tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46029695966607047752024-02-19T09:26:13.957+05:30Atlee's spaceMovie reviews, cricket talks and sometimes thinking aloud.atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-43227132508634839602011-01-07T09:32:00.000+05:302011-01-07T09:32:16.225+05:30The LAGAAN of our times<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A satisfying day for Indian cricket. - For test lovers , For all those who have seen the Barbaros 1997 test when we needed 120 to win and we would not do it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For my generation!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This generation of committed Indian fans have had so many heartbreaks that it will take me another blog- however, I will mention just a few.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">England '96 series: Ganguly and Dravid introduced themselves in style. Prasad and Srinath proved they hunted well as a pair. But a unique cricketer -with a moustache and a hat stood between our 1st overseas test win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Barbados Test- 1997: It hurt so much more, as it was the 1st day of the summer vacation after the pressure cooking SSC exams. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Newlands Test - 1998 : So close, yet so far - Cullinan and Donald batted endlessly to leave India with 2 wkts away from that elusive win</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Zimbabwe one off 1998 - we lost this one too!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Australia Series 1999-2000: Although India lost 0-3 this series has far damaging effects. This series is responsible for me scoring 56% in 1st year engineering (my lowest!). I ruined my career watching Vijay Bharadwaj and Hrishikesh Kanitkar score 5 runs in 70 mins while another special Sachin 116 at MCG was directly responsible for a poor Chemistry score.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51M7dOLu7s2YPFKoUmZufQHso12z_KxYPMsp6nDJjW9m08WINfSzm7PhnU69xINJrOAArO0ywCwsvWw5dbdGAEjj6HyL-dYCvETOhlKYsXQZVMnfR8kdjRVCe5Kc4RLWVnJS06zzy1Kgr/s1600/Sachin+116+at+MCG.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51M7dOLu7s2YPFKoUmZufQHso12z_KxYPMsp6nDJjW9m08WINfSzm7PhnU69xINJrOAArO0ywCwsvWw5dbdGAEjj6HyL-dYCvETOhlKYsXQZVMnfR8kdjRVCe5Kc4RLWVnJS06zzy1Kgr/s320/Sachin+116+at+MCG.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sachin - lone survivor in Aus '99</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then came the match fixing scandal - denting further our interest in the game. A time, when our heroes Azhar and Jadeja were involved in a scam which dented the pride and image of the nation. It seemed like a passion was fading...Some went back to books, others switched to EPL and F-1. Every wicket was watched with suspicion...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was around May 2000.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, after a 3 month cricket layoff, India came out with a new look squad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">New captain, a couple of young blokes and a new approach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The immediate impact was in the form of Zaheer Khan. Ripping the batters with his yorkers, he immediately brought the confidence that the Indian team needed. On the batting front, another young lad was weaving his magic with the bat - Yuvraj Singh. A classy 84 vs AUS helped us to a roaring win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ths Indian team had won their valuable Indian fan once again!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Part 2 to follow </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-84972062291064100252010-04-28T16:26:00.003+05:302010-04-28T22:56:49.238+05:30Music Insights<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span xmlns=""></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raghav introduced me to </span><a href="http://www.last.fm/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.last.fm</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - a music service with a whole lot of features. In a nutshell, this service tracks the music that you hear on your laptop (media player), recommends other songs of similar genre to you, and also connects you to people who share similar music taste.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotfJNU2JJwYpI6y3duwUQi14gHiamNAybdzAl_jOGPGWF8iWg2LVZbvSUVesZWWEU0_ezH3r7Y1WwRiRChpyPMiX1kPoysuS-8uL-BM3ClSvicOEiE8U-W7p5wTXcp8JUm38tp4XDHR75/s1600/Last+fm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotfJNU2JJwYpI6y3duwUQi14gHiamNAybdzAl_jOGPGWF8iWg2LVZbvSUVesZWWEU0_ezH3r7Y1WwRiRChpyPMiX1kPoysuS-8uL-BM3ClSvicOEiE8U-W7p5wTXcp8JUm38tp4XDHR75/s320/Last+fm.JPG" tt="true" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have something called a scrobbler which tracks your media player and updates what you have been listening to on a daily basis. So, in a way, the scrobbler is to music what people meter is to television. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus, the website has the required analytics to see the top tracks/top artists and other such statistics easily. What the service currently lags is an advanced search selection to see Top tracks with filters By country/ By age group/ By genre etc. This will be a tremendous market research input to someone like MTV/Channel V.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I decided to test last.fm on the music which I am most familiar with:- Bollywood</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the last week, the top 3 tracks of the following artists are as follows:-</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5_bLTtoaYApDLsyfDMoWnqeFntFvf0dVRgZAbT9UQYWjXxrN9V7rP-fiYfFv6GStH19EqUV784NsRlLoGal2p9tRFIW6wgO2DgURbmuugcuZiP3ldwaxaXl5SIA1ROcdF8qYLQc-R_nb/s1600/sonu+nigam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5_bLTtoaYApDLsyfDMoWnqeFntFvf0dVRgZAbT9UQYWjXxrN9V7rP-fiYfFv6GStH19EqUV784NsRlLoGal2p9tRFIW6wgO2DgURbmuugcuZiP3ldwaxaXl5SIA1ROcdF8qYLQc-R_nb/s200/sonu+nigam.jpg" tt="true" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sonu Nigam </span>(36480 listeners): <br />
1. Aaj ki raat (Don) - 2007, <br />
2. Title (Kal ho na ho) - 2003 and <br />
3. Mujhe raat din - 1999</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Shaan </span>(22896 listeners)<br />
1. Tanha Dil - 2002<br />
2. Bhool ja -2002<br />
3. Jab se tere naina - 2007</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Shankar Mahadevan</span> (24760 listeners)<br />
1. Breathless - 2000<br />
2. Jhoom barabar - 2008<br />
3. Lakshya - 2005</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be fair to the TV guys, they have aired music videos of at least 4 songs from this list in the recent past. But the important thing is that from a sample size of approximately 50000 listeners none of the top 9 tracks (from the top3 artists) are from 2009 or 2010. And a closer look at the music listing of MTV , Channel V or NXM will show you the exact opposite statistic. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope Channel V and MTV analyze this data closely and go back to airing good music. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-68670904891241863962010-04-14T16:37:00.005+05:302010-04-14T16:44:04.113+05:30Blame it on twitter<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">IPL and controversies go hand in hand. This season is no different. It started with the untouchable treatment to Paki cricketers which went on to fuel the SRK-Sena fire. Next, Ravindra Jadeja was shown the door for trying under the table tactics to switch teams. Our Lalu Moody, said the matter will be decided soon. Nothing came out of it, Jadeja is now hoping to show his wares in West Indies. </div>Next, was the miniscule problem of Deccan Chargers as all their home matches were shunted out of troubled Andhra. Then was the turn of Kings XI Punjab, who added to their losing streak, a tiff between Yuvi, Sangkara and Ness Wadia. <br />
And now, the biggest controversy seems to have the capability to shake the power circles in Delhi!<br />
Preview of the most important controversy of the IPL <br />
MI (<strong>Moody Inc</strong>) vs CSK (<strong>Consortium</strong> of <strong>Secrecy</strong> from <strong>Kochi</strong>) <br />
Venue: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">http://www.twitter.com/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Key Players:</span><br />
MI: L Moody (captain and commissioner), Mr. Videokaun (corporate) , Shri. Safe (unique combo of Bollywood + cricket)<br />
CSK: Sheeshee Tharoor , Sanki Sreesanth and …………………………. (cannot be revealed as per agreement)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">On form:</span><br />
Moody is the master of the game. His experience in controversies goes back to the cocaine days. Expect him to come out of this one unscathed. However, don't forget, Sheeshee is a tough nut to crack. It was on the same ground (Twitter) that he has made a name for himself. 5-star stay, cattle class, Saudi Arabia, all came on tweeting along. Equally important is the performance of Sanki Sreesanth, who is harboring captaincy hopes in the new team from Kochi. That explains his bowling performance for Punjab.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Weather Report:-</span><br />
Strangely, although the match is played on twitter, it is getting hotter and hotter in New Delhi. Dubai has also reported a few tremors ever since.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Statistics:-</span><br />
Moody: 26 tweets , 4 controversial , Strike rate: 24.5 , Man of the Controversy: 7 <br />
Sheeshee: 17 tweets, 17 controversial , Strike rate: 100, Man of the Controversy: 3 <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">When they last met:-</span><br />
