Farewell Party

So there we were at La Cocina.... we were supposed to meet up at 7:30pm but obviously how many actually are punctual!!! Well only a hand full... As usual tanni session starts....

The first VVIP to arrive was Oommen. Continued by Ratha and Richard. Finally the entry of the royal Sangeetha and Pam. Sangeetha stontaneously won the best dressed....

Everyone was all chit chattering away while gulping down their drinks while waiting for the food to be served. The last to arrive were the SQE team which had another agenda to attend before this farewell....

Our MC of the day was Charanpal!!! with the help from Siva too. Luckily I didn't have to talk anything as I would be coughing more than talking. One by one the VVIPs were called out to give their speeches and then they got their farewell souvenirs.

The speeches were the highlights of the night as we laughed and laughed on how daniel descibed the different characters these wonderful people were...At the same time we could see that Sangeetha has always something to comment or to interrupt Daniel...Hey give him a break already!

Others who gave speeches were Harch, Mathavan, Vijay and Charan. Harch had a lot to say as he was like from the same era as those who were leaving. As for Vijay, the only thing that was on his mind was his new born baby but he managed to sqeeze some past out. Last but not least, Charan who had to talk about Richard....gosh the boss that hired me TWICE???

We had fun, lots of laugh....good food and for those who drink lots of boooozzzeeee.

So I left just after 11 and the next day I heard that the party carried on till 4 in the morning. Gosh! A salute to the guys who came back to office in the morning ON TIME.

Farewell For Five???

We'll miss YOU as there is no other like YOU !
So after a few weeks without these 5 people...we call them back to give a proper farewell and say our byes...Oommen, Richard, Sangeetha, Pam and OMG Ratha!!! To me the first 3 I worked with mostly....they were the bosses that gave me work to crack my head with. Now without them, yeah I get to focus more on the servers but the next group taking over is gonna eat my head for new reports to suite their preferences.....DIE DIE!!!

After all the hard work I have put in to create the reports for Oommen, Richard and especially Sangeetha...GOSH .... hopefully these report will still be used.

As for Pam....nice knowing her though never actually spent much time with her. And last but not least Ratha.....OMG!!! This is someone you can hardly forget....especially her voice and the way she just says things. It just gets to you! I'm glad she was not my BOS??? Will miss you definitely and hope to see you again....in fact all of you and wish to see you all in the future upcoming Sensata Diwali Dinners.

OK so TOMORROW is the DAY!!! PARTY!!!

A Huge Lost - ISHMEET SINGH

ISHMEET SINGH

A Humble Sardar with a melodious voice, CHAMPION of the VOICE OF INDIA, has left us!!

Ishmeet Singh (September 2, 1989 - July 29, 2008) a well-known Voice of India winner and playback singer has died in the Maldives where he had gone to perform for the 'Star Voice of Maldives' contest to be held on the 1st of August, 2008. He drowned in the swiming pool of the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort, at which he was staying, on Tuesday the 29th of July 2008 only two days before he was scheduled to perform.

The news of his untimely death has shocked the Indian music industry and his fans.

As promised, his first album would be a kirtan CD:

Here something to read about him:

Meet Ishmeet Singh, a talented young man from Ludhiana, Punjab, who gave up his studies, went against his parent's wishes and took a huge risk to follow his dreams.

And lucky for Ishmeet, the risk paid off. From thousands and thousands of hopeful singers, Ishmeet stands apart as one of the two finalists of the television reality show, Star's Voice of India.

Barely two days away from the grand finale, Ishmeet spends most of his time in riaaz. But he took some time out to speak to us about about his journey so far.

Tell us about yourself.

I come from a simple middle class background. There's my mother, dad and my elder sister, Sumeet.

Everyone sings in my family. My dad is a great singer, so are my chachaji and his children. So I have been singing from very young. But it was in my ninth class that I really got into singing Hindi songs.

When did you realise that singing was your passion?

In my ninth class, every student was asked to sing a song. When I sang, my teacher, Jagdeet Kaur, told me that I have a very good voice. She told me that I would go very far because of my singing.

Are you a trained singer?

I've had basic training. I've learned a lot from my dad. I learned singing Hindi songs from him.

How did you enter VOI? Tell us about your auditions.

I saw it on television. I learnt that they were holding auditions for the new season of Voice of India and I wanted to try out for it. But my family was against it. They wanted me to complete my studies. I couldn't do both, as my studies take up all my time. So I had to reason with my mother to let me at least go for the audition. She told me that even if I was selected, I couldn't continue because my studies were very important.

I auditioned in Delhi and was selected. From thousands of hopefuls, only 39 were selected. Then it was down to 33 and finally 12. But still my mother was asking me to give it up and return home.

I requested her to just let me try, dekhte hain kaha tak pahuch sakhta hoon (see how far I could go). In the end, my relatives had to intervene and convince my parents.

Now that you've reached the finals, you're already a big star. What do they feel now?

They're very proud of me. So is everybody else. I have made a name for myself and my family. Because of this show and what I've achieved, we have moved up from a simple middle class life to a very respectable standard. The kind of people I'm meeting, and the life I'm leading right now is only because of this show.

What is the source of inspiration for your music?

Initially, it was just my dad. He taught me everything. Then I started following Mohammad Rafiji. I'm big fan of Shaan and Sonu Nigam; I follow their singing very closely.

Do you get nervous before every performance? Do you have any ritual that you do to calm yourself down?

Earlier, I would get very nervous. But now, I have got used to performing in front of an audience. But no matter what, before every performance, I chant Wahe Guru on my Simone Mala; it's the beaded mala that I always wear on my wrist.

What is the hardest part about this competition?

Singing is the easy part. Impressing the audience is difficult. In the end, it all comes down to them.

What has been the most memorable moment for you up till now?

Every moment, every day has been memorable. Since the day this experience has started, every moment has been so special. It has changed my life, and for the better.

There are eliminations in every round. Was there a point when you thought, 'I'm next to go'?

Oh yes, every time! You can do your best, put everything into your performance, but after that, it's no longer in your hands. It's up to the audience and their votes.

You're up against Harshat in the finals. What is your take on him?

Harshat is very talented. Bahoot achcha gata hain (he sings very well). You know, we both have come so far. Coming so far in the competition is a great achievement in itself. It doesn't matter who is voted the final winner. If one wins and the other is voted second, it doesn't mean he is the loser. We've come so far -- there's nothing to lose anymore. We are both winners.

Is singing something you want to do for the rest of your life?

I will go back to studies first. It's what my parents want from me. But yes, I also want to continue singing. People know me because of my voice. I have made a name because of my singing so I don't think I'm going to give it up.

MY DEAR UNCLE

So many thoughts, in my head.
So many things, left unsaid.
You left that day, without a glance.
Never knowing God, wasn't giving you a second chance.
What was in your head, the last moments you had.
I hope you though happy thoughts, and not sad.
No one can evertake your place.
Your image in my heartwill never erase.
As you smile on me from up above.
My mind is still sadbut my heart is filled with love.
I love you dear uncle you meant the world to me.
I'll always make you proud of me you will see.



You can shed tears that I’ve gone or you can smile because I’ve lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that I’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all I’ve left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see me
or you can be full of the love we shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember me and only that I’ve gone
or you can cherish my memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what I’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.