Random Thoughts of a Fermented Mind

Just came back from the book launch of May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss.
Buy it NOW! I was reading it at the traffic lights on the drive back and chuckling to myself.

Probably for the first time in the elite portals of India Habitat Centre, names of films like Zalzala (Kimi Katkar, Shatrughan Sinha), Zehreelay (Chunky Pandey, Juhi Chawla), Loha and - but, of course - Gunda were bandied about and the audience lapped it up.
Nilanjana Roy moderated a lively conversation between three of India's best read bloggers - Jai Arjun Singh, Sidin Vadukut and the book's author - Arnab Ray. Jai Arjun talked about how a reader (hopefully infrequent) of his blog claimed that his son was the proof of a rocking sex life. Sidin explained how he has been suspected of being a North Indian and has been asked to do unspeakable things to dogs. And Arnab held forth on how only Mithun Chakraborty can be a coolie in an airport.
My only regret of the evening was that none of the panelists - including the author - pronounced the name of the book as it has been spelt out!

Ahem... and now for a bit of self promotion.
After a really bad day at work yesterday, I was hoping that I will make up by wrestling with my son once I got home. I did not realise my day would get made so brilliantly till I stumbled upon this interview with GreatBong. By all metrics and standards, Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind is the most popular Indian blog. Therefore, GB counting Calcutta Chromosome as one of his five favourite blogs was so gratifying that I had to re-read it to believe it. I was reminded of a Gavaskar interview in India Today, in which he praised Atul Bedade to the skies!

A thought: Is Random the most often used word in blog titles? Is there a scientific way of finding out?

Going on to another random subject - of things getting lost & found in translation.
A friend SMSed me a while back – “How would you translate the spirit of this line in English – Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap hote hain. Naam hain Shahehshah.” I invoked the combined spirits of Chuck Norris and the dubbed Kung-fu films to come up with – “I f***ed your mom, you a**hole. Call me Dad. Or call me Shahenshah.” Any better suggestions?

Talking of subtitles, I flew Air India (Indian Airlines of my childhood and still retaining most of the hostesses from my childhood days) and was rewarded with a subtitled version of Love Aaj Kal as the in-flight movie. The subtitles were evocative (“The day has blossomed like a flower” for Ajj din chadheya), to say the least and I was quite enjoying matching them to the lyrics. But nothing had prepared me for Chor Bazaari. The black marketing of stolen glances is a habit I have now given up… Now hear the real words!

Now, that's the subject for Arnab's next book!

Comments

I am getting myself a copy of the book ASAP!! :)
Unknown said…
I am going to get copy of book ASAP...

you are also in my favorite blog list...
Divya said…
You should watch 3 idiots with the subtitles -- some of the dialogues are totally changed to suit the American/Western audience. Don't remember too many examples but the scene where Rancho is sermoning his other 2 drunk friends to follow their passion and gives some examples Lata mangeshkar's singing is replaces by Michael Jacksons dance and Tendulkar and cricket are replaced by (I think) Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson and basketball. Maybe it made sense to change the subtitles to make sense to westernes but an an Indian watching this movie in an American thestre full of Indians, I found it very very hilarious!!!
Anirban said…
Zalzala has some excellent music by Panchamda.

"Random" is the most common word by far in Indian blog taglines but by no means the only one.

I did some research and came up with this Random Indian Blogname Generator.

http://milkmiracle.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/random-blogname-generator.jpg
greatbong said…
Thanks Dipta. This is perhaps the first "review" of MIHYAP anywhere. If possible, can you please re-type or scan the original Chayapath article you wrote?
Unknown said…
Dada, Completely agree with GB's POV in his interview on your writing abilities! I too wish I could write like you...but I guess I can't have it all...great looks and great writing skills!

~ Who-are-you-kidding-sudeep!;-)
@Anirban: Brilliant algorithm. I almost want to change my blog's name now.

@Arnab: Unfortunately, I don't even have copy of that issue of Chhayapath. But I will ask my friends.
This is more of a reaction than a review. Will do a review/reprise soon.

@Sudeep: Good looks. Sigh, poor Vidya!
Anonymous said…
Dipta
Regular reader of ur blog. Just like to point out a few things. Dont take otherwise.
1) Your earlier posts were fantastic and provided lot of insight and showed keen observation. Your sales stories were good. Now you are mostly routine.
2) looks like you have been too domesticated and comfortable.
3) You are not taking any risk. You are just addressing your known group of B school friends. You need to meet newer people and generate more stories other than your family friends and films.
4) You have it in you. Just need to rekindle the spark. 7-8 reader comments on your posts dont justify your talent.
Best wishes.
Lalit
Sue said…
I f***ed your mom, you a**hole. Call me Dad. Or call me Shahenshah.

LOL
@Lalit: Thanks for your comments.

But unfortunately, I am incapable of executing most of your suggestions.
I don't write for anybody. Not even my B-school or E-school or iskool friends. I write what I feel like.

And honestly, I don't want to write beyond the films I have watched and the family/friends I spend time with.

Really appreciate your concern, though.