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