sapnaiyer

Trump's Tales

2016-03-02T18:56:00.001-08:00

This is happening in the U.S.A??? The land of the free??http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-supporters-push-young-black-woman-protesters-thrown-out-of-kentucky-louisville-rally-a6906836.html

Friday movie with my Tween

2016-03-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

I figured it would be interesting to watch some old classics with my tween. We watched Casablanca, Bringing Up Baby, 12 Angry Men and a few others. One Friday, my tween suggested a film called A tree grows in Brooklyn. She said she had read the book and insisted that we watch it. We also watched The Book Thief. Both were beautiful films. Recently, she just finished Gone With the Wind and we are planning to watch the movie which actually lasts for 4 hours. In Bollywood films, we watched Maine Pyar Kiya, Dil Tho Paagal Hai, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai:) It's just the beginning. This post is meant to encourage many movie lovers out there to share suggestions of films that you think are watchable with a tween.

Should Content Drive Ratings or Vice Versa?

2016-03-02T18:15:00.001-08:00

In one of the News Room episodes, I came across this line-should Content drive ratings or vice versa? It was a very meaningful question, one that many media houses need to tackle at some point.

Recently I came across this article about Melissa Harris-Perrry's show being canceled on MSNBC. Her show on MSNBC focused on issues like racism, social justice, diversity etc. Her show is canceled due to editorial interference. This is what she had to say-“While MSNBC may believe that I am worthless, I know better,” she wrote. “I know who I am. I know why M.H.P. Show is unique and valuable. I will not sell short myself or this show. I am not hungry for empty airtime. I care only about substantive, meaningful, and autonomous work. When we can do that, I will return — not a moment earlier.”

Well said Melissa. It's so important to hold on to your values. You don't compromise your values because someone thinks it would be commercially viable. Comments?

Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson

2016-03-02T18:03:00.003-08:00

The other day as I was scrolling through the NYT, I came upon NJ Senator Cory Booker's book recommendations. He recommended Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson as a book that deeply inspired him. I decided to pick it up and I am glad I did. It exposed me to the flaws and callousness in the U.S Criminal Justice system and the pressing need for reform. For a while, I have been reading and hearing about mass incarcerations in the U.S. Over 2 million people in the U.S are in prison. Just Mercy is loaded with real cases of innocents sentenced to death, mentally ill sentenced to death, juveniles tried as adults, life w/o parole for non-homicide cases, life imprisonment for drug offenders etc.

"Mercy is most empowering, liberating and transformative when it is directed at the undeserving. People who haven't earned it, who haven't even sought it, are the most meaningful recipients of our compassion."- Bryan Stevenson. He made it his life's mission to represent innocents given the death penalty. These are real stories, not fiction. I hope the next presidential candidate takes up the issue of mass incarceration in a serious manner.

Oscars 2016 Highlights

2016-03-02T17:36:00.002-08:00

Oscars is a special night for me. I really look forward to it and this year it made a lot of headlines due to the absence of African American nominations. I guess they made it up with an African American host. Chris Rock was loud and clear and hammered the subject throughout the show. At one point he said something like "Black performers had been overlooked in decades but in the past, we were too busy being raped or lynched to care about who won best cinematographer." He said it in jest but it was a deep statement.

And the Oscars ran for over 3 hours. Mad Max Fury was the clear winner of the evening bagging six Oscars. Revenant bagged the big wins: best director, actor and cinematographer. It was a big night for investigative journalism as Spotlight won the Oscar for best picture. I was also happy for Mark Rylance for winning the Oscar for best supporting actor in The Bridge of Spies. South Asians around the globe were elated to see Priyanka Chopra present an Oscar and Sharmeen Obaid win an Oscar for her Documentary, A Girl in the River. There wasn't much activism in the acceptance speeches this time except for a few. Leonardo Dicaprio spoke loudly about global warming. It was a pleasant surprise to see Mr.Joe Biden.

I didn't pay much attention to Chris Rock presenting three Asian kids as the accountants of Pricewater Coopers until I read this article http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/movies/chris-rocks-asian-joke-at-oscars-provokes-backlash.html?_r=0 Comments?

Grisham Again!

