I'm leaving on Saturday, though I can't really tell you which flight I'm on yet. Pesky travel agent... :(
The sad part about the whole thing is that it still hasn't dawned on me that I'm leaving for good. The nostalgia and the wayward depression. I was hoping I could do all that on Indian soil itself.
Laid everything out to be packed yesterday. Have a zillion more things to do... Wish me luck, people...
Monday, July 18, 2005
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Sarkar
Giving into a lot of hype, and after numerous STD calls to my posse out in Chennai, I went in to see Sarkar yesterday afternoon. Hope you read the part about the hype, cos that's basically all there is in the movie!
As the movie starts, in one among a series of silent visuals, Ram Gopal Varma writes that all directors since Godfather has been influenced at one time or the other, this is his tribute. Well, let's just say he blew his chance. I hope we aren't bothered by a second tribute by RGV.
Relying on his stock of rich background music and washed out visuals, and general goonda settings (replete with ugly guys running in dirty alleys) and a wonderful story line for inspiration, RGV has managed to screw it up, even though he had the Bachchan duo for backup.
If you ask me what's missing, then I think it's the Godfather's aura. The absolute power that Don Vito Corleone enjoyed. The absence of harsh words and raised voices. The action that speaks louder than words. The smooth nature of it all. The original gangster.
Don't waste your cash on the movie. Just read Godfather again.
As the movie starts, in one among a series of silent visuals, Ram Gopal Varma writes that all directors since Godfather has been influenced at one time or the other, this is his tribute. Well, let's just say he blew his chance. I hope we aren't bothered by a second tribute by RGV.
Relying on his stock of rich background music and washed out visuals, and general goonda settings (replete with ugly guys running in dirty alleys) and a wonderful story line for inspiration, RGV has managed to screw it up, even though he had the Bachchan duo for backup.
If you ask me what's missing, then I think it's the Godfather's aura. The absolute power that Don Vito Corleone enjoyed. The absence of harsh words and raised voices. The action that speaks louder than words. The smooth nature of it all. The original gangster.
Don't waste your cash on the movie. Just read Godfather again.
Monday, July 04, 2005
The link is complete...
In a frenzied exit from my beloved Chennai, I thought I did a good job of packing, especially when I found out at the last moment that the car's registration certificate (RC) was lying around on the floor, in all the confusion.
Well, I thought wrong.
Those of who know me well also know that I'm a trigger happy camera freak. My fav possession would definitely be my Panasonic Lumix FZ 15 camera.
Yeah, isn't she a beauty? ;)
Anyways, in my hurry, I did *not* forget my camera, but forgot the connecting cables instead! So I ended up taking pics anyway, but no way of actually seeing them apart from the tiny preview screen.
As a saviour, my ex-roomie PA carried it down for me last weekend. So now the link is complete. The photos have been delivered.
Enjoy the nonsense... :)
Well, I thought wrong.
Those of who know me well also know that I'm a trigger happy camera freak. My fav possession would definitely be my Panasonic Lumix FZ 15 camera.
Yeah, isn't she a beauty? ;)
Anyways, in my hurry, I did *not* forget my camera, but forgot the connecting cables instead! So I ended up taking pics anyway, but no way of actually seeing them apart from the tiny preview screen.
As a saviour, my ex-roomie PA carried it down for me last weekend. So now the link is complete. The photos have been delivered.
Enjoy the nonsense... :)
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Saturday, July 02, 2005
The Omen
Do you know where the movie The Omen got it's inspiration from???
Just kidding! A pic of my exteremely naughty nephew Ayush!
Just kidding! A pic of my exteremely naughty nephew Ayush!
Anniyan - The foreigner
Just back from watching Anniyan.
Here's my review - but don't worry, I won't give the plot away!
Here's how to make your own Anniyan
1) Take the Tamil movie Indian
2) Replace the bribery part with all the other evils in society
3) Replace Kamal with Vikram
4) Replace babes Manisha & Urmila with one Sada
5) Add in a lot of Matrix Reloaded inspired graphics
6) Put in some psycho babble
7) Spice it with a lot of comedy from Vivek
8) Garnish with a lot of great songs, dance and action sequences
There, bake till the crust turns golden brown, and serve hot with a side scoop or two of vanilla icecream.
But I liked the theme and message delivered by the movie. There was a certain feel good factor emanating from the whole plot. Though bordering on the impossible, Shankar seems to be talking to the new youth on what is wrong in the first place. Stick to rules, seems to be the message of the day.
The irony of the whole trip today was that even though I was second in line, the ticket-issuing ceremony (yes, they made us wait a very very long time in queue before the counters opened!) was preceded by 2 sepereate touts coming into the line and placing their assistants in queue. Probably they haven't seen the movie yet... :)
Planning on seeing Sarkar sometime this week. Will review that also!
Ciao!
Here's my review - but don't worry, I won't give the plot away!
Here's how to make your own Anniyan
1) Take the Tamil movie Indian
2) Replace the bribery part with all the other evils in society
3) Replace Kamal with Vikram
4) Replace babes Manisha & Urmila with one Sada
5) Add in a lot of Matrix Reloaded inspired graphics
6) Put in some psycho babble
7) Spice it with a lot of comedy from Vivek
8) Garnish with a lot of great songs, dance and action sequences
There, bake till the crust turns golden brown, and serve hot with a side scoop or two of vanilla icecream.
