CSK vs KIXP

What a match it was yesterday in the IPL! I was already excited since Deccan Chargers won over Delhi Daredevils…infact, I thought they were close to loosing when RP Singh dropped the catch for Dinesh Karthik…but when Symonds got him…I knew it was all done! Symo does scare me a little bit but cannot help but admire the way he gets involved in his matches…especially when he’s playing for DC!

WOW…the second match…jithna bolun, uthna kam hai. Frankly, I wanted CSK to win…a southie team after all and I am also really tired of these Bollywood actors (IPL owners) coming along to watch matches with their Bollywood buddies and acting like they own the IPL and the stadium…but when it went into the super over….it didn’t matter to me….I was just glad that it went into the super over!

Hubby and I were on the edge of our seats. I can only imagine the despair Chennai supporters must have been subjected to after the loss….but it was a great match! Thank God they did not have the silly bowl outs to decide who wins…the one I saw during the first T20 world cups between India and Pakistan. It was a big Joke!!

Anyways, I hope this IPL turns out to be more interesting and exciting…obviously with DC winning it at the end

I have had a very very busy week…so looking forward to some relaxing time ahead…but will keep updating my blog accordingly

Cheerio Pple!

[Via http://idlidosa.wordpress.com]

Movie Reviews : Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Lahore, Legion

Lahore Movie Review , bollywood movie Lahore Review

On the whole, LAHORE is a small little gem that takes you by surprise and catches you completely unaware. The finale in the boxing ring itself is worth the price of the ticket and more. I suggest, you make time for this one. Love Sex Aur Dhokha Review

On the whole, LOVE SEX AUR DHOKHA is original, innovative and ground-breaking cinema, which will shock and provoke you. The film is definitely not for the faint-hearted or those who swear by stereotypical fares, but for those who yearn for a change. Legion Movie Review

Legion is an amalgamation of pretty much all those films which have explored the concept of a possible apocalypse, although with an extra dose of pathos. 27 minutes ago

[Via http://keralanow.wordpress.com]

Karishma err Karisma Kapur gives birth to a baby boy!

Karisma kapur is a proud mother of two. She gave birth to baby boy at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. .Karisma has named her new born Kiaan Raj Kapoor. The meaning of the name is ‘Grace Of God’ and it is an American Hebrew name.

Karisma chose the boy’s name as her hubby Sanjay Kapur chose the name of their first born girl ,Samaira who is five yr old now.

Kareena will now be gifting an S-Class Mercedes Benz to Karisma as a special gift.

[Via http://peopleinthetown.wordpress.com]

Lahore

Artists: Nafisa Ali, Sabyasachi Chakraborty

Track Listing: Click to Listen Live or Right-Click to Save as MP3.

1. O Re Bande

2. Ab Ye Kaafila

3. Musafir

4. Musafir (Remix)

5. Rang De

6. Saaware

7. Lahore (Theme)

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[Via http://v2thaj.wordpress.com]

Technological Excesses and Psychological Decline

These are the two major trends of modern times. The technological excesses are typified particularly by the excesses in Communications and media. The other area is transportation. The decline, a colossal one, is in the inner quality of man. Let’s see how.

The ubiquitous nature of Internet is the first excess. It has carried an avalanche of information, good or bad, wanted or unwanted, in to every household, enriching and corrupting at the same time.

The TV is again a captivating medium having a stranglehold on humanity, which displays a similar capacity to right or wrong in equal measure. Yesterday was the birth day of a bollywood star, Amir Khan. He was quietly celebrating his 45th birthday at his residence. Nothing unusual?  Moreover Amir is a man who shuns media, refuses to attend award ceremonies and waste his time, and does considerable social work. Enter media. The OB vans are parked outside his residence. Scores of channel personnel enter his house and telecast live the non-event for hours. An embarrassed Amir is talking to kids, cutting the cakes etc.  Amir was obviously bored. So were the viewers. But who is bothered about the subject or the object?  It is the medium which decides.

This is only a recent example of the excesses we are talking about. Media excesses have far outweighed political excesses which the former decry.

It is taking place every day in every sphere of activity where technology is involved, and technology is involved everywhere.  In other words, every form of excess in every form of human activity is made possible by technological abundance from mass production to mass communication. In short Technology is Excess-Enabler, to the detriment of human development. This may sound quite contrary to what we believe, but it is true and would be visible only to historians of the future.

Another typical example is transportation. Choking roads, polluted air etc. The more human disaster is the tendency to be on the road most of the day, whether required or not.

Take another area for instance. The cell phones. It’s foray is unimaginable and nightmarish. The power to communicate is in everybody’s hands only to increase the babble and miscommunications as there is a corresponding decline in content. ‘Cell phone, internet and the car’, is the mantra of the day. A deadly combination called Convergence.

The decline is obvious in human values and the inner content of the human psyche. The power to concentrate, the time to contemplate and the willingness to hear other’s point of view have declined to dismally low levels. The virtues of patience, compassion for the fellow humans have become extinct. Relationships have lost their meaning in this tsunami of technology. Knowledge levels, I mean the true kind and not accumulation of facts, have gone down and understanding is dismal.

To say that everything is in the hands of the individuals, who should decide where to draw the line, is untenable in the backdrop of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy which are still plaguing humanity. Only an escapist or helpless would resort to this argument. To expect the individual, a pawn in the hands of the trends of the times, to stand up, a weak entity to have the strength to fight against such giants is expecting too much from him. Only a few strong leaders could achieve this, that too only in limited areas for shorter time.

[Via http://sampathvr.wordpress.com]

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[Via http://jadootv.wordpress.com]

Hrithik Again With Sanjayleela Bhansali

Hrithik Roshan and Sanjayleela Bhansali are working for the movie called Guzaarish. This movie shooting is going very rapidly. Till date no details came out about this movie except the Goa back drop. Hrithik Roshan fans are very curious about this project because Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Hrithik’s combo.

Here is one more reason for his fans to enjoy. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is going to work with Hrithik Roshan once again. This time their are going to work for children film. It will be shot mostly in Amazon forest.

Till date this movie is in script stage only. Hrithik is busy with his Kites movie promotion work.After Kites release,  he will announce new movie details.

