skip to main |
skip to sidebar
On last Saturday,I had been to my mother’s place. In another words pure bliss. After getting married, in a different region and language, had its own advantages. Especially getting married to the person you can spend your life with. But it also meant leaving one of the other loves, that was food. I missed my mother’s food more then, now that I had very less access to it. Not that I couldn’t cook, but my better(?) half didn’t like curries much , something that I found absolutely lip smacking. I couldn’t blame him, since he didn’t hail from the costal areas. So being to my mother’s place gave me more access to such fare and I started appreciating even humblest fare. Lunch was a simple fare of tender fenugreek leaves stir fry with lots of fresh coconut and onions, along with “valachi amti” or dried broad beans in coconut based curry which got its unique taste of goa by use of triphala, rice and some fritters. I had my fill. J what I had later was why I called it my iftaar.
As you verywell know iftaar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan. Andheri being a hindu-mohmedian dominated area, there are some shops which are especially famous for their iftaar items. Be it malpua ( fritters or pancakes served as a dessert or a snack in the Indian subcontinent) or sweets like ras malai ,falooda or my favourite “phirni”(a kind of kheer set to almost custard consistency in mud/terracotta dishes) and chana batata.
After our evening shopping, I longingly looked in the makeshift lane that sells goodies for iftaar. My mother sensing my longing mutely took me to FIRDAUS (a mohmeddian sweet shop specializing in phirni) and bought for me a mawa phirni and later on my pleading chana batata. Wow, a satisfying evening snack was made. the phirni was gooey and creamy and milky as it should be, just the right sweetness the mawaish (milk) smell still etched in my memory. The chana batata was outstanding too. With lemony tartness and garlicky-gingerly infusion in coriander dressed chana and batata (potato/alu) cooked to right perfection.
This iftaar still holds my memory, and I will definitely try to goad my mother to let me have another taste of the phirni and chana. Wale cum salam
(PS: check the pic above. I hope the pic does justice to the imagination of how the phirni and chana batata must have been…before it reached my stomach)
OK, now this is a bit late for me to appreciate these two songs. Ranjha ranjha and behne de from Raavan.
About:
I somehow liked the rawness of rekha bharadwaj in this Ranjha ranjha …somehow dominating the song (sorry Javed ali). Even in this rawness there are layers of songs that seem to hypnotize you and take to greater hights in the song, lovely psychedelic circles.. I have never liked AR reheman’s music much. No offence here. But I always found him giving a bit repetitive music…he is good, no doubt about it. But you can almost understand that its him who has given the music. A signature kind of music. Most singer’s voice seem to drown their voice in the music, with a few exceptions of course, like Asha Bhosle, SP bal subramanyam and now Rekha bharadwaj…this time however I found AR Rehman’s music more subtle…like complementing the background very well at the same time losing a bit of its repeatitiveness, using some sudden different piece somewhere…leaving you for jolly surprises. And that’s also what I experienced when I heard behne de…is the singer continuously singing… “behne de bhene de …behne de gharghor ghata…”…where ranjha ranjha hypnotizes you, behne de takes music and voice to greater heights…I don’t know about you, but the feeling of virtual swimming in cool waters …such kind of feeling comes over when you hear this song…the waters of music, lyrics and voice…touching to the core…with some boom and bong…punching the commas in music at regular intervals. Good the chorus is not much as it would have lost the effect one has…the singing continues in one string continiously…and where there are pauses…there are pieces of music …with not many instruments…with that bong still going on in between…and with sudden different but accordant bits of music…it surely makes a piece of song great to hear till the cassette goes kaput J
Maybe you will call me crazy. But I love festive crowds. Not shopping ones mind you. But two instances I love. One is when stalls are set up to sell iftaar ware (foods of all kinds) I love just seeing the food and the way its arranged, the smells wafting giving the guarantee of the taste , almost seducing you to try something…just a bite of malpua or a “glup” silkiness of phirni, the chatka of chana batata or warm roasted smell of kebabs. I love always traveling by such lanes,as the smells pay havoc in my nose, almost grapping me something to stop the growling stomach.