But I liked the theme and message delivered by the movie. There was a certain feel good factor emanating from the whole plot. Though bordering on the impossible, Shankar seems to be talking to the new youth on what is wrong in the first place. Stick to rules, seems to be the message of the day.
The irony of the whole trip today was that even though I was second in line, the ticket-issuing ceremony (yes, they made us wait a very very long time in queue before the counters opened!) was preceded by 2 sepereate touts coming into the line and placing their assistants in queue. Probably they haven't seen the movie yet... :)
Planning on seeing Sarkar sometime this week. Will review that also!
Ciao!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Chatting is injurious to health...
Was just lazing around on our beanbag downstairs talking with two equally lazily reclined females, my sister and mother.
Topics needn't make sense nor need they be contigous. It's more of a sessionless thing; you can walk in at anytime and be a part of it. Sort of like Malayalam soap operas on TV. Be warned, they run from 7 - 10 on the various channels, so don't make the mistake of getting your women folk hooked!
Back to topic, it's fun to have someone to talk to and make fun of.
Back in Chennai, we used to have a pad with around 12-13 people staying together; we're not too sure of the number taking into account that all were in the IT industry and were constantly moving around in the job or just changing jobs. All of us would make it home tired and sweaty at around 7 - 7:30, and then sit around in a room horizontal or vertical (depending on how tired you felt) and sort of automatically home in on a target. That evening would be entertainment courtesy of that poor fellow. Guffaws into the night so long and loud that we've had neighbours yell at us to go to sleep! But of course those neighbours invested in soundproof thick curtains (to block out the noise and light) soon enough!
Though the target selection was not always fair like many other things in life, it was fun. I've had my fair share of time on both sides of the battle. Being a target is not all that fun, especially when the big guns don't know when to stop! But all in all, you start missing something when you it stops. Same thing here.
Another vocal interaction that I like is during the time that all the guys decide it's late enough in the night to call it a day; and all trudge off to their respective rooms. Lying there in the darkness, your brain still hasn't gotten over all the activity that it's gone through and refuses to wind down. So since all are awake, we launch into conversations in the darkness.
Taking into account all the times and phases of conversation, this must be the only time when a guy is sober and still makes all the gaffes possible and says stuff he'll regret the day after. It's funny how people will forget that nobody's perfected built in nightvision, and will gesticulate in the darkness, making gestures to prove his point. It almost reminds me of how my mother was describing some shape over the telephone with animated and descriptive gestures...
Chatting with no agenda at all seems to be a genetic flaw in me, when I go to family clan gatherings. Everybody who's anybody, and considering everybody is somebody, I would like to tell you how funny it is to be a part of it, but then I would have to make gestures to show you.
After a lot of rambling, I still haven't made my point. But then that's the whole point of chatting, isn't it?
Complicated, huh?
Topics needn't make sense nor need they be contigous. It's more of a sessionless thing; you can walk in at anytime and be a part of it. Sort of like Malayalam soap operas on TV. Be warned, they run from 7 - 10 on the various channels, so don't make the mistake of getting your women folk hooked!
Back to topic, it's fun to have someone to talk to and make fun of.
Back in Chennai, we used to have a pad with around 12-13 people staying together; we're not too sure of the number taking into account that all were in the IT industry and were constantly moving around in the job or just changing jobs. All of us would make it home tired and sweaty at around 7 - 7:30, and then sit around in a room horizontal or vertical (depending on how tired you felt) and sort of automatically home in on a target. That evening would be entertainment courtesy of that poor fellow. Guffaws into the night so long and loud that we've had neighbours yell at us to go to sleep! But of course those neighbours invested in soundproof thick curtains (to block out the noise and light) soon enough!
Though the target selection was not always fair like many other things in life, it was fun. I've had my fair share of time on both sides of the battle. Being a target is not all that fun, especially when the big guns don't know when to stop! But all in all, you start missing something when you it stops. Same thing here.
Another vocal interaction that I like is during the time that all the guys decide it's late enough in the night to call it a day; and all trudge off to their respective rooms. Lying there in the darkness, your brain still hasn't gotten over all the activity that it's gone through and refuses to wind down. So since all are awake, we launch into conversations in the darkness.
Taking into account all the times and phases of conversation, this must be the only time when a guy is sober and still makes all the gaffes possible and says stuff he'll regret the day after. It's funny how people will forget that nobody's perfected built in nightvision, and will gesticulate in the darkness, making gestures to prove his point. It almost reminds me of how my mother was describing some shape over the telephone with animated and descriptive gestures...
Chatting with no agenda at all seems to be a genetic flaw in me, when I go to family clan gatherings. Everybody who's anybody, and considering everybody is somebody, I would like to tell you how funny it is to be a part of it, but then I would have to make gestures to show you.
After a lot of rambling, I still haven't made my point. But then that's the whole point of chatting, isn't it?
Complicated, huh?
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Where will I stay?!
With visions of a Type A Room in Gillman Heights, I'm all raring to start on yet another episode to the wonderful adventure that is life. I know, cliched dialogue, but nothing else says it better. 
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