Sunday, May 3, 2009

22nd Feb updates ----

for all those who have been regular on reading the MFM blog, here is a heartfelt sorry from Monika for updating it again so late.. altho the inputs had already been put by Tarun... I was just so late in publishing in here.Nah .. i have run short of excuses now and U already know that my NEW YEAR RESOLution is getting resolved time and again---- but still for all those lovely people in spirits -here is Mfm updated-------no the shutterbugs werent there this time... i know by now u are tired of my " sorries"...
The jam - 22/02/2009
Even though we are were contemplating to have the jam or not, people asking one another we if catching up for the days jam or not and some a couple of them not turning up (for reasons obviously...) there were many of us who were there. So the first to land up at the ADDA were Kailash and me, watching the beautiful sun set. As the sun made its way through to light up another part of the world, Eeshan made an entry with with a cool a chick. Monica walked in after doing some TP at Hill Road (thinking no one would be there), all the four of us got into the mood. The guitars came out first as usual and then started the tuning session, you know the usuakl guitarists thing :) Eeshan and Kailash started singing along starting on a low note though. A few songs like, Dooba Dooba, O Sanam went along and then Monika with all her enthusiasm introduced the MFM to the crowd. A number of requests from people came along and we like always mudered a few songs we didnt know. Me couldnt sit quite then, had to give a message to the people, so me jumped into the crowd, introduced the band once again and started off to give the message. My message this time was "BAN THE USE OF PLASTICS" All those reading the blog sure are educated and sensible enough to know how hazardous PLASTICS are, to the environment, to the living and things also the fruits and vegetables we eat, which we preserve in them. A guy from the crowd came up a few minutes later and sang the song from the movie KARMA (the title track), as we all know it s a patriotic song and we only show our patriotism for the nation twice a year for a few minutes. No ellaborating people, 18 people walked off when the song was being sung by most of the people there. We all now the case of 26/11/08.. we all abused the terrorists, we all showed our anger, we all spoke a lot of things, we all visited the Gateway of India on Dec 6 to show that you care, many of us organised peace meetings, prayer meetings, collected funds, donated funds and may other things. But I would really like to ask, 3 months down the line how many of us have bothered to stand up and question as to what is the state, why is there no action being taken as yet, why is it taking so long." There were a number of banner prepared and displayed during the peace rally against the netas, others and one of them pointed to the common man saying "Gandhigiri gave us 1947, now its time to carry AK47" How many of us have done that? Everyone salutes the spirit of Mumbai and the people of Mumbai, that come what may, next day Mumbai is back on tracks, back on feet. WHY? Whats the reason? How Come? Coz Mumbai is selfish, Mumbai is mean and Mumbai doesnt care. Every middle class person has to earn. If he's not on feet the next day, he looses a days pay and as we all know how important Rs. 100 is today and a common man does not want to loose that, as thats a meal for him and his family for that day. If Mumbai is not on its feet the next day, there is a loss of BILLIONS of Rupees. Thats the reason Mumbai is BACK ON ITS FEET. Theres no spirit of fighting or questioning or showing anger, rage or anything. As long as we and our near and dear ones are safe and sound, who the hell is bothered. Theres a line from the movie RANG DE BASANTI - am sure everyones watched it, "Aise hi chalta raha hai, aise hi chalta rahega." "Hum aise hi jam karte rahenge aur message dete rahenge"
JAI HO
Regards,
Tarun Punjabi
Music For Meaning Bandstand, Bandra .

and Monika would end up here saying that---Arise , AWAKE AND Stop not untill You Lend yourself voice.. let us question ourselves if we wanna just again forge into the slavery of our survival again or we want to raise our heads high againt the wrongs and choose even to die gracefully.......
jai ho

Sunday, March 1, 2009

25TH JAN--REPUBLIC DAY PREPARATIONS.

