Hyderabad’s fast disappearing Deccani Tehzeeb!

Hyderabad is like a delicious dish. Having tasted it once, the tourist or visitor is sure to come back for more. Alas! The city’s glory is fast fading. The broad roads then are crowded with heavy traffic today. The laid-back attitude of Hyderabadis’ relaxing in cafes is no more the norm of the day. Chai and "Biscoot", which formed the daily delights of casual talk, are fast losing their sheen. As it is the morning shows in small theatres have already stopped. The slow-paced lifestyle is evolving to be a life in the fast lane!

However, the legacy of Hyderabad’s richness cannot be fathomed. Like the proverbial saying the proof of the pudding is in the eating, Paradise hotel has classic snapshots of a few places of 1960s and 1970s, which are hung inside the hotel. These snapshots can easily transport to an era where famous places of the city enthrall you with their beauty. The calmness ushers in an unknown peace. There are lots of such nuances which refresh the memories with erstwhile glory.

For instance, the Irani Cafés then had an aura of richness of Mughals. Cafes were designed like western saloons. Chairs had oriental designs. Walls were plastered with Mughal motifs and works. Women on murals wore thick jewellery with eyes delicately touched up with Kajal. Surprisingly, cafes had huge sound systems. Rolling out from these were Hindi classicals doled out by Rafi, Kishore and Mana Dey.

The city of pearls was also known for its rich Nizami legacy. The old city still holds to an extent the allure of bygone eras. The multi-hued, rainbow tinged bangles, the sarees with rich embroidery work, the sweet paan, which is a delicacy tasted after a sumptuous Biryani. Attar, the rich perfume which comes in sparkling colours and in even more dazzling vials… are a few among many things that make Hyderabad an incomparable abode.

Ironically, how many are aware that Hyderabad was known as a city of Gardens? The bio-diversity of the land had attracted many a traveller. The jubilee hills was a jungle where tigers, panthers and snakes used to habitat. Uppal also boasts of a similar story. In fact, I was quite taken back when I heard my boss, who is hitting his 60; mention that Masab Tank was a thick jungle where his father used to go hunting. Imagine all these places, which were once jungles, today leave no traces of such wondrous glory. Slowly these interesting facets of Hyderabad are fading away.

Where am I going with all this, well, I came across a book that had a few classic pictures of Hyderabad that instantly struck a chord with me. I simply couldn’t resist sharing these snapshots, here they go…

Pretty Woman. Pretty Movie.

Flashback to 1994. The day was scorching hot, the comforts of an air-conditioned theatre sounded like a cool option to two college going lads; a quick glance at their time-table revealed they haven’t much to lose. They decided to jump on the bandwagon of college bunkers and sneak into a theatre which had a classical rating of ‘A’. Though a little trepidation and hesitation nudged their hearts, yet, the will triumphed. The movie was ‘Pretty Woman’ starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.

‘Pretty Woman’, a rom-com genre, has a story as fresh as a rose and a cast that’s truly refreshing! However, it did rub a few critics on the wrong side. Cutting to chase, Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) the lead actress in the movie stars as a prostitute. Apart from a few unmentionable scenes, the film was quite an eye-opener on lot of issues. The story is all about a rich entrepreneur, who accidentally meets a prostitute and consciously falls in love with her. Sacrilegious?!  No, it isn’t.

Though it sounds incredibly ridiculous, given the circumstances they meet and the peculiar situations the heroine manages to hastily rush into – falling in love for both seems inevitable.

 A few scenes clearly turn you misty eyed, especially the one where Vivian, who is by then a transformed person, enters a showroom only to be shown the door on account of her tawdry dressing. When Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) hears about the cheap treatment meted out to Vivian, he decides to visit the showroom along with Vivian and flex his powerful, financial muscles - the staff is ready to fall down and worship.

Another occasion is when Vivian is at loggerheads as she must attend a formal dinner, but doesn’t know anything about dining etiquette. That’s when hotel manager, Barney Thompson (Hector Elizondo) steps in to show the ropes. The relationship these two share on screen is extremely touching. Scenes like these are quite a few, which never fail to soothe the emotions and add a twinkle to your eye.

What stands as the icing however is when Vivian’s dreams get answered. Vivian’s childhood fantasy of seeing her Knight in the shining armour riding out to her brandishing a sword comes true, when Edward comes searching for her atop a limo, brandishing an umbrella. 

Inside the theatre, half way through the movie, one young lad notices the other lad slowly bring out his hanky and wipe away the tears that seem to well up in his eyes. The other lad tries to hide a guffaw!

On the whole, it wouldn’t be right to say that the movie was good. Actually, it was incredibly haunting and highly romantic. In fact, last year, ‘Pretty Woman’ movie stars celebrated the completion of twenty-five years.

Twenty-five years?! That’s a long a time, you might scream. Definitely it is!

Since then, lot of water has passed under the bridge. Young lads then are grown up adults now. While one lives in America, the other, in India. While one is working as software professional. The other is wasting his time writing reviews… like this one.

Time passes on. 

However, ‘Pretty Woman’ still remains young. 

Chuck Norris. Rajinikath. Steven Seagal - The awesome, Threesome!

