Flicked from "Times Life" from the Sunday edition of Times of India, 28th Jan '07

No wonder then, that it’s in this very year that ace photographer Raghu Rai’s nudes come out of the closet for a rare exhibition for the first time. Rai, who believes that nudes are an expression of appreciation of the female form, says, “The
If you think the nude human form is titillating, you’re hopelessly outdated. Nudity today, is all about celebrating innocence and soul-stirring creativity. Nona Walia reports
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
“I enjoy nakedness. I am a bit of a naturist at heart.”

– Robbie Williams

“I was born naked and I’m going to die naked, so I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

– Justin Timberlake

THERE’S a new stubbornness with which nudity is being thrown in our faces. In 2007, nudity isn’t cheap or titillating. In fact, it’s coming into vogue! This fashionable nudity may be sensational, but at the same time, it’s innocent and fragile.

Just how is this soulful nudity different from, say, model Kate Moss stripping off in public view for the lingerie brand Agent Provocateur? Or the media going into a Fashion Week frenzy over wardrobe malfunctions and nipple slips? Perhaps there’s no one better than Bill Farley, vice-president of Playboy, the empire that’s been erected on taking nudity to the masses, to explain just why nudity is more than just a skin show. “Nudity isn’t vulgar, it is an art. It’s pure. And nudity can be innocent. People are obsessed with nudity because it defines the new erotic in an artistic way.”

So nudity isn’t just about sensationalism. It’s about teasing a new creativity. Maybe, that’s the reason, in 2007, we’re seeing a rise of mature nudity. Look at Maxim’s latest cover girl, Mallika Sherawat, giving new meaning to sensual, subtle exposure. Or John Abraham’s sizzling bare body lending austere authenticity to roles in Anurag Kashyap’s No Smoking and Ram Gopal Varma’s Nishabd.

re’s an art in shooting nudes. There’s something very mystical about it.” In fact, fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar who’s also shot quite a number of barely-clad lovelies for the Kingfisher calendars, says, “Nudes can be very sensual and startlingly beautiful. But they can also be very tasteless, bordering on the vulgar. That’s when nudity becomes offensive. When you shoot nudes, there’s a certain aesthetic at work. For me, doing nudes is a pure form of selfexpression, where my camera tries to focus on the sensuality of the natural form of the nude.”

And nudity isn’t always about being sexy. Why then, are models so eager to go naked for fashion? Says model Sapna Kumar, “If a nude is done tastefully, I think it’s pure and innocent. But today, the media loves to sensationalise nudity. That’s a turnoff.” According to painter Arpana Cour, nudity varies from person to person and holds a mirror to the kind of people we are. “As an artist, I find Amrita Shergill’s nude self-portrait very innocent. Can you imagine, nudity being innocent!? We’ve got dirty minds… That’s why we think nudity can only be erotic or titillating! We’ve adopted such rigid parameters of right and wrong.” So finally, nudity all depends on how you look at it. Agrees actor Laila Rouass, “Nudity can be the purest form of self-expression, a woman’s body is erotic. But men view nudity as sexual, in a voyeuristic way. That’s when it becomes sensational.”

But the truth is, nudity isn’t just physical. It has an emotional aspect to it. Like fashion designer Suneet Varma observes, “Nudity is about understanding and feeling your own body in different situations. Nudity isn’t sexual. I’ve been to a nude beach in Spain. On the first day, I was unable to go to the beach naked. I was the only fully clothed person. The next two days, I was stark naked on the beach. I was one with the sun, sand and the sea. At a nudist beach, the idea is not to think of your body as erotic or sexy. It’s a soul-stirring experience. I didn’t feel sexy. No one was looking at me. Most designers idealise a woman’s nude form, but there’s a sense of beauty in nudity. I feel fashion is the politest way to talk about sex, while nudity isn’t about sex but about the soul.”

LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Copied From The Sunday Times Mumbai Edition, 7th Jan 2007 ( WIthout permission.. ooops_)

Clinging to familiarity can keep us from accomplishing things that are important to us, says Diann Cannon