2015-12-16T05:16:00.002-08:00

Not reading enough books was among the many resolutions that I broke in 2015. Rogue Lawyer is one of the few that I read. John Grisham is one of my favorite authors and I have read most of his work. If you like this genre and you want something to unwind you, pick this one. JG always has a thing for humor but this one is exceptionally funny. If I remember correctly, Client had a lot of humor too. Some bits of My Cousin Vinny flashed in my mind as I was reading Rogue Lawyer. Keep going Grisham!

Bollywood Countdown 2015

2015-12-11T07:04:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again! Time when we look back at the movies and songs that we cherished during the year. Please take a moment to send in your favorites. The final list will be up on Dec31st!

Nightcrawler

2015-12-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Someone had mentioned about this film called Nightcrawler and I decided to check it out. The film touches upon the ethics of journalism-just how far can you go to get a good story? In this case, Jake Gyllenhaal is an unemployed man turned freelance journalist who is fearless to go to any extent to get good footage and shots of a crime scene. Sometimes thrilling and sometimes scary, the film sure is a great watch!

Tamasha

2015-12-07T14:10:00.001-08:00

Amidst mixed reviews, I went to see Tamasha. I am not exactly a big fan of Imtiaz Ali though I have managed to see most of his films. Love Aaj kal was miserable and Rockstar was ok. The first half of Tamasha was trying. I was beginning to get extremely restless and had made up my mind to bash the movie on social media. I am glad I sat through though. The second half was beautiful. It showed the struggle of an artist who is forced to lead the life of a common man. The frustration, the misery inflicted is wonderfully enacted by Ranbir. I am glad Imtiaz delved into substance with Tamasha. The success of the film shows that the tastes of the Indian audience, specially youth is slowly evolving. People might differ but I strongly feel that a person can only excel at what he does the best. Stick to what you do the best and someday you will arrive:)

M M Kreem Bollywood Compositions

2015-12-03T10:02:00.001-08:00

Started the show today with Maine Dil Se Kaha from Rog. The song is rendered by KK and the music is composed by M M Kreem. Though few, M M Kreem has beautiful compositions in Bollywood. I particularly like his music in Paheli and Zakhm. Below are a few of my M M Kreem favorites:

Maine Dil Se Kaha - Rog

Laaga Re Jal Laaga - Paheli

Raat Saari Beqarari by Alka Yagnik from Zakhm

Tum Mile from Criminal

Kaun Mera by Chitra Ambadipudi from Special 26

Roya Re from Dhoka

Bridge of Spies - Another Spielberg gem!

2015-12-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Being a Spielberg fan, I rushed to watch Bridge of Spies on the day of its release. Alas, all the seats were taken barring the first row. I complained, the manager apologized and compensated by letting me see Martian in 3D. Sealed the deal. Btw, Martian is a great watch too. The rigors of life and the mundane everyday chores kept me from watching Bridge of Spies for another couple of weeks and finally I got to see it and how! I got the whole theatre to myself (not that I like it that way. Feels freaky).

Bridge of Spies is classy. The issue Spielberg chose to cover in the film is exceptional. The idea of an American lawyer defending a Russian spy is laughable and would seem ridiculous but the premise is that everyone has a right to defend themselves. Justice for all. Even a spy gets a lawyer to defend him. Like Tom Hanks says in the film" I am an Irish and you are from Germany. What defines us as American? It's a rule book we call the Constitution." It's a great watch specially this election season when some candidates are ranting things that are un-American.

Money and Happiness

2015-05-21T11:23:00.001-07:00

I am reading this book by John Grisham called Gray Mountain. Whatever little I know of the legal system in the U.S, I owe a lot of it to John Grisham’s books. Am a huge fan. I don’t want to delve into the details of the book but there is a reason I want to bring it up. The backdrop of the book is the recession of 2007 when times were tough and many companies failed and ceased to exist. The protagonist works for one such big law firm and she is let go. She is promised to be absorbed back provided she does volunteer work for a year. Reluctantly, she leaves NYC and joins a legal aid clinic in Virginia that represents cases for poor folks at no cost. It’s a contrast for her. In NYC, she made millions by doing paper work for her rich clients. She had never seen a court room and litigation was not her cup of tea. In Virginia, she works free but has a chance to make a real difference in the lives of people. She sees real cases, courtrooms, litigation etc. For an Ivy League law graduate, what is more fulfilling? Earning millions pushing paper or having an enriching career that makes a difference but with no money? The bottom line: does money always grant you happiness?

