Video Wednesday: 5 Awesome Ads starring Ranveer Singh

I as hunted around for today’s video to share I stumbled upon Ranveer Singh’s latest ad for Akshaye Patra. This guy has a wacky sense of humour, I really like him. Good looks, an cheeky smile, stunning body, brains and a witty sense of humour is an excellent combination in a man. :D

After one, I went on a hunt looking for more ads done by Ranveer Singh. He’s been doing some really wacky and weird ads lately. Here’s 5 ads I really liked.

This one’s killer. Until I saw this one I used to think only his Durex ad was cheesy. :P



 

And here’s the much talked about #DoTheRex ad. Ah ha ha ha ha, ah ha ha ha aha… Do The Rex. :P



 

And another performance for Ching’s.



 

This guy is a good talker too. Like here in Chup - The Durex MTV Rex Talk



 

And finally the ad that started it all. Ranveer Singh's latest - India Ke Hunger Ki Bajao.



 

I loved all these ads of his but my favourite is the RUPA Frontline one. It doesn't get cheesier than that. :P What's your favourite?

 

P.S. – Day Twenty-Three of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge.

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Video Wednesday: Why Mutts are Better in Dogs

Most people want dogs with a breed. Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Cockers, Boxers and such are hot favourites but few understand the history of breeds and its side effects.

Dogs were quite like mongrel-wolves until man interfered. Man started to tweak the mongrel to create dogs that looked and did specific things. Each breed had a purpose. Some were retrievers, others hounds, some herders, others sniffers, and so on.

Over the years the purpose of breeds has been lost. Today breeds matter only in terms of looks and behaviour. And breeding or inbreeding has caused trouble.

Let me explain, quite like humans, dogs are a large group made up of many family trees. Each breed is a family. When you mate repeatedly inside the family, there are health issues and defects seen over generations.

It’s the side effects of breeding and we are seeing now. For example hip displacia is now very common in labradors and retrievers. And at the rate we are going, it will soon be a breed characteristic, and a very painful incurable one at that.

Anyway… My angst about breeds and breeding is a story for another day. For now, here’s Adam of College Humour who explains breeding and why mutts are better.



What do you think? Are you a breed fan?


 
P.S. – Day Sixteen of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge.

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Video Wednesday: Becoming a Youtuber

Youtube is turning out to be quite a medium for video consumption and I’m slowly getting sucked in. I’m not much of a Youtuber but I’m trying to experience it and see if I like it.

One of the key criteria for this is enjoyment. Apart from the movies I watch online, my other Youtube consumption also has to be fun. That means I need to follow the right channels so I get the right goods.

In an attempt to curate and cull my subscription list I have been going through the videos the channels I subscribe to post. This process is going to take a while but the upside is that off and on I come across a well done video or short film.

Here’s two short films I came across and enjoyed. One’s the sweet cute love story types, the classic story most of our Bollywood movies are build on. The other is a thriller of which I didn’t see the end coming.

Enjoy...

 

The Most Beautiful Thing

 



 

A Missing Housewife

 



 

I’m on a search to find good Youtube channels for short films. Have recommendations? Please, let me know in comments.

 
P.S. – Day Nine of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge.

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Video Wednesday: Gift by Zsemberi Zsófia

I started Video Wednesday to share videos I come across. These are usually videos what made me sit up and think, left me in splits or changed life itself.

I came across this video a couple of days ago and watching it left me in tears. Having dogs and loving them made me want to shake up the father and mother in the video.

I believe everyone should be allowed to bring up their child or dog as they see fit. But dumping your dog because - he does not fit the bill, does not meet your expectations, is a lot of work, is unmanageable, is sick or simply isn’t what you had thought he would be - is unacceptable.

Would you dump your child because he or she is inconvenient? A dog is not different from a child. Your dog is a part of your family. Don't dump him or her.



Makes you want to hug your dogs tight, doesn’t it? :? Did you like this Video Wednesday's find?

 
P.S. - Day Two of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge.

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Video Wednesday: Qissa-e-Parsi | The Parsi Story

Parsi’s are an integral part of Indian society. They may have come to India only in the 8th and 10th Century but yet they have become a part of the fabric of this country.

Legend has it that when Parsi’s first came to India and asked King Jadhav Rana of Gujarat for permission to settle in his kingdom, he asked them how they would live here in the midst of people who were not their own, not like them at all.

