3 Idiots is not idiotic

Watched matinee show of 3 Idiots last Friday. The theatre was packed, no wonder bookings for the next ten shows were full in advance. We missed the first two minutes of the film wherein Farhaan (Madhavan, in a carefully knitted role and apt) forcefully gets down from a ready-to-takeoff flight to meet his long lost college friend, Rancho (played brilliantly by Aamir Khan) who is rumoured to have been seen somewhere in Simla. He and his other friend Raju (Sharmaan Joshi lives up to the character) start off on a journey from Delhi to Simla to Ladakh in search of Rancho along with Chatur, their classmate from college and also an intuitive enemy.

The film rolls between present and flashback as Farhaan narrates it effectively. Most of the episodes from their engineering college life are fun to watch on screen except for the delivery on a pool table scene which I felt was too dramatic to digest. Boman Irani (as Virus, the Dean) had nothing new to offer but fitted the role perfectly with striking voice modulation and personality. Kareena Kapoor was good with the I-know-it-all attitude as Dean's second daughter. She leaves her mark in the film in spite of a lesser reel time.

The movie is adapted from Chetan Bhagat's first step to fame, Five Point Someone. Though a lot of modifications have been done with the characterizations of all the characters (except Raju's) and a big twist in the interval episode (quite interesting to watch). But, Hirani should have been more careful while writing and shooting certain scenes. All the three - Aamir, Madhavan and Sharmaan have done exceedingly well. Music is apt for the film and sounds good when you hear it on screen (with the visuals).

All in all, the film is very good and definitely tops the best entertainer list in year 2009.

My rating for this film - **** 1/2
(* You will shoot me
** Waste of time
*** Can sit through
**** Worth watching once
***** Must watch)

Reading...

...The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. The book, winner of Man Booker Prize for 2008, is about the entrepreneurial journey of the son of a rickshaw puller. The first few pages look promising. It should be a good read.

Divide and Rule

It came as a shock to me when I heard Mr. P Chidambaram, on television, talk about the Telangana bill to be passed in the Assembly. I am surprised that what something like the 1969 Telangana agitation couldn't achieve is now a reality. And, that too as a result of such low protest. Hunger strike by a gentleman, demolition of a few public transport vehicles, strike by some thousand college students and a few television interviews by some TRS leaders is all what it took. I just want to ask one question. Will Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao oblige if someone else is made the Chief Minister of (could be) Telangana state? That answers everything.

Now, already Rayalseema, Kosta and Andhra are raising their voice for separate states. Coming days will see more protest from all corners of Andhra Pradesh. People will fight for Hyderabad, which is already being proposed to be made a Union Territory. I am utterly dissapointed with this decision from centre. Cannot see Andhra Pradesh sliced into pieces after 43 years and after all the sacrifices made to make it happen. An outright insult to Amarajeevi Potti Sreeramulu who fasted until death for the cause. I just hope AP remains as is, united.


We have proved again that we still follow what the British left us behind with - Divide and Rule. Yes, we divide and rule. We do.

Ya Rabba...

I love this song from Salaam-E-Ishq. The lyrics are beautiful and Kailash Kher's voice brings soul to this song.

Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata

Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Is Pyaar Mein Hon Kaise Kaise Imntihaan

Ye Pyaar Likhe Kaisi Kaisi Dastaan

Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar

Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar

Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata

Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Kaisa Hai Safar Wafa Ki Manjil Ka

Na Hai Koi Hal Dilon Ki Mushkil Ka

Dhadkan Dhadkan Bikhri Ranjishein

Saansein Saansein Tooti Bandishein

Kahi To Har Lamha Honton Pe Fariyaad Hai

Kisi Ki Duniya Chaahat Mein Barbaad Hai

Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar

Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar

Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Koi Na Sune Sisakati Aanhon Ko

Koi Na Dhare Tadapati Baahon Ko

Aadhi Aadhi Puri Khwaishein

Tooti Footi Sab Farmaaishein

Kahin Shak Hain Kahin Nafrat Ki Deewaar Hai

Kahin Jeet Mein Bhi Shamil Palpal Haar Hain

Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar

Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar

Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Ho O O Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata

Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Ho O O O Ho O O O

Na Poocho Dard Bandon Se

Hansi Kaisi Khushi Kaisi

Musibat Sar Pe Rehati Hain

Kabhi Kaisi Kabhi Kaisi

Ho O O O... Rabba, Rabba Ho O O Ho

Rabba Ho O O, Ho O Ho Rabba

Hell on Wheels

The pictures below are taken in the second class of the Intercity Express (Vijayawada-Secunderabad). They show the poor state of our Railways. This was the most terrible and painstaking journey in my life. A coupe meant for 12 people was packed with a group of 22 to 24. The price you pay for getting to stand is the same as that paid for a reserved seat - A big fault in the system. It causes inconvenience even for the passengers who have a reserved seat because it hugely affects their comfortability. They are sandwiched between many of those standing.

I couldn't shoot from a better angle considering my ackward seating position, surrounded by 4 people and my feet stuck between two ladies and a boy sitting between my seat row and the one exactly opposite to it within a distance of about 20 inches!

Railways have to stop issuing tickets once the reserved seats get over or if not, in worst case, reduce the ticket price by at least 50% for those who buy a ticket later for them to decide whether to make the journey or not.

This is pathetic!!! Ms. Mamata Banerjee, are you listening? This is HELL on wheels.