Why did they name the movie after the villain beats me. Especially a villain who is quite simply the regular ‘black’ bad character appearing in most Hindi films – if it was someone like Sir Anthony Hopkins in the ‘Silence of the Lambs’ I could have appreciated the reason for naming the film after someone so fascinatingly cruel that it boggles the mind for days afterwards.
Moving on to the protagonist, Aamir Khan is charming BUT that’s where it ends for me. His clothes in the songs make him look like someone who dances monkeys for a living. He wears a linen trouser with an open shirt to show off his six-pack, a dupatta wrapped around his neck – seriously, I would love to use the same dupatta to strangle the costume designer who even messed up the corporate look.
Bollywood, you have no clue about the corporate world or its culture and it really comes through. When Aamir is introduced as the CEO of Air Cell mobile company, he enters the frame wearing a short sleeve shirt rolled even shorter – making him look like an undertaker or a wrestler in his formal best. He always has 3 cars following him even as he wishes to take a leak. He sends his company’s top honchos to persuade a woman to place their company’s billboard on her rooftop – and guess what, at first, they don’t even bother to find out if it’s really her home or not (that part comes in later).
What CEO goes from place to place short listing sites for hoardings? It does show him as a proactive guy, but I’m guessing he should have much important matters to attend to and not waste his time on a recce. You have qualified people to handle your advertising space.
Then comes Aamir’s speech at the office – it’s a motivational speech with no clue as to what direction the company should take in terms of future growth. I’m not expecting a whole deep dive into telecommunications technology, but a few words here and there to make me feel that the director doesn’t feel his audience is stupid and he actually bothered to do additional research would have been really appreciated. All this really distracted me from buying into the story for believing in the story. No I didn’t 100% connect to it unlike RDB.
Aamir’s acting was undoubtedly very good. The action, his animal-like anger and his show of power were scenes to watch out for. Asin’s character too was sweet and believable. She was like a much needed breath of fresh air.
In the 2nd half, the film finally got rolling as we get to the 2nd part of his love story. It did have its moments there. But overall, not what I expected from a film that Amir Khan chose to act in. I have high expectations because he’s an intelligent actor, I hope he will choose films more cautiously in future.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
The Sex & The City Movie
I absolutely loved the movie! Sex and the city had something for any woman/girl at any stage of her life! Carrie Bradshaw - the ultimate brand diva looks great at 40 when she decides to get married to her long time beau John James Preston, also known as "Big" after a practical, unromatic discussion about living arrangements once they decide to move in together. What follows is an interesting cocktail (wackier than cosmos!) of heartbreaks, babies and bikini waxes. Samantha (the 50 year old self confessed sex addict) is adorable in the movie as she substitues food for the sex she's unable to get from her current boyfriend. The labels in the movie are just mind boggling as the 4 girls strut their stuff in the best names in the business. Watch this movie with your girlfriends for great laughs, some truths that hit home and loads of eye candy.
p.s. please leave your inhibitions and husbands/boyfriends who are too macho to admit they like the movie, at home!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Arushi Murder Case
Arushi Talwar was murdered in her bedroom on May 15th. Till date, nobody knows the true story. Her father has been arrested and still claims innocence. Her mother, Nupur Talwar broke her silence today, on Arushi's birthday, to tell the media that her husband is not a killer. Coincidentally, Dr. Durani, a "family friend" who shared a dental clinic with the Talwars also broke her silence today to clear her name from her alleged affair with Dr. Talwar and to pronounce him innocent in her eyes. Today, Dr. Talwar's lawyer has cited bail on grounds of ill-health.
What's funny is that all three things happened today - perhaps in a well-planned media attempt to have Dr. Talwar get bail by Monday, the weekend is the perfect time to get public sympathy. What's even stranger is NDTV's attempt since day 1 to showcase this case as an example of media's insensitivity in covering a sensational murder like this. Dr. Talwar was finally arrested and even then, NDTV continues to be sympathetic to the family. While the point they are trying to make re: the mis-handling of this case and harming the reputation of the family, is correct to an extent, but NDTV should also balance this view with some of the more glaring facts of this case.
When Nupur Talwar, Arushi's mother gave a "special appearance" for NDTV today, she was asked not one question pertaining to her daughter's murder - she was only called to garner public sympathy by saying things like, "my husband is not a murderer". Why could they have not asked her things like, "if the murder is still at large as you claim, then how is it that the murder locked the house from outside while leaving and left you the keys?" or that, "How come you and your husband's statements don't match re: how Arushi was found that morning?" or, "You say you woke up when the maid came in, but your husband was making phone calls since 6 am and there was a call made from the landline to Hemraj's mobile...were you sleeping through all this?", mrs. Talwar was already awake when the maid came and she threw the house keys from the balconey.
If the Talwar's driver Umesh was asked to keep Arushi's mattress on the terrace, then he should have been questioned more intensively by the police as to who asked him to do this. But, he still hasn't been questioned as was aired this evening on the news.
