Dad, remember the night shift
I wouldn't tell you about
My long journey down the lift
my boss and I would make out
We would jump the office hit the pub
fall back at his place after the grub
Footsie followed in the bath tub
we played in water like pigs in mud
I got all my money and the rise
A healthy position for a small price
Fun in the office, a f**k to follow
He usually preferred me to swallow
From a secretary to junior manager in jiffy
I made him go mad like a hippy
I reported late all the time
but got paid till the last dime
My perks as good, my life 5 star
A flat for free and nice long car
All I gave in return was my sorry ass
so what I was called a 'libertine lass'
He passed me around to his pals as well
did I mind to make more loins swell
Debauched were they to do it together
Leaving me wet with all the lather
Chill dear dad, take the Merc n be merry
All I lost for it is my little cherry
I do not under valuate, best bidder gets me
I am still clean, in mud only till the knee
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Review of Ghost Protocol MI 4
Agent Eathen Hunt takes us on glob trotting journey across 4 continents with a stopover at India. It’s non-stop edge of the seat action interspersed with that human touch just enough to make it a notch above super slick and over the top action movies such as ‘Salt’, ‘Red’ and ‘From Paris with Love’. If you liked the 1st edition of this franchise, chances are that this one will win you over as well.
The film follows plot similar to earlier episodes of this franchise wherein it’s all about accomplishing the stated Mission which is delivered to the agents via a module, a cell phone or a random phone booth. In a film, when one knows the brass tacks of the plot, it’s the execution that becomes the moot point and MI-4 doesn’t disappoint on that count.
The sequences are innovative and delightfully filmed. The film is almost flawless till the producers decide to include Mumbai in the plot. The climax has been supposedly shot in India (which I have my doubts on) and it surely doesn’t do justice to the chaos of this country. As an Indian audience, you feel a little fake when multi-story automatic car parking is the host of climatic sequence.
The film’s journey from Budapest to Mumbai via Moscow and Dubai steers clear of unnecessary clutter through slick editing thus keeping it all very simple. Unlike some of the earlier films, a re-run of the plot is exposited by Agent Hunt on couple of occasions. I felt that was a necessity imposed by an Asian audience and thus convey the growing clout of Asia as a market for Hollywood.
The plot is about 5-6 sequences which have each been done in a never-before seen manner. The politics of power has been not even scratched as true to an agent’s world view, it’s the man on field who gets the coverage here and we are spared long speeches or condescending press conference from the White house spokesperson.
Well, I would give the first half of the film, which packs a huge punch 5 star and lower the rating of 4 for the second half where things get a wee bit slower. So the film is 4.5 STARS for me.
The film follows plot similar to earlier episodes of this franchise wherein it’s all about accomplishing the stated Mission which is delivered to the agents via a module, a cell phone or a random phone booth. In a film, when one knows the brass tacks of the plot, it’s the execution that becomes the moot point and MI-4 doesn’t disappoint on that count.
The sequences are innovative and delightfully filmed. The film is almost flawless till the producers decide to include Mumbai in the plot. The climax has been supposedly shot in India (which I have my doubts on) and it surely doesn’t do justice to the chaos of this country. As an Indian audience, you feel a little fake when multi-story automatic car parking is the host of climatic sequence.
The film’s journey from Budapest to Mumbai via Moscow and Dubai steers clear of unnecessary clutter through slick editing thus keeping it all very simple. Unlike some of the earlier films, a re-run of the plot is exposited by Agent Hunt on couple of occasions. I felt that was a necessity imposed by an Asian audience and thus convey the growing clout of Asia as a market for Hollywood.
The plot is about 5-6 sequences which have each been done in a never-before seen manner. The politics of power has been not even scratched as true to an agent’s world view, it’s the man on field who gets the coverage here and we are spared long speeches or condescending press conference from the White house spokesperson.
Well, I would give the first half of the film, which packs a huge punch 5 star and lower the rating of 4 for the second half where things get a wee bit slower. So the film is 4.5 STARS for me.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Review of 'Real Steel'
I reluctantly went to watch this one as the trailers almost dare you to dislike it. The story seems far fetched and anachronistic till you set your foot in the hall. But once there, It’s a real revelation. With no ado, the premise of it being set in near future is spelt upfront. There are no gimmicks put in to make it overly sci-fi and you can very much relate to the scenario. The film rightly extrapolates the trajectory that video gaming is likely to take. With that being a futuristic premise, it however at heart remains a tale of emotions, relations, defeat, victory and redemption. It is also an underdog story and delights you with a grounded narrative. Very much watchable 3.5 STARS
Review of 'Saheb Biwi aur Gangster'
‘Saheb Biwi aur Gangster’ is set in a part of rural Uttar Pradesh, which hangs onto its colonial roots and hence erstwhile title of 'Saheb' has been maintained albeit with waning respect of people.
The male protagonist is less of a Raja and more of a local don, and constantly short of money to maintain his lavish haveli and royal tastes. The local politics and his royal step mother are his only source of income. His wife(Biwi) is confined to her house and has to encumber the overbearing responsibility of the title despite a philandering husband and boring life.
The film is about the Sahib’s scheming enemy planting a mole(Gangster) in his house and the resulting melee which has to do with the gangsters ever increasing ambitions, the Biwi's search for justice and carnal pleasures and Saheb's desire to eke out his lavish lifestyle. The film meanders along unpredictability through fine writing, slick editing and wry humour. It keeps the viewer interested and engages myriad emotions.
