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Sunday, 17 August 2008
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Bachna Ae Haseeno
If you have only pizza to sell and you wish to open shop in Punjab and Ludhiyana.......how you will sell it? well, the answer is simple...you will start selling Tandoori Pizza.......and I Yash Chopra House has picked up the same formula.
The only product they have to sell is a love stories shooted at romantic locations which are either full of greenery or snow. And this time they were either short of locations or of stories....and that's why they took up the scenes from their old hit films and mixed all in one and presented a three hours confusion.
The movie had nothing exceptional to offer.......infact the word exceptional is an overstatement....it didn't even have average things to offer to the audience. Story is all about a guy who falls in love (or pretends to be in love) with three girls at different stages in his life......and he realizes about the pain he had given to the two girls while he was being rejected by the 3rd girl......and then he gets this instant feeling that he should look and complete the stories he had left incomplete years ago......and he does that in his utter boring and lengthy way.
On the whole audience have nothing much to watch rather than watching other people's faces over silly jokes and waiting for the interval. (before going to the cinema hall I was told that second half has something new...and thats why me and all my frnds kept waiting for the interval).....but the second part of the movie was even more silly and even more disappointing. I guess I would have given 2 out of 5 if the movie would have ended at the interval......but after watching the second part I would give it only 1 out of 5.
There was a joke while this movie was being promoted......Bachna Ae Hasino has 4 female actors......and then my frnd said....Nahin Yaar..sirf teen hain.......then the answer comes - Yaar Ranvir bhi to hai. And I could relate to that joke very well while watching the movie. Ranvir's debut (yes debut....because I dont think Saawariyaa was a movie and hardly any one watched it) was as pathetic as the acting of the other three girls........no one is able to arouse anykind of emotion or feeling while on screen...jokes are too bad....and worst, they are very badly timed. Seriousness appears ridiculuos on the screen and does not match the emotions of those actors.
Anyway....avoid this movie......dont watch it in a cinema hall.....you can wait till the cable-walla shows it on TV or else rent a DVD. But dont even buy the DVD.
Monday, 12 May 2008
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Shaurya
Shaurya - It takes courage to say Right_Right.
Having watched this movie recently without having seen any of its promos properly (because they were either too confusing or boaring), I didn't even know the cast/director/songs/context about the movie. All I knew that Rahul Bose is in the movie, and this was the sole inspiration while I was buying the DVD. And the movie didn't disappoint me.
The movie starts with a scene of crime which acts as a base-line for the things to happen for the next two hours in the movie. The entire first half is spent building the characters, and thats when you get to see that Javed Jaffry is also in the movie and does not look out of place (inspite of his totally different personality, as seen on TV and media). The first half depicts Rahul Bose as a person who is quite unserious about life and is only interested in persuing his interests and a life with no responsibilities. (Rahul and Javed are friends working in Indian Army as Lawyers), and then suddenly they are found standing against each other in the court on the same case (where the movie started).
With the case taking new turns and bringing out revelations Rahul Bose becomes serious and a completely changed personality. And this metamorphosis has been well capatured and very much noticable in the movie. (It is the strength of the actor and the story-line which could make this change quite visible to the audience).
Kay Kay Menon has been once again extra-ordinary with crisp dialogue delivery and a matching performance with his acting. He makes you feel as if you are actually sitting infront of a Army Honcho. His presence on the screen is not more than 15 mins, but then he actually steals the show in those 15 mins.
Apart from this, other actors have not been utilized properly - Seems Biswas, Javed, Minissa Lamba; all these have been either ill-treated or probably their scenes have been edited. There is no memorable song in the movie (there are only two songs, so thats a saviour for the audience).
All in all I must say that its a movie which you must watch (unless you are someone who is addicted to only masala movies amd hates to watch any sort of parallel cinema).
While watching the movie I got a feel that this is an Indiannised version of 'A Few Good Men', which is true once you reach till the end of the movie. But this adaptation is still worth watching.
Thursday, 08 May 2008
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'Jag Vella praani' = Mr Pondy Nayanam!
