"डोन्ट वरी बी हॅपी " च्या निमित्ताने (14th Aug-2016)

मराठी नाटक ..... शेवटचं पाहून किमान ८-९ वर्षे उलटलेली. ते नाटक होतं "नेव्हर माईंड". त्या वेळेस आस्ताद काळे आणि प्राची मते चा उत्स्फ़ूर्त अभिनय आणि नाटकानंतर सर्व कलाकारांसोबत साधलेला छोटासा संवाद या अविस्मरणीय गोष्टी होत्या.

त्या नंतर देखील बरीच नाटकं पहाविशी वाटली पण सोबत कोणी नसल्यामुळे ती नाटके पहायला काही जमलं नाही.

परमेश्वराच्या क्रूपेने माझा व माझ्या "Choice" चा (अर्थात आमच्या सौ) चा "Choice" अगदी तंतोतंत जुळत असल्यामुळे वरील अडसर दूर झाला. पेपर सहज चाळताना ठरवलं की आज एखादं चांगलं नाटक पहायला जायचं म्हणजे जायचंच. "दिल दोस्ती दुनियादारी" ची भुरळ अजूनही तशीच होती म्हणून मला "अमर फोटो स्टूडिओ" पहायचं होतं किंवा जितू आणि गिरीजाचं "दोन स्पेशल" पहायचं होतं. पण शेवटी कौल मिळाला "डोंट वरी बी हॅपी" ला. हे नाटकसुद्धा मला पहायचं होतं. नशिब पण इतकं बलवत्तर की १०० वा प्रयोग म्हणून शो हाऊसफ़ुल होता तरी नेमकी २ तिकिटे शिल्लक होती जी अर्थातच आम्ही गटवली.


स्थळ: यशवंतराव चव्हाण नाट्यग्रूह- पुणे. पहिलीच भेट. अनेक गोष्टींन्ना. नाटकाचा १०० वा प्रयोग म्हणून तिथे जोरदार तयारी केली होती (किंवा आम्ही जोडीने पहायला गेलेलो हे पहिलंच नाटक होतं म्ह्णून कदाचित आमच्या स्वागताप्रित्यर्थ ती जय्यत तयारी  असावी !!) सनई व धोलकी वादन, गालीचा रांगोळी, प्रवेशद्वारापाशी सर्वांन्ना एक पेढा, स्त्रियांना गजरा तर पुरुषांना चाफ़्याचं फुल.
रांगोळी ही सुरेख ज्यामध्ये लेखक, दिग्दर्शक आणि निर्मात्याचं नाव अधोरेखीत केलेलं. नाट्यग्रूहात गेल्यावर लक्षात आलं की काही निवडक अपवाद वगळता, आम्ही दोघे बालवाडीचे विद्यार्थी वाटत होतो. पण तरीही पुणेरी चोखंदळ प्रेक्षकांसोबत नाटक पाहण्यातली मजा काही औरच!!!

नाटकात जेमतेम ३ पात्रे. उमेश, स्प्रूहा जोशी आणि मिहीर राजदा. नाटक सुरू झालं आणि बघता बघता उमेश कामत ते अक्षरश: एकटा खाऊ लागला. उमेशने जी एनर्जी दाखवली आहे सबंध नाटकात ती खरंच कौतूकास्पद आहे. सच्चे अभिनेते खुलतात ते केवळ रंगमंचावरच असं माझ स्पष्टं मत आहे. 
पण नंतर स्प्रूहाने पण अपेक्षेप्रमाने कमाल केली. मिहीरचा वावर देखील छान होता. त्याचं लेखनसुद्धा जितकं खूमासदार होतं तितकंच अभ्यासपूर्वक पण होतं. विषय गंभीर होता पण खूप छान हाताळला होता. आजच्या पिढीने तर हे नाटक नक्कीच पहायला हवं.





