More random humor filched from the intar-nate:
If they decide to make a sequel to Mili, they should call it Mil(l)isecond
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But that would be a very short movie.
I didn't make this, so don't kill me
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
I Izz A Superstar
During Dussera last year, we attained celebrityhood. By we, I mean my family, more specifically, me. I began to be stared at. People stopped at traffic signals to talk to me. For a person like me, who usually shies away from being the centre of attraction, it was a little too much. But I could not avoid it.
So what brought about this change? Simple. On Dussera, we got ourselves a brand new Nano!!
Ever since, I have felt like a celebrity. People stop and stare at the car on road, they come up to me and enquire about it. I get knowing smiles from complete strangers.
The excitement over the car had waned down, but people still tend to strae at it. When we first got the car during Dussera, people were more unabashed about staring at it. The would point it out in the crowd. On the first day, when we went to fill it with petrol, the station attendants swooped down on it. It was a big moment for them, as this was the first Nano to be served at their station. On Diwali day, we were chased by a Maruti 800, as the driver wanted to have a look at the car. The driver kept staring at the car instead of the road. I have gotten used to people coming over an enquring to me about the car at the petrol stations.
When I took the car to my office, the TLs wanted to have a look at it. I subsequently became the Nano guy at the office!
It been four months, but the excitement is still evident. Even as I drive it around today, I hear kids shouting 'Nano! Nano! Nano!' towards me. I have been stopped by motorcyclists on road more then once to enquire about the performance of the car (which, actually is like an underpowered Indica).
Being a Nano owner has also put me into a secret brothrehood of sorts. Fellow Nano and I share knowing smiles and we congratulate each other on our purchases.
For people aspiring for celebrityhood and narcissists (neither of which, I am), this is the perfect shortcut. For less than two lakhs, you have the world looking at you, and unlike a Rolls Royce Phantom, which will also get you attention but will make you inaccisible to people, the people we actually come up to you and enquired about the car!!
Finally, I just want to dedicate a song to my Nano...here goes
So what brought about this change? Simple. On Dussera, we got ourselves a brand new Nano!!
Ever since, I have felt like a celebrity. People stop and stare at the car on road, they come up to me and enquire about it. I get knowing smiles from complete strangers.
The excitement over the car had waned down, but people still tend to strae at it. When we first got the car during Dussera, people were more unabashed about staring at it. The would point it out in the crowd. On the first day, when we went to fill it with petrol, the station attendants swooped down on it. It was a big moment for them, as this was the first Nano to be served at their station. On Diwali day, we were chased by a Maruti 800, as the driver wanted to have a look at the car. The driver kept staring at the car instead of the road. I have gotten used to people coming over an enquring to me about the car at the petrol stations.
When I took the car to my office, the TLs wanted to have a look at it. I subsequently became the Nano guy at the office!
It been four months, but the excitement is still evident. Even as I drive it around today, I hear kids shouting 'Nano! Nano! Nano!' towards me. I have been stopped by motorcyclists on road more then once to enquire about the performance of the car (which, actually is like an underpowered Indica).
Being a Nano owner has also put me into a secret brothrehood of sorts. Fellow Nano and I share knowing smiles and we congratulate each other on our purchases.
For people aspiring for celebrityhood and narcissists (neither of which, I am), this is the perfect shortcut. For less than two lakhs, you have the world looking at you, and unlike a Rolls Royce Phantom, which will also get you attention but will make you inaccisible to people, the people we actually come up to you and enquired about the car!!
Finally, I just want to dedicate a song to my Nano...here goes
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Phir Mile Sur
The reactions to Phir Mile Sur, the sequel to Mile Sur Mera Tumhara have not been nice. People have been saying that it is not up to the mark of its predecessor. they are pointing out to the grave mistake of passing over Sachin Tendulkar and A P J Abdul Kalam. While I agree with that people may say, I still feel that the new version fits in our times.
Let me explain.
The first version, released in 1988, came out of nowhere and captured our imagination, and it is not hard to imagine why. Here was a song, with just a line sung in many variations, by a host of known persons. In those days, when we had just Doordarshan for entertainment, it was easy to reach out to a large audience. Also, this was a time when we were starved for celebrity viewings. Fast forward 22 years later, and it is a different India today. There are more than 100 channels to choose from, that compete for the average 10 seconds of the viewers' attention span. The media today is saturated with celebrity news. We don't miss our celebrities as much as we used to. In such a scenario, it is impossible for the song to have the same impact.
When the song was first released in 1988, we were still a closed, protected and socialist society. Our only celebrity news came from rags like Stardust, Filmfare, Screen, Manohar Kahaniyan, Sports Today etc. To be able to see 37 celebrities in one song was a novelty, and people were hooked. I remember people playing the game of naming all the personalities, and when the names became fairly known to everyone, identifying them. But for the sequel, we knew what to expect. The only question was who to expect, and people had their own expectations. When these were not met, they protested, which they could not do in 1988. In 2010, however, the media is saturated with celebrity news, people are famous just for being famous. Them doing a crossover to other media is commonplace, and with user feedback a norm now, people are more vocal now about their choices. Hence, there was no protest when Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar did not participate in 1988, but when Sachin Tendulkar is omitted, people and press go to town about it.
Another difference between the two pieces is the music. Both have the same melody, but the interpretations vary a lot. In the 1988 version, each artist gave his own interpretation of the melody. The pieces sung by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and M Balamuralikrishna are markedly different. Each has a different interpretation to the tune. Fast forward to the present, and frankly, the pieces sung by all the artists does sound a lot similar. The approach has changed, and the culprit here, is the song itself. In 1988, it came without any expectations. The artists were free to interpret it in their own ways. But over a period of time, the song has become an anthem, and people approach it as such, with a lot of reverence. The people who composed it now have approached it with a lot of reverence, not changing it too much, just their own personal tweaks. Hence my earlier judgment that it was one big jazz number. Each artist has taken the basic structure of the song and improvised on it. But none has been very adventurous. I had great hopes on A R Rehman, Ustad Zakir Hussain Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, but even they were not too adventurous.
