About: Suave smiling Shammi

Shammi Kapoor breathe his last earlier today. He was my favourite hero. The songs from those movies which he starred are still remade ,redone and remixed again and again. He was perhaps the most handsome among all the movie actors across the ages who came to don the silver screen Hindi film world. He was suave and had lot of class, surely a gourmet if not a connoisseur. The songs from his movies were collector’s items. He was never to be choreographed, he was just told about the camera angles and he did his own stuff, did it pretty well. The characters he played were full of panache and gusto. He romanced the most glamorous heroines on the silver screen of his times from Vyjantimala, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Saira Bano, Geeta Bali and so many others. He was reputed not to feature with the same here heroine more than once. 

Junglee, Janwar, Budtameez, Professor, Boyfriend, Raj Kumar, Prince, China Town, Teesri Manzil, An evening in Paris, Kashmir ki kalli, Bluff Master, Brahmachari These were some of the movies which he starred,most of them were musical hits and popular movies. His movies were so good,so easy to watch in the sense, there was no sleaze and nothing loud and unsavoury. The stories consists, boy meets girl, pop corm love stories, but romance changed for good once Shammi Kapoor touched fame. He teamed up Rajendra Nath, Mehmood, Tun tun and other leading comedians and comedy was a permanent fixture of his movies. Rafi lend his voice to most of Shammi’s songs and there was magic on screen. Pran often played the villan in many of those movies. He did thrillers apart from romanctic movies. There was a sense of intergue in many of his movies, lot of drama and thrill. He often played a character wanting to make a mark of his own,often the rebel but those movie were sans chaotic action. His sense of style and persona was hard to miss. He would portray characters that stood out from the character that other actors played in their movies. The other actors were busy doing melodramatic, emotional roles, while Shammi was playing a flamboyant, yet sensitive comic-romantic hero. No other hero could match him for style, jackets, caps, t-shirts etc. 

When it comes to romance people go on roof tops to sing and yell their stories. He did it better and crazier. He did it on roof tops, mountain slops (Yahoo!! – Junglee ), river banks (Lal chadi maidan khadi - ), Lakes (Deewana hua badal – Kashmir Kalli ), waterfalls ( An evening in Paris), boats (Kashmir ki Kalli),elephant back (Yahan ke hum hai Raj kumar – Rajkumar), helicopters (Aasman se aaya farishta – An evening in Paris), cars,trucks (Kashmir Kalli) pubs( Teesri Manzil) , while trekking (Deewana mujhsa nahi – Teesri Manzil). He did it all and did it wish class and style. The few songs out of these were outright to woo some more just to flirt.

Shammi Kapoor will remain my favourite actor of all times.

About: 3 Idiots

Raju Hirani again pulls out a rabbit from the hat. Wonder if wake up Sid + Taare Zameen Par = 3 idiots. I mean I am not comparing the plots frame by frame, but certain hues out of those movies do match in weird ways. Taare Zameen Par, convinced every child is special, it showed how the kid pretty much through practice, and dedication and interest exhibits his creativity in form of paints and sketch, Wake Up Sid was more about utilizing the best you have. Both the films, do make a certain point that failures must not be a roadblock for you as a person to explore new ideas.


Aamir Khan plays almost a dream merchant and the drama revolves around him and almost like a dream merchant he plays a be good do good to various characters in the movie. There won’t be critical evaluation, of the whole movie or I may not describe you the best scene or song of dance. I would instead try to recollect and place my own, example as the movie goes forward.
I did remember the days back, when even I was a young bloke in hostel, gullible but gregarious. I too have a few good and fond memories and few not so proud moments, some of the incidents in the movie were hilarious, but then bit dramatized. If drama is absent then the movie is reduced to your favourite actor sans their make up. Reality punches the breath out of your lungs.