The leader of he Parsi’s asked for a bowl of milk and sugar. When these were given to him, he mixed the sugar in the milk and offered it to the King, asking him to separate the two. The King looked at him perplexed and he explained - ‘Your people are like milk and we Parsi’s are like sugar. We will become part of your people and add sweetness to your society.'

Even today, this seems to hold true. Anyone who knows Parsi’s or has Parsi friends will vouch for the wonderful people they are, sweet natured, kind, gentle and with an great sense of humour. They are people who are not just great with numbers but also good at heart.

I came across a video about them them the other day and couldn’t help but smile with fond memories of my Parsi friends. Here’s to some wonderful Parsi people I’m met and dear friends I’ve made over the years. Salute.

http://youtu.be/U-hT10XKZbA

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Video Wednesday: It’s Women’s Day this week people!

It’s Women’s Day this week so I’m keeping with the theme. :D Here’s some videos what hover around the topic “Women”.

 

Youtube is celebrating International Women’s Day with the global #DearMe initiative. What if you could go back in time and give advise to your younger you? What would you say?

They’ve already got quite a few videos from amazing women. Here’s the Highlight Reel...

http://youtu.be/AbqT_ubkT0Y

 

Why should #LikeaGirl be an Insult?

http://youtu.be/XjJQBjWYDTs

 

Real Beauty? How we see ourselves or how others see us?

http://youtu.be/XpaOjMXyJGk

 

It’s been a while since a friend first led me to Beyonce’s 'If I Were A Boy'. The song has stayed with me over time and still makes me think. Do we life in an equal world? This is one music video you must watch!

http://youtu.be/AWpsOqh8q0M

 

Continuing with the question of equality… #IsLaundryOnlyAWomansJob?

http://youtu.be/w9w0_4M8bPs

 

To all those women achievers… BTW did you know there are 14 self-made women billionaires in the world today and 7 of those are in China?

http://youtu.be/eaf_X9qSeVY

 

And this one I just had to put in coz she just keeps saying… Vagina, vagina, vagina… :P

http://youtu.be/FCsEJZWqRMQ

 

So, that’s my list for International Women’s Day. Do you have any videos to add? What plans for Sunday 8th March?

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Video Wednesday: The AIB Knockout Controversy

I had meant to do a Video Wednesday on AIB’s Knockout / Roast when it came out on Jan 28 2015 but, before I knew it, it disappeared from Youtube. However it’s up there on DailyMotion, so here goes...

http://dai.ly/x2fwnv3

Almost all Indians in India and world over have see the Roast, either on Youtube almost as soon as it came out or on Torrents after those squirmy spineless people who claim to be protecting our culture forced AIB to take it down. I don’t see these people coming forward to protect women, safeguard children’s rights or in any other critical issues.

Anyway this is not a bitching post. And neither is it a treatise on the language used in the show. Considering how easily and nonchalantly we Indian used abusive words, making a brouhaha about it is plain silly and stupid.

I enjoyed the show. I think it’s great that groups like AIB break convention and do something novel. This event was a milestone in the history of Indian Comedy. There’s also something to be said of the courage shown by Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor. It’s not easy to stand up there and let your ass be taken while a million people watch. Agreed all publicity is good publicity but still. I personally think all those who participated, including the audience were awesome sports.

I had planned to do a compilation of videos about the AIB Knockout - quips, comments, statements and such for this post. But in all my searching, all that I found was not worthy of sharing. Everyone has a point to make or an opinion. This is fine it’s like freedom of speech [freedom of opinion, you know :D ] but how can you have an opinion on something you don’t know about, something you haven’t watched? And how can all reactions be 'shocking'??

http://youtu.be/MHrmQJWpy8U

Aamir Khan made a 6 minute statement about the AIB Knockout and a lot has been talked about it. Almost all I have heard is not in favour of Aamir ( even Russell Peters told him to shut up), but on listening to him all I noticed was a man taking a neutral stance. He is on both sides, supporting both sides and finding fault with both. And most importantly (like he repeatedly says) he hasn’t watch the show!

http://youtu.be/S1n3f1opuWI

The media seems to have hounded people to get a byte. A lot of those people have not seen the Roast, not heard of the Roast or just seen a clip. Really! What authority do they have to comment. Good to see AB and a few others take the stand of "I didn’t see so I won’t comment".

http://youtu.be/vS1tGm-qncY

Rakhi Savant of course took the cake with her opinion in the matter. “The show has been dubbed. Sab ne unke sath chitting ki hai." she says. :P

But all jokes aside, I think Old Delhi Films group said it best with their video about “Things which are more OFFENSIVE than AIB Knockout”.

http://youtu.be/U7mMCJdh9VI

What did you think of the roast? What I’m more interested in is, what did you think of the Roast Controversy?? ;)

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Video Wednesday: 50 Shades of Grey

50 Shades of Grey the movie releases this Valentine’s Day. And this is one book I haven't read. It’s actually on my DNF list! Well, I couldn’t get past the first 5 pages.