Videokaun and Shri Safe tried to forge a new opening partnership but went home for naught. They managed a decent total thanks to the sahara of the other corporate honchos. The secret group had a decent plan in place, took a few Karbon Kamaal Katches and in a defining Citi moment of Success, was in the driver's seat. <br />
However, in the 2<sup>nd</sup> innings things changed dramatically. Moody regrouped his side along the way, took the strategic timeout too seriously. In one tweet, he stabbed CSK in the back, tearing the agreement of secrecy. He spiced up things by sledging below the belt "You are close to a cheerleader" he said, apparently. <br />
Unfortunately, this did not go down well with the officials, and Moody was summoned by the match referee, fined 25% of his match fees and asked not to sit next to SRK next time. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Squad Changes:-</span><br />
MI is now backed up by the addition of the powerplay BJP members. Expect them to get DLF maximum benefit out of it. CSK on the other hand is waiting for its most dependable support, the Congress. <br />
<br />
<strong>So, who do you think is right in this matter. Send an SMS to MAXMOBILE only with dual sim phone to take part. Watch DLF IPL for more action.</strong>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-44263188496390743142010-03-18T23:57:00.004+05:302010-03-19T00:21:22.821+05:30Chapter 6: Jaane bhi do yaaron<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span xmlns=""></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to season 2 of the Engineering Series:-</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starring: Nimit, Andy, Sid and Atul</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recap: 4 Engg friends got together to make the best IT software on earth. They meddled with Duckworth lewis, made a terrible presentation to their client, <br />
had a gala time coding at each other's place. However, accidents and calamities later, they realized their software skills can take them only to the passing marks of the project curriculum.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>So, project deadline was a month away! The library management website that we were supposed to come out with was going through final touches "look n feel" as they say in the s/w world.<br />
We were looking for some new homepage designs for our website.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nimit: These are the links that should appear on the homepage. <br />
<br />
Andy: Ekdum hotmail.com ka feel aana chahiye.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Nimit and Andy took us through that process of clicks and browse windows. Sid and I were waiting to pounce on any error in the page. However, one click and the page gave the 404! page not found error.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atul: Nimit, kya karta hai be! Yeh kya hai, tera planning hi galat hai!<br />
<br />
Nimit: Aisa hai na…ab tu kar. Aaja! Dekhta hun ek line bhi theek se likh sakta hai kya tu.<br />
<br />
Atul: arre, tu to naaraaz ho gaya, main to mazaak kar raha tha mere bhai.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nimit (still angry! pointing towards Sid and Atlee): abbey tum log kuch kaam karoge<br />
<br />
Sid: aaa be…apun karega na…tu bus bol kya karna hai…kyu be Atul…<br />
<br />
Atul: kyaa…haa haa…<br />
<br />
Nimit: finish the homepage designs. It's the simplest of all tasks! <br />
<br />
Atul: yaar Nimit, tu bole to humlog woh email functionality bhi tere table pe rakh deknge</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Nimit felt like Paresh Rawal of Andaz Apna Apna (Do line ka code nahi likh sakte hai yeh, aur itna bada email functionality karenge! Yeh kaise kaise khajur paal rakhe hai tune teja!) </em></span></span><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sid: pakka re! 2 minute ka kaam hai woh…par…arre yaar.. par abhi late ho gaya hai…7 bajj gaya…mereko swaminarayan jaana hai. Aur train main rush bhi hoga! Tu to jaanta hai , I stay in Vasai.<br />
<br />
Andy: shuru hogaya iska bahana! </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sid: sachhi yaar, aaj Monday hai na. You know where I am every Monday!<br />
<br />
Andy: pichle Monday ko almost jail main tha! (due to a "raada" between local Vasai goons!)<br />
<br />
Sid: arre wo to social service tha re…par Nimit, pakka kal main aur Atul mere ghar pe sab kaam karenge. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atul: yes Nimit, apan kar lenge.<br />
<br />
Nimit: waise bhi mere gahr pe kal mehmaan aa rahe hai, so I will not be able to come for the next 2 days. But you guys please finish that part. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atul: pakka Nimit, Andy tu bhi chal na…</span><span style="color: #943634;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy cannot say no! He agreed immediately. The next day, we settled down at Sid's place.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>With his parents out on vacation, this was going to be fun.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atul: pehle email ka kaam karte hai, uske baad wo kya hai…design dekhte hai<br />
<br />
Sid: abbey email wala kaam difficult hai yaar…apne se nahi hoga<br />
<br />
Andy: who code apan Gaurav Shah se likhwaate hai, scholar hai who apne class ka<br />
<br />
Sid: arre Shah is baar bhi top kiya na!<br />
<br />
Andy: haan saala…uske wajah se aaj bhi mereko ghar pe gaali milta hai. Shah ko 90/100 mila, tereko 85!<br />
I can take criticism, but i cannot take drawing parallels from someone else's life</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sid: Abey Andy, itna angrezi!<br />
<br />
Andy: (visibly upset) school main humesha 3<sup>rd</sup> aaya main, Std 1 to X tak! Har baar gahrpe sunaaya, usko 20/20, tereko 19/20! <br />
<br />
Atul: haha, main bhi life main sirf ek baar first aaya, who bhi kyunki actual topper ka hand fracture hua aur who exam nahi likha<br />
<br />
Andy: yeh tu hazaar baar bol chuka hai!!<br />
<br />
Sid: Atul, tu repeat mat kar be! Sun sun ke pakk chukka hun<br />
<br />
Atul: acha theek hai theek hai, kaam karte hain abhi. Email functionality…</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy: Ya, I was saying let Nimit do it. Woh hi accha karega, usko bolte hai apan ne try kiya par error aaya…kuch error ka naam bol<br />
<br />
Sid: null pointer exception<br />
<br />
Hahahaha</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy: to designs dekhte hai new button ke liye<br />
<br />
Sid: arre uspe maine mast research kiya kal…I saw 5 -6 websites and this was the best design. I have downloaded the same. Let me show you!<br />
<br />
Sid added the design change into our code and showed it to us!</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy: abeey! Yeh design dekha hua hai…copy hai yeh…pakka<br />
<br />
Atul: haan re, same to same color…abbey yeh to desibaba.com se uthaaya hai!! (Desibaba was the famous Indian porn site at that time).</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy: Sid, besharam! Tu kabhi nahi sudhrega na<br />
<br />
Sid: arre par, kya mast dikh raha hai be…dekh…the thumb is blinking!</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>It was around 5pm…We had to work on the email thing! Andy was really geared up to work, and his enthusiasm translated into us also. However at 515 pm, the doorbell rang! It was Sid's cousin Saahil. He was just relaxing in the same room and giving us some expert advice as well on the email function. We decided to take a small break at 530pm. Sid had gone to get some snacks; Atul was over the phone…while Andy was generally browsing the desktop for some songs.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy: ABEY….tere paas Brian LARA 1999 cricket hai!! Waaw!<br />
<br />
Atul: arre sahi! Sid ne bola nahi uske paas BC Lara hai<br />
<br />
Andy: yaar, mereko yeh game sahi lagta hai ekdum<br />
<br />
Atul: I have never played this yaar…lets play for 5-10 mins.<br />
<br />
Sid came home with some samosas and dhoklas. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sid: Abey…Lara khel raha hai..<br />
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Atul: seekh raha hun re…<br />
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Sid: arre usme ek mast option hai…real time games ka, you can select a real life match and play that game<br />
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Atul: samjha nahi<br />
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Sid: I'll show you…See this one…It's an ODI between Pak and SRL, remember the one in which Afridi scored the fastest 100! So, Pak have scored 371 in 50 overs. And we are SriLanka and we have to chase it.<br />
Atul: wow! Will that be fun or what!<br />
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Andy: chal try karte hai<br />
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Sid: abbey par hum 3 log hain!<br />
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Saahil: teen nahi…chaar<br />
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Sid: oh yes… So, 4 of us, each of us is one batsman. If you get out, the next guy comes in.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Sid was Jayasurya, I was Kalu, Andy became Aravinda while Saahil donned the role of Ranatunga with the rest to follow.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atul: awesome!<br />
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<em>It was almost 6 pm when we started, by 9pm, the closest we scored was 200 all out! Sid decided to order for dinner. </em><br />
Sid: Yeh hotel ka Kofta mast hai! Mangaun?<br />
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Atul: kuch bhi chalega, Andy new match khelte hai, we are anyways 145/7. Quit kar!<br />
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<em>Sid ordered the kofta thingy. Minutes later…At the dinner table </em><br />
Andy: Abey yeh kya sabzi hai! <br />