नाटकाव्यतिरिक्त अजूनही बर्याच लक्षात राहण्याजोग्या गोष्टी घडल्या जशा की मध्यंतरादरम्यान चहा आणि वडा पावसाठी केलेली "जंतोजेहेत" . .......... आपल्या 'सहचारीणीला' जे कधी बोलायचं धाडस नाही झालं ते संवाद नाटकात ऐकून अगदी खुर्चीवर उभं राहून जोर जोरात ताळ्या पिटाव्यात असे  अनेक प्रसंग ......... त्यावर बायकोचं लाडिकपणे (रागात) विचारणं की "मी अशी आहे का???"................. आमच्या पावटेगिरीकडे कोण्या चौकस पुणेकराचं नाटकापेक्षा जास्त लक्ष तर नाहीये ना याची सतत खात्री करुन घेणं...... मध्यंतरादर्म्यान आजूबाजूच्या मनाने तरुण असलेल्या लोकांच्या गप्पा आणि बरंच काही.

शेवटी नाटक संपलं. आम्ही उठलो निघायला तर तितक्यात समोर लक्ष गेलं की काही प्रेक्षक स्टेजच्या बाजूने ग्रीन रूम कडे प्रस्ठान करत होते. झालं !!!  "अग्निहोत्र" या सिरियलपासून स्प्रूहा आमची 'क्रश' आणि आता तिला थेट ग्रीन रूम मध्ये भेटण्याची संधी मिळते की काय या विचाराने पाऊले बॅक  स्टेजकडे वळू लागली (अर्थात बायकोच्या सम्म्तीनेच!!). तिथे लोकांची रांग लागली होती "ओम-ईशा" ला जवळून पहायला. 
"एका लग्नाची तिसरी गोष्टं" या मालिकेदर्म्यान आमचं 'प्रेमप्रकरण' सुरू होतं. मालिकेचा प्रवास आणि आमच्या प्रेमप्रकरणाचा प्रवास हा अगदी सारखाच सुरु होता. अजूनही ते दिवस आठवले की अंगावर 'ऊंदीर'...... आय मीन काटा येतो !!! असो.

त्यामुळे ही दोन्ही मंडळी आम्हाला जवळची होती. आम्ही जिथे ऊभे होतो त्या समोरच्या रुममधून एकदम स्प्रूहा प्रकट झाली आणि समोर प्रेक्षकांची रांग पाहून एकदम "ओह!!" असं म्हणून तिचं गोड स्माईल देत बाजूच्या रूम मध्ये जिथे उमेश होता तिथे पळून गेली. मग एक-एक करुन त्या रांगेतल्या प्रेक्षकांन्ना त्या रूम मध्ये सोडू लागले. गंम्मत म्हणजे प्रत्येकाला त्यांच्यासोबत आपला फोटो काढता येत होता जो त्यांचाच एक माणूस काढत होता. मी मूळत: लाजाळू (जरी स्प्रूहा समोर असली तरी!!). असा गोड प्रसंग माझा मलाच कॅप्चर करायला आवडतो कारण जितकं आत्मीयतेने आपण तो क्षण आपल्या कॅमेर्यात कैद करू तितकंच प्रेमाने दूसर कोणी करेल का अशी मला नेहमीच शंका राहते. म्हणून फोटो काढण्यसाठी मी सज्ज झालो. बायको स्प्रूहाशेजारी जाऊन थांबली आणि मला खुणावत होती त्यांच्यासोबत थांबायला. तितक्यात उमेश मला म्हणाला, "अरे, तुम्ही पण या ना, तो काढेल फोटो". 

वाह!! मनात वाटलं चला, आज तरी पुन्हा "सोनाली कुलकर्णी" सीन रिपीट नाही होनार. मग मी लागलीच उमेशच्या बाजूला जाऊन थांबलो. हे सारं सत्य आहे की स्वप्न हे कळायच्या आत समोरच्या मनुष्याने क्लिक चं बटन दाबलं आणि माझं सुरेख "हिमस्तंभ" रूप त्याने आमच्या कॅमेर्यात कैद केलं. शालेय जिवनात कोणाला "ऑड मॅन आऊट" जर अवघड जात असेल तर माझा हा दुर्लभ फोटो दाखविण्यात यावा ज्याने करून त्याला हा कनसेप्ट अगदी क्लिअर होईल!! असो.

