It is easy to lose a good'un amidst all the rubbish doled out by Bollywood. One such is 'Chak De' . Even though it is c/o Yashraj Films it is very much minus a mindless love-story, no plot and white-clad heroines running around in the Swiss Alps. Turns out the director, Shimit Amin, has worked on several Ram Gopal Varma movies and was indeed discovered by RGV himself. Good on Aditya Chopra I say, for giving him his directorial debut. And what a debut it was!
I personally hold that any director who can make SRK act - and I mean really act - not just 'overact his way across India' stuttering and bleeding, is due some credit.
Ashutosh Gowarikar did it in Swades and now Amin has managed to it in Chak De. Restraint makes an actor.
I loved the moment in the movie when the women's hockey team mercilessly beat up a bunch of rowdies teasing their team members. Indian men are disgusting. While I am in India I am oblivious now to men looking at me, making lude comments. Boys aged 14 and men aged 40, all do it. It is not like I dress less. I am covered neck to ankle, trust me, I wouldn't leave the house any other way in India be it scorching heat or blistering cold. Still, no respite from cat-calls, whistles and the like. It is plain disgusting. What I would not give to just pick up a hockey stick and whack the living bejeezus out of those men. When I watched it happen in this movie I felt like jumping from my seat, pumping my fists in the air and shouting 'hooray! you go girls!'.
Needless to say this movie appeals to the female-chauvinist in me.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tag!
So here's a questionnaire that has apparently been doing the blogger rounds. So I thought I'd answer it and Tag a few friends too!
Tagged: Megz, Ashanka, Vatsa, Amruta and Abhilasha (if and when you read this blog!)
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
No
2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
No, I like to see things coming.
3. When is the last time you went sleigh riding?
Never. would love to though.
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Someone else is not an option right now
5. Do you believe in Ghosts?
No not really.
6. Do you consider yourself creative?
Depends...
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
No freakin idea
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
Jen.
9. Can you honestly say you know anything about politics?
Honestly, no.
10. Do you know how to play poker?
Yes I do.
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Yep. And more.
12. Do you kill bugs that are in the house?
Yes, its MY house dammit.
13. Have you ever cheated on a test?
No
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around...do
you go through red lights?
No, I would want to but I wouldn't.
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Yes, I thought everyone did.
17. Have you ever Ice Skated?
Yes and I don't intend to do it again in a hurry.
18. How often do you remember your dreams?
Half the time.
19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you were crying?
Quite recently. After watching a Kannada song on YouTube
20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles?
Heck Yes! Yellow Submarine, Love Me Do, When I'm 64, I am the walrus,
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I don't believe in love.
24. Do you always wear your seatbelt?
Always
25. What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could run on the treadmill without holding onto the sides for dear life.
26. Do you like Sushi?
No.
27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
Not yet and hope I never have to
28. What do you wear to bed?
Tracks and t-shirt
29. Have you ever been caught stealing?
No
30. Does size matter?
Yes, I like my houses big and my cars small :-D
31. Do you truly hate anyone?
Yes
32. Rock and Roll or Rap?
RnR anyday!
33. For love or for money?
For the love of money.
34. Do you have a relative in prison?
No, but Im sure there is atleast one that deserves to be in there.
35. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror like your favorite singer?
Sure
36. Do you know how to play chess?
Yes
37. What food do you find disgusting?
Snakes
39. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
Yes and to their face too.
40. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?
Yes.
41. Have you ever walked out on a movie at the theater?
Oh yes.
44. Do you ever sit through a bad movie, just to see how bad it can get?
Yes - bollywood movies.
45. Would you consider yourself obsessed with anything?
Yes I would, and if you knew me you would too.
46. Have you ever met someone famous that you really wanted to meet?
No, I really wanted to meet Einstein.
47. Have you ever been stood up?
Yes
48. When's the last time you screamed at the top of your lungs?
I don't scream at the top of my lungs.
49. Did you ever do something that you didn't want to, just to fit in?
Not that I can recall.
50. Do you consider yourself "the biggest fan" of something?
Probably not.
Tagged: Megz, Ashanka, Vatsa, Amruta and Abhilasha (if and when you read this blog!)
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
No
2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
No, I like to see things coming.
