Ahh....Bombay!!!

It is always fun to watch a row of double-deckers. Add to that, a sunset over the slums, and you have a very nice Saturday evening.

Dead or Alive????

Hectic weekend? You bet!!! On Saturday, my cousin got married. Now, under normal circumstances, that's OK, but when the stupid priest decrees that the solemnisation should take place at 10 am sharp, that's danger bells ringing. An early rise at 5.30 am, a quick shower and we were off. Well, at least me and Dad were!!! In Mom's case, it was get up, check face, have bath, check face, check saree, wear saree, check fit, wear jewellery, check effect of jewellery and she was off!!! A brisk 20 min drive later, we were at Andheri. But, not before I had my driving skills criticised to the greatest degree possible. That I managed to take everyone to Andheri in one piece seemed to escape every one's mind!!! Strange!!! ;-) Blah...blah...wedding over, back home, this time in 70 min!!!

Next day...JMET!!! At Ghatkopar!!! Good paper, though. Let's see if something develops here. Out of the examination hall at 12.30 pm. At Kanjurmarg at 01.00 pm to watch a movie with friends. Which movie?? I don't know!!! Well, at least, until I get into the theatre!!! Dead or Alive!!! How was it? Quite OK, actually. Stunts that could put apna Rajnikanth anna to shame!!! And one EXTREMELY HOT chick. Character name, Christie. I never bothered to find out her real name!!! At 6.00 pm, Bandra for a puja at my cousin's new home!!! A nice salad meal at Just Round the Corner later, I m home at 11 pm.

Rest until afternoon the next day?? No, siree!!! Coz aunty got fits over her upcoming audit!!! What a life!!! Whew!!!

Model House in the news for the wrong reasons

Today, I found an article in the Mumbai Mirror, giving information about a suspected murder that took supposedly place in Model House, last Saturday. The accused have now been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. All this brings to mind the days when it seemed they would get away with, even, murder. One should have been there to believe the amount of bullying the accused would resort to in the society, in order to get things done their way. Naturally, anyone opposing them was subjected to the vilest of threats, sometimes even becoming so unlucky that they would get bashed up. A decade of such hooliganism later, the law seems to have caught up with them. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not trying them here and pronouncing them guilty. But, one has to admit that on reading the public facts of the case, one is certainly very likely to believe that there is some foul play. Well, now, the onus lies on our judicial system to uncover the truth and serve justice to both, the accused and the victim, now unfortunately dead!!!

But, all this apart, how is this going to affect the image of the society in the eyes of the public at large? A place well known for producing many noted doyens of Marathi theatre, has now been subjected to public scrutiny of the unpleasant kind. Will the place be able to redeem its status in the eyes of the local populace? Or will the residents of this place go back to living in fear that they may be, one day, simply drop dead for no reason?

The CAT makes me feel like a lost dog!!!

Gave the baap of all exams, CAT on Sunday, the 19th of November, 2006. I still don't know what I am supposed to expect. It turned out to be ridiculously easy. Now, if only I could solve Maths fast!!! Sigh!!!

I expected the next exam (IIFT) to deliver me from the excruciating agony of waiting for the CAT result. I should have known better. For the first time since times immemorial, IIFT was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay tougher than CAT!!!

It seems all the institutions have ganged up to try out new things in the year that I give their exams!!! Next on the cards - JMET. IIT-Roorkee, what have you got in store for me??

Long Due Post

It's been a long time since I have written a post. Principal reason
for this being the inhuman amount of work being piled upon all of us
in office. Lots of things have happened since the "fish" incident. For
starters, I went for the Champions Trophy final at the Brabourne.
Pretty exciting stuff, totally paisa vasool. I experienced the
pleasure of watching Chris Gayle cart McGrath to all parts of the
ground. Then, the blink-and-you-will-miss-it stint of Lara's in the
middle. Then, some superb Aussie bowling/fielding. Then, I watched
that smirk being wiped off Ponting's face, albeit temporarily. Then, a
classic display of sensible batting by Martyn. Then, our
oh-so-competent emcee Rameez Raja forgetting all about the reason the
match was being played!!! Oh, and yes, unseasonal rains, the super
sopper, the covers and Andy!!! I suppose the only thing I didnt get to
see was some batsman carried off the ground, injured (Thank God!!!). I
took home a wide smile from that game and some nice chants by the
crowd, most notable of them being

1) Aussies suck!!!
2) Aussies suck!!!
3) Bhaag Chandu...aaj West Indies ki izzat ka sawaal hai!!!
4) Aussies suck!!!
5) Aussies suck!!!
6) Hoggy is a doggy!!!
AAAANNNDDDD

7) err...Aussies suck!!!
No points for guessing which team was the crowd favourite!!!

When I started writing this post, I thought I would mention all the
events that took place in the past 2 weeks. However, I am bored and
zzzzz........

Seafood Restaurants?? Naah!!!

Had gone to the famous restaurant Gajalee, at Phoenix Mills, on
Tuesday for dinner. The place had been recommended to Dad by many of
his friends, plus Bombay Times had also waxed eloquent about it. So,
we decided to give it a try. I must say we were totally disappointed.

The menu was way too limited. And all their specialities were charged
'as per size'. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't generally pay too much
attention to prices of individual dishes in a restaurant, just the
overall bill. But, here where you could be docked 900 bucks instead of
700 for a small increase in the size of the pomfret, you had to be
careful!!! Unfortunately, neither me nor my Dad have salaries that are
so fat that we can afford to blow close to a grand on a single dish!!!
So, alas, we had to opt for the plain jane Crab Masala, instead of the
Butter Pepper Pomfret.

But, wait!!! There was a feast in store for us the next day. Stung
that the maitre d' should choose to smirk at us when we declined the
pomfret on offer, Dad went off to the market and got home a huuuuge
pomfret. The kind Gajalee would charge 1200 bucks for, I guess!!!
Then, it was down to some good tasty homemade masala, courtesy Mom and
we had one of the most sumptuous meals we had had in a long time.

Cost of the fish - Rs. 250
Cost of the masala - Rs. 50
Cost of electricity for the microwave - Rs. 10 (approx.)

The feeling of satisfaction after preventing oneself from being looted
by a fancy hotel - Priceless!!!

You too, Brutus!!!

Came to know 2 days ago that a very good friend of mine was having her
marriage fixed. The unfortunate part is that I came to know this from
another friend, not from her. To top it all, she knew her groom for
over a year!!!

