10 years of Coke Studio Pakistan

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I never get the right words to explain what music means to me and my life. I am not a musician or composer but I keep looking for the kind of songs that help me forget chaos around me and somehow quench my inner thirst. Music is the only thing that stays with me irrespective of my circumstances. Believe me, it can help you get better and win over depression, sadness and loneliness. 

We have different genres of music with millions of artists and billion of listeners around the globe. One such show which is my all-time favourite is Coke Studio Pakistan. It started in 2008 by The Coca-Cola Company and Rohail Hyatt. It features famous and new talents together in their live recorded studio. The best thing about it is that it creates amazing compositions with fusion. Rohail Hyatt was an executive producer from Season 1 to 6 then he was replaced by Strings who managed from seasons 7 to 10.

Here I have put together all seasons in one post with their video links to Youtube. This is not a copy-pasted post, I have listened to each and every song from all the seasons before compiling it in this form. This has been a journey for me. Watching the BTS (behind the scenes) videos before the actual song to understand how it was made and what it means. Coke Studio is like a dictionary of all kinds of songs. Some songs are so spectacular that you go into a state of introspection and feel that all materialistic things are useless. Hats off to everyone who is associated directly or indirectly with the Coke Studio. What we see is the final product but a lot of hard work has been put in to make this work wonderfully.

Season 1: February 6 – April 18, 2008

• No. of Episodes: 4

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Azmat & Mauj Band (Link)

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Strings Band, Ustaad Gullu, Saba & Selina (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Sajid & Zeeshan, Ali Zafar, Saaein Tufail (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Strings & Ustaad Gullu (Link) 

Backing Vocalists: Saba Shabbir, Athar Sani and Selina Rashid

My Favourite songs from season 1: Zinda by Strings, Durr by Strings & Ustaad Gullu

Season 2: June 14 – August 14, 2009

• No. of Episodes: 5

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Javed Bashir, Zeb & Haniya, Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Noori & Saieen Zahoor (Link)

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Josh Band, Ali Zafar, Saieen Zahoor, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Atif Aslam & Riaz A Khan (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Ali Zafar, Noori, Josh Band, Atif Aslam, Zeb & Haniya, Javed Bashir (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Atif Aslam, Riaz Ali Khan, Zeb & Haniya, Noori, Josh Band & Shafqat Amanat Ali (Link) 

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Arieb Azhar, Strings Band, Zeb & Haniya and Javed Bashir, Ali Zafar, Ajab Khail, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Atif Aslam, Noori & Saieen Zahoor (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Natasha De Sousa and Saba Shabbir

My Favourite songs from season 2: Khamaaj by Shafqat Amanat Ali, Aik Alif by Noori & Saieen Zahoor, Nahi Ray Nahi by Ali Zafar

Season 3: June 6 – August 6, 2010

• No. of Episodes: 5

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Arieb Azhar, Abida Parveen, Arif Lohar & Meesha Shafi, Karavan, Zeb and Haniya (Link)

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Amanat Ali, Moomal Rano, Fakir Juman Shah, Tann Dolay, Noori and Zeb & Haniya, Entity Paradigm, Rizwan & Muazzam (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Sanam Marvi, Meesha Shafi, Tina Sani, ADP, Abida Parveen (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Noori, Karavan Band, Zeb & Haniya, Amanat Ali & Sanam Marvi, Arif Lohar (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Amanat Ali, Tina Sani, Sanam Marvi, Abida Parveen, Rizwan & Muazzam (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Sanam Saeed, Zoe Viccaji, Saba Shabbir

My Favourite songs from season 3: Alif Allah, Jugni by Arif Lohar & Meesha, Mirza Sahibaan by Arif Lohar

Season 4: May 22 – July 17, 2011

• No. of Episodes: 5

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Bilal Khan, Mizraab, Akhtar Chanal Zahri, Komal Rizvi, Jal Band, Sanam Marvi (Link) 

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Asif Hussain Samraat, Zoe Viccaji, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Kaavish Band, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad,  (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Mole, Sanam Marvi, Bilal Khan, Jal Band, Quratulain Balouch, Ustaad Naseer-ud-din Saami,  (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - The Sketches Band, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Akhtar Chanal Zahri, Sajjad Ali, Sanam Marvi, Komal Rizvi (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Asif Hussain Samraat, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 4: To Kia Hua by Bilal Khan, Ni Oothaan Waale by Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Panchi by Jal & Quratulain Balouch, Pyaar Naal by Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi

Season 5: May 13 – July 8, 2012

• No. of Episodes: 5

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Bohemia, Symt Band, Hadiqa Kiani, Hamayoon Khan, Atif Aslam and Qayaas (Link)

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Bilal Khan, Chakwal Group and Meesha Shafi, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, Mithu Tahir, Atif Aslam (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Bohemia, Bilal Khan, Uzair Jaswal, Overload Band,  Rachel Viccaji, Hadiqa Kiani (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Chakwal Group, Bohemia, Uzair Jaswal, Atif Aslam, Hamayoon Khan, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Overload Band, Farhan Rais Khan, Chakwal Group, Meesha Shafi, Symt Band (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 5: Charkha Nolakha by Atif Aslam and Qayaas, Nindiya Ke Paar by Uzair Jaswal, Neray Aah by Overload and Rachel Viccaji, Koi Labda by Symt

Season 6: October 27 – December 21, 2013

• No. of Episodes: 5

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Umair Jaswal, Saieen Zahoor, Sanam Marvi, Ali Azmat (Link) 

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Abrar-ul-Haq, Ayesha Omer, Rustam Fateh Ali Khan & Sumru Ağıryürüyen (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Zoe Viccaji, Zara Madani, Sanam Marvi, Atif Aslam (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Rostam Mirlashari, Alamgir, Fariha Pervez, Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Zoe Vicajji (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Zara Madani, Ayesha Omer, Fariha Pervez, Zara Madani, Saieen Zahoor, Abrar-ul-Haq, Ali Azmat, Muazzam Ali Khan (Link)

 Backing Vocalists: Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 6: Ishq di Booti by Abrar-ul-Haq, Channa by Atif Aslam, Aamay Bhashaili Rey by Alamgir, Fariha Pervez, Ishq Kinara - Üsküdar'a Gider Iken by Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Zoe Vicajji

Season 7: 21 September – 22 November 2014

• No. of Episodes: 7

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Asrar, Sajjad Ali, Niazi Brothers, Ustaad Raees Khan & Abida Parveen (Link) 

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Akhtar Chanal, Komal Rizvi, Momin Durrani, Humera Channa, Abbas Ali Khan, Javed Bashir, Zoheb Hassan (Link) 

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Fariha Pervez, Meesha Shafi, Jimmy Khan, Rahma Ali, Abida Parveen (Link) 

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Asrar, Javed Bashir, Humera Channa, Zoheb Hassan, Usman Riaz (Link) 

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Abbas Ali Khan, Jimmy Khan, Jawad Ahmad, Niazi Brothers (Link)

• Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Abida Parveen, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Usman Riaz, Javed Bashir, Zoheb Hasan & Zoe Viccaji (Link)  

• Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Naseer & Shahab, Abrar-Ul-Haq, Ustad Raees Khan (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Momin Durrani, Sara Haider and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 7: Tum Naraaz Ho by Sajjad Ali, Dost by Abida Parveen, Mujhay Baar Baar by Abbas Ali Khan, Mitti da Pehlwan by Jawad Ahmad

Season 8: 16 August – 4 October 2015

• No. of Episodes: 7

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Mai Dhai, Karam Abbas, Nabeel Shaukat Ali, Mekaal Hasan Band, Atif Aslam (Link) 

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Rizwan & Muazzam Ali Khan, Umair Jaswal, Quratulain Balouch, Suraiya Khanum, Anwar Maqsood, Ali Zafar (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Gul Panrra, Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi, Nabeel Shaukat, Kaavish, Arif Lohar (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Mulazim Hussain, Siege, Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, Nafees Ahmed, Ali Zafar & Sara Haider (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Samra Khan, Asim Azhar, Bakhshi Brothers, Mekaal Hassan Band, Ali Azmat (Link) 

• Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Fizza Javed, Mulazim Hussain, Shazia Manzoor, Rizwan, Muazzam, Ali Haider, Sara Raza, Mai Dhai & Atif Aslam (Link)

• Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Farida Khanum, Malang Party, Ali Zafar, Siege & Alycia Dias (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Momin Durrani, Sara Haider and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 8: Bewajah by Nabeel Shaukat Ali, Tajdar-e-Haram by Atif Aslam, Sammi Meri Waar by Umair Jaswal & Quratulain Balouch, Khalis Makhan by Bakhshi Brothers

Season 9: 13 August – 24 September 2016

• No. of Episodes: 7

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Naseebo Lal, Umair Jaswal, Ali Khan, Zeb Bangash, Abida Parveen & Ali Sethi (Link)

• Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Meesha Shafi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Momina Mustehsan, Quratulain Baloch, Haroon Shahid, Javed Bashir & Ali Azmat (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Ahmed Jahanzeb, Umair Jaswal, Zeb Bangash, Faakhir Mehmood, Mehwish Hayat, Shiraz Uppal, Abida Parveen (Link)   

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists - Mohsin Abbas Haider, Meesha Shafi, Naeem Abbas Rufi, Shilpa Rao, Noori, Nirmal Roy & Jabar Abbas (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Momina Mustehsan, Junaid Khan, Rachel Viccaji, Kashif Ali, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Javed Bashir, Masooma Anwar & Shahzad Nawaz (Link)

• Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Rizwan Butt, Sara Haider, Momina Mustehsan, Asim Azhar, Basit Ali, Damia Farooq, Saieen Zahoor & Sanam Marvi (Link)

• Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Quratulain Balouch, Shuja Haider, Shiraz Uppal, Rafaqat Ali Khan, Shani Arshad, Noori, Natasha Khan, Faakhir Mehmood, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Amjad Sabri (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Shahab Hussain, Nimra Rafiq and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 9: Janay Na Tu by Ali Khan, Afreen Afreen by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Momina Mustehsan, Paar Chanaa De by Shilpa Rao & Noori, Shamaan Pai Gaiyaan by Rachel Viccaji & Kashif Ali, Tera Woh Pyar by Momina Mustehsan & Asim Azhar

Season 10: 11 August – 21 September 2017

• No. of Episodes: 7

• Episode 1 : Featured Artists - Ahmed Jehanzeb, Shafqat Amanat, Hina Nasrullah, Amanat Ali, Danyal Zafar, Momina Mustehsan, Ali Sethi (Link) 

•  Episode 2 : Featured Artists - Ali Sethi, Ali Hamza, Waqar Ehsin, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Noor, Kaavish Band, Quratulain Balouch, Ali Zafar (Link)

• Episode 3 : Featured Artists - Quratulain Balouch, Akbar Ali, Arieb Azhar, Sajjad Ali, Zaw Ali, Sahir Ali Bagga, Aima Baig, Humera Channa & Nabeel Shaukat (Link)

• Episode 4 : Featured Artists -  Javed Bashir, Akbar Ali, Quratulain Balouch, Farhan Saeed, Ali Zafar, Danyal Zafar, Ali Hamza & Nirmal Roy (Link)

• Episode 5 : Featured Artists - Attaullah Esakhelvi, Sanwal Esakhelvi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Faraz Anwer, Faiza Mujahid, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan (Link) 

• Episode 6 : Featured Artists - Umair Jaswal, Jabar Abbas, Ali Zafar, Natasha Khan, Aima Baig, Humera Arshad, Rachel Viccaji, Momina Mustehsan & Irteassh (Link)

• Episode 7 : Featured Artists - Sajjad Ali, Shuja Haider, Aima Baig, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Ali Hamza & Ali Zafar (Link)

Backing Vocalists: Shahab Hussain, Natasha Khan and Rachel Viccaji

My Favourite songs from season 10: Faasle by Kaavish & Quratulain Balouch, Maula Tera Noor by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Us Rah Par by Ali Hamza & Ali Zafar feat. Strings

Special Mention: The shining stars of Music who left the world but their work will be here forever : 

1. Amjad Farid (Fareed) Sabri (23 December 1976 – 22 June 2016)
2. Ustaad Raees Khan (25 November 1939 - 6 May 2017)
3. Aamir Zaki (April 8, 1968 - June 2, 2017)

P.S: This is in no way a sponsored post. The views are my own and not influenced by anything. Long Live The World of Music. God Bless All :)

My Favourite Animated Movies

"Animation offers a medium of story telling and visual entertainment which can bring pleasure and information to people of all ages everywhere in the world." ~ Walt Disney

As a child we had only one television in the living area which worked only after we had slept at night. My mother was very strict and she made sure that we (me and my brother) were in the bed by 7:30 p.m. I have so many memories of playing outdoor games but not a single one of watching any kind of cartoon series. I have no complaints or regrets about it. In fact, I am thankful to her for giving up her dreams to raise us and make us good human beings. 

