bawdispeak: soundtrack for a seven hour roadtrip from delhi to shekhawati via the haryanvi hinterland. and back.

nothing matches the indian hinterland quite like the drive from delhi to my village in rajasthan, passing through mofussil india's most inspiringly boring towns, where the most interesting things are usually the names (chirawa, rewari and narnaul), apart from the odd sari (and ghoonghat) clad motorcyclist, like a new age kali off to behead mahishasura on a pulsar.

and my companion on this enlightening journey was my ipod. i concede. apple rules.

seven hours later, i found myself a list of songs perfect for that roadtrip. here we go.

1. when the engine starts and the car picks up

the slow build up to speed. the excitement of the oncoming journey. all very romantic till you're stuck in a jam on outer ring road.

around the world | daft punk

2. speeding it up on the highway

true, as we hit a 100 on the rather uninspiring nh-8, watching dividers zoom by before veering out of the way of a truck which seems to have evolved from a rampaging bull, you appreciate the beauty of a smooth highway.

the english motorway system | black box recorder

3. off the expressway, into the hinterland

when the sign points to rewari, and the ramp curves into a thicket of trees, you get all romantic - the hinterland awaits. and true to its mystic attraction, the sight of the silk smita-esque pulsar driver honking at a slow tractor makes you realize that haryana truly is great.

possibly maybe | bjork

4. the town(s) of potholed roads

the romance enters a patchy phase when dramatic settlements like narnaul and rewari give to you their roadways. and the potholes.

these magnificent rubble holes jostle your entire being, and are effective chiropractors. as your booty sways to the shaking vehicle, disco fills up your mind.

rambha ho | bappi lahiri, feat vocals by usha uthup

5. held up by the bovine

and just when you think the potholes have passed away, you are stopped for a special screening of seductive cows and macho buffaloes peacefully crossing the road, at a pace that makes you fully appreciate the sway of their hindsides.

slow | kylie minogue

6. between sun and sand

adrenaline runs high again on those tarmac goddesses with sand on either side and the sun in a deep blue sky blazing down. truly, the sanest part of the roadtrip.

neon beanbag | stereolab

7. the destination in sight

the promise of a soft bed, a calm sleep and a warm dinner makes you mellow. the onset of evening makes it better.

ay hairathe ashiqui | a r rahman, feat vocals by alka yagnik and hariharan

8. depart again

as you rise at an unearthly hour when all is still dark, and bats fly out where you expect peacocks, you slowly realize you are in the middle of a star lit desert, and that the moonlight is strong enough for you to read your novels in. the drama of the expanse sets in.

felt mountain | goldfrapp

9. desert sunrise

and you're sleepy. and you're in the car. and on a road that stretches on forever.

then you catch sight of the sun rising over mustard fields and sandy knolls, and all is redeemed.

songbird | music from the lonely planet

10. breakfast at the dhaba

a brick structure painted in garish green goes by the name of baghban but whips up less melodramatic samosas and chai. as you sit in your car, sarson ke khet to the left and the state highway to the right, you half expect bollywood to conjure itself up.

ghar aaja pardesi | jatin lalit, feat vocals by pamela chopra and manpreet

11. mofussil vegetables

as you drive back through old pal rewari, and stop in its excruciatingly morose subzi mandi, you pick up vegetables that are proof of the great indian agro life.

ch. galaxy | towa tei

12. back on smooth tarmac

the road curves gently back onto the expressway, and you realize that you are back in the future, and are slowly inching back into you comfort zone.

bossa for jackie (dedicated to mrs. kennedy) | fantastic plastic machine

13. urbanity revisited

the huge jockey ad hanging by the side of a hafeez contractor neogothic tower (the two are perfect for each other) points out that you are back in urbania.

ray of light | madonna

14. home again

and the car turns into the driveway. home sweet home.

bluestocking | momus

playlist for 1-14