Seeds and Deeds

The 'First Love' syndrome!

2011-12-25T08:50:00.000+05:30

A friend of mine is in love. His first love! And he is in pain. Rough patches… I personally see no future in his story. But for him, this is it. He says, “Pyaar ek hi baar hota hai.. sacha pyaar”. I can’t help smiling. I know where he is coming from… I just tell him, “Happens… you will know better in good time!” He gives me a look and our conversation is over. Oh, I have been through this too. The 'first love' syndrome!

Eight years back… I was just into my second year of graduation, and probably fourth month into my first ‘love’ story! I was busy making plans for my visit home. As a student I travelled by train and that meant I had to book the tickets well in advance to be able to get a ticket. And this time I was planning my winter vacation earlier than the last time. Not around Christmas… but at least 10 days before that.

SURPRISE!

All planned except the ticket, I was sitting by the steps on my college blocks when my senior joined me. As we spoke I happened to share with him how I am looking forward to being in Guwahati by December 15. When I told him I wanted to surprise ‘her’ as it was her birthday he could not stop smiling. After grinning ear to ear for sometime he finally asked me, “Is this your first love?” I replied in positive. He patted my back and said, “I understand. We have all been through that. Don’t worry, you will know better in some years, or let’s say some relationships later.” I shrugged off. Back then ‘she’ was the one, no one else would replace her. And this was to be the lifelong relationship. Quite filmy I suppose… but what do you expect from a Bollywood buff! The senior walked away with an ‘I know all about this’ smile, leaving me more resolute that I am going to make that relationship sustain for my life. And that should not have been tough…

Two months from then as the date of journey came closer my parents desperately tried to cancel my visit. Reason: Assamese-Bihari clashes were at heights and any train passing through Bihar was not safe. Things had gone bad when a Naga girl was raped in a Delhi bound train by some Bihari youth who were retaliating to some of their friends being assaulted in Guwahati when these guys went to appear for railway exams. And now some rogues in Bihar were attacking just about every Assam-bound train. I was least concerned. I was certain that I had to reach Guwahati by the birthday. And I was willing to risk an attack… mar bhi jaaye pyaarwaale, mit bhi jaaye yaarwale, zinda rehti hai unki mohabbatein! With the lean frame of my body back then (or trust me… I used to be lean too) I was all set to fight goons, if required, to reach my destination.

No such drama happened. The train had to pass through just two stations in Bihar and that was quick. I was safe and I reached my city. Only know that my heart was to be crushed… on the BIG day! ‘She’ had suddenly realized it was all an infatuation and would not want to meet me, leave alone wear that bracelet that I had managed to buy for her. (Well frankly… it was my elder sister who paid for it!).

There I was… left alone. The world fell on me. Heart crushed…no sounds, just tears all night long, for almost a month. Sigh! I was still hopeful that she would come back.

Fact 1 - She did not return. Rather she fell for someone else.

Fact2 – Oh! I fell for someone too. And soon someone else again… and again!

Eight years from then, as I look back… I do not grieve the fact that my first love story did not turn my only. But I do celebrate the fact that I had my share of love stories… If you ask me, each break up was responsible for the growth in me as a person. And while some really believe that I am bordering on to insanity, I believe today I know what I need better, than I did eight years back.

The few days back it was the birthday of my first girlfriend and that also happens to be my ‘first break-up’ day. There are rarely better days that could portray the change in me as a person over the years. Reactions to that message were hilarious but they only made me believe one thing… Change, sometimes, is beyond comprehension. In such cases, Love is usually the catalyst!

Here’s the message:

“Once I was willing to risk my life to do something special on this particular day. Today I wonder if it is just the date that changed or is it me! May be both... Probably I was good back then, evidently I am perfect now!”

As this year ends and another year is set to start, open your heart and let love flow in. You need not hold on to anything… just love everything that you get to experience. May the New Year bring in new loves!

The clichés of my day

2011-08-19T09:13:00.002+05:30

I wish I had those mornings again

Waking up to your voice

The sweet nothings

Before rushing to the noise

I wish I had those afternoons again

Breaking the clutter with your call

Asking how the day goes…

Including every detail… big or small!

I wish I had those evenings again

Walk by beach

Hair catching the breeze

Talking what did the day teach!

I don’t wish however for the nights again

Because darkness it got into lives

Because departure it does remind...

When I lost you and my mind…

Well, That's as bad as romance and poetry can get. You could find better romance in certain books... books of love letters...

Stale mate!

2011-08-02T10:03:00.000+05:30

Irritate, stalemate!

