The Hours

Why do i love reading? Because it pulls me in, makes me forget the world, dissolves my sorrows, trivializes my identity and turns me into nothing? You just need one good book to remind of that a fact, that everything you know may go away, everything except a good book...

In the heat of the night

I saw In the Heat of the Night on Sunday. A story about a very small town in Illinois, where nothing much really happens, which is stirred up by death of a businessman. Police arrest a African American man, Virgil Tibbs as a suspect (but they are completely sure he is their guy) from the train station, without any preliminary questioning.

To the dismay of Sparta police, Tibbs turns out to be a top honcho from Philadelphia Homicide team. He is furious with the Sparta Police for the racial treatment given to him, but on insistence for his boss, he agrees to assist the police in solving this mystery. Thus starts the mystery starts unraveling about who killed the businessman who promised some sort of prosperity to this sleepy town.

The movie has a strong theme of racism woven with the mystery. How people become uncooperative when a black police officer is questioning them. Even the other white officers, who understand and respect his expertise, do not want to look beyond his skin color. How it is difficult to look beyond your sense rightness.

Watch this movie to see a side of American society we are not most familiar with, though we should be able to understand it very well. What with the regular prejudice and separation in our society we see in India. May be an outsiders perspective will make us realize how wrong we are, when we try to look down upon someone else, because of some medieval notion we have.

It is a guys movie, men are sure to like it, and would find Tibbs to be quite inspiring character. With no fear in heart, and complete confidence his capabilities. Bill Gillespie, a very experienced police officer with years of services, finds himself with bruised ego in the beginning, but by the end of the story, earns respect from Tibbs as well as accepts that Tibbs is better than himself.

So if you are in mood for some good mystery and a dose in history get your hands on the movie. I guarantee you will enjoy this movie.

Pillow Talk

This week I saw two movies. Pillow Talk(1959) and In the Heat of the Night(1967). Two drastically different movies, but both making a statement. One about woman on her own in sixties Manhattan and the other about a African American police officer in a small racist town in Mississippi. This one is about Pillow Talk, next one will follow soon.

Talented interior designer Jan Marlow battle the advances of playboy Brad Allen, with whom she has to share a ‘Party line’. Because of his womanizing nature, he causes quite a lot of discomfort to Doris Day’s character, so he stands no chance of winning her heart as Brad. So when he personally meets her, he pretends to be a southern tourist visiting New York. Who wouldn’t fall for Rock Hudson being all gentleman (he has looks that can kill, girls can surely get a real eye candy in this movie). This sets ball rolling for a very hilarious romantic comedy.

The dialogues are super-witty. They keep the tempo going. Jonathan, a client hopelessly in love with Jan and her always hung over maid Alma, provide with great laughs. You even end up laughing when the heroin is crying her eyes out :). The movie ends happily, as all romantic comedy do, and at the end of movie, you do get satisfaction of watching a good movie.

If you are in mood for a light movie to make you laugh, try to get hands on the DVD for this movie, it is a lot fun to watch. (But girls, please ignore some chauvinistic lines like, ‘You need a man to take care of’). Watch this movie for superb dialogues and girls, for Rock Hudson looking oh so delectable!

Have fun and happy weekend!

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Do I need to write, how I felt after watching the movie? For fourty-two years this film has fueled the space age fantasy of two generations. Being the highest grossing movie at that time. Spawning two more sequals, and 3 more prequels, 30 years later. Giving the seventies it's magnificent mascots, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and the Jedi Masters. Not to forget the series of different races(species) and costumes for Halloween. This movie is a Legend in itself.

The starting of the film takes you to different land (a universe far away, precisely).Where the world is ruled by the evil Empire. We see intergalactic space stations gobbling up a freight spaceship, taking the rebel leader Princess Leia of Naboo in custody. They have stolen the death star plans for the empire. Death star is a space station capable of destroying an entire planet. Before being captured, princess Leia manages to transfer the plans into a droid called as R2-D2 and smuggle him off her ship. Back on the ship, Darth Vader (a commander for the Empire), tries to torture Leia into giving away the location of rebel base, which she vehemently resists.

R2-D2 along with another android C3PO, manages to land on a desert planet, and are then captured by some sort of droid slave traders, and sold to, Whoa! Luke Skywalker. Here on starts the action. Luke accidentally discovers Leia’s message, addressed to Obi Wan Kanobi, the Jedi knight, who is long thought to be dead. Luke finally ends up assisting him to get to Naboo.

Here on the movie gets visually rich. We see a cacophony civilized races, drinking, looting, fighting and even killing for bounty. Somewhere on the way enters Han Solo (an extremely delectable Harrison Ford) with Chewbacca (if you wondering what he is, he is a wookiee). We also get the glimpse of Jabba the hutt, who looks like a huge talking slug (yicks). Together they travel to their destiny, at the speed of light, off course.

