Beat

When the sun shines bright

Above my head in the sky

I can feel its warmth inside

It feels sweet like a pie

Cause it reminds me of your face

Every inch glittering with divine grace

Grace that makes even stars shy

With a heart of shimmering gold

And beauty that angels can't defy

Tempting to touch you and hold

Hope one day our hearts meet

Rhyming together in one beat!

Kushagra Garg

Y15 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

Tamaasha Music Review

A.R Rahman is back! Significantly back after Highway and Rockstar. The magic in his music which makes us listen to it in loop, is there in Tamasha. Songs of Highway and Rockstar are still there in our heart and we hum them every now and then. Maybe it's the jodi with Imtiaz Ali or its the script, the story that Imtiaz gets, that makes Rahman and lyricist Irshaad Kamil make such divine music. Tamasha seems promising with the beats the music offers.

Tum Saath Ho by Arijit Singh and hitherto lost Alka Yagnik is the sparkling star of the cluster. Its that song of the album which will stay in the ears. This song is like a journey. We are traveling and seeing the world passing by, observing our own life in flashback inside our mind. Alka Yagnik's voice is soothing with Arijit's voice taking the lead in between.

Rahman's music has layers. We get into the deepest layer as we keep going on listening to it. Today, in the market there is more EDM and less original music. But Rahman, living upto his image and standard once again delivers an album, which will keep the music alive throughout the year.

Matargashti by Mohit Chauhan is the happy go lucky song with amazing lyrics by Irshaad. It's the backbone of the movie. Mohit Chauhan, Rahman, Imtiaz and Irshaad share a bond which us visible in the music and the movies which they have done in the past ( Rockstar, Highway).

Coming on to the peppy track Heer Toh Badi Sad Hai, its like Katiya karun with the main beat being same. Mika sings this in his own style. This song will be played in desi shaadis and will be played again and again.

Lucky Ali comes with his voice in Safarnama. His voice is itself so rustic that it makes the song more rustic and raw. Guitar is used in this song very aptly, sometimes making the song go slow and then the same chords picking it up.

Parade de la Bastille, the instrumental track of the album is like a slow mix of all the tracks. Soft, in Jazz style with Saxophone.

Tu Koi Aur Hai in A.R Rahman's voice automatically closes your eyes and just makes you loose yourself. In the climax of the song Alma Ferovic brings that magic which she bought in Rockstar. I think with this song the movie will end.

Chali Kahani opening with the flute and then the powerful voice of Sukhwinder Singh along with many violins playing is a strong song with poetic lyrics. Haripriya and Haricharan's voices are very sweet and soft in the song. This song has a story. Probably this would be played behind the theatre play in the movie.

Wat Wat Wat is another peppy track in the album. Don't be confused by the lyrics, once you watch the video, you would have a molar to molar smile. It's the Emotional Attyachar of this year.

Guess what is Tamasha about!

Ishant Rajpurohit

Y14 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

October Sky

I see the bright blue skies;

The wind, the trees, the Sun atop the hills dancing by.

The young yellow shoots, and the flowers caressed by the carefree wind;

Living to their fullest, before the same wind causes them to die.

I see the horizon, where in the dusky hue, the hill meets his love the sky;

She’s sober from the gone by rains, and looks at me a way too shy.

The purest sunshine, more white than yellow;

Calms the rage of the winds, into the sweet anger of the teenage girl.

To the delight of the grasslands below, the breeze sweeps them all;

Together they dance, they all dance by.

The air is seductive, coupled with the blinding sunshine;

The sweet intoxication, forcing me to live at times I die.

And suddenly I can’t see much, the murderous slumber messing with my head;

I hug my pillow, together we go back to finish the day-dreams left by.

O, I love the views, the weather, the tranquility, the Sun through my window shines;

Leave me with them to live and die, before the heartless winter comes by.

Abhishek Bhatt

Y12 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

PS: Selected as Winning Entry- October '15.

“I bobbed a Curtsy to Almighty, That Day!” – II

My eyes glued to the last part. I hardly know her. All we had was 5-6 Facebook messages. I thought it to be prank, maybe not. So I went to nearby café. There were 25 messages with the same sender; Bommana. Firstly, it’s the oddest name I have ever heard. Secondly, she acts completely odd to me, weird.

I just typed my number and logged out. I had my classes. They were boring. They lacked my presence.