[Via http://directorsinbollywood.wordpress.com]

Salman Khan is not a purush - Vivek Oberoi

There aren’t many people in the Bollywood film industry that have rubbed Salman Khan the wrong way and got away with it. Case in point is erstwhile bollywood heartthrob and one time winner of the best new face of the year male (?)  Vivek Oberoi.  Vivek slammed into bollywood with the hit film Company that had him essaying the role of a small time crook who eventually turns into Dawood’s right hand at first and then his arch nemesis. Vivek ( and the movie ) won rave reviews for his realistic portrayal of an underworld don In the making and was touted as the next biggest thing since well… the last actor son to make his debut in Bollywood. Flushed with success and everything that came with it, he broke up with his then girl friend and went on to date Ms Aishwarya Rai who was on the rebound fresh from a breakup with that shirtless wonder Salman Khan. Well as things would have it, Salman did not take the liason lightly and ended up calling Vivek over 40 times apparently, after downing a few and proceeded to threaten and abuse the living crap out of the poor guy. Well this was one guy who was already reeling under his acceptance by the Rai babe and obviously not in a sane frame of mind (who would be) and he in turn called, actually staged is the word we should use if filmy magazines are anything to go by, a meet and complain, and proceeded to lambast Salman and his ways, he also called up Salman in front of the salivating press corps and dared him to come down and slug it out if he was man enough. Salman as it turns out had prior pressing engagements and declined. The rest as they say is history and to this day in-spite of one embarrassing public display of begging for forgiveness , Salman refuses to even acknowledge the Oberoi dude.

Well that was some moons ago, Vivek’s career is on the rebound for lack of a better word and he is on the cusp of his next release “Prince”, which for unknown reasons has already been trashed before its release by the apes on passionforcinema.com. When quizzed about the status of his long drawn war with Salman by this reporter, Vivek had this to say while running his fingers through his glossy tresses. See Salman is not a purush, he is a maha-purush, he is perfection personified and has never in his entire life made a mistake which is why he finds it difficult to forgive and forget the whole sorry business, me on the other hand am a mere mortal, he signed off with a sigh.

[Via http://thecurioustimesofindia.wordpress.com]

I am not hot and sexy: Katrina

She may be playing a hot chick in many of her films but Katrina Kaif says in real life, she doesn’t feel that way at all. “I don’t think I am hot and sexy,” she told us recently.

But Kat added that is the way the audience perceives her and she is fine with that.

“I think the audience has an opinion of you and one has to try and not disappoint them.” Katrina also comes up with a quick example. “Someone like Vidya Balan is known for her ethnic roles and people love her in that image. I think I am known for a certain type of fun films. We all have our places and we are comfortable in that.”

[Via http://slikmusicchart.wordpress.com]

Royalty issue no music to anyone

First there was an altercation between Aamir Khan and Javed Akhtar and now a spat between Sonu Niigaam and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The royalty issue that has gripped Bollywood is getting bigger with each passing day. However, both the music fraternity and the producers are standing firm on their respective stands.

“This issue about the royalties was long overdue. We had to stand for our rights some day or the other day. We know we are making a justified demand,” composer Annu Malek said.

“Composers are just paid a certain amount and if the song becomes a hit, all the money that is earned from it goes to the producers. Why are composers left behind? Why just one pay cheque for them?” he added.

The music fraternity is demanding a 50 per cent share of a film’s music earnings to be equally divided between the composers and the singers. The demand has not gone down well with filmmakers.

One example of this being a heated outburst of 3 Idiots producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra at a meeting held for talks regarding the issue. According to eyewitnesses, when Sonu Niigaam presented the demands of the music fraternity, Chopra called the demand unreasonable and the two got into an ugly argument, vowing not to work with each other again.

Expressing his view on the ongoing tussle between artists and producers, Sulaiman Merchant of composer duo Salim-Sulaiman said: “I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. The problem is that nobody is willing to have a dialogue and understand what the matter is all about.”

“The need of the hour is a forum where personal allegations or otherwise should be put aside and to actually understand what the proposal is,” he added.

Artists feel the core creative group – that includes composer, lyricist and singer – behind a song are paid a low amount while producers earn millions if the song becomes a hit. Hence, the artist community wants an amendment in the Copyright Act.

“Even Mr Kapil Sibal [human resource development minister] understands our plight… I’m sure the bill will be passed,” said Malek.

In the past, Lata Mangeshkar demanded half of the five percent of a song’s royalty. Though not easy, Lata finally had her way.

However, all have not been lucky. The situation has always been so bad that most music artists struggle throughout their lives.

“There have been artists who have been doing great works but never got their full due and struggled their entire life. Even my father Shri Sardar Malik fought a royalty battle,” said Malek.

The situation abroad is different. The music artists are given equal rights to the song.

Subhash Ghai also believes that things should work the way they do in the West.

“We should adopt all Hollywood policies, since we are moving in that direction. That will be better for all,” he said.

Meanwhile, most producers are sticking to their stance. Vashu Bhagnani was quoted as saying: “If they are demanding profit, they should also share the loss. Out of 90 songs, 10 work, what about the rest?”

[Via http://slikmusicchart.wordpress.com]

Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge

Artists: Ajay Devgan, Paresh Rawal, Konkona Sen Sharma

Track Listing: Click to Listen Live or Right-Click to Save as MP3.

1. Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge

2. Aaja Aaja

3. Dohe

4. Aaja Aaja (Remix)

5. Jyoti Jalaile

6. Sukhakarta

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[Via http://v2thaj.wordpress.com]

bangkok jazz festival 2007 World Cinema:: "Incorrect wife (Femme infidele, La)", description of

bangkok jazz festival 2007

Michel Bouquet plays a businessman who suspected his wife (Odra) of infidelity. After receiving confirmation of this and find the address of her lover, he comes to him (Ron). The conversation

video image archive for vehicle damage reporting

In the near future in Washington, a special commission for the protection of time. With the invention of a time machine there was a danger that someone will be able to change the past, but this is fraught with catastrophic consequences. Max Walker accepts the offer to work in this commission and became a police patrol time. His talents in the field of martial arts helped him in the past, and in the future in the fight against villains who strive for absolute power and used for the manipulation of time.

[Via http://clorbesjuamar.wordpress.com]

Rahul Bose-an actor turned activist

An actor turned activist ( influenced by Paash )

An interaction with an actor turned activist

Gurpreet Singh writes from Vancouver

IT was the Hindu Muslim riots of 1992 that turned Rahul Bose, an actor of the parallel Indian cinema into an activist. Currently on tour in Canada with a green message, he remembers how those riots in the Indian city of Mumbai had changed his outlook towards life and politics. However, the anti Muslim pogrom of Gujarat ten years later became a turning point in 2002. The Hindu right wing BJP government of Gujarat is blamed for the targeted killings of the Muslims by the Hindu extremists in connivance with the police.

Bose admits that he was scared to help anyone in 1992, but the villainy in Gujarat changed him completely. “I am not even scared of calling Mumbai, Bombay’’, he said in a private and informal chat at a party hosted by the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) in Surrey in reference to the threats made out by the Hindu fanatics to anyone who call the city by its old name. A film director had recently apologized to the Mumbai Nav Nirman Sena for doing so. “He should have gone to the police’’.

Bose is here at the joint invitation of the PICS and the Climate Change Action Network.

He has come with a message to the influential South Asian voters to press the politicians in the swing ridings for some action on climate change. He also reminds them that India is struggling hard to eradicate poverty and unemployment. “The developed countries like Canada which still remain big polluters compared to the developing countries like mine have no moral authority to press them to cut emissions’’, he told a gathering at the PICS’ Senior Center.