I knew before I started, that the book was erotica and that’s not my genre. I’m not saying I don’t read it but I don’t like it so much. I guess I can take only so much of porn. :D

Anyway like I was saying I started out knowing it was erotica, I expected the BDSM sex scenes but I quit before page 5, before the erotica made an appearance. It wasn’t the genre that didn’t work for me, it was just the book.

Considering 50 Shades is Twilight fan fiction, maybe that explains it, since even Twilight didn’t work for me. Twilight was another DNF.

And if you ask me, DNF’s are best watched as movies. That way you waste only 2 hours, get the gist and don’t feel very guilty. ;)

So here’s the trailer of 50 Shades.
http://youtu.be/SfZWFDs0LxA

While looking around for the trailers, I came across some takes to the trailers. Here you go…

Superwoman’s Parents Reaction to the Trailer
http://youtu.be/XHtlgJSJ8eA

React did a video on Elders reaction to Fifty Shades of Grey. Here’s the bonus video of it, you can see the full one on their channel.
http://youtu.be/4fq6fBUS9sA?list=UUHEf6T_gVq4tlW5i91ESiWg

I enjoyed these and thought they were funny, Che though disagrees. Guess we have different senses of humour! :P What did you think of them? Funny at all?

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Video Wednesday: The BSF DareDevil Motorcycle Show

It was republic day this week and it was after years that we watched the Republic Day parade at Rajpath on DD this year. As mix of tradition and technology, we watched it all on YouTube while it was Live Streaming from DD. :D

There were a lot of beautiful performances, partly I think thanks to the desire to impress Obama but what stood out for me were the BSF DareDevils. These guys I have seen over the years doing stunts on motorcycles that defy the eye and mind, yet I’ve never tired of them.

I seem to remember the DareDevils motorcycles being Royal Enfields since forever. However as a child I didn’t see the difference between an RE or any other bike. But having ridden a Royal Enfield for some years myself, I have an attachment with RE’s now and seeing them being used in such amazing ways, makes me all warm inside with a big smile on my face.

Motorcycle stunts aren’t easy. I should know, I’m terrified of even letting go of the handlebar, forget standing up on the bike and other such stuff. :D So, this week here’s to those DareDevils, their courage and the hours of practice they must put in to pull off such amazing feats.

http://youtu.be/pnv7nWxaZII

Stunts by the BSF DareDevils Team in the 2014 Republic Day Parade
http://youtu.be/nIFkaHWMjPI

The 2013 Republic Day Parade stunts by BSF DareDevils
http://youtu.be/dKHXGdFDexw

Here’s another where these guys have broken world records!
http://youtu.be/aVxOwFwC98E

There were some new stunts this year, but new or old they were all wow ones. But my favourites were seeing the guy sitting sidesaddle working on a laptop, and other one where the rider controlled the bike standing on top of a ladder.

Which one’s did you like the most?

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Video Wednesday: PanCake Art

Pancake Art Shark by Brek Nebel

Thanks to WhatsApp I’ve been getting some awesome videos to watch. Recently Pancake Art has been doing the rounds and I saw these two cool videos, one where this guy creates various apes and monkeys and another with pancakes that look like the Beatles. Here they are -

http://youtu.be/KR2ibLNW_wo

http://youtu.be/9rQNsOfkV_Q

That got me wanting to see if there was more out there. And guess what, I found lots of them…

The ones above are by Nathan Shields and he’s awesome. You can check out more on Nathan’s site SaiPanCakes.com or his Youtube channel and tell him who to pancake next. :D

But Nathan isn’t the only one out there. Jim makes 3D pancake art. Check out his Golden Gate Bridge.

http://youtu.be/BPzu3Whe4xo

Then there’s the Pancake-Designer with this Simpson that even behaves like the real one. :P

http://youtu.be/fAkjAzvuDH8

Check out Miss Recipe’s intricate lacework, birds and flowers…

http://youtu.be/7Lun1umfGHk

And last but not the least is Jenni Price who’s Teaching the Bible one Art Pancake at a Time.

http://youtu.be/cKBPWZu8wIE

And if you are wanting to try it out, here’s Kirby and Charlie trying their hand out at it. It’s a good tutorial.

http://youtu.be/GMsN-6i90wU

If your wondering about the shark right at the top, go check out Brek Nebel's art on his Tumblr blog. Man oh man! He Rocks!

