Bollywood On Strike? So What…

The wolf just got greadier and wants a bigger share in the kill. Well, I’m talking about the producers’ strike that’s about to start any minute in Bollywood. Now why they’re going on a strike just when there’s a slump only they would be able reason out. Looking at the conditions that they’ve laid out to the multiplex owners, 50:50, it looks like we, the audience, are in for a long dry spell without any major releases. Many may tell it’s time to hit the couch and park yourself in front of the idiot box and watch IPL. Well, if at all you’re hitting the couch you may as well do it in style and watch movies. “DVDs at your service, sir,” says one of the DVD rental services. Why not, I mean, they’re bringing movies right at your doorstep and save you the trouble of going out. Oh yeah, moms would be complaining that this is just another tool in making their already lazy offspings even more lazier. But what the heck, it’s making my life easier. So why not?

Ok here’s the thing, why would anyone want to pull the plug out of the “near to death” film economy when all they should be doing is make sure that more and more projects earn money what with Bollywood dishing out total, complete duds since the starting of this year? Shouldn’t they be understanding that even a Nagesh Kukanoor movie like 8×10 Tasveer has been trashed? What hope do they have, when they give out dampners like this and expect a lion’s share? Looking at the quality of the movies, do they even deserve it when they’re not able to give a decent hit. All I’ve got to tell these producers is that you’re losing out, cause if you think that the audience is sitting and waiting for the releases to happen, then think again. In this day and age, entertainment is not restricted to just theatre. And I, as a viewer, can give you five very good reasons as to why I’m not bothered about this strike…

1. I’ve got a huge collection of DVDs to chose from with DVD rental companies like Seventymm.
2. I don’t have to go out, cause I can opt for home delivery. Lemme leave the hassle of dealing with Bangalore traffic to those delivery boys. (My sympathies for them but, hey, it cuts out my travel time and hassle)
3. I would be spending just about Rs.250 or something like that (Cost of a single ticket in a multiplex) and watch more than 5 movies. (Though Iwould still say that movies with special effects SHOULD be watched on big screen)
4. I’m not at the mercy of the producers to release movies. I can catch up with the “multiplex released” movies since they’re already out on DVDs.
5. And I still get to watch those Hollywood movies that aren’t released in Indian theatres and some movies which were not allowed to be screened. The best of all classics.

So shouldn’t the producers be thinking/knowing that they can’t really dampen the spirit of a movie crazy soul like me? Instead they’re losing out on money.

 Whatever it is, here’s my list of movies to watch on DVDs should the producers be going on an indefinite strike…

