Review : Woh Lamhe

WOH LAMHE ****

2006 has given Bollywood a lot. In the form of the thinker's film - Rang De Basanti. Comedy had Lage Raho Munnabhai.Superhero had Krishh. Phenomenonal Waste of cash had KANK. Surprisingly, romance wasn't that well portayed ( in Bollywood!! ) this year..until now, that is.

Woh Lamhe wins hands down as far as romantic movies of 2006 go. There is a maturity in this film that other directors really should take a leaf out of. This is an amazingly touching movie of love - and the dark side of our lives.

You want a storyline ? A small time director concocts a smart scheme to fool an big actress into acting in his film. His life will never be the same ever again. That's all that needs to be told.The Gangster duo - Kangana and Shiney are supremely talented and this movie gives both ample opportunities to showcase it to the world. There are so many moments that linger in the mind long after the movie is over. You feel sorry for the characters its based on - Parveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatt ; what they went through and the tragedy they could not forsee. Personally, I'm not much of a tragedy movie fan, but this is one I recommend because it takes the time to showcase what was most important to both the individuals - their moments of love.

Drawbacks - well, this movie is rated 'A' and there is valid cause for it - the central theme aside, the film deals with rape and abuse.. and quite brutally too. So you may not wanna take your kids along for this ride.

P.S. It's been a while since I've seen girls come out of a movie theatre teary eyed ( Kal Ho na Ho was the last time, though some recent Hindi comedies did make ME cry !!) Eagerly awaiting the Bhatt camp's next venture.

Follow your dreams

In many ways, this is just a continuation of the post "A NEW HERO". Because this too is about how we can make a difference in the most amazing ways. If I told you that you had a good voice and you ought to try singing for a career, how many of you would chuck your jobs and start a brand new pop career ? If I told you the articles you write are so nice, you oughta do movie scripts and novels, would You quit today and go search for an agent ? No. But you know what? You don't have to. This is not the 80's. This is a new age. Anything is possible. Don't believe me ?

SNAKES ON A PLANE ? What kind of a movie title is that ? I mean, C'mon, is that a title..talk about originality !! But the more I heard about the film, the more amazed I was by what it represented. The title was so brash and in 'IN your FACE' because that is exactly what the idea was. After having his script rejected for years, a University administrator finally got his re-redrafted script to be produced into a film in 1999. It gained more publicity than any other film in recent times in internet circles, simply because of one reason. FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

Bloggers all around the world were allowed to have their say. They changed the title from the drab 'Pacific Air Flight 121' to the more sublime SNAKES ON A PLANE. They gave their choices on what they'd like to see. They even decided the star of the movie's (Samuel L Jackson, no less) dialogues, ensuring he got his trademark style in -"Enough is enough. I have had it with these muthaf***in' snakes on this muthaf***in' plane". No prizes for guessing which words they wanted to hear in that. The bloggers crusaded for and got the PG-13 rating elevated to an R-rating so that they could get all their favourite scenes in. They ensured that,even before reviewers, they were shown the first previews of the movie. Boy, were there some pissed reviewers.
And the franchises?
1.An illustrated book - Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation by David Waldon
2.Snakes on a Sudoku - the puzzles are standard sudoku puzzles, but with the 3x3 blocks of numbers replaced with "deadly snakes" (actually, snake-shaped groups of squares).
3.Snakes on a Plane: The Complete Quote Book
4.A contest on TagWorld and a website promoting the film allowed artists to have their music featured on the movie.
5.DC Comics ( SUPERMAN, BATMAN ) released a two issue miniseries.
6.New Line Cinema partnered with CafePress.com to permit fans of Snakes on a Plane to become official licensees of Snakes on a Plane merchandise. This opened the door for millions to design and sell not only t-shirts, but other gift items such as mugs.

This is the power of the people..to decide what goes into their movies today.."BY the people. OF the people. FOR the people." SNAKES ON A PLANE has, since its release, done quite a good business and will go down as one of those action flicks we all love to watch ( and bitch about !! )

Another venture closer to home that I came across recently in Orkut and that I feel deserves appreciation is BLOGSWARA - a group of Indians across UK, USA and INDIA who haven't met yet, came across each other while blogging and set up a site for their own original songs in Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil. Every aspect of the songs from lyrics, recording and mixing is done from their individual homes. And these songs are really good, thats the best part. To listen and judge for yourself, click the below link - "www.blogswara.in/ " I wish them all the best. It takes courage to be able to follow your dreams.

