Sony TV – Badal Rahe Hai Hum!

…Lekin thoda sa hi!

Withdrawal symptoms! No IPL, no fun! Am suffering from a serious kind of pain, and don’t know what will cure it. The Fake IPL Player said in his blog, that cricket has been reduced to a 3 hour tamasha with all elements of entertainment thrown in. I find myself agreeing with him. There isn’t a damn thing on the telly today which matches! (pun intended).

Somehow the Sony TV promos on them changing their programming content caught Megs and my fancy. We dutifully logged on to the channel and have sampled all the new programs that are on air. The Queenie stuff (Chittod Ki Rani Padmini ka Johur) is beyond us. Palampur Express is during Myra’s dinner time so can’t watch that. But the lack of any worthy movies in prime time has forced us to watch Bhaskar Bharti for the last 3 days. Man, this one’s BAD. Really junked. I don’t know how long this will continue – forced humour, non-actors, and loud sets!!! (But given the lousy shows and their year on year running, you never know!). Somehow all these remind me of the angrezi phoren soaps I used to watch when I was in college in the 90’s. The sets and the clothes were loud unreal and garish. But the similarity ends there. The EQ is really low with Indian soaps today.

Then there is Ladies Special. This one has promise. Neena Gupta and Harsh Chhaya are doing a good job, and the rest of them are passable. The tempo is nice, the situations real life, and the sets are human. I hope this continues beyond this week. Speaking of which, I used to follow a interesting soap on Zee Marathi – Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre. Starring Dilip Prabhavalkar, this was straight out of or homes. But come season two, it was like one of the saas bahu types.

The worst of the lot is the “Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega”. Pathetic, lousy, and disgusting. And these are compliments for the quality of the show!!!

Getting 1 out of 5 is not good. Unless the TRPs show something else. But, honestly if TRPs thats what channels want to focus on, then sleaze is the best way of getting that. Entertainment ke liye kuch bhi karega, kyun?

Pichle Saat Dinon Mein…

Pichle Saat Dinon Mein…

1. The Congress Party is in power again! The last time they took the markets to 2 lower circuits (on 17 May 2004, remember?), and this time 2 upper circuits!! So much for the politics and markets connection!

2. Kolkata Knight Riders have two wins under their belt! Beating both the last years finalists must be something! Especially after the beating they have taken throughout the tournament. Looks like these guys enjoy just the dessert more than the main course!

3. The political circus comes to town. Who swings, who doesnt, who’s the ringmaster, and the clown – all this can now be enjoyed for the next 5 years!

4. Partied at the 1 Lounge in Pune. Smashing, fun and re-vitalising! Did’nt know Pune had such cool places, I mean 12 years in Mumbai and reference points have been different. Visit this place on Wednesdays when DJ Frankie and DJ Paps light it up.

5. And enjoyed the first showers of the year!

Of IPL loyalty…and all that!

The IPL has begun with a bang. Though a subdued one compared to last year. I caught up with parts of both the matches yesterday. The Mumbai one against the Chennai guys was quite boring till about the 10^th over. That’s when I decided that I need to do something better with my Saturday. The second one though was something but ended lamely.

 

Anyways, getting back to what this post is all about – my support for a team. Last year, I started with supporting two teams – Knight Riders – only because SRK owns the team and Mumbai Indians – since my wife is a die hard Mumbaikar and I needed to ensure I would be encouraged to watch all matches. As the tourney progressed, my loyalty towards Mumbai faded, KKR started diminishing and I needed to find a team that was winning.

 

The Rajput blood in me called out – well technically I have nothing to do with being a Rajput, I just needed to make it sound grand. Much to the irritation of my wife I became a Rajasthan Royals loyalist. And they won. And the accusing finger was raised at me. That I was a man without any loyalties to any team, that I would do anything top be seen with the winner, et all. My defence argument that I did this for the love of the game and I support only the team that plays well etc fell on deaf ears. I was branded a traitor and a non-Mumbaikar.