All this makes one think. Are all friends we consider close to us
really that close? Or is their definition of closeness different? I
was discussing this exact point with A yesterday. She was also close
to the friend in question. Needless to say, she was also in the dark
about this development. As A so aptly put it, "If I were to have such
a happy development in my life, I would want to share it with all my
friends. Then my happiness would increase manifold!!!"

Now, the question arises, "Do I have a right to feel hurt?" I
certainly feel hurt, but is it right on my part to think in that
manner? Should I tell her that I know about this and that I am
aggrieved that she chose not include me in her happiness? Do I have a
moral right to do so?

Man, I have never been this confused before!!!

The Working Phoenix

Owing to a complete lack of consideration for his well-being and
health on part of his company, this author has now slipped into a
temporary state of professional coma.

But he will rise.......only to be thwarted again!!!

I ...

Got tagged by Everyman to write this one. Had thought of so many different things to mention here, but when the time to actually put down those things has come, my courage seems to desert me. Still, I must try...

I am thinking about ... what should this kind of a tag be called. I mean this is not an explicit tag, its implied. Kinda like the difference between a simile and a metaphor. Does anyone know the word for it?

I said ... err, what did I say?

I want to ... drive a BEST bus once from Dahisar to Colaba, preferably a double-decker. I want to learn to play the guitar. I want to be able to choose a car to drive to work. I want to try my hand at teaching sometime, give back something to SPCE. I want to have a company of my own. I want to expose my superiors and colleagues who indulge in unethical practices. I want to be sure of what I want to eventually become. Lastly, I want to find out the real answer to that omnipresent question, "Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?"

I wish ... we were really free. I certainly did not sign away my freedom to my company, yet it seems to think so!!! And that's not the only reason I am saying this. Look everywhere, your life just doesn't seem to be yours anymore. I wish people followed driving rules. I wish people at the helm of affairs here started taking things seriously. I wish the good guys were not killed by the bad ones. See what happened to Andrei Kozlov.

I hear ... snippets of conversations all around me. However, I may try to cut it out, I just cant. Wise guys call it eavesdropping....

I wonder ... if all Americans are crazy like their leader (I hope not!!!) I wonder why very few girls can drive properly. I wonder why elims are always tougher than the finals. I wonder whether I am doing justice to this post, or simply writing crap!!!

I regret ... not saying sorry. I regret that I am such a loner that today, I don't have a single person who can claim to understand me. No, not even Mom can stake a claim to that!!!

I am ... FAT!!!

I dance ... at imaginary parties. At the real ones, I have an inexplicable fear of making a complete fool of myself (not that I need dancing to help me out there!!!)

I sing ... in the bathroom, while driving, in office. In short, I sing just about anywhere. But I sing only in front of the people closest to me.

I cry ... very rarely. It's more like tears welling up for a while. I tend to brood a lot, rather than cry.

I am not always ... the mentally strong person most people think I am.

I make with my hands ... tiny doodles on any notepad, just to pass time.

I write ... to please myself. I write so that more and more people can read what I write and communicate with me. I write so that I can come back and maybe, figure why I took those decisions, what I was thinking at the time.

I confuse ... people when I generally want to end a conversation.

I need ... to be loved by someone, liked by someone. I cant stand it if someone really hates me. Just that one word of comfort, that one word of consolation can make my day.

Whew!! That's that. If you feel like it, do write something about yourself. Who knows, you may discover something new about yourself when you read what you have put down. I know I just did!!!

Ever had that feeling?

Ever had that feeling of impending doom? When all seems hopeless, when nothing you try seems to work!!! I am currently experiencing my first bout of office stress. What happens when you are responsible to take data backup, and the backup procedure used by you is incorrect? What happens when the main computer crashes beyond recovery and the new data repository refuses to recognise the backup? What happens when the data lost is equivalent to comprehensive information regarding work, since 2004? I don't know the answer, but something tells me that I shall find out tomorrow!!!

Naughty Naughty!!!

A few days ago, during dinner at a restaurant near office, a colleague, who was a new migrant to Bombay, asked me very innocently, "When you eat chicken, do you eat only hens?" Needless to say, he was a strict veggie.

My equally innocent (at least, it was when I said it!!!) reply was, "Yeah, they generally keep the cocks only for breeding!!!"

Ganapati celebrated in Bombay

Well, it feels nice to be here in Bombay once again for the Ganapati festival. Last year, I had to give it a miss because of my ILP in $#%^%$ Bhubaneswar. Now, don't get me wrong!!! I did enjoy my stay in Bhubaneswar and getting away from home was not as bad as I thought it would be. But, one does yearn for home when typical Bombay festivals like Ganeshotsav come along. And believe me, hearing your friends describing the sweets they got to eat and the fun they had at the various places they visited, in graphic detail, does not exactly tickle your funny bone!!!

Well, enough of last year. This year too, there was lots of stuff to do. And mainly, good food to eat!!! However, one thing turned this otherwise enjoyable festival sour for me. Today, wherever I went, there were old aunties and grannies asking my mom about when she was gonna get a daughter-in-law for herself!!! The general conversation went something like this....

Aunty/Granny : When are you getting a lady for this young man?

Mom : Errr......he wants to study further before thinking of that and plus, we think it's too early for all this.

Aunty/Granny : What nonsense? Early? Look at him, such a big fellow, he should settle down and give you some nice cuddly grandchildren to play with!!!

Mom : We really don't think so!!!

Aunty/Granny : Don't be stupid!!! If you ask me, its good to have these youngsters settle down early in life, else they get out of hand!!! Trust me, I have some experience in these matters.

(All the other "wise people" around grunt their assent!!!)

Hello!!! Who gave you guys the right to decide when I should settle down? And what's all this about cuddly kids to play with? And since when did the ultimate aim of "settling down" become providing your parents "cuddly" grandchildren to "play with"????????? GOD!!!!

Sometimes, I really wonder why these people cant mind their own bloody business!!!

Omkara - A Review

Had been to G7 at Bandra to watch Omkara alongwith V, P, SC, RK and RS. Unfortunately, we didn't get tickets for the 3.30pm show we had planned on watching. For some reason, we hung around the area and went for the 6.30pm show. I must say I wasn't disappointed.

