Creativity gets bigger

The new advertisement on Classmate (ITC's Notebook range) is too good to believe. I was awestruck by the smart AV that caught my eye when it was first aired on television a couple of days back. Now, that is what I call a fantastically creative idea and making. Soha Ali Khan looked very comfortable in the half-minute reel, but Yuvi seemed completely out of place and dud for a while. Instead, Kunal Kapoor would have been a perfect fit with his quirky acts. Catch the ad online on Youtube.

There is one more creative commercial that I found on Youtube. You may want to check this one out too - Zales Commercial.

Karthik calls himself 'Karthik'

Karthik does not know that he leaves messages for himself. Moreover, his 'uncommon mental disorder' called Schizophrenia, not only affects his subconscious mind, but also eats up its conscious part to the extent that he cannot distinguish a reminder from a call. How can a reminder get marked as an incoming call or get marked with a number? He can go to the telephone exchange and enquire about the caller or the calling number but cannot trace the reminder in his phone!!!

That is Karthik Calling Karthik, starring an unusually good looking pair Farhan and Deepika. It is about a middle-class, low on confidence Karthik who sees his life change with an unexpected call from a well wisher, also named Karthik. The first half of the film is very slow. The suspense element will not hold you for long and it becomes very obvious as the film reels forward in the second half. The director partly succeeds in gripping the audience in the post intermission segment though. Music by Shankar trio is catchy and songs are well placed. Screenplay could have been better, but editing is the major drawback of this film. Deepika looks good and manages her role well.

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

A Mere Leader

I catched up with Leader yesterday. My expectations were very high and I was eagerly waiting for this film to release since Decenber. Alas, it had nothing much to fulfil those expectations. The message was good and quite idealistic (I like idealisic films because you hardly get to witness such things in real life), but the film lacked punch and the screenplay too lagged in many parts. The usage of songs in a subtle manner to gel with the story was good. I was greatly disappointed to realize that "Maa telugu thalliki" song was just made instrumental when the beautiful voice of Tanguturi Suryakumari garu would have added intensity to the climax, which otherwise did not have a great impact.


Leader also bored me in few places and the dubbing done for Ratna Prabha's character sounded quite unrealistic and bad. The romantic track between Rana and Richa was neat and acceptable. Rana has made a good start as an actor, so did Richa Gangopadhyay as Archana, a reporter and social worker. Rana can improve on his dialogue delivery and modulation. Kota Srinivas Rao and Ahuti Prasad as presidents of opposition parties are apt for their roles. Subba raju and Rao Ramesh also fit into the villainous roles with their routing acting. Editing is not crisp and its poor form shows up at a number of places in the film.

Music by Mickey J Meyer is adequate. Aunana Kadana and Leader theme are catchy and stay with you even after you come out of the theatre. On the whole, the film is okay to watch.

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

Random Thoughts

I am yet to watch Avatar. Tickets for Avatar 2D were easier to get than 3D and I had already made my mind that I would catch it only in 3D. We could not get bulk tickets in the first few weeks and later I became busy. And, now I have lost interest at least not as much required to pull me to the theatre playing it. But, I hope to watch before it is pulled out of Hyderabad. There are few other flicks besides Avatar on my list - Ishqiyan, Sherlock Holmes and couple of others. I usually prefer watching movies on the big screen than at home. It does not build the atmosphere and neither does it have that feel to it. Would love to write a film review here again!

I have been very busy at work of late, working like never before. It has been a year since I have worked this hard. Hope to find time for myself again very soon. Meanwhile, things aren't getting any better in Hyderabad. People are being crazy about this Telangana fever. What good will it make anyway? Disturbing internal peace and debts of hundreds and thousands of crores all over again. :(

Gamble

A Gamble is a Gamble, no matter you get into it yourself or someone else pushes you into it.

Happy New Year

Wish you all a very Happy, Prosperous and Dynamic year ahead in 2010. May God bless you with lots of love and courage.

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