Mediocre at Best

The Heart is a Butterfly

2011-08-19T16:58:00.003-04:00

Much like Mansoor Khan , erstwhile Bollywood director of films like Akele Hum Akele Tum , Qayamat se Qayamat Tak etc I want a organic farm of my own in the hills of a South Indian hill town where the local tribals, garbed in shawls and monkey caps ,with folded hands would call me "Ayya" when I go out for my morning jog when the mist has yet not been conquered by the late sun of the hills. I will make my own cheese, honey, jam and bread and sell it to charcuteries and patisseries in the city. In the thin mountain air I will contemplate life and live the simplistic life of a self sufficient hermit.

I want to buy a large hiking/camping bag the kind European bag packers use when they go to Thailand and Indonesia , and I want to go to the south of France and hike around till I can finally advance from reading to speaking French. I want to grow out my beard so rough that people mistake me for a hermit or a Sikh. I want to make stop overs at Budapest , Spain and Italy and Poland. I will seek out and become an apprentice to a master vintner who has seven words in his name two of which are "de la". He must be the kind who actually puts the dirt in his mouth to see if the grapes are ready for plucking and can tell the time by the position of the sun. It would definitely help if he has an unwed daughter who, complete with her own subplot, yearns to a female matador.

I will then go to Argentina and learn jiujitsu and participate in underground cage fights with Brazilian Army Veterans and FARC runaways. Cage fights, not the kind where you fight to death , but definitely the kind where people bet on who wins and who ends up with a broken femur. I will train under a team of fighters whose Master takes a liking to me because of the "kindness" I show in the ring. I will develop a rivalry with his son who can never be good enough in front of his father and compete with him for the affection of the only female fighter in the team. In the after fight celebrations I will learn how to appreciate the local beer and the joys of a rare horse steak. Of course this will mean I will finally get to learn enough spanish to be able say something else than "una cafe con leche, por favor" or "ne habla mucho espanol" or "donde esta el banos" . I will be a polyglot who will be able to say polyglot in several languages.

Several months later , I will end up in a small village in Okinawa where I start learning Kendo & Kyudo under a Blind Sensei (obviously). At night when I stand famished and exhausted, under a flickering oil lamp, with the omnipresent silence of the countryside, he would tell me what I did wrong that day and slowly segue into the story of how he lost his eyes, a tale that would bring tears to my own and unravel parallel to my present situation with me as the protagonist instead of the master.

I will end my cliche-ridden exploits in Korea where a chance interference in a street fight to save an orphan from a organ trafficking ring will land me an apprenticeship with Kim Jee-woon, director extraordinaire and slowly I will come to the stark realization that the Serial Killer problem as shown in Korean movies is very much real and I will race against time to save an orphan (the same one as before) from a gang of competitive and techno savvy serial killers.

...and then I will be a man with stories to tell.

Cheeze Aumlette - 1

2011-07-08T14:54:00.003-04:00

The Definition of Arjuntism

2011-05-04T23:09:00.005-04:00

Spoonerism - A spoonerism is an error in speech or deliberate play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched.

Make Tea - Take me

Light a Fire - Fight a Liar

Arjuntism - An Arjuntism is an error in transcription where the first letter of a word is omitted if it is the same as the last letter of the previous word.

But the song was never repeated - But he song was never epeated.

Did the Android dream of electric cats? - Did the Android ream of electric ats?

Please Stop!

2011-04-11T17:20:00.003-04:00

Infidel Husbands being set right by a random do-gooder should not be the plot of more than 1 movie.

I had the misfortune of watching Thank You over the weekend. Akshay Kumar should take the flute that he keeps playing throughout the movie and shove it up where the sun don't shine.

My Life as a Zombie

2011-03-25T16:01:00.003-04:00

WARNING: Long Post

“What would you say was your defining American moment? An incident that was authentically and unabashedly American?”

Ask me that question. I dare you. No, I double dare you. Cause, I have the answer ready. It would be the day Obama won. I was still in university and living in a rundown apartment on top of a bar. It was right in the intersection of two busy roads and peeked over the happenings on the street. We were all huddled over a laptop, five Indian guys living in a tiny 3 bedroom apartment that was legally supposed to house only three. The moment it became clear that Obama had won my roommate Prem Singh jumped with joy and started pumping his fists in the air. He, who sported an American accent even before getting on the plane to get here and whose only dismay was that he could not vote to aid his fellow democrats. Soon, there were voices coming from the street below. We looked out to see the guy from the apartment across the street, perched on the ledge of his window, blasting the national anthem on his electric guitar. There were some other students out in the streets, but the most conspicuous was an ecstatic chubby spectacled girl with curly hair, standing smack in the middle of the intersection like a traffic policeman, jubilantly swinging her hands in the air, waving at cars whizzing by and shouting at the top of her voice “We got it right, We finally got it right”. With a little wardrobe changes they could have fit right in the 70’s. The Punk Rocker, up in his apartment, serenading the Flower Girl down below. A somewhat Romeo and Juliet reversal. Quintessentially American, almost stereotypical, reaffirming (and shouting) their faith in Truth, Justice and the American way.

Well the other night I had an experience that would rival this one as my most American experience. We cannot deny that the world we live in is dominated by American pop culture. As a former British colony, whatever links we had to British culture are being phased out, for better or worse, as time nudges us farther and farther from the early half of the 20^th century. Going by Shashi Tharoor’s definition of Soft power, America remains the mammoth yielding and submitting everyone to the sheer potency of its soft power. Naturally I would be excited to be part of anything related to popular culture and getting to be an extra in a Hollywood movie was a chance I was not going to pass on. Ok, so it was not a Hollywood movie, but a Not For Profit film being funded by a South Florida Film Initiative. And it was not a movie per se but a short film (Short for short), about 30 minutes long. But hey, Art cannot be bounded by temporal or spatial constraints, even though how a Post-Apocalyptic (PA) gore fest qualifies as art is up for debate. Yeah, I played a Zombie. Actually the technically correct term is The Living dead, from an unwritten rule in PA movies that the word Zombie is never uttered or used. The Infected, Walkers, Ghouls and Stiffs are also accepted.

So how did I get there? Well here I was trawling through craigslist, when I found this posting that wanted extras for a day’s shoot. Of course it was volunteer work, but I would have actually paid them just for getting in on the experience. So I showed up on set at the time prescribed by the Production Assistant, Tim, A University of Miami student, and part time film enthusiast. I soon found out everyone there on set was more or less helping out for free and the crew was mostly U of M students. But for the first time I found myself on a movie set, an abandoned bottling plant run rampant by extremely talented local Miami Grafitti artists. The place absolutely looked the cold , solitary, unforgiving terrain that the directors envisioned in their script.

I was quickly ushered in to the make up tent, and soon found myself sitting in front of the Make up artist, Giancarlo. Now the thing about Miami is that everyone speaks Spanish and 4 times out of 5 is from Cuba or one of the Central American countries. So When the kindly bearded Miami native told me he was friends with Somy Ali (Yes , Salman Khan’s Ex from the 90s, that Somy Ali) I was taken aback. But he was for real. Apparently she runs a charity in South Florida, having given up on the glitz and glamour of showbiz. Now, I have never had any kind of make up done. So I didn’t know what to expect. Giancarlo told me I was the first Indian face he was going to do up and so he was going to spend some time on me. Sure enough, I was there for a good thirty minutes and by the time I was done I was turning heads, as much as a zombie with flesh hanging from his cheek could. I also got a good idea why Alan Cumming never returned for X-men 3 and What Ron Perlman and Rahul Roy had to go through when they did Hell Boy and Junoon respectively. Sitting still with your eyes closed lips pursed is excruciatingly boring. But what was even more tortuous was still to come.

They say people who have learned music hear chords and ragas where mere mortals would just find a melody. It’s a different perspective that you gain when you find out what exactly goes on behind the curtains. And its something you cannot unsee. Well let me tell you apart from the cameras, lights and dollys what laymen don’t realize is the sheer excruciating amount of just standing around. Yes, you just stand around, twiddling your thumbs while they get the shot ready. Now I am not calling anyone inefficient. This is just how things roll. Things take time and naturally you have to wait. So here we were a rag tag team of volunteer zombies – a film student, a retired chemist, an ex-cop, a civil engineer and a truck driver among others, standing around with burnt faces, ripped cheeks and amputated limbs. But the real soul of the party had to be Carlos a guy who was just driving by in a car, who stopped at the commotion, just to ask what was going on and was roped in to play a zombie. He was just so enamored by everything that he volunteered to help out the remaining days of the shoot as well. By the end he was actually announcing to everyone that he wanted to be a full time actor!! Turns out anyone can play a zombie. You just have to growl and move around menacingly. And when your face is hidden beneath layers of fevicol-like substance you lose all inhibitions. The big question was, were they going for George Romero Zombies or Danny Boyle Zombies. Romero considered the father of the Zombie subgenre with his “..of the Dead” series had slow moving, zombies with legs dragging and hands held out, while Boyle popularized the raging, wild, sprinting zombie in 28 days later. Turns out rabid zombies are all the rage now. As a film enthusiast Post Apocalyptic films appeal to me because in essence they say that what you and I deem as important, even monumental could in an instant become entirely frivolous and superfluous. Think about it, one day you are worried about finishing up a report and the very next day you could be holed up in a house praying for your life. Talk about perspective shift! It reaffirms that relativity is the only truth in life.

The shoot lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. We shot four scenes where we just ran around chasing people or as we zombies call it “dinner” and getting shot at. A SFX team was brought in to perform several stunts which included firing several guns at us poor zombies and setting one of us on fire. I hear the same stunt team worked on a new Charlie’s Angel’s TV show set in Miami which would premiere in Fall of this year. Gun shots, even blanks, are ear-drum popping loud. And you definitely need ear plugs if you are at either end of the gun. Finally one of the PAs shouted “It’s a wrap, folks” and we all heaved sighs of relief. We just wanted to get out of there. Most of us had to work the next day and I briefly wondered whether being “the living dead ” would qualify me for sick leave. Good byes were said and Facebook ids exchanged. Tearing apart a live human together can apparently make you close to people. I knew getting off the makeup would be a pain. While I tore away all the prosthetics, the blood and decay still remained. Giancarlo recommended a hot shower and lots of soap. I did not want be pulled over by a cop looking like this. But the best part of the day was when I pulled up into a Taco Bell drive in window and scared the bejeezus out of the employee. Also, sadly taco bell does not serve human brains.

All you People in the Hoooouusee!!

2011-03-24T11:04:00.002-04:00

How Matthew McConaughey can make Good Movies

2011-03-21T21:13:00.004-04:00

Matthew McConaughey is mostly known for insipid romcoms. So how do we help the guy out? How do we get the guy to make good movies. I took a day off from work and did some thinking and came to the following conclusion. The only way Matthew McConaughey can make a good movie is if he plays a lawyer of some kind. Allow me to demonstrate:

Lawyer.Lawyer.Lawyer.Agent to a movie star.

Ok so he was not a lawyer in Tropic Thunder but an agent is a kind of arbitrator and some one who has a client so that counts.

Plus he is playing a DA in Richard Linklater's next dark Comedy - Bernie , so if that movie turns out to be any good, we know we've got a sure fire way of getting our boy into good movies.

10 Movies I want to watch in 2011

2011-03-18T10:45:00.007-04:00

Better really really late than never. Here it is, the 10 (well around 10) movies I really really want to watch this year:

1) Sherlock Holmes : Game of Shadows

RDJr is a pleasure to watch in any movie that is not named Iron Man 2. The first one was hell of a fun ride especially the delicious chemistry between the leads. This one has Prof.Moriarty and Mycroft Holmes in it. Sweeet. Stephen Fry is playing Mycroft, Sherlock's older brother.

Trivia: Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie were quite a comedy duo in the UK. Laurie's House is kind of like Sherlock Holmes in a hospital and there were plans to have Fry in a guest role as his more intelligent but unmotivated older brother ala Mycroft but that did not work out. Anyway he gets to play the actual Mycroft in :GoS

2) Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I like the MI series primarily because each of them has a different taste to it. The first one was very classy, exactly the kind of spy-on-the-run kinda movie I like. The second one sucked. The third was a thrill ride. While the 3rd one was being planned they actually had David Fincher on board with Kenneth Branagh, Carrie Ann Moss and Scarlett Johansen. It was about organ trading in Africa. Would have loved for that to happen. Anyway the new one has Anil Kapoor in it. Yay!!

3) X-men: First Class

Ok, technically the First class had Iceman, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Angel and Beast. But the movie only has Beast as part of the original lineup. I have several issues with the X-men trilogy, more so on the criminal under-use of several important mutants. But I am all aboard for this one.

The trailer was great, the cast is amazing and its directed by Matthew Vaughn who directed the kickass Kick-Ass. See what I did there? I used kickass as an adjective and a noun. Yes, I am awesome that way.

4) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara aka Running with the Bulls

Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar in one movie!! Directed by the lady who brought us a modern day classic in the form of "Luck By Chance" - Zoya Akhtar. I am soo there. Apparently they wanted Ranbir and Imran alongside Hrithik but they refused. Their loss. I have said it before and I will say it again. The Akhtar family is the most genuinely talented family in Bollywood. They are so good they radiate talent. I am sure their Gardeners and Cooks are Horticultural and Culinary geniuses just because of their physical proximity to the Akhtars.

5) Ra.one/ Don 2

All that has me rooting for these two movies is just the photos that have been released. I really think these 2 films could be fun. My curiosity is definitely piqued. WHile I was not a big fan of the Don remake (though a big fan of AB's Don) I am very interested to know where this is going. Random Access ONE aka Ra.One is directed by an awful director. Anubhav Sinha did Cash and Kites. But the one sheet has me really really intrigued.

"Cash meri aankhon main, cash meri baahon main... "

Bet you will have the song stuck in your head all day now.

6) My Idiot Brother/Wanderlust/Bridesmaids/Bad Teacher

2010 was a slow year for the Apatow Camp, with only Get him to the Greek coming out. This year we have a Trifecta plus one. I dont think My Idiot Brother has anything to with Judd Apatow, but by the "Apatow Camp" I mean any films he produces/directs or those which star the posse of actors who he made famous. For eg , I Love You, Man is a movie from the "Apatow Camp" even though Judd Apatow or his beard had nothing to do with it. Bridesmaids and MIB have been really well received at festivals and I know Wanderlust cant be bad. I know that! KNOW IT! Also, go watch the hilarious Bad Teacher trailer if you haven't.

7) Scream 4

The Scream trilogy was a lot of fun, Randy the movie nerd was such an awesome character. Although there wasn't any actual need for a fourth movie, the trailer was fun, all the old players are back and there's a whole new addition of PYTs who get "gut like a fish". And hey it would be great to hear "Hello Sydney" in Ghostface's voice on the big screen.

8) Sucker punch

The trailer looks like a Rock-your-pants-rollicking-good time. Coming off from 300 and Watchmen , I would follow Mr.Snyder to the ends of the world. Well he is working on the next Superman which I am willing to bet a $1000 bucks is going to be absofrigginlutely amazing. But I still cant get my head around the silly looking and silly titled owl movie he did. You know, The legend of the Guardians: the Owls of Ga-hoole. The movie looks stupid but its got some solid reviews. Gotto watch it some time. Even though it looks silly. OK, I already said that.

9) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt II

If DH Pt I was the Beginning of the end. I guess this is the End of the End. Though the "Book is always better than the movie" rule holds true, I have found myself rather enjoying them ever since Voldemort attained a corporeal form. The half blood prince and DH PtI I really liked and more so because of how well the lovely friendship between Hermoine and Harry was portrayed. The scene in DH Pt1 when Ron's run off and they are all alone in the tent with no idea what to do, Harry puts on some music and they slow dance. Makes me go "Awwww". Bring DH Pt II on. I am all for it.

NOTE to the Universe: I don't ever say "Awwww" in real life. If I have and can't recall it, I would go back in time and slap my face just before I were to say it.

NOTE 2: "O, Children" By Nick Cave is the song, they dance to

10) Agent Vinod

The Return of Sriram Raghavan. After directing gems like Ek Hasina thi and Johnny Gaddar, where did he run off to? This has been in the making for a long long time. But its here, Finally. And i just love the movie title. Its simple yet intriguing.

I think Sriram is an awesome name, one that only Tmaizhans and Gultis seem to propogate.

11) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

With The Departed and the Infernal Affairs, I faced the dilemma of which to watch first. Ultimately I went with The Departed followed by the IA trilogy but they were all awesome pieces of cinema and I didnt feel cheated. Now I face the same problem. Should I read the book, watch the Swedish movie or wait for Fincher's version. I guess I will wait for Hollywood. Being able to watch it on the big screen is definitely the motivation.

12)The Immortal

We don't know this now, but when the trailer for this film will finally release , I am sure facebook and the internet in general would be set on fire. It will be a visual masterpeice. Exquisite images transformed into moving pictures. Something only Tarsem Singh is capable of as seen in The Cell and The Fall. You could just watch the trailer for The Fall all day long and not get bored. That 2 minute cut contains more class and talent than half of what comes out of Hollywood. The only downside is The Immortal stars Frieda Pinto. But its got Rourke and the new superman as well.

Also wanna watch: We bought a zoo, Contagion, Thor (Go Kenneth Branagh!), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Premium Rush, Hangover 2, Super 8, The Sitter, The Big Year, Captain America,Larry Crowne, The Beaver (I am predicting an Oscar nod for Gibson)

Intrigued: Green Lantern (the costume looks really silly and the trailer didn't do much for me) , Tower Heist, Fright Night, Now

How Good I am!!

2011-03-13T16:47:00.004-04:00

Let me just tell you how good I am.

So I was just thinking to myself how good a director Sriram Raghavan is. Johnny Gaddar and Ek Hasina Thi are some of the best Bollywood movies of the last decade.
Then I think how good Ashwini Khalsekar was in Johnny Gaddar. She is the actress who played Inspector Asha in CID.
Then I realize the guy who played Ins. Daya was also in Johnny Gaddar.
And that Ins.Abhijeet was in Ek Hasina Thi as Saif Ali Khan's friend.
Ergo Sriram Raghavan definitely had something to do with CID. I run over to imdb and sure as hell, Herr Raghavan directed several episodes of CID.

That's how good I am!!

Should we expect ACP Pradyuman to show up in Agent Vinod

If Bollywood were Hollywood we would have seen CID: The Movie long ago!

Ask and Thou shalt be answered

2011-02-13T17:13:00.003-05:00

Dos Goals

2011-02-13T15:45:00.007-05:00

I have two goals in life. Well I have many goals, many missions and achievements to make before them, but at the very end, it is these two goals that will eclipse the others because of their scale and repercussions.

The first is at the same time noble, vain, naive, ambitious and impressive. The second is just narcissistic, vain and laughable and somebody should slap me for being so ignorant. The first one first, naturally. I want to build a city. A city on the western coast of India, somewhere between Kerala and Karnataka, for their lush green forests, but closer to Karnataka for the western ghats. We will call it Indraprastha. Now there is already a suburb of Delhi that's called Indraprastha, but when we (I, my billionaire buddies (who meet every weekend for a game of squash) and a conglomerate of MNCs) are done with the city it will be The Indraprastha. Now what we will do is build a city with an artificial history. The beaches will be littered with unfinished mammoth sculptures, The forests with dilapidated ruins of temples and palaces. The city itself will be built part old world style and part skyscrapers and all that. There will be cobbled streets winding through narrow lanes amidst old havelis and villas. And there will be eurpoean style squares. Roundabouts, lots of them. Statues. And I can't emphasize the statues enough. There will be one at every junction telling the story of the ancient king Sanghamitra who ruled over Indraprastha, statues from the indian independence movement, famous Indian and world authors, religious figures , The world's largest standing and sleeping buddha, A statue of Christ that will dwarf the Redeemer, and of course The largest Arjuna-Krishna- crisis of conscience in the middle of Kurukshetra statue. Also a huge central park-ish park filled with references to the greatest and most beloved movies of all time. And of course there will be the mystery trail ala Davinci Code that runs through the city and with clues embedded everywhere. Aquarium with singapore style shows. Done. World class transit system - Done. Can you say LEED certified city?- Done. A huge SEZ around the city to bring in people.The world's largest renewable energy plants. Double done.We will even import Chinese, Polish and Jamaican people to develop encalves in the city to add an intl character to it. And imagine all this in India.