I used to like Chuck Norris. I still do. Really!

Not for his acting skills, but for the jokes that are cooked up on his personality. If he weren’t born, the logic-defying, weird jokes wouldn’t exist. Even when the few Indians who knew him were chuckling to themselves on the ridiculously funny witticisms on him, along came Rajinikanth.

Since then, he started taking the bullets instead of - Norris. Suddenly, everyone this side of the planet started liking Rajinikanth. The way I used to like Chuck Norris. Slowly and steadily, he became the butt of jokes. The weird and incredibly funny jokes on him would have you laughing on the floor for days, weeks, months. Alright, let’s not take it too far, but he definitely tickled your funny bone.

What’s more, Indians being Indians, the jokes only got weirder. But the weirder they were, the more they were liked & shared across various platforms.

 But anyway, where are we going with all this?!

Well, it’s got something to do with the almighty…No.   Not Evan, but Steven Seagal. I miss this guy. The last I saw him was in ‘A Good Man’. I wonder if he acted in any other movie after that!

The macho, Aikido master. Who only hits, but never gets hit. Not even once. Not even in films. 

He’s like the South Indian Telugu heroes, the likes of Chiranjeevi, who effortlessly dodge bullets from a rapidly spitting AK 47. But the poor villains – may their souls rest peace – can’t dodge from his .48 bullets which are aimlessly fired. Somehow the bullet seems to know the trajectory of its prey and follows him through lanes and bylanes before blowing him to smithereens and lighting him up in flames.

As if this inexpressible and incomprehensible technology isn’t enough to kill the audiences, Chiranjeevi is also a one man army who can defend himself against the armies of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. Perhaps with Russia thrown in too! Believe me, all alone. The directors delight in the fact that the more, the merrier. No doubt, that is a death knell for all audiences, except Chiranjeevi’s ‘die’ hard fans.

Before Chiranjeevi steals all our attention let’s turn our attention to the person in case - Steven Seagal.

I have always wondered how Seagal manages not to get hit. Not even once. The questions that go in circles at the speed of light in my mind are: Do directors ever direct him?! Or does he direct the directors?! Does he think, getting hit once is like dying?!  I mean, can’t a hero get up and fight again after he is knocked down once?! Does he secretly bribe the script writers into giving him a completely dominant one-sided role?! Does he do this for fun or out of boredom?! Someone tell me what the heck goes on behind the scenes?!  Of course, with Steven Seagal calling the shots, even god knows nothing!

Mind you, his expressions are all dicey. Happy. Sad. Tearful. Crying. Ecstatic. Or any other darn expression, nobody does it like Steven Seagal does. He carries the same frowning expression for all. Of course it’s punctuated with mystical smiles and mysterious sadness. But somehow you miss all that and your whole thought process gets stuck on his frown between the knitting of his eyebrows, which seems to be a permanent fixation on his face. Obviously, it is needless to mention – for all movies.

His most romantic onscreen presence would be walking away from the heroine after killing the villain. If that doesn’t account for romance, then I wonder what other moment of his would. He is too much of a man to kiss a girl in public and has too much of an ego to beg a girl with a ring in his hand. He’d rather hit three more bad guys than waste time on such pathetic, wasteful and time-consuming moments. Entirely, his view of course. 

However, there might exist few exceptions, but I am sure those are impracticalities pushed down his throat by  the directors. If you doubt, any of what I have said. Then, perhaps, I need to present some proof. Presto! Here you go…

Araku Valley Reminisces!

A few months ago, I decided to take a break from the hectic office work. I could sense the mountains calling out to me. I absolutely had no interest in displeasing these once-in-a-while magical utterances of the nature. So, citing a non-existent marriage as a reason to a very strict management, I took a bow from the daily duties and set off to relish an unforgettable time in the lap of nature.

Initially, I was undecided as to where to go! Then, Araku valley filled my thoughts. I had visited this place during my college days and had an awesome time! Hoping the trip would do a world of good to me, I caught the next train to Vizag. 

Araku Valley is supposedly around 4-6 hours journey from Vizag, depending on how many hours the train driver plans to stop at each station. I had huge expectations of the train journey, but everything fell flat. The hazards of travelling without proper preparation sprang surprise after surprise.

On train, it was people, people and people everywhere. It was nothing short of miracle that I managed to grab a seat. I sat petrified as any wrong move would leave me seat-less. Imagine, a ride with people falling all over you for 5 hours. Of course, a few among them were good looking ladies too! Not that I liked it, but just saying. ;)

As the train chugged along the tortuous way up the valley the delightful sights gave me chills. The faraway waterfalls descending from canopied shrubbery, the fog romancing the mountain tops, the incessant drizzle drenching the nature around, and the cool zephyr that caressed the skin were enough to put a spring in one’s walk. 
  
But all didn’t go well at the camp. When I stepped on to the shores of Araku, I ran around in circles as almost all hotels were booked. And I had nowhere to go. The thought of returning back in the same train did cross the mind. But, fortunately, there was an old man at a certain hotel’s reception, squint-eyed and hard at hearing, who offered a room. My delight knew no bounds and wanted to hug him, but didn’t, as he might think otherwise. 