Another one is “strand of stars or globs of light” in the air. That’s what festival of lights mean to me. Many makeshift stalls open at that time. Shops having extended thelas selling dried fruits and nuts, mithais and biscuits all in gift hampers, ready parceled to the near and dear ones. What entices me are those stalls that have lamps for sale in diwali. You must surely be knowing those, chinese lantens kind, in stars and hexagonal shapes, in paper and plastic, all colourful, with lusty tails that sway to the wind or those proud without them, with cutwork and designs and paints and some in just plain kite paper with a bit of gold band for shimmer, but which are nevertheless lovely. Whereas in Christmas they are mainly stars, in diwali they are in all shapes and sizes, the typical ones and atypical ones. They look good at the day time, one blow of wind and they smile. What entices me is after dark glow they give individually with 0 watt bulbs in them. They make the whole lane come alive and neon lights of municipality fade out their usual guiding light. I hope to catch a photo of them this diwali, to me they are just fantasy land come alive…
These were the two songs which didn’t completely hold my attention or didn’t please much as much as I wanted to one of them had Rahat fateh ali khan in duet. Somewhere something was lacking. But then just hunting through the virtual web,I came across two other versions of these songs, both sung entirely by RFAK.
I have seemed to like RFAK songs almost everytime. Be it “mann lagan” from paap or “tujhe dekh dekh” from kalyug. He is one of the singers who actually know how to “weave” a song. His songs start with something as simple as harmonium or sarod tunes or some such simple tone, attimes speckling in between the song to tenderize the hollow pauses in the songs.. Innocently enough the maestro’s singing begins. A bit of “harkatein” in between, at times flat , at times high pitched. Weaving a story maybe? Each word clearly sung, each word clearly understood. Then the weaving ends and song reaches its ultimate crescendo.. sudden but not abrupt…somehow the cues in between indicating that songs ending slowly…spiraling into miniscule pleasures…Simple song, minus many instruments…this is the way a song is enjoyed. Very gazalishque but definitely lovely.
It manages to ring mentally in the head long time after the song ends and earphones are kept back to the place. You feel that you are hearing a lovely gazal, not something that depresses you in the end but pleases you, even if it maybe sad one…Unfortunately the song bahara is used as chill version, doesnot appear in movie, nor tum jo aye which is used as reprise (used in between situations as background). A waste, though situation wise its appropriate…I am tuned in to these two songs nevertheless
It is no secret that I love to see, read and explore about food. Yes looking at me no one can guess that I like food in the first place. But yes I do. Especially anything with cheese or olives on. Recently I came across some such articles which may not include one of my favorites (eggs to an absolute vegetarian?) but still the way of writing article itself invoked me to read more. I always like reading about how a dish got invented, its historical connotations.
This started with weekly food columns on food and an end recepie in specials called lok rang of loksatta. That had me fixated. Later having a monthly subscription of (now defunct) food magazine for a year made me almost obsessed with food and food related articles. I liked collecting articles on food and food related items, reading on origin of a particular food. And one fine day if I do a C1 and C2 (last most levels of alliance francaise de Bombay) it will be for “gastronomie” theme. I collect books, and recipes and read lots of blogs and if I tune in to TV its either “chota bheem” on pogo or discovery travel and living. Out of them I always like Rachael allen “Bake” and Kylie kwong “my china” and “simply magic” in my better(?) half’s language “kilie koong”, “globe guide” and some such shows.
I have taken a lot of “trash” from Jamshedpur to Mumbai in form of “graphiti” a complimentary booklet in “the telegraph” which we dutifully kept safely by my MIL (mom in law) for me. In that there is a food section by rahul verma, that I read during my stay in Jamshedpur. Now I have an online copy of it.
I have ordered books like “Climbing The Mango Trees” by Madhur Jaffrey and “the beach boy” by Ardeshir irani. While Madhur jaffery is known world wide for her culinary talents, adreshir irani’s book review had come in the “food magazine” , both books are now in my possession.