The Second one. When AXN first came out in India, they would show all these movies at 1pm weekdays that would have decent production values but no known actors. It was only later that I realized most of these were Direct to Video flicks or Canadian and Australian films. Now I remember 2 of them that had plotlines set in the near future in which the hero is on the run from the authority for various reasons only to realize in the end that he was cloned/ pulled from time to act as a vessel for an old rich man who wants to transfer his soul into the Hero's body. Freejack with Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger was actually one of the better ones and I think I saw it on Star movies. Anyway, that's my second goal in life. I want to be immortal. There I said it. Its the saddest thing in the world that we age, wrinkle, whither and die. Laugh all you want, but I actually think it could happen. The Feb 21 Time magazine cover story proclaims 2045 to be the year when Man becomes immortal. Now I haven't read the story yet, but I am guessing its something like Freejack. Now either you could clone a human vessel for you to transfer into or you could build an android and transfer your essence into it. Or we find out how to turn off the aging button in our bodies. If everyone starts doing it I guess that means the end of human reproduction since no one is dying anymore , and if people keeping on making babies, you are going to have very crowded planet . So everyone accepts that or we decide to populate other planets and moons.

Now I saw some movie that said humans appreciate life more because we know how ethereal it is. I see myself as more of a Angel/Wolverine-type living through the ages until I get tired of it and disconnect the cord kind of guy.

That's it. Those are my two primary-have to do it before I die goals in life. Oh, Not dying is the second one.

Trivia:

Has anyone heard of the Gladiator 2 script that was commissioned by Russel Crowe. It had the Maximus character being resurrected by Roman gods as an immortal and we see him live through humainties biggest events. The film ends with him facing off a gorde of alien ships in a robot suit. The script was written by Nick Cave, the Aussie singer, and it supposedly it works very well as a tragedy about one man's loneliness.

10 Movies that need to be made in India

2011-01-30T16:37:00.006-05:00

Now we can all agree that there is a lot that the Indian film industry can do in terms of improving its content, quality, world image .. a lot of things. Coming as we do from a country with such richness and diversity we cannot deny that there are millions of stories tumulting within our borders and our consciousness. I have put down a list of 10 movies that are essentially Indian tales that need to be told not only because they are deeply rooted in our culture but because they are in many ways a criminal under-use of our right to freedom of expression. History textbooks are nothing but propoganda machine. I for did not know that the Kashmir as we were shown in textbooks and maps only existed in 1947. Everyone goes about the Godhra riots and massacres and how the BJP is a communal force, but what about the 1984 riots and how the congress leaders were carrying out systematic lynching of Sikhs in the capital. No one accuses the Congress of being communalist , do they? (I am a congress voter btw). There is a genuine need to inform and educate. There is so much we do not know.And why is there no biopics or historical fiction being produced in India. Enough with alternate takes on the Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Indian Independence movement should fill the niche of WWII films in India. Lets not look at the past only, why not have fictional representation of India in the future (which is not called Love Story 5050). I was really exited about Shekhar Kapur's Paani set in a India with dire water shortage and how that had changed the political landscape, but that got stalled. Ok , so if I was a director or a Writer, the following 10 movies are what I would I make, or at least I would very much like someone to make films like these:

1) Sanjay

A biopic of Sanjay Gandhi. How different would India be had he survived past the 80s. His positioning as Indira's Heir. The conspiracy theories behind his death. His infamous "nasbandhi" vans. Maneka Gandhi and her fallout with Indira. You know who is perfect to play the role? Faroukh Sheikh. If they had made this in 1985

2) 1857

This should be a three parter or at least 2 films just because of the volume of tales to be told. How people from different parts of India banded together to put Zafar back on the throne and revive the Mughal empire. For a while the dream seemed possible, and then it was so sadly squashed by the Company whose soldiers were all Indians too. Let's show the whole truth and not be squeemish on details. Like how Mangal pandey is not quite the hero he is shown to be, how there some mutineers who raped English women, the massacres of the mutineers that followed and how Zafar was exiled to rangoon, but not before being presented with the heads of his children on a platter.

3) Nehru

The true heir of Gandhi.The man credited for keeping India together. The man who according to Ramachandra Guha , was the leader that a diverse loosely cohesive nascent state needed to survive, without whom we would have disbanded into independant states and monarchies. There was a Hollywood movie being made about his love affair with Edwina Mountbatten but which is now on the backburner, partly I hear due to objections by the Indian Government. The NAM, shimla pact and of course his daughter.

4) Bharat 2100 AD

A future where ,the fall of the western civilization has led to the sanskritization of India. A blade runner like dystopic future, where technology coexists with vedic texts and dhotis. And it rains all the time. And we follow a cop (kotwal/subedar/senapati?) as he tries to hunt down a serial killer who has delusions tat he is Arjuna from the Mahabharata and has visions of Krishna asking him to kill in the name of dharma. Formulaic?? But you have to admit you have never seen this landscape and setting on screen.

5) The Four deaths of the Mahatma aka Who killed the Mahatama

Tushar Gandhi wrote a book on the several assassination attempts on the Mahatma. one of them was by Godse himself. Gandhiji had a talk with him when after the failed attempt he was caught but could not take away the hatred in his heart. He eventually succeeded. The place where it happened is actually walking distance from my place in Delhi.

6) Emergency

Maybe just make a miniseries on the entire Gandhi clan and be done with it, but this iconic dynasty is undeniably the true first family of India and filled with interesting characters. Indira Gandhi's rule will forever be remembered for the dark period our country went through. The players who engineered the fall of democracy and the people who fought back, the extrajudical killings and the people who disappeared. These are tales that need to told.

7) Khalistan

Before Kashmir, there was Khalistan. The first truly violent Secessionist movement of India. The golden temple attack, Indira's assassination and the 1984 riots. Sad times for the country.

8) Lal Salaam

The story of a youth who runs away and joins a Maoist group and the rise and fall of the group through his eyes. There are no good guys. Only people with agendas.

9) Nagaland Noir

A movie set completely in the North East. A 40ish private eye sleepwalks through his life in a small town near Kohima until the death of a girl throws him into the middle of the timber mafia and the ULFA. Is that Noir enough for you? I would totally see this movie. Why do we forget that these states are a part of us. The day when we incorporate them into our popular culture is that day we have arrived as a united and inclusive nation.

10) Ayodhya

The incident that brought shame to our nation, our democracy and our so called secularity. How the government stood around while "activists" defiled a place of worship.

Did you know:

1) Jinnah , the creator of an entire nation has no direct Pakistani descendents. His direct descendents are all Indians. How? because his only daughter married an Indian industrialist from the Wadia family, owner's of Bombay Dyeing. Preity Zinta's ex Ness Wadia is Jinnah's great grandson.

2) Edwina Mountbatten wished to be buried at sea and Nehru sent two indian naval ships to accompany her body

3) Lord Mountbatten was assassinated by the IRA.

4) So so sad : http://www.ahrchk.net/pub/pdf/mof.pdf

Best Casting ever

2011-01-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

Sacha Baron Cohen playing Freddy Mercury in a biopic.

Suspiciously Similar

2010-12-14T15:36:00.004-05:00

Now I am no one to pass judgment on James L. Brooks' new movie, but How Do You Know has almost identical protagonists to his spectacular 1987 film Broadcast News. Same dogs, new tricks?? I will find out this evening, I have a free pass!!

Heck, Nicholson is wearing the exact same coat, can you believe it??

A Most Fitting Anology

2010-11-30T18:40:00.006-05:00

Here I was sitting in my office pondering over this and that, you know world stuff, and then it hit me. It was a most startling thought but the more i thought it over the more befitting it seemed.

GANDHI IS PROFESSOR X!!!

And if that weren't enough check this out

JINNAH IS MAGNETO

Don't you see the physical resemblance? The similarity of thought?

Think about it, All encompasing, tolerant, inclusive and kind - Gandhi

Cynical, someone who once fought the good fight but now has turned to darker school of thought,- Jinnah

Should I inform some government agency? Are there any forms that I need to fill out to have this acknowledged by the National Archives of India? Do I need to let Bryan Singer know? There has to be some forms, rt?

Guess that Makes India the X-men and Pakistan the Brotherhood of the Mutants.

10 movies that rocked my world ' 2010

2010-11-21T01:32:00.013-05:00

I am a hunter. Every weekend I step out of the house in a hunt for good movies. Movies to add to this very list. A recollection of the years best and most memorable.This year, I saw a total of 132 movies (Yes, I kept track) 65 at home and 67 in the theater of which 7 were free. Most were mediocre and unmemorable, some memorable for the wrong reasons and some will go into my all time fav list. Without much delay , I present to you 2010:

1) Guzaarish

I would call the movie near perfect. there were a couple of minute details that popped now and then and felt incongruous, but nothing that could distract me so much as to take anything away from the experience. Hrithik better win some awards for this one. Loved his acting and dialogues. His character was genuinely funny, with some really good one liners. I have actually never seen a complete SLB movie before, but this one I loved. Aishwarya dancing to Udi was a sheer cinematic enthralling experience. Similarily Tera Zikr hai was a pleasure to watch

2) Toy Story 3

My second fav movie of the year. Like all Pixar films its a heartfelt story with an adventure thrown in for good measure and a plethora of beloved characters. Oh man that scene with the incinerator. I really thought this was it. I nearly teared up. Nearly. There were people crying all over the theater. Not me .. :).

3) I Saw the Devil

This movie shows you in detail what happens when one Badass Motorfinger meets an equally Badass Motorfinger. If I had not seen any other movie this year, but just this one, I would have still have been happy. It blew me away. Best film of the year. Man, the Koreans are so so good. How is India ever gonna catchup??

4) The Ghost Writer

People wont work with Mel Gibson cause of his anti-semitic rants, but no one says anything about Polanski. Still, if you can separate the man from the art, then watch this movie. One of the best thrillers of the year with a spectacular cast and an amazing atmosphere.

5)The Next Three days

No love for this movie from anywhere in the media. I thought it was a spectacular combination of drama and edge of your seat thrills. The entire second half had me holding on by the seat of my pants. Russell Crowe is amazing as always and nice to see Elizabeth Banks in a serious role.

6) Watchmen

Rorschach's journal : 20 Jan 2011. Is the movie too long, you will ask and I whisper "No". What an exhibition of sheer talent by Zack Snyder. Even though its a long movie I was taut with attention throughout. Rorschach is a complete badass. The opening scenes set to "The times they are a changing" was genius . His monologue at the beginning is so well crafted. I think Mr.Snyder is a great choice for the Superman reboot. Can't wait for it.

"None of you seem to understand. I am not locked in here with you, You are locked in here with me"

7)Election/About Schmidt

Alexander Payne is a genius. With biting humor , his near dark comedies are a ton of fun, filled with flawed yet lovable characters, you can't help be pulled in. I saw this double whammy from the director and had so much fun. Nicholson was amazing as Schmidt and the scene where he tries to seduce a married woman, his return to the house where he was born - stellar. Election maybe Broderick's only other good movie after Ferris Bueller's Day Off. And thank you for introducing me to the music of Donovan.

8) Broadcast News/Lost in America

Both star Albert Brooks. My actor discovery of the year. I am trying to watch all his films now. Broadcast News - I love the fact that John Hurt's character knows that he is maybe not that smart and even though he is the unscrupulous of the lot he works hard at getting his career ahead. Lost in America is hilarious. A couple who drop out of society to travel across america but lose their savings in a night of manic gambling. Just the scene where Mr.Brooks explains his grand advertising campaign to the casino manager is worth it.

9) Girlfight

A girl spars with her boyfriend in the ring at the climax. That's right, the hero and heroine, sparring, and the girl wins. There I gave away the movie. But it made for one of the must engrossing fights I have ever seen on the screen. Michelle Rodriguez always plays the tough chick and you can see where it all started.

10) Superman Returns

Bryan Singer's best movie perhaps. Brandon Routh fits the part to a T. Superman's return and subsequent scenes are filled with a beautiful poignancy. Lex Luthor remains more comedic than villainous , like in the comic books, Kevin Spacey is a delight to watch still. I would have loved to see the organic contimuation of this story, but I guess that's not happening. And the way Brandon Routh's career is going, it looks like he has been struck by the Superman curse too.

11) The Fighter

A very human tale of a boxing family. The Fighters, it should have been called. What is Bale doing to his body? Well, I am sure he will nab the Supporting Actor Oscar. But maybe Geoffrey Rush might steal it from him, for being in a typically Oscar bait movie- The King's Speech. I am guessing Matt Damon and Jeremy Renner may get nominated too.

12) A-team

You have to go with it. That's the only way you are going to love this movie. They have a freaking tank escape a free fall by shooting its cannon towards the ground and use the recoil to lessen their fall. They know they are going overboard and they embrace the fact and that makes for a very fun action movie. I stood up and clapped at the end. I was smiling. You know why? Because I love it when a plan comes together!!

13) True Grit

Hailee Stienfield is definitely a star of tomorrow. She holds up so well against giants like Jeff bridges and Matt Damon. Jeff Bridges is spectacular as always. Its hard to say that this is the second collaboration of Mr. Bridges with the Coen brothers, after the iconic "The Big Lebowski". And Matt Damon biting his tongue and speaking funny after that was a nice touch. A thrilling climax and loved Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin in their roles.

Also Ran: The American, , Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, Get him to the Greek, The Other Guys, Unthinkable, Youth in Revolt, Striker, Wall Street pt1,How to train your dragon, The year my voice broke, Kick Ass, Exorcist III, Black Swan, The Town, Hereafter.

Abhorred: I hate luv Storys, the first five minutes of Housefull before I walked out to the adjacent screen to watch Badmaash Company, Alice in Wonderland, Little Fockers, Kites, TeesMaarKhan (save the Akshay Khanna scenes)

Movie with the worst extras in the world: Rajneeti

Leading ladies I fell in love with: Rebecca Hall - The Town, Kate Bosworth - Superman Returns, Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Still haven't seen: Winter's bone, The King's Speech, Blue Valentine, Green Zone, Let me in and MacGruber

New Delhi, New Delhi

2010-09-27T23:46:00.004-04:00

You should see the revamped Delhi Airport. Looks just like any other international destination. But they need to do some work on the parking lot and the surrounding area. Its all debris and dust. I woke up at 5 in the morning to go for a walk, when the dawn was a good half hour away. By far, the morning is the best time to see the city. Early morning. When the light is not too harsh and the people aren't all up and about. You feel like its just you and the city. Like you own the whole of it.

Lodi Gardens is a 15th century park in New Delhi. There 5 or 6 tomb like structures called Gumbads around the park. It never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful pieces of history we have smack dab in the middle of the city. You see a lot of people out on a morning walk even some socialites and politicians with their bodyguards in tow. And there are dogs. Stray dogs which have clear marked territories around the city. Dogs which will stare at old people doing yoga or LOLing with as much curiosity as you might. Dogs which sometime start running along side some folks as if they were their owners. Some of them look khandani. Bastard children of rich dogs. And others just like the street they grew up on.

You have to walk by the swanky Khan Market to get here. My friend Samir has a house here, but he is away in Australia right now. Khan market is the 21st most expensive retail outlet in the world. There are markets in the ground floor and houses on the first. All the expatriates and the rich come here to hang out and shop. We used to go to Goel's to have Golguppay but they moved away. I remember Arun, Sam and I all got sick together after having Kathi rolls from the famous Khan Chacha's though Samir still maintains its not the rolls but something else.

My brother asked me to go to Purani dilli with him to have breakfast at Karim's. The place is run by descendants of ShahJahan's court chefs. I have been there before and was underwhelmed. My brother was raving about the Nihari and Khameeri Roti. While it was definitely good, I found it to be more of a lunch thing than a breakfast. I am not too privy to eating meat in the morning but my scrawny brother went on to devour roti after roti and was grinning ear to ear.

"How can you eat so much meat in the morning"I asked my brother.

"Thats what I am telling you, The Mughals were friggin awesome" he said.

My brother drives like a crazy person. So does everyone else in Delhi. Why did I not see this all these years.

If I had a Twitter account

2010-09-19T19:40:00.004-04:00

I am one of those who believe that Twitter accounts should only be operated by celebrities. People who actually have an audience that would be willing to know when they are in the shower and if they are clipping their nails right now. You and me, we should just stick to our Facebook and Gmail status updates. But if I were to have an account, it would be a nifty of getting some observations across which don't necessarily warrant a blog post. Here goes

1) The biggest tragedy of my life is that I can't sing.

2) Just got my clock radio working. No longer waiting in my car waiting for the NPR story to finish.

3) @ Pakteam : Shame shame puppy shame.

4) Got stuck in the elevator, right after a screening of Devil. Creeeepy!!

5) @ Kipling: thats pretty much the definition of a Pompous self-righteous Asshole

6) @U2_360Tour : Can't stop listening to "And the ground beneath her feet"

What's in a name?

2010-08-12T00:20:00.004-04:00

I have a very strange sounding and a very rare last name. I know that. I have seen a fair amount of people twist their face and repeat my name with a bookended question mark.You would think, being Indian you would pronounce the D as in Indu but you do it as you do in ghoda. To be frank I am myself quite new to the name. While I always knew that Adimari was my family name and my last name on the birth certificate, all through school I was Arjun Raju. Thats right,two first names. If I was in Hyderabad, where Raju is a common surname, I would have fit right in. But I was not, so as it happened, my name got mistaken and mashed up with another similar sounding name, my dear friend and the next name on the rollcall, Arun Raj. So there would be people calling us Arjun Raj and Arun Raju.

The two things I am most proud of about myself, I can honestly take no credit for. One is that I am tall, and the other is my name. Arjun is probably the coolest name you can find in all of Bharat. Mallus are known for having horrible names, so in a sea of shijin, vijin, lijin, tijo, rijo, sijo, mijo, qijo my name does stand out. You know it. I am not being pompous, its just plain facts. If you are a Rakesh or Ankit or Anoop, you know that when you hear my name you automatically assume me to be better than you (I am not). The name carries expectations with it, responsibilities. People assume you to be a leader (I am not), they expect you to jump into a raging fire to save a baby or throw yourself in front of a bullet to save Nirupa Roy or climb a tree to get a kitty down (I hate cats). The bar's been set very high, I know and even though I am not living up to it, I would like to take a moment to salute those brave parents who choose mediocrity (whats my blog called?) just to keep it alive. Those who put on a brave face and decide to name there kid Prateek or Chunnilal or Sushmakumari just to keep these names alive. Really brave stuff.

Now, till Facebook came along I did not know that my very uncool sounding last name is in fact a name from historic Italy. I was friended by a whole family of Adimaris from Argentina and Italy who were very keen to know what their kin was doing in India. Of course there is no remote relation between the Adimari famili indiana and the italian ones but still its nice to know. The most famous Adimari of all time is one Ralph Adimari who was apparently a pop culture enthusiast , very much like me.

Brothers?

2010-07-18T18:39:00.002-04:00

L-R : James Franco, Joseph Gordan-Levitt, Heath Ledger, Charlie Hunnam

What About Miami?

2010-07-11T18:19:00.003-04:00

What about it? Why haven't I written about my sojourns in the land of southern delights? Where USA comes for its spring breaks and summer timeshares? Of course, there's time or not finding any. I am also finding myself increasingly searching for the ideal situations for me to get writing. Things just dont seem to be falling in line. Anyway, so is Miami really the party capital of USA with its azure beaches and laid back life? Well yes and no. All the "partying" takes place in a place called South Beach, an island just off the coast of Miami which the Gods decreed to be most Partyistic. Since I am not a Party-er, I have viewed the place only through a tourist's eyes and while people might be drawn to the clubs and all, what I found appealing was the subculture of almost commune-like life that exists here with neo-hippies roaming around in kurtas and harem pants, on their $ 200 a month rented scooters and early morning free yoga classes in the parks. The City part of Miami is like any other with its sky kissing buildings being neatly maneuvered by a meandering , 2 storey high Metrorail, but with some breathtaking views along the coastline. Another beatiful part of the city is the historic Coral Gables which is a residential area with really old, tree lined spanish style houses and all smack dab in the middle of Miami. There's also places named Little Haiti and Little Havana named after the dominant immigration population, but its the cuban immigrants that have really dominated the flavor of the city. You have cuban cafe's everywhere with really enticing empanadas and cafe con leche. Spanish is the first language and English not necessary to get by. You have advertisments in both Spanish and English and in some parts of the city just Spanish. I get by with una and dos and Je Quero which means I want.