Alas, the noir theme and serious tone with only smattering of situational humour will kill this film in the relatively juvenile Bollywood audience. It's a must watch for any cinema lover but for those looking for cheap thrills and laughs, it might disappoint.
The male protagonist is less of a Raja and more of a local don, and constantly short of money to maintain his lavish haveli and royal tastes. The local politics and his royal step mother are his only source of income. His wife(Biwi) is confined to her house and has to encumber the overbearing responsibility of the title despite a philandering husband and boring life.
The film is about the Sahib’s scheming enemy planting a mole(Gangster) in his house and the resulting melee which has to do with the gangsters ever increasing ambitions, the Biwi's search for justice and carnal pleasures and Saheb's desire to eke out his lavish lifestyle. The film meanders along unpredictability through fine writing, slick editing and wry humour. It keeps the viewer interested and engages myriad emotions.
Alas, the noir theme and serious tone with only smattering of situational humour will kill this film in the relatively juvenile Bollywood audience. It's a must watch for any cinema lover but for those looking for cheap thrills and laughs, it might disappoint.
Polaroid Sunglasses - The best for me
Back in 2006, as I began earning a decent salary, I decided that it was time to overcome the perpetual squint that I used to wear on my face since childhood due to the unforgiving Indian Sun. It was time to buy a pair of sunglasses.
I have always believed in deriving value for my money and hence wanted to go for a reputed brand. I checked out the West Side in Spenser Plaza, Chennai which was selling a number of brands of which only two were familiar to me viz. Ray Ban and Polaroid.
While Polaroid couldn’t match up to the glamour quotient of Ray Ban, I had to settle for it due the large price difference. For Rs 3000/- I had a nice looking shade that became a part of my dress code every time I went out. It was tinted brown which made it conducive even in places with mild shade.
My Polaroid has been my loyal buddy since then. Its reddish tint lets me wear it late till the sunset time when it isn’t very bright anymore. Also since it was my first Shade, I took care to ensure that it was absolutely fitting my face and so I never go out without wearing this one. So resplendent and bright is the tropical sun that constant squinting had resulted in crow’s feet around my eyes in my teen years itself. The Polaroid has helped me lose some of them.
Over the years I spent lot of money on fashionable gadgets and mobile phones ranging from Rs 3000 to Rs 20000. Most of those gadgets are obsolete and have already been discarded. When I now look back at that investment of just three grand I made to procure this lovely pair of glasses, I can’t pat myself on the back enough for this decision. It turned out to be one of my best investments.
Over the years, the lens developed few scratches due to mishandling but so perfect is the design and optics that i can still wear it for hours together without any headache.
My respect for Polaroid Company and love for my shades has increased every passing year with the knowledge of its reliability and longevity. When I acquired my car two years ago, I realised that the shades made my life a lot comfortable on the steering wheel. That is when I stopped going out without the Polaroid. Driving around with the glare becomes a lot for tedious and i advise every person owing a car to buy polarised glasses and preferably a Polaroid.
My love for my Polaroid went a few notches up recently after I finally purchased a Ray Ban for 5.5 grand. Buying the Ray Ban was a spur of the moment decision. Invariably I began to compare my two sets of shades. The complete review of the Ray Ban will follow in due course of time but my initial verdict is that Polaroid is surely better as far as the optics and value for money is concerned.
If you want to buy a shade which is reasonably priced with high quality eye protection, go for Polaroid.
I have always believed in deriving value for my money and hence wanted to go for a reputed brand. I checked out the West Side in Spenser Plaza, Chennai which was selling a number of brands of which only two were familiar to me viz. Ray Ban and Polaroid.
While Polaroid couldn’t match up to the glamour quotient of Ray Ban, I had to settle for it due the large price difference. For Rs 3000/- I had a nice looking shade that became a part of my dress code every time I went out. It was tinted brown which made it conducive even in places with mild shade.
My Polaroid has been my loyal buddy since then. Its reddish tint lets me wear it late till the sunset time when it isn’t very bright anymore. Also since it was my first Shade, I took care to ensure that it was absolutely fitting my face and so I never go out without wearing this one. So resplendent and bright is the tropical sun that constant squinting had resulted in crow’s feet around my eyes in my teen years itself. The Polaroid has helped me lose some of them.
Over the years I spent lot of money on fashionable gadgets and mobile phones ranging from Rs 3000 to Rs 20000. Most of those gadgets are obsolete and have already been discarded. When I now look back at that investment of just three grand I made to procure this lovely pair of glasses, I can’t pat myself on the back enough for this decision. It turned out to be one of my best investments.
Over the years, the lens developed few scratches due to mishandling but so perfect is the design and optics that i can still wear it for hours together without any headache.
My respect for Polaroid Company and love for my shades has increased every passing year with the knowledge of its reliability and longevity. When I acquired my car two years ago, I realised that the shades made my life a lot comfortable on the steering wheel. That is when I stopped going out without the Polaroid. Driving around with the glare becomes a lot for tedious and i advise every person owing a car to buy polarised glasses and preferably a Polaroid.
My love for my Polaroid went a few notches up recently after I finally purchased a Ray Ban for 5.5 grand. Buying the Ray Ban was a spur of the moment decision. Invariably I began to compare my two sets of shades. The complete review of the Ray Ban will follow in due course of time but my initial verdict is that Polaroid is surely better as far as the optics and value for money is concerned.