It was only after watching the movie 'Up' that I grew fonder of watching animated / cartoon series. Here is my list of favourite movies :

• Up (2009) :

This has to be my number 1. It won many awards including 82nd Academy Awards, 67th Golden Globe Awards, Annie Awards. The movie starts with such an emotional heartbreaking sequence that I had tears in my eyes. The story is about Carl Fredricksen (a widower) who goes on to fulfil his dream of watching Paradise Falls after his wife (Ellie) dies. Though they had planned to go together but that couldn't happen. Then how he and little Russell make it happen is an amazing watch. Hats off to Pete Docter for presenting it so beautifully that you can watch it irrespective of your age and still feel connected to it. 

Lesson learnt : Adventure is out there so live, love, laugh and enjoy the little things because you never know what's next! 

• Big Hero 6 (2014):

This one made me cry specially because it genuinely portrays loss, sorrow and depression. For me the star of the movie was BayMax (Robot). The story is about a teenager Hiro Hamada who after losing his brother Tadashi forms a superhero team to fight a masked villain. It is a fantastic movie with everything in the right place. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. 

Lesson learnt : When life seems impossible and you are surrounded with difficulties, never surrender and keep moving no matter how hard it may seem! Try to cop up and you will eventually succeed. 

• Inside Out (2015) :

This one is again by Pete Docter. After watching this movie I was so much in love with it that I downloaded its game from Play Store and played everyday for good six months. The story is actually superb. It wonderfully describes how emotions / feelings / moods can take a toll on our lives. The movie is about a girl named Riley Andersen whose parents shift from Minnesota to San Francisco and how she adapts herself to a new environment with 5 emotions : Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust playing a major role. This one truly deserved the accolades it received : BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, Critics' Choice Award, Annie Award, Satellite Award, Academy Award etc.

Lesson learnt : Don't allow anger, sadness, fear, disgust take away your joy! Never let anyone dull your sparkle. When everything around you turns complex just remember the good things and do the happy dance :D 

• Kung Fu Panda Franchise :

Kung Fu Panda was released in 2008 followed by its sequels Kung Fu Panda 2 in 2011 and Kung Fu Panda 3 in 2016. The story of all the 3 films revolves around a panda named Po who is chosen as a Dragon Warrior. His journey from an obese panda to a powerful fighter is depicted excellently. Though this martial arts movie series couldn't win Academy or Golden Globe awards but its fun to watch.

Lessons learnt : Hard work, dedication and commitment pays off even if the world doesn't see your worth but still you can succeed with your will power. 

• How to Train Your Dragon Triology :

This consists of How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014),  yet to be released How to Train Your Dragon 3 (2019). The storyline is about a young Viking Hiccup, son of the village chieftain, Stoick the Vast who is initially considered a misfit turns out to be the most courageous one in the group. He befriends a dragon named Toothless. This is one of the best dragon films. 

Lessons learnt : Sometimes you have to take risks in life beacuse nothing comes easy. 

• My Life as a Zucchini (2016) : 

For me this movie is heartbreaking and a bit depressing if you see it from eyes of a child. How issues of parents such as failed marriages,  drug / alcohol overdose, abuse and so on can affect a young one is unimaginable. The only thing I didn't like was the length of the movie, wanted it to be a bit longer.  The story is about Zucchini (Icare) who is brought to an orphanage and how he adjusts in the different environment. Though at the end he gets a new family but I wonder how many are actually lucky like him to get a second life.

Lessons Learnt : You don't have to be a perfect parent but a good one for sure. There is no rulebook you have to decide yourself what's the best that doesn't harm anyone in any way.

7 wishes before I die!

Few days back I came across an article in The Huffington Post, Top 5 Regrets Of The Dying by Bronnie Ware. I was really surprised to read and immediately promised myself that I will not die with these regrets. I don't know how successful I will be in keeping this promise.

Life is unpredictable and death is inevitable then why not take pleasure in small things. Everytime we cannot walk away from things or people or moments that hurt us but we can take joy in the things that make us happy. That's why I thought of writing down about my wishes. I would love to see them fulfilled. (P.S. I believe in miracles and I know wishes do come true.)

• Wish 1 : Try atleast 3 adventure sports with my better half. My list includes Skydiving, Bungee Jumping, Rafting, Paragliding, Zorbing, Hot air ballooning. I have done Zip-line and Scuba Diving in Mauritius but would like to try again in another country.

• Wish 2 : Build/buy a small beautiful home right next to a beach anywhere in the world where I can spend some time with my family and friends once an year.

• Wish 3 : Learn swimming & swim the largest pool in the world (San Alfonso del Mar).