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Sid: ananas ka kofta</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>ANANAS!! Trust me! It was the worst gravy I have ever had!</em><br />
<em>Post dinner! The match continued! The next time I saw the time, it was 2 am! This time, all of us were totally into the game and playing well also except me. The highest I scored was 25 runs. This time Sid and Andy did the running .The score was 300/5 in 42 overs. </em></span></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sid: Is baar jeetenge pakka…<br />
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Andy: haan…<br />
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<em>It was 3am! And suddenly, the power went off in Vasai.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy: abbey @#$$%^%<br />
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Sid: oh no!<br />
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Andy: saala tera Vasai! Bakwas jagah hai…yeh time pe bhi light chala gaya!<br />
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<em>I guess, it was an indication to go to sleep. We woke up the next day at around 9am…Again continued the game till about 2 pm in the afternoon. We improved our chase, going down 348 allout!<br />
Finally, after a full 24 hrs, after having failed to win the battle, we decided to go home.</em></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(The next day)</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nimit: So, I hope you guys have worked on the email functionality</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Silence!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Closing Credits: Maximum inputs from Andy</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-91347813214612872662010-03-17T17:09:00.002+05:302010-03-26T16:56:07.004+05:30CSR, Mayawati and IPL<span xmlns=''><p><span style='color:red'><em>1411 tigers left! Speak blog share!<br />
</em></span></p><p><span style='color:red'><em>Save paper, use mobile…what an IDEA sirjee<br />
</em></span></p><p><span style='color:red'><em>Jaago Re campaign<br />
</em></span></p><p>These are the 3 recent CSR activities that I can recall, and barring the Tata Tea campaign, the other two are simply "in your face" CSR activities. Idea! Deserves a kick on the backside for the stupid ideas it proposes…talk while you walk! said one… I tried doing that once and was almost run over by a BEST bus! And the current one with an Abhishake Tree is equally pathetic. <br />
</p><p>As far as the 1411 tigers are concerned, AIRCEL deserves a clap for coming up with a good storyboard, and a good recall as well. And it is matter of great ecological concern too. But then, in a land where poverty, diseases, malnutrition, terrorism, caste and racial issues exist, it really doesn't matter. The demand is for a decent standard of living for human beings first.<br />
</p><p>Jaago Re, reminds me of Nitie, where one of our professors would always take the example of Tata Tea. Their ad, about increasing awareness of voting touched the right chord. However, inspite of a critically acclaimed awareness programme, the general elections in 2009 saw one of the lowest turnouts in Mumbai. Reason- The lack of planning by the EC for allowing a 4 day long weekend. <br />
</p><p>Talking about things that matter! What the hell is happening in U.P. Mayawati is garlanded with notes worth Rs 2 crores! Are we still in the 1950s! Sex scandals are on the rise… First it was the old man N D Tiwari, now Swamiji is caught with his pants, err garb down. Emotional Atyachaar TRPs are definitely soaring… are we in the age where soft porn has come out of the bedroom?<br />
</p><p>And now, the most talked about event of the week! IPL<br />
</p><p>Lalit Modi has a way with everything! IPL3 has kick started in fine fashion, and with marketers, franchisees and cricketers all trying to blend with the format. So, now we have ads in the middle of the over, shown from the stadium giantscreen, 2 strategic timeouts where strategy is hardly the talking point and slow over rates (possibly a ploy to increase the air time itself). <br />
</p><p>But whatever be the case, IPL is a blockbuster ! Running successfully in a stadium near you </p></span>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-70826592590146347552010-03-08T12:44:00.003+05:302010-03-09T14:31:02.160+05:30India Today: United we stand?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pick any newspaper and the headlines are screaming with infighting, defense lapses and a country on the verge of a regional divide. And now take a sneak peak down memory lane.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1953: Telugu speaking population is up against the centre for creation of a separate telugu state to be carved out of Madras constituency (which comprised of TN, AP, Kerala and parts of Karnataka). Potti Sreeramulu undergoes a fast unto death for this mission. After his death Prime Minister J. Nehru is forced to split the constituency based on liguistic boundaries. This leads to the formation of other South Indian states too.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time turner to 2009, another such movement almost created Telangana.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1961: Shiv Sena is involved in cases of rioting and disturbances in its fight for a division of Bombay state into Maharashtra and Gujarat. The bone of contention is the financial capital- Bombay city. With both communities having a strong emotional and business connect with the island city, the centre is at its wits end to solve this issue. The state is finally divided in 1961, with Bombay staying in Maharashtra.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again in 2009, The marathi manoos pride rises in the city, this time with twin thugs Shiv Sena and MNS fighting hard to take ownership of the issue. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History does repeat itself! And more often than not, the actors are very much the same. Reading India After Gandhi provides a detailed documentation of all such events which have moulded India from time to time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from the events, the historian Mr. Ramchandra Guha has dwelled into the insights and thinking caps of the individuals from that era. It is indeed an eye opener to read about Pandit Nehru, a man who lived most of the pre independence era in the shadows of the great Mahatma. His ideas of taking the fledgling country forward are acts of great determination, patriotism. Equally intriguing is his rivalry with Sardar Patel and his miscalculation of the Chinese. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have always had a North -South divide. We love calling him a "Madrasi", while down south, a "hindi" speaker is ridiculed and taken for a ride by rickshaw drivers. The truth is both parties are probably just carrying a legacy forward. The origins of this divide travel way back in 1950, when Nehru proposed Hindi as the national language, a tongue which people in the Southern states were unaware of. This led to demonstrations, strikes and mayhem which compelled Nehru to postpone this to a 15 year change over period. However, things got worse in 1965 (notable post Nehrus' death) and since then, the North-South divide, esp. TN, has been a battle yet to be won.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what have we done to treat this issue? A whole lot of damage! By criticizing/ridiculing the Tamil accent, we have ensured Tams never learn Hindi correctly. By making fun of them, they are forced to make friends with Tams only, and then we hate the regional groupism that Tams create. I guess a little sensitivity is a must for the majority community in such issues. Kudos to Batty, who has managed to win over this linguistic divide!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similar is the case about Mumbai! Locals, typically Marathi speaking youth (most of them uneducated) have been thrown off the radar. With the shutting down of textile mills in central Mumbai, they lost their livelihood and never could compete with the more ambitious and ready to work youth of Bihar and UP. And now, there are striving to earn their space, their rights through historical means. Although, I do not support their case, I believe a little bit of cultural appreciation helps in solving most cases. Simply put, a marathi movie "Harishchadrachi factory" was India's representative to the Oscars. The movie can do wonders in assuaging the swollen egos of politicians. Let Bollywood stars promote this movie (which is a very good movie too) and help in reviving Marathi cinema in their own way. This way, the politicians will have no option but to put down their stand and it will foster cultural integration as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as Telangana goes, I believe the contention to most is the status quo of Hyderabad city. A new state is a boon for towns like Vizag, Vijaywada which have the potential to become cities as big and flourishing as Hyderabad.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We still have problems in J&K, internal and external... North East is neglected as usual, in spite of serious problems in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And last but not the least is the growing headache of the Maoists. In states of Bihar, Jharkhand, WB and Orissa, Maoists have a clear presence and what is alarming is the violent means used to achieve their mission.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't it a miracle that a country of 28 states, each culturally different than the other, bordered on militant intentions is still one!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Neways, like a mandatory assignment I finished both the movies, with a late remark on my blogsheet...</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Waise koi compulsory nahi hai review likhna...but then...I just cant write anything else...