If you want to buy a shade which is reasonably priced with high quality eye protection, go for Polaroid.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Murder 2 - Review
Murder 2 is a completely new film and has no connection with the previous edition. The film is set in Goa and the climax of the story is a culmination of three angles of the protagonist’s life viz. The death of the agnostic in him, the resurgence of the Policeman cap he had abdicated, and reciprocation of love to a deserving girl - all with this one single Murder.
The film is about an ex-Cop turned drug racketeer, who gets embroiled in a case of missing call girls and for once the mercenary in him is replaced by the Human being, as he goes about trying to undo an inadvertent blunder.
The good thing about the movie is attention to details, underplaying the sex scenes and most importantly treating human life in a egalitarian way. The film carefully avoids becoming a happy ending film where the hero saves the day for his loved ones despite the rest of the world falling apart. Thus the film becomes more than just the story of one man’s happiness. It reflects the contemporary world without sounding preachy.
The violence makes you cringe as it should and the seriousness of the plot ever gets ludicrous. While the ending surely has been lifted out of a Brad Pitt starrer, the overall treatment of the film is for a mature audience. Surely worth a watch.
The film is about an ex-Cop turned drug racketeer, who gets embroiled in a case of missing call girls and for once the mercenary in him is replaced by the Human being, as he goes about trying to undo an inadvertent blunder.
The good thing about the movie is attention to details, underplaying the sex scenes and most importantly treating human life in a egalitarian way. The film carefully avoids becoming a happy ending film where the hero saves the day for his loved ones despite the rest of the world falling apart. Thus the film becomes more than just the story of one man’s happiness. It reflects the contemporary world without sounding preachy.
The violence makes you cringe as it should and the seriousness of the plot ever gets ludicrous. While the ending surely has been lifted out of a Brad Pitt starrer, the overall treatment of the film is for a mature audience. Surely worth a watch.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Lethargic bent- The Govt. Servant
Everyday I wake up with energy anew
I begin my day with a positive hue
My mornings are fresh like the wet dew
The vision so clear and problems are few
As the day goes on, I tend to slow down
The smile soon replaced by an ugly frown
The work is not what bites me the most
It is to the ‘lethargy bug’ that become the host
The tea-break at best, a whiff of air
as the zest is by now a historical affair
The heavy lunch is the last nail on coffin
as sincerity is soon a matter for laughing
Post lunch, I hit the bench post-haste
and a nap to follow, some time to waste
The afternoon roll-call now plays in my dream
and work is best a swim upstream
My eyes on the clock wait for it to tick away
as occasionally with slumber my head sways
The timers are set on the clock and the phone
My batteries charge up on the alarm ring-tone
The thoughts of home turn me on
And the evening soiree I have to storm
I wonder where this new energy came from
As I throb in the lights and dance to the drum
I begin my day with a positive hue
My mornings are fresh like the wet dew
The vision so clear and problems are few
As the day goes on, I tend to slow down
The smile soon replaced by an ugly frown
The work is not what bites me the most
It is to the ‘lethargy bug’ that become the host
The tea-break at best, a whiff of air
as the zest is by now a historical affair
The heavy lunch is the last nail on coffin
as sincerity is soon a matter for laughing
Post lunch, I hit the bench post-haste
and a nap to follow, some time to waste
The afternoon roll-call now plays in my dream
and work is best a swim upstream
My eyes on the clock wait for it to tick away
as occasionally with slumber my head sways
The timers are set on the clock and the phone
My batteries charge up on the alarm ring-tone
The thoughts of home turn me on
And the evening soiree I have to storm
I wonder where this new energy came from
As I throb in the lights and dance to the drum
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Strange Weather in Vizag
Strange Weather in Vizag
It has been sweltering for the past couple of weeks. And any outdoor activity in such weather almost soaks you bone-dry of your energy. I am sure that whosoever came up with the saying, "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war" didn't exactly cater for Indian weather. One doesn't actually have to move his lazy arse to sweat in this country, if he can't afford an AC.
Well,this morning held a surprise for me. Having shifted to Vizag recently, my body clock is still adjusting to the early sun rise and day break. I have begun waking up at 7AM which is at least 45 minutes before my time in mumbai. Now for the uniniated mumbai is about 10-12 deg west of vizag. The earth moves a degree in 4 minutes. 12 degree west means that the sun rises about 48 minutes later in mumbai.
So I have pretty much adjusted my body clock to the new city. So when I woke up at 7.30 and expected the sun to be brightly shining on my face from the east facing window, it wasn't the case. IN fact, it seemed all dark. I walked up the window to double check if I had not slept less or it wasn't a dream. The visage outside was dystopic, gloomy clouds covered the otherwise uncomfortably bright sky and it could have passed off as late twilight hour. Closer view revealed, low height clouds billowing at about 200 feet. When I stepped outside to feel this unique weather, it dawned on me that this was no hill station weather as soon my eyes began to hurt from the iron ore, sulphur and smoke that was part of the flow. At the horizon, I could see the heaps of coal dust ready for shipping, being blown away by the non-seasonal wind.
It was bitter sweet feeling as the heat had been beaten but the dust would soon corrode every metallic object in the undulating landscape of city on the east coast. So much for development in the sunshine city!
It has been sweltering for the past couple of weeks. And any outdoor activity in such weather almost soaks you bone-dry of your energy. I am sure that whosoever came up with the saying, "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war" didn't exactly cater for Indian weather. One doesn't actually have to move his lazy arse to sweat in this country, if he can't afford an AC.