This whole thing about pan cake art is really cool when you think its and art form and yet its food! :D  I’ve got to try this with dosa batter!

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Video Wednesday: Namma Bengaluru

I’ve lived my entire life in this city, and that’s not a short span any more; it’s 35 years! I’ve seen this city change, evolve, get modern, lose it’s innocence, you name it.

Bengaluru is hardly the Bangalore I knew and spent my childhood in, and yet it still has hidden treasures that take you back in time to the city of old.

While so much is changing here, some things are still the same, or at least striving to stay the same, like ‘swalpa adjust maadi’. :D These are not just three words, they are the attitude of this city and well, I hope that doesn’t change.

Enough of the nostalgia, here’s the video that got me all nostalgic. ;) The Fatafat Lungi Production guys have put together a Bangalorean version of #ShitPeopleSay. Enjoi!

If you’re not a Bangalorean or don’t speak great Kannada like me, the video has subtitles, just choose the option at the bottom.

http://youtu.be/ezC9b_3JXwI

I laughed my ass off at the louwu, mauz, oota aitha, nice bath, go ya, play off John Denver and lastly the awesome way to learn the Bilahari raga. :D What stood out for you?

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Video Wednesday: My Favourite Top Viral Videos of 2014

 

I came across Trak.in's list of Top 10 Indian Viral Videos of 2014 the other day and took some time out to watch. I was happy to see that some I had already seen and liked. Tastes are getting better! :D

Here’s the ones I really liked out of the 10 Trak.in listed.

 

AIB: Alia Bhatt: Genius of the Year

This one I talked about sometime back too. It's an super neat way to get back at all those talking down Alia.

http://youtu.be/pfHxl46KyZM



 

Nescafe’s Stuttering Comedian Ad

I real like this ad not only for it’s humour but also for bringing the difficulties someone with speaking difficulty faces. I really like the way they have put across the idea that even handicaps can become strengths.

http://youtu.be/u1whG-9BjsQ



 

The Seatbelt Crew

This one came a while back and had me splits. It does a lot of things - entertains, educates about wearing the seatbelt, and puts hijras in a new nice light for a change.

http://youtu.be/muCU6_Y_Kyo



 

Sex Education In India

This is a good one about the state of sex education in India schools today. The Govt. wants to take India forward in leaps and bounds when it come to technology but what about education, especially sex education. :D
Don’t miss the chapters in the text book! ;)

http://youtu.be/EiIxkOah09E

 

The others are good too but they didn’t stand out for me and the Modi Aap Ki Adalat Interview and The Sunny Leone Kapil Sharma Show definitely didn't. But you can check them out here - The Top 10 Indian Viral Videos of 2014.

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Video Wednesday: Nostalgia

One of my favourite places to travel is down Memory Lane. I’m not making a wise crack, I really mean it. Childhood is a beautiful place now that I look back. Of course when I was a child I wanted to be all grown up. :D

I have so many memories of those times, the things we ate, watched, played, felt, saw, experienced,… When I look back it seems the world is changed and so different from the one I knew. (And yet at most times the only world I know is the one I live in.)

In keeping with the feeling of nostalgia I’m enveloped in, here are couple of videos of things from my childhood. But first a list of 20 things I remember (partly thanks to the videos :D), things that make me smile; smile wide.

1. pepsi colas


2. Mario bros


3. Chandamama magazine


4. covering school books with brown paper


5. going to the neighbours for phone calls


6. Malgudi days


7. Brainvita


8. Air Mail


9. fake Phantom cigarettes


10. Bajaj ads not just of scooters but also bulbs


11. the Surabhi program


12. the rubberband game


13. hopskotch


14. Amul icecream


15. spinning tops


16. piggy banks


17. T-series tapes


18. Hero ink pens


19. Nataraj HB pencils


20. Goldspot

 

The 'Jab Bachche They' advertisement by Paper Boat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJIrU9jZo4M

 

Woh Din - A tribute to the 90's by EmotionalFulls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ1zZ8VaN7M

 

Old 90's INDIAN Ads on DoorDarshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x2wA6jQEB0

All nostalgic? The videos make you all gooey and soft inside, don't they? What do you remember from your childhood? How many things do you associate with from my list? How many can you list? ;)

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Video Wednesday: Rats, Socks, Cameras and Letters

I’ve come across a few really nice short films recently. Not sure if these can be called films, or are they just clips? Well, no matter what, each of them has made an impression - some funny, some touching, others baffling, stunning and what not.

