Apni ena mein giraftaar hoon main

Apni enaa mein giraftaar hoon main
Sahal manzil ko dushwaar hoon main

Aasmani fitna kehta tha main usko
kya ek satehi khalafshaar hoon main

sab kuch tha mera jab wo mera tha
Ab taghaaful ka ishtehaar hoon main

Reh gayee ho jo apne naseeb ko rone ko
Khandahar ki wo sabit dewaar hoon main

Mujhse milne se pehle ye jaan lo
ishq jaisa ek la ilaaj azaar hoon main

ab ek bhi tasveer ban nahin paati
ab apne hi tasavvur se do chaar hoon main

a sher

Mehfil mein teri mera raqeeb bhi to ho

Izhaar e ishq ka lutf in saada dilon mein kya

Dont Talk. Just Text.

A word that doesn’t come out right

Is the one that starts the fight

Said in one, taken in another context

Henceforth don’t talk. Just text

I’ll be waiting by the phone’s screen

Heart a flutter and thumbs twitchy

Emoticons provide an easy subtext

Yes, let’s not talk. Just text

Unshadowed by tone let meaning prevail

when windless our words set sail

Neither are you lost nor am I vexed

If you don’t talk. Just text

Inattention is never a bone and

eye contact no matter of pride

when presence goes , voice goes next

so I tell you don’t talk. Just text

Cool as us, under the sky of separation

And of course when we’re together

Love is a given and needs no pretext

Unspoken words are after all just text.

All She Said

Edit

ALL SHE SAID

12 June 2012 at 12:57

PublicFriendsFriends except acquaintancesOnly meCustomClose FriendsK.C. CollegeSee all lists...SKNLMumbai, Maharashtra, India AreaSt. Elias High SchoolSKNLMBA9092Limited ProfileSt. Elias High School, MumbaiUniversity of MumbaiAligarh Muslim UniversitySt. Elias High School, MumbaiFamilyAcquaintancesGo Back

She takes my hand

In hers and plays

With my fingers

Bending, twisting

caressing slowly

Gazing intently at them

A single lock of hair

falls over her bowed head

A controlled admission

Of her feelings

Lies in her upward glance

To me

Now her other hand

Moves up to my head

And her eyes follow

Resting on my hair

The hand and eyes examine

With great interest

I sit still

eyes on her face

On her eyes that still

Do not meet mine

I see lids heavy with

Desire and love

Try to read them

And fail miserably

Not a word is said

In this unhurried time

And the phones ring

Mine and hers together

We pick them up

I see the number

and disconnect mine

She starts talking

I watch the words

As they form on those lips

Pursing, parting, expanding

The brows dance and

smiles play in her eyes

Now animated now still

Her hands play with her hair

I just keep looking

Taking it all in

Such a view

The curve of her back

Seam of her dress

The band in her hair

The studs in her ears

The stars in her eyes

The sun in her smile

I do not blink

Just stare like a fool

Call done she turns to me

Again quiet

But looks up to me

In my eyes

The very eyes

that have waited for long

To gaze into hers

Her hands come up again

This time to cup my face

Her lower lip quavers slightly

Suddenly I ask who it was

On the phone

A friend was all she said

Like

Vaaston hawaalon

Vaaston, havaalon mein nahin aane wala
Andekha ansuna hota hai jiska bulaane wala

Jab tak saansein chalti hain khel hi hota hai
Laut'ta nahin isiliye jahan se jaane wala

Vaada karne se pehle tum phir soch lo
Us din main wahan se akela nahin aane wala

Pur asar sadaa e taleem mein ajzaa e be asar
Maktab tak aata bhi hai andar nahin jaane wala



April 9free

Barsaat ki ek raat aisi bhi...

Kal saari raat khada raha balcony mein baarish to dekhta raha girte hue....

peepal ke patto per ghanghanaati,

kabelu ke chhat per dandanaati hui baarish...

jismein hawaa se jhonke jhakkad ho rahe thhey. 