Well,this morning held a surprise for me. Having shifted to Vizag recently, my body clock is still adjusting to the early sun rise and day break. I have begun waking up at 7AM which is at least 45 minutes before my time in mumbai. Now for the uniniated mumbai is about 10-12 deg west of vizag. The earth moves a degree in 4 minutes. 12 degree west means that the sun rises about 48 minutes later in mumbai.
So I have pretty much adjusted my body clock to the new city. So when I woke up at 7.30 and expected the sun to be brightly shining on my face from the east facing window, it wasn't the case. IN fact, it seemed all dark. I walked up the window to double check if I had not slept less or it wasn't a dream. The visage outside was dystopic, gloomy clouds covered the otherwise uncomfortably bright sky and it could have passed off as late twilight hour. Closer view revealed, low height clouds billowing at about 200 feet. When I stepped outside to feel this unique weather, it dawned on me that this was no hill station weather as soon my eyes began to hurt from the iron ore, sulphur and smoke that was part of the flow. At the horizon, I could see the heaps of coal dust ready for shipping, being blown away by the non-seasonal wind.
It was bitter sweet feeling as the heat had been beaten but the dust would soon corrode every metallic object in the undulating landscape of city on the east coast. So much for development in the sunshine city!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Program on NDTV Imagine/Zoom tv
Talk about blatant lies on national television? You need to go no further than two of popular TV channels (NDTV Imagine and ZOOM). Come 11 Pm and both the channels air a program(the name of which is unclear) in which a picture is flashed on screen and viewers are asked to call an 8 digit number flashing below to win large sums of money. So far it all appears innocuous and healthy way to quiz people and generate some revenue. The real extent of the wanton act of cheating that the channels are indulging in is apparent if a sane headed man spends few minutes watching the program or is lured into the trap(as i was the 1st time). Now, there are two good looking anchors exhorting you to pick up the mobile phone and call the number and win insane amount of money easily as the puzzle which is usually a combination of two famous actors morphed together is solvable even by a blind man. The anchors receive calls every few minutes and to my surprise, the caller gives most ludicrous of replies but never the right one. I for one was curious to know as to what this was all about and hence called the number. When you call the number, you are put on hold while a recorded voice keeps saying that you are lucky and you are on wait. I waited for over three minutes but to no avail and then decided to disconnect. I was shocked when I received a message from the mobile service provider that Rs 36/- had been deducted from my account. I was stupefied. I didn't make an ISD call, did I? Then I saw the fine print on the TV screen which in the tiniest of fonts says, that special call rates apply here which is Rs 12/- per min. I felt cheated and upset in the way I was. I decided to watch the program intently and find out if there was any truth in it at all. The following emerged:- 1. The caller never gives the right answer despite it being as clear as elbow and the Anchor’s arse. 2. The exhortations of anchors are so shallow and you can almost read on their faces that they are lying through their teeth. 3. The callers who supposedly get though, I believe are fakes as they never have TV background disturbing their calls and are never surprised to have got through. 4. In essence, the modus-operandi of the channel is to fool the viewer into making the expensive call and thus make a killing. 5. The correct answer is always found by a viewer calling at the end of the program. But it's a call as brief as it can be and no details of the viewer/winner are announced. Clearly, like everything else about the program, this is stage-managed too. In our country there is no dearth of first time viewers who are lured into the trap of making the call without reading the subtext being flashed intermittently that keeps them legally safe. So the onus of preventing such blatant acts of cheating should rest with the govt which should audit such malfeasance periodically. My advice, avoid these programs/channels by a mile.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Review of 'Tanu weds Manu'
‘Tanu weds Manu’ marks the resurgence of smaller production houses. The film also, akin to 7KM, a film essentially around the central character of a woman played by Kangana Ranaut. I am greatly pleased to see the small town hogging the centre stage in many of recent films, most of which have done well. This in essence marks the resurgence of the middle India in the collective psyche and the growing self-confidence in all of us to accept who we essentially are.
Without digressing any further and revealing no plot here, the film is about how the leading lady, who is facetious with the idea of love and sex and carries no baggage of middle class morality, gets embroiled in a two way love. The denouement of the plot is the reasonably gripping resolution of the triangle in the end.
The movie is set in tier III India and moves from one small town in UP to another in Punjab. Refreshingly, there's no superficial gloss of typical bollywood while portraying middle class households and the mood is conveyed without embarrassing the audience with any overdone scene. While the character of eastern Uttar Pradesh has been toned down and Punjab has been only barely touched, the canvas on which the film is played is detailed. The editing is slick and movie in the first half is fast paced.
The film as several critiques have pointed out, does give one a sense of deja-vu with some of the recent bollywood films. But the way the smaller roles in the film have been played salvage the film and keep it floating. It’s worth a watch.
Without digressing any further and revealing no plot here, the film is about how the leading lady, who is facetious with the idea of love and sex and carries no baggage of middle class morality, gets embroiled in a two way love. The denouement of the plot is the reasonably gripping resolution of the triangle in the end.
The movie is set in tier III India and moves from one small town in UP to another in Punjab. Refreshingly, there's no superficial gloss of typical bollywood while portraying middle class households and the mood is conveyed without embarrassing the audience with any overdone scene. While the character of eastern Uttar Pradesh has been toned down and Punjab has been only barely touched, the canvas on which the film is played is detailed. The editing is slick and movie in the first half is fast paced.
The film as several critiques have pointed out, does give one a sense of deja-vu with some of the recent bollywood films. But the way the smaller roles in the film have been played salvage the film and keep it floating. It’s worth a watch.
