Rendezvous with Formula One

Sounds can be intoxicating but on Sunday, it was seducing, enthralling and deafening at the same time. It was the sound of 24 formula one cars, travelling at more than 200 mph at the Buddh International Circuit at Greater Nodia.

For someone, who has burnt enough midnight oil playing 'Need For Speed' games, it was time to get face-to-face with the sport and I can say now, the rendezvous was sumptuous. The first thing, I noticed the moment I stood in queue to enter the picnic stand in BIC was the 'sweet' sound of the vrooming cars. It was seducing and intoxicating.                                

But the moment, the chequered flag waved off and the cars started their lap, there was no stopping the adrenaline rush. The whole stadium was plunged into a deafening sound of the engines roaring past the stands in no time.  Some blocked their ears, while some just stood there applauding the drivers, most, I assume, without a clue who all were racing. I too stood there soaking in the ambiance. 

The cars set ablaze the track and soon cameras were out with the spectators trying to capture whatever they could with their cameras and mobile cameras. Friends and families huddled together, while the photographer had the challenging job of capturing the zooming cars at the background to create the mood in the pictures.               

After sometime, people relaxed. Some sat on the grass, while others lied down comfortably. Like many enthusiasts, we followed the cars initially but gave up after sometime as the race heated up.

Even as the race touched a crescendo, I sat there, still hearing the sound. The voices inside my mind were drowned in the maddening ambiance and I let my imagination flow. I closed my eyes and could almost visualize the slowing down and the acceleration of the cars, of course they were not correct or even if they were there was no way of finding it out then. I let my mind waver a bit.                    

When I was out of my reverie, it was almost time to leave. For the last time, we feed our eyes. Red Bull's Sabastian Vettel was racing away to victory and Fernando Alonso was trying his best to make a statement. Force India's Nico Hulkenberg was behind but still in the race. I took one last look at the watch and then we walked away, almost tearing our eyes away from the action.

When we came out, the only sound that we could still hear was the 'sweet sound' of the cars. Well, sounds can be intoxicating  but on Sunday, it was seducing, enthralling and deafening at the same time.

Yash Chopra: A life lived in films

"Main pal do pal ka shaayar hoon, Pal do pal meri kahaani hai, Pal do pal meri hasti hai, Pal do pal meri jawaani hai..., this song penned by Shahir Ludhiyanvi from the film 'Kabhie Kabhie', probably describes best the life led by Yash Chopra.  Even though he lived for 80 years, he always lived in the present and his films reflect his deep philosophy of life.

Right from 'Dhool ka Phool' to 'Daag', from Deewar and 'Trishul' to films such as 'Kabhie kabhie', 'Silsila' and 'Darr' and 'Lamhe', Chopra always tried to re-invent himself and weaved his stories, which sometimes portrayed the socio-political scenario while at times, talked about the changing nuances of relationships.

It was Chopra, who reestablished Amitabh as the 'angry young man' with 'Deewar' or brought the concept of anti-hero in Bollywood with 'Darr' starring a young Shah Rukh. To his credit, he never allowed his films to get type-cast for the major part of his career.

From hard-hitting political dramas to thrillers, he juggled in all kind of cinema. Some were hit with the audience and some received flak. Even his romantic films, always raised some questions and his depiction veered on aesthetics and nuances of human relations rather than candyfloss portrayals.

A director of his stature, Chopra could have continued making a series of action anti-establishment films like 'Deewar' with Amitabh, but he decided to explore the more myraid aspects of human heart and once again cast Big B in roles which challenged him as an actor.

Even in the 80s, even though his films like Mashaal and Silsila flopped, they went on to achieve cult status in the later years. It was only in the last decade that he decided to stick to romance and made successful films like 'Dil Toh Pagal Hain' and 'Veer Zaara'.

It is ironic that Chopra had already announced 'Jab Tak Hain Jaan' as his last directorial venture and it is sad that he could not see the release of the film. But then in films, there are no fairytale endings in life as well sometimes.

For a man, who scripted the careers of so many actors by challenging them with varied roles, he too could not have imagined that life would write such a shocking script for him.
It was just a month ago that he had celebrated his 80th birthday and in less than a month we are now condoling his sudden death due to dengue.

True, there won't be anymore 'lights, camera and action' for Yash Chopra, the man who changed the face of Indian film making, but his legend will continue to inspire for generations to come.

"Main pal do pal ka shaayar hoon, Pal do pal meri kahaani hai, Pal do pal meri hasti hai, Pal do pal meri jawaani hai..., this song penned by Shahir Ludhiyanvi from the film 'Kabhie Kabhie', probably describes best the life led by Yash Chopra.  Even though he lived for 80 years, he always lived in the present and his films reflect his deep philosophy of life.

Right from 'Dhool ka Phool' to 'Daag', from Deewar and 'Trishul' to films such as 'Kabhie kabhie', 'Silsila' and 'Darr' and 'Lamhe', Chopra always tried to re-invent himself and weaved his stories, which sometimes portrayed the socio-political scenario while at times, talked about the changing nuances of relationships.

It was Chopra, who reestablished Amitabh as the 'angry young man' with 'Deewar' or brought the concept of anti-hero in Bollywood with 'Darr' starring a young Shah Rukh. To his credit, he never allowed his films to get type-cast for the major part of his career.

From hard-hitting political dramas to thrillers, he juggled in all kind of cinema. Some were hit with the audience and some received flak. Even his romantic films, always raised some questions and his depiction veered on aesthetics and nuances of human relations rather than candyfloss portrayals.

A director of his stature, Chopra could have continued making a series of action anti-establishment films like 'Deewar' with Amitabh, but he decided to explore the more myraid aspects of human heart and once again cast Big B in roles which challenged him as an actor.

Even in the 80s, even though his films like Mashaal and Silsila flopped, they went on to achieve cult status in the later years. It was only in the last decade that he decided to stick to romance and made successful films like 'Dil Toh Pagal Hain' and 'Veer Zaara'.

It is ironic that Chopra had already announced 'Jab Tak Hain Jaan' as his last directorial venture and it is sad that he could not see the release of the film. But then in films, there are no fairytale endings in life as well sometimes.

For a man, who scripted the careers of so many actors by challenging them with varied roles, he too could not have imagined that life would write such a shocking script for him.
It was just a month ago that he had celebrated his 80th birthday and in less than a month we are now condoling his sudden death due to dengue.

True, there won't be anymore 'lights, camera and action' for Yash Chopra, the man who changed the face of Indian film making, but his legend will continue to inspire for generations to come.