Martin(i) - Shaken and Stirred

Articles / Newspaper Clippings - Hosting Karaoke

2011-07-18T17:29:00.000+05:30

Article on Oberoi Vanyavilas in 'The Collection' Magazine - Vol 3 - Issue 1

2011-06-29T12:00:00.002+05:30

Article in Deccan Herald on Brett Lee's band and it mentions "Bangalore band One Nite Stand opened for the rockers." ;)

2010-11-19T14:12:00.002+05:30

Article on 'The National Tiger Census, 2010' in the Furs Fins and Feathers Magazine

2010-08-09T13:27:00.002+05:30

This is an article that I wrote for the Furs Fins and Feathers magazine based on my experience as a volunteer for the National Tiger Census 2010 at Bandipur. The editing has been done by the magazine and the photographs have been clicked by me.

Zacx in Furs Fins and Feathers Magazine

2010-08-09T13:20:00.002+05:30

Megha and Mayank's Zacx in the Furs Fins and Feathers magazine. Text supplied by them and edited by the magazine. The photograph was taken by me at their place.

Want Her Back

2010-03-17T13:40:00.002+05:30

When she steps away
I want her to stay
In a flash shez gone
Feelings unborn

I want her back in my life
Living in disdain
I want her back in my life
Need to be sane
I want her back in my life
Irremovable stain
I want her back in my life
No more pain

No sign of her around
Footprints vanish from the ground
The scent lingers no more
All rooms have a shut door

I want her back in my life
Living in disdain
I want her back in my life
Need to be sane
I want her back in my life
Irremovable stain
I want her back in my life
No more pain

Knocking from dusk to dawn
I stay still no wink no yawn
Expressions frozen waitin to thaw
This state of mind I never saw

I want her back in my life
Living in disdain
I want her back in my life
Need to be sane
I want her back in my life
Irremovable stain
I want her back in my life
No more pain

Movement leads nowhere
Into darkness I stare
Reach out to a blank space
Yet no pretty face

I want her back in my life
Living in disdain
I want her back in my life
Need to be sane
I want her back in my life
Irremovable stain
I want her back in my life
No more pain

Summer Heat

2010-02-23T16:29:00.001+05:30

I stand alone with my head held high

He reigns supreme ruling from the sky

My friends around tried to fight his power

Its my chance now but I am losing by the hour

Isn't he the creator and provider of life?

I ask myself, then why this strife?

Transitions

2009-12-07T19:14:00.000+05:30

Scrolls unravel to tell us tales of the past
A powerful spell upon us all it does cast
What has been written cannot be undone
An attempt at it is like staring at the sun
The light at the end attracts a glance or two
When you stare at it blindness takes over you

A blink of the eye and it all passes by
No sight of a rainbow up in the sky
Tears roll down the cheek without a stop
All emotion ceases, life becomes a prop
When all hopes fade away you halt and seek
Questions without answers make you weak

A past is an entity that cannot be erased
The one who does try ends up being dazed
Look ahead, the future lies in your hands
Build your own castles in the smooth sands
Or stand in silence as they get washed away
Not everything that we build is here to stay

A blink of the eye and it all passes by
No sight of a rainbow up in the sky
Tears roll down the cheek without a stop
All emotion ceases, life becomes a prop
When all hopes fade away you halt and seek
Questions without answers make you weak

But that is the inspiration that we all need
A tree emerges when you sow a single seed
Cribs and sighs are pauses in a new beginning
Overcome them all and a new song you sing
With all your might that shell you shred
A breath of fresh air and a long way ahead

A Goodbye Forever

2009-09-10T11:22:00.001+05:30

The journey thus far has been no bliss
Few memories to forget, a few I miss
At times I step at times I skip
Hassles are common along this trip
I dodge, I duck, and I try real hard
I fight back hard with no holds barred
But the irony of life hits us all
These difficulties make us stand out tall

I never wanted to grow up and bid my childhood goodbye
I never wanted to grow up and be expected to touch the sky
I never wanted to carry the entire world on my back
I never wanted to be a part of the wild wolf pack
I never wanted to be in a crowd walking against me
I never wanted to be swimming in an endless sea
I never wanted to witness all those dreams becoming a lie
I never wanted to grow up and bid my childhood goodbye