The earlier version was reflective of the states more than the current one. Punjab was represented by the lush fields, Kashimir by the Shikaras and the Kahwa drinking., Bengal by the metro line, Goa by the beaches, North East by the Bihu dance. People were not so important in that one. In contrast, in the current version, the celebrities represent their states. This is indicative of how as a society we have moved from a collective society to an individualistic one. The person is important, and he represents the state.
In 1988, the song ended with children running to make the tricolor, while 2009 ends with the Passing Out Parade at the IMA. We looked at out children as our future, and now, the future has matured. The song makes it clear that the future is now.
Update: Stop Presses!! Sachin will finally be doing the song!! Ah well, the user feedback worked. Not that it will actually help the song. But this a clear example of people power. More power to the people.
Let me explain.
The first version, released in 1988, came out of nowhere and captured our imagination, and it is not hard to imagine why. Here was a song, with just a line sung in many variations, by a host of known persons. In those days, when we had just Doordarshan for entertainment, it was easy to reach out to a large audience. Also, this was a time when we were starved for celebrity viewings. Fast forward 22 years later, and it is a different India today. There are more than 100 channels to choose from, that compete for the average 10 seconds of the viewers' attention span. The media today is saturated with celebrity news. We don't miss our celebrities as much as we used to. In such a scenario, it is impossible for the song to have the same impact.
When the song was first released in 1988, we were still a closed, protected and socialist society. Our only celebrity news came from rags like Stardust, Filmfare, Screen, Manohar Kahaniyan, Sports Today etc. To be able to see 37 celebrities in one song was a novelty, and people were hooked. I remember people playing the game of naming all the personalities, and when the names became fairly known to everyone, identifying them. But for the sequel, we knew what to expect. The only question was who to expect, and people had their own expectations. When these were not met, they protested, which they could not do in 1988. In 2010, however, the media is saturated with celebrity news, people are famous just for being famous. Them doing a crossover to other media is commonplace, and with user feedback a norm now, people are more vocal now about their choices. Hence, there was no protest when Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar did not participate in 1988, but when Sachin Tendulkar is omitted, people and press go to town about it.
Another difference between the two pieces is the music. Both have the same melody, but the interpretations vary a lot. In the 1988 version, each artist gave his own interpretation of the melody. The pieces sung by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and M Balamuralikrishna are markedly different. Each has a different interpretation to the tune. Fast forward to the present, and frankly, the pieces sung by all the artists does sound a lot similar. The approach has changed, and the culprit here, is the song itself. In 1988, it came without any expectations. The artists were free to interpret it in their own ways. But over a period of time, the song has become an anthem, and people approach it as such, with a lot of reverence. The people who composed it now have approached it with a lot of reverence, not changing it too much, just their own personal tweaks. Hence my earlier judgment that it was one big jazz number. Each artist has taken the basic structure of the song and improvised on it. But none has been very adventurous. I had great hopes on A R Rehman, Ustad Zakir Hussain Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, but even they were not too adventurous.
The earlier version was reflective of the states more than the current one. Punjab was represented by the lush fields, Kashimir by the Shikaras and the Kahwa drinking., Bengal by the metro line, Goa by the beaches, North East by the Bihu dance. People were not so important in that one. In contrast, in the current version, the celebrities represent their states. This is indicative of how as a society we have moved from a collective society to an individualistic one. The person is important, and he represents the state.
In 1988, the song ended with children running to make the tricolor, while 2009 ends with the Passing Out Parade at the IMA. We looked at out children as our future, and now, the future has matured. The song makes it clear that the future is now.
Update: Stop Presses!! Sachin will finally be doing the song!! Ah well, the user feedback worked. Not that it will actually help the song. But this a clear example of people power. More power to the people.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Vande Matram!
Heres wishing everyone a Happy Republic Day. Hope you enjoy your holiday.
And have you seen the Phir Mile Sur song on the tv today? I liked it a lot. The song it nearly 23 years old, but still retinas its message, which is relevant till today - more today than previously, in my opinion.
The concept itself is so simple - one line sung by many people in their own language, in their own style. And the array of stars is mesmerizing too. While the earlier program was smaller in scope, this one is definitely grander. Just take a look at the places. The have been to the length and breadth of India for this.
And as the musical talents show the variations to the simple tune, its absolutely mesmerizing. I counted A R Rehman, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Bhupen Hazarika, Louis Banks, Anoushka Shankar, Sivamani, Dr. L Subramaniyan, Kavita Subramaniyam, Ustad Rashid Khan, Shaan, Amir Khan (yes, thats his voice), Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Rahul Sharma, Gurdas Mann, Ustaad Zakhir Hussain, Taufiq Qureshi, Fazal Qureshi, Sonu Nigam, Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan, Ayan and Aman Ali Khan. What a list!! And thats not even the entire list, as there were many I did not recognize, each lending their own improvisation to the simple raag. Its almost like a big jazz number...and what scope!!
While the musicians lifted the piece, the sports persons and IMA passouts did manage to choke me with emotion. These are the real heroes, unsung, doing what they do best.
On this day, this song was the perfect tribute to the nation.
Long Live India!!
And Again
VANDE MATRAM!!
Vande Matram!!
And have you seen the Phir Mile Sur song on the tv today? I liked it a lot. The song it nearly 23 years old, but still retinas its message, which is relevant till today - more today than previously, in my opinion.