My phone beeped at quarter to midnight, the fortnight. I was almost in dreams. An unknown number flashed on screen. It beeped again.

“Why is its so hard to contact you?” A female voice other side.

“As I want it; peace.” I replied. I realized it was her. She had a glaze in her voice, sweet and smooth.

“Who are you?” I questioned. I wanted to be sure. Her voice didn’t match to any of my girl-friends. Though they were less in numbers. Two.

“Bommana, stupid”

“You call it a name?”

“Mind it.” She said in anger. It was longest telephonic conversation since months. We decided to meet the next evening. I started liking her way of approach and the way she spoke. That was reason I want to meet her. I had not much to do, than to sleep.

“Where the hell are you?” I shouted loud on phone. I had been waiting for last 20 minutes. I was at McDonald having my French fries, yummy.

“Coming, baba…” She responded and cut the phone instantly.

I had never seen her before. May be she’s hot? Or maybe not. That least mattered, the things was what made her do this? To me. I was puzzled sitting there.

“Coffee?” Someone said, tapping my shoulder. It was smooth, voice and hand. I turned back. And I was in hold of shock, trauma, nervousness, anger, and happiness. Altogether. I had just witnessed a miracle. She was Kavita. Yes, it was her dressed adorably, smiling. I just had a stroke. I was looking at her blankly. She had grown older, bolder and beautiful. She still had braces on her teeth, I always found them cute.

“You want it?” She asked again.

“Ya sure.” I said smiling stupidly. Gosh! She is here. She sat there, facing me. Two years later, we meet but I had nothing to ask. I have always thought what it will be like, meeting her.

“I just loved it.” I preached, having a sip.

“Ya, this coffee is awesome.” She said.

“The surprise.” I said, making it clear.

“Huh? You had almost ruined it.” She yelled, beaming at me.

“I was planning more with my ID. And you acted like a jerk.” She said shifting her loose hair at a place, down the shoulder.

“What made you keep a weird name?”

“That’s my initial, Vivu. And I love being mysterious.”

“You mean B. Kavita is Bommana Kavita.” I said with my mouth open. I always asked for her full name but she never let me know. Now I understood why.

“I get my joy in making other smile, blush and ponder. That what I try to live for.” She had that feeling. And that what inspires me. And I need it.

She explained me that her dad got his job transferred to Jamesdpur. She tried best to contact but was left with writing a letter. She had lost all contacts with others too. She hated social networking but was forced to join to reach me.

“Later, I had a talk with your mother once. She explained me what kind of dumb you have become. So, I planned it all.” She ended up revealing the evil plan, master piece.

It was five in the evening. Sun was turning orange, like a real juicy fruit. It was Friday. Ah! Nothing special besides this meeting I had.

“Let’s go. Just come with me.” She ordered.

I followed her. After a brief walk, we reached a nearby temple. This time I had the joy of my life, Kavita.

“Come inside!” She said. I followed. I was happy and I wanted to thank GOD for giving me back my friend.

All I wanted to do is Bow to Him, with realization of His greatness. That was the greatest feeling I'd  ever had an encounter with.

Vivek K. Tiwari
Y15 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

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“I bobbed a Curtsy to Almighty, That Day!” – I

“I’m leaving...” Her letter stated, I read it several times before in a hope to find a reason of it. Deep inside, I had a regret of being one of the possible reasons of it.

With this all, I was left to regret since past two years. It had been terrible days without her, without my charmer. Kavita, my best friend. She taught me to be what you want, not what pleases others.

Friends, they always have unconditional love. We have joy, moments we like to share with them. It was all with her in school, in tuition.

“Your laughter echoes in my mind,

  Your words please my heart,

  Your winks glitter my space,

  You were the friend I only got.”

“Hurry, we are late.” Matashri said. It was a day before Rama Navmi. The celebration of the birth of 7th avatar of almighty was beginning. And I was like a hibernating reptile; dull, still and cold.

“Ma, you know me very well. I don’t go to such places.” I responded in brief. I had a handful days of vacation left to stick around my idiot box. All I do whole day is to watch CID, Game of Thrones and few South Indian films. Nothing seemed so important than to ponder about her.

“Vivek” Matashri shouted out loud in anger. She was wearing red sari, suited best. She was looking beautiful. She was my angel; my living Goddess. Meanwhile, I had turned atheist towards the almighty, he knew the reason. I somehow managed to load up my 50 kegs of organic stuff with soul to the temple.