This interest never ceases and this is what prompted me to send two links of some good food related articles recently read in times of India. Do read it when and if you have timehttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food/food-reviews/Under-the-golden-yolk-/articleshow/5491613.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food/drinks-corner/On-a-tea-break-happily/articleshow/5999170.cms
Nain parindey, pagle do nain
Nain parindey, jaagein din raein
Nain parindey, pagle do nain
Nain parindey, jaagein din raein
Pankh jhatak yeh udh jayenge
Aasmaan mein kho jayenge
Maghroor bade, banjaare nain
Nain parindey, pagle do nain
Nain parindey baadal baadal
Khwaabon ke sitaare chug lenge
Hoo nain parindey chaand chura kar
Palkon se apni dhak lenge
Palak jhapakte udh jayenge
Sapno ko apne ghar layenge
Mashoor bade, matwaale nain
Nain parindey, pagle do nain
Hoo nain parindey roshan roshan
Andhiaare saare dho denge
Hoo nain parindey chalke chalke
Palkon ko moond ke ro lenge
Palak jhapakte udh jayenge
Gumm ko bhula ke muskaayenge
Majboor nahi, sapniley nain
Nain parindey, pagle do nainNain parindey, pagle do nain
Nain parindey, jaagein din raein
Pankh jhatak yeh udh jayenge
Aasmaan mein kho jayenge
Maghroor bade, banjaare nain
Nain parindey, pagle do nainEyes described in lovely way, the way eyes change according to emotions, lovely lyrics, good but minimal music. The song starts with a piano piece played, the low music of piano stays till the end in the background. The pauses peppered with guitar pieces. It is definitely a welcome change from the otherwise loud music of today. A bit bending towards western music and singing, the song still evokes a lovely feeling and has overall a calming effect.Absoluely Jhakaaaaaaas
A long time wish was finally granted. My aethist better (?) half and I decided to visit shirdi shanishingnapur. After work on Friday,after buying week’s grocery, a quick fix of dinner and off we went to catch a/c bus to shirdi. I slept like a log , mouth open and completely covered with a bedsheet like a deadbody, we reached shirdi at around 4ish in the morning. After a rapid fire of brush and wash for only 30 bucks per person we headed bleary eyed but fresh for sai baba darshan (me in black). It took time as there was a snake like queue, but which after some time went so fast as if possessed. We had baba’s darshan but for only 2 seconds L and we came out. After buying Prasad and giving offering for our loved ones, we wondered how to leave for shani shingnapur. Our prayers were heard when the cab we took, helped us to obtain vehicle to go to shani shingnapur. Luckily people were not filled in it as cattle. Lovely cool breeze started with the vehicle start and within no time my eyes drooped back to sleep. I opened by bleary eyes only when we almost reached shani shingnapur. The place is lovely developed from what I had seen it some years back. But the houses still didn’t have doors. It is said that due to fear of Lord Shani, none of the structures, be it dwelling houses, huts, shops etc. situated within one kilometer radius of this Lord Shani temple, have neither doors and locks. No thievery or burglary ever occurred here in this hamlet called Shani Shingnapur. Some who have tried to steal have died vomitting blood within minutes of their act and before they could cross the boundary. Many others are said have received varied punishments such as long sickness, mental imbalance etc. It is to be seen to believe that even post office has no door, not to speak of locks. Lovely isnt it. Since it was Saturday (the day of lord shani according to hindu texts), the place was lively and full of worship atmosphere. Ladies not allowed L but my aethist better (?) half performed the tailabhiskam on my behalf, compltely sushurbhuta (freshened up) with cold water doused and a wet dhoti. A million thankyous would not be enough for u my better half. The syavambhu idol is located in open where men throng to worship shani manaraj with sesame oil, black cloth and some such pooja samagri (now did you understand why I was in black???) I finished a bit of the stotra in front of the idol..(4 times only L) before my better half joined me and we headed back to car. There were beggers who somehow tried to cash in lord shani’s abode as a medium to gain more and more alms and curse if not given LL. There were people in the car who whined on it and I sometimes wondered that why they have come to the place.. there was a couple in the car who wanted to have breakfast even if remaining people are sitting in car waiting to go,…despite of all such minor irritants…the experience was good since my wish to be there was finally culminated..We reached back to shirdi at 11.45 AM and after a quick (and avoidable since I had southindian thali…my better (?) half had punjabi thali and was very happy with it ) thali lunch at an udipi restaurant at shirdi we boarded the 12.30 PM bus back to mumbai, which after a long and long circling finally managed to get enough passengers and ultimately let at 1.30 PM. (Atleast I could have finished my lunch properlyL) The only best part was that I finished reciting the remaining stotra till that time J. Zzg n zzg we saw the rain lush green hills and valleys and black snaking roads from top, some where I saw a lovely mountain completely peakless, what with the grey clouds circling it making the view of the beak impossible.then we saw the fog point where the fog was lovely. We snacked on chikkis and pedhas, and napped a lot before we reached back to wet mumbai, dinnering (horrific english) in woodland retreat (my fave) and headed back home. Needless to say I slept content and peaceful that day, not only due to sheer exertion but also that a wish finally made true.
Nilanjana samabhasam raviputram yamagrajam chaya martanda sambhutam tam namami shaishcharam Om Neelambharaya vidhmahe Soorya Putraya dhimahi tanno sauri prachodayath