1. Kung Fu Panda - My favorite genre, animation. If I miss out on this one, it’s a total crime. come on, you’ve got to watch it, just for Jack Black. He’s unbelievably hilarious.
2. The Dark Knight - Of course one of the movies to watched on big screen but very entertaining on small screen as well. A tribute to Heath Ledger’s Joker, which was once played by Jack Nicholson. And of course a posthamus Oscar for Ledger
3. Billu Barber - It didn’t really drag me to the theatre. One of the movies which I reserved to DVD watching. Let’s see how it goes, though the reviews weren’t really positive about this one.
4. Dil Hain ke Maanta Nahin- One of the best romantic movies that Bollywood has given us. Rich girl, poor boy, love story. I don’t really mind all the mush that’s there in this. In fact I love it.
5. Made of Honor - A modern day My Best Friend’s Wedding. Only with a slight twist. It’s not the girl who’s out to wreck her boyfriend’s wedding but a man who’s out to get his best friend back. Would love to watch this Rom-Com the earliest.
6. Raaz 2 - Fizzled at the box office but nonetheless a good horror flick to watch at home. Hope it’s entertaining enough and scary enough.
7. Pretty Woman - My all-time favorite. I’ll never get tired of watching this movie. Richard Gere’s the ultimate romantic hero in this. And Julia Roberts? Beautiful. Loved that scene when she’s thrown out of the boutique just because she’s unaccepted by the high society and she just returns back, polished, sopisticated and loaded with her shoppings bags and tells that shop manager, “You people work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.” A bag of pop corn, loads of tissue to wipe the tears would go for this without saying.
8. A Fish Called Wanda - Man, this is what they call dark, sarcastic humor. You need special kind of sense of humor to enjoy this one. One of the best movies I’ve seen. And Kevin Kline is mind blowing. It’s a tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge and seafood. That’s the tag line of the movie, BTW. It’s so full of double crossing that it’s impossible not to laugh at each and every scene.
9. Roman Holiday - Another mushy movie but a classic. Wanna watch it even if it’s a Black and white movie.
10. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - The origin of the Sundance Film Festival. One of the best Western movies I hear. Paul Newman and Robert Redford. A big, big, treat.
11. Madagascar - Come on guys, how can anyone miss this one? I like to move it, move it… A MUST watch.
12. Khatta Meetha - What happens when two different families are forcibly brought to live together as a family? You got to watch it. This is the Indian version of Brady Bunch for you. Nevertheless it’s not to be missed. What’s fascinating is that when Indian cinema looked at teenyboppers for love stories, this one looked at an aged Ashok Kumar and Pearl Padamsee for a very refreshing story.
13. Chashme Buddoor - Ok by this time you would’ve guessed that comedy is my weakness and I tend to pick and choose movies of this genre. Another of the ’70’s gems.
14. Dostana - Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham are a hoot…
15. Sleepless In Seattle - Best for the last, it would be a sacrilage if I don’t watch this one. So beautiful is the romance in this movie that.. Oh, yeah let’s get back to bag full of popcorn and cartloads of tissues. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are just too beautiful.

This is my list of movies which I want to watch, some which I’ve already watched but still want to watch again… If you have any more to be added to this list, feel free to do so, it would make the “dry spell” time all more better…

 

Oh, oh, and before I forget, here’s my customery video… Total mush but beautiful…

 

King Julien is Back…

King Julien and is back in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Watch out this column for more…

Happy and Safe Diwali

So now it’s that exciting and dhamakedaar time of the year, Diwali. It’s one time when lots of families bury hatchets and get together and celebrate. Well, that’s what the newspapers claim about that the biggies like the Chopras, Ambanis and the Kapoors are having the great Indian family reunion.  Anyways, that’s got nothing to do with me. I would find it more interesting to talk more about the Diyas and crackers. I just remember how Amma used to light loads and loads of diyas in my ancestral home. Rows and rows of it. It’s another thing that there was enough space to light all the diyas and we had enough place for an army of kids to run around and light the crackers and enough corners to hide in case we broke or burst out something. And how vibrant my home used to look with all those traditional lamps. That’s something that I miss very much. Moving into an apartment has made me appreciate all the more of my ancestral home and it’s celebrations with a huge family and extended family. Uncles, aunts, cousins and even friends were enough to remind you of a Sooraj Barjatya’s elaborate movie set. I was fortunate enough to experience it for a few years of my growing up before we moved. Anyways, it’s a beautiful memory cherished.

And bursting crackers was an event by itself.  All of us scampering around and bursting crackers sometimes lead to some unpleasent things like one of us getting burnt and howling at the top our voices creating more and more ruckus. One particular mark on my hand reminds me every single year that I should’ve been more careful while bursting crackers since it’s remained and is a small little ugly mark that could’ve been avoided.

This feeling was even more cemented when I saw this video featured by Seventymm.com which had a small video of Tom and Jerry.If only we took care and paid some attention to the elders while we burst crackers, a lot of us could avoid the permanent damage to our eyes, ears and any other body parts. Anyways lets keep the morose thoughts away and have a safe and happy Diwali.

Here’s the video which you must watch.

