Heady Combo. Melodious Number.

There’s no better combo than a man and a woman when it comes to reeling out staggering songs that put you on a different level altogether. When the combo is Kenny Rogers and Dolly Patron you can lose sight of the ground as you float high among the clouds. ‘Islands in the Streams’ is one song that really was a blast – the duo nailed it perfectly. 

In retrospection, I think 70s and 80s had a wide spectrum of songs that stood out. It was the era of Queens, Princes, Oceans, Stevens and others. Of course, the Jacksons trailed behind too! Then, owning a two-in-one player was a status symbol.  In most well-to-do houses, the gold gramophones shone in style sitting pretty in a corner while doling out melodies. The songs were either played on a 33 rpm or 45 rpm or 75 rpm. No jazz. Just lively music.  

When I first heard ‘Islands in the Stream’ on our ‘Sanyo’ in the late 80s, it was so heavenly; I simply couldn’t shake the song out of my head. That’s when my quest for Dolly Patron’s and Kenny Rogers’ other songs took root. However, we were a disadvantaged lot who needed to run from pillar to post to get hold of good songs. But this particular song remains as the most cherished as it was a deadly combo of bass and tenor. You know the bonding between Rogers and Patron takes the song a notch higher. The amazing stage presence and highly melting chemistry becomes obvious when you watch them live.  Having goose bumps is saying the least.  

Though the duo has belted out many gospel as well as secular songs, Islands in the Streams will always be one of my favourites for the varied emotions it stirs in me. Kudos to the duo!

Art Days

The artist in me sometimes breaks out without the slightest clue to me. Call it in MPD. Or call it passion. Or call it stupidity. It’s right there staring deep into my eyes. The best part about the whole issue is the other side of me sometimes takes a liking to the artist. That’s when the fireworks happen. Some of the chef d’oeuvre take place. So, it was one of the moments recently that welled up inside me and brimmed over with colours. I wouldn't say this painting is entirely mine, I had borrowed the idea from Karrie. a well-known artist.  I don’t call it brilliant but a step in the direction of an artist's destiny.

A Jugalbandi of Art!

One good thing that the technology brought within everyone’s reach is tons and tons of knowledge. Oh don’t worry about the subject, without being verbiage, we all know it’s in almost in every sphere. I am glad the era came to fruition while I am still breathing. Wouldn’t have been gladder had it come early. 

Otherwise, I would have missed out playing in the fields with flowing rivulets all around. Or walking barefoot on lush green lawns or catching dragonflies by whacking them with freshly plucked plants or playing marbles sometimes in muddily mud or watching parrots literally fly into our backyard to take a bite of the guavas or lots of other beautiful things that now light up a smile on the face when I think back.

Life then was extremely flighty and slightly boring. Then who cares, it’s the heydays that counted, the mundane were lost in their own blinding ways. 

This sense of drinking in with the eye and feeling it with the senses has attuned the soul to spotting anything that’s bright and sprightly. So the fine art of Jonas Gerard hasn’t gone elusive either. The maestro of colours casts his spell on all those who stumble on his incredible objets d’art! I am no exception either. 

Surprisingly, I find the artists the most amazing lot. Of course, there’s this danger of leaning too much towards alcohol and smoke – which seriously puts me off. Otherwise, these guys are real freaks who know how to pull the strings of the heart and tap dance to the melodies the life dishes out. 

They do it with such gusto you can’t but join in. Doesn’t it always take two to tango?  So when the artist goes dancing you know you have no option but dance and rhythm-tap to the beat.  But Jonas Gerard, the famed artist, is of a different beat, he dances while he paints. Much to the envy of his contemporaries and to the delight of his audience who seriously wish they were in his shoes and splashing away with colours like there’s no tomorrow better than a colourful one. 

The colours that take birth after his dash at painting amidst zesty, pulsating beats are mind-boggling and inspiring. The fusing of colours with a fusion of music is something only a genius could think of.  Jonas is one cunning old man who has many tricks up his colourful sleeves that never fail to add colour to life. 

So, here’s a toast to the zestful spirit of Jonas Gerard, whose life is like trail blazing path on which anybody would love to tread, including moi aussi!

The ‘unbelievable’ Journey to the Centre of Mars!

Am I being taken for a ride in the name of rocket science?! Or is it just plain foolhardiness that people believe whatever is grandiosely dished out in the name of technology and science. I for one find exploits of ‘Rover’ or whichever spacecraft is traversing to Mars and beyond –gullible and unauthentic. After all, isn’t there a bit of Doubting Thomas in every one of us for the good of someone?! 

I consider Mars expedition is nothing but a colossal hoax. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) might declare whatever they like to but I wish to hold onto my horses and not place trust in any of these far-stretched stories. Now, don’t go mouthing bad words or drawing  gasps of disbelief over the aforementioned radical perspectives. You see, after all, my beliefs are my beliefs. And you are fully entitled to yours. I wouldn’t be appalled at them either. 

Ironically, on the other hand, I would trust Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rather than NASA. Not that I hold anything against NASA, but when you get duped once you tend to be twice shy. For instance, how many of us believe that we, earthlings, have walked the face of the moon?! Naysayers can join me in saying ‘Cheers’ because neither do I believe in this hocus-pocus, mumbo -jumbo.

The moon expedition was a gigantic fraud, which Americans successfully pulled it off right under our very noses. There are countless mind-twisting loopholes that scarcely qualify the whole mission as a reality. Let me put forth few questions for enlightenment as well for rationalization. When was the first time Neil Armstrong along with his other astro-buddies step on Moon?! 1969?  Good. When was the second time?! You don’t remember?! That’s because there has been no second time. Sounds unbelievable, isn’t it? If you have been to the Moon once, why didn’t you go there at least a 100 times in these 50 years?! Nobody has an answer. No country till now has dared to do this. Why?! 

Secound, if you have watched videos of Astronauts on moon planting the flag, you will notice the flag fluttering. What puts the spanner in the works is that how does the flag fly and flutter when there’s no air or wind on moon? Hilariously ridiculous! 

Third, you see pictures of astronauts on moon and beyond them you see the earth in the backdrop, how come you don’t see any stars? Did somebody forget to put the stars up there? Unless someone…you get the drift, right?

Fourth, Unlike the 1960s, technology has advanced so much we now hold access to super powerful telescopes that would easily gaze at moon in close quarters and discover whatever machinery and the flag the astronauts have left on moon. Of course NASA would find one way or the other to counter this too! 

Scientists claim that radiation levels on moon are so high there’s hardly any possibility of survival of human beings even for minutes. Then, imagine the impossible technicalities of landing safely on moon. And then photographing everything and then making it back to the main shuttle to return safely. Too much of good luck or too much of deceptiveness. I’ll go with the former though. 