Even though this is all that the city offers, my life revolves around the Airport. I live and work at opposite sides of the airport and can see planes take from both my bedroom window and my office balcony. My apartment is so close that the roar from the engines stops conversations and pauses movies till the flight is on its way.

1059 miles. That is the distance from Miami Beach to Washington DC. I have been asked this 12 times since I moved to Miami by my Mallu friends.They are of course quoting an old 80's flick in which the hero pretending to be an NRI and is quizzed by his girlfriend's father to gauge his authenticity.

"How many miles from Miami beach to Washington DC"

"Miles and miles and miles" the hero replies in his accented English.

Reworking Shyamalan Titles

2010-06-23T20:35:00.005-04:00

I spent the last weekend volunteering at the Florida Supercon and I noticed that a lot of the other volunteers were really excited for The Last Airbender. I am too and I hope its a big hit and he gets to make the thriller with Bruce Willis and Gwyneth Paltrow that he is currently shopping around the studios. Anyway it struck me that all of his titles could actually be titles for very different and very generic films. Let me elaborate:

1) The Sixth Sense: A sex comedy much in the vein of "The Ugly Truth" about how men and women want different things.

2) Unbreakable: The story of the "unbreakable" spirit of one young man with congenital "Insert Handicap"as he struggles to achieve his childhood dream of becoming a "Insert Sport/ Musical talent".

3) Signs: A romantic "its meant to be" kind of comedy about a boy and a girl and how fate puts them together no matter how much they try to get away from each other. In the end they realize "its meant to be" and boy stops girl just as she is trying to baord a ship to go off to do research in Antartica.

4) The Village: The story of a group of friends through the ages as they hang around New York's Greenwich Village

5) Lady in the Water: A small town in shocked by the discovery of a dead girl in the town river. Suspicions start flying and skeletons come out of the closet as everyone discovers its not so innocent a town as it would seem.

6) The Happening: A teen comedy about a loser who becomes the talk of his high school when he accidentally gets photographed with a Miley Cyrus/Selena Gomez type teen sensation. In the end his fame dies away and he learns the importance of being himself. Of course he gets the girl-who-was-his-friend-all-along-and-secretly-loved-him-but-never-told-him-and-he-was-too-blind-to-see-her-for-what-she-was. The film would be called The Happenin'.

7) The Last Airbender: a film about the airbending culture, a slang term in Kite-boarding for the really slick move where you use your board and kite to appear to float over water. We see the young kid who moves into a surfer town and gets involved with the surfer crowd and discovers himself through kite-Boarding. A coming of age/finding yourself/letting go type of movie.

Side note on Signs: The guy arrives at the port too late and sees the ship leave, as he turns around its the girl with her luggage. She never got on in the first place. Aaaawww!! so cute! Makes me wanna go strangle a puppy or two!

NY Pilgrimage

2010-06-08T23:28:00.002-04:00

Why such a long hiatus you ask? well, its not that I reached a point where I had nothing to say anymore. Nor is it the fact that life in Miami is so engrossing that it leaves no time for anything else. Its just that I couldn't get my damn phone to transfer some photos to my comp. See, I had to say goodbye to NY/NJ properly before I started writing about Miami. You know they say you could live in Paris all your life and still never see the Tour Eiffel. Same thing happened to me in NJ. I had never been to the Statue of Liberty and a couple of other places. So before leaving I did a blitzkrieg visit of the all the famous sites. Then I visited some other places which were special for entirely different reasons. I humbly present the following:

1) Tom's Restaurant - Seinfeld

Throughout my teens I watched Friends while skipping the weird show that preceded it on Star World. How could I be so oblivious, so short sighted? Seinfeld is one of the greatest TV shows ever. EVER! Now, I find Friends lowly, even pedestrian. Seinfeld is avant garde. Seinfeld will still be hilarious 50 years from now. We need to beam Seinfeld into space so that Aliens realize that humans too are an intelligent species capable of much genius. Every Seinfeld episode is quotable. Seinfeld should be part of school curriculum. So I had to pay my respects at the below holy shrine before I left. The exterior shot of Monk's Cafe that is shown in almost every episode. In reality its Tom's Restaurant and they didn't actually shoot anything here, just the exterior shot. There were other people taking photos too.

2) Central Park - Marathon Man

Method actor Dustin Hoffman, actually ran a mile or two before each scene so he really appeared out of breath in the film. The following scene takes place just before the Nazi guy's brother crashes his car. Marathon man is such a fine film, it makes me wanna go out and run, even though its not exactly about running marathons.

"Is it safe?", "Is it safe?", "Is it safe?"

3) Washington Park - When Harry Met Sally

The following pic is Where Sally dropped off Harry after they share a long drive home from college. WHMS probably is the quintessential "can a guy and gal just be friends" film. Its not a chick flick, its not a romcom. Its a drama set around a relationship. I took the pic from the wrong side though. If you lean into the screen and spot a yellow car in the pic to the right, thats Sally's car right there. Go on .. lean in.

4) Manhattan Bridge - Once upon a Time in America

This is one heck of a film. Part male bonding/ friends through the ages, part Crime drama and part mindf*k. Sergio Leone may be known for his "Stranger with no name" flicks but this right here is undoubtedly his masterpiece. The following pic is not only the poster but also one fine and poignant scene from the film. This was the hardest place to get to and even though I though I was in the actual point, I should have maybe moved a couple of hundred yards closer.

5) The Soup Kitchen - Seinfeld

The place featured in this epic episode is now closed down. So indeed, No soup for me. There's a board that says that its available for rent. When I went around looking for it , I knew I was in the right place but just couldn't spot it. I asked a shopkeeper if there was anyplace to get soup nearby, he said there was, but if I was looking for the Seinfeld place, it was closed down. He pointed me in the right direction and said a lot of folks came by asking for the place.

Now that that's done, hopefully I can start writing about Miami!

Bye Bye NJ/NY

2010-03-15T23:14:00.005-04:00

I am scared of my boss. THE Boss, the owner of the company, that is. He has really thick fingers with rings on them and wears expensive shirts with cufflinks, like all rich people do. But when I actually had a chance to talk with him I realized how wrong I was. He was as easy talk to as anyone else in the office. That is one thing I like about America. No matter how old the person is you can talk to him like he is your own age, with the same air of familiarity. So about two weeks ago he called me to his office and asked me straight away , How would I like to move to Miami? Now my office is on the 30th floor. Beautiful NY skyline view, you can see both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge. I have a cubicle, and whenever I have to go to one of the cabins and talk to the really important guys, even though I am talking to them, I am actually looking just over their heads, admiring the skyline, nodding my head and jutting in at the right moments. But that question brought me right back to the room. The perfect answer at the time would have been "I need time to think". I said to myself thats what I am going to say. And I said, No I wouldn't mind moving to Miami. Like those moments when the waitress asks if you are ready to order, and you are not but still you blurt out whatever you see on the menu. I was going to Miami, then and there in that room, it was decided.

I cant get NY out of my head. Within this orchard of concrete & glass trees, within this perfect lattice of bitumen resides the quintessential notion of a city. It is a personal life goal to live in this city for some time. I like to think that this place has never changed. A place where time accumulates, layer upon layer, era upon era. That afternoon as I was munching on the Pizza bought by The Big Boss (he buys lunch for the entire office whenever he is in town) I looked down upon a nearby Building - an apartment, with its open windows. A lady was sunbathing on the roof/penthouse. A person had his bed propped right up to his window and had an amazing view of the denizens on the street. A baby grasping the window and trying to stand as its mother/nanny looks on. Another apartment was filled with books. Everywhere. All so Woody Allenish.No, Woody Allen is NYish. All those people getting to live their lives in the city, and I was going away. It broke my heart, it did, that merry rent controlled downtown red building.

So Miami it is. Where Dexter and Burn Notice take place. Tony Montana's town. I hear they show Mallu movies in the theaters there. It cant be that bad ,rt? But I will miss this place. I guess more than NY , I am in love with the idea of NY. The life it represents. There is you and the city and the endless possibilities of life. With Simon & Garfunkel playing in the background. Even when you don't want it to.

Brothers??

2010-02-26T18:52:00.003-05:00

Are John Locke and Creed Bratton long lost brothers? I like to think so..

New York Commute Pt.2: Commute Harder

2010-02-21T16:04:00.005-05:00

Why do people lean onto the tracks to see if the train is approaching? It is going to come when it comes, leaning is not gonna make the train engineer make it run faster or feel bad for arriving late. Its just some things people do. You want to tell if the train is here, close your eyes and just stand at the platform. When you feel the wind suddenly picking up pace, almost a gust, thats when you know the train is here.

I have 24 minutes everyday from when my office lets out to when the 5:54 NJTransit trian leaves NY Penn station. I have to rush out of the office everyday if I have to catch the subway. It runs at every 6 minutes during the evening rush hour and 4 minutes during the morning. Yes,I have timed it. I try not to get all tied up about being late, because ,hey , you get there when you get there. Right? But going to the office and to a movie are the only two times I am hyper , alert and really flummoxed abt getting late. It irks me to no bounds when the people in the subway try to get in even when its fully packed. Its a true measure of the nature of the people of a city how they behave in the mass transit system, and let me tell you from what I have seen , theres no difference between NDC and NYC. This last Thursday, it was a true case of Hexagonal closed Packing . You can tell if you are late at the platform by the number of people waiting at the platform, naturally. It was overflowing. Apparently an A-express was cancelled. So we all waited. The next to come was a local C and suddenly I saw some ppl running further down the platform. I knew it must be some newyorker trick so I followed them and the train stopped way down the platform and I was right in front of the last car. I got in as did the whole platform. It was hell. and the door closed and opened several times with the engineer pleading ppl to stand back and wait for the next train. Finally we started moving. The next station was Spring St. If we couldnt fit in ppl at the last station why bother now , I thought .But there are always ppl getting off , silly. And again, ppl trying to wedge in as much as possible. I couldnt understand how where they fitting in. I looked over to the other side to see if there were ppl spilling over from the doors and windows like a priyadarshan movie, but no. Some ppl were actually taking a run and plopping into the mass of human meat. Like a bucket filled to the rim but still not overflowing from the drops that keep dripping into it. At the next station I wanted to actually put my arms across the door and stop ppl from getting in. Cant you see? We are full. No more!! The crowd thinned away as we got closer to NY Penn. And what happened just 2 stops before NY Penn?? The train stopped for some reason. My NJT train had already left , so I was no longer worried. So we all just stood there looking at each other, looking away when abt to be caught only to catch someone else who was staring at us, look away. I saw two ppl discussing a blueprint and I knew they were brothers of the same cloth. Civil Engineers. Why does it make me so giddy to know that they wield the same sword, the same shields?? Nearby a curly haired dude tries to read from the book , a old black lady is reading. She frowns at him and he looks away. A stop arrives. People get off. We rearrange ourselves. And now the curly haired dude is trying to decipher the blueprints. He even rubs his chin in mock wondering. The new cargo of ppl has with them a large black man who pleads with us to confess our sins and come under the lord's shadow, offering his own story to convey the power of JC. "I stole from my mother" "What answer would I give , when I die and the lord asks me , How is it that you were a lousy christian but an extraordinary crack head " "i was beyond redemption, but if I can see the light , hail the lord, so can you". The subway comes with its own brand of entertainment. I have actually seen this guy before peddling the same "wares". Have you wondered what would happen if two eccentrics were put in a ring and asked to have a go at it? Thats what happened the other time, when a drunk guy started loudly agreeing with everything the large dude was saying, putting him off and then leading to a loud argument resulting in the large guy getting off at the next station. The drunk guy beamed triumphantly.

My stop arrives and I get off. I have 15 minutes till the next train. All around me food tempts me, calling out to me, weilding a magnetic pull on my wallet. I give in and grab a white slice and join the scores staring at the info screen , waiting to know which platform are they docking my train. I get on.The train enters the tunnel soon after and you cant tell when its out because its dark outside when it comes out, as dark as the inside of the tunnel. It stops at Newark Penn, a station I have had a long relationship with. People cram in, among them Punit Kataria , Lavesh Gupta and Samir Dudani, complete with the french beard he has had since he was 9 years old, only its a trio of desis who remind me of them. Thats how Ms.Marple solved crime , you know. She was old and had met a lot of people in her life and could compare anyone to one of those people and predict how they would act and how they would have acted in a certain situation. I can tell they are consultants. Oh how some F1 students detest consultants, who arrive here on a direct H1B. I pretend to read but I am listening to their conversation. The ever eavesdropper. It gets boring after a while and I stop. I try to look at what the guy sitting next to me is holding. He has fell asleep with his wallet open displaying his train pass. He has some 20 $ bills, a few cards and why is he carrrying his SS card around. Dude , not safe. I reach Edison where the train spews out the last of the FOBs, the H1Bs, the ABCDs, the F1s and every other kind of desi including me. I put on my cap and my gloves and crush the snow as I walk to the other side. And I wait for my ride. Squash awaits and arrogant victory too.

De-Evolved Technology.

2010-02-21T11:13:00.004-05:00

I like to eat with my hands. If its Indian food , hands it is. Thats the only way to truly savour the dish. I cringe everytime I see an idli being dunked in sambar with a fork. That is so wrong. You have to prod it, cajole and coax the idli with your hands, tell it to make love with the sambar. Thats the only way to do it. No firangi instruments can bring out the true taste of Indian food. How can you eat a biriyani with just a fork? I have done it, but only under social duress and weak resolve. Are you telling me, that 4 pronged instrument can deftly include the perfect amount of raita,achar, crushed papad all in the same "nivala". You then ,Sir, are plain lying. I'd rather not go to an Indian Restaurant with a white person. Its just not going to work out. No people who know wouldn't call me a violent person or prone to anger. But you wanna see me flip out? I tell you if I ever see someone eat a Sadya with a spoon or fork, I swear to god, I am gonna go napalm on his ass.

Ok now being the master digresser that I am lets get to the issue of getting hands dirty. There are certain situations, where you would want your hands to maybe remain un-messy. Shaving for instance. I just cannot stand the gel and foam that you have to apply with your fingers on your face. You always end up using more than required and drop sods everywhere. What if there was a instrument that could help us lather better, it could be a small brush of some sort and the gel would be applied to one end and then you use it lather up your face. Smart rt? Lets call it the shaving brush. Wait a friggin second. There used to be just such a thing. And it worked perfectly. What happened? Somehow everyone decided that its just an antiquated redundancy. Didn't we. Now its gone and we cant find it. Lost in the annals of time. Tell me how is this moving forward, how is this progress.

Touchscreens are another thing that irk me. Can you imagine sitting all day with your hand raised in front of you like a zombie and touching and moving things on the screen ala the new touchscreen desktops from hp/lenovo. How inconvenient. I agree that the whole touchscreen technology can enhance the user experience manifold. But it shouldn't be on the screen but on my keyboard. Give me a keyboard which doubles up as a touchscreen and I will be a happy camper. You cant expect anyone to stand all day in the office and be like Tommy Cruise in Minority report. Not happening. Now maybe I haven't been watching TED as much as everyone else and what I may be saying might be no longer relevant but from my limited exposure to the touchscreen technology, this is what I deduce and feel.

A self aware dream

2010-02-13T15:33:00.004-05:00

I am sure everyone thinks they have the best damn , strangest and quirkiest dreams ever. And they are right. We all do. Some dreams are just so compelling and thrilling that they could be movie plots. And we forget most of the details as soon as we wake up. That sucks doesn't it. The price of admission I guess. Well I think the one I had today was exciting cause it broke the fourth wall in a sense.

So its Tuesday Morning and I am at the train station with Teja and I find it oddly disturbing that the weekend just went by like that. I tell Teja that we must be in a dream because there is no way this Tuesday morning because I have no memory of the weekend. Where did my weekend go?? Teja tells that it is Tuesday morning even though he too doesn't remember the weekend. Then I show him my watch which says the time is 3:26 pm. Its the afternoon and we are standing at the train station thinking its morning, it has to be a dream. He agrees, and we find it strange that we are having the same dream. There are three other people at the station two girls who go to Rutgers and another one from my school who used to act in public service messages on doordarshan. She wants us to come with her parents on this hike that they are taking up a mountain that morning. We realize that the only way to escape this dream is to accompany her and do what her parents want otherwise we are going to be stuck in this time loop forever. There was lots more which I don't remember and a follow up dream where I tell some old lady about having this dream where I realize that I am in a dream. Then like all good things.. I woke up.

On Neighbours

2010-02-13T14:28:00.004-05:00

In India growing up , your life is intangibly intertwined with the lives of your neighbours. The people whose name you shout out in the evenings to come down and play cricket with or whom your mom has knitting parties with and whom your father stops you on the way back from the vegetable wallah to discuss the Mulla Periyar Dam issue with, while you pull restlessly at his arm, are all your neighbours. Sweets, green bananas, coconuts and packets of elaichi brought back from the "gaon" - a term used to refer to that part of your home state where your parents grew up and where all your cousins and aunts and uncles live and which by now has become a full fledged town - are invariably shared, car rides given, keys left with while you go out to play and even books and toys handed down from the older kids next door. We are one big community aren't we.

However I find that once you are a grown up there exists a certain formality when you interact with others which actually prevents you from getting close. It is this formality that actually makes it hard for you to find friends when you all grown up. The place where my family lives right now in Delhi is a fine example of the anti-community that is characteristic of the modern highly individual and independent lifestyle that we are forced to lead. Pandara Road is a government quarters with the best damn location in Delhi. Everything is near by. South Delhi, CP, India gate, central Delhi everything an M-13/440 away. This place was built by the British actually for their bureaucratic elite and still serves the same purpose. The ceilings are higher that 10 feet, the fans bulky and look like inverted pressure cookers and the doors all two leafed. It reeks of the Delhi of old and for that I love it. But there are hardly any people about. Where are the children playing in the parks, tip topping for their batting turns, where are the servant guys hanging on to their Babas, where are the teenagers returning from the mother dairy and promptly hitting the books, where is my damn colony experience?

Children play a remarkable role in bringing a community together. They don't need to break the ice,they know that all their brethren are thinking of, are cartoons and games just like them. They lack the hierarchies that adults seem to bracket themselves in and maybe it is this no show of children that is pulling Pandara Road back. Sure there are people trying to make this a community, with half hearted Diwali melas and association meetings being held but c'mon who are we kidding here. Its just not working out.

In America , I have lived across from a joint family of Mexicans , a trio of Chinese students and now undergrad exchange students. The Desi guys below my apartment are the most intriguing yet. They are, as my investigations and as even first impressions will suggest , a den of poets. They listen to old hindi songs and soulful tamil melodies of heartbreak and unrequited love. They smoke like steam engines and drink like fishes and when thats not enough they strum their guitars and sing along. And do they debate. My god the debates, you know its on serious issues of ending world hunger , the symbolism of Nights of Cabiria and the nihilstic turn of modern art(??) and while I strain to catch as many words of tamil I understand , the tone of the argument is always spirited and righteous. Unleash these Azhagiya Tamil maghans upon the world and we will have nothing short of a rebellion on our hands.

New York Commute

2010-02-10T16:52:00.005-05:00

Living in New Brunswick/Highland Park , I have had to commute to Trenton and Newark before for internships. Commuting when school is not in session is the worst because of the awful bus schedule. Now I have to commute to NY everyday for work and surprisingly its not that bad.

Apart from getting up at ungodly hours and sitting in a car that just wont warm up, there aren't any major hiccups. I get the train from Edison in the morning, a station that is closer to Highland Park but for some reason none of the desi junta ever goes to. I guess thats because the Rutgers bus doesn't run thataway but it is much nearer and very convenient if you have someone to drop you off at the station. Edison and the two stations after it, Metuchen & Metropark are hot spots for working desis. Its crowded with desis and as the train approaches Metropark you can see the hordes crowding the platform. The funniest thing is people running from afar trying to catch the train. Even though this happens to me at the Edison station, I find it funnier when it happens to others. But I cant understand why they keep on running even though its plain obvious they are gonna miss it. I have actually waved at an uncle , after the doors closed right at his face. Haha! I love NJTransit. Its very convenient and comfortable. I mostly read. As does the rest of the train. I on a lowly paperback while several on their Kindles and Sony Readers.I gave up sleeping after once I missed Newark Penn and landed at NY Penn. Also internships have taught me the absolute necessity of sleeping on time. You have to get your 8 hours of shut eye or you end up drooping at work and feel the debilitating grip of the sandman.

