Blogito, Ergo Sum

Review: The Wedding Café and Lounge

2011-05-09T18:37:00.001+05:30

Saturday night my husband and I headed out to eat at a restaurant. Unfortunately it was closed for maintenance. As we left the premises and exited the lane, wondering where else to go, I spotted a restaurant on the first floor above a car showroom... "The Wedding Café and Lounge". What a curious name. We decided to check it out. As we headed to the elevator, I saw the nameboard, and under that

From the Pen of a Stalker

2010-04-06T11:02:00.000+05:30

You beautiful woman, you.Such is your beauty, your countenance, your shy demeanourThat brings admirers from near and afar.Men of such persuasion and will, casting a glow upon my pallid personThat I can never hope to compete with.You sashay down the street and all I can do is follow you with my eyesTill you turn the corner and vanish, leaving in your wake a trail of perfumeSo heady it makes the

Evening Sunrise

2009-10-28T16:06:00.006+05:30

The cold wind burst in my face and I woke with a start.The warmth of late October mornings had turned to a nip as evening descended; the acceleration of the train only intensified the chill. I wrapped my scarf snugly around my ears and settled back for the remainder of the thirty-minute ride back home. It had been a long day at work and my realization that it was getting late had cut into the fun

Joe

2009-09-29T15:34:00.000+05:30

Evening arrived and Joe sighed.This was his jobFilled, drunk, wiped and refilled,By the peg and the tankard.The dank smell of muddy boot-printsAlongside lager and whiskey and rum.It was all he’d ever known.Then, in the haze of beer-bellies and barley-breath,He saw her at the bar.She was beautiful; her face framed by tangled auburn curlsThat she kept clearing away from her eyes.Oh those eyes.Brown

Dev D (2009)

2009-02-23T12:36:00.012+05:30

Once upon a time, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote a tale about an alcoholic lover, his married beloved, and a golden-hearted courtesan. This story was told onscreen several times, the last version by Sanjay Leela Bhansali surpassing the previous ones in its opulence and sophistication. And thus was it entrenched in public memory.Until a strange fellow - with a familiarly handsome face and a

Luck By Chance (2009)

2009-02-21T17:31:00.008+05:30

Maybe it's because I'm a filmmaker-in-waiting, or I was (uncharacteristically) PMSing, but either way, I found Zoya Akhtar's well-crafted directorial debut to be very moving. I especially liked the starting credits, where she takes us through the labourious processes that take place behind the facade of glitter and dancing lights that is our cinema. I took delight in every frame of that

quatrain #1

2009-01-30T14:01:00.004+05:30

Been there, done that.And what did I find?No price is too fatFor an unchained mind.

Review: Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008)

2008-11-09T19:39:00.001+05:30

Fantastic. This is the first time I've heard this song, and I can never see it any other way again! The video is not of great quality, but the message is pretty clear. I also respect the fact that the maker has clearly stated that the video reflects his own political opinions and not those of

An Experiment In Video Remixing

2007-04-13T00:55:00.001+05:30

Once again I'm shamelessly plugging the video re-edit I did of Limp Bizkit's version of Behind Blue Eyes (featured in the film Gothika) by cross-editing scenes of American History X to go with the music. I deliberately chose the song and the film and put the words with the scenes. Hope you all like it. (Here's the Google link in case Youtube doesn't work.)Sorry the quality is bad, but neither

Gagging is NOT Democracy

2007-03-16T00:00:00.000+05:30

Recently, I read the disturbing news on Slashdot that Google is cooperating with the Indian government to provide IP addresses of people subscribing to fanlists of underworld dons, and to remove anti-Indian groups from Orkut.Now, the thought that folks are emulating murderers is disturbing, but what worries me is #2. Apparently, there's an orkut community called "We Hate India" that was started

All That Glitters Is The Barrel Of A Gun

2007-02-06T22:00:00.000+05:30

A Review of BLOOD DIAMOND (2006)Director: Edward ZwickfictionSierra Leone, Africa, 1999. The famous diamond mines in this beautiful African nation are the reason for a terrible bloodbath raging across the country. Native Sierra Leonians are massacred by members of the RUF (Rebels United Front) who want to recruit people into their war

"Save Indian Family" - An Anti-Women Organisation?

