Just Rambling

A Nation in a hurry...........to ?

2011-11-18T14:15:00.001+05:30

You are at a traffic signal waiting for the signal to turn green...next to you bikes and autos and cars squeeze into every possible and available cm of space...slowly inching forward till they are almost across the road...

You are waiting in a queue at a multiplex and are being constantly pushed, jabbed from behind and then a someone slowly slides upto the ticket window and puts his hand in and wants to buy tickets without waiting in the queue...

You are waiting for a lift to visit someone and when the lift arrives everyone rushes in - pushing the people alighting from the lift back in or pulling them roughly outside...

You surely must have noticed the fear in the eyes of those travelers who have to get down at last station of a suburban journey - the fear of being smashed into and thrown back into the train as people simply jump in without any consideration for the alighting passengers...

You buy coupons at a self service restaurant or outlet and go and wait to pick up your stuff, only to notice that people simply barge in and literally shove the receipts into the face of the person on the other side of the counter...

You also must have noticed people run across busy roads in spite of safer avenues like FOB's that are available to cross these busy roads...

You must have noticed people cross railway tracks playing with danger instead of using FOB's....

When traffic just stops for a few seconds, bikers simply go the wrong side of the road and drive against the oncoming traffic or they drive on the pavements...

Simply put - Sabko Jaldi hai. We are in a hurry, is the standard response I have got whenever I have tried questioning people.

In a hurry to where ? To grab the PM's seat ?

We look like we are a Nation in a hurry........to where ?????

I Object - Mr Naseem Khan

2011-11-17T15:16:00.003+05:30

I read these article - http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/State-mulls-elevated-road-on-Sion-Mulund-LBS-Road/Article1-766636.aspx and this was reported in the TOI too here - http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-09/mumbai/30377141_1_religious-structures-metro-project-mumbai-metro

Mr Naseem Khan, the guardian minister for Mumbai has made this outrageous and most stupid demand of building an elevated road over the LBS road from Sion to Mulund.

I would like to ask the minister whether he has really been to LBS road to study / watch the hurdles and then decided that an elevated road is the best solution ?

I OBJECT !

I agree that the road is congested and there is hardly place for people to move alongwith the various vehicles plying on the road from morning to night.

A few simple steps will solve a lot of big problems on that road -

1) Get rid of the hawkers on the pavements.

2) Build smooth pavements for people to walk on (no hawkers , no potholes)

3) Fence in the pavement so that people do not spill onto the road.

4) Make FOB's / zebra crossings for people to cross. If they do not use it - and prefer crossing the roads while jay walking, make it clear to them that in case of an accident, the vehicle owner is not responsible.

5) For old people, give them the facility of elevators / lifts on the FOB's.

6) Remove all the auto rickshaw and taxi stands from the LBS road. Shift them to by-lanes.

7) Remove and destroy the illegal extensions of shops that spill over to the footpath / roads.

8) Get the BEST bus drivers to stop at the designated bus stop and not in the middle of the lane.

9) People should also behave like humans and not animals when boarding and alighting the buses. Haven't they heard of a queue system ?

10 ) All the auto rickshaw and taxi stands near the railway stations should have dedicated stands. Any taxi or rickshaw operating out of that should be fined or the vehicle confiscated.

11) Ensure that the traffic cops work to improve the traffic flow and not the money flow to their pockets.

12) If possible, try and synchronise signals to ease traffic pile-up.

13) Ensure that only the authorised / valid auto rickshaw and taxis are allowed to ply.

14) Instill some pride in your work force (BMC, Traffic police, BEST, auto rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers) to work for the betterment of the community - after all it will be beneficial for them too.

These small changes will give you big benefits with a very small amount of people taxes used for these.

Do you have the inclination to do this, Mr Minister ?
Are you ready to let go of the kick backs that you will receive from the elevated road project ?
Are you ready to take the action against the auto rickshaw and taxi drivers who consist of the majority vote bank of your area, Chandivali ?
Are you ready to give in writing under oath that you will ensure the completion of the project in the stipulated time ?
Will you make sure that motorists and people traveling on LBS road during the elevated road construction will not at all be troubled by the construction ?

If you are serious about taking care of this city, I suggest you start with your area.

1) A 50 meter stretch of Nahar Amrit Shakti road is left for concretising for the last 2 years ? can you explain the delay ?? Every morning, there are jams and frustrated people going to work from that junction - what are doing about that ?

2) The ROB to be built over the tracks at Kanjur Marg (on JVLR) is lying incomplete for the last 7 years - why don't you ensure that it is completed in record time - saving a lot of frustration for people traveling on that road morning and evening ?

3) The Auto rickshaw drivers in Chandivali are rude and refuse to ferry passengers for short distances even with tampered meters - what are you doing about this ?

Movie Review - Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

2011-07-16T14:42:00.006+05:30

Another movie from the Excel Entertainment team. This time directed by Zoya Akhtar.

Since the time the promos of ZNMD have hit the air, it has been comapred to Farhan Akhtar's DCH. The feel, the look, the male bonding.....this time it was being directed by a woman. I was intrigued - what would it be like ? Another road trip / romance ? Something more maybe ?

Put your doubts to rest - the movie has a feel like DCH but it's not a copy of DCH. It's a mature DCH I say !

The movie is about a road trip that 3 friends undertake before one of them gets married, so it turns out to be his bachelor's party as well. So they head to Spain and start their journey. But there are issues to be sorted on the way. emotions to be unloaded, to be felt, to be experienced, life changing moments, love and men being boys - some really great male bonding and sillyness !

They encounter a few people on their journey who are instrumental in bringing about a change in the 3 distinct characters that they are.

Performances are great - the boys really bond well (Hrithik, Farhan and Abhay) and have loads of fun. Katrina looks like a million bucks and Kalki is good but wasted in a role like this. Abhay Deol walks away with the honours in the acting department while Farhan shows a lot of improvement in the acting department, the way he plays his character and Hrithik is good as usual.

The music is good - more so when watched with the movie progressing. The Tomatina festival song is really good.

The dialogues are funny, not in your face funny but subtle and the male bonding scenes will have you wanting to go silly with your best buds.

The direction is very assured and Spain makes for some very pretty locales and scenes.

Verdict - 3/5. It's a one time watch for sure.

The cons -

I felt the movie was a bit too long, could be trimmed by 20 minutes.

I feel it won't really connect with all the audience but the multiplex audience would surely lap it up.

The life changing moments do not really come across very cleanly - Hrithik's one being the main culprit. (The sky diving sequence is longer and the best - you really want to jump off into thin air and feel free)

Other than that all well.

Another "QUEUE" tale

2011-07-05T15:50:00.003+05:30

Yesterday afternoon I walk into HDFC bank in Powai, filled up the pay in slip for cash deposit and went and stood in a queue. There are 3 counters out of which 1 was closed, 1 was handling the cheque deposits only (God only knows why only cheques !) and the 3rd was shut. There were about 10-12 people in the queue.

Now a HDFC bank employee comes and announces that the closed counter is now open and cash deposits can be done here too...a couple of people hear him (including yours truly) and we form a queue at that counter which puts me in 2nd place in the queue.....now the fun starts.

A guy from the previous queue comes and asks the guy in front of me if cash deposits can be made in this queue and on receiving an positive reply....he tells the fellow that he will stand behind him !

I got pissed...and here is the conversation between us,

Me - Hello ? What are you doing ?

Him - I was standing behind him in the earlier queue !

Me - So that gives you the authority to be behind him wherever he goes ? I guess you should be at the end of this queue.

Him - Then I will have to go the previous queue or go to the end of this one.

Me - Yes Einstien, now move !

I mean what kind of chuts are these people ?? I mean the whole country now thinks it can get away with anything or what ? No civic sense at all !!

Movie Review - Delhi Belly

2011-07-03T14:15:00.004+05:30

The promos for this movie threw everyone into a tizzy - Bhaag DK Bose rocked the Indian youth and grabbed the nation by it's balls. The movie was being discussed everywhere - good or bad - did not matter. It promised a few laughs and we all were waiting for it to release. It did release this Friday.

The movie is about 3 room-mates and friends , 2 of them who work to-gather, one as a Journalist and the other as his Photographer while the 3rd guy works in an ad agency. The Journalist has a girl friend to whom he is getting married but she is involved in some dangerous activities although unknowingly......how this activity of hers takes these 3 guys through hell and high water and what fate awaits them...is what the movie is all about.

There are a few more characters in the mix - the landlord, the gangster and his cronies, the cops which add up to pretty interesting bunch.

The script is zany and funny and quick. It's pretty solid how things join in at the end....and trust me the dialogues are a riot. The direction and editing add to the fun factor without making the movie tiresome.

The performances are first rate - everyone has done a fab job in the roles assigned to them. The 3 guys Imraan, Vir and Kunaal are very good - the girls fit in well and the odd assortment of other whacky characters are in super form too.

The language of the movie - the dialogues is what will divide the opinion amongst the movie watching junta. The movie is released in 2 versions - Hinglish and Hindi. I happened to watch the Hindi version, which is a dubbed version. The dialogues were as normal as we talk in real life ....a conversation between 3 great buddies is sure to be peppered with words like gandu, bhenchot, gand...et al - and that's the way it is in the movie. No beeps, no cuts - just the way it is. I like.

A lot of people are going to be pissed off with the censors allowing this kind of language for a movie that is aimed squarely at the youth but then those people either live in a bubble or do not want to acknowledge that the youth speak this way. It's their loss

Verdict - 4.5/5 - A full on comedy that grabs your balls and doesn't let go until they are squeezed dry ! :)

Things you will like about the movie -

1) 90 minutes long and no intervals

2) Great Acting, zany screenplay and nifty editing.

3) The language and dialogues.

Things I did not like in the movie -

1) Inspite of working and being pretty well off - the 3 guys live in a real run down home, wonder why ?

2) The Aamir Khan number at the end - people seemed to love this . I hated this - why not have the Bhaag DK Bose video that was specially shot ?? Aamir seems to have gone the SRK way - a BIG thumbs down from me.

The censors have taken a big risk in letting this movie through without cuts - will it start a trend ? Will Bollywood grow out of it's nice clean image that it potrays ? Who the fuck cares ?

For now - Bhaag Bose DK - jaa Delhi Belly dekh aur mast reh.

Miss Perfect Woman » Ekta Khosla

2011-06-30T12:50:00.000+05:30

Miss Perfect Woman » Ekta Khosla

Check this out guys ! :)

Super fun times - Team BHP meets

2011-06-29T16:36:00.001+05:30

Friends and fun go hand in hand

Hyd to Mum in the vRS

2011-06-29T16:31:00.001+05:30

A short edited video of the fun me and Chetan had in the Octavia vRS on our way back from Hyderabad after attending Srikant's wedding

Movie Review - Chalo Dilli

2011-05-21T16:57:00.003+05:30

Another small budget movie that was being marketed well everywhere - but the cast of Vinay Pathak and Lara Dutta as lead actors was a factor in the delay to watch the movie.

The movie is all about a cleanliness and hygine freak investment banker from Mumbai (Lara Dutta) and a middle class shop keeper ( Vinay Pathak) from Karol Bagh in New Delhi. Both are on the same flight to Delhi - and Vinay manages to piss off Lara even before he has spoken a word to her.

Then as usual - due to circumstances the flight lands at Jaipur instead of Delhi and Lara is forced to take a cab to Delhi - with a twist of fate, Vinay lands up in the same cab and thus begins their journey.

It's a road movie and you will find glimpses of many movies in this one. The fact that it keeps going and keeps you interested right till the end is a tribute to the writing and the screenplay. And the perfect chemistry between the 2 lead actors.

Lara Dutta has prefectly cast herself as the cleanliness freak and she is in good form too and looks like a million bucks too ;)

Vinay Pathak's character will give you a sense of Deja-Vu when he first appears - you will feel like he is playing his "Bheja Fry" character but you soon get into the groove with him and he shines in this role.

The other supporting cast is also very good.

Thankfully no songs keeps the movie crisp till the very end.

Verdict - 3.75/5 - Highly recommended.

Movie Review - Dum Maro Dum

2011-04-26T11:11:00.003+05:30

Another movie that came in with a lot of hype and promotions. Was it worth it ? Yes and No.

The movie is set in Goa and how drugs are taking over the place, a tough cop is called in to clean up the mess. How he goes about doing it - against all odds is what the movie is all about. The script is ok - a couple of twists are nice and save the movie from going the predictable way.

Performances - Ab jr plays the cop again - a corrupt turned honest cop. Though he looks like a cop, he can't carry off the role completely because of his physique and body language and add to the persona the cop starts rapping when the action just starts !

Bipasha Basu is wasted in a small role - she plays a moll to Aditya Panscholi's villian who does a good job but he has been doing this a lot in his career.

Pratiek has a voice thats squeaky and doesn't get him any brownie points but in the context of the movie it works nicely.

Rana Dugubatti makes his debut in Bollywood and it shows - he looks nervous in places and his dialogue delivery isn't the best.

The music is just about tolerable which is a bad thing since the premise had a lot of potential to give us some nice music but Pritam fails here. The Dum Maro Dum song actually looks much much better on screen than on TV but with the kind of lyrics it has - the original song has been murdered.

The actual star of the movie is the cinematographer - the movie is shot beautifully totally making Goa look the way it is - super stuff.

Verdict - 2.5/5. You could watch it one time.

Moral policing

2011-04-24T16:58:00.001+05:30

I was chilling with friends outside Gloria coffee in Powai and there was this frisky couple on the seat next to ours . They seemed to be in love or lust - I dont know but a middle aged punjabi woman got pissed off big time.

She started shouting at the girl - chumma chatti kar rahi hai, sharam nahi aati - the couple separated but the lady saved her best for last. Continuing with her rant she said - ghar jaake karo - and quite a few people collapsed in laughter.

But it makes me wonder why she reacted in that manner ? Any pointers people?

SHAADI.COM Tv commercial

2011-02-07T09:10:00.000+05:30

My sweetiepie in the ad. :)

LUND caught in compromising position

2011-01-17T09:07:00.000+05:30

That should have been the headline of this report !

With all due respect to the the guy and his name - you can't miss the irony in his name.

Mall guards booked for beating up 'indecent' duo - The Times of India

Movie Review - No One Killed Jessica

2011-01-13T16:20:00.007+05:30

A movie based on a true incident - killing of a model by a politico's son high on power and money muscle. The murderer almost gets away but public outcry against the verdict aided by intense media pressure and speculation gets justice for the model's family.

The movie has 2 powerful lady actors in Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan - comparisions are bound to be made.

Rani plays the fiesty reporter who gets behind the story and sting operations leading to the public out cry against the verdict. Its an author backed role which will get the ceetes and claps and it does. But as a performance I don't think this is her best. She gets to mouth gaalis galore which reminds me of her senseless and useless movies with Bobby Deol where she played the same characters.

Vidya Balan was expected to come out trumps given the character she was playing - the sister of the murdered model - who fights for justice. But her body language was too droopy and one dimensional to give any strength to the character.

Rest of the cast is ok - the mother of the muderer son is gratingly irritating. Characters of the main witness and the owner of the place where the murder take place --- if they actually did what was shown in the movie , they are wimps.

Music is too loud and noisy - ditto with the back ground score.

Editing could have been tighter which would have improved the thriller feel of the movie.

Verdict - 2.5/5. An over hyped movie that isn't really that good.

Saurav Ganguly and the IPL auction

2011-01-13T15:41:00.003+05:30

Saurav Ganguly aka Dada was ignored by the 10 franchises who were bidding in the IPL auctions last week. This has apparently caused a lot of heart burn in Kolkatta.

There could be several reasons for Dada going unsold at the auction.

1) He has not played any competitive cricket since the IPL last year.

2) He isn't exactly young and sprightly.

3) Even when he was young, he was not sprightly

4) A lousy fielder

5) A batsman who doesn't like running singles

6) A head strong captain who apparently doesn't see eye to eye with coaches who do not see his point of view

7) A cricketer who abhors training

8) Not a team man if not in-charge

9) Doubtful man management - those who say he managed Yuvraj, Bhajji and the likes in their early stages - also ought to look at the scenario where these guys were starting off in international cricket and would not want to piss the captain off. Let him try and manage Yuvi and Bhajji in today's times.

10) The management didn't want to spend money on a spent force.

But then how the hell did VVS get selected ????? What was thought of the bidders who bought him ?

Fast And Furious 5 (Official Trailer) HD

2010-12-19T14:54:00.000+05:30

All of them are back togather - AGAIN !

Looks like fun

RFID credit card theft

2010-12-19T14:47:00.000+05:30

Time to start writing again ?

2010-12-15T15:50:00.002+05:30

Almost a year now since I wrote something.......I feel it's time I get back to writing.

