21th October 2013 to 27th October 2013 [Pre-Diwali Week]

This is Muskan week. But I am upset. She has till 26^th not claimed to celebrate her birthday twice as she usually does. That is, once on 27^th Oct and second on Diwali day, i.e. on 4^th Nov this year, because one is English date and other in hindu date of her birthday .  I need to investigate and report this lapse on her part. It is very much worry some. Till date she has celebrated more than 50 birthdays.  Maybe some stupid, idiotic person must have paged her age accordingly and called her 50 year old aunty. That must have hurt her so much that she had forgotten her ‘Birth right’ to celebrate birthday two times in a year. Hope that person is alive so that we can kill him/her, or maybe Muskan has already done that.

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

Lucille Ball

[Main Lead of ‘Here is Lucy’ TV serial of 80’s]

Tuesday: Karva Chouth. Muskan got up early, at around 2.30 am and filled herself up so much that she was not able to sleep till 6.00 am! So why keep ‘Vrat’? I asked? In replay, she just said, ‘Papa’. And to bring some humor, I have borrowed few following words.

यह औरतें भी बहुत अजीब हैं!

364 दिन पुरुषों को जीने नहीं देतीं…

फिर एक दिन का “करवा-चौथ” का व्रत रखकर,

पुरुषों को मरने भी नहीं देतीं!

 

Above is true for 50 percent of couples, and rest are not aware of such feeling.

Saturday: Nandani, Kunal, Kajol and Aditya joined us from Mumbai to wish Niki ‘happywala’ birthday. Just two days back it was Nandani's Birthday. In Muskans birthday hype, we forget her birthday. Happy Birthday, Nandani. 

They all spent their day at boat club, having lunch and met us briefly in evening at home. 

Aditya’s a Punjabi 'munda' is 6 feet tall, heavy built, strong voice and gentle manners. Surprisingly he was nervous and self conscious. All in all, a good boy. Will give update on him. What I hear from Muskan, he is good material for me. Insha Allah.

We have planed Diwali Week stating on 27^th Oct, ending on 5^th Nov. This week mostly will go in preparation and getting into mood. The actual diwali will start from Sat.  People please do not hesitate in giving some more ideas. Crazy the idea, better it is.

 

by P G Dodeja

14th October 2013 to 20th October 2013 [market Yard]

Monday: Shyam-Moni-Deepa-Kashyap-Muskan-Sharat had gone for Beer Party at Corianthan in afternoon! Muskan enjoyed herself by posing with beer mugs, which were gulped down by other five. We had planned a Kulfi-Falooda party at B7. Rajesh Khanna has a dialogue in Anand, “Kutub minar pe 6 beer pee kee OUT ho gai thee hum.” Actual example of this was presented when at 10.30 we came to know the party is postponed for tomorrow,just few glasses of beer made them sleepy and out.

Tuesday: Deepak Thakur, cousin of Peter died suddenly at very young age and his ‘Chautha’ was between 5.0 – 5.30 at Jhulelal Mandir, which we attended.

After dinner all assembled and non stop, non sense continued till 11.30! For example.

Uncle told Muskan that in 60’s & 70’s we would carry stone in car while coming to Pune. During Ghat’s climbing when car would not be able to move ahead, one of us will jump out and put stone under tyre so that car does not slide backward. Now Muskan asked logical question, how a lone person would tackle this situation?

Based on this query we laughed at Muskan’s cost for at least 15 minutes, non-stop. All imaginative and unimaginative explanations were passed on, discussed and laughed at.

It was long time that we had not pulled Akshay’s leg. I directed Deepa and soon we were allin groove, making fun of Akshay. I am pleased to announce that we have not got rusted in that department. During all this fun, we missed Dhawani, she was in Mumbai.

We relieved our childhood. Mummy had made excellent falooda. Rubbery was outsourced from some Halwai and Kulfi was from Devang. And on top of it, Mapro’s Rose syrup was sprinkled. A super duper treat.

Muskan – Lali- Akki are busy attending XRBIA crash course in tele marketing and lead generation at their office along with other dealers. Currently the property market is very slack and expected response is not there, hence all these activities. All are very hopeful and expect good result. 

Sunday: Kashyap and I decided to visit market yard at 6.0 am. Kashyap wanted to take some photographs and I planned to buy some veges.  We ate Misal & Kanda Poha and loaded five bags with vegetable for the week. I tried my hand at making pickle with mummy as advisor. Next week result will be out. Till then I will keep my fingers crossed. When unloading I created a food item sculpture. Readers, I need your opinion on this. What do you see? Pic is attached here.

Bal Thackeray 1992
"I believe the country needs a dictatorship."

 

by P G Dodeja

7th October 2013 to 13th October 2013 [Dassera]

TV serial world is changing in Big way. Last Friday ‘24’ serial’s [A USA super duper hit show] hindi version started its run. It has excellent production value, great characterization, good camera work and crisp editing. Recently lots of serials have shown very good production value. 