The Russians, who were actually the first to put a man in space, Yuri Gagarin, expounded these erroneous expeditions of moon earlier and laid it thread bare that the whole mission was eyewash.  Russians, who they held the capabilities of putting a man in space, couldn’t they have achieved the same feat in these last 46 years?! 

Finally, I trust ISRO for the simple reason that they have been able to embark on space missions at almost one-third of the costs of US space missions. And the success rate of these missions is simply phenomenal. ISRO has lot of potential, if properly backed by Indian government, can prove its strength in some mind-numbing, eye-popping space-related outcomes. 

For the love of Chase!

Others might look on this legendary writer as another author, but when it boils down to spinning first -rate crime stories, he simply is a prodigy par excellence. Allow me to introduce James Hadley Chase. I know some might shriek and jump out of sight at the very mention of his name; others might feign ignorance and a few others might actually be fascinated by him, which is quite an astonishing act considering that most intelligentsia looks down on him.  Not that he isn’t a prolific writer but because he writes sleazy stuff. Well, I stand for what I believe; therefore I stand with my elementary belief; he is an awesome writer who holds many aces up his sleeve and would outsmart anyone in the game of storytelling. 

I became an official aficionado of his works, when I passed out my secondary education and became a pre-university student. How did it all began? Actually, my friends surprised me on my birthday by presenting a Chase. The cover as usual was a seedy one with a half-naked woman holding on to whatever remained of an unbuttoned shirt. Initially, I got scared to receive such a book and decided not to touch it with a barge pole. However, an avid book reader among the gang guaranteed that the cover was always a grossly misleading picture of the actually story within. “Most stories are clean with adventurous twists and turns,” he affirmed. 

Taking him on his word, I ventured out to reading one. One was enough to get me hooked. It was opium. I became an addict.

God! I was surprised why I haven’t read him before.  The sleuth in me surfaced and went hunting for his books in every nook and corner of the city. Soon, within a span of six-months I must have read almost all his titles. There were times when I read three books in a day flat. That was the time, my elder brother and sister, who had graduated to reading more serious stuff like the Kafkas, gave me irate looks which explicitly stated: time you grew up kiddo! 

Thanks to the soul of steel I possessed then, I didn’t easily give up. So, I stuck to ‘Chases’ while they chased other writers who never were within my immediate intellectual parametres. Thus began my love for Chase.

Although I have traversed many miles with other authors as guides, philosophers, magicians, storytellers, friends, intellectuals, navigators, problem-solvers, extremists, lovers… I haven’t come across anyone that was as fast-paced and as mercurial as Chase.Even today, when there’s a holiday or a long journey on the cards I ensure a Chase is tucked in along with my other books and necessities.  In fact, Chase will always remain a favourite no matter what.  For those who give me those shady looks for reading him, I can only say ‘Go, have a life’ while I have mine on my own terms. 

The Marathon that Wasn't - For Me!

Last month, Airtel organised a marathon run in Hyderabad. I desperately wanted to participate in the full marathon; unfortunately, there was tremendous workload at the office. Working for not one but for almost four different organisations, I always find myself in a tight spot. To wiggle out of work is nothing short of a miracle. Yet, there is no complaining. Anyway, before I sound the bugle a little too loud for comfort, I would like to express that I am terribly distraught at not participating in the marathon. 

The pain transforms itself into unbearable, when friends on facebook repeatedly keep posting their beaming faces at the finish line. This is enough to make me punch a hole in the computer. Since computers or laptops don’t come easy, I let my pumped up adrenaline cool off by taking a walk in the park. Even in the park you see joggers running and you see nothing but red. Anyway, the disappointment is something that I am going to have to live with for a long time. 

As if the agony of not participating is not enough, my family members’ rubbing it in with constant quibbling that ‘I couldn’t a run mile and I am planning to run a marathon’ makes me fume through  my ears. The sentence keeps ringing in my head like the haunting dialogue “Beta soja ..soja nahi to gabbar singh aa jaayega.”. Of course, my problem is tad serious in nature than the village of Ramgarh. In this matter, neither Amitabh nor Dharmendra can lend a hand. Basanti, undoubtedly, is a long shot. Of course, I do recollect that Sanjay Kapoor had no hands but legs. What he accomplished with them at the end of the movie, made me flinch. Ouch! 

Actually, with the run in mind, I had bought an armband and downloaded an interesting app which could measure footsteps, heartbeats and the works. I was fully geared until I realized the bosses of my organizations had different plans for my future. To make me run after money instead of a marathon run. Of course, 10k, half-a-marathon or marathons never paid me anything; ironically, I paid money to run, which I could do anytime any day, nonetheless I wanted it that way. When you think back, ‘ Wasn’t that sheer madness?’ is the first thing that jumps to mind and runs around in circles in head.

Anyway, I stand decided: the next time; I’ll do the whole marathon, come rain or hailstorm. 

Talking of hailstorm, someone I know had run a Boston marathon. While he decided to run the toughest marathon on earth, the gods played foul and a heavy downpour descended on participants. Anyway, unlike me, he ignored gods and the rain and completed the full race. I am delighted he didn’t yield. Because now I look up to him as the god of Marathon. 

Well, thinking within the box, since the next marathon is a good year away… what do I do?! Train? Or Gain? 

The Hub of Festivity

This was published sometime before Ramzan in The Hans India - A reputed daily in Telangana

The allure of Hyderabad, which is known for its magnificent and opulent Nizami legacy of 400 years, is that it flawlessly merges the ancient and the modern. The monolithic structures blend in fabulously against the thriving city skyline. 

The spectacle at charminar is all the more palpitating with the heavy bustle of business during nights. Lit up with numerous incandescent lights, the region is decked up like a bride. The shops are at their thriving best. 

Whether its roadside hawkers selling fruits or mouthwatering delicacies, or shops displaying embroidery of intricate patterns or vendors offering you shimmering shades of bangles or shops decked up with jodhpuri or Kolapuri sandals, a royalty that goes well with your embroidered kurtas…there’s an old world charm that wraps you up in an embrace of coziness and exquisiteness.

The area woos the avid shopper with an array of stimulating home décor. The décor to deck up the house in style here is unmatched. You can bring home a colourful carpet that resembles the exquisite carpets of Turkey, or a traditional diwan set akin to the patterns of the Moghul Empire or gorgeous curtains that hold the appeal of the Nizami era in their folds…the richness of this place couldn’t be compared with places anywhere else. 

The entire stretch leading to the four minarets is greeted by jutting balconies and shops on either side of the ancient road. With canopies protruding onto either side of road, the area is no less than a mini-Baghdad.  Clads in typical Kurthas offering you scents filled in coloured bottles. The vials of multihued, crystal contours are as engrossing as the perfume they hold within their confines. What’s more, the most gripping aspect of shopping here is that the prices are decent and products, often, remarkable.