There have been lots of ups and downs in this last one year....it's been one hell of a roller coaster ride.

Let's see ..... I will try and start writing regularly again.

Movie Review - Blue

2010-01-31T10:17:00.000+05:30

Blue

The most expensive film in Bollywood to be made (apparently) is a complete downer. The movie is all about 2 friends and a younger bro of one friends who gets into trouble with the mafia. The only way the debt can be paid back is by finding a treasure that's lying in a drowned ship but the elder bro has some past with the treasure.....and then there is a twist.

Sanjay Dutt looks bored, Akshay has done this a thousand times, Katrina Kaif is wasted and Zayed Khan is his usual useless self. The screen comes sizzling to life with Lara Dutta but sadly she has only that one sensual song and a couple of totally idiotic dialogues :(

The story is a mish mash but the screenplay is pathetic. I have to say though the cinematography is absolutely wonderful and the under water scenes are superbly shot. The action scenes are well executed but the Torque rip off chase had me in splits. Also the twist in the tale is sooooo lame and the heroes find the treasure so calmly and easily - it's unbelievable .

Verdict - 1.5/5. Avoid at any cost.

Movie Review - All the Best

2010-01-31T10:16:00.000+05:30

All The Best

I went in expecting a repeat of Golmaal Returns. The movie is similar to Golmaal Returns.

This is about 2 good for nothing friends Ajay and Fardeen, lying to Fardeen's brother Sanjay Dutt to get some pocket money for themselves and their gf's. The surprise is when the brother lands up at the home and thrown in with a few comic characters like a goon played by Johnny Lever etc.

I founf a few jokes to be tired but overall the comic timing fo all 3 lead actors was superb - Ajay Devgan rocks and Sanjay Dutt is competent while Fardeen has improved in the comic scenes. Bipasha Basu is wasted while Mugdha Godse is AWFUL !

The songs suck and the only 2 action scenes are tiresome.

Verdict - 3.5 / 5. It's a loony, no brains required, OTT, silly humour - I loved it. I would say you guys catch it too.

Movie Review - Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani

2010-01-31T10:13:00.000+05:30

Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani

Watched this movie yesterday and came back with a mild headache.

The production values of this movie are tacky to say the least - in 2009, 80% of the movie is shot on sets !! The songs are shot on outdoor locations.

The story is pretty lame and familiar - a guy falls in love with a orphan girl with her step-mom who is right out of the 80's. The girl loves some one else and how they realise their feelings for each other is the movie.

Ranbir is the heart and soul of the movie - puts in an earnest performance though he goes into his Sawaariya mode where he gets irritating. Overall he pulls off the performance of the movie. Kat is an Christian girl which suits her accent just fine and she looks stunning. Rest of the cast - including Ranbir's friends and support cast are third rate.

There are a few scenes where you will laugh your guts out (the dance sequence where Ranbir is SUPERB) is one of the highlights. The humour is forced and the director has tried to make a Andaz Apna Apna kind of movie (there are references all over in this movie). If you liked AAA, you would either love it this or hate this. I hated this one.

Verdict - 1.5/5

Movie Review - 3 Idiots

2010-01-31T10:12:00.000+05:30

3 Idiots

This one is a very nice entertaining laugh riot (for most of the part). It bears the Rajkumar Hirani stamp of direction and that is a good thing.

Aamir and Madhavan play college guys - Aamir pulls it off mostly but Madhavan seems an ill fit in the college role. Sharman is good as usual. Kareena is her Jab We Met self - bubbly.

Yes you will get a feel of different films when you watch this one - Munnabhai, DCH, RDB and then some more.

I had my reservations about how the movie would turn out since it was based / inspired by 5 point someone, which is not a very good book in the first place (too filmy). But Hirani has apparently been inspired to take a few scenes from the book and not the entire book itself, which is a very good thing.

The acting is very good but you get a sense of deja vu. Aamir has done this role many times before as has Sharman Joshi. Madhavan also has done at least one role like this before. Kareena repeats her JWM avtaar. The real hero for me was MR CHATUR - awesome performance from him and the icing on the cake was Boman Irani (though I could relate to his doctor role in Munnabhai a lot).

Music is average, a couple of songs work well on the screen. The college scenes look real.

A lot of cinematic liberty has been taken in the movie and Manmohan Desai type miracles happen too . The climax just fizzles out the whole good feeling of watching a good movie - it's too cheesy and filmy for my liking.

Verdict - 3.5/5. A worthy one time watch with lots of cinematic liberty taken but in the end AAAL IS WELL.

Movie Review - Rann

2010-01-31T10:10:00.002+05:30

Rann

If you have watched Sarkar-2 , you pretty much have watched Rann - except the setting that has been shifted to the Tv news reporting field. It's Deja Vu time. The direction is standard RGV as is the camera work (jerky, tight close ups) and the back ground score is SUPER SHRIEKY LOUD.

The movie is only redeemed by some powerful performances lead by AB and Ritiesh Deshmukh .

Verdict - 2/5. If you cannot watch it, you haven't missed much.

Dirty Skoda India's Dirtier Games

2009-04-11T13:40:00.002+05:30

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/55796-team-bhp-stands-truth-but-skoda-wants-instigate-team-bhp-its-users-86.html#post1255561

Click on the link above and you will see how Skoda Auto India is trying to terrorize a person who had the guts to stand up to their dirty practises which were hand in glove with their dealer Nummer Eins.

It is simply astounding the lengths MNC's will go to supress the truth.

SHAME ON YOU SKODA INDIA - CHEATERS

Movie Review - Ghajini

2008-12-27T10:19:00.003+05:30

A remake of the Tamil movie of the same name which was a rip off of Memento. Same director and same heroine and the same bad guy who were in the Tamil Ghajini.

For me this movie didn't make the cut.

About 40 minutes too long (running time 3 hours 10 minutes) and all bad songs, except gujarish. The songs have a distinct south Indian feel and none of the songs actually deserve to be there in the movie. All they do (apart from increasing the running time) is slow the pace down. A R Rehman's one of the worst albums in recent times, I feel.

The direction is pretty loose for most of the movie and the story (credited to the director) has loop holes as big as footballs. A couple of scenes are well directed but overall the direction is flat. The cinematography shines - be it the songs or the dark action sequences.

The action is raw but very Rajnikantish and that kind of action went out of fashion in the nineties.

Asin makes a pretty ok debut and she is quite funny in the comic scenes, Jiah Khan should pack up now and leave - and the bad guy on whom the movie is named is pretty insipid. Aamir Khan has built a nice body for the role but his acting is pretty average. He hasn't really done anything new in the movie and the tattoos on the body actually come across as gimmicks to get Aamir go shirtless.

Verdict - 2/5. You won't miss much if you do not watch it.

Movie Review - Dasvidaniya

2008-12-16T00:59:00.014+05:30

Oh My God !! I am kicking myself for not watching this movie, till now !

Just finished watching the movie - and I had a smile on my lips and tears in my eyes. Such a fantastic movie - simply superb.

Vinay rocks !! I cried with him when he is just about to commit suicide and stood up and laughed with him when he turns the tables on his boss !

It's all about how we take life for granted and do not stop and enjoy it - and when the realisation comes, it's too late. Not everyone gets a chance like Amar Kaul.

Verdict - 4.5/5 You cannot afford to miss this movie.

Movie Review - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

2008-12-12T20:21:00.003+05:30

A simple guy working in a 9-5 job gets married to a teen vivacious girl under extreme circumstances. Guy loves girl, girl is heartbroken. Guy loves selflessly and transforms himself into a hep new guy and impresses the girl. So whom does the girl choose ?

SRK as the new Raj is way OTT (the role required him to be OTT but he is way over) and as the simpleton he underplays just a wee bit too much. I would not rate this as his anywhere near his good performances. Anushka makes a nice debut - she doesn't have much to do except look pretty and cry. Vinay as SRK's friend simply rocks as Bobby Khosla.

Music is average and the screenplay is full of holes and every emotion is way OTT.

Verdict - 2/5. Watch only if you are a YRF / SRK fan.

ps - the trailers of Ghajini and New York were screened and they were way better than this 2.5 hour movie. New York looks like a very good movie.

Movie Review - Quantam of Solace

2008-12-11T17:17:00.002+05:30

It's an action packed movie but still unlike a Bond movie. There is a mandatory car chase sequence, a parkour sequence, a motor boat chase, an aircraft chase, hand fights but the movie could not hold any attention. It could have been another action movie with any other star in it. Even Olga is just about ok.

Compared to this, the Bourne series is awesome.

Verdict - 2/5

ps - the low audio was a problem where I watched it too.

Movie Review - Dostana

2008-12-11T17:12:00.004+05:30

2 friends pretend to be gays to get a house to stay - where stays a hot chick too. both fall in love with her - and her boss arrives to join the party.

Funny in parts - AB is good , John is wooden (acting), Priyanka is hot , Bobby is Bobby. Kiron Kher is her usual OTT self though funny in one scene.

But the usual problem with Bollywood movies comes up again - the movie is a wee bit too long and tends to drag in the 2nd half. 30 minutes could have been easily chopped off.

Locations are yummy and the pink Caddy is droooooooolllllll.

Verdict - 2.5 / 5. Watch it - brainless fun but if gay jokes offend you, be warned.

ps - John has shown almost everything. The movie starts with his Daniel Craig shot (walking out of the sea in yellow shorts and pulling them down)

Movie Review - Dil Kabaddi

2008-12-11T17:06:00.003+05:30

2 couples and how infidelity affects them personally. Irfan & Soha are one couple while Rahul Bose and Konkana play the other couple. Rahul Khanna and a new girl are in the mix too.

All 4 leads have done a very good job - with Konkana and Irfan being the stand out performers. Soha surprised me with a very strong performance and Rahul Bose has done these kind of roles quite a few times earlier too, he is competent.

They say the movie is a rip off - Husbands & Wives being the inspiration. I haven't watched the original but I enjoyed this one.

Again the one flaw that stands out, is the length in the 2nd half and the pace (it is slow but slows down further later on). All in all a good watch once for married couples.

Verdict - 3/5

ps - with a title like Dil Kabaddi - I expected a raunchy / vulgar movie stressing on sex but though the movie has a lot on sex in it's mind, it's not raunchy at all.

Airline Reviews

2008-12-10T12:37:00.002+05:30

I had a chance to travel to Bengaluru and back on 3 different airlines. here is my experience.

Indigo

Mumbai - Bengaluru @ 2120 hours. I reached the airport around 2045 and was promptly checked in. Had already booked tickets with the seats selected on the website. The female at the counter re-confirmed if I had booked the seats and I said yes.

Flight took off on dot - 2120 we were air borne. Great looking crew and impeccable service coupled with a super clean aircraft made it a great experience. Landed at Bengaluru bang on time - 2250.

The not so good experience was - they gave me row 20 when I had blocked seats on row 6. I did not bother to check as the female asked me whether I had blocked seats so I assummed I would get those seats. And also they do not have cotton that we stuff in the ear - isn't that taking cost cutting a bit too far ?

Verdict - Highly Recommended

Air India (earlier Indian Airlines)

Bengaluru - Mumbai @ 0835. Get a call at 0600 - Sir flight is delayed by 45 minutes. I leave for the airport @ 0715, reach airport around 0825 - pick up the boarding pass and get the security check done with. It's 0850.

Around 0900, I walk up to the staff at the gate and ask them whether the flight is delayed because I have not heard any annoucements for the Mumbai flight. They assure me the ETD is 0930 and they will board at 0915.

Its 1000 and we have not started boarding. The people are getting edgy and restless. 1015 - still nothing, people start raising their voices and we get a feeble response that the aircraft is being cleaned. I look out towards the bay and see the engineers working furiously on the engine. The situation gets more tense with all the people loosing it totally. Abuses fly thick and fast with warnings of getting physical. The airport manager is called in and asked to arrange for putting people in a different airline. They check with Jet and they have 80-100 seats. We are herded back to the check in counter of Jet Airways - get a new boarding pass, pass through security and straight into the aircraft. ETD - 1125 and the flight takes off at 1145 - the delay happens because the checked in luggage has to be transferred from Air India to Jet.

Verdict - Avoid at any cost

Jet Airways

Good service, clean aircrafts and nice looking crew - really good food too.

Verdict - Great

Given a choice between Indigo and Jet - I would go with Indigo because it has cheaper fare

On the flip side - Jet has better connections to different cities.

Movie Review - Transporter 3

2008-12-10T12:25:00.002+05:30

Been there, done that. Jason sleepwalks through the movie as does the director. More fight sequences than the car chases and the chases not that interesting too.

Verdict - 2/5

Movie Review - Oye Lucky Lucky Oye

2008-12-10T12:23:00.002+05:30

It's an ok movie. Tells the story of Lucky a small time lower middle class sardarji from Delhi who grows up into a thief with a heart of gold. The movie is zingy in the first 30 minutes and then slows down a great deal.

Frankly after a while you are not bothered why these things are happening - the attention to characters and locations is top class and you can connect to the characters immediately - more so if you are from the north.

Abhay Deol is cool - playing Lucky with a calm charisma - rest of the cast is seasoned and perform as per expectations. For me the scene stealer was the young sardar who played Lucky in his younger days - superb performance.

Watch it if you have nothing to do.

Verdict 2.5/5 - Good but not anywhere near great.

???

2008-12-07T17:23:00.003+05:30

I am visiting my own space here after 3 months.

I know I was busy with work and stuff and I also know that is no reason not to do something that you wanted to - but that is the truth ! I had no time .......or maybe I did not make time .......

And here I am now....ready to write again but not knowing what to write........a million confused thoughts in my head as if I am going write something for the 1st time...................and it has to be the best. But then again if what you do 1st is your best effort then you can only go downhill from there..............

Damn it .........will write when I am more clear in my bloody head .........it's pretty messed up now..

ciaao

Movie Review - 1920

2008-09-13T15:00:00.001+05:30

Another horror flick from Vikram Bhatt after the super successful Raaz. The story is the same old formula of a spirit possessing a body of the female who comes to live in the house. There is a story to the spirit doing that and there are cliches galore in the movie.

The heroine Adah Sharma has to look pretty in the 1st half but when she turns into a woman possessed by a spirit, she is in super duper form. The hero is a model and it shows. The music is so-so.

I must say this - I found this movie a wee bit scarier than Phoonk.

Verdict - 2.5/5 - Time pass movie - nothing great. Catch it if you have nothing to do.

Movie Review - Righteous Kill

2008-09-13T14:59:00.001+05:30

With Pacino and De Niro, I expected the movie to be a zinger and it was a ho-hum bore. A few witty dialogues here and there and some solid acting by both super stars (expected) - still cannot hold your attention. The plot is quite like a Bollywood pot boiler with a twist in the end that you can see coming from miles.

Verdict - 2/5 - If you miss it no sweat, catch it on HBO / Star.

Movie Review - Hijack

2008-09-13T14:57:00.001+05:30

A very poor confused attempt at copying various Hollywood movies dealing with the same theme and not exciting at all.

Verdict - 0.5/5. Bandal, Bakwaas - Don't even look at the poster.

Movie Review - A Wednesday

2008-09-13T14:56:00.001+05:30

The police commissioner of Mumbai gets a call on his mobile from a unknown number telling him of bombs that have been planted all over the city and will go off at a stipulated time unless the commissioner does what the caller says. And thus starts a movie that is entirely gripping and thrilling. The police have to find out who this caller is before it's too late. Do they ?

2 of India's finest actors - (Anupam Kher plays the police commissioner and Naseeruddin Shah the caller) - are in simply SUPERB form. And it's an absolute treat to watch both of them. Even the support cast is in fine form - Jimmy Shergill and Aamir bashir as the upright cops are very good. The only sore point is Deepal Shaw as the TV reporter.

The movie delivers a message and does it very nicely as well.

Verdict - 4/5. Do not miss this.

ps - This is the 3rd movie by UTV that has impressed me. Aamir, Mumbai Meri Jaan and now this. Way to go UTV.

Movie Review - Rock On

2008-08-29T23:11:00.000+05:30

I saw Rock On today - afternoon show and the movie rocked.

Immediately you will remember the characters from DCH. Farhan is Aamir, Arjun is Akshay, Purab is Saif and Luke Kenny plays Dimple :D

Its all about 4 rockers who win a competition and get a contract. A small misunderstanding and all goes wrong. Its a movie about friendship and relationships and how small things can cause rifts.

After 10 years, they get back to gather but can they turn on the magik again?

Casting is perfect and all the 4 guys look the part. Acting wise Farhan Akhtar makes a very good debut. I did not expect him to do as well as he did. Purab is the funny man and he is first class. Luke Kenny is fine and Arjun Rampal carries a forlon expression through out the movie but watch him make an entry in the climax (rocking). Prachi Desai makes her debut and has nothing much to do but look cute and happy. Arjun's wife is super as the girl friend turned wife who keeps nagging Arjun.

