JUST LIKE LIFE....

Its great that Farhan Akhtar is coming as an actor when Bollywood is coming of age as far as movie making is concerned. A decade ago films like Rock On and Luck by Chance wouldn’t have stood a chance. He is not a conventional ‘hero’ (watch him in the romantic song in Luck by Chance and you can see how uncomfortable and unsuited he is to be a typical bollywood hero) and in LBC this is probably what works in his favour. He is someone who probably every struggler can connect with. He impressed pretty much in Rock On and here too he is dependably good. There is a terrific scene when one of his friends, slightly inebriated, says a few rude things and he walks out in anger and then his heartbreaking display of anger and pain is as much a celebration of his acting skills as it is of the way the scene is written to be so beautifully authentic. Not over the top, just right. Just like life.

SPOILER ALERT:

Some of the scenes I loved.

1) A over the top acting coach tells his students to overact… and for the graduation he has Mac Mohan (Samba from Sholay) as chief guest who is asked to repeat his most famous dialogue "Poore Dus Hazaar". This scene is both funny and sad and its terrific and sporting of MacMohan to have done this cameo. It both celebrates and yet demeans him.

2) A surprising good Sanjay Kapoor repeating the line “Arre hum bhi toh actor reh chuke hain”. You can't guess how much of it is acting and how much is real. A real surprise. Maybe he has a future as a character actor after all.

3) The cameos by the stars are so well done that from the initial gimmick it turns into an absorbing watch. Almost like tagging along with a famous star and getting to see their side of the world.

4) Hrithik. Not my favourite but here he is pitch perfect and perfectly vague. You don’t know if he is arrogant, spoilt, egotistical, insecure, childish… Again just like life.

5) The intimate scenes. Again, I guess in a sign of how grown up Bollywood has become, sex between the characters isn’t a big deal. Its not hidden nor highlighted. Again just like Life. Or as it should be. Even the relationships between the 3 roommates is beautifully underplayed. There is obviously some underlying sexual tension there but again its not sensationalised. Just let be.

6) Rishi Kapoor. Always a brilliant actor here he starts of initially as over the top and then adds so many subtle layers that he almost seems like the hero of his movie. And terriby funny.

7) And the heroine. Dimple. Looking stunning and chewing up every scene she appears in, she shows what experience is all about. She plays a rich, sophisticated, famous actress but watch her spit venom at the editor of a magazine and you know her roots are actually quite street level. She states the same in later scene but that 1 scene is all it takes to let you know her true roots. Brilliant. And the way she looks even now, it’s a wonder why we don’t have our version of The Graduate yet. Dimple and Ranbir. Now that would be a pairing.

8) Konkona has become so natural that sometimes it gets easy to overlook her. Beautifully underplayed, her role is so familiar she almost seems like someone we know. Just like Life. P.S. The long end scene (very Michael Clayton) where Konkona’s face is so expressive there for so long. Cant have been easy.

9) The opening montage. Sets the tone of the movie beautifully. Feels like you been on a tour of the studios in Bombay.

10) Farhan Akhtar is absolutely natural (except for the song scene). A very nuanced performance and he seems to be getting very comfortable in his skin.

Not the best movie of the year but worth your ticket price and maybe a few popcorns too.

Enjoy

Vish

ONLY IN DUBAI. ONLY.

The Dubai Shopping Festival is on again and as usual this morning the papers here had a list of world records that have been set over the years.

The biggest human UAE flag, the world's biggest pair of chopsticks, a giant-sized mattress and the most eggs held in a human hand are just a few of the crazy challenges which have been attempted.

Here is a list of some of the records.

Enjoy

Vish

Longest line of footprints: Youngsters from primary schools across the city painted their footprint on a sheet of A4 paper and the footprints made their way around the winding footpaths of Safa Park. Not broken. Probably because children have better things to do.

Largest mattress and bed: You would never fall out of it but you may have trouble finding sheets to fit it. It was 14m long, 12m wide and stoods 2.1m tall.