The concept itself is so simple - one line sung by many people in their own language, in their own style. And the array of stars is mesmerizing too. While the earlier program was smaller in scope, this one is definitely grander. Just take a look at the places. The have been to the length and breadth of India for this.
And as the musical talents show the variations to the simple tune, its absolutely mesmerizing. I counted A R Rehman, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Bhupen Hazarika, Louis Banks, Anoushka Shankar, Sivamani, Dr. L Subramaniyan, Kavita Subramaniyam, Ustad Rashid Khan, Shaan, Amir Khan (yes, thats his voice), Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Rahul Sharma, Gurdas Mann, Ustaad Zakhir Hussain, Taufiq Qureshi, Fazal Qureshi, Sonu Nigam, Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan, Ayan and Aman Ali Khan. What a list!! And thats not even the entire list, as there were many I did not recognize, each lending their own improvisation to the simple raag. Its almost like a big jazz number...and what scope!!
While the musicians lifted the piece, the sports persons and IMA passouts did manage to choke me with emotion. These are the real heroes, unsung, doing what they do best.
On this day, this song was the perfect tribute to the nation.
Long Live India!!
And Again
VANDE MATRAM!!
Vande Matram!!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Good News!!!
Good news folks, WINTER IS FINALLY ON ITS WAY OUT!! I felt it today in the breeze. Its getting warmer, the sun is making its presence felt.. Nice time to be outdoors now during the day. No more wearing four layers of clothing, gloves, cap, and wishing there was some clothing that could cover your face as well, without making you look like a mugger. This weather makes want to take my bike on a log trip. Ladhak? Oh yes!! But I'll settle for Mathura, or even the Greater NOIDA highway. As long as I am out with my friends, crusin' on my bike, stopping by for a nice cup of tea.
To anyone visiting my blog (including googlebot), aaya saawan jhoom ke, so enjoy the season. And start your countdown to Holi :-)
Oh, and btw, and older post is ready here.
To anyone visiting my blog (including googlebot), aaya saawan jhoom ke, so enjoy the season. And start your countdown to Holi :-)
Oh, and btw, and older post is ready here.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Tagged!! "5 things on my mind right now"
Nearly four years old, and I have been tagged for the first time!! Here goes:
1. I have had enough of this winters. Looking forward to summers.
2. While at the topic of change, looking for to a change of job as well.
3. I have bloated during the winters. Need start gymming soon.
4. A trip. To Ladhak. On my Bike. This is almost my wet dream!!
5. Have dinner.
And now to tag someone...I tag Renelyn Marcos. You go girl!!!
1. I have had enough of this winters. Looking forward to summers.
2. While at the topic of change, looking for to a change of job as well.
3. I have bloated during the winters. Need start gymming soon.
4. A trip. To Ladhak. On my Bike. This is almost my wet dream!!
5. Have dinner.
And now to tag someone...I tag Renelyn Marcos. You go girl!!!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Ek Anokhi Prem Katha...
Not all love love stories have a happy ending...and not all love stories make sense.
Theres a girl, lets call her A. She loves a boy, B. The boy B is, from all accounts, a lout. Does nothing all day except watch TV and booze. Keeps saying that he has plans for the future, grand plans. Girl A believes him, and is prepared to support him. In fact, boy B lives at her place, while the girl goes to office, earns money to support him and is generally happy with the arrangement. Now, boy B has to go, so girl A is all alone. Enter boy C, who is a bit of a simpleton. He falls for girl A. So badly, that he even decides to marry her. Girl A, being lonely, puts up with him, and boy C is very loyal to her, treating her like a princess. Girl A too likes to be treated like one. But she hasn't broken off with boy B, and boy C knows that. But he is hoping against hope that one day, she will see his love for her, also knowing that it is futile. Add to the mix is the fact that the girl also knows that boy B wont marry her, that its a dead end.
This is a Mexican standoff, where girl A and boy C stand to lose, the boy more than the girl. But each is not willing to back off either. There are love stories, and then there are these...
Update: The Mexican stand off is over!! Girl A and boy B finally decide to part ways. Boy C, still in love with girl A, but getting frustrated, hoooks up with his ex-flame. He then goes to girl A and gives her an ultimatum - either profess your love to me, or I go steady with my ex. Girl A refuses again, so boy C goes back to his ex. Last heard, they are planning to get engaged. Girl A has found another guy to fancy. I love love stories, espically how they end!! My mind is working overtime, thinking, this would make a very good movie. Think about it, theres love, theres tension, much rona dhona, suspense over who will get the girl. It all leads to the standoff, with neither party backing off. It is a suspenseful waiting game. Ten minutes to the climax, and we still don't know who will get the girl. Finally, it all unravels. Each go their separate ways. It has all the things going for it to make a dark comedy. The ending is a steal, but what an ending!!
Theres a girl, lets call her A. She loves a boy, B. The boy B is, from all accounts, a lout. Does nothing all day except watch TV and booze. Keeps saying that he has plans for the future, grand plans. Girl A believes him, and is prepared to support him. In fact, boy B lives at her place, while the girl goes to office, earns money to support him and is generally happy with the arrangement. Now, boy B has to go, so girl A is all alone. Enter boy C, who is a bit of a simpleton. He falls for girl A. So badly, that he even decides to marry her. Girl A, being lonely, puts up with him, and boy C is very loyal to her, treating her like a princess. Girl A too likes to be treated like one. But she hasn't broken off with boy B, and boy C knows that. But he is hoping against hope that one day, she will see his love for her, also knowing that it is futile. Add to the mix is the fact that the girl also knows that boy B wont marry her, that its a dead end.
This is a Mexican standoff, where girl A and boy C stand to lose, the boy more than the girl. But each is not willing to back off either. There are love stories, and then there are these...