Review of 'Ong Bak 3'
The film is releasing today and the viewer should be prepared to expect the unexpected. I watched the DVD version last year and the film could be summarised in four words- Anachronistic, Bemusing, Convoluted and Disjointed. I was emotionally let down by this trash in form of his disasterous third edition from Tony Jaa. While the first one had prosaic production values, it charmed the viewer with the sheer novelty of the fight sequences and stunts along with the underdog storyline. The second edition buttressed the production values a little bit and maintained the fantastic fights with the best fight sequence i have ever seen during the finale. The third edition of Ong Bak almost damages the reputation of this franchise. I hope we do get to see Ong Bak 4 as a redemption for Tony Jaa and entertainment at it's vintage best for the viewer.
Review of 'Dil toh Bachcha hai ji'
We all know that Madhur Bhandarkar is a creative genius when it comes to exposing the underbelly of urban society with deft display of irony with a dash of sly humour, which has come to become his trademark over the years. What we didn’t know is that he had the capability to extend himself to the comedy genre.
‘Dil to bachha hai ji’ is a departure from the mindless comedy that has become the USP of most bollywood directors. While it does remain a comedy, it does not ask you to leave your thinking cap at home. The film explores the range of man-woman relationships that mark modern urban existence and presents them in this film with three relatively extreme cases in point.
The film meanders along with the three concomitant stories and tries to relate them with the one word; love, and a common house. There are plenty of risqué and humorous moments along the way, many of which appear natural and hence make it a sit-com rather than a slapstick affair.
Marked by good performances by most of the actors, supported by crisp writing and barring the one odd inconsistency, the film appears credible and well worth the money. The even distribution of screen time between the actors and the one odd hummable tune keep up the tempo and make it a funny film. 3.5 STARS
‘Dil to bachha hai ji’ is a departure from the mindless comedy that has become the USP of most bollywood directors. While it does remain a comedy, it does not ask you to leave your thinking cap at home. The film explores the range of man-woman relationships that mark modern urban existence and presents them in this film with three relatively extreme cases in point.
The film meanders along with the three concomitant stories and tries to relate them with the one word; love, and a common house. There are plenty of risqué and humorous moments along the way, many of which appear natural and hence make it a sit-com rather than a slapstick affair.
Marked by good performances by most of the actors, supported by crisp writing and barring the one odd inconsistency, the film appears credible and well worth the money. The even distribution of screen time between the actors and the one odd hummable tune keep up the tempo and make it a funny film. 3.5 STARS
Review of 'Dhobi Ghat'
Having read the mixed bag of reviews of this film, I had decided to give it a miss. But Aamir had ensured that no other big releases affected chances of his better half's magnum opus and hence I had to grudgingly make it to watch this one.
Right from the outset as the credits rolled in, the movie painted itself with a poignant palette creating a fresh fresco. The parallel stories began scene after scene to stitch themselves in a telling manner as the film progressed. The characters while could have been etched better, still grow on you and soon one is absorbed in the film enough to overlook the shortfalls and be consumed by the brilliance of their screen presence.
Calling the movie subtle would be stating the obvious. The film is another in the numerous odes that the city of Mumbai has received. However, the film does that without being loud or overly partisan in its portrayal of the grime and grit of the metropolis. Technically flawless, the film plays itself out like a slow and painful melody that just manages to touch your heart. For me, it's a 4 STAR effort.
Right from the outset as the credits rolled in, the movie painted itself with a poignant palette creating a fresh fresco. The parallel stories began scene after scene to stitch themselves in a telling manner as the film progressed. The characters while could have been etched better, still grow on you and soon one is absorbed in the film enough to overlook the shortfalls and be consumed by the brilliance of their screen presence.
Calling the movie subtle would be stating the obvious. The film is another in the numerous odes that the city of Mumbai has received. However, the film does that without being loud or overly partisan in its portrayal of the grime and grit of the metropolis. Technically flawless, the film plays itself out like a slow and painful melody that just manages to touch your heart. For me, it's a 4 STAR effort.
Review of '127 Hours'
Reputation clearly seems to have preceded Danny Boyle at the Oscars with his ‘127 hours’ receiving four* nominations including the best actor. The film about a real life adventurer’s survival tale has been suitably humanised to avoid making it another episode of ‘Man vs Wild’.
Reality Tv and Adventure channels where the situation, however untamed, is often controlled and hence gives one the comforting knowledge that all is going to be well. The film is a departure from the stage-managed precision of these TV shows. It gets into the head of the penitent adventurer when he battles weather, fatigue and reflects upon his life’s follies as a gloomy end stares back at him from the craggy creeks.
The first half of the film gets where it is aimed at; giving the viewer the creeps, but the second half has moments of humour that are protracted a wee bit and hence let the audience heave a sigh of relief, something that has the unintended effect of driving them back into the comfort of their seats. The gory ending might be discomforting to some. The music by AR Rahman is largely on mark but some of the scenes would have been better off without music to make the setting chillingly real. Over all an outdoor adventure, that keeps the adrenalin pumping. 4.0 STARS
Reality Tv and Adventure channels where the situation, however untamed, is often controlled and hence gives one the comforting knowledge that all is going to be well. The film is a departure from the stage-managed precision of these TV shows. It gets into the head of the penitent adventurer when he battles weather, fatigue and reflects upon his life’s follies as a gloomy end stares back at him from the craggy creeks.