I know, I know.....I really know that you all miss me, and you all miss me the same way as we used to miss sleep while semester exams used to be on the next morning, and sometimes like a 'sutta' when even our mess-workers refused to give one to you all. I am really happy to see that if I don't send an e-mail to all of you for a week, then you people start itching to know about my whereabouts. But let me tell you that - I am still single and rocking as usual, albeit, getting rocked these days with the heave load of work and some newly gained responsibilities at the work-place; So, girls, no need to feel bad about my seclusion I am still the same - single and ready to mingle! And guys, no need to envy me, I am still not decided about marriage, and I think I will need some more time. So just chill!
Daddu saale......Whats this 'Jag Vella praani'!!!!! what made you conclude that I am a vella? ees baar India aake dikha......London wapas jaane ke liye visa pe mera stamp lena padegaa. But Daddu, really love you man (no! I am still straight), will give you a missed call whenever I see a bengali now-onwards. (for all those who don't know who is Daddu -> Daddu is one creature, and probably the first and the last one, who can miss his class just because you asked him to draw your Engineering Drawing sheets, he is the one who will attend the class but will not respond on his turn during the attendance call.....b'coz he would be 'proxying' for Maadu/Cho/Haddi/DJ/<anyone else>, but people never understood the love he carries in his heart for THE BAKAR grp, but Daddu still loves them....and ye jaan bhi de sakta hai )
Anyway, coming back to the main agenda......Vella! Yes, I used to be a vella until first few years of my job (even now I have traces of a vella, but now I have discovered it to be of a first-order-dying-radioactive-characteristic element, with a half life of 1 year (plz! koi gandaa gaali mat dena) ), and the only respite while at office was that - a software engineer has all the liberty to be in touch with his other vella friends through e-mails, and I was a champion in this vella-giri. I have no doubt when I say that I have sent tonnes of e-mails to all my friends eversince I got the tag of a software engineer. And mind you, I am not the ones who will keep shelling the mail-boxes with forwarded content, instead I give a personal touch to all the mails by self-typing them and making them even more attractive.
But recently I myself I have observed that I am losing that 'vella-giri' tag, don't know when did I lose the desire to send e-mails and irritate my friends. Don't know when did it happen that I felt a complete loss of desire to ask my friends that - 'how are u doing?' or much in my own style 'Kya haal-chaal hai bhailog' (since there are no behen-log in our group). Suddenly life takes so much from you in the name of work/responsibility/growth/career/etc-etc that you feel like asking yourself - 'Was I working for this seclusion?' or 'Does career means being loyal ONLY to the organization?'. Well, I really don't know weather this is just a starting of the decay process, or is it the end of the communication process? Whatever be the case, I know that none of us are happy about the latest developments in our lives, but then thats 'life' and thats what is known as 'advancing in your career'.
I am suddenly reminded of those college days when we all used to talk in dis-belief that 'Yaar humlog kabhi alag ho sakte hain kya?' (its not that we are not together, but then communication process has been dying like a first order chemical reaction).......probably life is giving a stronger answer to all of us, and then I am reminded of that 'Dil Chahta hai' dialogue - 'Saal bhar mein Goa aana to kya, shayad ek baar milna bhi mushkil hoga, hum sab us ship ki tarah hain jo apne apne safar pe nikal chuke hain'. Hard to believe! But thats the fact. We are all sailing in different directions and probably for the good!
Vella, signing-off! Don't know when will I be sending you all a mail with my stylish subject line - 'Kya haal chaal hai bhai-log?' (saalon, agar ek-ek ladki pata lete to kamse-kam mai to pakka mail karta rehta.)
Sunday, 04 May 2008
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Back to the basics......
A time comes in the life of all the guys and gals sitting at the edge of their twenties and yet single. And it requires an effort to spend time once you are free from the daily chores of life. Internet and virtual world stops to give you a kick/pleasure (or for that matter the computer itself) and life seems to be dull, boring and, suicidal.
If you felt like your current story, then welcome, Join the gang of millions of youths who are waiting to enter into thirties and have nothing to do which gives them the kick of happiness and ecstasy of joy. Most people start indulging into alcohol (like I did), rest keep searching for hobbies (which dies with in weeks), and some finally make up their mind for marriage.