The movie starts off with a bang, an expletive in the very first dialogue!!! Wow.....this movie must be something, you think. Vishal Bharadwaj builds up the story nicely from this point on. We slowly get to know the characters, their peculiar traits and their common background. Now, comes the acid test of the movie. One wonders whether it will live up to expectations, especially considering it tom-toms itself as an inspiration from the bard's Othello. I think the movie delivers what it promises, and maybe, more. I do not need to get into the story here.....anyone who is familiar with Shakespeare's work will already be knowing it well. Ah, the jealousy of Othello, the cunning of Iago, the beauty of Desdemona!!! Substitute these names with Omkara, Langda Tyagi and Dolly, and the effect, quite surprisingly, isn't diluted.

Bharadwaj makes excellent use of the rugged, barren landscapes of UP very effectively. The rustic setting simply adds to the charm of the movie. Satara has also been used here, notably in one road sequence, a road which regular visitors to Mahabaleshwar via Pune will recognise as the road to Wai, at the base of the ghat leading to Panchgani. Camerawork is great, with the full starkness of the barren land brought forward. One noteworthy scene is the last one with a prostate Kareena on the swing, moving back and forth, while Ajay Devgan lies underneath. You have to watch it to experience it.

Performance-wise, the movie is filled with excellent actors, who do full justice to their characters. Kareena Kapoor, as the beautiful and faithful Dolly and Vivek Oberoi, as the upstart Kesu, both turn in credible performances. One thinks these roles have come to them at just the right time in their careers. Naseeruddin Shah, as the big boss, is dependable as ever. So, is Konkana Sensharma. There is simply no need to describe their performances. The audience expects the world from them, and they deliver. Period. Ajay Devgan, as the brooding Omkara, overcome with extreme jealousy, is menacing as ever. One never even doubts for a minute that his character could lose in combat, such is the life that this talented actor infuses into his role. Finally, we come to Saif Ali Khan. WHAT A PERFORMANCE!!! Simply mindblowing!!!! The transformation from the suave and sophisticated nawab to a rustic UP goon is complete. Boy, do you hate his character when you watch the movie. That evil smile, the stained teeth.......marvellous!!! And the expression in his eyes, when he is denied his coveted position....that is the mark of a good actor and we certainly have one in Saif. Saif, I bow to thee....award winning stuff, this.

At the end, one feels the movie could have been more crisply edited. That is just about the only grouse I can recall. Something, huh???

A motley missed!!!

Ever had that feeling?? You get out of bed and look forward to 3-4 hours of blissful quizzing. Ahh...Utopia!!! Alas, Utopia is fictional!!! The quizzing is thwarted by the infantile insistence of Dad that I meet some stupid relatives who are coming over to India after 15 years!!! They had some idiotic desire to see their long-lost nephew, who was soooo small when they saw him last!!! As if that's ever possible where I m concerned!!! Now is it my fault that they chose not to return for 15 whole years??

And Dad's attempt to mollify me?? Tickets to Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna!!! Aaarghhh!!!! Read about it in the post below.

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - A Review

An urban setting, a director with an excellent track record, good music and a star cast to die for. These are the ingredients which will draw the crowds to the theatres to watch one of the most awaited movies of the year - Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna!!! And does the movie live up to the hype surrounding it? Read on to find out.

One of the first things to strike you in the movie is the camerawork....stark grey landscapes from urban New York have been captured very nicely in the movie, be it the parks, the crossings or the railway station. It makes a very striking contrast when you compare it to a movie like Parineeta, which makes use of vibrant colours to capture the Kolkata of the 60's.

The movie revolves around two individuals, SRK and Rani, who are unhappy with their respective marriages. A chance meeting on a park bench and a poorly executed chase spark off a series of meetings, which finally culminate in love. However, social and marital obstacles thwart them at every step. How they overcome these and finally manage to get together after aeons, is what seems to be the gist of the story. I use the word 'seems' because I can never tell for sure why the characters in the movie do whatever they do!!!

The movie seems to finally have a different storyline - a rarity in movies from the Dharma Productions stable. However, Karan Johar seems to have stretched a promising story almost to the point of mediocrity!!! He sure seems to need a shot of Koffee!!! Rani cries all the time, pausing only briefly to push off an "eager" Abhishek!!!! Believe me, tear stains on such a pretty face are not very good to look at!!! SRK is grumpy all the time. God knows his character could give me some serious competition for surliness!!! Preity appears confused all the time, alternating between the all-conquering career woman and the hurt wife!!! The kid is cute, and brings a few smiles to movie-goers' faces. But, the real stars are the father-son duo of the Bachchans. They share a fantastic camaraderie on screen. Abhishek's goofy look is the perfect foil for the casanova-like Big B. Truly, he is the best actor in Indian cinema today, and by a long way!!! Kirron Kher delivers a very compact performance, something we have now come to naturally expect from her.

The movie does tend to disappoint, given the high expectations from it, but somehow, it isn't as bad as many people make it out to be. Go for it, but be prepared to stare periodically at your watch and wonder how much more time's left for it to end!!!

Town Hall / Asiatic Library

The Sea at Bandra Bandstand

Ramblings

• It feels so nice to meet your college friends after a long time....you wish time stood still.
• The sea breeze is wonderful, but the sea spray is yucky!!!
• I look HUGE compared to my friend, A!!!
• I like the World Space Radio ad....somehow, it is sooo convincing!!!
• Zara Zara from Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein is easily the most erotic song of recent times (well, for me at least!!!).
• I am beginning to wonder why I started writing this post in the first place!!!
• I SUCK at CAT quant!!!
• I am writing this from office, waiting for the stupid SPARC backup to get over.
• Why does no friend of mine have the entire F.R.I.E.N.D.S collection??
• You are probably wondering whether I have lost my marbles.
• I think I probably have!!!
• errrr.....I guess that's it!!!

Looks like the Rain Gods are angry with the BMC !!!

What a day!!!

Was looking forward to a completely free weekend ahead of me, yesterday in office when Mom messaged to tell me that her cell service had been temporarily discontinued. It seems the bill I had paid online had not been credited to her account. An hour of communication with my bank and her cell company later, I came to know that I had keyed in the wrong number while paying the bill. MISTAKE NO. 1!!! Thankfully, the cell company has agreed to help me correct the error.

Later, while leaving office, full of weekend ecstasy, I forgot my umbrella and, to top it, realised my folly only after I had reached home. On calling my colleagues, I found that they had all left office and that there was no one to claim the umbrella for me!!! MISTAKE NO. 2!!! I asked a colleague who was going to office today to check for it but, as expected, he didn't find it!!!

Then, while lazing at home today, I snagged my watch in a drawer. Struggle......struggle.....SNAP!!!!! That'll be 50 bucks, Sir!!! MISTAKE NO. 3!!!