2007-01-10T18:30:00.000+05:30

What is this ad doing on a site like CuteOverload? It's not there now, but I was surprised to see it and even more surprised, when I followed the link and saw it's a site for an organisation for [drum roll]Men's rights.Gender neutrality is a very good thing, but I was disturbed by the extremely anti-women tone of the blogs on this site, despite its claims of wanting equal representation of the

Love Across The Ice Desert

2007-01-02T13:42:00.002+05:30

A Review of MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (2005)Original Title: La Marche De L'Empereur (French)Director: Luc JacquetdocumentaryThink ‘penguin’ and the first thing that comes to mind is a flightless bird with flippers instead of wings, which looks rather like a plump little man in a tuxedo, and waddles clumsily across an icy plain. Right?In that case, March Of The Penguins is an eye-opener for those who

Viva La Jazz

2006-12-19T18:47:00.000+05:30

A Review of Buena Vista Social Club (1999)Director: Wim Wendersdocumentary Most documentaries are boring. It’s a fact that somehow a real life incident or person doesn’t seem as interesting when shown as-is, rather than in widescreen format with Dolby Surround, a glamorous ensemble cast, elaborate realistic sets and lots of extra spice. However, there are always exceptions to the rule – gems

The Junction

2006-12-09T23:25:00.000+05:30

A Short StoryThe rumble comes suddenly. First I hear it, then I feel it beneath my feet. The Earth's snores. I wouldn't blame her; the toxic fumes of industrialisation have probably worsened her sleep apnoea.I look up at the sky – or whatever is visible of it from a sidewalk of the urban shopping area. Renovated Victorian buildings jostle for space alongside billboards and lamp-posts; the sky

THIS Is What I Call Animation

2006-10-30T21:30:00.000+05:30

KIWI| Dony Permedi, USA| 2006LA GRUA Y LA JIRAFA| Vladimir Bellini, Argentina| 2006

A Phoenix In Dystopia

2006-10-27T19:00:00.000+05:30

A Review of ORYX AND CRAKE (2003)Author: Margaret AtwoodfictionThis has got to be one of my more indulgent weekends. For starters, there was The Little Prince, followed by the main course: Oryx And Crake.Oryx And Crake is set in Margaret Atwood's Dystopia - a futuristic time and place on the very brink of destruction, to which mankind has brought itself through its own actions. The setting is

Whither Innocence?

2006-10-14T23:00:00.000+05:30

A Review of THE LITTLE PRINCE (1943)Author: Antoine De Saint-ExuperyfictionAnimating 4 hours at a stretch isn't much fun, though its a relief that you're not animating ALL the time. So I sauntered into the library (which I hadn't seen for the past six months) and instead of just sitting and reading Asterix as I had been doing for the past few days, I decided to pick up a book. A friend browsing

Waiting

2006-08-19T19:00:00.000+05:30

You are never thereWhen I need you the mostYou have the time for othersBut not for meYou never make the tripWhen you so easily could.I call out everydayBeseeching you to comeAnd take me awayYet you turn a deaf earNever looking backIf only you would.I am a wreckDriven to madnessI need you right nowTo absorb my troublesSwallow my sorrowsIts about time you came.My eyes are getting heavyMy lips are

Says The Tiger's Mistress

2006-08-15T19:00:00.000+05:30

Hush thee, O StrangerWhen you trespassMy Tiger's territoryPray do not wake Him.For He hunts in the stormsFor those He lovesWhile thunder clashesAnd trees split asunder.I am his keeperHis guardian angelWatching over HimAwake while He sleeps.Leave him to his slumberFor I want Him to dreamUndisturbed, of happy thingsFor my heart is His.