Longest game of Chinese Whispers: Desperately trying to get children of all ages to stand still in a straight line and whisper a sentence to each other was painfully-impossible. But they managed it – just. A lot of fun but the world record was never broken. However, a new Dubai record was with more than 2,000 people taking part. They don’t however, say what sentence they began with and what it turned into at the end.

Largest wallet: It measured more than 6metres wide but like someone said the true value of a wallet is what’s inside and this one had nothing.

Biggest inflatable: It stood 25 metres tall and 14 metres wide, measured 2,079 cubic metres and cost almost Dh92,000 to make. Designed and manufactured by a UK-based company, the giant Vitamin C bottle floated above Safa Park while the poor and hungry wondered what they had done to deserve this treat.

Biggest pillow fight: Despite more than 2,000 people turning out in force and bashing each other with pillows, the record for the world's largest pillow fight was not broken due to a lack of participants. It was hoped the fight would attract more than 4,500 people in order to break the current record. Everyone went crazy to the rather appropriate tune of Faithless' Mass Destruction. The municipality labourers who had to clean up the mess weren’t amused though.

The largest Madkhan (incense burner): It weighed in at 1,000 kilos and contributed quite a bit towards global warming.

Biggest shopping bag: Measured 180cm high and 120cm wide. How appropriate for Dubai.

Most candles on a cake: 18 Al Bustan Rotana Hotel chefs took just seven minutes to light 2,100 candles on a seven meter-long cake which took 120 man hours to make and weighed 483.5 kilos. The previous record was established in Poland with 900 candles.

Most photos of a single concept: Kodak presented a collection of 10,610 photographs of a single concept with a target of 9,534 as the previous record. The collection featured families and closed with a photograph of the Dubai royal family.

Largest collection of miniature model cars: Suhail Al Zarooni, a 31-year-old UAE businessman broke his own record for having the most collectable cars. "I hold the largest collection of 2,000 miniature model cars dating back to 1886. I must have spent about Dh2m on it," he said.

Largest human flag: More than 16,200 gathered at Creek Park wearing the appropriate coloured caps and T-shirts to create the world's largest human national flag to form the National flag of UAE. Head counts were taken and aerial images registered the feat.The previous record for the world's largest human flag comprised 10,371 people who formed the German flag in the south grandstand at the Scotland vs Germany European Championships qualifying football match in the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany on September 10, 2003.

Most people with same name: Between 1,500 and 2,000 Mohammeds assembled, from babies and toddlers to grandfathers with their original birth certificate to prove their name. The previous record for a same-name gathering was created by 375 Marias in Spain in 2003. Talk of John Doe's

Largest shopping trolley: It took 15 people who worked for five days to build the world's largest shopping trolley, measuring 639cm in length, 250cm in breadth and 900cms high. The two-ton trolley was made of 1,800 kilos of steel rods and was fully functional complete with four three-ton pick-up truck tyres. It wasn’t mentioned if it was filled up.

World's largest ribbon: Measuring 29 metres and made up of 105,000 carnations, the large pink ribbon held centre stage in Zabeel Park. Organised by Dubai Healthcare city to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and was followed by a walkathon to raise funds for research to beat the disease.

World's largest Yolah dance: More than 221 men of different ages and desert tribes gathered at Global Village to perform the traditional Yolah dance. After more than 5 minutes of rifle spinning and rhythmic stepping, the group successfully established a new world record for the world's largest Yolah dance ever.

World's largest Kandoora (local dress): A local garment maker and his fabric cutter collaborated to produce the giant piece of clothing, which measured a massive 82 feet 1 inch in length, in just 12 days. Kandooras are typically less than 2 metres long.

World's longest chopsticks: Marco Polo Hotels of Dubai unveiled a 22ft pair of chopsticks.

Tallest Croquembouche: a traditional French cake - made by the Dubai World Trade Centre with 185,000 Choux buns and caramel. The cake was prepared in a record-breaking two days with the help of 21 chefs.