I am going through a similar phase, and I have no option but to try out something to kill time. I used to booze from morning till evening, and yet used to keep working, but now even it has stopped giving me a pleasure which I used to derive in the initial days, hence planned to drop it, and now I am back to my social drinking days. The new problem which has popped up is that I have nothing much to do now. Reading, surfing, Writing and music are things which I do in parallel, and after an hour or so I feel like doing something more and yet remain creative.
I gave a lot of thought to this and finally I got the answer in one of the photographs dating back to 1993 when I was studying in a boarding school (Vikas Vidyalaya, Ranchi). Our days used to be very very action packed and tightly scheduled. We were all perfected in the art of multi-tasking, and it was encouraged that we take part in as many things as possible. It was during those days that I developed a desire to make friends beyond the boundary walls of my school and to learn better English. And that was the time when I got to know something about 'pen friends', the idea almost instantly excited me and I started looking for sources through which I might get someone to talk to. And then I got to know IYS (International Youth Service), a agency which used to provide the addresses of people who shared similar thoughts and interests. Mind you, those were not internet days and hence each and every step used to take at least a week to happen, and I enjoyed the whole process of searching and then communicating with my pen friends.
The longest communication which I could maintain was almost for 5 years with a Malaysian girl of my age and my interests. Then one day her home address changed and I lost the contact, more because my address was also changing very frequently in that phase.
Pen-friendship means a lot to me, even today, its just that I have not been able to devote any time to it since last many many years. Ans as I wrote in the starting, I am looking for a new engagement for myself, this happens to be a tried-tested-and-engrossing hobby, and I am almost raring to go again.
I have already started working on it, but this time I have the power of internet with me. A popular notion is that no one will waste time writing letters these days, but to those I would say just one thing - Do you still feel possessive about the letters which you used got many many years back? I am sure you must have got your answer.
So guys, I am again going to re-live my childhood days, and experience the same ecstasy when I used to get mails from people all over the world. :)
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
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Tashan
Tashan! ... as this movie says Tashan is all about style (a word very much aboriginal to North Indians) ... and the movie speaks volumes about style and only style.
Dont have much of expectations when you are planning to watch it, neither do have lot of hopes about the logic, but do HAVE a lot of expectations when it comes to displaying Tashan in 'UP ka Bhaiya style'. Almost looked like Omakara at several instances with the only difference that Saif was replaced by Akshay and well placed.
The movie has nothing much to offer when it comes to Kareena, neither does she look sexy at all, and actually disappoints when you realize that her last movie was 'Jab we met'...but never mind, the other lead characters in the movie will keep you entertained enough.
I have always been a big fan of Anil Kapoor and Akshay Kumar and they have remained upto the expectation (at several instants they do great job), and Saif is only bringing the style quotient into the movie (even more than what Kareena does). The background music is great and you can be almost sure to pick up that title song 'tashan mein...' once you are done with the movie.
You wont carry any classic moments once the movie is done, but then you will surely be reminded of the character Bachchan Pandey, and Bhaiya Jee again and again. The music is matching the pace and situation of the movie. Fight scenes are absolutely unrealistic and a ugly copy of Matrix fight scenes at many points (but then I warned you - do not search for logic anywhere in the movie, just sit and enjoy what's being offered), story is acceptable if you dont think much about it, and some of the songs are above average.
All in all, a watchable movie, only if you have a taste for 'UP ka Bhaiya jee' style and some ear for the slangs and an eye for the desi-style. (Ok! here is one more litmus test, weather you will like the movie or not - if you liked the first half of 'Omkara' and the action parts of 'Race', then you will surely watch this movie till the end and would hopefully like it).
Tashan!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
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krazzy4
krazzy4! the way director spells the word 'crazy' is itself unique, and the way it has been depicted and pictured proves that the director needs a break from his job.
A movie which has nothing to offer when it comes to story-line, its one of the worst written stories I have come across and it would really need a krazzy mind-set to go ahead to make a movie with it, and the director probably has proved the same.
A film which has nothing to show during promotions, it just shows the three 'item songs' again and again. Giving the audience no chance or reason to attract to the cinema-halls. If one is only interested in item songs, then he/she would probably switch on the TV instead of going to the cinema-hall.