Some incidents were parallel, not exact but yeah fun. But three hours a bit downer and I don’t know why the ticket prices are jacked up. I mean come on man, Rs 250 and three hours out weigh the movie, in my opinion. But now are the days when product could be sold or bought on attribute of packaging. The movie is light hearted. People have done a good job, as the movies fold and unfold in different ways. It does reconfirm my view I had formed back in college that I met some incredible people back then some great pals. I mean since all of us were in the same boat, we could obviously relate ourselves to each other. Anyone who lived and studied hostel won’t just say that they just did their graduation. At least sub consciously they knew, they learnt to navigate through life.

It is good fun to see the movie and understand in different ways people behave and act and react. But then I don’t get paid to write reviews. There is more than conviction required to say “All is well.” which is the mantra of the movie.

About: Ranaji - Gulaal

I loved the lyrics. The video isn't much more then a trailor,but then listen to the song. This is one is title Ranaji ... from the movie Gulaal.
Those who enjoy Hindi Folk music with some sarcastic lyrics.I fear struggling to sit and write one although wishing to write something soon. May be find some time around lunch.

Blog: Wednesday the movie

This is not a film review of the movie released last to last week. The movie is good especially the timing of the release perhaps a sign of things that came (all finger pointing to New Delhi Bomb Blasts).

I think the movie "A Wednesday" is worth the watch for simple reason, the message this movie conveys.

I say it is must watch.

A dialogue from an old Hindi movie is buzzing in my head since I first heard of the news of the blast,
"लोहा गारम है मार दो हातोडा "

(Strike the iron when its hot )

About:Friend's Wedding

A friend S, back from US accompanied me to one of our friends wedding. I was there last year round to attend D's engagement. So I was glad I could attend the wedding as well.

A touch of flash back.

My mom packed clothes for me. I don't know what it is with me I have to unpack at least once before I pack up for good and leave for destination. This time I did carry my tooth brush along, just that I forgot to get the tooth paste along. Just before leaving the house, I searched for my train tickets, which I remember putting in my back pocket, it was their but proof of identity was missing, fortunately it was close at hand so wanting to reach the station before the train, I and S headed to Borivali where we alighted shifted to platform number four, saw Rajdhani come and go like 18:10 Virar fast. I thought next would be the train but then there was an announcement of regret. The train was come on platform number 6. I muttered a few things under the breath and then my bemused friend added fire to fuel by inquiring if the train already arrived on platform 6 is "our" train? We hurried on to the train manage to board it before it bade us good bye, called up my friend and told me I am going to present for his wedding.

Nothing during the train except hearing to all that my friend has to say a few more calls to some more friends.

Wedding Day.

The trains always run late in the wedding season. I have had very dragging experiences of trains being late when u go to attend weddings. God. Anyways someone came to pick us up. I inquired if it would be late, it took us hardly ten minutes to reach a place where we would stay for next couple of nights, we unpacked, freshen up and manage to be in kurtas and pajamas for the wedding. The hunted for a gift shop and a bouquet shop, and just manage to reach the wedding procession, before it ended, shake a leg for some time. before waiting for an hour and half to walk 25 m and climb 3 storeys. The grooms "shoes" were siphoned off even before girls from brides end could even have a look of it.I am not the lone culprit I just hid those with S. :) We had to draw a lot of flak and lot of swollen faces for those shoes.

Anyways we entered the hall after sometime and Mandap was all set. Johri paani pilla de yaar was my friends (the groom) request so I hood winked one of the "waiters" for couple of glass and couple of cold drinks for my self and a couple of glasses for the bride and the groom. There was something going on in the Mandap, so I straight away headed for something to eat, I hadn't had proper breakfast. I did not over compensate though. So had a few bites of whatever was served and meanwhile saving my camera and myself from smashing elbows I managed a few snaps but many of them to my dismay came out blurred/jarred. Anyways I kept clicking snaps.

The chaos in the Mandap mean while continued, with panditiji calling for things which were not there and people who were absent because they busy munching monaco biscuits with cheese topping and paneer tikkas at a far flung corner. Anyways people came in and went and I was busy catching up with a few of relatives I met last time and few of the groom friends. We settled down in a place where we could be served first and making sure the plate is half empty by the time it went to the front row. The shoes were safe and sound as my friend and I were free from any sort of suspicion and there were a few pangs that were exchanged in far corner of the hall. Anyways I kept clicking snaps and sipping cold drinks and munching whatever came my way.

