"

My heart truly cried out when I came to know what became of the life of this legend, thanks to the Lords of this world. Bastards. Humans beings would never learn to respect and cherish the gems of their own species during their lifetime!

Contempt

"Do you know what the word contempt means? *pause* It's the think of others as being beneath you, to be unworthy of being in the same room with you."

"I don't feel that."

"Well, you better start. Because if you don't think it's a part of winning, you're wrong. You have to have contempt for your opponents. You have to hate them."

"But I don't."

"They hate you. They hate you, Josh."

"But I don't hate them."

"Bobby Fischer held the world in contempt."

"I'm not him."

"You're telling me."

-Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993)