Next day, when I ventured out, it was raining again. Still, I trudged along and caught a jeep ride to nearby tourist spot called ‘Chaparai’. By then, the rain had trickled into a mere drizzle. I had an amazing time. There were tribals who did the Dhimsa dance. Bamboo Biryani, which tasted real yummy. The river was only knee-deep and the water gently overflowed on the big rocks making it an exciting tourist spot. 

The weather, which by then was a gentle drizzle, added its own charm. After sometime, I visited the nearby tribal museum which was informative and gulped down coffee at a closeby shop. The coffee beans cultivated at Araku are supposed to brew a greatly delicious coffee. I was glad I had a taste of this ambrosia. However, I skipped the Borra caves. Somehow, I didn’t find it interesting.  I stayed on for almost three days and trekked the forests and relished nature at close quarters. 

As a tourist, if you are looking for exciting stuff to happen, then Araku is not for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for peace and tranquility, it’s an idyllic destination to relish the invigorating greenery all around. The return journey wasn’t so exciting. So I am going to spare you the trouble and steer right away from mentioning it. On the whole, the trip had its own aura of charm which I am sure will remain as an enchanting memory! 

Aparajeethudu – A book launch

It’s quite rarely that I get to attend book launches. Not that I am keen on these events, but this one was unique since the book was translated from English to Telugu. What makes it a little more unique is that the author was none other than my brother-in-law. His autobiography in English – ‘I Will Survive’, launched a few of years ago, was a phenomenal hit. I for one read the book till the wee hours of morning. And without an iota of doubt I agree, it’s a masterpiece!

Although my initial thoughts when he informed that the book was being translated into Telugu language were: why would anyone even think about this?  Why would anyone plan to purposefully commit Hara-kiri? Of course, my anxiety rested in the comprehension that when the book is going strong in English, why tamper with aesthetics of advancement. But, I was proven dead wrong.

The book – Aparajeethudu (Meaning: a victorious person) had a grand festive opening. The launch, which took place amidst the stalwarts of Telugu literature, dazzled with ladies draped in traditional apparel, lending a distinct touch of the Telugu culture. The perfume of jasmine flowers intermingled with musk had one thinking that one was gracing a traditional ceremony of sorts. The venue was lit up with Telugu language lovers and, of course, acquaintances, friends and family members too graced the event in good numbers.

There was Dr. Pattabhiram, the noted psychologist and hypnotist, and a couple of other leading journalists. Their adulations and enhancements on the book delivered goose bumps. Rama Krishna, who I presume is a noted journalist, bestowed praise on the translator for thoroughness of work, while highlighting subtle events that touched a special chord in him. Though a slightly lengthy speech, people listened in rapt attention, because of the enticing narration.

The ladies who compeered the programme knew how to engage the audiences in rapt attention. It was easily evident that those who read the book were touched by its contents. Bhavana, the translator, was appreciated for her hard work and for retaining the rich flavor while succinctly conveying the message. She too praised  the book and its contents while underscoring the difficulty to stand to the expectations of the readers in a different language.

On the whole, the event concluded on a beautiful note and I held the privilege of meeting old friends and relatives and was seriously encouraged to engage in some sort of action. Since, lurking in the shadows isn’t doing any good to my already non-existent image. I hope I can draw some inspiration and set out to write a fiction, which has been one of my dreams. Hopefully…soon. 

Sitcoms with standup comedians

Stand up comedians are gaining significance this side of the globe too! Earlier the phenomenon was a hit only in the US, but with the rage catching up with Indian audiences, there is no dearth for laughter here as well. Throw in the Indian-English accent and harp a bit on cultural and regional differences and spice it up with office innuendos, the comedian has an eclectic mix of humour that lights up comedy houses. The new crop of comedians are no jokers either. They are all wit, intellect, suave and charm in a good dose. Where humour is concerned, Indian comedians aren’t that dumb or belong to the Neolithic age. They can set one off in giggles anytime -- day, noon or night. 

Of course, the best part is you needn’t attend a show or an event to watch them live. Simply sink into your favorite chair and catch them on ‘youtube’ as almost all shows feature here. The glitch-free entertainment of the new-age era. 

Actually, one of the pioneers who held the beacon of light for other comedians to follow suit was Vipul Goyal, the IITian, whose performance kindled the wrath of parents and ignited rave reviews of students. His take on dads and moms and how they victimize the kids with their typical Indian mentalities is something that’s food for thought and laughter to bones. What perhaps gives him an edge is his dialogue delivery and unmasked expressions, striking up a distinct chord with the audiences!  Taking the laughter business a few notches up he even launched his own comedy promotion company called ‘Humourously yours’. 

Kenny Sebastian is another young lad who knows how to bring the house down. The dialogues which are often laced with heavy humour come out rolling confidently. Sarcasm and subtlety of presentation makes you want more of him. While his funny take on diverse themes is hilarious enough to make you roll on the floor laughing, his delivery of jokes with deadpan expression will remain etched in your mind. No wonder he remains a hot favourite among young crowds. 