A movie like this should have music that complements the mood and Rock On scores high on this point. The songs might not connect when you hear but watch them in the movie is a different experience. Simply Superb.

The cinematography is absolutely superb and direction is well in control too. The movie is slow and has its own pace and in the 2nd half there are 10 minutes that can easily be chopped off. But a movie like this needs the pace to develop.

A DCH this is not but it's right up there close.

Verdict - 3.75/5. Watch it - it will take you back straight to your college days.

Movie Review - Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam

2008-08-25T21:05:00.004+05:30

We 3 friends decided to go and watch this one and all 3 of us had heard bad reviews of this one. We all were skeptical,yet we decided to try it out.

So we walk into the theatre and settle down. The movie unfolds and we start laughing and we keep laughing through the movie. It's a silly movie that is trying to be silly, not cool. And thats what was fun.

Add to that the HOT Mallika Sherawat. In 2 songs the screen almost went up in smoke - she is lavicious. Paresh Rawal and an assortment of actors that look, act silly and the even sillier gags kept the movie going. The only sore point - Rahul Bose and his stiff acting.

It's all about a theater group and a RAW agent who gets involved with the wife of the lead actor of the theater group. And he has to save the country from the baddies too, for which, he asks help from this flop theater group.

Inane jokes, silly humour - the movie has everything that will not work BUT it worked for us. We have never laughed so much in a movie. The actors were all so brilliant, even in the most idiotic of scenes - it was a treat.

Verdict - 4/5. That is an unanimous verdict by the 3 of us. It is a very silly movie - period. Do not expect the earth and the moon, keep your thinking cap at home and you will laugh away.

Jab..............................

Movie Review - Mumbai Meri Jaan

2008-08-23T13:00:00.000+05:30

5 people - (a hawaldar on the verge of retirement, a tv reporter, a night time coffee vendor, a executive who is worried about the environment and a guy who has anti-muslim feelings) - and how they are affected in different ways after the train blasts in Mumbai on 11th July.

The movie is very real and confidently directed by a 1st time Hindi movie director (This guy had directed the Marathi movie - Dombivili Fast - earlier). Though it deals with a sensitive subject, it manages not to get into a preachy / documentary mode. The casting is spot on and the performances are brilliant. Irfan Khan and Kay Kay stand out with Paresh Rawal, after a long time, is back with a stand out performance. Vijay Maurya plays a rookie cop (angry one) because he has had to cancel his honeymoon due to the blasts is first class too.The ending with Kay Kay's story, I found a bit cheesy. Paresh Rawal when he gives his farrewell speech is SUPERB.

Verdict - 3.75/5. Do not miss this.

Movie Review - Phoonk

2008-08-23T12:55:00.001+05:30

It's deja-vu time.If you have watched Bhoot and Vastu-Shastra from RGV, this one feels and looks the same. It's even directed in the same way and shot in the same way. Heck, even the back ground score is soo familiar.

It's all about a builder who finds out that his husband-wife partner duo have been cheating him and promptly shows them the door. The wife then casts a spell on the daughter of the builder. It comes down in the end to a battle between the modern scientific way and the old school baba way to fight the situation. Who succeeds ? Watch the movie.

Verdict - 1.5/5 - You could easily miss this.

Kodak Moments

2008-08-21T10:53:00.002+05:30

Reached home yesterday and put the TV on. Switched to NDTV and saw that Bolt had won the 200 meters dash in the Olympics with a WR. Since NDTV was not showing footage then, I switched to UTV news.

A sikh gentleman was sitting and talking about Bolt and I quote -

"Awesome performance from Bolt - he has won 2 Golds for Jamaica and most probably will win the 3rd when he runs with the 4x100 meter relay with the Jamaica team. In the next Olympics in 2012, Bolt should try for 5 Golds"

That was a Kodak Moment No. 1. We can sit and advice a winner of 2 Gold medals how to go about his job but cannot improve our own atheletes ??

I switched to Star News and the anchor was going on and on - "Bolt ne jeeta gold" Suddenly I heard a voice from the clippings talking about dis-qualifying an American runner for crossing the track and the anchor thought he had heard a scoop and he started going ballistic -

"Yahan disqualify karne ke baat ho rahi hai - kya Bolt ne galti ki aur unhe disqualify kar diya jayega ? Bolt ho sakte hain disqualify" And he went on with the same line for the next 5 minutes. I changed the channel to DD Sports to check what actually happened and came to know that another runner was disqualified. Switched back to Star News and the anchor was going -

"Bolt ne baazi maari "

Kodak Moment No. 2

Movie Review - Bachna Aee Haseeno

2008-08-16T11:35:00.002+05:30

A story of a guy who falls in love with 3 different females at different times in his life. While he dumps the first 2 , the 3rd girl dumps him. And then he feels the pain caused and decides to seek forgiveness of those 2 girls he dumped.

An absolutely breezy 1st half with a super slow 2nd half. All the actors have performed well. Ranbir has to carry the movie on himself and he does it quite well.
Bipasha and Deepika look good while Minisha is cute (I loved her track more than the other 2).

A couple of songs - Ahista Ahista and Khuda Jaane are very good. The rest are bad.

The movie could have been 30 mins shorter and I would have given it a 3.5. It's got fantastic locales and camerawork is good. Direction looses the grip a bit in the 2nd half.

Verdict - 2.5/5. You will love the 1st half and want the 2nd to be over asap.

Movie Review - SIngh is Kinng

2008-08-09T00:33:00.000+05:30

Singh is Kinng

Hmm - where do I start ? A movie with the story as thin as the "I" in Kinng with emotional comedy dramatic scenes and songs shot on exotic locales. Confused ?

Even the director was I feel !

Story is all about this OTT do gooder who goes to Ozzie land to get back a sardar turned underworld king who hails from his village. As is the norm he has to meet a girl whom he falls in love with and also by a twist of fate lands up in the chair of the underworld king..

Have you seen Namaste London ? If yes - don't bother watching this. It's 70 % of NL.

Akshay is good in the movie and Katrina is RAVISHING. The support cast is good.

Music - the title track wowed me - I hated the song when it played on TV but when I saw it in the hall - WOW ! Other than this all songs were ok - Snoop Dogg video was not upto the mark, music was fun.

The best scene in the movie - when all the guys use the wheel chair don to get their drinks and munching - I was rolling watching that - Hilarious.

Verdict - 2/5. If you guys miss this, don't worry you haven't missed much.

ps - the movie left me wondering why Sardars ? If it was a Christian, Hindu or a Muslim - the movie would still be the same.

Maybe the audience the producer is aiming at is the NRI punjabi crowd. And with Akshay in the movie playing a sardar, overseas success of this movie is going to be HUGE.

Movie Review - Ugly aur Pagli

2008-08-02T10:20:00.003+05:30

It's all about a meek guy who allows himself to be dominated by a tough girl whose life he saves only because he falls in love with her. What he does not know is the real reason behind her behaviour.

Ranvir and Mallika do a competent job but the movie simply slows down to a crawl in the 2nd half. It is funny in places and Ranvir manages to actually raise a few laughs in the most inane of scenes.

Music is so-so but there is this one song where everyone in the theatre was :DROOOOL:

Verdict - 2/5. Watch it if you have nothing else to do.

ps - I loved Sushmita Mukherji as Mallika's mom. For me, her performance was the highlight of the movie and she has a total of 3 scenes only.

The Missing Chappal

2008-07-29T12:51:00.005+05:30

C - "Light up, why are you taking so much time?"
S - "Arre, ruk"
G - "Fast guys"
S - "Tu ruk"

Chack, Chack, Phuuuusssss - the match lit up.

The hand holding the match rose up to meet the cigarette lodged in the mouth. Pretty innocuous action - not really, when the cigarette is filled up with grass and the person lighting it is already a couple of beers down.

Anyways, puffs are taken and the cigarette disappears faster than the Sensex falls these days.

C - "Let's go for a drive !"
G - "At this time ? Where ? Why don't you guys go home and chill ? It's 2330 hours already"
C - "No, we want to go for a drive !"
Arguing with 2 guys high on beer and grass is ......well.....pretty useless.
G - "Chalo - let's go, but where ?"
C - "Palm Beach road, it's new and there will be less traffic at this hour"
G - "Ok"

Everyone jumps into the Silver Santro. G was and is the designated driver. S jumps into the front passenger seat and C gets into the back seat.

C - "Metallica chalu kar"
S - "Nahin, let's listen to some slow music now"
G - "Let's put on Bollywood"
C - "Chutiye, grass marke Bollywood sunega? Nikal yahan se"

All 3 start laughing and as usual C gets his way.

ENTER NIGHT, EXIT LIGHT !!

Soon they are cruising on Palm beach road. As a small bridge approaches,
C - "Bridge pe rok de"
G - "Why?"
C - "Cigarette marni hai"

The Santro halts on the bridge. All 3 get down and as is customary peek down to see what's under the bridge. At 2345 hours all they see is darkness but their noses are assaulted with different kinds of smell.

S lights up and all 3 drag away.

S - "Let's do a hi-speed run to the NRI complex"
G - (grinning) - "Chalo"
C - "S, I am sitting in the front"
S - "No ways"
C - "You sat till here na, now let me sit in front"
S - "No"

Both run to front door and C gets there first but is unable to get in. He is held back by S, a professional boxer in his college days. S muscles his way into the front seat leaving a sullen C to sit in the back.

G - "Both of you fasten your seatbelts, else we are not moving"
C & S do as instructed.

Vroom, vroom - the revs rise and as the rev counter hits 3000 RPM, G lets go the clutch.

Screeeeeeecccccccchhhhhhhhhhhh - the Santro takes off leaving a cloud of dust in it's wake. It is close to midnight and traffic is sparse.

Soon they approach 100 kmph.

S - "G kya kar raha hai?"
G - "Kya hua?"
S - "Itna fast?"
G - "130 kmph now"
S - "Fuck, I feel like I am on a plane taxing on the runaway before take off"

G & C dissolve into laughter.

G - "It's 140 kmph"
S puts his head between his knees and closes his eyes.

Before they know - they are at the NRI Complex.

C hops in to the front seat and S is only too glad to get in to the back seat. Off they go again and within 3 minutes they enter Vashi.

C - "Grass ka side effect hai re. I am hungry, lets get something to eat"
G - "Ok, there is this bhurji wala and chai wala near the Fire Brigade station"
S - "Chalo"

They pull up to the bhurji wala. The time is 0010 hours.

C & G hop out and order for bhurjis and tea. Suddenly they realise S is not getting out. They yank open the door and S is lying down on the seat.

G - "Kya hua?"
S - "Fuck man it felt like a aeroplane."

C and G laugh and pull S out of the car.

S - "let me wear my chappals"

After 30 seconds, S gets out - "I can't find my chappals"
"Arre, it must have been shifted during the fast run, check again"
S - "Nahin hai"
C - "WTF - andha hogaya hai kya?"

All 3 search but the chappal is missing. It's not in the car.

S - "I can't go home bare feet. I need to find the chappal !!"
"Did you have the chappal on in the car?"
"Yes"
"Let's eat and then we will think what to do"

They wolf down tasty bhurji complemented with special cutting chai topped off with a Classic Milds.

"Chalo - let's find the missing chappals"

We decide to trace our steps backwards. The last stop before we halted at the bhurji wala was the bridge on Palm Beach road. We drive down to that bridge.

S is tense and missing his chappals.

As soon as the car halts on the bridge, he jumps out.

Before anyone else could get down from the car, S triumphantly yells - "I GOT THE CHAPPALS"

We get down and give him taaplis on his head - "Why the hell do you have to remove your chappals on the road ?"

Sadly, S has not been able to answer that question till today, 7 years after the incident.

But this is a memorable moment in the lives of C, S & G. And I just wanted to share it.

Movie Review - Money Hai toh Honey Hai

2008-07-28T15:29:00.000+05:30

Verdict - I just couldn't get myself to go and watch this movie (although I am a Govinda fan)

A Scary Moment

2008-07-27T20:53:00.003+05:30

Driving back from work today evening, I am at the Panjra Pool signal in Chembur going towards Sion. The signal turns green and I take off since the traffic is light. Just about 200 meters ahead is a police road block. There is a ST bus to my right and I know he is going to swerve wildly to his left to go through the barrier - so I honk and flash my lights to make him aware of my presence to his left.

Then it happens - a traffic cop signals me to pull over. I do so and park the car and down the window glass on the passenger side. 2 cops come, look inside thoroughly. One asks for my license. As I proceed to open my wallet and search my license in the wallet, one asks me - "Where do you work?"

And I say "Navi Mumbai".

The expression on both the cop's faces change and I realise what I have just said.

I add - "Thane Belapur Road" but the look on the cops faces makes my hair stand.

"Aap ke paas card hai ?" - one asks

"Haan hai." - I reply and quickly fish out my visiting card.

Both have a thorough look and hand the card back to me.

"Aap Jaao"

"Thank You" - I mutter and move away.

Movie Review - Mission Istanbul

2008-07-26T11:48:00.001+05:30

Mission Instanbul

A top Indian journalist takes up a lucrative posting in an Instanbul TV channel, famous for showing terrorist activites. All the previous journalist have died under mysterious circumstances when they tried to leave the channel.

Suddenly an ex-Turkish Army commando warns the Indian journalist that he may be the next target. And from then on it's action.

Scenes have been copied from numerous Hollywood movies - one roof top chase is straight out of the The Bourne Ultimatum.

The Scorpio has been used extensively in the movie (LHD) as has Mountain Dew - making an unwanted appearance at the wrong time.

Zayed Khan plays the Indian journalist and is hamming and overacting through out . How he has still survived this industry is a mystery.

Vivek Oberoi plays the ex-commando. His is a crowd pleasing role and he goes at it with so much gusto that he looks like a model walking the ramp instead of an commando. Everything is so easy for him.

The 2 girls - blink and you will miss them.

2 villians - Nikitin from Jodha Akbar and Shabbir from the Balaji camp - overact .

Music is so-so with the "World hold On" being mutilated beyond repair.

Verdict - 1.5/5. Miss it.

ps - the 1 star is for showing George Bush in an hilarious avtaar.

Hi, Domino's Pizza - We SUCK !

2008-07-24T21:12:00.000+05:30

Felt like having a pizza. Called up Domino's, Chembur branch, on 25298383.

Tring Tring.

Hi, Domino's Pizza.
Hi. What's the smallest size of Pizza you guys have ?
7 inch.
Ok, what options do I have in non vegetarian. Mutton is preferred.
Spicy or non spicy ?
Spicy.
Mexican chicken and red chicken something.
Nothing in mutton?
Kheema mutton.
I want a 7 inch kheema mutton.
Ok sir, your phone number.

The drama of taking down my phone number and address started. Finished.

Sir, today no time limit. your delivery might be late.
Why ????
Too much of rush.
People order Domino's only because they deliver in 30 minutes.
Yes Sir.
Then ?
Today rush Sir.
Is there a clause that Domino's will not deliver in 30 minutes if there is rush?
No Sir.
Then?
Today rush Sir.
Cancel my order if you cannot deliver in 30 minutes. I am paying you for that right ?
Ok Sir. Order cancelled.

Click.

Fear Factor !

2008-07-23T16:31:00.002+05:30

Yes, I am talking about this new show on a new TV channel - Colors.

It is a show based on an international format where the selected participants are made to do stunts with various difficulties thrown in.

This time the show is hosted by Akshay Kumar. He is known for his dare devil stunts that he performs (or rather used to) in his movies. The channel got the casting of the host spot on.

The participants selected were all ladies / girls / females. All of them somewhere famous in their own right ranging from Ex-Supermodels to current Supermodels to TV actors to failed Bollywood actors to item girls. Good faces to look at. Each of them have an ex-army guy as a partner for the show.

The 1st episode kicked off with a stunt where the girls had to jump off a moving helicopter into a lake and land in between the specified colored area. And I was actually quite shocked to see these girls do that pretty well. And then they moved onto the next stunt.

This stunt comprised of plucking out the maximum number of fruits from a glass tank filled with water with your mouth. Sounds easy, right ? Not when the tank was filled up with creepy, slimy snakes of different shapes, sizes,colors, thickness - YUCK YUCK YUCK.

I would have never done something like that for any thing in the world. But all these girls tried and a lot of them did pretty well too.

I was shocked, well and truly shocked ! Never expected these pretty girls to even try something like this. I was impressed.

The 2nd episode that aired yesterday consisted of a stunt where a few African spiders were released over the faces of the girls and their hands were tied. They had to pull out the correct key from many keys hanging in front of them, with their mouth and unlock themeselves.

The 2nd stunt of the 2nd episode was climbing right to the top, near the roof of a building and then walking across the walls on a thin ledge with vaccum holders in their hands. Awesome and really thrilling.