There was an article in the NYT recently(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/lawyers-with-lowest-pay-report-more-happiness/?_r=0) which seemed to address this question. It says some 6200 lawyers were surveyed and it was found that factors normally associated with success in the legal field such as high income or a high level job at a prestigious firm had zero correlation with happiness and well-being. However, lawyers in public service jobs who made least money like public defenders or legal aid attorneys are more happier.

The article further says that according a John Hopkins study in 1990 lawyers were 3.6 times as likely as non-lawyers to suffer from depression and last December, Yale Law school released a study according to which 70% of the students who responded to a survey were affected by mental health issues. I don’t mean to single out the law profession. It’s certainly interesting and extremely demanding. But, not everyone is made for it.

I think we all experience a point in our life when we get a lucrative job but not satisfying. If you do find a satisfying one, it’s not lucrative. Given a choice, I am sure we will all opt for the ones that are fulfilling. But, many times you have no choice. You made to the American dream of a big house and satisfaction will not pay your mortgage or your child’s college education. But, assuming all your other needs are satisfied, would it make sense to choose satisfaction and meaning over money? It does set you thinking.

PhDs in Iran's cabinet outnumbers US

2015-03-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

According to the Economist, Iran’s presidential cabinet has more members with PhDs from American universities than the U.S.cabinet itself. (wait! it gets better) Iran has the highest U.S University alumni in any foreign government in the world. And, if that’s not enough, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earned a PhD from Glasgow University in Scotland.(Gordon Brown was a professor there before he became the the PM of U.K). So, will education change perspective on both sides? Will the Iranians act responsibly as a result of more education? Will the U.S trust them more since they are more educated? The chances seem slim but here’s something to muse about. Like Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon with which you could change the world.

Bollywood Top Ten 2014 ( Sapna's Choice)

2014-12-18T13:58:00.001-08:00

Click here to listen to my Bollywood Top Ten show

Every year end, it's a pleasure to rate and compile songs that we have been hearing over the year. Here are my picks. They are not necessarily the popular club songs but quality songs that have really made an impact.

Sapna's choice 2014!

10. Zehnaseeb + Chandaniya

Zehnaseeb from Hasee Tho Phasee sung by Chinmayi Sriprada, music by Vishal Shekhar.

Chandaniya from 2 States sung by K.Mohan, music by Shankar Ehsaan and Loy

9. Dard dilo ke+Baarish

Dard Dilo Ke from The Xpose sung by Mohammed Irfan, music by Himesh Reshamiya.

Baarish from Yaariyan sung by Mohammed Irfan, music by Mithoon.

8. Maaloom+Sheher Tera

Maaloom from Lekar Hum Deewana Dil by Hriday Ghattani, music by ARR.

Sheher Mera from One by Two sung by Thomas Andrews, music by Shankar Ehsaan and Loy.

7. Ranjha - Queen

An absolute gem! Ranjha from Queen sung by Rupesh Kumar Ram, music by Rupesh Kumar Ram.

6. Samjhawan+Muskurane

Tenu Samjhawan from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya sung Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, music by Sharib Toshi and Jawad Ahmed.

Muskurane from Citylights sung by Arijit Singh, music by Jeet Ganguly.(Listner's choice!)

5. Pathaka Guddi

Patakha Guddi from Highyway sung by Nooran Sisters, music by ARR

4. Harjaiyan

Harjaiyan sung beautifully by Nandini Srikar, music by Amit Trivedi.

3. Haider - Khul Kabhi,Aao na, Bismil

The entire album of Haider rocks. Bismil is divine by Sukhvinder Singh, Khul Kabhi by Arijit Singh and Aoa Na by Vishal Dadlani. Music of Haider is by Vishal Bharadwaj.

2. Naina

Naina by Sona Mohapatra from Khoobsoorat. Music by Sneha Khanwalkar.

1. Galiyan

The top song of the year-Galiyan from Ek Villian. Singer and Music composer is Ankit Tiwari.