या वेळी मी धाडस करून मनात जे आलं ते बोलंलोच (अर्थात उमेश ला बरं का !!). त्या वाक्यानंतर दोघांन्नी बायडीला शुभेच्छा दिल्या. हा प्रसंग कुठलाही कॅमेरा साठवून ठेवू शकत नाही. तो केवळ त्या मनांमध्ये कायमचा कोरला जातो.

केवढे हसलो आम्ही त्या दिवशी देवा!!! आणि काही सेंटी सीन्समध्ये बायकोकडे लक्षही ठेवावं लागत होतं (नेहमीप्रमाने) जेणे करून ती त्यामध्ये गुंतू नये.

मग तिथून निघण्यापूर्वी पुन्हा एकदा उरलेलं सेल्फ़ी/बॅकफ़ी सेशन झालं. त्यानंतर अजून एक गोष्ट लक्षात राहील ती म्हणजे "ती शेवटची धाव" आणि "ती कर्तबगारी" :)

बर्याच वर्षांनी नाट्यग्रूहाकडे पाउले वळली आणि काय तो आल्हाददायक अनुभव वाह!!!

तिथून निघताना मात्र आम्ही दोघे एकमेकांन्ना बजावत निघालो की 
"डोन्ट वरी बी हॅपी" !!!

पहले मेडल दिखाईयो फिर ईनाम पाईयो !!

Ugte Suraj ko to koi bhi salaam karta hai janaab....par kabhi uun anginat hunarpe bhi jara gaur farmaaiyega jinme Suraj banne ki kaabiliyat ho!!

Sindhu's success is definitely a proud moment for every Indian. However showering crores of rupees on her (along with Deepa and Sakshi) only because she won an Olympic medal...is it justifiable? Instead, invest that money judiciously on the basic requirements of all the participants sent for Olympics on time during their preparation phase.

This Indian mindset is observed right from our school days. In school, most of the teachers pay more attention towards their 'Bearer cheques' who are going to bring glory to their schools. The not so brilliant students are the real ones who require their special attention but why to invest efforts at meager salaries on 'duffers' is the mindset!! 

Somewhere, those needy students does sense this disparity. It magnifies after the results are out. Not only the concern board but school, local MLAs, parents keep on showering rewards, money and what not on the 'Gang Of Brilliance' but the average performers keep wondering about their survival in the cut-throat competition waiting ahead to devour them. Out of fear, some of them finish their own race before entering into it !!

The scene doesn't change when we grow up facing hardships. When a not so rich family struggles hard to meet their daily minimum requirements, hardly any relative bothers about them. Sensible people from such struggling family keep this anger alive in their heart and fight all the odds to become successful in life. They change their own fate. Then suddenly things change. All the relatives get attracted towards these 'Once Upon Poor People'. Suddenly the relatives find talent and words of praises for those successful strugglers.

Let's check the scene after this. Corporate World too maintains the same culture. You may give your heart, sweat and entire life for an organization sacrificing your personal life but none counts in front of your boss or the organization as a whole. This picture changes the moment you put down your papers. Suddenly you are treated more than the CEO of an organization just to save an important KRA of 'Attrition'. Suddenly you hear pleasant things about yourself which you were dying to hear since so many years working hard over there but never heard.

The absurd retention process offers you a minimal hike, a new post, possible relocation or an onsite chance for which you were never thought off when you were really slogging hard before you put down the papers.

At every strata of society, the same indifferent treatment of individuals is seen and nothing has ever changed and may not ever change.

China does an analysis on India about why the 2nd most populated nation cannot produce multiple medals in any of the Olympics......but India maintains their tradition of showering accolades and money only after a substantial output shown to them.

Who knows how many medals may have diverted their path only because required financial aid was not available/reached to the player when needed...but still fighters like Deepa Karmakar, Sakshi Malik rises above all the odds and force the World to take their notice.

2 days back, DNA (Daily News Analysis) showed a very good statistics of how much money is invested on universities. ...research work and on overall education system in India. At the same time, they showed how a very less amount is invested on Sports and its development. ...and still...hopes of winning many medals in international arena is a must.

C'mon Indians, be practical. First sow the seeds to reap the benefits. Don't water a tree only because it gave you sweet fruits. ....instead try to be there during every struggling phase/journey of that plant till it grows into a sweet fruit bearing tree!