We were quite delighted when we planned the jam that was just a day before our Republic Day.We thought to make it special in our own lil way, so we decided to wear whites and distribute flags to as many people we could..also we thought we would play songs that are patriotic,that do remember the nation once in a while among all those commercial masala stuff...
aneways the start was good with an audience starting with " aao yaaro mere sang sang jhumo" the song from "Mission Kashmir" which further says " aaya hu main pyaar ka ye nagma sunane
sabke dilo se nafrat ko hatane
saari duniya ko ek sur mein sajane......"
very apt for us.,, guess shakar mahadevan also knows MFM so well that he just put the right words even before we started jamming!!!
.. Never the less, it was disheartening to see people not enjoying the patriotic songs further.. it was a disappointing jam of all times !!There was crowd but there was no voice, there were people who just listened and would not raise a voice or speak ..Tarun in all his efforts tried to disturb the classroom silence, but there was something missing with the crowd...
For MFM, Kailash and Ishan took over , sang their best notes and dint let us a chance to miss apna Gajju, as for Gajju, he was missing us and called up from Jaipur to hear us sing... hehe thats the magic..!!We tried to save the day by cheering it with lil flags that were brought by Tarun, gifting them as our lil token to all those who joined our family..
!!Mahi the youngest member of MFM now joined in late with her papa and mumma dear and so did Pulin...Vrinda and ashwini adding to the cheers as always..
We sang Vande Mataram to end the evening and still felt proud on those grounds. with our white shirts appealing peace and small flags pinned on them, yet to welcome another Republic Day where we salute the Constitution of India which gives us all ' Unity in Diversity' .......... only if we could really train our minds to think that ......... it shall be always a
" Vande Mataram" and not a " One Day Mataram"
---A humble request to all who are those sons{and daughters ofcourse} of the soil that are proud to be an Indian-- PLEASE dont throw away flags on the roads and if u see them, collect them and do not let the dignity of the nation go to grounds!!
JAI HIND!!!!
whites has shown so lovely in the pics... i suggest we should have uniforms next now for MFM ... and then next they would ask me if we are sponsored... nooooooooo.........we are not...

gearing up for the day.......
a salute to all ........ the peace warriors
bharat mata ke baad hum inko pranam karte hai...dats me , ma mom and ashwinigot to clicking some pics........ where is Vrinda...............??

our proud lil Indian.... with her daddy dear counting on notes.. haha... sabse baada rupaiya.. lolz kidding...

the " silent audience " we should name them, but atleast we sit united..........

The proud Mfm -- u know who is who right... all in one colour of peace.. peace in all world around...

The JAM OF 18 JAN 2009

When you are at the grounds ,, lets call it our own platform or as they say the karmabhoomi .... u are always sure of one thing.. the fun and the music and thats what was another sunday,to rock back in the spirits with some of our missing members joining us back... listening chintan?? hehe nah no offense, its just great that everyone makes it up there blaming on the traffic, the buses, the conductors ,the hectic schedules.. what rests is evryone makes it to MFM sometimes on time , sometimes a lil late.. ohk being late is ma prerogative .. ma new year resolution isnt working well... so am I jolting down this blog so late.. am asking for a last sorry this time..and then u can say we were all so dukhi ,, our lead singer ...ahan.. apna Gajju had packed up his bags to go to Jaipur.. not that we would be missing him ... but gaana kon gayega hehe... ohk am sorry Gajju we shall miss you untill Pulin stops posing with his beloved guitar and Kailash forgives his shyness to just let out and sing.. and hamare other singers kahan hai--- Suraj, Vinay... ohk the caravan has to keep moving and so do we... but u all can sure readus here and apply for the post of singer-- see there are recessions everywhere but the good part is we are not into salary cuts coz no one pays us here -- hmm Recession Bad Times but lets find out ways to still keep the fun going....
But what keeps me still afresh of this jam is a letter which I pen down here ,that had come to us from an audience and which made our day as one of those special days which just rejuvenates our energies back, I wanted to put a scanned copy of the beautiful writing itself.. but before I get late further this is what was handed to us on a piece of paper---
" It is rare that in Mumbai you get to see this kind of a crowd for a good purpose.When you see so many people together the only thought that hits you at first is its gotta be an accident or something..
But you guys have managed to do something , very few can .
Great Job.
All the very best to you!!
Regards
Natasha Bolua-----"

Sadly the letter was handed over to us and we couldnt meet Natasha because she had a leg injury and couldnt wait with us. Nevertheless it is such an appreciation to hear such sweet words and keep the trust goin that although there might be hundreds of onlookers who have been at MFM , just for a moment, but the whole spirit rises in the fact that we are one community binded by the soul of Music and here at MFM we bind Music with Meaning......
Gajju we shall miss u in the lead thoda sa...so come back to Aamchi Mumbai soon... but as they say the caravan has to keep moving,, Pulin, Kailash,Ishan raise your voices high.......
Girls............ Gauri , Vrinda, Bharti...... ohk ..ohk... am not singing anemore,, the MFM just banned me... sob sob... but do I not speak my heart still ... I do.. and would always do..for the evergrowing people's band!!! sigh sigh!!
the snapping history.... shutterbugs ........ there u go....


guitarist in sync...........



our people tuning into audience..........Gajju takes to clapping for the taal



and so do the audience...... thats how we all join right...



the audience did join in the singing too... we love that... !!!Ishaan cant stop staring at his first love - guitar and so does Tarun with his djembe,, but Tarun loves the shutterbugs.. hmm


oh!! am not shying away,, its just that Vrinda says i spoil pictures.. but wats the expression the guy has..... haha i loved dis pic anehow.. our lil " Red Riding Hood" dancing with her papa dear!!

as usual we were posing for a perfect picture.. and u catch all the expressions here!!!,,
a colourful Mfm..........