Its annoying when your train gets queued up before entering the Tunnel to NYC. I would reach spot on time if it weren't for that 15 minute delay that is now happening very often. Its an endearing sight that greets you just as you emerge from the tunnel and witness the skyscrapers and the NewYorker building among others. Stepping out of the train I dash for the Subway as does everyone else. You have to actually swim through a a deluge of people headed the other way , exiting the station. In the evening this river flows upstream. Also in the evening you have people transfixed like flies, glaring at the LIRR updates. They are another roadblock you have to skip over. You have to navigate slowpokes and old people as you reach the subway. I take the A express and thats the best part of the commute. You get to see the NewYorkers!! Ah, those vibrant multicultural species. So many kinds and shapes and odors and hairstyles and clothes. The only thing common would be the ubiquitous white iPod earphones. Even when people are talking to each other they don't take it off. Its almost rude. Whats the other thing thats off? Just like in the DTC and several other mass Transit systems in cities all over the world, people love to huddle up near the doors. No one likes to go to the very end. Of course in the DTC it would literally be impossible to get out at your stop in time if you are way inside the mass of humanity, it is not so in the MTA. Why don't people just move in then?? Once I reach my stop , I have a direct entry to my building through the subway and that is that. Although its not the easiest or shortest commute it is not too tiring, however it does eat up 3 hours of my day, prompting me to think of shifting shop in the near future. Wouldn't it be a dream to live in NYC?

10 Movies I have to see in 2010

2010-01-10T17:41:00.014-05:00

The whole of 2010 looms ahead filled with exciting possibilities and sureshot have-to-sees. Somehow most of these lists include movies from the summer and that come out in the first half of the year. This year will be the first time that i get to see a Sly Stallone, a Marty Scorsese and a Shyamalan flick on the Big screen. Let the good times roll...

1) Get him to the Greek

The only movie from the Judd Apatow camp this year, and which is being touted as a pseudo sequel to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" with Russel Brand returning to his role as British Rocker Aldous Snow with Jonah Hill starring as a young music exec who must get him to the Greek theater in LA. There are lots of cameos and it is directed by FSMs Nick Stoller.

2) Clash of the Titans

If you have seen the trailers you know why this is on the list. The insane amount of awesomeness oozing from the 2 min trailer completely sold me on this film. This remake of the partial stop motion animated flick from the 80s (??) boasts of an impressive star cast and stars Jake Sully himself in his next action hero role battling medusa, The Kraken and Hades himself. Its directed by Louis Leterrier who's last film was the entertaining "The Incredible Hulk".

3) Iron Man 2

I am not a big fan of Iron man however the first film was enjoyable and this one too looks like hell of a fun time. Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell star as the antagonists to the charming Rob Downey jr, essentially playing himself as Tony Stark AKA Iron Man. Also Don Cheadle joins the cast as War Machine/ Jim Rhodes and Scarlett Johanssen as the Black Widow/ Natasha Romonov.

4) The Expendables

I have always bemoaned the fact that Sly and Arnie never teamed up in a film during the height of their Action hero careers. Well , Sly fresh off the success of Rambo 4 and Rocky Balboa has set out on a rejuvenated career path with The Expendables among the first of his projects. It stars almost the entire action hero line up from the 80s-90s as a ragtag team of special op guys sent to a South American country to overthrow the dictator. It stars among others Sly himself , Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Stone Cold Steve Austin and has cameos from two other big stars which is a secret that everyone knows.

5) Predators

The original Predator scared the living sh*t out of me as a kid. To the 12 year old me , the entire set up of being stranded on an island with an invisible hunter out to get you was a pretty effed up scenario. The Predator is not after some helpless teenagers but an entire team of special op badasses and still proceeds to hand them their respective asses. It was fun, scary and it taught me one thing "if it bleeds , we can kill it" a tenet I live by to this day. The second part with Danny Glover was also entertaining (loved the whole subway scene and the climax with the chase through the city and also the AVP reference) however the AVP films left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I had heard of a Predators 3 script existing out there, with Arnie's character Dutch hunting/getting hunted by a predator in a snowed out NYC. That would have been awesome to watch but I guess that is not happening. However I have got this flick to wait for which stars Adrian Brody, Topher Grace and Mr.Machete himself.

6) Shutter Island

Well this movie was on my list last year but sadly it got pushed to this year from a late nov release date last year. Leo D reteams with Marty Scorsese, Mark Ruffalo and the lovely Emily Mortimer. Watching the trailer has made me a bit jaded but you know its going to be a good movie. Its Marty friggin Scorsese fer God's sake. If I were walking down the road one day and someone comes up to me and asks me "When was the first time you saw a Scorsese film in the theater?" , I will actually have an answer rather than wondering why this random guy is asking me this question.

7) Inception

Who doesn't want to see the next film from the director of "The Dark Knight". A crime thriller set in the architecture of your mind, or so they say.Who's in. Me!! Leo DiCaprio , Joseph Gordan Levitt, Cillian Murphy and Ellen page , that has to be the best cast this year rt after The Expendables. From the trailer it appears Leo D and Ellen Page are out to steal ideas from inside people's heads . Cillian Murphy is his boss of some sort and Joseph Gordan Levitt is the person who guards the idea. I cant wait for it. My most anticipated movie of the year.

8) Green Zone

Matt Damon reunites with his Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum director for this war flick set in Iraq about a conspiracy to seek out non existent WMDs. Matt Damon is a military officer who is sent to look for WMDs and realizes there aren't any. It was all a ploy for some military contractor to make money. Based on a book by an Indian American journo. Desis rule!!!

9) The Last Airbender

You know who gets flak all the time? Manoj Night Shyamalan. I have liked or loved all his films save for "The Happening" which, while I did understand what he was trying to convey (one fine day an invisible force unleashes itself on you , how do you defeat something you cannot see or touch) , and if that had properly gotten through , the finished product would have made one heck of a film. Unbreakable is one of my all time favorite films and I hold him among my favorite director. And hey he is Half Mallu and that always gets points in my book ;) . I have seen the cartoon on Nick on which this movie is based and though it feels like it is a powerful story with a rich mythology I have never seen a complete episode. So come Summer 2010, not only am i going to enter the Mythology of Avatar: The Last Airbender , but I am also going to see my first MNS flick on the big screen.

10) Paul

The director of Superbad joins up with the stars of "Shaun of the dead" and "Hot Fuzz" in this flick about two Brit geeks who run into a stranded alien named Paul. Sound exciting?? No? This film has so much comedic talent riding on it , it is a definite must watch on my list.

11) The Other guys

Will Ferrel teams up with the only director he should ever work with Adam McKay (Step Brothers, Anchorman) in this flick about two overlooked NYC cops (Ferrel and Mark "y Mark" Wahlberg ) who get a chance to step up to the limelight and be like their idols (Dwayne Johnson & Sam Jackon)

Also must watch : Robin Hood (Russel Crowe + Ridley Scott tackle medieval militia. After The Kingdom of heaven and Gladiator , it is my religious duty to see it on the big screen), Fighter, Red , Black Swan ( Coming off from The Wrestler, Mr. Aranofsky tackles a thriller starring Natalie Portman) , Piranha 3D (Alexandra Aja has a good track record of solid thrillers/ horror movies plus this is the franchise which gave James Cameron his first big break), The Cabin in the Woods, Your Highness, The Town, Kick Ass, Cemetry Junction, Agent Vinod

PS: on a related note , 2009 for me was a year when several proven directors failed to deliver as I noted in my previous post. However I forgot to mention the one movie that would have to top the list. Rakeysh Om Prakash mehra coming off from RDB had the world of expectation riding on his shoulder's and his ode to the Delhi of his childhood , Delhi 6 failed to deliver what I or the gen public desired. Its an Okay flick I guess but I did not enjoy it on the level I expected to. The whole Monkey Man bringing out our inner insecurities and failings might have made for some excellent drama but it failed to live upto my expectations. The picturization of "Dil gira dafatan" and the Ram Lila were for me the most memorable parts.

10 Movies That Rocked My World '09

2009-12-29T20:51:00.007-05:00

Another year gone by and did I watch a lot of movies or what. But I feel that somehow I spent more time on TV shows this year than watching movies. It was like like undergrad once again, though, because since June 1st week I watched a movie every week at the Theaters, some weeks even two. Phew!! hard work. I would like to thank Raghu for being a sport and a constant companion to the Theaters. I felt this year several directors I was rooting for failed to live up to their past work, James McTegue with Ninja Assassin coming off the spectacular V for Vendatta, or Balki with Paa which for me was not as good as Cheeni Kum. Even Tony Scott fizzled out with The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 . However the year ended on a wonderful note with Avatar , Sherlock Holmes and 3 Idiots ringing in the New Year Cheers early. OK so here goes my list of 10 movies that I saw this year, which did not necessarily release this year, but which I got around to seeing this year.

Gwoemul aka The Host

This 2006 Korean film is about a family hunting a giant Lochness type River Monster after it takes away their daughter. It is a gripping story and I was amazed at the bold choice to actually throw in humor during some really poignant scenes. There is a scene where the family is mourning the death of the daughter and it is sad, because for one it is a child that has died, but in between the uncle and father start brawling , blaming the father for the death , and it veers to slapstick comedy. Sounds absurd but the scene works so well, invoking both emotions in good measures. There are several beautifully shot scenes which the filmmakers could have easily used on the poster. The climax is so intense and it draws you in , your teeth gritting with rightful indignation , you are rooting for the family to vanquish this most foul beast. This is what cinema is all about. Guiding you through a gamut of emotions , introducing new worlds and ideas. The Host is a must watch.

2. (500) Days of Summer

A Splintered chronololgy love story? Whoa , when's that ever happened before. A wonderful background score and the charming lead couple - the cute Zooey Deschanel and the Talented Joseph Gordan Levitt - had me hooked from the start. They make it clear its not a love story, but a story about a boy and girl. It is a story about love and about people in love but not a love story. See it and you will know what I mean.

3. District 9

I was not that intrigued by the trailer. Nor by the short it was based on. Or the concept. But they blew me away. Stellar story telling, state of the art special effects and lots of cool alien weaponry made this one of the best movies I saw in the summer. This much like Avatar is about a unattached soldier/outsider going "native". Its been done before, but not like this. Watch it.

4. Luck By Chance

I went in for this tongue in cheek satire on Bollywood expecting little if nothing. I prefer Farhan Akhtar behind the camera and can't wait for him to get back behind it again, but if its movies like this that he wants to star in , I am all game. An entertaining tale of starlets and wannabe actors and the harsh and bittersweet world that is Bollywood where perhaps its all about Luck and not talent, fate and not ability. Its got the whole Akhtar family involved and talent , people, is in their blood. I cant wait for Zoya's next movie, which also stars her brother. Incidentally this is the first movie to actually have Aamir and Shahrukh together among a plethora of cameos.

5. The Education of Charlie Banks

Jesse Eisenberg playing the role that he and Michael Cera play in every movie. The shy soft spoken protoganist who gets the girl in the end. I mean seriously these guys play the same guy in every damn movie. And you could put them in each other's movies and it wouldn't make a difference. In fact Jesse Eisenberg even looks like Michael Cera with a Jewfro. Anyway this movie , as Anang noted, is kind of similar to a little movie I saw as a kid called "Big Bully". So , Mr.Eisenberg's character squeels on a bully for beating up someone. Years later he shows up in his life, and they actually become friends. But how does he tell him that he squeeled on him and had him locked away. Watch it for the austere 80s look and the Arthouse kind storytelling. Its directed by Fred Durst, the Limp Bizkit frontman. Go Figure.

6. I Love You, Man

The Judd Apatow camp has only film coming out next year. That is sad. We need more laughs like this. Its hilarious and I like to call it the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" of 09. Jason Segal and Paul Rudd shine out in their roles and Jon Favreau reminds you that he started out as a comic.Little known secret : This movie is not related to Apatow in anyway other than it stars his frequent collaborators.

7. Up

I agree with Time magazine. The opening scene with the sweet love story of Carl Fredrickson laid out in 5 minutes of a near silent montage left me colored melancholy. How dare the Pixar guys make such good movies one after the other. Such memorable characters , such strong balance of story , drama and humor. Their films are an exercise in perfection.

8. Inglorious Basterds

The film ends with Brad Pitt's character looking at the camera and saying "This might just be my masterpiece". He is of course referring to a swastika he just carved onto a Nazi's forehead but its also QT's way to tell you, that he too consider's the movie his masterpiece. I totally agree. This movie should not have been called IB, it should have been called " Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France" because that is what it is. It is the tale of how several characters converge at a movie theater premiering a Nazi war propaganda film including the titular fatherless spawns, a french theater owner hiding from the Nazi's who killed her family, a famed Jew Hunter, prominent members of the Reich and Fuhrer himself. The bar room shootout and the opening scene are so thick with tension, you could put out your tongue and lick it.

9. Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year/ Wake Up Sid/ APKGK

From the beginning of the movie, with the "Pankhon ko " song set to the images of a middleclass household, it reaffirms the claim of the trailer, of a story of "Hum aur aap jaise logon ki kahani". Did anyone catch all the rhyming dialogue?? Mice are Nice, Itne frustrate mat ho ki kabhi Castrate ho jaaon and the plans and empty cans. The screenwriter was seriously having fun writing the script wasnt he? Wake up Sid is the second cousin of Lakshya, but it held my interest with the taut storytelling and wonderful performances by the lead actors.It is such capable and flawless direction, I was amazed to know that this was a first time director. APKGK is just LOL. It will be the new generation's Andaz Apna Apna. What I love about these movies is the repeatability ie how well they stand during a repeat viewing and they are wonderful to watch again. I did.

10. Sherlock Holmes

I was really excited for this one. I was doing silly dances in anticipation. I knew what I was going to get, and I was so happy when I got it. Lots of laughs, a intriguing mystery, and maybe the year's best on screen couple - Holmes & Watson. I have no complains on this one. Thorough and total Enjoyment. The scenes where Holmes tells you what he is going to do, and then proceeds to do it are Kickass. Also there are many references to the novels and short stories.

11. Waltz with Bashir

What you cannot do with live action you can do with Animation. It follows a formerIsraeli soldiers attempts to recall his role in the Lebanese Civil war by talking and interviewing his former colleagues. It is a stark picture of war and its toll on soldiers. The images and the scenes are nothing short of Art. I found the actual scene where you find out why it is called Waltz with bashir to be very well shot. It was nominated for an Oscar. Yes its that good.

12. 12 Angry Men

12 men , jurors to be specific, get in a room to debate the fate of a murderer. 11 for conviction one against. What follows is this one jurors effort to convince the others that the murderer may be innocent. I never knew people talking and debating , just that, could make for such compelling and riveting drama. There is a reason this movie sits at #8 on the imdb's top 250 movies of all time.

13. 3 Idiots

While several people failed to deliver this year, Mr.Hirani did not. Fail that is. To me Mr.Hirani is the finest example of what Bollywood should be like. It is very much a Bollywood movie but it is also good cinema. There is no reason why they cannot be used in the same sentence without negation. Much like The Host , I loved how the director portrayed sad situations with a humorous touch. The Rastogi residence for instance is always shown in B & W. Like his previous Munnabhai films, this too has the right amount of laughs, emotions and drama. Aamir khan, Madhavan and Sharman reunite after RDB. Its amazing how convincingly young Aamir looks.

Also Loved : Avatar, Away We Go, Mother , Funny People, The Hangover, Casablanca, Sleuth, Warlock, The International, The Last of the Mohicans (amazing climax sequence)
Leading ladies I fell in love with : Summer Finn, Neytiri
Movies I haven't seen yet but want to : Up in the air, The Fantastic Mr.Fox , Precious, Paranormal Activity, Terminator Salvation
Shitfest: Wolverine ,TF2, GIJoe : Rise of the zzzzzzzzz, Ninja Assasin, Do Knot Disturb, All the best, Pelham 123, The Final Destination, Kurbaan
TV Shows that were amazing : LOST, Dexter, Parks and Recreation, The Office, V , Bored to Death, Entourage

Time for some...

2009-12-19T18:29:00.004-05:00

......Penn station humour.

Avatar : My Thoughts

2009-12-18T03:15:00.006-05:00

Let's put this out there while its still fresh in my mind. Some may argue that Avatar is an excuse to showcase a technology under the guise of a story that has been told many times before. While not entirely wrong to say so, its one heck of a way to tell the story. I found it to be a delightful two hours spent discovering a wonderful world and its truly unique people . The movie deserves to be seen on IMAX, that's the only way you could realize its true vision. The movie speaks of so many things imperialism, environmentalism, humanity and even belonging. It gives a scientific touch to spirituality , by claiming that since all things living are made up of cells, they can feel and communicate each other, even store memories. The movie has heart, the scenes with Jake & Neytiri training together found me with a firm "Awww" smile on my face. There is no denying the fact that it is a visual extravaganza first and everything else later. The world of Pandora - the people, the flora and fauna - are all magnificent , stunning and bright. Very bright. The effects will blow your mind . A particular scene where a giant tree is fell , is so well done. The final battle scene and the climax are breathtaking and need to be seen. But there is something missing that makes a movie more than endearing, that punch , that "IT", something I can't put my finger on is missing.If you look at it it has all the makings of a great movie. The graph of highs and lows, the WOW moments all should have come together wonderfully. What should have been a masterpiece , remains a few steps away from being one. However the future is very bright , a world of possibilities has opened up with this technology and the real life rendition of CGI characters, which would make for an enriching movie experience.

16 to go

Gamble much??

2009-12-16T22:38:00.003-05:00

Here's celebrating the degenerate Juari in each of us graduate student.
Was more sleep ever lost for an exam,
Was more sweat ever shed for work,
Was more nail bitten, hair pulled or brains racked for anything else??

17 to go.

I miss my beautiful posters :(

What a great year for Ranbir

2009-12-12T19:55:00.004-05:00

Is Ranbir Kapoor on a roll or what?? Three wonderful films in a year. Wake up Sid, AjabPrem ki Gajhab Kahani and now Rocket Singh: Salesman of the year. Just came back from the latter and found it to be a delightful entertainer in the vein of Khosla ka Ghosla. A tale of simple everyday people who perpetrate a con for the right reasons. Fun times!! Ranbir Kapoor being the only name actor in the movie is able to carry the movie really well. People are really accepting his potential as a star and with back to back good films , not just hits, you know he's lambi race ka khoda. Along with Abhay Deol and Kunal Khemu I see him as the "Tomorrow" star and present talent of Bollywood. Boyish good looks, fantastic screen presence and certainly a crowd pulling ability. Its not just Lineage, it is talent. Or you could say the talent comes from the lineage , whatever, you know hes here to stay. You could have might as well put him in Luck By Chance and called it his year, coz of the four Bollywood films that I really enjoyed this year, three starred this guy.

18 to go

Invictus

2009-12-12T02:16:00.005-05:00

Have I ever lived alone? No. I have been away from dear ol' Delhi for the last 6 and dot five years, but I have always had hostel mates or roommates for company. But my roommate is now visiting India, and as I sit alone in this quiet Highland Park apartment, I wonder, how would it be if I were to live alone. How I keep my place when I live alone would be the true mirror of who I am. We have made compromises on the state of affairs when we live with roommates, a plate left unwashed , a bathtub left unscrubbed (for weeks). And in spite of all that we agree this is not how our houses back home in Hindustan are. We would never label ourselves as unclean. Why mentally assure yourself that you are better than your roomies, when you clearly aren't being? Why live a certain way if that is not you. Why compromise.

I just came back from a screening of Invictus. I would call it Mr.Eastwood's most underwhelming flick since he shifted gears from thrillers to drama. Anyway, there is a line oft repeated in the movie. Its from the poem that gives the film its name.

" I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my ship"

It says a lot about how we are programmed from birth. We have mistakenly formed habits that weigh us down rather than accelerating us ahead. It is amazing how much I can eat when a craving hits, or how long I can procrastinate when something looms ahead. Its not because we are weak its because we have conditioned ourselves. It could happen the other way. I could have programmed myself to eat moderately no matter what or not wait on that assignment till the night before. In fact when I think of all the things a person can will himself to do , it is overwhelming. Like a Lego set, or a sheet of paper and a pen, the possibilities are endless. Why don't we spend every waking hour, being better, living better. And don't give me that "stop and smell the roses" excuse. It is about learning to appreciate the smell rather than smelling the bloody rose every chance you get. If I had the knowledge of these past 23 years with me when I was born I would certainly be a different person , as I imagine anyone would. Lets summarize the important life lessons I have learned:

1) Binging on foods and movies is not "enjoying life" it is setting up dangerous precedents to habit forming activities. The answer , like Mr. Buddha said , is moderation.