And, finally, for the "baap" of all mistakes. I made a friggin' mistake while filling in my CAT form. Used a black pen where a pencil was needed!!! Damn!!! MISTAKE NO. 4!!!

Total unnecessary cost incurred so far?? Rs. 180. Could go up to Rs. 2199!!! Great....simply great!!!!

Golmaal - A Review

Went for Golmaal yesterday, simply coz of the hype created by my friends. Thought, why not give it a try. I must say that I certainly wasn't disappointed.

The movie begins by outlining the extent to which 4 friends are willing to go, in order to lay their hands on some easy money. Then, just when you are beginning to hate the lazy slobs, the narrative mellows down a bit and reveals snippets from their past which actually makes you feel sorry for these guys. Fate somehow brings them to the doorstep of a blind couple. The story picks up pace after that. Add a bumbling gang of goondas, a hissing idiot, a wannabe Munnabhai, and you have absolute mayhem!!!

Performance-wise, all 4 actors seem to have equally important roles. Ajay Devgan is dependable as ever. But, somehow, he doesn't seem to be as comfy with situational comedy, as with the serious dramatic stuff. Still, he does a pretty good job. Vrajesh Hirjee with his hissing antics is more suitable for a zoo rather than a Hindi film. His hissing fails to evoke more than a few feeble laughs. What was the director thinking? The goondas are bumbling, which is just the way they should be for this film. The remaining 3 of the quartet, Tusshar, Sharman and Arshad are quite simply hilarious. Whatever they do, you are never bored. And thankfully, for once, the comedy doesn't go overboard as it did with a couple of Sharman's early films. Which now brings me to Paresh Rawal and Sushmita Mukherjee. The two of them do a brilliant job as the eccentric blind couple. Paresh Rawal, with his perfect comic timing and Sushmita Mukherjee, with her vulnerability. The duo even share a song. This song is brilliantly picturised and the production team certainly deserves kudos for it. Rimi Sen is more of a garden ornament, if you get what I mean!!! The less said the better.

All in all, one can conclude that even though the movie does not boast of a proper storyline, the flair for comedy displayed by all actors is what keeps this movie alive. Go watch it, and forget your troubles for a while.

title it yourself!!!!

Earlier in the day, I had thought that I would write about the day I spent with my friends, giving them a treat on the occasion of my birthday. However, the day was marred by a series of events that took place in Bombay this morning.

All of us were sitting in the Bombay Blues outlet at Shopper's Stop, Andheri, when we got wind of the news that there was rioting going on in many parts of Bombay. It seems a statue of the late wife of the influential Sena leader, Bal Thackeray, had been desecrated by some miscreants, early this morning. Her son, Uddhav, who calls himself a leader of the people of Maharashtra, gave a statement saying that inspite his mother being a mother for the masses, it is indeed sad that someone desecrated her statue. I thoroughly agree with him and, am of the firm belief that the police MUST trace the miscreants, at the earliest. However, the "people's" Sena went one step further. Rioting began, buses were burnt, shops were forced to close down and the city almost ground to a halt. Is this the way to express your agitation at the insult of someone you hold dear? Is this the way a supposedly responsible party is supposed to conduct itself?

On any day, maybe 5 years earlier, people would themselves have stopped all activities as a mark of protest. However, repeated attempts by this party to make sure that the diktats of its now senile leader and his irresponsible son are obeyed at all costs have certainly not endeared them to WE, the people. I think it is time we had self-governance in Bombay (yes, I will call it Bombay, when I speak in English....to hell with political correctness!!!). Ban the political parties!!! Let individuals stand for the post of elected mayor. Let the Sena know that I am certainly NOT voting for them in the next elections!!!

In case the reader is wondering why I have mentioned names, as opposed to my style of using initials, I feel that in some cases, a direct approach is the best one!!! And there is no particular reason for this post.....its just me letting some steam off.

And July, the first passes by...

Just yesterday, a quizzing friend of mine, NI, called up to wish me a Happy Birthday. During the course of the conversation we had, one question he asked really made me think. "Does it feel any different becoming 23?"

Come to think of it, it certainly doesn't. I am still the same fat and lazy chap I was a year ago. I still get angry at the drop of a hat. I still love to drive the wheels off my car. But then, why is a birthday considered to be so important? NI had me thinking big time, and mind you, that's quite an achievement!!!

My thinking made me realise that though I may not have changed that much, some part of me has, indeed, undergone a transformation, possibly because of the events that took place in my life in the past year. I learnt that I could survive away from home, thanks to my company, which insists on training its recruits in far-off places like Bhubaneswar. I learnt that the rest of India is not such a bad place, but nothing can beat Bombay!!! I learnt that some people who you think are very good friends wont even bother to ask how you are, while others will keep in touch. I learnt that however skilled you may be at driving, there will always be someone who is willing to take more risks than you, simply because he has more money!!! I also learnt that Orkut can make you drop your sulkiness at your best friend, because she has forgotten all about your big day. I also learnt that when your best friend calls up at 11 pm to apologise, she makes your day (or at least, what's left of it!!!)

If I try and list all the things that I learnt, I will end up spending the whole day over it, and yet, not end up with a comprehensive list!!! So, a reader may ask...."Is this post getting somewhere?" My reply would be .... "Errr....No, I don't think so!!!"

"Monumental" Monsoon

The monsoons in Bombay can provide for some really good pictures of the landmarks in Bombay, pictured against the dark skies.

6 weird things about me

Got tagged by Shainu to pen down 6 weird things about myself. Somehow, I have a VERY bad feeling that this one is not going to go too well.....Hey I got the first one...

1. I generally tend to believe in my inability to do things......(now go and figure that one out)!!!
2. I absolutely HATE it when someone leaves a book lying around on the floor.
3. I cant stand it if someone apart from my Dad so much as touches the steering wheel / pedals of my car. Actually, the exception for Dad is coz he err....owns the car (put your own recollection of an embarassed smile here) !!!
4. I suck at quizzes that matter, yet I like to believe that I am one of the world's best quizzers.
5. My right foot starts vibrating horribly after a close shave while driving.
6. I absolutely LOVE to pull chubby cheeks, but despise it when someone attempts to do the same to me. (My friend, A and Mom will fume at me, if they see this!!!)

