Uniform... what do you remember?

When was the last time you wore a uniform? In 10^th or 12^th, right? I am asked to wear now. How odd. I’m old for school and to be an MBA student. Its summer at its peak now, imagine walking 2kms wearing a full shirt, tie and a blazer (Yes, I do walk to college). Above all this, I have to sit from 9 to 4 listening to some stuff you know that you won’t understand. This is the biggest punishment I’ve ever received.

Last time I was in uniform was in my school – Navodaya. Those were the days, when I used to wash my clothes myself. So, wearing uniforms was a relief – you had fewer clothes to wash. For most part of the day, we would be in our uniforms. Those pants… they were treasure troves. What not did they contain! Tumblers always occupied one part. There were Aishwarya’s photos cut from the library newspapers. Papers, geometry boxes… you ask for it, you get it. We had study hours too. The only way I could get through it was from ‘timepass kadlekai’. How did I bring them? Pockets! Of course, there were tennis balls; we used to sneak past our PE teacher. Cricket was banned, but still we played. There were guys you used to study all the time. They carried text books. Kannada and Hindi text books were so small… they fitted in. You would say “yuk” when I tell you that we washed these once in a week. But, such was our condition. My school was in the heart of Western Ghats. You wound not call that rain. It would take the whole week to dry with the incessant downpour.

This is what I retrieve when I see the new uniform hanging in my wardrobe. I don’t know how I would be now. Anyway, I need not wash my clothes myself anymore. It would be done with a press of a button. So, don’t worry.

A watchable hindi action movie at last....

What do you need to have an action movie, which could entertain? I’ve always hated to watch Hindi action flicks. The only exception was Dhoom. The sequel was baaad… Usually; they tend to be far-fetched from reality. I had similar thoughts about “Race.” From the trailers, I was quiet certain, this would be no different.

The cast was great, Saif, Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina, Bipasha and Sameera. Saif and Akshaye are brothers with great property to share between them. Katrina is Saif’s PA. Bipasha is his girlfriend. Or so it seems… That’s where this movie becomes quiet watchable. Every time you think this will happen, it won’t. First half is quiet good, but you don’t get to see Anil and Sameera. It’s all Akshaye’s show. But, in the second half, it’s Anil. He’s quiet funny, with Sameera – who plays a dumb assistant to him.

There is no story, but I guess the writer was payed for the twists he has written. Pritam has done a good job for the music. Most of the filming is done in South Africa. Locations are great. Titled “Race”, there outta be a race right? There is one, and its quiet good.

The acting part, Akshaye, Anil are good. Saif’s dialogues are catchy. The heroines don’t know acting, so they are not to be blamed I think. Katrina looks awesome, as usual. Sameera really needs to re-consider her career…

The conclusion: Its quiet good. Not great. Watch it once, for the twists and turns.

My Rating: * * 3/4 for 5

I am (3/8)th of an engineer now…!

Finally, 3rd semester results are out, and know what, I PASSED. I got 76.8%

Many would say that's not enough, but I'm really really happy to pass (and the FCD was a bonus)

Movies...Reviews...

Finished my 1^st of the 3 internals this week. My classmates are very studious – they bunk classes days before the internals and study. What would I do bunking classes? Study and I never go hand in hand. I had nothing to do but watch a couple of movies. Here are their reviews.

First of all, I am no critic. I see the positives of the film and appreciate them. So, most of the time, I end up getting bad remarks for my reviews. So my warning – read somewhere again (how foolish to write that, right!)

Enchanted

Probably, it hasn’t released in India yet. Downloaded it and watched.

I really like “fairy-tale” movies. So, obviously, I liked this one too…
It’s a story of a maid who is supposed to marry a prince. She is pushed into our world from her fairy land by the wicked prince’s step mother. She gets help from a divorce lawyer who is divorced (call it professionalism or what-ever). The prince comes searching for her. Soon the queen’s lover and then the queen herself follow. As all fairy tales, this too has a “happily ever after” ending. And know what, there were songs (!)

Its one of those movies which you can sit through and enjoy. It’s a feel good movie and I would give it 4 stars on 5.