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Jam of 11 th Jan----

We are getting lazier in the New year,, we were late again , in fact the official time for the jam is 7.30 now.. I would still suggest we should try to be back with the original timings that’s 6.30 so we see the setting sun, enjoy more energy in the dawn, and the cool breeze… and make us more identified on the amphi…Also everyone who is not staying nearby and still rushing for the jam like me , can enjoy a handful of time without getting thrashed back home late in night….
Folks..please save me… or I shall be soon driven out from the home too…u shall have to refuge me on the Band stand... well though i wont mind " Sharukh's Bungalow" ... sorry no dreaming..
Back to the jam,, , I chose to meet Keekoo Uncle who always encourages us and believes in us.. before staring with the jam...he is keeping a lil low these days with his health , so I really dint force him to accompany us to the jam…nevertheless his words keep guiding..
Blame it on the traffics,\ and the official works , the girl power manage to reach half an hour earlier than the guys , and we were wondering of how do we initiate the jam without our musicians.. it also led us to think how incomplete were we to stand as individual ;some onlookers were curious about when do we start playing.. and whoopy that was smiles for us!! Someone waits for us…blushing we !!!
So no sooner when the musicians arrive , and comes our smiling Tarun.. where in his Djembe really sparks some energy,…….We are There --- MFM …… the ever growing jam band, and there are people , some new , some curious , some of our regular ones who take to seats to participate , some others who choose to stand and peep from behind the crowds, some just humming away some songs.. some to sing it loud , some there to listen to us , some just walking away after the music( not to be troubled with lectures please they say….) isn’t it one big family with all the diversities…so don we have to overlook the weaknesses of some of our shy people and overcome them with our strengths … ;well that's one more lesson … I learn at the jam.. and with every jam I become more tolerant , more learned …..
its so glad to see my people like Gauri to help audience raise the voice, its nice to see our Gajju, Kailash and Pulin make people correct their tunes and sing in a single note, its lovely to see our smiling Tarun teach people tapping their fingers on his Djembe.., its lovely to see Vrinda catching up people’s mood in her camera which keeps us the memory of evry jam and every moment that was so special in the jam..its lovely to see Bharti with her silent presence there everytime cheering us and for me it feels nice to speak out my heart and then still be bear by my friends even when I would just murder the songs….!! We are having fun…. And we are having a message to be happy , to smile , and people we are no group.. – we are an ever growing jam band,,, so just be there and join us...because its also happy to see 'You' all participate in the fun , sing your favourite songs with us,and share those precious moments...... Add Image
nevertheless the speciality of the jam this time was the folk... Gajju sang some pretty Punjabi songs and the Dua Family joined us. While we wished to hear an original number from them , they threatened us that they could recite only a " hanuman chalisa" .. err so betta for God to save us ,, we told them to accompnay us with 'Punjabi Shaavas' and 'oye hoye's'...the jam still had energy to continue till 10.30 wheras i had to rush back home at 10 , before posing the group photograph for the day... well offcourse i had to sing a song back home to my mom to allow me inside...
Folks----------- save me , be at 6 to start early at jams ,so i am also at peace at home,,, hehe

All rest…..to the snaps and the smiles,,,,,, yet another Sunday to look forward to……

Gauri and Gajju to start with their usual energies......

Tarun with his smiling energy............

and Tarun again exercising with his beloved Djembe... we Love him that way .. dont we/

Kailash and Pulin concentrating, and Tarun his usal self.. while ashwini is all engrossed in singing..as always am doin Nothing... the Dua family participation was amazing and is seen at far back end to the left, sorry we couldnt get another pic of urs..

our Beautiful girls- Ashwini, Vrinda and Bharti... hmm why is Bharti giving the stern look....

ending it all paying homage to the unheard song of the nation and unsung heroes........

JAI HIND!!!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Jam of 4th JAN-2009--Ushering New Year

WELCOME NEW HORIZONS
Lo! behold!
Its time to leave behind 2008 and all its wonderful visceral souvenirs, good and bad. Lets all welcome a fresh new 2009 and of course hoping that it brings along lesser recession ('jobs' for the uninitiated ... and of course our unemployed friends, hope we all do well :-)), more peace and more positive opportunities and some more new people and great friends.I have miserably failed on the New Year Resolution already to publish this post so late.. Procastination steals time they say, but well to me Procastination cudnt give time...... altho in the positive spirit , I do not give up and yet reach to all u reading us , so that some day ,I do hope for a better me as do I hope for a better world.. Hope keeps us all alive ...