Again, never expected these girls to do it so well. Kudos to them.

Akshay Kumar does well as the host egging the participants on and cracking jokes. The roles of the ex-army partners is still not clear to me though.

I am hooked and am waiting for the 3rd episode tonight @ 10 on Colors.

I suggest you guys give it a view over once. It is fun.

The Drama of Politics

2008-07-23T15:24:00.001+05:30

Me and a friend walked in to a bar to grab a few beers yesterday

What were we to know that 4 people in starched white shirts / trousers with matching shoes would turn our trip into a fun filled one.

For a change the TV at the bar was tuned into DD-Lok Sabha (can you fucking believe that ?) A TV set in a bar screening Lok Sabha !!

And these 4 guys were the ones in charge of what played on TV and what played at Delhi.

They were restless when the Trust vote was taking place.

"Why is it taking so long ?"
"What is happening"
"You think the Govt will survive?

Yes, normal questions the nation was asking for the last week suddenly had a very tense and tight feel ! Never before had such a innocent question created so much tension that could be cut with a knife before the answer was given and was no proper or correct answer to that question !

The TV was broadcasting images from the parliament and it was actually quite nice to see the MP's at their best behaviour. Yes - they were simply shouting and screaming - all 500 odd present in the hall and at the same time. Was much better than watch them try and hit each other with chairs - thats why the best behaviour comment.

And I could feel the tension in the 4 guys in sitting in Mumbai when the time came closer. One refused to go and take a leak, lest he misses the verdict. Another refused to sip his whisky till the screen flashed the result.

This was turning out to be a great trip for us.

Finally the result was flashed and the Govt survived.

All the 4 cheered heartily and toasted to he Govt's success. The clinking of whisky glasses was heard followed by a couple of guys rushing to releive their bladders.

The result was being re-confirmed and when it was finally concluded that the Govt had indeed won - these 4 guys had a smirk that was larger than the one on Amar Singh's face.

Finally the DD-Lok Sabha channel rolled the credits and the show was over. These 4 guys felt as proud as the PM / Sonia Gandhi in Delhi for fashioning the Govt's victory.

"Finally it's over" I told my friend, "Let me ask the waiter to change the channel to ESPN."

As I lifted my hand to grab the waiters attention, one of the 4 guys yelled to the waiter "Chalo Khatam, Abhi NDTV laga."

Politics - I tell you !

Shop or Shade ?

2008-07-21T20:59:00.003+05:30

At Diamond Garden, in Chembur, there is this mall coming up. It's being developed by the Raheja's. Right next to it is a temple. And in front of the mall is a bus stop that is covered by large trees. The mall is not yet complete but............

The trees in front have been brutally cut so that the mall gets more visibility.

I guess people who need to shop inside are more important than the ones waiting for a bus in the cool shade of the trees on a hot day.

Anyone know where I can forward this complaint ?

JAM-K - The Rapping Gangsta from Bollywood

2008-07-20T16:29:00.004+05:30

JAM-K

This character from the movie - Bombay to Bangkok (directed by Nagesh Kukunoor) - had me in splits. Yesterday, I was watching the movie for the 2nd time and JAM-K (played by Vijay Maurya) is simply downright hilarious as the Gansta who loves to rap. Just watch his scenes in the you tube link below and you will understand what I am saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2xBbr6nWwE

Enjoy !

Sunday

2008-07-20T14:10:00.004+05:30

The last thing I remember when I went to sleep yesterday night was that Tomorrow is Sunday - Yippee.

I wake up at 6 am and furiously brush my teeth. A cold glass of milk is downed fast. I get into my shorts and T-shirt and tie up the shoe lace. Walk to the door and on the way, pick up my tennis racquet. The tennis courts are about 4 minutes away from where I live. I start jogging in a bid to warm up. I see a couple of people already on the courts and join them. We will play doubles today. The teams are selected and I am to serve. I get into position at the service line and toss the ball up. I see the Wimbledon scoreboard from the corner of my eye and the crowd sitting quitely. THWACK !

Fifteen - Love , Becker. The crowd erupts. I pump my fist.

Yaay - it was an ace.

The next 2 hours fly by with the only words being - thirty / forty , duece, advantage punctuated by noises like thwack.

It's 8-30 am and I am sweating like a pig. I say my goodbyes and walk home. Mom pushes me straight into the bathroom and I have a lovely cold shower. There is a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

I walk out of the bathroom and get into fresh clothes. Hot breakfast is served and I quickly gobble it up. Time to stretch out in front of the TV. Heck it's "MAHABHARAT" time.

The serials get over at noon and I still have a couple of hours to kill before lunch. Out I walk into the verendah and pick up the cricket bat lying there alongwith the ball. Our house had a big compound and we (my bro and me) used to play underarm cricket. We start off and get totally immersed in the game.

156-2 - David Boon on 67 and Allan Border on 23. Ravi Shastri bowling to Boon. Shastri tosses one up and Boon goes forward - "Gautam" - Boon plays down the wrong line and is clean bowled.

MOM - why did you have to shout when I was playing a shot ???????

We call for lunch break and Simon O Donell will join Border to continue the Aussie innings after the lunch break. (Did I tell you - our lunch breaks could extend from 30 minutes to 24 hours.)

After a heavy lunch, I (as Shastri) was in no mood to go and bowl to Border and O'Donell so I decide to catch 40 winks. Mom is happy that we ain't playing in the hot sun.

It's 3-00 pm and the fan is whirring full speed. I pull the bedsheet over me, the decide to cover the whole of myself with the bedsheet. I wait for things to settle down for 10 minutes and when I am sure there is no movement and all are asleep - I very quietly put my hand down and under my bed and pull out the latest edition of the "Ghost Who Walks" series. Cover my head and gobble up the whole comic strip.

It's already 4-15 pm. I get up, wash my face and dad prepares tea in the meantime. I get into another pair of shorts and T-shirt, put on my keds and in 15 minutes am at the ground. I see all my friends have already started kicking ball. I join then and for the next 1 hour - I am transformed into paul Gascoigne - I deliver pin point passes, control the pace and feed our strikers - England wins the game 3-0 of which 2 goals were scored on my passes.

It's 5-30 pm and I see a few of my cricket fanatic friends selecting their teams for a 12 over one day match. I rush towards them and am selected in one team. My job today is to keep wickets. After 45 minutes, it's our turn to bat and we have to chase 67 in 12 overs.

It's 6-20 pm, when I am asked to open the innings with another friend. I take guard first. It's actually twilight and dimming fast. The opposition have 3 fast bowlers. Then it hits me - I have been made a scapegoat. I have to go and face 3 fast bowlers in fading light, that when they will be at their fastest best. Damn !!!

I decide not to buckle down and a determination to win against all odds takes over me.

Right arm over the wicket, calls the umpire.

I see a tall guy hurtling down towards me, his face looking menacing. He reaches the umpire, leaps and bowls, Thack. Backfoot defensive shot - right in the centre of the bat. That felt good.

I feel we have a good chance but in the next 4 overs we reach 12 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. I am standing at the non strikers end - my contribution being 1 run.

In walks a player we just took in our team as we were not getting 11 players. And he proceeds to play a blinding innings. We reach 72-5 in 10.4 overs and I end up with 7 not out. Rest of the runs scored by a guy batting with me whose name I did not know.

It's 7-10 pm and dark now. My friend Vinay picks me up from the ground and we proceed to the badminton court. Have fun smashing shuttles and making Vinay run for 30 minutes. Soon he tires and asks me to play table tennis instead. I agree and we have a ball playing table tennis for the next half an hour.

Soon I am tired. Walk back home and again I am asked to proceed straight to the shower. Have a nice hot bath and get into fresh clothes and plonk myself in front of the TV. Have dinner and go straight to bed.

As soon as I hit the sack, I am asleep. I have to be at the tennis courts at 630 am tomorrow.

"Gautam, wake up - it's 8 o clock"
I sit up straight with a jolt - "8 o'clock - noooo I am late"
I jump out of bed and rush to brush my teeth.
While brushing I notice a stubble. Damn No - I don't want to shave now, I am already late and besides I can go to work in a stubbble today, after all it's Sunday.

WORK ???? ON A SUNDAY ??

Sigh - I remember it is 2008.

What the fuck - 3

2008-07-20T14:01:00.003+05:30

Just read in the papers today morning - that, Abhijeet, the famous singer has been sacked as a judge on some reality singing show on Zee TV.

His fault ?

He refused to judge a show when the Zee TV production guys called in a Pakistani singer as a wild card.

Abhijeet said - The show had Indian participants and why does a pakistani singer have to come and perform and maybe, even win the title of the winner of Indian ..............show.

And he is DAMN RIGHT. I support him fully.

On one hand the Pak govt. refuses visa for our singer Rabbi when he wanted to go and perform in Pakistan and here we are - calling shithole singers from Pakistan to come and participate in Indian shows.

Another controversy is in some other show with Himesh, Shankar Mahadevan et all as judges. It's an show where people from various countries will be selected to train under these judges. One Pakistani female refused to say "Har Har Mahadev" when it was the anthem of the team.

Why the FUCK do we tolerate this shit ? WHY ?

We need more people like Abhijeet.

Movie Review - The Dark Knight

2008-07-19T14:19:00.001+05:30

The Dark Knight

Verdict - 4/5. Mindblowingly awesome movie. NOT TO BE MISSED.

Everyone knows the story - good v/s evil, Batman v/s the Joker - so I won't say much.

Heath Ledger as the Joker is SIMPLY OUTSTANDING. What a performance ! What a superb performance ! Watch his mannerisms (the tongue flicking and lciking his scars) - AWESOME.

The action is good and fast and the background score - I am in love with it. It complemented the whole mood of the movie so beautifully. The direction and the support cast do well too.

Some action sequences - like the one where batman topples the trailer and flips his bike had the audience - whistling / clapping and cheering.

Go and watch this. And Heath Ledger - take a bow !

Movie Review - Kismat Konnection

2008-07-19T14:18:00.002+05:30

Kismat Konnection

Story is about a out of work and out of luck college topper. Nothing goes right for him and he dials a fortune teller in desperation, who, tells him that, he has his lucky charm and has to find it. The lucky charm turns out to be a girl with whom he cannot see eye to eye and then......

Shahid looks and acts good. Direction is good not spectacular. Music is rocking, I really love the songs. The minus point and it's the biggest negative of the movie - is Vidya Balan.

She look older to Shahid and her dress designer gave her the most atrocious dresses in the movie which helped her look older.

Verdict - 2.5/5. Watchable once, a typical feel good movie though predictable most of the time.

Dil, Dosti aur kya kya - 2

2008-07-16T15:10:00.003+05:30

This time I write about my friend "S". No, not sex.

S - The 1st time I met him - he was in this formal shirt and trouser (which I could not connect to then). I remember we both ended up searching something for a common friend though we met for the 1st time. I knew then this guy was a helpful guy.

Since he was in the IT industry, it was strange to see him come back home at 1830 hours daily. I used to wonder whether he actually worked (since I was under the impression that IT guys worked pretty late).

We met on and off and since he lived bang opposite to my building, it was obvious we were to become good friends. He was also the elder son in the family (like C) and he has completely lived up to his family's expectations. His parents, brother and sister - all are settled in life and he has played a major part in their lives being settled.

He is married, C is not. And marriage has changed him (however hard he may debate the fact). He is now in UK (traitor) and his wife has been a real calming influence on him I feel. He used to have a very short fuse earlier which seems to have defused these days. :)

We have done pretty crazy things to-gather - forgetting his slippers on a highway and finding it at the same place a couple of hours later, bashing up a taxi guy for banging into my car from behind, going after a guy in a ST bus in Hyderabad - we have done it all. I seriously thought then that he needed to attend Anger Management classes.

He looks serious but has a very good sense of humour and does a killer imitation of S P Balasubramanium.

Distance, though has not been able to distance our friendship and we still try to be in touch whenever we can.

Falling in Love - AGAIN

2008-07-15T12:01:00.001+05:30

There she was, standing in a corner, looking as good as she has ever done. I was noticing her after a long time, a dull ache came over my heart. Will she talk to me ? Will she even look at me ?

What should I do ? My mind was in turmoil. I decided to go and talk to her.

I walked up slowly (watching and admiring her). She looked even better when closer.

Hi - I said.
Hi (Hint of a surprise in her voice)
Her voice sounds sweet, still.
How are you doing?
I am fine, how are you ?
I am fine too. You are looking good.
Thanks.

All the time I was thinking, what if words fail me or the conversation just takes a full stop - and that is precisely what happened. An awkward silence where both didn't know what to say.

Hows life?
It's good, nothing major has happened yet but it is fine.
Come on think on your feet. What are you going to say next - this is not going anywhere.
Err what are you doing in the evening? (Damn what was that I just said, but it was already too late)
Nothing much. No plans.
Can we just catch up?
Sure.
Let's go.

Soon we are sitting to-gather. Music is playing in my ears.
Want to dance ? - she asks.
I haven't danced in ages.
So what?
I don't know whether I would be able to dance without making a fool of myself.
Don't be a spoil sport. You can always try.
Ok, lets do it.

I was still thinking - what am I getting into? I can't dance for nuts.

We start of slowly. She helps me get the steps right and match her rhythm. I feel confident after a while. Soon the music changes the tempo, it's faster and I am feeling confident. We dance like we were wanting to dance with each other for a long time. And we are in perfect rhythm. Not a beat is missed and not a step is out of sync.

After about 30 minutes we finish dancing. I am breathless. I am grinning. My heart is pounding. I am thrilled. I am surprised, I lasted this long. We both look at each other at the same time.

And I am damn sure, as that moment, she was thinking the same as I was - damn I have missed being with him/her. That was fun.

We should do this more often - both say this at the same time.

Sadly I had to leave then, but, I knew then, I had fallen in love AGAIN. It felt great.

As I walked away from her, I turned back to look at her and there she was, looking at me. I gave her a flying kiss. She smiled at me.

Would you guys like to know her name ?

It's MH04-BK-7510.

Dil, Dosti aur Kya Kya

2008-07-09T22:45:00.002+05:30

It's time to write about the most wonderful people in your life - friends.

I have 2 very close friends and I feel it's time to talk about them, one by one.

C - C is an enigma to me yet. I met him ages ago - at that moment in his life, he was the eternal superior being. He felt he was the King and behaved like all of us were his subordinates and I thought he was obnoxious. Somehow one day we got to spend some time togather which made us realise that we actually could get along with each other. Never looked back after that. The bond grew stronger and stronger. He was my constant companion round the clock - the fact that both of us had intelligence far better than the crowd around us made the friendship stronger.

He was blunt, I was politically correct. He was rude, I was the gentleman. He was without a care, I was the one always worried. Opposites attract they say - we were the prime examples.

They say people can change each other. And it has happened with C and me. In the initial days, whenever we used to go clubbing - I opted for beer and he always showed his macho side by ridiculing beer and shoving down whisky on the rocks (I told you he was obnoxious, right?) and now the situation is such that whenever I ask him for a drink he says beer and I have started relishing whisky.

He is a passionate family guy and I am proud of him the way he has responded to the duty of being the elder son. Absolutely class.

I learnt a lot of new things from him (eg tripping hehe) and most importantly I learnt not to care about what poeple might think/feel of my actions.

He was one guy who treated girls very matter of fact and it was considered that this guy would never fall in love....or rather no girl would fall in love with this fellow. But we were again proven wrong. He fell in love too.

We have survived a variety of incidents, emotions and situations - and the fact that we have come out stronger and closer is proof of our friendship and I am proud to have him as a friend.

I don't believe I am saying this about him but as I told you - he is an enigma.

Movie reviews

2008-07-07T11:22:00.004+05:30

Since I have not updated stuff for a long time now, I thought of putting up movie reviews of many films togather. Hope this helps you guys :)

JAANE TU YA JAANE NA

2 best friends - boy and girl in college - with a group of friends. Everyone thinks they are in love but they aren't or are they ?

The realisation of love is what the movie is about. It is not an original concept or story but the movie works - works because of it's fresh feel and look and some really good dialogues and some very good acting by all.

I loved the hero's father (Naseeruddin Shah) and in the beginning I thought the 2 horsemen were there just for the heck of it but no.

Nice music too - it's fun , fresh , frothy and very nice.

Yes there are flaws and cliches in the movie but it makes you smile and laugh a bit and you come out feeling good.

Verdict - 4/5. Must watch.
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LOVE STORY 2050

This movie is a BORE. And that is the start of my review. We have a new boy, Hrithik Roshan oops Harman Baweja who walks, talks, dances, tries to act like Hrithik - so let's just forget him.

Everything else in the movie is so OTT and loud that I almost walked out.

The special effects are really good for a bollywood movie. The music is bad.

