2010: happy new year

As i bid adieu to 2009 and eagerly wait for 2010, i just wanted to highlight 10 things from the top of mind as i recall

1.) Swimming : learnt swimming and could complete a full lap in a 50 m pool.

2.) Touched snow: My manali trip.

3.) Had a camel ride in a desert safari: Jaisalmer Trip

4.) Started blogging regularly. This site was created in 2005 and had only 2 blogs till June, 2009

5.) Quit tobacco, the biggest economic boost which i got. My savings has gone up. 20 rs saved each day for the last 6 months. Roughly a saving of 12K in last 6 month.

6.) Booked a flat in costly gurgaon : Expensive. Still reeling in the aftermath ( read bloodbath)

7.) My sister wedding.

8.) Joined the football club in my company.

9.) Exceeded the 80 KG mark. Now painfully trying to get back to the 70's. Its tough especially when you are lethargic and addicted to chocolates and coke.

10.) Saw good movies like Avatar and 3 idiots. Thankfully, good movies were released at the fag end of the year.

All these things would not have been possible without the able support of my wife :)

Thats it. Hope 2010 is more eventful and i see more good movies, visit new places and learn/ experience new things ( read Bungee Jumping). And i ll try to update more in this log.

Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous new year.

3 idiots

Its munna bhai MBBS deja vu.

Just try co-relating these character instances.

• Munna Bhai here becomes the Rancho, the protagonist, who swims against the tides in a "dead poets society" brandishing against all the norms. So the Doctor/ Radio Jockey is replaced by an intelligent engineering student.
• Here the role of Arshad Warsi is played by the duo of Sharman Joshi and Madhavan. They also double up the hapless "Jimmy Shergill" of both the version of Munna Bhai.
• Jadoo is Jappi / Gandhigiri is replaced by "ALL IS WELL".
• And eternal villain Boman Irani with his comic behaviour and predictive apologies at the end.
• Mistaken identity of the protagonist.

Raju Hirani has tread the tried and tested path of the formula for making a hit movie.

And able marketing. Trying to tap the large alumni market of all colleges in the growing indian economy who are willing to succumb to their newly inhabited habit of emulating the west and shed more money to be taken back to their memories by watching this movie. What else will make Aamir Khan still in demand and it just confirms that it is the same public who have grown watching Aamir movies since school days.

And it did have its result. Its is predicted this movie will the highest grosser of all time ( excluding Inflation and due respect to Sholay and DDLJ).

Without sounding too acerbic, this movie has its place and that works. And the new actor Omi Vaidya ,who palys Chatur, the alter ego of Rancho is a revelation. His dialogue delivery and his comic timings are second to none ( even Aamir's). Watch out his scene where he delivers a speech in "glory" of his professor.

Although all the jokes were a rehash but they were utterly enjoyable.

Overall, its a MUST Watch...in case you need to be taken back to your engineering days. And watch it with your friends if they are around.

AVATAR

My take on Avatar. Another interesting reading comparing it to the fight of vaishavism and Shaivites. Very apt and creative

Namak Haram revisited

If you remember the plot of this Hishikesh Mukherjee classic - Rulling class plants their agent amonsgt the working class to dictate norms. The agent turns "Rogue" ( doing a David Headly) and fights for the cause of working class.

Creative Insights

And we add global warming, more greenery, more creative angles and shoots by James Cameron. Each canvas of the pandora is colorful and fascinating. That might be the reason that all the creative directors like Cameron's and Zemekis of the world are resorting to Anime to fulfill their creativity. Where else can you shoot a burning horse without offending the PETA and the animal lovers.

Salwa Judum gone wrong

Salwa judum, is a state sponspored group supposedly formed to revolt against the maoist extremism in Jharkhand.At the same time, a few reports indicated that people had been displaced in large numbers and were living in miserable conditions in camps. While this was officially attributed to Maoist threats and retaliation against those joining the Salwa Judum, stray news also came in about the forcible emptying out of villages as part of the government's anti-Maoist policy, and of excesses committed by members of the Salwa Judum and security forces. It was alleged that it was covert operation to vacate the tribal population from mineral rich areas as a gift to India's Private sector.

These are some random thoughts. Would appreciate comments.