Category: August Half Marathon

  • A little haiku visits my home

    A little haiku visits my home

    A little haiku came to me, while I was going through some of the photos I had clicked. It whispered in my ear and enticed me with its beauty. Before this spark of creativity, I had dabbled on some of the online haiku platforms where you could collaborate with others to stitch up a haiku by contributing one line to it. However, I was unsatisfied. Results were patchy, unappealing and sadly it put me off from this wonderful form of poetry

    It seems, haiku had some other plans for me. It came back in my life holding the hand of two stalwart poetesses of Marathi literature, Shirish Pai and Shanta Shelke. These two ladies introduced and popularised haiku into Marathi literature. While reading their little haikus, I started understanding the nuances of this form. I will not dare to claim an understanding of the form, but I have managed to get a bit of a hang of it.

    My journey with Haiku

    My journey which started with stitching one line into someone else’s piece has reached to writing the complete haiku on my own. Fitting the complete thought into just three lines while following the rules of the form is a tough task. Thankfully, these two lighthouses of Marathi literature have adapted the form to suit the nuances and structure of Marathi language and changed some rules which couldn’t be followed because of the nature of the language itself. As I read more and more Marathi haikus, my own work was improving. I was able to muster up courage and publish a desk calendar for 2024 with my friend which had my haikus and her lineart.

    I was again browsing my photos to find inspiration to start my season of Half Marathon with Blogchatter, that little bird whispered in my ear again for a photo from my last year’s Banaras Retreat which keeps inspiring me time and again. This time, I tried one in Hindi.

    Hope you enjoy it.

    Hindi Haiku 29-08-2024
    Marathi Haiku July 22, 2020

    This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024

  • An Impulse – Best fuel for alluring creativity

    An Impulse – Best fuel for alluring creativity

    I have been mulling over a thought since I drafted my first post of this blogging August Half Marathon a couple of weeks ago. I had written the first one easily and personally i feel it had turned out qite a nice piece. Since then, I had been pondering about what to write other 9 posts about before the time ends. However it felt like my mind was empty. I wasn’t ready to put my pen on the paper.

    It was a constant thought running in back of my mind that I have to write 9 more posts. Today is the 4th day of the marathon and I have already lost almost all extra days which I had. With fait this background buzz, I was reading some document which needed my comments sitting at my office dest.

    It was just like a flash

    Suddenly it started raining. Not a drizzel which picked up a momentum later. It was like a sudden impluse just like a burst of creativity which has to come out in one form or the other. Afternoon was oddly on the hotter side and this splashing shower came down as a relief. A poem by Ba. Bha. Borkar aka Bakibaab came to my mind.

    घन वरसे रे,
    घन वरसे रे..
    वरसे जलसर
    आले सर सर.
    मल्हारचे स्वरसे रे..

    बा. भ. बोरकर

    I couldn’t keep my eyes on the document anymore. A sudden urge to capture this moment came and grabbed my phone to record some clips of this pouring rain. I recorded a bit of it from a couple places from my office and stood by one of the windows to enjoy the rain.

    I must have been there just about a minute. Suddenly, showers just stopped as if someone had turned off the tap in clouds. The whole thing could not have even lasted for 10 minutes.

    As I am writing this post, clouds have parted clearing the space for the Sun to shining back. These sudden showers acted as a fuel for my creativity as I have gladly created a small reel for my instagram @adisjoural leaving me humming one more poem describing game of tags played by rain and sunshine during the month of Shravan from my childhood.

    श्रावणमासी हर्ष मानसी हिरवळ दाटे चोहीकडे;
    क्षणात येते सरसर शिरवे क्षणात फिरूनी ऊन पडे.

    बालकवी (त्र्यंबक बापूजी ठोंबरे)

    This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023. If you like to read more of my thoughts, please check this…

  • Schism of isms – an unnerving bigotry

    Schism of isms – an unnerving bigotry

    “My truth is the only truth and you all should bow down to it…” A thought cropped up in a human mind and the first spark of Ideological friction flamed. We used to express our differences of opinion by discussions and discourses. But now we as a society have stooped down the baser instincts of humans and took some bloody turns throughout human history. Today around us, we are witnessing rising tensions in various factions of society across the world. Schism is appearing on the surface.

