23rd Nov 2014 – 29th Nov 2014 [Dosti Ke Din]

 

Sun: Property division requires Saturday and Sunday should be kept as working days. During launching of a project you need to visit Site, do meetings, take training and work 14 hours a day to convert calls into booking.  Press & Distribution work is usual working days with Sunday as holiday. Cut-it studio working is very erratic and uncertain. For a week you are idle, with nothing to do and then suddenly for 4 days you work 18 hours a day to complete the project.  This, is in short working pattern of 21^st Century. Gone are the days when one can take paid holiday from work for 10 days, for long trip or wedding event. Or if you are cricket buff, 5 days holiday when cricket match was held at CCI, Mumbai. Inevitably every tom – dick – harry is working 24X7 due to mobile connectivity.

Lali nowadays believes that Stars do play a role in our life. For last so many weeks, first three days of week give us high hopes of major deals being completed, and next three days bring the sad news of those deals fizzling out. Keeping this statement in mind, I give below the recent activity details.

On Friday, Cut-it studio AV formed its own life, kept all of us on toes and kept even Akshay busy till it is delivered by 27^th. Xrbia pre-launch period was ending on Sunday, so again our office worked from 9.0 am O’clock to 9.30 pm, handling calls, planning site visits, making sale pitch and converting into bookings. Even Lali has to go for Site visit and all this pat good dividend.

Distribution section received major stock on Saturday from Virat Ind. Our C&F agency’s first delivery started this week, which kept our staff busy for 2 days.   

Press was after long time, busy on Sunday, Lali & Avi preparing quotations. It has been long time, when we have this opportunity of preparing elaborated quote. Let’s see, if that is approved and makes some good profit for us.  Best part keeping 21st century attitude in mind, all jobs are quick jobs, to be completed within a week.

Major Deal’s division was again busy, with ususal work, i.e. meetings, meetings and meetings1

In short, Lali’s contention that Stars do act gets more strength and we are left wondering, how much their impact?

Xrbia has spent  crores in launching of its 4 new projects. A major Exbhition is currently being held at Mumbai, BKC with collaboration of TOI. We are also receiving many enquiries due to this exposure in Pune. They have plan to conduct similar expo in Pune also, where we would be participating. It is extremely busy time and also wedding time.

On last count I collected 5 wedding cards. Relatives [via Bajaj & Sanjay Dodeja], friends [via Kashyap], business [via Paper & Property Business]. 

Meet Doshi, currently settled in Dubai, is ‘Langotya Yaar’ of Kashyap. I call him, little master. He is the last one to get married from Kashyap’s ‘Ghatkopar’ friends group, [School Friends] is now fully booked and cooked. I had fond memories of playing with them, making fool of myself and those 7/8 years old kids. Making them dance on Salman Khan number, playing computer games and taking some pictures. They have practically grown in front of me. Soon they will be visiting Pune with kids in tow. How time gathers momentum!

Sat: Pinakin, also belongs to same group, more so as our home was second home for him. Illa was second mother for Akshay and Bindiya was second mother for Pinakin. I must have scolded/ argued with Illa few times, and always for her strict handling of Pinakin. Akshay & Pinakin are today also thick friends, and more so, Kashyap & Dhwani have become buddy with Payal and Pinakin in big way. In some odd way, Kashyap is 'Ladla' of Illa.

Today i.e. 29^th Nov is birthday of Pinakin’s twins, born last year. If we had continued living in Sindhi building, I am sure, I would have had one impromptu party during this week. But then some you win, some you lose.  

 by P G Dodeja

16th Nov 2014 – 22nd Nov 2014 [Cock in making – Shooting Spree]

 

Sun: Akshay is turning into a good cook. Of all the hobbies which are running in our family this is very different. Most of our ladies are excellent cooks, so we male members never entered kitchen except to steal some ‘Tooks’. But Akshay enters only when he has to do some experiment in cooking.  There was few months phase after Hira has left us to get married and we were without maid for some time. During that period, Akshay had become expert in creating different type of Dosa’s or rolling out good ‘chapaties’.