 

Before it got any serious, I admitted that I was wrong. Not exactly, but then a man needs dinner on the table every eveing, and needs a comfortable bed to rest every night. Rajasthan Royals wasn’t gonna provide me with all that. So I gave up cricket – watching cricket, that is.

 

But, this year it’s going to be different. I am supporting Mumbai Indians. Whether they win or they lose. I am a Mumbaikar this time, and nothing else. And I have a pleased wife, though she suspects that I am being flirtatious with teams again, but let’s see. Mumbai has begun well.

 

So far so good…Got to go, dinners waiting!

Awards!

I love awards. Totally, and absolutely. I would be lying if I say that awards don’t mean a thing to me. I love to stand there on stage, taking my little token /trophy /certificate anything that pats me on the back and can then adorn my shelf! I love the recognition that come with it, and the glory that I love to bask in. It’s fantastic. It motivates, invigorates, and pushes me to do better.

 

In school, I always wanted to be the one going up on the dias and taking any award. But there was too much competition then. In college, I kind of lost out, with my focus being on other things. And then, with work life in Mumbai, I am discovering the ways of getting recognition. Three in the last one year. Makes me feel good. Very very good. I hope this goes on, he he he…..

 

And now, I somehow find myself enjoying the glory that Slumdog Millionaire has got. I have not seen the movie, nor do I find it compelling to do so. Maybe one day I will. Maybe I won’t. But, it’s good to know that it is a product that most people love. Yes, it’s not an Indian movie, it’s only about India. Only? That’s one word to be used carefully. Anyways, there are people who say that the Oscars are not the greatest recognition for Indian artistes. But my dear friend, it is recognition. And, on a global scale. Its an award, that some Indians got NOT because they were in the “foreign film” category. It’s a recognition of their talent on the global network.

 

Jai Ho!

Filmfare Awards 2009 – Picks

The Filmfare nominations for 2009 have been announced. With so many awards happening, one doesn’t know which one is really credible. But since Filmfare has been the longest standing, personally I consider them to be more like the Oscars of India (well almost!). Anyways, the list is out and the nominees must now be praying that they can take the black lady home.

My picks for the awards are marked in red (and italicized) below. Am no Nostradamus honey, so don’t hold anything against me!!!

BEST FILM

Dostana
Ghajini
Jodhaa Akbar
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Rock On!!

BEST DIRECTOR

A.R. Murugadoss – Ghajini
Abhishek Kapoor – Rock On!!
Aditya Chopra – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Ashutosh Gowariker – Jodhaa Akbar
Madhur Bhandarkar – Fashion
Neeraj Pandey – A Wednesday!

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Aamir Khan – Ghajini
Abhishek Bachchan – Dostana
Hrithik Roshan – Jodhaa Akbar
Akshay Kumar – Sinng Is Kinng
Shah Rukh Khan – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Naseeruddin Shah – A Wednesday!

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Aishwarya Rai – Jodhaa Akbar
Anushka Sharma – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Asin Thottumkal – Ghajini
Kajol – U Me Aur Hum
Priyanka Chopra – Fashion

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MALE)

Abhishek Bachchan – Sarkaar Raj
Arjun Rampal – Rock On!!
Pratik Babbar – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Sonu Sood – Jodhaa Akbar
Tushaar Kapoor – Golmaal Returns
Vinay Pathak – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (FEMALE)

Bipasha Basu – Bachna Ae Haseeno
Kangana Ranaut – Fashion
Kiron Kher – Dostana
Ratna Pathak Shah – Jaanu Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Sahana Goswami – Rock On!!