MFM is looking into a different light, we are sometimes overwhelmed by people's energies and sometimes ,even we go through energy recessions..somehow its a big family which understands the strengths and weaknesses of each other ,giving support and thats how the idea transforms itself, giving a hand to each other to overcome their weaknesses and smile through all the difficulties...the First day of the band in the new refreshing Year got really late with everyone dropping in late ...then we started with music only leaving the new audience puzzled as to what are we upto; disturbing their chit chats on the amphi theatre.......but we are sorry we have now defined the amphi at band stand as one universal platform where you can defy any boundaries and speak out your hearts...
initially our long impending singers and musicians carried out non stop music, all stuff from our own bollywood, addressing some issues but somewhere yes even i felt might be we are just distracting from our purpose.. as Suraj rightly said --" what we shall practise and preach shall be passed on to the further genera , so might be in the evergrowing jam band if we don not take care of the " Music with the Meaning" it would only be a platform with music losing its meaning within; but glad to disappoint me ,Tarun and Gauri rose again with their positive energies and addressed the people... yeah some of the crowd walks away, some just doze off while we wanna speak , but who cares, the point lies in making the smallest change possible, raising the voice, the people shall join when they would believe , and only those who believe shall make the change.......
With Pulin ,Gajju and Ishan(without "T" he said hehe) striking ( and breaking their chords ) , with Tarun tapping his energy on the Djembe and with Gauri, Vrinda ,Ashwini ,Bharti,Abhay, Pradip to join hands together to clap along with the audience and the participants whose names have not been put here , and our usual musicians Suraj , Kailash,Amar,Chintan, Vinay , Vijeeth,Kaviraj, Poonam, Kingshuk,ali, shadab( lets remember all apna purana gang too who are right now busy with their priorities but have always believed in us to carry MFM ahead) and ofcourse our dearest Keeko uncle -------People WE are the change .. and We are the peace that the world is striving for… we are the message that is passed on to the lesser fortunate world to be happy , to live in harmony and to LIVE IN PEACE ,,
so in this New year let us make a resolution to smile and spread smile to whoever we meet,let us lend our hand to any hand that is in distress, let us give voice to any word that is unheard and that needs to hear itself… in brief, let us be more Humans and preserve Humanity……. amen! Monika
sure now is the time with the snapping… snapping the smiles , the cheers and the peers --this time in new snapshots , collaging all the fun , well lets start a lil creative with the New year....




our handsome guitarist are all smiles from left down Pulin, the duo Gajju and Ishan( without"t") hehe, Pradip testing his new skill - A djembe, Tarun and Gauri with one of our audience singers and all of us sharing the moments in the jam.......of the first sunday of the New Year.....
We all wanted to speak, Tarun with his usual word philosohy inspires us all , then is Gauri and u know already i neva wanna sit quietly there...... aneone listening.....???

our singers and our beloved regular Mahi whom i had christened as"aditi" coz thats the only song she wants to hear.Mahi dancing with Papa dear and is seen with her parents (right first), then is our shy singer whom gauri cheers up to sing, and then comes our "Welcomed" member who sang a very nicely composed song"Welcome"[ nah not the bollwood wala], but it really made the audience cheer............and add up the energy

our people caught in moods cheering, singing, clapping and with my beloved friend playing the bongo , but sorry to my memory loss i really forgot the name.

our audience in different moods................


thats the magic of " Vande Matarm" where everyone holds his head high to be proud of being and Indian.............all standing salutes...

so much so for the Group snap, we make the photographer click pictures till all of us are caught in the perfect gestures, somehow we do not end up doin dat in one single picture.........
for the new year ur introductions are :
the white close ups----- --------------------------------- Pulin
the blue t-shirt not letting the guitar breathe for a minute-------- Ishan
the one holding the Djembe in his arms like his long awaited gf----- Tarun ( obviously)hehe
the pretty one with all smiles iN blue, in the back row-----------------Vrinda
the one beside her, smiling and singing( we caught that in earlier pic)- Ashwini
the one cute fellow beside Vrinda in black t shirt
(is her brother, so beware hehe)-------------------- -------------- Abhay
another guy in cream t shirt who has his trademark close up smile
to impress gals( bt kuch nai hota) hehe--------------------------- apna Gajju( obviously right)
the Mahashakti of our band, the all smiling----------------------- Gauri
and obviously the restless one seen is -------------------Monika( brown kinda green top or wateva and thats me......
Kailasha absentee .. hmm will get punishment..........
cheers!!!
2009----------- Happy Welcome TO YOU --------
stealing away a line from Joseph D'souza's song......