Now, the principle of tagging stipulates that I tag 6 other people. However, taking into consideration the abysmal no. of people actually bothering to read this blog, that is going to be one hell of a difficult task. Still, I'll try. So, I tag

• Riaan
• Darshan
• Adi
• Vish
• Chetan
• Open slot - up for grabs!!! (got this idea from Shainu)
  

Route No. 66

After a lazy Saturday in office, my feet take me to Fort Market for the journey home. After a long wait of 15 min, I spot her in the distance - the red standing out nicely against the white backdrop of the RBI Central Office. A brief halt, and we are off!!! Past the huge dome of the GPO, the spires of VT and the BMC headquarters, the old lady of Boribunder, we crawl. Then, its smooth sailing past the JJ School of Arts, Crawford Market, Bombay Police HQ and of course, St. Xavier's High School. It is on this stretch that the driver begins to display the true abilities of the red behemoth. The rush of cool evening air through the front window of the upper deck adds to the romance of the atmosphere. Then, we are in the crowded Girgaon zone. Still, the driver manages to make 'er move pretty fast, thanks to the people and cars scurrying out of the way in fright!!! But, she jerks and lurches about uncertainly. She is clearly not in her element on these crowded roads. After a brief race against an accelerating local past Charni Road, we are at Opera House. Oblivious of the oncoming vehicles, she cuts through the south-bound traffic and begins to get comfortable again. Unfortunately, it's now time to say goodbye. With a roar full of promise, she zooms out of sight.

Ahhh!!! The ultimate thrill of travelling in a double decker!!!

Last week's rains caused quite a lot of chaos here, most of which was due to the panic which set in amongst the people when they recalled the horrors of 26/7. Still, the first rains in Bombay are always fun!!!

Boribunder

Its really surprising, the number of times you will see this building in movies, and yet, never even give a second glance as you pass by it. I will not say anything more.....just sit back and take in the wonderful craftsmanship of the British era.....simply put, BOMBAY at its best.

Zoom into the second image and you will find the seal of the erstwhile Great Indian Peninsular Railway, now known as Central Railway.

The Garden of Knowledge

Found this article on Chetan's blog. Do go through it...it's worth a read.

Random Questions

Very often, for no reason whatsoever, my mind is full of questions. Thought I will put down a few of them here for......well.....for no particular reason!!!! ;-)

• Why must I follow all the rules while driving, when all the other drivers on the road are authorised to break the rules whenever they want to?
• Why must I set an example for all my cousins? No one set an example for me!!!
• Why must I be called to work every Saturday?
• How can I get into a good insti without moving my ass?
• Why cant Schumi win every race?
• Why cant S get into Aerospace inspite of getting an AIR of 206?
• Why must I always remain fat inspite of eating very little?
• Why cant I compose poetry effortlessly like S?
• Why cant R and SB make up their minds about their respective futures?
• Why must my M800 move so slowly?
• Why cant a Merc be cheaper?
• Why cant an automobile company consider me for a job?
• Why must my job make me hate it?

Well.....the list continues..........................

My first vehicle shall CERTAINLY be an SUV

Had to go to Borivali yesterday for a birthday party. So, what was the problem? Quadrupling work on the track resulted in cancellation of trains and, consequently, there was a lot of traffic on the road, even on the WE highway. Result? Tempers running high and driving becoming erratic.

Let's just say that I tried to cut off a Qualis driver who tried to squeeze me out of my lane, which resulted in (Ahem!!!) a dent. Its so bloody UNFAIR!!! My next car has to be a big SUV (or maybe, a BEST bus!!!!) :-D

Sterling - A silent sentinel to an era gone by

Just 2 days ago, I read the shocking piece of news in the papers. Sterling theatre was closing down to make way for a multiplex!!! How?? Why??? #$@#%!!!!

It seems like ages ago when I walked into that large foyer, holding my parents' hands, eager to watch 'Dennis the Menace'. My first reaction upon entering was, "Ooooooohhh!!!!'. The auditorium was as small as the foyer was big. A really nice and cozy place where you never got the whistling and jeering crowd.

Over the years, I grew to love every aspect of Sterling. From the polite guards at the entrance to the bright and inviting snacks counter. From the pristine condition of the seats to the sparkling clean toilets. The smell of the delicious caramel popcorn, inviting as ever. The twin seats at the back where couples used to park themselves for a movie of a different kind. The grudge I used to bear against the ushers for letting me out through the rear exit, causing me to walk round the bldg to my car. Everything was .... well ..... just perfect!!!!

I once used to brag to all my mates that I could enjoy all the benefits of the multiplexes that they went to, for a fraction of a price!!! And then, suddenly, came this devastating piece of news.
Yesterday night, as I was returning from New Excelsior, I passed by Sterling. The renovation work had already begun. That once white and inviting lobby was now a dull grey, violated by machines of all kinds!!! The whole building had a mournful air about it, as it stood, patiently bearing the changes that were being now forced upon it. As a tear trickled down my cheek at this sight, I reluctantly tore my eyes away from the building onto the road ahead. After all, I had to drive home....

36 China Town - A Review

Went for the movie today, after office, just to enjoy myself. I must say I was not thrilled, but it was paisa vasool.

An interesting narrative style is adopted by M/s Abbas and Mustan which involves the clever replaying of the story so that the entire point can be grasped properly. The only problem?? The director duo loses sight of the basic point they had tried to ingrain into the viewers' minds. Is it the detail, is it the characters involved?? One never knows as the focus shifts, a tad confusingly, from one to the other. However, there is enough of the usual masala in the film to keep it going without boring the audience.

Of the performances, Paresh Rawal and Johnny Lever make a strictly passable attempt to keep the audience smiling. It may look funny during your first viewing, but mind you, it will become more and more unbearable as you repeatedly watch it. Payal Rohatgi seems to have been placed in the film, simply to draw the wolf-whistlers. Kareena has a role which is only slightly better than Payal's. In fact, it sometimes becomes painfully embarrassing to watch her move awkwardly while beau Shahid glides around in the dance sequences. Kinda reminiscent of Hrithik and Kareena in K3G!!! Shahid does a good job as a young dude in search of quick money. His acting seems to be earnest, but I suppose, he will have to take on better roles if he has to earn critical acclaim. Isha Koppikar is pretty subdued in her brief cameo, but ends up looking extremely gorgeous. But, the real hero is Akshaye Khanna. As the police inspector, he breathes life into a role that few others could have taken on with the same effect. Like Abhishek Bachchan, he is one actor who excels in each performance. Kudos to you, Akshaye.

So, guys, go for the movie and enjoy yourselves. You may be expecting a murder mystery, you will probably find yourself watching a pseudo-Govinda flick, only that this one's slightly better (and that's saying a lot!!!!).


PS : Himessss....plz STOP singing!!!!