Apart from being an environmentalist, he is one of the prominent humanist and secular voices from the Bollywood. However, he prefers to be identified more with the alternative cinema than the mainstream Indian film industry. He has been writing for the Communalism Combat, a magazine of the peace activists who had helped the victims of the Gujarat massacre. “The terrorism should be treated alike as terrorism in the name of the Hindu religion is no different from Jihad’’, he said in a radio interview. In fact, the film Shaurya in which he played a young army officer posted in Kashmir touches an unconventional subject of the Indian army being infiltrated by the radical Hindu officers who kill Muslims in the name of war against terrorism. Although he believes that the Indian army is secular and can’t be blamed for a few bad apples, yet he is concerned with the violation of human rights in Kashmir. “If anyone raises that question he is branded anti national’’, he said at the party during a dinning table chat over range of issues. He believes in solving the problem of terrorism through dialogue and peace initiatives instead of resorting to tough laws and police repression. “The naxalites are fighting for the basics. There are strong socio economic reasons behind their violent actions. Even Rahul Gandhi (the son of the ruling All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi) acknowledges this. Anyone else suggesting that would have been killed’’. He disclosed to me that he was influenced by Paash, a progressive Punjabi poet who was associated with the ultra leftist Naxalite movement. Paash was assassinated by the Sikh extremists.

He does not forget reminding youngsters to vote. An inedible ink mark on his left index finger suggested that he voted before coming to Canada. The assembly elections were held in three provinces, including Maharasthra where he voted on October 13. He was at the party when the counting of the votes began. “Some students question why should we vote? I tell them why not when the Hindu right wing parties try to control your lives by telling you not to wear jeans or oppose the Valentine’s Day’’.

http://www.southasiapost.org/2009/20091031/canada.htm

[Via http://paash.wordpress.com]

Bring It On

A Bollywood filmmaker has issued a lucrative challenge to horror movie fans: a $10,000 reward for anyone who can watch his latest supernatural thriller, alone, in a cinema until the closing credits. Ram Gopal Varma’s “Phoonk 2,” a sequel to his 2008 film of the same name, is about an evil spirit that traumatizes a family.

“Anyone who says the movie cannot scare him is going to be put in a theater by himself,” Varma told reporters in Mumbai at an event to promote the movie. Varma said the film fan who steps up to the challenge will be wired up to a heart monitoring machine as well as a camera that ensures they keep their eyes open during the whole movie. Readings from the machines will be shown live on a screen outside the cinema, Varma said, and if the contestant succeeds, they will win 500,000 rupees (approximately $10,850)…

[Via http://clouise91.wordpress.com]

South Asian Showdown 2010 [the evidence]

South Asian Showdown 2010

Originally uploaded by nursenicole329

i’ve uploaded photos as well as a few short video clips -  enjoy!

what an amazing night. high-energy dancing, vibrant, beautiful costumes and absolutely fantastic music – what more could you ask for?

[Via http://littlesisterladybug.wordpress.com]

Movie Review: My Name Is Khan (2010)

2 Stars (out of 4)

The message of My Name Is Khan is a laudable one: good and bad people are identifiable by their actions, not by characteristics like race or religion. But a laudable message can’t excuse the fact that My Name Is Khan just doesn’t work.

MNIK’s protagonist is Rizvan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), an Indian Muslim with Asperger syndrome. Asperger’s is an autism spectrum disorder usually characterized by physical awkwardness and trouble forming emotional connections with other people. As a child,  Rizvan’s special needs demand almost constant attention from his mother, alienating his younger brother, Zakir.

As an adult, Rizvan is forced to move to San Francisco to live with Zakir (Jimmy Shergill) after their mother dies. Zakir makes Rizvan work as a traveling cosmetics salesman, an odd assignment for a guy who doesn’t make eye contact and who’s frightened by loud noises and the color yellow. Rizvan is capable of navigating San Francisco, but he’s better at following instructions than he is at improvising.

Rizvan develops a crush on Mandira (Kajol), a divorced hairdresser with a young son named Sameer. Rizvan eventually wins over Mandira with his persistence, and they marry. They live happily for several years until the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Tragedy strikes the family, and Mandira — a Hindu — tells Rizvan that she regrets marrying a Muslim man. She tells him to go away until he can convince the President of The United States that he’s not a terrorist just because his last name is Khan. Rizvan takes Mandira’s command literally and sets off to find the president.

For a number of reasons, MNIK just doesn’t work. American filmgoers won’t be able to ignore the things the movie gets wrong about America. While the non-Indian American actors in the movie are actually pretty good (most Hindi films hire terrible American actors), characters don’t speak in proper colloquialisms. Phrases like “piss off” and “bloody Paki” are British insults, not American insults.

The movie shows footage of a turban-wearing Sikh man targeted by thugs who mistake him for an Arab, establishing correctly that many Americans can’t differentiate between people of Indian, Middle Eastern and northern African origin. But the movie later attributes a beating to the fact that the character’s last name is Khan, a Muslim surname. This defies the movie’s own conclusions about American worldliness. Most Americans don’t associate the name Khan with Islam, they associate it with Star Trek.

MNIK’s weakest element is the romance between Rizvan and Mandira. The movie spends a long time establishing that Rizvan, despite certain competencies, isn’t able to live independently. He’s not able to be a full partner to Mandira, and she often treats him the same as she does her son. It’s hard to understand why she agreed to marry him.

But, given that they are married, it’s incomprehensible that Mandira would be so cruel as to send Rizvan on a fool’s errand by himself. That she doesn’t feel bad about it makes her heartless, and the excuses the film offers on her behalf don’t hold water.

The movie tries to explain how Rizvan is able to execute a cross-country trek that spans years, but I don’t buy it. The movie doesn’t make it clear exactly how long Rizvan’s journey takes, but it would be almost impossible for anyone to execute, let alone someone coping with Asperger’s.

My Name Is Khan is watchable, but it ultimately fails by overreaching. It might have worked as a story about a couple coping with the challenges of one partner’s Asperger syndrome. It might have worked as a story about a man who wants to show America that not all Muslims are terrorists. But compressing both stories into one movie is an impossible task, even for superstars like SRK and Kajol.

*AMC theaters list the movie’s runtime as 2 hrs. 25 min. It’s closer to 2 hrs. 35 min. The showing I attended also had 10 min. of previews.

[Via http://accessbollywood.wordpress.com]

My Name is Khan - How Long They Will Attack!!

My Name is Khan is that a crime?

My Name is Khan has finally hit the theaters across India except Mumbai, because Mumbai is govern and controlled by none other than the hoodlums – Shiv Sena and MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) – who ransacked theaters and tore posters across Mumbai.

When things like this are happening around, no one would be willing to face the ire of those who are very much safe because State and Central government finds no answer to it – they think they will use it in the next elections– and they carry on rioting from years.