The first half of the film gets where it is aimed at; giving the viewer the creeps, but the second half has moments of humour that are protracted a wee bit and hence let the audience heave a sigh of relief, something that has the unintended effect of driving them back into the comfort of their seats. The gory ending might be discomforting to some. The music by AR Rahman is largely on mark but some of the scenes would have been better off without music to make the setting chillingly real. Over all an outdoor adventure, that keeps the adrenalin pumping. 4.0 STARS
The Ailing Male- A tribute to brave parents
Hale and hearty he is born
the title of heir he does adorn
the Indian male is a prince at berth
his gender decides his perceived worth
Fed well and tended by one and all
A deluge of nannies at his every call
He’s the apple of everyone's eye
and so he remains till the day he dies
Fortunes set aside, to succour him in need
treated like a darling even if he's a weed
Getting undue credit for his every pull
He’s the glass that’s always half-full
The breadwinner according to social norms
the shape of family, on him it forms
Domestic life soon plays before him
the social vortex repeats the story grim
Having a baby-girl here comes at a price
and hence for a Boy, he goes for the vice
Sucked into the circle where he got his life
for a male heir, he commits a foeticide
Another male, hale and hearty is born
Slow and steady, the social fabric is torn
His inequity with this oft repeated tale
I prefer to call him the 'ailing male'
©amit Khanduri
the title of heir he does adorn
the Indian male is a prince at berth
his gender decides his perceived worth
Fed well and tended by one and all
A deluge of nannies at his every call
He’s the apple of everyone's eye
and so he remains till the day he dies
Fortunes set aside, to succour him in need
treated like a darling even if he's a weed
Getting undue credit for his every pull
He’s the glass that’s always half-full
The breadwinner according to social norms
the shape of family, on him it forms
Domestic life soon plays before him
the social vortex repeats the story grim
Having a baby-girl here comes at a price
and hence for a Boy, he goes for the vice
Sucked into the circle where he got his life
for a male heir, he commits a foeticide
Another male, hale and hearty is born
Slow and steady, the social fabric is torn
His inequity with this oft repeated tale
I prefer to call him the 'ailing male'
©amit Khanduri
Antithesis – The two cities
Our neat city is dotted by eyesores
Slums adjacent to the golf course
With dust covering their every pore
they come hankering to every door
The rag picker, cleaner and the mason
The hoards of urchins at the station
Systematically killing this global centre
every day in thousands this city they enter
Wish we could clean up this mess
this city would do better with some people less
Root of all crimes, they symbolise pettiness
Behaving just the way they tend to dress
****
Save your rupee, not for me
for I work for the smallest fee
Dust on my face and my hands muddy
I live in the hutment by the scree
My wage is only worth your new bag
your new suit can buy me several rags
yet I see you haggle even for the national flag
while spending a fortune for a shag?
I am ashamed to see you denounce
the ragpicker when he cheats you an ounce
your morality to him you announce
and preach him the honesty that counts?
****
Country rat or the randy savage
working here for a pittance wage
Cloistered in his dirty cage
Shouldn’t his life turn a new page?
He deserves a timely raise
and needs to overcome this phase
Earn in his country his rightful place
before this jury thus, I put-up his case
in his own country yet is in alien lands
building the city with his bare hands
Away from home, he trundles on
awaiting a new life and a new dawn
Slums adjacent to the golf course
With dust covering their every pore
they come hankering to every door
The rag picker, cleaner and the mason
The hoards of urchins at the station
Systematically killing this global centre
every day in thousands this city they enter
Wish we could clean up this mess
this city would do better with some people less
Root of all crimes, they symbolise pettiness
Behaving just the way they tend to dress
****
Save your rupee, not for me
for I work for the smallest fee
Dust on my face and my hands muddy
I live in the hutment by the scree
My wage is only worth your new bag
your new suit can buy me several rags
yet I see you haggle even for the national flag
while spending a fortune for a shag?
I am ashamed to see you denounce
the ragpicker when he cheats you an ounce
your morality to him you announce
and preach him the honesty that counts?
****
Country rat or the randy savage
working here for a pittance wage
Cloistered in his dirty cage
Shouldn’t his life turn a new page?
He deserves a timely raise
and needs to overcome this phase
Earn in his country his rightful place
before this jury thus, I put-up his case
in his own country yet is in alien lands
building the city with his bare hands
Away from home, he trundles on
awaiting a new life and a new dawn
Review of '7 Khoon Maaf'
Vishal Bhardwaj has for sure made a mark in the mind of the average movie goer with his unique cinematic brilliance. His works are all pieces of art and he is in a way a national treasure. The latest offering from his coveted stable is a screen adaptation of Ruskin Bond’s book, Sussana’s seven husbands. The film turns out to be another unputdownable offering.
Ruskin Bond, a Briton and an indophile has won our hearts with his unique perspective and storytelling ability but all that remains of him in my mind is faint memory of the telling effect his stories used to have when I was a child. Adapting a book from almost half a century ago to fit to contemporary times will inevitably call for some creative liberties to avoid becoming an anachronism.
7 Khoon Maaf, as promos clearly reveal, is a story about a woman and her seven husbands and how she gets rid of them. The levity in the story ends just there- in the title. The film is a portrayal of the excesses a woman, Sussana, faces from her several husbands in her adult life- a period spanning almost three decades. The film is in more ways than one is Priyanka Chopra’s apotheosis as an actor. She does live up to her credo and delivers a power packed performance. The story is dark predominantly and unhurried at places, which often gets disconcerting and towards the end one almost wishes it ended sooner as it merely becomes a case of proving a point. It wouldn’t have made a difference if it were ‘4 Khoon Maaf’. This is essentially the film’s undoing, wherein the end becomes inconsequential.