I had a date

Jiska kharab tha pet

And she was late

Upar Jyada tha menu ka rate

Aisa tha evening fate

Samjho mera state

Ho gaya main irritate…

And frustrate

No more of this shit mate!

Mujhe chahiye someone great!

Till then.. stalemate, stalemate!

----

Well that was... the worst rap ever. From yours truly.

For better... try Eminen!

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Boondein...

2011-07-29T11:30:00.003+05:30

Aaj apni haal kuch azeeb si hai

Paani aankhon se aaye

Bheege joote bhi hai..

Bachke to aa gaye hum

Baarish ke baar se…

Kare kya lekin hum

Is toofan ka jo dil mein hai...

Mirage

2011-07-23T19:13:00.000+05:30

love...

So I walked

Trudged rather, tired that I was

Towards the mirage that you created

Self said no, heart said go

And so I walked…

I travelled through days, weeks and months

Wounded feet and bruised heart

Faintly hoping the mirage would be you

Largely knowing it was just myth and hue

And so I walked…

I give in I give up

Destiny pulls me down, heart pull me up

Tattered to extreme, it still hopes

That mirage would be you and not just hues

And so I walk…

click here for

Mirage: A Novel of Love, Fate and Conquest in Napoleon's Egypt.

Serving Life... !

2011-06-28T11:38:00.000+05:30

While I was walking by a dark lane yesterday which followed by an auto ride for some time I had a hell lot of things passing through my thoughts.

While some were dark and bad and things I wanted to run away from including myself and everyone I know... There were also promises your sweet faces that lingered on my mind trying to persuade me to hang on...

I realise these thoughts come to me so often that this is almost what I am. Not almost… completely rather! I want company and yet I want to stay alone. There is a fear... Wonder of what; But surely is a killer!

Yet I continue moving along. Throwing promises and breaking a whole lot wondering what is that I am serving. The answer probably would be life. Oh I so hate serving life!

(Before people start talking, please refer to the label. This is a work of fiction, something I wrote 2 years back. Just posting now. Cheers!)

Just another day!

2011-06-11T22:08:00.002+05:30

Vinod's life was not the easiest. And at this point of life it was not getting any better. Let’s just say it was on the darker side. Often he bumped into situations when he felt a violent urge to kill… someone or just himself. FINITO!

But then he restrained… which often lead to more frustration. And as he went through a similar phase again today he consoled himself in his quirky humour, talking to himself, “I guess I am too meek. Not easy, when you do it by yourself. I don’t mind being killed by something else… dying in an accident. Just don’t want to hang to life by half a heart and incapable body after a failed attempt. Never like life anyways.”

It was a dark evening. Rainy... and lonely. That’s the way it has been for some time now. So much that he had started considering his life quite an example – “Screwed up job, screwed up mind… I don’t know which sucks more. I have been working for almost three and half years in this company and I don’t seem to grow or going anywhere.” Vinod had wanted to quit his job long back when he felt there was distance growing between him and his love. But he let it be… He believed that if he held on life could be beautiful in the long run… but then certain external forces played truant. “So far nothing has worked out. NOTHING! Leeches, suckers...” Vinod almost said that aloud.

Earlier in the day there were some serious arguments following which he had finally decided to walk away… from his love. He could not take it anymore. And the anger was just building up. “Accusation…! And they seem to come from all directions. I don’t work well enough… I have not been able to take of myself and my career… I have not been able to stand up to responsibilities… they never end. I never claimed I am the best guy around. Rather I maintain I am frail. I cannot multitask unlike many believe I can. Or maybe I can… and I am just emotionally handicapped…” Vinod grew restless… the calm surroundings did not seem to work. As he lay on his bed, sight fixed on the fan he seemed to be slipping into a trans.. “The bottom-line is that I never found myself normal!”

The comparisons had often driven him mad… comparisons to anyone normal and good. His boss often rebuked him for failing to grow professionally. His mother would complain about his job and the way he had no time anything else. And ‘she’ agreed. “My stupid dreams and expectations! Or maybe it is my fear… my incapability or my fear of being incapable when it comes to performing… Why am I supposed to deliver? Is this life? Why should I do as they like…,” his breathing paced up with simmering anger.

Suddenly his phone rang… It was his closest friend. He had missed his birthday. “Oh great… more complains on way…!” Vinod decided to give the call a miss too. He decided to go for a walk… he had already missed his dinner and there was no chance he could get anything decent to eat at this hour. And neither was he in the mood to have anything… appetite dead!

As he walked down the deserted streets the drizzle started all over again. Soon it was a downpour and he was soaking wet in not time. He walked ahead towards the crossroads. Suddenly a car zoomed by, splashing water from a puddle on to him. “Screw you!” he cursed.