2014 - A recap with special emphasis on current affairs and geo-politics

2014-12-11T17:24:00.004-08:00

click here to listen to the 2014 recap show(current affairs and geo politics)

Malaysian Airlines

The tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated this year after Russia started supporting and supplying arms to Russian speaking rebels in Eastern Ukraine. In midst of this conflict, on July 17th, a Malaysian airlines flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lampur with some 298 passengers on board was shot down in Ukraine. The plane was mistaken to be from the enemy combat team. Sadly, it was too late to correct the mistake. For no fault of theirs, 298 passengers of Malaysian airlines lost their lives. Among them were 154 dutch, 27 Australian and 28 Malaysian. It came as a harsh truth considering that earlier in March this year, Malaysian Airlines MH 370 just went missing. There were 239 passengers on board.

South Korea

In another mass tragedy, a South Korean ferry carrying over 400 people ,mostly students capsized killing over 300. The boat had extended capacity and the captain got away from the boat fearing his life leaving hundreds inside to die. The captain was sentenced to 36 years in prison for negligence causing injury and death.

After Malaysia and South Korea, let’s move to another Asian country. It’s a country that says - Are deewano mujhe pehchano kahan se aaya main hoon kaun.

China

Slowly and steadily, China has worked its way up and today is the second largest economy in the world surpassing Japan. China today is a pillar of strength and is oozing with confidence with over 3 trillion dollars in foreign reserves. Xi Jinping is considered as one of the most powerful leaders in the world. China is an important market today and is in a position of strength. You can see the way it hushed Hong Kong protestors despite the west trying to bring up the issue time and again. The Chinese leader clearly told President Obama during the ASEAN summit that China would work with the U.S to combat global warming but will not tolerate anyone backing the Hong Kong protests. But, despite all the progress that China makes, it is not a democracy. Internet is still restricted and so is free press. There are human rights issues. What happens if China becomes the undisputed leader in the future? That is something that You and I need to think about.

Before we exit China, let’s also quickly talk about this person in China who taught English for a while. He then tried his hand at many jobs including a clerical post at KFC for which he was rejected. On a travel, he discovered the world of online shopping and its potential in China. The result - Alibaba was born. Jack Ma is the inspiring founder of Alibaba and Alibaba had the largest IPO ever raising $25 billion.

India

And last but not the least in the Asian continent is the iconic election in India. People spoke without hesitation and vented out their frustration with the Congress government. Narendra Modi won enough seats to form the government without having to seek coalition. The nation is riding a positive sentiment. India today might be behind China but India has something that China does not have and many other nations don’t have. One, is the unrivalled youth power. How many nations can you name where 65% of the population is under 35? Second, India is the largest democracy. Channel these in the right path and sky is the limit. We sincerely hope Modi leads India in the right direction. One other major achievement in India was the success of the Mars mission and most notably its puny budget of $74 million.

Africa

Let’s move over to Africa which is the harbinger of the epidemic that today threatens the globe. First case of ebola was identified in March 2014. Since then, it has spread between countries to Guinea, Sierra Leonne, Libya and few cases outside the continent including the U.S. Over 6000 people have died so far and there are over 17000 confirmed cases of Ebola. Many doctors and nurses from around the world have risen to the call , risking their lives and traveled to West Africa to treat the infected. For their undeterred commitment towards saving human lives, Ebola fighters were declared as Time persons of the year 2014.

Another evil that plagues Africa is in Nigeria by the name Boko Haram. Boko Haram in English translates to western education is sinful. In April this year, Boko Haram abducted some 219 girls who are still missing. He kidnapped them from a boarding school. Despite outrage and protests, the Nigerian government could not bring back the girls. 219 of them. The U.S government has offered a reward of $7 million for the head of Boko Haram.

Mexico

While on the topic of girls abducted, let’s take a look at Mexico. 43 girls who had planned some sort of protests were taken into custody by the police and under the orders of the mayor, they were handed over to a criminal group which brutally murdered all 43 students.

Conflict thy name is this continent. Main pareshan pareshan pareshan is something people in this region forever say.

Middle East - Things seldom change here. If they do, it’s mostly for the worst. Conflict between Arabs and Jews, fragile situation in Iraq, nuclear ambitions of Iran, civil war in Syria-the region is as it is loaded with tension. And now ISIS. ISIS has been on a rampage this year conquering cities, spreading their radical ideologies and slaughtering hostages be it journalists or humanitarian workers. Particular cause of concern is the beheading of these hostages by western converts. Containing the growth of ISIS will be an ongoing challenge to the western nations in 2015.