What was wrong if Shah Rukh Khan freely voiced the agony of millions cricket lovers that Pakistani players should have been treated in a better way – even if they were not be taken in the IPL3 (Indian Premier League) – because sports are above politics. Politics many a times divide people while sports try to fill the gorge between them.

The simple motto behind SRK’s comment would have been let sports alone, with IPL’s response not to choose the Pakistani players, the players must have felt ashamed. If they were not to be bought by the franchisees, they shouldn’t be put to auction rather been told meticulously that they cannot take part because of the security reasons.

A comment that caught the eyes of Shiv Sena who are least bothered about the image of India rather they are more concerned about their own political mileage. Patriotism and national interest is their least concern and it only shows in the words but it never came into action. If they had they would never ever tried to sabotage the constitutional rights of the people of India.

If they – Sena- have the freedom of expression – through Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna – why can’t an ordinary Indian – SRK may not be ordinary – use the same to say what he feels? Read Saamna editorials and you will find nothing about development but everything will be subjected to political, regional and religious division over which they have constructed Maatoshree.

How long an artist – MF Hussain – an actor Shah Rukh Khan and a director Karan Johar would forcibly apologize – to save their neck or else has to run away from India?

Not easy to comment over the film success or failure but it has lead to arguments and discussions that how long the politics of division, rioting and forcibly seizing a city or a state would continue?

[Via http://bollywoodcorner.wordpress.com]

Famous Singer C Ashwath passed away| C Ashwath Death News Video | ABOUT Singer C Ashwath

Singer C Ashwath famous pass away this morning. Was suffering from liver and kidney failure, and was admitted to ICU at Columbia Asia Hospital. He was a music composer and interpreter of Indian Bhavageete and Janapada Geete the doctor language.The kannada has said that he was responding well to treatment would be back to normal condition. Perhaps the only Music Director in Karnataka.

Biography

C. Ashwath Kannada: December 29, 1939 – December 29, 2009 was an Indian music composer and interpreter of poetry and songs Janapada expressive Bhavageete folk Geete in the language kannada. Also served as singer and has sung many of his own compositions. He was credited with Bhavageete singing songs and Janapada and Geete make sure they reach the common man. Died on December 29, 2009 on his birthday 71. He suffered from liver and kidney failure.

C. Aswath a household name in Karnataka. It is perhaps the only Music Director in Karnataka has carved on its own expert in each of the three areas of music as an element of expression demand: Theater, Film and Sugam Sangeetha.

He was born on December 29, 1939. He graduated in Science from Bangalore University and later worked in India for 27 years Telephone Industries before retiring in 1992 as Executive Engineer. He began his musical career as a pupil Devagiri Shankararao Joshi in Hindustani Music.

He turned 70 on the 29th Decebmer 2009. His friends and well wishers are planning to celebrate his 70th birthday in a spacial way. A function being held at Ravindra Kala Kshetra, Bangalore and Swamiji of Suttur and Virendra Hegde was to facilitate him on the occasion tonight. After this, it was expected to sing popular songs. Because it can be luck, singer / songwriter C Ashwath finally breathe on his birthday. His death leftKannada music lovers in the pool of tears.

As both singer and composer, was extremely popular among Kannadigas in Karnataka and all over the world. His concert in Bangalore in 2005 and attended by a crowd of nearly 100,000 people. It has also given concerts outside India, as in Melbourne for Melanudikannada sangha and other slightly in the UK.

He has composed music for few films too. Some of his notable compositions include the composition of music for Mysooru Mallige – the classic work of noted poet KS Narasimhaswamy and compositions ofKannada saint Santa Shishunala Sharifa works. He has also composed music for a very popular film ‘Matadaana’ along with other popular music director V. Manohar.

[Via http://virginnews.wordpress.com]

Quick Picks for the 81st Oscars, or, Terrible Awards Guesses Part Deux

It’s that magical time of the year, when trophies are handed out from this society and that, but we’re finally onto the gold standard, the little man that means the most: the Oscars. And this year is no exception, with some sweeping steps in the dimensions of cinema vying with each other for Academy recognition. Let’s take a look at the nominees for the awards I actually care about, and let’s make some predictions:

• In contention for Best Picture we have:
  1. An Education, whose major theme appears to be “Blockbusting;”
  2. A Serious Man, which like all Coen Brothers movies is defies classification in a single sentence, but if I had to try, I’d say it’s about the most interesting nebbish you’ve ever met;
  3. Avatar, about the White Man’s Burden as it exists in the future on other planets;
  4. The Blind Side, about the same,  this time in modern middle-class America;
  5. District 9, which is about apartheid, but with extra-terrestrials;
  6. The Hurt Locker, about a soldier who loves dismantling bombs more than his own family;
  7. Inglourious Basterds, which is a revisionist, nazi-killing, romp that questions if terrorism is ever justified;
  8. Precious,which sounds to be about the most schadenfreude-fueled, feel good movie of the year (and we have The Blind Side on the list);
  9. Up is about two adorable little people, one old and one young, who learn to love each other, but the DVD released without subtitles, so screw their feel-good antics; and lastly;
  10. Up in the Air is a tale of a man with no time for life on the ground, which seems to have a happy ending without the middle of the film making me want to kill myself.

  These are some seriously hard choices and there doesn’t appear to be a definitive winner looking over the list. Last time James Cameron directed a movie (1997) it won Best Picture (Titanic), but by putting another CGI affair on the list (Up) they’re practically slapping the new technology Cameron created over the past decade-and-change in the face. The past three years the Best Picture award went to Slumdog Millionaire, No Country for Old Men, and The Departed, so no discernible pattern except for firsts (in reverse order: first Scorcese win, first Coen Brothers’ directorial win, first Bollywood win), so here are the possibilities: if either Avatar or District 9 win, it’ll make for the first sci-fi Best Picture win, if Up wins it’ll be the first Animated Best Picture win, and there’s always of course a chance to go the Scorcese route and give both Picture and Director to Tarantino, giving him his first Oscar in those two categories. That last scenario’s the one I’m rooting for, personally, but there’s truly too much competition (what with the nominees expanded to ten for crying out loud) to call it.

• Since that first category’s the big one, and the others are just gravy filling out the night, let’s run through the next few briskly, shall we? For Best Actor they’ve nominated:
  1. Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
  2. George Clooney, Up in the Air
  3. Colin Firth, A Single Man
  4. Morgan Freeman, Invictus
  5. Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

  The last three years saw the award going to Sean Penn (Milk), Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood), and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), so the trend tends to be drifting toward “based on a true story,” hence a guess from me for Morgan Freeman for the role of Nelson Mandela if it went to trend. However, I’ve heard phenomenal things about Bridges’ performance so I think the Academy may break from the mold and give it to the country singer with a heart of gold.

