tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124439292024-03-06T21:20:50.323-08:00I think...ergo I amAbhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-70963137576197922282016-05-26T20:50:00.000-07:002016-05-26T20:50:35.133-07:00Sameness, Blandness and New English writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few days back I finished reading all of Ashwin Sanghi. The Rozabal Line - in which he tries to do a Dan Brown on Dan Brown. Chanakya's Chant which is good read but nothing which you can recall after one week. And finally, The Krishna Key in which he regurgitates some of his ideas from The Rozabal Line and presents them in a new format.The books were fast paced and made use of cinematic techniques in presenting scenarios. No wonder that the books themselves have found favour commercially.<br />
<br />
But, in a way the books were all same. They were all bland. The same underwhelming feeling I got when I finished reading all the parts the hugely successful Siva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi. There is no wow moment. No recall value and most importantly no repeat value.<br />
<br />
Downloaded the app of Juggernaut Books. Again, it is bland and boring. Focus on Erotica with Sunny Leone being the anchor author. Free books section is laughable. Self publishing mode is interesting. Doesn't work offline.<br />
<br />
People say Chetan Bhagat changed the direction of New English writing in India. I disagree. What he did change what the price point. </div>
Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-43984687781967706752011-07-18T23:43:00.000-07:002011-07-18T23:57:58.183-07:00Deja Vu !!Via <a href="http://georgethomas.blogspot.com/">Beware of the Blog</a>, but was thinking along the same lines while watching the movie. Hence I quote liberally, with due respect to George.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quiz Question : Which movie comes to mind when i say the following? </span><br /><ul><li>Three friends/roommates in Delhi</li><li>a two-wheeler that goes kaput at inopportune moments</li><li>spoofs of popular culture especially hindi movies<br /></li><li>getting accidentally involved in criminal goings-on</li></ul><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Actually this "could" have been a real quiz question if the great Parnab had been the quiz master</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">The answer: </span><em style="font-weight: bold;">Chashm-e-Buddoor</em><span style="font-weight: bold;">, Sai Paranjape's cult classic comedy from 1981.</span><br /></p><p>I don't want to shock anyone who thought that the answer is Delhi Belly. Nor do I mean to suggest that the Abhinay Deo-helmed film is a rip-off or that Akshat Verma was taking a hint from Sanjay Gupta and running a DVD of <em>Chashm-e-Buddoor</em> endlessly while doodling out ideas for his script. 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Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">And IMHO <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Chashm-e-Buddoor</i> is an infinitely more satisfying film in that it is a more "Delhi" film than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Delhi Belly</i> and also that the comedy works beautifully without using any shock value.</p> <p><em style="font-weight: bold;"></em></p><p>Thanks George<br /></p>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-27961796688981260852011-07-18T23:28:00.000-07:002011-07-18T23:41:57.580-07:00404 Not Found !!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1MAOnj0Krxyq-N46c_ll7rq9oetLcnkmHCpzMdMy6pFBm3JS_VLeuzJheZ5G9ZQ6JLFj2TFG5jvyawNAQL1Uo_7bhpER8UhpaluqDuhSkAlcaYwVaX9kq-G4a6lw8F-JVDre/s1600/Mumbai+Mirror.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1MAOnj0Krxyq-N46c_ll7rq9oetLcnkmHCpzMdMy6pFBm3JS_VLeuzJheZ5G9ZQ6JLFj2TFG5jvyawNAQL1Uo_7bhpER8UhpaluqDuhSkAlcaYwVaX9kq-G4a6lw8F-JVDre/s320/Mumbai+Mirror.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630946595472782290" border="0" /></a>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-7940676489178412912011-07-10T09:45:00.000-07:002011-07-10T10:19:00.502-07:00Inspiration?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu4l-ByHb35mKwCNtha06H_Ps2gILxt5airyXb8ARWauoneVeqKiQRfA4sRGvO33bcKDf2YRiYy0Ixe4A35e_fzRgUoTsh3Au8IKNbt6SsbOr26Bpt65jGIVQXcQknnKlNEGB/s1600/Rorschach_blot_09.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu4l-ByHb35mKwCNtha06H_Ps2gILxt5airyXb8ARWauoneVeqKiQRfA4sRGvO33bcKDf2YRiYy0Ixe4A35e_fzRgUoTsh3Au8IKNbt6SsbOr26Bpt65jGIVQXcQknnKlNEGB/s320/Rorschach_blot_09.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627774393387426978" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Exhibit I</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The ninth card of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_test">Rorschach Inkblot Test</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px; ">, used by psychologists to analyse the personality characteristics and emotional functioning of patients</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFtE6fmeMMGhF5xxp1rpfajeD0xJr3eqtwogfuXQAV2EruPJWmv0ondpkb2BZOcrh-i261BJDYYpmFi9Y8KpQlT_pO7kZE5Ub9Rl9EXZeQ-aUTgwuwq9pqZg_0STURsfBK2SB/s1600/Inkblot.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div>Exhibit II<div><br /></div><div>The print poster for the movie Shaitaan<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvZhZ1sJEap3MX7TK_RknLpaVipERzNHMFGp4eHWUFgf817pvuxk1fQe60r55AW5UldyLS2GoEqvjtLJQBA-j4giEwh1QsfACPHMOEOPLmOXREpQQkZyvwlTNlMAQmVZiABVn/s1600/Shaitan-2011-Movie-Poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvZhZ1sJEap3MX7TK_RknLpaVipERzNHMFGp4eHWUFgf817pvuxk1fQe60r55AW5UldyLS2GoEqvjtLJQBA-j4giEwh1QsfACPHMOEOPLmOXREpQQkZyvwlTNlMAQmVZiABVn/s320/Shaitan-2011-Movie-Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627766252020079394" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clearly inspired and a brilliant idea if it was really done with the connection in mind. </div><div><br /></div><div>And if not, an amazing poster nonetheless</div><div><br /></div></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-83447633630504250962011-07-09T02:42:00.000-07:002011-07-09T02:56:17.348-07:00Woh Beete Din Yaad HainThe Year is 1984, music director Ajit Singh creates a beautiful song for the film 'Purana Mandir'.<div>He sings one version himself - </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1XFq0ex6Nw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Gets another version, with different lyrics, sung by Asha Bhosle</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sq_xHIr38gw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>The film is a resounding success and the Ramsay brothers get a winner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purana_Mandir">again</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Years later, Ajit Singh's daughter Tanya makes her musical debut and what song does she chose to sing? No prizes for guessing, it's her Dad's 1984 hit.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MDtf_nWjSZg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>So which is the best version? Judge for yourself.