The car had successfully taken away his attention from his own life momentarily.

As he walked towards the footpath he saw street dogs running in hiding. His eyes followed one of them as it sprinted towards what seem liked a shelter. As he neared he saw it was a plastic cement bang that was acting as a shed and below it laid a kid. The dog just curled up beside the boy, drawing heat from each other while making futile efforts to stay dry. Rains did not always bring in relief… “These street kids are really strong and brave…”

Such a stereotyped life! Vinod could not help smiling at himself. All he could do was complain about himself and all he needed to see was someone else suffering to get back to sanity. “One more day goes by and I am back to the same square!”

Vinod walked to the nearest medical store, bought an orange candy. “Rain and ice candy really go well together…!”

Love, life or opportunity?

2011-06-11T15:49:00.002+05:30

oops... I missed it

Last year at this hour I held back from saying something, while right now I want to scream out a declaration but you are not to hear it out…

Last year at this hour your only wish in life was to be by my side, today you rather not have me in a radius of half a kilometer…

Last year I denied… today you refused!

Now those lines precisely define the relationship between our lives and opportunities… and love too?

Party… Oh baby!

2011-03-06T17:54:00.002+05:30

Now I know it is sounds strange. It’s not that I don’t really try being a part of parties that friends host. But I won’t deny the fact that I get terribly bored in them. And then, there is also no denying the fact I have to go ahead with a heap of lies when the hosts ask if I am feeling out of place or bored. “Nah I am just listening to you all. I am fine,” I reply showing my glass fill with cola.

Listening… yes right! All I care at most times is when I can rush home. Silence is awesome. More often than not such parties have booze as the focal point. And then discussions to which I hold almost nil affinity. Things get worse. There is music too. The need more music in a party is almost as much as the need for the party in first place. So there you go…some cools songs being played as the night proceeds. One person religiously will keep playing DJ, while the rest talk…whatever the wish. Soon, if there are too many people, there would be groups forming and people talking amidst themselves. Even otherwise, the discussion only gets more interesting as the alcohol empties. Everyone has their own take and everyone wants to be heard. So everyone starts raising their decibels.

This says it all!

It is at such points when my desperation gets out of bounds. So the music plays on, people are shouting at top of their voices... neighbours losing sleep… and we call it PARTY! Yeah baby!

I was to one such party recently. And I had to go through the same old routine. And I was not in for another for some more time… but then things happen.

That’s when I got certified.

Yes, so I have been certified weird. That’s what someone who certified me calls people who can party alone. I do that. And enjoy it very much. More so on Saturday evenings. I buy my bottle of cola, some packs of chip, play a movie on my computer… and get done with all the three in perfect symphony. Bliss!

A conversation

“What? You serious? You mean you eat all of that alone and don’t even share? And you like staying alone,” the person shot back at me in an instant when I revealed by way.

“Hell yes. I am not of a sharing and caring guy any ways! And I like my time alone,” he replied.

“But what sort of party is that. I mean I can’t imagine partying without friends and some booze!”

“Well I do hang out with my friends. Quite often actually and then more often than not we watch films.”

“You are weird. Really!”

“Accepted!”

Review: Patiala House

2011-02-11T14:14:00.001+05:30

Patiala House

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Hard Kaur, Prem Chopra, Rabbit Sack C, Soni Razdan, Tinu Anand, Jeneva Talwar, Masood Akhtar

Director: Nikhil Advani

Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Mukesh Talreja, Kishan Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Zoeb Springwala

Music director: Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonza

Rating: **

The desire to create drama in some people is so great that they simply don’t mind compromising on simple facts. For Nikhil Advani, who has the pressure of two back-to-back flops on his shoulders, probably the drama looked more convincing. But for a more objective audience it will seem strange how someone can travel from Southall (London) to the Oval cricket ground in few minutes.

Towards the climax of the film the whole family of the protagonist travels by car from Southal to The Oval and reaches in time that is just about enough for couple of overs in a game of cricket. In real life situations that would take at least 48 minutes by train (which is the traffic-less way to travel). By car obviously it will take much longer… probably longer than an innings takes to get over in a T20 match.

This of course is not the only issue with Patiala House. The story has enough scope of drama and one does not need to try extra hard. And that’s where Nikhil Advani falters. Patiala House almost turns to Bend It Like Beckham towards the end!