On this Sunday night, he created an excellent Egg Bhurgee. The trick is to strike proper balance of various ingredients, like Masalas, Eggs, Simla Mirchi, Hing, Lasan, Butter etc. No one from his maternal side or paternal side has worked as cook or even shown some interest in cocking. Expect for my Mama, Chunilal, no male relative comes to my mind, interested in cocking. Akshay in this way is unique. We had tried to accept cocking challenge, in Mahableshwar in year 2012 trip. Lali – Myself – Avi and Akshay all got engrossed and tried some experiments, after that first try, we have given up, except for Akshay.

First Shot of the Day, Location Start of Expressway

Fri: On Thursday, fast track project was finalized by Kashyap. This requires, Shooting, Scripting, Animation, Editing and Narration Recording all to be done before Monday. So on Friday we made two teams. Kashyap – Myself and H1 [Harsheel / Harshad – Dop’s] and Xylo. Other team was made up of Akshay – Tejas – H2 [Harsheel / Harshad – Dop’s] – Joy Cab vehicle with drive. Kashyap & Myself at wheel in Xylo reached Mac-Donald at start of expressway from Mumbai side before sunrise. H1 was sleeping in his car, we woke him up and had breakfast at Mac-D.

Then started a trip of 300 km, crisscrossing expressway, shooting the route, starting at Expressway – Madap [Express City] – back to expressway – Khalapur Toll – Jhambur Project – Back to Expressway – Shomtane Phatta – Back to Expressway – Hinjewadi Road – Back to Expressway – Shomtane Phatta – again back to Expressway – then wrong turn – then U turn – Again at Toll Naka – Shomtane Phatta – NH4 to Dehu Road – Diversion to Chakan – Ending at Wanwadi at 8.30 pm. A nice round trip from 4.15 am to 8.30 pm.

For the first time ever, we used this slip of paper for Six times to crisscross the toll naka exit at Somantane Phatta.
So much so that in the end, toll employee just waved us off.   

We were taking copter shots on all locations. As soon as we assembled the copter, everywhere crowd will gather and wonder what is happening. Once copter took flight, heads will tilt toward sky, pointing fingers. A child like joy will appear on every face. Such is effect of new innovation!

Then we had attached Go Pro camera on Xylo windscreen, for Lapse Shot of the route, as back up plan. This in itself will draw attention. Luckily no authority stopped us and demanded some bribe. During Lunch, we kept car under our view, sitting in restaurant because all the equipment itself was valued more than value of the car. Mark 5D, Go Pro, Copter Cam, Sliders, Tripods, Canon 550, iMac and few additional lens.

Team B was covering the Sample Flats erected at Hingewadi Road, Jhambul & Chakan. Their work was technical, dry and serious job. Like setting lights, deciding angles, setting camera etc. Hard, laborious and tedious. One should be part of such activity to understand how much labor goes in making movies.

  Now my criticism will be less sever, as now I have first hand tiny bit experience of film making. Like 'Gagar Mei Sagar' experience.

by P G Dodeja

9th Nov 2014 – 15th Nov 2014 [Manohar – i.e. Manu]

 

Mon: Finally, all four kids have returned into the category of healthy children. This process of reports/ doctors visit / second opinion / more reports have ended. Post Diwali, all ‘Kharchi’ was spent on doctors, and more on reports. Hopefully, lesson will be learnt and proper food habits will develop. [This is directed specially to  Kashyap & Muskan]. Both have good constitution, so it becomes their responsibility to take care of God’s blessing.

Mahesh Radheshyam Bajaj, came down from Banglore for house hunting. He is planning to shift to Pune. He has not being able to make friends in Banglore and misses Pune life along with his friend circle. Secondly, Mumbai is close by, so he will be more socially active. He has made good money, but scarified in department of Social Life. He plans to shift by Jan 2015, otherwise will wait for 4 years, till his son clears his college education.

MEET THE DODEJA's

 Manohar Dodeja: One member of troika, Maa – Manu – Lali. 

Moni loves to hear our stories. I love to repeat them, Muskan - Dhwani - Deepa - Neha all love our colourful stories. The first time this Maa-Manu-Lali idea was put by Dada, when in 1976 we planned 30 days trip to North India. Dada called this as three musketeer trip, and I named it Maa-Manu-Lali trip. At that time I did not knew that this combination will stick together for decades.