If you think only the north Indians guys are good at humour. You got it absolutely wrong! Manoj Menon, whose standup comedy is doing rounds on internet, knows how to connect with you in a matter of 0.03 seconds. The funny part is  (pun unintended) is that these comedians get to the heart of the matter as they speak the language of youngsters. In other sense, Jokes on WhatsApp, Facebook, Linkedin, Flight cancellations and desi incidents and slangs! “Gone are the ant and elephant jokes. Dead and buried. If you are still spreading these jokes you are an oldie” cries Manoj. Whose jokes on Whatsapp are sure to crack you up! 

Praveen Kumar is another popular face on the youtube who knows how to pulls one’s leg, including his own sometimes. When he jokes about his performance of Bhartanatyam with his big wiggly stomach shaking, you just can’t hold your laughter in. Add to the whole narration a heavy Indian accent and typical Indian incidents that go awry, you are sure to have your ribs tickled. The funniest line on his personal website goes like this “His love for comedy is so much he decided to get married”. 

Finally, the Indian standup comedians are getting a chance to stand in the spotlight, grabbing their fare share of fame and money (I seriously doubt this part). The audiences are ever eager awaiting in cafes, pubs, dance bars (Non-existent? I doubt) or whatever to relish these silver tongued comedians' performances. With the number of performers shooting up, I am sure comedy is taking its wings and going places on the Indian horizon. 

Analysing Hollywood!

I have never been a great fan of Ben Affleck, but this movie turned the tide in his favour and won my appreciation. Here's my review of the film...

The Accountant

Unlike other movies, this one’s a tad different as the protagonist, Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), suffers from high-functioning autism. Ben Affleck’s portrayal as the man with Autism cannot go unnoticed, if not marveled. Trained in martial arts of every kind, Wolff works for dozens of drug cartel groups and weapons dealers who are neck-deep in big money. Apart from working as a forensic accountant for international criminals, who are into big time money laundering, he doubles up as a deadly assassin.

When ‘Living Robotics’, a reputed bio-technology company, calls on his expertise to unravel huge chunks of missing money, that’s when he bumps into the sweet-talking Dana Cummings (Anna Kendrick), who first notices the massive discrepancies. Though the chatty Dana Cummings evokes interest in making friends, his solitary sentences and brusque responses halt progress of a small talk. Ironically, Wolff jumps into action when he senses that Dana Cummings’ life is in danger, making the body count rise significantly.

Meanwhile, in the Treasury Department, the agents are hunting for ‘The Accountant’ who is handling the financial operations of several top-rung gangsters. ‘The Accountant’ has not one, but several clients, and the police are baffled of his survival skill  - since as a thumb rule the gangsters generally dispose of the small fry once a major deal is done. What definitely lends a certain subtlety and intrigue to the story is the stoicism of the protagonist. It’s not your regular crime thriller as it is laced with an emotional drama that depicts a tumultuous personality going through multiple mood swings.

However, there exist a few things that throw the monkey wrench in the works. Things such as where has been his brother all along? How did he surface in the middle? And more importantly, where did he disappear in the end is something the director seems to know but forgot to tell the audience.  Although the movie has quite a few loose hands hanging, it is refreshingly different since it not only deals with a unique subject, but also connects with the audience on a different plateau altogether.

Rating: 3 ½  stars

Cast: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K Simmons, Jon Bernthal

Director: Gavin O’ Connor

Thumbs up: An appealing storyline, a decent portrayal of the character and interesting dark humour

Thumbs down:  Loose ends and lack-luster performance of actors.

'The Greatest' Bids a Goodbye to His Boxing Fans!

Muhammad Ali, the man who immortalized the words, ‘Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’, passed away at 74 yesterday. This is a huge and irreparable loss to the boxing world!  Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, reckoned as the greatest heavy weight champion in the history of sport.  He was crowned as the ‘Sportsman of the Century’ and figures in the top sportsman in the 100 years by the Sports Illustrated and declared as ‘Sports Personality of the Century’ by the BBC. He authored several best sellers which includes ‘The Greatest: My Own Story and ‘The Soul of a Butterfly’. 

Ali’s stardom rose slowly and steadily. He made his debut in 1960, beating Tunney Hunsaker in a six-round match. By 1963, he had a cumulative record of 19-0 - most of them through knockouts. He won against competent opponents like Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, Lamar Clark, Doug Jones and Henry Cooper.  All the matches weren’t in his favour. He nearly lost the game in a few but made an astounding come back.  What’s surprising is, ahead of each of his fight, Ali used to belittle his opponents with verbal remarks. To Ali “Jones was an ugly man”, “Cooper was a bum” “He was embarrassed to get in the ring with Alex Miteff”.   

Nobody will ever know if it was Ali’s strategy to let loose his tongue on the opponent before he let loose his fists.  He would intentionally pick up verbal punches. Bash them to pulp with vicious remarks and then go on to win the fight. Such was the confidence of this man. Of course, Ali was nicknamed the “The Greatest” for nothing. He was involved in several historic boxing matches. Popular among these is the Liston fight, three with Joe Frazier and ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ with George Foremen’. 

Ali’s fame as a boxer rose to its peak when he beat Liston for the world heavy weight title in 1964. Liston was almost unbeatable. Before the pre-match build up of the Ali- Liston fight, Ali taunted Liston as “The Big Ugly Bear”, “Liston even smells like a bear” and “After I beat him I am going to donate him to the zoo”.  Everyone thought Ali’s behavior stemmed from fear and anxiety, some even wondered whether he would turn up for the fight. But the skeptics had to eat their words at the decisive outcome of the fight when Ali emerged as the winner.  