The film rests on a superb story. A father says his aspiring son Gattu (Akshay) won’t play cricket for the English team. This comes after racial attacks. And like a good son Gattu gives up all dreams and settles to be a shopkeeper. He is ridiculed by everyone for being spineless. But fate has other plans. Simran (Anushka Sharma) comes back to London from India and is motivated to change things. She plays catalyst and makes Gattu get back to cricket. And as he races towards his dream, the rest of the suppressed beings feel liberated too, to do their things and not just follow what the patriarch says.

The screenplay fails to establish a lot of characters and how they are related to the house. There are too many characters overall, half of them not required. And amidst all of them, Dimple Kapadia is reduced to nothing. Certainly there was no requirement of the actress in a role which could have been played by a much lesser star. You definitely expect more when you have a Rishi Kapoor- Dimple Kapadia coming together.

There are a couple of other baffling examples. While I agree with the director’s decision to cast a younger guy as Akshay’s younger version, no explanation will enough for casting someone else as Rishi Kapoor in the flashbacks. And of course there is the forced attempt to make ex-English cricketer Naseer Hussain speak in Hindi. He should have spoken in English and we could have understood his dialogues better.

Akshay and Anushka

Nevertheless, the film has its pluses too. The performances are good. While Rishi Kapoor and Akshay Kumar are at the regular best, Anushka Sharma is a delight every time she is on screen. Dimple is for most of the film and yet does a lot with her body language. The ensemble cast does well too.

While the first half is a drag, the second half picks up pretty well. There is a good build up and the matches add to some excitement. The production values of the film score very high. Nikhil Advani has never scored low on this be it any of his films. The music is good, but the best song comes at the end! The dialogues too are good.

Overall though Patiala House could have been a much better film. This one is too long, fails to impress and cricket alone won’t be saving it.

An ‘interesting’ search

2011-02-06T17:09:00.000+05:30

Women… they will always be my favorite object of attention. They amuse me, irritate me and also make me fall in love with them. I have never been able to ignore them… be they in classroom, office or at the ATM kiosk. And yes I have had posts where I discussed how they are so remarkable at parking cars or paying the mobile bills at automatic counters but somehow nothing you do seems enough… just like a girlfriend who cannot be satisfied do whatever you can!

So here I am, on an idle Sunday afternoon, trying to wake myself out of slumber with a blog post… which could make me act, like a vanity bag makes a girl when they try finding something inside it.

What make the world interesting?

Find that funny? I do too… I don’t mean me trying to find something to write, but the fact that women have to try so hard to locate stuff in their bags. I am sure you relate to this one. Everyone who has known a woman will! Why do they keep as many things in their bag? In one my interviews with Sonam Kapoor had told me she carries notebooks and pen too though she knows she will never use a notebook. All she needs to note, she does it in her phone. There were a dozen other things which she would never use. And she is not alone. Every girl I know… well most of them do the same!

Men in comparison, at the cost of sounding sexist, are probably better organized. We like compartmentalizing things. We are minimalistic and we carry lesser baggage. Interestingly that trait goes against us sometimes. And of course we cannot deny the fact that we are miserable when we are supposed to multitask…

Anyways… getting back to the focus of my blog-piece, I wanted to write something interesting. Something as interesting as a woman! I started early afternoon and now it is almost dark. And this is what happens to me whenever I set out to write something. Yes I know I should lower my standards. Nothing can be as interesting… let’s just resort to observing women!

So you want to write?

2011-01-26T10:37:00.002+05:30

So I was complaining how fast things changes… that was in my last blog. When I started my blog a few years back I had done it more because I wanted to experience the medium. Over the time I realized it is such a fantastic place to actually jot down some of your thoughts and experiences… and people even come and read it. Must tell you the second part appeals tremendously! And that’s what had got me going, writing stuff and sharing experiences. And then I got into a job… as something many people call ‘journalist’.

Four years back when I started working I figured out that blogging is so much better than writing for a newspaper. Here you are editor… you can practically write anything. Sadly though that ‘anything’ takes a backseat over the time as matters related to the job preoccupies. Writing things that will keep your boss happy and money flowing becomes much more important than filling up your blog with stuff that makes you happy. Normal human tendency this one... and this in turn creates lethargy – towards your blog if nothing else. It did with me.

Beliefs versus reality

Ideas still randomly sprout… things that I would love to share. But the fact that I will have key in another piece after a hard day’s work kills all enthusiasm. Result: I may have lost innumerable of award winning write ups (Yes I am an overconfident narcissist… this is a result of being in the profession)!

Okay I accept that I am not the award winner types. Too many typos in whatever I write and my vocabs never improves! But there certainly was an urge… still is… to write. But no energy! Creative writing is not easy when you start writing for money… especially in the mechanical settings of media.

