Oh nice....isn't Gurdaas Maan also getting up there in age as well? I feel like he's been around forever. How old is he? And he looks damn good.

is he singing in Punjabi b/c I can only understand every fifth word or so?

Yes, isn't that what he normally sings in?

Are you saying I'm old, ennis? I know I'm outside of Abhi's 18-30 checkbox, but there's no need to be mean! ;)

Are you saying I'm old, ennis? I know I'm outside of Abhi's 18-30 checkbox, but there's no need to be mean! ;)

Honey, you'll always stay the age you were the day we first met ;)

That, and you'll also always be younger than me.

I notice you took the fifth concerning telling the kiddies about your krumping abilities.

Yes, isn't that what he normally sings in?

sorry, never heard of this singer before. I was just guessing Punjabi b/c of all the Sikhs in the video and the bhangra beat.

No worries, I was just confused :) I can't think of a song he's done in Hindi, although I'm sure they exist. He is pretty popular, yaar! Maybe this is my Punjabi-centric attitude shining through, though.

Maybe this is my Punjabi-centric attitude shining through, though.

That's ok, i tend to be hindi/urdu-centric myself. ;)

He's singing in traditional punjabi. "Babey Bhangra Poundhey ne" = "The Old Men are Even Dancing"

Uncles at wedding receptions can break it down after a glassy of Black&soda.

I would love to see DDs krumping abilities. Maybe you'll see me doin some Harlem shaking..or is that out now?

mm..Chicken noodle?

I would love to see DDs krumping abilities. Maybe you'll see me doin some Harlem shaking..or is that out now?

Not entirely, unless you are doing it on its own. If you can integrate it into a krump routine.. woooooooo, you'll be in business :)

Not to get OT (this post is about dancing, and since Jeet mentioned weddings...), but has anyone ever been to a Pakistani wedding (here, there, or anywhere) where there's dancing, even at the reception? Is there such an animal?

has anyone ever been to a Pakistani wedding (here, there, or anywhere) where there's dancing, even at the reception? Is there such an animal?

Yes, and yes. But they were all Punjabi Pakistani. Do I notice a trend here? Why, what kind of weddings have you been going to?

I notice you took the fifth concerning telling the kiddies about your krumping abilities.

that's because krumping and clowning are different styles, dear. but to answer your question, I can bring it.

Some more twinkle toes here. Uncles, aunties included.

I will have to educate myself about Krumping later in the evening. Wikipedia got a good link. Home, here I cometh :)

Yes, and yes. But they were all Punjabi Pakistani. Do I notice a trend here? Why, what kind of weddings have you been going to?

Apparently not the fun ones like you. The few that I've been to ranged from a complete separation of genders during the entire event, including reception, to more mild ones, but still, the most "festive" thing I saw was the stealing of the groom-to-be's shoes during the "thinga-ma-bob" (maybe mehndhi?) the night before the wedding.

I'd say that's probably one of my biggest complaints about my "heritage." There's really no form of festive expression - like something out of 'Footloose'. That's why I've always admired the Indian (that's what I primarily saw, and even that's "stretching it") community while growing up because they engaged in all these forms of dance, whether it was during Diwali, Holi, or other times which I can't remember and infrequently attended. Even comparing the muslim families I know from India versus those from Pakistan, I see the Indian ones being much more relaxed and engaging in dance and other fun activities.

I can bring it.

How can i put this subtly?... hollerrr

the most "festive" thing I saw was the stealing of the groom-to-be's shoes during the "thinga-ma-bob" (maybe mehndhi?) the night before the wedding.

During the shagan, or the sangeet?

That's why I've always admired the Indian (that's what I primarily saw, and even that's "stretching it") community while growing up because they engaged in all these forms of dance, whether it was during Diwali, Holi, or other times which I can't remember and infrequently attended. Even comparing the muslim families I know from India versus those from Pakistan, I see the Indian ones being much more relaxed and engaging in dance and other fun activities.

I have no basis for comment on that, but I think it's important to remember that Diwali and Holi, etc., are not holidays for all the different religious groups in India. It's not really abnormal to see that folks may find it more perplexing or be more stand-offish.

Also, I should correct my statement, I've been to Pakistani-American weddings, all held in the U.S. with 2nd geners. Maybe that explains the dancing :)

holla back!

How can i put this subtly?... hollerrr

Hey - show some respect! That's a married woman you're holla-ing at. You should be calling her Auntie DD! Kids these days, no manners. Well, at least one of our readers had the good sense to get married before they got old ...

;)

who you callin' auntie?
holla again!

The fact that there are real Sardars doing bhangra in a punjabi music video is much more surprising than the fact that old men can dance =)

Gurdas Mann is in his late 40's...49 years I guess.

Also, I should correct my statement, I've been to Pakistani-American weddings, all held in the U.S. with 2nd geners. Maybe that explains the dancing :)

yep, these were all 2nd gen Pak-Am weddings. Oh, and according to my familial conctact on these things, it was the mehndhi I was previously referring to. Perhaps those originating in the north of Pakistan were perhaps more conducive of these "fun" activities (as far as Pakistan goes).

Hey - show some respect! That's a married woman you're holla-ing at. You should be calling her Auntie DD! Kids these days, no manners.

DD...and auntie?? ouch
then it should be really easy dance-off...me being more young & flexible and all ;-)

Well, at least one of our readers had the good sense to get married before they got old ...;)

everybody on SM is complainin about not settling down with their biological clock ticking. Whats going on? may be its the festive season??

everybody on SM is complainin about not settling down with their biological clock ticking. Whats going on? may be its the festive season??

One of the readers said that was a common theme, I'd never noticed it, but I thought anything to make our readers happy ...

You should be calling her Auntie DD! Kids these days, no manners.

hmm..."yo Auntie Double-D!" I'm not sure if that's any more respectful!

pack a lunch, jeet, pack a lunch.

I got my PBJ packed baby, you want some chai for your stiff bones...warm 'em up

I think the movement is absolutely necessary for old punjabi men. Otherwise all of the cholesterol from their diet of naan and ghee would solidify and kill them.

pack a lunch, jeet, pack a lunch.

I'll bring the ice, ibuprofen, and a wheelchair ... Sigh.

LOL DD!

Crump, Clown, break it on down!
;0)

I turned thirty this year. I have seen old people grow older and I have seen little kids grow into their teens. Only people i haven't seen grow/change with age are my childhood and college friends. I am sure my friends have changed too but I don't see it. Do other people of my age or of any age feel the same?

pack a lunch, jeet, pack a lunch.

I'll bring the ice, ibuprofen, and a wheelchair ... Sigh.

aww poor aunty DD needs some backin from uncle ennis...just beautiful i say

Do other people of my age or of any age feel the same?

I'm sad to say that I'm in your age bracket and feel the same - everyone below and above is changing a lot faster than "my group". The one way I've seen my friends change is their need to procreate. These same people who were doing some rather foolish things just a few years ago (and some still do) and are now responsible for the total lives of others. Plus, a lot of them also changed in width and depth, but I'm sure you weren't quite referring to "dimensional" change.

Also just a warning, but the life "warranty" expires at 30, so prepare for some system breakage.

Excellent: a post about being old, arthritis and dancing.

Hey Ennis: can you dance like that at this age? (Kidding, yaaar)

Body dysmorphia gets weird for some as we age. Although my parents go to the gym, lift weights, eat right, etc. sometimes they break out with an physical age myth that is a cover for something else and it's simply bonkers. Sometimes the age myth is a passport that allows them to do as they damn please; sometimes its the way they signify themselves; sometimes it's a mask of self-loathing.

Backstory: did I mention that my grandmother tells me she's dying everytime we speak and then I hear that she's walking her tiny self at a very slow pace around her neighborhood. So what if the seasons are changing around her. She's out and about. Chatting with neighbors, commenting on landscaping, getting out there, and obviously and gloriously not dying. But she needs to think she is. In fact, she gets quite indignant if any one of us suggest that she's doing well.

According to her, she eats like a bird (nope) can barely see (reads a few non large print books a week) and doesn't enjoy life much anymore (has loud arguments with Plasma O'Reilly almost daily and tivos other folk to shout at as it suits her; tells jokes; enjoys a bailey's on ice every now and again; always pulls a chair into a kitchen to orchestrate and advise the goings on; laughs the loudest of us all except when some us have been drinking and please don't get her started on a debate. Loud. Very loud.)

People, she's lively. But she needs to be on death's door.

Same with my folks. My parents can work a full week, go to cultural events and shop on the weekend, throw a few dinners a month, easy peasy. But let me invite them to something that they don't especially want to do--suddenly I hear "we're not that young anymore." This happens at night when my dad suddenly can't see subtitles but has laser vision for karaoke lyrics which he won't sing but will correct you as you try to. Or my mother, when I asked her to go on a hike. In her back yard. That happened to be a nature preserve. Her response: "It's too far a distance to walk to get to the hike only to have to walk again. I'm not young as I once was." (*Real reason: she doesn't like dirt, bugs or being in nature all that much.)

This bit is the saddest: my mother who looks in the mirror and says she can't stand to see herself anymore. This breaks my heart. Ma is a stately, deeply attractive woman with Indira Ghandhi hair (or Cruella DeVille, you choose) who could be French for her knack for scarves, her elan, and her style. But when she looks in the mirror she wants to see something else. And while she's busy mourning that loss, she's blind to her present self.

My parents have health concerns, to be sure. But they are very, very, very lucky for their health and ability to be active. So why do they decry it so?

To what degree to we age ourselves, I wonder? And for what purpose?

who said the wheel chair was for me? Yo mama is an auntie, not me.

you betta ask somebody. brrr.

and another thing.

People. Being Pakistani and having attended about a dozen weddings in the last week alone, I've got to say, if you're not seeing dancing, I'm severely confused (and somewhat worried). We don't dance at each and every occasion, given that desi shaadis can run a fortnight or more, but there's normally dancing going on during the maayoun, the mehndi and occasionally the main wedding reception, both pre- and post-the joota chuppai. In fact, during my lifetime's experience of weddings (and there have been many, I assure you), there's almost always been dancing unless the family's super-religious and in that case, the wedding only really takes about 13-odd minutes. It's not just Punjabi though--the Sindhis are wicked on the dance floor, and the Kashmiris will put Swan Lake to shame. The Balochis make up in enthusiasm what they lack in form, and quite frankly I've been too distracted getting it on with one or two of the Pathan groom's side men to notice the dance sequences (or lack thereof) during the NWFP weddings. I'm not sure if this is a "class" thing or not, but I can definitely attest to much shaking of many bon-bons. If anything though, I find that the northern Pakistani weddings, if you're referring to the "traditional" north as in the NWFP etc., tend to to be more conservative than the ceremonies held in other parts of the country. That's just my experience though, and it's definitely coloured by the hot factor of the Pathan men.

hey, i didnt know you were an auntie until Ennis mentioned. dont bring me mum into this..yo granma is an auntie!

Because seriously, the Pathans are smoking. The Kashmiris and Punjabis are pretty hot too, but that whole "wild man of the frontier" thing I build up in my head wins out each and every damn' time.

and another thing.

DesiDancer, do you *live* in YouTube ?!?!?!

my dadiji is no more, yaar. Know why? because she saw me kill this! ;)

yaar yeh kis khet ki mooli hai???

Their moves are pure and simple. No bollywood, no hip hop. Just unclebhangra. It's beautiful.

yet uncle-bhangra is hard-- it requires a lot of cardio stamina, and in order to look that light on your feet takes a lot of control. Props to the uncles!

yet uncle-bhangra is hard-- it requires a lot of cardio stamina

well said DD, when my doctor tells me to do some cardio, I say to myself, hmmm time to go bhangra partyin!

I might be shoving my foot in my mouth with this one, but whatev...

everybody on SM is complainin about not settling down with their biological clock ticking. Whats going on? may be its the festive season??

One of the readers said that was a common theme, I'd never noticed it, but I thought anything to make our readers happy ...

Doesn't make me happy. All this ageism is making me anxious about growing up!

First of all, 30 doesn't make you old (nor does 40, in my opinion). And second, older people who own their age totally rock this 21-year-old's knickers off. Ennis, I'm not picking on you or anyone in particular, as I hear people say stuff like this all the time, so please don't take my thoughts personally:

Am I the only one that thinks it's really unattractive when 30+ people express insecurity about their age (even if they're just joking), and really - like, seriously - sexy when they rock their age because they're perfectly fine with it?

Also, am I the only one who finds sexually-charged validation of older people's looks and abilities really cheesy? I hope DesiDancer doesn't mind me using her as an example, esp since I might be blowing things out of proportion... DD is always a good sport when she's put on the spotlight, and I know the dudes that kid around with her have only the sweetest of intentions. I just worry that it subliminally reinforces an elitist standard on how we see and judge each other as we grow older. DD is gorgeous because she's gorgeous and talented because she's talented - not because she's 30+ and "still looks good" or can "still shake it". To imply that looking and being good after 30 means acting like you're not is a little sad...

In case I'm being unclear about my idea of a "sexy" older person, I'm not talking about resigning to old fogey-dom or "acting young" - whatever that means - I'm talking about older people making aging sexy because they age with grace, dignity and passion for their convictions, and don't judge themselves according to the number. I consider DD to be of that third stock - she even adds humor for good measure, and that's always appreciated :) And lastly, if my idea seems impractical for real life, I should mention that your role (positions, responsibilities, obligations, etc) at any point in life is not the same as your age; one can disregard age without disregarding his/her proper role.

... *sigh* maybe I have an AILF/UILF(??) fetish or something, but I think all this worry about age is really unnecessary.

And now how to help Ennis get his groove back...

yet uncle-bhangra is hard-- it requires a lot of cardio stamina, and in order to look that light on your feet takes a lot of control. Props to the uncles!

And let's not forget the highly sophisticated facial expressions.

Shruti, darling, it wasn't serious. It was all in jest. Until this morning, I hadn't been giving much thought to the fact that there were people amongst our readers who looked at some of us and said "They're over 30, they're old". So I wrote the start of the post, tongue-in-cheek, really as an excuse to share the video.

Nor is our teasing of DD meant to be in anything other than fun. If you ever meet her, you'll understand why.

Don't worry, if maturity comes with age, I'll stay young forever.

Better now?

Shruti,

So you're saying when I'm 60 I can wear short pants? Yipee!

So you're saying when I'm 60 I can wear short pants? Yipee!

Shruti would like you to wear Speedos ;)

... *sigh* maybe I have an AILF/UILF(??) fetish or something

get ready for all the biodata requests in your inbox!

Am I the only one that thinks it's really unattractive when 30+ people express insecurity about their age (even if they're just joking), and really - like, seriously - sexy when they rock their age because they're perfectly fine with it?

I don't necessarily think these are two mutually exclusive conditions.

Shruti would like you to wear Speedos ;)

Ahem, we're trying to get your groove back, not mine silly.

And now how to help Ennis get his groove back...

This sounds like the name of a new Bollywood project...

Nor is our teasing of DD meant to be in anything other than fun. If you ever meet her, you'll understand why.

no offense taken, Shruti! I'm of the stance that age is how you act, now how many days you've logged on this planet. In which case, I'm generally about 7. ;) Ennis can tease all he wants because no matter how old I get, he'll still be older.

But you bring up an interesting point about looks-based validation... I mean, looks fade and we're all getting uglier by the day (ok, maybe just me?)... I figure a gorgeous mind and charming persona is most attractive at any age. Though Jai will argue it's the caboose that counts.

I know, I know - that was a weird ass rant...

And yes, you made me feel better now, tanks :)

I think I'm just confused about all that discussion about the "right" age group on Abhi's post about recruiting new bloggers. I was begining to think y'all really draw lines for ages.

Thirty+ is aging?
Oscar de la Hoya is almost 34 and faced WBC world junior middleweight Ricardo Mayorga on May 6, 2006 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He won this bout by a TKO in round 6.

I move better now than I did ten years ago...and I look better too.

Shruti, you are too cute! I can only speak for myself. I call myself old all the time and I'm still 16 months shy of 30.

When I find myself saying things like, "Oh! Your kids have really grown!" and "It's so good to hear your voice again" and really meaning it; when I have to stretch--I mean, damn! I HAVE to strech before snowboarding/running/dancing: -10 cool points--when I regularly say, "It's too late. I'm going home. Got work tomorrow," or "That place's too loud" when deciding what to do for entertainment, This, these things from a girl who used to get by on 5 or less hours of sleep a night, sware allegience to hip-hop and throw my small body into a mosh pit at-will less than 10 years ago, I feel like a foreign entity has taken over my body.
I, personally, have decided to call the entity, "age."

Don't get me wrong, I stil get down but what was cool/important/regular at 21, won't be at 31 for a wide array of reasons. What's scary are the people who never realize that...

Am I the only one that thinks it's really unattractive when 30+ people express insecurity about their age (even if they're just joking), and really - like, seriously - sexy when they rock their age because they're perfectly fine with it?

I don't necessarily think these are two mutually exclusive conditions.

They should still stop complaining :) It's like having to come up with elaborate ways to tell your friend she looks fine when you really don't care one way or the other because you don't judge her like that.

They should still stop complaining :)

Sorry Shruti, old folks like to complain. You should hear DD in the morning ;)

Dude. I get called old all the time and I'm... not. But that's by middle schoolers, so...

Ennis get his groove back...

Ennis can wear tiger striped speedos and sport a handle moustache and ask Sin, ' Arrey oh Samba...Kitne aadmi the?'

I have attended some Pakistani weddings in Pakistan in the early-90s and there was in fact a lot of dancing at the maiyoun, mehndi and other pre-marriage festivities. The marriages were all Muhajir marriages in Karachi though so maybe they do it different in rural Sindh, Lahore or Sarhad.

The Indian Muslim marriages also usually have a lot of dancing but with the likes of Zakir Da Fool Naik/Israr Ahmed and other charlatans propogating their medievalism on basic cable in India, I wont be surprised if the masses are giving up on these festivities.

I was talking to this elderly lady the other day and we were discussing the origin of the Maiyoun, Mehndi and other similar pre-marriage parties. I have been told that the urdu speakers in undivided India did not really have these parties. Apparently they all come from Punjab and then spread to Karachi after 47 and made their way to the Urdu hearland in India via Karachi.
Can someone confirm this? What about the Indian Punjab? Do they have these pre-marriage parties as well?

Ok, since there are very few threads where I can link to (appropriately) link to songs, does it get better than this? You just have to ignore the woman's horrible voice, but Chamkila (the dude) was an incredible talent...in another life he could have been Shakespeare.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=33WqdSE-qeU

no desh sez

That's why I've always admired the Indian (that's what I primarily saw, and even that's "stretching it") community while growing up because they engaged in all these forms of dance, whether it was during Diwali, Holi, or other times which I can't remember and infrequently attended.

What about the Indian Punjab? Do they have these pre-marriage parties as well?

Yes, It is spread all over India - rural, urban alike. It can go on for days.

If you are a Mumbai don or steel magnet, then you can have Bollywood stars participating too with your daughter/ daughter-in-law in these parties. Or even have them in France.

I always thought dancing and songs in marriages in India/ Pakistan/ Nepal are irrespective of religion.

Another raw talent who also is sadly no more:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-Z5HWaO6xiU

I always thought dancing and songs in marriages in India/ Pakistan/ Nepal are irrespective of religion.

Not always, especially among the super religious. If the Imam-saab says 'no dance, music is haraam' then I'm pretty sure you can guess the outcome.

Although I have been to a wedding where the men and women were separated after the religious ceremony and then the real kundi shaking began. (It's shocking what people will still do even without alcohol in the picture...disturbing!) It's not strictly a Paki thing, either, as my experiences are all from a bengali perspective.

Speaking of raw talents who have passed away, here is the master himself.

Or even have them in France.

I would kill for Versailles. Sigh.

I would kill for Versailles. Sigh.

I am glad that somebody caught to my reference.

Mittal's daughter danced with Shah Rukh Khan and all @ ladies sangeet in Versailles.

For others, it will be their home or some Hotel in the town.

This video made my damn day.

The Bindrakhia video is powerful. The love he and Gurdass Maan have for punjabi virsa is breathtaking.

Much love to Nusraat as well

#69 --- "If you are a Mumbai don or steel magnet"

I think you meant magnate?

Sorry Kush, not making fun but this post in my THC induced hallucination was the best f***ing animated comedy I have seen. Imagine Shah Rukh dancing with a magnet and all the iron filings drawn to him. Hilarious. Chak de Phatte.

Apparently they all come from Punjab and then spread to Karachi after 47 and made their way to the Urdu hearland in India via Karachi. Can someone confirm this? What about the Indian Punjab? Do they have these pre-marriage parties as well?

Of course! Please, do you need to give Punjabis an excuse to party? ;) Actually I have no idea what these parties are like on the Pakistani side - can you describe? I really think that "mehndi" is the same as the sangeet, but I could be totally wrong.

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mehndi
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
I need you today, oh Mehndi

I like this video of Gurdas Mann because he has MEN (clothed) dancing behind him (old or young, whatever). Not like Daler Mehndi and the scantily clad gori chicks. Too much sex in videos just makes ya numb.

Also - commenter "Pritha" 's story about her parents and grandma...really sweet! :-)

When does old age begin ? If you are too busy, you probably wont notice it creeping on you. I am 45, reasonably fit (can hike for a day or run a half marathon) but have, like Pritha's mom, become self conscious (maybe I was always this way) in front of the mirror (can you say Dorian Gray?) For women I'd say that age begins to make its presence felt in the 30s, for men probably a decade later. Maybe what we can control is the rate of decline.. but make no mistake, it is one way..all the way downhill, slow and steady or fast and frightening. What are the signs? grey hair, no hair, spreading middle, crows feet, odd bumps, new diseases, and some loss of fluid intelligence. And waiting for the next sign.

But more than all of this.. is the generation gap.. although with the time machine that the internet is.. one can go back and forth. My daughter loves bands from the back when I was younger.. assuring me that they are still current. I interact a lot with people in their 20s.. My boss is in his 30s. Still mutual stereotypes inhibit an easy back and forth. Ageism is the most powerful lens there is.. And one thats hard to overcome.

strangely enough..I also feel at the peak of my mental and physical powers (small peak it may be) so as one ages maybe we become more and more split, into multiple selves?

Khalsa Junction are some of the best bhangra dancers in America. Youtube has many clips, this is just one of the good ones. Some of the best dancing you'll see.

If you are a Mumbai don or steel magnet, then you can have Bollywood stars participating too with your daughter/ daughter-in-law in these parties. Or even have them in France.

for a small fee (smaller than SRK's), Kush, I'll dance at your shaadi ;)

OK, (probably) the last link I'm going to inflict on you good people in this thread:

NO ONE knows how to have a good time like the kids in England

Amitabh,

One of the finest bhagra is from Raj Kapoor's Shri 420. Let me see if I can find it on youtube. Nothing comes close.

Sorry, reposted the Khalsa Junction link by mistake. Here goes again:

NO ONE knows how to have a good time like the kids in England

Sorry, Sorry.

I meant Jagte Rao's Main Khoi Jhoot Boliya, another Raj Kapoor classic

I meant Jagte Rao's Main Khoi Jhoot Boliya, another Raj Kapoor classic

this is exactly how my dad dances...the comparison is in a good way though. i must say, dancing with my dad (undoubtedly as some wedding reception or another) is a rare pleasure. like the post...

Thank God for Amitabh Bachhan, the man who single handedly legitimized, actually glamorized, the uncle-aunti dance.
Yeah, Ennis, turning 30 is a wake-up call. Forty and fifty don't hold the same benchmark value.

Speaking from my long experience in aging, growing older is not a problem as long as you don't have a debilitating disease. But one is still left with an accumulation of regrets for not having done certain things in life or wishing one had done certain others a little differently. Frank Sinatra's "My Way" still sounds good, though.

Amitabh, Kush, Sahej and others..
Talking about Bhangra, here is solid classic old skool Bhangra.

DesiDancer,

Though Jai will argue it's the caboose that counts.

Thanks for posting that link ;) Reading through that old conversation again did make me smile. Ahh, memories of more innocent times on SM.....

What can I say ? You know me. It's my duty....to please that booty.

It's good to see ZZ Top are still getting work.

Sin and Al M for D:

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess my extended relatives are just smack dab in the middle of conservatism. The ones back in the Desh wear burqa, etc. That's why I have zero desire to ever step foot in that country. I can't, however, wait to go to India one day.

Now that the ages of people are confirmed and only one of you is in my range (mebeing22)....Shrutii, how you doin? ;)

You know me. It's my duty....to please that booty.

and Jai, you are my hero (I think i have mentioned this before)

Jeet,

and Jai, you are my hero (I think i have mentioned this before)

No you haven't mentioned it before, but it's very nice of you to say so. I'm not sure if I deserve it, mundea, but thank you anyway ;)

When you have some spare time I suggest you go through the posts in that link DesiDancer supplied in post #58. It pretty much marks the apex of my badmaashi during my entire time on this blog.....

Kush, thanks for the link. That was fun to watch.

Speaking from my long experience in aging, growing older is not a problem as long as you don't have a debilitating disease. But one is still left with an accumulation of regrets for not having done certain things in life or wishing one had done certain others a little differently. Frank Sinatra's "My Way" still sounds good, though.

I think this is critical...aging is OK as long as a)you remain reasonably fit and b)you feel fulfilled that you accomplished the things you think should have been done by a certain age. In other words, no (or few) regrets. A 40 yr old with a happy marriage and healthy, good kids may feel better about himself than a 40 yr old who feels he's missed the boat on that stuff. On the other hand a 40 yr old with a miserable marriage and obnoxious kids may envy his single friend who's still partying every weekend with a different woman. I just turned 35, I'm pretty OK with it, but the events of the next few years will be important in deciding if I make a happy transition into my 40s or not. But definitely, looking around and seeing my sister, my cousins, and my friends aging right there along with me, makes the whole process easier. What I HAVE noticed lately is that my parents and aunts/uncles have started looking kind of old to me the past few years, because I can remember them in their prime. Life is really short, people.

What I HAVE noticed lately is that my parents and aunts/uncles have started looking kind of old to me the past few years, because I can remember them in their prime.

The changes appear even more dramatic if they live in the old country and you see them every couple years or so. I have one such appointment at the airport tomorrow. Anticipation + Fear.

What I HAVE noticed lately is that my parents and aunts/uncles have started looking kind of old to me the past few years, because I can remember them in their prime.

I was noting that very fact regarding parents aging today. I'd like to subtract 10 years from my mother.

People look old only to those who are much younger. Most of our friends are in their fifties, and we sure don't look old to each other. But we must look old and decrepit to the young. When people started calling me Mr. and Sir, I knew I was getting up there.

I must say one thing, though. Maybe it's the water or the improving health of the population at large, but we fifty-somethings do lead a far more active life than when we were much younger. Maybe it's the last hurrah, the last flicker before the flame is out. But so far, so good.

#86 & 88.
Hello Kush:
Anybody who likes a movie older than they are is most welcome to drop in for chai, samosa and "filmi gupp" at my house anytime. Jagte Raho (1956), which my wife has prohibited me from watching one more time, was such a classic Raj Kapoor. It was significant to Indian cinema in the same way Citizen Kane was to Hollywood. The bhangra scene, and this was when bhangra used to be a mere folk dance, spoke volumes about the "mahanagar" theme of the movie.

Anybody who likes a movie older than they are is most welcome to drop in for chai, samosa and "filmi gupp" at my house anytime.

Will do.

Last night, I was reading about Jagte Raho. It won prizes in international film festivals. That bhangara scene is very much tied to the story, and has stood test of time.

I wish netflix had collection from real older Indian/ Bollywood movies. I once had expanded TV package, and HBO 5/6 showed some older gems from India, Japan 24/ 7. Maybe, nehaflix.

Obviously, when I am in India, I check all these movies on TV channels there.

Something bordering on the tragic has happened to old Indian movies in the US. You will be hard pressed to find an old Hindi movie in the desi stores unless it has been released on DVD. The VHS tapes are all gone from the shelves. Since only the major blockbusters were ever converted to DVD, most old movies are simply not available anymore. I am waiting for an Indian Netflix to stock up on all the old content and then sell downloads. It will happen soon. Then there is also the possibility of one of the classic movie channels of India - there are several - exporting to the US just like ZEE, Star and NDTV.

Men dancing at any age is damn sexy.