After the hectic shopping you may feel like titillating your palates with Hyderabadi delicacies? No problem, there are countless Biryani joints around the region. Shadab Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from Charminar, is a good spot for visitors whose appetite is driven to tickle their taste buds with the rich Hyderabadi biryani. The season’s apt to send one’s taste buds on a delicious tour with the world-renowned Hyderabadi Haleem. 

Haleem, a hot favourite of every Hyderabadi, is not merely restricted to the vicinity of Charminar but spread across the state. Its rich flavour and tantalizing aroma is enough to make one’s mouth water. But some of the joints at Charminar area offer special Haleems that come with a boiled egg, cinnamons, cashews, almonds and the works. Pista House and Shah Ghouse, which are close by, are an excellent choice to refresh oneself with a hot bowl of Haleem.

Unfortunately, it’s only during this Ramzan season, that you find Haleem at every nook and corner. Frankly, Charminar area is one place that retains its age-old rustic charm while lending flavour to a new-age living. That's why it holds a special spot in the hearts Hyderabadis during Ramzan.

Hey, Young Homie What You Trippin’ on …

I had a look at this clip long ago; since then had been searching high and low but simply couldn’t lay my hands on it. Somehow, I stumbled on it accidentally again. Boy! Am I glad I found it! This guy, Chris Rene, blew me to smithereens. He is a former drug addict who has risen as the phoenix from the ashes and conquered everyone’s hearts. A hell of an individual, who is not only a singer and rapper but also a songwriter. 

There’s always something about any guy who is neck-deep buried in mud yet has the courage to look at the stars and reach out for them. Chris is no different. And when Chris says, “Life is too precious to simply throw it away”, I couldn’t agree with him less. His performance is damn hot and he’s got his notes in place. When he quips, “Life’s more than having a trip and it is not always about getting a high” he scores with the audience and everyone. And look at L A Reid’s face when Chris is performing, you know he has delivered the goods.  If you ‘Google’ for Chris Rene, you’ll come across him doing other songs with an equal comfort and freshness. Amazing to see someone crawl, walk and run…within a short span. 

Here’s hoping he would go many more miles and make many more dance to his rap tunes. Incidentally, this recording is from 2011, I am quite sure he has come a long way since then. 

Meet…Chris Rene, a former drug addict and now a ‘star performer’.

Eye of the Tiger

When was the last time you went retro?! Gone spiraling down the rabbit hole of the past? Reminiscing over singers that were incredibly special. Unlike today’s blessed generation where youngsters don’t need to budge a finger to hear melodies of their favourite singers but simply google-speak and voila! They have their songs playing. Back in our days, we went through a helluva trouble to simply lay our hands on our favourite artist’s songs. Even then clarity was a major issue.

Anyway, cutting to the chase, the crux is that like so many others I too am a die-hard fan of Sylvester Stallone, who broke new ground with his Rocky movie series in Hollywood. There was this particular song in Rocky -II ‘Eye of the Tiger’ which everyone swooned over. So, when the flick hit the silver screens, I was as restless as a cat under the tree full of birds.

However, watching movies in theatres was intermittent, parents never understood the deep-rooted desires of children, unfortunately, there weren’t any channels on TV then and waiting for Rocky- II to feature on Doordarshan was almost a joke. So, all hopes dashed to smithereens. I had to wait for a good many years before I caught up on the movie in theatre!

In fact, whenever this song booms out of the sound system, my immediate thoughts run out to rocky, where Stallone wouldn’t give up on his dreams even when he is almost down and done…like a true champ. In real life too, he is champ for overcoming countless obstacles.

So, let’s play ‘Eye of the Tiger’ to see if the steel is still in the voice of  Dave Bickler of Survivor band …Listen and get hooked. Now, don't giggle or snicker at this band members dressing or mannerisms, remember, we time-travelled to a different era. 

On a Success Cruise

This has been published in The Hans India - A reputed daily in Telangana!

Tom Cruise, with his ever-green charisma and drop dead gorgeous looks, has indeed come a long way.  Actually, in 2012, he was sitting pretty as the highest paid Hollywood actor. Although distinguished for his super-hot looks, what really sparks an attention is his awesome acting and incredible pick of movies. His career took off with the movie ‘Endless Love’, what catapulted him to recognition is ‘Risky Business’ a romantic comedy which won Cruise top reviews from critics and audiences alike. Although successful, he was still treated as just another promising artist and was never ascribed the due credit.

It was the action-drama movie ‘Top Gun’ in 1986 that made his career soar to brilliant heights and credited him as a full-fledged, professional artist. Starring as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell pitched against actors like Val Kilmer and other prominent stars, the movie overnight won him accolades and fans. The markedly differentiating aspect of this incredible flick was that it stayed high on emotional quotient. In the movie, Cruise’s friend and co-fighter pilot is killed as a result of his nonconformist attitude. That apart, his falling in love with his instructor, Charlie (Kelly McGillis) also sports on the maverick’s nonconformist attitude quite intensely, which incidentally was against the grain during the 80s. 

Incidentally the song in the movie “You Take My Breath way”, sung by Berlin, resonated well with the audiences and had won Academy Award and Global Award for the Best Original Song.  With the firepower the movie generated, Tom Cruise was seen as a rising star and Hollywood was swift enough to seize advantage and what followed was a slew of exhilarating movies which saw Cruise don roles that have gone down the memory as unforgettable. His flicks include: ‘Top Gun’, ‘The Color of Money’, ‘Rain Man’,  ‘Cocktail’,  ‘Born on the Fourth of July’, ‘A Few Good Men’, ‘Jerry Maguire’, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ , ‘Vanilla Sky’, ‘Minority Report’, ‘Tropic Thunder’, ‘Valkyrie’, ‘Jack Reacher’, ‘Rock of Ages’  and ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Each had its own charm and appeal and these movies elevated the esteem of Cruise. 

‘A Few Good Men’ movie is a gripping drama with an appeal no drama-based movie could easily match. Set in the court rooms of law and drawing on acting prowess of Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson, the movie has high-tension drama that keeps the audience hooked. No matter how many times you watch it, you simply can’t get over it. ‘Jerry Maguire’ is another such movie that makes you fall in love with Tom Cruise for his boyish enthusiasm and brilliant charm – the same reasons the heroine falls head over heels for him. 

Among all his movies, what stands him apart as an actor par excellence is the ‘Mission Impossible’ Series. The movies’ suspense that gripped the audience was something the fan had always looked forward to, and Cruise delivered it time and again with impeccable precision.  Starring as the Secret Agent, Ethan Hunt, in the ‘Mission Impossible’ series, he performs stunts that are no less than James Bond’s, if not more. 