It's Raining

2006-07-30T19:00:00.000+05:30

It's raining.Lashing down upon the shuttersAs if trying to force its way Into my sheltered life.What fury with which it pattersAnd rattles through the day,Each drop like a liquid knife.It's raining.Obscuring the morning sunQuenching, yet drowningSo divine and so gory.Love and Hate become oneA violence so serene,Entwining with the morning glory.It's raining.I put out my handFeel ecstasy in every

Food Housekeeping: The Epilogue

2006-05-14T16:05:00.001+05:30

On Sunday mornings, the first thing I reach out for, other than a steaming tumbler-davara of coffee, is the newspaper, with the extra supplements containing movie reviews and snail-blogs. (The latter is modern terminology for newspaper articles that seem to be fading into ignominy given the deluge of online journals nowadays, mine included.) It is left to a few noble souls like myself to keep the

Integrity: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

2006-03-31T22:00:00.000+05:30

A Review of KAL (2005)Director: Ruchi NarainfictionOne look at the posters, and it is very easy to dismiss Ruchi Narain's directorial debut Kal as one of the endless cheesy youth-oriented potboilers being churned out by the Hindi film industry. Even worse, it’s easy to mistake it for Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Kwaishein Aisi, on which Narain was an assistant, especially because it also features

Bad Education? Not From This Little Teacher

2006-03-31T19:00:00.000+05:30

NOT ONE LESS (1999)Director: Zhang YimoufictionChinese director Zhang Yimou my be better known for weaving opulent tapestry onscreen, beginning with Red Sorghum (1987) and climaxing with Raise The Red Lantern (1991). His most recent film following the same style was The House Of Flying Daggers (2004).However, Not One Less, set in post-Communist China, is completely different. Its

Missed It? You'll Be MIFFed

2006-02-15T22:00:00.000+05:30

A Review Of The 9th Mumbai International Film Festival 2006My head is throbbing. It’s like the hangover one gets after downing several exotic cocktails in quick succession. It hurts quite a bit.But when you’ve just returned from the 9th Mumbai International Film Festival 2006, you can’t be anything but euphoric. After all, you’ve just drunk a year’s worth of amazing movies – documentaries, short

All Smoke And No Fire?

2006-01-10T18:00:00.000+05:30

The other day I was watching a popular debate programme on a news channel. The panel comprised a well-known filmmaker, a health ministry member and someone else who I can't recollect. After much fanfare, the host began : Is the ban on smoking in films justified?I swtiched off the TV because I had my answer already: No!Let me explain. The issue here is the visual of someone smoking. The problem

... And Life Whimpers For Breath In This Barren Land

2006-01-06T17:30:00.000+05:30

A Review of BLACKBOARDS (2000)Director: Samira MakhmalbaffictionHe climbs the rocky slopes, clutching a black plank of wood across his back. He is starving and tired, but has a burning desire to quench the thirst for knowledge of anyone who needs it, and all he wants in return is a scrap of bread and some water. Sayid is a teacher, with no belongings except his treasured blackboard and some chalk

Welcome To Dystopia

2005-12-20T21:36:00.000+05:30

A Review of NO MAN'S LAND (2001)Director: Danis TanovicfictionOscars 2002 was one of the memorable years for Hindi cinema, when Lagaan made it to the nominations for Best Foreign Film, standing its ground shakily among stalwarts like Amelie. While a lot of us know about Lagaan, what with the high PR and photo-ops (and even a book), it was a little-known contender from Bosnia-Herzegovina that came

Truly Moving

2005-12-18T15:07:00.000+05:30

A Review of GARDEN STATE (2004)Director: Zach BrafffictionFor a bad start, it was a Monday in the dorm. Mondays are bad enough, and when you're in a place that leaves you little time to watch movies at the theatre, it's worse. I was bored to death, and sick of the usual flicks - and dreaded watching another Hollywood film because I sure wasn't ready to spend the remains of my allowance on

Not So Hot!

2005-11-23T17:20:00.000+05:30

A Review of GARAM MASALA (2005)Director: PriyadarsanfictionOur first semester jury had just ended and I was, ahem, acquitted. So to celebrate the triumph at the trial, a group of pals and I headed out to a fast-food joint to eat. On the spur of the moment we decided to see a movie, and we had three choices - Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Garam Masala, and some obscure Gujarathi film whose name I

Act 1 Scene 1

2005-09-16T22:59:00.000+05:30

[Lights][Curtains]I'm only twenty, but I'm already feeling the way I think I'll feel when I've had kids and grandkids and contentedly plotting the epitaph on my tombstone. Funny, eh, considering I'm a bachelor. NOT spinster, mind you, it's bachelor. I may sound like a victim of sexual stereotyping, but I honestly admit the word "spinster" brings to mind a grouchy old misandrist who knits sweaters