</div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-54428740239392177742011-07-09T02:17:00.000-07:002011-07-09T02:41:10.195-07:00Misirlou, Cash and Kaminey<div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2K14qx3IKe8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the title music from Tarantino's Pulp Fiction called Misirlou. A very very and should i say it again very commonly used and mis-used piece of music popping out everywhere even in the Kung Fu Panda 2 trailer </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YIW5oo-8NYw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>and even more famously in this </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZaI2IlHwmgQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>And there is this </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eZQewrmn14c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>although i admit this song sounds much better than it looks !</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>and finally </div><div><br /></div><div>there is </div><div><br /></div><div>this</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/diLpIfEQfK8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>And being the trivia hunter that I am here are some interesting points - </div><div><br /></div><div>1. Both the Cash and Kaminey songs are sung by Vishal Dadlani.</div><div>2. None of these two use the actual guitar riffs of Dick Dale only the overall mood of the song.</div><div>3. Dhan te Nan uses some words from the Black Eyed Peas version like "pump the radio'.</div><div><br /></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-31797956583483302162009-08-02T01:02:00.000-07:002009-08-02T01:54:58.049-07:00Love Aaj Kal - For the Mango PeopleLiked the movie overall, but was mostly satisfied to see the small bits and pieces of trivia that were thrown around without much fuss. And in the end it all came together that's all. <div>Some observations - </div><div> What's with Imitiaz Ali and three-word movie titles <i>Socha Na Tha, Jab We Met </i>and now <i>Love Aaj Kal</i><div><i> - </i>Deepika looks and acts so much like early Aishwarya Rai (<i>so there's hope for her yet!)</i></div><div><i> - </i>Saif's looking too old in most of the <i>Aaj </i>scenes.<i> </i> He does rather well in his Sardar role, but Saif playing himself (or rather his Lays munching, Taj Mahal Tea drinking, Royale painting self) is too much of a bore. Bottomline, he'll do well in a period piece (e.g. Parineeta)</div><div> - Why take Rahul Khanna in for a thankless 2-line role?</div><div> - And why take stand-up comic Vir Das if all the funny lines are delivered by the protagonist himself?</div><div> - When was the last time we saw the iconic <i>bharis</i> (water carriers) of Kolkata in a movie....Cant remember. And them again at night (with lamps hanging) - nice touch. Infact the whole Kolkata episode was well handled, except the fact that it was totally redundant to the script. Harleen Kaur could have shifted anywhere, why not Gurdaspur or Ludhiana or even Chennai?</div><div> - Which area in Delhi is near to both the Red Fort and Qutb Minar?</div><div> - When Saif get mugged in San Francisco, the first person who comes to his rescue asks him 'Bangla Naki? Indian?' a nod to the huge number of Bangladeshi and Indian can drivers in Frisco. Another nice touch.</div><div> - Too much Yash Raj influence on the entire script. All the foreign locations were redundant and superflous. Saif and Deepika might as well have met in Pune or Guwahati and nothing would have changed. (<i>Similar problem in Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom</i>)</div><div> - Harleen Kaur's character (played by Brazilian Giselle Monteiro) reminded me of Neha in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's <i>Kareeb. </i> But was the Neetu Singh pay-off at the climax indispensible?</div><div> - And finally, loved the way the final meeting ws handled. They walk off together away from the crowds and then finally hug - very very unfilmy - <i>But that's the "coolness" they are trying to show off right </i></div></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-24473171656885502142009-01-12T10:23:00.000-08:002009-01-12T10:23:07.770-08:00Sign Of The Times !!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVUjWho0a8juRzJzkBQJgf4NhYpfKnAGOawyLhLaYTjr8MY0aeIlt_7hDaBQIlJbn2Ps1UWtsDXUlGR6_PokeV-MegEczcdzLpsa8o-op50lcn1gk8vhx5gR5UJJdDSI2tgub/s1600-h/DSC01975.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVUjWho0a8juRzJzkBQJgf4NhYpfKnAGOawyLhLaYTjr8MY0aeIlt_7hDaBQIlJbn2Ps1UWtsDXUlGR6_PokeV-MegEczcdzLpsa8o-op50lcn1gk8vhx5gR5UJJdDSI2tgub/s320/DSC01975.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-50344284577164997352009-01-08T05:02:00.000-08:002009-01-08T05:33:26.769-08:00Funda"Mental"ly Similar<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >How are the two biggest movies of 2008 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghajini</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rab Ne Ban Di Jodi</span> fundamentally similar to each other? <br /><br />1. Both are huge hits (<span style="font-style: italic;">Bah !! ...That's obvious. And after Satyam, who believes figures anyway?</span>)<br /><br />2. Both were hyper-hyped (<span style="font-style: italic;">Both Aamir & SRK have excellent publicity machines. End of question</span>)<br /><br />3. Both had new actresses (or is female actors the more politically correct term?) (<span style="font-style: italic;">Again, You can't depict a super-hero without a fresh face opposite him. It's about the im-balance, you see)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNajNXCNx6IbUzgwqgaerbVV5oDE_DfZuYE9LSJA_tK2iqMmTn60RcLimecm3XQd8gEQAFz_1u3odHIwqO3q2z4j577YRgQZWJ_94hoM_40ul72yS4aFTHRMEh22eIU2tFUE4C/s1600-h/Aamir-khan-shahrukh-khan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNajNXCNx6IbUzgwqgaerbVV5oDE_DfZuYE9LSJA_tK2iqMmTn60RcLimecm3XQd8gEQAFz_1u3odHIwqO3q2z4j577YRgQZWJ_94hoM_40ul72yS4aFTHRMEh22eIU2tFUE4C/s320/Aamir-khan-shahrukh-khan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288914691855824018" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br />All of the above are true. But there is something even more fundamentally similar between the two.<br /><br />In both the movies the protagonist suffers from some kind of mental disorder.<br /><br />Yeah, I mean everyone in the world and their uncle knows that in Ghajini, Aamir Khan's character suffers from<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterograde_amnesia"> Anterograde Amnesia</a> (Short Term Memory Loss). <br /><br />But isn't it obvious that Shah Rukh Khan's character in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi also suffers from some form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_personality">dissociative identity disorder</a> with some symptoms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scizophrenia">schizophrenia</a> also manifesting. Consider the symptoms - </span><ol style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Characteristic symptoms</b>: Two or more of the following, each present for much of the time during a one-month period (or less, if symptoms remitted with treatment). </span><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion" title="Delusion">Delusions</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination" title="Hallucination">Hallucinations</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Disorganized speech, which is a