After the spectacular success of ‘Mission Impossible – 1 (1996)’, Ethan Hunt seems to have sworn not to ever let down his audiences. Because, what followed were consistent hits of Mission Impossible series. ‘Mission Impossible – II’, ‘Mission Impossible – III’, ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’, each had the audiences waiting for the next release! Helicopter rides, car chases, high-tech gadgets, Jujitsu fights… you got every scene and sequence that could send your adrenaline pumping!

With the fifth in the series ‘Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation’ already released, the audience’s expectations are really soaring high! The movie sounds promising too because Cruise is doing what he does best - racing bikes at break-neck speeds, hanging on to Airplanes in midair, fighting with his hands tied back … all of which are done without using a stuntman. If the movie rating is anything to go by, IMBd gives it 8/10, Rotten Tomatoes, 93% and Metacritic, 75%.  Which means the movie is bound to make you spill your popcorn with its fast-paced excitement.  If you haven’t seen this movie, you better catch up on it, because life in the fast lane is always thrilling! 

For a quick review of the e-paper, click on the link below:
http://epaper.thehansindia.com/561332/SUNDAY-HANS/09-Aug-2015#page/8/1

Reckless mind. Meandering thoughts. Late nights. Bitter mornings…and other mundane happenings.

Ever felt you were floating on clouds and never would want to get off the cottony, amorphous, floating fluffs?! Well, there exist occasions for all of us that we secretly revel in. For me, this typically happens at nights after a vastly successful day. After returning home late from an exciting event or a gathering, I lie on the bed and cherish recollecting sequences that took place that day and how everything delightfully culminated to give a high. And by the time I actually doze off, it’s almost morning. 

The next thing I know is that the streets are being lit up with the morning fervor. The paper boy’s bicycle making rickety sounds as he delivers the newspaper house to house. The milkman’s hurried knocks on doors to keep his schedule of delivering the milk on time. Muezzins calling the devote Muslims for morning prayers. The loudspeakers, far and few, playing  ‘Suprabhatam’ and wives and mothers waking up even before the Sun calls up on their doorsteps to start preparing food for families. 

Actually, the mornings before the sunrises are the most invigorating. But unfortunately I am not an early riser. The only time I used to get up early was when I was in school. That too, when it was a holiday. Of course, the torture of school was enough to send me burying my head under the pillows leave alone waking up on time. Even now, as a grown up, I would never agree of getting up early when there was school. The logic being simple: why lengthen the hours of anguish?! 

Anyway, drifting back to what I actually wish to share. One of the other culprit for my sleeping late is the Youtube. It’s a real spoiler. There are times I get so immersed watching movies, music and videos, I stand aghast at chunks of time I splurge on this contrivance. Nevetheless, the wonder of Youtube is that it is a devise that swiftly jogs you down the memory lane. You can catch up on all those lovely things you have missed earlier either on TV or in theatres. 

Regrettably, yesteryears memories being rosier than today’s, you tend to linger around longer than usual. And, even before you realize, the night turns into day. And you are left with 8 hours sleep deficit…and an aching head. Horrified, all you instantly do at that moment is switch off everything that remotely sounds digital and crash.

Frankly, you hardly catch a wink, when some family member wakes you up and hands you the codeless saying it’s from someone called ‘Ranjith’.  You are about to scream at the top of your lungs as to who this stupid fella ‘Ranjith’ is, suddenly realization dawns, and you softly answer into the phone, “Good morning, Sir. Oh. Yes. I know. I’ll be there. No problem”. That’s the boss. Of course, half asleep who tends to remember his name...Suddenly, the feeling of floating on clouds vanishes and you are dumped back in reality with a thud. Believe me, this happened to so many times, the only exception is the change in the name of the boss. 

The moral of the story: Don’t night dream. But day dream. Keep your sanity and, if possible, the job. 

Why go up in smoke?

As the swirling smoke 
Slowly ascends
The smoldering stick
Blazes bright in defiance

Prisoner! Prisoner!
Flimsy threads of fog
Temptingly dance around
Shackling men; women too

A playful mate
To charming drinks
A naughty chum to
Profane and sneaky kinks;

Stings like a scorpion
Spinning red to purple
Scalds like a fire
Squelching men with desire

Break free! Break free!
Inner soul cries
Perseverant frame
Bursts out from shackled core.
 

Are 'Gay Marriages' Really Gay?!

Last week, United States was in the news. This time, it wasn’t for war, but for something that has been bothering Indians silly – ‘Gay Marriages’. When someone says ‘Gay Marriage’ the immediate explanation that pops into a slightly veteran Indian’s head is: a marriage between a man and a woman which is celebrated with lot of pomp and style. ‘Gay’ in English meaning ‘happy’. Marriage, obviously, meaning Marriage. So, he is completely puzzled as to what’s wrong with a ‘Gay Marriage’!

His logic of course has solid grounding. Marriage between a man and a woman after all is once in a lifetime occasion…ok, at least this side of the world. That much ‘Masti’ and ‘Tamasha’ is necessary to let the world know that one is embarking on this inexcusable and unpardonable crime called Marriage. After all, one commits this heinous act only once-in-his-lifetime. So why haul him up for celebrating his own death?!  

But elucidate to him what ‘Gay Marriage’ actually means in today’s context. His jaw would drop open, letting expletives fly off faster than an AK47 would release bullets. If these expletives ever rise a few decibels higher, than one’s eardrums are sure to get shattered to smithereens.

What stands a perplexing aspect in ‘Gay Marriages’ is: who would do what?! As we comprehend, the man generally mows the lawn, goes to work and brings home the bacon. The woman stays home, feeds kids, and cooks. So the work demarcation becomes one hell of a task. How do same-sex marriage couple decide who will do what?! Will they toss a coin?! If so, will the coin have two different sides?!  Or the same sides. You see, sameness has become a major issue! Parenthetically, for those who aren’t aware, the word ‘Homo’ means ‘same’.

Compounding the troubles are other boiling issues. How would kids cope with parental gender crises? Whom would they call papa and whom, mama? Hey, hang on, if its same sex marriage…then where do the kids come from?! Well, considering that the couple do adopt a child, the kid would only be confused as to what kind of a mess he got into. Eventually, one would hear him screaming hoarse, ‘I am better off an orphan!’

On the other hand, the child, per se, likes the company of these parents, imagine the ridicule he would face from his schoolmates and peers. Obama might understand ‘Gay Marriages’. Frankly, kids don’t. Besides, you don’t need the IQ of Stephen Hawkins to decipher the consequences these kids would go through for no crime of theirs!

Sometimes, the teacher could stick it to! When he says to the child, “I would like to talk to your father”. Neither can the kid say, “I have two fathers, which one would you like to speak to?!”  Neither can he say, “I have two mothers and no fathers”. Neither can he say, “Ok I’ll bring my father “as he is definitely unsure as to who is who!