There were the good old days when everyone watched ‘Chaya Geet’,  ‘Phool Khele hain Gulshan Gulshan’, ‘Hum Log’, ‘Buniyad’ and grand dad of all serials ‘Mahabharat’ & ‘Ramayana’. This is about 80’s and 90’s. In English, we used to love watching ‘Alfred Hitchcock Murder mystery’, ‘Here is Lucy’ and all time favorite ‘Star Trek’. Kids, along with Adults started getting hooked to 'Cartons' Turtle Ninja' 'Malgudi Days' Sundays was fixed for Bollywood Movie on DD, whatever movie was played! If anyone watched TV, he/she watched what everyone else watched. 

Things started to change when Ekta Kapor came and started ‘Sas Bhi Kabi Bahu Thee’. Ladies gulped down this trash like 'Amrut'. Number of channels exploded and everyone got addicted to TV. Difference being, ‘A’ will not watch what ‘B’ will like see. ‘Battle of remote’ control started earnestly and is still ragging.

What are we watching nowadays?

Bindiya-Dhawni-Muskan : ‘Savdhan India!’ Crime Drama

Muskan-Akshay: “bade Ache Lagte Hain’ Social Serial

Dhwani : “Big Boss” Reality Show

Kashyap-Myself: “English Movies”

Akshay : [RE-RE-Re Run of movies like Fast & Furious, Gone in 60 Seconds], Maharana Pratap

Chinky : “Mahadev” Religious

Rinky : Master Chef Cocking Show

Akshay-Myself: Arnav Goswami’s Debate on Times Now. News

Bindiya-Dhwani : “Kaun Banega Crore Pati” “Adalat” Crime Drama

We all [Except Muskan]: “24” Crime Thriller

Full Family: “Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma” “Bhabhi” “Gustakh Dil” Daily Soaps, “Kapil Sharma Comedy Nights” “Filmfare Awards”

Sat: Diwali is approaching. Dhawani is in Mumbai, trying to have Dhandiya Blast at Ghatkopar with Phaguni Pathak. But due to huge cyclone devastating east coast of India, it has started raining again! She is praying to 'Varun' Devta to spare Mumbai so that she can have a Dhandiya Day on Sunday.

Kashyap made purchased equipments for Wedding season. So I will be having blast at this Diwali, shooting everyone, specially 'Muskan' while testing new equipment.

I am trying to plan a post Diwali Dodeja Cousine picnic. Work in progress.

We had first conference arranged for XRBIA BA’s at parmar park. Navin Joshi, BA head was speaker. 40 people were invited and we had planned everything for 40 people. 12 turned up. Sopan told this is general trend, so do not worry. Only time will tell how productive it was.

Shyam-Ratna-Moni joined us along with Lali for south Indian dinner. We all had gala time after dinner, making ‘Toran’ for 4 homes, 4 cars, 3 two wheelers, 2 mandirs. 

This design was attempted by me. I being a humble person, will not say that my creation turned out better then this image.

Moni tried to create this art work. I am proud to say that she showed her talent in this field also. With help of imagination, we were able visualize her attempt as above design.

Muskan made this style of toran and won the prize of best toran competition. Her attempt to bribe judges was futile, as her competition was very weak.

Sun: It is Dassera Day. Big advertisement has come in Times for XRBIA. So we would be working for half day, and hope to have good ' Boni' on this day.

by P G Dodeja

30th September 2013 to 6th October 2013 [Akki Birthday Week]

 

Life has become very hectic for all of us. Muskan is active in Xrbia, Dhwani is busy with 2 schools job and Managing PRO work of Cutit Studio.  Kashyap is getting ready to face wedding season with multiple jobs confirmed and lined up, whereas Akshay & Lali are trying to kick start Xrbia. I am busy updating our organization. I have started talking care of even small management issues on war scale. So my days are flying and recently in all last 15 days I have to skip my power nap! I remember the Gulzars following line.

“Dil dhoondta hai fursat ke raat din”

Pinky has gone to Chennai for some major 'Pooja' arranged by Sanjay Nichani, her brother in remembrance of their father. 

This week is Akshays birthday week. On Friday Mama-Mammy came on flying visit, for tea party on Friday. Then on Saturday it was Massi Brigade visit i.e. Mona-Meena-Nanda with daughters. Hurried lunch and cake cutting was done.

Then Akshay – Muskan and Mummy left for Mumbai and massi Brigade returned to Mumbai. Now a days Mumbai-Pune trips have become like visit to suburbs.

Mummy will stay at Santacruz for a week.  Even in her 70'sMummy loves to visit her 'Maiyka'. And more so, her Bhabhi's love to invite her! Amazing. New generation should learn from this exchange of concern, love and care. But one thing is clear, 'Maiyka' is all time favorite place for  ladies. 

Manju is in Singapore, Pinky is in Chennai, Mummy is in Santacruze, Muskan in in Mumbai all ladies enjoying 'Maiyka' Visit. Bindiya's Maiyka people visited her in Pune! Maybe this is national 'Maiyka' visit week.

The creativity streak in Chawla kids is growing. We know about Kashyap & Pashu. Pinky has shown us some of her creativity in event management work she does. But the surprise is in this message send to her cousins inviting them for Akshay’s Birthday Party, which has lots of word play and right amount of fun element. Keep it up, girl.

An observation by Kashyap & myself. We agree that currently major change is happening in Indian TV world. I would elaborate on it, next week. Till then think about it.

 

by P G Dodeja