Songs of the Day

One of the most romantic songs ever

and a dance number

both from the movie Karthik Calling Karthik. Heard the movie is quite good…though the media gave some dubious reviews.

And the Most Farcical Awards are…

Couple of days ago, I was browsing through the NDTV website when I came across something called the ‘GR8 Women’s Achievers  Awards’. These were new to me but apparently Kelvinator has given them for the last 2 years. I was browsing through the photos of the event to see who got the awards….some inspirational stories maybe?…stories of women who achieved something against all odds…who contributed positively to our society…?NO! But who do I end up seeing…Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Bhagyashree (yup..the one from Maine Pyar Kiya), Diya Mirza (she’s every where these days), Yuktha Mookhey, Aarti Chabria, Zarine Khan etc in their beautiful sarees showing off their blouses and some in their skimpy clothes showing off their well-toned abs and yea..how can I forget….Shabana Azmi..she’s all things feminist isn’t she?

I was so disappointed…there was no one who I could admire, who actually contributed something to our society. Did Kelvinator conviniently ignore people like Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, the founder of Prajwala and many other women who are aplenty in our country? Do GR8 Women Achievers all have to be bollywood starlets? Dr Sunitha Krishnan, the founder of an NGO called Prajwala, who was gang raped at a young age fought back her horrors to become a psychiatrist and help children who are severely abused and sometimes sold and trafficked. Isn’t she inspirational to other women? Isn’t she deserving of this award?

What exactly have the bollywood startlets achieved may I ask? Most of them were models before they became actors or progeny of stars. They get paid crap load of money for their work…live in posh homes, drive extremely comfortable cars and dress in designer labels. For me, a GR8 Achiever is someone like Dr. Sunitha Krishnan…who is ACTUALLY doing something good for our society against all odds.

She is the only one I can think of now but this doesn’t mean there is no other woman in our country who is helping another. I am sure you will find one in every street corner. Such awards should carry some value…give it to people who really deserve them, to encourage them, to motivate them, to recognise their efforts and to show to the world what they do so that their organisations/NGO’s get the much-needed support. It doesn’t matter if you don’t give these awards to actors, they will still be fine…they won’t be missing out on anything. Who will it be next yr? Katrina, Kareena, Deepika etc?

Shame On You Kelvinator and the GR8 Women’s Achievers Awards panel!

Movie Review: Om Shanti Om

 

I was super hyper before we walked into the screen to watch Om Shanti Om. We arrived at the Cinemas 45 mins before the movie began to make sure we got the best seats 😀 Screens allocated for international movies here are so small in size and the public so large that you need to push your way through.. 😉

So finally it started…and the best way to begin the movie could have only been with the song ‘om shanti om’ from Karz. It’s one of my fav and I was literally jumping in my seat..clapping and giggling and Rishi Kapoor….how handsome he was. I am sure I was the only one showing my excitement. What I found really delightful was Farah Khan and SRK fighting over Rishi’s jacket in the opening scene when the song om shanti om ends.

Om shanti Om is a pure masala bollywood flick…it cannot get better than this. S was unsure if OSO would do better than Saawariya but I was certain that it would since Farah knows really well what a typical bollywood movie should have…and she adds all the ingridients in the right amounts. OSO has romance, action, drama, song & dance, emotion and even horror 😀

The movie starts off with SRK a.k.a Om Prakash Makhija…a junior artist trying very hard to make it big in the film industry. He is supported by his very close friend Pappu Master played by Shreyas Talpade. The role of Om Prakash Makhija’s ‘filmy Maa’ is played by Kiron Kher. Om is deeply in love with Shanti Priya…the top actress of the 70’s and also ends up saving her life once which leads to their friendship. Shanti is unaware of Om’s love for her but Om on the other hand dreams of a future with her. Circumstances leave Om’s heart broken and the death of both Om and Shanti one night.

Om..in his next janam….is born to the 70’s super star Rajesh Kapoor. Om is now the toast of a whole nation. He is a spoilt actor who comes late for shoots, demands script changes etc etc. Eventually…his punar janam catches up with him and soon realises what happened and is now out to take revenge. He is determined the find the person who let the love of his life burn to death and left him to die in a hospital.

SRK is fantastic in the movie. He playes both the characters with ease…that of Om Makhija and Om Kapoor. He is fantastic and looks as if he’s shed 20 yrs of his age. His toned body and new hair style add to his look immensely. It must have been a huge task to make a 40+ year old actor look as young as Deepika Padukone ;). Deepika Padukone is alright. Farah made sure that her screen presence was kept to a minimum. Shreyas role is best in the first half. In the second half….he looks unnaturaly old and tired. Arjun Rampal playing the negative character is a revelation. I can safely say that this is without doubt the best role he’s played and he does it with élan.

But all  praise should go to Farah Khan. She makes the movie into a complete entertainer till the last shot. SRK pretending to be a tamil super star and the filmfare awards scene where we get to see Big B, Little B, Hrithik and a number of other super stars are the best parts of the movie which will leave you smiling even after you’ve left the screen. The scene in which AB and Akshay loose the best actor award to Om Kapoor and what follows later are hillarious. I was literally off my seat lauging.