Amidst all this hullabaloo, Barak Obama stands towering over the issue saying that the Supreme Court’s decision about the ‘Gay Marriages’ was right. Many eyebrows are raised on Obama’s rationale. Few other eyebrows are raised on Obama. No points for guessing to whose eyes this mischievous eyebrows belong to.

Besides, there’s a new trend of sane, heterosexuals supporting and sporting rainbow colours, which obviously stand for the symbolism of mixed LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. One loses his marbles, looking at the increase in the sheer number of rainbow tinted profiles on Facebook. I don’t mean to be rude, but by sporting these colours, are we subjecting ourselves to ‘Gayism’ and compromising on our highest held morals and ethics?!

What majorly baffles everyone is that ‘Gay Marriages’ are now being lauded and applauded by everyone, including perfectly sane heterosexuals and families of heterosexuals. If it’s normal or abnormal…I don’t know. All I know is that I am not ‘gay’ about the whole issue.

 

 

The Indian in the Jurrasic Park

This has been published in The Hans India - A reputed daily in Telangana!

Irrfan Khan dons a significant role as Simon Masrani in the epic movie, Jurassic World, the fourth sequel of Jurassic Park, which opened to rave reviews and saccharine sounds of cash registers ringing. The movie raked in a huge moolah which makes one blink: a whopping 208.8 million dollars in the first week of its North American opening, surpassing collections of two recent movies ‘Avengers’ and ‘Fast and Furious 7’.

Irrfan Khan emerged as the dark horse since he boasts of a significant screen presence unlike other Hollywood roles, which most often put Indian actors in blink-and-you-miss roles. Irrfan Khan, though not strictly a legendary actor this side of globe, yet, appeals to overseas audiences, in a way no other Bollywood actor has appealed. It definitely is heartening to realize that he played a pivotal role in a series that many would die to be a part of. And that too, of a noteworthy standing.

The saga of Indians chartering foreign waters isn’t new either. Earlier, several Indians took to Hollywood roles. Vijay Amritraj, the illustrious tennis star, featured on the Hollywood silver screen way back in 1980s. One can catch him in the James Bond flick ‘Octopussy’ featuring Roger Moore. Where he is Bond’s sidekick, who drives a classy-looking auto. You don’t for a moment think he is weedy on his acting skills, instead you find him decorous, lighting up scenes with his lively screen presence.

Another famous Indian who made girls swoon with his straight out of the Mills & Boon looks ‘Tall, dark, Handsome’ was Kabir Bedi. He has been offered many a role in Hollywood movies, but what truly comes to fore is his role in the flick ‘Octopussy’. He is basically a villain in the movie, but this part of the world he is looked upon as a hero for having chartered Hollywood waters early and for making a mark.

Naseeruddin Shah, a multifaceted and prominent actor, made his Hollywood presence in the flick, ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’.  Where he effortlessly stepped into the shoes of ‘Captain Nemo’ of ‘Nautilus’. Pitched alongside globally renowned Hollywood star, Sean Connery, the movie was quite an attention-grabber. Although he acted in several English movies, this flick puts him directly under the gleam of spotlight.

Following closely on the heels of a similar success is Anil Kapoor, who acted in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ and won critical acclaim for his skills. Especially his role in ‘Ghost Protocol’, where he dons the role of a millionaire playboy, made audiences wonder who this nonchalant, terrific actor is. 

Of course, how could one miss out on Amitabh Bachanchan’s Hollywood debut - ‘The Great Gatsby’? Breaking the mold, Amitabh has starred in the movie as Meyer Wolfsheim, a shady Jew who acts as a father figure to the mysterious Jay Gatsby, whose role is aptly filled in by the fabulously renowned actor - Leonardo DiCaprio.  Amitabh dons this minor but significant role with a panache that is akin to none. 

However, when it simmers down to steady credible performance, Irrfan Khan grabs the limelight. Or else, which other Indian actor has been a part of English movies that consistently proved to be massive hits? Be it the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ or ‘The Namesake’ or ‘Life of PI’ or ‘The Amazing Spider Man’, Irrfan Khan has been hogging the spotlight for his extraordinary performance. Hollywood directors too seem to favour him since he comes across as a sane actor who can deliver goods without being overly pompous or a nervous wreck. No wonder his hands are full with international projects. Currently, he is shooting for Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’ in Budapest.

Reflecting on the success of Jurassic World, Irrfan Khan, in one his interviews to ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ said, “When the first Jurassic Park came out, I barely had the money to see it, and now I'm playing a part.”  Undoubtedly, the actor has come a long way! 

 

 

For a quick review of the e-paper, click on the link below:

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/530927/SUNDAY-HANS/28-Jun-2015#page/7/1

Where Guitars Speak. And Men Stay Silent.

 

Oh! How I love freedom. To roam the roads. To watch movies. To play guitar. To paint. To read books. To spend time with friends. To travel to distant locations. Pretty much everything that gives me a high. Precisely why I find it damn boring to work a 9-5 routine. Though several agencies offered me decent money to stay full-time, my restless spirit denies money in exchange for freedom. It’s part-time work or no work. ‘My way or the highway’ attitude which, I know, sounds little edgy and reckless…but that’s me! So when I catch these guys jamming the guitar aka flamenco style…as the streets reverberate with sounds of intoxication called music… as they let their hair down and make the hair on our napes stand up…they, I find, are richer than many of us.  For, following one’s dreams is far more important than being just another cog in the wheel. And I can’t help but see two of them playing one of a tune…’My way or highway’. Barcelona, you truly beckon me! 

 

The Urban Fusion of Lingo

This has been published in The Hans India - A reputed daily in Telangana!

It is believed that approximately 4,000 or more new words are added to dictionary every year. What is truly incomprehensible is that Shakespeare alone contributed nearly 2,000 new words during his hey days.

Nonetheless, with most of our lives lived on internet, and lifestyles changing at the drop of a hat, there’s a dearth for neologism that best expresses contemporary thoughts and situations. Sensing this dearth, the urbandictionary.com, has come up with a gamut of thought-provoking words for new age living. Of course, all of them may not be appealing but some of them are truly worth giving a thought to.

Strictly speaking, these words are nothing but mashing of two dissimilar words together to create a new one. Such as, Shopaholic, Brunch, infotainment, Edutainment, etc. Killer combos that drive home the point succinctly. Known also as portmanteau words, a few of these are making the rounds on Internet as ‘24+ brilliant words we should add to the dictionary’. And guess what?! They are being lapped up by the ‘Generation Z’ for their ‘spot on’ impact. Well, here’s a list of ten for clearer perspective! 

‘Textpectation’. The word actually means ‘anticipation felt when waiting for a response to a text’. How many times have you anxiously waited for that text message from your boss or colleagues or girlfriend or boyfriend?! If you are unable to express this feeling, ‘Textpectation’ comes to your rescue.