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">So first, Teen Patti...Directed by Leena Yadav, one of the few woman directors the country can talk about...she had previously directed the Sanjay Dutt-Ash starrer "Shabd". Infact, Shabd is one of the reasons (apart from Big B's and Sir Ben Kingsley's presence) to catch this movie. Inspite of being a dud at the box office, Shabd had an interesting script which went wrong at the execution table. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Talking about the table, patte batt gaye hai...Big B is doing some calculations in his mind...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">FLASHBACK</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">A: Probabilitiy of getting an ace</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">n(A) = 4</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">n(S) = 52</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">P(A) = n(A)/n(S) = 4/52 = 1/13</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">When my maths teacher taught me this way back in school, I fell in love with playing cards. Maths seems so simple, also encouraged one to play a game, which only the unemployed, the drivers, or rogues in trains would play.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Lecture 2: The maths teacher opened up permutations and combinations...and my world came crashing down. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><em>Woh wo din tha aur aaj ka din hai... </em>I avoid<em> </em>permutations and combinations very much the same way like one without a driving licence would avoid a traffic cop.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Back to the teen patti table...The movie starts with a conversation between Big B and Sir Ben, horribly dubbed in Hindi, when the two characters are talking in English. They cud have easily provided Hindi subtitles instead of killing the joy of watching two mastreos on screen. Big B is a whacky mathematics professor at BITS Pilani, who accidently comes up with a technique of mastering playing cards using probability of course. Now, in order to carry out a reality experiment, he forms a team of students and fellow professor (Madhavan).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Their first exposure to underworld dens' is chilling and danger prone, yet successful. This lures them to venture on similar missions and win money...and then money wins over..Greed starts talking and a simple experiment becomes a life threatening journey.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">However the movie, which again looks pretty solid on paper, goes for a toss in its execution. Barring Big B, no one even comes close to winning the audience sympathy. The young brigade of the movie (barring the rich guy) deserve a F grade for this performance and should go back to FTII for another year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Madhavan! absymal performance...He is totally confused... he hangs out with his students all the time. I think he mistook 3 Patti for 3 Idiots. The only reason I stayed till the end was completely out of respect for Mr. Bacchan.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">Rating: 1.5/5</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;">About KCK!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;">A movie which starts as the typical romcom- popcorn entertainer and changes color into a psycho thriller definitely stirs you for a brief moment. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u>Applause Moments:</u> Watching Deepika, whenever she comes on screen... The daaru party sequence! "Safe Boy" was pretty good. And yes, the haunting phone call.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u>Disappointers:</u> Farhan Akhtar...was a little irritating...the movie is only about him, him and only him. Others are all reduced to caricatures. And his voice! Plus, the screenplay fizzles out in long one liners... how can Farhan who cant open his mouth in front of Deepika suddenly come up with witty one liners (some of them are pretty banal though).A clear inconsistency in the character buildup of Farhan Akhtar.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;">But, the way the director steers his ship towards a logical conclusion helps in winning back the audience. Only this much for now... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47;">KCK: 2.5/5 </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-11431626831820215972010-02-13T03:01:00.001+05:302010-03-04T18:23:52.394+05:30My name is Khan: 3.5/5<div style="text-align: justify;">Karan Johar first started out with the concept of "love your friends", matured with "loving your parents", went on to "love someone else's wife" and now has decided to "love thy countrymen". The message is stronger than any of his previous efforts, made a whole lot heavier thanks to the unnecessary (created?) controversy for the past two weeks. Eventually, it all helped the audience to converge down to the message of the movie. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist.</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rizwan Khan (SRK), lives in Mumbai with younger brother and mum. He is suffering from asperger syndrome ( a disorder in which people show difficulties in social interaction along with restricted and repititve patterns of behavior...says wikipedia). In layman's terms he is afraid of noise and yellow color, cant communicate properly with people etc. His early days in Mumbai make us believe that he was indeed smarter than Ranchordas "Rancho" of 3 Idiots fame. Indeed, how he manages to pump out water during a flood stands testimony to that. Next, he turns into a terrific mechanic, proving his capabilities in science and engineering both. But then the movie is not about his intelligence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After his mom's death, he packs his bags to America to stay with his bhai (Jimmy Shergill). He also steps onto Rocket Singh's shoes by selling some beauty creams as well. And this sales experience wins him an introduction with Mandira (Kajol). From there on, its familiar territory for the lovable pair as they reignite sparks once again onscreen. Mandira is a divorcee and has a son from her previous wedding. However, there is nothing stopping Mandira to become Mandira Khan and reels later there is a weddig song as well. Unlike Karan Johar's tryst with dhoom dhadaka shaadi songs, this one is really subtle and sweet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, looks like all is well...until 9/11 happens. The movie now becomes all the more serious, talks religion, talks ideology, talks righteousness and all that people should do. Will Mandira take Khan back in her life? is what the trailors talk about. But Khan talks more than about love, he preaches an overdose of humanity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now to the cinematic aspects...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The camera does travels places. From the long road leading to the sea setting of San Francisco, to Washinton D.C., to Georgia, to Texas...I just felt I was applying for GRE once again. However, to Ravi Chandran's(Director of Photography) credit, America is indeed nicely captured.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Karan Johar excels in song picturizations, and in this one he places scenes between songs which hold your attention for ample time till the song again takes over. That was nice. The music has a classical and spiritual touch and rightly is limited to only 3 songs. Sajda takes the cake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A whole lot of talented actors in the movie. Good show by Jimmy Shergill and Sohan Jenab (Shergill's wife). Rest of the cast is supportive enough. Kajol...she was amazing in the first scene, but slowly her effect starts to wane. Somehow she has missed her usual self in this movie. The 2nd half completely relegates her into the support staff category making way for the Khan. Khan delivers...he is all talk before his release...but when it comes down to delivering the results...SRK makes sure he is almost as good as his closest rival (Amir) if not better than him. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The social message is loud and clear. Even though it is aimed at the USA, the essence can be felt in India too. So, full marks for Karan Johar for preaching secularism and goodbye to communal hatred. However, on the flip side, Karan Johar tries too hard to drive his point, plus many sequences remind you of New York ( I havent seen Kurbaan or Khuda Kay Liye, but there may be some resemblances there too).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, I came out with a buzzing head, with feelings of harmony, peace and as if I was lectured by a professor. The old school love that Johar was marketing all this while didnt register anywhere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope Yashraj/Johar camp now finally puts an end to its 9/11 syndrome and gets back to making nice romantic movies which people like.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rating: 3.5/5.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-75020703162759356652010-02-01T00:33:00.001+05:302010-02-01T00:34:44.073+05:30Assorted Twitter moments of the weekendDrove Sougat's Ford Icon...at 4am...on a happy high note...<br />
Felt my stomach churning in the morning when I read about the high profile mowing down of 4 innocent people by that lady.<br />
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Prithvi theatre ki chai/coffee and the gurukul like effect the place has on you...With scripts all around you, there is so much creativity in the air. Love that place<br />
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Saw Omkaara look-alike Ishqiya over the weekend. Movie was theek hi thaak...Warsi-Vidya chemisty sizzled while the movie fizzled out of my mind.<br />