Shortly after the Liston bout, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali on converting to Islam. Later, when he refused to be inducted into the Army Service to fight against Vietnam, the centre stripped him of his title. Subsequently, his boxing license was suspended.  He stayed away from boxing in the country during his peak performance.  

However, later, Ali was granted to license to box on winning victory in the court. This time Ali had to face Joe Frazier for the title. Both were undefeated fighters. The excitement of the bout caught everyone’s attention and ultimately the fight was broadcasted to 35 countries. Ali as usual came out winner stunning all the cynics yet another time. 

The stunning win set the stage for a fight with George Foreman, who was known for throwing hardest punches in the history of boxing. During the match with Foreman, Ali taunted Foreman saying “Is that all you got George, They told me you could hit hard?” while he leaned on the ropes inviting his punches. The move was later came about to be known as ‘Rope-a Dope’. Everyone thought Foreman would win the fight since he had already defeated Frazier and Ken Norton who gave tough fights to Ali. Contrary to the widely held belief, Ali emerged winner. 

Ali’s next opponents included:  Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle, and Joe Bugner. In fact, it was the match between Ali and Wepner that inspired Sylvester Stallone to script the iconic movie, ‘Rocky’.  Ali went on to script success like no other in the boxing history. Today, Ali is not only popular for his incredible matches but also for his memorable and punchy Quotes:  “Don’t count the days. Make the days count”, “A man who has no imagination has no wings”, “If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.” Finally, let’s not forget his popular oneliner, “Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee.”  May his soul rest in peace! 

The day the stars smiled on me.

The other day, I caught sight of a snap of Virat Kholi, with his upraised hand and a bat in his hand. Underneath the slightly raised shirt sleeve existed a tattoo that screamed ‘Scorpio’ - the astrological sun sign that stands as a mystery to scores of individuals. I wondered if there was any relation with his sun sign and his success. Not that I am a stern believer in this incantation, but instincts were customary as I indulged in my fair share of studying stars when I was a college graduate. 

Over the years, on appraising myself with countless astrology books, I comprehend Scorpio is a powerful sun sign. It exists in three variations. One, the sign of eagle that regenerates as the phoenix that rises from the ashes; other, the sign of Scorpion, which stings itself to death, finally, the sign of the grey lizard, which withdraws into itself often wallowing in self-pity. 

During the pre-university days, I was so obsessed with astrology that I read more number of occult books than subject books. This was furious enough for my parents to think of throwing me out of the house. But my siblings convinced my parents it was only a passing fade. 

Passing fade, my foot! I still read all that stuff! Though it may not be in the same breath and admiration. 

My earlier obsession fringed on insanity as I had my natal chart drawn and analyzed. As if this fixation was not enough, I hung on to every word this chart predicted; as if my whole destiny was pre-determined by the stars at a distance. And  I absolutely had no say in my destiny. 

Not the one to keep the knowledge to self, I dragged many a friend into vortex of occult sciences. I was a personal counselor to countless star-crazy youngsters who clamoured around to find out which girlfriend would best suit their respective sun-signs.  Deep discussions over cups of coffee, calculations, assumptions and planetary influences were analysed debated and discarded before deciding the fate of the would-be or may-not-be girlfriends. 

For all the knowledge of the stars, I was treated as a star myself. And I thoroughly enjoyed the adulation. 

The reading wasn’t just restricted to astrology but spanned almost every sphere of occult science. Cheiro, Linda Goodman and others would have been greatly thrilled at the mammoth crush I had on their predictions. Their writings were scriptures in which my entire life and scores of others lives lay trapped.  When I think back now, I can only say what a sheer waste of time! 

However, I wouldn’t say it was all a waste of time, as many girls clamored around to wherever I was just to listen to their future predictions through someone who is a die-hard fan of Cheiros or Goodmans or Duruwalas. 

I wouldn’t say there was any fortune in doing so, but I would I say I was fortunate enough to hold hands of beautiful damsels as they gazed into my eyes - the reason enough to drive all my other classmates’ wild with envy. Then it suddenly dawned on me - studying stars wasn’t all that waste. I knew for certain, the stars did smile on me in other ways.  

Star Movies Brings Back Memories.

Will someone tell me where Mel Gibson is these days? 

Actually, I was watching his movie ' Lethal Weapon 2' on Star Movies and my thoughts instantly drifted back to this handsome hunk, whose hairstyle and dressing we used to copycat as youngsters. Frankly, there were some cool movies of his that really bowled us over. Remember?! A Bird on a Wire, Ransom, Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 1 , Lethal Weapon 2, Brave Heart, The Patriot, Maverick, What Women Want… all of which featured Mel Gibson in his inimitable style and he never failed to impress us. 

I still remember how I grew my hair long after seeing him in 'Lethal Weapon 2'. My dad even though he secretly condemned the act, was glad I didn’t look that bad either. Growing your hair long back then was nothing less than a sacrilege which invited neighbours, relatives and family’s full wrath – all at once. The repentance for such rebellion was getting one’s head tonsured. 