2)How can you be afraid of anything. For once you face it, it shall pass. It may come back to haunt you but the moment you fear the most is just that, a moment. It will pass. And that thought is emboldening.

3) Do not be afraid of girls. Go talk to them. They want to talk to you too.

4)Reading like crazy will make you suave and sophisticated like Shashi Tharoor. Then you can develop a baritone and strut around all you want.

5)Disciplining yourself , lets you know that your indiscipline are well deserved.

6) Nothing or no one is going to come and change your life. YOU have to cut down on food, YOU have to start writing that script and YOU have to better your knowledge of Civil Engineering.

I am sure life has thrown more lessons at me, but this is all I can think of right now. Ah, yes the one rule that has never been proven wrong. The one rule to rule them all. The one rule to bring them all. And in the darkness.. ok I will stop.

7) My father is always right. and I mean Always. There has been tons of things he has asked me to do and tons of things I did not because I thought it was uncool, or not the right choice at the moment or I was just being plain lazy. But each and every time his advice has been spot on. The thing is he sees the bigger picture, I dont. I am sure my progeny will ignore my advice the same way. Why God does it have to be a circle??

Ok That is all I can remember .

Southland Lives!!

2009-12-11T21:49:00.003-05:00

I am a big fan of cop movies. Lets make that a huge fan. Procedural Cop dramas have yet to hold their sway over me. Apart from good ol' CID. And Southland. Southland was my favorite new show of Spring 09, and follows several different pairs of cops , from uniforms to detectives to the captain as they solve different aspects of the same case. Its shot in a realistic almost documentary type manner with a livid and very mobile camera chasing around the characters. Its a lot of fun but gritty and downright dark at times, which I love. The 1st season ended of in sort of a cliffhanger with one of the main characters being shot and left bleeding, and I was all prepped up for it to return this Fall, but the suits over at NBC suddenly pulled the plug , claiming it to be too melancholic and sanguine for their viewership. I was shattered, so much potential lost. But then I heard news that it was being shipped around at other channels. Then it happened, it got picked up by TNT. I mean what were the chances of a canceled show returning. But its back. So not only does Spring 10 have Lost premiering its final season, or Jack Bauer saving Anil Kapoor's Ass (in under a day, mind you) or the very fun "V" returning from hiatus, but the LAPD will also be back in business. Yaaay!!!! Spring 10 is going to be awesome.

19 to go

My Very Special Acoustic Evening with Bryan Adams

2009-12-11T00:28:00.009-05:00

"I have 16 friggin records, pipe down people, Lets see if we can run through them all" - Bryan Adams on being barraged by requests after his first song.

I can honestly say its a dream come true for me. Bryan Adams produced the soundtrack to my teen years. To a puppy eyed 14 year old moderately plumpy guy Bryan Adams was God. My brother and I were mammoth fans. We knew all the lyrics, all the songs and his biography by heart. Since then I have wanted to see him in concert. Yes, he did come to India, but I just happened to be in a different city every time. But when BA decided to come to my very own backyard, The State Theater at New Brunswick, I had every reason to go.

I had fantastic seats, right in the center, less than 30 ft away from him, in front of the stage. He trotted onto stage at 8:10 , (ten mins late) and broke into "Run to you" right away . It was an acoustic show and so he just had one person accompany him on a piano(who was fantastic, btw). "In case you didn't get the memo, this is the band" he said pointing to himself and the pianist. He followed it with "Tonight we have the stars" , "Back to You" ,"Here I am" "Heat of the Night", "Lonely Nights", "So69", "Everything I do", "Only Thing that looks good on me", "Thought I had Died and Gone to Heaven", "Lets make a Night to Remember", "Not Romeo, Not Juliet", "Cuts like a knife" , "To really love a woman" "Christmas time", "This Time", "When you love someone", "Heaven","Straight from the Heart", "Cant stop this thing we started" and many more. Acoustic does bring out the best in his songs. There's a more personal connection with the audience and its mesmerizing to say the least. I am a bigger fan of his lesser known songs and I was happy to see him give some of them a chance. He has great stage presence. The audience was in splits , when he started singing "Cant stop this thing we started" like a country song. He said "Waking up the neighbors" was his second favorite album title, followed by what he wanted to name his second album but the studio wouldn't agree to: " Adams hasn't heard of you either". He recalled the time he recorded "Lonely Nights". "It was a magical time , I was 21, broke, in NYC. It was fantastic". He spotted two ladies on the balcony waving at him with their little fluorescent "concert thingys" and had them brought down to sit right in front of him. I am sure they will never forget that. While in the middle of "Heat of the Night" his guitar string broke, the pianist immediately covered for him while he quickly got his guitar replaced. I was a bit put off by how abruptly the concert came to an end. He said his goodbyes and rushed off stage. He came back twice, though. It also surprised me how I remembered the lyrics to even some of his less popular songs. I hate "All for love" and "The only thing that looks good on me" but couldn't stop myself from singing along. Towards the end, everyone came up to the stage and started flashing their mob cams. I cursed myself for not having a better cam but had to make do with grainy pics. Someday when I am rich and famous, I will get to shake his hand. Till then this day ,the memory of singing So69, along with him, will do. Now lets see if we can catch Simon and Garfunkel sometime.

20 to go

...And now a Message from our Founder.

2009-12-06T01:06:00.004-05:00

It doesnt make sense to just randomly post anything just to reach my goal of 46 posts. i have to be mature about it , play fair otherwise there is no reason to do it. I could just post 21 photos and then just add a comment to them and I would win. But that doesnt do anything for me. Where is the struggle, the fight against adversaties to emerge victorious. There has to be something at stake. Do this for the right reasons or not do it at all. Being the fickle minded weakling I am , what I can put at stake is my desire for food. I could give up some sort of food for a period of time if I dont complete my challenge. I am already vegetarian for 41 days (Swami Sharanam Ayappa) so cant give up non veg. I could give up soft drinks or maida or cheese or butter. This is not going anywhere. I guess I will put my pride at stake. Can I be motivated enough to accomplish this task. Do I have it in myself to walk the mile. To do what I set out to do. Can Mr.Frodo get to Mordor? We will see in 24 days. I will write only if I have something to say. Expect 21 meaningful or at least sincere posts from yours truly. And if i dont? You all get to slander me on the comment section of the latest post as of Dec 31. Wait a sec.. you can already do that. But I expect u ppl to be fair about it, as I will.

21 to go!!

New Look!!

2009-12-06T00:43:00.002-05:00

1) The Black was hurting my eyes.
2) The new year is coming up, I had to go for a new better gritty look.
3) White is the new Black.Literally!!
4) Ok..Ok I admit it . I did it to increase my post tally. There..I said it. Happy??.... Dont look at me like that.. Dont look at me.. nooo!! Go away and trouble someone else!!!

22 to go!! [;)]

The Masterly Mr Master McMasterton

2009-12-04T01:27:00.004-05:00

" Jack of all trades and Master of one". Master of Science that is. It was today, this glorious thursday morning that I presented my masterific project and mastered the last task which stood before me and my Masters. True some formalities remain but the groundwork is done. What's that? How does it feel to be a Master, you ask. Well not that different from yesterday actually. Did I do a dance of joy and leap around in front of my department? Did I take off my clothes in a huge F U to the system and establishment and run around Busch campus wearing nothing but my butt.Did I change my facebook/orkut/gmail status to the first line of this post(which I gratuitously lifted from Raghu)? Well, no. I did do a " I have a Masters you dont , nana - nana-na -na in front of Onkar and Srini. Other than that it was just another day in the life of a "student by day, crimefighter by night " person that I am. I spent the afternoon debating with myself whether a person with a Masters should be legally allowed to use the term Master in front of his name like PhDs do with Dr. and some overtly excited B.Tech guys do with Engineer in the way of Er. Hmm.. Master Arjun Raju Adimari. Well that would suit me if I were a child actor in a Rajesh Khanna- Mumtaz movie. Could I just call myself "The Master". Doesnt have a good ring to it , sounds like a Buffy villain or a Darjiwala. What I am is a very jobless person who needs to realize that without a job he is going to have a very hard time repaying those student loans. I actually have a lot of free time ahead of me. I need to apply apply apply. What else. Well a little while ago I promised my dear readers (all four of you) and myself that I would accomplish the task of matching the number of my yearly posts to the previous years. I am at 22 now , well 23 with this one , I need to put out 23 more to match the 46 I have put out each of the previous years. So people get ready for an exercise in namesake posting as I try to pass off whatever I can as a blog post. Here's wishing Master Arjun , All the best.

The Thing about Busch Campus

2009-11-17T17:53:00.004-05:00

What is it about holding a cup of coffee and whizzing through BCC that screams I am a researcher. That I have got a code running in my office that needs attending to, that I just purified a batch of protein and I have several to go and that I just found an exciting new article that clears up a lot of doubts on heavy metal munching macrophytes. Or is it just me? I am no researcher just a lowly grader but when I hold a cup of coffee and walk past mid term minded undergrads and "I am taking a break" grads, I feel powerful and so superior. I guess , I am pretentious thataway but this is my first sem on Busch. I had almost all my classes here but my work or research never made me stay all day long in Busch. The first year it was the Livingston Warehouses, the next year it was Newark but this year I have a legitimate reason to spend my daylight hours on Busch. I know there was a time when I found Busch depressing, because it personified all the doubts and burdens I had. I detested the whole B bus L bus routine and was willing to give up my hourly research job for the good life at the Livingston bookstore. Busch Campus had none of the carefree charm of Cook & Douglass or the calmness/nearing barren emptiness of Livingston. Busch for me was work but not anymore. Well it is actually work, but for some reason I enjoy being here. I love having my lunch at the Faculty Dining hall with fellow "researchers", the coffee breaks, stepping out of my department to witness the serene image that is the sun setting beyond Sonny Werblin and CORE and finishing off my day with a very victorious round of squash. There is definitely a charm to Busch. Maybe it is because as I near the end of my academic life, I am witnessing separation anxiety. So much that I am considering staying on and studying more. Or maybe its a phase. I know people who loathe Busch campus. I also know of people who have so settled down in a schezwan express-JCX routine that they abhor change. Come graduation day, I will find out.

Trivia: Busch campus was formed after the "eccentric millionaire" Charles L Busch donated 10 million green ones to Rutgers at the time of his death.

Squash-ed

2009-10-29T22:21:00.004-04:00

If you actually think about it, its basically two guys smashing a ball into a wall. Repeatedly. A Wall!! one of the essentials of Squash is a wall. Can you think of any other game where you would need a wall?? ( Yes, Racquetball, but who wants to play a game where the ball bounces like a crazyball? ) But I love Squash. Looove it. Its a passion. The activity I look forward to the most each day. I cant believe I used to play Racquetball in the beginning , but the moment I played squash for the first time, something inside me fell in place, something came home and felt so right. I now detest Racquetball and it is only with haughty eyes that I look upon the people who jostle for a place in the Racquetball court. So why do I love squash?? I actually sat and thought about why I love squash. I came across the following reasons:

1) It burns the most calories , compared to any other sport. Something like 800-1000 per hour. Thats huge if you are trying to lose weight.

2) The sheer excitement. The hilarious and energetic fun. It is so much fun, that it makes me look for other physical activities that might match the fun.

3) The rallies. My god the rallies. I have heard of games where they have lasted for over 6 minutes. I would be lucky to get a minute long rally. But when I do, the pure adrenaline that runs through you as you make one shot after the other, trying to outdo the other. Its outta this world. That's what I play squash for.

4)Its also a battle of the brains. From the time the ball strikes the wall to the time you swing your racquet, that's how long you have to decide where you are going to hit the ball. In that split second you have to anticipate the other players position, how hard you are going to hit, where to hit the ball and where you are going to move after the hit. All that goes into every shot, Its like a chess move. You have to give him something he doesn't expect. Feign, decoy and manipulate and when he falls for it?....You ....are the champion... of the world.

5) One wonderful thing the game shows you is how a human body can move if it decides to , that is. The decision to take a far off shot has to be made in nanoseconds. Your body has to accelerate itself and carry you forward with unthougt of momentum, and maybe you may make it . But all this starts with that one nanosecond decision.

We have been playing for so long now, we know who the regulars are, who are good and if we could take them or not.I know who would send me packing. There is a Pakistani duo that kick ass. Rajat Mittal the king of all sports. Then there is an old uncle who plays by himself but has the back hand of a tennis pro and finally the lady from Hong Kong and her older guy friend who looks like Stanley Tucci. Anyone else.... bring it on , I say. Here's looking at you Onkar, Amey and Srini.

Things I learned from "Fashion"

2009-10-02T16:02:00.004-04:00

1. Everyone in the Fashion Industry is hellbent on success, populated with low morals and promiscuous.

2. If you become the Showstopper (I dont know if this thing exists in real life or is just some thing Bhandarkar cooked up) you will end up a drugged up, whoreish wastoid. That is the price you pay for ambition.

3. It takes enormous amount of courage and confidence to be a fashion model even though your only job is to walk on a ramp with a pout.

4. Sleeping with a Black guy is the lowest point you can get to before realizing how much you have effed up your life. How Racist!!

5. Kangana Ranawat has an obsession with the word " Basterd". (spotted by Onkar)

6. Fashion is just like Corporate is just like Page 3 is just like Satta is just like Traffic Signal.

7. None of the above are even remotely close to Aan : Men at Work. A spectacular Crap - o - cobana featuring action scenes from several hollywood flicks, a climax lifted from the beginning of Face/Off and supposedly part of Bhandarkars trilogy of Prostitution, Politics and Police (Notice how they all start with P)

Falling

2009-10-02T15:11:00.004-04:00

I fell. After so long, the mighty giant fell. I fell so hard it still hurts. But something about the whole incident makes me all giggly inside. Lets start from the beginning. Here I was in a new apartment trying to fiddle the shower knobs, to get the right temperature. I stood up in the tub and switched from faucet to shower. That very moment hot scalding water poured out with furious anger and great vengeance. Trained as I am in the ancient martial and mystic arts the very simplicity with which it happened took me by surprise and I was literally taken aback. As I reeled back trying to avoid the water, something from 7th grade physics came flying into my mind.My center of gravity realigned itself , and simultaneously my foot slipped under the slippery wet porcelain. I fell. It all happened so quick. Futile and desperate grabbing for some support, my arm hitting the toilet seat and dislodging it and me crashing onto the floor with thunderous sounds and bangs. Downstairs the sleeping Indian Graduate student woke up. Next door the Indian Aunty startled and dropped her Katori of cut Bhindi , while outside in the woods a raccoon perked up its ears, and birds flew away from their perches en Mass. Like a great Oak Tree I fell. Like Sirius Black through the Veil of Mists, only mine was a 3 $ shower Curtain, I fell.
I gathered my marbles (cough cough) and thanked God that I did not hurt myself bad. Nothing was broken , a tragedy had been averted. I managed to fix the toilet seat. Surprisingly my Pride did not go after the Fall. I felt kind of good about falling. There was a sense of surreality to the whole incident and about how quickly it happened. I couldn't stop myself from telling everyone. I fell. The last time I fell was a year ago ,on Somerset St, right outside my house on the snow-melt-icey steps. While my friend Onkar laughed at me like the little girl that he is, he fell soon after ,outside Delta Kappa Chi. Oh how ,I laughed like the little girl I am not. Now a day after the fall, while my bum still hurts , reality has sunk in at how bad it could have been, I have resolved to be more cautious while bathing,walking and moving in general.

Good Bye , Mon Amis

2009-09-29T15:53:00.007-04:00

As far as I can remember I have always slept by a window or a door or both. Now too I sleep by a wall that holds two windows. One close to my bed streams the street light right onto my face every night. If I stand up I can see the traffic light, through the same window, dangling so close by I feel I can touch it. But I cant because the window is jammed tight. Also some highly capable individual has managed to throw his skateboard so high , that it now rests permanently wedged between the arches of the Traffic light. If the wind is strong I see the Street signs saying " Somerset St" and "Easton Ave" swing dangerously.

The other window is where I sit by, as my desk and chair are parallel to it. If I look down , I can see the beginning of Easton Ave and where it cuts across Somerset St. Everyday the crosswalks bear the treads of a thousand students and residents and unknown to all of them , like an owl in the night, like a satellite above, I watch. The parents who drop off kids after weekends, stuffed with home cooked meals , and holding onto numerous bags of groceries, while managing to appease them that, yes, they can safely walk the 20 m to the Dorm Entrance. The Sat night revellers who have taken an equal fancy to thursday , friday and sunday. The Drunken girls in their skimpy attires, who will bear the frigid cold and winds for that extra itty bitty skirt. The fat boys in dress shirts who longingly look at these drunk girls but dont dare talk to them. The Homeless regulars, amongst them the Dude with the Da Vinci beard who wont ask you for a penny but will sit in his fav spot (he has three fav spots actually ) and stroke his beard. The Black guy with the hunch who wears a coat no matter what time of the year it is and whom I recently spotted after a gap of 10 days holding a briefcase. Did he just return from somewhere? A homeless person convention, a family matter, an opening in some street , somewhere in Boston for a homeless person , we can only speculate. And far off on the train station bridge, the NJT train stops, late in the night, ferrying those partyheads for whom nothing less than NY lights would do. And the Cab drivers who justle among each other for customers. Easy , My friend, Plenty of fish. And when the night has fizzled out the odd person walking around returing home from some far off party, or that couple who got so drunk that they have to sing about it. And all through this ,solitary in the distance stands , One Spring St, The tallest building in whole of New Brunswick. Home to my Friend Prem Singhs, special friend, Cash Delorry. Where the rich of this tiny college town live. Where you can see the NY Skyline and every curve of the Raritan from. Where some lights stay on longer than the night.

This post is dedicated to all of you. I will miss you all . I will miss you, New Brunswick. For a year I watched over you. While losers gloat over Hamilton St in crime ridden Somerset county, we knew. Aah, the convenience of running down and grabbing a root beer and a Buffalo Chicken Slice from Giovenellis. I will miss it all. And while I return to the suburbs that is Highland Park. Remember one thing. You are not forgotten, and the story, its far from over.

Jhaad ke idhar udhar.

2009-09-12T00:26:00.004-04:00

For some reason , I feel like washing my hands. I ate with a fork. I know they are not dirty , but I cant shake the feeling that they are. There is music playing in the background but its not from my laptop. Nor is it from my house. Its coming from outside. But what do I care? I haven't fallen in love with a song for so long now. I don't even remember the last time.

I know now what it will take to finally lose my additional pounds. I have the supreme power. The Total Knowledge. The only thing standing in the way is ..me. But its a promise, I wont enter my 24th year as a fat person.

अप्परेंत्ल्य यू कैन ब्लॉग इन हिन्दी, ആന്‍ഡ്‌ മലയാളം , and tamil and telugu. Dont the gujjus and the bongs need to blog?

It seems so long since they have been gone, but they are back. The cold NJ drafts I mean. The ones that chill you to the bone. The snow will soon follow. And as poetic and romantic the first snow is , they get old , very soon. Seeing snow for the first time is like seeing the beach. The feeling of seeing horizon empty in the distance and to realize that the beach is rt there up ahead. Is it just me or does everyone feel the child like glee. In undergrad my homies and I would hit the beach at 1 in the night to play football and kabbaddi. The first time we went there (TVM ka mashoor Shankhmugham beach) I just started running. Something inside me told me to run. Like Forrest, but I stopped in like 2 minutes. Cause I was fat and outta shape. But that feeling , that happiness, is something so pure. Something that can take control of you and make you do things. Something that feels so right. I want that again.

Its a coincidence that in 07 and 08 I clocked in exactly 48 posts each. And this yr I am at something like 16. Srinis blog, he says is abt quality not quantity. Well not this one. I will, no matter what, reach 48 posts by the end of the year. And to that I dedicate the above crapfest.

Entourage is Friggin Awesome!!!