Even if I wish to write anything more about the movie, I can't. Because there is actually nothing worth mentioning. It has wasted all the talents of some very potential artists. All in all, I would never recommend this movie to anyone, because its an absolute waste movie. Never even think of watching it!
Thursday, 10 April 2008
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Death of The Merit....
India is one such nation where we can equate (or superiorities ) our emotions to anything, and anything means anything. And right now I am talking in the context of Reservations in Higher Education becoming legal for even the OBC category, after today's judgment by the Supreme Court of India.
I have read and heard a lot about the inclusive development plan, but I have never heard that in any of the inclusive development plans we need to side-line the talented people and take the less talented people for the same roles. I dont understand any logic behind pushing someone into a field which is totally directed by merit and the knowledge power, and the person himself should be potentially strong enough to compete and carve out a niche for himself. But in India things can be ridiculously illogical and yet in action, thanks to the Power of Democracy.
Reservation according to me is nothing but a bribe to a certain section of people. And by paying this bribe you are making them deprived of the fighting spirit and self-respect they could have developed other-wise. And at the same time, a reservation is a curse for the one who is far more talented and competent to bag a place for himself, but you are de-motivating him by allocating his seat to a less deserving person.
I am really into a kind of dilemma right now, that how could SC pass this statement that - by reserving the seats for OBC candidates we are not violating the constitutional rights of Indians. It truly amazes me. Also, they have promised to review the situation of OBCs population after 5 years and then take further action. Well, here I would like to point out just one thing - even the Population count in India is done after 10 years and that too needs a statistical approximation method to reach to a final figure, and you are talking about reviewing the situation after 5 years. Well, I do not subscribe to such 'wishful' statements. After 5 years you will see a different face of these OBCs.......they would want it to continue for next 500 years......you dont belive me.....then try to recollect these words in year 2013.
Any sort of reservation in anything is nothing but a vicious cycle, and its a curse and bribe at the same time. I do not feel that any good is being done at the cost of someone's talent.
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
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Movie Review : RACE
Race :
What will happen if you shake a champagne bottle many times? The answer is simple - the fizz goes after a couple of times.
The same happens in the movie.....the two directors have tried to shake the champagne bottle after ever 10 mins, and thats the reason why an average audience (like me) is also able to guess what going to come next. The saddest part for a 'suspense-and-thriller' director is when audience can start guessing about the story to come.
I do appreciate the director and the story-writer for their effort in creating in such a story, but then at the same time I really want to kick them for over-doing the drama and the same trick after every couple of mins. After every 5-10 mins the audience gets a shocking revelation. And it appears really exciting for quite some time, but after that every one starts to feel that its been done too many times.
Music no doubt great.......specially the title song, and 'Pehli Nazar...', but then I must say that the background music has been matched with the pace of the movie.
The female actors have done NO job in the movie, they are merely getting the footage for showing the skin.........Saif would get some great reviews from her feminine fans for his as-usual fantastic looks.......Akshay is so-so.....Anil is as-usual doing a dynamic job (although he would not get any award for this...as usual).
Finally, I believe the name of the movie should be changed to something else....because it does not look like a movie which represents a theme of 'Race'....instead it represents something else......hatred and frusutration of the younger brother. So, if possible change the name of the movie when the movie comes in DVD print :)
all in all : could watch the movie.....if you have any kind of attachment for the thrill and suspense, although soon you will discover that you are being fooled, but still on weekends if you have some spare time you can watch it! -
IPL/ICL will fail......thats what I'm sure of
I have no doubt that India is an emotional nations, and it needs a spark of emotion to grab the attention of its people. Be it elections, sports, festivals, or any other occassion the ONLY reason why India participates in the event is 'emotion'.
The most glaring example of someone who has been cashing this emotional cow is Media, where we see all possible drama coated with an emotional layring. See the politicians in every election they talk about how we got independence and how their party members faced all possible trauma, or worst, they talk about castism to evoke our emotional disgust against other parties.
Following a similar trend, our cricket-crazy nation gives an undue inmportance to the game of cricket more because Pakistan also plays cricket and we derive a deep sense of relief when Indian teams beats Pakistan team on the pitch. And media leaves no stones unturned in making the most out of such situations.