Are you done with all the Lawful implications? Yes. The groom replied with a sense of joy and pride. I congratulate both him and her. The bride was surprised to see me. I was surprised at her surprise coz previous night I had called them telling them I will come. The groom introduced S to the bride, after couple of pleasantries compliments, I stepped out and he waiter was just standing by for me to grab a few more tasty bites.In a short span that I was waiting for bride and groom to take blessing from everyone I noticed that mandaap hall was practically empty. It was lunch time.We headed for lunch, I gave up on salad and took few paneer "items" and all the sweets including shrikhands, halwas,dhokla and all. I made sure I did not have to get up for next round. Lunch was dinner, but i helped myself with Ice creams and halwa.

It was "bidai" time. A few heart touching moments as the bride leaves her parents. A symbolic gesture of any Indian wedding. A few more cold drinks and we made it to the grooms place before they did. I don't know what took so long for them to reach. Anyways a few more mantras and pujas as the bride is bought home and headed to a Puja room. I and S sat down and settled for few glasses of chilled water. After sometime the bride when away to get ready, the groom went away to get ready and someone requested me and S to be back in half and hour. So I and S also left to get ready. A quick shower and change of clothes from traditional to a standard cotton trouser and a blue shirt we were back to the grooms house, who was getting ready, a coffee and a few calls more we waited for the groom to be back and chatted and pulling each others leg. My friend obviously really happy. A dream is coming true after all. Anyways few excited looking tired ladies getting it right with the whole ensemble rushed back to the reception.

The reception was again large gathering of people which seemed to grow large as the food was served. I settled for a pudding and few lighter things, not waiting to eat too much. A few jokes, repartee and snaps. Then the made their way to food stall and a few things as both families settled to have food together. By the time the food was finished only the immediate families remained including Me and S. We went home after tired and sleepy.
The next day was perhaps more frantic. A friend R returned my call. I just wanted to meet him. S had to catch the afternoon train home.The brides folks were headed back to their home. I accompanied groom to the hotel where the were staying, the bags were packed and ferried to the station. Thankfully we reached station on time so did the luggage. The train to their destination was on time too, the luggage was loaded and a few tearful good byes and laboured smiles, we bid them good bye and went back to grooms home. There were people catching sleep in 10 minutes shifts as people were mentally drained.The bride changed and after a while the leaving room was dusted and place made for people to have a seat. The Groom and bride enjoying the environs of the home settled down. The newly wedded bride was happy to attend her father calls. Anyways we sat/slept, chit chatting as people and good kept going in and out of the house. I meanwhile managed to catch a few winks. A few more cold drinks and then early evening I, the groom, the bride and grooms sis went for a drive to the port. We chatted on our way, a few more calls and few cheers of laughter.

The R called we met and had some local nashta, something that vaguely resembled garlic bread and a milk shake each. It was almost 8 in the evening and then the grooms family and me went for dinner. They dropped me at station, The groom and Bride stayed back with me till the train left. A few more funda and smiles I was on the train and chatted along with grooms relative, an old lady.I catch my sleep for most of my way and the train reached a bit late. I was finally home. My parents were really happy to see the snaps, mom especially made me zoom on the jewelery which the ladies happen to wear in the wedding.It is a gold jewelery exhibition at any wedding we attend here.

Jaane tu ...

Abbe mein jaanta hoon.

The movie perhaps got decent reviews coz 2050 was perhaps worst of the too. It is a decent movie thats it. One time watch if you dont know what to do on a Sunday evening. Its a Hindi movie and doesn't come under any fram of logic. A few actors did their part well, Ratna Pathak. Naseer, Paresh Rawal but then these guys are good and proven actors. A few laughters and thats it.
The movies left me with a few questions.

• What were those guys studying?
• Can you go to a New York University without your final result/degree in your hand?

The movie isn't all that "great" as it is made out to be. I guess its doing better than 2050.

Blog: Blogging Sundays.