Who said you can't make your dreams come true?

einstein- the dark years

einstein- the dark years
Originally uploaded by pythoroshan.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Einstein was " a black dude" ? "Yo, Bro, this relativity thing is whack !!" "Word, ma maan. Word." "Check out the meat on that white 'ho ? She so fat she needs a watch on both arms cos she covers two time zones" Yo,Darwin, Yo yo,bro, how's it hanging ?"

Or if Darwin were a woman in his age ? Would any of his theories have ever been heard out ? Or if super heroes really existed..and actually travelled to COUNTRIES other than USA..aah, it's ok. We have Chacha Chaudary anyway. He da maan!! And he gonna whip that Superman's red underwear back into his pants, Jack. Word.

What other hilarious " WHAT IF's " can you think of ?

For want of a quote, a brain was lost...

Had a good day? At peace with the world ? Tensions at an all time low? TIRED OF THIS HARMONY ?? Wanna have one of them big juicy headches that make you wish you were a headbanger ?
Ya, me neither. But that's what I ended up with in the end. Because I got hit by a literary brick. It's ironical because I was actually looking for the author of one of my "golden oldie fav" quotes when I came across this list from the MESSIAH of our generation. Like all the icons of previous times , his quotes too make people think, make them pause..make them reach for an ice pick to stab their own brains out.
I present to you

BUSHISMS ( Click for more : I just chose a select few )
P.S. You must read all the chosen quotes below at a stretch -Doctors orders

Bush On Family & Friends:


"We had a chance to visit with Teresa Nelson who's a parent, and a mom or a dad."
"I appreciate my love for Laura." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 20, 2005
"I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend." --George W. Bush, on visiting Denmark, Washington D.C., June 29, 2005
"I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young, I liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was president, and I like them during president, and I like them after president."
"Now, we talked to Joan Hanover. She and her husband, George, were visiting with us. They are near retirement — retiring — in the process of retiring, meaning they're very smart, active, capable people who are retirement age and are retiring."
"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today. You're doing a heck of a job. You cut your teeth here, right? That's where you started practicing? That's good. He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."


Bush On the War :

"I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport." —Washington, D.C., Oct. 3, 2001
"The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the — the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice."
The folks who conducted to act on our country on September 11th made a big mistake. They underestimated America. They underestimated our resolve, our determination, our love for freedom. They misunderestimated the fact that we love a neighbor in need. They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the Commander-in-Chief, too."
"As you know, we don't have relationships with Iran. I mean, that's -- ever since the late '70s, we have no contacts with them, and we've totally sanctioned them. In other words, there's no sanctions -- you can't -- we're out of sanctions."
"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection -- an election in Iraq at this point in history?"
"You took an oath to defend our flag and our freedom, and you kept that oath underseas and under fire." --George W. Bush, addressing war veterans, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2006
"It's in our country's interests to find those who would do harm to us and get them out of harm's way."
"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein."
"We're still being challenged in Iraq and the reason why is a free Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of freedom."
"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the Mother in me."

Bush On the World :

"My trip to Asia begins here in Japan for an important reason. It begins here because for a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times. From that alliance has come an era of peace in the Pacific." —Umm, what about Hiroshima Nagasaki?
"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table."

Bush ON Dope?? :
"For NASA, Space Is Still A High Priority."
"I Don't Need To Be Subliminabable."
"I Understand Small Business Growth. I Was One."
"Will The Highways On The Internet Become More Few?"
"I Know How Hard It Is For You To Put Food On Your Family."
"I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right."
"And so, in my State of the — my State of the Union — or state — my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation — I asked Americans to give 4,000 years — 4,000 hours over the next — the rest of your life — of service to America. That's what I asked — 4,000 hours."
"I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to come and witness my hanging." —George W. Bush, at the dedication of his portrait, Austin, Texas, Jan. 4, 2002
"I think -- tide turning -- see, as I remember -- I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of -- it's easy to see a tide turn -- did I say those words?" --George W. Bush, asked if the tide was turning in Iraq, Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006
I've reminded the prime minister-the American people, Mr. Prime Minister, over the past months that it was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship."
"I can only speak to myself."
"If they pre-decease or die early, there's an asset base to be able to pass on to a loved one." --George W. Bush, on Social Security money held in private accounts
"I'm also mindful that man should never try to put words in God's mouth. I mean, we should never ascribe natural disasters or anything else to God. We are in no way, shape, or form should a human being, play God."
"Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a -- you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities."
"I think it's very important for the American President to mean what he says. That's why I understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to be as clearly I can."
"I cut the taxes on everybody. I didn't cut them. The Congress cut them. I asked them to cut them."
"I'll be glad to talk about ranching, but I haven't seen the movie. I've heard about it. I hope you go -- you know -- I hope you go back to the ranch and the farm is what I'm about to say." --George W. Bush, after being asked whether he's seen Brokeback Mountain
"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."
"You've also got to measure in order to begin to effect change that's just more — when there's more than talk, there's just actual — a paradigm shift."