And that’s what makes me smile when new talented writers join the media. I smile at the irony. They probably too guided themselves into the profession of writing... as they wanted to be writers. I have got quite a few calls in the last few years… from friends and relatives. They tell me they know someone – cousins, children or friend – who is very creative and writes lovely poem and stories. And how they these people think that the poor kid should join the media! Many kids fall for it, some save themselves by taking up other careers. Chetan Bhagat definitely saved himself by taking up banking. He probably started writing to relieve the stress… and then wrote a best seller, became a writer and now roams the world.

I don’t write to rid myself of stress. Writing is what creates the stress now! And I don’t see myself writing my dream novel anytime soon… considering I run out of steam writing a short blog piece!

Positive side – If Chetan Bhagat can be an example… I think I could be one too!

Too fast…

2011-01-09T12:32:00.000+05:30

Recently when I was interviewing Sunny Deol he said something very interesting. “Right now things are changing too fast,’ he said. He was referring to changes in the film industry. But as I walked out of his house that one line kept running through mind. Change, we have always maintained, is the only constant in this moving world. And for a newsperson change is GOOD because that makes news. Something that gets us money… But then the ‘too fast’ clause indeed was an interesting addition to the thoughts. And I am just talking about the probably headline for the interview.

Things indeed have changed. And while we believe it’s always good… we don’t always analyze what could be making out of us.

did you say 'fast'?

As a student four years back I was different. Well I was much thinner for one. But that’s not the concern. You do gain weight and proportion as you grow older… at least people in my family always seems to have. But there have been changes apart from that. Changes that we attribute to life… but are actually more about us. Life after all is what we make of it.

Back then if I had to reach a place at a particular time I used calculate how long I would take to reach by bus. And I used to reach very much on time. Today I decide how long it will take by an autorickshaw – a faster medium of transportation and much more expensive too – and yet I reach late. Simply because there those few extra minutes that I desire to ‘rest’ or ‘take easy’. Bottom-line while I could manage for Rs 4000 a month as a student I don’t seem to be able to make my ends meet with multiples of that much money as my salary. Lazy? I would hate to admit. Maybe it’s just killing the jest…

And when I see all around me, I know I am not alone. Nothing seem to be enough anymore.

We were talking about change. And such a change in mere four years is definitely ‘too fast’.

Of course there are reason to this… reasons which have been working on us since we gained consciousness. But I assume I will just talk about the change for today.

Critiquing criticism..

2010-11-27T07:31:00.000+05:30

Recently my college lecturer Ramesh Prabhu asked me what I thought about the Indian film criticism and the criticism it has received of late from a various quarters. It set me thinking. In fact I have often thought about it, but this time I put it into some words. He included it in his own blog which also included other such pieces. I thought I would like to paste the same in my blog too, for some reaction from you. Do let me know what you think!

Pasted below is my mail to him… (Please bear my grammatical and spelling errors J)

Sir

This is one thing that I have been talking to people about for ages now. I agree film criticism in India has become a joke. At most times it is about pointless criticism.

I can only speak for Hindi cinema/Bollywood. The industry is at a very interesting stage. There is a change in the type of films that are being made. Films like Udaan, Tere Bin Laden and makers like Anurag Kashyap, Shivam Nair, Shimit Amin, Onir and Rajat Kapoor are trying hard to do something that has so often been rejected. They are trying to send the viewers through a rehabilitation... of movie viewing.

But these makers often end up being booed by certain reviewers... as they cannot identify with kind of films. And that's because they grew up on 80s films and somewhere tug along with the same flow.

Is film criticism dead?

On the other hand there is a young generation of reviewers who are welcoming the change. And in their excitement they some times show the green light to just about any movie which pretends to be 'new'. And these reviewers go about blacklisting any 'mass entertainer' calling them 'same old trash'. What makes things worse is that most of them, young kids, have not seen half as much Hindi films as they have seen Hollywood fares. I know people, 24 year olds, who have been reviewing for couple of years and they have not seen Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor or B Subhash. All three are important people. While the first two made classics, B Subhash gave us Disco Dancer!

There is a lack of balance hence.

Plus on a personal note, I was pushed into reviewing. As the clients needed reviews! There are many others who get into reviewing the same way as i did... because it's a job and it needs to be done! I refused to to Hollywood reviews though as I thought I was not qualified enough,. But I loved watching Hindi films so i carried on with it. Over the time I have learnt... and i have openly admitted that I have gone wrong in my judgement on multiple occasions. Today I tell people - A film is fine if the director tell what he wanted to tell in a good way. That's one thing that probably should be kept in the top of one's mind while reviewing movies. You don't expect a movie to be liked by everyone. I hated a Housefull some loved it. I love TBL some hated it. That depends on what kind of humour you like. I found Golmaal Returns better, Victor found Golmaal 3 better. The point hence is - did the director manage to do what he sought out to do. And if he didn't, what were the issues?