One thing though common to all is that watching the video led me to hit the Subscribe button on Youtube. Let me know if you reacted the same way after watching them. :D

Khat by Fully Emotional

A grandfathers advise to his new born grandson in a letter. Sounds cliched but I listened to it twice and want to keep coming back repeatedly, for it’s not often that you hear such sound advise.

http://youtu.be/h_yJ0wfRiIY


Kamera by Purani Dilli Talkies

A little boy aspires to be someone who will put smiles on peoples faces. Then one day he finds a camera in the land fill and life is never the same again.

http://youtu.be/Y0nPCc1ZpIY


“OP” Stop Smelling Your Socks by Sriram Dalton

Remember I said baffling at the start. This is the video that has be baffled. Watch it to know why. :D

http://youtu.be/VVQP-IpZZaU


Eli - A Sexy Tale by Black Money Productions

This one I saw sometime back on a recommendation by Che. It’s in Tamil but does have subtitles. Worth the watch with an awesome end but to really get it, you have to follow the story!

http://youtu.be/cm_-F3owiP0

So those are my selections for this week. Have you watched anything interesting recently? Any recommendations?

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Video Wednesday: Emma Watson and the HeForShe Campaign

Along with the rest of the world I first came across Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone where she played Hermione Granger. Of the three main characters I remember attaching more to Hermione more than the others. I guess this was a carry forward from the books but she struck a chord.

Over the years I watched her through the Harry Potter series and to a large extent wrote her off like I do most child artists. I usually expect child artists to grow up and become snooty mediocre actors. But Emma Watson proved me wrong.

Her choice of movies after Harry Potter had me sit up and notice her as a an intelligent woman. (If you haven’t seen 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower’, you should.) Her life off the screen had me in awe as she studied and followed the dreams she had before and outside of Harry Potter. She did get blinded by Hollywood.

Then I came across this… Her speech at the UN when introducing the HeForShe Campaign. It isn’t just the campaign that is beautiful, as I listen to her talk and I realise that here is a woman to reckon with, a girl who has grown up into a woman who knows she has the power to be heard and uses it to change the world.

The word ‘feminist’ has become a negative one in the last few years, a word most women do not want to associate with. Emma in her speech made me proud of being a feminist by reminding me of all it means and all that it isn’t. Kudos Miss Watson for reminding me that I'm a feminist and proud!

http://youtu.be/gkjW9PZBRfk

This video is an excellent follow to the video I shared earlier about gender policing and the work the organisation No Country for Women is doing. Emma Watson is the UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador and will advocate for the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign in promoting gender equality.
Here’s what she had to say about her about her appointment.

“Being asked to serve as UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador is truly humbling. The chance to make a real difference is not an opportunity that everyone is given and is one I have no intention of taking lightly. Women’s rights are something so inextricably linked with who I am, so deeply personal and rooted in my life that I can’t imagine an opportunity more exciting. I still have so much to learn, but as I progress I hope to bring more of my individual knowledge, experience and awareness to this role.”

What do you think of Emma Watson's speech? The HeForShe campaign?

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Video Wednesday: Awesome Threesome

I’ve been away from my blog again. And it’s been the same reasons, I’ve been ill with a blaady common cold for a couple of months now and it’s just making life tedious and then there is also that part of me struggling to write because I can’t seem to make it all fall into place. I can’t seem to find the perfect answer for what my blog is about.

Anyway, those thoughts are for another post. Video Wednesday is one of my favoured posts because I want to share and talk about so many videos I come across and Facebook is too short lived a platform for that.