Records are meant to be broken: Other records held by Dubai

World's longest cake

Largest apple pie

Largest baba-ghanoosh (an Arab dish made of chickpeas and aubergine),

Largest chocolate bar

Largest calendar

Largest basket

Largest paper clip

Largest photo mosaic of babies

Largest newspaper ball

Fastest Pizza Eating

Largest Charity Box

Largest Can Mosaic Display

Biggest prayer mat

Longest sofa

JAI HO! INDEED

There is nothing Bollywood watchers love more than a good song and dance number. Item songs as they are now being called.

The latest trend is to have an item song play during the end credits. I think it started with Kaal and then continued with a host of other movies. But most times they are just an excuse for people to begin to make their way to the exit save for a few die hard fans. The only movie where a sizeable number stayed back was Jab We Met for that rambunctious Mauja hi Mauja.

Last Saturday evening I was at a packed theatre in Abu Dhabi and at the end when Jai Ho! began to play with the end titles, not a single soul stood up.

And the audience was almost 60% non Asian.

The choreography wasn’t great (typical school dance type with arms akimbo, claps etc) but people weren’t staying back for that. They were staying back because they didn’t want to leave the characters they had come to know and moreover love during the last 2 hours.

And as you must have guessed by now the movie was Slumdog Millionaire.

The media has been on a overdrive with this movie so I will spare you details you already know… just watch the movie if you haven’t and if you have, then watch it again…. The second viewing brings so many details to the fore that you missed during the first frenetic ride.

Many of my friends felt the elder brother was a villain despite the change of heart in the end but I felt he was the most pragmatic character in the movie.

And also the saddest.

In the end as he sits in a tub full of 500 rupee notes you can’t help but feel sorry for him knowing that he would give anything to be in Jamal’s shoes.

By the way the co-director, being Indian, should also have looked into some details like Kareena dancing to Yuva’s Fanaa on TV in the end while Don’s Aaaj Ki Raat plays loudly or the fact that Ram in hindu mythology isn’t depicted as blue (that’s Krishna) or again that the bhajan Darshan Do Ghanshyaam was penned by Gopal Singh Nepali and not Surdas. But then G S Nepali has never ever been given his due just like Ram Singh Thakur who never got the recognition for composing Jana Gana Mana the Indian national Anthem. (check my post in the archives dated Sept 30, 2007)

Many of you will have watched Danny Boye’s previous movies like Trainspotting (brilliant), 28 Days Later (great again), The Beach (average) but its his other movie that this is closest to Slumdog. Millions. If you can try and get hold of a copy (or download it as I doubt it will be easily available) and watch one of the sweetest stories every made. You can catch my take on it and Roger Ebert’s review if you go to the archives of this blog (October 13, 2006).

Enjoy

Ciao
Vish

SEE NO EVIL. WEAR NO EVIL. EAT NO EVIL.


Every morning paper brings new insights and not always in the ways you think.

3 things caught my eye today.

Reality, Absurdity & Sheer Editorial Carelessness.

Lets begin with REALITY.

The first was an ad for the famous Patek Philippe watch. They had an ad campaign called the 'Generation' series which featured Father & Son or Mother & Daughter and they have always used the brilliant tagline

"You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation"

Not only does it bring out the timelessness of its product but it also makes it feel like an investment. A future family heirloom. It is one of the most successful ads in history but my point is not about that.

Today's paper had another of those ads and the difference this time is that the 'son' isnt exactly someone you would call 'handsome' in the model sense of the word.

Now I am sure that the folks at Patek were not exactly lacking for money to procure a traditionally 'good looking' model, so the only explanation is that the ads are finally beginning to reflect reality.

The reality that 95% of the public dont have movie star good looks.

Lets hope the others follow suit.

If you open any Men's magazine like GQ or FHM or even Men's Vogue you will be flooded with pages after pages of designer ads with some stunning looking suits and clothes but as the acerbic Vir Sanghvi (of HT India) said so famously,

"The only way you and me are going to ever look as good as the models in those couture clothes are if we have the body structure of a pubescent girl”

Bingo!