2009-08-20T19:25:00.003-04:00

Jyeah,Jyeah!!...... Jyeah,Jyeah!!!! I haven't fallen in love with a TV series like this since I sat up all night watching the first season of Dexter back in undergrad. Entourage is an absolutely amazing show and the coolest thing is that its just about four guys hanging together. Its such a simple concept, but the execution and the characters will make you fall heads over heel in love with it. Never thought four normal guys living the good life in Hollywood, surrounded by movie stars, cars, girls, parties would make for some friggin' awesome TV. Its like Sex and the City, just for guys. You cant help but love the characters. After just 2 seasons Vince, E, Turtle and Drama are all my homies now.People you would love to hang out with. Turtle & Johnny Drama alone are such great characters, I wouldnt mind seeing them together in anything. Infact they should make a comedy about just Turtle and Drama. That could work out real nice. And Jeremy Piven is hilarious as the short tempered agent , Ari Gold.

Each season (so far) is based on a simple story line , but the story telling is so compelling and the characters so endearing you cant but gobble down episode after episode. The first season was about Vince scoring a indie flick. The second mostly about him scoring a big budget-er with James Cameron. Simple ,rt? And with all the movie actor cameos and movie references, any cinephile would love it endlessly. Another thing is that these folks are living it up , Hollywood style .Their lifestyle is relaxed, so chilled out that it makes you wish you had something like that. Its an inspiration almost, to get off you lazy ass and work , do something so that you are somebody. I am so prepped up right now, its like everything is gonna be alright. I can do anything I want. I finally got around to writing this blog article. Now Iammago run a mile. See you later Chicken, say Hi to your mother for me.

PS: Mark Wahlberg produces Entourage.
PS2: Thank you Pompi for forcing me to watch the first episode.

What everyone is down with...

2009-08-07T00:46:00.004-04:00

" I feel as if I do not deserve the food I eat." Said pompy while huddled over his plate of rotis and omellete. " I dont feel I should go out for a movie or eat out, because I do nothing to deserve it. I want to work hard be tired, and then go out and have fun. Now all I do is sit at home and apply for jobs.

I press my lips together and nod my head, I know what he means. Whatever he is down with has been going around the desi junta for some time now. Its as if a melancholy cloud has cast its ugly shadow all over cedar lane... well at least over my roomies. There is a pall of gloom that surrounds every conversation and completes every sentence. People have become nihilistic, they want to change , do and live better and their present life disappoints them. Some drink 9 cups of tea a day, others wake up and realize that they slept till 3:30 and that depresses them so much that they go back to sleep. The regular parasite at our place has suddenly realized that life should be spent travelling and meeting people and wants me to tag along with him to be a farm volunteer in Hawaii.

I knock and enter Pand's room . He is sitting on his mattress all red eyed from the job applications he's been sending. He seems like he needs a caffeine shot. I talk to him about a movie I saw and whether he should try going out of his room a while. He nods and continues typing onto his laptop. I wonder if he heard a thing I said.

" I go to sleep every night all jazzed up for the next day, but then I realize its because of the guilt I feel for doing nothing all day long. I have so much work to do or i feel like I do, but there is no motivation no drive. The only time I am happy is when I eat and when I play squash." says Onkar. My eyes light up at the mention of squash, its something I enjoy too, very much nowadays. " Do you think I should try to go professional?" I nod and do the pressed lips thing again and step out of the room. A stolen glance at his mac screen shows a page for the New Jersey Squash Association. Wow, was he serious?

Why is this happening to everyone? why are people suddenly so fed up with everything. If they were to get a job their moods would light up like that .What is that worries me ? I am worried that I am not worrying enough. Hey I need a job too.

Summer Mid Term Report Card

2009-07-03T15:58:00.003-04:00

Its been a shitty summer, and the only good thing so far is that it we are halfway through. Very few movies left a mark or excited me in anyway. I even fell asleep through one. Compared to this year, last year was Golden. Lets see where I stand and what we can hope for in the future.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine : Shitty title, even worse of a movie. Give me my money back. 4/10

Star Trek: God bless Abrams. Not the 9/10 that movie sites pegged it out to be but a very enjoyable 7/10. Yes I am no trekkie.

Angels & Demons: Straight forward by the book thriller. I detested the first part. This one was better.The friend i went with thorughly ebjoyed it and never guessed the obvious twist in the end. Just seeing his satisfied , smiling face made me like this more. 5-6/10.

Drag me to Hell: Loved the climax. But I felt it could have been much much more. And thats where it loses points. Again not the 9/10 everyone purported it to be. 6/10.

Up: Looved it. The beginning montage from Carl childhood to his wife's death is so beautiful. I was almost misty eyed. Almost. great fun rest of the way. Its impossible for Pixar to dissapoint. All psyched up for Toy Story 3. 8/10

The Hangover: The return of Todd Philips. I dont know anyone who didnot love the life out of this one. A very deserving 9/10.
The Taking of Pelham 123: I dont know how they got Tony Scott, Denzel and Travolta to sign up for as generic a hostage flick as this one. I dozed off in the middle. I shouldnt have woken up 10 minutes later. 4/10

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen: Some fun scenes here and there. But 2.5 hours long?? And that too without anything resembling a plotline. Not for me. 5/10

The Hurt Locker: I know I would have liked it more had I seen it without interruption from people around me. Respectable thriller. I wanted to love it more than I did. 7/10

My Sisters Keeper: People cried around me at the ending. That means the film delivers. I liked it. 7/10

For some reason I am not excited at all for Public Enemies.

What I havent seen: Terminator and Land of the lost.

What remains:Bruno, 500 days of summer, HP6, Funny people (yes,yes,yes) , GI JOE(God let this be good, for childhood memories sake), Inglorious Basterds, FD4, The Boat that Rocked.
May Also see: District 9 and The Goods

I cannot understand , for the life of me, the people who actually clapped at the end of TF2 and Pelham 123.

My Life's Purpose

2009-07-03T15:18:00.004-04:00

If you had to, what would you dedicate your life to? What would you devote your entire life to achieving and fulfilling? I am 23 years old with no worth while accomplishments to my name. I can carry on living like this. Just be another person in a swarm of humanity that crawls through their daily lives doing things they detest, just to get by. Eat, work, excrete, Repeat. But the very fact that God put us on this earth means something more. It has to. There has to be a higher purpose, a driving force in each of us which goes beyond the mere quest for material possessions. We just cannot spend time doing nothing. Every action , every choice should lead to enrichment of the soul and the body. We should become better than we are. It is hard to change , because we are programmed that way. To take the easy path and to be reluctant to change. But we can also be conditioned to do just about anything. Anything.

So what is my purpose in life. My life is an experiment. Its a test of human commitment and corruption. Can one person give up everything he has worked hard to achieve for the betterment of humanity. Can I after amassing a huge fortune give it up for the sake of the destitute and the impoverished. This is my life's aim. My purpose. To which I dedicate myself.

I found my calling by asking a simple question. Can everyone in the world be rich or is it necessary for people to be poor and deprived. Is our social hierarchy so built, that it would be destroyed by the absence of any one class? Can there ever be a Utopia. or the closest practical thing resembling it on this earth?? Is it what makes us human that is pulling us back, failing us. It is essentially human to be a mix of evil and good. Can only the good prevail? I don't think I can find my answer from a few isolated cases. It needs to a collective reply from the whole of humanity.

I tread the path of salvation .. of the entire human race. And each step in that path is an act of self improvement, betterment and striving to attain a more pure state of existence. I am a vegetarian from today. I cannot waste time on inanities. I have to use more than 10% of my brain capacity. I have to condition myself. I have to constantly endeavor, evolve, assess and improve. Oh yeah, and one more thing......

PSYCH!!!!

The Worst things in life..

2009-06-02T04:00:00.001-04:00

...are also free. Take mosquitoes for example. They are the spawn of the devil. Creatures of night. Vampires.The deadliest vector known to mankind. They are things I detest as much as the All campus bus. In India where the houses are not exactly weather proof, they find it easy to get in. I don't really care for the disease spreading part (though I should) , its the biting that pisses me off. They are a constant thorn to my late night TV watching and no matter how many you kill they keep coming back. They are relentless. They say there's no rest for the wicked, and the only time I don't see them anywhere in the house is a brief 4 hour slot in the afternoon, when I guess they go to sleep. Otherwise they are alert and always on Arjun duty. I know they fancy me, not only because of the fact I am fat, but also because of my superior quality blood :P. You actually have to make a sincere effort on your part to get rid of them. I hate the odomos routine. In undergrad, All-out was a must in our room. Jimson ,who was next door would stock up on Kachua chap coils, which came into play the nights the power went out. Our desk drawers still bear the burn marks from the You just couldn't go to sleep otherwise. I have often wondered would we be actually affecting any food chain if we kill too many of them. Surely there is not going to be an ecological disaster if they became extinct. There are no toads/frogs in Delhi dependent on them. The way I see it its just us and them in the food chain. If only we pursued them with the same fervor as we did the Dodos and the Tasmanian Devil.

The Requisite India Sojourn post.

2009-05-20T12:57:00.010-04:00

My school friend Pradyumna Sharma is a chef in Australia. And since he is in the culinary business , he finds it most amusing to greet everyone with an eyes to the roof inducing " Whats cooking , mate? ". Well if I were to be asked that question now, the answer would be Delhi, that's whats cooking. Its sweltering, volcanic and brain frying-ly hot here. Its so hot that in the afternoon, its not just the heat from the sun above but the heat emanating from the tarred roads below that ensures a crispy well done human roast. The heat waves are so thick you can almost see them,rising up from the ground. you have to squint everytime you step out side the door because the glare is so harsh. Well other than that little detail its all fine and dandy in the home country.

I voted for the first time in my life (discounting a college election) and I am so glad that not only did Mr.Ajay Maken, the congress candidate from central Delhi win, but congress had a clean sweep all over the country. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the police constables and the election officials at the booth were very courteous and helpful.

Public transportation in Delhi is mots convenient , at least to the places i want to go to. Over crowded , unplanned regions of Delhi like trilokpuri, lakshmi nagar all make me glad I dont live there but also bring me closer to the realization taht we are not out of the woods yet.Travelling in buses is most delightful and memorable. My first trip on a bus was marred by a child puking (It smelled and looked like a banana) and when the conductor and driver ganged up on the father with arguments like " Aapko pata hona chaahiye ne ki yeh ulti karne waala hai?" and " Isko aapne khaana hi kyun khilayan ?" ..wtf?? the public came to their rescue. The next day a guy got on with a daffli, one blind eye and started singing a most mellifluous song dedicated to Bholenath. Its amazing how much music is a part of traveling in Delhi. Apart from the traveling beggar-singers, I have found that traveling in a blue line is never bereft of the radio or the casette player blaring away in the background. Its always the early 90s- Tseries- nadeem -Shravan type of music that plays. Now here's the strange part. they never play the original audio cassettes. Whoever the singers are they are definitely not Anuradha Paudwal or Kumar sanu. This has led me to believe that there is an underground music industry in India, that has its own stable of singers who re-sing the popular songs of the time and release them under their own labels, probably at lower rates. Wouldn't it just be easier to copy the original tapes, the logical mind would ask? But then again these people are clearly devoid of the logical bent of mind.*

My group of friends mostly get together at out school smack in the centre of the city. Close to the school is Mandi House which is the HQ of Prasar Bharti and Doordarshan. They have several posters outside their building showing off the hit TV serials on their rosters, titles like Kaanch key Sapnay , Fauji - the Iron Man and Wild Adventures - Balloooning with the Bedi brothers or in hindi - Bedi Bandhuon ke sang yaatrayein.Does anybody still watch DD? Apparently they do in the villages, where Fauji - the iron man is a much awaited every Tuesday night.But the weirdest thing has to be DD+, that is the direct to home service that DD offers. Really? Would anyone actually pay money to set this up at their home ? Isnt DD for those ppl who cannot afford Cable??

Summer Movie Kickoff : X-Men Origins:Wolverine

2009-05-02T01:17:00.010-04:00

Today (May 1) is the first day of the summer movie season and I have lined up around 22 movies I would like to see at the theaters this summer. That is a bit ambitious, especially with my one month in India, but we will try. I got to see Wolverine today (Thursday night, 12:01 show) and if I had to sum it up in one word , it would be .. Bleh! Wolverine is the most loved movie character in the world, at least according to some statistics. He is my second most favorite character after Mr Wayne of course, and it disappoints me to see what has become of the film. I am familiar with Wolverine canon , and I have read some of the origin comics on which the movie is based, and while the movie stays close in parts it just doesn't convey his tragedy. How can you get it wrong when you have so many cool mutants like Deadpool, Cyclops, Blob, Emma Frost ,Sabretooth and finally Gambit. I guess the main problem is that the script is fantastic. Fantastic not as in amazing but as in weirdly impossible. Stuff like this happens in a badly written comic and you are willing to go along to some extent for the fun of it, but that too is impossible here because it just doesn't string together well. He picks up a fight with Gambit just so he can take him to an "island" where the climax is supposed to take place. After the fight they realize they are on the same side and we realize the misunderstanding was just a ruse to give the audience a fight scene. I am quoting the short lived Spidergirl comics when I say " Heroes fighting each other is so 80s". Fine fight over they go to the island. How? Gambit won a plane in a card game , which he conveniently knows how to fly and drops Logan off at the "Island". C'mon, how more lame can you get. I could turn a blind eye to all this , if you could just give me some F-U-N. Apart from a few fight scenes here and there , nothing, nada. Where is the silent nod to the fanboys , where is the esoteric reference? Everyone waited till the end of the credits expecting something cool, all we got was a lame scene of wolverine drinking at a japanese bar. I have had issues with the entire X-men trilogy (expect a blog on that soon), but this is one takes the cake. Hope the rest of the summer doesnt disappoint.

"I am so getting myself that jacket!!"

Summer is so here!!

2009-04-26T20:44:00.005-04:00

We dont have AC at our place. What we have are 14 $ fans made by a company called Lasko (?) . Its like a oven here. I am sweating , just sitting here. I have a project due in Wednesday and while I have been propped up at my table , by the window all day, I cant turn away from whats happening outside.My window gives me a great view of the New Brunswick station and the Eastin Ave dorm. The morning saw all these guys and girls all dressed up (or down?) in their summer finery , exiting the dorm in search of cooler pastures. And whats with all these bikers?? So many of them out today. And convertibles too. By the evening I saw many kids being dropped of by their parents. Fathers kissing their daughter, mothers hugging them and looking as if any moment they would break into tears. A desi daughter was received by her two american and very caucasian friends, and while the father shook hands with them , you could see the sweat form on his brow. Strange thing I don't see any sons being dropped off. Do they not go home for the weekend or do they just travel by themselves. Efes the over priced , lousy restaurant next to my apartment has put out chairs and tables outside its premises. So people just sit there even if they are not ordering anything and just watch the other people go by. We have a wonderful stoop downstairs. I plan to sit on it all summer and gawk at the ladies. Right now its just used by my Mexican neighbours and drunk folks from the Corner Tavern. There's also this boutique opposite to Efes, run by a tattooed lady with a chihuahua. "Nothing in this store is over 40$ " a board outside says. Yet I have never seen any customer entering that place or even window shopping. Rt on top of that boutique is a skateboard shop, inhabited by people of the tattooed lady's ilk. Pierced ears, tongues, noses, tattoos, and near goth attire.
I have had three cans of root beer, since morning, and the heat.. it just wont quit. Onkar suggests drenching a towel in water and hanging it behind the fan. I am reminded of a similar effort I an d Rahul made in undergrad. We ended up sprinkling water on the floor and walls. It worked. But we ended up with such a mess that we never used that trick again.

As March Goes by...

2009-03-31T23:15:00.004-04:00

There was a time I aimed at 6 posts a month, and I think I felt quantity would make up for quality. Now as even the number of posts dwindle every month, I have neither to offer you. I look at my friend srinis blog. Those who haven't read his posts please do. His vocab and language is to die for. He writes only when he really really feels like doing so. And it shows. I don't see that kind of organization or discipline from my side. As always , I remain mediocre at best.

There are times when you are struck by a life truth, some observation that makes you smile proudly and give you an air of having made a discovery , awaiting recognition from some authority. You should be able to capture that thought and feeling right then and there into a blog. You cannot but come out with a good one. I have often thought of having been gifted by God. I have a super power. Its uncanny how many times its worked, and I have often thought of writing about it here, but I fear persecution from some secret government agency [Trend Alert: novels and films about a group of people with some abilities being on the run from some agency or the other eg Jumper, Push, Maximum Ride etc] Okay I did not make the big announcement. I am no mutant with regenerative abilities or the ability to convert PEnergy to KEnergy. I am a technopath. I have to think of a film, or a scene from a film and some force in this universe bends itself to bring that movie onto my TV screen. It has to be the TV. I wish I could illustrate this with examples but I dont remember specifics, but the way it works is so goddamm wonderful that anyone would agree with me. Sometimes i just wonder to myself , ask myself a doubt what exactly did happen at a particular point in a movie, or what a particular dialogue was and at some time I am offered that very scene or dialogue.

Just the other day i was thinking about Yathra. A film starring Mammotty that I wrote about a year ago . At that time I had scoured through the net in search of an online print or scene but to no avail. But recently I had noticed a deluge of Mallu films on youtube all neatly arranged in playlists in clips of 10 mins each. What a delightful treat it was. I saw " Nammukku Paarkan mundhiri thoppukkal" - "Vineyards for us to dwell in " a beautiful love story starring Mohanlal and Shari. Beginning of digression - I need this to happen in Bollywood, that title above is a reference to a qoute from the bible pertaining to King Solomon's vineyards (Mohanlal is named Solomon and incidentally owns vineyards), why cant film titles in Bollywood refer to songs or poems, really thought out or deep. The only good one I can think of is "Khoya Khoya Chand" and " Hazaaron Khwaaishein aisi" both by Sudhir Mishra. The lame ass govinda song titles dont count. - Digression ends. So i decided to search for yaathra and lo there it was neatly arranged in packets of 10 minutes. Its a poignant story that really tugged my hridaya strings when I first saw it. From the first scene where mamootty gets on a bus and asks to sit by the Window seat to its relevance in the climax, everything is so beautifully woven together you have to tip your Ten gallon hat to the director Balu Mahendra. The dude is more famous for directing Sadma or Moondram Pirai. The dude like sad endings and sets his films in Hill stations. Ok , my point in all this was that Although I swear by the quality of mallu films, i suddenly realized they do not particularly have any outstanding cinematography. Everything else works so well but rarely do you see any camera work that makes pout your lip and shake your head in movie geek approval.
I realized I could have made 2 different blogs out of this one. And also there is no particular importance of the post title to the post. "As March goes by" very clever Arjun. very original. Only not.

Trivia:I dont remember what Khoya Khoya Chand was going to be called originally. 53 points to the person who tell me the answer, all I remember is it was the first line of some poem.

Random things circling my mind.

2009-03-22T13:30:00.004-04:00

1) I want to start reading Green Lantern.
2)After watching I love you, Man , I want to learn how to Fence.
3) I want to learn how to play a acoustic guitar or a mandolin.
4) I am happy I discovered two great Jagjit Singh / Chitra Singh songs - Jab Kabhi Tera Naam lete hain & Sunte hain ki mil jaati hain. JS/CS songs are great to keep playing in the background while you are trying to sleep.
5) I want to by heart "If" by Rudyard Kipling.
6) I am glad I discovered "Is mod se jaate hain" from Aandhi. I am surprised I hadn't heard that song earlier and its a classic!!Fav line - "In reshmin raahon main, Ek raah to woh hogi, Tum tak jo pahuchti hai, Is mod se jaati hain". If i was walking down the road and someone were to come up to me and ask "Arjun, what is your fav hindi song?" I would say " Who are you and How do you know my name? " Then I would reply " Its a close tie between " Is mod se jaate hain " and " Aaj kal mere paaon zameen par".
7) I am obsessed with all things Gulzar. I discovered the above song through him and also listened to him recite to a beautiful poem " Makaan ki uppari manzil par ab koi nahin rehta". He really liked working with Sanjeev Kumar. Plus Suchitra Sen is hoooot.