Chairdrobe – don’t tell us you don’t get this?!  You must have left your clothes on the chair until it bundled up to be mountainous? Well, ‘Chairdrobe’ means exactly that:  ‘piling clothes on in the place of a closet or dresser.

‘Cellfish’ is another smart analogy to describe a person who is constantly chatting on the mobile, causing irritation to friends and those around. If you are not aware of anyone who is ‘Cellfish’, maybe you should pose the question to yourself?

Youinverse is a word that closely rides on the same wave as above. This means that a person has knowledge of only him or himself; their universe consists only of them. Have you a friend who lives in his own universe?  Well, you got a new word to introduce him to the world to.

Nonversation, means a completely worthless conversation; small talk. Sometimes, you have this vague feeling that the whole discussion was pointless – a total waste of time. Then, what you had was a ‘Nonversation’

Errorist means someone who repeatedly makes mistakes.  Sort of a substitute for the word clumsy but in a more impactful manner. Though the word may sound obnoxious, it does possess a certain energy. Know anybody who is an Errorist?

Hiberdating is when a person ignores their friends in favour of a boyfriend/ girlfriend. Nobody admits it, but every youngster does it. Well, you got the right word to describe friends who show cold shoulder when they are around their loved ones.

Internesting – the cocoon of blankets and pillows you gather around yourself whilst spending long periods of time on Internet. Many may outwardly deny it, but are inwardly guilty of this indulgence. Internesting is a world of its own.

Destinesia – when you get to where you were intending to go, but forget why you were going there in the first place. Sounds unbelievable?! But it does happen to travelers. They reach a particular place for a reason but are later dumbfounded as to why they have come there in the first place.

Carcolepsy – a condition where a passenger falls asleep as soon as the car starts moving. With many employees working in call centres, dozing off in the cars while on way to work or home comes naturally. To describe this phenomenon, Carcolepsy is the right word.

With the world shrinking into a global village and lifestyles evolving in a way nobody had ever imagined, need for vocabulary that could keep pace with changing times cannot not be ruled out. Thanks to creative individuals who keep inventing innovative words to make our lives cozy, colourful and temerarious. 

For a quick review of the e-paper, click on the link below:

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/521007/SUNDAY-HANS/14-Jun-2015#page/7/2 

Unlocking the Love!

An article I wrote for The Hans India - a reputed daily in Telangana

When Shakespeare wrote ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ he probably envisaged the day when ‘Love Locks’ on the bridge ‘Pont des Arts’ in France would forcibly be removed, causing agony to many a love bird. However, he wrote ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ as a comedy, but, this one, is a tragedy of sorts for the love stricken.

For years, tourists across the world have been attaching ‘Love Locks’ with emotional messages to bridges in France as symbolic acts of love. A few cupid-stricken lovers even went a step ahead and threw the key afterwards into the river below sealing the deal. The sentiment, though a ban on Love Locks on ‘Ponts de Arts’ stands good, still remains rife and the practice isn’t easy to stifle overnight.

In fact, a few allege that there are in excess of million ‘Love Locks’ on 11 other heritage sites in Paris, including a few on reputed Eiffel Tower itself. If ever a drive to clean up the city takes place, it needs to get to the bottom of the issue – like the bottom of river Seine too, where alone exist more than a million keys.

But how did this all begin?! Well, it all simmers down to a movie. A 2006 Italian adult novel-turned-movie created this practice in Rome. A couple of die-hard lovers hit the road to France and fanned the flames of this ritual in 2008. The trend spread like wildfire. Today, it is believed that  most of France’s sites have ‘Love Locks’.

However, there are many who oppose this practice as it possess a genuine threat.  in 2014, there was even a bid to discourage visitors and lovers (mostly they are one and the same) from indulging in this practice. Instead of attaching ‘Love Locks’ to bridges and other sites, they were asked to take selfies. But the attempt miserably flopped. Ironically, ‘Love Locks’ proved a huge hit. Since then, the practice became more rampant with a threat of it spreading to other European countries too.

Till recently, ‘Pont des Arts’ has had over 700,000 locks which is roughly  the weight of 20 elephants. Phew! Pretty hard on the bridge, right?. Owing to this burgeoning weight,  a section of the ‘Pont Des Arts’ gave away. Raising eyebrows and serious concerns over safety of tourists. That was the last straw! The city of Paris too had enough of these love birds being a burden on their heritage sites. The authorities  decided to take prompt action to  replace ‘Love Locks’ on ‘Pont Des Arts’.

These ‘memoirs of love’ will finally  be replaced with something less harmful and more appealing to tourists, ensuring safety for everyone. Of course, this also brings to mind another of Shakespeare’s play: ‘All’s well that ends well’.

For a quick review of the e-paper, follow the link below:

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/516103/SUNDAY-HANS/07-Jun-2015#page/8/1

A splash of color. A taste of life. A dash at being myself.

The inclination to trail in the footsteps of M.F.Husain has long been there. Unfortunately, for years, I splurged time doing nothing of significance. But the passion to indulge in at least one oil painting has been hovering on my head like the sword of …whatever the guy’s name is.

But the zillion dollar question remained: who would guide me into using paints. It was a baffling mind scramble. All sorts of questions popped inside my head. How much of linseed oil? What brushes to purchase? Where to get the canvas? Which ones are better: acrylics or oils?  Eventually, what do I do with all the paintings I would draw?!

Fortuitously, technology opened doors. While I was looking for answers, enlightenment portal, ‘YouTube’ beamed me to some remote place - a maestro’s chamber perhaps. He explained the artist’s role with regard oils and canvas - explicitly.  Afterwards, I was beamed back. There was a difference before and after this transmuting teleportation, I travelled as greenhorn returned as enlightened Buddha (That's got nothing to do with clothing, mind you!).

In other words, I was like Bradley Cooper taking the ‘Pill of enlightenment’ and getting a crystal-clarity on what sequentially needs to be done. Suddenly, everything fell into place like a gigantic Jigsaw puzzle.  I grasped I could wield brushes the same way a karate black belt holder would use a ‘Nunchaku’.

The African couple - my initial painting proved a super blooper. But, my guru, Brian Tracy whispered. ‘Don’t worry it’s your first. Learn from it’. A sudden change in perception topsy-turvied my discernment. I realized colors were original, but strokes needed to be sleeker. So, I began working on them. Brush contamination was a major challenge, but I overcame it with a smart move - by buying new ones.

Soon, I was doing lots of paintings. Though some of them were like what-the-hell-I-worked-on kinds, the others totally surprised me. Surprised me because they were blank for a long time. ‘Artist’s block’ a friend explained to me later. I was down with paints all around me except on the canvas. This went on for days.