I guess it's only appropriate that I end your misery with another Bushism that probably speaks your state of mind right now -

"I hope you leave here and walk out and say, 'What did he say?'" --George W. Bush, Beaverton, Oregon, Aug. 13, 2004

For better or worse

The world is a sadder place. Steve Irwin died this week in a freak incident. Known better to anyone with Animal Planet on their list of Tv channels as "The Crocodile Hunter", having faced innumerable croc bites, snake bites and the like, to read that he got stabbed to death by a sting ray..that was shocking. It's sad because he worked all his life living out his dream - trying to show people not to fear crocs and other animals. His Australian accent and eccentric ways ensured his cult status but he was ever modest in all that he did. I feel really sad because I remember seeing the interviews of his that followed that night on AP - seeing how his daughter looked up to him..even at the age of7 years, she was not his daughter, she was his partner in crime in all his escapades..and by God, she was the sweetest child I've ever seen. I wish God would keep people like him around here instead of leaving us the muck and taking people who are good at heart. It was fun while it lasted..hope you're in a better place now. Godspeed, mate.



The world is a sadder place. Where a President can openly admit to holding people in CIA built prisons, with no proof whatsoever, and use any torture means he finds necessary to extract what he wants to hear from them. And then have the nerve to say unapologetically - it will go on. Cool. War on terror, my ass!!


The world is a sadder place. Where the national song of the country is used to hold people at hostage. In a country where deserts are ransacked by floods and train blasts are killing morale, we have ministers of all shapes and sizes running across Parliament fighting about whether people should be called traitors because they dont sing the NationalAnthem. We have news channels sitting in madrasas from the morning of Sept 7th to show us LIVE the little boys and girls who are "terrorists" because they aren't singing the song along with their classmates..actually zooming in on those kids who're trying to bluff the words. Is there really nothing better to do in India. Are we so free of problems that this can be made a major issue ? As Lyricist Javed Akthar put it -" If a maulvi insists I dont sing it, I will go sing all the verses. If the BJP and RSS demand I sing it, then I wont sing a single word." Stop forcing people to do stuff. You'll only generate disgust where respect earlier sat.

The world is a better place. Where movies like Lage Raho Munnabhai actually come to instil faith in Bollywood's capabilities,to show us that the teachings of Gandhi CAN actually have a place in today's world. While Sanjay Dutt and Warsi are brilliant as the dynamic Munna and Circuit, Vidya Balan is out to prove Parineeta was no flash in the pan..wow!! What screen presence! Personally, I loved this one much better than the first part also..the characters have evolved, the jokes are more hilarious and they've tried a whole new formula which has worked well. I don't know what is my best scene as such..it's the camaraderie that the two characters share - Munna and Circuit..that's present throughout the movie, no single scene can be lifted out.Hmmm. Maybe there's hope for Bollywood yet.


The world is a better place. My 2 classmates . Riyaz and Sheena, got married in Trivandrum this week. Having spent most of my last years in college having my meals ( breakfast to dinner ) with them, finally seeing them get married after some opposition and against some weighty odds was very satisfying. Sometimes, the Dilwale does take the Dulhaniya, you know!!
I'm visiting Trivandrum after a long interval..the last time I set foot in Trivandrum, it was besieged by the tsunami even as I and the others were leaving. This time, to date, no calamity has struck. In between, visits to Kanyakumari, Kovalam and the zoo ( one of my friends had to meet his relatives ) were some of the fun highlights of this trip. While walking the paths in the zoo, I kept telling Govind how I wished a python would just cross in front of us along the roads, just slithering along. It must have been 2 seconds after I said that that we spotted a slithering figure in front of us trying to climb from the pavement into the Bear enclosure.. of course, it wasnt a python. Just an ordinary rat snake.
God has a sense of humor. If he'd only use it more, the world would be a better place.