Phir saamne sadak per ek gaadi ruki kuch log nikle shayad kisi party se aa rahe thhey. Ek ladki nikli jisne chota sa kaala dress pehna hua thha... sir ke upar per apna clutch rakhti hui ek ped ke neeche ja khadi hui.... ladke ne apne jacket ko sar ke upar kiya aur jhat se nikal kar darwaza band kiya. un logon ne gaadi ki taraf bye kiya aur phir gaadi tezi se aage nikal gayee... unka ghar thoda andar hoga... maine unhe andhere mein pehchaana nahin, waise bhi aajkal kayee naye log bastee ke andar ke makaano mein rehne aaye thhey... kuch firangi, kuch arbi aur baaki sab mulki. Wo log thodi der ped ke neeche hichkichaaye aur phir ek doosre ka haath thaam kar daudte hue gali mein gaye....ladki ki hansee bhi sunaayi di mujhe..

Door, upar, Fortune Heights ke ek flat ki chatt mein roshni nacch rahi thi... halki si awaaz bhi baarish ko paar kar ke aa rahi thi... lagta hai koi film director apni agli film ki prerna le raha hai raat ke teen baje... wo apna TV band karke bahar kyun nahin dekhta? Shayad itne upar se use wo sab na dikhaayi de jo mujhe doosri manzil se dikhta hai. 

Achcanak biwi uth ke peeche aa ke khadi ho gayee.... main jab aisa karta hoon to use achcha nahin lagta... lekin khud zaroor karti hai, kehti hai ki aap ko to jhatke se darr nahin lagta to phir kya problem hai? ab kaun bataaye ki jhatka lagna aur dikhaana do alag baatein hain. Usne poocha ki kya baat hai. Maine kaha kuch nahin baarish achchi ho rahi hai to yahaan se dekh raha hoon... kehne lagi ki itne zukaam mein ye kya soojha ... maine baat aage badhe is se pehle sar ko towel se cover ker liya...kuch der mere saath khamoshi s khade reh ke baarish ko dekh rahi thi, Phir wo chali gai..... sadak per ek aadmi lathi peet'te hue aa raha tha. Abhi nazar bhi nahin aa raha tha lekin awaaz saaf aa rahi thi. Phir nazar aya, umardaraaz, safed daadhi, tez kadam, buland awaaz raat ke sannate ko cheerti hui... logon ko utha raha tha wo sehri ke liye... purane zamaane ka alarm system... rozedaaron ko keh raha tha ki utho sehri ka waqt ho gaya hai... bheegta hua... waise ek haath mein ek chaata doosre mein lathi, thak thak karne ke liye...

Thodi der baad main kitchen mein gaya. Sehri ke liye ande banaye, aur doodh waghairah garam kiya... kitchen mein khadbad sun ker biwi bhi aa gayi.. maine use lauta diya... kabhi kabhaar to main kuch karta hoon... aaj dus minute extra aaram kar le.... Sabne sehri kee aur phir so gaye... mere liye sabse zyada uljhan ka waqt rehta hai jab sehri ki mohlat khatm hone wala pataakha phoot'ta hai... mujhe ain tabhi paani peena rehta hai. Usse pehle kitna bhi pee lun pyaas lag hi jaati hai pataakha phoot'te hi.

Dimaag se saare futoor nikalte hue main apne bistar ki ore chala... ankh se paani beh raha tha musalsal so sone nahin diya aur main phir kisi pehredaar ki tarah towel sar per baandh kar balcony ka darwaza khol kar baarish ko phir se dekhne laga. 

Thank you Lord

Thank you Lord for all
Those who came into my life
Those who stayed away
Those who came and went away
Those who went and came back
Those who are yet to come

Thank you for all
That you gave me
That you gave me and took away
That you kept me from

Thank you for everything
For you know me better than me
For you love me more than me
For you make it all happen  
All things that are best for me

Prismatic eyes

I stare into your prismatic eyes
Sear my sight searching
For the truth proves refractory
All that comes forth
from white unbroken light
Is a pure white lie

Sept 2012

MAN OF STEEL

How does one review the Man of Steel? With a bit of Kryptonite between one's teeth. That is how I suspect the director has directed this film, too.