manifestation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_disorder" title="Thought disorder">formal thought disorder</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Grossly disorganized behavior (e.g. dressing inappropriately, crying frequently) or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatonia" title="Catatonia">catatonic</a> behavior</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Negative symptoms—<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affective_flattening" title="Affective flattening" class="mw-redirect">affective flattening</a> (lack or decline in emotional response), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alogia" title="Alogia">alogia</a> (lack or decline in speech), or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avolition" title="Avolition">avolition</a> (lack or decline in motivation)</span></li></ul> <dl><dd><span style="font-size:100%;">If the delusions are judged to be bizarre, or hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient's actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other, only that symptom is required above. The speech disorganization criterion is only met if it is severe enough to substantially impair communication.</span></dd></dl> </li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Social/occupational dysfunction</b>: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Duration</b>: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scizophrenia#Standardized_criteria">link</a>)<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Didn't Suri/Raj exhibit some or all of the above characteristics.<br /><br />Well if you ask me it is a pretty solid case.<br /><br />So where does that lead us to? <br /><br />Is Hindi Cinema finally growing up and embracing mental illness into the mainstream? <br /><br />Or is it that they just don't give a damn as long as there are enough fools (like myself) who are willing to shell out money to watch the crap they dish out?<br /><br />I think we all know what the answer is ...... </span>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-2863253562773496602009-01-07T05:29:00.000-08:002009-01-07T05:57:01.114-08:00The"Raja-Praja" Ethos of India<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Satyam Infosystems Owner, CEO and majority shareholder B Ramalinga Raju resigns as expected. Also as expected much controversy and comments follow - </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Rediff reports </span>-</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Years after the foreign media wondered if Americans should be afraid of Ramalinga Raju more than Osama Bin Laden beacuse of jobs they lost to India, experts said on Wednesday the fear seems to have come true, although for a different reason.</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); "><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Raju has certainly inflicted a huge blow to the India story on the global business arena and the companies across the world would be much more vigilant before engaging any Indian company for their business purposes," said an analyst.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Way back in 2004, American media had reported that it was not only dreaded terrorist Osama whom the Americans were afraid of, but Raju was a feared man too as millions of jobs were being outsourced to Indian companies like Satyam"</span> [</span></span><a href="http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/jan/07satyam-raju-a-feared-man-in-us-and-india.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">link</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">]</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The irony here is like Osama, Raju too may be able to escape the law.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The issue here is Corporate Governance. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As pointed out </span></span><a href="http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/dec/29mrv-corporate-governance-what-a-joke.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">t<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">he problem in the Indian corporate sector, is that of disciplining the dominant shareholder and protecting the minority shareholders, as it is vindicated in the recent Satyam case</span>."</span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); "></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And in this case Mr. Raju is the end all and be all. Because he as majority shareholder misled the minority shareholders. Although he might brush off all allegations to his person, his attitude is endemic to people in power in India.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Be it politicians, industrialists, businessmen or for that matter anyone in any postion of power considers everything under them to be their kingdom. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They "rule". </span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They are the "Raja". The rest are the "Praja".</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And their decree is the law. And if not then there is enough incentive provided to mould the law according to their needs. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And the saddest part is that the Indian public wants it to stay that way.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And they say India is "free".</span></span></span></p></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-64101230105494249742009-01-07T03:57:00.000-08:002009-01-07T09:54:13.531-08:00Ghajini - Bollywood Flashback<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini is vintage 70-80's Bollywood, albeit 10-15 years too late. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's copybook revenge-masala fick with bits of "Memento" shoehorned in for the sake of modernizing it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After watching the movie, I set out thinking - Would the movie have been any different if you just played around the cast with vintage 70-80's actors a bit.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So here goes my take -</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - 1976</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sanjay Singhania - Vinod Khanna</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kalpana - Hema Malini</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - Shetty</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sunita - Neetu Singh</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - 1983</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sanjay Singhania - Mithun Chakraborty</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kalpana - Rati Agnihotri</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - Ranjeet</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sunita - Sarika</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - 1988</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sanjay Singhania - Anil Kapoor</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kalpana - Sridevi</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - Amrish Puri</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sunita - Sonam</span></span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - 1993</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sanjay Singhania - Sunny Deol</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kalpana - Juhi Chawla</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ghajini - Puneet Issar</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sunita - Sonali Bendre</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well you could make the movie with </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">exactly </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the same story and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">exactly </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the same everything else with any of the casts mentioned above ........ and the result would still have been the same.....GHAJINI...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Soort terrm maimoree looss</span></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-4711722894106265762008-08-19T07:01:00.001-07:002008-08-19T07:05:45.769-07:00Bachna Ae Haseeno - Music Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_6oY668CDc-JOd02cBWM7DMajroJkTMlLh1LUV3s51j0jdImYYAe7eeF8LlnS7Uo-N0czQDZ9yheGjdNJcjCSI0fwu4brXgsBfmgnevJVfneNqhixpMTPBEPkFYdJIN2CNQ0/s1600-h/Bachna_Ae_Haseeno.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_6oY668CDc-JOd02cBWM7DMajroJkTMlLh1LUV3s51j0jdImYYAe7eeF8LlnS7Uo-N0czQDZ9yheGjdNJcjCSI0fwu4brXgsBfmgnevJVfneNqhixpMTPBEPkFYdJIN2CNQ0/s320/Bachna_Ae_Haseeno.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236229358901731538" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";">So after failing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aditya</span> Chopra badly in <span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tashan</span></span> I mean, No wedding song, No Punjabi numbers, no disco beats, what kind of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yash</span> Raj soundtrack was that. Who wants to hear rock-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bhojpuri</span> anymore. Nothing doing. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">YRF</span> demands and gets a typical <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">YRF</span> album and that’s all what “<span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bachna</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ae</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Haseeno</span></span>” is . <span></span>So here goes -<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Khuda</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Jaane</span></span> – A typical <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Vishal</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Shekhar</span> number with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Pritam</span> style vocal flourishes from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">KK</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Shilpa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Rao</span> has an interesting voice and compliments <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">KK</span> on this one, but but the tune is nothing to write home about and somehow keeps reminding<span> </span>you of “<span style="font-weight: bold; ">My Heart Goes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Hmm</span></span>” from <span style="font-weight: bold; ">Salaam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Namaste</span></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Lucky Boy</span> – The lyrics are tacky, corny even and V&S seriously move into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Pritam</span> territory and take a leaf out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Himesh</span>’s book and create an entire song based on just one hook. But boy! is that one catchy hook. It keeps reverberating in your head long after you have left the song and after my first hearing of the album it was this one song I could seriously recall. It is ultimately the required Disco /Item number. . The song also features the voice of Hard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Kaur</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Raja</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Hassan</span>, whom I seriously <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">couldn</span>’t make out to be his.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Ahista</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Ahista</span></span> – OK now this is one hell of an interesting song. If I had heard this song in isolation I would have thought it to be a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Rahman</span> composition. Or maybe it’s just Lucky Ali. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Coz</span> the way V&S have used Lucky instantly reminds you of “<span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Anjaana</span></span>” form <span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Yuva</span></span>. The same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">wo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">oo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">oo</span>’s all over the place and again the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Pritam</span> influence is present in form of the flamenco guitars at the beginning of the song. But in my opinion the most well constructed song in the entire album.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Jogi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Mahi</span></span> – The compulsory wedding number. It is so generic that I bet V&S composed it in their sleep and then got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Sukhwinder</span> to sing over the difficult parts in the morning and then got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Himani</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Kapoor</span> to provide the female foil. The lyrics are predictable with the same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Mahi</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Heer</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Ranjhna</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Sajna</span> and all that crap. The song does have a heart-tugging chorus line and rises to a rousing crescendo at the and but only just.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Small Town Girl</span> – OK Wedding Song. Check. Disco Number. Check. So what’s left. Oh yeah the Punjabi number. Can’t find a tune . No problem recycle some of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Shankar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Ehsaan</span> Loy’s. Take a bit of “<span style="font-weight: bold; ">Pretty Woman</span>” from <span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Kal</span> Ho Na Ho</span> and “<span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Jhoom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Barabar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Jhoom</span></span>” title track and give it a nice mix with your own "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Nachle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Ve</span></span>" <span style="font-family:";">from <span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ta Ra Rum Pu</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">m</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">OMG</span>. Who’s gotta sing it?. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">Sukhwinder</span>’s refused. He say’s the song reeks of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Shankar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">Mahadevan</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">Vishal</span> Says to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Shekhar</span>. No problem <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Shankar</span>’s a friend. So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">Shankar</span> comes and sings a re-hash of his own songs. What’s he gotta lose. He’s getting paid !<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Khuda</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jaane</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> (Revisited)</span> – If there was any doubt that this song is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">Pritam</span> inspired, the remix clears all that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">Bachna</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">Ae</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">Haseeno</span></span> – <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">Vishal</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Shekhar</span> have made no bones about their RD <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">Burman</span> fascination and they finally legally get to do what they must have been wanting to all along. Remix a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">Kishore</span>-RD song. And then get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">Kishoreda</span>’s son to sing it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">Sumit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Kumar</span> that is. Whose voice actually gets drowned in the beats and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">whn</span> his Dad’s voice come in to the picture the drum vanish. Oh Yes and the trumpets are intact. But is the song a patch on the crazy saxophone trumpet jamboree of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">original</span> song. No chance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";">So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">Vishal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">Shekhar</span> play safe. Or are rather made to play safe and create a generic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">Yash</span> Raj movie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">ka</span> music album, which I must add they fully succeed in doing and throw up interesting<span></span>insights into how their think about their music. And one genuinely interesting song. And a definite screen scorcher in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lucky Boy</span>.</span></p>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-88556832291125487532008-07-12T01:19:00.001-07:002008-07-12T01:51:58.849-07:00"Partner" Movie Review<span style="font-style: italic;">OK...I know it's a little late.<br />In fact little is an understatement, it's more than a year delayed, but hey ...what the hell.<br />It was drafted then....and as they say...Better Late Than Never..<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Partner's - In Crime<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a8-2Sir-k6lI70TM-IM1nwzVV-OJXXSkjN1kdaeLxl-2aF71GGGTA7ZnmUDFCqCHqL-B0U88XmUv3FYNG_ntcU5uj6hGIWaRgIJD2ztCIMU4kBEL_R2yzRfqB1ulaCARTR9W/s1600-h/image.jpg.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a8-2Sir-k6lI70TM-IM1nwzVV-OJXXSkjN1kdaeLxl-2aF71GGGTA7ZnmUDFCqCHqL-B0U88XmUv3FYNG_ntcU5uj6hGIWaRgIJD2ztCIMU4kBEL_R2yzRfqB1ulaCARTR9W/s320/image.jpg.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222047337302248578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span> As luck would have it (or is it HBO's way of getting back!) I saw the Will Smith starrer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitch </span>immediately after I saw <span style="font-weight: bold;">Partner</span>. And Yes...it is a really shameless frame-by-frame copy. But really, are we <span style="font-style: italic;">actually<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span>watch <span style="font-weight: bold;">Partner </span>because of it's story! which by the way is as follows - A loser in Bhaskar (Govinda)seeks out the advise of a 'love-guru' Prem (Salman Khan in his most famous screen name) to win his rich and famous lady love (Katrina Kaif). For the rest of the 'story' I suggest watching <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitch</span>.<br /><br />But do go and watch <span style="font-weight: bold;">Partner </span>solely and solely for Salman Khan. Here is an actor, much maligned for his off-screen antics, on top of his acting abilities. In fact his act is so refined and fine-tuned that the other 'hero' is reduced to being a supporting actor. And long after the 'story' has ended, the film continues only to show more of what Salman can deliver. There has never been any question about Salman's comedy skills. Films like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Judwaa</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Biwi No. 1</span> are testimony (Both not - so - incidentally directed by David Dhawan, who wields the baton for this movie also) to that.<br /><br />But here, Salman is just sitting back and enjoying himself. He makes jokes on himself, his own songs, his penchant for opening his shirt at the slightest provocation, his tendency to pick up a brawl and so on. He even pokes fun at his contemporaries like Shah Rukh ( as Chhota Don, played by Rajpla Yadav) and Aamir Khan too.<br /><br />Even Govinda pitches in. After a series of indifferent roles, downright bad films and mis-starts (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Salaam-e-Ishq</span>) he is back in form, laughing at himself all the way. He has fun at the expense of his weight, his dancing style his <span style="font-style: italic;">brand </span>of comedy and all.<br /><br />Katrina and Lara Dutta look like a million bucks. Lara wowed us in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jhoom Barabar Jhoom </span>and she continues to do so here. In fact the entire Lara- single mom with kid routine (which wasn't there in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitch</span>) works beautifully, precocious kid and all. Katrina is magnificent and David realizes soon that as long as Kaif smiles her dazzling smile and shows off her amazing booty and doesn't mouth many lines, she's a hit..... all the way.<br /><br />The music if functional and enjoyable, with the title song and "You're my love' being the pick of the lot. The film does stretch a bit, but hey the entire auditorium was in splits all through. And in the end that's all that really matters sometimes. Copy or no Copy.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /></span>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-13146368939719880142007-11-19T07:50:00.001-08:002007-11-19T07:56:32.015-08:00Cats !