Ultimately it's a movie that is a show vehicle for Harman. he gets to cycle, drive a MG, romance , fight and his dad wants him to act but he fails where it matters. He cannot handle the emotional scenes and people were laughing in the hall when he cried and acted at the same time.

Verdict - 1/5. Avoid.
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THODA PYAR THODA MAGIC

Saif plays a rich tycoon who in a car accident is responsible for the death of a couple. So the judge orders the 4 orphaned kids to go and live with Saif. Obviously the kids and Saif do not get along and the kids pray to God. God hears their prayers and sends an angel Rani to help them.

Then the predictable happens - she helps Saif and the kids to love each other and falls in love with Saif.

Performances range from the average to bad. Kids are ok and Rishi Kapoor plays God like in Bruce Almighty

Ameesha plays Saif's love interest and is SMOKIN' HOT in that song and in a few scenes where she is in the tiniest of clothes possible.

Rating - 1.5 / 5. YAWN.
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DE TAALI

Another comedy ! It's about 3 friends (2 guys and 1 girl) and what happens when one of the guys falls in love with a girl.

Well how is the movie ? It's got a thin story line and is senseless most of the time. A series of gags is what keeps the proceedings going. And it's here the cast lifts the movie.

Ritesh, Aftab, Rimi and Ayesha are very good. A few gags will have you rolling with laughter but over all the movie is mediocre. And it is extended - with stories on Rimi's family (the most weird family to date) and some nutty professors and lovers. Also the track of Ritesh's landlord could have been edited.

ps - a couple of scenes to watch out for are - the scene where Ritesh fights with an imaginary guy and the scene in which Aftab goes " tum mere liye roti thiii" after the boardroom meeting.

Verdict - 2/5. Watch it only if want to enjoy a few laughs.
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SARKAR RAJ

If you liked Sarkar - you will like this too. The movie is shot the same way - tight close ups and facial expressions. There is a thin story line (resembling Enron saga) on which the movie hangs but it is the performances that lift this ordinary movie.

Ab Sr is the best of the lot followed by his son. Abhsihek has to look sullen and mouth the clinching lines and he does it very nicely. Ashwairya is there in the movie but she has a subdued role and is competent. The rest of the cast is fine too.

There are a couple of twists and turns in the movie and the end is apt for part-3.

Verdict - 2.5/5. Watch it for the performances and RGV finally seems to have found a movie that should do well.
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JANNAT

The leading lady makes the worst debut ever I have seen in an hindi movie. Emraan Hashmi is very ordinary. Music is just average. A couple of cars are eye candy like the LR stretch.

Verdict 1/5. Utter crap and absolutely avoidable.
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BHOOTHNATH

A must watch !! I went in with no expectations and the movie simply surprised me.

It's a formula film with a formula story. Kids will have great fun in the 1st half and the movie veers towards relationships in the 2nd half.

Amitabh is in fine form playing the ghost and he is supported well by Juhi, Satish Shah and the small kid. Shahrukh is there in a guest appearance.

At least 3 songs are not required and they slow down the movie. The movie is well shot and special effects are very good.

Verdict - 3/5. A movie for kids and adults alike. Go watch it.
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U, ME AND HUM

I really did not want to watch this movie but saw it back to back with Krazzy4.

and I am glad I watched this.

Ajay Devgan makes a very very good debut as a director. The movie is about Alzeihmer's disease and what happens when to the family and the loved ones when there is a person with the disease in the family.

The movie is all about how Ajay woos Kajol on a cruise liner by lying to her. he is on vacation with 2 couple friends of his. Kajol finds out he had lied to her and leaves him - only to come back later. Both get married and everything is great but then Alzheimer's strikes.

Beautifully and sensitively directed - this one will tug at your hearts. The movie gets into the groove in the 2nd half and grips you.

Strong performances by Ajay and Kajol (I really don't like her) and the supporting cast make this a very good watch. Women are advised to carry kerchiefs.

I loved it - an absolutely unexpected surprise.

Verdict - 3.75/5 - Go catch it.
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KRAZZY 4

This is one movie I was waiting for and after I finished watching it - I feel cheated. The movie is a bore.

It has a talented cast - Arshad , Irfan, Juhi Chawla, Rajpal Yadav etc and still fails to hold your attention. Suresh Menon is one actor who makes people laugh when he speaks and he has exactly 3 lines in the movie with a common word.

4 people with different dis-orders go to town with their doctor (who feels this will help improve their condition) who promptly dissapears leaving the 4 alone. And what happens next is what Krazzy 4 is all about.

It tries to be comedy - feels incomplete
It tries to give social messages - feels incomplete
It tries to be a thriller - feels incomplete

The only positives are the 2 item numbers by SRK and Hrithik.

Verdict - 2/5 - Avoidable.
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RACE

Typical Abbas-Mustan movie. Twists and turns in the plot keep it going.

In short - it's about 2 super rich brothers who own a race horses breeding farm. Then a girl and jealousy - a double cross and one brother dies....then starts the fun.

Nice popcorn entertainer I say. Entertaining and stylishly shot, a few good songs, nice cars (orange Ferrari, a skyline and some drifts) , hot heroines.

Verdict - 2.75/5.
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AAMIR

I had some good expectations from this movie on watching their promos and I am so glad the movie surpassed the expectations.

A doctor comes back from London to India, only to find the immigration officer harass him because his name is Aamir. He then walks out of the airport and finds no one has come to receive him and when he calls home, no one answers the phone.

Suddenly a couple of bikers come to him and throw him a mobile phone - he gets a call that turns his world upside down.

Rajeev Khandelwal debuts as Aamir and does well. He starts off nervously but picks up steam later on. The supporting cast is fine too.

Brilliantly directed and absolutely fantastic camera work on real loactions is Mumbai enhance the reality factor of the movie. The director and camera man deserve a round of applause here.

Verdict - 3.75/5. Must watch - if you have a choice between Sarkar Raj and this - go for Aamir. You won't regret it at all.
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Sweet Experiences - Part 2

2008-03-29T17:30:00.001+05:30

2 more incidents happened that made me smile and fee warm.

Incident 1

Driving towards LBS road from Ghatkopar depot @ 11 am on 28-03-08, I get stuck at the LBS junction signal. My eyes wander here and there.

To my right there is a chawl type building and I look at it with no particular interest. My eyes fall on the first floor window which has a grill - pretty common you would say and I agree - but here there were 2 kids (a 5 year old and approx. 2 year old) sitting in the grill with their legs dangling in the air. The 2 year old kid was enjoying that feeling and the 5 year old was playing the protective brother to the hilt. Taking care of his younger brother and making sure he enjoys the feeling.

Made me remember my kiddie days when I used to sit in the grill of my window and watch the world go by, count the cars and try and guess each car.

Incident 2

Driving to work today morning, I pull up at the Deonar signal. Next to me is a Fusion +. As usual my eyes wander and come to rest on the guy in the Fusion. He was drinking water from a bottle (taken from his bag). And half his attention was on whether the signal will turn green while he is drinking water. It didn't and he was relived. So he thought let me check the other stuff in my bag. He removes a tiffin box and checks the content and his face registers shock. Promptly, he puts that box in and removes a second tiffin box and this time his face registers more shock like this .

The signal turns green and I take off. The guy managed to keep the box and drive on. Comes next to me on the next signal as well and is talking animatedly on the phone (to his wife I presumed) and I drove off smiling.

The Indian News Channel Tamasha

2008-03-27T15:38:00.003+05:30

Phew !! All those anchors and reporters and cameramen must be damn tired. They need a well deserved break for beaming the "Rescue of Vandana" to our TV sets for close to 27 hours at a stretch. Bravo well done. Another feather in their cap after the "Prince" saga some time ago.

And what reporting it was - simply brilliant !!

Asking the mom of the kid - How are you feeling now that your kid is in the borewell ?

What answer were they expecting ?

And all the news reporters have completely missed the point about reporting and bringing to light the major shortcomings !

Did any one report about the lack of Emergency Response teams ?
Why did the kid have to endure 27 hours in the pit ?
Why wasn't she rescued in 2 hours ?
Who was responsible for leaving the pit open ?
Why is the army always called in last ? Don't we know that the civic administration is incapable ? The Armay had to rescue Prince too.

Sadly now these things will be forgotten and the kid will be got to the studios in Mumbai and be paraded in front of thousands of people who will watch the tamasha again !!

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Now playing on Winamp: Don't Give Up (Original Mix) - Chicane - Behind The Sun
via FoxyTunes

The QUEUE tales

2008-03-25T11:58:00.002+05:30

These 2 seperate incidents happened at booking counters of 2 different multiplexes.

Incident 1

This happened a few weeks back - 14th Feb to be exact. I booked tickets for Jodha Akbar online @ Pvr cinemas, Mulund. The show was to start at 10.45 pm.

I reach the mall at 10.30 pm and walk up to the ticket counter.

There are 2 counters for internet booking and other booking methods. One counter was closed and as expected there was quite a queue at the internet booking counter. I got into line and a guy joined in behind me.

He was the desperado types and wanted everything quick. He spies a staff member walk into the ticketing area and come to a stand still near the shut window. So smartly he moves out of the queue and triumphantly is the 1st person to rech the closed counter. He pushes aside the board that says counter closed and asks for his tickets. The staff tell him that the counter is closed and he should join the line that he was in earlier. His ego is shattered and he now smartly comes and again stands behind me. A small argument ensues with the guy behind him but then the guy is a gentle man and allows him to stand in front of him and take the place he had vacated.

Soon it is my turn and I am scrolling to the sms (confirmation one) on my mobile to show to the ticketing staff so that I can collect my tickets - this smart guy behind me slides up to my left and thrusts his hand into the window and asks for his tickets.

I loose it and ask him what is he doing ?

The conversation goes -

Me - Kya hai boss ?

He - Ticket le raha hoon

Me - main kya bhajan kar raha hoon

He - maine phone pe book kiya hai

Me- toh bada kaam kiya ?

He - Lene de

Me - chup chaap line mein khada hoja

At this moment the staff intervine and ask him to wait.

He - chal theek hai , lele

Me - Ehsaan kar raha hai kya mere pe ?

And till the time I moved out after collecting my tickets, this guy was muttering under his breath.

Incident 2

This is at R-mall in Mulund again and at a ticket counter again.

I don't remember which movie but there was quite a queue with 2 guys (X and Y) behind me. As soon as my turn came , I asked for the tickets and put my right hand in my back pocket to remove the cash and I hit someone to my right. I turn and see the guy X who was behind me in queue is on my right almost pushing me away from the counter.

And suddenly I feel a slight push from my left - I turn to see that the guy Y who was behind the guy X is on my left. I am practically sandwiched between these 2 guys and both are raring to have a go at the counter. I politely ask them if they had heard of something called a queue, in better layman language - line system ?

Both asnwer me the same - Line mein toh hai na - aap ke baad hi ticket lenge.

I ask them to get in behind me and not crowd around which obviously they do not understand.

And both these incidents happened with people who were educated (or atleast looked educated).

Why are we always in such a hurry ? Push and Shove will get you everything - that's what people believe here.

2 more things that I frequently encounter at queues in cinema halls

1) People reach the counter and then start a conversation with their relatives/friends waiting outside the queue. Which seats ? What time show? how many tickets? Advance booking?

I mean come on man - you can decide these things and get into the queue saving a lot of time for yourself and others too. Ladies are the biggest culprits doing this from what I have observed !

2) Sometimes I see a long queue and get in behind them. But when the guy 5 people ahead of me buys the tickets and moves out, all the 5 behind him also move out. They were togather and got into the queue togather to buy tickets. What did they prove ? "yeh dosti ham nahi todenge" ??

A Nostalgic trip

2008-03-03T18:52:00.000+05:30

Saturday - 1900 hours in my parking lot at Chembur. I get down from my car and on the spur of the moment decide to get my hair trimmed.

I walk over to the main road and proceed to the barber's shop, smsing away on my cell phone. Its dark and there are no street lights, only neon reflections from the boards of the different stores lining the road.

I reach the place, A1 Hair Cutting Saloon it says and I walk in and suddenly it hits me.

I am feeling fresh as soon as I walk in. There is a whiff of air that seems so nice to breathe. To my right I can see a whole mirrored wall. I stop and stare at myself. All the seats are occupied and I am asked to wait for 5 minutes.

As I sit down I notice the soft sofa type arrangement for the waiting people is so similar to the ones that we see on the local trains in Mumbai. Similar blue shade and stitched up in rexin. I sit and my eyes wander to the heap of magazines lying there. And I realise that a barber's shop is one place where you will get all the latest film and televison magazines like Filmfare, Cine Blitz et all. I mean these guys get it as soon as it hits the stands. Maybe it is because in the good old days people used to come and check out the magazines for the hair styles of film stars and get themselves a similar hair cut. That tradition continues.

I then look around. A wall on which there is a mirror running across the length, in front of which there are 5 chairs, no wait they are not chairs. Recliners would be an apt word. All occupied with different people, different in looks, different in religion and different in the treatment they are getting. One uncle is getting his hair dyed while another 30 year old guy is getting his goatee perfect. And one young fellow has come for a shave. I watch in fascination.

The uncle getting his hair dyed is asked to wait for the dye to dry and I am asked to step up and take the chair. I get up and drop myself into the chair. Ooh baby its damn comfortable. I sink into it and put my feet on the support that's in front of the chair. I am loving it. The chair has a wheel (like the ones you find on ships) to recline it, on the right side. And it almost reclines to 180 degrees. I relax (no the chair was not reclined 180 degrees) soaking in the atmosphere.

And it was bright. I look up and see 6 tube lights and that full length mirror enhanced that bright feeling. I look at the table in front of me and find it filled with assorted knick knacks. 3-4 different types of combs, a ustra (razor) kept in glass that is filled with a solution of dettol & water, a hard brush that's used to clean hair of your clothes and head, a box full of blades, a flower pot shaped brush that applies shaving cream to your face, a Nivea cold cream box that been filled with powder and the duster that applies the powder on top of it, assortment of different shaving creams (even foams) and after shave lotions (thats where the different fresh air I guess).... " Sahab kya karna hai?" I am shaken out of my fascinated glaze. I explain that I need to trim my hair and tell him how it is to be done.

Out comes a big apron that is tied around my neck and immediately I feel like a baby who is going to be fed with cerelac. While he is doing that I get a chance to observe him in the mirror. A young guy of about 25 with a hair style that faintly reminded me of a certain Amitabh Bachchan. But then any young guy coming from UP to work here has a AB hangover i guess

Then he suggests a few things and we start discussing on how to go about it. Once we arrive to a conclusion, he picks up a pair of scissors and a comb and then looks at my hair. Keeps the scissor back on the table and picks up the most important and most used accessory in the shop - a water sprayer.

He sprays cold water on my hair and combs it to one side. I ask him to spray some on my face. He obliges and the moment the spray hits my face, I am ecstatic. It feels sooooooo damn good and fresh. Then he wipes my face with a tissue and starts working with the scissor on my hair. Snip, snip, snip he goes expertly while I watch in fascination.

After a while he finishes the job and opens the drawer. He picks up that electric shaver used to remove small hair under your collar on the back of the neck. I remember I used to get tickled when I was a kid when that razor was used and now when it's used, I find all hair on body standing and I get that ticklish feeling all over again.

That done, he gets a big mirror and holds it behind my head so that I can see how the job has been done. I turn left, turn right looking carefully and run my hands through my hair. I feel it was good and I tell him. The mirror is kept away and then out comes the hard brush which is used vigorously to wipe away traces of any hair left on my face, clothes or body. Then he uses that flower pot brush to liberally apply some talcum powder on the back of my neck.

Then with a flourish he puts my shirt collar back and asks me whether I want a head massage. I refuse and he seems a bit upset.

I pay him 40 rupees and tip him too, after all I got A1 treatment for that kind of money. He smiles and I smile back. I walk out feeling lighter on my head but much much more fresher than I went in. Who wouldn't , when childhood memories come flooding back ? Pure Nostalgia.

ps - One change I observed was that these days the classic 2 in 1 stereo is no more in vogue. In it's place we have the "all over the place" FM Radio. I missed listening to songs on a cassette on a 2 in 1 stereo player.

Heartwarming

2008-02-28T10:51:00.001+05:30

Let me post this sweet little feeling I got on the road yesterday. Yes, you read it right - on the road. Since every morning I log in to see people raving and ranting about traffic, I decided to post this.

Yesterday evening I left my factory and in Vashi, I stop at a red light. I am listening to 93.5 Red FM when an auto pulls up to the left of me and stops. I look up in the direction of the auto (checking how close to me he has stopped) and I can see a girl and a sardarji boy in the auto. Both are dressed in shirts and trousers, they look like executives and seem like colleagues. I look away and fiddle with the radio. There are still 90 seconds to go before the signal turns green.