Now it’s the turn for ABSURDITY.

The tabloid section of the Gulf News has a section where it displays pictures from around the world every week. One of the pictures today was from the HongKong Fashion Week.

OK, I understand that couture isn’t always wearable or practical but surely it must have its limits. Different just for the sake of being different is frankly crap. What could this designer possibly be trying to prove? What a waste, really, in these difficult times.

Tsk Tsk

And finally its Sheer Editorial Carelessness.

The Abu Dhabi Week supplement has a fantastic eating out guide but look at the picture and the caption.

“Traditional Indian Cooking”

Traditional???

Indian???

With chopsticks and with Chinese sauces besides the wok??

Yeah Right!

And I’m Santa Claus


Have a great weekend

Ciao

Vish

GOOD MORNING ALL. GOODBYE BUSH

Dear All,

I wasnt able to blog for the past few days as i was down with flu.

So just a quick one today to start off the week.

There is this guy named Bennett who draws for the Christian Science Free Press and is syndicated with the Gulf News here too. He is very incisive and i have been an admirer of his for quite some time.

Todays paper has another of his brilliant cartoons....

Brilliant.

Enjoy

Vish

ONE SWALLOW SOMETIMES A SUMMER MAKES

As most of you must know by now A R Rehman has become the first Indian to win the ‘prestigious’ Golden Globe for Best Original Score for the movie of the season Slumdog Millionaire (or Slumdog Crorepati if you are in India).

TIME magazine had already rated his Roja soundtrack as one of the 10 Best Soundtracks ever and declared him as Mozart of Madras.

The Indian media, as usual is going ga-ga over the Globe but does it really take a western award to validate Indian genius? Will we respect him a lil bit more if he gets an Oscar?
I should hope not.

Speaking of which there was a reality show on Zee TV which had Annu Kapur (of Antakshri fame) as a judge. After repeatedly mentioning only old hindi songs, he was asked if he knew of any new songs. To which he replied, “No No I listen to new songs too, I tolerate Himesh, I tolerate A R Rehman.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and infact couldn’t decide what was worse: that he had compared A R Rehman to Himesh or the fact that he felt that A R Rehman needed to be tolerated.

Yet yesterday evening on Zee News he was there singing his praise like a third rate chameleon.

Anyway I hope this is the beginning of an Indian Summer in Hollywood.

Below is my selection of the best ARR songs. Please feel free to disagree or add more to the list.

Chinna Chinna Aasai (Roja 1992). While studying in Bangalore I was taken for this movie by some friends and even after I watched the hindi version later the real charm of this song is the actual Tamil version. The magic was lost in translation.

Tu Hi Re: (Bombay.1995) Yearning, Longing, Affection, Ache all finds voice in this beautiful number. It helped that Manisha never looked better.

Hai Rama: (Rangeela 1995) Try to forget (if possible) a voluptuous Urmila and just listen to this song. Indian ragas mixed with western percussion it is one of his best compositions till date.

Dil Se & Aae Ajnabi (Dil Se 1998). “Dil To Aakhir Dil Hai Na. Meethi Si Muskhil Hai Na…’ Gulzar’s words put perfectly to music and shot equally well.

Aae Ajnabi is possibly the best romantic number of the 90's. I dont know even 1 person who doesnt like it. Again Manisha looked like a million bucks. This movie had perhaps the best assembled creative team till now. Mani Rathnam (Dir), Shekhar Kapoor & Ram Gopal Verma (Producer), A R Rehman, Gulzar, Santosh Sivan (Cinematography), Farah Khan (Choreography. remember Chaiyya Chaiyya), SRK & Manisha and a great debut by Preity Zinta.

Ishq Bina: (Taal 1999). Gulzar had written another line for another movie about finding a love so strong that it almost consumes you, “Koi to ho, jiske liye; jeena ho toh marna pare..” This sentiment finally gets fully realized in this haunting number from Taal.