I was standing at his doorstep. I had been there for years in hope of little desires to cherish me with. But with things he snacked unreasonably I was bound to let him know my sourness towards my fate and him. Matashri stepped in but my heart rebelled.

Every lady there was at her best, holding worship salver having budding flowers, sand hill of wet rice, colors and many more. I had been in love with it. They unite us.

“We perform rituals just to make you kids know the greatness of almighty.” Dada Ji used to say. I had been his follower, for his heartwarming stories and his mentoring words. He is an ideal person I ever had.

We went back home in silence. Shit! I had missed my favorite show; Game of Thrones.

I had pretty much time to kill so I went ahead to facebook, the showstopper.

27 notifications mostly tagged pictures and few likes, 4 friend requests, 3 pokes and 2 messages. I went to messages first.

Bommana: Why are you so desperate to have your BFF by your side?

She had probably surfed down my numerous statuses about my friends, my heart outs. I surfed down her profile. She had handful of friends, all of them with weird names. It was like dead account or a fake one. Studies at ‘University of Glasgow, UK’, it showed. What makes her message me from oceans away? She was trying hard to be a mystery girl.

Me: Because they had made a way to my heart for forever.

Bommana: Sounds creepy.

Me: Whatever.

I had a mood swing and I quickly deactivated my account. I didn’t want this conversation to last long.

“Your mother said you haven’t gone inside the temple today.” Dada Ji questioned sitting beside me.

“Does it matter?” I asked, making myself comfortable inside the blanket. It’s freaky cold outside.

“To me, Yes. I want you to take my place sooner, before I die.” He started blackmailing me. That has been his ultimate weapon like a nuclear bomb. It smashes my determinations into pieces. The reason; I love him.

“What you want Dada Ji?” I chuckled and he smiled. I have turned smarter. I am not that small little fellow whom he would fool and make him eat two chapattis saying he just had a half one. I turned 18, this January. Adult.

“To perform every ritual what I had been doing for years. It is supposed to be your heredity now. It will keep you lively and grounded.”

“Alright!” I yelled, with the least interest.

Next morning, he wakes me up and bath with ice-water. This is torture, inhumanity. He took me the room which I hadn’t been to since ages. It was isolated.

“What in there?” I asked pointing at the box. It was dusted, old and locked.

“See it yourself.” He said giving me the key tied to his sacred thread. It might be something close to him.

I hurried cleaned the dust and unlocked it. I was stunned. It had a sword, few old clothes and a photo of old man. The photo belonged to Dada Ji’s father. It was epic to me. The sword seemed quite fascinating but it was losing its shining lying in there. Box had old stuffs reflecting our history.

“I am taking it all to my room.” I said grinning. They deserved a better place. I had been a vivid listener to the real stories Dada Ji used to tell and were very fascinating.

Later morning, we were ready for Puja to begin. Matashri was happy seeing me doing something out of nothing. Though, she never shows it but I can sense it. We are bloody family after all.

“Before we go ahead, I want you to undress your feeling towards almighty like your soaks.” He was talking about the bitterness planted inside my heart. For you Dada Ji, I can.

“I want you to be patience, silent and devoted.” He continued. He was dressed in fade yellow collarless shirt and sarong.

“All you need is to bow to almighty with devotion and things will turn better.” He kept on adding instructions.

“Huh, I can bet against it.” I chuckled. He ignored.

However, it was turned out to be good day, a celebration day. Dada unfolded few mantras to me. I had to spell them along with him.

2 Days later, I had my JEE-MAINS results and I didn’t make through them. I was in shock. I had managed to study well and be a regular in classes. But I lost it for sake of 3 marks. I couldn't qualify for JEE-ADVANCED. It burst out my anger, my displeasure to GOD. He was deaf, as usual, ever.

I was for sure, not had been in list of people be considered, to be graced with something good. He was making a fun out of my life. Few of my friends did well in exam. Meanwhile, I was left with taunts. Life seemed to be more like dead. That’s how he pays off to my prayers.

I was back in Kota, the education hub. I was already enrolled to ALLEN Career Institute, the best here, that’s what they proclaimed.

“Vivek, I have a parcel for you.” House owner shouted. Parcel? This was something odd. I don’t get these stuffs, never.