So without much further ado… Here’s some videos I’ve come across recently that struck a chord…

Not a simple hula hoop…

http://youtu.be/EGuvNtS5kb8

Rachael Lust is a 26-year old mom from Ohio who started hooping first in 2011. Today she is quite a phenomenon, and if you've watched the video you know why. :)
Rachael Lust on Facebook


Push Button to Add Drama

http://youtu.be/316AzLYfAzw

TNT a TV channel in Belgium launched themselves by placing a big red push button on an average Flemish square of an average Flemish town. And when that button gets pushed, full drama happens. :D

Day in the life of India

http://youtu.be/8qcjfCrkaAs

This hilarious yet thought proving film by Boot Polissh Films has won the won a Gold at the Spike Asia 2011. Directed By: Shujaat Saudagar Written By: Swati Bhattacharya Actress: Paromita Vohra
Boot Polissh Films on Facebook

Which one did you like the most of the three?
Have you come across some simply awesome videos recently?

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Video Wednesday: Because Rape is NOT Always About Sex

I had come across this documentary some time back and I remember it making me sit up. I did the usual things we do when we find things we like online; I shared it on various networks and forgot about it soon after. Then while generally surfing yesterday I found it again, only this time I found it on the makers page.

Amrit Vatsa has an interesting blog that caught my eye. He tell stories but not just in words, he tell video stories of people in all of three minutes, well mostly 3 minutes. :) He has quite a collection of 3 minute stories and you should definitely check them out. But this post isn't about that.

This post is about a story he told a while back, a story about how rape is not always about sex. Shreena and Ria have a powerful message to spread, and it is one I really like as it is about equality in it's true sense. Every time women seem to fight for equality, we are trying to get what men already have, or do what men are already allowed.

As an idea that has disturbed me for a long time. I don't want to constantly strive to be a man or even better than a man. I just want to be. I want to do what I want to do; not because I have to prove a point but because it make me happy. I don't want to be a tom-boy coz I'm I am boyish. I don't want to ride bikes because men do it, or travel alone because men can do it. I want to do all I do because I simply want to. This applies to even such mundane things as cooking and cleaning!

It's a slightly convoluted idea but there in for me lies equality. As a child my parents never told me I couldn't do something because I was a girl. I was allowed to do everything my brother did and more but it wasn't as competition of girl vs boy. There were things I was told that I was not allowed but never because I was a girl. Well, so I remember it, or maybe it was just me fighting to be me and not be labeled a girl.

So why am I sharing this video, well, because I want to push Shreena's and Ria's idea, I want equality for boys and girls, men and women. I'd like a world where we can just be who we are without having to fit into molds, or live up to norms of how we should be. I want to remove the definitions of man and woman and what each is allowed and not allowed. I want to see men cry openly without shame and women scratch their crotch in public without getting scorned. :D

http://vimeo.com/102474256

If the above video does not show up for you, you can click and see it on Amrit Vatsa's Vimeo channel.

Shreena Thakore, Ria Vaidya, and Rishabh Singh run the campaign No Country For Women with the intention "to change the problematic attitude of a country toward half of its population". They are fighting for gender equality and the removal of gender-based policing, violence and discrimination. Their work involves a lot of workshops across schools and colleges, distribution of written and audio-visual material online, and implementing effective long-term solutions. Check out their website if you would like to invite them to your school or college, have a discussion or just donate towards their idea.

What kind of a world do you want? What is your definition of equality? What did you think of the video?

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Video Wednesday: When Love Arrives

{[26/09/14]: We had a thundershower the day before yesterday that left us with no electricity for the day and loads of tree debris. The biggest casualty was my drumstick tree that had just started to flower, but toppled over thanks to the wind. :( Anyway the point is that I couldn't make the post that day or yesterday so I'm doing it today and rewinding the day. ;) }

I first came across Phil Kaye and Sarah Kay sometime back when a friend shared their video - When Love Arrives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdJ6aUB2K4g

As I watched their performance I found myself nodding along in agreement, they were saying things I had learned and experienced about love over the years. It reminded me of my first love. It reminded me of my current love. It reminded me of all my past loves. It reminded me of love -the definition of love, the meaning of love, of what love should be... It left me feeling warm and good inside, and a smile playing about my mouth. :) This is a poem I'd like to keep listening to periodically over the years, a reminder of love, and being grateful for it.

Sarah's and Phil's performance moved me to look into what they did, who they were and such stuff. Want to know more?

This format of poetry is called 'spoken word'.

Spoken word poetry is defined by Wikipedia as -
"a performance-based poetry that is focused on the aesthetics of word play and story-telling. There is no mandatory manner in which someone should perform, however, spoken word usually tends to focus on the performance of the words themselves, the dynamics of tone, gestures, facial expressions, and more. Poetic components such as rhyme, repetition, slang, improvisation, and many more elements of poetry can also be woven to create an atmosphere the audience can experience."