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Went to that huge Palladium Mall in Pheonix Mills. And cudnt control my shock when I saw an Armani shirt with a price tag of Rs.23000/-!!! I seriously thought of hitting the trial room for a once in a lifetime moment.<br />
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Found out that my vocal chords are still alive and kicking...Lively jamming session at Jajoo's friends home. <br />
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All in all 7 pegs, and 2 buffets later, I have decided to have a health conscious next week.atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-53901942086190445612010-01-27T00:09:00.003+05:302010-01-27T00:40:11.625+05:30Mile Sur Mera Tumhara and Jana Gana Mana<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26th Jan 1930 was the day nehru declared "Complete Independance Day" on the rooftops of a Lahore building. The images are still vivid in my memory... Nehru apparently climbed out of the balcony and walked close to the parapet to talk to the hundreds of supporters standing below...</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This aint a showoff of my History knowledge, only a brief reference to wikipedia and Freedom at Midnight.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Republic day to all...</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This republic day, if nothing else, has fostered the spirit of oneness and secularism...No, I am not talking about our dear President's live address on DD-1. That show received a TRP of only 0.001. Its the remake or rather remix of Mile Sur Mera Tumhara that has been the talk of the day.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There was a buzz all over Zoom/BombayTimes and a lot of other places of the release of Phir Mile...and clearly I was eager to see the new atttude song of 2010. But clearly...midway I lost interest and waited for the climax of the song. And while I was watching the new one, the old Mile Sur mera was lingering in the background.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">From Bhimsen Joshi (background Himalayas) to Narendra Hirwani (Rajasthan) to the Tamas TV Series team, to Shabana Azmi (Agra) to the metro of Calcutta, the rustic South India, the sport icons of those days, to the graceful Waheedas, Hemas, Sharmilas of the past and finally zeroing on the heartthrobs Amitabh, Jeetu and Mithun...that song was a 5 min. toast for the entire DD watching population which was denied of 30 mins of decent entertainment on TV.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gstRrEmTcBc"><span style="color: purple;"><em>Mile Sur Video</em></span></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92_Jfkh345UBHO8f_Kd6qN0fBN8EgWpN1D34UyBJiHg7JAUJo3n09hL2wE0YctDaHXAcQnRnKKiOpJJBAMw3XSridmjMLmprZkBRSqW70Oe1pll6NOr6wbYyv0uCYNNCdoEfZTlW_Du5h/s1600-h/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92_Jfkh345UBHO8f_Kd6qN0fBN8EgWpN1D34UyBJiHg7JAUJo3n09hL2wE0YctDaHXAcQnRnKKiOpJJBAMw3XSridmjMLmprZkBRSqW70Oe1pll6NOr6wbYyv0uCYNNCdoEfZTlW_Du5h/s320/images.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I still remember how me and my bro, wud wait for the piano cresendo before the Bollywood trio would emerge and sing alongside them. Unfortunately, this new-age Mile Sur had no such moments of national pride, oneness. Its a crowded collage of almost everyone who probably know Kailash and Aarti Surendranath (better known in Pg3 circles for their parties).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq31OjsQ124"><span style="color: purple;"><em>Phir Mile Sur Mera Video</em></span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Neways, more on that later...But it reminds me about one thing which I have not written although its always been there on my mind...</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">How many of you have seen the Jana Gana Mana of ARRehman which is played in Fame Adlabs before the movie starts. I am a big fan of that video. Rehman has not only changed the tempo of the song ( its much slower) but he has altered the range. Check out how Hariharan moves to a high pitch (punjab sindh gujaraat...) and the rajashtani guy sings (tav subh ashish maange). Frankly, I never knew it was maange before this.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And the best part of the song for me is when Lata and Asha both naturally look at each other while singing their part...Its sheer magic on the screen... </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3TtgYuaVFk&feature=related"><span style="color: purple;"><em>Jana Gana Mana-All Vocals Video</em></span></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Will try to attach the videos of these soon...</span><br />
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</div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-57265235349201278162010-01-22T11:29:00.001+05:302010-01-22T23:47:21.661+05:30Social Networking to the Vijaynagar days<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Social Networking has become a part of my spare time these days...Every day after work I spend close to 2 hours on the net, switching between gmail, facebook, twitter ( thats the latest sensation for me), the long forgotten orkut, cricinfo (my daily dose of crickentertainment) and sometimes wiki...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Athough I still enjoy fervently the time I spend on playing cricket outdoors. Waking up at 6 am on a cold winter morning, wearing my cricket gear and winding my way to Maidan in Kolkata for a 2 hour "nets" gives such immense pleasure that it can withstand a boring week at work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It reminds me of my childhood days where cricket was a daily ritual. Me, Arvind, Roshith, Anil, Hemanth, Ravi...our team of six alongwith some more guys, would assemble almost in congruence at 430 pm post school, Swabhimaan and snacks...Hemanth would start ringing the bell. "Chal aaja." " haan 2 minute".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By 445pm, we would reach the colony ground and ready to play our 7 match series with the Marol Academy team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It used to be what 6 overs a side match... Hemanth our strike bowler, I used to be his bowling partner, while Roshith was our version of Sehwag. Anil the Lara of the side, Arvind was the Phil Defrators while Ravi...I wud say, he was the burly mercurial Afridi...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Arvind ke bowling action se hi batsman out hote...while Roshith would usually forget about the game and start looking for deposits on the ground for his gunpowder experiment. Hemanth was the most serious about the game...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But what was really funny was the most match conferences that the "think tank" wud have on the water tanky. Passionate, heated and verbal abuses would be the order of the 15-20 min sessions with strategies for the next game lined up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our rivals would usually be the guys from LT2/3/4. We had a 1:1 record with them, so it was fun playing. Although we never played for money. That was our policy :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ball Selection: I remember how we used to pick tennis balls from the kirana shop. We would keenly check the hardness of the ball, try bouncing it once or twice, eventually deciding on the right one...The new ball taken for the match...And 3 balls later...the ball was cut into two!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I still play the game I am so passionate about. Its a terrific feeling...And with Roshith, Anil, Arvind and myself in Mumbai for the next 2 weeks, Im sure we will find time to relive those memorable days.</span>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-91492159603024980752009-12-26T10:57:00.016+05:302010-01-22T23:53:29.225+05:30Free Advice hai...advance main booking kar lena<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Statutory Warning: While this is a movie review, the author will also digress into flashbacks of his own life.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally someone does justice to Chetan Bhagat's writing skills. His books always have had a Bollywood sense of appeal to them, as a result of which they were lapped up by Indian readers like never before. However, one of his adaptations (Hello) was made by an insipid Atul Agnihotri. Trust the team of Vidhu Vinod Chopra/Raju Hirani and to top it all...Aamir Khan to not mess up with a novel storyline such as 5 point someone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, Imperial College of Engineering is where a bunch of 20s something assemble to make a future in the world of engineering. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a South Indian, I have heard this statement many a times...unknown and distant relatives would come home, when you are busy faking with a book in hand. "Aur beta, what do you want to become...Engineer ya Doctor." Fullstop!</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why!! Are they no other choices? I didnt even know what exactly is engineering. I asked my cousins. Sadly for me, all my cousins were engineers. The only exception was an architect, but I was told that is also a form of engineering. Galti se Std 10th and 12th main number bhi itne aagaye ki engineering main admission bhi mil gaya.</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, where were we...ya the 3 Idiots...Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi), Farhan Quereshi (R Madhavan) and Ramchand something something (Aamir Khan). Their days at the engineering college is all about making awesome experiments <em><span style="color: blue;">(I couldnt even write a simple computer lab program on my own).