P.S. Saw Krisshh on cable..did this movie really make 120 crore Rupees!!?! How ? Is that really what is called good graphics these days ? Though then again, after seeing the animated trailors of Krishna & Ganesha, I guess anything goes these days in the name of graphics. If you can't do a job decently, why do it at all is my question ?

A New Hero...

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. "
-Martin Luther King Jr.

The power of one man can take down an army. The power of one man can right a thousand wrongs. It's all about that word - POWER and he who holds it. There used to be a time when the governing body of the World was the UNO in so many ways. People turned to them for help, for aid, for salvation. That day hopefully will resurface again in the future. For now, the UnO is nothing more than a courtier in the King's palace. It aids in decision making, but it cannot do any more. It cannot fight for justice. It can only seek audience with an aggressor and ask them to stand down..nothing more. And today, there are no King Asokas' who,on seeing the death they have wrought, will search their own souls for compassion.
It is a sad example for people like me, who grew up to textbooks which had given God status to the UN, to see them so ineffective in this day and age. It's enough to make people lose faith in justice. But then, perhaps there is a subtle shift over the years that has gone unnoticed. Now, the powers no longer lie with those who yeild the Sword of might or wealth. It is coming back to the ones who gave that sword in the first place - the people.


by pythoroshan
I, like most of India, was appalled at the main story that headed most Indian news channels this week - Ujjain. The story of a professor beaten to death on the college campus by ABVP activists after he discovered irregulariites in student elections IN FRONT OF IMMOBILE POLICE OFFICERS and the subsequent crap dished out by the political party ( the culprit and its father body ) was nauseating. The fact that the damn Chief minister of the state tried to defend the culprits by dismissing it as an 'unfortunate heart attack' and blaming the Professor for canceling the electionswas even more shocking.
Autopsies subsequently confirmed that the professor died of broken ribs which led to bleeding into his lungs. More than a dozen events in this state have occured since the party came into power, all of which involved the party using their might to supress the minorities or those who don't 'follow the blessed path'. These party members would have gotten away with it too. But there was something different this time. There was a live video tape of what transpired. And most importantly, it was not buried. In what is another rarity, all the news channels played the tapes all day long over 2-3 days. They demanded justice and hunted the 'elusive eye witnesses'. When the police refused to go for a sketch of the culprits, they mocked them till they had no choice. The culprits ,at present, have been nabbed and the father body is slowly distancing themselves, atleast for now, from the student body of the state.

The police can take no credit for this incident. They failed at every stage - prevention,early action and management. This was a case purely of the media standing up and doing their job. This was the media saying 'We will not back down. We will not let you walk away scot free.' They could have buried the tape. They could have accepted the bribes. They didn't. And in not doing so, maybe, just maybe, they have given Mr Sabharwal's family, a chance at justice.

by pythoroshan
A few months back, the media stood up against the Jessica Lal verdict and rightly so. Now, this. It's very gratifying. Because you realise all is not lost. Maybe there will never be another Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or another Martin Luthor King. That age is over. There are no individual heroes left.. none who can survive the media glare. I doubt, if they lived today, that either of these heroes of the past would have been as effective. They'd probably just be seen as 'freedom fighters'..thats a nice word for 'terrorist' apparently, in most countries. In the 40's, Gandhi's actions were viewed with awe across a 100 nations. King took up the cause of the blacks at a time when racial killing was at its peak. Today ? I'm not sure but Im guessing that besides Dubyaman ( El Presidento De Americana ), the most searched names& quotes on the net would have to be Paris Hilton's !!
There are no Supermen left.It's a fact. So who will save us ? To steal from our religious books, when the Lords and Prophets passed on, religion did not die. To steal from the comic books we grew up reading, when Superman was killed, the world did not end. They carried on. Lesser heroes stood up and took greater responsibility. They never promised victory, they never inspired awe, but they gave justice..one small step at a time. Perhaps,today, we ourselves, are these lesser heroes. We shouldn't look for adulations. Just do the right thing. And hopefully, justice will prevail.