The film is a technical masterpiece. The director gets the historical facts and feel of the period bang on. The characters are several and the director does complete justice to all of them. It is sheer delight to watch the Hunky John turn into a famished drug junkie. The paradox in the personalities of Irrfan khan and Nassuridin Shah send a chuckle or two before they turn painful. Niel Nitin Mukesh as Army officer does well and the polyglot Russian spy is cast perfectly.
In essence, the film is a display of cinematic brilliance that Indian directors are capable of. The film while perfect on technical counts does get tedious and hence remains a work of art. And no one says art is always entertaining. The film shall not leave my memory for a long time and shall set new bench marks in technical departments of cinema making. Worth a watch for its production qualities.
Ruskin Bond, a Briton and an indophile has won our hearts with his unique perspective and storytelling ability but all that remains of him in my mind is faint memory of the telling effect his stories used to have when I was a child. Adapting a book from almost half a century ago to fit to contemporary times will inevitably call for some creative liberties to avoid becoming an anachronism.
7 Khoon Maaf, as promos clearly reveal, is a story about a woman and her seven husbands and how she gets rid of them. The levity in the story ends just there- in the title. The film is a portrayal of the excesses a woman, Sussana, faces from her several husbands in her adult life- a period spanning almost three decades. The film is in more ways than one is Priyanka Chopra’s apotheosis as an actor. She does live up to her credo and delivers a power packed performance. The story is dark predominantly and unhurried at places, which often gets disconcerting and towards the end one almost wishes it ended sooner as it merely becomes a case of proving a point. It wouldn’t have made a difference if it were ‘4 Khoon Maaf’. This is essentially the film’s undoing, wherein the end becomes inconsequential.
The film is a technical masterpiece. The director gets the historical facts and feel of the period bang on. The characters are several and the director does complete justice to all of them. It is sheer delight to watch the Hunky John turn into a famished drug junkie. The paradox in the personalities of Irrfan khan and Nassuridin Shah send a chuckle or two before they turn painful. Niel Nitin Mukesh as Army officer does well and the polyglot Russian spy is cast perfectly.
In essence, the film is a display of cinematic brilliance that Indian directors are capable of. The film while perfect on technical counts does get tedious and hence remains a work of art. And no one says art is always entertaining. The film shall not leave my memory for a long time and shall set new bench marks in technical departments of cinema making. Worth a watch for its production qualities.
Review of 'Phas Gaye re Obama'
PGRO is well written, well executed, intelligent comedy. It is a light hearted take on Underworld and 'business' of extortion rife in rural Hindi heartland. The composition makes for an intelligent comedy by bringing an NRI into the equation thus making the multiplex audience relate to the plot as well. The characters are consistent and variegated thus making it a wholesome ploy. The gamut of characters range from a illiterate thug to the state ministry. They are well etched and backed by good research. The film cleverly avoids showing gory scenes while retaining the local lingo and thus lending credence to the plot. The comedy is situational rather than slapstick. It's a pleasant departure from the glossy slapstick fare that is served with unwelcome regularity by the industry. Over all, a good film. 4 STAR
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The dead Flyer
Manning our 'Birds', day and night
Risking it all, in every flight
Armed with wings made of gold
shining now is that star in the night
Men who flew, flew far and wide
Men who flew, did that with pride
In peace and war, they made us proud
and made us cry, when they died
Risking it all, in every flight
Armed with wings made of gold
shining now is that star in the night
Men who flew, flew far and wide
Men who flew, did that with pride
In peace and war, they made us proud
and made us cry, when they died
Review of SANCTUM
3D has become such a clichéd feature these days that I had decided to give every 3D film a miss, primarily due to the manner in which the technology is used purely as a tool to accessorize the film rather than really add any cinematic value to it. But when it’s the iconic James Cameroon who’s involved in a project, could I say no.
First of all, a film about diving can only be appreciated by a layman, if a brief introduction is given about the entire process. Despite being familiar with diving, I found the initial part of the film difficult to follow due to the needlessly cheeky dialogues and lack of emphasis on essential exposition.
The 3D feature is well used in several sections in the film and one is exposed to the world of cave diving and the dangers involved therein. But when a film is supposed to celebrate human spirit and endurance, it should be more than just a one dimensional visual spectacle. This is where the film loses out. The characters are sketchy and behave in strange whimsical manner. You could have well been playing a 3D video game or watching a B grade action affair, as often key moments in the film are bereft of any real emotion. There is little empathy one feels for the cast when they are faced with life and death situations. The moments that give you the creep come far and few between. The chemistry between the various actors seems as shallow as the story itself.
In the end, one leaves the theatre with not one enduring memory of this rather emotionally bland affair. This is accentuated when one compares it to a similar film on outdoors, 127 hours, released two weeks ago. 3.0 STARS
First of all, a film about diving can only be appreciated by a layman, if a brief introduction is given about the entire process. Despite being familiar with diving, I found the initial part of the film difficult to follow due to the needlessly cheeky dialogues and lack of emphasis on essential exposition.
The 3D feature is well used in several sections in the film and one is exposed to the world of cave diving and the dangers involved therein. But when a film is supposed to celebrate human spirit and endurance, it should be more than just a one dimensional visual spectacle. This is where the film loses out. The characters are sketchy and behave in strange whimsical manner. You could have well been playing a 3D video game or watching a B grade action affair, as often key moments in the film are bereft of any real emotion. There is little empathy one feels for the cast when they are faced with life and death situations. The moments that give you the creep come far and few between. The chemistry between the various actors seems as shallow as the story itself.