It was from my home. I couldn’t find anything but a newspaper dated a month ago. To confirm, I called Matashri. She said none them had send it. I turned down every page carefully. I found another envelope. It had a smiley on the cover. It is being mysterious and hell weird.

“Hey Vivu, How’s you? I have surprise. I am coming to Kota.

Reactivate your ID and send me your number, right away.

Bommana”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Vivek K. Tiwari

Y15 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

The Great Fat Indian Wedding

What according to you is India's national passion? What's the thing that completely surrounds an Indian's life - Cricket, Cinema? No! It is 'MARRIAGE'. 

From the day a baby is born, be it a boy or a girl, the plans for a grand wedding commence. Parents start gathering money not for good education of their children but for a Great Fat Indian Wedding. Marriage an event of great cultural and social importance is now a mere a cycle of feasts and exchange of gifts in one’s own family as well as between bride’s and the groom’s family. Dowry, lots of food wastage, and oodles of showoff are some key features of Indian Wedding these days. Traditional customs witness a more modern form which is more or less a mere formality. 

The week long extravaganza, or rather 'marriages' involve lot of ceremonies and a hell lot of money. Lavish meals, Flowers, Lighting, Dresses, Jewellery- every detail thing makes marriage more of a marketplace in India. The growing stature of showoff in marriages has made it increasingly difficult for the middleclass to conduct this social gathering. Enormous amount of food is wasted in marriages. This only adds to my pain, because a lot of people die due to starvation the same night; but hey, who cares?

Audi, BMW, Mercedes are the key spotlights, which make marriages more of a business deal. More the number of brands involved in a marriage, more it will be talked about in the society. For the people getting married, it is union of the two souls and celebration of the moment. But for the others it is an occasion to dress-up , show off your jewellery, family get-together, feasting (dieting is a sin during marriages), and what not! For kids, it is an occasion to meet lots of other kids and play around when the elders are busy with the customs/rituals. For the event management companies, the mandap owners, the flower seller, even the pujari and the likes, it is a grand business opportunity. 

Bridal wear and Bridal jewellery collection is another story altogether. At times bride’s parents may end up spending all their life's savings trying to repay the loan taken for their darling daughter’s marriage. That is, obviously, when they can afford to get one. Else their daughters might end up being single, or worse, agree to anybody who is ready to marry them. On a long term this also leads to other social evils like 'female foeticide or infanticide' in rural areas. 

Moreover, the thing which bothers me to a great deal is the decreasing importance of the marital relationship. Divorce cases have risen significantly, and who else but the society is to be blamed for that. Beautiful and expensive jewellery can't really define the longevity of the relation, and hence, more emphasis should be laid on finding the right match based on character, not in terms of money.

I believed as people become more educated and progressive, they will begin to see the absurdity of spending somebody’s lifetime savings for a single dress and occasion. On the contrary, educated people prefer this all the more! The few weddings of wealthy Indians (who get all the media attention) seem to have masked the inability of the other lesser mortals to hold such spectacular weddings. Well, I just hope better sense prevails and the big fat Indian Wedding doesn’t actually become a hindrance for others. 

Marriage always must be the union of two souls who make a lifetime commitment, rather than a huge crowd applauding the great arrangements by the hosts.

I would end here, hoping that the next time I visit a marriage, the bride and groom will appeal more to me more than the mandap.

Pulkit Garg

Y15 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

PS: Selected as Winning Entry- October '15.

Talvar- Movie Review

India's most controversial case unearthed bit by bit. 

The general public, somewhat uninformed, jumping to conclusions seeing baked stories playing 24x7 on the idiot box, can finally see exactly what happened. Although there was a disclaimer active, saying it is inspired (and not based), but any person having even slightest of information about the Arushi Talvar and Hemraj double murder case can join the broken pieces and can see the direct link. 

Hats off to Meghna Gulzar and Vishal Bharadwaj for honestly sticking to the plot and not adding any 'mirch and masala' to the script. This movie grips you from the very first frame and holds on to the last. If you are one of the 'Singh is Bling' types, then I deeply apologize, as this might not be the film for you. But if you long for actual cinematic experience, if your heart literally abuses this mainstream 100 crore Bollywood shit, then this movie will light a candle in your heart amidst the darkness which looms over Indian Cinema. Vishal Bharadwaj's tight screenplay holds your grey and instills a question after every scene," What will happen next?" This movie is a poster example of perfect casting, where each supporting actor played their roles with sheer honesty. This is what makes a film a successful one.