Online Tickets with Seventymm.com…

Here’s a one step ahead a movie website, Seventymm has gone and provided a complete package of what a cinema-based website needs, one platform for renting movies, discussing cinema and now, even booking your tickets online through this website. How cool is that now? This looks like taking technology and marketing to a new height. Apart from it being a marketing strategy, as a consumer I found this not only interesting but also extremely convinient. Whatever said and done, an online booking not only cuts out the high probability of me standing in the line but also makes it more tension-free that I already have a ticket in hand. And above all, I get to choose my own seating. What more do I need? Hail Seventymm.

Festivals and Festivities…

Bliss is the time when a big festival’s around the corner. And India being a country where every other day is festival, for some community or the other, has enough to celebrate. And October sometimes has double dhamaaka. Literally, since we have two big festivals this year. Navarathri and Diwali. I am not really sure if I can decide which one is my favourite or may be I can. I think it’s Diwali, the festival of lights. We’ll come back to that in a bit. 

 

The first one to come is Navarathri. This festival literally takes your breath away ’cause this one is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. For Gujaratis, it’s the dandiya time (This was mentioned and featured in seventymm) This is so colorful that it just makes you want to pick those two sticks and join the group and dance the night away. Wanna see? Here’s a small illustration. Then there’s also the garbha.  Ain’t it colorful and nice? This reminds me of the song from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Doli Tharo…

 

And how about the unsurpassable Durga Pooja in Calcutta? Amazing! Bengalooru shows this true blue Bengali spirit in the Bengali Association in Ulsoor. One must visit this place. And the food? Ahem, lets not talk about it right now, since one is on a serious weight-loss program!

Even in down South there are different ways of celebrating it, something really worth mentioning is the one celebrated in Mysore Dasara procession. This was started by the Maharaja of Mysore I suppose. Whatever the history this such a treat to see that people from all over the world come here just to have a look at this. Especially the Palace which is lit all the nine days. This is how Mysore would look during Navarathri. I wish the picture was a bit more clearer. But that big mass of light that you’re seeing is the Mysore Palace which is lit sepcially during the Dasara.

 

Tamilnadu has it’s own special way of celebrating this festival. With dolls. They have special doll arrangements which depicts stories. Earlier it used to be about the epics now it’s somewhat changed and has adapted to the modern times while retaining the tradition.

Now that’s what I like about festivals, traditions. Traditions that most of us have probably left behind and these festivals bring it back. Something which I’ve particularly looked forward to always. There’s something about these traditions that city dwellers like me find fascinating. Something that takes us back to our roots. Traditions, which are our identity. More on Diwali will be posted, so watch this column…

Mamma Mia, Here I Go Again, My My, How Much I Missed You…

 When we talk about Golden Oldies and specifically the actors, then how many of them actually come to our mind? There aren’t that many to choose but there enough to confuse and boggle our mind trying to sit and sort through the actors, movies and innumerous genres. I mean, how would you actually sit and select whether it’s Jerry Lewis or Billy Crystal for comedian or if it’s Arnold Schwarzenegger or Tom Cruise for action? That’s such a huge list to choose from. Whether it’s Sophia Loren or it’s Meryl Streep who’s good. When it comes to actresses, I would definitely vouch for Meryl Streep. I mean, look at how versatile the actress is. We have a Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada who is so dead serious, manipulative and a cold-blooded woman and then there’s an equally light-hearted, free-spirited and flirtatious Donna from Mamma Mia and then snap your fingers and she gets into the skin of a character like that of Janine Roth, a hard-hitting political-journo in Lions for Lambs. I saw these movies and it was mind-blowing. Three total different characters and three mind-blowing performances. 

 

First of all let’s talk about Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. The woman’s unbelievably self-centered and incredibly cold and calculative and she knows the right things about Fashion. And anyone who crosses her path, be it an up and coming designer or a lowly assistant, they’ve had it. The term “Cutting a person to pieces” could just be made for her. Man, you just need to watch that one scene where she asks her assistant to get her transportation to her kid’s school do when there’s a raging storm out and the assistant’s just flummoxed and has no clue what to do. Then there’s another scene with the Harry Potter book. Man, that’s hilarious. You gotta watch that one too.