Phil and Sarah run a group together (among other things) called Project V.O.I.C.E., which aims to use spoken word as an educational and inspirational tool. They spend a lot of their time traveling across the world and the U.S. performing at schools and teaching children spoken word. You can check out Project V.O.I.C.E. on it's website or Facebook page.

Here are a couple of their other performances I really like too.

Sarah and Phil tell the story of how they met and came to be best friends...
http://youtu.be/esgfG3BoAPc


Phil's talk at TEDx Middlebury in 2011 not only has so excellent info on spoken word poetry but also some thought provoking poems. He talks about why we tell stories...
http://youtu.be/s7fWagDQyvg


Sarah poem 'The Type' moved me, it's a reminder of the type of woman I want to be...
http://youtu.be/f-8jtBOorpE


Did you like these? Have you watched any other spoken word performances? Do you have any favourite poems or artists?

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Video Wednesday: The Lemon Tree Initiative

I came across the Lemon Tree Initiative video a week or so ago when a friend posted it on Facebook. Praveen's message that this was one of his favourite hotel chains and that the video gave him more reason to appreciate them had me intrigued. It's what prompted me to hit the play button.

And man did I smile though it all. I felt good by the end of the video, happy that there was hope for the human race after all, that there were people doing awesome things out there, going the extra mile, making a difference,... If you are wondering what I'm talking about, watch the video now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Z3qcm8EgY

The Lemon Tree Group of Hotels runs a very special initiative that provides work places for people with disabilities. THey don't pity them but celebrate their challenges and make their disabilities their strengths.

As the Founder of Lemon Tree, Patu Keshwani says it all started when two people with disabilities were hired to wash dishes in the kitchen. The job wasn't given with a grand scheme in mind by rather with the intention of giving an opportunity to people who would not otherwise get a job easily. But over time they realised that people were disabilities were great employees, they also realised that 10% of India's population is disabled in some form, so they started to look at roles in their organisations where peoples disabilities were irrelevant.

Today they have over 300 employees with disabilities and 90% of these are speech and hearing impaired. They also have over 20 people with orthopedic handicaps. Keshwani says they had given thought to hiring visually impaired people but realised that it would be really difficult for them in an hotel environment where there are a lot of visual ques. Their latest addition to the disabilities list is people with Down Syndrome.

The aim of Lemon Tree is to have 20 to 25% of their workforce as people with disabilities by 2018-19, that's about 2000 to 3000 people!

The video was just wonderful to watch, the joy and happiness the employees of Lemon Tree seemed to radiate was catchy. It made me smile. Rather than sympathise and pity them, the Lemon Tree initiative gives them must needed strength and confidence to stand-up and be their own person in the world, a chance to earn and live with dignity!

Kudos Lemon Tree, may your tribe increase. I hope more organisations learn from you. :)
You can find out more about Lemon Tree Hotels on their website.

P.S. - I found that they also have a Pooch Policy. :D Each Lemon Tree Hotel (and they have 25 of them) has adopted one street dog in and around their hotel. The dog is named, vaccinated and loved and cared for by the Lemon Tree team. These guys just make me smile wider and wider. :D

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Video Wednesday: Alia Bhatt. Really the Butt?

Alia Bhatt has been the butt of jokes for a while now. Ever since her appearances on Coffee with Karan where she answered a few questions crazily wrong and didn't know other answers she has been the target of numerous memes and jokes on the internet.

Over the last couple of months, after I heard the first joke about her I've been trying to catch up with her interviews. And I'm yet to find one in which she is stupid, silly yes but she's definitely not stupid.

Daughter of Mahesh Bhatt and sister to Pooja Bhatt, this girl just doesn't have the genes for stupid. Baby face yes, but not stupid. And if any proof was needed about this, the video she has worked on with AIB says it all. Alia makes a joke of herself so well that one is left wondering about her intelligence at the end. A brilliant way to show the other cheek to all those writing her off.

This is one girl I'm going to be keeping an eye on over the years, she definitely has spunk and attitude. And even if you don't care about that, watch the video, the storyline and performance by Karan Johar, among other things make it worth it! You'll be laughing throughout, I promise.

Here's AIB: Alia Bhatt - Genius of the Year...



What do you think of the video? Alia Bhatt? :D

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