3. When is the last time you went sleigh riding?
Never. would love to though.
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Someone else is not an option right now
5. Do you believe in Ghosts?
No not really.
6. Do you consider yourself creative?
Depends...
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
No freakin idea
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
Jen.
9. Can you honestly say you know anything about politics?
Honestly, no.
10. Do you know how to play poker?
Yes I do.
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Yep. And more.
12. Do you kill bugs that are in the house?
Yes, its MY house dammit.
13. Have you ever cheated on a test?
No
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around...do
you go through red lights?
No, I would want to but I wouldn't.
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Yes, I thought everyone did.
17. Have you ever Ice Skated?
Yes and I don't intend to do it again in a hurry.
18. How often do you remember your dreams?
Half the time.
19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you were crying?
Quite recently. After watching a Kannada song on YouTube
20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles?
Heck Yes! Yellow Submarine, Love Me Do, When I'm 64, I am the walrus,
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I don't believe in love.
24. Do you always wear your seatbelt?
Always
25. What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could run on the treadmill without holding onto the sides for dear life.
26. Do you like Sushi?
No.
27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
Not yet and hope I never have to
28. What do you wear to bed?
Tracks and t-shirt
29. Have you ever been caught stealing?
No
30. Does size matter?
Yes, I like my houses big and my cars small :-D
31. Do you truly hate anyone?
Yes
32. Rock and Roll or Rap?
RnR anyday!
33. For love or for money?
For the love of money.
34. Do you have a relative in prison?
No, but Im sure there is atleast one that deserves to be in there.
35. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror like your favorite singer?
Sure
36. Do you know how to play chess?
Yes
37. What food do you find disgusting?
Snakes
39. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
Yes and to their face too.
40. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?
Yes.
41. Have you ever walked out on a movie at the theater?
Oh yes.
44. Do you ever sit through a bad movie, just to see how bad it can get?
Yes - bollywood movies.
45. Would you consider yourself obsessed with anything?
Yes I would, and if you knew me you would too.
46. Have you ever met someone famous that you really wanted to meet?
No, I really wanted to meet Einstein.
47. Have you ever been stood up?
Yes
48. When's the last time you screamed at the top of your lungs?
I don't scream at the top of my lungs.
49. Did you ever do something that you didn't want to, just to fit in?
Not that I can recall.
50. Do you consider yourself "the biggest fan" of something?
Probably not.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Also watched 'Laaga chunari mein Daag'. It adds on to the ever continuing list of 'controversial' different films that Bollywood is aiming to make. However the story is done and dusted. But for the picturesque portrayal of Benaras the movie is found lacking in many many aspects. What irks me most is the ultimate message of the movie which seems to be that any woman, a callgirl, a prostitute, an escort, anyone, is 'forgiven' all her 'sins' if she gains the acceptance of a man and - here's the clincher- if he marries her! If he (HE!) is ready to overlook it - who are we to point fingers eh?!
When oh when will we get over this inherent obsession that a woman needs a man to validate her. Or maybe I completely missed the 'deeper' point.
As an aside, I bought the DVD of this movie at an Indian store here and as always the subtitles are hilarious! The conversation between Rani M and Jr. AB when she reveals why she absolutely cannot be with him went something like this:
RM - main koi event manager nahin hoon (Translated: I am not any event manager)
RM - Main ek escort hoon (Translated: I am Scot)?!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!!?????!!!!
Needless to say I almost fell off the chair laughing! Enjoy!
When oh when will we get over this inherent obsession that a woman needs a man to validate her. Or maybe I completely missed the 'deeper' point.
As an aside, I bought the DVD of this movie at an Indian store here and as always the subtitles are hilarious! The conversation between Rani M and Jr. AB when she reveals why she absolutely cannot be with him went something like this:
RM - main koi event manager nahin hoon (Translated: I am not any event manager)
RM - Main ek escort hoon (Translated: I am Scot)?!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!!?????!!!!
Needless to say I almost fell off the chair laughing! Enjoy!
Memoirs
Nobody had anything negative to say about 'Memoirs of a Geisha' so at the Fyshwick markets last weekend I bought the book (a bargain at $1, I must say!). 'Memoirs...' is an exquisite book. All my knowledge of Japanese life prior to reading this book came from Samurai-type movies and reviews of Japanese cartoons, which really does not reflect this rich culture.