That also brings us to something very important - A reviewer cannot be subjective before he goes to watch a film. While reviews are supposed to be opinion pieces, and they very well are, the writer has to be able to adjust into any kind film. It is his duty to watch the film and give a perspective to the audience on what the film is about and how to look at it. I hate horror films but i cannot slam every film in the genre. What I should ideally do is to tell people that this is a horror film and if you like the genre this is for you. If you don't like horror film you need not watch it... but nevertheless the film is made well.

But more often people end up bashing a film completely... ignoring anything good the film might have. Even RGV's Aag, which seems to be the epitome of trash for many, had good things about it. It had better sound than many of RGVs previous films. And then there are people who just can't stand an actor/director and slams the film. One trade person panned MNIK so bad... he wrote a 3242 word review!

Finally.... all the above only stands true if you are a true publication. For me, I cannot be dishonest to my readers. I write what I think is right. And if the readers find that I am in sync with their tastes they will continue going by me. Many media houses are already losing followers because stars sell for money. A lakh a star has become a norm... and that I got to know when someone asked if I have been offered a 'package' after I said I like a film which many others panned!

There is a good piece I just stumbled as I was looking for a photo to go with this post. Here's a link ... enjoy.

The cracker explanation

2010-11-06T18:59:00.001+05:30

It’s often quite a task to explain why I don’t like to burst crackers in Diwali. People have a tendency to misunderstand… or simply refuse to understand. Worse, some think I am scared. For them I have no words!

The lights

Diwali was my father’s favourite festival. It was like he almost loved the sounds and smell of the crackers. Ofcourse lighting candles and diyas are a part of it and also is decorating the house. Some 200 diyas and the house would look heavenly… and the then evening when we burst crackers worth thousands. That was childhood. And there were mythological stories which say bursting crackers was a way of shooing away the demons who roam the earth...

Education may have bored me to death, if not ruined, but it definitely taught me some good stuff. Some about the environment, pollution etc included! As I grew up I realized that crackers definitely aren’t doing any good to the environment that supports us. Hence I decided to do away with it. It was easier for me as I was away from home for studies and I didn’t have much money for crackers anyway. The love for crackers died a natural death… or maybe I have just put it to good sleep hoping it does not wake up with the appetizing smell of smoke. No kidding… I actually used to like the smell as much as my father did. Thankfully it has been dormant for years.

The darkness

Getting back to explaining people… the general question remains. “You think you alone can save the Earth?” And being the idealist ass as ever and mighty impressed by films such as Spirit: Stallion of Cimerron I believe the revolution can be started by a small spark… of without it in this case! My sister this morning in fact got quite upset as I tried explaining why I don’t burst cracker. “You just don’t give a damn about culture…” Or for that my good old friend who thinks I am trying to behave too old. Older I definitely am… but I still run around the street, which people think is ‘kidish’!

I think I will give up on explaining. Or should I?

Diwali, my friends, is my favourite too. I love eating the sweets and the smell of burning oil-dipped cotton. Just let me sleep properly at nights and don’t kill of the lived who can’t breathe properly or have no shelter to protect them from the celebratory bombings of the festival of lights!

Review: Lava Kusa

2010-10-09T10:11:00.001+05:30

Lava Kusa

If you are grieving the lack of Indian animation content meant for adult audiences your plight is going to continue for some more time. Lava Kusa: The Warrior Twins is definitely not your respite. Having said that, if you have a kid you want to take out for a movie this would prove to be a decent film.

Read rest of the review at nowrunning.com

Review: Crook

2010-10-09T10:11:00.000+05:30

Crook - It's good to be bad

The most important fact about Crook is that it deals with Racism. But it is false that the movie points at the racist nature of Australians. Rather it pokes a finger into the Indian mindset of being superior culturally and hence turning racists themselves.

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Review: Do Dooni Chaar

2010-10-09T09:58:00.000+05:30

Originally for nowrunning.com

Do Dooni Chaar

Looks like the family audience is finally getting its due in terms of big screen entertainment. Last week we had Khichdi and this week there is the delightful Do Dooni Chaar. Of course the two are nowhere similar to each other. While Khichdi was the dose of laughter with hilarious characters, DDC is more of a slice of life entertainer about absolutely real life situations. And along the way it brings out some beautiful messages and family values.