Now, if only they operated these buses on the regular routes......Sigh!!!!

Random musings from a holiday

Was absent from Bombay for a whole week. Had managed to wrestle a whole week's leave from my PL. My holiday destination?? Good ol' Pune and Mahabaleshwar. The icing?? T'was gonna be a driving holiday!!

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Do top up ur brake oil before leaving on a long distance drive. A sinking brake pedal and a hysterical Mom, both on the expressway, have taught me that!!!

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The Pune - Mahabaleshwar road is damn good. Had visited it during Sem VII, when it was under construction. Damn good job!!! T'was a breeze driving on it. (Pic on top)

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NEVER go for your honeymoon to Mahabaleshwar. The locals seem to leer at the newlyweds. And the damn place is too FULL of them!!!!

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Do try driving on the Pasarni Ghat from Wai to Panchgani. Lovely smooth road, lots of twists and turns. Nice workout for your cornering abilities. I could only max around 90 clicks in a M800.

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Avoid visiting Pune in summer!!!

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If you do visit Pune, remember to go to George's restaurant, on East Street in the Cantonment Area, and have the Chicken Rotisserie there. Its heavenly!!!

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I LOVE strawberries!!! Wimbledon, take a backseat!!!!

A week ago, duty in office called for making 300+ transactions, each of which requires the user to click on OK. Now, who said that big fat books were a waste of time???

Progress or regress???

Read recently in the papers that more quotas may be introduced in the IITs and IIMs soon. The man behind all this? The great (HA!!) Arjun Singh!!! The excuse being provided is that it is a constitutional provision which is being followed. The point of this exercise? The "progress" of the "backward" castes in society at large.

56 years ago, when the constitution was created, the makers had put in a clause for introducing a reservation for the "backward" castes. This was because they were, indeed, oppressed by the "upper" castes. They had to do many menial jobs simply because they were refused the opportunity to progress. The constitutional reservations gave them the much needed chance to prove themselves at every level. It made them believe in themselves that they were also capable of doing all those things which had, hitherto, been the bastion of the privileged classes. This had been exactly what the makers of the constitution had in mind. But, a clause was also put in that the reservations could be repealed after 50 years. However, in 2000, our elected representatives chose to extend these reservations by another 10 years!!

But, hasn't the scenario changed now?? Don't we see more equality in society, at least in terms of caste?? Today, to be very frank with you, I wouldn't be aware of what the word "Dalit" meant if it were not for these reservations. Its high time the people who sit in Parliament sit up and take notice that these reservations have long outlived their intended use. Today, they are more of an excuse for the students belonging to these "backward" classes to relax and dawdle on their efforts to get into prestigious institutions like the IITs and IIMs. And even assuming that the situation is grim for them in the rural areas, these reservations should certainly not be offered to them above the 10+2 level. For, it is these students, who will have secured admissions via the myriad concessions offered to them at the schooling level. This means that they have been given ample opportunity to overcome the social difficulties that they may have faced. And they still want reservations at the Undergraduate and Post-graduate level?? This is ridiculous!!! The people who sincerely believe that this is necessary should try and understand that this will seriously undermine the students' ability to perform at their optimum level in the international field. For, today, when India is on the verge of emerging as a major power, the same yardstick will be applied for judging all of us, backward class or not!!! In the face of such a scenario, we must concentrate on making the members of the "backward" classes consciously lose the impression that they belong to an underprivileged community. We are all Indians and let us remain so!!!

And as for the reservations, let us get rid of them once and for all, at least from the undergraduate level onwards. Instead, keep some seats for the economically backward students. And as regards the lack of opportunities excuse put forth in defence of these reservations, I feel that the people who are truly talented do not need such headline-grabbing gestures to succeed. A close friend I know is a living example of what I just said!!! CB, take a bow!!!

Took this pic in the lift in office. Seems like even the makers of warning signs take it for granted that Indians are used to overcrowding!!!

The Long Arm of the Law!!!

I had taken this pic around a month ago when I had waited outside Mac (VT). It seems the policeman had stopped this cabbie, when he suddenly decided to make a run for it, little realising that the smart "Mama" was holding his license. Here we see the cabbie torn between the option of running away or facing the irate cop. Nevertheless to say, he backed up and meekly faced impending doom!!!

(Apologies are due for the pic quality.....t'was taken from my car which was parked quite a distance away)

Being Cyrus - A Review

Saif Ali Khan in an English movie?? I had heard of Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia et al doing the odd English film, but Saif?? Now this was new. This curiosity took me to Sterling to watch Being Cyrus. What did I think? Read on.

Right from the beginning, it strikes you that this film is different from the rest of the pack. There is no grand entry of the hero, hardly any background score and no flashy credits. In fact, the credits are almost "Hollywoodesque" in nature. So, you now sit down to watch the movie, a packet of the famed caramel popcorn in hand.

We are slowly introduced to the Sethna family, spread out over Bombay and Panchgani. Slowly, we come to grips with the eccentricity of each member of the family - the dreamy elder son, his frustrated wife, the dominant younger son, his beautiful and, sadly, bullied wife, and the patriarch who is now forced to live the life of a recluse by his younger son. Adajania draws you in further and further into the plot while, at moments, giving us glimpses into Cyrus' troubled past. The story is well told through the eyes of Cyrus, who, helpfully, adds his own take on the various members of the Sethna family. The ending of the movie is also well-constructed with the suspense being maintained right till the very end. The narrative does tend to get disjointed at times, but it only adds to the suspense.

Performance-wise, everyone in the movie is good. Naseeruddin Shah, as the dreamy Parsi simpleton does a very good job. But then, we have now come to expect that from him, haven't we? Dimple Kapadia as the mentally and sexually frustrated wife, again turns in a brilliant performance. Boman Irani is the perfect cranky Bawa, one you may expect to find anywhere in Bombay. His performance is so eerily convincing that you just HATE him. Simone Singh, as his meek and demure wife who likes to secretly enjoy in her husband's absence is also the right choice for the role. But, the movie belongs to Saif. Everything he does is simply perfect. Just the right glint of menace for a fleeting moment before he is all charm again. He just seems to be unable to do anything wrong at the moment. I hope he continues in this vein for a long time to come. For, in him, we have one of India's finest actors, one who can show that you needn't be a hunk of beef to make a point. Saif, take a bow!!!

Urban India has grown up. No longer are the people content to just sit back and watch a certain actor (Cough!!! Cough!!!) wear loud clothes and amuse (sic!!!!) them with his antics. They want the real stuff. And they want it dished out to them as it is. No garnishing, no embellishments.