Looking around at the world, my eyes wander over to the auto and I can see that the girl is saying something to the guy and finger pointing angrily at him. The guy is listening quietly. Suddenly the girl pulls out a 5 star chocolate from her purse and unwraps it. She offers it to the guy who is now angry with her and refuses. So the girl simply takes a bite of the bar and (I guess) tells the guys smilingly that she won't share the bar with him. The guy smiles at this and tries to take the bar and the girl tries not to give it to him. Both are smiling and laughing away.

The signal turns green and I pull away with a warm feeling in my heart. It's still the small things in life that bring a smile to our faces daily.

Back again

2008-02-25T17:25:00.001+05:30

Well it's been a long time. And I am back again, this time let's hope that I write consistently.

Movie Review - Partner

2007-07-21T10:23:00.000+05:30

I caught the much awaited comedy from David Dhawan starring Salman and Govinda, first day first show yesterday. So here goes.....

Story - The basic premise of the story is that Salman plays a Love guru who helps people not confident in love get the woman they want. Enter Bhaskar Choudhary played by Govinda, a bumbling financial advisor (shocking) in a big company, and in love with the owner played by Katrina Kaif (never seen a dumber CEO ). How Salman helps Govinda woo Katrina is the main story and in the middle of all this, Salman falls in love with a sexy reporter (Lara Datta) who is a single mom as well. And Salman has to woo her kid to get to her and also help Govinda get his love. Phewwwww.

Other than that there are hazaar characters floating in and out of the movie for no apparent reason. Rajpal Yadav plays Chota Don (a spoof on SRK's don) and he is so damn irritating that I wanted to get up and slap him. Lara Dutta plays a photographer who clicks underworld characters and shaadi pics as well, wtf. Puneet Issar has a 3-4 scene role.

There are sequences that have no relation to the story like the rocket chasing Salman sequence in Thailand. I really did not understand why the Thailand story was incorporated into the movie. But there are a few nice scenes where you atleast smile if not laugh. And that is just about saying it all. Also introducing Suresh Menon as the gay friend of Katrina made no sense to the movie.

The sequence where Salman teaches Govinda to dance stylishly on Just Chill is the bright spot in the movie and Govinda is at his best then.

Performances - Salman does what he has been doing best in umpteen movies till date. Act like a cool dude which is now 2nd skin to him. Nothing great acting wise. Govinda takes charge here and gets us to smile in a couple of scenes but we can clearly see that his glory days are long gone and his acting in a David Dhawan movie is not what the public are going to enjoy. Katrina kaif has 3-4 scenes where she has to talk in an accent (a thing she does well for a change) and Lara Dutta plays a reporter who has a longer role than Katrina. Lara does well in the comedy scenes. Rajpal Yadav gives the worst performance of his life and the kid who plays Lara's son does well.

Music - Dissapointing. Not one song is a stand out song. The "you're my love" love has a catchy beat to it and that about all. I guess it's time Salman gets Himesh to compose for his films.

Direction / Cinematography - David Dhawan directs the movie and as usual it makes no sense at all. There is no control over the narration - it feels more like he trying to showcase Salman's and Govinda's acting and friendship. Absolutely confused direction. David better get his socks up now, the audience has becoming more demanding and clever. The cinematography is good and glossy.

Verdict - 1.75/5. If its laughs you are looking for, please rent the dvd of No Entry and watch it again. That movie is 1000 times more funny than this one. I say you can safely stay away from this Partner.

Women are Distracting

2007-07-11T18:03:00.000+05:30

Ok,

Before I start I admit that whatever happened - did so because of me. I was at fault.

A few days back , I get out of the house and walk down to my car. The weather is cloudy and breezy. The wet smell of earth is heavenly as it had just rained.

I leave for office thats in Vashi. Quite an uneventful drive I must say - listening to Malishka (on 93.5 Red FM) and driving slowly and steadily I reach Vashi. Traffic begins to increase inside of Vashi and I soon reach the flyover (beyond the new Adlabs wala mall) that takes me onto Thane Belapur road.

(Flashback) - Concreting of the Thane Belapur road has been going on for about a month now. The work is now right at the foot of the flyover. The flyover is 2 laned and one lane from the foot of the flyover is closed for traffic. So all have to get into 1 lane and get onto the Thane Belapur road.(Flashback over)

Cut to present - Malishka continues to entertain me while I get onto the flyover. As I reach the end of the flyover on the other side, as usual there is a pile up of traffic (2 lanes merging into 1) to get onto the Thane Belapur road.

I am in the left lane and behind me I see a biker on a Pulsar, trying to squeeze in between my car and the car next to me. He is honking away like crazy (short bursts, long bursts, irritated bursts) but the car next to me doesn't budge to give him way. The car to my right is just ahead of me, the car in front of mine is a white zen and he moves a bit ahead and I move a bit left so that the biker can go and come up parallel to the car to my right.

Traffic has stopped moving and curiosity gets the better of me. I turn right and want to have a look at the driver who irritated the biker that much. Surprisingly its a lady and a good looking one at that.

I keep staring at her, all the noise is cut off and I cant hear anything. The lane on my right inches ahead and the lady moves ahead too and my eyes follow her and her car.

Suddenly Malishka says " Red FM , BAJATE RAHO" and I feel a jolt.

I am like what has happened ? Suddenly I realise that traffic in my lane hasn't moved and I have the foot off my brake pedal and my car has rolled down a few centimetres and gone and snuggled into the zen's backside (bumper) very gently. The lady meanwhile has dissapeared.

Now the fun starts. The guy in the zen obviously felt the JOLT. He looked behind, saw it was a Skoda that kissed his backside (his car's). He shut the engine and got down like a true hero wearing sunglaases (on a cloudy day ?? ) , banged the door shut of his zen (ouch) and walks up agrresively to me. I roll down the window and lift up my hand in acknowledgement and say "Sorry Mate". He glowers at me and goes and takes a look at the part where his car got pecked, obviously nothing has happened but he has to make his point na.

Thus starts a conversation between him and me which I reproduce below -

Him (angry) - "Dikhta nahi hai kya:
Me - "Dikhta hai boss, sorry"
Him (glowering) - "Upar chadake sorry bolega kya"
Me - "Upar kidhar chadaya boss, sorry bola na, galti hogaya"
Him - "Pata nahi hai brake marna hai toh, door rakhne ka gaadi"
Me - "Haan aage se dhyaan rakhoonga boss"
Him - "Aisa thodi hota hai, kuch bhi karega..blah...blah..blah"
I (after he had finished) - "Boss - meri galti hai, sorry bola maine, ab kya karun? "

So he leaves, still angry, and gets into his zen and slams the door again (ouch). Starts the car and gives me a look that could kill in his RVM and zooooms off.

A dirty thought enters my mind - it says drive behind him and irritate him but then I forget that and drive slowly to work still smiling.

And yes - Malishka was still going on - "Bajate raho"

Lesson Learnt - Always be calm and smiling in ugly situations. Own up if you are at fault with a smiling face and the situation defuses itself pretty fast.

So as I said at the beginning - I was at fault - the fault being getting distracted by a pretty lady.

ACTUAL Lesson learnt - Women distract men, even on roads and can lead to ugly situations. So guys keep your eyes on the road.

Movie Review - Apne

2007-07-09T17:31:00.000+05:30

Apne - The much talked about movie as it gets togather Dharmendra and his 2 sons Sunny and Bobby for the 1st time in their career. Finally got to catch it the other day. So how did it stack up ?

Story - Apne's story is the story of a boxer (Dharmendra) who won a silver medal for India but was falsely implicated in a doping scandal and banned from boxing for 50 years. He wanted to avenge that humiliation and for that he trains his elder son (Sunny Deol) but just when things were looking good, Sunny drops the boxing and becomes an agriculturalist. This is too much for Dharmendra to bear and his relations with Sunny are strained. But they all live in the same house alongwith Kiron Kher (Dharmendra's wife), Shilpa Shetty (Sunny's wife) and the mandatory kid (Sunny and Shilpa's). Also staying with them is younger son Bobby Deol a musician with a left hand thats paralysed due to an accident in his young days.

Dharmendra's friend Victor Banerji cajoles Dharmendra to train a boxer (Aryan Vaid) for a competition where the best boxer from will fight against the current World heavy Weight Champion Luca Garcia (played by an black actor) in America. But after learning the tricks of the trade from Dharmendra, Aryan dumps him and opts to be trained by an Australian coach (a dig at Guru Greg ? ). Dharmendra is shattered but just at that moment Bobby's hand is mysteriously heeled (Bollywood Cinematic Liberty) and he now gets set to go and challenge Luca Garcia but he has to fight his way to become the top contender. And in another cliche - his 1st match is against Dharmendra's former student Aryan Vaid. Bobby manages to beat Aryan and the ensuing competiton to go to America and fight Luca.

So father and son set out to America to challenge the Champion. But Money Rules and Luca wants to fix the match and Dharmendra disagrees - setting up a exciting confrontation between Bobby and Luca. They fight a fierce battle and Bobby is upto the challenge lasting till the 12th round but then oh no !!!!

Near the end of the fight things start to go wrong ......................................

Dharmendra is shattered again. So will he be able to clear his tainted name ? Will an Indian boxer become a champion as he had promised the world ?

Performances - The movie absolutely revolves around Dharmendra and he simply ROCKS. He holds the movie and does not let it go. His is the performance of the movie be it as the bitter boxer , loving dad, tough coach - he excels. And he is supported brilliantly by Sunny (so underplaying his role , its actually unbeleivable) and Bobby (sincere). Kiron Kher as Dharmendra's wife has another punjabi housewife act to do - she does it simply, after all playing a punjabi house wife is 2nd skin to her now. The heroines Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif - only there for the glamour part and song list. Aryan Vaid is adequate in his small role and Victor Banerji does well too in his longer than the heroines role.

Music - The 1st movie where Himesh has flopped. Music is a disaster. Absolutely flat, the movie is let down by Himesh's music. Not one song is such that you remember after the movie.

Direction / Cinematography - CInematography is adequate as is the direction. Anil Sharma has grip over the movie, never allowing it to wander. Also he has 2-3 sentimental scenes where you just might get the hankies out. The boxing scenes stand out. A boxing choreographer was hired for the movie and it shows. Boxing scenes are way better than what we have seen in Bollywood.

Verdict - I give it 3.5/5. Its a family movie that has sentimentality running through the story and it also touches upon the sport of boxing. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND watching it atleast once.

Movie Review - Die Hard 4.0

2007-07-04T13:05:00.001+05:30

"How do I always manage to land up in the wrong place at the wrong time" - John Mclane

Well John Mclane manages that again in the 4th part of the Die Hard series. The first 2 parts were good while the 3rd part was a washout. And after a long hiatus, Mclane is back in the 4th installment. Does he succeed to charm the viewers ?

Story - A wafer thin plot is what the movie is about. While on duty to arrest a hacker, Mclane saves his life as he is attacked by unknown guys. Later these unknown guys turn out to be a gang that want to take over the USA through computers, which in today's age is all too easy.And the bad guys get hold of Mclane's daughter too. But there is a small problem - John Mclane. Mclane does what he does best - save the country and kick the bad guys asses.

Performances - Bruce Willis is back as John Mclane and he rocks. The character is 2nd skin to him and he gets into it with relish. Dry witty one liners and some great action scenes, Willis is in great form. All the other actors (sorry I do not remember their names) are adequate. The guy who plays the hacker whom Mclane protects has done a great job as well.

Action (in place of music for Bollywood movies) - Mind blowing. All action scenes are good and the movie seems like its been made for showing off action choreography.

Direction / Cinematograpy - Pretty slick. Actions scenes stand out, infact the movie has no breather from the action. Shot brilliantly I must say, specially the plane taking on the trailer on the highway.

Verdict - 4/5. A triumphant return for Bruce Willis. If you are an action buff, just do not miss the movie. Its a rocking roller coaster ride of action from start to finish. Absolutely entertaining. I loved it.

Movie Review - Don : The chase begins again

2007-07-02T23:25:00.000+05:30

Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi , na mumkin hai !

The line above - is a Legend. And director Farhan Akhtar has attempted to do it once more, has he managed to do it ? The answer is YES. So how does this Don line up against the 1978 "AB's" Don ? Well.........

Story - The plot is simple - basically taken from the 1978 movie. A DCP hot on the trail of a dreaded criminal called Don, finally manages to shoot him but the Don does not survive. Now to get hold of the Don and his gang's secrets, the DCP trains and lets loose a duplicate Don (a hamshakal of the Don) in the gang. But just as the duplicate Don is about to get all the info, the DCP kicks the bucket , leaving Don between the devil and the deep sea to fend himself with both the police and his own cronies after him.

But it is here that Farhan excels, throws in a couple of twists in the tale - one comes bang in the middle and the other right at the end.

When the movie begins - you feel you are in a time wrap , the costumes and styling remind you of the old movie - you will tend to compare the going ons on the screen with the original and all the names will come rushing back to you - Ramesh, Narang, Don, D’silva.................but after a while you find that though the movie is a remake , its DIFFERENT. After you get through tthe initial feel , you watch it not as a remake but as a movie on its own and thats where Farhan scores.

The performances - SRK has a tough job to do filling into Big B’s shoes and he does that admirably as Don. Stylish, sauve and debonair , SRK carries off this act as Don beautifully. As Vijay , in my personal opinion SRK falls short of Big B. He cant do the bhaiyya act convincingly and its shows.
Priyanka - Frankly put I did not like her in the movie one bit. She lost weight for the movie and it does not go well with her thin and wiry frame. And her plot with Don hasnt got much importance.
Kareena - plays Helen's role and as much as I tried to put the comparision with Helen out of my head and review her performance , still she left me cold.
Boman Irani - He gets a meaty role and does full justice. People have told me they dont like Boman in the movie but I think that this is the 1st time Boman has got to play a normal character and maybe thats why people havent liked him. They expect a character that stays in the minds and beleive me Boman’s DCP will be there like Iftekar is always there in our minds.
Arjun Rampal - Playing Pran's role here is completely wasted. It would have made no difference if his character was not present as Pran's was in the old movie.
Rest of the cast - Om Puri is wasted and Pawan Malhotra gets meaty role after a while. Rest all are adequate. And what exactly was Isha Koppikar doing in the movie ?

Music - Frankly the music is dissapointing. The 2 songs retained from the original being the major culprits more so the Khaike Paan Banaraswala song. Of the rest the title track and the club song are nice, thats just about it.

Direction / Cinematography - Farhan excels again. As a director he has complete grip over the movie and his introducing the 2 twists works beautifully. Cinematography as I said - perfect. Paris, Malaysia, Mumbai - all captured nicely. The movie could have 15 minutes trimmed off easily from the 2nd half to make it more tighter.

Verdict - I say 3.5 / 5. So Don ko pakadna hai ?? Watch it. You wont regret it. But be warned , try not to compare it scene by scene to the original and you will enjoy more.

5 Stages of Drunkennessss

2007-07-02T21:35:00.000+05:30

Stage #1 -- Smart

This is when you suddenly become an expert on every subject. You know all and greatly wish to express this knowledge to anyone who will listen. At this stage you are also always right. And of course the person you are talking with is very wrong. You will talk for hours trying to convince someone that you are right. This makes for an interesting argument when both parties are "smart". Two people talking, in fact, arguing about a subject neither one really knows anything about, but are convinced that they are they complete authority on the subject makes for great entertainment for those get the opportunity to listen in.

Stage #2 -- Handsome/Pretty

This is when you are convinced that you are the best looking person in the entire room and everyone is looking at you. You begin to wink at perfect strangers and ask them to dance because of course they had been admiring you the whole evening. You are the center of attention, and all eyes are directed at you because you are the most beautiful thing on the face of the earth. Now keep in mind that you are still smart, so you can talk to this person who has been admiring you about any and all subjects under the sun.

Stage #3 -- Rich

This is when you suddenly become the richest person in the world. You can buy drinks for the entire bar and put it on your bill because you surely have an armored truck full of your money parked behind the bar. You can also make bets in this stage. Now of course you still know all, so you will always win all your bets. And you have no concern for how much money you bet because you have all the money in the world. You will also begin to buy drinks for all the people in the bar who are admiring you because you are now the smartest, prettiest, and richest person on the face of the earth.

Stage #4 -- Bulletproof

You can now pick fights with the people you have been betting money with because you cannot be hurt by anything. At this point you would go up to the boyfriend of the woman who had been admiring your beautiful self all evening and challenge him to a battle of wits for money. You have no worry about loosing this battle of wits because you know all, have all the money to cover this bet, and you obviously win a fight that might erupt if he looses.

