Myth vs Reality

There are so many things & events in our lives whose foundations are based on literature or folk lore and with the passing of time we have started considering them truths. Let me give you an example:

Whenever someone mentions Christmas the image that conjures up in our mind is of roads & houses in the western world buried in snow. This concept of White Christmas is also popular there and everyone waits for snow during Christmas. But how did this concept came about. The man credited to have started this was none other than Charles Dickens. The reason behind this was that during his childhood there was a decade of unusually cold weather and London had in a row snow on Christmas that is why in all his books it is always snowing during Christmas. Moreover during the winter of 1813-1814 the whole of Thames was frozen and they actually had fairs & bonfires on the frozen river.
The matter of fact is it only snowed 4 times in the 20th century during Christmas & it has snowed a little more in the 21st century.
That is why they say the pen is mightier than the sword.

Movie Mania

Last week I was on a movie watching spree and what a splendid time I had but then for how long can good times last and in the end there was a sore note.
I love Hindi cinema but always felt that the movies churned out by Bollywood(my apologies to those who hate this nomenclature for our industry) in the last decade or two were no where near the excellence we see in World Cinema esp Hollywood. But now I feel things are changing and some really good cinema is coming out. I am not going to sound elitist & say that I like those movies that 95% population don't watch. I like pure Hindi bollywood masala coz somewhere there is a Rickshawala inside me and I want my paisa wasol movie.After this gut wrenching confession I want to proclaim to the world that I loved Dabangg 1 (not the second part) it was a typical Hindi movie but surprise surprise it actually had a "Story" to tell & for the first time a corrupt cop was so endearing (can't help it also if one looks like Salman Khan). Then came Rockstar & blew away my mind, our very own desi Rock singer spiraling into an abyss of life.
Now having proved my credentials regarding Hindi cinema I would like to recommend the following.
Please watch:

"Ranjhana"  a well written script with its twist & turns as well as some fantastic dialogues. Do check out the scene where the director has captured JNU & the mindset there. Dhanush may not have the looks of a conventional Hindi movie hero but he has talent which I am sure many of our actors don't possess. I would specially like to mention the actor who played Dhanush's friend, he was extraordinary & lived the role.We all have a habit to concentrate too much on the main lead but it is actually the people around them in the movie that helps the hero/heroine to perform better.

"Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" I need not write anything about it coz already reams have been written on it. Fantastic & exceptional. Just a small complaint, the kiss scene was not required, but if that gets more Indian audiences to watch the movie then who am I to complain.

"D- Day"  we have very few good hindi movies in this genre and D-day comes in that category. It moves at a fantastic pace and hits the right chord coz it talks about a person & situation with whom we are emotionally attached. Irfan Khan as usual effortless, Rishi Kapoor as always amazing & Arjun Rampal is expressionless and this aspect of his actually complimented his role and yes the songs are really good. Please listen to "Alvida" & "Murshid khele holi"

After watching such good movies I eagerly went to watch "Once upon a time in Mumbai Dobara"  I won't say anything except that I want a refund ...........

Musings of a detached mind

After taking a long break I am back again to pen down my rambling thoughts. Nowdays I am in a detached state of mind. It seems as if it's not me but someone else walking through life noting down the ups & downs played around.
As the days go by I have come to realise one fact that " everything is in our mind". The way we perceive things, react to them tells a lot about us. I have observed two people giving totally different point of view on the same issue or a situation and that talks volumes about their state of mind. Day by day I am in awe of our mind and the games it plays. Our attitude towards life determines life's attitude towards us and what I find interesting most of us don't understand this. We keep on fighting for things that we can't change and keep tolerating those that we can change.
Why does this happen I'm now trying to unravel this mystery, it may sound cliched but the truth is that most of the so called problems of our life are actually created by us. At the moment, may be I am pretending to be worldly but the truth is these pearls of wisdom gushing out of me is only due to the detached state of mind and when the world will rush in banging away all my defenses I want to see will I remember what I just wrote.....

Upcoming Bollywood Movies - 2

Following upcoming releases caught my eye. All three are different in concept, execution & content.

Madras Cafe directed by Shojit Sircar (Vicky Donor fame) starring John Abraham & Nargis Fakiri is a political spy thriller set up against the backdrop of Sri Lankan civil war.

Special Feature: the subject of this movie is unique as most of the North Indians are not much aware or should I say are not bothered about the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka. It is very brave of the producers(one of them is John Abraham) to pick up this topic, moreover it has an international feel to it.

Release Date: 23 Aug 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnkKI01I0Ac


Satyagraha directed by Prakash Jha starring Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai, Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor & Arjun Rampal.