Anyways hats-off to P.Gopichand for paving a way for 2nd Olympic medal for India....Congrats Sindhu!!!

Congrats Sakshi, Deepa and Aditi

We hope that tomorrow, when you will retire from your respective games, you will surely support a needy sportsperson when he/she really needs a real help rather than announcing free flight trips or a house of 1000 sq.feet or offering crores of rupees only when they win a medal for the country !!!

 

That 'Heartbroken Umbrella' At Signal !!

Travelling to office through a cab can be a fun ride or the most boring thing if the distance is too much and your co-passengers are not of 'Your types'.

While commuting to office from home and vice-versa, my cab has to pass through Lulla Nagar signal everyday.

'Signal'. It's not merely a halting spot but an open-air school if you are very observant. Especially during rainy season, you will definitely see/learn something new/weird thing at a signal. It may be a romantic chat/gestures between a couple on a bike standing next to your cab or a businessman talking on phone in his car in such a way that he is making that deal with all the people standing at that signal or a specially-abled person/kid tapping on the window of your car seeking some help or 'Signal Special Sellers' who sell small toys or car perfumes or tissue papers etc. You may also frequently witness arrogant citizens breaking traffic rules and still arguing with 'Mama' or sometimes the Mama is in mood to show his 'Mamagiri'!!

Coming back to Lulla Nagar signal. Similar to Facebook 'Likes', I bet this signal might have received maximum 'Curses' from the drivers as the duration (Red to Green and vice-versa) of this signal is merely 15 seconds (I am not joking!). So if you are lucky enough, then you may face the Red signal only once at this chowk or else you have to be a witness of the colour changing process at least 2-3 times. In the process, the face of the drivers also become Red ;)

Anyways, last month while going to office on a rainy evening, my cab waited at this signal. I was sitting next to the driver. There was a car standing ahead of our cab and an auto rickshaw ahead of that car. A signal is the only chance for the Signal Special Sellers to sell their stuff. One lady wearing worn clothes, had couple of nice umbrellas to sell. She approached to the auto rikshaw mentioned above. I was unable to see the customer sitting in the auto but soon caught hold of the sight due to their animated conversation. The customer from the auto was bargaining too much than the offered price by that lady. The lady kept pleading to give a certain amount but the customer didn't budge. Suddenly the signal turned green. The customer handed over few notes to the lady and the auto took off. The lady was screaming to give the desired amount and ran few steps behind the auto but the auto passed in a flash in front of that helpless lady. The poor soul kept looking at the notes with a great disappointment. Somehow she had found a customer but not a human being!

This incident made me think deeply. 
The customer from that auto had money to travel by an auto but couldn't afford the price of that umbrella which the lady quoted. 
Was that customer so poor than that lady? 
Didn't he/she felt inappropriate while giving lesser money while buying the umbrella and rudely going through the auto when the lady kept running behind it? 
Would that customer behave in the same way in a mall? 
Was that customer more needy than the poor lady?
Did that auto driver felt guilty of the overall process of carrying such a heartless passenger? Or was he made up of same genes as that of the customer? 
Will that customer ever realize his/her mistake while protecting himself/herself from rain using that umbrella? 
Does that lady ever got an amount as per MRP quoted by her?

World is moving so fast and so does time. Agreed, but is it a mandate to become insensitive to such an extent? I immediately discussed that incident with my driver who also noticed this scene. He also felt the wrong doing of that customer. The old man was of the same opinion as mine that people are becoming so ignorant towards others that they just see their own benefit. Feelings are getting lost day by day. If today's parents are developed in this way then I wonder what their offsprings of tomorrow would be like.

This same signal has many pot holes but the hole which this entire episode created on my mind will always remain and remind me of that unpleasant incident whenever I pass through this signal.....

A Different Dinner !!! (29th June-16)

In office, even though I like to go for dinner with my team mates, it seldom happens as my dinner time is never fixed. Yesterday, had a creative task in hand do due to which I happily delayed my dinner. The reason being I didn't want to break the flow of what I was doing.