Superman's story has always been one from the human's perspective. Even the Krypton narratives have traditionally been done pretty human like. But Zach Snyder wants us to forget the past and learn about Superman in a new way. His way, Nolan's way. The doomed planet and the shenanigans of those that occupy it take much of the movie' more than needed in my view. Flipside is Russel Crowe gets to do much more than Marlon Brando got to in the 1979 flick. Only difference is Richard Donner was way more successful a director than Snyder is. But that's not an issue here. but its a realisation that sticks.

The cinematic similarities between Star Trek and MOS are riveting. Doomed Planet check, high council check, Earth's core in peril, check. Villians from space, check. Not just this list but General Zod's very grey character has never been clearly shown as evil. But he got the bangs. Julius Ceaser himself hadn't got this as good.

I love the depiction despite the similarities ringing in my mind. But what I could not fathom was why have the cross processing that gave the film a shot in the deep freezer look. Everybody is paler. but the clotheslines sequences are pure magic. seen it in the trailers but even then. And check out Fishburne hamming a restrained Perry White. Yes he's done it.

Amy Adams succeeds in being completely ignorable in her role. Zod's henchwoman though is hot. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are superbly cast in their roles but Kent Sr's death is too 'filmy' for my liking. Smacks of unnecessary drama. After all this is Kansas, not Sparta! Lane does little with the few opportunities she got. Maybe its that kind of film.

So it brings us to the hero of the film. Like any action, sci fi superhero movie, its the effects and camera work. The true hero of the movie is speed and nothing else. So much so that most of the time you don't get much of what is being shown.

Half the movie goes before Clark dons the blue suit. And when he does, its missing the trademark red briefs. How can you have Superman and not have red chadds? That to me smacks of desperation on part of the makers to reinterpret Superman. Did they sit sround saying things like "He is ridiculous in that red thing. His cape is red, his boots are red and thats it. No red briefs" What they dont understand is that he is going to look ridiculous either ways. What they don't understand is he doesnt care. And unlike all other superheroes Superman has no dark sides. He is a clear, one sided chap. He doesn't have doubts in his mind. He doesn't have to....And the forcefully inserted darker elements that this movie tries to depict all fall flat.

There is another chap in the movie, Henry Cavill, now what role did he play? Honestly,for all the cheesiness, I'd take a Christopher Reeve over him any day or even a Brandon Routh. But this guy is too square jawed... Too stiff and too expressionless. In my book he is useless. And by making Superman kill someone they made him go bad...not a good thing.  Henry, dear lost boy, you may be a demi god but not a Superman. Definetely not without the red undies.

Jiske haath jitna aaye utna wo le jaaye

Jiske haath jitna aye utna wo le jaaye
maal sarkari ho to hissa kaun lagaaye

Marta hai to mareez mar bhi jaaye
Maseeha hain so rahe kaun jagaaye

Muflis musalmaan jo ho jaaye
Wo phir bechaara bhi na kehlaaye

Putla banao to pathhar ka yaaro
Lohe ko zang akhir khaa hi jaaye

Sadte jhooth khoob hain sab nigal rahe
Pet ek din phool ke phat na jaaye

Lafzon mein zeher utartaa kyun nahin
Ragon mein ise kab tak koi daudaaye

Aye jo poochne log ustaad ke usko
'Quateel' sar jhukaaye bas muskuraaye

Khaahishein Behisaab Rakhte Hain

Khaahishein behisaab rakhte hain
Us par arzu e savaab rakhte hain

Taghaaful kare baghbaan to hum
Kaliyon per shabaab rakhte hain

lab pe sawaal le kar aayein hain
Jo ankhon mein kitaab rakhte hain

Hum ehl e sehra e furqat daraaz
Har lamhe ka hisaab rakhte hain

Baatein banaate nahin 'Quateel'
Ek yahi aib janaab rakhte hain

Quateel Ahmad
17 May 2013

Sher

Haqeeqat ishq ki humse kya poochiye 
Hum to saraabon mein saraabor hain





What is the reality of love you ask me
Immersed in mirages am I

Qataa

Dil ko khushi de kabhi wo kaam na kar sake
Lutf o ishrat kabhi apne naam na kar sake
Sar per itne ghamon ko bitha liya hum ne
Gham e hayaat ka hum ehteraam na kar sake

Pompey Pompeii

I will play Pompeii and tell you just this much...