Piya Haji Ali : (Fiza 2000) ARR did just one guest song but what a song. Devotion and Spirituality finds the perfect fusion here.

Mehndi Hai Rachne Wali: (Zubeida 2000). It is so normal that one almost feels like it is a familiar aunt humming in the house. The verses just meld into each other. Cant be easy to do.

Oo Re Chori: (Lagaan 2001) Among other gems in this movie this is my favorite because ARR blends rustic Indian sounds and instruments with western ones to move from the hindi lyrics to the english ones and you never once feel the jerk. Seamless.

Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna: (The Legend of Bhagat Singh 2002). A typical loud rousing Indian freedom song suddenly lifted to musical heights with just a few tweaks here and there. Sonu Nigam too at his finest.


Sadiyya Sadiyya: (Lakeer 2004) A crap movie redeemed by one of the most romantic tracks ever. Listen and evaluate again.


Chinamma Chinamma: (Meenaxi 2004) Cant understand half of what it means (or what the movie was about for that matter) but it is filled with crazy infectious beats. Try staying still while it plays. Impossible.

Khuda Hafiz: (Yuva 2004) I call this song surreal. Just cant get it out of my head. And Kareena..... Oh Kareena...

Titel Song: (Swades 2004) Can you remember the last time a Sarangi was used to convey anything other than marriage or death? This song is a must hear for every NRI.

Hum Hai Iss Pal Yaha: (Kisna 2004) Again a classic example of how Ghai massacred a ARR song. Forget the movie listen to just the song. Magic.


Whole Soundtrack: (Bose. The Forgotten Hero) ARR used a whole Orchestra for this forgotten and criminally underrated movie. Turn down the lights, pour yourself a nice bourbon, close your eyes and lose yourself in genius.


Khoon Chala: (Rang De Basanti: 2006). With a wealth of songs to choose from, this is my fav simply for its placement in the movie. Need i say more.


Ae Hairathe Ashiqui & Jaage Hai (Guru: 2007): Ae Hairathe Ashiqui was adapted by Gulzar from Hazrat Amir Khushroo’s Ay Sarbathe Aashiqui and ARR decided to tune it based on the instruments and style of that period. Jaage Hai was used sparingly in the movie but if you listen to the soundtrack it is a soaring and majestic composition with ARR himself at the vocals accompanied by the superb Madras Chorale Group. (While on Guru, can you think of simpler or better lyrics than "Tere Bina Beswesadi, Besewadi Ratiya" {Without you my nights are tasteless})


Khwaja Mere Khwaja: (Jodha Akbar: 2008) A Devout Muslim ARR had composed this song as a private tribute to God. Ashutosh who heard this song wanted to use it in the movie. A reluctant ARR agreed with the caveat that if he did not like the visualization they would have to remove the song. After being filmed ARR watched it and agreed to let them keep it. Sufism at it pristine best.


Tu Bole Main Bolu: (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na: 2008) Kabhi Kabhi Aditi was the college anthem of the year but it is this soulful jazz number that stays with you. A long drive, rain, hot chai and this song. What more can one ask for. Bliss!


Kaise Mujhe: (Ghajini 2008) Great song, Greater 2nd Half. If you have it on your iPod then slide the timer and begin listening from 2:55. I rest my case.

Enjoy

Luv

Vish

SERENDIPITY

I have never been quite sure about my luck with the lottery. Cash or any other kind.

However that does not stop me from entering contests. The only thing I don’t do is buy tickets for any of these schemes…. That I believe is foolish… its just a gamble.

Anyway that’s besides the point coz last week as I was driving back from Dubai on Saturday afternoon after a long hectic weekend, I got a call from the National newspaper saying I had won 2 tickets for a concert.

I had entered a contest online and forgotten about it till that call.

I had won passes for “The Magical Music of Walt Disney” conducted by the London Philharmonia Orchestra at the Emirates Palace Hotel.