People all around us have a lot to say
Words of wisdom all night and day
But when you hear them speak all the time
The world around seems like an act of mime
You look to your left and you look to you right
Try to fight them back with all your might
Walking on a thin rope in the middle of nowhere
There is a fear within, this journey is a scare

I never wanted to grow up and bid my childhood goodbye
I never wanted to grow up and be expected to touch the sky
I never wanted to carry the entire world on my back
I never wanted to be a part of the wild wolf pack
I never wanted to be in a crowd walking against me
I never wanted to be swimming in an endless sea
I never wanted to witness all those dreams becoming a lie
I never wanted to grow up and bid my childhood goodbye

There were times I used to weep and never stop
Smile endlessly when I was at the top
Mixed emotions played on my mind
I moved on with failure and success behind
Now I have reached a stage far away
No turning back, I am here to stay
I step ahead with only memories to cherish
No cribs no complaints until I perish

I never wanted to grow up and bid my childhood goodbye
I never wanted to grow up and be expected to touch the sky
I never wanted to carry the entire world on my back
I never wanted to be a part of the wild wolf pack
I never wanted to be in a crowd walking against me
I never wanted to be swimming in an endless sea
I never wanted to witness all those dreams becoming a lie
I never wanted to grow up and bid my childhood goodbye

Jade Magazine, August 09 edition

2009-08-03T17:41:00.008+05:30

FYI - I am not 25, definately not a Rock Musician

and the photograph is courtesy Carlton Braganza :)

The Change

2009-07-27T18:27:00.003+05:30

It had been ages since I first smiled from the heart
In an intricate web of thoughts I was caught
Complications often plagued my life
Had no strength to move ahead, was full of strife
The journey was rough, happiness was rare
My mind was blank, grief used it as her lair
But every cloud does have a silver lining
Looking for it, I spent all my time whining
Then came a change, turned everything upside down
A smile dawned on my face, away went my frown
Now I look back and ponder about the past
A different person I've become, hope this will last
With you in my life, I shall overcome all odds
Together we are perfect, like two peas in the pods
Call it a request, a wish or a plea,
Just a yes from you will make me jump around with glee
Travel with me in this journey of bliss
Let us seal this bond for life with a kiss.

Valiant-ines

2009-03-26T13:36:00.002+05:30

Recession seems to have hit us really hard. Pink slips, salary cuts, sobered down lifestyles are all the after affects of this phenomenon. In the United States of America we have the Obama Government trying to bail out the major corporates. Here in Bengaluru we had our very own “Social Service” organisation that were out to help the people out by getting them married off on the occasion of Valentine’s Day.

A majority of people, all over the world, profess their love on this particular day and the other few get married. There are mass weddings held across countries on this particular day. So why does this only happen on this particular day? “Love” is something that is universal and for this to be glorified on one particular day of the year seems to be a phenomenon of sorts. Every year, on this day I stop to think about how this phenomenon has been able to spread itself around the world, amongst millions of people.

A section of our society considers this day to be an evil and an immoral occasion. There are extremely rebellious thoughts against this and high-levels of hatred are expressed on the particular day. Greeting card shops are shut down forcefully, gift shops are ransacked, flowers are trampled upon, pubs and restaurants are broken down, and couples are harassed. It seems like everyone has their own way of expressing “love”. These rebels feel that our culture is being hampered by having an occasion like this one. They think that this one day embarked to celebrate love is a taboo to our morals and values. Of course their solution to eliminate this “evil” is hatred. I am amazed that in order to “protect” our culture, these groups end up displaying violence, which according to them is morally right. Even our politicians assist these groups to a large extent across our country. The concept of democracy somehow seems to have been erased from their dictionary.

Similarly there are several organisations that also support this particular day. They stand by the couples and help in spreading and celebrating love. These organisations are willing to brave the rebels and ensure a peaceful environment. So why do these organisations stand up against the rebels on this day? Some do it because they genuinely are considerate about this occasion. They are the ones who truly believe in love and peace to be spread all over the world and believe that violence is not an answer for anything. The others in this category are the ones who play political games, just to gain publicity and support. They really are not too concerned about this day or love and peace flourishing.

An occasion like this also happens to be a boon for the marketers. When else will they get to commercialize an event to such an extent that there is a mad rush of people at the greeting cards’ stores? How else do you expect the highest sales of flowers on a single day to happen? How do you think rolls of gift wraps and gifts vanish on a single day? On what other day will all the tables be booked and the dance floors be jam packed? This day just happens to be one of those days which turns out to be extremely beneficial to all the marketers. They see their revenues sky-rocketing.