• Wish 4 : Read atleast 501 novels before I lose my eye sight. 

• Wish 5 : Celebrate my 25th and 50th wedding anniversary in the most amazing way.

• Wish 6 : Lose weight and look the way I have always imagined myself in the mirror.

• Wish 7 : Develop the ability to easily Forgive and forget. A life without complains, regrets, fears, frustration, irritation and depression. A habit of paying gratitude to God for what I have rather than what I don't.

Thought of the day : 

“Life will always get busy, make time to do the things you love.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

And the Mountains Echoed..

Writing about a book (or as they say reviewing a book) is not that difficult but sometimes I fall short of words to describe a beautiful piece of work and this has actually happened twice when I read "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. I remember I came to know about him in 2013 through a friend and immediately ordered a box set from uRead.com. I was completely bowled over by Hosseini's style of knitting stories. Both the books were way beyond amazing. Recently I bought "And the Mountains Echoed" from Amazon.inbut before reading this one I made a mental note to write about it on my blog. 

The Blurb : 

Afghanistan, 1952. Abdullah and his sister Pari live in the small village of Shadbagh. To Abdullah, Pari - as beautiful and sweet-natured as the fairy for which she was named - is everything. More like a parent than a brother, Abdullah will do anything for her, even trading his only pair of shoes for a feather for her treasured collection. Each night they sleep together in their cot, their heads touching, their limbs tangled.

One day the siblings journey across the desert to Kabul with their father. Pari and Abdullah have no sense of the fate that awaits them there, for the event which unfolds will tear their lives apart; sometimes a finger must be cut to save the hand.

Crossing generations and continents, moving from Kabul, to Paris, to San Francisco, to the Greek island of Tinos, Khaled Hosseini writes about the bonds that define us and shape our lives, and how the choices we make resonate through history.

My Review : 

Khaled Hosseini is blessed with an art to write in a way that touches one's heart and soul. He wonderfully describes his characters, their feelings and their struggles in the story.  This book revolves around Abdullah and Pari and portrays sibling love in a real dimension. The way Abdullah trades his only pair of shoes to gift his sister Pari a peacock feather, the way Pari calls his brother 'Abollah', the way they wish to stay with each other forever, the way they sing a lullaby together is heart touching. 

There comes a point when Pari is sold to a rich, childless couple Mr. & Mrs. Wahdati in Kabul. Their pain of separation can be felt. The further chapters describe the relationship between various other characters, their life, their tragedies and their journey. Towards the end when Pari and Abdullah finally reunite, Abdullah is unable to remember anything because of Dementia and this brings mixed emotions as their reunion couldn't happen in true sense.

But I also felt that at some point story lost its pace and the focus went on other characters which were not so important. Though I understand that the author tried to show something more in every chapter, it couldn't blend easily or naturally. That's why it lacked the magic of "The Kite Runner". I know Khaled Hosseini is a terrific story teller and I wish him all the very best for his future endeavors. 

Favorite Lines from the book :

• Sorrow ought to be private, not flaunted.
• All good things in life are fragile and easily lost.
• But time, it is like charm. You never have as much as you think.
• What good is regret? It brings back nothing. What we have lost is irretrievable.
• Nothing good came free. Even love. You paid for all things. And if you were poor, suffering was your currency.
• It was always best to tell the truth, to tell it plainly, without fanfare, and the more disagreeable the truth, the sooner you had to tell it.
• They say, Find a purpose in your life and live it. But, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind.
• I learned that the world didn't see the inside of you, that it didn't care a whit about the hopes and dreams, and sorrows, that lay masked by skin and bone. It was as simple, as absurd, and as cruel as that.

About the Author :

Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-born American novelist and physician. He has published three novels all of which are at least partially set in Afghanistan and feature an Afghani as the protagonist. Following the success of The Kite Runner, he decided to stop practicing medicine and became a full-time writer. A teenager who arrived in the United States for the first time at the age of 15 did not speak English ironically went on to become author of three bestsellers. Hosseini is currently a Goodwill Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He has been working to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan through the Khaled Hosseini Foundation. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Roya, and their two children (Haris and Farah).

Connect with the author :

• Facebook : KhaledHosseini

A Walk To Remember..