Western Classical Orchestral Music is not to everyone’s taste but when it is played to evergreen Disney tracks they then become a perfect fusion of classical and popular cultures.

And anyhow Disney songs have always had a habit of seeping into our unconscious so that even a stray bar here or a tune there instantly takes us back to that file in our memory that is marked with a fond smile.

We all have our own fond memories of various Disney numbers...

Having performed as one of the dwarfs in a major school production of Snow White I can’t help but be transported back to class 3 the moment I hear “Heigh Ho” or “Whistle While You Work”.

Sometimes its another memory that gets triggered like the time I tried to sit 3 young boisterous nephews on my lap as they squealed their way through Jungle Book. How can I not remember that whenever I hear “The Bare Necessities?”

As the Orchestra’s musical director put it so well, “to clinch the argument about the memorable quality of Disney music, what’s the longest word most of us can say without pausing to think how its pronounced? That would be Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins.

The Philharmonia is traveling around the world and if any of you get a chance to catch it in your cities, it’s a concert not to be missed. Even if you have to pay….

It will remind you of a time when things were so much more simple and no recession in sight….


Luv

Vish

P.S. Below is a short 41 sec clip of a part of the concert taken furtively on my mobile so the pic quality is not too great... great sound though considering we weren't front row center.

Enjoy

CELEBRITY WIT

Dear All,

There is a wonderful website called Overheard In New York (see my list of fav sites) and they have a new section with the choicest celebrity quotes.

What is even more amusing is the headlines (in orange) that the creators of the site have added...

Enjoy.

Luv Vish

... In Maintaining My Totally Static, Obnoxious Character
Paris Hilton, on acting: I'll think of something in my life, use it in the scene, and it really works.

Well, Then, You're Fucked, Aren't You?
Janet Jackson, on her last two failed albums: I think it was the music. The albums weren't right.

Well, Not All Of Us, Eh, Vlade?
Serbian basketball player Vlade Divac: We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads.

You Rest Your Case, Sir.
Former Notre Dame footballer Joe Theismann: The word 'genius' isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.

NewsFlash: Texas 0 for 2 in Churning Out Eloquent Politicians
Texas representative Gib Lewis: I want to thank each and every one of you for having extinguished yourselves this session.

Stick with the Flexing, Big Guy
Jean-Claude Van Damme: In an action film, you act in the action. In a drama film, you act in the drama.

Is She Serious?
British model Jodie Marsh: Eskimos are uncivilized because they don't have any shops.

Best to Just Smile and Nod
Paris Hilton: No, no, I didn't go to England; I went to London.

Not So Cute Anymore, Is He, Ladies?
Jake Gyllenhaal: Sometimes what I actually love to do is go to a farm and get fresh milk or watch a pig get slaughtered.

Honey, That Train's Already Left the Station
P. Diddy: If I change my name again, y'all can have me certified as crazy, alright?

And Then He Was All Like, "Here's a Dollar for Your Time"! The Nerve!
William Baldwin: ... And the guy wanted me to take a picture of him and his girlfriend. He didn't even know who I was!

Did You Ever Doubt Her?
Paris Hilton: I like to see myself in magazines looking good. I don't read anything -- I just get them to look at my outfits. I want to see if I look cute or not. I'm too lazy. I only flip through and look at me. I'm not interested in anyone else.

The Gift Was Silence
Fergie: I, uh, I had a conversation with God, basically. I don't know how to interpret this, but He said, 'I've given you this beautiful gift, and you're throwing it away.'

Somebody's Out and Was Well-Received
Clay Aiken, on his role in Spamalot: I'm sore. I couldn't even get off the toilet the other day, it hurts so bad.

The Most Effective Way to Solve All Of Our World's Problems
Madonna, at Live Earth: If you wanna save the planet, let me see you jump!

Is Anyone Surprised?
Britney Spears: I performed at Mom and Dad's party when I was four. Oh my gosh, I was singing a Madonna song, and I peed myself.