Read rest at - www.nowrunning.com

Review: Robot [Hindi dubbed version of ENTHIRAN]

2010-10-02T02:38:00.001+05:30

Originally for NOWRUNNING.com

Cast: Rajnikanth, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Danny Denzongpa

Director: Shankar

Producer: Kalanithi Maran

Music: AR Rahman

Rating: ***1/2

Robot

Rajnikanth is back. And what a bang he makes! At 61, the much worshiped Indian star does the unthinkable. If you thought only Sylvester Stallone could do an action film at 60 plus, you got to watch Robot. The film is yet another show-reel for the star who so effectively went on to become one of the biggest India stars internationally. But more importantly it is a show-reel for director Shankar and an example for other Indian directors to emulate.

Review: Anjaana Anjaani

2010-10-01T23:07:00.002+05:30

Originally for nowrunning.com

By Noyon Jyoti Parasara

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra

Director: Siddharth Anand

Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala

Music: Vishal Shekhar

Rating: **1/2

Anjaana Anjaani

There has been much talk about Anjaana Anjaani being a copy of The Girl On The Bridge. However after watching the film I can vouch that it’s not true. Anjaana Anjaana is not a copy of any particular film. Rather it is a mish-mash of ideas that may have been borrowed from various movies. Hence though the story is not something we have seen in Hindi cinema before, neither does it seem completely fresh. At various moments through the film you will feel you have seen it before.

Review: Benny and Babloo

2010-10-01T23:04:00.001+05:30

Originally for NOWRUNNING.com

Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Rajpal Yadav, Rukhsar, Anita Hasnandani (Natassha), Riya Sen, Shweta Tiwari, Hitan Paintal, Kiran Janjani, Richa Chadda,

Director: Yunus Sajawal

Producer: Umesh Chouhan

Rating: **

Benny and Babloo

There are actors who get their due and there are non-actors who get more than what they are due. And there are also actors who keep struggling to get their due. We have quite a list of such actors in Bollywood. And Kay Kay Menon easily fits into this list. The actor who has given memorable performances in films like Shaurya, Gulaal and even Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd rarely gets a film which gives him scope. And yet he continues to do mediocre films, providing them a silver lining.

read more at nowrunning.com

Review: Khichdi

2010-10-01T22:41:00.001+05:30

Originally for NOWRUNNING.COM

Cast: Supriya Pathak, Anang Desai, Rajeev Mehta, Girish Sachdev, Nimisha Vakharia, Kesar Majethia, Markand Soni, Kirti Kulhari, JD Majethia,

Director: Aatish Kapadia

Producer: JD Majethia

Rating: ***

KHICHDI - the film

There have been so many instances when Indian television has copied content from the big screen and used it, in the regular elongated and extended forms. But turning a movie out a show concept is surely new. There was news of Anand Mahendroo doing it with Dekh Bhai Dekh, but JD Majethia has clearly beaten him by miles… and in style!

Review: Soch Lo

2010-08-31T20:14:00.002+05:30

Originally for AOLbollywood

Cast: Sartaj Singh Pannu, Iris Maity, Barkha Madan, Nishan Nanaiah

Writer and Director: Sartaj Singh Pannu

Music: Charu Moohan and Nitish Pires

Rating: **1/2

A love story

An injured man wakes up in middle of a desert, wriggles to the nearest stretch of road. He finds some water to rejuvenate himself. When he gains enough consciousness he figures out he can’t remember who he is and where he belongs. And neither can he recollect how he ended up in this desert. This sets the premises for an interesting thriller. And that’s how Soch Lo starts.

Soch Lo has a completely new cast and crew and has been made at shoe-string budget by Sartaj Singh Pannu. Most of the crew are new inexperienced film school alumni who have come together to make this film helmed by Sartaj, who put in his own money to make the film after he could not find any producer to do so. Promising start to both the venture and the story of the film!

Getting into the details, Soch Lo is an interestingly made project. The film has a story to it. It is story of a man (Sartaj) who can’t recollect his past. He finds someone who promises to help him once he helps the person’s family. Some action and scenes later this unknown man, now named Baba by his new found friends sets out to find out what happened to him. And he goes on unveiling things bit by bit. He realizes he was on his honeymoon with Reva (Iris) and he was attacked. On his journey he is accompanied by Pali (Barkha Madan) and they find a special bond between them.

Sartaj does a one man show

The film’s screenplay is written in a way that it requires the audience to apply their brains. Things are left unanswered but well placed clues for the audience to figure out the development chart. This should come as a pleasant surprise to the audience who has always cribbed about directors trying to spoon-feed the story. However despite this the film is quite slow, which is the single biggest drawback in the film. Also the dialogues are weak and should have been worked on.