My earliest memory of Manu is his mimicry of Dada Jashan! He will perch himself on a stool and give sermons in Dada style. This must be in late 60’s. During Pune vacation, our friendship grew, all due to Hindi movies. Our main activity during that period was seeing old Kishore Kumar & Dev Anands matinee show re-runs. Dev-Anand week will have his seven best movies show, every morning, daily change! A blessing for us. After Kashyap, Manu has capacity to see three movies in a day! He will repeat Dada Kondke’s Marathi movies also, just to give us company.

In mid 70’s, our parents gave us 1000/- rupees each, 30 days to roam around in India, wherever we wished. Of course, Dada and Daddy planned our itinerary, as is custom in our ‘Khandan’.  We took Pashchim express to Delhi, and rest of trip was mostly unplanned, spontaneous and on our whims, diverting from the planned itinerary given by our elders.

I cannot put in words that enthralling freedom, the sense of adventure, surprises, pure joy and fun. The lifelong bonding was developed among three of us on this trip and this got more strong with our Mahableshwar, Matheran, Char Dham trips.

He is very easy going, no hang ups and totally relaxed person. Manu as we call him, has one major defect from Dodeja family point of view. Dodeja's love food, but he loves to eats only Aaloo and few other items, if forced to. Lali specially tried to make him eat other varieties during our trip in 1976, but he failed, even Reshma has not being able to change him in big way, in this department.

We had planned few business ventures during vacation stay in Pune while growing up.  We will  munch Dosa’s etc in Supriya  Restaurant on MG Road and plan huge projects, but they did not get executed. Manu never develops deep, intense, strong relationships. 

Simply put, hassle free, jovial and nice company. Just keep him away from any serious talks and issues. No debate or discussions or arguments, please.       

 Sat: Suddenly I woke up, and was confused and at the same time surprised also. What is this, it is raining, has monsoon started? Groggy mind played some Nolan movie script; this is classic scene in Time Jump. I slept in November in Sacred Heart, Pune and am waking up in June in Simla hill station in North, after the gap of 7 months.  My mind in few seconds landed on terra firma, i.e. firm ground and realized, it is dark due to power failure, 4 O'clock in morning and dark clouds, raining due to cyclone in Arabic Sea, I am in B-7 Sacred Heart Town, and climate has turned cool due to wind factor and rains. I nudged Bindiya and told her, wake up, enjoy the excellent climate, in response she shrank herself more, under the blanket, and muttered, 'let me sleep'. I made tea for myself and enjoyed the Gods blessing to hilt. Gentle rain rattling on few tin shades, creating sweet back ground music, our open living room allows gentle free flow of fresh early morning breeze, as it has three sides open (when main door is kept open), with grand view of garden from balcony. A true blessing.  Can I fix a price for this?

 

by P G Dodeja

2nd Nov 2014 – 8th Nov 2014 [Anniversary week]

 

Thought of the week: Fundamentally, we all want fulfillment. Money, Power, Position, Pleasure are only the means for fulfillment. Problems start when these means become more important than fundamental objective.

Mon: Tulsi Vivah: I was invited to the wedding of Tulsi. No, she is not a heroine of any TV serial, made by Balaji. I am speaking about ‘Tulsi’ Plant in Kashyap’s Balcony! We Indians have many varying customs and rituals, but this takes the cake. A plant’s wedding that also without her ‘Dulha’.  When I asked Muskan, ‘Where is Dulha?’ she had no reply, she even was unaware of who is her Dulha. I asked her one more question, What is funda behind this? A big smile and fluttering of eye lashes was her reply.

Mummy also invited every one for ‘Tulsi’ wedding at KK. Finally my query was solved by Shyam Uncle, he said, Tulsi’s husband is Vishnu Bhagwan! In other words she is ‘Sautan’ of Laxmi Devi.

1st planned photo clicked on our honeymoon, 11th Nov 1979, Nainital

Fri: 7^th Nov, one more wedding anniversary! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO SHOBHA & LAL ALSO.