Remember that big conversation you had with yourself, in which you vowed to lose weight or find a new career or start exercising? Do things always seem to get in the way of accomplishing even the simplest of goals like calling potential clients? If you find yourself in the intellectual zone and not the productive zone, I have some ideas for you to think about if you’re willing to break out of your personal “comfort zone”. What is it that separates productive people from those who for whatever reason are unable to be all that they would like to be? It is an irony to be sure, but our comfort zones can actually bring about a great deal of discomfort when they keep us from accomplishing things that are important to us. Productivity is fueled by self-talk. Self-talk is nothing more than thoughts, but thoughts have the power to motivate or cripple us. What we believe to be true about our environment and ourselves is derived from our core beliefs, which is the most accurate predictor of all for happiness, contentment and success. Comfort zones usually feel familiar and predictable and that is what makes them comfortable, not the experiences or outcomes associated with them. That is why it is possible to get stuck in a comfort zone even when it is extremely uncomfortable or painful being there. It has been said in many different ways that the brain can only truly focus on one thing at a time. If your focus is say, losing weight, but one of your core beliefs is that you are unattractive, your brain will go into overdrive processing all the competing messages and negative self-talk, which will cause you to become distracted from your focus and robbed of the energy you need to be successful. Allowing negative thoughts and emotions to rule our interior keeps us from being productive and happy. If you are wondering how to breakthrough situations like this, it is often helpful to just take a moment and really listen to what you are saying to yourself. Really hear it. Taking a non-judgmental position, ask yourself if the negative message is really true or a faulty core belief that has no basis in reality. Next, ask yourself whether the old thought patterns of discouragement originated from someone in your past. If so, then put it in the proper perspective and decide on a replacement message that more accurately describes who you are. Encourage yourself to reinforce the new message over and over again when you stumble. Negative messages can paralyse us with indecision. But being able to make decisions is a huge part of being productive. There comes a point when it is time to stop collecting information and get into action. Let’s face it; we are all human and there are no perfect human beings. And the simple truth is that no matter what you do, someone is not going to like it! But making decisions that are sound and right for you are essential components to living a meaningful life. If you find that you are dealing with a faulty core belief, you will recognise it for the old baggage it is by comparing the degree of your reaction to the severity of the incident. If your reaction is out of proportion to the situation, you can pretty much bank on it being old baggage. So get rid of the baggage if you are interested in changing your life. Those who have worked through their baggage are usually pro-active. So, if it is a new career you are interested in, take action! Get your resume updated, check out the newspaper classified ads, or start networking with friends and colleagues. By listening to the signals your intuition sends you and taking an action on its behalf, you will automatically feel stronger and more confident. That is what comes of being true to your self. It’s not listening to your truth that is depressing and destructive. Also, take stock of the community of people you choose to be around. Do you spend your time with people who hate their jobs, who only work for the paycheck and sit around waiting for a better life to happen to them? Get out of there! Don’t allow yourself to be contaminated by that kind of energy. I have a group of peers who are all very interested in continuous improvement that I meet with once a week. Spending time together is a good way to reinforce our values. Guess what? These people tend to hang out with other like-minded people as well, because they know that the people you hang around with affects your overall productivity. Finally, you may need to eliminate something in your current schedule to free up the time and effort you will need to do this work and accomplish your goals. Be honest with your self; make a list of the things you can do by yourself, acknowledge your limitations and then respect the boundaries between.

Both Sides

I really dunno when and how I have happened to hear such amazing Numbers from Neil Diamond..
Here are the lyrics of one of tjose numbers which kept running in my head..

Rolls and flows of angel hair,
Ice cream castles in the air,
Feather canyons everywhere,
I've looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun.
They rain, they snow on everyone.
So many things I would've done
But clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down and still somehow
It's clouds' illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels,
The dizzy, dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real.
I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show.
Leave 'em laughin' when you go.
But if you care, don't let em' know
Don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud,
Say "I love you" right out loud.
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange.
They shake their heads and say I've changed.
But something's lost when somethings gained
Living everyday.

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

Ambition . . .

Once upon a time there were 2 brothers who lived on the 80th floor of a tall building.
On coming home one day they realized, to their dismay, that the lifts were not working and that they would have to climb the stairs home.
After struggling to the 20th level, panting and tired, they decided to abandon their bags and come back for them the next day.
They left their bags then and climbed on . .

By the time they had struggled to the 40th level, they had gone sufficiently mad and were irritated.
The younger brother started to grumble and both of them began to quarrel.
They continued to climb the flights of steps, quarreling all the way to the 60th floor.

They then realized that they had only 20 levels more to climb and decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace.
They silently climbed on and reached their home at long last! Each stood calmly before the door and waited for the other to open the door.
They then realized that the key was in their bags, which were left on the 20th floor...

This story is a reflection on our life and times.
All of us climb the tall building called career . . . some till the 80th floor and some less.
But do we know that the key to our happiness is in the bag, which has been left back, way behind on the 20th floor?

Know your dreams and follow it so that you will not live with regrets . .

If the chariot of your life is driven by the steeds of ambition, make sure the reins of your life are held by the hands of joy.

We are the heroes of our own story . . .