I must say that I too have been a victim of Valentine’s Day on several occasions. These were of course days, when my pockets went dry and my thinking ability came to a stand-still. Those prior weeks of tension, wondering what I need to do on Valentine’s. Is it going to go well or is it going to be disastrous? Is it going to make or is it going to break? Am I going to end up doing something over the top or am I going to do something too little? Is the place too sober or is it too fancy? Is it too cheap or is it too expensive? Is the shirt I am wearing too bright or is it too plain? One spray of perfume or many more? Is the gel too much or is it too less? Do I wear formals or semi-formals? The clean-shaven look or the stubble look? Do I take my car out or borrow my friends? Will she prefer chocolates or will flowers do the job? Complementing her dress first or her hair-do? Should we hit the movies or do we do dinner? Or both?

One day and so many questions. This is one occasion that every man dreads. So why does the man have to do everything? Is it a law? All the questions a man asks himself is evidence enough to prove that it’s a day where a woman just smiles and the man does too, but at his cost. All the expectations are on him and not on her. Well, there are a few expectations on her too, from the man, but see that’s just where it ends, at a thought. The concept of equality certainly doesn’t hold good, on this particular day.

This has been a day that was popularised in the west, but has slowly spread to the other regions of the world garnering increasing attention and popularity. In India, the concept of Valentines seems to have spread all over with both positive and negative attention. This seems to have caught up with the youth all over and is being celebrated by couples much older too. We have all read in the papers and also watched on our televisions how much of a weightage this occasion carries in increasing readership and viewership. Numerous contests and theme based programmes have all of us glued. Well, with all this attention also invites a lot of controversies.

So after a month filled with controveries I must say that pink chaddies certainly did a good job of covering up some “unhygienic outlets”. Looks like this Valenties Cupid’s arrows actually did hurt instead of spreading love.

Article on 'Entertainment' in Tabor - The official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Bangalore

2008-12-17T18:20:00.003+05:30

Article on 'Marketing' in the SilverLining Magazine (Oct-Nov 2008)

2008-12-17T18:15:00.002+05:30

Article on 'Talent Search' in the SilverLining Magazine (Oct-Nov 2008)

2008-12-17T18:12:00.002+05:30

Article on 'Management' in the SilverLining Magazine (Oct-Nov 2008)

2008-12-17T17:48:00.002+05:30

Sunday

2008-09-24T18:53:00.000+05:30

…and then God rested on the final day
Atleast that’s what the people from the Bible say
But that is a theory that I would deny
What I am going to prophesise is not a lie
She is the most beautiful creature on planet Earth
Possessed the qualities of an angel right since birth
Making this marvel was no child’s play
God would have surely taken an entire day
So on the final day he did not rest
He was simply at his creative best.

Uncle S(l)am

2008-09-24T18:52:00.000+05:30

Bush got re-elected jus because he got more votes
Duped the people with some fancy quotes
First was his opponent – Mr. Al Gore
He didn’t get elected because the public was dumb to the core
Worthy was the second opponent – Mr. Kerry
He lost because Americans have brains the size of a cherry.

Drive Safely

2008-09-24T18:51:00.000+05:30

Please obey the traffic rules
Don’t break them only to look all cool
Hundreds of people everyday die
I speak sincerely; it’s not a lie
Someone back home is waiting for you
DRIVE SAFELY – I plead to you.

Secret Sssshhhhhanta

2008-09-24T18:50:00.002+05:30

This honour a lot of men in our office seek
To be your Secret Santa, this event they tried to tweak
But luck favoured just one amongst them all
This Christmas I will ensure that you’ll have a ball
A humble beginning this is, there is more to come
It’s time to be happy and stop being glum
Christmas is here, flash that smile and spread some joy
The office is going crazy; I am the envy of every boy
To be your Secret Santa seems to be a Herculean task,
If you desire something specific, don’t hesitate, please ask
I might not be able to give you the sun, the moon or the stars
Or be able to provide you with a promotion or some fancy cars
I am just a humble being who wishes to make you smile
This week at office I ensure will be worthwhile.

