Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Kaliedoscope



"There's a strange pain in beauty,
a weird irony in love..
when you look back,
you are blind to the darkness,
you see only the joy, remember just the best parts,
it's like life and love is nothing...
but a kaliedoscope of broken hearts."

-Pushkaraj Shirke

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Don't Drink and Drive - First Cut


An ad i came up with against drinking and driving - using plain refraction of light. This is the first cut i did - to see if it will work out. the next cut will include improvisations :)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Me and Me

"My hope gives me wings, my pride watches me fall,
my grit, my passion, my unfailing will
is what still keeps me rising, above it all.
If i look within, it aint just me,
many sides, many faces, inspirations within,
i ain't all alone... im a chaos in me."

- Pushkaraj Shirke

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Child Who Never Grew Up


Why do you sometimes not fit in?
How does it feel to be like a child to never grow up?
Is there a purpose to it? or are you just born useless?
Will you ever amount to something? will you ever amount to ANYTHING???.........
This is the story of a child who just never grew up. The story of his weird journey called life.

Written, Directed, Illustrated, Edited and Sound engineered by Pushkaraj Shirke
Voiceover by Manoshi Nath
Soundtrack - Twilight OST

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Child Who Never grew Up - My short film - First cut


Title: The Child Who Never Grew Up
Voiceover by Manoshi Nath
Written, directed, illustrated, edited and sound engineered by Pushkaraj Shirke

Friday, August 14, 2009

To a road less travelled


Pic: Going with the gravity. The rock waterfall trail down the fort.
It didn't take much. Just a weekend, a few calls to some old old friends and the will to go just anywhere the road took us. No plans. No reservations. No formalities. It's surprsing how anything you do with friends who are comfortable with your crazy side just turns out to be way more amazing than expected.

Pic: Water-fallinngg!!!! ah joy!
We trekked out to sudhagad fort - the other way round. Not the path that tourists take, but through the jungles, the rock faces and the waterfalls. One hell of a trek -all the way up, the overnight stay at the temple of the fort and the perilious way down. Catching an Indian Rock Python in the wild was obviously a topping on the madness of the whole journey. And so was getting lost in the fog at night. And finally the attempt to cross a river without a safety line. All in all, if a sane person or most of the other people i know had been on this trip, it would have been a hell less fun. The "ah no", "yeh nahi", "woh nahi", "this is too uncomfortable", "cant you behave yourself", "are you nuts???"etc etc etc. Pisses me off!

Pic: Going up the crazy rock walls.
The thing is, it feels good to be back. Back to the old madeness of being yourself. Feels good to know that you are still the crazy creature you always were - and that your friends have remained the same too. Its god, no, GREAt to know that your friends, are still your crazy friends, no matter how whacked out insane you may be.

Cheers guys!
To many more insane trips and escapades ahead!
-Pushkaraj Shirke


Pic: The Indian Rock Python. Which btw, we didn't harm. Just caught it, studied it, made a video of and let go back into the wild :) we named him 'Cutie' :)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Honesty Vs Truth



"Satya Meva Jayate" Truth always Triumphs.

These are the words of eternal truth printed on India's most commonly found medium of eternal dishonesty - the currency note. How's that for a lesson?

Honesty and Truth. What's the relation between the two? Are the two words so close that we can overlook the difference? Is it all so subjective?

The fact is Truth is an object. Honesty is a behaviour. If truth is a sword. Honesty is the skill of weilding it. Truth by itself can be explained in various ways by diverse views of philosophy. Some would say that there is there is no objective truth. There are only perceptions. Linguists would agree saying that truth is in the way it is put across. The same would go for honesty. You can be a honest person if you accept the truth and deal with it. You can be a honest person if you reveal to others a hurtful truth. You can also be a honest person if you confess to a truth.
But that's where the subjectivity ends.