• For Best Actress we’ve got these bevvies to choose from:
  1. Sandra Bullock, for The Blind Side
  2. Helen Mirren, The Last Station
  3. Carey Mulligan, An Education
  4. Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
  5. Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

  Kate Winslet (The Reader), Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), and Helen Mirren(The Queen) took the prize in the three years previous, so this tells us nothing except that the Academy likes English and French chicks. I’m calling it for Helen Mirren in that the award’s been given to actresses in (semi-)biopic films for the past four years (year before that it went to Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line).

• Best Director we’ve got these greats:
  1. Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
  2. James Cameron, Avatar
  3. Lee Daniels, Precious
  4. Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
  5. Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

  Because in the past three years Best Director has also won Best Picture [Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men) and Martin Scorcese (The Departed)], I’m calling it wistfully for Tarantino.

• For Best Original Screenplay, there’s these gems:
  1. Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
  2. Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman, The Messenger
  3. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
  4. Pete Docter, Bob Peterson & Tom McCarthy, Up
  5. Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

  I’m sorry, it doesn’t get any more original in Hollywood than a guy’s life getting severely screwed up by a dybbuk, so the award, in my head, goes to those nice Coen boychicks.

• Best Adapted Screenplay distinguishes these films:
  1. Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche, In the Loop
  2. Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell, District 9
  3. Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious
  4. Nick Hornby, An Education
  5. Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

  
  
  Oddly, the past three years, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay went to the same films. Since that’s not an option this year (unless they all go to Up In the Air) I’d give it to District 9, particularly considering that the adaptation from the original short film by the same writers came way shy budget-wise from a usual blockbuster film, and because sci-fi’s never taken this award before and it’s about time that changed.

• Best Animated Film I hope goes to:
  1. Coraline
  2. Fantastic Mr. Fox
  3. The Princess and the Frog
  4. The Secret of Kells
  5. Up

  Because Neil Gaiman deserves pretty much any award you’ve got to offer.

• Best Cinematography I presume will go to:
  1. Avatar
  2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  3. The Hurt Locker
  4. Inglourious Basterds
  5. The White Ribbon
     
     

  This is due, primarily, to the fact that the film is supposedly unsurpassed cinematically in awe and beauty, and required new technologies to get there. Sure, I’ll give that to Cameron, but someone pop that over-inflated ego before it kills us all.

• Best Make-up, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound-Mixing, and Best Sound Editing I usually couldn’t give a rat’s patooty about, but there’s one contender that’s in these categories that isn’t anywhere else, which really deserves to be, and that’s Star Trek. J.J. Abrams’ masterpiece ought to have had The White Ribbon’s spot on Best Cinematography and/or The Messenger’s spot on Best Original Screenplay and/or Eric Bana should have had Woody Harrelson’s spot for Best Supporting Actor. Whatever, we’ll let it slide, Academy, so long as Star Trek takes the gold in all these categories. It’s not even worth mentioning the other candidates, but here’s the rundown in case you were wondering.

Be sure to leave your own picks in the comments section, and tune in to ABC on Sunday March 7th, 2010 (8PM Eastern/5Pm Pacific) for the actual results.

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

James Cameron, Avatar

Lee Daniels, Precious

Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

[Via http://worldsasmyth.wordpress.com]

main our mrs. Khanna

this time the review is about a movie starring salman khan. Another khan from bollywood cinema. The movie was produced by his brother sohail khan who also played in this movie.

The story is about Raina (played by kareena kapoor), an orphan who need to continued her life outside the orphanage.. Who is suddenly after her pray to asked a sign from her god, bumped in to samir khanna (salman khan).

And the story goes, raina with no last name become raina khanna. But the story begin when samir decided to sent raina back to india,while he goes to singapore.

Rania,decided not to go back to india,instead she stayed in australia and work in the airport where samir leave her before. And there,she become a friend with akash (sohail), who was in love with her.. He always calls raina as mrs. Khanna

At the end, we will know why he kept calls raina as mrs.khanna.. Coz such a coincidence that akash is akash khanna hahaha

In my opinion, the story is so so.. But the songs is not bad.. I like the song don’t say alvida, hapening and mrs. Khanna.. Although the music seems to be like srk music film.. Hehehe

Hmm i think i’m gonna give this movie 2,5 / 5. And the song 4/5

[Via http://piwid.wordpress.com]

So, it begins

First of all! Who the fuck got the “dishoomdishoom”  username and its variations on blogspot, and they don’t use it! Sir (or Madam), you should be bitchslapped!

So I don’t know why am I writing this blog, perhaps I just need to keep writing. Haven’t written in ages, apart from why food inflation in Pakistan is such a bitch when it comes to gaussian assumption of residuals… bah! Also, my grammar sucks! Chaddo jee!

Anyways, so I am your typical lahori munda, a bit “burger-ised,”. I am the AFC crispy burger according to this. I’m living on the east coast, doing god knows what. I think I’m being deported soon. Note to self: upgrade the “About Me” section in 6 months. Also, I think I let my alter-ego do the taking over here. Perhaps it might help the shrink a bit.

And yes, don’t expect greatness. I revel in mediocrity… and some of that Bollywood. And yes, “Kashmir Hamara Hay”. Kidding. Perhaps. Maybe. No! Mostly, I shall talk about ….. I guess music… and… films… and what if Katrina and Kareena make babies together.

Anyways, The weekend is here, and Ishqiya is releasing this weekend! I’m excited about the movie because Salman Shahid is playing a baddie.  Would like to see more of him. Also, I’m in love with “Dil To Bacha Hay Jee”!! (UF!!UFF!! UFFF!) I’m curious to see how it pans out though. Had been disappointed too much recently by Bollywood. The question remains, should I spend $10+$10+$5 to see the movie, or utilize my torrent-savvy skills. We’ll see, I suppose.

And for weekend listening, I recommend

Even though if the only merit of the video were Humayun “The Stud” Saeed chasing various attractive women of the Pakistani TV (Maria Wasti, Resham, Mona Liza (!) [who is Himesh Reshammiyya's next c0-star], and the really pretty women from the Fuzon video), I would have watched it. However, the song is awesome. I’m not a big fan of the latest Sufi bandwagon on which everyone is trying to get on, especially because of the impetus by the indian record labels. However, the veteran Saieen Zahoor hits back, with some help of Waqar Ali (!!) I love it, and it will be on repeat over the weekend. See me get bored with it, in the next post.

[Via http://dishoomdishoom.wordpress.com]

Saagar

Saagar was a classic Bollywood movie released in 1985. It was Indian Official nomination to Oscars in Best Foreign Film Category. Dimple Kapadia won Filmfare Best Actress award and Kamal Haasan won the Filmfare best actor award for this movie.

After Mega Block Buster Bobby, for the first time Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor were featured together in this movie only.

Ravi (Rishi Kapoor) a rich business man move from USA to Goa. He falls in love with a small restarant owner Mona (Dimple Kapadia). She also agrees his love. Raja (Kamal Haasan) is an ordinary middle class guy who is in love with Mona from many days. He never expressed his feelings to Mona.