The Rhyme Crime

2008-09-24T18:50:00.001+05:30

Incomplete is a tree without its leaves
Non-existant without water is the seas
Without the stars, dull seems the sky
Incomplete without a question mark is the word ‘why’
Your company I cherish all the time
My love for you I want to express, with this rhyme
Without you I am nothing, is what I have to say
I love being with you, all night and day.

Seventh Heaven

2008-09-24T18:49:00.001+05:30

Love as vast as the seven oceans
Trust and understanding, the magic portions
Their life more colourful than the rainbow’s seven colours
Season after season they have bloomed like flowers
Years have flown by; they’ve been together for seven
This bride and groom are truly a match made in heaven.

Bonded Forever

2008-09-24T18:48:00.002+05:30

I often wonder how it would be, to be as nice as you
I am sure there are many of your friends who wonder like I do
If I ever were to express my feelings about you
Even a biography would be words very few
In my life a big difference you’ve made
I hope your memories about me never fade
If ever between us there exists a distance
I’ll still be there for your assistance
An angel you are, made my life so bright
Get a smile on my face, making my troubles light
For eternity I pray to God that we are together
A person like you, there can never be another.

Flirt With Dirt

2008-09-24T18:48:00.001+05:30

Every guy in his life has this particular aim
To be on top of the ultimate game
A few years ago, Cupid’s arrow struck me hard
One look at her and I used to get completely charged
The moment into the class she walked
Both boys and girls about her talked
The teachers were no less; I know this is a shock
Swamy sir staring at her used to drop the chalk
Wait… Don’t jump to a conclusion so soon
All this happened because she attended class once in a blue moon
Jobless that she is, wastes all her time
Recruiting people for AISEC, she commits a crime
The only thing they do is meet at weird places
Gossip all the time and discuss each other’s cases
Every meeting, people around them choke
Cause the whole while they only smoke
As a friend I have an advice for Ms. Pink
It’s bad for the health – don’t smoke or drink
I have seen girls a lot
Must say, this one is hot
She does use her brains sometimes
Has a voice as sweet as the sound of wind chimes
A sweetheart she is cause she is so very nice
Sits next to me, even though my presence she does despise
Oh crap, I can’t do this anymore
Talking good about her is such a bore
Behind all the abuses I know she loves my cartoon
Meeting me, to her must be God’s greatest boon
All the praising about her was a big lie
In reality when I sit next to her, I so want to cry
Don’t misunderstand me, with you I don’t flirt
It’s my passion – I love giving you dirt.

A Wonder

2008-09-24T18:47:00.001+05:30

The wind blows and the sun glows
The rivers flow, all a part of nature’s show
I wonder why blue is the sky
I wonder why the stars so brightly shine
I wonder why you are so sweet
A glimpse of you is truly a treat
With your lovely touch I melt
When you smiled so nice I felt
From the time I wore a nappy
No one has ever made me this happy
In this world there are a beautiful few
But there can be no one like you.

Ashed

2008-09-24T18:46:00.000+05:30

There are questions that so many people ask
Finding the answer seems to be daunting task
Every morning I invest an hour
Thinking about her gives me a lot of power
A bottle of gel I use every month to spike
Desperate to see her I speed on my bike
In the campus when I see her coming
My heart so violently starts drumming
Do you know the reason for the twin tower crash?
The militant pilot looked out of the window and saw Ash
Do you know why the watchmen chase us away from the gate?
They want to see her first, hence alone they wait
Morning, afternoon, evening or night
The whole world for her they fight
At the end of the day I know she’s the only one for me
My love for her is as vast as the sea
On this sacred day I confess my love
Oh goddess of beauty, to you I bow.

Life On Track

2008-09-24T18:44:00.005+05:30

My life is like a train that travels from one destination to another
As it chugs along the stations, many a passengers it does gather
At times, speed it gains
At times, jerks and strains
Diversions come by often, wasting precious time
But I move ahead determined, towards the journeys prime
All those people who’ve boarded, get off at various places
Every second of this journey, I am greeted by different faces
Not one, not ten, not hundred
The varieties of people are wide spread
Some important, some insignificant
Some evil, some innocent
Stories there are plenty, of journeys with them all
Though only one amongst them stands out tall
This person keeps me going, through all odds
Having this special one is a boon from all Gods
Every train that runs, needs an engine driver
For me she does that duty, to move on she does inspire
My life would come to a grinding halt if she goes away
Her presence in my life is needed, come what may.