My rating: * * * * for 5

Sweeney Todd

It was recently released. But who would give 200 bucks for just a movie! I downloaded this too...

Let me tell you, I am a great fan of Johnny Depp. He’s probably the most talented of the actors now. Coming to the movie, I had read many reviews and had known this would be a “bloody” movie (don’t get me wrong there, I meant a movie with lot of blood)

The genre of this movie was revenge. The movie is set in London in the 1800s. Depp was a barber and lived a happy life. He had a beautiful wife and a child. The wicked judge deports Depp on false charges to Australia to marry Depp’s wife. Depp returns to have his revenge. He gets the help of his old owner and sets up a new salon. He turns that to a graveyard for his enemies.

It’s a 'dark' movie. Watch it if you are a Depp fan. He is awesome – as usual. The other characters are also good. But there is a lot of blood, watch it at your own risk.

My rating: * * * ½ for 5

Namaste London

Watched it on Sony yesterday. I guess most of you have seen it. Once again, I am a fan of Akshay. And movies with actresses like Katrina; do you really need a story? But, this had a ‘different’ story – but not great.

Katrina is a spoilt brat living in London. Her dad is an Indian and like most NRI’s, he too, loves to have his daughter married off to an Indian. Katrina has plans for her; she dates a rich English guy. Her dad marries her to Akshay. She isn’t ready to accept him as her husband. Akshay stays in London and tries to win her, and the story goes on…

The main reason for this movie to be among the top grosser for the last year was because of its casting. Everyone was perfect for their roles. For those who haven't seen it, give it a shot.

My rating: * * * for 5

Women's Day.....(?)

March 8, and what do I remember – women’s day. OK, I agree I didn’t remember that. When is 'men’s day' I ask. Mom, the only defender on ‘women related’ issues in our house shot back, “all days other than today are yours”. Good reply right?

We have so many “days” declared, we have ‘Kannada rajyothsava”, “environment day”, “science day” and so many others (I have written only what I celebrate, that’s why you can’t find valentine’s day there). But why do we dedicate? The first answer I get – women have not been fairly treated and they deserve to be empowered. How can a dedicated day do the job?

It’s just the same every time. You celebrate Kannada rajyothsava and forget Kannada the following day. Again, tomorrow would be the same, a bunch of good looking women pass by, you see someone whistling. It’s the perspective that needs to be changed. Only then, I feel, women would really be empowered. Unless we change, no reservations or any NGO's could bring about any improvements.

In my opinion, there should be a men’s day instead. In that way, it would be enlightening for men that he is overpowering his counterpart. Like what Munnabhai did to Boman (I’ve forgotten his name in that movie) – Gandhigiri.

While I finish, here is a quote from Louise Otto for women,

“The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that ... women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.”

Om Namah Shivaaya

It has been more than a couple of days since I launched this blog and had started to wonder ‘what next?’ For a seasonal writer like me, finding topics are such a hurdle. Thanks to Shivarathri.

Wish you all a very happy Shivarathri.

As all festivals do have stories associated with them, Shivarathri too had a story – the day Shiva married Parvathi. That was all I had knew till today. I hadn’t ever wondered why we fast. I asked a few but didn’t get the answer. Since most of us don’t know (no one in my family knew!), I thought of sharing…

Well, here is the reason why. There was a hunter – Suswara - who had shot a deer and was returning from jungle. It was getting dark and he couldn’t make it to his village back. He got on top of a tree (bilwapatre) and tried to sleep. He couldn’t. His wife and children were starving back home – this pained the hunter. He cried the whole night. Since his family would be starving, he too didn’t eat anything. To pass time, he kept plucking the leaves. He then returned the next day. He sold the deer he had hunted and got food for his family. When he was about to have his part, a sanyasi happened to cross his house. There was nothing at home to offer – he gave his meal.

The day he had starved was Shivarathri. Incidentally there was a Shiva Linga beneath the tree and his tears had washed it. As a reward of unconscious worship of lord Shiva, he was sent to heaven after death. He was then reborn as king Chitrabhanu. The leaves he plucked were bilwapatre – now you know why we use them.