No Wonder She Doesn't Eat
Victoria Beckham: I'm proud I still have a really good sex life with David. He is very much in proportion. He does have a huge one, though. He does. You can see it in the advert. It is all his. It is like a tractor exhaust pipe!

Make Your Bed or I'll Bus' a Cap
Mark Wahlberg: When my daughter is 10 and 11, and especially in the teenage years, I want to be there with a gun. It's not mess-around time.

And Ladies Second
P. Diddy on formal rival Snoop Dogg: We ain't no gangsters. We are men first.

Perish the Thought!
Sanjaya Malakar, on why he was voted off American Idol: Honestly, I'm not a country singer.

Like I Was Just Now
Patti LaBelle, to Jennifer Hudson: I didn't know you were this nice. I thought you were a bitch.

Way to Clear That Up
Dan Quayle: It isn't pollution that is hurting the environment, it's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.

Both Are Soiled and Green, So What's the Diff?
Kate Hudson to son, Ryder, about her cooking: What's my specialty? What does Mommy make a lot of?

Ryder: Money!

Kate Hudson, correcting him: Mommy's tacos!

That Makes One Of Us
Pete Wentz: I love Jessica Simpson's stuff -- especially the shoes. I dance around my house in them all the time.

Even If They Do Match My Tits
Victoria Beckham, on joining a gym: What do you wear on the running machine? I can't bring myself to wear flat shoes.

NewsFlash: Rich Prick Tries to Sound Intelligent; Fails. Film at 11.
Donald Trump: In life you have to rely on the past, and that's called history.

TO EVERYONE I KNOW WHO STILL SMOKES


My lil Bro (actually he's 21 so maybe not so lil anymore) has finally given up smoking for good.

Actually he gave up 2 months ago but i did not want to mention lest he fall back into the habit again.

Last week at the New Years Eve party even when most others were lighting up he managed to resist the urge and that, i suppose is when i knew he was finally rid of the cancer stick.

ALAS many more of my friends are still in its grip and since i have spent all my breath on lecturing/harranguing/sermonising/ranting/preaching i will not say anymore.

Like someone said, a pic is worth a 1000 words so here is a selection of some of the best ads....

Enjoy and stop puffing out your lives....

With Love & Concern

Vish

DO VISUALS MAKE OR MAR A SONG ??

I have always wondered if music videos or the visualization of a particular song can spoil or enhance it.

Purists will probably say that the song is in itself complete and thus outside the sphere of influence (both positive or negative) of any other medium.

However I beg to differ.

Lets take a few recent examples.

Yuvraaj: Music by A R Rehman. A grand operatic score (including a splendid conduction of Beethovan’s Fifth by the Madras String Orchestra) it was not only commercially successful but also critically acclaimed. Yet when the movie came out Ghai’s 80’s style ham handedness had made the songs so unpalatable that they quickly fell off the countdown charts.

Or the soundtrack of Rock On! I am a big Shanker-Eshaan-Loy fan myself but even their staunchest admirer has to admit that as far as Rock music goes, Rock On! wasn’t the best.
Definitely not bad, dont get me wrong, it was above average even, but certainly not the best.
Yet after watching the movie the soundtrack seemed to be reborn. It was so in sync that you wondered why you even found fault with it in the first place.

Or the absolutely rocking soundtrack of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom which was literally wiped off the charts by the crazy movie with AB doing his Jack Sparrow impersonation. (speaking of which why doesn't he retire)

Next let’s take the song Baawra Maan from Hazaaron Khwaishe Aise.

Haven’t heard of it?? Can’t recollect it?? For most of you, probably not.

Now do you remember the recent Airtel ad (sorry for those who don’t get Indian TV) with Abhay Deol & Raima Sen.
On a rainy day he is leaving for someplace and stealing loving glances at each other they part. He gets into the taxi and she looks on from the balcony…. ….
And the song playing in the background???

Yes Baawra Maan from Hazaaron Khwaishe

Suddenly it is not only beautiful but also hauntingly apt for the situation.