 

 

Now, once you think that ok, she makes the best vamp available around, she does a total U-Turn and does a movie like Mamma Mia, a musical and Rom-Com (Rom-Com is not a geekology term for some kind of a computer thing. It’s just Romantic Comedy. J) She’s funny, she’s witty and she’s beautiful. I mean, people who’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada would think that they’re seeing her diametrically opposite twin. Amazing. The movie may not be great shakes, but then Meryl Streep is. I mean, this is a movie version of the musical play but a nice watch nonetheless. And I love those Abba songs. Especially the title song, Mamma Mia. A small trivia about this musical play is that this particular play was rejected by most of the producers, and the writers were penniless and once the play was a hit, the two writers turned out to be two of the richest ladies in England. What’s more, the Swedish group Abba refused to have anything to do with this play even though their music was supposed to be the base for this play. Well, we now know who had the last laugh. Two of the richest ladies of England.

 

And in between I almost forgot about Lions for Lambs. Now this one is what we would call serious cinema, a serious performance and a critique’s delight. Not exactly Oscar-worthy role but one of her finest performances one might say. Many have panned this movie but then when we look at just Meryl Streep, she just stands out even among performers like Robert Redford and a star like Tom Cruise. How many of the leading ladies can actually do that? Stealing the thunder right under those two biggies’ nose? This one woman has.

 

Right now, I’m off to watch Mamma Mia. Again.

Mamma Mia, here I go again

My, my how can I resist you

Mamma Mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I’ve missed you…

 

P.S: I vaguely remember a Bollywood song which was lifted from Abba, for a movie called Hum Kisi se Kum Naheen which had a song called Mil Gaya, Hum ko Saathi Mil Gaya… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like to move it, move it

I like to move it, move it… Said Sacha Baron Cohen, King Julian of Madagascar. I wanna move it too. I just finished watching Madagascar and related to one thing over there, no actually four of them since there are four characters which were diametrically opposite to each other but the values they represented very pretty much the same, that of sticking to each other, friendship, a hypochondriac and the wanderlust in a person who is cooped up in his enclosure for a very long time. All these four characters were same in this respect. They all had this wanderlust thing in them.

I mean, you really don’t have to be locked up in an enclosure to feel claustrophobic. You could be out there in the open space or a road or anything and still feel like everything’s closing in on you. You can actually feel the voices ringing in your head when you really don’t want to hear it. And even something as beautiful as a bird’s chirping sounds jarring and harsh. And you get this itch to break free and run away to some place which is totally, completely free from all these material trappings that we’re surrounded by in our daily life.

We’re trapped so deep in this circle of earning, saving, amassing all those things which would bring us on the top of everybody’s list, that we’ve forgotten or some of those unfortunate ones haven’t even had a taste of freedom, what it is to be free.

One might say that this is nothing but escapism, trying to run away from things that we’re not able to face. But the fact remains that every one of us, every single one of us wants to break free, without a worry in the world, enjoy the bounty Mother Nature has given us.

Sitting here at my work, on a sultry day, I’m actually daydreaming of just packing my backpack, just getting into one of those horrid buses and just travel to one of those places which is as close to nature as it can get. Mountains, trees, ponds, rivers, wild animals in their natural habitats, the birds chirping… Ah, what bliss. Ok, all those who call this slumming it, well, too bad. You’re missing something. Just imagine the morning when you don’t have to hurry to catch that bus, or haggle with those annoying rikshawallas. Just imagine the taste of food which you savor every morsel and not cram it into your mouth in a hurry and don’t give a dime’s worth how it tastes. Do you even remember how your last breakfast tasted? Naah, I don’t think so. Imagine the day when you don’t have to lose your cool and wouldn’t want to rip the throat of the guy who is honking his head off without bothering about the noise pollution just because he wants to go before you.