Stage #5 -- Invisible

This is the final stage of drunkenness. At this point you can do
absolutely anything because no one can see you. You can get up and dance on a table; you can strip down to your underwear, to impress the people who have been admiring you all evening, because the rest of the people in the room cannot see you. You are also invisible to the person whom you have picked a fight with earlier in the evening. You can walk through the streets singing at the top of your lungs (because of course you are still smart and know the tune perfectly) and no one will think anything of it because they can't see you. All your social inhibitions are gone. You can do anything, because no one will know.

And you certainly won't remember !

Narayan Rane's son - A goon

2007-07-02T20:43:00.000+05:30

Yes - Its true. Narayn Rane and his sons and followers are goons / goondas of the first degree masquerading as politicians ! Read the following incident that happened on 10th August 2006.

Coming back from Lonavala with my 2 uncles, I got onto the Expressway at about 3-3.30 pm from the diversion when the old road from Khandala meets the expressway. A Gypsy, an Endeavour pass me by. I move to the middle lane and at the same time a Bolero with a flashing light passes me by. On the tight left and right hand turns that follow the Endeavour and the Bolero slow down to 50 kmph approx while I overtake them as i was going faster and am behind the Gypsy. Due to the rock falling incidents the section of the road towards Bombay, the road is closed and vehicles have to get into the opposite corridor (Pune side) in a single lane. I get in behind the Gypsy and the Endeavor gets in behind me with the Bolero following him and after a few minutes, the Gypsy allows me to overtake, I accelerate and when I reach the tunnel , I see in the rear view mirror the Endeavor swooping down fast. But then it is a a tight left hander after the tunnel and he backs of ,but then soon on next tight right hander nearthe Khopoli exit, he gets inside me , I understand that this guy has a problem and I lift of the gas and let him go. As soon as he gets in fronts of me, he starts zigzagging in the right lane, I slow down but he continues. He stops the car, blocks me off and 2 guys (Narayan Rane's sons) get out and start abusing – “Fucker , Bhenchot, Bhosdike you don’t know how to drive a car and cut kisko maara” and stuff. Meanwhile the 2 escort vehicles, the Gypsy and Bolero stop by in the middle lane and about 11 people get down. In the meanwhile my uncle identifies the guy as Mr Narayan Rane’s son. He asks him if he is Rane’s son and he abuses my uncle with "Bastard Fucker" , you don’t know how to drive. 3-4 guys from the escort vehicles come to right and open the door and slam my face and 3-4 guys slam my uncle on the left at the same time. “Dhande pe laga doonga” , “gaadi chalani nahin aati” , “cut kyun maara” and maa-bahen stuff fly at us.

I felt like giving them a kick in their balls but I control as we were heavily outnumbered and who knows , guys like these carry weapons and stuff.

We have to ask their forgiveness and they let us go. My uncle has a broken spectacle frame and I have a bleeding nose to show.

Now points to ponder -

1) 2 escort vehicles for Mr Narayan Rane’s son?? Who the hell is he, some minister?

2) The guys stop just after a blind tight right hand turn in the right and centre lane of the expressway, potentially putting all of us at risk if a car came speeding around the turn.

3) Assaulting me for driving within the rules. Did he expect a car doing 80 kmph to slow down for a vehicle doing 50 kmph, just because he was someone’s son and he had a convoy ?

4) Absolute pathetic behavior and language used against someone equal to his father’s age.

5) And all the way through to Vashi, I saw the men in the Gypsy drive rash, cut off vehicles coming in the way who, were by the way driving according to rules, so that the Endeavour had the right of the way on the expressway. Don’t we pay taxes or are we paying for roads for these guys to drive their cars on?

All this just proves that “NOT ONLY POLITICIANS BUT ANY ONE REMOTELY RELATED TO THEM IS DRUNK ON POWER” and the Irony is that they are “PUBLIC SERVANTS”

I know nothing is going to happen with me raving and ranting here but I posted this just as a warning to all you near and dear friends. Don’t get into fights and ego trips while driving, you never know what is in store.

The Endeavour’s no. was MH43-C-1 (I ain’t sure about C but its Vashi registered, I intend to hunt the car down and note its number) and write in to all newspapers and news channels.

Laloo in Goa - Hilarious

2007-07-02T19:47:00.000+05:30

My Favorite Comedy Movies in Bollywood

2007-06-30T20:48:00.002+05:30

Every body likes to laugh. And if it's a movie that makes you laugh when ever you watch it, nothing like it. Precisely for this reason, I would like to list down the top comedy movies from Bollywood that bring a smile to my face everytime I even think about them.

1) Golmaal - Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt.The leading comic duo of feel good movies in the 1970's. Amol Palekar is forced to take on a twin brother identity because of his mustache obsessed boss played by Utpal Dutt. He has to keep his nerve as he plays 2 roles and pataos his boss' daughter as well. I do not remember the name of the female actor who helps out as the fake mother but she was a riot as well. I end up on the floor everytime I watch it.

2) Shaukeen - A story about 3 old men ( Ashok Kumar, AK Hangal and Utpal Dutt ). Seems innocent right ? But it is not when the 3 old men have the hearts of teenagers. Their daily dose of fun includes changing spectacles to watch young girls walking on the beach right upto holding the hand of the female PG a wee bit longer. In the absence of the wife, Ashok Kumar plans a trip for all 3 of them that includes getting laid. So they want a driver to take them out of Bombay. In steps our Mithunda and he manipulates the destination of the 3 oldies to Goa so that he can meet his GF, Rati Agnihotri. But what happens when the 3 leering old men lay their eyes on Rati ? Will they get laid ? Watch the movie - it's amazing fun.

3) Chashme Baddoor - A Sai Paranjpe classic. 3 friends and 1 girl ( the object of the trios affection). Hilarious the way all 3 try to patao her. So who gets her in the end ? The shayar , the sauve stud or the studious and serious guy ? Farukh Shaikh and Deepti Naval excel supported brilliantly by Rakesh Bedi , Ravi Baswani and Saeed Jaffery.

4) Chupke Chupke - The best straight faced comedy ever. Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore get married and Dharmendra fed up of hearing praises of Om Prakash (Sharmila's B-I-L) plans to turn the table. Dharmendra is superb and Amitabh very good as usual. The scene stealer here is Om Prakash. And with a support cast that includes Jaya Bhaduri, Asrani and Kesto Mukherji, this is movie that never loses it's charm.

5) Jaane bhi do Yaaron - One of my all time favorite movies and Bollywood's blackest comedy to date I think. Naseeruddin Shah and Ravi Baswani are bumbling photographers who stumble upon all kinds of information , goings on, dead bodies and people, when they are handed an assignment to spy on 2 crook builders played absolutely brilliantly by Pankaj Kapur and Om Puri. Satish shah is in there too as the Municipal Commisioner and Bhakti Barve excels as the manipulative editor of a newspaper. Satish Kaushik and Neena Gupta play important roles too. The climax with all characters playing some role or the other from the Mahabharata is ROCKING. A talking point to date.

6) Choti si Baat - That man Amol Palekar again ! This time supported by Ashok Kumar and Asrani. A classy movie about how a nervous, shy and timid man (Amol )overcomes his shyness and timidness with some help from Ashok Kumar (playing a retired Colonel)to counter a oversmart opponent (Asrani) in his love story. Vidya Sinha plays the lady over whom Amol and Asrani lock horns. All the actors perform brilliantly. The movie touches a cord somewhere because if we look around us we can see the characters played by Amol and Asrani, dime a dozen even today. Do not miss it.

8) Coolie No. 1 - Another favorite of mine. Govinda fools Kader Khan by making him believe that he is a rich guy and marries his daughter, karisma Kapur. When Kader Khan sends Shakti Kapoor to check on them, Govinda manufactures a twin brother to fool Kader Khan, himself. Kader Khan turns the tables by wanting to marry off his 2nd daughter to Govinda as well. Its similar to Golmaal but has the trade mark Govinda style. Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor and Harish give rollicking support.

9) Baton Baton Mein - Not exactly a comedy but the movie has its moments that keep the smiles coming. The movies deals with the Christian community in the 1970's. Amol Palekar (again) and Tina Munim (wow) fall in love on the most common sight in Mumbai, the local trains albiet with a little support from David (playing Tina's guardian). Tina's mom is the ever worrying mom wanting a nice khandaan ka earning guy for her daughter. There is a silent lover for Tina lurking in the background too. The treatment of the movie is so real and the feel and look so amazingly brilliant that you feel you are a part of the movie yourself.

Well there are lots of other movies that make the grade, but I will put them down later. Till then try to catch these movies and smile along.

Movie Review - Saaya

2007-06-30T20:32:00.000+05:30

The Bhatts are back with anotther inspired from Hollywood movie.Saaya is a movie said to be inspired by the Kevin Costner flick Dragonfly. I haven't seen Dragonfly but now after watching Saaya I have an urge to see Dragonfly. Read on for the review.

Story -The movie basically deals with the story of a husband and wife doctor duo (John Abraham and Tara Sharma). The wife, who is pregnant, dies on relief duty somewhere in the northeastern Indian State of Nagaland. The husband can't get over the fact that his beloved is gone and he immerses himself in work and starts working in the hospital continuously. He also gets himself shifted to the same ward where his wife used to work and then things start happening to him. He starts hearing his wife's voice and strange things happen to him. Water starts falling from the ceiling; dead children come alive and tell him they have met his wife. His home starts turning into a waterfall cum swimming pool but only he can see this and feel this. All other people find this strange and think that he has lost his mind and gone crazy due to his wife's death. But an encounter with a former nurse turned nun who believes in life after death, the doctor starts to believe the his wife wants to communicate with him? Does he manage to communicate with his dead wife or has he done crazy ? As he gets closer to his dead wife, the truth emerges. Watch the movie to find out what happens next. The climax of the movie is good, not quite what I expected.

Performances - John Abraham is good but he needs to improve quickly. He carries of his role with his trademark pained expression through the movie. A couple or more of other expressions would have been welcome. Tara Sharma looks cute and doesn't have much of acting to do but she is adequate. Of the supporting cast Mahima Choudhary as the friend, looks and acts well and the rest of the cast is ok.

Music -The songs of the movie are slow, love songs and they gel with the movie. There are some really lovely soulful songs in the movie. The background score is good too.

Direction / Cinematography -The picturisation of songs is good and Kerela looks oh so inviting in the first song itself. The Director Anurag Basu is a new director and he has impressed in his first movie. Certain scenes like the dead child waking up suddenly to stare in the doctor's eyes are well done, handled well.

Verdict - I give it 3.5/5. The producers have another small budget movie that I think should do better than what people are expecting. Overall it's a 2-hour movie that feels slow but will keep you interested without boring you. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND this movie.

Movie Review - Main Madhuri Dixit Banna chahati hoon

2007-06-30T20:14:00.000+05:30

Yawn - another movie from the factory of RGV. But wait, Main Madhuri Dixit banna chahti hoon is a very different kind of a movie to come out from Ram Gopal Varma productions.

Story - The movie tells the story of Chutki ( Antara Mali ) , a Madhuri Dixit wannabe who lives in a village called Gajaorla. Raja ( Rajpal Yadav) is her childhood friend who loves her and wants her to realise all her dreams. Chutki’s dreams are that of becoming the next Madhuri Dixit. When chutki’s parents want to get her forcibly married, Raja understands her problem and steps in and marries Chutki and takes her to Bombay , where he wants to help her in realising her dreams.

From here the struggle for Chutki starts, visiting studios, getting thrown out of offices and studios. A chance encounter with a film extra that makes her realise that she has to change the way she looks. So Chutki tries to get the modern look and finally bags a movie after she does a music album but the movie has in the cast, duplicates of all possible stalwarts of Bollywood. But after some persuasion from the model co-ordinator and Raja , Chutki signs the movie and is promptly devasted as on the 1 st day, the movie opens to empty theatres and flops.

Raja and Chutki decide to hang up their boots and return to Gajoarla but there is a silver lining at the end. Catch the movie to find out.

Performances - A movie like this needed good performances from the lead actors and I must say both the lead actors are fantastic. Antara as Chutki is better in the 2nd half of the movie when she is emotional. Her performance had the spark that a main character needed. She doesnt quite look like Madhuri in all her dances but is good though a stiffer than Madhuri in dance movements. Rajpal as Raja had a supporting role to Antara , but this guy is amazing. HIS IS THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE MOVIE. Amazingly real and restrained, he steals the show completely. The rest of the supporting cast is good too.

Music - The music is just about ok , so-so infact but this movie is not a musical .

Direction / Cinematography - The Direction is Absolutely Fantastic for a guy in his 1st directorial venture. Chandan Arora has done a very good job in keeping the narrative unidirectional and has absolute control over the story. The cinematography is in sync with the look of the film.

Verdict - I give it 4/5. Overall this is a movie that leaves you feeling happy and warm after you walk out of the theatre. There are many funny and emotional scenes in the movie . The scene in the empty movie theatre is poingant.

Go on catch the movie fast . There are not many of these kinds of movies made these days.

ONE THING THOUGH - THE MOVIE HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT HOW THE FILM INDUSTRY WORKS , IT HAS LEFT OUT THE PART RELATED TO CASTING COUCHES. wouldn’t we have loved to see this part addressed so naturally. if only wishes were horses!!!!

Movie Review - Awaarapan

2007-06-30T13:47:00.000+05:30

The Bhatt factory rolls out another movie from their assembly line. Presumably the costliest movie to be made under the Bhatt banner. So does it work ? Read on....

Story - The movie is about Shivam (Emraan Hashmi), a fiercely loyal right hand man of a don (Aushutosh Rana) in Hong Kong. The Don and his don brother (Ashish Vidyarthi) have fallen off with each other and are rivals. The brother don has a coke snorting druggie son (Purab the Channel V Vj). The Don has a woman (Mrinalini) whom he bought from a human trafficking gang , he loves her but does not trust her. He trusts Shivam to keep an eye on her when he is gone for some days and find out if she has anyone else. As it turns out, the girl has a lover who wants to free her from the don's bondage. As the don gets to know this from Shivam, he orders Shivam to kill the girl. As it happens Shivam fails. Why ? Because he had a girl friend once (Shreya Saran) who was a muslim and her dad tried to shoot Shivam but shot his daughter instead. She taught Shivam to release birds from cages as they too had the right to be free. This story is told in flashback and Shivam takes it upon himself to protect the don's girl and her lover. Does he manage to do it ?- watch Awaarapan to find out.

Performances - Emraan Hashmi plays the silent, brooding, pining lover with very little dialogue. He does a fair job of it, excelling in some scenes and pretty ordinary in others. 2 heroines, both new comers (Shriya Saran and Mrinalini) make their debut. Shreya is wasted in a 10 minute role and besides has nothing to do in the acting department but look pretty but her make up man messes it up again. Mrinalini has the meatier role but is wooden and stiff and makes a hash of the rocking song "Mahiya" as well. Ashutosh Rana and Ashish Vidyarthi are competent but for me the man who rocks the screen everytime he is on - is Purab. Brilliant performance as a junkie, stunning.

Direction / Cinematography - The Bhatt's blue eyed boy Mohit suri directs this one as well. He does a neat job but the editing should have crisper, a good 20 minutes could be edited out easily. Cinematography is good and the movie is set in Hong Kong which looks good in the movie.

Music - Music is the saving grace. A couple of songs specially the Mahiya song rock. Nice to hear. Thumbs up to the music.

Verdict - 2/5. The movie is slow and tests your patience. The performances are nothing to write about and the music is the highlight. If you are a Emraan fan, or do not get tickets to another movie, watch it else easily avoidable.

Movie Review - Aap Ka Suroor

2007-06-30T13:29:00.001+05:30

Finally its released. The much hyped and much awaited (?) movie starring the Indian Rockstar Himesh Reshammiya released yesterday. So does Himesh make the cut or falls out ? Read on...

Story - The movie is about HR (Himesh), a famous Indian rockstar on the German leg of his concert tour with a close friend of his. He meets and falls in love with the event manager of his tour (Hansika Motwani). Also he encounters different people like Concert managers, a sultry lawyer in love with him (Mallika Sherawat) and other sundry characters. Things are looking rosy for Himesh till he downs a few pegs/shots with his friend and the next morning is promptly arrested for the murder of a journalist who had come to take his interview. Now Himesh has to prove his innocence or else his GF's father will get her married to the next available boy (typical bollywood father). So how Himesh manages to prove his innocence and win his love is what the movie is all about.

Performances - Himesh is wooden and stiff. Yes he removes his cap and laughs too (yaay). But he has to really loosen himself if he wants to act as a hero (Noooo). Hansika Motwani as the female lead has nothing to do but to cry and smile (thinking wtf am I doing here) and she does a bad job of it as well. Also she needs a crash course in the make up department (tooooo much of kajal). Mallika Sherawat is the 2nd bright spot of the movie. Looks like a million bucks and really rocks in the Mehbooba song (sad though you have to sit thru the movie as the song comes right at the end). The guy who plays Himesh's friend rocks all the way. He was pretty cool and casual and stole the show when in the same scene with Himesh.