In the end, one leaves the theatre with not one enduring memory of this rather emotionally bland affair. This is accentuated when one compares it to a similar film on outdoors, 127 hours, released two weeks ago. 3.0 STARS
Monday, January 31, 2011
Review of 'Dil to Bachcha hai ji'
We all know that Madhur Bhandarkar is a creative genius when it comes to exposing the underbelly of urban society with deft display of irony with a dash of sly humour, which has come to become his trademark over the years. What we didn’t know is that he had the capability to extend himself to the comedy genre.
‘Dil to bachha hai ji’ is a departure from the mindless comedy that has become the USP of most bollywood directors. While it does remain a comedy, it does not ask you to leave your thinking cap at home. The film explores the range of man-woman relationships that mark modern urban existence and presents them in this film with three relatively extreme cases in point.
The film meanders along with the three concomitant stories and tries to relate them with the one word; love, and a common house. There are plenty of risqué and humorous moments along the way, many of which appear natural and hence make it a sit-com rather than a slapstick affair.
Marked by good performances by most of the actors, supported by crisp writing and barring the one odd inconsistency, the film appears credible and well worth the money. The even distribution of screen time between the actors and the one odd hummable tune keep up the tempo and make it a funny film. 3.5 STARS
‘Dil to bachha hai ji’ is a departure from the mindless comedy that has become the USP of most bollywood directors. While it does remain a comedy, it does not ask you to leave your thinking cap at home. The film explores the range of man-woman relationships that mark modern urban existence and presents them in this film with three relatively extreme cases in point.
The film meanders along with the three concomitant stories and tries to relate them with the one word; love, and a common house. There are plenty of risqué and humorous moments along the way, many of which appear natural and hence make it a sit-com rather than a slapstick affair.
Marked by good performances by most of the actors, supported by crisp writing and barring the one odd inconsistency, the film appears credible and well worth the money. The even distribution of screen time between the actors and the one odd hummable tune keep up the tempo and make it a funny film. 3.5 STARS
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Review of the movie '127 Hours'
Reputation clearly seems to have preceded Danny Boyle at the Oscars with his ‘127 hours’ receiving four* nominations including the best actor. The film about a real life adventurer’s survival tale has been suitably humanised to avoid making it another episode of ‘Man vs Wild’.
Reality Tv and Adventure channels where the situation, however untamed, is often controlled and hence gives one the comforting knowledge that all is going to be well. The film is a departure from the stage-managed precision of these TV shows. It gets into the head of the penitent adventurer when he battles weather, fatigue and reflects upon his life’s follies as a gloomy end stares back at him from the craggy creeks.
The first half of the film gets where it is aimed at; giving the viewer the creeps, but the second half has moments of humour that are protracted a wee bit and hence let the audience heave a sigh of relief, something that has the unintended effect of driving them back into the comfort of their seats. The gory ending might be discomforting to some. The music by AR Rahman is largely on mark but some of the scenes would have been better off without music to make the setting chillingly real. Over all an outdoor adventure, that keeps the adrenalin pumping. 4.5 STARS
Reality Tv and Adventure channels where the situation, however untamed, is often controlled and hence gives one the comforting knowledge that all is going to be well. The film is a departure from the stage-managed precision of these TV shows. It gets into the head of the penitent adventurer when he battles weather, fatigue and reflects upon his life’s follies as a gloomy end stares back at him from the craggy creeks.
The first half of the film gets where it is aimed at; giving the viewer the creeps, but the second half has moments of humour that are protracted a wee bit and hence let the audience heave a sigh of relief, something that has the unintended effect of driving them back into the comfort of their seats. The gory ending might be discomforting to some. The music by AR Rahman is largely on mark but some of the scenes would have been better off without music to make the setting chillingly real. Over all an outdoor adventure, that keeps the adrenalin pumping. 4.5 STARS
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Review of Dhobi Ghat(Mumbai dairies)
Having read the mixed bag of reviews of this film, I had decided to give it a miss. But Aamir had ensured that no other big releases affected chances of his better half's magnum opus and hence I had to grudgingly make it to watch this one.
Right from the outset as the credits rolled in, the movie painted itself with a poignant palette creating a fresh fresco. The parallel stories began scene after scene to stitch themselves in a telling manner as the film progressed. The characters while could have been etched better, still grow on you and soon one is absorbed in the film enough to overlook the shortfalls and be consumed by the brilliance of their screen presence.
Calling the movie subtle would be stating the obvious. The film is another in the numerous odes that the city of Mumbai has received. However, the film does that without being loud or overly partisan in its portrayal of the grime and grit of the metropolis. Technically flawless, the film plays itself out like a slow and painful melody that just manages to touch your heart. For me, it's a 4 STAR effort.
Right from the outset as the credits rolled in, the movie painted itself with a poignant palette creating a fresh fresco. The parallel stories began scene after scene to stitch themselves in a telling manner as the film progressed. The characters while could have been etched better, still grow on you and soon one is absorbed in the film enough to overlook the shortfalls and be consumed by the brilliance of their screen presence.
Calling the movie subtle would be stating the obvious. The film is another in the numerous odes that the city of Mumbai has received. However, the film does that without being loud or overly partisan in its portrayal of the grime and grit of the metropolis. Technically flawless, the film plays itself out like a slow and painful melody that just manages to touch your heart. For me, it's a 4 STAR effort.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