It doesn’t rains it pours. It is not even pouring it is a heavy down pour of much awaited rains. Mumbai was already an oasis coz of rains I think if it rains at the existing pace, Surat may be deluged again. I pray not but the realistic scene is it has been raining since Saturday night, the week has begun but rains have not stopped. There are rains and there are issues which people would like to avoid. But when u has something you wish then you need to take it as a whole I mean positives and negatives of it.

Will the rose be still beautiful if there were to be no thorns around it?

Hello ….iss route ki saabhi liney ….

Rain rain every where not a drop to drink. A BMC official had remarked that they were ready for the rains, I think he was correct, they were ready but the city of Mumbai wasn’t. News not much of a help. More on News later.

How do u know if the city of Mumbai is flooded if u don’t happen to be living in the city?
Have u ever heard f MTNL. It stands for “Mera Telephone Nahi Lagta.”. The full form was perhaps coined in the last decade of the last century coz MTNL people could never get u a telephone connection in time. I just try to called up my folks, the landline was sounded busy I called up my father courtesy cellphone, it is one of the better things that has happened in India is the past decade. He told me that he was expecting my call and there has been no call on the landline for sometime now. Anyways all said an done.

What do u do when it rains?

You eat corn, can’t have just one, and have two. We people had arranged a vehicle; we can request one in office and tend to get it at times. Well the thing was it was packed it poured we made a few phone calls, Then we reached this theater where the Hindi version of Die Hard 4 was showing. Surat goes berserk on Sundays and there is lots of traffic at certain sections of the town. Anyways we went to this place were Surat people hang out, we had Bhutta (Corn) all spiced and spruced, you could have it all evening dripping in rain which was at times drizzle at times trifle and at times a barrage. They cook it in a different style here; they boil the corn and then roast it without peeling it. I and my friend then we rushed to Big Bazaar bought soaps and detergents and things like those moved out to watch Die Hard. We burned up nearly 1000 rupees in 15 minutes flat. That includes time for standing in the queue paying for the damages of the pocket.

Die Hard 4; Review.

It is an awesome action movie, seen an action movie after a long time, enjoyed it through and through. Spidey 3 was much more of an animation show, this was the real stuff. I think I don’t mind seeing it second time.
There have not been many movies which I have seen more than once on the big scree. One thing is for sure watching it on TV isn’t as fun as it is on the big screen.
No bald man other than Bruce was pulling out this one.

Monday mornings …

Have you seen that Tata Dicor ad I always wanted to quit on Monday mornings…
There isn’t much to quit around at this point in time except the bed and the warmth of the bed sheet.

Passé is …

AB baby’s beard, come on man give us something else.

Media bashing Sachin.

Sachin scoring after the bashing.

Sachin not scoring at “crucial” times.

Bloggers blog blocked.

Being lathergic/Being on the heels

Thinking what if not?

Hot weather, awful hot summer breeze called Loo in Hindi.

Remix Remake, re-remixes re-remakes.

Not calling when ought to.

Encrypted ads.

Misers causing misery to all.

Failed (read Doomed) infrastructure of Mumbai.

Not wanting to get up after a fall.

Bottom Line.

This post is dedicated to all the readers who ever took time out to read what I blogged.It will be two years of me into blogging the fun keeps on growing even if there is a dip in my blogging but I am as excited to blog the most recent post as I was when I posted my first.

Blog: Week in review

Well well feels so good to have a chilly wind sweeping across your face. Surat is just chilled enough to have some quality time around. Fourtunately there is no one around to spend this time other than eating my "Swiss Miss". It is a yummy chocolate pastry. I am a not heavily into non-vegetarin dishes but I think I can never ever say no to a tandoori chicken. Tandoori Chicken for dinner and Swiss Miss for dessert. Gosh its a mean world.

CAT and SNAP bombed.Not optimistic for XAT either.