Update: The Mexican stand off is over!! Girl A and boy B finally decide to part ways. Boy C, still in love with girl A, but getting frustrated, hoooks up with his ex-flame. He then goes to girl A and gives her an ultimatum - either profess your love to me, or I go steady with my ex. Girl A refuses again, so boy C goes back to his ex. Last heard, they are planning to get engaged. Girl A has found another guy to fancy. I love love stories, espically how they end!! My mind is working overtime, thinking, this would make a very good movie. Think about it, theres love, theres tension, much rona dhona, suspense over who will get the girl. It all leads to the standoff, with neither party backing off. It is a suspenseful waiting game. Ten minutes to the climax, and we still don't know who will get the girl. Finally, it all unravels. Each go their separate ways. It has all the things going for it to make a dark comedy. The ending is a steal, but what an ending!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Awesomness of Wake Up Sid
A look at my blog's webstats reveals that one of my most popular posts has been my review of Wake Up Sid - even during the few months when this blog was not updated, I got traffic based on the websearch for this review. I am beginning to think that this film might just become a classic in the future, given how people still google it up. Now, this blog is not shy of playing to the gallery, so in a big to get more people, I shall talk some more about the awesomeness of Wake Up Sid.
That movie is a homage to the city is already made clear in my previous post. Hell, they did not even call it Mumbai, it was always Bombay! This issue has not been resolved till now, even 15 years after it was renamed. For old timers, it is still Bombay. But whatever you may call it, the city is still unique.
And the rains. Mumbai rains. The film makers know how to use them to their own benefits, like Ram Gopal Verma did in Satya. But unlike that movies, which caught rains in its fury, Wake up Sid catches it in its laziness.
The beginning of the movie needs mentioning. It starts on a very slow note. We see Sid,trying to learn an economic theory. But just a he starts paying attention, it wavers. Then he focuses again, only for it to waver again. A perfect introduction for the character, who is clueless and laid back. Of special note is the look of serenity on his face, as his focus wavers. We instantly know that Sid does not take life seriously.
The character of Sid is well sketched. For a person who does not know what he wants and does not even care, he shows a lot of shades in his character. They may be subdued, but they are there. In contrast, Aisha comes off as a little superficial. Big, independent girl, alone in the city, who loves all things traditional (purane gaane), falling for her boss...all these seem to be created just to make her the opposite of Sid. It is a nod to the talent of Konkana Sen Sharma that it comes off as believable. Other characters, of the mother and the father have their moments of believability. The father Anupam Kher, sleepwalks through most of his part, but the part where is scolds at Sid for failing his exams, he shows his talents as an actor. This is not a father screaming belligerently at his kid, but a frustrated father, telling his son to mend his ways. He wants to scream, but he doesn't. Instead, his voice grates in helplessness. The mother, Supriya Pathak, is endearing when she is seen trying to learn English, and also when she comes to visit Aisha when Sid id not at home. But in all this midst, there is one ultra fake character, and that is Rahul Khanna. I could not help laughing whenever he came on screen, trying to be an overstressed intellectual. I have met quite a few editors in my time, and none of them have been overstressed. On the contrary, editors, with their flunkeys, are expert at delegating, tasks to other people, while they pretend to be busy.
The decor of the office and also Konkana's home, though is done well. I happen to like homes and offices done in that manner, with a very Indian tough, bright colors, Indian motifs. Full marks to the set designer here.
Another big surprise for me was to find the song 'Shaam Tanha' by Agnee in the movie. I was not expecting it at all, and was surprised it played in the movie. To those who haven't heard the song, I highly recommend along with the other songs in the album. Also recommended on the album is 'Karvaan'.
The movie does follow a predictable path, but the able direction sets it above similar movies, though I can't think of a Hindi movie with a similar theme.
Like I said earlier, its been a long time since I wrote a review for the movie, but people are still searching for info about the move. Though 3 idiots may be a bigger hit and more talked about, I have a feeling that this move will prover to have a better staying power. Twenty years from kids from today will fondly remember this movie as an overlooked masterpiece. And if it is overlooked, it will be.
That movie is a homage to the city is already made clear in my previous post. Hell, they did not even call it Mumbai, it was always Bombay! This issue has not been resolved till now, even 15 years after it was renamed. For old timers, it is still Bombay. But whatever you may call it, the city is still unique.
And the rains. Mumbai rains. The film makers know how to use them to their own benefits, like Ram Gopal Verma did in Satya. But unlike that movies, which caught rains in its fury, Wake up Sid catches it in its laziness.
The beginning of the movie needs mentioning. It starts on a very slow note. We see Sid,trying to learn an economic theory. But just a he starts paying attention, it wavers. Then he focuses again, only for it to waver again. A perfect introduction for the character, who is clueless and laid back. Of special note is the look of serenity on his face, as his focus wavers. We instantly know that Sid does not take life seriously.
The character of Sid is well sketched. For a person who does not know what he wants and does not even care, he shows a lot of shades in his character. They may be subdued, but they are there. In contrast, Aisha comes off as a little superficial. Big, independent girl, alone in the city, who loves all things traditional (purane gaane), falling for her boss...all these seem to be created just to make her the opposite of Sid. It is a nod to the talent of Konkana Sen Sharma that it comes off as believable. Other characters, of the mother and the father have their moments of believability. The father Anupam Kher, sleepwalks through most of his part, but the part where is scolds at Sid for failing his exams, he shows his talents as an actor. This is not a father screaming belligerently at his kid, but a frustrated father, telling his son to mend his ways. He wants to scream, but he doesn't. Instead, his voice grates in helplessness. The mother, Supriya Pathak, is endearing when she is seen trying to learn English, and also when she comes to visit Aisha when Sid id not at home. But in all this midst, there is one ultra fake character, and that is Rahul Khanna. I could not help laughing whenever he came on screen, trying to be an overstressed intellectual. I have met quite a few editors in my time, and none of them have been overstressed. On the contrary, editors, with their flunkeys, are expert at delegating, tasks to other people, while they pretend to be busy.