Coming onto the music, well, what to say. Words can't define the soulful music Vishal makes. His music defines and explains the depth of the story and every low and high note is in synchronization with the gravity of the scenes. Justice wouldn't prevail if I forget to mention Arooj Aftab's 'Insaaf ', a song which still looms in your heart long after hitting your ears. At last, finally, special mention to the king of acting, one of the few gems we have in bollywood- Irrfan Khan. The way he pulls off his role of an investigating officer is just marvelous. It was truly a treat to the eyes to watch Irrfan enacting that role.

To sum it up, Vishal again scores high on his screenplay and music, Irrfan by his raw acting and finally the director, Meghna by her flawless direction.

A must watch!

Ishant Rajpurohit

Y14 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

IS CORRUPTION ONLY BECAUSE OF POLITICIANS?

“My mother is in hospital and I really have  to go, this call is very urgent & this is the first time I am picking up the mobile while driving". These are the excuses which we use most of the times when caught by traffic police and after that and handing over some bribe, we are released. I want to ask, in these situations, where is the politician plating his role? Is only us who want to save time and get rid of our responsibilities as a citizen .

Not only this, what about our selfish motives and desires. Everybody wants to be an IAS officer, get admission into medical and engineering colleges. There is a never ending list of all evil things which happen in the stream of education, a very well known one is “paper leaking”. I want to ask whether our MLAs, MPs, CMs want to get admission into medical & engineering colleges. WE take the 'first step' and then politicians come into picture.

WAKE UP GUYS.WE are human resources. And do remember that INDIA is still a developing country, not yet developed. It is our responsibility to make it a developed country. Our freedom fighters fought against the Britishers. WE must continue their legacy and fight against the evil 'corruption' so that everyone enjoys the real freedom.

Sitting on the couch, with remote control in one hand, we simply comment on the politicians and their doings. Have WE ever asked ourselves that what are we doing for the country? Everybody is just waiting for a superhero to come and finish all this mess.

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. Just first look into yourself, then your family members, your relatives, your friends. Are they doing everything correct and legal in their life? Correct yourself. I am sure you will find many people around you who are corrupt. First speak to them, correct them. If you can’t make a change on your level then you have no right to say anything related to CORRUPTION.

Shriya Rai
Y14 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

Mystery Unresolved

I had never known the concept of life would be so hard to endeavor and conquer stuffs through your way and capture the righteousness with less effort. However I did have an ultimate faith in a so called bluff by atheists; the ruler, the actual admirer and creator of all the life forms prevailing in a way so hard to envision and digest. But then the queries put up are well welcomed for their unbelievable gesture offered. If the ruler exists then an equal mole mixture of miseries and bliss should be poured out, why such a partiality is performed? I must have just mentioned that, I hold my views against the atheists but sometimes they create a pool of doubt within me, which often makes me question for my exotic soul. The spirit which stands within me yet not with me, the spirit which lets out screeching cries when I’m hurt and sighs a joyful smile when I’m glad. May be it is an alien, a person within each one of us who has abducted our thoughts and drained off all the consciousness at times. Definitely this soul determines what kind of reality is hidden among us and never unleashes out this mystery by answering the doubtful questions. Even if it does, that doesn't happen with all of the living creatures and to be more specific to say, the humanity existing on this planet. Not everyone feels that inner voice, not everyone hears the emotions of a soul. Then there mockingly arises a weird question of who this alien is and why has it stamped its foot within us? In response to that, it is pretty simple that we view the sights as our brain pictures it out for us, so this formation of images occurs according to the satisfaction of that alien who is prevailing within and enchanting the beauty of this world through us. However we need to mark a strict control on it and commence interpreting the stuffs in manner which optimists the quality of thoughts and not pessimists the same !!

But has this thought been pondered as to who is the “I” here? Who is this damn person whose thoughts are so confusing and ruffle that he/she is just trying to grab the others without any cause. That I is, none but each of ours minds. This little weighing organ in our system has been bestowed which such a capability to not only conflict our own ideas but may be even support the same.

May be its just another plan to create a thirst for something new, an inquisitiveness to discover the mystery and an enthusiasm to play with a stuff.

Srishti Bhardwaj
Y14 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT