A Keyhole in the Door of My Room

2011-10-09T00:16:00.002+05:30

A monastery in LEH.

2011-10-08T20:31:00.001+05:30

In these days ofdiscord, disharmony, conflict and competition, finding affinity between twoentities which are geographically far apart and no match to each other inrespect of socio-economic or cultural semblance, is impossibility. But that iswhat this photo series did and went on to find the impossible - A small slumarea in the heart of the posh new city of Ahmedabad called HOLLYWOOD. Theactual name of the area is Gulbhaitekra butit has been popularly known as HOLLYWOOD for the last 4 decades for the reasonthat the women living here have a rustic beauty and glamour which is compared to that of Hollywood stars.

FOR THE REST OF THE SERIES PLEASE GO VISIT THE DELHI PHOTO FESTIVAL AT THE INDIAN HABITAT CENTER FROM OCT 15 TO OCT 28.

http://www.delhiphotofestival.com/

For all those who love photography, it is worth a visit!

2011-10-08T20:22:00.002+05:30

(

Me : Do you kids work here?

Salim : Hahahaha...No!

Abdul : We are from Aligarh. We are here to spend our summer vacations with our chachu. This is his workplace.

Aatif : Its fun to break all this scrap.

Salim : Are you from America?

Me : No! I am not from America. Why?

Salim : We want to go and work in America.

And then followed giggles! :)

2011-07-20T18:31:00.005+05:30

The goat and the gang.

Rocket

2011-06-18T03:06:00.002+05:30

Meet Rocket.
His owner is a Ganesh Idol Maker.
Rocket lives with a hen and a goat called Reshma.
They Quarrel all day.
He woke up to get his picture clicked and then got hold of my camera strap so I bend to show him his handsome picture.

Untitled

2011-03-26T12:58:00.004+05:30

The umbrella hanging there is as old as I am, holding in it the precious memories of the rains enjoyed with nana in this verandah where I spent my childhood years.

Empty Portrait - 1

2011-03-09T17:12:00.002+05:30

Part of a series I have been working on for a long time.

Untitled

2011-02-28T02:47:00.002+05:30

Photograph of a very dear friend.

नटखट बूँदें

2010-09-07T03:48:00.017+05:30

"तुम दोनों इतनी बारिश में खेलना चाहते हो. हैं? अगर माँ को पता चल गया तो पिटाई हो जायगी. फिर मैं तुम्हे बचाने नहीं आने वाला...अभी बता रहा हूँ. ऊपर से दोनों बीमार और पड़ोगे."

"लेकन चौकिदारजी हम दोनों के पास छाता है. हम अपने छाते ले कर तो जा सकते है."

"तुम दोनों बहुत ही शरारती बच्चे हो...किसी की नहीं सुनते..मैं तो चला...जब पिटाई होगी तो मेरे पास रोते हुए मत आना."

"अब क्या करे दादा?"

"एक काम करते है...मम्मी के आने से पहले ही भाग जाते हैं."

"अच्छा बच्चू! अगर मम्मी को पता चल गया तोह जो मार पड़ेगी, उसका क्या बुद्धू मल?"

"मैं तो जा रहा हूँ खेलने, तुम बैठो घर पे....डरपोक चुहिया!"

"डरपोक होगे तुम!"

"हा हा हा! डरपोक डरपोक डरपोक!!! मोनू को बताऊंगा की तुम कितनी बड़ी चुहिया हो! बाय!"

"अरे ये तो गया! मैं भी जाती हूँ. मम्मी के आने से पहले ही आ जाऊँगी, दादा को बिना बताये, और जो मज़ा आएगा जब मम्मी से पिटाई मिलेगी! फिर देखेंगे चुहिया कौन है!"

"अरे दादा! रुको मैं भी चल रही हूँ!"

Untitled

2010-09-04T16:17:00.002+05:30

For Marcel Duchamp.

Just Existence

2010-09-02T05:25:00.003+05:30

An idle hour.

The kind when you have nothing to do.

Just Exist.

Untitled

2010-08-25T05:02:00.012+05:30

Old man lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by,
Blue moon sinking from the weight of the load
And the building scrape the sky,
Cold wind ripping down the allay at dawn
And the morning paper flies,
Dead man lying by the side of the road
With the daylight in his eyes.

Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning,
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around.

Blind man running through the light of the night
With an answer in his hand,
Come on down to the river of sight
And you can really understand,
Red lights flashing through the window in the rain,
Can you hear the sirens moan?
White cane lying in a gutter in the lane,
If you're walking home alone.

Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning,
Just find someone who's turning
And you will come around.

Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning,
Just find someone who's turning

And you will come around.

I have no idea why i am putting the lyrics of this song here.
It's playing at the moment.
I like it.
Its from American Beauty.

3.15

2010-08-15T03:42:00.016+05:30

So, my best friend confessed her liking for her childhood friend after an hour of cogitation, nervousness and ofcourse the flow of not so wanted 'unwanted' thoughts at times like these!

Anyhow, after all the anxiety and excitement she did and then he confessed the same and then she replied and then he replied and they have been doing that since then!!!

Ofcourse they are dating! :)

All for free texting schemes! ;)

2010-07-30T01:53:00.007+05:30

Me,My D90, My lamp, My desk and My cupboard...
Self-Portraits.

2010-07-18T05:23:00.001+05:30

Tea,TV and Mr.Marley.

Untitled

2010-07-18T05:16:00.003+05:30

A few shots of a friend and his cat...

Aghori Baba

2010-07-10T04:01:00.002+05:30

"तुम्हारे भीतर बहुत क्रोध हैं लड़की,कम करो"

This is what he said to me just when I was leaving his tent.That one glare made me feel as if he knew me in and out,my past,my present and my future.To say it did not freak me out would be a lie.

Untitled

2010-06-11T12:34:00.004+05:30

2010-06-11T12:18:00.002+05:30

The Sunlit Feet...

My obsession with feet just wont go...

2010-06-11T12:16:00.002+05:30

My beautiful Sister Shreya...

2010-06-11T12:10:00.003+05:30

My brother Shounak...Only this photo could make him sit like this!
All reflective and deep!!! :)

The Stoned Wall

2010-06-07T22:41:00.004+05:30

An interaction with the great Bob Marley.

My cousin often sees him sitting on a chair in his room, singing aloud No woman No cry....

Of course he is happy about it...Thousands would die to listen to Bob Marley sit on their chairs and sing to them in the middle of the night! Its a blessing.

I cannot sleep in that room!!! No!!! Not even if he brings along Jim Morrison!

2010-06-07T03:28:00.005+05:30

Slippers outside

Shawl in the verandah

Holes in the saree

Broom in the hand broom on the floor

Cracked feet

notice? what?

मेरी प्यारी jhumki ..

2010-06-07T03:14:00.005+05:30

The lady was telling me the story of how these are her last pair of Jhumkis (the others being sold off for money) and how dear they are to her!
I took a picture of them for her.

I think interaction with the subjects always makes a picture special and interesting with a story attached to every moment captured.

Untitled

2010-04-25T13:46:00.003+05:30

अमृत की खोज

2010-04-14T04:14:00.015+05:30

These were,if I can say so, my favourite group of Sadhu's. They offered me chillum and insisted that I sit with them and listen to the mythological story of the kumbh.

By the way, I still regret refusing the kind offer of pulling a few drags.

The tiny Sadhu

2010-04-14T02:15:00.004+05:30

I saw the tiny Sadhu standing, and clicked him. Just then I spotted the tall Sadhu and requested him to stand next to the tiny sadhu to show the difference.

2010-04-12T03:07:00.006+05:30

This group of Sadhu's was the most interesting. The moment I entered the tent, I figured they were all stoned. After taking a few more drags from the chillum, this man suddenly began to stand on his head. Thats how I got this shot. The light coming from the entrance to the tent, is what I liked.

Untitled

2010-04-09T20:11:00.003+05:30

Smoke of survival...

2010-04-09T18:52:00.002+05:30

The look and the light from the window...thats all...

2010-03-23T02:18:00.001+05:30

I have no idea why I am putting this up so late since its one of my favourites....there's something about these feet.....

I just cannot describe it.....

2010-03-04T02:13:00.001+05:30

बनारस के पहलवान...

Untitled

2010-03-02T01:28:00.001+05:30

Why do we consider each other different when we breathe the same air, revel in the rays of the same sun, drink the same water, walk on the same land....Why? Just because we worship different Gods...Isn't God one too??

Untitled

2010-02-28T22:59:00.001+05:30

The young boys stood away from the more serious adults, reading Namas. I wasn't allowed to go in the front while the Namas was being read, but I was lucky to get a shot of these kids standing comparitively closer to me and trying to copy the adults and at the same time having fun with each other.

They were enjoying the camera attention and gathered around me to have a look at their pictures, posing a thousand questions at me as to why I was there despite being a Hindu. My answers left them with a smile...

Untitled

2010-02-28T20:22:00.001+05:30

Untitled

2010-02-28T20:09:00.001+05:30

Untitled

2010-02-28T02:34:00.000+05:30

Untitled

2010-02-27T15:03:00.000+05:30

श्यामलाल जी

2010-02-24T16:25:00.000+05:30

हमारे चौकीदार जी

2010-02-22T11:34:00.000+05:30

कुछ बात है मूँछ में...

Self-Portrait

2010-02-17T01:47:00.000+05:30

My first Self-Portrait as a photographer..... :)

Mere Nana....

2010-02-10T05:13:00.000+05:30

Sitting on his head with a comb in my hand making my best attempt to set his hair with my five year old hands is the best memory I have of my childhood with my grandfather. Not to forget the early mornings when he would hand me a self made bouquet of the most beautiful flowers in the world from his garden, to present to my nursery teacher.

Looking for the first opportunity to rush to mussoorie just to see me and then bringing me back home just so that he could pamper me is something I will never forget. Without my demand he would take out his kinetic and visit the market early morning while I was still asleep and get idli mix just so that I could enjoy my favourite food - Idli Sambhar.

Happy Birthday Nana. Many more years to come and another generation of kids to experiment with your forever black hair.

I love you.

2010-01-21T15:21:00.000+05:30

This shot is inside the Jama Masjid. According to me this photo gives me a sense of freedom and joy. The expression and the body language of the boys and girls and the birds flying in the sky right above them were worth a capture. While the adults sit in enclosed pillars the kids enjoy the wind...

My Extended Family

2010-01-19T16:49:00.000+05:30

Here are a few people who have been a part of my childhood. From Shanti ji, the best cook in the world to Gyanu-Monu my childhood friends, all have been an integral part of my childhood days. Jamadarji who I saw every morning with his big broom while I went to nursery and Reshamji who got me samosas and imarti in the evenings.

My childhood days were fun because of all these people who I was always surrounded with and loved.

Chowri Bazaar

2010-01-18T04:14:00.000+05:30

A shot of a busy street side in Chandni Chowk.

My beautiful sister

2010-01-17T04:50:00.001+05:30

I really wish Simran ends up as a model and then gives me 20% of her income to me for advising her to do so... :)

She is what I call gorgeous.

Masjid-i Jahān-Numā

2009-12-16T14:24:00.000+05:30

After offering prayers the people rushed out of the Jama Masjid. I was lucky to be standing at the entrance to get this shot.

مسجد جھان نما

2009-12-14T15:08:00.000+05:30

A truly peaceful place like no other.

This Photograph has been taken on the day of Jumma Namas.

Jama Masjid.....World - Reflecting Mosque.

Chai and Akhbar

2009-12-14T13:57:00.000+05:30

I caught a glimpse of these workers sitting and resting. They offered me chai and I readily accepted.

Rai Sahab loved this photo.

Workers

2009-12-04T13:37:00.001+05:30

Just a shot of workers.

Id Mubarak

2009-12-04T12:39:00.000+05:30

I took this photograph on the day of Id, from the Jama Masjid.

The kids are overlooking a ground where Id celebrations were going on.

I am planning to convert to Islam.

काशी की याद

2009-10-25T07:18:00.000+05:30

शाम की गंगा आरती, सुबह सुबह घाट की सेर

गंगा नदी में बहती राख, तेरते जलते दिये

गलियों की हलचल या चिताह का सन्नाटा

आलू कचोरी, बनारसी पान

काशी विशवानाथ की घंटिया गूंजे मन में बार बार......

- Kannagi Khanna

Untitled

2009-10-25T05:00:00.001+05:30

I was on my way to the ShantiNiketan railway station along with my mom, when i spoted this wall full of slippers. I hesitated asking my mother to ask the rickshaw wala to stop because we were already running late. However, the photographer in me didn't want to let that go. After a few seconds of having crossed that wall, I finally decided to make us stop and promised to rush back in a few seconds. My mother gave me a tensed look. I hurried back to the wall and took a few shots.

On reaching the station we discovered that our train was late by two hours. :)

Untitled

2009-10-20T01:21:00.001+05:30

The crazy handsome photographer! He taught me how to love my camera!

Untitled

2009-10-18T00:05:00.000+05:30

My feet fascination continues!

Hung

2009-10-17T23:54:00.000+05:30

I was so bored of college that after returning to the hostel the other day, I picked up my camera and left on random photo clicking.

I got this blue wall and if you see carefully it's a very personal wall, in the sense, it has all personal belongings like a brush, a soap , a pair of chaddis, a loofah etc.

This is my personal favourite so far!

Untitled

2009-10-15T10:33:00.000+05:30

An 80 year old lady.

The immaculate love

2009-10-13T19:14:00.000+05:30

Another beautiful woman i happen to know and her adorable son.

खुश्खाती कदम

2009-10-12T17:27:00.000+05:30

We live in a world of wants and greed
Quite unsatisfied with what we have
One desire leads to another
Constructing a path that leads us deeper into it
Going round and round in circles with no end to reach
Does the end exist?
Do we want it to exist?

- kannagi khanna

The chair picture

2009-10-12T16:44:00.000+05:30

I think every photographer has a so called 'chair picture'.

I do too.

Untitled

2009-10-12T06:35:00.000+05:30

I took this photograph on the Shantiniketan station, while waiting for a train to kolkatta.

There were a group of widows sitting just outside the waiting room. She was the oldest of them.

After taking her picture I gave her biscuits and juice. With trembling hands, she safely kept it in her jhola.

Tribal Spirits

2009-10-11T17:03:00.000+05:30

These two photos were taken when I was interning with an NGO called NEWS based in Sundarbans.

PICTURE 1

We were on our way to rescue a Sambhar in a tribal village in Orissa when I spotted the lady lying in that pose as if waiting to be clicked. I begged my boss to stop the car even though we were in a hurry. I just took this one shot of her and ran back into the car. I loved the fact that she looked directly into my camera. There are times when you look at something and you know that instant that you have to capture it,what so ever. It happens with me a lot.

PICTURE 2

I just remember that this lady was from the village from where the Sambhar was rescued. I was trying a few angles and I got this. For some reason this is one of my favourite picture. I like the wisps of hair flying around her face.

Feet of a beautiful woman i know...

2009-10-08T19:30:00.000+05:30

Its simple. The moment I pick up my camera i get this amazing sensation in my stomach which my friend likes to describe as something called 'tuntuni'. And thats a sign enough for me to realise my love for photography.
I had no idea that something like the Nikon D90 existed until I was gifted one by my uncle living in San Fransisco. I safely kept it in my cupboard thinking to use it for some college assignment. However, a trip to Bombay and a night with a crazy photographer and some chilled beer changed it all leading me to discover my first love and experiencing 'tuntuni'.

I have a feet fetish and I think my camera does too. This is one of my favourite photos which no one has seen till now but my best friend. She plans to buy it from me some day.....