Gods don't favour labours of the common home
Nor Campainian upstarts against regal Rome

You can ask the aristocrats of our time
Syllas, Julians, Pius's stand and mime

Stories that Nola and Capua always knew
Which in time and telling grew

Short life everlasting tragic fame
Is the lot of the Pompeii name

One day my last happy heart was broken
And then Vesuvius for a task awoken.

Quateel Ahmad
May 4, 2013

Na baaz aaye hum

Hai girebaan chaak nasheman jala aaye hum
ab tak aise naaseh se kyun na baaz aaye hum

Is dayaar mein apni bhi kuch izzat numa si thi
Maamooli se ik mehfil thi aur lutaa aaye hum

Wo bhool na jaaye humein koi saaneha to ho
Mehfil rang pe aayi to usey chhod aaye hum

Khushfehmiyon se apne puraane rusooq hain
Jo phool le gaye to zakhm le kar aaye hum

Quateel Ahmad
May 2, 2013 Mumbai

Teri judai ka mujhko gila nahin...

Teri judaai ka mujhe koi gilaa nahin
Ye gham kisi aur ko to milaa nahin

Mere bharose ko khoob todte rahe
Main us se oob gaya tha hila nahin

Sare kaam baa tarteeb ba asool hon
Ab tak aisa mauka mujhe mila nahin

Saanvle log rang nahin badal paate
Ye raaz mujh par abhi khula nahin

Tera ishq bada kamzarf hai 'Quateel'
Marta hai marne de ise jilaa nahin

Quateel Ahmad
1 April 2013

Drought

In the unpromising unforgiving sky 
puffs of distant high vapours
at once native and alien like
inspectors of worth and value
that breeze out without remark

far below these hopeless shrouds
are human heads, covered and bare
but no gaze rises with expectation
seeking the dark laden armada 

the merciless sun shines, making it impossible to hide
heads bowed, held in hands plainly
gaze firmly fixed on the earth
blaming it for being so stupid
to need rain, to need clouds
those vagabonds of no fixed address
of no fidelity or virtue

the labours of the blamers
done in by truant beneficience
the canals that were dug
with hope aided by science 
now serve only to flood homes
with furrowed brows and plain despair

in this land hope lies fallow and like a signal of the end 
from the eye to the cheek
the only descent of moisture bends



First posted Jan 2011

My Monsoon

And the night begets more rain
rays of stark dark water
The shoots of life
Descending
With little gusto
To meet muddy ends
Sinking hope of life in earth again

Patter prevails
Ennui ensues
And obliterates
Something of the
Lighter notes
of my being
The fetid smell of me
tired beyond a freshing recourse

But shortly I am refreshed
Its the same patter that revives
And fills the heart with happiness
And now I think
You can take all the sunsets by the shore
Valleys like of Paradise itself
Rolling meadows and dales
Snowcapped mountains and all
That is deemed most beautiful

And yet cannot for me match
the sounds and smell of the monsoon
When it finally arrives
bearing down on my doors and windows
Forcing itself in every crevice it can find
To water my soul and nourish my mind

Quateel Ahmad

Sher

Ye nahin ke mujhko aitebaar nahin
taveel itna bhi koi intezaar nahin

March 15, 2013

Kya nahin rehta

Saadabayaani mein uski kya kya nahin rehta
Maani hai ek waazeh to dujaa nahin rehta

Main uske chhall ka zikr karun to phir kahaan
Miley wo ghar jaa bhakt uska nahin rehta

