Sounds of a city

Do you have a sound that you associate with home or with the city that you live in?

Madras, a city that I live in for me has a very distinct sound. At almost any time of day you can hear slokas (Hindu Hymns) being recited or the jingling of bells. On special days you hear chanting. There's this soothing quality about these sounds... I get a nice feeling in my stomach and that sense of comfort that I am home.

Off the map

I recently got back from Morocco. It's been 3 weeks but I still have a Moroccan hangover. Every time my thoughts go to Morocco or the time we spent there, I feel happy and very content.

I have been writing about my trip on my travel blog - off the map. For those who still visit this blog and who are keen to read about my travels, visit http://off-the-map-mytravelogue.blogspot.com

Back home... and happy to be here

Been away for a while... this whole year has been one like that. There have been several moments when I have wanted to write, but have seldom got down to doing it.

Can blame my absence on my work over the last 2-3 months that has kept me away from pretty much everything... but looking back, I loved those days and miss them.

Am back home in Madras. Moved back after 8 years. Have had my moments of feeling like a fish out of water, but now am glad we are here. What makes it so nice are friends and family. It would be terrible to move back and not have too many people you know or who you can spend time with. Thank you people who decided to make this city home and not move out.

Have been unemployed for the last 25 days. Spent 6 of them on a tough assignment - babysitting my niece and nephew, while my sister and brother-in-law were off on vacation. I survived... need I say more??? But that was an accomplishment in itself.

Made it a point to spend quality time with people I really wanted to see before I left Mumbai and am glad I did that.

Now home and settled... it's a good life as they.

Highs and lows

If emotions can be graphed, my state of mind would make an interesting graph this week. On Wednesday I was ecstatic... my first big TV show was going on air. I was thrilled to say the least. There was a skip in my step the whole day. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face if you tried really hard. :)

Thursday morning was good too... but as the day progressed I started feeling really low... still feel like that.

The show is 60% done... I'll soon be leaving Mumbai and ahhh just feel terrible. I am not someone who loves change... if you know what I mean!!!
I will miss this city and the people... the feeling of independence, the vibe, the buzz and so much more!

Playing audience, audience

This has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever done! Okay so I was asked to go and watch this new show that's going on air to see what the set looks like, how the show plays out, etc. Basically spy by pretending to be an audience member.

So my friend and I land up promptly on time, skip standing in line with the paid audience who are awaiting to get in and instead smoothly walk in as we are guests. And we thought everything was going smoothly...

For non TV people yes audiences are often paid audiences. There are different price points, depending on the quality of faces you want on your show.

So we get to the loud, garish set and are vying for the corner seats or any other seats, and the criteria being to stay far as away as possible from the camera. Unfortunately, we kept getting asked to move a little this way and that... till we were right in the middle of the second row. Then the enthusiastic audience coordinator starts doing what he loves the most... getting the audience to behave like monkeys and to follow him.

The ring master made us clap, practice a standing ovation, enact a sad face, go ooohhh, aaahhh, whistle, repeat some stupid, inane slogan and punch our fists. Yes, we did it all to blend in and not stand out. To make matters worse, the camera guy fixed his frame on the two of us and we were picked out to look at the camera and to do all above.

Yes I will be on TV, but posing as a stupid audience member. :(

Chick Flicks & Me

I am a complete chick flick kinda person and have no qualms admitting that! Last night was a marathon chick flick session. I watched Father of the Bride and followed that up with 27 Dresses. It was Friday night well spent at home for a change.

Never been into M&B (yes if you can believe that), read 4-5 pages of one and feel asleep… so I never bothered picking up another. But I love the mushy, feel good, leave your brain behind, cuddle-up and watch, type of romantic comedies. Oh… the joy of discovering one on TV…

My idea of a perfect lazy night at home is watching a movie on TV… or a lazy Sunday well spent is to settle down after a good home cooked meal and spending the afternoon watching a nice romantic film on TV.

My favourites are Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. I can watch them over and over again and not get bored. Hmmm

After watching one my mood gets instantly perked up and there’s this nice feeling in my stomach, a smile on my face... It's amazing how a movie can make you feel so good!

A long time away

I started the year deciding to write often... and like always and like all plans... landed up doing the exact opposite. After my first post in Jan I just haven't found the time to write. What's also strange is that the out of the 7-8 blogs I follow, about half of them haven't written in months. I hope they will all be back soon... I miss reading you write people.

So what's been keeping me busy is work and a lot of it... more than I have ever worked before I think. I worked on a film as a line producer... it was unbelievable amount of stress and a lot of crap that you have to take from people... but when I saw my name on the big screen... and when my husband told me that I had made him proud it was all worth it. :)

Soon after I started work on my first big television show... I spent unending hours in office and often wondered if this is all that there is in life... want a holiday and want to go home... but know that when the show goes on air, and if it does well (fingers crossed) I will be a very satisfied person.

But for a few months longer life is going to be work and more work... Just hope I can survive this madness and come out alive!

Come July and I move back home... to the city that I was in born in and where I have spent some of the best years of my life. There's a bit of excitement, a bit of anxiousness and lot to look forward too...