Who wins Mona finally is the story. this triangular love story has broken many Bollywood Box Office records.

[Via http://lovestoriesbollywood.wordpress.com]

Rocket Singh (Movie)

Click the Link to Watch: Rocket Singh

Click the Link to Watch: Rocket Singh

Artists: Ranbir Kapoor, Shazahn Padamsee, Sharon Prabhakar, Prem Chopra, Mukesh Bhatt

Review: The movie will begin once the foreign advertisement ends.  Don’t forget to download the soundtrack.

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[Via http://v2thaj.wordpress.com]

Only time i detested the sight of Deepikas legs

Patriotism is a word we very often come across since the days we learn our a for apples and b for balls. For sake of political correctness, our history and social studies are replete with tales of patriotic tales of some of our revered heroes. For the sake of pure literary analysis, patriotism is bathed in paradox. A word that derives its origins from the word father and yet, it  is defined as love for motherland. I don’t know how to define patriotism in words that satisfies me leave alone some inadvertent reader of this post. But bowing before the kiss principle “Keep it stupid and simple” – I can safely say many a stories, many a videos raise goosebumps in my heart. Probably those are distinctly observable patriotic heartbeats of my life.

For any Indian to have grown up in the doordarshan age, “Mile Sur mera tumhara” is no alien permutation of letters. It was a collection of notes that somehow struck a chord in our heart.In my first years of life,i understood very little of what was not spoken in Assamese. So, my earliest memories of this song was waiting for the single sentence that I could understand. As a juvenile who was yet to reach his teens, I could not draw any deep philosophical meaning of the joy I got from watching this song but as self acclaimed wise 23-year-old, I guess this video was my first realization of my being a part of the mosaic called “India”.

Having dwelt on my beautiful memories of the “original mile sur”, it goes without saying that I feel a kind of ownership over this song. I feel my life is incomplete without this song.For last few days, there was a lot of screaming about a new “mile sur”.  I was looking forward to it and my hopes were ignited by the new version of Vande Mataram released on India’s fiftieth Independence Day. For the people who cry a lot about religion, this song was revamped by a muslim.

Some hopes are created only to be crushed, some aspirations remain aspirations forever never finding the strength to crossover to the real world. My first glimpse of this video at you tube filled me with rage. The first image was of “Vodafone” and “zoom”. By no distortion of reality can both be labeled as national icons. icons that define the new resurgent India. But staying true to the truest interpretation of the word “trailer”, this new mile sur had more assaults on my memory in store. The next image that really dealt the death knell on the coffin of my hopes was of deepika padukone in skimpy one-piece enjoying some water-fall. To give a brief background of me morally I am an average IITian. I am all for more open society. If there is fan club making sex compulsory in movies, I would be among the first to promote it. I lament that I am ,soon, going to be  a 24-year-old virgin. Normally any sexy girls legs and more of anatomy are something i crave for. But when one looks forward to feeling proud of being an Indian, somehow lust and patriotism do not mix well. The rest of the video was watched with rage and contempt with  a single-minded dedication to pick more loopholes. I gave up for i found only 2 moments that made me feel proud of my citizenship. One was Bhupen Hazarika, i had ulterior motives for it for I am a Hazarika and it does not harm to your ego to share the surname with the most famous person born in your homestate.Second was Abhinav Bindra. I would only use one line to lament the lack of Sachin,Rathore,Malleshwari,Murthy,Kalam and IITs,IIMs and the overdose of bollywood for it deserves no second line.

To sum up I will quote one of my juniors “missing Rakhi Sawant”, well I say i missed her only in physical representation in video, to me the entire video smacked of the antiques that have become a part of the antiques we associate with her.

[Via http://himangshuj.wordpress.com]

Moon Named After Shahrukh Khan

Artists: Shahrukh Khan

Review: The following is an article about the International Lunar Geographic Society naming a crater after Shahrukh Khan (Source: NDTVcom).

The King Khan of Bollywood must be feeling over the moon these days and quite literally so!  According to sources International Lunar Geographic Society, a New York based organisation, has named a lunar crater after Shah Rukh Khan.

The crater is located on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility and is the largest of the four Arago craters, positioned directly south of the main crater.

Apparently, the crater was named after SRK on his 44th birthday in November last year, but it has now been approved by the International Astronomical Union following a spate of petitions from SRK fans worldwide.

Shahrukh now joins the list of eminent personalities like C. V. Raman, Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhabha after whom craters have been named.

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[Via http://v2thaj.wordpress.com]

Aamir- No recipe for success

Image by European Parliament via Flickr

Aamir is one of the top actor of the world after giving three super hits in three years Tara Zameen Par, Gajini, 3 Idiots. But Aamir Khan said that he don’t has any recipe for acting and to make movie successful. He added that he has no idea that how people like his acting and movie. His movie 3 Idiots has earned around Rs. 240 Crore, and it successful movie of the 2009.

Aamir said in Corporate Award function that he don’t have any recipe for acting. He discussed in the conference that this his there business to do some thing different for there fans and to look different every time. At last he said I just get involve in the character and emotionally attracted to the script.

[Via http://bollywoodtopstories.wordpress.com]

Veer (2010)

Cast : Zarine Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Jackie Shroff and Salman Khan

Director : Anil Sharma

Running Time : 2 Hours 50 minutes (approx)

Rating : 1 out of 4

Release Date : January 22nd 2010

Veer is the story of, well, Veer, who is a Pindari (a warrior clan) and his journey of love and battle against the British! There I am sitting in the movie hall, minutes before the movie starts, expecting full fledged battle scenes, epic war sequences and so on.  3 Hours later, there I am nursing my damaged brain.  Never, ever, trust the trailer of a movie.

The movie opens with the Pindari clan helping out a rajput maharaja, win a battle.  The Pindari, do their job well, but the maharaja, instead of rewarding them, kills them and that ignites a revenge plot between Pindari clan leader Prithvi Singh and the maharaja.  Fast forward to 25 years or so, the young son of Prithvi Singh is, Veer.  Veer, future leader of the clan, is sent to London for studies.  I am not sure if much of studies happened, but Veer does get a hair cut and fall in love with this hot girl.  No guesses as to who’s daughter she is. She is, as fate happens in all Bollywood movies, daughter of the maharaja.   Yep! So, Mr.Veer returns to India, and 1 ½ hour later, he is dead!  However, he dies, after making sure that the maharaj is killed and the Pindari have got their revenge.

Seriously, man, how could they do this? The movie opens with a really good train hijacking sequence.  Then, Anil Sharma screws up everything by ending the hijack with a tame a eye contact between the leads! Then, there is a decent battle scene as well, in the first 5 minutes, and was I disappointed, when I found out, that, that is the only battle in the entire movie!  The hard hitting opening is followed by endless, father-son drama scenes, boring songs, romance scenes and more boring songs.  The ending where Veer dies is just against reasoning.  I think Sharma re-shot the ending where Veer might have survived, so as to get some sympathy votes from the audience.