The decor of the office and also Konkana's home, though is done well. I happen to like homes and offices done in that manner, with a very Indian tough, bright colors, Indian motifs. Full marks to the set designer here.
Another big surprise for me was to find the song 'Shaam Tanha' by Agnee in the movie. I was not expecting it at all, and was surprised it played in the movie. To those who haven't heard the song, I highly recommend along with the other songs in the album. Also recommended on the album is 'Karvaan'.
The movie does follow a predictable path, but the able direction sets it above similar movies, though I can't think of a Hindi movie with a similar theme.
Like I said earlier, its been a long time since I wrote a review for the movie, but people are still searching for info about the move. Though 3 idiots may be a bigger hit and more talked about, I have a feeling that this move will prover to have a better staying power. Twenty years from kids from today will fondly remember this movie as an overlooked masterpiece. And if it is overlooked, it will be.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Hello World
Been away for months, need to say it all over again...Hello World.
Just to share a random observation,
sitting in my room, alone, sunless light coming from the window, staring at my computer screen, listening to 'Shine on you crazy diamond' followed by 'I am a rock' will being about a sweet depression in you. Its not bad, that feeling, worth experiancing.
Just to share a random observation,
sitting in my room, alone, sunless light coming from the window, staring at my computer screen, listening to 'Shine on you crazy diamond' followed by 'I am a rock' will being about a sweet depression in you. Its not bad, that feeling, worth experiancing.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
9 Baadlon Mein Lal Saand...
Did you see the new Cloud 9 ad on tv? It goes like this, womand in red is walking by a riverside, when she sees a bull standing nearby. The bull sees the red, and starts charging towards her. She runs in the woods, the bull in hot pursuit, till she reaches a tree that has a monkey eating something red. The monkey throw the red item down to her, and it turns out to be the Cloud 9 energy drink. The woman drinks up, is charged up, and rises up...like a cloud. The bull retreats
Geddit?
The woman wearing RED is running from a BULL...and when she drinks the energy drink, she rises...like a CLOUD!!
As far as being an effective ad goes, this ad completely fails, because the product comes at the end, with no clue about what it might be at the beginning. This is not even a good revenge ad, since the RED and the BULL are more prominent than the CLOUD (speaking of which, there was no symbolism for the 9). And as far as being subliminal ad goes, the message that one gets is more for Red Bull than for Cloud 9.
Geddit?
The woman wearing RED is running from a BULL...and when she drinks the energy drink, she rises...like a CLOUD!!
As far as being an effective ad goes, this ad completely fails, because the product comes at the end, with no clue about what it might be at the beginning. This is not even a good revenge ad, since the RED and the BULL are more prominent than the CLOUD (speaking of which, there was no symbolism for the 9). And as far as being subliminal ad goes, the message that one gets is more for Red Bull than for Cloud 9.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
For the bookworms...
A nice litereay blog I stumbled upon while surfing the intar-nate:
http://sandyi.blogspot.com/
A lady, Sandhya Iyer, reviews the books that she reads, here. I am tempted to read quite a few of those, like Romancing With Life by Dev Anand, and Star From Another Sky. It was a surprise to find a review of English, August there. That book brings back memories...Do have a look at teh blog
http://sandyi.blogspot.com/
A lady, Sandhya Iyer, reviews the books that she reads, here. I am tempted to read quite a few of those, like Romancing With Life by Dev Anand, and Star From Another Sky. It was a surprise to find a review of English, August there. That book brings back memories...Do have a look at teh blog
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Whats you score?
The Telegraph has published a list of 100 novels that everyone should read. The list is quite intersting, and it is nice to see Rabindranath Tagore and R K Narayan represented in there. But not for Swami and Friends, its for Waiting for Mahatma...haven't read that one. Also missing from the list is Joules Verne. The father of sci-fi was not a great writer? His novels are not must erad. One has to just erad Juorney To The Center of the Earth and Around The World in Eighty Days to find out just how imaginative and entertaining thay are. Not adding his novels in the list is a great oversight. Another oversight, if you include graphic novels, is The Watchmen by Alan Moore. anybody who thinks that graphic novels or comics are for kids shoud read this novel. It is anything but a kid read. It is rightly called the greatest graphic novel ever.
I know of two people who visit my blog who are avid readers, so come one you two, whats your score? As for me, I have read a solid ten of these hundred novels, and am in the process of reading an eleventh (Ulyses, for the past eleven years :-P).
I know of two people who visit my blog who are avid readers, so come one you two, whats your score? As for me, I have read a solid ten of these hundred novels, and am in the process of reading an eleventh (Ulyses, for the past eleven years :-P).
Monday, October 19, 2009
More Random Humor
Another joke, filched from the intar-nate:
What did the bolt of fabric tell his daughter when she threatened to run away to India?
“Go ahead … you’ll be sari.”
If one day I vanish, please assume that I have been sued by people for steling their jokes, and am hiding in the Himalays...and I have a Big Foot..
What did the bolt of fabric tell his daughter when she threatened to run away to India?
“Go ahead … you’ll be sari.”
If one day I vanish, please assume that I have been sued by people for steling their jokes, and am hiding in the Himalays...and I have a Big Foot..
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Happy Diwali...
Heres wishing my regular viewers (4 at the last count), the occasional bhatke hue log and googlebot a very Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year!! May you get what you wish for.