United States

There were many important events in the U.S this year. The mid-term elections in which the democrats lost control of the Senate. GOP took the Senate and retained control of the house. As a lame duck, President Obama cannot do much but he can veto and use his executive powers which he did to sign the immigration bill. The bill would let 4.7 million of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S stay without the threat of deportation. 17 states have sued the Obama administration over the bill. 2014 was a year when even the U.S saw a lot of protests albeit peaceful highlighting the racial divide that still persists in the U.S. The protests in Ferguson over the killing of un armed Michael Brown, in NYC over the handling of Eric Garner by the police, the shooting of a 12 year old african american in Cleveland for playing with a toy gun and many such cases, some them which gains attention and some that just go unnoticed. Eric Holder says this is the Rosa Parks movement and many good things will follow as a result of these protests. Well, we certainly hope it does.

Oil Slide

One thing that has been balancing or shifting power geo politically is the oil price. Crude oil has slipped from some $115 a barrel just a few months back to some $66 a barrel presently. Normally a recession is predicted with low oil prices but this time its different. The low oil prices are a result of excess supply rather than lack of demand. The U.S shale oil revolution has contributed to oil sources. The OPEC in its recent meeting decided not to cut production and let market make its own correction. Overall, low oil prices is a boon to consumers as they have more disposable income to spend on other things. It’s boon for oil importing countries like India, Japan, China etc. It is the oil producing nations that are hit big time. Russia, Iran, Venezuela are all struggling due to the fall in oil revenues. I wonder what will happen going forward.

Rosetta mission comet landing

After 10 years, 5 months and 4 days, clocking 6.4 billion kms and looping around the Sun five times, Euraean space Agency’s Rosetta mission orbited a comet. No spacecraft has ever orbited a comet before. It’s a big achievement for the scientists at the European Space Center.

Beyond Bollywood Exhibit at National Museum of Natural History

2014-11-30T13:09:00.001-08:00

It’s Thanksgiving and I am at D.C hoping to cover a few museums with Jersey style comfort(parking right outside the museum). I step inside the National Museum of Natural History and look around. There is a board that says “Beyond Bollywood”. Curious, I walk inside the exhibit and am greeted with “pyar kiya to darna kya” from Mughal-E-Azam. Then comes,”jeena yahan” from Mera Naam Joker. All of a sudden, I choke with emotion. Next hour is sheer delight as I walk around learning about the journey of Indian Americans in the U.S. From the initial migration of farmers from Punjab in the late 1800s to the winning of American beauty pageant by Nina Davuluri, the exhibit is an attempt to showcase the struggle and the achievements of Indian Americans. Had it not been for the exhibition, I would not have known about Darsh Singh who was the only turbaned sikh to play in the NCAA basket ball game or about Dalip Singh Saund who was the first Asian to be elected to the U.S House of Representatives. After an enriching experience, I walk out abound with information on my identity as an Indian American.

https://soundcloud.com/sapnaiyer/masummomayainterview

Some more courtroom dramas.....

2014-11-30T12:13:00.000-08:00

1. 12 Angry Men - see my post on Sidney Lumet.

2. Inherit the Wind - A film loosely adapted from the 1925 " Monkey Trial" in which Scopes was convicted for teaching his high school science class Darwin's theory of evolution which suggests that man descended from the apes. This theory was not acceptable as per Tennessee's law. Spencer Tracy superbly plays the role of the defendant lawyer. The movie is a treat to watch!

3. Witness for the Prosecution - Based on Agatha Christie's novel and directed by Billy Wilder, Witness for the Prosecution is another great courtroom drama. The climax is particularly interesting. Go for it!

4. The Verdict - see my post on Sidney Lumet.

5. My Cousin Vinny - This is one of the most hilarious films that I have seen. To steer humor into something as serious as a courtroom drama seems impossible but that's exactly what the film does. Super!

5. Judgement at Nuremberg - The film is about four judges who served before and during the Nazi regime. They are charged for crimes against humanity during the regime and a 3 judge panel will hear and decide their case. Spencer Tracy plays the role of the chief judge and he has to decide the fate of the four judges charged. What do you do if your government makes you do horrendous crimes against humanity? Do you abide and go along or protest and stand up for your values even if that means death? Awesome film!