Imagine walking into a shop full of the richest silks and lace - imagine sitting down while each piece of absolutely unique fabric is laid out in front of you and unfolded to reveal a more intricate and beautiful layer underlying the previous one. You can marvel at them and you can even run them over your skin and feel the lush, soft fabric caress you - yet you cannot have it. This is precisely the 'feel' of this book. It is a whirlwind of emotions narrated with such poise, grace and restraint that you don't realise that you've held you're breath all along. It is a cool breeze that leaves you as breathless as if you were just hit by a tornado!
I do not really want to talk about the story. The synopsis really tells the gist of it, yet one must read it to truly experience its brilliance.
Enough said I think. All that is left is for you to do is to read it.
Imagine walking into a shop full of the richest silks and lace - imagine sitting down while each piece of absolutely unique fabric is laid out in front of you and unfolded to reveal a more intricate and beautiful layer underlying the previous one. You can marvel at them and you can even run them over your skin and feel the lush, soft fabric caress you - yet you cannot have it. This is precisely the 'feel' of this book. It is a whirlwind of emotions narrated with such poise, grace and restraint that you don't realise that you've held you're breath all along. It is a cool breeze that leaves you as breathless as if you were just hit by a tornado!
I do not really want to talk about the story. The synopsis really tells the gist of it, yet one must read it to truly experience its brilliance.
Enough said I think. All that is left is for you to do is to read it.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Fun n Games Room
Today's fortune on Orkut says 'Good things are being said about you'.
Makes me rather uncomfortable that somebody, somewhere might be talking about me as I type this. Even if they are saying good things.
It is Friday and it seems like a decent weekend to look forward to. I discovered the 'games room' at work yesterday. Not sure how long it has been operational but it is complete with pool table, TT table and dart board. A good diversion if not distraction from work I say! And many might mistakenly think that the reason it went undiscovered was because I have been working too hard. In fact nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth being that as soon as my rear hits the office chair my body and brain go into a vegetative state in which they remain till about 5.30 pm, when I painstakingly hoist myself away from Orkut, Gmail, Facebook and other such and head home.
Of other goings on - there is not really much to talk about except the weather! Those that know me know that complaining about the weather is my favourite pastime. I was born in Gwalior and raised in Bangalore for the first fifteen years of my life. The Bangalore climate is excellent, or atleast it was all the years that I lived there. It is not too hot, not too cold - its just right! (sort of like that Maggi hot 'n' sweet tomato chilli sauce, I like hot 'n' sweet chilli type sauces, but that rant for another day). So from this 'just right' haven we moved to New Zealand where I spent another ten odd years. New Zealand is a far cry from good weather. It was a shock to the system how that island went through four seasons in one day. And now I am in Canberra. Summer is here now. Yet last night the temperature hit below 5 C. Kindly explain for I am at a loss!
Makes me rather uncomfortable that somebody, somewhere might be talking about me as I type this. Even if they are saying good things.
It is Friday and it seems like a decent weekend to look forward to. I discovered the 'games room' at work yesterday. Not sure how long it has been operational but it is complete with pool table, TT table and dart board. A good diversion if not distraction from work I say! And many might mistakenly think that the reason it went undiscovered was because I have been working too hard. In fact nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth being that as soon as my rear hits the office chair my body and brain go into a vegetative state in which they remain till about 5.30 pm, when I painstakingly hoist myself away from Orkut, Gmail, Facebook and other such and head home.
Of other goings on - there is not really much to talk about except the weather! Those that know me know that complaining about the weather is my favourite pastime. I was born in Gwalior and raised in Bangalore for the first fifteen years of my life. The Bangalore climate is excellent, or atleast it was all the years that I lived there. It is not too hot, not too cold - its just right! (sort of like that Maggi hot 'n' sweet tomato chilli sauce, I like hot 'n' sweet chilli type sauces, but that rant for another day). So from this 'just right' haven we moved to New Zealand where I spent another ten odd years. New Zealand is a far cry from good weather. It was a shock to the system how that island went through four seasons in one day. And now I am in Canberra. Summer is here now. Yet last night the temperature hit below 5 C. Kindly explain for I am at a loss!
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