Khaamiyaan hain mujhmein bhi par ye nahin
Jidhar ka pata diya hai wahaan nahin rehta

kin farebon ke supurd kiya gham e hayaat ne
Ujaala nahin hota ke andhera nahin rehta

Chup gaya dekar mujhko zindagi ki kitaab wo
Lafz aisa nahin jisme pata uska nahin rehta

Quateel Ahmad
March 14, 2013

Kuch ye duniya bhi jee behlaane lagi hai

Kuch ye duniya bhi jee behalaane lagi hai
Aur tu bhi kuch kam yaad aane lagi hai

turbat per meri aakar na mujhko sataana
Ba mushkil kahin to neend aane lagi hai

Besaakhta ab tu kyun kuch nahin kehti
Apni kis baat ko mujhse chupaane lagi hai

Neend se utha deta hai ek dard aksar
Aur chot pataa nahin kahaan lagi hai

Aiteraaz tujhe hai is ghar ke raqbe se
Saaro umr mujhe ise banaane mein lagi hai

Quateel Ahmad
March 2013

March of the Mango People

Ek damaad ne is mulk ke aam logon ko 'Mango People' kaha tha.... Ye uspar likha tha...

Naye raaste se manzil ko aaj chalo
Guzre kal ko bhulaa ke aaj chalo

Aage chalo peeche ya saath chalo
Phir kabhi na sahi per aaj chalo

Le ke haathon mein tum haath chalo
Kal na pachhtaana ho to aaj chalo

Ban ke hasrat tum betaab chalo
Bahaa do sab, ban ke sailaab chalo

Anginat niklo behisaab chalo
Lautaane aankhon mein hain khaab chalo

Mulk ho gaya hai bezaar chalo
Aur kitne sahoge ispe vaar chalo

Naunehaalon tumhi ho sartaaj chalo
Looteron se cheen lein aao raaj chalo

Quateel Ahmad
17 October 2012

Sher

Fark sirf tareekhon ka reh gaya akhbaaron mein
Chalon yaaron, surkhion ka bhi kuch kiya jaaye.

O the problems of Bandra youngsters today and their frankness.....


Teri baat bakwaas lagti hai,
tu kisi aur ki bhi khaas lagti hai,
itni der se fone free nahin hai tera,
aur tu mere calls ko track karti hai

wo kaun hai jis se cafe mein
tu smiles clash karti hai
mujhe farak nahin padta lekin
khud ko mujhse kyun attach karti hai?

tere liye mere paas time nahin
har time tu ye attack karti hai
jab dekho tab bbm chat pe
apna status 'Black!' kyun karti hai?

Main apni gaadi se khush hoon
tu Beemer ke liye nag kyun karti hai?
Aaj main full time tere saath hoon to
to friends ko saath drag kyun karti hai?

Tu mujhe achchi lagti hai
lekin uska itna full fayda kyun leti hai?
main 'is in a relationship' hoon to
tu 'its complicated' kyun karti hai?

Zubaan rakhte hain

Haan jo haasil e ilm zubaan rakhte hain
Apne lehje ka bhi dhyaan rakhte hain

Aksar karte hain jo daave tajurbe ke
baal apne siyaah imkaan rakhte hain

Roz jalte hain waswason ki lapton mein
Jo ghar mein ek beti jawaan rakhte hain

Teer e talab kabhi udhar se nahin aata
bhanvon mein kyun kamaan rakhte hain

Wo khul ke hanste hue bhi dekhe gaye 
lehja sirf hum se natavaan rakhte hain

nasiihat se jinki ghuroor tepakta tha
Muflisi mein bada itmenaan rakhte hain

Quateel Ahmad
15 February 2013

A misplaced notion - Review of the movie 'Jack Reacher'
2/10 | Quateel Ahmad | 2 Jan 2013