Sounds like a different world, ain’t it? Oh, yeah that’s what it is a world within a world. I know that we can’t actually go away on a stretch for a long time, since some of us have to work for a living. Heck, we even need money to go to those places. All I can say is fortunate are those who can take some time off, even if it is a week (which incidentally is a luxury for most of us) and go as close to nature as possible.

And here some places which you could go – Coorg, Manali, Bandipur. If you have any more places, you could add it to my list. Till I can actually go and fulfil my wish… I like to move it, move it…

Now before I go sign off you might be wondering where the whole thing of nature, breaking free, etc, etc is related to Madagascar… Well, here it is, Marty the zebra turns 10 and he hasn’t seen the other side of the zoo wall. And this bothers him enough to want to get out of his enclosure and want to see the wide, wide world and the wild. Oh, he does escape, which is a visit to the Grand Central Station, which is grand and which is central. His other friends, Alex, the star lion, who loves New York and his zoo, Gloria the hippo who’s game for all things that her friends do, the peaceful and sensible one, and the hypochondriac giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer is amazing) who all wanna stick to their friend zebra. Now they accidentally land up in a forest of Madagascar and experience for the first time, the beautiful wilderness. But at what cost you’ve got to watch the movie. And a special mention about King Julian. Whoa, man!!!! The guy’s too good. And just to show how good, look at the video… I like to move it, move it, Ya like to move it, move it… Move it, move it, move it…

Kissa Aamir Aur Olympic Torch Ka…

By this morning, the world and the sundry have read the news about Aamir Khan and his Olympic Torch story. Ok, now what exactly are these people trying to do? I mean, the man breathes and the rest of world spits fire. It looks like the dragon breathes and the dragon-slayer spits fire. (Why does that vaguely, alright, very strongly sound like Sidhuism? J)

Whoa!!! Give the man a break, you guys. This is a democratic country and he has as much rights as any guy on the road to have his opinions, his views and he’s allowed to speak too, right? Just like you and me. Oh, and he’s supposed to be diplomatic and not speak his mind or heart out for that matter, when we can shoot off what we feel like. The elderly uncle next door says something, are we, like, gonna sit in front of his house and do a picket fence act? You wouldn’t, isn’t it? So why are these people crucifying this man?

Come on, people, it’s Olympics for heaven’s sake and how many of us really understand that it’s about human spirit, games and nothing to do politicization of any kind of issue. Of course I’m all for Tibet people, if I were to take up any side, it would be for Tibet and not against it. But that still wouldn’t give me any right to tell that this man doesn’t care two cents about the Tibetans just because he’s participating the torch relay. On the contrary, he says his heart goes out for them. May sound a tad too dramatic and filmy, we could always give him the benefit of doubt. It looks like either the guy attracts trouble at the same speed any socialite would change their mind or it is one man against the rest of the politicians. Again, filmy ain’t it? Whatever, let’s stop picking up the cudgels against this one since it’s giving more mileage than ever for the cause.

Agreed we don’t need an Aamir Khan to bring awareness for this issue. Agreed we don’t need this dude for to wake people up. But let’s not deny the fact that this guy has not tried to be politically correct and ultra-diplomatic like one particular cricket star. Thank God there are some people who are a bit genuine. And even if Aamir isn’t actually campaigning for Tibet, isn’t it up to him to decide which cause he wants to attach himself to? Anyways before those of you out there put him on the witch’s stake, you’ve got to read his blog here.

World of Animation

Haven’t actually been able to write for last few days. But then how many things make our fingers itch to furiously type on that finger-numbing keyboard. Well, here’s something, which, if I missed writing on, it would be a crime. Totally, completely. And being the Girl Guide that I once was, I couldn’t exactly commit any kind of crime, could I? (Well, at least few times. Ok, fine. Countable times. Ok fine, all right already, at least this once. Phew! That makes me feel a lot better.)