When I heard this title for the first time I imagined an evening walk with my soulmate on a beach side. Thanks to Google that I came to know about the novel and the movie : "A Walk To Remember". The novel is written by American author Nicholas Sparks which was released in October 1999 but the movie is directed by Adam Shankman, released in January 2002. I haven't read the novel but I have watched the movie so many times that I felt like writing about it. Its a sweet, simple Love Story and one of my favorites. Shane West (as Landon Carter) and Mandy Moore (as Jamie Sullivan) did their roles perfectly. I fell in love with the story the very first time I saw it.

About the characters and the movie : 

I liked Jamie Sullivan very much. She is sincere, positive, lovely, has values. She lives her life smiling and doing things she loves even though she knows her end. On the other hand Landon Carter is initially rude and arrogant but then I loved the way he transforms into a nicer, caring human being and tries to keep Jamie as happy as possible. He goes out of the way to fulfill Jamie's wishes and dreams. Unfortunately, two people who loved each other so much couldn't live together but their Love did. It's a beautiful story and the characters are very believable.

Few scenes from the movie that made me smile, cry, laugh and so on : 

• Landon was forced to join the drama club's final event, The Springs Play as a punishment for a prank that paralyzed a fellow classmate. On the final day of the play Jamie looked and sang like an angel that Landon could not stop himself from kissing her. 
• The way Landon fights for Jamie when his friends try to humiliate her by altering her photograph. He leaves his group of friends and starts spending more time with her.
• When Landon asks Jamie Will you go out with me Saturday Night? to which she says I am Sorry I can't go. I am not allowed to date then Landon goes to her father and asks for permission. This surprises Jamie and they both enjoy the dinner together. 
• The time Jamie tells Landon that she is sick and won't go for higher studies. She has leukemia and she has stopped responding to treatments two years ago. This upsets both of them. This is such a touching scene that one feels how could this happen.
• After knowing about Jamie's health problem Landon tells her dad he won't go anywhere. Jamie goes to his home where Landon asks Are you scared? to which she replies She is scared of not being with you.
• The way Landon stays by her side every now and then, reads quotes from her mother's book. The belief of Jamie that God has a bigger plan for her than she had for herself and that Landon was sent to her because she was sick. He is her Angel. 
• Landon makes a bigger telescope for Jamie and they both witness a comet. Then he asks her If she will marry him and she says Yes. Jamie looked amazing as a bride. They had a perfect Summer together.

Quotes from the Movie :

• Without suffering there would be no compassion.
• Our love is like the wind.. I can't see it, but I sure can feel it.
• She has faith in me. She makes me want to be different, better.
• Love is patient and kind. It's never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offence and is not resentful.

Website : Click Here

The Fault In Our Stars..

My love for books has grown suddenly out of nowhere or may be when I don’t find a direction in life I turn to literature precisely the world of fiction. Few months back I saw a tweet of an author on twitter that said she was really inspired by John Green’s work and instantly my detective mind started searching for this man. After googling I came to know that John Green is an American writer of young adult fiction, a YouTube vlogger and educator. 

His first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012 he reached number one on a New York Times Best Seller list with The Fault in Our Stars which won 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards for the Best Young Adult Fiction.

And that's how 'The Fault In Our Stars' was on my wishlist. Trust me I had never been too excited to buy a book. I don't know why but the title kind of attracted me. I ordered in October from Amazon.in as a Birthday gift to myself but started reading in December because I had others books to finish before I could start this (I don’t leave any book half read no matter how bad the story is :P).

The Fault In Our Stars is a very simple, sweet, cute, funny yet heartbreaking love story about Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. The story is narrated by a sixteen year old Hazel who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer with metastasis forming in her lungs when she was 13, but has managed to live with her disease thanks to doses of an experimental drug called Phalanxifor. Augustus lost his leg to osteosarcoma, and is in remission. She loved being at home, spent quite a lot of time in bed and read the same book (An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten) over and over. As a result she was forced to attend a support group for children living with cancer though she hated it. Hazel met Augustus through Isaac at the support group and their short conversation after the group meeting started their bittersweet story.

Though I want to write the whole story here but I won’t act as spoiler. Let me tell you Augustus is just 17 yrs old and all that he did for Hazel was not so ordinary. I loved their chemistry. If this book suits your taste and you get time do read it. Please don't expect something fancy or extraordinary. As the cover says it is insightful, bold, irreverent and raw. 