6. A Few Good Men - There may be a few out there who have not heard of this film. Tom Cruise is superb as Lt.Daniel Kaffee and Jack Nicholson is outstanding as Colonel Nathan R Jessup.(Nicholson's role earned him an Oscar nomination)

7. Philadelphia - It's based on a true case on Aids discrimination. Clarence B Cain was an attorney who was fired by his employer on knowing that he had Aids. Bowers was an attorney who represented Cain and sued the company. Tom Hanks plays the role of Cain(the role that earned him an Oscar) and Denzel Washington plays the Attorney's role. Bruce Springsteen earned an Oscar for his song"Streets of Philadelphia".

8. Anatomy of a Murder - Another interesting law related thriller starring James Stewart.

Boomerang - Inspiring Courtroom drama based on a true story.

2014-11-26T13:23:00.003-08:00

My voracious appetite for courtroom dramas led me to this one. Directed by Elia Kazan, starring Dana Andrews, Boomerang is an asset in this genre. Character truly builds a person and to know that the film is based out of a true story is immensely enriching. Dana Andrews plays the role of Homer Cummings(55th U.S Attorney General). Cummings served during FDR's time. Playing along with the Connecticut crooks would probably have landed him the Governor's job. But by fighting them and standing up against injustice, he rose to become the 55th U.S Attorney General. Great film and a must watch for middle schoolers and above.

Amol Palekar turns 70!

2014-11-24T11:44:00.002-08:00

The 70s was a golden period of Indian cinema. It was awash with great films, great actors and rejuvenating music. Films during the 70s catered to a varied audience. There were films targeted at the masses and there were films for a niche audience. We saw films like Sholay, Deewar, Zanjeer etc while we also films like Gharonda and Chupke Chupke. While Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh, Vinod Khanna were all the favorites at this time, the audience also loved Sanjeev Kumar and Amol Palekar. To stand tall and unique and differentiate yourself among all the popular actors is not an easy job. And that's exactly what Amol Palekar did. With his simple and earnest looks, he charmed people. Particularly impressive are the roles that he chose. People connected hugely with him be it Gharonda, Golmaal, Rajnigandha or Chitchor. He churned hits after hits and even today his films are cherished by film lovers. He personified the Indian common man like no other in the industry. Amol Palekar is a veteran director too. Paheli is a masterpiece by Amol Palekar. In a recent show of mine, we did a small segment commemorating his 70th birthday. I also had a quiz about who in modern times represents the Indian common man similar to what Amol Palekar did in the 70s. Any names? Which is your favorite Amol Palekar number? Below is mine(just one of the many favs)

Bollywood actresses playing the role of a Tawayaf/Prostitute in films

2014-11-16T11:55:00.002-08:00

There was a piece in the Economist a while back that argued for legal prostitution. It talked about how technology is transforming the world's oldest profession. For example: In Berlin, Germany where Prostitution is legal, there are apps that let you type in a location and you get a list of all sex workers around the place along with other particulars. There are sites where users can post in reviews that help other customers. The sex workers can background check the client. In short, it just works like any other professional service website.

In India, there are over 3 million sex workers and not all of them are forced. Some willingly enter to make a living. Whether legalization will stop trafficking and be beneficial is something to think about. On reading this, I started to think about all the bollywood films where actresses have played the role of a prostitute/tawayaf/hooker etc. Did a radio show on this theme and as always it was so much fun! Hear a glimpse of it here.

1.Meena Kumari gracefully performs the role of a tawayaf in Pakeezah.

2. Rekha in Umrao Jaan - She is unmatched till date. Her eyes spoke volumes of her agony. Rekha, Asha Bhonsle and Khayyam make Umrao Jaan immortal.

3. Rekha plays Zohra Bai in Muqaddar ka Sikander

4. The ever gentle Suchitra Sen in Mamta. Roshan's music is par excellence.

5. Priya Rajvansh in Hanste Zakhm. Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna is haunting. The song just freezes me. Madan Mohan and Lata Mangeshkar create this rare gem.

6. Rehana Sultan in Dastak. What a film! If you listen to Mai Re Main Kase Kahoon, you hear a lot of scary tunes making you wonder if Dastak is a horror film. But it is the genius of Madan Mohan who has used those tunes to depict confusing and terrorizing human emotions. A classic indeed!

7. Kiron Kher in Sardari Begum- Sardari Begum is a film directed by Shyam Benegal. The film received a lot of accolades and the music by Vanraj Bhatia was much appreciated.