A Fool Moon Night

2008-09-24T18:44:00.004+05:30

I was walking down the moon-lit road
The chill breeze around me, I froze
The rustle of the leaves
The swaying of the trees
There was magic in the air
Far ahead I saw a girl so fair
Her walk radiated extreme grace
Made my heart dance with an increasing pace
Express my love, I had to do
I went upto her and she said ‘booo…’
Other than Math, this scared me the most
The pretty girl turned out to be a Ghost!

Colours of India

2008-09-24T18:35:00.000+05:30

We stand proud amongst a million others
Diverse blood streams but we all are brothers
Born of a mother who makes us all proud
Our love for her we scream out loud
Cultures are so vast, a rich heritage from the past
Be it sun or sand or the rivers blessing our land
People across, speaking various languages
We listen to them all - imams, fathers or sages
Festivities brighten every house, big or small
Our future seems brighter, we shall stand tall
High in the skies, our flag flutters high
Under its shadow the nation does fly
We all maybe made up of many a colour
But we are just petals of a single flower.

Saturday Knight

2008-09-24T18:27:00.004+05:30

On Saturday night, I hopped into my car
To pick up a girl I drove upto the nearby bar
I was extremely sad, as I was single
Not a pocket of mine did jingle
So I asked for water, as I could not afford a quarter
When I was looking all around
A girl wearing a mini-skirt I found
Walked upto her and I tried to flirt
In return I received a whole lot of dirt
Lovely like her there was no other
But she soon made me her brother
So as the night turns into day
I hope and pray her boyfriend turns out to be gay.

If...

2008-09-24T18:26:00.001+05:30

If Adam and Eve were Chinese…
All people today would come up only to our knees
We all would have soft silky hair
Everyone would be as fair as the Polar Bear
With two slits on our faces we would be one of its kind
Cause even with eyes we would all look blind.

Stupid Cupid

2008-09-24T18:19:00.006+05:30

The leaves were still; there was no movement at all
Silence was awakened when there was a call
There she stood in the gleaming heat
Frantically screaming on the deserted street
The flaming sun had unleashed a war
No soul could stand his mighty power
It was time to retreat, she could no more roam
She needed the comfort of her home, sweet home
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours
But hope seemed to be as far as the stars
Then she saw a ray of hope, a few meters away
Looked like her misfortune was not here to stay
Her hands moved violently from side to side
The sense of excitement, she could not hide
“Stop…” she screamed from the top of her voice
He halted with a screech; he was the blessing in disguise
Their eyes met, there were sparks all around
The beedi in his mouth, he was so hot; her jaws dropped to the ground
She then spoke - what did she say “Will you come to Fraser Town, how much do I have to pay?”
His hand glided over the meter, “Yes madam, one and a half only” – he uttered
Spell bound by his charm, she nodded – her eyelids fluttered
After so many years, the man of her dreams she had met atlast
He was her dream man; she wanted him to “ride” really fast
She stepped into the auto-rickshaw with extreme grace
Sat right next to him even though at the back-seat there was a lot of place
The love between them was so very strong
He asked her to marry him by singing a romantic song
To take the bride, the groom usually comes on a horse
But our hero came in his rickshaw – KA 02 U 143, it was his Porsche
They shifted to fourth gear and into the horizon they disappeared
The “JUST MARRIED” board was seen only after all the smoke had cleared
Their love making sessions in the bed
Was like an auto-rickshaw that does not stop at the signal Red
Just one little rendezvous saw the union of two hearts
Neither of them could escape Cupid’s love darts
He and she were tied together, forever by the sacred bond
She was the only passenger that he had not conned.

Spiked

2008-09-24T16:54:00.003+05:30

This is the worst thing that can happen to a guy
It affected me so badly, it actually made me cry
It is a story that has left a deep scar
Day and night it will haunt me, every hour
Last night I had so nicely gelled my hair
But this morning when I looked into the mirror, they were not there
I was totally psych cause there was not even a spike
My hair was all gone
I looked like a baby, new born
I jumped off the building through the back door
Nothing happened to me cause it was only the first floor
To grow my hair back, very hard I was trying
But it was not happening so I started crying
“Let them sprout oh Lord” – I was screaming

I felt something on my head – I was dreaming.