Director Homi Adajania doesn't disappoint in this respect. The fare that he doles out here is pretty grim. But, the moot point is that he manages to make an impact. And that, friends, should be enough for us to sit up and take him seriously as a filmmaker and not just another also ran!!!

Welcome to Bombay - The City of Dreams!!!

Took this pic at BKC just outside my office. Rather odd placement of the zebra crossing, isnt it?

Uhh....looks like chicken WILL get to cross the road after all!!!

Some things just dont change, do they?? (Pic Courtesy : Mid-Day)

Ho Hum!!!

Today, I logged onto blogger, hoping to upload a couple of good photos I had managed to click during the week. However, to my dismay, found that for some odd reason, Blogger was just refusing to upload my photos. God knows why!!! The browser would simply stop dead, just like that!!! So, I thought, let's write a post with words.

Phew!! There!! I made the decision. Now comes the hard part. What do I write about? Coz the problem is that my life has become so predictable, of late, that hardly anything of note occurs. I could write about how I fumed and fretted at my seniors' inability to understand what I was saying. I could write about how I went to office for another Saturday, while my friends sat at home and made merry. I could write about how good it felt to finally drive after spending a whole week staring at the stupid computer screen. Well.....I guess you get the drift.

But, is anything I mentioned worth blogging about? I guess I could say something about the book I am currently reading. Maximum City by Suketu Mehta. Yeah....good idea!!!

Well...the book somehow caught my attention at the Strand Book Exhibition. I suddenly caught sight of a book that boldly announced that it was about "Bombay". It looked like a fairly new publication and still, the cover dared to call the city Bombay. I thought to myself that any book which refers to "Bombay" is worth a second dekko. On an impulse, I bought it. When I started reading it yesterday, I wasn't disappointed. The author seems to take you through his life in Bombay. He tells you how he spent his childhood here, how he used to play at the Oval Maidan, go for walks with his fiancee at Marine Drive, have bhel with her at Chowpatty. Damn it, it all seems so eerily familiar!!! Of course, the only difference being, I am yet to find a girlfriend, let alone a fiancee!!! I have only finished a few pages, as of now, but the book seems to be good. I am hoping that the author's romance with Bombay continues.

As for me, I will probably be back with a review of "Being Cyrus" next weekend. Until then,

CIAO.

Yummy!!!

Autocar, March 2006 issue, on the Maserati Quattroporte.

"She is a gorgeous feast for the eyes, full of voluptuous curves. Pure automotive porn!!!"

I am already drooling!!!!

13 Years of Freedom

On this day, thirteen years ago, I was in school (I think it was the IVth standard). The time was around 4 pm and we were looking forward to the Games period, which was the last one scheduled for the day. Suddenly, the school buses arrived in a hurry and we were all whisked off in a hurry. No one was prepared to tell us what was going on, not the teachers, not the bus driver or cleaner. Finally, at home, the TV proved to be the informer. There had been a series of bomb blasts in the city..........

For many days after that, my parents continued to talk about the incident. About how grave it was and how the perpetrators of this heinous act should be brought to justice. At that time, the gravity of the situation never hit me. Today, when I look back at that time, I can only ask myself one question, "Why???" Why Bombay, why the innocent people? I have still not found an answer to this question.

However, there is one outcome of these blasts for which I am certainly thankful to the perpetrators. The bombs have only succeeded in weaving together the complicated fabric of Bombay even more tightly. Not only since, have people realised the futility of rising against each other, but they also actively dissuade others from indulging in the same mindlessness. In short, the spirit of Bombay lives on.

People often ask me where is this spirit visible. If you ask me, it was there in 1993 also. A friend of mine, NI, told me about a statistical hoarding. On 12th March, 1993, there were 12 bomb blasts in Bombay. On 13th March, 1993, office attendance was at 93%.

I rest my case.

Eeks....no local!!!!

This is one of the scariest sights in Bombay, even at 11:52 pm!!! Needless to say, when a local finally arrived....aargh!!!!

Ahh...the rains!!! They sure brought some relief from the dreaded heat and humidity. Parts of the pics are smudged due to security concerns.

CRASH!!!

Was returning home from office last Friday night, when I chanced upon this at Churchgate. OUCH!!!!

Dire Warnings!!!

Saw this sight a few days ago at the VT junction, just outside the Municipal HQ. Should be good enough to keep this Maserati in check!!!!

Taxi No. 9211 - A Review

Went for Taxi No. 9211 today. I had heard praises about the movie from most of my colleagues and hence, I decided to go and check out for myself if the movie was worth all the hype it was generating. Was I satisfied or disappointed? Well, read on!!!

The movie starts off well, introducing its 2 main characters to us in a style that is very fresh and easy to follow. Sanjay Dutt's voice has been used very effectively here. It adds that special zing to the beginning, which keeps you interested. After the introduction, which lingers around for some time, the movie picks up pace and moves at a very fast clip. Hold on tight for the ride of your life?? Well, not exactly. We are taken through a series of unfortunate events that occur in the lives of two people who are as different as chalk and cheese. That they cause the said events to occur in the other's life, adds to the confusion. Now, its time for revenge!!! The two go about trying to pull a fast one on each other, trying to make sure the other doesn't get out of this alive!!! All this in one day!! What happens in the end? I think I should let this entertainer talk for itself, from this point.

As for the performances, Nana Patekar shines in the role of the irate taxi driver. He rants and raves, he exudes just the right amount of menace. All in all, he is simply perfect. John acts as the perfect foil for him. Where Nana is crude, John is suave. This man is fast improving as an actor. Some more good movies and he will be right up there. Just one thing he needs to do fast is get rid of the "Pav - mudder fadder" accent. Otherwise, there seems to be no problem. Sonali Kulkarni, as Nana's wife deserves a mention here. In a small role, she manages to put the point through that it is we who create our own battles. In her, we have a very fine performer whose entire range of talents lies hitherto, untapped.

Guys, oil prices are on the rise, traffic in Bombay is increasing. Do yourself and others a favour. Ride in this taxi. I am sure you will not be disappointed.

The B Chronicles No. 8

Been a long time since I have written a Chronicle. Its just that office fails to inspire me to write any longer. I seem to have settled into a rut here. At times, I find myself wondering where I should go next. I guess that is a futile thought as my life here refuses to MOVE!!!