8. Kareena Kapoor in Sudhir Mishra's Chameli. Awesome music by Sandesh Shandilya and wonderfully rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan. Kareena Kapoor also played the role of a hooker in Talaash.

9. Tabu in Madhur Bhandarkar's Chandni Bar

10. Kalki Koechlin in Dev -D :Anurag Kashyap's contemporary version of Devdas. Simply loved the film and Amit Trivedi's music. Check out this song by Shruti Pathak.

11. Shruti Hasan in Dev-D - Check out this gem by Shankar Ehsaan and Loy in the voice of Rekha Bharadwaj.

12. Rani Mukherjee in Laaga Chunri Mein Daag.

13. Rati Agnihotri in Tawayaf

14. Smita Patil/Supriya Pathak in Bazaar - Phir Chiddi Raat Baat Phoolon Ki - Lata and Talat Aziz create magic under the music composition of Khyyam.

15. And last but not the least, Madhuri Dixit in Devdas.

Feel to free to suggest the ones that I probably missed!

Let It Be

2014-09-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

A song stays with you for several reasons. I heard Let it be for the first time when I really needed someone to tell me that it was ok. It's a song that made me feel better during a challenging phase of my life. Thanks Beatles!

Interview with Kiran Bedi

2014-09-26T17:09:00.005-07:00

India was in the limelight for wrong reasons in December of 2012 when a 23 year old girl was gang raped in Delhi and thrown in to the streets to die. She was returning from a late night film with her friend. The aftermath was a huge outcry. The nation seethed with anger and protests became loud and clear. Unfortunately, sentencing Nirbhaya's murderers to death has not actually deterred further rapes. We keep hearing of them everyday and just recently we heard of the horrifying bangalore rape of a six year old. On one end we talk of progress but how can a nation progress with rape incidents mounting by the day? What are doing wrong as a nation and how do we set it right? A brief interview with Kiran Bedi on the issue:

Kiran Bedi Interview

Wow William Wyler

2014-09-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

We movie lovers appreciate any good piece of work and after years of watching many films, we do tend to have a few favorites. I have mine too and its surprising that it didn't take me too long to nail down my favorite. Just one film of his and I was conquered. I still remember how I was awe-struck after watching Ben-Hur. I had never seen anything like that before. It was completely magical. According to me, Ben-Hur is William Wyler's magnificent piece of work. It's incomparable. If I make a film some day, it would have a lot of Wyler influence. After Ben-Hur, I vehemently went after William Wyler's films. The Letter, The Best Years of our lives, Roman Holiday, The Heiress, Mrs.Miniver, Wuthering Heights, Big Country, Dodsworth...I devoured them all.

Genius Wyler!

Sidney Lumet

2014-09-25T17:49:00.002-07:00

Some movies leave you speechless. 12 Angry Men is one of them. To think that this was Sidney Lumet's first feature film speaks volumes about the skill of this director. It was flawless and superbly done. Henry Fonda is a delight to watch. Anyone that asks me to recommend a film gets this one first. I started to chase Lumet after 12 Angry Men. Verdict came next. Another courtroom drama starring Paul Newman. I went after Network but didn't enjoy it as much. I am not yet done with Lumet. Will get back to him some time. If you have not already, please watch 12 Angry Men!

Trivia for bollywood fans- Basu Chatterjee made 12 Angry Men in hindi called Ek Ruka Hua Faisla. K.K.Raina plays Henry Fonda's role and the movie is a neat attempt.

Sydney Pollack Films

2014-09-25T17:34:00.002-07:00

Once a film catches my attention, I try to dig more from that director or actor. I saw Syndey Pollack's The way we were by accident. It made me so emotional and I loved both Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand and the title track chokes me whenever I listen to it. I wanted to see more of their films. I ended up watching adventurous but sometimes depressing Jermeiah Johnson once again directed by Pollack and starring Redford. Out of Africa came next starring my favorite Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Tragic and poignant, the film truly moved me. Three Days of Condor followed next. Though the entire film was thrilling, the end baffled me. I had to read about it to understand. I decided to take a break from Pollack-Redford and chase Barbara Streisand. I devoured funny girl followed by A star is born. "Evergreen" (the song from A star is born)was magical. She is one of my favorite singers.

The Way we were - Barbara Streisand