Delhi -6 ... Hmmm

2009-02-21T01:01:00.005-05:00

Well I am not from Delhi 6. I am from Delhi 1. New Delhi. But I love all of Delhi just as much. So as we returned from the movie and as the guys in the front of the car were discussing if a certain character should have been brought back from the dead or not, my thoughts were on something else. This film is not the Ode to Delhi I was expecting it would be. Its not about the magic of Delhi, that city of seven cities. Its about people. How superstitious and narrow minded people can become. Dilli dilwalon ki? I don't see that here. Its also not about Rakesh Om Prakash's early years as the early rumors going around had you believe. Its about the Monkey Man. Its about people and how they react when prodded with external stimuli, in this case the homo nigerous or as they call it "Kala Bandar". I had an idea for a movie in which the residents of an apartment go crazy with suspicion and doubt and turn on each,when they chance upon a mysterious writing(in blood) on a wall. That is the second half , almost.It could have been set anywhere. Its a character study. I guess I was put off by a lot of these elements. Still, its a good movie.But people going in expecting to be bowled over RDB style, beware. Rakesh just pulled a Jackie Brown.
I loved the songs, and the picturisation of Dil gira Dafatan is amaaazing. Its a dream sequence of Delhi taking over Times Square and its just shot so well. It looks so real with CNG autos and cycle rickshas plying through 42nd street.Except for one song, none are lip synced and I don't know if it was just my theater, not all songs from the soundtrack were even in the movie.Rishi Kapoor was wonderful in Luck by Chance and here too he is lovely.Loved the Ram Lila sequence. Meanwhile,like Kushwant Singh's fantastic novel -"Delhi- a Novel",I am still waiting for that definitive movie about Delhi.All of it, not zip code prejudiced.

Ahl-e-jauhar ko watan mein rahne deta gar falak,
Laal kyon is rung se aataa Badakhshaan chhor kar,
In dinon garche Dakan mein hai bari qadar-e-sakhun,
Kaun jaane Zauq par Dilli ki galiyan chhor kar

The Problem with American Theatres

2009-02-18T17:28:00.004-05:00

Yeah, they are all fancy and dandy.with their multiple screens, digital dolby , game parlours and over priced pop corn with extra butter. While they will not blow you away , it certainly is a pleasant experience for someone whose serious theatre experience began with the Kairali theatre in Thambanoor, Trivandrum.
Anyway, The first time I went for a movie here was all alone. Coming from a hostel where everyone would start jumping up and down and singing badly, off tune everytime a new film released, it was most disappointing for me to come across a lot who were more interested in watching the camera print on some crack website. So I decided to hire a taxi and go all by myself ( who goes to a movie alone?? I guess it was something I had to do). I landed at AMC and bought myself a ticket for Eastern promises (This was in 2007) , then I asked the guy at the counter ( who by some quirky twist of fate was also named Arjun) if there was an intermission. The guy didn't understand what I said. So I did what every other desi MS student fresh from the airport would do. I repeated the question this time with as good an accent I could put on. He said sorry he didnt know what that was. After a lot of explanation on how theatres worked in India, I was told that unfortunately this was not India. So that meant there would be no breaks for the loo or to drink water, and if you had to go, it would be at the peril of missing out important plot points. The Americans really do overestimate the average Indian males capacity to hold it. Towards the end of my movie, with my bladder knock knock knocking on heavens door, I decided the experience would be more comfortable if I relieved myself and came back. I ran out and did my business and hurried back only to be stopped by the usher. After frantic searching through my pockets I realized I did not have my ticket stub. But for some reason, the usher realized that I was not the conniving kind. I was let in, I scrambled to my screen, took my place and prepared myself for the end of the movie.Within 5 seconds the credits rolled. What the.... My mad dash for glory had made me miss the ending. I decided to watch another movie - The Kingdom- for closure's sake. This time, I held it in.

We Have TV !!!

2009-01-27T14:33:00.006-05:00

Long have you eluded me. No more.

After a gap of 5 years , I finally have TV at my home. I haven't had access to a TV since I left home 5 years ago for college, save for the brief stints at home on holidays or the time my roommate went out and bought a TV for our room that lasted all of 2 months. The pure joy and convenience that a TV provides is unbeatable. We have over 200 channels , 15 movie channels among them. Instead of just discovery and NGC we have over 8 lifestyle channels. Oh, How I missed you Discovery. I am amazed at the wide variety at offer, but that in itself has posed a problem. There were times in India when there would be nothing good to watch. I termed it "Dead Time"- " a period of air time be it audio or video where the viewer/listener is offered nothing that can hold his interest for long". We have a strange variation of that here in the states. I haven't yet come up with a lame name for the phenomenon, but its a period of airtime where there is an abundance of programs that attract the viewer such that he/she is pulled everywhere and in the end settles nowhere.

Still I am elated with the return of TV. It brings back fond memories if nothing else. Unkown to my parents there existed a system of understanding between I and my brother. We had divided everything in the house between us. EVERYTHING. Rooms, household objects, mixies,TV, furntiture,and even our parents. So the TV ended up being mine, but my brother got the TV stand. Furthermore the TV was in the living room, which my brother had got in turn for both the bathrooms. So even though the remote lay in my hands, and I controlled what the family would watch - to which he complied - ,when something came that he just had to watch ,he would leverage control by moving the TV stand and pulling the plug of the TV saying I had no right to his "electricity". A truce would finally reach where he would get to watch what he wanted, but the remote would be in my hands, and I got wandering rights during commercial breaks.

"I am 12 years old, TV is my life" - Kevin McCallister, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

I heard this on TV and was so happy that I was 12 years old too and in fact TV was my life too.
I was proud of my knowledge of TV timing when I was in school. I knew what was on at what time.I liked that certanity. Of telling time by what was on the TV. Like the furniture of my house, I knew where everything was. I knew how late night TV smelled. I knew how afternoon Tv tasted. I was the Lord of TV.

The Fallacy of Central Indian Thought

2009-01-26T22:44:00.004-05:00

Why does Kerala have so many Christians?
Why did so many Mallus convert to Christianity?

These were the questions that besieged me last night amongst a barrage of ill informed and ignorant rhetoric . When the obvious answer of the first missionaries landing in Kerala and thereby finding followers did not sate their scavenging minds, I did some research. According to the powers that be (read wikipedia), it is believed that St.Thomas the Apostle landed in Kerala in the 1st century AD. The oldest Church in India is in Kerala. All these are definite proofs of missionary works in Kerala early in the 1st millenium. Furthermore the Chera kingdoms were heavily dependent on trade with the europeans, and middle eastern Asia. So mixing of cultures was bound to happen. So if I belong to a place with a religious demographic that is highly skewed from the national average, am I to be blamed? My God, what kind of a person sees that as a negative thing? The four years I spent there showed me how religiously tolerant the place is. I dont think I have ever heard of communal riots in the south of India.

I am someone who believes that there was once a dark cowherd who slayed the King of Mathura and that there was a real Prince of Hastinapur who was just the bomb with the Bow & Arrows. Call it blind faith but its not so blinding as to turn to hatred for apostates. I believe my religion preaches tolerance.I am against any religious conversion that is not the voluntary end result of a curious mind's search for what it deems to be the right means to spiritual salvation. There is a belief in India that people who converted are those who gave into outside pressures, cowered and these guys who by virtue of holding steadfast to their faiths are superior. A part of me feels the same way. But tell me how can you claim bragging rights to something that you did nothing to achieve. You were born into your religion. You did not prove yourself in the face of murderous mobs or the tempting nets (if I may) of a proselyte. It screams of hypocrisy.

Why Central Indian Thought?? I am generalising instead of directly addressing the culprits. People who act as if they have never come across someone from the north of the Vindhyas. You should realise that "baari" is an accepted usage in the north, having been derived from the punjabi "Vaari" . Please , what right do you have to look down upon this when you yourself translate every sentence from Marathi? And someone who gets so touchy at the slightest generalization of Biharis should have a better sense of respect for all cultures within our country. I miss Delhi. I really do. If only for the better mixing of cultures.

I am also a fool for spending so much time writing this. Useful time that could have been spent watching "tonty phour"

Today

2009-01-17T10:58:00.004-05:00

I have always thought of this blog as kind of a " Dear Diary" thingy. I guess mostly I write about myself. Things that affect me. Rarely am I the objective observer.

I woke up on my own at 9:30. Thats not early I know, but having slept at an hour unmentionable due to fear of parental reprimand, that is early.Plus I had to , because we are having this online college get together. I have a reputation for sleeping like a corpse. I sleep so soundly that I only wake up in the morning.It is real hard to wake me up in the morning. Ask my mother or my college roomie. I like it that way. I pity those who wake up at the slightest variations of temperature, sound etc. I feel they do not enjoy their sleep as much as I do. I have a friend who is a world class recreational somnambulist. And he is somewhere in between. But he takes real pride and joy in his sacred duty. That is something I admire about him. His dedication to his field. Then there is my present roomie who has an air of tiredness and sleepiness around him. He needs to revive himself with frequent jolts of caffeine or he would collapse and not wake up for an hour or two. My other roomie calls it " His Samadhi". Pompi Baba ki Samadhi.

I made myself tea right after. I have rediscovered my love for tea. It was a habit that I had abandoned after failed attempts to make a decent cup by myself. In Kerala , as in mostof the country, they drink tea with breakfast at home and in the evening. And if you are someone who eats from the outside, you will notice that people drink tea with their dinner too (of course not with rice, but their rotis and dosas). My office has a coffee machine that also makes tea. It has a little glass cabinet with different flavours of tea and coffee neatly arranged in see through drawers. They have a lemon calm and earl grey that I have grown rather fond of. I have a lot of friends who dont drink tea. Even my brother does not. Isnt he even remotely curious about how tea might taste. I know he hasn't had any for a good 10-15 years.

I have lots of stuff to read. I have two papers that I need to finish. I have got a free subscription to 4 magazines, and they are all piling up. I need to get right down to it.I have decided watching all those movies and TV shows will not get me anywhere. I need to read and write more. I have also chanced upon this neat row of indian books at the Alexander Library. I read Delhi - A novel, by Kushwanth Singh and its so wonderful to hear him speak of places where I have lived. His family built most of New Delhi, and they used to own the building that later became Kerala House and where I spent 6 years of my life. He presently occupies a quarter on Sujan Singh Park (named after his father) which is rt next door to my place at Pandara Rd.

I have made a discovery. There is a muscle on the left side of my back. It is a universal muscle, that is flexed even at the slightest movement you make, everytime and right now that muscle, which I would like to call universa flexosa II is hurting like hell. I dont know how I hurt it but I am in writhing agony. It seemed to knock the wind out of my lungs with the effort I needed to get up this morning.But there is a sadistic pleasure in flexing that muscle and at regular intervals I check if the pain is still there or not.

10 Movies I have to See '09

2009-01-03T18:37:00.015-05:00

Ok, we saw the year that was. Let's see what lies ahead.

1) The Boat that Rocked

Continuing my fetish for all things Kenneth Branagh , we now get to see him in a negative role as an authority figure trying to shut down a radio station being run out of a boat. Based on a true story.

2)X-men origins: Wolverine
In my college room [that would Room no.4, Lords Hostel for Boys] there were a number of posters, among them was one of a hand with three claws tearing out through the knuckles, blood oozing. In the corner it said Wolverine: Origins. This is the movie. Snikt!!

3)Star Trek

I am a fan of Lost. A loyalist. So it is natural that I scoop up anything Lost creator J J Abrams throws at me. I thought MI 3 was a neat action flick with a stellar cast[ one thing I feel is important in big budget action flicks], His next directorial effort is a reboot of Star Trek. I enjoyed the trailor and come opening day, my behind will be there.

4)Watchmen

Its called the best graphic novel of all time. I haven't read it. Why? I am waiting for the movie. Why would I read something that gives away the ending of the movie, rt? Not rt. I need to get over my fear of spoilers.The book is alwys better than the movie.Who watches The Watchmen? I do. Will.

5)Shutter Island

After the Departed anything that Marty touches had be obsessed over and seen pronto. I really like the premise of two detectives sent to investigate a murder on an island sanitarium with the killer on the loose in the island. Oh, theres also this tornado coming

6)Sherlock Holmes

Guy Ritchie reinvents Sir Doyle's Holmes , in the form of a Boxing, pipe smoking suave Robert Downey Jr. Jude law accompanies him as Dr. Watson. Apparently Moriarty is being held back for a sequel.

7)Chandini Chowk to Chowk

This could go either way, but the trailer had me in splits with lines like "Chinese bhaiyon Saavdhaan" " Ganpathi bappa, tum aa gaye ho, noor aa gaya hain" & "Yeh log sindhi main kya bol rahein hain, Dada Hojo"

8)Inglorious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino finally gets off his ass and directs his long talked about WWII pic. Brad Pitt stars along with an eclectic host of actors. This has must see written all over it.

9)Delhi-6

Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra returns after RDB with the tale of an NRI returning to INdia( Swades??) and discovering puraani dilli .

10)Brooklyn's Finest

3 cops investigating the same crime from different angles.Are they remaking LA Confidential already?? Antoine Fuqua directs with Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke starring. Color me intrigued.

11) Everthing from the Judd Apatow Camp

Ok, I need to learn to count. There are around 3 movies coming from these guys that I am looking forward to. Observe & Report- Seth Rogen plays a Mall Cop out to catch a Flasher, I love You, Man- Paul Rudd's hunt for a best man for his wedding leads to Jason Segal [This flick looks amazing] & Funny People- Judd Apatow's next directorial effort, I dont know what its about, but I am soo there.

Other movies that look Interesting: Edge of Darkness, G. I . Joe, Terminator Salvation, Sarkar Pt.3 : Vansh, Luck By Chance, Dev D, Sagar alias Jacky

Strangely most of these movies will release in the first half of the year. I guess I will have to come out with another list in June. Also Kenneth Branagh was supposed to be the villain in MI:III , but they scrapped that script and went a totally different way. And in a totally unrelated note, I am rooting for Suzanna Mukherjee in Roadies 6.0. She's a real sweetheart .

10 movies that rocked my world '08

2008-12-29T23:13:00.006-05:00

Time for my annual column "10 movies that rocked my world". I overheard someone say that it was a crappy year for the economy but a great year for movies. Was it so? I dont know. I really dont feel as if I watched a lot of great movies this year. But , yeah there was the day of The Bat. There were also some other very good movies out, but I also saw some other great movies which did not release this year.Here .. we.. go!

1)The Dark Knight

"This is what happens when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object"
The one that lived up to the hype..and more..Yeah, yeah , I know every other magazine and website out there is calling it their fav movie of the year. So its no surprise. The Dark Knight was my fav movie of the year.THE Movie of the year. THE Best comic book movie Ever!! Everyone loved it, I know but God knows every batfan out there felt the same paternal, protective feeling that I felt when I saw it. The feeling of loving something before everyone else. Is it possible to love a movie more than others? This for me was a movie about people I knew. A film about friends.And that has to make you love it more. So does that mean us "Batfans" enjoyed it more than you puny everyday folks? Yeah, I 'd like to think so.

Fav moment: This is something personal and very wierd. If at some point in a movie I get so involved and ecstatic at the proceedings that goosebumps erupt all over my "sideburn" area, I know its going down as one of my all time favs. Like when I figured out Ash was in cahoots with Mr. Devgan in Khaakee just before they revealed it or when Mr.Elliot Ness asks Mr. Stone "you got the shot?" " Yeah, I got the shot" "Take it" "Bamm". Well it happened in this one too when, The Joker explains to Ms. Dawes how he got his scars, about the scarred wife and gambling problems ever so hinting at " The Killing Joke". Goosebumps, I tell ya!!

2) Tropic Thunder

" I am just a dude ,playing a dude, disguised as another dude"
From the very start , with the fake trailers this film had me loving the hell out of it. Probably one of the best comedies of the year. What a great cast! Mr.Downey Jr. is brilliant in his role as Kirk Lazarus.The scene where he tries to infiltrate the "Gandein logon ka camp" dressed as a farmer is hilarious.The climax had me on the edge of my seat. Its not only a great comedy but it has a very well thought out script. And got to love that Tom Cruise cameo.

3) Slumdog Millionaire

Its great to see India in a mainstream hollywood film( Ok so it wasnt released wide but hey, everyone knows about this one and it may not even be "Hollywood" , but you know what I mean). Danny Boyle is amazing and more so in how versatile he is. People don't expect such a honest and heartfelt love story from the director of 28 Days Later, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave amongst other. You rock, Mr.Boyle !! Also, the music is amazing and blends right in with the scenes, especially the ending. But you have to ask why did it take a Britsh director to tell a story about India, and to bring it to the world. Why isnt our home grown stock potent enough??

4) How to Kill your Neighbor's dog
" Alcoholics have class. I'm a F***ing drunk"
This film started my fascination for Kenneth Branagh. What a powerful actor. I am lapping upanything and everything he throws at me. I would call it scenes from the life of a writer, as he befriends a child next door, his own stalker, a dog that won't let him sleep and all the while trying to complete his new play and come to terms with the fact that he might make a good parent( His wife played by Robin Wright Penn wants a child, he doesn't). Lovely little film that makes you wish you could live forever in the world depicted by these characters.I want to see more films like this.

5) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

"My name is Benjamin Button, and I was born under unusual circumstances."
The second out of three love stories in this list. First off, amazing special effects. If for nothing else , it should get the oscar for the special effects. This film is almost like Forrest Gump. A very special person's journey through life, meeting other special people and all the while waiting for his one true love. Its also as charming and as humorous ( the entire theatre roared with laughter at the "lightning" part). The scene where they show how Daisy's accident was inevitible, is nothing short of brilliant. David Fincher departs from his usual genre but proves his prowess once again. Interestingly his Zodiac was in my top 10 list last year.

6)Let the right one in

A beautiful story about the friendship between a boy and a vampire. Its equal parts horror and drama. The direction and screenplay are mesmerizing. Some scenes were so well shot and so much fun, I had to rewind and watch them again. If you haven't seen it do yourself a favour and watch it.NOW!!

7)Station Agent

Nothing much happens in this movie, actually. A guy inherits a station house after his friend dies. He moves in and just wants to be alone. He meets a food truck guy, who would like to be his friend. He almost gets run over by a lady, twice. They all take trips along the rail tracks. The guy meets a cute librarian. And the said guy is a short person. Thats it. I liked it. A lot.

8)Cloverfield

Thrillers are my favourite genre, and this is a neat addition to my list of favs. I have often wondered what if something so momentous happens that it makes our daily run around, the daily grind absolutely trivial. Screw that paper you were so worried about, screw your grades, screw every little thing that blows itself out of proportion and takes over your life. Suddenly ,out of the blue, something could happen that could change your life forever.What if the most important thing is survival in the face of a catastrophe.For me, thats what this film examines.

9)Forgetting Sarah Marshall

"You sound like you are from Lonn- daan"
The third love story in the list. Can the Judd Apatow clan do no wrong??Saturday,Nov. 21 ,What a beautiful day it was the sun shone and the birds chirped, but I stayed in and watched 4 films from his camp.A day well spent.The film left me wanting to visit Hawaii. The Dracula puppet song was beautiful. What else can I say? Loved it.

10)The Wrestler

"I'm an old broken down piece of meat and I deserve to be all alone, I just don't want you to hate me"
Wow!! What a film. The story of the twilight years of a once famous wrestler.It doesnt seem like a film, almost like a documentary. You actually feel these are real people. The thing that most struck me about Randy is his innocence.This guy is not bitter, not one bit. He's down and almost out, living in a trailer park, a daughter that won't talk to him, wrestling on the weekends in two bit ciruits yet he lives on. And there is a sadness that looms over Randy that gets to you too. And how wonderful is that song by Bruce Springsteen, it perfectly conveys the sadness of the film. I really wish Mickey Rourke gets an oscar for this one as much as I do for Heath Ledger.

11)Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye

I am allowed an eleventh movie in my top 10, cause its my party and I will do what I want to!!
This is the second movie from Dibaker Banerjee and while I would say its not as good as Khosla ka Ghosla, this too is a real good effort.Its shot in Delhi and thats always a plus in my books. As with the first one, there are strong, unique, well defined and I want to say ecccentric characters., that stay with you even after the movie. Paresh Rawal and Archana Puran Singh excel in thier roles and I really loved the "Criminal/Sansani" guy, they really got the crime show thing from the news channels spot on.The dialogue is really Dilli, with words like "freefund" reminding me of my very own school days lingo. I just don't understand why my roomies did not like it.

12)Candy

Did I mention something about this being my party?? This one too stars the amazing Heath Ledger in an at times disturbing but still touching love story of two drug addicts and the lengths their addiction and love takes them. I have decided as a tribute to Mr.Ledger to watch his entire Filmography.

