Travel and Reading

Reading Shantaram lately...
Didnt know that small things in life can be explained so romantically.
Totally in love with the Karla chick...

Anyways the slow coach that I am...I think I will finish the book only by new years...and that too is an optimistic estimate.

Read a couple of books in the last quarter on Mahatma Gandhi.
Freedom at Midnight and "The Men who Killed Gandhi". Realised how the same person can be potrayed so differently by different authors based on their interpretation of history.
But Freedom at Midnight was a delightful read. The enigma of The Mahatma!, how he single handedly could change the course of the British establishment, or even bring calm to the rioting Hindu-Muslim mobs is an eye opener. Also, the entire set of events leading to the partition.

A must read for any person who liked the History subject back in school.

Took a car ride to the two bridges of Kolkata at midnight...
Although its no comparison to the drive past Marine Drive in Mumbai...but there is something about Kolkata which is enticing. The city came to life in the 4 days of Durga Pooja and subsequent Kali pooja. Stalls everywhere...pandals in the middle of mainroads and people all over the streets. If the people had been energetic all year long..Kolkata would give Mumbai a run for her money.

Next month is gonna be a month full of travel and touring...
Patna/Guwahati/Vizag...here I come. Its been a long time since the Bengal tours. Hope to have a good time exploring new places.

Pale Blue: 2.5/5

Diwali releases have always been the talking point throughout the year. It signals the clash of 2/3 big movies and controversies surround. Recent ones include Mohabbatein and Mission Kashmir (2000), Don and Jaane-mann(2006) , OSO and Saawaria(2007). This year, although the big guns Amir and SRK are not in the reckoning its a clash between an unusual collection of movies. Adventure attempted BLUE to the laugh if you can ALL D BEST and the romance quotient of KHANNA parivar.

I cant watch all 3 on Friday, so started with Blue. Primarily because of my friends... I wud have preferred a comic relief (esp. after Ajay DevGN mentioned in the TOI article that his dad was laughing throughout the movie). Ive laughed at that statement several times :D

So, to begin with Blue…
Plot 1 :

Akki is a rich businessman who signs (documents), sleeps and sails…and ya sings too! Sanjay Dutt (who knows the oceanwaters like the back of his hand!) works for him, but they share an unusual friendship. Lara Dutta wears hot bikinis and plays around with Sanju baba! While Zayed Khan (Sanjus young bro) is still reeling under the Main hoon Na hangover. He believes that Katrina is his girlfriend throughout the movie!! Imagine

Plot 2:
All of this camaraderie is simmering over the waters of the “Lady in Blue” -(a British ship carrying Indian treasure which sunk somewhere in the Bahamas way back in 1947).

Plot 3:
Baddie Rahul Dev has a screen name (Gulshan- cudnt have been worse)…is after Zayed’s life for repayment of $50 million.

All add 3 together and it becomes BLUE!

Upside:
The movie has loads of attitude! I think they took Himesh’s Radio song too seriously.
Amazing cinematography and camera work…The under water shoots are pretty well done for Bollywood standards.

Really liked the scene where Akki and Sanju are having daaru sitting on a plank with the ocean in full view and the entire shot is msytic black and white.

Flipside:
No emotions!
There are a lot of moments where a little bit of emotion would have uplifted the movie.
Music is a big let down. The entire bike sequence with the Bike on top of a train...and bike on the tracks!! Wat were they thinking! Also, there is a (husband wife conversation going on) during a so called serious shootout.

Performances:

Akki rocks…Sanju is a little distracted and looks 50+ for the first time, Lara sizzles while Zayed…should take lessons from Jiju soon.

Blue begins the Diwali weekend for me!

Iktaara nahi teenTaara

Sid is asked..."tumhaara future ka kya plans hai" (reference Lakshya)
Sid alongwith his friends at the farewell party (reference Dil Chahta Hai)
Sid patches up with bachpan ka dost after an arguement (again DCH)
Sid's argument with his Dad (Again Lakshya)
or his live-in with Konkana...a little bit of Luck by Chance.
So, whats new in Wake Up Sid!

It doesnt matter actually...coz the movie is about chote chote moments...
Like Sid telling his Mom not to speak in English...
Or his mom telling him..she speaks in english so that her son will consider her as his friend!
very touching!
Or the light hearted Bapat family..and the hot hot Sonia (kashmira Shah).

There is nothing over the top in the movie. Everything is in snyc with the script...the cinematography depicts the Mumbai we all know...(the nariman point, bandra worli sea link). I wish they wud have explored other aspects of Mumbai as well.

The music is typical Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The title track, Kya Kahoon both seem like a mix of DCH, Lakshaya and some of their old hits. However, the song that takes the cake is Iktaara (I think composed by Amit Trivedi, need to confirm this).
The cast: Anupam Kher and Supriya Pathak as the parents add valuable support to the youngsters in the movie. Sid's friends are pretty cool and eye-catching. Some good moments of the movie come in their presence, reminding about those college days.
Konkona Sen Sharma...is a bit bland. I felt the role would have been perfect for maybe...Chitrangada Singh or a younger Tabu :)
Ranbir is the hero...He is lively throughout the movie and speaks through his eyes. After Sawaria and bachna Aye haseeno, Ranvir has finally shown his full potential on the big screen.

Director Ayan Mukherji has rehashed a whole lot of Dil Chahta Hai/lakshya/Luck By Chance and this concoction is the final product of Wake Up Sid. But its still worth watching for the sheer emotional bonding between Sid and his parents.

A good bollywood movie is all about a little laughter, a little sadness, some nice songs, thoda emotions, thoda romance and thoda action.
This one has almost all of it in equal measure. I came out smiling after watching Wake UP Sid...I give it a Thumbs UP!