Honey, I’ve misplaced the kids!

Honey, I’ve misplaced the kids!
Have you ever come across the newly turned mall-obsessed parent? Sometimes, they are so engrossed in picking pickles and peanut butter that they show complete disregard for the tiny tot accompanying them.

Lately, I have noticed a huge number of careless Mums and Dads losing their kids in the malls.

I, myself, have on more than one occasion handed over a lost kiddo to his seemingly unconcerned parent.

It’s such a horror for the poor child weeping hysterically in search of his ‘Momma’ and ‘Papa’. Some of them can at least reveal their names. There are others who are so young; they can’t speak beyond ‘Mummy’.

Of course there are parents who really go miserable and look super guilty when such accidents take place. But the mall-obsessed variety is, more often than not, the irresponsible one.


Oh and on a complete tangent, let me share with you a picture I took on my trip to Rishikesh. It’s Ram Jhoola, and not the more famous Lakshman Jhoola, and it’s breathtaking. It had rained a lot that morning as you can notice from the mist.


Source: thoughtexpress.rediffiland.com

Fardeen’s ultimate qurbani for Saif!
Twenty eight years ago, Amitabh Bachchan was the face of Don, a film that didn’t bear the weight of any expectations. Now Shah Rukh Khan is the face of Don, a film only surrounded by heavy-duty expectations.

Fifteen years ago, Rekha breathed life in the poetry and pathos of Umrao Jaan. Next week, Aishwarya Rai’s attempt as/at the same will hit the marquee. After Don, that’s a shuddering thought but I won’t let a devil named prejudice get the better of me.

While on the subject of remakes, some time ago Saif was offered Vinod Khanna’s part in Feroz Khan’s retake of the 1980 Qurbani (which he produced, directed and acted in), in which son Fardeen would reprise FK Sr’s role. Even though the Chhote Nawab displayed sufficient enthusiasm, it didn’t quite work out.

The Khans might not be acting together, but they certainly don’t have problems replacing each other.

After a rather successful stint Fardeen is no longer going to play the suave, chilled out Provogue dude. His Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega co-star is the new face of the apparel brand. Of course Saif looks quite the antithesis of his Langa Tyagi avatar in this new makeover. And, no we are not complaining.

Having said that, have you ever really opted for any product, as an adult, just because an actor was endorsing it? Like do you wear Reid & Taylor because Big B says it’s the best? Or gorge on Ruffles lays because Saif challenged no one can eat just once? Or do you stop thinking about the pesticides in Cola drinks because Aamir Khan visited the company’s factory site? Or do you color your hair with Loreal because Aishwarya says she’s worth it?

So which one is it? Personal preference or dictating advertisements?

Source: thoughtexpress.rediffiland.com

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Of Rishikesh, Munnabhai and Umrao Jaan!

Of Rishikesh, Munnabhai and Umrao Jaan!
In case you are wondering what happened to Thought Express, well it went on a vacation. And thanks for missing me, some of you.

So, yippee, I just got back from a refreshing holiday to Rishikesh and Haridwar. Though Haridwar was a disappointment of capital proportions, Rishikesh still maintains its sanctity and freshness.

If you happen to head towards the holy cities anytime soon, please remember to carry a set of umbrellas and raincoats, it’s raining quite a bit.

Oh, and while I was there, I couldn’t help noticing how the posters of some dubbed Chiranjeevi-starrer Devaa hogged more walls than Priyanka Chopra-Akshaye Khanna’s rom-com, Aap Ki Khatir.

But the film of the moment and year is definitely, Lage Raho Munnabhai. (No offence to Rang De Basanti and Omkara. I love you both!) Very rarely comes a film that makes you want to praise it openly to obscene levels without any shame or hesitation. Lage Raho is one such experience.

I happen to see it in an expensive multiplex of Ghaziabad. Trust me I wouldn’t mind paying double for the amount of pleasure it gave me.

The kind of response it generates from the crowd is absolutely heart-warming. Ditto for the film. What a glorious work of cinema! The film leaves you feeling so light, relieved, happy and appreciative. Everyone who finds it hard to get into the yoga routine should wait for the DVD of Munnabhai- 2 to come out. It’s THAT good. Maybe Munna-Circuit Day isn’t such a preposterous idea after all?

