A Real Cool Match.....

Today, I had a chance to be an part of an audience witnessing a Basket ball Match, here , in Pleasanton. I saw two matches between Thomas Hart Middle School (HuskyTeam) and Pleasanton Middle School(Panthers Team). One was a match for the 8th graders and the other was for the 7th graders. Both the teams displayed excellent Defence mechanisms and Shooting Skills. Both the teams showed their enthusiasm and team effort through out the game . In a match, there are winners and losers , and Thomas Hart School won in both the catogories. The Panthers were great fighters and fought their level best!


The 7th Grade match was really very thrilling because it was a neck to neck score. At the end of period 4 the scores were:- Huskies-37 and the Panthers-35. The Huskies won and the the match was really really close! Both the teams excelled and showed good SPORTSMANSHIP. The coaches had also put their heart and soul effort in there.


Not to forget to mention the Cheer girls. They were cheering their groups so well and they stole the show by showing their talents at regular intervals. That was really cool girls!


I am looking forward for matches out here and have fun! See you soon!

THE TIGERS......OF Bollywood

Amithabh and Shah Rukh, both are the handsome tigers rocking at Bollywood.Right from the beiginning of their careers both of them have roaring success stories. Both of them are talented and gifted people. One can say ,they are the voices of Indian cinema.


Amitabh Bachan sweetly known as BIG B started his career in 1969, in the movie "Saat Hindustani". His first movie won him the National Film Award for the Best New comer.His career continued with great hit movies like "Anand" where he starred with Rakesh Khanna another super hero. Suceess smiled at him in his first major box-office hit"Zanjeer". Since then his career has been right on top. His major hits include Deewar, Sholay, Kasme Vaade, Mukadaar Ka Sikkander,Mr.Natwarlal, Laawaris,Don, Shan, Amar Akabar Anthony. His leading and romantic role in Kabhi Kabhie and Silsila is also very note worthy.Coolie was his next super duper hit.He has 3 National Film Fare Awards and was nominated for "The Star Of the Millenium" that ended in1999. Amitabh made a come back in 2000 in TV screen in the famous "Kaun Banega karorpati" and is back to cinema and plays good matured roles. A few note worthy are Bade Miyan Chote Miyan(Comedy) Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham, Bunti aur Babli, Cheeni Kum and much more. The old tiger still rocks and people are still awed by his personality and style!



Shah Rukh khan also called as "King Khan" is a well acclaimed and influential actor of Bollywood.His career started in the 1980's in the small screen, in a serial called"Circus". His debu in the filmdom was "Deewana". He has won six Film fare Awards and has numerous commercially well acclaimed and super box office hits to his credits. He is still the heart beat of Hindi movie world. Baazigar,Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge, kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham,Veer Zaara,Main Hoo Naa, Chupke Chupke,Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, are his super duper hits. His latest movie Chak De India, has created an uproar in the minds of the people and the King has given an immensely exquisite performance in the movie. We just cannot wait for his next one, "Om Shanti Om" scheduled to release on November 9 2007.Apart from this, his production career also seems to be giving success.He has produce good movies like Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani,Asoka, paheli and Kaal.Between Jan'07 and April'07, he hosted Kaun Banega karorpati.The King still Rules!


Both Amitabh and Shah Rukh Khan have had a mindblowing career in Bollywood and till date are worshipped by their fans. They are an asset to the Hindi Filmdom!When they do movies together its even more fun and good! Hats to you both SIRS!

This is Meera signing off...... see u soon!

Bharathanatyam

Bharathanatyam is a classical dance form of India. It is very ancient and finds its roots from South India. Natraja, is potrayed as the King of Dances."Bharatha" can be split into 3, meaning,Bha- Bhavam, which is also called Abhinayam-expressions, Ra- Ragam, which means Melody,and Tha - Thalam or Rythm. A dance that is a combination of the three- bha ra tha is nothing but Bharathanatyam.

Bharatha Muni is said to be the Father of Bharathanatyam. He is the author of "Natya Shastra" a treatise to Bharathanatyam. Bharathanatyam was prevelant during the period when Devadasi system waspracticed. "Deva "meaning "God"and "Dasi"meaning "One who Serves". This beautiful art was performed by the Devadasis only in temples. But today Bharthanatyam has a total new outlook.Apart from not just performing the various items, dancers of today very beautifully bring out community awarness programmes like AIDS AWARNESS, SOCIAL SERVICE, DOWRY CRIMES etc.