    The words ending with ‘ism’ have become gospel truths which are to be parroted and invoked without understanding the meaning, thoughts and philosophy behind it. Masses have flocked behind them and formed their sects and cults with “ready to die for” attitudes. Personally, I can accept it up to a limit. Believing in an idea or propagating it is a welcome thought. However, when you believe in a thought, you shouldn’t be against something. Nowadays, if you are a believer of one ‘ism’ you have to be ‘anti’ another.

    Let me give you an example

    Just think of the current state of Feminism. It started as a movement which started with a just cause, equality and rights. Today a few of the followers have taken a very different route. These days if you are a believer/supporter of feminism, some people think you have to be ‘Anti-men’. Feminism started as a fight for having equal rights and dignity, a proper balance. However, it appears from a few extreme views floating in the ether  of this universe that this movement is trying to take up a path of ‘female supremacy’. But this will turn out to be a see-saw instead of a balance of justice. If we continue on this course, it will become a cyclical process. 

    Paolo Frier in his ‘Pedagogy of The Oppressed’ warns and reminds about the correct course for any movement. “The oppressed must not, in seeking to regain their humanity, become in turn oppressors of the oppressors, but rather restorers in the humanity of both.”

    In today’s time of influential social media, information explosion, superfast internet and propaganda; polarisation is a very easy thing to achieve. Opportunists are always out there to harness this herd power for their own selfish reasons. It’s our duty as a society to be strong and keep our discretion and reason intact. Bioses are everywhere. Agents of chaos are lurking around to widen the schism of isms. It’s a call of the hour to be alert and think. Let’s unite together to work towards harmony and not fall prey to these schisms, “For vs Anti” divide. 

    This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023. If you like to read more of my thoughts, please check this…

  • Abhangwani – Vibrant Corner of Every Marathi Heart

    Abhangwani – Vibrant Corner of Every Marathi Heart

    There’s a very vibrant and long tradition of Vaari (वारी) in Maharashtra dating back for more than 800 years.  Every year palanquins carrying ‘paduka’ (sandals) of saints are taken with this pilgrimage to reach Pandharpur on occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi (Eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight the month of Ashadh). It’s a great procession which goes on for 15 days on foot from Dehu, Alandi and other places to Pandharpur. Lakhs and lakhs of Vasrkaris take part in this procession singing various abhangs, devotional songs of Lord Viththal written by Saints.

    This tradition of singing abhang in procession is taken to a next level and widened its reach to the general public of Maharashtra and other places in the country by various singers and composers. However, one name comes on top of this list. Bharatratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi composed a number of abhangs and created a full length program with them. Pandit Kumar Gandharva’s program on Sant Tukaram, Kishoritai Amonkar, Chota Gandharva, Master Krishnarao and many other musicians also composed many Abhangs and performed regularly on stage. Many marathi movies featured some of them as film songs.

    Abhangs which are very close to my heart

    Every composition by these legends is phenomenal and worth listening to again and again. Words written by these saints appear to be so simple and easy to understand, however, if you keep listening to them again and again, someday, you may feel some eureka moments. Today, I am listing some of my favorite Abhangs here for you to enjoy the eternal bliss.

    Laxmi Vallabha – Pandit Kumar Gandharva

    Pandit Kumar Gandharva composed a bunch of abhangs written by Sant Tukaram to the new tunes. Sadly the program flopped as people didn’t accept the new tunes. However, this one particular tune stuck behind and is sung by many of his disciples and musicians influenced by Kumarji’s style and music.

    Avgha Rang Ek Zala – Kishoritai Amonkar

    Gaanasaraswati Koshori Amonkar is a legendary classical vocalist of Jaipur Gharana. She has composed a few abhangs, some Meerabai’s bhajans and performed them in her concerts. This particular abhang is written by Sant Soyarabai who was a disciple of her husband Sant Chokhamela.

    Haribhajanaveen Kaal – Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki

    Every Goan music enthusiast is proud of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki who was accomplished classical vocalist and composer. During his time, he composed many bhajans, abhang, thumari, natyasangeet etc. Haribhajanaveed kaal is abhang written by Sant Sohirobanath of Goa in which he describes importance of self realization

    Dnyaniyancha Raja – Pt. Bhimsen Joshi

    Bharatratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi created a flagship musical program and took these wisdom gems written by our saints to every nook and corner around the country. I am choosing this next one form his compositions. Dnyaniyancha Raja is written by Sant Tukaram in honor of Sant Dnyandev.