There's no way you can lie and be a honest person. There's no way you can hide a hurtful truth and be a honest person. There's no way you can lie to the face of a person just to keep them happy and still claim to be honest. EVEN IF YOUR TRUTH IS COMMUNICATED PURPOSELY IN A MANNER THAT IS PERCIEVED DIFFERENTLY BY ANOTHER - YOU ARE NOT HONEST. Yudhistra from the Mahabharat is the best example: He stated the truth when he said that Ashwatthama is dead. and then muttered to himeslf, that it is Ashwatthama the elephant. What he said was the truth. but what he COMMUNICATED, was a lie. which is why he was dishonest - and for the first time in his life, his chariot which floated above ground, suggestive of his aura of honesty, tuched the ground. His honesty was stained, even by a truth - because it was communicated with malice.

The truth is lifeless, it has no concern for anyone's emotions. which is ironically why it will prevail. It is a blade of adamantine. Never bending. All conquering. It is a power. And with every great power, comes great responsibility.

Many a times when we discover truths, we can fumble with what we do with them. We are not born ready to deal with truths. We are not born with that skill. We learn to use them. And how we learn to use them is up to us. Take the example of a Ninjas and a Samurais. Both use the same weapons but a Samurais used their weapons for honor. Ninjas used them for executions and mercenary causes.

Truth is the same. A honest person will use it with honor, without malice. A dishonest person, will use it to misguide people by covering it in pieces, or witholding it entirely. Yes diplomats fall here.

The one thing that matters most in the relationship between truth and honesty is the effect it has. A honest person is one who lives his life with every truth, good and bad, out in the open. No 'truth' from the outside can ever break the life, work, relationships of a honest person, because they are already known, accepted and penanced for if necessary. They are unbreakable. So ironically, honesty is the greatest sheild against malicious truths. And if broken down to bits, just like a martial art, it simply is the skill of accepting the truths of your life the way they are, gracefully. And that' what it is.

'Satya Meva jayate'

Thursday, July 2, 2009

The gift and curse or hatelessness

Hatelessness?
is there even a word like that. I guess not. But the feeling, sure is. Which makes the word so profound in itself - its inexistence in language defines its meaning. Its nature.
Not all things in the world are known and defined by the world. May it be relationships, feelings, beliefs or situations in life.

I've lived like a fool. Loved like a fool. Won like a fool. Lost like a fool. Yes i've been a fool. But in my foolish journeys between my experiments with life, i've learned some really valuable lessons. And they, thanks to my experiences - as rich as they can be in their poorness, are priceless. The most important lesson by far may be the understanding of the nature of Hatelessness.

Having a heart that loves easily and deeply comes with a caution. A caution I've learned only with time. A caution to not let only the heart make promises for your body and mind. The three are separate, living in unision, yet SEPARATE. Not understanding that can cause a lot of harm. To everything and everyone around. Yet most of which would be to yourself. To your sense of self and your peace of mind.

Where does hatelessness figure in this?
Well, when you love, you just love. You don't think. And when you start thinking, expectations come up, stereotypes come up, the world starts showing up in your feelings. People start chaining your feelings to your actions. The world wants your feelings to be the way the world defines it. but it is not always possible. And sometimes the best choice is to just accept the feelings and cut away the expectations. Yours and that of others.
And in this, the incapability to hate can seem like a curse, unless you learn to look at it like a boon. Its like a strange gift that only reveals its value when you've suffered it enough to understand the power of it.
If you love the person, love them - no matter what. It dosen't mean you have to love them the way the world says love should be. There are so many relationships the world just cannot explain. Does that mean they dont exist? Does the fact that i do not live with a person MEAN that i do not love that person? Does the fact that im miles away from someone for years mean that my heart dosent care for them? It doesnt. never will.
That's where hatelessness comes in.

There are so many times when your feelings will be put down, just because they don't fit the stereotypes others have built in their head. Your feelings will be disregarded because they are not understood by others. And there are times it would make you feel that its best not to feel at all. but the truth is, your heart will feel. no matter how much you supress it, it will feel again.
You can't blame others for living in their world f stereotypes. The fact is, even you have your own. And you probably always will. It comes of being human. The only thing you can do is just let the feeling be. And not disrespect it yourself. Not hate the person who you felt for but couldnt understand your feelings. Coz its not their fault. Be hateless.