So did the song enhance the visuals or did the visuals boost the song?
What came first the Chicken or the Egg?

Either way it is a very beautiful song and the lyrics I have copied below for your enjoyment.

BTW I still don’t know how to upload songs from my files to the blog so if anyone knows then please do leave the instructions in the comments box below and for those who want to listen to the song click here http://theabyss.mywebdunia.com/2008/10/09/1223538283669.html


Baawara Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna (refrain)
Baawre Se Mann Ki Dekho Baawri Hain Baatein
Baawre Se Mann Ki Dekho Baawri Hain Baatein
Baawri Se Dhadkaane Hain, Baawri Hain Saansen
Baawri Si Karwaton Se, Nindiya Door Bhaage
Baawre Se Nain Chaahe, Baawre Jharokhon Se, Baawre Nazaaron Ko Takna.
Baawara Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Baawre Se Is Jahan Main Baawara Ek Saath Ho
Is Sayani Bheed Main Bas Haathon Mein Tera Haath Ho
Baawri Si Dhun Ho Koi, Baawara Ek Raag Ho
Baawri Si Dhun Ho Koi, Baawara Ek Raag Ho
Baawre Se Pair Chahen, Baawre Taraano Ke, Baawre Se Bol Pe Thirakna.
Baawara Mann, Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Baawara Sa Ho Andhera, Baawri Khamoshiyan
Baawara Sa Ho Andhera, Baawri Khamoshiyan
Thartharati Law Ho Maddham, Baawri Madhoshiyan
Baawara Ek Ghoonghta Chaahe, Haule Haule Bin Bataaye
Baawara Ek Ghoonghta Chaahe, Haule Haule Bin Bataaye, Baawre Se Mukhde Se Sarakana,
Baawara Mann, Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna


Till next time.

Ciao

Vish

OF BITING DOGS AND SICK JOBS......

HI,

Am finally back after the extended New Year’s Weekend…. Thursday was the 1st so we got a holiday and then as you know the weekends here are Fri & Sat so 3 days there and then on Friday the Ruler of one of the Emirates here passed away (PBUH) so Sunday too got added.

So it was a loooooooong New Year.

Anyway once again a very Happy New Year to all of you…

Every morning I do try and spend a few moments scanning most of the international newspapers online to keep abreast of the happenings around the world.
Unlike the print editions, online, the newspapers seem to all be in some kind a competition to get the attention of the viewer. To “grab eyeballs” I believe is the correct terminology.

Anyway even the reputed sites like the one for the Times Of India are increasingly getting in on the act. (see screen-grab below where I have circled 2 articles)

The 1st item is circled on the left.

I don’t know if it actually classifies as ‘news’ (or maybe it does) but apparently a dog died after biting a judge. Here are some excerpts from that article

-- Chandigarh:- District and sessions judge KK Garg had to suffer a nightmare after he was bitten by a stray mongrel on Monday. The dog died immediately after the incident. Worryingly, doctors say this could be a symptom of rabies. A team of the civic body immediately reached the spot and captured the dog, which reportedly died in their custody. Commenting on the case, experts said in case of dog bite, the patient must be rushed to a nearby hospital.

Not to be cynical or to mock the article (or the judge) but I can’t help wondering, that if the dog died in police custody was it an encounter??? Ooh and yes as the ‘experts’ said in the last line of the report “in case of dog bite, the patient must be rushed to a nearby hospital.”

Like Duh?

The 2nd (circled on the right) is so beautifully worded that if it weren’t for precise punctuation it would mean something else altogether. It says:

Steve Jobs has ‘hormone imbalance’, to remain Apple CEO.

The news is that the father of the iPod has been diagnosed with hormone imbalance but will continue to remain as CEO of Apple.

I was just noticing that if it weren’t for the small comma it would mean something completely different in that Mr. Jobs has to be hormonally imbalanced to remain as CEO of Apple.

What a difference a COMMA makes in our lives….

Comma, i mean Ciao till next time

Vishal