However, I was only subjected to occasional outbursts of anger. After a month back, I was forced to relegate back to my original short hair.  I secretly wished if I only could have them out of my hair. Now, I could only chuckle over those things. 

Anyways, talking of Mel Gibson, 'Lethal Weapon 2', which featured on star movies the other day, was awesome. The story was tight. The dialogues, punchy. It’s been a long time since I saw the movie, so, everything seemed brand new. This perhaps is one movie where the heroine is killed yet you see nothing askew.  

Danny Glover adds zing to the movie. There’s this particular scene that’s really uproarious. Danny Glover, a police officer in the movie, invites Mel Gibson, another police officer, over to his house to watch a commercial in which his daughter featured. Everyone’s excited. The family is glued to Television. When the commercial turns on and is half way through, everyone realizes that the advertisement is of a contraceptive product. You should watch Danny Glover’s face turn to stone as he switches off the TV and with a dazed look asks everyone to leave the room. Unabashedly hilarious! 

Joe Pesci spices up the movie a bit more. His comic timing is amazing. I simply rolled over with laughter at the dialogues. His acting skills come to fore in the movie ‘My Cousin Vinny’! Anyways, ‘Lethal Weapon 2' will always be remembered because we, friends, bunked the college and stealthily burgled ourselves into theatre to watch  this cop movie! 

All Eyes on Indiana Jones Series Installment.

Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg coming together to shoot the fifth sequel in the series of Indiana Jones is yet another occasion to showcase their brilliance in Hollywood fiefdom. Harrison Ford, who has been lauded for his countless roles, mostly for his iconic role as ‘Han Solo’ in the Star Wars series, is a man of unusual talent.  What perhaps stands him apart are his rugged looks and smug attitude, which never failed to ignite a captivating onscreen presence! No wonder he excelled over six decades in the massively competitive arena of Hollywood. 

Where looks matter more than acting does, how does the 73-year-old still manage to grab roles right under the noses of the younger cast?!  A question that still goes unanswered even today. In 2003, American Film Institute hailed him as the second greatest hero of all time!  Seven of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry. He has to his credit numerous hits which include: ‘Blade Runner’ ‘Witness’ ‘Patriot Games’ and ‘Clear and Present Danger’ both of which are book adaptations of the renowned author - Tom Clancy.  ‘The Fugitive’, ‘Apocalypse Now’, ‘Presumed Innocent’, ‘Air Force One’, ‘What Lies Beneath’, ‘Star Wars’, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ are few other notable flicks.

His ability to breathe life into the role and live it with an ease akin to none is what perhaps keeps the average movie-goer glued to the screen. Acting flows naturally to him. Whether he punches villains or utters sly remarks with his sarcastic trademark smile, one is bound to go weak in the knees. His recent appearance in the sequence Star Wars ‘Force Awakens’ has also won him decent reviews while putting him under the spotlight. More than the sequels of ‘Star Wars’, it’s the Indiana Jones’ series that catapulted him into unprecedented fame.

Known as Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr., a professor of archaeology, adventurer, and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones, his character is reckless, adventurous and action-oriented.  Though rumour mills were rife that a new actor would don the role of Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg affirmed that Harrison Ford is the only actor who fits the bill flawlessly. The reason perhaps is that Harrison has carved a niche for himself with his typical bullwhip, fedora Satchel, leather jacket and his sarcastic trade mark smile. – A role that is a snug-fit for the character.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ was a phenomenal success. It’s obvious that Spielberg came out with sequels, which proved equally good. Unfortunately, ‘Indiana Jones and ‘The Temple of Doom’, which was a prequel to ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, but released afterwards, was banned in India as the movie chartered into troubled waters. Indians missed the brilliant performance of Amrish Puri, who is better known as “Mogambo”, to this side of the audiences. However, the movie did significantly well in other parts of the world.

‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ had some breathtaking scenes too – be it riding horses alongside jagged mountain ridges or getting persistently attacked by Nazis. What’s more, the flick also had Sean Connery who puts on an impressive performance with his spot on rib-ticklers.

‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’, which released in 2008, was as gripping as the rest with the plot centering on discovering the secret behind the mysterious artefacts – Crystal Skulls. Harrison puts on a deadly show trying to avoid the soviets while strategizing to lay his hands on the Crystal Skulls.

In fact, all Indiana Jones series are racy, exploratory and palpitating with action - the reason why they appeal to almost everyone. With Steven Spielberg vouchsafing that the fifth installment of Indian Jones is set to roll into action, audiences are ever eager to catch them both in another flick which in all probability would set hearts’ thumping and adrenalin pumping.

Lamakaan – The Heartthrob of Artists

Quite recently, there was a lot of hue and cry to close down Lamakaan.  However, many youngsters took to roads with placards saying it must exist. Their will prevailed - at least, for the time being. 

For those who aren’t aware, Lamakaan is an interesting hangout for youngsters and an awesome place for art and theatre lovers. It’s an independent bungalow nestled in the posh Banjara Hills vicinity. What adds a touch of spice to this hangout is its nonchalant existence. It’s a quaint joint quietly hidden in one of the by lanes. Unless one distinctly knows the interiors of Banjara Hills, the chances of missing it are huge.  