35 years seemed long time, when we were young, but today, I feel passing of time is more or less based on your mental state than anything else, many trips with Bindiya, [Like Nainital, Mahableshwar, Phalgam, Vaishnav Devi, Ahemdabad, Baroda, Goa, Ooty etc] seem to have happened in very near past, 

Whereas some incidents which I can not mention or name here, appear to have happened yesterday, but the calendar says, this happened long back. Then something which took place yesterday, gives you feeling that this is replay of your previous ‘janam’s’ incident.. Time really plays and acts on your mind, so. play safe and stick to what your calendar says or what my weekly blog notes. hee..hee..hee...hee .

 Now, can you imagine Bindiya who is so sober, serious, no nonsense person today, enjoyed our Mumbai - Pune trips on Yezdi motor cycle, This was in December 1979. How I wish, we had digital cameras in that era, I would have accumulated Lakhs of pictures. This was before expressway era at Khandala Ghats,

One more picture from decades old pitara.

   

Quiz : This is one more rare picture. Three people I want you to identify are: 1: shyamlal bathija 2: Guli Bajaj 3: Lalchand bathija. For Rest of them, I will give the names only, they are no more with us.. 

They are: grandparents Lokram and kamla, their children, Bhagwan, Bansider, Rani and Raju. Durgha bhabi and Harilal Rohra.

Sat: My lips are sealed, somehow these words were typed out by my figures. This is influce of reading spy thrillers. To understand make sentances and a gist of knowledge will fall in your lap. The words are:

First / OK / HUF  / 19:20  / Yes = Z-1 / z+(abc*42)-1 / 31 v/s 36 / Blunder / 

 

by P G Dodeja

27th Oct 2014 – 2nd Nov 2014 [New Chapter Opens]

 

Meet the Dodeja’s [Honest but some sugar coated synopsis] 

 Savita Haresh Kukreja, daughter of Daya-Prahlad Dodeja

Savita Kukreja: Mother of Bubli and Jayu married to Haresh Kukreja, is a really a great Bubli Person, female version of Chulbul Pandey. Short in height [Like her mother], she is constantly speaking machine with lot of energy and concern for all and yes, always smiling, enjoying life. And one rarity in her is that she is only professional in family of Lokram Dodeja, that also a Doctor! In the era, when SSC was considered as pinnacle of education in our family, she scaled heights and against family opinion of wasting her time in studies, she completed medicine. Among all 19 cousins she is only one highly educated.

She never carries the burdens of past. Lives in present, enjoys present.

This week is listed as sick week. Well, not the way you think. Muskan, Akshay, Dhwani and Kashyap all visited doctors for illness like fever, body ach, infection, virus!!!!! Kashyap is on 5 days course of 2 injections daily. Muskan has tried many antibiotics, Akshay is avoiding medicine and trying to recover without help of pills. Avi had mild fever attack also, so he is also taking pills.

Climate is fluctuating by 10 or more degree. Hot then cold, then again moderate temperatures are affecting health. This is first time I saw Muskan sitting at home for full day, taking rest. She exclaimed that this has being the most slow week of her married life! A record. I made a loaded comment ‘this is prelude to your next stage of life’, Get used to it.

Due to Bapuji’s recent death, Dhwani is with her mother, consoling her and taking rest in Mumbai. Why? Diwali was very hectic, very surprising and full of news. Meet Doshi’s [Kashyap’s Langotia Yaar of Ghatkopar] wedding preparations are going on, and his wedding will be like Sharat wedding for Kashyap, they are so close.

 Muskan is monitoring Dhwani as well as brother Kunal’s health [who is also hospitalized for infections!], via mobile.  

  Shyam Uncle has finally made up his mind to shift his main base to Pune. He has freed himself from Sindhuwadi’s management work. As he is very active person, a daily routine activity of few hours will for sure make him Pune citizen.

Rarest of Rare Picture. Except for kid in coat sitting, rest of them are no more in this world. I can make out our elders by looking at their grand children! Identify six kids. Girl sitting in saree was Gopi, Kanyalal Dodeja daughter, whom most of us have hardly seen, as she expired in early 70's. But 5 boys can be identified, give it a try.

Rare Picture. Five Sons of Pessumal Dodeja with Family and Parvati Bhabhi [Buo] 

Quiz Answer of past week. The photograph was taken during mid 60’s trip by MRX 8025, Fait, to South India. The photographer is  Dad. In picture are myself, Lali, Bansi Uncle and Sanjay.

 

by P G Dodeja