No shoulder to cry over required here. I wasn't quiet ever there I think. I did not put in much efforts. But the result diminish whatever I thought I put it. The result just bombed the ceiling and crashed the floor of my emotion's comfort zone. I could not do it but this is not putting myself on a mat and kicking me for rest of my life. It was a bad dream giving CAT. I was exhausted long before I even started preparing for it and did not have enough to pull out at the last time. I breath a bit easier these days. I have a decent job in hand and dont want to think of consequences, pros and cons whats if and what nots of an MBA. I think a friend of mine equally devasted with is result blogged things just right. I dont want to see myself either runing away and hiding myself from a beautiful winter sun, chilly mornings and wonderful blooming days.

This is perhaps also one more reason to look forward to 2007. I also would not blame any person (alive or dead), event, place, cricket match, or a pastry over my debacle coz "The harder you work, the luckier you get" my brother says.The failure isn't in never falling but it is never rising once you take the fall.
I have reasons to believe that my good days and nightmare come and go in close proximity. So if I am having some bad days I know whats coming up next.I plan to start all over again this time there will a process, a vision, an aim and a reason.

"Let the reason be you" from the song "The reason" by Hoobastank.

LOL. I love laughing these days in joy off course no sign of worries and debacles near me they are definetly. Life has been good till date and the God above has been kind and generous put everybody want more... (par yeh dil maange morni)

I wasn't the lone screw up.

Cricket this there is some more to read down below but let me rwrite it coz I love writing my cricket post never mind the fact that I am the only one reading it.

Anyways Indian team displayed a classic case in of digging ones own grave carving out the headstone and arranged there own funeral and invited the guest and also did the last rites. India had three chances and they wrapped it up and gave it to SAfs. They made a good start on a home cooked pitch but failed to bat them out of the game.They screwed up by withering away . They did not build up enough pressure when SAfs batted and the first time. They slumped further into the hole when they batted again in their second innings. The final innings they never had a chance. There may be many stars to come out of the innings but India was let down by Tendulkar and Kumble. Kumble was bowling his unnatural leg stump line and Tendulkar simply disappointed. If he is carrying a niggling injury why is he playing?

There were people who went ga ga over Ganguly, he may do well in coming One Days, but his ODI record is fab abut in test I think he has to score more to impress me. Munaf squarely took the blame and India meekly came back. I will hopefully a better cricket from India. They are playing at home. But wats the point of 4 matches?
Shame on the organisers.

XAT bombed, again.

CAT was "easy" I dont mock this one I haven't faired the best. It was easy to say that the least. XAT has a weird pattern though , I found hard to realise what were the options and where the question added.
Lets talk up reaching early to a center and late into the alloted room. There are very few people in Mumbai who aren't familiar with "Saint Xaviers" I have lived long enough in mubai to exactly pin point the location. I reached at Xaviers at 8:15 in the morning. I hired a taxi and I reached the centre where a banner exclaimed that this was a Cnter for XAT a test for XLRI.

I was strolling about seeing faces just before the exam. I spotted a senior of mine. We chatted and I went to my class but unable to spot where I am suppose to go. There was a exodus from that center. I realised I was supoose to go to Xaviers College and I was standing in the premises of Xaviers School. Luckily these two are not Pluto and Neptune from Earth. I stroled across only too see the people folowing me to college and some people heading towards Xaviers School.

If any one who is organising XAT is reading this, For Christ sake keep either Xaviers school or Xaviers college as the examination center and not both of them

There was more to follow. I read the board correctly I wrote down my examination hall number byt I wasn't able to spot it. It was on fourth flooer but I could only see three. I imagine a tent and mats and student filling in the required deatils. Now I have always studies in school or college with big courtyards, passages and halls. But if u were there that day in XAviers (college) U would have reaalised there were no corridors every passage was part of another class only creating further ruckus. I thought whats this Kumbh ka mela. It was about to start near that date only. I wanted to break the walls against my head. I then manged to get over the attic. I meet someone who told me confessions on the ground floor fourth room on the third right. I confessed I had come for an exam. He hurried me to a staff member who showed me the class. I carrying a heavy hand bag as I had to come back to Surat the same evening. I went to drink water. I drank for a few minutes before leaving a sigh. I splashed some water on my face just wanting to be in my zone. I rattled a few pockets to find my hall ticket, pencils, pen, eraser, sharpner and bubble gum. I love my bubble gums and I simply can much one for than 8 hours. The record by the way for 12. I love my bubble gums and chewing gums.