There are questions galore in my head as the movie progressed.  I will never understand what is Sohail Khan’s role in the movie.  Why is he even in the movie?  Is the movie a epic war movie as promised by the promos and publicity? (It is not because I counted about 10 minutes of battle scenes) Is the movie about love and romance? (the love arc of the movie is filled with scenes other love movies, and executed pretty ordinarily) Is the movie a comedy? (which is why Sohail Khan is there, but I do not find him funny at all).  It actually breaks my heart to see all the glorious production design (very well done when showing the 1920s Rajasthan and London) go total waste.  With such a huge budget, what could have been.  I think the whole movie is a missed moment of awesome.  Totally depressing.  Instead of Veer, they should have just called the movie Love Story 1920!  At least, Love Story 2050 was so bad it was good.  Veer, is just not to be.

[Via http://vijayasimhabr.wordpress.com]

Opening January 22: Veer

One new Hindi movie opens in Chicago area theaters this weekend. Veer is a historical epic about a fictional Pindari warrior fighting India’s British occupiers in 1825. Salman Khan, who co-wrote the screenplay, stars as the title character.

Veer opens on Friday, January 22, 2010 at Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5 in Niles, AMC South Barrington 30 in South Barrington and AMC Cantera 30 in Warrenville. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 40 min.

After earning just $117,917 during its first weekend in U.S. theaters, Chance Pe Dance carries over for a second week at the South Barrington 30. Meanwhile, 3 Idiots, which has earned over $6 million in the U.S. so far, sticks around for a fifth week at the South Barrington 30, Cantera 30 and AMC Loews Pipers Alley 4 in Chicago.

Telugu films Adurs and Namo Venkatesa will show at the Golf Glen 5 and Sathyam Cinemas in Downers Grove. The Golf Glen 5 is also running the Tamil movie Aayirathil Oruvan.

[Via http://accessbollywood.wordpress.com]

Chance Pe Dance (2010)

Cast : Genelia D’Souza and Shahid Kapoor

Director : Ken Ghosh

Running Time : 2 Hours (yet, it felt like I was in the theatre since last friday)

Rating : 1 out of 4

Release Date : January 15th 2009

When I saw the title (and the promos), it got me thinking. What is this movie all about? Is it some kind of a reality dance show inspired movie with rock-hard abs for the screaming female fans of Shahid Kapoor? Well, it actually is, but as you might have surmised from the picture above, the movie is not just about dancing. It is a whole lot more than that.

The movie opens with some kind of song. Even in my brief hobby as a movie reviewer, I know that is never a good sign. Quickly, the credits role and we enter the studio apartment of Sameer (Shahid Kapoor). We have a rather funny montage of his daily life, showing us, the blessed viewers that he is a struggling actor. He auditions and auditions and further auditions. Everywhere, he goes, luck is just not with him. Pretty much every time, every where he gets lucky, but some other dude with ‘influence’ gets through.

Then, the heroine enters and does something. Then the hero joins a school, and does something. Then the hero’s best friend betrays him, and that does something to the hero. Then something happens in his hometown, and his dad is in trouble, and that does something. Then, his director (the one inside the movie) gives up on him, and that does something. Then, there is this reality show, and that does something. Then he remembers his mother (rest her soul), and that does something. To sum up, I haven’t got a clue what is happening to who and why and when. All of my six senses were completely befuddled with all kind of scenes which are being added, as if, for the sake of it. I have nothing against padding, but I do have a problem, when they are not cool or awesome.

Yet, the movie does have some funny moments. Also, Shahid Kapoor can dance pretty well. For these two things, I am giving this movie the single star rating. Well, I know for sure that you should not be watching this movie. Neither should be any of your friends, even if they belong to the female gender, who went screaming every time Shahid showed up on the screen. Tell her she can scream, while watching the same movie, on DVD.

[Via http://vijayasimhabr.wordpress.com]

Rang De Basanti...

You have to be the change you want to see in this world, right?  I’ve been waiting to see this movie for a LONG time.  All the actors/actresses in the movie were very good…my two favorites were Atul Kulkarni and Aamir Khan.  It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Aamir movie, and this reminded me why I’ve liked him so much.  The story is about a British documentary filmmaker who comes to India to make a movie about all the revolutionaries her grandfather wrote about while working as  British officer.   At first the 5 guys chosen to play the revolutionaries can’t relate to their characters because they’ve never felt so deeply about something that they could give up their lives.  Circumstances change this as the movie develops.  There is so much corruption in the Indian government, police force, and politics.  This movie tries to test your emotions about all of them.  I’ll tell you one thing…I was angry after I finished this movie.   Every now and then you hear a song that really touches a cord…Luka Chuppi kind of rips your heart open.  I’m not sure if it’s the lyrics, the scene in the movie, or a mix of both…but WOW.  AR Rahman does it again with soft beats that echo loudly.  Translated lyrics:   “ What do I tell you about the place I am, mother?/There is an open sky here for me to fly/Like your stories it is innocent and beautiful / Don’t worry, my kite is flying, mother / Nobody can steal my string or cut it in the middle.”

[Via http://npatel522.wordpress.com]

Bollywood, Bonding and Balti Chicken

I did it! One week of cooking Indian. By weeks end, I felt like I could maneuver in the kitchen with my cache of Indian spices (15 and counting!). Not only did I learn to cook 5 classic Indian dishes, I was able to learn about Indian culture and music with some of my online research. I am convinced that this week has done a few things for me. Like a real vacation, this virtual and real food trip to India has been the backdrop for some rich bonding.

For my last couple of meals, there were at least 7 others who offered their hands for the varioustasks at in the kitchen: flatbread making (kneading and rolling), sweet sticky dessert cooking, pot stirring, spice adding  (no less than 5 plus spices to add at any given moment), table setting, music searching (Indian groups and artists, of course!), prayer offerings (always including the people of India), and finally, eatin’ – what a treat!

There has been a lot of activity in my home and kitchen – some expected and some unexpected, but in both instances, the past week’s excursion into Indian food and culture has been exciting and pleasurable. Who would have known that India would become such a popular conversation among family and friends? Who could have foreseen how my culinary experiment would serve to help my family bond around shared food and learning? Who would have thought that family meals, music, and even entertainment would all take a turn towards Asia with a new historical curiosity and contemporary interest?

My personal favorites this week included the Curried Cauliflower Soup, Bhajias, and the last meal: Balti Chicken. Balti describes a way of cooking. There once was a place called Baltisan located in today’s Pakistan. Some food theorists argue that the Balti style of cooking originated in Kashmir (the top most position in the map of India) and was perfected in the British city, Birmingham, England.  Though there is some debate about origins, no one can argue over the popularity of this type of cooking. Reading about the Balti style of cooking, I couldn’t help but compare it to “crock pot” cooking – just about anything and everything can go into the pot, but with Balti, the difference is in the type of container or pot that is used!