Anyways, what I was doing is not that important as compared to what happened later. It was finally 11 p.m. when I went to canteen knowing that today too it will be a lone dinner. As I entered the canteen, I saw the regular site of all the chairs arranged on the tables (Laziness shuddered inside me). I looked back to see if any chair was still available to carry my weight for the next 1 hr (max) on floor and thankfully I found 2. And guess what, I found a company to dine with at such a late hour.

There was one of our security guard (Mr. Sachin) sitting in a corner whose dinner was about to get over. With a pleasant thought that I will get some company, I immediately joined him. He happily took some stuff from my tiffin box which I offered him. Then gradually, we shared a brief information about each other. He shared that he does a 12 hour job as a norm of their security agency. Sometimes we crib even if our shift of 9 hrs get extended by few minutes or hours but there is another World where 50% of the day are the actual working hours. Overall it was a nice talk with him.

By the time he was leaving, a housekeeping guy came in and was searching a chair. He saw that the only available chair on floor was near my table and for fraction of seconds, he was hesitant to join me. I realized his dilemma and immediately invited him to join me with a thought that the 2nd half of the dinner will also have a new company!

This person (forgot to ask his name) had just come from Pandharpur (holy place in Maharashtra) after attending a family function. So he shared the current situation of Pandharpur. He also had a very vast knowledge of various topics like climatic changes, its side effects, real estate, commercialization, IT Boom, nuances of construction business and much more. He happily shared his insights with me. He shared his few personal experiences too.

It was a perfect, surprising dinner for me. We dine with many people regularly, have lot of conversations, fun and it becomes a regular habit. However, dining sometimes with a different set of people gives you lot of strength, courage, knowledge, much needed positivity and a sense of belongingness.

While commuting home from office, the driver of my cab offered me Rs 10/- at a toll naka. He had borrowed Rs 10/- few days back from me at the same toll naka as that was the shortfall of the total toll. I had forgotten this small fact as well as the driver to whom I gave it (may be due to night shift effect or the ever growing power of my eyesight) but the driver was an honest person. He remembered it and tried to give it back which of course I didn't take from him.


A single day...... 3 different unknown people....... teaches you precious things of life which you actually expect in those who are around you.... and what's the cost of this teaching????
Just be a normal human being (without any designation/accent/inhibition) and treat them with respect....just like another human being!!

*** " बारिश की आस " ***

ए बारिश!! 

तू क्यूँ अक्सर 'हाईक' की तरह लापरवाह बन जाती हो
कब, कहाँ, कितना बरसोगी ये किसीसे जताती नहीं हो,
हम फ़िर भी तेरे लिये रोज, दिवानोंसे तरसते हैं
सब्जीयोंके भाव देख़कर, तेरी शैतानी पर हसते हैं!


तेरा आना, तेरा जाना, 'हाईक' की तरह ही, मेरे हाथोंमें नहीं हैं
मैं जितनी भी तेरी गुहार लगाउँ, तुझसे मिलना इतना आसान नहीं हैं,
तुझसे सालभर उम्मीदें लगाये रखता हूँ पर तेरी धोका देने की आदत जाती नहीं हैं
क्यूँ करती हो मुझसे ऐसा खिलवाड, क्या मेरी मन्नतें काम आती नहीं  हैं??


थक चुका हूँ तुझसे लगाकर निरंतर आशा जिसकी तब्दीली होती है घोर निराशा
बादल गरजते हैं, बिजली चमकती हैं पर तू न आये ये कैसा है तेरा रोजका तमाशा,
तू आये तो कुछ पल रोमँटीकली जी सकूँ वरना रोज ही है जिम्मेदारीयोंका बोझा
तू आये तो थोडा प्रक्रूति के करीब जा सकूँ वरना रोजही है ए.सी. में ठिठूरना


मौसम विभाग का अनूमान और 'हाईक लेटर' कभी किसीके समझमे आता नहीं
सपने तो ढेर सारे है पर तेरी गैरमौजूदगी के कारन, वो कभी किसीको बताता नहीं,
तू आती भी है तो बडे धीमे पाँव, मानों आहट सुननेसे पहले ही तुम नदारद
क्या तुझे कोई गिला-शिकवा नहीं, कभी तो ठैर जाया करो बनके मेरी अमानत


लगता है तुझे भी 'मॅनेजमेंटने' खरीद लिया है, जो तू अपनी मनमानी पर उतर आयी हैं
पर जरा गौरसे देख, तेरे ना होने पर न जाने कितने घर बिखरसे गये हैं,
अब आना ही हो, तो दो-चार कौडीयों के 'हाईक' की भाँती मत आना
ऐसे बरसो की न सिर्फ़ मैं बल्कि इस प्रूथ्वी का कोना-कोना भिगो देना

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  सुरज ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Happy 2nd Meeting Anniversary" !!