XAT went on I wasn't attempting much. I picked and chosed this time XAT's Data Interpretation was something I could fathom, thankfully. There was a lot of questions from "Functions" and from Logic and Reasoning. Solid Mathmatics wasn't quiet there. There is always geometry to fall back on. Then ther paper finished then we were supposed to write an essay on degrading environment and economic growth. The time was for 20 minutes I thought for couple of minutes wrote couple of ideas and wrote the essay everything was over in 12 minutes I just waited for things to get over.

XAT over; party to start.

I had planned to meet up with my final year roomie. He too had the same center as mine.Xaviers. I met him just out of my class. We walked down to Churchgate station. I called a few numbers and asked my friends to meet up at Bandra west station.

We got into the bus. I know Hill Road area like the back of my palm and I virtually now which shopkeeper would be sitting at given point in time. I was a butt for a few jokes when bus took a right towards SV Road instead of stright to hill road tehre was a littel tiff over the exact fares charged and I just turned the tables on all four of them when the bus to a sharp left and came to halt before a restraunt called "Gazebo". I knew I was at my best and my friends did support me in that.Friends good fun.

The beer kept flowing. A royal treat of Tandoori was enjoyed over annecdotes, tales and loud mouthed blabber, laughs and guaffs. There were a few people missing but then we all had a fun. We boys never discussed girls, cricket was always there but it was brushed past as we caught have with what was happening there were a few number exchanged. The Tandoori mean while tasted amazing. The bill came and we looked at each other and had a hearty laugh, the billed was split into people who ate and drank meanwhile the guy who only ate footed in the change.
We laughed becaused more than an year back we would do the saame thing but no one would shell out the money days were chaged coz we were all earning now so money wasn't an isse a it was back in college as well.
Then the Hearsch Bakery was a close next. The burgers and biryani were just too good. We took htree and four people shared them.All said and done it was time to leave. We caught the bus, then the local, people got off at their respective station I came back to Borivali to come back to Surat.
It was a good time spent.

The "world" this week.

I have been a ghost of the blogosphere of late reading everythig write comments and just not commenting. I dont know something or the other happened and I just could not have enough time to login write up and post. It was great to read what everyones upto for new years.This year has a mixed start as off now but thats the way it is.A sad demise of an ageing near relative, an award, a jolted result, meeting people. It has been a mixed bag as off now.I just hope I will post something mid week, if I have the resources at my disposal.

It was Swami Vivekanad's birth anniversary yesterday. He was a great soul, he did much to spread the ethos of peace and harmony and laid foundations for the Great Indian Struggle. He was a gret thinker whoe thoughts still hold their place in todays time. Birthday greeting to man and everyone who was born on 12 of Jan ever.

Movie Review: Guru.

The big film bang in the new years.Mani ratnam has always been one of the better directors which people like to queue up and watch.It is hard to find faults in either the script of the characters or the presentastion. The Guru features the cinematographic genius of Rajiv Menon an axce ad guru and a brilliant cinematographer. There are lot of use of wide angle shots and brilliantly done close ups. It is a rags to riches story about a character who picks up lots of rags on his way to riches.The music and dialogues are well in verse of each other. Ash shoed her presence and Mallika Sherawat also did an item number. There was Mithun Da too, did well to be honest. Vidya Balan makes you stand up and take notice. There is something of the Meena Kumari effect in Vidya Balan's voice. Madhvan did well too. I have this belief about the hindi film world that our "stars" may not have that much in terms of pptential but the supporting class and the technicians (count out special effects) are as good as it can be. The ad-world churns out amazing ads by the hour.
The movie goes and towards a dramatic end. The Guru wins.

The climax may be a bit of a drag but the movie is good but may not be brilliant.

The question in my mind at this point is, "How does one be himself (or herself) when one does not know who he (or she) really is?"