A short analysis of BHARATHA . "BHA" which means Bhavam has 9 kinds. We also call them "Navarasa"-Sringaram(Love),Hasyam(laughter),Karuna(pity),Roudra(Anger),Veeriyam Anger),Bhayanakam(Frightened),Bheebatsam(Despise),Adbutham(Surprised)and Shantham(Peace)."RA" meaning the melodies. There are so many songs based on a variety of Ragas. Indian Carnatic Music has 72 Melakartha Ragams or Janya Ragams of which many ragams emerge.These 72 ragas have all the 7 swaras -S R G M P D N in both the Aarovahanam and Avarohanam forms- that is music travelling from a lower wave to a higher wave and vice versa."Tha" meaning Thalam or rythm has 5 basic Nadais called Pancha Nadais or beats. They are Thisram(beats of 3) Chathusram (beats of 4) Khandam(betas of 5) Misram(beats of 7) and Sankeernam (beats of 9). There 7 basic thals also called Sapta thals -The Seven Talams are Dhruva, Matya, Rupaka, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata, and Eka Talams. A combination of these talams with the Nadais give rise to a 150 thalams.

Bharathanatyam is thus such a complex dance form. It atleast takes 5 to 6 years of rigourous training and practice to become a performer.Apart from the above said, we use 2 sets of hand gestures called Asamyutha hastas and Samyutha Hastas viz, single and double hand gestures,Drishti Bedha -eye movements and Neck and Head movements.

A full fledged Bharathanatyam recital would include Alarippu (Invocation/welcome song) Jatiswaram (An item comprising Raga(swaras) and Thala(Jathis), Kavithwam(Abhinayam and Jathis) Varnam(The longest item which has Jathis, Bhavam and Swaram. It lasts a minimum of 35-60 minutes).Then comes the lighter items like Padam, Javali and Thillana. Thillanas have real fast and quick beats which is followed by Mangalam or the finishing sequence of the concert.

Bharthanatyam, the classical dance of India is truly CLASSIC.

This is Meera signing off........ stay tuned....

JUST CANNOT WAIT............

I just cannot wait for the release of another mind- blowing movie of Yash Raj Films......Yeah, it is LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG -JOURNEY OF A WOMAN!The movie is directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the director of the awesome movie Parineeta and is produced by Aditya Chopra. The movie stars Jaya Bachan, Abhishek Bachan, Rani Mukherjee,Konkana Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Kunal kapoor,Farida Jallal and Hema Malini.(Special Apperance).The music director of the movie is Shantani Moitra.

The movie goes like this......Badki (Rani Mukerji) and Chutki (Konkona Sen Sharma) are the daughters of Shivshankar Sahay (Anupam Kher) and Sabitri (Jaya Bachchan). They live together on the banks of the Ganga river in Banaras. Life is sweet and fun-filled for the two. The family are relatively poor but try to stay strong. Badki especially is protective of her family and is determined to make sure Chutki completes her education.
As things go from bad to worse, Badki decides to go to Mumbai to help her family. She is exposed to the bustling and ruthless city atmosphere and soon finds herself part of it. Badki hides her secret from Chutki who is eventually successful in completing her education. Chutki makes her way in the world and falls in love with Vivaan (Kunal Kapoor). Batki finds love in Rohan (Abhishek Bachchan) but runs away from him thinking that it is not in her destiny. The sisters then face the reality of the situation and the secrets and lies are exposed....


Music and Songs: The film's soundtrack was released on 10 September 2007 almost a month before the film's release.It has been given a rating of 3 out of 5 on indiaFm.com. The songs go like this:

1.Hum To Aise Hain
Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Swanand Kirkire & Pranab Biswas

2.Zara Gungunalein Chalo sung by
Babul Supriyo & Mahalaxmi Iyer

3.Chunari Mein Daag sung by
Shubha Mudgal & Meeta Vashisht

4.Ik Teekhi Teekhi Si Ladki sung by
KK & Shreya Ghoshal

5..Ehi Thaiyaa Motiya sung by
Rekha Bhardwaj

6.Kachchi Kaliyaan sung by
Sonu Nigam, KK, Sunidhi Chauhan & Shreya Ghoshal

With such an terrific cast and beautiful music, the movie is going to be released on 12Oct'07

I just can't wait........................... See You soon!

SMILES..

I just wanted to start my blogs with a nice topic when ,I got to see this lovely illustration about "SMILES" on the web and just put it here . Thanks to whoever came up with this illustration about "SMILES".

KEEP SMILING

If at times you feel you want to cry

And life seems such a trial

Above the clouds theres a bright blue sky

So make your tears a smile.

As you travel on lifes way

With its many ups and downs

Remember its quite true to say

One smile is worth a dozen frowns.

Among the worlds expensive things

A smile is very cheap

And when you give a smile away,

You get one back to keep.

Happiness comes at times to all

But sadness comes unbidden

And sometimes a few tears must fall

Among the laughter hidden.

So when friends have sadness on their face

And troubles round them piled

The world will seem a better place

And all because you smiled.

So true! A smile can make so much difference!

This is Meera signing off ...... stay tuned for the next blog!