There were certain lines in the book that really touched the strings of my heart and I am sharing them here as follows :

• Don't worry. Worry is useless.
• Love is keeping the promise anyway.
• Without pain, how could we know joy?
• The world is not a wish granting factory.
• Grief does not change you, it reveals you.
• Our fearlessness shall be our secret weapon.
• That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.
• Sometimes it seems the universe wants to be noticed.
• Pain is like fabric: The stronger it is, the more its worth.
• In the darkest days, the Lord puts the best people into your life.
• You gave me a forever within the numbered days and I'm grateful.
• Everybody should have true love, and it should last atleast as long as your life does.
• Its hard as hell to hold on to your dignity when the risen sun is too bright in your losing eyes.
• No matter how hard you kick, no matter how high you get, you can't go all the way around.
• I'm in love with you and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things.
• God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

In January 2012, Fox 2000, a division of 20th Century Fox, optioned the rights to adapt the novel into a feature film. Josh Boone signed on to direct a year later, in February 2013. Filming began on August 26, 2013 on location in Pittsburgh, doubling for the novel's setting of Indianapolis, Indiana. Filming is currently underway in Amsterdam. The film is planned to be released on June 6, 2014 and I am really looking forward to the movie :)

Connect with the author : 

• Twitter : John Green

Birth of Aaisha..

The story dates back to 1980's when Aabha was married to prince of her dreams that her parents had chose for her. The marriage was done according to Hindu rituals and blessing of elders. She was the shining star of her family but this star was now supposed to shine somewhere else more beautifully and brightly. 

Starting a new life in a new family din't scare Aabha rather she was excited for this kind of beginning. She was highly qualified girl who had also received several awards in school, college for her outstanding performance in debates and creative writing. But unfortunately she was now in a family where her education meant nothing. Her degrees and certificates were just plain sheets. Suddenly the sweet mother-in-law was no less than a jailer. She wasn't a daughter-in-law but someone who was bound to complete all the household activities anyhow at any cost. The more Aabha tried to make everyone happy the more she was cursed for something or the other. She was humiliated but she never expressed or told anyone. She din't want to return to her parents as it wasn't considered good for the girl and her family at that time. But now God had given her a reason to forget her sadness and miseries. 

It was the fourth Monday of the post monsoon season in India when Aabha heard the first cry of her baby at 4:40 p.m. She was so happy to see her bundle of joy that she didn't want any evil eye or shadow around her little princess. A ray of hope had entered her barren land. Her arid days were turned into blooming ones with sweet smiles and laughter of the bright soul. She kept her name "Aaisha" which means One who is Lively. She wanted all the happiness of the world for her baby. 

Aaisha was not the prettiest but a very cute baby with height little more than normal. No one can understand the joy of holding a baby better than a mother. Those small eyes, hands, feet are truly the best view. Now the only aim of Aabha's life was to nurture her daughter, educate her in the best way and make her independent so that she can easily live life without any limitation. She wanted to prepare her for the worst too. She herself had gone through so much that she didn't want her angel to be weak and give up in hard times.

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This is not just a tale but journey of Aabha and her daughter Aaisha. This could be anyone's or no one's story. Set in free Independent India still far away from Freeness. 

Hold My Hand..

Now books and writing have become a part of my life. If I don't read or don't blog my mind keeps reminding me that I need to take out time for this too. I have realized it actually gives me happiness and satisfaction. Luckily in September 2013 I took part in a giveaway and won a signed copy of Durjoy Datta's Hold My Hand. I have read his earlier books and getting a signed copy made me excited. 

The story is about 'Deep' who is obsessed with books and a beautiful girl 'Ahana' who has a rare congenital disease leaving her blind. The story has four parts. Part One explains how much Deep is fond of books and cannot imagine his life without them. The character has been described as a geek who is not at all fashionable and is the dimmest end of the spectrum going by the current standard of being hot or good looking. But he gets a chance to go to Hong Kong to study and test the library cataloging software at the head office of ATS Technologies. Deep meets Ahana on the lift of the Hotel for the first time and after few unexpected meetings together they explore Hong Kong. Aahana guiding with the smells and sounds of the wondrous city and Deep bringing to life the sights he sees. Part Two is from the Blind Girl's perspective. Part three and four unfolds the story further which has a Happy End. Overall the plot is good. Its a nice weekend read but there was something about it that it couldn't be the best. I think the author had all the ingredients to prepare an awesome platter but unfortunately he could not. Nevertheless every experience teaches something and may we get to read better stuff from him.