Balti essentially means “a bucket”  in Punjabi, and the food is cooked and served in a two handled wok.  The combination of spices and aromatics contribute to a nice smooth, delicate taste ! YUMMY sums it up better. It was easy to prepare and easier to eat. Like a stew, you can scoop up whatever is in the wok with the chipatis!

I am becoming convinced that you cannot have a fantastic Indian meal without also taking some enlightening and educational trips into India in other ways. India nightlife and entertainment for our evenings included several Bollywood Hollywood films (downloaded instantly-thanks to NETFLIX!). My daughters and I particularly liked the the predictable musical romances: boy-meets-girl-and-both-fall-in-love-by-singing-to-each-other. There are many others we still hope to watch. The family has already decided that one Saturday soon, we will devote a chunk of time to the watching (again for most of us) the movie about Mahatma Gandhi.

The Bollywood Hollywood Film Industry is located in Mumbai ( formerly called Bombay). Mumbai is the most populated city in India with some 17 million people. Mumbai offers tourist goers attractions like outdoor bazaars, the Gandhi Museum, and of course the beautiful Arabian sea.

Still lots left to do in India. Cooking and culture takes lots of work.

Here is a preview of the next menu: CURRY! PRACTICE is needed!

Cod in Tomato Sauce, Golden Raisin and Cashew Pilau, Tomato and Onion Salad

Spicy Tomato and Potato Curry, Chipatis

Aromatic Chicken Curry, Bombay Potatoes

Vegetable Korma, Rice, Poppadums

Citrus Beef Curry, Basmati Rice

If there is one  reward for the week (I had many, but this one was nice) , it was the hug I got from my youngest daughter, thanking me for making it a great week. ahhh-bonding, what more could I ask for. Phir Milenge-See you later!

[Via http://aroundtheworldin365.wordpress.com]

MEET: The new girl in Shahid Kapoor's life

Shahid Kapoor seems to be on a roll. No doubt he is one of the most eligible bachelors in the tinsel town, girls seems to be just falling on him wherever he goes. Not that I’ve a problem,  the more the better. Now lemme enlightened you about the new girl in Shahid’s life, after Vidya and Priyanka.

Patience, my dahlings! Here it goes…

The other day my hair stylist friend who was present at the recently held Apsara Awards was on her way to her seat, of course in the VIP section, when her eyes caught Deepika in action. The pretty girl, clad in a dazzling sari was tip-toeing towards Shahid Kapoor who seemed little taken aback a didn’t know how to react. Well, it happens at times, boy! So, Deepika dahling found a place just next to our loverboy, after chitchatting with a few other industry friends.

It was then someone told her that Ahmed Khan, the choreographer-turned-director (FOOL & FINAL), is apparently planning his second directorial. And no points for guessing, it would not only star his buddy Shahid, but Deepika as well. Buzz is that Ahmed had thought of casting Katrina before, but finally zeroed in on Deepika.

Now that Ranbir is busy with Katrina (Shooting for Rajniti and Imtiaz Ali’s Rock Star) Deepika can have her share of fun too. Wink wink

[Via http://reelstories.wordpress.com]

10 Minutes with Sharman Joshi

Calm and composed amidst a frenzy of fans during his appearance at Little World Mall, Sharman Joshi is far from the silly comic he comes across as in most of his films. Sitting in an office filled with journalists, fans, managers and cameramen, he sits quietly eating his sandwich and observing the people around him. The star’s magnetic pull is enhanced by his down-to-earth nature. He tells us more about the Bollywood block-buster 3 idiots, himself and the Bollywood industry.

1. How do you feel about the success of 3 Idiots?

I am quite elated, heartened, humbled; all these emotions at once. It is wonderful when you work so hard and that is appreciated and acknowledged by everyone.

2. Do you relate to Raju Rastogi’s character?

Certain parts of his character. I relate to Raju in the present. Raju in the present is more like me: I have always known what I wanted to do; I have always gone after it despite any sort of pressures, which I took with a pinch of salt. But, I don’t relate to Raju in his college years.

3. Have you ever been ‘ragged’ or ‘bullied’?

Fortunately not. I can imagine it being a very traumatic experience. The colleges I’ve studied at here in Mumbai were day colleges, not hostels. Hostels are notorious for ragging.  I was fortunately spared the treatment.

4. 3 Idiots is now a scapegoat for student suicides and ragging. What do you think about that?

It is rather unfortunate. The film takes a stance against suicide and ragging, for that matter. I don’t know how this is being interpreted as inspiring people towards such traumatic acts.

5. Do you have the typical traits of a Taurus?

I don’t know. I haven’t looked into it too much. But, largely and generally, I’ve heard that a Taurus is meant to be opinionated. I am opinionated, but I would like to believe that I am also flexible to other points of views. If I am convinced and if the other point of view is valid, I will readily agree.

6. What’s your pet peeve?

I’m not sure. I find it really annoying when I am asked for anecdotes or stories of things that happened on the sets of a film. It is annoying because I can’t remember. I think I have memory issues: such anecdotes don’t instantly come to my mind.  For example, many interesting and funny things happened on the sets of 3 idiots, but I can’t remember them and tell you.

7. If you were taken to a deserted island and were told you could only take one thing with you, what would you bring?

I would bring a cell phone. But, in case there is no network, I would bring a chopper so that I can just fly back out of there.

8. Who’s your idol and inspiration?

I don’t have a particular idol or inspiration and that’s a conscious decision. There’s a fine line between being inspired by someone and imitating them, and I don’t want to end up imitating or mimicking someone. Instead, I get inspired by every person from all possible walks of life. If someone performs a basic gesture that is kind, compassionate and warm, I get inspired. Like, a man opening the door for a woman, or a woman smiling. These things are inspiring and I take note.

Raju’s character was played by my instinct. I just imagined myself in his situation. In the suicide scene, I imagined how traumatic the situation would have been for him: the pressure of not doing well, not wanting to give up his friend’s name and on top of that, the pressure of his parents. If he’s rusticated, I thought of what his parents would feel. I relied on my instinct and approached the character in this simplistic manner.

9. There’s an increasing trend for Bollywood films and stars to become politicized. Film stars are becoming politicians; films are focused on contentious issues and are blamed for certain things. Do you think this trend should continue?

Films are a director’s or a writer’s medium. If a director is inspired and has a story to tell by a particular incident, be it political or anything else, I think it’s wonderful for them to express it. It’s a democracy we’re living in; every creative person should be given a free hand. If the maker has a story to tell, he should do so as long as there is no malice. The bottom line is that the film should be entertaining because we are, after all, in the entertainment business.

10. Do you think chivalry is dead?

Not at all. Chivalry is not dead; it’s very much alive and kicking. I’m quite a romantic at heart and I like indulging my woman.

[Via http://kale1doscope.wordpress.com]