Now you may ask what made me come out of my comatose state of writing. Well, it’s the question of how young are you really at heart? It differs from person to person I suppose. For some it may be sitting on that swing even if you’re 30 years old, for some it might just be a visit to Disney World. For me, it was not only these two but enter the magical world of Walt Disney and the rest of children’s movie. Oh, yes, I’m talking about the cartoon movies. And, boy, what a world it is. Don’t you just wish you were there doing those magical things?

I mean, imagine how drab the world would have been without Mickey Mouse. Or for that matter, if we didn’t have that totally whacked out Genie from Aladdin tickling our funny bones. Ugh… I wouldn’t even want to imagine that. It would make me old before my age.

Just imagine this, a world where any character can burst into a song and jig at the drop of the hat, without a worry in the world. A world where you can set the wrong things right. Well, even if it is in the end. A world where things are colorful, bright and cheerful. A world which has hopes and dreams alive even though situations are ugly. A world that rewards for the good deeds done. (Whoever said that no good deed goes unpunished, needs to think again)

I guess I want my world to be just that, full of dreams, hopes and a belief that things will be good no matter what. Wanting it may not necessarily be or become reality, for all the ugliness around us, but then we’re talking about the world of animation, aren’t we?

As long as we’re talking about animation, here’s some which are my favorites. I sure hope you like it too. If not, come on, wake that kid up in you. And grab the secret to stay young, just like Mickey. (Have you noticed how he never grows old even though he is 80 this year?)

These are all my favorites and hence I’m not gonna list them in any particular order. If it makes you want to watch even one of them, then that kid in you is still intact.

Horton Hears a Who – An elephant who believes in giving a chance to even the smallest creature which you may not be able to see. Loved Jim Carrey as the elephant.

Lion King – A classic. All about courage and survival.

The Little Mermaid – Where else would you find such selfless love?

Finding Nemo – Tells you to listen to your parents and not go wild. Well, at least a few times.

Aladdin – Magic, princess, pauper and a genie. Want more? Watch it.

Beauty and the Beast – All about how to stick to your word and oh, yes, a happy ending. J

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s something nice to look at…

 

 

The most eligible singles of Hollywood getting hitched???

 

Ok, ok…. So Johnny Depp’s getting married… Finally. Well that’s what I got to read in one of the movie websites which reports all about the stars, movies etc. Now, what was interesting was that there were some clubs dedicated to these stars on the site where the members could go and post in some comments, views and what not’s there and guess what I gotta see, er, read… So Johnny Depp’s getting married, so what, said one… Yeah, so what man? So what one of the most sexiest man alive on this face of Earth is getting married and it’s not to you…

 

Well anyways, he’s getting married to his girlfriend of 10 years and two children… It makes me wonder why the man actually waited till10 years and two children to happen before he got married to her. Commitment phobia? Naah, he’s actually given a reason like “Her last name is beautiful and it would be a shame to change it to Paradis-Depp.”

Oh, come on, Mr.Depp, it takes a better reason to put off getting married to someone. You love a person, you get married to him/her. Why put it off? Whatever the reason, the man’s getting married and that’s that. Well, all those whose heart’s broken, too bad.

 

While I’m on the path of heartbreaks, it almost broke mine to read in one of the gossip columns that George Clooney was getting married too. Now, that one is a whopper, and how. But then I guess it just that, a rumor. ‘Cause this website called aisledash said that the guy’s sworn off marriage. Hey, George, marriage isn’t such a bad thing after all.

The guy is said to have wagered $10,000 with fellow actors Nicole Kidman and Michelle Pfeiffer that he wouldn’t get married and have children before he was 40. Well, the ladies lost and paid up and the gentleman that he is he’s said to have returned the money double or nothing saying he’s not gonna be a father or get married (Whichever the order J) by the time he’s 50. Now that’s one interesting wager that I would love bet too. To the last cent of my savings. All for George not getting married. J Before I sign off here’s something…