Old (Mostly Bollywood) Videos of the 50's and 60's

I embarked on this venture of creating a list of songs about a year back. I was not sure which songs i wanted in my list, nor had decided which languages (English, Tamil etc) I would focus on. I knew that I wanted a collection of old songs and I wanted it organized. Note that I this post does not have mention any songs. The post is rather about my journey.

First, I had to find out where the videos were available. Then I chose to focus on Hindi songs and add those songs in other languages which I happened to come across. Some of my friends helped me, they gave me songs. Those I liked but didnt have in my collection were added to my excel file. The list kept growing.

Over a period of time, either my friends or I would identify some mistakes in data (maybe the movie name or the year of release was not right etc) and then I would correct it hurriedly.

It was a terrific journey that lasted a few months. It took me through countless hours of browsing, listening, reading, trying to find out details of the movie that the song was from and the actor/actress etc.  And the journey still continues, I keep adding to the file whenever I find a "new" old song that I like. 

This blog entry is dedicated to my friends who helped me. And of course to those supermen (and women) like Lata, Rafi, Salil Choudhury, Mukesh, Kishore, TMS, Susheela, Hemanta, RD, SD Burman, Naushad, Talat, Shankar Jaikishan, Viswanathan Ramamurthy, OP Nayyar who made a terrific impact on Indian cinema.

Additional reading:

1. My appraisal of Music directors: http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2011/02/music-directors.html
2. http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2010/12/old-indian-movies-songs-and-actors.html

Cooking Course 101 for My Friends - Recipe

I thought I will write about a topic that will interest all my friends.. Its a common belief among women that only certain type of people make good cooks. Like a certain silly north indian fellow who comes on TV wearing an apron and  a white hat.

He does look good, I have to concede.. But for those of you who want to know what AUTHENTIC good food is all about here is course 101..

The dish is fried Ivy Gourd..

1. Cut the vegetables small (make sure you have your mom around to help you with small stuff like that)

2. Heat oil (oil to fry)

4. Add mustard seeds, asafoetida. Wait until mustard seeds start cracking.

5. Add the cut vegetables

6. Add salt and chili powder (and very little turmeric)

7. Stir and fry

Oooh la la la!!!! Pofta Buna..

Here are the pictures

https://picasaweb.google.com/114451897239202019349/Recipe_KovakkaiFry

Now notes for the beginnners:

When you are trying this out make sure:

• You should not boil milk by the side so that you avoid mustard falling into milk. One of the pictures shows milk with mustard seeds. Those of you who are bride trainees or novices can con your men folk that its a new dish..
• Notice that while frying the quantity (or volume) of vegetables will shrink. So if the dish doesnt come out well, you can flush the whole thing (in the toilet) as usual and tell others that the quantity became so small that nothing was left after you tasted it. And it was so yummy...
• Notice that when you leave the kitchen after cooking it should be like you never entered it.. It should not look as though a typhoon hit the kitchen. You should leave it clean.
• You also notice that description like "the dish was avant garde, sensuous and reflects the modern woman" etc have been consciously avoided...

Now go out and do thou likewise..