The title song Om Shanti Om (Deewangi Deewangi) starring a number of actors is very well choreographed. Even when the finishing titles are rolling, you get to see the cast and crew along with their names..including spot boys and light boys…..which I thought was very noble of Farah. Rarely do they get any recognition for their efforts. It’s always the big shots who take all the glory.

I was not born in the 70’s…so essentially, I don’t know how it was and what it was. It was only through my parents that I came to appreciate the 70’s. I was not a great fan of the melodrama but my favourite were the songs which still make me stand up and dance like crazy.

As I wrote in my previous article, if you are one of the ‘artsy’ types…..this movie might not be the one for you. As SRK rightly said…’if you want to enjoy the movie, leave your logic at the door and enter the screen and you will love it’….till the last shot.

I give the movie 4/5. Go watch it!!!

Om Shanti Om (vs) Saawariya

So what will you be watching this Diwali? OSO or Saawariya?

I, for one, will definately first watch OSO (and then top it up with Saawariya). I don’t expect any sense out of OSO (I’ve learnt my lessons after Main Hoon Na) but I have cancelled my Diwali plans with friends just to catch a glimpse of SRK’s bare & toned body 😀 (and also because I am a crazy fan of SRK…not the nerve slitting one though).

Although, I must confess that I am bored of watching Ankhon mein teri..ajab si ajab si on tele…and Deepika Padukone waving in the trailer…SRK’s open mouth and Shreyas Talpade looking as if he’s had a bad hair day (I wonder what shampoo he uses). As if that wasnt enough, I just came to know that an Om Shanti Om Designer Clothes Line and Jewellery Line have been launched. I am fine with the jewellery line…but 70’s inspired clothes? Do they really expect us to go around in flashy clothes and sidelocks that extend till a man’s jawline?

I am trying not to be too critical of OSO…but really guys…I think SRK has marketed his movie enough. Everybody knows the movie is releasing on the 9th of Nov and I am sure many of us will watch the movie even if he didn’t put up this full-fledged promotion package. I mean…first it was Deepika and Farah on Voice of India trying to pretend as if they were really enjoying the proceedings and the contestants dragging Deepika onto the stage even though she was least interested…and later it was SRK who did the same and the whole brigade then movied onto Nach Baliye…WOW! I’d definately be embarassed putting on such a ‘pretentious’ show…but then…if I’d spent crores of rupees making a film…I might aswell show a few jhatak-mataks on stage…;) but just one show plzzz!

Now coming to Saawariya….I like Bhansali’s movies…the extravagant sets, beautiful songs, the picturisation, use of light and colour etc etc (though I wasn’t much impressed with his Devdas. I thought it was a drag) but my all time favourite will be Khamoshi. I watched the music lauch of Saawariya and wondered why it turned out to be a ‘sob’ story. First it was Sonam who started crying….and then it was her parents…Mr & Mrs Anil Kapoor…and as if that wasn’t even…even the lead actor…Ranbir Kapoor started to cry….and this followed by his parents…Rishi and Neetu…and then it was the turn of Sanjay Leela Bhansali himself and the finishing touches were given by Rani Mukherji :(( I mean…was it really necessary? They are kids of star parents…and everybody knows that it is easier for star kids to make it in bollywood….atleast Sonam did not have to go through the process of ‘casting-couch’ unlike many other young women.

I also don’t understand the clothes Sonam is wearing in the movie….She’s got a chunari covering her head…and then she’s got one more wrapped around her shoulders and elbows and her lehenga looks like it’s a kilometer long…ahhh…how can I forget Ranbir dancing in his towel… 😀 Apparently…there was (I say was ‘cuz it has now been chopped by the sensor board) a sequence in one of the song’s where Ranbir’s towel is supposed to fall off….hhhhaaha…Does Sanjay Bhansali expect us to watch the movie to witness Ranbir’s bare bottom 😀

Nevertheless, it is a ‘Bhansali Film’ and I shall definately go and watch it…but only after Om Shanti Om 🙂

Dhoni’s new Hairstyle!!!

I like NDTV as it’s got the reputation of being one of the most respectable News channels of India…..but I was shocked when the reason behind Dhoni’s new hairstyle was shown as part of the NEWS headlines. As if that wasn’t enough, the folk at NDTV wanted us to decide if Dhoni did it for Deepika Padukone! Wasn’t this stuff supposed to be part of Aneesha Baig’s platter on Night Out?!

I am sorry to say…but I DON’T REALLY CARE IF DHONI GETS A NEW HAIRSTYLE OR IF DEEPIKA PADUKONE IS HIS GIRLFRIEND. Isn’t there any worthwhile news worth reporting?

I thought that the right to spread gossip and rumours (as if it were the tsunami hitting us again) was given to channels like Star News Hindi and Aaj Tak…didn’t know NDTV joined the bandwagon. It’s sad…really sad….