    Carnatic classical vocalists also sing these abhangs with equal devotion and mastery. Padma Shri Aruna Sairam, vocalist duo Ranjani – Gayatrhi are just a couple of names who frequently sing these masterpieces. Hope you will enjoy these renditions full with devotion and dedication.

    This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon. Read my earlier story here.

  • अधीर मन

    अधीर मन

    काजवे सभोवती लक्ष दिवे पेटले,
    अंधारी रानातील वाटेवर पावले.

    वाकुनी नभातूनी डोकावतो चांदवा,
    चालली वनातूनी राधा बघ सुंदरा.

    वाटेच्या शेवटास दूर डोंगरावरी,
    राधेला भेटण्यास वाट पाहतो हरी…

    On my YouTube Channel Adi’s Journal

    This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon. Read my earlier story here.

  • 5 Marathi films that you shouldn’t miss

    5 Marathi films that you shouldn’t miss

    Just like music, taste for films is different for everyone. Some people find  relief in comedy, some of them love romcoms. Crime thrillers catch the fancy of a few while some gravitate towards films with social cause or message. That’s why the single list of “Best Movies” will always be contested. Even this list will be challenged by my fellow film enthusiasts or film lovers. However, If you want to know what I think about Modern Marathi Films, these 5 are the best bets to pick. 

    My top picks for Marathi Films that you shouldn’t miss

    Every Marathi movie fan will pick 1988 classic Ashi Hi Banawa Banawi in the top movie lists. There are few modern entries which are obvious to the list like Sairat, Dhurala, Farjand etc. However, they are not in the list. One point in not picking them is that they already have their fame and fans. These are a few movies which I think should also get their fair share of fame out of Marathi hearts. This list is not the ranking like most to least favorite. आप इनकी क्रोनॉलॉजी समझीये!

    Checkmate (2008)

    2008 Marathi crime thriller directed by Sanjay Jadhav which follows a bunch of young guys who lose millions in a gamble to make easy money in a ponzi scheme. Film tells us the story of their attempts to recover the lost money by tracking and manipulating the mastermind behind the scheme with their intelligence. For me, this film actually marked the change in Marathi films by bringing them out from the run of a mill commercial comedy film-making trend. Go to Zee5 to watch this pathbreaking film.

    Harishchandrachi Factory (2009)

    Paresh Mokashi, a wonderful director, decided to make a film about the father of Indian Cinema and created this amazing film. Later it became the official entry of India for the Academy Awards of that year. Film narrates a story of a journey of Dadasaheb Phalke from him discovering the cinema tent to producing India’s first feature film. Knowing about the new industry, getting knowledge of techniques and equipment to make a film, struggles to put together a team of actors and technicians are portrayed in the film so beautifully in a humorous way. I simply love this film. You can watch it on Netflix now.

    Narbachi Wadi (2013)

    Adapted from a Bengali short story, Manoj Mitra’s “Chajjano Bagan”, Aditya Sarpotdar directed Narbachi Wadi. This funny story is all about generations of landlords trying to grab a piece of land from Narba. Landlord has gifted this land to Narba’s father for saving a landlord’s life. It takes you to the beautiful coastal land of Konkan. Dilip Prabhavalkar’s Narba and Manoj Joshi’s portrayal of landlor Story is full of the quirks of the land.

    Happy Journey (2014)

    Happy journey is a story of Niranjan and Janaki, a brother and sister duo. Niranjan is a very dry person, practical, detached from a family who is working in gulf. However he meets a spirit of his sister who has hardly seen him when she was alive. Both of them take this journey to rekindle their bond in a very unique way. I simply love the movie because of it’s cinematography in Goa, choice of colour pallets for different characters and songs from the film. One thing which always remains with you is “Happy Journey” the van which they revive for the journey from its scrappy slumber. Amazon Prime is streaming this one.

    Faster Fene (2017)

    Faster Fene is a legendary character created by B. R. Bhagwat who is always wandering around to solve the mysteries and do adventures around. Aditya Sarpotdar brought this character to today’s world through this 2017 film. The publicity campaign was unique in itself just like a film. In this film he tries to solve the muder mystery. He gets involved in this scene when he comes to Pune for a medical entrance exam. Amey Wagh has built the character of Faster Fene superbly. It stands strongly against the powerful villain portrayed by Girish Kulkarni. You guys can watch this murder mystery on Zee5.

    Have you watched any of these films? What would be your list of 5 movies one shouldn’t miss.

    This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon. Read my earlier story here.