Honestly I have never read a story that had a blind character and through this book I realized how it feels to miss life's simple joys. How we never appreciate and pay gratitude that all our organs are functioning properly instead we constantly discuss things we don't get. There are few things that I really liked in the novel : 

• In chapter 5 how nicely Deep answers his ex-girlfriend Archana when she says I don't know why you had to be so into books and he says Books make us better people. Books only taught me it’s important to empathize with people because people are complex and beautiful and often irrational & hard to understand and so are you. It was books that helped him get over her even after she cheated him.
• Part Two explains Ahana's feelings. The way she wishes that her blindness should have come with a notice period and how frustrating it is to learn about something she can't see. In chapter 19 she says I wish to be like others, fall in love, hold someone's handnot because I have to but because I want to; a normal life where I can grow old with someone. It really made me sympathetic towards the character.
• Also in chapter 26 when Ahana's father goes missing while he was on a test flight it made my eyes moist because its so painful to lose a person you solely depend on. Fortunately he din't die and Ahana could smile again.

Would like to end my post with a line quoted in book : She too has dreams to be married to someone who will always be with her in thick and thin.!

Connect with the author : 

• Twitter : Durjoy Datta

It Started With a Friend Request..

Everytime I buy a novel there is a reason behind it no matter how unimportant it is. I am not addicted to social websites but I make a point to check whenever I get time. So few months back I came across a hashtag #ItStartedWithAFriendRequest on Twitter that was trending at that time. I checked and it was about Sudeep Nagarkar's 3rd book with the same name. Honestly, I had never heard about him and therefore Google helped. Recently I bought this book, read it and now writing about it.

The story is about Akash and Aleesha who meet at 'Thrive' disc in Mumbai for the first time, exchange their BBM pins and their love story starts. But their journey together is not so easy. The plot is good with an unexpected twist. The writer has tried to write more beyond a love story and portrayed obsession too. And not to miss there is too much love making throughout the book. It also consists of some cute long texts that Akash and Aleesha exchange. While reading the story you can get some ideas too like gifting your partner a bedsheet and cushion covers with your photographs printed on it (*Wink*)! The story has a happy ending and overall the book is a lovely one time read. But I will suggest if you had a heart break recently please don't read as it will remind you a lot about the moments you spent with your ex. 

Personally, the part that I din't like was the introduction of characters which is not very  impressive. Also the fact that outer beauty is over-exaggerated. What about those who are not drop dead gorgeous.? They can't love or their story cannot start with a friend request.? I believe when you fall in love it just happens you don't specially find a beautiful partner rather you see beauty in your partner. I feel the story could have been written better. I would like to end the post with a song that both the characters posted as their BBM status in the story : 

Seedhay saade saara saula seedha seedha hona jee..

Maine tum ko paana hai ya tune main ko khona jee..

Aaja dil ki karein saude baazi, kya naraazi arrey aare aare yaar..

Connect with the author : 

• Twitter : Sudeep Nagarkar

Paradise..

Who wouldn't like to live in a place which is positive, harmonious and eternal? A place where one can live happily, enjoy every moment and stay till their last breath. Don't we all dream of such a paradise? But do you think such a place exists.? 

For everyone the meaning of paradise is not the same. A child may dream of a world full of chocolates as a paradise, a young boy may dream of a beautiful place with a sweet girl as his paradise and a young girl may think of a paradise where she could live till eternity with her prince charming. Some might imagine a paradise to be luxurious, comforting and relaxing but for some it might be a place where they can free themselves from all the burden they have been carrying. 

Living in this world, everyday is a new experience. One day you may be on cloud nine, the other day you may want to hide yourself somewhere and never come out but this is the beauty of life. No matter what happens you never stop moving. You cannot stay in the clutches of the past. You have to be strong and stand up. If bad things won't exists we might not value the good ones. 

Thirst may explain you what it means to have water by your side, Hunger may tell you the importance of food, Loneliness may show you what it means to be with your loved ones, Tears may make you realize the importance of laughter.

While writing this post I have mixed emotions. One part of me wants me to write only about Happiness and the other part of me wants to write about the darker side (unhappiness).  I would never ever like to hurt anyone or spread sadness around but sometimes feelings needs words and so here it is. Anyways the idea of the Paradise came from a song named "Paradise" by Coldplay. It was released in 2011 but I came across it just two days back. The song touched me somewhere and I feel I am the same girl they are singing about. Even I expect from the world but everytime it always flies away from my reach. I close my eyes I dream of a paradise when I can throw away the heavy baggage and meet my soul. But life goes on crushing the  innocence. Every tear seems a waterfall. Even though I lie under those stormy skies I still believe the sun will rise..