Films that I had Lots of fun with:, Step Brothers, Kung-Fu Panda, Kingdom of Heaven, Transsiberian, A Wednesday, Absolute Power, Heat, Dead Again, Singh is King, Taken,The Cottage

Films that disappointed: Mummy 3 (couldn't even finish it), You don't mess with the Zohan, Street Kings ( I had high hopes or this one)

I am sad that I did not watch that many Mallu or Bollywood movies, but still seems like I watched lot of movies. I guess it was a good year for the movies.Yes, I got the quotes from imdb, but don't hate me for that.

Thank you, once again Galadriel and SEV for taking me to that midnight screening. You know which one, ;).

Connections

2008-12-26T13:55:00.002-05:00

I am returning home from a movie and I see this clock tower on top of the Johnson & Johnson building and I think to myself, wasn't there a similar tower in an unreal map?? Then I think of my friend Srini always proclaiming himself to be a natural born Sniper. That guy thinks just because he has played a couple of levels of CounterStrike, he has earned stars. This reminded me of the Sniper in Washington a couple of years ago. It actually turned out to be a retired army guy and his stepson. Hey , that incident caused delays in the release of Phonebooth, didn't it. The bad guy was played by Kiefer Sutherland. Then it struck me , I knew why he was cast in the movie. Its directed by Joel Schumacher and he has worked with the guy before in A Time to Kill. Wow, I figured that out all by myself.Pat yourself on the back Mr.Adimari, pat yourself.

PS: They have also worked together on Flatliners & Lost Boys.

I am not Fat!!

2008-12-24T18:10:00.005-05:00

Ok, I am fat.But not in my mind. I can be sated with the most minimal quantities of food. I find that I am not hit with pangs of hunger hours before mealtime. I could easily skip a meal and not reel over and pass out . I shouldn't be fat, not with all these traits of thin people. But I am. And rt now I am as fat as ever.The fattest I have ever been in all my 22 short years. Many times, have I tried to fight the Battle of the Bulge.From the time , Ms.Dimple Khanna told me in the 8th Std to shed the flab so I could look "smart" when I got older to the time when I went on a liquid diet in the 6th sem of my undergrad.There have been times when victory was Oh so near like when I had to put on braces and couldnt actually chew food or the time when I joined a gym (BodyCraft, run by the then Mr.Kerala. Rajesh-ettan) and actually touched 83 Kgs but I just didn't realize that I had actually lost weight to sustain that thin frame. I know there have been times when I wished I would be struck with Typhoid or jaundice and that would leave me looking like a malnutritioned refugee. I know what my problems are. I dont have that finishing power, to see something through to its completion. I have also trained my mind to continuously dwell on food. In my undergrad, the first 3 periods would be spent deciding where I would get Lunch from and the last three on the procurement of dinner. But in my heart, I know I will be thin someday, very soon. Its a life truth. Something I know to be true with all my heart, just like I know I will be filthy rich someday.Its an assumption,a fact thats a basic part of my life and my vision of the future.It cannot be any other way.I know that.

PS: I just realized that I have been fat for 10 years now.

Blunder

2008-12-04T00:13:00.001-05:00

There was a time I thought the word Mediocre was actually pronounced and spelled mediocore!!

Doctor of Popular Culture

2008-11-30T18:39:00.005-05:00

Now that we are in a recession and the job scenario doesn't look that bright, people are talking about getting a PhD, I just cant get myself to think about doing so. I could never do a PhD. I have absolutely no knowledge about civil engineering. It feels so good when you tell someone that you are an engineer..
"Engineer, huh?"
"Well I am doing my Masters now"
"Masters??.. wow"
"yeah.. Environmental Engg.."
All the while you feel guilty because you know you know squat.Your counsious rolls into fetal postition and sniffs at your ineptitude. So I thought if I had to do a PhD, what would it be in? I thought and thought and then it struck me.I would do a PhD in pop culture.There are universities that offer courses on various aspects of popular culture. I know there are courses called "Harry Potter and Spirituality in the 21st Century" and "Family Values: What The Simpsons teach us".I would totally be psyched to attend classes like these. I guess I should have taken up Sociology in undergrad. I have always felt the need that we need to properly document popular culture, much like Wikipedia is doing. I know I spend hours on the wiki reading stuff about defunct cartoon shows, one hit wonders from the 80s, Hitler and the Mystic arts, fun stuff like that. What if I were to do this for a living?
Doc of Pop... that has a nice ring to it doesn't it??.. not exactly.

PS: I totally made up the course names.

Sudden Realization

2008-11-27T00:00:00.002-05:00

I just realized something.I am incredibly lazy.So much that, the moment things start getting rough, I start thinking up of silly excuses to escape.I had for a long time refused to comply with the Indian engineering curriculum, only because they (according to me) employ antiquated teaching methods and syllabus.Similarily when I started working as a lab assistant I would dread at the idea of having to do all the work in front of me.I decided I was not meant to be an engineer, and my true calling lay in the land of moving pictures.The thing is I am just afraid of failure.I am also afraid of confrontation.I guess the only good thing about all this is that I know what my problems are.

An actor to watch out for

2008-11-13T21:59:00.004-05:00

Hes been around for a couple of years, so its not as if this guy is debuting in the coming year or anything, but he has always been a low profile actor, even though he is a leading man and comes from a star family.I am talking about Mr.Abhay Deol, son of famous Punjabi actor Virendra Deol, nephew of Dharmendra and cousin to Sunny,Bobby and Esha.I wont say its his spectacular acting prowess that has won me over.No, he is a decent actor who I hope will break the Deol mould and actually turn in a critically acclaimed performance some day.What has won me over is his choice of films.Hes been in 6 bollywood films and they are all ek se badkar.Socha na tha, ahista ahista and Manorama 6 Ft under are all delightful films that have played outside the "box" described by Bollywood.Ahista Ahista has one of the best endings to come out of bollywood in recent years.Socha Na Tha is what a RomCom should be and Manorama Six Feet Under (remake of Chinatown) delivers as the bleak and dark thriller that it was meant to be,set in a sleepy small town in village. Maybe it is my love for the films hes been in that make me like him, but nonetheless I eagerly await his upcoming films- Dev D, a reimagining of devdas and "Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye" - the latest film from the director of "Khosla ka Ghosla". Also, two of his films are set in sadi dilli, and thats always a plus in my book.

Mallu Film Titles...

2008-11-02T12:32:00.003-05:00

I have to say Mollywood has the best film titles out there. They are really snazzy, vibrant, and stand apart.I guess a lot has to do with some of them being actual pieces of dialogue.Like "Irrikyu, MD akathundu" which translates to "Please have a seat,the MD is inside".Some of these lose their effect when they are translated,but still I have compiled a list of some titles I could remember.

1)Manjil Virinja Pookkal- the flowers that blossomed in the winter/snow
2)novemberinte nashtam- the loss in November
3)mukundetta sumitra vilikyannu- Mukund bhaiyya,aapko Sumitra bula rahi hai
4)Aayiram Navulla Ananthan- Thousand tongued Ananthan
5)Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala - the Worrisome Shyamala
6)Deshadanakili Karayarilla - Migratory Birds do not cry/chirp
7)Ee Ganam Marakkumo -Will you forgot this song ( wow, that sounds so melodramatic)
8)Ennu Swantham Janakikkutty -Yours Janakikutty (like at the end of a letter)
9)Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan - Hareendran is a simpleton
10)Yathrakkarude Sradhakku - For the attention of the passengers
11)Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal - Once again ,some domestic matters (and I win the Horrible translation award )
12)Sathyabhamaykoru Premalekhanam - A love letter for Satyabhama
13)Sakhakkale Munnottu - Forward,Comrades

There are people in my computer...

2008-10-15T23:28:00.003-04:00

Living breathing people who watch me and surprise me at the strangest of times.It all started with random banjo music spewing out from my lappi.Then the music grew into random dialogues,angry voices which I attributed to spyware..But when even spybot couldn't remove the problem I realized it was something far more sinister.Onkar suggested it might be possesed.Pandeyji,an ever devout Hindu joked it was the voice of God.Aakashwani.The voices prophecied that Bush would be remembered fondly long after he is gone.They said Obama was the devils spawn and Mccain the second coming of the Lord.Thats when it hit my rational mind.I knew who it was who had took my hp dv6500t hostage.Its them goddamm republicans!!!

2 months without a post!!

2008-10-01T22:41:00.002-04:00

I have procrastinated long enough.I was thinking of a witty topic to come out of hibernation with .But I am dry as a parched well.I realize i could have gotten a good many posts out of my internship at the DRBC.A govt institution with really stinky pay but really nice people.A relaxed and laid back place which reminds you of govt offices back home.I made friends and for the first time I was really spending time with americans, not the faux firangs of Cedargarh.
I could have also written about my trip to India.Yeah, I went home and came back.The first thing that hits you when you get out of the airport is the heat.man the heat.Your skin could scald off.The next thing is the crowd.Its everywhere.Its as if they are following you.You cant escape it.I wish i had more pleasanyt things to say abt my homeland but it only strikes you when you come back from a stint abroad that your country could do with some improvement.Lots of it.Have you seen parodies of NRIs who only drink mineral water and complain abt everything when they come to India.I was that complaning,bitchin, guy.Its inevitable and my friends agreed they felt the same when they went to India.The prices are all sky high.At some places you might as well pay in dollars.In fact i did ,one time.My bro hit a zen by accident and they demanded we pay them 900 bucks.. all we had on us was a 20 green one and they accepted that.. silly Indian ppl,Tum nahi janta , thats only 800 Rs.Chole bhature,paani puri.,Hotel Ashwathi and my dear Zam Zam.I accomplished what I went for ,Haha.It was great to be back among familiar sights and sounds.My decision to eventually go back to India in 6-7 yrs has became firm as iron.That is where I belong and that is where I must be.

I should and will write abt my new place.Its right in the middle of new brunswick shehar.The location is deadly.Its so good it hurts.We have a neat little place on top of Corner Tavern.I have a great view from my window.In fact thats what I am going to write abt next.
Thats all for the day.. take care you all....

PS:Happy bday to Gandhiji.. You the man,bapu!!

PS2:I hope I dont jinx myself.Om H1B-aaya namaha...successfullaayi praaptaha... shanti shanti hi...

Notes on The Dark Knight part II

2008-07-31T16:31:00.002-04:00

I have closure.I accept that joker will not be in the third batman movie.Frankly,how can you top the Joker Vs Batman scenario presented in The Dark Knight.It has taken the essence of the best batman graphic novels and churned it into a deeply satisfying experience for fanboys and the average movie goer alike.I do not want anyone tarnishing Ledger's performance so I am vehemently against recasting.Perhaps 20 yrs later when they think of reimagining the Batman franchise,they can bring on a new joker.Until then,No Thank you.But still I do wonder had he lived how would the third part turn out.That was the plan, the third part would have been the trial of The Joker.But I have also heard pf Joker dying in this one,scarring Harvey Dent and leaving Two-face to take on the villain duties for the third.Had he lived.This will be one of those cinematic never-will-be's that will haunt fanboys forever.

Trivia:A list of similar we-will-never-know's

1)The best has to be the planned Unbreakable trilogy,which was scrapped because of poor financial performance of the original.It would have shown David Dunn as an established superhero facing off against a new villain.Its the best comic book movie, not based on a comic book.You all know which one is the best comic book movie based on a comic book [;)]

2)The uncut versionof The Breakfast Club.Yes it exists, the way it was meant to be seen before being heavily cut by the studios.Of course,Its owned by John Hughes and there is no way hes inviting you for movie night.

3)The Face-off movie with Schwarzeneggar and Stallone.This would have been their team up.The Blockbuster waiting to happen.But it didnot and now its too late.

4)Ram Gopal varma's Ek.This was supposed to be a thriller set in the world of international espionage and showed a RAW,an ISI and a CIA agent joining forces.

5)The Departed is one of my all time favs.I loved the cast,everyone was great.No complaints whatsoever.Now imagine,what it would have been with Tom cruise and Brad pitt as the leads.Yeah makes you tilt your head,look off sideways and wonder.

6)I loved The Adventures of pete and Pete.One of the quirkiest show ever.Does anyone remember Snow day starring Chevy Chase .That could have been the Pete and Pete movie.Only if it worked out.

The solution

2008-07-27T20:22:00.002-04:00

Whatever be your pain.Whatever be your poison.Whatever be your burden,your trouble,worries. Whatever be that eats you from inside remember, when night comes you can cuddle up and sleep.Close your eyes and just sleep.Temporal but ever so sweet.Fleeting but so damn pure.Sleep.

To impress a child....

2008-07-27T14:38:00.006-04:00

There is this kid that comes to my workplace sometimes with her mother.Last tue her mother made her sit in my room, on a nearby table.I have always thought that I was good with kids,here was the real test..Would I be equally good with a firang kid?
I am basically a 6 ft kid.I like what kids like,I think like they do, and we get along great.So would I be able to get across to this one.She was watching some movie on her portable DVD player..The Mummy,a movie I had great fun with.So I went over and chatted,
"So do you like this movie?"
She looked at me with eyes that said "wasn't it obvious,with my attention span would i be watching this if I didn't like it?"
I smiled and asked "so you think its scary?"
She shook her head,shyly.
Isn't it great when the bugs come??
"They are called scarabs"Wow,She knew.
"you know there's a new one coming out...
next week " she completed my sentence..
This wasn't going anywhere.. I returned to my seat...
From where I sat I could hear her talk to the other ppl who walked by,what was wrong with me. Was it because i spoke with an "accent".
She came running to me after sometime,"Do you know where the big guy with hair on his ears sits?"
"You mean Ed?"
"yeah,him"I told her where he was.. she spent the next half an hr searching for Ed.When he returned,she told him she wouldn't be here the next day..So no need to bring her the crayons he had promised."Awright" Ed said and walked away.
After some time she came by and started doing some dance..
"So you know ballet?"
No,I will learn next yr.. and she pranced away on her toes like ballerina's do..
I thought to myself,what did I have in my arsenal?I could do this thing with my lip, no thats gross.. I could do this thing with both my hands and a piece of paper.. no too hard for her to follow... I remembered how we were taught to make paper dolls in Art class in 3rd std.I set to work folding and cutting paper.. later when she came over.. I showed her my handiwork...

She looked at me with a puzzled loo.I said "Voila " and...

Her eyes lit up and said "cool".I then spent some time showing her how I made it.She went away when her mother came and called her .So that was a breakthrough, I thought.Later she came and said she was going "And I wont be here tomorrow,is that ok?" she asked
I smiled and said "Thats ok," but before she left i held up my pen called her , "Hollaine" and did that flipping thing that we all did when we were in school.Her mouth went wide open.hah its so easy to impress kids, I thought."You are awesome" That made my day.. that did.

Notes on The Dark Knight

2008-07-20T02:12:00.005-04:00

The worst thing is to have anger and not be able to direct it at someone or something.Be helpless,because there is total awareness as to the futility of your attempts.You just cant do anything about it.Nothing.And that eats at you from within.Its an absolute shame that Heath Ledger passed away.My reason of mourning him is inconsiderate,in a way.But because he is no more,he wont return to play The Joker in the third batman film.How goddam wonderful would it be to see those characters face off once again.As an actor,the satisfaction he would have got with the finished product.The poor guy is missing out on all that.

I cant wait for the rumours to begin churning out.I cant wait to know who the next villain is going to be.They say the Riddler,or the Penguin.Who do i want to see?Hush or the Black mask would be fun.or catwoman.How about Robin.People are constantly objecting as some villains are out of the vein of realism that Nolan has set the films to.But there in lies the entire fun.How do you bring these characters to life and still root the film in reality.

Trivia:When i first looked up The Dark Knight on imdb on thursday night it had reached #4 with around 2000 ppl voting.Now when I looked it up again its at #1 with 23,000 ppl voting.

Trivia 2:I wait up till normally sunday for my fav movie site joblo.com to post the Box office reports.But from what I heard, TDK surpassed Spiderman-3's ,3-day collection record.A definite boost for the out of luck DC universe.Lately marvel seemed to be having all the luck..

Ingrate rodent

2008-07-11T20:34:00.004-04:00

So I have been feeding this squirrel for a week now.My plan was to have it eat from my hand, and let me stroke its back.It would come very close, but still be afraid of my movements.This was last Saturday.I left peanuts for it everyday before going off to work which would promptly be eaten up when I returned.So today I see it trying to scavenge some old packet of rice puffs left in the patio.I brought out my box of peanuts and started tossing it to the lil guy.It seemed less afraid this time,more bold.My mind painted all sorts of imageries.I would carry it around on my shoulder,name it Django the fearless,It would come knock at the window when it would be hungry.It would be my trusty sidekick.And rt in the middle of all these thought it LUNGED at me.The bloody thing tried to scratch and bite my hand in a totally unexpected Goju-Ryu Karate style.That scared me,that little rat.I cursed it some more and closed the door.No more peanuts from me,no more.

Trivia:If it wasnt for the bushy tail,it would be no more different than a rat.Its the skinny pink tail of a rat that makes us hate it.The opposite's the case with a squirrel.

Shawaii Chicken

2008-06-29T11:23:00.003-04:00

I am coming......

PS:Photo taken without permission from here.Copyright owner.

Single Dad

2008-06-12T16:31:00.003-04:00

I am a single dad but not by choice.I have two kids.I get up early and go to work.I work from 9-5 ( http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cg2IA2UYQCA ) and then return home.The train ride back is lonely.I spend time thinking of the monthly expenses.It worries me, but I know in the end things will work out.I arrive at my stop.I cant take the ALL CAMPUS.I detest it.I walk home with the setting sun as my sole companion.I come home to an empty house.The kids all left,apparently in a hurry.Things are all in a mess.The entire house is.I silently shake my head in disapproval.I get into the night clothes and start dinner.The kids will be home soon.They will be hungry and demand food.The neighbour comes over.He speaks of his children and how they are away for a month.He is happy.I invite him to dinner, he hesitates but agrees.I know he wanted me to.I smile to myself.We chat as we cook.The kids come,eat ,make noise,fight with each other,watch TV and go to sleep.The neighbour decides its time he go home too.He too has to go to work.The plates are all unwashed, the kitchen is a mess.Its just another day in my life.I decide its time to turn in.

The Great Indian Babu

2008-05-31T17:42:00.004-04:00

I am a clerk.The Great Indian babu.A file Pusher.Given the work no one wants to do.The trivial work.Bordering manual labor.Dressed in formal clothes,with the enthusiasm of a rookie, that I know in my heart, will evaporate by the end of the week.I look around,wheres ramu, whos to get me my chai and samosa.In the US of A,theres no ramu,if there was to be one it would be me.The lowest common denominator.The bottom scraper.The base of the pyramid. Like Ryan from The Office.no wait he was a temp.Me?I am worse.I am the lowly intern.

Un-ambitious

2008-05-31T17:26:00.002-04:00

Its an amazing-ly lazy day.I don't feel like doing anything.I don't know what to do.I don't feel one bit hungry,having gorged myself like a hog in the afternoon.I don feel like watching a movie.Its almost sacrilegious to say I feel fed up with watching movies all day long.I have no pending work to do.just a 10 min touch up on a report that can be done at 11:59 pm on Sunday.I don't want to browse the net,I don't want to read anything.I don't want to go back to sleep.I have no will in me left.I have no ambition and before I know the day will have whizzed by.Whats a guy to do..??

I don't feel like but i guess i will go to Johnson park...

Sudden Thoughts-1

2008-05-07T18:44:00.001-04:00

The Internet is Bountiful and Unending... !!!

This realization had to come on the day before my Finals..

Real nice article..

2008-05-06T16:20:00.002-04:00

12 down 63 to go.....

http://www.esquire.com/features/essential-skills-0508

Childhood Dilemma-II

2008-04-29T15:21:00.002-04:00

When i was a kid ,i was an idiot.. but then,you already know that.There was this time when i was so pepped up on superheroes that i decided that the only career path i would tread would that be of a Crime Eradication Specialist.I wanted to be a superhero.its not some kid dressing up with his fathers old mundu doubling as a cape.[Incidentally, that would be my dumb brother, with the equally dumb moniker of "Lungi Boy".. lame-O]No, i was spending a good amount of time deciding my base of operations, my theme music, costume,suitable sidekick names and special moves.But i was really caught up in a fix, I couldn't decide if i would be a ninja or a caped crusader.Both seemed too good to give up the other.. and then soon after i lost interest,.... but every once in a while when i am alone ,or walking back after class or from the lab I imagine i am a ninja,with adeptly swirling my kitanas or I imagine that I am batman... lame-o...!!