To get rid of this block. I walked couple of blocks every day. Visited art exhibitions. Turned to YouTube. This time, they turned me away like an unwanted friend. Nevertheless, persistence is a good ally and I triumphed over this ‘Artist’s block’ by  initially drawing blocks, then graduating to squares and eventually sticking to circles.

Once I mastered these nuances, painting indeed became a delightful indulgence. Except, the parts, where oils stuck to clothes and colours wouldn’t leave my hands for days. But, on the other hand, painting did add colour to my life!

Today, I have paintings that could go under the hammer. Well, maybe not. However, on second thoughts,  they can go into a gallery as an exhibition. That’s precisely what I strategize to do.

A few enquiries revealed that you need at least 25 paintings to hold an exhibition…and I have done about 3 and half. So, here’s hoping my paintings will make it to the gallery by 2050. Wish me luck. I so badly need it. ;)

 

All Hail The Governator!

An article I wrote for Hans India - a reputed daily in Telangana.

Call him a body-builder or an action hero or a governor, you couldn’t go wrong because he has donned each of these roles with panache. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a truly multifaceted individual, scripted his career in an inexplicable manner without resting on his laurels. Known as the ‘Austrian Oak’ for his well-sculpted body, he conquered every major title in the world of body building. Of course, had he stuck to bodybuilding alone, his fame would have gradually faded into oblivion! Conversely, his decision to enter Hollywood had thrown open doors to a sky-soaring career. 

However, if you thought his climb uphill was easy peasy, you are dead wrong. For those who aren’t aware, here are a few interesting titbits. Initially, directors were reluctant about casting Arnold as a hero. They claimed that Arnold possessed an over-built body, an incomprehensible accent and an unpronounceable name. So much so, that in one of his earlier roles in ‘Hercules in New York’, released in 1969, his entire voice was dubbed. His screen name was deliberately changed to ‘Arnold strong’. When the movie flopped, he was not offered roles for a long time. Sounds unbelievable?! Well, that’s the hard hitting truth.
But what genuinely turned the tables in Arnold’s favour was his 1982 flick ‘Conan and the Barbarian’, where he donned the role of a protagonist. The movie proved to be one of the biggest box office grossers. The colossal success instantly shot him into the élite galaxy of super stars.

Having tasted his initial success, Arnold donned various roles with élan, delivering blockbuster after blockbuster. Terminator, the sci-fi movie, released in 1984, not only made cash registers ring but took youngsters by storm with its technological genius and riveting storyline.

Commando, released in 1985, was no less in terms of action. A run-of-the-mill storyline but truckloads of action saw the movie escalate to great heights of commercial success. Audience never had trouble imagining this beefcake beat up four guys at a time or spray bullets with an oversized machine gun. In fact, this very string of Arnold’s successes, had the directors, who once claimed he didn’t possess requisite hero material, queuing up at the doorstep.

What perhaps firmly established Arnold’s position as one of the bankable Hollywood super stars was ‘Predator’? In the movie, Arnold is pitted against an alien with super human strength equipped with technologically superior weaponry. As the alien strategically picks up and eliminates his fellow army personnel one by one, the onus of defending himself against this indomitable extra-terrestrial being is what keeps the Arnold fan at the edge of the seat. A slightly weird storyline but gripping action ensures excitement proportion is on a different plateau altogether.

Arnold’s assorted movies appealed to everyone. Be it the ‘Twins’, where his twin brother overshadows his personality and often puts him in a tight spot, or the ‘Red Heat’ where Arnold, a soviet secret agent, teams up with an American agent to catch criminals, or ‘True Lies’, where he is a secret agent, but keeps his profession hidden from his wife, until a few uptight situations unravel his identity…each of these hits never failed to regale the audiences.

Besides, there are numerous other successes ‘Total Recall’, ‘Kindergarten Cop’, ‘Jingle all the Way’, ‘Raw Deal’, ‘Junior’, ‘Collateral Damage’, ‘The Running Man’, ‘Batman and Robin’…which played to packed houses. These are apart from sequels of ‘Conan The Barbarian’ and the ‘Terminator’, which in themselves are runaway successes.

In hindsight, who would have thought that a former bodybuilding champion could fill the shoes of a thorough-breed actor so inconspicuously well? Not merely acting in few movies for a brief period, but for numerous movies for four decades! No trivial chore, right!

What perhaps endears Arnold to his fans is his shrewd selection of scripts and putting his everything into the role. Arnold may not be prodigious in the genre of drama, but he is unquestionably a choice pick for action movies. In fact, he carved his own forte in the filmy domain with some of his sharp one-liners, which spiced up the high moment a wee bit more!
His trade mark one-liners, spot-on situational, such as ‘I’ll be back’ from the movie Terminator or ‘You have been erased’ from Eraser or ‘If it bleeds we can kill it’ from Predator ‘what killed the dinosaurs? The ice age.’ from Batman and Robin, ‘Consider that a divorce’ from Total Recall …. Never fail to sit pretty in ones’ minds and add charm to his acting persona.  

No wonder his superb acting and punchy dialogues won him scores of awards, including:, Golden Globe award, MTV movie award, Prime Time Emmy Award, Razzie Award and others. The awards vociferously speak of his influential and aesthetically appealing works.
The multifaceted individual, who is fondly called as ‘Governator’ (a term coined using governor and terminator), truly knows how to impress on his audiences. Of course, with the new breed of actors taking over the mantle of delivering bigger hits, the competition, one can say, is quite severe for the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and other troupers. 

So, here’s hoping that Arnold’s 2015 releases ‘Maggie’ and ‘Terminator: Genisys’, set to release in May and June respectively, will rock the fans and audiences the world over. He truly deserves appreciation for all his unassailable achievements.

 

For quick review of the e-paper follow the link below...

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/511218/SUNDAY-HANS/31-May-2015#page/7/2

 

A Strange Case of Billy Biswas

We, a group of friends, visit the Sunday book market at Abids on a regular basis. The reason being to rake in as many good books as possible before they vanish off the streets. Book hunting, for professionals haulers, is a game. Unfortunately, I am a greenhorn.  But, a few band members have become so adept, they could spot a phony from the genuine in a jiffy. They could spot a famous author among thousand unknown writers in no time. Call it talent. Or honed skill. Believe me, they are on a different plateau.

 

So, it wasn’t a surprise that Vinod, a good friend and fellow blogger, spotted ‘A Strange Case of Billy Biswas’ that was selling for a mere Rs 50 in a heap of books. I once read that this particular Arun Joshi’s title was listed amongst 100 books one must read before dying. I made a mental note but never thought could come across one so easily and at so cut-rate. I leapt at the opportunity. Vinod obliged even though he wanted to keep the copy. So, I traded fifty rupees for the book with the seller.