</span> </em>They make helicopters with webcams, educate the dumb audience about salt being a good conductor of electricity and also show the effective use of car batteries.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, beneath the simple experiements there is a khazana of advice to the old and the new generation. Raju Hirani sensitivizes us on the ugly face of student suicides, or simply why "public places main pishaab karna nahi chahiye". <em>I was really apprehensive of using the mall washroom post the movie!</em></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They make fun of a South Indian classmate, have a panga with the dean Mr. Viru Shahastrabudhe (aka Virus aka Boman Irani), but at the same time Amir Khan shows more than traces of the lovable Munnabhai MBBS. He helps a classmate with his assignment, he sends the hostel aide to school, gives career tips to his confused friends and what more tops the class with ease. He also passes a new mantra "All Izz Well" already used by Reliance Insurance I guess.And slowly the movie becomes a one track Amir movie with other characters revolving around him.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The humor of the movie is copy pasted from engineering corridors.<em>" <span style="color: blue;">Jab dost fail hota hai to dukh hota hai...par jab wahi dost top karta hai tab aur bura lagta hai" Nimit will be able to identify with this...after Anup scored 91 in Mech and Nimit failed ;)</span></em></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The black n white setting of Sharman Joshi's house and the ripping apart of his poor family was very offending to Sharman Im sure. Also, the scene where the 3 Idiots are late for the exam and ask for half an hour more. " Aap hume jaante hai...humara roll no. pata nahi"...is too good. <em><span style="color: blue;">The convocation pho</span><span style="color: blue;">tograph with Sharman and Madhavan on the last row must have given Jajoo and Batty a deja vu feeling ;).</span></em><span style="color: blue;">Also when Aamir bajaos us MBAs by saying "engineering kari, fir MBA aur ab bank main naukri kar rahe ho" such kehta hun...sharam se sar jukh gayi"</span></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And senti scenes...Parikshat Sahni as Madhavan's dad always has the ability to make you cry. He did the same with Jimmy Shergil in Munnbbhai 2, and here his scores on the wet eyes quotient too. And Aamir Khan kuch kam nahi hai, when his eyes get moist on screen, automatically you start crying as well.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The songs nicely embedd themselves in the screenplay. Though I wish the behti hawa sa and I wanna grow up once again could have been better and timely picturized. The picturseque Rohtang Pass, Simla, Manali and Ladakh make you visit these places atleast once in your llifetime.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cast...Kareena is subdued, doesnt have much to do. Madhavan and his well rounded body doesnt matter as he packs a punch while Sharman gets ample space to time his humor and display his serious face throughout the plot. However, there do look a little overawed by Aamir's presence. Boman Irani was a little dissapointing inspite of another innovative apperance, dialogue delivery and pesky nature he brings to Virus. Who else...is worth mentioning...oh ya...main usko kaise bhool gayi...dunno the guys name but Silencer (the South Indian from Uganda) is good too.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His name is Khan! Acting half his age, a trim structure, a peculiar walking style, mannerisms like hands in the pocket, and a dozen minute character touches. Aamir excels in each scene, win hearts of all his fans as well as those who were upset with Ghajini (thats me). He has yet again delivered. He is my best actor of the year for 2009. (Though havent seen Paa as yet)</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raju Hirani has a hattrick now!! Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai and 3 Idiots. The ace director has made himself the successor to the great Hrishikesh Mukherjee of the '70s.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all..this movie will transport you back to a time when marks books ruttofying worked in life. More importantly it was a time when friends mattered first. </span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Special mention and envy at all those IIMB guys who not only got to see the shooting but also made a teeny weeny bit appearance in the movie! </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review Rating: 4.5/5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a reason for deducting 0.5. Will be disclosed later.</span>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-81350967492321868632009-12-14T01:26:00.003+05:302009-12-29T14:33:28.217+05:30Rocket Singh: Refreshing approach to sales- 4/5<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"I want to do my MBA because I want to get into sales and marketing" I once said. I wish Rcket Singh had released then. I might have gone ahead and become a businessman.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jaideep Saini and Shimit Amin combo strikes yet again to provide entertainment, values and at the same time attempt to make the world, if not world, India, a better place.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Harpreet Singh (Ranbir) decided to apply for the job of a salesman. He thinks he is good at all that the job needs. - Persuation, Negotiation and Conviction...I think those were the 3 terms...however, little does he realise that sales is all about gochi, dealings, kickbacks and what not. After getting ridiculed by colleagues and superiors, Harpreet decides to do something different, yet earnest.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The movie is real to the core. The sales team remind me of my colleagues. The clients, the dealings or the day to day office banter is so perfect in its execution that one really is awestruck. Moreover, the script is deliberately intelligent, forcing the audience to bridge the links themselves, rather than force a flashback or an explanation of each such scene. And I will admit, you really need some amount of business acumen to understand how Harpreet or his bosses mind works.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But, where the movie scores like Chak De India or Khosla ka Ghosla is its honesty. So, at the end of the movie, you come out with a feeling that I will try to change my world in some way. I have decided mine already.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are amazing one liners in this movie, both comic as well as philosophical...I really loved the line "waise bhi maine kisi sardar ko chori karte hue nahi dekha" shows how you can be racist and also get applauded for the same. The script is the real hero of the movie. The other aspects, cinematography, the music are just catalysts, which frankly do not matter in the final outcome of this product.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Next, lets go to the casting, which is accurate to the tee. Harpreet's immediate boss Nitin Sir (Navin Kishore) , the colleagues- the gult honeka Giri ( D Santosh) or the item girl turned office manager Gauhar Khan provide amble support to Harpreet's ideas as to the film. Although debutante Shazahn Padamsee is okie and has little to do. Even the usually histrionics certified Prem Chopra is respectable.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And Harpreet aka Ranbir. My admiration for him as an actor has grown tremendously in his last 3 movies. With Wake Up Sid and Ajab Gajab and now Rocket Singh, no wonder his fortunes have sky rocketed.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni. I think its time to do serious research on these two gems of Bollywood.</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Risk to Spiderman bhi leta hai, main to sirf salesman hun"</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bhaut mast risk liya boss, because this risk is going to ensure Yash Raj finally goes to the bank to count the money.</span><br />
</div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-85819397861861140382009-12-07T23:07:00.003+05:302009-12-07T23:32:55.114+05:30My journey with the No.1 Test Side<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
I was in 3rd yr engg...The college festival going on...<br />
I asked Ashley.."wats the score Ash?"<br />
Ashley was this Aussie brat...supporting them gungho right from the 1st test.<br />
"India 128/8...laggayi tere India ki!"<br />
<br />
Me Sid Nimit and Andy went about our usual college stuff, dissapointment in our eyes...<br />
The next day, India improved marginally, following on and closing the day at 272/4. Just 20 runs ahead or something...<br />
And then there was magic!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Laxman played the VERY VERY SPECIAL knock ably suppported by the WALL..and India batted the entire day 4 without losing a wicket.The next day...amidst the computer labs, we saw the live proceedings along with our professor as Bhajji got one to hit the pads of Mcgrath and the Indian umpire(I forgot his name) put his hand up even before the Indians went up to appeal.<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDviUVYIyKxJgI7tvqJlc86swsXHv4w3oOuxXn28UoL8aOYN9I3BwqTfVQZxipPi3I-RUnK_C6fQp9iP03YfaKiLc4U2iFIdKmJWYbcdAcU0owsJYaEy0KmTOCaklTf2sqCFUR-XtyIWf/s1600-h/VVS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDviUVYIyKxJgI7tvqJlc86swsXHv4w3oOuxXn28UoL8aOYN9I3BwqTfVQZxipPi3I-RUnK_C6fQp9iP03YfaKiLc4U2iFIdKmJWYbcdAcU0owsJYaEy0KmTOCaklTf2sqCFUR-XtyIWf/s320/VVS.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That was one pivotal day for Indian cricket and her fans...<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And since then my love for Test crcket has only grown...<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Be it watching the West Indies series all through the night...<br />