NDTV's involvement in helping the Talwar's since day one is also the result of a very high profile PR activity and the credibility of this channel in my view has gine down drastically given the unresolved questions in this case. Barkha Dutt who wanted to champion the cause of invading the privacy of a dead 14 year old forgets that if it wasn't for the snoopy news channels, this case would have been closed within a week.
What's funny is that all three things happened today - perhaps in a well-planned media attempt to have Dr. Talwar get bail by Monday, the weekend is the perfect time to get public sympathy. What's even stranger is NDTV's attempt since day 1 to showcase this case as an example of media's insensitivity in covering a sensational murder like this. Dr. Talwar was finally arrested and even then, NDTV continues to be sympathetic to the family. While the point they are trying to make re: the mis-handling of this case and harming the reputation of the family, is correct to an extent, but NDTV should also balance this view with some of the more glaring facts of this case.
When Nupur Talwar, Arushi's mother gave a "special appearance" for NDTV today, she was asked not one question pertaining to her daughter's murder - she was only called to garner public sympathy by saying things like, "my husband is not a murderer". Why could they have not asked her things like, "if the murder is still at large as you claim, then how is it that the murder locked the house from outside while leaving and left you the keys?" or that, "How come you and your husband's statements don't match re: how Arushi was found that morning?" or, "You say you woke up when the maid came in, but your husband was making phone calls since 6 am and there was a call made from the landline to Hemraj's mobile...were you sleeping through all this?", mrs. Talwar was already awake when the maid came and she threw the house keys from the balconey.
If the Talwar's driver Umesh was asked to keep Arushi's mattress on the terrace, then he should have been questioned more intensively by the police as to who asked him to do this. But, he still hasn't been questioned as was aired this evening on the news.
NDTV's involvement in helping the Talwar's since day one is also the result of a very high profile PR activity and the credibility of this channel in my view has gine down drastically given the unresolved questions in this case. Barkha Dutt who wanted to champion the cause of invading the privacy of a dead 14 year old forgets that if it wasn't for the snoopy news channels, this case would have been closed within a week.
Friday, October 05, 2007
How To Know If You're In Gurgaon...
Okay, if you've lost direction and were headed towards the NCR...here are some useful tips that'll help you figure out if you've reachedGurgaon!
1. You encounter 5 portholes a minute
2. The bulls on the roads have horns bigger than anything you've seen particularly when compared to the puny horned bulls of Delhi
3. The dirt car parking lot guy has seperate parking rates for the weekend and weekdays!
4. You see more malls than people
5. You see more cars than people
6. You see more buildings with more cars and more parking space than people
7. People from all walks of life carry a laptop regardless of job description.
8. The cobbler has a much advertised mobile number and offers free home delivery and pick-up and is thinking of acquiring an ISO Certification soon.
9. The same cobbler is eyeing a posh office space to open his new branch of 'footwear repair innovation' targetted at corporates whose shoes might break during office hours.
10. If you're working in an ad agency in Delhi, you're proabably handling his account.
11. Everyone buys groceries from Spencer's
12. In gurgaon, you've truly have a 'global' job when: your boss sits in an office halfway across the world and you work from home and connect using your neighbour's wi-fi to communicate with your local office which is just down the road.
13. When you enter a mall, and see a whole bunch village people, you're filled with respect because you know they come from money, own expensive cars, have big political contacts and some not so legal contacts as well and if they're last name is anything like Chautala or Hooda, you might end up bowing politely to them.
14. And lastly, when using the toilets remember: the flushes flush automatically (not always at appropriate times though) and the water from taps have sensors (which may or may not work - subject to strategic placement of hands under the tap at the correct angle at which the sensor can detect movement and urge the water to flow out!)
1. You encounter 5 portholes a minute
2. The bulls on the roads have horns bigger than anything you've seen particularly when compared to the puny horned bulls of Delhi
3. The dirt car parking lot guy has seperate parking rates for the weekend and weekdays!
4. You see more malls than people
5. You see more cars than people
6. You see more buildings with more cars and more parking space than people
7. People from all walks of life carry a laptop regardless of job description.
8. The cobbler has a much advertised mobile number and offers free home delivery and pick-up and is thinking of acquiring an ISO Certification soon.
9. The same cobbler is eyeing a posh office space to open his new branch of 'footwear repair innovation' targetted at corporates whose shoes might break during office hours.
10. If you're working in an ad agency in Delhi, you're proabably handling his account.
11. Everyone buys groceries from Spencer's
12. In gurgaon, you've truly have a 'global' job when: your boss sits in an office halfway across the world and you work from home and connect using your neighbour's wi-fi to communicate with your local office which is just down the road.
13. When you enter a mall, and see a whole bunch village people, you're filled with respect because you know they come from money, own expensive cars, have big political contacts and some not so legal contacts as well and if they're last name is anything like Chautala or Hooda, you might end up bowing politely to them.
14. And lastly, when using the toilets remember: the flushes flush automatically (not always at appropriate times though) and the water from taps have sensors (which may or may not work - subject to strategic placement of hands under the tap at the correct angle at which the sensor can detect movement and urge the water to flow out!)