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)

Farhan Akhtar – Rock On!! – Socha Hai
KK – Bachna Ae Haseeno – Khuda Jaane
KK – Jannat – Zara Si Dil Mein
Rashid Ali – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na – Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Sonu Nigham – Jodhaa Akbar – Inn Lamho Ke Daaman Mein
Sukhwinder Singh – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Haule Haule

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)

Alka Yagnik – Yuvvraaj – Tu Muskura
Neha Bhasin – Fashion – Kuch Khaas Hai
Shilpa Rao – Bachna Ae Haseeno – Khuda Jaane
Shreya Ghoshal – Singh is Kinng – Teri Ore
Shruti Pathak – Fashion – Marjaawa
Sunidhi Chuhan – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Dance Pe Chance

NOMINEES FOR BEST LYRICS

Abbas Tyrewala – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na – Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Gulzar – Yuvvraaj – Tu Meri Dost Hai
Jaideep Sahni – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Haule Haule
Javed Akhtar – Jodhaa Akbar – Jashn e Bahara
Javed Akhtar – Rock On!! – Socha Hai
Prasoon Joshi – Ghajini – Guzarish

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR

A R Rahman – Ghajini
A R Rahman – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
A R Rahman – Jodhaa Akbar
Pritam – Race
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy – Rock On!!
Vishal-Shekhar – Dostana

Childhood

Why is that when we are children and in school, we want to grow up in a hurry? And why is it that once we grow up, we want to be children again?

Got this fantastic poem as a forward (it’s in marathi, but the true essence is only felt in one’s mother tongue, and translating this will be a crime!). It is so true for my days in Pune, and which I sitting here in Mumbai, miss terribly.

Sports Day!

The last time I was at a Sports Day in school, I was sitting at the back of a giant population of kids in my school, completely disinterested in what was happening. There were some kids running around trying for a bunch of medals, God know why, is what I thought then. Obviously, no parents were there to cheer them ’cause all this was quite frivolous then. Those were the times and then there are times like now. Schools celebrate Sports Day as some huge annual gathering of kids and parents. It is a big big event, one that is never to be missed by parents.

I attended sports day at my daughter’s school on Saturday, and it was an experience in itself. Parents were warned to come in by 8 am (yawn), and take their seats immediately after handing their kids to the teachers. Another stern warning was that no parents should be seen near the tracks or the sports day would be called off. Diligently, we landed there at 8 am, and dropped out little tot to prepare for her race. We then took our place in the parent’s shamiana, right by the tracks for a good view. The kids – ages 2.5-3.3 years – are a fantastic way of enjoying. Their overpowering sense of non competitiveness is actually so very cute. Kids running with their hands in the pocket {mine }, kids seeing their parents and stopping to wave, the kid who is leading suddenly feels lonely and lets other catch up by waiting for the mid track, kids who kept running cause they didn’t know the concept of the finish line… Amazing!!! The parents, too bonded very well cheering one and all and the spirit of any competition that they would have harboured evaporated immediately. The parent’s races were again so overtaken by this spirit that people were actually enjoying the prospect of just the running. Yours truly finished the race, with a tumble on the ground in the mass of fathers running for their kids! And the mother didn’t hear the whistle and hence ended up a on the starting block!

But the gem is what my daughter Myra said to me after we got home. When I asked her why she didn’t run fast, she said, “No pappa, you were not there, you didn’t see me running, I won the race”. Suddenly it dawned on me, that for her, it’s the spirit of taking part, not competing is what I need to grow in her. “Yes” I said “You did, my baby, you won”.

Jaago Re!

Post the 26/11 attacks, there was this huge public outcry against politicians. People were vying for all politicians’ throats and finally the CM of Maharashtra had to go. There were protest marches and candle lighting action. Unfortunately, I could not be a part of this action. Work prevented me. Selfish, I know.

 

There is this one girl I know, my friend from Business School. She fired the hell out of me since I did not take any stand against our former CM. He was responsible for the attacks, she said. And as a citizen, I had to raise my voice and oust him from his chair. I don’t see how. Will the next guy be better, I asked. Don’t know, but we can bring the change, she said completely angry at me. I wish I could rise above my petty priorities of providing my family with a good life, like her. And since then, she has never spoken to me. Good for her, I guess. Now there is a new CM, thanks to her efforts. But is this good enough?