Send a picture Scrap - 123orkut
Send a picture Scrap - 123orkut
Life is Good...
* What a day!! I quit my old job, and a hired by another company, all within a minute!! Economy doesn't get any better than this!!
* I was craving for dark chocolates for the last few day, and my company's diwali gift is, yes, you guessed it, dark chocolates!!
* People worth following on Twitter, Homer Simpson...sample this... Memo to Bruce springsteen: you rock!
* I was craving for dark chocolates for the last few day, and my company's diwali gift is, yes, you guessed it, dark chocolates!!
* People worth following on Twitter, Homer Simpson...sample this... Memo to Bruce springsteen: you rock!
Monday, October 12, 2009
I'm Tweety...
I have been micro-blogging on Twitter for the past few days, and it feels like I am updating my status on a social networking website. Micro-blogging is over-rated.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wake Up Sid - A Review
Wake Up Sid is a simple story of an clueless boy finding his meaning in life. It is Lakshya, but less violent and patriotic. The premise is simple, straight forward and predictable, but that does not make it any less fun. Quite the opposite, Wake Up Sid is a sweet, refreshing coming of age tale, told with a light touch, with able actors and a love for Bombay (yes, its Bombay, not Mumbai).
Right from the first shot, we are introduced to Siddharth, aka Sid, a clueless rich kid. He does not know what he wants in life, for him, its just from one moment to another. One look at him, and you know that he does not know where he is going. Any more attempt at looking clueless, and he would look stoned. We witnesshim trying hard to prepare for his exams and getting distracted while studying, only to flunk in his final exams. But it does not seem to worry him, and all he wants to do is hang out with his buddies. While at a farewell part, he meets Aisha Banerjee (Konkana), he opposite, a new girl in the city, out to make a career for herself and gain independence. Over the course of the movie, the opposites gel, Sid finally wakes up to life and responsibilities.
As with other Dharma Productions movies (K3G, Dostana), this movie is also quite unreal in its outlook. The Bombay they exist in is clean, hip and rich. Sid seems to be too rich to be true, everyone seems to speak in only English. Loaded with such unrealities, the movie was bound to suck, but the fresh approach to the subject is what saves it. Full marks must go to the director for that.
For one, there's the view of Bombay, seen in movie after a long time (after Kaminey, lol). There's the necklace, the bombay skyline, the night sky. Without going into specifics, the movies manages to capture a slice of Bombay.
Performance-wise, the actors do a commendable job. Ranbir is spot on in his portrayal of the clueless Sid. Konkana as the no-nonsense Aisha is perfectly cast as his exact opposite. Anupam Kher as Sid's frustrated fater seems bored as the rich businessman, but redeems himself when he scolds Sid for failing his exams. There is pain in his voice as he scolds at him for talking back at his mother. Supriya Pathak as Sid's mother gets on the nerves when she tries to speak to him in broken English. She is meant to be an endearing character, but fails to do so. The rest of the cast of friends are one dimensional in character development. All are true friends, eager to help.
The music of the movies gels with the going-ons. It sets the mood for the tone of movies. Of special note are 'Ek Tara' and 'Shaam Tanha' by Agnee. If you havent heard that song, hear it, its a very nice soft number.
And then theres Bombay. I did not notice it initially, but on reflection, the entire movie is shot in Bombay. This makes it the second move after Kaminey to be shot entirely in that city (there was Sankat City as well, but that was before Kaminey, and really, that movie does not matter). This Bombay is not the gritty Mumbai of Kaminey, rather it is pleasantville, People here are rather good natured, things happen on time, a girls can come to this city and get invited to a collgege farewell party, meets a guy who walks her back to her hostel, later finds her a place to live, sets her place up, and later moves in with her. Totally unbeliveable, but there are certain shots of the city which make it worth it. Theres the shot of the city at night as Sid and Aisha sit on the rooftop, the shot of Bombay rains, the Ursula apts (did i get the name right?).
Overall, the premise and execution of the movie tende to make it unrealistic, but the finer points like the music and the locations and the actors lift it to above average.
Recommended viewing.
Nitpick: Its Not Just Jazz By The Bay, not Jazz By The Bay.
Right from the first shot, we are introduced to Siddharth, aka Sid, a clueless rich kid. He does not know what he wants in life, for him, its just from one moment to another. One look at him, and you know that he does not know where he is going. Any more attempt at looking clueless, and he would look stoned. We witnesshim trying hard to prepare for his exams and getting distracted while studying, only to flunk in his final exams. But it does not seem to worry him, and all he wants to do is hang out with his buddies. While at a farewell part, he meets Aisha Banerjee (Konkana), he opposite, a new girl in the city, out to make a career for herself and gain independence. Over the course of the movie, the opposites gel, Sid finally wakes up to life and responsibilities.
As with other Dharma Productions movies (K3G, Dostana), this movie is also quite unreal in its outlook. The Bombay they exist in is clean, hip and rich. Sid seems to be too rich to be true, everyone seems to speak in only English. Loaded with such unrealities, the movie was bound to suck, but the fresh approach to the subject is what saves it. Full marks must go to the director for that.
For one, there's the view of Bombay, seen in movie after a long time (after Kaminey, lol). There's the necklace, the bombay skyline, the night sky. Without going into specifics, the movies manages to capture a slice of Bombay.
Performance-wise, the actors do a commendable job. Ranbir is spot on in his portrayal of the clueless Sid. Konkana as the no-nonsense Aisha is perfectly cast as his exact opposite. Anupam Kher as Sid's frustrated fater seems bored as the rich businessman, but redeems himself when he scolds Sid for failing his exams. There is pain in his voice as he scolds at him for talking back at his mother. Supriya Pathak as Sid's mother gets on the nerves when she tries to speak to him in broken English. She is meant to be an endearing character, but fails to do so. The rest of the cast of friends are one dimensional in character development. All are true friends, eager to help.