Soch Lo has layers to it. The characters are well made and there are statements made on the middles class and the male mentality. The ending is quite tricky. Though the characters work out, the message does not exactly come out straight leaving too many questions. What’s remarkable is the way the writer brings out that there are no negative characters but only circumstances.

The film is shot extremely well. The outdoors and desert scenes especially are remarkably good looking. And the music is just right for the tone of the film.

Performances are stable though not extra-ordinary. Sartaj does well and so does Barkha Madan. Iris Maity plays the feeble wife.

Overall, Soch Lo could have been faster and shorter. But it deserves acknowledgement for the effort that has gone behind making it.

One Love?

2010-08-31T11:05:00.001+05:30

One love a life?

Here’s something that I received in an email yesterday. It’s a statement made ages back. And while a right to accept and agree to it is complete reserved with each person who reads it, you cannot but admit it is indeed a beautiful and idealistic thought.

Love indeed is an interesting emotion; everyone has an opinion on it. I did ten years back and I still do. It’s a different matter altogether though that the opinion changes with varying age and mental state. And that only makes the emotion far worthier of mention and attention. You simply can’t ignore it!

Having said that, let me not delay and lead you directly to the above mentioned statement. Presenting… Bob Marley! (That last bit is kind of a dream; everyone would have loved to present that wizard of music).

Marley bhi filmy!

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."

n Bob Marley

Well, his thoughts to some extent does reflect so many of our Bollywood movies. “Pyaar ek hi baar hota hai…” but not Indian television where we find people can live multiple lives too. Do put in your views on love… what you think about it. And how you know you have found it.

Review: Aashayein

2010-08-31T09:42:00.003+05:30

Originally for AOL

Cast: John Abraham, Sonal Sehgal, Anaitha Nair, Girish Karnad, Farida Jalal, Ashwin Chitale, Prateeksha Lonkar, Vikram Inamdar

Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

Music: Salim-Sulaiman

Rating: **

unappealing fairy tale

Once upon a time there was a director who served as an inspiration. He quit his well paying engineering job in USA and headed back to India to do something he wanted – tell stories through film. His first film Hyderabad Blues become a part of Bollywood folklore, made at a mere budget of 17 lakh and going on to become super popular. I am talking about Nagesh Kukunoor. Since then Nagesh went to become a name who made superb films like Rockford, Iqbal, Dor and Teen Deewarein. And he became an example of storytelling sans stars…

His life was inspiring a tale enough to tell people that they should get into what they want to do, without losing time. However he chose to make another film called Aasheyein to send across the same message. Sadly, nothing came through except disappointment.

To start with Nagesh did have an idea. An idea that was probably rooted in his liking for Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand and this he even displays in the film as his characters watch the film. Nagesh tries to weave in the message of ‘living your live to the fullest’ into ‘fulfill your dreams and help others do the same’. Unfortunately while Mukherjee kept things simple and drove home his message, Nagesh got caught in his own web of thoughts and resulting in no clarity in the end results.

The film is a story of 35-year old Rahul (John Abraham) who finds out that he has lungs cancer right after he proposes marriage to his girlfriend. He is shattered and decides to leave her. He reaches a charity-care home in Pondicherry where many other terminally ill patients live. While he seeks to live his remaining life in peace, he sees gloom of death around.

And Aashayein goes for a toss

Everything goes fine till here. And Then Nagesh loses it. He meddles into symbolism that does not work out and leaves the audiences wondering what happened. The screenplay goes haywire. When all he needed to do was create a source of inspiration the director gets into fantasy and incomplete childhood desires, coupled with a hallucinating protagonist. And the story drags.

The film does have its pluses. For one the characters are lively but their backgrounds are not written well. Girish Karnad and Farida Jalal have interesting characters and play their roles well but hardly make a difference to the story. Little boy Ashwin does a good job but his characters is misunderstood. Anaitha Nair who plays Padma gets a great role and she plays it to the optimum proving momentary relief to the audience whenever she is on screen. The film has been shot well and the music works very well. The title track in the only that will stay with you post the movie.

John Abraham does a decent job but his character is as confusing as the message that Nagesh tried to convey.

Aashayein is a tremendous let down on hope for a good movie. All through the promotions the director and lead actor kept saying that this movie will leave the audience with a smile. And that’s precisely what it failed to do. I for one was bewildered and bored at the same time! It’s probably time Nagesh takes a break. Aashayein… that he will come back refreshed!