A decade back when Md Azharuddin was leading the Indian side for the World-Cup he said this in an interview - "The best moment in cricket for me will be when Pakistan and India reaches the World-Cup finals and India emerges as the winner". The point I am trying to pick up all through is that we don't love the cricket because of uniqueness or its technicalities. We watch cricket just because Indian team plays cricket. We derive a sense of pride when India wins, we feel honoured when India beats Australia, and at the same time we feel powerful when India beats Pakistan. A normal Indian is least interested in knowing that how much did Sachin score in a Ranji match. Or, Mumbai team defeated West Bengal team in a match (even if Sachin and Ganguly are part of these teams). In a similar fashion a NORMAL Indian cricket-fan would be least interested in following the IPL matches where several teams would be fighting against each other (All of which has highly reputed Indian players).
A lot of time, money and energy has already gone into making this concept a success, but then I am doubly sure that this concept requires a lot of time to give-back the expected rewards. And I guess even the sponsers and team-owners are also aware of this, and thats the reason why they have done almost everything to gain public attention (promos, music, fashion, live-shows, press conference, cheer-leaders etc etc), but all this seems to going into the direction of 'Force 1' concept of Mallaya.
I have no doubt that these kind of activities will create some momentum in the desired direction, but it will take some time......atleast 3-5 years.
A stray thought came into my mind while I started writing this piece which I guess will help gather the momentum........Shahrukh should show his 6-pack abs after every match.....Priety should be doing some item number during the matches are on......and Mallaya should be serving free beer to everyone in audience during the breaks..... :)
Saturday, 01 March 2008
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It happens only in INDIA.
Budgets have almost always left at least a section of the population unsatisfied or mildly satisfied, buts thats past. Coming to the 2008-09 Union Budget presented yesterday leaves almost every section of the society pleased with the efforts made by our Finance Minister (FM).
Before I proceed anywhere from here let me quote a statement which was told to me when I was a kid........No one can satisfy the needs of everyone, but if you are trying to do so, then its probably election time.......so true, when I see this in the light of the recent budget.
I am aware of the fact that our FM has got appreciative remarks from all-over the world for having done a great job in the past, and no one can deny the fact that he is capable enough to guide the finance dynamics of such a huge nation. But at the same time I am also aware of the fact that he belongs to UPA, the ruling side, and the Congress(which is the major chunk in UPA) is under a lot of stress to win future elections after several defeats in the recent regional polls. And hence the role of our FM changes from managing the 'Finance Dynamics' to the 'Vote Dynamics'. All the effort goes in collecting the votes rather than giving a long-run financial strength to the nation.
As a person everyone would be happy to get more money in his account, and no one can deny the fact that given an opportunity no one wants to pay-back their loans. And finance minister having done that (for farmer) has set a wrong example for the generations to come. With this decision they are passing these two messages - 1. We can't actually do anything to improve the status of Agriculture in India, and hence this bribe for the time-being, later if required we will pay more, probably during the next elections. 2. We just want that you be at the same level, from where you started, probably few decades back. We don't want you to be hard-working, because we are always there whenever we need votes from you.
Look into the human psychology, what would run in the minds of several hundred thousands of farmers whose loans have been waived-off...'Thank God! Its over, my responsibility is gone'....and once the responsibility goes off the human mind tends to be more and more satisfied with his current state. I have no doubt when I say that there wont be any effect in the productivity of Agriculture in the coming year and there wont be any decrease in the number of farmer's committing suicide. This step also sends a wrong messages to the Banking sectors. Do they provide loans to someone just because someday govt will pay back for them?
Before I finish writing this I have only this much to say - If I were FM, and if I were to take this step of waiving-off the loan amount then I would have it in steps, waive-off only a part of the amount, and not the whole amount. Responsibility should be shared, and not taken-away.
Just think of our cricket team where 10 guys are performing well, and the 11th guy who has the potential to contribute, but is unable to. But when the match is over the 11th Guy gets the Man of the Match! It can happen only in India.
About Me
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Three is always a crowd....at a times even two is a crowd. I am a Loner!
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.....If you are not creating any difference, then you may be a part of the thrown-off difference....... -Sarsij
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- Name: Sarsij
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- Member Since: 8/5/2007
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