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFF_G52VqCqGTN90ldcXQwuZAsU9ibUUvVsshcHAGVTyMMMaMIEwKqZscyfw5iSRUUTZu4M1Lc24HiH4_4GNlAe11y_ST28P4lSKhne2qw0r7tJgiOMthZa8umBNwrYrwnibj/s1600-h/PB096257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFF_G52VqCqGTN90ldcXQwuZAsU9ibUUvVsshcHAGVTyMMMaMIEwKqZscyfw5iSRUUTZu4M1Lc24HiH4_4GNlAe11y_ST28P4lSKhne2qw0r7tJgiOMthZa8umBNwrYrwnibj/s320/PB096257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134580609712865810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvc-3rgqnZPGh3t3BxY5n6rB7L8ML7zVecuT83_q_A9swKQBVjaAH_C7Wl_TvDcRwdaQvc7Q07mHQPP_MtOVby1MCUYT5IvCa2INUCtoMTokO0ii93IYTBU3-s2SHWP_dcSUb/s1600-h/PB096258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvc-3rgqnZPGh3t3BxY5n6rB7L8ML7zVecuT83_q_A9swKQBVjaAH_C7Wl_TvDcRwdaQvc7Q07mHQPP_MtOVby1MCUYT5IvCa2INUCtoMTokO0ii93IYTBU3-s2SHWP_dcSUb/s320/PB096258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134580618302800418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Jjpy-KJemEMblekaT6WBU-pshtrvt6-XlMrZExcQ9QUlVQbXrvT-ViT6862zq6JGK7Etbm_Z_7G1IWEnnO4eErGYFOC97EPPxjCadoxsyrjwLs0rSkwzZBvwxCzN0RWQegUT/s1600-h/PB096259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Jjpy-KJemEMblekaT6WBU-pshtrvt6-XlMrZExcQ9QUlVQbXrvT-ViT6862zq6JGK7Etbm_Z_7G1IWEnnO4eErGYFOC97EPPxjCadoxsyrjwLs0rSkwzZBvwxCzN0RWQegUT/s320/PB096259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134580656957506098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera</span>: Olympus SP510US<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span>: 09-Nov-2007Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-26049349677591418052007-11-19T07:46:00.000-08:002007-11-19T07:49:51.090-08:00And then there was light !!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQT4r3_7h0qjVYB4Cp5zOTuAfbmHOAIErOVV9him-AdaDeenpmZjY7odYDEubktakEjhYEj3i2ChCiKgiypM7nTJTEWq79QXMcBvq__OnuQxD2xcnB39nsOxYYo2DOcCQVofDz/s1600-h/DSC00810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQT4r3_7h0qjVYB4Cp5zOTuAfbmHOAIErOVV9him-AdaDeenpmZjY7odYDEubktakEjhYEj3i2ChCiKgiypM7nTJTEWq79QXMcBvq__OnuQxD2xcnB39nsOxYYo2DOcCQVofDz/s320/DSC00810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134578930380653058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date: </span>09-Nov-2007<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera</span>: Sony DSC-T9 (Multi Shot Mode)Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-50156627673899598042007-11-19T07:41:00.000-08:002007-11-19T07:45:53.696-08:00Humayun's Tomb<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2TTXpCxyEpc295puEa898660hECiIfASbX_hSjYZk77x9d4z-bk9ZAb_7O77tRUPP4pw3VhIvL4GqHE_0phJaATOWirvclnv1-K0jaQcrQgCVMKUcxjOY4jy3GrFp0DNkKUc/s1600-h/Picture+061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2TTXpCxyEpc295puEa898660hECiIfASbX_hSjYZk77x9d4z-bk9ZAb_7O77tRUPP4pw3VhIvL4GqHE_0phJaATOWirvclnv1-K0jaQcrQgCVMKUcxjOY4jy3GrFp0DNkKUc/s320/Picture+061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134577878113665522" border="0" /></a><br />Camera: Sony DSC-T9<br />Date: 3-Nov-2007Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-45910531348370382802007-11-19T07:07:00.000-08:002007-11-19T07:39:31.319-08:0042<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaFx2wcFXWehv40beonWtenRr80PsccyDT-ufZXrNFH19vayvjI7QceoTXFqpsMb_xcmZSRmBrGOuOMFfKnq9sKQEXiyWk-FznLxlBRpWzMIgp8yZlIEBc9Mp0CK65WVkAzNy/s1600-h/180px-Answer_to_Life.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaFx2wcFXWehv40beonWtenRr80PsccyDT-ufZXrNFH19vayvjI7QceoTXFqpsMb_xcmZSRmBrGOuOMFfKnq9sKQEXiyWk-FznLxlBRpWzMIgp8yZlIEBc9Mp0CK65WVkAzNy/s320/180px-Answer_to_Life.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134568708358488530" border="0" /></a>Go to www.google.com and type in <span style="font-weight: bold;">42</span>.<br /><br />Then press "Search" (Alternatively, you can also press 'I'm feeling lucky', if you are really in the mood!)<br /><br />What you get is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Answer_to_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything">this.</a><br /><br />Yeah !...It is the ultimate answer.<br /><br />The answer to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life%2C_the_Universe_and_Everything">Life, the Universe and Everything</a>.<br /><br />The answer that took the most powerful computer '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_characters_from_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Deep_Thought">Deep Thought</a>' 7½ million years to compute and check the answer !<br /><br />The answer for which an even more powerful computer was built to compute the 'ultimate question' - the Earth.<br /><br />But why the hell am I going on and on about 42? Why is it so relevant today?<br /><br />Well you see my friends, it is the number which seems to continuously elude the greatest living batsman of our times - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sachin Tendulkar</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxL2cf87GMctIPdiyWq7BVv7_BoVszJeZgM9OsmIAsZw46NGRutw0J-DwJf8Gu2eD7cgMD7K_rGH6EaawDRpWONcnNXzWrzld0nOQNq7PuK0A0k591gtdPQupUeEsVefelRgb/s1600-h/2007111761592101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxL2cf87GMctIPdiyWq7BVv7_BoVszJeZgM9OsmIAsZw46NGRutw0J-DwJf8Gu2eD7cgMD7K_rGH6EaawDRpWONcnNXzWrzld0nOQNq7PuK0A0k591gtdPQupUeEsVefelRgb/s320/2007111761592101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134575185169170914" border="0" /></a><br />He is stuck on 41 and I now know the reason why.....<br /><br />Coz once he reaches that magic number he will finally have the answer.......<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The answer to Life, the Universe and Everything</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For more reasons on why Sachin is not getting century number 42 , read </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Sachin_Tendulkars_tale_of_missed_centuries/articleshow/2545879.cms">this,</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1133641">this</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> and </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://in.sports.yahoo.com/071115/48/6nauz.html">this</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br />For more on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams">Douglas Adams'</a>s analysis on the wonderful '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTwja-m5c9k">gentleman's game</a>'....Read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikkit_Gate">this</a>.<br /></span>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-54439371632018562342007-11-18T08:37:00.000-08:002007-11-18T09:07:09.366-08:00Nandigram: In responseAn interesting analysis of the Nandigram issue is given <a href="http://zeus-adonis.blogspot.com/2007/11/nandigram-cauldron-inbred-dispute.html">here</a>.<br />There are although numerous mis-conceptions/mis-communications which are rampant and which need to be cleared out<br />1. No SEZ as such was planned in Nandigram in the first place. It was part of over 10000 acres of land 'given' to the Salim group for their massive 'infrastructural development' projects. Similar land was earmarked in Uluberia and Purulia and even near Digha.<br />The Salim group had originally come in only and only for 'housing' projects. It was the West Bengal government which sugar-coated the deal with a "Chemical Hub' proposal.