Andy Nimit and Sid , all of us were watching the Sabina Park match at my place , and at the same time were also playing our box cricket version at 2 am...<br />
<br />
And then there was the India Australia series down under in '08<br />
...during our Delhi trip with the Nitie junta...<br />
we spent an entire morning in the Delhi hotel room watching the days play...<br />
when we were supposed to go sightseeing...<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Or simply waking up at 5 am...never ever in life will you see me so excited waking up before the sun...and switch on the TV...and then brush my teeth at the end of session 1, have breakfast during the tea session and finish off the day's play with lunch.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Or the conservative India England encounters...Dravid and Bangar batting with utmost care to reach 210/2 at the end of day 1 and Ganguly and Sachin running all over England on day 2 to post 628/8!<br />
</div>Sachin's huge six of Caddick, I think it was! and Ganguly taking care of Giles career.<br />
<br />
The beauty is in watching the same 90 overs at different times of the day.<br />
It gives a different feeling to the entire game.<br />
<br />
The early mornings, is actually a torture to wake up...<br />
while the late night matches used to give a chance to officially watch Fashion TV back then..<br />
<br />
India had only 13 overseas wins between 1932 to 2000<br />
This decade we have won 19 matches overseas.<br />
<br />
Im glad I have witness almost all of them...<br />
It used to be fun to bunk classes and catch a glimpse...<br />
its fun doing the same at work too<br />
<br />
Its a great feeling as a cricket fan!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNx4zFhOMtSpF0fMVQGeEIrgAfoR_itHnX8ag1OTLHgN-7jkXcU0d8oLJCsebnULIMDfbqNUqcam5vm8vzbRYFjO8bQ21yN4vgpW4kx8D-T9scl4XoitgOrFN7CaU6G5bfURdFbd9GHiT/s1600-h/2009_12$img06_Dec_2009_IND0627B-ll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNx4zFhOMtSpF0fMVQGeEIrgAfoR_itHnX8ag1OTLHgN-7jkXcU0d8oLJCsebnULIMDfbqNUqcam5vm8vzbRYFjO8bQ21yN4vgpW4kx8D-T9scl4XoitgOrFN7CaU6G5bfURdFbd9GHiT/s320/2009_12$img06_Dec_2009_IND0627B-ll.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-1663235016929713882009-11-07T09:22:00.001+05:302009-11-07T09:24:51.388+05:30Ajab Prem Ka Andaz Apna Apna: 4/5The script of this movie must have been writing in the mid 90s. Raj Kumar Santoshi suddenly woke up one morning and realised that he had some story ready, but forgot that its almost 10 years old.<br />
<br />
And that is what really makes the movie enjoyable. The movie is simple. Absolutely clean! No gay jokes, no double meaning and no sleaze. Simple humour, slapstick and foolish at most times, but with a heart.<br />
<br />
Prem Kumar Sharma (Ranbir) is the 9th fail, useless kid of a dream town, whose job as President of happy Club is to help others along with his gang of guys. Together they waste a lot of audience time in the first 20 mins trying to mimic scenes taken from Indra Kumar kind of movie, or the bade-chote and bheegi billi jokes of NineX-m.<br />
<br />
Enters Jenny (Katrina) and after a dose of emotional atyachaar, the movie settles down. From then on, its all about the usual rich girl - poor boy plot, with a third rich guy in the middle. How Prem Kumar wins his love is what the movie is all about.<br />
<br />
But in between, there are enough moments which make you laugh...Be it the scene where Ranbir is dancing in the party, his stint as a shirt n tie clad laddoo maker, his antics with the goons or his day to day banter with his dad. Some scenes are so reminiscent to Andaz Apna Apna that it really looks like a tribute to the best comedy movie ever. <br />
<br />
And the cinematography is commendable. Ooty and Goa never looked so good before. Also commendable is the song shot in Turkey.<br />
<br />
Rajkumar Santoshi has come back to form...and with this movie, Ranbir is right there at the top.<br />
<br />
****atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-65243688218234485162009-11-05T08:19:00.000+05:302009-11-05T08:19:39.874+05:30Badbad badbadMy close buddy got married last week...and like a $%^& I coudnt attend his wedding...<br />
Sorry Andy...<br />
saala bhaut bura laga..suchhii<br />
<br />
That reminds me I have to apologize almost everyone from Amrish-Swapna, Jay-Prachi, Arvind, Ramesh, Barkha...am I missing anyone here...<br />
<br />
Not to forget there are a couple of marriages this month too! I will reserve the apologies for later.<br />
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Work has occupied too much space in life currently. Now I understand why MBAs are paid so much...<br />
Have been conducting some training for Bengal branch, its fun to catch my roommate and colleague Raghav whenever he is sleeping in a public forum. <br />
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
BTW a decent joke from Bade-Chote in NXM.<br />
<br />
Bade: Yaar mujhe embassy jaana hai, visa ke liye<br />
CHote: Kyu re<br />
Bade: arre yaar US jaane ke liye visa lagta hai<br />
Chote: yaar tu US september main jaa na.<br />
Bade: Kyu<br />
Chote: September main US jaane ke liye VISA nahi lagta<br />
Bade: kya baat kar raha hai<br />
Chote: Haan bhai...suchii<br />
Bade: arre kyu<br />
Chote: September main US Open hai<br />
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Hooked on to the songs of Tum Mile...good job Pritamda...atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-74949493564193619342009-10-27T01:04:00.000+05:302009-10-27T01:23:34.461+05:30Travel and ReadingReading Shantaram lately...<br />Didnt know that small things in life can be explained so romantically.<br />Totally in love with the Karla chick...<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Read a couple of books in the last quarter on Mahatma Gandhi.<br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />A must read for any person who liked the History subject back in school.<br /><br />Took a car ride to the two bridges of Kolkata at midnight...<br />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.<br /><br />Next month is gonna be a month full of travel and touring...<br />Patna/Guwahati/Vizag...here I come. Its been a long time since the Bengal tours. Hope to have a good time exploring new places.<br /><p> </p><p> </p>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-78911451542498873622009-10-17T09:40:00.000+05:302009-10-17T10:18:35.400+05:30Pale Blue: 2.5/5<p>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.<br /><br />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<br /><br />So, to begin with Blue…<br /><u>Plot 1 :</u></p><p>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 </p><p><u>Plot 2:</u><br />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). </p><p><u>Plot 3:<br /></u>Baddie Rahul Dev has a screen name (Gulshan- cudnt have been worse)…is after Zayed’s life for repayment of $50 million. </p><p>All add 3 together and it becomes BLUE!<br /><br /><strong>Upside:<br /></strong>The movie has loads of attitude! I think they took Himesh’s Radio song too seriously.<br />Amazing cinematography and camera work…The under water shoots are pretty well done for Bollywood standards. </p><p>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.<br /><br /><strong>Flipside: </strong><br />No emotions!<br />There are a lot of moments where a little bit of emotion would have uplifted the movie.<br />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.</p><p><strong>Performances:</strong></p><p>Akki rocks…Sanju is a little distracted and looks 50+ for the first time, Lara sizzles while Zayed…should take lessons from Jiju soon.</p><p>Blue begins the Diwali weekend for me! </p><p></p><p></p>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-83825751162132556442009-10-04T23:25:00.000+05:302009-10-11T00:31:20.538+05:30Iktaara nahi teenTaara<p>Sid is asked..."tumhaara future ka kya plans hai" (reference Lakshya)<br />Sid alongwith his friends at the farewell party (reference Dil Chahta Hai)<br />Sid patches up with bachpan ka dost after an arguement (again DCH)<br />Sid's argument with his Dad (Again Lakshya)<br />or his live-in with Konkana...a little bit of Luck by Chance.<br />So, whats new in Wake Up Sid!<br /><br />It doesnt matter actually...coz the movie is about chote chote moments...<br />Like Sid telling his Mom not to speak in English...<br />Or his mom telling him..she speaks in english so that her son will consider her as his friend!<br />very touching!<br />Or the light hearted Bapat family..and the hot hot Sonia (kashmira Shah).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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).<br />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.<br />Konkona Sen Sharma...is a bit bland. I felt the role would have been perfect for maybe...Chitrangada Singh or a younger Tabu :)<br />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. </p><p>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. </p><p>A good bollywood movie is all about a little laughter, a little sadness, some nice songs, thoda emotions, thoda romance and thoda action.<br />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!<br /></p>atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-59772021321226152502009-08-19T21:46:00.000+05:302009-08-20T09:02:19.023+05:30Kaminey: paifa wafool hai 3.5/5"machli ke kaanto main magarmach fass gaye"<br />That line sums up the story of Kaminey...a gripping tale of one night in Mumbai where three average Mumbaikars are responsible for a shootout between a marathi politician, a drug mafia don, corrupt cops, some nigro peddlers and bangla bandhus with aamchi Mumbai police.