Yes, it doesn't come easy. It makes you vulnerable. But that's what it is like. Its a gift, its a curse. It's how you take it.
Wih time, when you've known it better, you'll understand the peace it brings. Maybe you'll better appreciate the fact that it is this 'weakness' of hatelessness that actually strengthns the best in you. Strengthens the heart within you, to be open and true. Free of malice. And yet as loving as ever.

It's the weakness of hatelessness that keeps you loving. It time, that's what really keeps you living.

Don't know if you understand all that i'm rambling, but maybe that's coz that's how complicated it is. It dosent come to you, unless you've experienced it yourself. Hope it brings you as much calm as it does to me. this funny thing i call 'hatelessness'.

Cheers!
Pushkaraj Shirke

Monday, June 1, 2009

THE FIFTEEN MOVIES that have moved my Life


The Shawshank Redemption


Gladiator


Jerry Maguire


Taxi No 9211


Anand

Patch Adams


StepMom

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest


300

The Dark Knight


The Pursuit Of HappYness

Rocky (the entire series)


The Last Samurai


Life Is Beautiful

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Kalaripayattu - The basic (gruelling) routine

Here's how a normal routine at the kalari class is going (and killing the hell out of me!):

Start:
1. Warm up and stretching exercises
2. Jumps (front and side)
-------------------------------------------
Basics:
3. Single front kicks
4. Front kick + Back kick + Turn
5. Side kicks
6. Slap kicks
7. Front kick + side kick + slap kick
-------------------------------------------
Snake Movements & Katas:
8. Front kick + Sit
9. Front kick + Sit + Defend and turn + Sit + Defend and turn + Sit
10. Circular d+ Vertical chop (x4)
11. Circular d+ Vertical chop + Horizontal chop (x4)
-------------------------------------------
Others:
12. Kalari Namaskar (namaskar + defend + namaskar + right kick + namaskar + left kick + namskar + sit + Aasan + Hanuman namaskar + Garuda namaskar + Lotus + Back step stretch + Defend + Left kick + namaskar + Right kick + namaskar + Left kick + namaskar)
13. Lizard Walk
-------------------------------------------
Finish:
14. Stretches
15. Cool down excercises

By the end of it, its draining, i sweat like a pig and drenched to my bone (major understatement), parched even after consuming a bottle full of water, and feeling like i've just given my body the best possible workout that it could have attained. Absolutely fabulous.
Looking forward to many more gruelling practice sessions in the future :) Wish i can continue this all the way - for years together!

In my next note, i'll put down my obeservations of Kalari as compared to the other martial arts i've learnt. It is shockingly undifferent in many senses!

Till then, Ciao!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

A deviation to Kalarippayattu - The mother of all martial arts


Kalarippayattu - the art of war in session
An early legend in martial arts tells the tale of a South Indian Pallava prince turned monk named Bodhidharma (also called Daruma), believed to have lived around 550 A.D. The martial virtues of discipline, humility, restraint and respect are attributed to this philosophy.

The Shaolin Monastery was built by the Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty in AD 477. Buddhabhadra (called Batuo in Mandarin), an Indian dhyana master becomes the first abbot of the Shaolin temple.

A shaolin monk in practice
KALARIPPAYATTU is considered the origin of all martial art forms across asia. From Shaolin Kung Fu, to Japanese Ninjitsu to Korean Taekwondo. All of them have been derived from this ancient Indian art. Given a chance to learn this art was one thing i just couldnt let go.

So, to hell with my fitness regime for the moment. Right now I'm on a crash course in the mother of all martial arts. And i must say its killing me with exhaustion - JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT :)

Will keep you posted on the proceedings :)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Aamchi Mumbai!