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Abhishek/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRotCRNH1yb4yydqM0CyB7sZZN9DjIwnfQluhhR-DEv1SEPRTfor1hRXZHYdMNTTz_DQwLOemg5vtxIuJetSVBBZ93EJNHQ2JqTmVpu40aGLTYrFwUaCaxKz39brUndgfAOPD/s1600-h/newage120806.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRotCRNH1yb4yydqM0CyB7sZZN9DjIwnfQluhhR-DEv1SEPRTfor1hRXZHYdMNTTz_DQwLOemg5vtxIuJetSVBBZ93EJNHQ2JqTmVpu40aGLTYrFwUaCaxKz39brUndgfAOPD/s320/newage120806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134226073047482786" border="0" /></a><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Abhishek/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />2. The land was given on behalf of the landowners, who as we know were not the people who tilled the land. Those who 'tilled' the land were the 'bargadars' (vide Operation Barga in the early 70's). These bargadars have no legal right of the land but could take some or all share of the produce of the land. The land still belonged to the landowners although it was the bargadar who lived and toiled there.<br />Now the very same government which gave the bargadar this 'fair-deal' was taking it back from him. This was like a stab-in-the-back for the small farmer.<br /><br />3. The Opposition (and the coalition partners) which is now making a huge hue and cry did <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> oppose the deal when it was ratified by the state assembly (Mamata staged a walkout). They did the same for the Tata project at Singur and the Jindal project.<br /><br />4. That the land-acquisition game has long since been over yet the place is under seige is an abject failure of the state machinery. What the Buddhadev Bhattacharya government didn't count on was a full fledged peasant's revolt like a 'Telengana' or 'Jharkhand' situation. Very soon Nandigram too could snowball into these pockets within so called well-governed states which are now completely detached from the Union of India and any 'Indian' is treated as an outsider.<br /><br />5. Cleansing of the hinterland to make way for industrial growth has been a well used tool by communist governments around the world. Russia and China have been doing it for decades and next year's Beijing Olympics will be testimony to that.<br /><br />6. Many of the agitators are disgruntled CPI(M) workers. This explains why there has been such flagrant display of firepower on both sides. The CPI(M) has a routine stockpile of small and large ammunition for any 'contingency' situation and does not hesitate to use them on a regular basis.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMI6t1hIYxvXUUkss6Ti9z9pJ1FvJCGMGoU9tfcQaWSn9jMXA1Fzy2I1DVZnp2vXVQJUWMfYGw6m0TqGrfjGq_WMVvmWFa0V0h8j5QaAaseVZAeb1d0DF1-QXP7YtLeh2yJAYJ/s1600-h/nandigramtense.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMI6t1hIYxvXUUkss6Ti9z9pJ1FvJCGMGoU9tfcQaWSn9jMXA1Fzy2I1DVZnp2vXVQJUWMfYGw6m0TqGrfjGq_WMVvmWFa0V0h8j5QaAaseVZAeb1d0DF1-QXP7YtLeh2yJAYJ/s320/nandigramtense.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134226377990160818" border="0" /></a><br />6. People (Mainly left-leaners) also point out to no alternative sites for such chemical hubs or SEZ's. I suggest them to just take a walk up or down the Hooghly from Kolkata. You will find acres and acres of sick jute mills and rotting industrial wasteland . And it has been so for at least a couple of decades. If that is not alternative location.....then I don't know what is.<br /><br />7. The moot question now is - Human Rights have been violated. Guardians of civil society have acted as goons and people have been killed. What is the solution?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI97YReblbIYZXDyKX2sbRl6DUNsmFXDj-VB5dROvEECJdxglylr570WCJrZQx_dYDjSroL9P8fuPYN81wfdciUEGuqk5ZgAvIVfCMEVRRtyMSLc-srYTMAC3VvVO_P68t6mg/s1600-h/nandigram.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI97YReblbIYZXDyKX2sbRl6DUNsmFXDj-VB5dROvEECJdxglylr570WCJrZQx_dYDjSroL9P8fuPYN81wfdciUEGuqk5ZgAvIVfCMEVRRtyMSLc-srYTMAC3VvVO_P68t6mg/s320/nandigram.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134226730177479106" border="0" /></a><br />Certainly not colourful processions or sit-ins or demonstrations.<br /><br />A complicated situation will require a complicated solution.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For another detailed insight into the issue go <a href="http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/the-horror-of-nandigram/">here</a></span>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-76007163717854226052007-10-22T10:57:00.000-07:002007-10-22T11:02:35.318-07:00Jai Ma Durga<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrXkYTzSsfTmFj3hjt_4Dj9Z05iE2O_1YgRYZjZ5a_vYK1Bdt9lgVjFcl3m0Sif_IiUAWeTQ4_4edsxgs6HywNHFfwpOAjSkyHFt-JvlGxQTVPF6wwN5SutThD2Z5m2Vc5rzT/s1600-h/C+R+Park+Kali+Bari+-+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrXkYTzSsfTmFj3hjt_4Dj9Z05iE2O_1YgRYZjZ5a_vYK1Bdt9lgVjFcl3m0Sif_IiUAWeTQ4_4edsxgs6HywNHFfwpOAjSkyHFt-JvlGxQTVPF6wwN5SutThD2Z5m2Vc5rzT/s320/C+R+Park+Kali+Bari+-+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124222611833182786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span>: 19 Oct 2007<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location</span>: Chittaranjan Park Kali Bari, New Delhi<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera</span>: Sony DSC-T9Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-78392239612911427332007-08-22T10:40:00.000-07:002007-08-22T10:49:48.476-07:00TAJ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB9A1tWQSnFsjstGGxWzyOHnQfbdUa2rhCC7Ft86o525w8ISXV-KPDXUfVvKNj6F2vfqlBoi4UAkmoF6iEBfVdB9t40rDm-M3sC3qLYDQfKit2j3MyQVweKIvaU78iKF0eqsi/s1600-h/DSC00299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB9A1tWQSnFsjstGGxWzyOHnQfbdUa2rhCC7Ft86o525w8ISXV-KPDXUfVvKNj6F2vfqlBoi4UAkmoF6iEBfVdB9t40rDm-M3sC3qLYDQfKit2j3MyQVweKIvaU78iKF0eqsi/s320/DSC00299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101582299040322562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span>: 29 May 2007<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location</span>: Agra<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera</span>: Sony DSC-T9Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-21750536518281177762007-08-22T10:23:00.000-07:002007-08-22T10:38:00.119-07:00ENTER'TRAIN'MENT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ2bZehbfHk0_ZtY897170cuW_c3j8oBpmWusV8omMWRs4_K1p7Bj2wlPZi_x8Zf8Fw1MsPL99LAroj8372rEWN7wFpFojian_1GzQnf7A0VEu8B29o1keP5TTD8TiyvLfeh9/s1600-h/IMG_0666.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ2bZehbfHk0_ZtY897170cuW_c3j8oBpmWusV8omMWRs4_K1p7Bj2wlPZi_x8Zf8Fw1MsPL99LAroj8372rEWN7wFpFojian_1GzQnf7A0VEu8B29o1keP5TTD8TiyvLfeh9/s320/IMG_0666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101580211686216690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span>: 29 Jan 2006<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Place</span>: Garhmukteshwar, U P<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera</span>: Canon A75Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-35083933532163261232007-08-22T10:18:00.000-07:002007-08-22T10:22:48.754-07:00UNITED COLOURS OF AMBY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxS18lNpDuZYj3PwXtGm0mBFhhA6Mb6swtsjfQC5U_8_ATBrXJpN6sOOg7ex-hoEwHmIi1gi1qaHDLEqTcBdvZyLrwRXN-JfW51kQ1qdNKiUjh2Y5XZdMj0q1dXW8sqDx5zXD/s1600-h/Charminar+-+27.