"Meeting"!! 

Till then, I associated this word only with boredom/Gyaan session in office. 

In personal life, meeting meant yet another session of 'Match-fixing' which was irritating as it always had a 'Formal' touch. 

The only time when this word excited me was when I used to plan a meet with my close friends after many years.

But all my notions related to a meeting got changed in just one single day. 

A 'Meeting' which I was damn sure won't last for more than half an hour turned out to be a 5.5 hrs 'Pleasant Experience / Extravaganza'. 

'Lord Shiva' residing at 'Omkareshwar Temple' showered his blessings. 'Gandharv' blessed our tummies and finally 'Mahatma Phule Museum' set the tone to bring out our common aesthetics sense. 

Time had finally struck the right cord in our lives.

We both realized that this particular 'Meeting' was certainly different than the age-old ones which we 'Encountered' and so does the opposite person. 

Very rarely it happens that you start trusting someone right from the 1st meeting itself. That trust composes a symphony of a beautiful relationship.

Sadly that 1st meeting had to end due to the scheduled 'Paid Night Walk' (night shift in office) but we both knew that there would be lot more to come in near future.

Post that meeting, nothing remained same. Happiness was calling us with its arms stretched for us.

A madness journey was just round the corner!!

After many successive filmy events (jiske details fir kabhi/holded back for my autobiography), that meeting was culminated finally into our 'Marriage'!

It's odd that I am writing this on our '2nd Meeting Anniversary' but it doesn't matter as whatever I penned till now has always found a sure shot reader in terms of my Wife.

So this is a small token of appreciation from my side to her for all the love she has showered on me till date...right from our 1st Meeting ;)

"Happy 2nd Meeting Anniversary Baayde" !!

कविता -" कुछ खो रहें हैं हम "

रंजिशसी कुछ होती है दिलको, जब नंगे पैरोंको कडी धूपमें खेलते देखता हूँ

हमें तो आजकल AC की ठंडी हवा भी रास नही आती

मनचाहे इत्तर है अलमारीमें पर न जाने गिली मिट्टी की वो पुरानी खुशबू की कमी, क्यूँ आजभी खलती है



ना 'DG Cam' का हमें इल्म था ना 'Selfie' की ललचाहट, यादें तो बस अपने आप दिलोंमें कैद हुआ करती थी 




वो बरगदके पेडोंके लटकते झूले हो या आसमानमें टुटते तारे, सारे आजभी सपनोंमे सैर करने चले आ जाते है

आजभी वो  तितलीयोंके पिछे लगाई दौड याद आती है.....वो गिलहरीयोंसे की हुई बातें याद आती है

वो बचपनकी सादगीही थी की गैरोंमेंभी अपनापन मिल ही जाता था वरना आज....... कुछ ना 
ही कहूँ तो बेहतर है







सब  कहते है बचपन बहुत सुहाना होता है..... शायद इसीलिए वो मौसम बीत जाने पर हर शक्स परेशानसा नजर आता है 


दिल आजभी बचपनकी उन गलीयारोंमेंही कहीं अटका पडा है और मैं पगला, बेफ़िजूलही जिम्मेदारियों का कंबल ओढे उसे फ़ुसलानेकी नाकामसी कोशिश रोजाना किए जा रहा हूँ


बस एक इल्तिजा है यारों, हम तो हमारा बचपन तकरिबन खो ही चूके है...... हो सके तो अनेवाली पिढी का बचपन संवारनेमे अभीसे जूट जाओ......क्या पता कल हमें हमारा खोया हुआ बचपन उन्हींसे दोबारा मिल जाये!!!