Machaltee aashayyein, thirakktey kadam,

kuch boondey pasiney ki, kuch cutting chai paani kum,

uchaltey sapney, bade karam,

chaka chond ki zindagi,

armaan behizaab, muskuraatey gham,

lahu ke samjhautey, bhadaktey ashq,

saja bazaar umeedo ka ya numaish dardo ki,

ek andhera kuan, ya aashaon ka bawandar,

koi bikta hua aashiyana, ya chaltey waqt ka fasaana...

koi kahey issey apna, koi paraaya,

yeh tez maanjey se lipti patangon ka aasamaan,

ye saccheyy jhooton ki dagariya,
aamchi Mumbai Nagariya.


-Pushkaraj Shirke
In retrospect of the early nineties of the city I've watched burn a generation alive (1989-1993)

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Lovers





Title: The Lovers
Medium: Water colours + Ink + Acrylic + Markers
Lost in an embrace that lives a lifetime. Breathing life into each other as the heavens breathe life into them. The lovers are inseparable - as the nascent, singluar life and the fluid, multiple, everchanging cosmos.

- Pushkaraj Shirke

Thursday, February 19, 2009

What the recession really fucked.

I don't give a fuck about the RECESSION. What bothers me is the MORAL RECESSION that it has triggered.

I'm not a guy who bothers much. The fact is with time, I've grown the ability to react to situations only when they really bother me. Take the recession for now.
The world has gone Ga Ga about it. Oh my god! recession!! oh crapp!!! recession. etc etc shit.
Ask them what the recession really is and all they'll probably say is that markets have crashed. What the fuck do they actually understand about the recession? The answer is ZILCH.

Looking around I find that the Recession has become just a great excuse for the SHIT within. It has only magnified the mediocrities of men. Given heartlessness and miserliness a reason.

What? How?
Companies have cut off people in the name of recession. Companies that were till now paying their communication agencies in gold to make those very people "feel like family".
I ask - IS THAT HOW THE FUCK YOU CUT OFF YOUR FAMILY?
You are giving up people who gave up better pastures coz it felt like family being with you. You are cutting off people you conveniently beguiled into believing that you actually cared.
How very fucking interesting. I really, really love your family affairs.

People are cutting costs in the name of recession even when it hasn't hit them one bit.
You find even your local businesses wanting to pay you less for your services - in the name of recession! I had my mechanic wanting to charge me more for a servicing - KYONKI RECESSION HAI SAAB. SAB MEHENGA HAI! What the fuck! what next - my laundry guy or the maid??? I randomly wonder does even the dark alley prostitute use it for a bargain?

When people are not cutting down on their services, why are their clients are finding a reason in recession to squeeze the shit out of them by offering to pay them in peanuts!!!

Turn on the TV and you'll find random politicians ranting about the recession. I wonder how it doesn't affect the cars they bloody travel in and the morchaas they fucking take out. How it doesn't cut their campaigning costs. I wonder how it propels them to develop ETHICAL IDEOLOGIES that link so called characterless youth to economic trends. damn!! get these guys to take up teaching economics or something!! The potential of my country's untapped ideological treasure astounds me. Give me glasses someone.

The recession may or may not have affected the common man directly, but it definitely has affected his mediocre mind. Its propelled it to a new level of hypocrisy.
But you know what, ENOUGH CRAP. The next time some one throws the godamn recession crap as an excuse, I'm going to be the naive, 'i don't know about the world idiot' again and just let a finger do the talking. (mIm)

....Because seriously speaking, recession or no recession, my conscience, my work and my integrity comes WITH NO DISCOUNT.

- Pushkaraj Shirke

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

60's Tripping - Glass Print


Title: 60's Tripping
A trip back to the living it loud 60s. a non-existent nostalgia for the days of free love, acid, living pinks and pastels. Peeking into my life and room from a lit glass window.
Medium: Glass Paints + Markers on Glass
Note: this piece is on transparent glass - the white paper in the background has been put so that every detail can be visible.

LuneStream


Title: LuneStream
A Psychedelic rendition of the Moon and the Cosmos. An attempt to capture the melting unision of space and being into timelessness on a 'trip' of ecstacy to outerspace.
Medium: Water Colour + Poster Colour + Acrylic Paints

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