Special Feature: Prakash Jha is known to make movies that are hard hitting & which deal with the political and social realities of our time. To add to this we have Amitabh Bachan & Manoj Bajpai a lethal combination. As I had closely followed the Jan Lokpal agitation by Anna Hazare, I am really keen to see the director's interpretation of it.

Release Date: 30 Aug 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KXwGcZI13k



Shudh Desi Romance produced by Aditya Chopra and directed by Manish Sharma starring Sushant Singh Rajput(Kai Po Che fame), Parineeti Chopra and introducing Vanni Kapoor.

Special Feature: Love triangle set up against the backdrop of a small town. I love the title and Rishi Kapoor in the movie as usual steals the show.

Release Date: 6th Sept 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Hle83Plpo



Happy Watchingggg!!!!


Disclaimer: Generally the trailer seems better than the movie & please don't blame the writer of this blog if the movie falls beloooooow expectation.

Upcoming Bollywood Movies - 1

First movie is John Day a film by the producer of "A Wednesday" & directed by Ahishor Solomon. It stars Naseerudin Shah, Randeep Hooda & Shernaz Patel.

Special feature: Naseerudin Shah.
It's a thriller & from the trailer the movie seems promising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynAi7Eqo8f4


Second movie I am eagerly awaiting is Besharam directed by Abhinav Kashyap, he directed "Dabangg I" & is the younger brother of Anurag Kashyap. It stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh Kapoor & Pallavi Sharda. Releasing on 2nd Oct 2013.

Special feature: It would be fun to watch the Kapoor family together & the way Ranbir's career is going this also looks like a superhit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoTsE7pbuKg


I am not sure whether I'll watch Chennai Express or not though I am a fan of Rohit Shetty's cinema but I really liked the "Lungi Dance" song. Our Hindi movie badshah Shahrukh Khan paying tribute to the Maharaja of South Rajnikant. The song Rocks!!

Special feature of this song:  Hindi spoken in South Indian accent that's really funny & nice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXVmrn7fCUA


Happy Watchingggg!!!!


Disclaimer: Generally the trailer seems better than the movie & please don't blame the writer of this blog if the movie falls beloooooow expectation.

My point of view

Yesterday I was sitting at Domino's gorging upon a pizza (i seriously need to go on a diet). A cycle rickshaw stopped in front & two women with kids alighted. Along with the rickshaw puller they entered & ordered a pizza. From their talks I could gather that one of the female was the wife of rickshaw puller & the other was their relative who had come to Delhi for the first time with her kids. Both husband & wife proudly showed them the joint & also explained that they could get the pizza delivered at home too.The look of amazement on the face of kids & their mother spoke volumes.
This incident makes me believe that there is a change happening, when a rickshaw puller with his family can confidently enter an establishment frequented by the so called middle & upper class & he is not shooed away, rather is treated as a prospective customer, in our country.
We may argue that these fast food joints like Mcdonalds, KFC etc are nothing but over commercialized ventures & some may say that they have played a role in westernization of our culture however we cannot deny they also have showed us that hygienic food is for everyone & it need not pinch our pocket.
This is the only thing that I find in favour of malls, lets divert our attention for a moment from commercialization of society, which these malls represent & look at the other side. They too have played an important role in the empowerment of the under class by opening their doors to all & sundry.
My point is only this we may not have money in our pockets to buy the stuff these shops at the malls sell but at least there is a neat, tidy & safe place where I can go with my family & friends in my Sunday best & enjoy the free air-conditioning for as long as I want.......

Priyanka Chopra "Exotic"

I don't know how many of you have seen Priyanka Chopra's second music video featuring Pitbull.
Just to jog your memory Priyanka Chopra launched her first single "In my city" last year & this year she launched her second single "Exotic".

I am not here to discuss the merit of this video whether she is able to reach the set standards or not. But I would like to appreciate her effort, she has time & again done something which is a league apart.
Among the limited options that Hindi film industry gives to the female actors she stands tall.

No doubt she has a large following & one thinks she'll have it easy but then equally large are the detractors. So rather than concentrating on the music the debate going around is about what she wore in the video & how one of her dress was similar to that of JLo. We all love to pull a person down who tries to do something different. I guess 'crab culture' has a strong hold on our society.

Her decision to chart a new course at a peak of her career is a brave one & for this alone she deserves accolades. The ability to take risks is very important for an individual's growth & always remember history is never made by those who play it safe.
Take a look at the below video & decide for yourself.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPhhZg9v9NU