In India, one is used to seeing Hindi films, most heroes are Jack Reacher plus Sinatra and Gene Kelly - in built. So the fantasy part is easily digested. and the similarities don't end there. The music is loud and jarring during the opening sequence yet strangely absent at other times.
The miscast Cruise has managed to alienate me from both Tom Cruise the actor and Jack Reacher the i'm-not-a-hero guy. I like Tom's acting (since Legend, mind you) but he is just not able to convey the silent menace that Reacher is. Reacher's whole problem lies in being too big. Never a great thing for an investigator, it is simply incredible to assume that anyone Tom's size is having a problem blending in.
That said, this particular film is so Hindi film like it is not funny. The third person description of Reacher's persona, the good guy shooter in the climax, the fistfight etc all reek of a machismo that this chap on the screen is unable to convince me he has.
The script is good, tight and even. shot taking is neither here nor there. And even if you can overcome your aspersions on the main casting, you will have to make an effort to ignore the quip-like dialogue. Reacher's not a man of many words but he is not one of smart quips either. Also, you will have to ignore the plastic tension between the defense attorney and her investigator. Pike's role as the defence lawyer has no highlights despite padded-up screen time. The only thing real is the black police officer. For once, a good fresh grim looking face.
Why did I bother writing this review. To show that once superstars get involved they can jack the best new franchise up. This was a big movie made small by the big star. Lee Child, Tut tut. Tom Cruise, grow up. Or hire other actors if you are the producer. Read my lips 'for me you can never be Jack Reacher'. By cutting Reacher down to his size, he has ensured that people like me stay with the book. Venting complete.

WO LADKI

Wo Ladki
Mushkilon se usay muskurata dekha
Taaron ko din mein jagmagata dekha
Sweater ko kirnon mein nahata dekha
Kirnon se chehra bhi jhilmilaata dekha

Gehri aankhein hain gehre raaz liye
Zulfein apne mein sau andaaz liye
Chehra bhi hai suraj ka aizaz liye
Lab surkh mizaaj e shiraaz liye

Usne yaadon mein dil phansaa rakha tha
Muskuraahaton ko door bhagaa rakha tha
Itni masroof nahin jitna bataa rakha tha
Lekin maine bhi ek deep jalaa rakha tha
.
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.
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Ye kya rishta hai jise humne banaa rakha hai
Sawaal kyun apne beech ek khadaa rakha hai

Yehi sawaal raaton ko jagaa rakhega
Ye aksar humein khudse khafa rakhega

Mere peeche uske aage hai zindagi badi aisi
Kya mere peeche hatne ki aa gayi ghadi aisi

Socha ki na de paaunga usko sab kuch
Haq mera banta hi nahin phir ab kuch
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Koi pehle koi der se jeevan mein aata kyun hai
dopahar ko dil naya chand dikhaata kyun hai
baat ghalat hai to dil mujhe manata kyun hai
Zindagi ne khilona humein banaya kyun hai

Zimmedari aasan nahin hai is dil ki
Ek asmaan hadd nahin hai is dil ki
Bikharne ki zidd nayee hai is dil ki
main na sunoon ab koi baat is dil ki

Quateel Ahmad
23 Jan 2013

Fone per baat karta hai rabt se malaal, achcha hai
Wo mujhse door gar, rahta hai khush haal achcha hai

Jiske goshon mein naummeedi ki fasal hi lehlahaaye
Us khet mein building banane ka khayal achcha hai

Bahot sharaab pilayi hai aaj mujhe raqeebon ne
Doobe may-e-hasad mein khumar-e-visaal achcha hai

Na mujhse Urdu bol, wa mun Turkie nami danum
Jo do zubaan rakhta ho aaj usika haal achcha hai

Quateel Ab ek hi shakhs ko shiddat se dhoondiye
Wo brahman jisne kaha tha ye saal achcha hai

Kya martaba badha liya apna?

Kya martaba badha liya apna?
Kya mujhe bana liya apna?

Ab aati nahin mujhse buu koi
ya badal liya tuney libas apna

use aksar ruk ke dekhte hain
kiraaye pe utha hai makan apna

paison ka kuch asar hua hoga
aisa munh tha kahaan apna

apne mein mukammal hoon
Khud se dil hai badguman apna