I generally report for work around 1pm. Then, its fool around time till 6 pm, have a yummy roadside snack at 6:15 pm, and then, return to do actual work at 7 pm. The actual work may go on even upto 1 am the next day!! And the best part of it all is that I have a leader who cant lead. She is just like a rabbit caught in the headlights!!! One minute, she will give you an encouraging nod or a smile and the next minute, she is tearing you apart for something you are supposed to have done (or just maybe, not)!!! Never, when I see her during a problem situation, do I get the reassuring feeling that the team will pull through this crisis. Sad, but true!!!

The reader may be forgiven for wondering why I am sticking to this job when I am so unhappy with it. Well, dude, 50 grand is a hell lot of money!!!! Let's leave it at that!!! More cribbing later.

Rang De Basanti - A Review

Watched Rang De Basanti yesterday. Went in with high expectations. Came out slightly disappointed.

Movie starts off well, setting the stage for the story of the transformation of a bunch of carefree youth into people who really begin to care for their country, while shooting a film about a group of its greatest martyrs. Rakeysh Mehra starts off, telling us about the Brit, Sue, who comes to India in search of actors who can act out the parts of the Hindustan Republican Army members, whose lives are documented so well in her grandfather's diary. Her search for the perfect cast, her thrill at finding the right people for her project, her anguish at their failure to gauge the depths of their respective characters, all these emotions are captured very nicely by the director. In the midst of all this, we get introduced to a suave pilot who is loved by all around him. Unfortunately, he dies in an all too familiar MiG-21 crash. Now, the problem begins.

It is about at this point that the movie begins to lose steam. What had started out as a nice eye-opener for the youth, now becomes your average Hindi movie of revenge and thirst for your enemy's blood. The youngsters end up committing a grave crime. A crime, which they think their victim is also guilty of. Finally, there ends up being no difference between them and their victim. Maybe....if the movie was handled in a better way, it could have been looked upon as a people mover. One which can influence the youth of this country to do something.

Amongst the actors, Soha Ali Khan is soothing to watch and looks quite cute. Her presence is very refreshing. Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi and Siddharth, all turn in decent performances. Atul Kulkarni is perfect as the smouldering Laxman Pandey. The Brit actress ( I am sorry, but I keep forgetting her name) is also good. She seems to have taken some pains, learning Hindi. Amir Khan is the biggest disappointment for me. I had great expectations from this versatile actor, and I feel let down by his performance in this movie. He seems to have a hangover of DCH here. Maybe, I would have called a similar performance by lesser actor, brilliant. But, I feel Madhavan walks away with the best role of all. Pretty smart move by him to sign this movie.

Go watch it, but please dont get carried away by the end.

Behram Contractor

Got 4 books of the "Round and About" collections by Behram Contractor a.k.a. Busybee, from the Strand Book Festival. Was hooked to the columns the moment I started reading them. The man truly loves (oops! loved!!) Bombay.

Every column of his is extremely simple, yet it easily conveys to the reader the complexity of this great megapolis. Busybee lovingly describes the sumptuous lunches he's had at the various restaurants that dot the city, the places where he's had a haircut for a rupee, the BEST buses he's travelled in, the cricket fever that gripped the city whenever Gavaskar and later, Tendulkar came in to bat in a Test. Mind you, these are not at all posh places. They are simple joints which you and me might well have visited as kids. In fact, I still visit some of the places he mentions, near my office (RBI HQ) in Fort.

Every page of his collections invokes mixed feelings in me. On one hand, there is pride that this city, however it may progress, shall never ever lose its spirit and charm. On the other hand, there is disappointment that I never read Busybee's columns when he actually wrote them. It would have been nice to live Bombay through his eyes. Hmm....maybe, it was meant to be this way. I guess I can now see a more modern aspect of Bombay. An aspect, I am sure, Busybee would have been proud to witness.

Strand Book Exhibition

Went last Sunday to the greatest book exhibition in Bombay. I certainly wasn't disappointed. The Strand lived up to its name. All sorts of books could be found. You just had to have the tenacity to look closely. Come to think of it....only a book lover can call anything related to the Strand, good. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had a discussion with my friend, RR regarding this. To know what I mean, you just need to visit their store once and you will understand.

The easiest thing to do would be to walk upto the manager and ask him for the book you want. But, I think its more fun to just go through their large collection and chance upon that dream book of yours suddenly, out of the blue. The reason for this is that their collection never seems to be sorted as per any particular category. They are just stored on the shelves, higgeldy-piggeldy. Now, this is not to point fingers at the store management in any way, no Siree. Its just that I like it that way. :-)

But now, look at the situation from the point of view of a person who reads books occasionally and visits the store to buy just that one particular book he wants, nothing else. Would he have the time to go through the entire collection of the store, just to find his book? In most cases, I think not. This is where behemoths like Crossword come in. The occasional reader I mentioned above can walk in over here and just ask the desk clerk for his book. Then, he either gets it within two minutes, or he doesn't get it at all. Simple!!!

That's why I feel that both types of bookstores are necessary in a city like Bombay. It allows the customer to exercise his choice. As for me, Strand wins hands down.

The Bombay Chronicles No. 7

Well...quite a long time since I last wrote a post here. That's because there has been nothing much of note happening here in office. The only good thing is that I only have to commute for 15 minutes, as opposed to the one hour I used to take earlier.

Work is beginning to get more and more hectic. The silver lining is that I go to office at a leisurely 1 pm. That suits me fine. I am slowly beginning to settle down into the daily office grind. Whew!!! Scary, but true!!!

Kalyug - A Review

Went to watch Kalyug with friends on Sunday. Nice and plain movie. The makers have made a commendable attempt to expose the porn mafia through the sob story of a simple youth living in Bombay. The guy finds his plain jane heroine and jet-sets for a honeymoon. Now, the trouble starts. Some pervert films our lead pair's passionate lovemaking and uploads the video onto a notorious site. Police come after the couple and the wife commits suicide partly out of shame and partly to avoid testifying against her husband. Then, our hero goes hammer and tongs after the villains.

The movie holds water only because it has a semblance of a story. The acting performances are nothing to write home about. Kunal Khemu, the child actor makes his debut as a hero but stays wooden throughout the film. Ashutosh Rana makes you hate him, but just about. Amrita Singh, as the porn mafia head, is good and carries off the role easily. However, the surprise package of the film is Emraan Hashmi. I never thought I would say this, but he provides the much needed humour in the grim film. The film would have been much more ordinary if he was not present.

Finally, the film works because it attempts to address such a pressing problem in today's world. The use of relatively unknown faces also adds to the realism. All in all, a decent effort.