Interestingly, the building in itself takes an informal shape, free flowing spaces that effortlessly blend with the environment. The stage for theatre performances at the ground floor seamlessly merges with the jutting rocks and plants surrounding it. The loosely spread tables and chairs add a rustic yet a classic look to the ambience, lending a feeling of complete serenity. 

I still can’t place my finger on as to who owns this awesome place and why is it being given away for an hangout when the owner can easily spin loads of money out of it? 

Nevertheless, it’s an idyllic site that sets the ball rolling for chats, snacking, and reading or for that matter simply indulging in small talk with friends. The canteen almost resembles the ones you have within the college premises, stocked with all goodies you nonchalantly love to ransack from time to time. Yes, reminisces hit quite hard.

Fascinatingly, the tea, served in glasses, gives a feeling of having it on a highway to a faraway destination. The assorted dishes include; piping hot Samosas, Dhai Wada, Bread Omelet, Nimbu Paani, and all those appetizing delicacies. All dishes are dirt cheap yet tantalizingly appealing and satiating. 

The crowd encompasses a wide spectrum of ages. You find all sorts here. The moustaches, the beards, the completely bald and of course how can we forget the pony tails. Hey, hang on; we haven’t started talking about the girls. Not yet.  

The girls are often spotted here in groups stealing glances at spicy food laid out on the table or at the pony tails or moustaches across. Some of the bold ones even sport a cigarette on their lips while discussing movies and directors. Many budding talented movie directors as well as music directors make a stopover before they climb on to the top of the success ladder. Of course, you have all sorts buzzing around the joint. 

If you have the itch for good paintings, trust me, this is one of the best places. Whoever you are - an artist or an admirer - your thirst would be quenched. The bungalow hosts art shows quite frequently. The same goes for the theatre too! Screening of plays happens at the drop of a hat. 

The last time I read of a joint resembling this place was when I read about Shantiniketan.  Of course, Ravindranath Tagore exists in his full breath here.All said and done, this is an awesome place to let one’s hair down without really feeling out of place. Youngster or an oldie you can have all the fun you desire by simply stepping into this out-of-this –place.  

The Eternal Stories of Love

This was published in Hans India - A reputed daily in Telangana. 

It’s Valentine’s Day. While the love birds take to crooning to each other on this special day, the time is ripe for taking a sneak peek at novels that break hearts with their profundity and sensitivity. These stories will either break your heart or overwhelm it, while transporting you to a different world. The beauty of these novels is, unlike a few lovers, they don’t desert when you need them. They sit pretty adorningly on shelf, waiting on the moment you would take them into arms and fall in love with them. 

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy:  

Set among the echelons of power in Russia, the story is about Anna Karenina who visits her brother Stiva in Moscow to help him restore his marriage. Although a married woman, she falls in love with Count Vronsky. Fraught between her desire for Vronsky and her loyalty to her husband, Alexei, she leaves her husband. Paradoxically, she is denied a divorce. Torn between love life and married life she leaves Vronsky in anger. 

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak:

This is the story about one man torn between two women. Set during the 1917 Russian Revolution, the protagonist, Yuri Zhivago, is a well-known doctor and poet. While he is married to rich and aristocratic Tonya, as a twist of fate, falls in love with Nurse Lara. This is an interesting love triangle that is caught between love and wartimes and is scripted to emotionally appeal to the readers. 

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Love Story by Erich Segal:  

A story about two school mates - Oliver and Jennifer. They start out skirmishing with each other and later unknowingly fall in love. Oliver, who is cut off from his inheritance by his father, for falling in love with Jennifer, is jobless and has to live on his wife’s earning. After a couple of years of struggle, he lands a plum job only to realize that Jennifer has Leukemia. The intense love between the two and hapless situation they are caught in is sure to tear the heart. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: 

This is an ageless classic. The plot revolves mainly around two characters Elizabeth, one of the five daughters of Mrs Bennet, and Darcy, a reasonably wealthy man. Darcy on the outward seems like an arrogant man is actually a sensitive and caring individual. The initial disagreements between the two slowly transcend into love. While To everyone’s astonishment the two end up in blissful matrimony.   

Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
This is one of the most celebrated works of William Shakespeare, albeit a tragic one. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who fall in love, come from two different famed clans of literature. The rivalry among the clans is so bitter that both kinfolk express their dissent towards the lovers’ marriage. The family’s disproval of love eventually leads to demise of lovers. 

Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hester Prynne’s love for Arthur Dimmesdale is uncompromised even when she is tortured and publicly humiliated. On the other hand, Arthur Dimmesdale, who is the priest, seems to be torn between his position and his love. The confession of Arthur Dimmesdale as the father of Hester’s child, pearl, and his sudden demise shocks everyone and leaves Hester in a complete quandary.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: 

This perhaps is the only book where the narrator remains nameless all through. The protagonist meets Maxim de Winter and soon becomes Mrs. Winter. At every step of her journey, she finds it difficult to fill the shoes of Rebecca, Maxim’s dead wife. She is constantly harassed by Mrs. Danvers who is quick to point out that Rebecca was far better any every manner. But the twist comes when she finds out Rebecca was actually murdered. It is an undeniable page-turner. 