Watch this movie for futuristic imagery, the space ships (and stations), the weirdest kind of life form you can imagine (You may get some good ideas, after all Halloween is quite near). Obi-Wan Kenobi teaching Luke the secrets of the force. The duels with the Light Saber, (that eerie, electronic sound of saber against saber) and off course DARTH VADER. The direction is interesting, and even with multiple distractions coming our way, it manages to keep us interested.

And when the movie is over, and the rebels manage there first significant win against the Empire in years, you cant help but cheer for them. And off course I, cant wait to get started on the next part in the series. It is coming soon. Watch this space for more.

The Secret Garden

I was back from India, fell sick on return journey, the long flight did not help my health, nor my mood, which meant the whole week after my return I was sick and grumpy (I know I sound like a fat old lady, but pardon me for that).

I was cooped up in my apartment for most of the week(work from home), and missing home terribly, could not sleep as I had cough and sneezing, so what do I do? Get back to my all time favorite pass time, Netflix…

In my watch instantly queue I found this movie, The Secret Garden. Based on a novel of the same name by Frances Burnett, which was published in 1911. The story is about a nine year old English girl, Mary, born and brought up in India, mostly by her Ayah. With superficial parents who were not much interested in her, she is quite cold for a young kid. She has never been loved, by anyone, not her parents, nor her servants.

One day she realizes, everything she thought to be her life, is taken away from her, when her parents die in a earthquake. She is shipped back to England, where on the return voyage other orphans traveling with her make fun of, being unkindly and rigid.

So her new life starts, in 600 hundred year old castle, with a reclusive and often absent uncle, a tyrannical housekeeper and to add to it all, a secret garden which is kept closed for almost ten years. To add to the suspense are the wailings of a person in the dead of the night, hundreds of unused rooms and a very friendly Robin.

As the movie proceeds, you realize that the movie is about hope. That just like winter is followed by spring, pain is followed by happiness. You like the movie for its spirit. Because everyone within us has a child. Who wants to be loved, wanted and appreciated.

The movie surely uplifted my mood. I am sure it will do the same for you. So if anytime you feel down and gloomy, watch this. ‘N’ a lotta good it’ll do for ya!’

(P.S. The movie I watched was directed by Agnieszka Holland)

Is China trying to do England?

I came across this article today, 'Break India, says China think-tank', and the first thing which came to my mind was, "Is china trying to do England?" Divide and Rule!!

What concerns me most, is not how can Chinese allow such things to publish, but is it true? Is this statement still valid for India? Can they break us up? Is our country, which we consider to be our motherland, nothing but a castle of cards? Which will come down crashing with the slightest breeze?

For a minute I did feel a lot gloomy, a lot negative. But then, I thought of myself, and my other friends like me. Will we ever let anything like this happen? We may be peace-loving, but are we stupid? Will we hold mum and watch like standbys as this country goes to pieces? Can we let some outsider to separate our friends, create walls between us? No, we will not!!

We may have riots, bombs, threat of terrorism, but we all share something so unique which can not be replicated anywhere else. If this country had to break, it should have happened 50 years ago, at its most vulnerable stage. It cannot happen anymore.

If we have learnt anything from our mistakes in the past, whatever anyone says, we will prove that this stack of cards stuck together with feviquick(apna Indian brand), and it will require real brutal force to tear us apart, and the ones who try it, will be bruised badly.

Whatever the cynic may say, I believe this, and I know there are many out there, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, North Indians, South Indians, Assamese and countless others, who will agree with me. Because whenever I meet them anywhere in the world, we would be "Desi's", Indians as we are all collectively represented.

The fact will persist, that India has always surprised its critics, this time it will not be any different! Let the neo-colonists bark, we don’t give a damn…

Jai Hind! Vande Mataram!

Singin' in the Rain

Now this is a Hollywood movie meant for Bollywood audience. Ask me why? The movie has 13 songs, and a dance sequences, just like a Barjatya movie. And what more, it is a comedy! The 1952 movie, featuring the amazing Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.

The movie starts in the Silent era, when movies were known for romanticism, beautiful ladies dressed in the 20's style and smoking cigarettes. A Hollywood where we meet a silent Superstar with humble beginnings, Don Lockwood, along with his best buddy Cosmo Brown.

Come 1927 and the first talky The Jazz Singer becomes a smashing hit, waking up the old Hollywood to a new Era. All of a sudden the mute star's had to talk! Most of the mute stars did not sound well when they did start talking, this what adds humor to the movie.

Watch this movie for:
1. The amazing songs, my favorites, "All I Do Is Dream of You", "Singin' in the Rain", and ofcourse "Good Morning"
2. Awesome choreography, don't miss "Make 'em laugh", Connor had to be hospitalized after filming of this song.
3. Lina Lamont taking diction coaching. The sequence is simply Hilarious!

Go ahead and watch this movie bud!! You will surely enjoy it!! :)