Monday, August 27, 2007
The House
Last week i read this really interesting book by DS. Yes i love reading romantic fiction, but this book was more about finding yourself than romance. I bought the book on the spot because after i read the story description i remembered i once had a strikingly similiar idea for a screenplay long back. The story about a woman going through a rough patch in her life and she stumbles upon a house, a big one which has remained unloved for years. A structure that wants to tell its own story to one who'd care to listen and restore it back to health. As she restores the house, she's able to restore her life and piece it back together by getting rid of what (and who) caused clutter in her life. The House by DS was on a subject very close to my heart and she did justice to the concept. I felt happy and hopeful that life is full of possibilities after reading the book. We just forget to be open to exciting possibilities - which Danielle Steele's books always remind me to be.
If you've ever seen the movie 'Under the Tuscan Sun', it too is a great story of a woman finding herself a villa in Tuscany. I've always wanted to own grand homes across the world (i still feverently do!). My fascination with homes could also do with the fact that my grandad owned a palatial mansion in Kuala Lumpur of which i have fond childhood memories. It was almost auctioned when i was 10 when my grandfather expired. It was 12 years later that i was able to set eyes on it again, when it belonged to someone else. It was painful to see but i was not without the desire of having it for my family again. Something always wants to relive former memories of glorious days which is why we keep going back, trying to pick up a piece of ourselves from a happy past.
If you've ever seen the movie 'Under the Tuscan Sun', it too is a great story of a woman finding herself a villa in Tuscany. I've always wanted to own grand homes across the world (i still feverently do!). My fascination with homes could also do with the fact that my grandad owned a palatial mansion in Kuala Lumpur of which i have fond childhood memories. It was almost auctioned when i was 10 when my grandfather expired. It was 12 years later that i was able to set eyes on it again, when it belonged to someone else. It was painful to see but i was not without the desire of having it for my family again. Something always wants to relive former memories of glorious days which is why we keep going back, trying to pick up a piece of ourselves from a happy past.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Taking The Plunge...
As the time comes closer, the heart goes pitter-patter (sorry for sounding 'Oh-so English'! but no better word to describe it!). The impending wedding in December that i spoke about earlier has been well-worth the wait. For one, i've discovered that i can be this mean person who screams and cries at the drop of a hat (cellphone might be more apt) and the person i'm about to marry keeps his calm. Infact, it is at times like these when he becomes this loving caring virtuso. He does have his moment and his failings like the countless times when he's promised to wake up and go jogging with me, or invest some of his money in relatively safe investments, things that i'm hopeful will happen some day...
Today he cleaned up my computer table and re-did the wiring so that my PC, laptop and another gadget could all work together. Trust me, i'm greatful!
When you tell people you're engaged, they immediately place you in a category which is something i've been grappling with to this day. You're placed in the 'not available - therefore not hot-therefore invisible-therefore of no consequence box'. Its weird. Okay i understand that i'm not single anymore which clearly is a sign that i;m not available either, but lately i've noticed that my presence being of no consequence as compared to my single counterparts really ticks me off! Like at work, everyone will hear what this single cute chick has to say and when she says lets all go for coffee, everyone goes for coffee. I on the other hand have to cajole my way through *sigh*. The only people who are willing to have coffee with me are the other married women in my office...its like everyone leaves us alone. But the funny thing is, since i'm not yet married, they don't fully accept me in their clan either! So between the singles and the totally married, i am in between worlds.
This whole transition thing is really getting to me, because i often wonder, even after i'm married, i'll still be the same person...but to make sure i'm not categorised differently, i'll have to wear a different attitude alongwith the magalsutra!
Today he cleaned up my computer table and re-did the wiring so that my PC, laptop and another gadget could all work together. Trust me, i'm greatful!
When you tell people you're engaged, they immediately place you in a category which is something i've been grappling with to this day. You're placed in the 'not available - therefore not hot-therefore invisible-therefore of no consequence box'. Its weird. Okay i understand that i'm not single anymore which clearly is a sign that i;m not available either, but lately i've noticed that my presence being of no consequence as compared to my single counterparts really ticks me off! Like at work, everyone will hear what this single cute chick has to say and when she says lets all go for coffee, everyone goes for coffee. I on the other hand have to cajole my way through *sigh*. The only people who are willing to have coffee with me are the other married women in my office...its like everyone leaves us alone. But the funny thing is, since i'm not yet married, they don't fully accept me in their clan either! So between the singles and the totally married, i am in between worlds.
This whole transition thing is really getting to me, because i often wonder, even after i'm married, i'll still be the same person...but to make sure i'm not categorised differently, i'll have to wear a different attitude alongwith the magalsutra!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
The Heavens are calling...
Lately, the changing colours of the sky have begun to fascinate me, the brilliant optimistic blues contrasting with the mysterious deep blues in the evening sky are simply ethreal.
The colours of the sky are more different during the rainy season than otherwise, try observing that. Its as if the sky's getting a good spring cleaning these days :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)