This was my first Arun Joshi’s book. I would say his writing isn’t exceptional but his thought line is near genius. In some places, I liked the description where he talks about a storm brewing and describes how people are running for shelter and details out a description of a paper twisting and turning in the air and eventually splashing in one’s face. You can’t overlook the author’s eye for such detail.  He is a writer who knows how to pick such things and string them in a story to give it profundity as well as a pleasing tint.

Moreover, the story grips you. You know you are being led into unknown territories throughout. Mental asylums, Anthropology, wild forests and other unfamiliar stuff. All through the book, he keeps the thread of suspense hanging and you end up taking the bait by reading few more pages even though you have other pressing engagements.

As for me, if possible, I like to read books at one go. Since I started the book late in the night, I could only finish one-third of it. Later, the book started pulling at my heartstrings. I was wondering how it will end, the story so far has been as weird as it could it get. Even though I was talking to my boss or the clients, my thoughts kept wandering back to the book wanting to know how it will end.

I tell you, if the curiosity killed the cat, mine almost murdered me! Anyway, having finished the book, I now feel at peace with myself, with the world and with Arun Joshi’s story. Phew!

 

 

Yesteryears' American Idol

I had hunted high and low for ‘Coming to America’, an Eddie Murphy starrer, on youtube but couldn’t put my finger on it. But some blessed soul decided to upload the movie recently, and I was treated to the most delightful time of my life yet another time. It’s a 80s movie, that had drama, romance and one action scene (If one may call whacking a robber with a cleaning stick, any action). A few parts of this movie, were actually plagiarized by our reputed Bollywood directors. But knowing the Bollywood directors, you can’t expect much either.

 

So, what makes ‘Coming to America’ interesting?! Hmm…the heroine was pretty! Of course, which heroine isn’t?  But this one was different in a way because a similar looking girl had a huge crush on me when I was in my teens. She made it quite obvious of this thing on many an occasion. For my own safety, I acted as if I haven’t noticed it, the girl got disappointed; must have thought I was deaf, dumb and mental and went away to a world where humans behaved like humans. The girl wasn’t bad either. But that was long ago. The film actually made me almost recollect the incident and I got lost in the labyrinth of ‘reminiscing of love’ for some time.

The movie stands a tad different because it stars our own Eddie Murphy, who wouldn’t hesitate a second to show off his pearly whites. That apart, he looks so young and dashing. The movie’s plot too was fresh as a rose. I could unravel the mystery of the movie in a jiffy but it wouldn’t be as good as watching it. So, I’ll spare you the trouble.

However, there’s this particularly lovable scene where the now famous actor Samuel Jackson walks in to rob the cash register. And presto! Armed with the most potent weapon any man could ever design – cleaning broom – our hero threatens the robber who’s actually holding a double barrel gun. And warns the robber in an impeccable English ‘Please refrain from using any obscenities in front of these people’ and further suggests, ‘I would be forced to thrash you’. Stupid guts.

Anyways, I am not going to break the suspense, if I hadn’t actually done it. But that’s some food for thought. Eddie Murphy knows how to turn a boring, drab, staid role into an appealing, beautiful and energetic one. The magician of the silver screen actually knows how to hold his audience under his spell.  So, don’t just stand hypnotized. Go watch his other movies that are equally arresting!

The Charming Debonair

An article I wrote for Hans India - a reputed daily in Telangana.

There’s a certain charm to his personality that holds the power to arrest the heart. At the same time, has the power to breathe life into a heart, dying for some adventure - spicing up the whole viewing pleasure to a decent degree. Ironically, James Bond dons all his traits like a true gentle man. How could we miss out on his standard attire – the black and white suit? And every time he cheats death, we know someone’s going to pay for it. As a viewer, you know it’s a big ‘bang’ for money.

Ever since James Bond took to the silver screen, we have had a string of gentleman, of significantly capricious personalities, impersonating him. Tersely speaking, Bond all these years might have had close shaves with death but in reality he never waxed old or deceased cold. He simply changed names… Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

So the onus of discovering who the best remains as unresolved as the Bermuda Triangle mystery. Although a decent line of actors have efficaciously donned the James Bond role, a close look at the contemporaries, will provide for a clearer perspective as to who’s the best. Of course, the oldies are goldies, but we are turning a blind eye to a few. Sorry folks!

A jog down the memory lane, and you have Sean Connery with his suave charm and mercurial wit. As James Bond, he displays a cunning personality with which he charms the enemy or charmingly outwits him. Of course, he doesn’t leave that decision to his foe. The call is entirely his. The former boxing champion-turned-actor hogs the limelight for his impeccable impersonation of Bond. An actor, who remains at top as the best Bond ever.

Roger Moore, fondly reminisced as the old Rog, had to fill the shoes of Sean Connery, who masterfully fleshed out the Bond character for a good many years.  The onus was not merely cumbersome but almost unattainable. Yet, he brilliantly side-stepped the aggressive bond attitude and lent his eye-brow raising one-liners, making Bond look shrewd with his sarcastic humour. His first four movies, if simply put, were awesome! As a Bond, he may not be a winner, but definitely is a strong contender.

Timothy Dalton, an accomplished actor, though he put on a spectacular performance in two movies, his career as James Bond got cut short. Certain other factors of 80s had adversely affected his movie career. His third movie which was on the cards then, just didn’t materialize. So, Dalton had all the charm but no firepower to prove his mettle! Great talent, sheer loss, since two movies can’t vouchsafe for the world of talent hidden inside a promising actor.

Pierce Brosnan, in a way, resurrected James Bond who was actually pretty much dead on his feet. His debut ‘Bond’ role in the flick ‘Goldeneye’ hit jackpot. Girls might have pulled their hair and swooned at this new OO7 as he had everything - charm, ingenuity and dynamism. In fact, he was the best Bond to grace the silver screen after Sean Connery. But somehow his other movies didn’t make the cash registers ring as much as his debut movie. Unfortunately, his charm eroded proportionately to his age. The directors were soon left hunting for the new cast.

When Daniel Craig was chosen to play Bond, the internet was ablaze with lot of hue and cry about the choice. Some cried he is too short, a few screamed he is too blonde, and a few others murmured he is too bland. There was unknown chaos. But guess who laughed his way to the bank?! Craig, of course. His portrayal as the bond had leveraged the bond quotient to new heights. Made him look mean yet real. Fortunately, both at the same time. This new role of ‘Bond’ was connected with the audience across the continents.

After donning the role for three successful movies, Craig is perhaps on the way to carving a niche for himself. With his new movie ‘Spectre’ on the cards, nobody knows whether he will soar the skies like an eagle or sink like a stone. But one thing, we all aptly know: he is still a strong contender for ‘The Best Bond’ ever. 

For quick review of the e-paper follow the link below...

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/492138/SUNDAY-HANS/03-May-2015#page/8/1