Click on the link below to access the article on epaper

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/721494/SUNDAY-HANS/SUNDAY-HANS#page/15

Naked Truth

Guess whose books are grabbed off the shelves moment they hit stands. Sidney Sheldon, of course! However, there are many who criticize him. But, I adore his craft so much that I commit his sentences to memory for sheer pleasure of using elsewhere to recreate a similar effect. Though I read his books countless times, I still wouldn’t back foot in picking any of his titles and re-reading again for nth time.  Mildly put, most of his sentences are hotly branded in my mind. 

Unaware of my passion for Sheldon’s books, out of the blue, a blogger friend handed out an autobiography of Sheldon ‘The other side of me’. I hadn’t an inkling, Sheldon’s biography even existed. The tome looked no less than 400 pages and I was filled with pure delight.

The book was phenomenal and quirky punches all through were resplendent of Sheldon’s streak of genius.  As always, I wished that the book wouldn’t end.  ‘The other side of me’ picked up pace in early pages itself; As a result, read past midnight. The book gave me new insights. New perspectives. New understandings. All doubts I had about his writings instantly erased. 

What always surprised me was how Sheldon knew so well about pits of poverty and highlife of wealthy which he depicts so commonly in his stories. After reading his biography I understood he swung from one extreme to the other frequently. It was clear that failure and success were his buddies all through life. 

Fascinatingly, even names accorded to characters in his stories were from his real life though they have been altered a bit. While immensely talented, he hardly comes across real success in life. He won an ‘Oscar’ yet he was always out of job. His scriptwriting for broadways didn’t really put him in spotlight either. Neither did the movies. 

It was only when he went on to script novels; he found his groove. He affirms unlike scriptwriting, which constantly got altered by directors or adapted to scenes, he was free to write whatever he wanted to. This, I believe, has granted him enormous scope for exercising his creative judgment. ‘The naked face’, the first book he wrote, based on a Psychiatrist, is actually picked up from his own life story. Sheldon was diagnosed for ‘bipolar disorder’ – a disorder where the patient suffers from acute bouts of depression and euphoria almost at the same time.  If I am not mistaken even the Psychiatrist’s name ‘Judd’ remains the same in novel. 

Here's what I found incredibly interesting about his launch of the first book, ‘Naked Face’. On the same day, there were three other writers, who launched their books. For book signing, all of the three had long queues. But there wasn’t a single person in front of Sheldon’s desk. Sheldon didn’t know where to look, so he put his head down and started scribbling on a piece of paper. After sometime, an old woman appeared and asked, ‘What’s the name of the book. He replied, she said, ‘Alright, I’ll buy it’. Sheldon goes on to say, “It was not out of pleasure that she bought it, but as an act of mercy”. I like the candidness with which he views everything. Incidentally, the book went on to become a phenomenal best seller, winning an Edgar award for the best mystery novel. 

His embarking on writing novels has whetted the appetite of many a soul hungry for mystery stories. The twists in the plot are no less praise worthy either. Each book takes you through a feeling of free falling and landing on an enormous comfortable cushion. Of course, not always a cushion. But definitely through a high you can’t really put in words. I guess many of us owe it to Sheldon for playing his role to the hilt. 

Warm Greetings 2016!

Before January slips away into oblivion, let me wish all readers a happy and prosperous new year 2016.

I guess I am tad late on my New Year wishes to readers. Frankly, I have absolutely no idea how many take interest in reading my blog. Ironically, when I glance through friends’ blogs I witness diehard followers and heartwarming responses. Since, hardly any comments come in on my blog; I am possessed with a feeling that none is aware of my existence. Nonetheless, the number of page hits is fairly good. It’s a little assurance that people do read the blog which is inspiration enough to keep plodding on.

However, what upsets me a bit is I couldn’t do 100 posts which I promised in 2015. Not that I didn’t make any efforts. I was caught up with loads of works on professional front. When I thoughtfully weighed the options, work ranked first, the blog, second. I know that’s not an excuse. So, this year, I am revising the strategy and will do at least 8 posts per month, this way, instead of checking progress at yearend, I keep a tab every month. Perhaps this will see me through 2016’s target.

If I can be boastful, let me mention on the professional front, I did some decent work. My work featured in National Geography Magazine. As if that’s not enough, another client of mine won a national award and another, global. Though I was directly behind them, I know it’s the client who will hog the limelight. But, I am quite satisfied at the outcome.

Running a marathon took a backseat. But gym took the driving seat, as I made some visible progress. And I have well-defined abs to vouch for me. Of course, I can’t show it here. ;)

Intentionally, I set 100 goals last year. I was able to achieve only 30% of targets. The rest got defocused, diluted and debunked. This year too it’s 100 goals but aim at achieving at least 70% of them. One major decision of course is to launch my own company which seems near impossible considering market’s slit-throat competition. Anyway, setting aside some capital to start in near future, this could take couple of years. 

However, I have a lot to thank friends who serve as inspiration and egg me on to success. And once again I thank readers and wish them a bright year ahead. Keep looking at the stars, that’s how we aim higher and further. Happy 2016!