Direction / Cinematography - Prashant Chadda directs this movie. He is Himesh's good friend who has directed all his videos and it shows. The movie has been directed like a music video, looks glossy and shiny but is not anything great. Cinematography is good - Germany looks beautiful.

Music - Although all the songs must be coming out of our ears still I say the music is good and a couple of songs are really good to listen to.

Verdict - I give it 2.25/5. Mallika , Himesh's friend and the music contribute heavily to this score. Avoid if you can but if you are a Himesh fan, watch it once.

Romance and Rains

2007-06-28T10:17:00.000+05:30

This is a specific chapter in the story about 2 people and how rain played an important role in their lives, more specifically their love life.

2 friends (of the opposite sex, ok enough of pj's now) decide to drive to Lonavala via the expressway one cloudy day because the weather was nice for a drive. There was something in the air that both could feel but not pin point what it was.

As the car sped towards Lonavala, 1st stop was the drive in Mc Donalds to stock up on some burgers, fries and coffee. That done, the car gets on to the expressway. The weather is cloudy , windy and the conversation in the car flows while munching away on the grub. After the eating is over, the guy concentrates on the driving and the girl was enjoying the waterfalls along the road.

Soon Lonavala arrives in all its glory and splendor. Its covered in clouds, a slight drizzle and its amazingly green all around. The scenery is breathtaking. As they stand looking at the views between the valley and the mountains, suddenly both feel tense.

Then they drive towards the famous Bushy dam. It being a week day, there are hardly any picnickers around but both are in no mood to get under the waters of the dam. They drive on to Lions end, a place that offers a beautiful view from a place just a little before Amby Valley. The view is simply out of the world. The conversation has now stopped, both are spell bound by the beauty of the place and the rains continue to drizzle. Suddenly there is a crackling sound and both are surprised.

As it happens normally in such beautiful weather, people feel hungry and these 2 were no different . Hunger pangs strike and they get into the car and drive down to Lonavala for lunch. After a nice, satisfying lunch - it's time to head back home.

After driving slowly through Lonavala and Khandala, not wanting to let go of the greenery and views, they get onto the expressway. Its still raining.

The conversation in the car has stopped. The girl watches the scenery outside while her mind wanders on the crackling sound that she heard in the hills. The guy meanwhile is driving the car slowly and carefully - his mind is wandering about too, thinking about the unspoken silence and heaviness between the 2 of them.

And inspite of that unspoken heaviness - the comfort zone is very much evident. There is no need to speak anything - the guy looks at the girl from the corner of his eye and is surprised that she is looking at him. "What happened" , he asks. "Nothing" is the reply. Meanwhile the rains increase in intensity.

A little ahead when coming out of the tunnel, the girl looks at the guy and finds him staring at her with a dreamy look in his eyes. She turns away and so does the guy. As she turns towards the window to look at the scenery outside, a smile plays on her lips. As it does on the guy's lips.

Under the smile, both their mind ticks away. Why is this happening ? Why am I looking at him/her ? And why is she/he looking back at me but not saying anything ? The car speeds towards the end of the expressway - its still raining.

Soon they reach Mumbai and its time to drop off the girl. Saying bye this time is special and the conversation just before she gets off the car is longer. Its like there is an invisible force that does not want her to leave. The rains continue.

As it gets late - the conversation stops but still there is no awkwardness. Both sit comfortably with each other' company while the rain increases the intensity.

Its late and the girl has to go home. She reluctantly gets out of the car and says "Bye". "Bye" says the guy too. As the girl turns away and walks towards her home - it hits the guy - Its LOVE. He has fallen in love ! Suddenly he was scared, very scared. What if she did not feel the same way ? Should he tell her ? How will she react ? Will she not talk to him any more after he tells her ??

With love comes confusion and the guy drives back home in total confusion. The rains continue.

As the girl gets into the house, she can't stop thinking about the day and about the guy. She cant get her mind of the guy, whats wrong with me , she thinks. Its love says her mind and she cannot believe it. She goes to sleep but cannot. She gets up and goes to the window. The rains are still coming down. Now she know that the crackling sound she heard was not thunder but love.She tries to sleep again but to no avail. She is now in love and it hits her hard in the morning.

With love comes confusion and she now has loads of questions on her mind. What if he does not feel the same ? If he feels the same, how will I know ?

Meanwhile its still raining. And 2 people have realised that they love each other. Rains have played their part again.

Fast forward 6 years - to 28 June 2007

Well the 2 are now happy with each other. They managed to tell each other their feelings and both reciprocated.

Meanwhile - yesterday both of them felt the same crackling sound again. And as they looked outside, it was raining.

What the Fuck - Part 2

2007-06-25T21:18:00.000+05:30

I just read that post his 105 kgs weight loss (this is another wtf topic) Adnan Sami is being offered lead roles in Bollywood ! WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK !!!

Its been written that after his video where he has danced (haha what a joke), some people have approached him for lead roles in Bollywood. *shocked*

Who the bloody fuck is this Adnan Sami ? A 2 paise singer from Pakistan who has come to India for earning green bucks. If he is such a great singer, why the hell havent we heard that his songs have become hits in Pakistan ?

And whoever these people are - offering him lead roles in Bollywood , I have just 3 words to say to them - Suck my Dick.

I seriously want to believe that all these are rumours and no one has offered him any role in Bollywood.

What the Fuck !

2007-06-23T16:58:00.000+05:30

So its ended . The tamasha that was on all over - the newspapers , the tv stations and in schools and in temples. Its over now.

I am talking about the Return of Sunita Williams to Earth !

I could see people carrying out havans, poojari's chanting mantras and school children carrying photos and placards of Sunita Williams for her safe return to earth. And that is exactly why I ask - WHAT THE FUCK ? I mean come on - nothing like this would have taken place in the USA also after it was known that there was a problem with the shuttle.

Why do we have to pray for someone who isnt fully Indian yet ? I may sound racist but trust me thats not the point I want to make. Her father left India in the 1960's and thats her only Indian connection. He got married to an Slovenian lady and Sunita is the product. They say she has visited our country - that makes her Indian right ?

Oh I forgot - She carried some samosas that she ate in space, thats an Indian dish. Also she carried the Bhagvad Gita and an idol of Lord Ganesh but so what ? If I carry the Bible to space tomorrow, will the Americans or any Christian country (I hate thise type of words) for that matter carry out mass prayers or havans for my safe return ?

I am not trying to start a war here on the basis of religion or Gods or countries. but can't we ever think rationally ? I mean I am happy that the Space shuttle landed safely but I am glad not for Sunita alone but all her colleagues that they made it back safe.

And the media here is another medium that hypes up this kind of stuff. If you want to wish Sunita a safe return sms us , said one channel. I mean WTF ! By sending our sms to a news channel, we can ensure that the space shuttle lands safely ? Get a life man you news channels and stop playing emotional content to fool the gulliable people of our country.

And we the educated people of India - can't we fucking understand that the space shuttle came back safely because it was repaired using some nice technology in space and not by chanting mantras and conducting havans ? Is this so hard to grasp ?

Movie Review - Sivaji - The Boss

2007-06-23T10:07:00.000+05:30

So yesterday I walked into PVR cinemas at Mulund and check that no new intersting movies have released. So decided I should catch Sivaji - the Rajnikant starrer that has gripped the whole nation in it's frenzy. And it was in Tamil. So I get tickets easily enough , am surprised and walk into the hall. Its about 20 % full. I find that strange because all of us were led to believe that the movie was rocking everywhere.

Finally the movie starts. There quite a few non Tamil speaking people in the hall and thats surprising to me. As we watch Rajni do his antics , people are enjoying it in good spirits. The 1st half is a rom-com while the 2nd half is a revenge-action set. Nothing new in the movie , nothing great but still the movie keeps you entertained. Something like Manmohan Desai movies back in the 1970's. A couple of songs are nice, AR Rehman's music sounds , nothing like AR Rehman's music. The sets are good specially the glass set for a song.

Rajni struts his stuff and director Shankar aids him ably. Flipping coins and chewing gum in different ways, to imaginative action choreography and different looks for Rajni - its all thrown in at breakneck speed. And it works to an extent.

The female lead Shreya has nothing more to do than flutter her eyelashes and cry and be there compulsorily in the mandatory song sequences. She looks good enough though.

But after the movie - I could see one thing. Rajni has become old and that was most obvious in the dance and fight sequences. Special effects come to the rescue. Rajni has slowed down now, quite a bit. Age has caught up with him but he rocks.

His trade way of walking with a scowl on his face during a romantic song sequence had me in splits. Which again brought me to the question that the whole of India is debating - Is Rajni better and bigger than AB ?

As an actor - AB is leagues ahead of Rajni. As a style king , Rajni is leagues ahead of any actor in Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood and Hollywood put togather.

All in all - it was a fun filled experience. And yes me not knowing Tamil, was not of any consequence. Thats the magic of movies.

My Bolt fell off !!

2007-06-20T22:01:00.000+05:30

This happened on Sunday - 17th June 2007.

8 am - Me and my better half leave for Pune to attend a common friends engagement ceremony.

11 am - Reach Kondwa and attend the ceremony.

12 noon - Proceed for lunch at Mayur's.

1.15 pm - Take leave of the newly engaged couple and proceed towards the express highway. Soon i hit the Old Pune - Mumbai road and plan to get on to the expressway after Dehu Road.

As I near Pimpri, I run into traffic at a signal and I brake to slow down, down shift to 2nd and accelerate - it feels as if the car is struggling to get going. Also I hear clanging noises from the rear which obviously my better half cannot. As a precaution I stop and check from where the noise is coming, cannot pin point, so I continue ahead.

A little ahead, I again hit the brakes and slow down - down shift into 2nd and accelerate, the car is slowing down as if the brakes are not released. I stop at the side and check if the brake pedal is moving properly, it is. So I pull the handbrake and to my surprise its jammed. It wont come up. Now I get the heebie-jeebie. I can sense and am fully aware that something is seriously wrong here. So I start driving slowly and try not to apply brakes. Also keep hoping and praying that whatever the problem is, it sorts itself out.

I know it being a Sunday there are less chances of finding a garage open, forget finding a Skoda dealer open. Soon I spy a MUL garage and enter it, brake and stop. Try to enagage the hand brake - it doesnt , its jammed again. I quickly explain the situation to the mechanics who check out the wheels and the brakes but refuse to touch it as Skoda parts are difficult to get. Man this was getting more worse by the minute.

I pull out and start driving slowly - but just outside the Alfa Laval decanter factory the car simply refuses to move. Feels like the wheels are jammed. I park it at the side and 1st thing I call Adya. Explain the situation to him. He promises to get back to me with the help line number of a Skoda dealer who is close to where he stays. After 15 minutes he calls back saying that the dealer is shut but he is getting his mechanics along to have a look at my car. (God bless Adya and his 2 mechanics).

I wait and after a tense 30 minutes, I see Adya in his blue Opel Astra pull up. His 2 mechanics get to work. 1st thing they check is - the axle and if its dislodged ( Sam's problem with his Verna flash in front of my eyes ). Thankfully the axle's ok. Next they get a jack and wind up the rear left tyre and it does not move. Try the same with the right tyre and it moves freely. Seems like the left rear wheel is jammed. I am sweating.

Suddenly a friend of Adya's mechanic comes by and by luck he has the helpline number of a Skoda dealer. I thank God for sending him along and call up the number. Its unavailable. He gives me another number. I dial and wait - it rings (hurray), a few tense rings later someone at the other end says "hello" - after confirming that its a Skoda dealership number I explain the problem and tell him where I am stuck. He promises to get back in 5 minutes. Relief takes over me.

10 minutes - no call. 15 minutes no call. I dial - and its promptly disconnected. A bead of sweat comes down from my forehead onto my lip. After 5 minutes I again dial - he says 5 minutes Sir. I wait , tense and sweaty. Within 5 minutes, the phone rings startles me - Hello I say. Its the Skoda guy - Sir my man is on his way from Lonavala. he has left 30 minutes ago and will reach you in about 30 minutes.

The time is 4 pm.

40 minutes past 4 and no one has turned up. Sweat starts building again. I dial the number and its not picked up. The sweat starts in multiple streams. I get an sms - reaching in 5 minutes. Adya is keeping a nervous me and my mildly relaxed better half company all this while. Thank God.

Suddenly there is a tap on the window. Sir I am from Skoda. I tell you guys, that was the 1st time I actually realised what the word RELIEF means. Quickly I explain the problem and the guy starts working. Checks the brakes and wheels. And what does he find ?

The lower bolt on the rear brake calliper (right side) has fallen off.

The wheel is jammed as the calliper turns and jams itself. Finding that bolt from the open market is a problem too and to top it - the day was SUNDAY. I explain the situation and tell the guy that I had to reach Mumbai before mid-night. He says he will try but if he doesn't get the bolt, I will have to stay over or leave the car. Adya volunteers (God bless him) to take the mechanic to the local market to find the bolt. While they leave, I have my fingers crossed and pray, pray hard.

After 20 minutes - I call Adya and they are still searching for the bolt. I pray even harder. Meanwhile another guy from Skoda service turns up and I tell him that people are searching for the bolt.

I see Adya coming. He comes and parks. The mechanic jumps out and says they have got the bolt. I almost collapse in relief on hearing that. Adya has got about 7 different sizes of bolts (2 of each size). One size fits and its promptly tightened. The wheel is put back on and off we go for a trial. All fine. Take a trial for 5-7 kms - all seems fine. Come back. The mechanics note down my chasis number , VIN number , engine number , KMs reading and say that the bill will be couried to me. Break down charges are 650 Rs. I pay them the amount and tip them too. They leave.

The time is now 7 pm. I take leave of Adya after thanking him. Drive gingerly till I hit the toll booth not exceeding 60 kmph and keep braking just to make sure all is fine. After a loo break - I feel more relaxed and confident to push the car a bit. Had to reach home and drop off my better half too. Reach Mumbai at 9-30 pm. Finally.

Skoda service - Well all I can say is that I am impressed.

The car is running fine till now. Going to the Service station tomorrow and getting the OE bolts back on again.

And here again I would like to take the chance to thank Adya. Thank You Adya - I owe you one. Also would like to thank that angel of a guy who was carrying Skoda's helpline number with him. And also Adya's mechanics and Skoda service guys.

Also a big Thank You to TEAM-BHP. If not for team-bhp, I would be stranded with no friends to fall back on.

The Mystery still remains - How did the Bolt fall off ??

Back

2007-06-20T13:46:00.000+05:30

It's been a year, infact more than a year, that I last "blogged". The reasons are many and varied - some will be silly and some genuine but I have to admit, I am lazy (blame it on my star sign or is it sun sign?).

A friend of mine sent me a link to her blog and I promptly sent her a link to my blog (the big show off that I am) and wonder of wonders, she actually liked what she saw. Ok I agree there are only 2 posts but then quality can be seen immediately..hehe.

She says I write quite well, a statement I do not agree with. I just pen down what goes on in my mind without bothering too much about the language and grammar. Besides I feel if you write too properly, what you want to say doesn't come out the way you want it too.

So now I have decided to keep writing. And this is because of you friend. It gave me something to think and act upon. Thank you and if I someday win an award for writing, I will not be taking your name because I am thanking you right here. Thank you.

So lets go.....

School Mates

2006-04-16T18:02:00.000+05:30

My thoughts these days are a lot towards organising a reunion of my classmates from 1988. For the record , thats the year we finished our school and then each one went his/her seperate ways. Close friends were in touch with each other , gradually loosing contact. I went through a similar experience and completely lost touch with all my school mates until the internet gave me hope ......

Saw a site called Batchmates.com and as usual curiosity got the better of me. I thought why not search here if my school was listed (I studied in a small town called Valsad in Gujarat State) and voila it was there .....excitedly I registered and hit search and my smile grew wider with each familiar name that cropped up on the screen. Immediately dashed of mails more in hope that atleast someone would want to get back into touch and immediately i got mails in return.

Thus started a chain of events that got me back in touch with about 20 school mates. Now all of us are excited to be back in touch with each other and plan to find our remaining mates and organise a reunion somewhere at the end of the year.

Lets hope we do manage to get a reunion done sucessfully.

Here Goes

2006-04-16T16:48:00.000+05:30

Hi Folks,

This is my first post. Why did I start my own blog ? Well to put it simply , I got curious. Curious of the phenomenon called BLOGGING , decided to get a first hand experience. So here I am.

Right now I'm in office working away (yes on a sunday) towards a TS16949 audit thats happening on Wednesday the 19th. Tiring job , but have to do it.

More for later , now I got to rush....

cheerioss