<br /><br />Twins Guddu and Charlie (Shahid), are like chalk and cheese. Guddu is the good, amibitious guy, some Aids activist engaged in increasing condom usage. Ironically, he and his girlfriend Sweety (Priyanka Chopra) failed to take relevant protection during their act. To avoid any repurcussions they get married raat ke dhaai baje...against the wishes of Sweeties powerful Marathi politician (Bhau).<br /><br />Around the same time of the day, Charlie, is involved in a maara maari in a 5 star hotel, and in the skirmish that follows robs a police jeep and smashes the head of 2 cops (who apparently were transporting cocaine in a guitar hidden in the jeep).<br /><br />As in the case of twin trouble, their enemies catch the wrong Shahid and thereby ensues the "catch me if you can" drama. The winner has to find the guitar which will win them Rs 10 crores.<br />I missed introducing the bengali brothers in the frenzie, who are maniacs speaking in Bengali which I could barely comprehend.<br /><br />The plot thickens and gears up nicely for the fitting finale. However, the final shootout is a little too high on guns and bullets and goes a little overboard. But barring the little skid in the final minutes, the movie is gripping... real to the tee and takes you to the Mumbai we have seen before in the Ram Gopal Verma (of Satya fame) movies.<br /><br />Now to the technical aspects...of watever I think I can understand...<br />terrific music...felt nice to hear Suresh Wadkar behind the mike,while the hige octane Dhan te Nan is electrifying... Dont remember much about the background music.<br /><br />Busy camera work...moving from eccentric angles to extreme close up, moving left right up down and giving a fleeting view of the landscape to hide the proceedings from the viewers.<br />The local train sequence steals the show, while the hotel chase scene are also extremely well shot.<br /><br />Performances:<br />The supporting cast is able and sound. Mikhail (Chandan Sanyal) , one of the bangla maniacs, is good in a few scenes but goes over the top. He seriously acts gay with Charlie. But its the wily Bhau (Amole Gupte) who rocks. A mix of Arun Gawli and Raj Thakre, he carries himself with amazing ease, a little doze of histrionics and eccentricity backed by detailed marathi touch.<br /><br />Priyanka, marathi mulgi, aai shapat...ekdum item hai. I was really impressed by her marathi dialogues, she passes off as the typical marathi girl. But eventually, this movie is Shahid's vehicle.<br />He is totla, a hakla, gets to do some real action, maintains amazing intensity in some scenes and manages to go thru a movie without his forte- his dance.<br /><br />Vishal Bharadwaj has bought a new whiff for Bollywood fans who are not used to the Quenton Tarantino kind of movies (me included).<br />With the exception of an overboard climax, the movie has everything to fulfil the expectations of a movie buff.atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-85879464255142440002009-08-02T14:23:00.000+05:302009-08-02T15:01:11.969+05:30Love...Aaj Kal Aisi hi hoti hai: 3/5After walking out of Kambakht Ishq and a passable New York, expections were sky high for Imtiaz Ali's fresh flick. Deepika looked hot in the Chor Bazaari number while Saif was cool in the Twist number.<br /><br />The movie dwells upon the two theories of love. While Jai (Saif) represents the current generation and their pragmatic approach towards love, relationship, breakups, flings versus the veteran sardarji (Veer Singh) Rishi Kapoor, who has his own story typical of the eastman color movies we have forgotten ages ago. The two tales reach their happy ending, through the same old situations. A breakup, the meeting after ages, or the shaadi, running away from home, or the climax are all situations we have seen in almost every movie.<br /><br />But that is where Imtiaz Ali (director) enters with the powerful punch. Each of these scenes have something fresh to offer.<br /><br />The post breakup conversation between Jai and Meera (Deepika), or the trip to Delhi which consists of the beautifully picturised Chor Bazaari, and the typical shaadi scene are worth mentioning. The screenplay shines throughout these moments, very well captured by Imtiaz.<br />However, apart from some real good moments, the movie fails to carry the flow throughout the 150 minutes. However, you will nver feel too bored with the proceedings.<br /><br />The music complements the screenplay with the exception of the san Fransisco number. I really felt like walking out and buying a samosa during that song, only to realise Samosa costed a bomb! The cinematography is a clear winner. The three cities Kolkata, London and San Francisco with their bridges, trams and the roads add to the storyline. The San Francisco setting reminded me of the sitcom Full House :)<br /><br />Of the cast, Rishi Kapoor is a charmer throughout, while there is not much to do for the rest of the supporting cast. Deepika needs to go back to Farah Khan and get some lessons on dialog delivery. There doesnt seem to be a fullstop when she talks. Performance wise, she is strictly ok, but she looks damn hot. As far as Saif is concerned, this role is nothing but an extention to his Hum Tum role, nothing great again.<br /><br />Imtiaz Ali has given us fresh takes on love through Socha Na Tha and Jab We Met.<br />Love Aaj Kal is not in that league, but still a decent effort.<br /><br />Atlee Rating: ***atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-83557757335578846362009-07-17T18:10:00.000+05:302009-07-17T18:22:02.226+05:30Surpise holidaySo, one reason to stay in Kolkata.<br />There is always a possibility of getting a surprise holiday due to bandhs/strikes.<br /><br />We talk about the gimmicks political parties play, how it affects day to day life, how the common man suffers, how the economy suffers, and how strikes are not good for the economy.<br /><br />But at the end of the day, do I really care.<br />I didnt make any effort to reach work...slept late, slept all day and basically<br />enjoyed my surprise holiday...atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-353982083513516232009-06-29T23:57:00.000+05:302009-06-30T00:09:46.884+05:30ZZZundayFinally saw the most acclaimed/criticized/appluaded movie of the year - Slumdog Millionairre.<br />Thanks to the back to back to back airing by Sony Pix.<br /><br />Really amazing work by the team in recreating the slums and the life of the slumdwellers. Especially, the yooung Salim and Jamal, the depiction of the riots and the crimeland through their eyes was very well shot.<br /><br />Coming to the criticism the movie received... true, it is not a masterpiece of cinema. But, to all those people who felt ashamed of the way the world looked at Mumbai and its slums, please accept reality.<br /><br />Otherwise, it was another lazy Sunday spent munching Lays Stax, badams, and home delivery from Jai Hind Dhaba. I have decided that next weekend will be much more eventful.<br />Things to do include:<br />1) A visit to Victoria Memorial<br />2) A ride in the vintage trams<br />3) A long drive to Diamond Harbour...(in the cab though)atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-84377288121172074382009-06-13T20:06:00.000+05:302009-06-13T20:38:57.536+05:30Political CommentaryBrijesh motivated me to write a post titled political commentary.<br /><br />Elections 2009 are over and India is moving into a phase of stable governance sans Hindutva, sans Left front idealogies and sans the UP musclepower (read Mayawati, Mulayam angle). However, what excites me the most is Rahul Gandhi.<br /><br />The man, did wonders in UP where Congress was routed in the last elections. To win nearly 20 odd seats and finish second in the 4 party race is an amazing achievement. Moreover, he is earnest, and is an inspiration to youngsters thinking about polilitcs as a career.<br /><br />Though, as a criticism to this statement, yes, all of Congress' youth power are people from the political families. Milind Deora, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasad and that Assamese girl are all neta-sons. But, its a nice image makeover from the days where politicans wore the 60 year old, khadi kurta look. The future is indeed bright.<br /><br />BJP on the other hand is facing an uphill task in reading the voters' mind. Hindutva doesnt exist in todays world, they do not have young faces to project, and Narendra Modi is an enigma. He can never be a national leader for the atrocities in Gujarat will always come back to haunt him. BJP desperately needs a new Atal Behari.<br /><br />An interesting thing to note however, was the trend seen in Mumbai. Congress won 7/7 seats in Mumbai. However, in 6 of the seats, BJP-ShivSena combine were undone by the miscreant Raj Thakre's MNS. Their votes put together, they would have won 6 seats. However, MNS split the votes such that only Congress gained.<br /><br />Though, unlike Brijesh, I did manage to travel to Mumbai and vote. That indeed made me happy.atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4602969596660704775.post-38709298939844274532009-06-12T00:47:00.001+05:302009-06-12T01:07:03.902+05:30AgarkarI arranged the ODI bowling statistics of Indian bowlers and this is what came out!<br /><br />Top Wicket Takers: Kumble (334), Srinath (315), <span style="color:#ffff33;">Agarkar (288) </span><br /><span style="color:#ffff33;"><br /></span>Top Averages: Kapil Dev (27.45), <span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="color:#ffff33;">Agarkar (27.85)</span>,</span> Srinath (28.08)<br /></span><br />Top Strike Rate: <span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="color:#ffff33;">Agarkar (32.9)</span>,</span> Pathan (34.1) , Zaheer (36.8)<br /><br />No. of 4+ wickets in an ODI: <span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="color:#ffff00;">Agarkar(12)</span>,</span> Kumble (10), Srinath (10)<br /><br />Moreover, he also stands 4th on the best bowling figures.<br /><br />The only place where he does not figure is obviously the economy rate column.atleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16143955145633026589noreply@blogger.com4