The music of the movies gels with the going-ons. It sets the mood for the tone of movies. Of special note are 'Ek Tara' and 'Shaam Tanha' by Agnee. If you havent heard that song, hear it, its a very nice soft number.
And then theres Bombay. I did not notice it initially, but on reflection, the entire movie is shot in Bombay. This makes it the second move after Kaminey to be shot entirely in that city (there was Sankat City as well, but that was before Kaminey, and really, that movie does not matter). This Bombay is not the gritty Mumbai of Kaminey, rather it is pleasantville, People here are rather good natured, things happen on time, a girls can come to this city and get invited to a collgege farewell party, meets a guy who walks her back to her hostel, later finds her a place to live, sets her place up, and later moves in with her. Totally unbeliveable, but there are certain shots of the city which make it worth it. Theres the shot of the city at night as Sid and Aisha sit on the rooftop, the shot of Bombay rains, the Ursula apts (did i get the name right?).
Overall, the premise and execution of the movie tende to make it unrealistic, but the finer points like the music and the locations and the actors lift it to above average.
Recommended viewing.
Nitpick: Its Not Just Jazz By The Bay, not Jazz By The Bay.
Persepolis
A story about a girl.
A story about a girl growing up.
A story about a girl growing up in Iran.
If I were to choose the line that would interst me the most, it had to be the third line, a story about a girl growing up in Iran. Now to make it more enticing it.
A story about a girl growing up in Iran during the revolution.
And the final enticement,
A graphic novel of a story about a girl growping up in Iran during the Cultural Revolution.
The last line has me in. I love graphic novels, or comics, in common sense, I like stories about the Middle East, I am a bit of a history buff. And while I do like girls, stories about girls doing girly things bores me...sorry, girls.
So it was with great expectation that I started reading Persepolis by Marjani Satrape. Here was a celebrated novel about a gutsy woman growing up in Iran, and I was sure I would like it. Nothing like stories of revolution to stir you up. The novel turned out to be nothing like what I expected it to be. The protagonist is a small girl, who only hears her elders talk about the revolution, goes to Europe, come back to her roots, and goes back again. But I am glad it turned out to be not what I was expecting. It far surpassed my expectation!
Lets start from the begining.
The Story.
Marjani Satrapi recounts her childhood in Iran during the cultural revolution. The story begins just before the revolution, proceeds to the early days of the revolution, right through the Iran-Iraq war. Ms Satrapi gives a honest account of growing up during that time, but instead of the fear and uncertainity that prevails during such times, she shows the frustrations as well as the lighter moments of living in those times. The perspective is totally personal, so we are not told about the events as in a history book, but rather how she received the new about them, lacing them with her perspectives.
The story spans from 1980 till 1994, in which time, Ms Satrapi went from a 10 year old girl to a 24 year old woman. During this time, Iran went from being a secular republic to a theocratic state. But its not all politics, as when she leaves for Europe for further studies, the focus shifts from her rebelling against the mullahs, to her misadventures there, and when she does return, the changed Iranian society is viewed through her eyes.
The book is an honest, heartfelt, funny, tragic memoir of a woman. It is at once a biography, a coming-of-age book, a look at history as it happened. Highly recommended to everyone, espically for women. A chicklit a man would love!!
A story about a girl growing up.
A story about a girl growing up in Iran.
If I were to choose the line that would interst me the most, it had to be the third line, a story about a girl growing up in Iran. Now to make it more enticing it.
A story about a girl growing up in Iran during the revolution.
And the final enticement,
A graphic novel of a story about a girl growping up in Iran during the Cultural Revolution.
The last line has me in. I love graphic novels, or comics, in common sense, I like stories about the Middle East, I am a bit of a history buff. And while I do like girls, stories about girls doing girly things bores me...sorry, girls.
So it was with great expectation that I started reading Persepolis by Marjani Satrape. Here was a celebrated novel about a gutsy woman growing up in Iran, and I was sure I would like it. Nothing like stories of revolution to stir you up. The novel turned out to be nothing like what I expected it to be. The protagonist is a small girl, who only hears her elders talk about the revolution, goes to Europe, come back to her roots, and goes back again. But I am glad it turned out to be not what I was expecting. It far surpassed my expectation!
Lets start from the begining.
The Story.
Marjani Satrapi recounts her childhood in Iran during the cultural revolution. The story begins just before the revolution, proceeds to the early days of the revolution, right through the Iran-Iraq war. Ms Satrapi gives a honest account of growing up during that time, but instead of the fear and uncertainity that prevails during such times, she shows the frustrations as well as the lighter moments of living in those times. The perspective is totally personal, so we are not told about the events as in a history book, but rather how she received the new about them, lacing them with her perspectives.
The story spans from 1980 till 1994, in which time, Ms Satrapi went from a 10 year old girl to a 24 year old woman. During this time, Iran went from being a secular republic to a theocratic state. But its not all politics, as when she leaves for Europe for further studies, the focus shifts from her rebelling against the mullahs, to her misadventures there, and when she does return, the changed Iranian society is viewed through her eyes.
The book is an honest, heartfelt, funny, tragic memoir of a woman. It is at once a biography, a coming-of-age book, a look at history as it happened. Highly recommended to everyone, espically for women. A chicklit a man would love!!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Yeh Hai India...