Wow, that was great bhangra HM. the motherland showing us how to do it huh? :-)

This aging thread deserves its own space.. rather than as a hanger on to the bhangra.. yes.. kind of related but ..
I do think the elders among us (and I count meself in that category given the youthful profile of the online crowd) may have some useful inputs.. I am still 5 years from 50. wonder how the 50s are.. Exercise is super important.. and you get a lot more purchase when your younger, for the same amount of effort.. and so is a healthy diet and regular habits (still working on that part.. internet pretty much puts paid to that).. also regular meditation is a big plus.. One thing I do see people overdo the exercise thing and become prone to injuries.. they are super fit in their 20s and 30s but basically quit in their 40s due to injuries.. So becoming aware of this factor and pacing oneself seems important. yeah.. sex is part of the exercise formula and it definitely has other benefits (not counting kids).. it should surprise no one that at least for males there is a big interactive effect of sex and fitness (in a positive way).. I think the gen gap. at least in communication terms has shrunk to effectively close to zero.. I honestly cant see any between me and my daughters (granted only one of them is a teen).. this is hugely different from that between meself and parents.. and I am sure it was even larger with my parents and their parents (long departed). the weird thing is that the net has effectively closed many gaps between self and parents. although clearly they havent had or would approve some of my experiences..

I am not a fob but neither am I an abd... this site is definitely works because of the abd origins.. what that mysterious extra that abds have picked up here (i guess the being american) still kind of eludes me..

--end of ramble--

--ramble continues--

sure.. parents age.. we age.. children age.. (Buddha, 500+ bc). But one remarkable aspect is that at least for some folks their voices (and I mean the vocal chords)remain pretty much the same over decades. my parents sound pretty much the same they did 30 years back. wonder why so? any biological explanations? I also vaguely recall that birds dont age.. do they drop dead young then?

Yeah, Ennis, turning 30 is a wake-up call. Forty and fifty don't hold the same benchmark value.

Otherwise, eagerness for the future and hunger for life is the same now as it was at 21. Big differences - learned the importance of being kind to others and to care a LOT less about how I'm judged by others, a better understanding of what success is (it's falsely attributed to Emerson).

What I do use it for - to joke with younger people because the number 30 seems to have magical power when it hits the ears of people 10 years younger or teens. Also for added gravitas while conversing with the 'rents. They think I'm wiser or something now because some number changed in the tens place, haha.

QUALITY SONG about Mirza Sahiban.

Amitabh,

QUALITY SONG about Mirza Sahiban.

Have you seen Gurdas Mann's new film Waris Shah* (or the trailers for it -- clip from one song here.) ? Personally I really prefer his traditional songs in that style rather than the more "modern" pop-bhangra he's been doing during the past couple of years.

Incidentally, he turns out to have quite a slick website too.

I don't know if you've seen footage of Manmohan Waris & Kamal Heer's recent concerts in the UK & US (some clips are available on Youtube, short examples here and here) but they're excellent at the traditional stuff too.

However, regarding modern UK bhangra, here's a brilliant example: Dr Zeus & "Kangna". Very catchy song and cool video.

*For people on SM who don't know, Waris Shah was an 18th-century poet who wrote the most famous version of Heer-Ranjha (there are several others), based on the traditional folk tale. Gurdas Mann is starring in the lead role in a film about Waris Shah's life.

I'm actually working with a theater company right now to translate a script of Heer Ranjha so they can put it on as a full-fledge play.

It won't be put on until February or so, but I'll def. post it under the events tab when I get final dates! :)

fledged*

sorry.

I'm actually working with a theater company right now to translate a script of Heer Ranjha so they can put it on as a full-fledge play.

How cool! Definitely post about it .. sounds great.

How do y'all feel about most of these stories set on the Chenab river, which got divided up at Partition? makes me wish things would change a bit.

Here's another (short) high-energy clip. I'm going to be seeing this guy (Lehmber Hussainpuri) perform live in Queens tonight.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4iaM3WX4DaQ

Jai, I've heard about the Waris Shah movie but I haven't seen it. I think it played very briefly in 1 or 2 theatres around here for like a week or something. I'll probably try to get it on DVD eventually. That song you linked to (Allah Hoo) is a classic. As for Dr. Zeus, that whole cd which includes 'Kangna' is awesome; so much so that some people say he didn't really produce it, Kam Frantic did. But who knows. Dr. Zeus is part of a new generation of producer DJs who apparently barely know the language and literally can't understand most of the lyrics of the songs they release. That doesn't seem to have hurt the final product though.