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxS18lNpDuZYj3PwXtGm0mBFhhA6Mb6swtsjfQC5U_8_ATBrXJpN6sOOg7ex-hoEwHmIi1gi1qaHDLEqTcBdvZyLrwRXN-JfW51kQ1qdNKiUjh2Y5XZdMj0q1dXW8sqDx5zXD/s320/Charminar+-+27.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101576019798135762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span>: 06 August 2006<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Place</span>: Hyderabad<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camera</span>: Olympus C765USAbhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-74144811767992866352007-07-26T23:35:00.000-07:002007-07-27T05:41:50.359-07:00Trikaal (1985) - A Review<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/abhishek/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />One of the best things about the so-called parallel cinema movement in the 80's was the amazing variety of subjects that it chose to portray it’s cinematic idiom with. Moving away from the urban-mainstream clutter of boy-meets-girl themes and angry young man against entire corrupt system (although not in entirety), the film-makers chose to scourge the hinterland and look for something different, even unique.</p>Shyam Benegal's “<span style="font-weight: bold;">Trikaal – Past, Present and Future</span>” is one the most delightful of those films. I had seen this film several times earlier, on Doordarshan where they would show such wonderful movies from directors like Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Gautam Ghosh, Budhadev Dasgupta, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and others. Today with so many dedicated movie channels, does even one of them show those movies. I cannot recall seeing a benegal film (barring Bose, which was interspersed with so many ad breaks that it made the long movie seem longer and much more tiresome) or a Nihalani film (not even Thakshak or Dev which he made with big stars) for a long time. <p class="MsoNormal">Such were the treats of the pre-satellite television era.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The movie is a colorful atmospheric insight into the Souza-Sourez family pushed into a crisis by the death of the head of the family, Ernesto. The family is now under the head of the matriarch Dona Maria (Leela Naidu) who refuses to accept the death of her husband and attempts to bring back his spirit through a séance , which she conducts at least three times during the course of the movie. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Despite being led by Naseeruddin Shah, this film is essentially about cameos. And there are numerous. K K Raina as the false teethed, hen-pecked house husband, Anita Kanwar as the ever crying ever-sulking wife (delightful to watch), Keith Stevenson as the Doctor Pereira, Salim Ghouse as the priest. In fact the film features a veritable whos-who of actors, most of whom made a name for themselves in television. Neena Gupta, Jayant Kripalani, Soni Razdan, Akash Khurana and so on.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Most of the film revolves around............... well, nothing in particular. Come to think of it, it is no more a story than it is a slice of a life that has ceased to exist, as the elder Ruiz Pereira (Naseer) ruefully contemplates.(Even the roads that were used earlier aren't used anymore , as the cab driver informs us). The theme of a forgotten past recurs throughout the film. The old housekeeper refuses to divulge anything. The Souza-Sourez family house is itself in ruins.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two or three other "themes" run in the movie. The fate of Portugese in post-independence Goa is brilliantly captures in the fears of the lead characters, who are faced in a dilemma whether to join the Indian Nation which they feel alien to or to go back to Portugal where they know they will face persecution because they are 'aliens' there. The character of Leon (Dalip Tahil playing a revolutionary) with whom the sympathies of Dona Maria (and the audience) lies, solves the dilemma for us.</p>Then there is the love story of Anna (Sushma Prakash). She is engaged to Erasmo (Lucky Ali, credited as Maqsoom Ali). However Anna has a childhood crush on Leon. To complicate matters, young Ruiz (Kunal Kapoor in an inspired performance) is head over heels in love with her and sings songs professing his love to her all through out.<br /><br /><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->Which brings us to the music. How many times in cinema do you see a scene in a film with four real-life singers playing parts. And if those singers be Remo Fernandez, Alisha Chinoy, Lucky Ali and Ila Arun. In these times even geting them on the same stage would be difficult !!!<br /><br />Remo infuses the typical Goan charm through his love-ballads and his duet with Alisha in the engagement dance is a treat. Arun too gets to flex her vocal chords.<br /><br />A movie which should be watched for the sheer joy of seeing all these characters come to life in the deft hands of Benegal!Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-4330043868821096822007-06-10T09:29:00.000-07:002007-06-10T09:35:49.261-07:00Intensely Profound Statements from movies - 1'There are two types of kids in this world. One which wants to be astromoners and the other who want to be astronauts.'<br /><br />Jurassic Park IIIAbhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12443929.post-84277944547769116462007-02-18T21:23:00.000-08:002007-02-18T21:32:12.694-08:00What's in a poster !!!Taking nothing away from the fact that <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Eklavya</span> could be wonderful movie, (rave review <a href="http://brangan.easyjournal.com/entry.aspx?eid=3307343">here</a>), there's just one small thing that I just couldn't help noticing.<br />How similar is the poster to that for <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Pira</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">tes of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl</span> !!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkLEW-x2nFSWORlk70M6h-Q5smOTRsBf5XqvRGeuM2I_3UdniRON0ph5ZlOnij85RTKRinKdlt6-fbXM3-RSA2AEqbXjTI8Wnr-Rvr45sWLvqh1OB9dkd9KTDynr8OMixMpKt/s1600-h/Eklavya1P.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkLEW-x2nFSWORlk70M6h-Q5smOTRsBf5XqvRGeuM2I_3UdniRON0ph5ZlOnij85RTKRinKdlt6-fbXM3-RSA2AEqbXjTI8Wnr-Rvr45sWLvqh1OB9dkd9KTDynr8OMixMpKt/s320/Eklavya1P.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033113150650040210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Eklavya (2007)<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP80xKhONXsr8PUa1PRQ-tGitJXhRQ3XSxm2JnJ7yZ0MBxrFbH3Caa2seW2XyJZBijBWQqdFDucjkZCtLIZatjXYqkS7cFnWxCRQD-ZvxTlQVe0ecPrx0jUK-Xfyujrs-7Aaj/s1600-h/B0000A1RJI.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP80xKhONXsr8PUa1PRQ-tGitJXhRQ3XSxm2JnJ7yZ0MBxrFbH3Caa2seW2XyJZBijBWQqdFDucjkZCtLIZatjXYqkS7cFnWxCRQD-ZvxTlQVe0ecPrx0jUK-Xfyujrs-7Aaj/s320/B0000A1RJI.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033113605916573602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pira</span><span style="font-style: italic;">tes of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl</span> (2003)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Go Figure !!<br /></div><br /></div>Abhishekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052337449547117301noreply@blogger.com0