While waiting for my office cab today evening, I heard drums outside. Went to to terrace and saw a procession being taken out. This was a long one, nearly one km long. There were tall statues being taken on tempos, pretty girls (at least they seemed pretty from the terrace!) dancing in formation, then an other statue on a tempo followed by a brass band, then a tempo with a statue again with a statue, followed more girls dancing, again followed...this time by a baail gaadi!! Two massive oxen pulling a massive cart, which had some monks sitting in it. The girls wore colorful ghagharas, and the men wore mostly white, with saffron turbans, doing a bored twirls. From the looks of it, it seemed like a Rajasthani Jain procession. I went down to have a closer look. From the ground level, the sight was even better. For all my Indian-ness, my years of living in the Gulf have distanced me with my Indian-nes to an extent, and I tend to search for the exoticness in such events. I probably come out of it, looking silly and wide eyed...a desi firang.
This event did turn out to be a Jain event. It was a long procession, with three brass bands and also music playing on the sound system. In short, it was a very noisy procession, but was well managed. The ladies didn't seem pretty from up close. Right at my doorstop, the procession stopped, and across the road was a pandal set up to serve drinks. What caught my attention was the sight of ladies offering artis to the baail gaadi monks in the middle of the road. It was nice to see people practicing their religion in total freedom, and causing a commotion in the process. I walked all the way to the begining of the procession, observing as I went, the statues of the naked gods, the brass band musicians playing the cacophonic music, the girls doing unenthusiastic garbhas. It was evening time, and I was enjoying the sight. I wished I could show this procession to me bhanja and bhanji. They would've loved it. The procession viewed, I turned to go back to my room.
Just when I was about to reach my building, I witnessed a fight take place on the road.
It started off from the pandal, when, from a distance, I saw two men pushing and shoving each other and other people surrounding them. I took them to be men playing around, but when I came near, I noticed that it was two persons from the society flats shoving and pushing a single man in a black t-shirt. Suddenly, one of the men took out his shoe and started hitting the man in the black t-shirt. In the crowd were also ladies, hitting him. The man in the balck t-shirt was clearly out numbered. He was taking all the punishment. My sympathies were with him, the underdog. The ladies were shouting in a shrill tone, saying that he was a goonda. But the underdog did not give up easily, he kept going back to the pandal, threatening the prople before getting clobbered again.
Suddenly, from behind me, came another man with a hockey stick, and went charging at the society flat people. I saw him hit a fifteen year old boy hard, and also hit a girl as well. He also charged at the society flats man who had hit the man in black t-shirt with the shoe. The man defended himself for some time, but eventually he too sustained injuries. In all this scuffle, a small girl, maybe twelve, snatched his chain and ran away. The man was distracted and ran after him but he slipped and fell on the road. this gave the other men enough time to come charging at him with hockey sticks. He sustained a lot of injury. the hockey gang drew blood from him as well as a girl who, it seems, was his daughter. There was a lot of shouting and crying. Suddenly, my sympathies had shifted, after I saw the fifteen year old boy being hit, crying and folding his hands to the hockey stick gang. He is too youg to be doing that. As for the girl, it seems that she was the root cause of the trouble.
Both these events happened one after the other. It made me think about what living in India was all about, after all. India can amaze you, cheer you, tease you and crish you, all in the same breadth.
Two more other things I want to point out:
This happend on Gandhi Jayanti
The Jains wore scraves that read "Ahimsa Param Dharam"
The Irony is not lost on me.
This event did turn out to be a Jain event. It was a long procession, with three brass bands and also music playing on the sound system. In short, it was a very noisy procession, but was well managed. The ladies didn't seem pretty from up close. Right at my doorstop, the procession stopped, and across the road was a pandal set up to serve drinks. What caught my attention was the sight of ladies offering artis to the baail gaadi monks in the middle of the road. It was nice to see people practicing their religion in total freedom, and causing a commotion in the process. I walked all the way to the begining of the procession, observing as I went, the statues of the naked gods, the brass band musicians playing the cacophonic music, the girls doing unenthusiastic garbhas. It was evening time, and I was enjoying the sight. I wished I could show this procession to me bhanja and bhanji. They would've loved it. The procession viewed, I turned to go back to my room.
Just when I was about to reach my building, I witnessed a fight take place on the road.
It started off from the pandal, when, from a distance, I saw two men pushing and shoving each other and other people surrounding them. I took them to be men playing around, but when I came near, I noticed that it was two persons from the society flats shoving and pushing a single man in a black t-shirt. Suddenly, one of the men took out his shoe and started hitting the man in the black t-shirt. In the crowd were also ladies, hitting him. The man in the balck t-shirt was clearly out numbered. He was taking all the punishment. My sympathies were with him, the underdog. The ladies were shouting in a shrill tone, saying that he was a goonda. But the underdog did not give up easily, he kept going back to the pandal, threatening the prople before getting clobbered again.
Suddenly, from behind me, came another man with a hockey stick, and went charging at the society flat people. I saw him hit a fifteen year old boy hard, and also hit a girl as well. He also charged at the society flats man who had hit the man in black t-shirt with the shoe. The man defended himself for some time, but eventually he too sustained injuries. In all this scuffle, a small girl, maybe twelve, snatched his chain and ran away. The man was distracted and ran after him but he slipped and fell on the road. this gave the other men enough time to come charging at him with hockey sticks. He sustained a lot of injury. the hockey gang drew blood from him as well as a girl who, it seems, was his daughter. There was a lot of shouting and crying. Suddenly, my sympathies had shifted, after I saw the fifteen year old boy being hit, crying and folding his hands to the hockey stick gang. He is too youg to be doing that. As for the girl, it seems that she was the root cause of the trouble.
Both these events happened one after the other. It made me think about what living in India was all about, after all. India can amaze you, cheer you, tease you and crish you, all in the same breadth.
Two more other things I want to point out:
This happend on Gandhi Jayanti
The Jains wore scraves that read "Ahimsa Param Dharam"
The Irony is not lost on me.
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