 

No. It is not. Our democracy is funny. And we, the people are responsible for it. We want a good, clean government. But will we have it since the political parties keep deciding who is going to contest the elections and represent us. Till we decide who represents us, we are going to get the same old s***y politicians with their personal agendas ruling us. We will keep getting film stars with shady pasts, leaders with criminal records, illiterate goons who dominate due to sheer muscle power and others with no shame or moral values, and some with no secular beliefs.

 

I don’t see any improvement happening in how things are managed in spite of the public rallies and candle marches. These are all meaningless activities if there is no further concrete public action. Public awareness is one thing, public awakening another, and beyond this lies the hurdle of public action.

 

Public action, be it then. And what have I done? For one, I have gone to jaagore.com and registered for adding myself to the voters list. But is this enough? When the elections come, who am I going to vote for? Will it be for a guy like me, who I frustrated and needs a change, or will it be decided by some guys sitting in some place calculating their political moves. Can we really choose the guys who represent us by not choosing anyone from big national parties? DO we have it in us to rise above our own prejudices and work towards a common agenda of our security and well being?

 

It is our call.

Crazy times these!

 

What’s happening? Does anyone have a clue? Not me. I am struggling through a sense of being completely blank-minded over the last two months. First, there was the terrorist attack in Mumbai, now popularly known as 26/11. Then there was the Satyam fiasco, then again the euphoria surrounding Slumdog Millionaire. And in between these huge events, a normal guy (that’s me) is trying to do his work.

 

It’s been quite a whirlwind of activity on my work front since the global crisis began in September at the fall of Lehmann Brothers. It’s been frantic action with nights after nights being spent at work burning the proverbial midnight oil. The gym kits been locked away safely to feel suitably ignored, the movie theatres have been shunned away, eating out have come down to a trickle. Its been work on weekends and the dreary prospect of the annual assessments now looms large. Regardless of the action, it’s been a bad year, and the future looks questionable.

 

There is a general sense of depression, with every day being the same blur that it was yesterday. Survival seems to be the key. Is it? Maybe not. Maybe. Who knows.

 

The Nostradamus in me predicts this gloom to last for about 3 years, but somewhere I just wish that it goes soon. I would like to be Alice in Wonderland yet again!

Ghajini Review

Ok, so I am back after a break. And what a break it has been.

 

I attended the premiere of Ghajini, in PVR. Much anticipated, much awaited, movie this. Ok let me give you the bd news first. I didn’t enjoy the movie. I guess after Kismat Konnection, this is the movie where I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the interval. And the same applies for the climax. This is one loooooooong movie. Boring, no. Uninspiring yes!

 

So what wrong with this movie? Well, it still hasn’t got over the Southie hangover. The villain’s reason to exist and reason to believe are both weak. Its just a late eighties/early nineties movies where the villain has some lousy chamchas with him for no apparent reason. And he has no reason to be bad. The plot itself doesn’t convince the viewer on why he kills the heroine. The fights are good, but too long. And too many. The girl, Asin, makes an impressive debut, but cannot be above . Jiah Khan is not convincing at all. (Maybe that’s the reason why Aamir didn’t use her in the marketing). And the music is horrible save for the Guzaarish number. Beheka is wonderfully choreographed. The songs are jerky and spring up in the narrative like a jack in the box.

 

And what’s right with the movie? Aamir Khan, and nothing else. One man can really make justice to any role and that is him. He stands out tall in this violence marathon. His change from a shy tycoon to an amnesic is phenomenal. He makes the unmovable hero, fighting 20 goons believable, with that perfect physique. (A far cry from the old movies, where we had spindly bodied paunchy heroes; jumping over goons like a circus monkey to some funny music!!)

 

But finally, go watch Ghajini. For Aamir. For the intensity and perfection that he brings to the role. And see the wonders he does to this shamble of a film.