In latest news, have you seen the promos of Umrao Jaan? Aishwarya Rai is looking fetching. That too is a feat when you look good almost all the time. Noticed how Abhishek Bachchan looks like a younger version of his ‘Pa’s’ Afghani Pathan, Badshah Khan (Khuda Gawah) in the whole Nawab get-up? I didn’t like the brief strain (music composed by Anu Malik) that goes with the trailer though. It just doesn’t stand out. And when you make, correction: remake, a film like Umrao Jaan, you got to be clear on two points costumes and music.

Ah well, the soundtrack is yet to come out. So like always, hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.



Source: thoughtexpress.rediffiland.com

Hrithik machaye Dhoom! Happy Feet rocks! Take a bow, 007!
I was in Singapore recently. It’s a vibrant city with lots to see and lots to do. But that’s a different blog. While I was at it, I made sure I’ll catch some movies. The theatres were playing some really interesting films like Colic and Little Red Flowers. Unfortunately my companions were more inclined to watch Casino Royale.

Let me admit, like most, I too had my reservations about Daniel Craig stepping into 007’s shiny shoes.

Boy, was I glad to be proved wrong? He’s no Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan. Wonderfully enough, he’s Daniel Craig and he’s very good being Bond. His festering intensity, boyish impatience and humoring persona is killer stuff. I loved how Casino Royale tells how Bond became Bond without losing its style, cheek or cheesiness.

Next, I saw Happy Feet. I had been following the film for nearly a year. And I happened to be in Singapore the same week as it released. So taking advantage of the situation, I booked tickets like it were some Sentosa attraction. Happy Feet is sweetness. It’s about the penguin way of life. And a lot of energetic singing and dancing. At the same time it’s got layers to it, which speak of racism, autocracy and conservatism. Except for the climax, which felt abrupt and convenient, I felt Happy Feet was a rocking animation. I even picked a Mumble (the name of the lead protagonist voiced by Elijah Wood) plush from ToysRus for keepsake.

Back home, I realized Dhoom 2 was out and every thing man, woman and child was raving about a certain Mr Hrithik Roshan. I was curious and the only way to find out was watch the film.

So now I know what the fuss is all about. Okay, decently put, Hrithik is an e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y attractive guy. I mean the rare kind that can carry off even a lousy film like this on those perfect shoulders. His level of energy can only be surpassed by a computer generated character or something. Dhoom 2 is otherwise a very bad film.

I mean what’s funny about Uday Chopra’s broken English? Or Bipasha Basu’s guns to bikini transition? And why does Aishwarya Rai look like dream and talk like a duck? But the funniest of them all is Abhishek Bachchan. Dhoom 2 is like a record of how Bachchan Jr created the Umrao Jaan look. He’s given the most horrible clothes, miserable one-liners and worthless footage.

But Hrithik, Hrithik. you are the man! And we love watching you. Even his muscles have more expression than some of the actors running in this business. Hee!

Source: thoughtexpress.rediffiland.com

The nation went deaf

This is bullshit with a mammoth B.

Wonderful, just wonderful, another good vocalist voted out. Why the hell is Prashant still there? Yes, he”s got an awesome voice, but his last performance wasn”t as good. The song was as easy as it gets, a straightforward Aap Ki Dua, while Puja on the other hand, rendered Shubha Mudgal”s Ab Ke Saawan.

Anu Malik pointed out the harkat in the songs. Udit suggested that he himself couldn”t have sung it that well. Alisha takes it a step forward, suggesting that her rendition was better than the original. Sonu was all praise, and Javed Akhtar went on a forgiving spree after that performance. Mini Mathur summed up her performance in one bloody appropriate word - awesome.

But hey, the audience missed it all, didn”t they? Let”s hope you don”t, here it is.

Surely, we live in a deaf nation.



Source: showbizia.rediffiland.com

The idiots let the Idol out …

What kind of shit — apologies, horseshit — audience is listening to, and voting for Indian Idol anyway? How in the world could they possibly lose Deepali, a blessed voice tailor-made for Bollywood’s best melodies. It’s absurd, it’s total nonsense, and as Javed Akhtar put it as only he could - she get’s punished for singing well. Absofreakingbullshit, the length of that profane term doing little to suggest my annoyance at having Deepali out of the show.

Girl, we’ll miss you, we sure as hell will. May you sing and RJ your way into the ears and minds of the nation, this - from a fan like many others who could see your helplessness through your smile yesterday. You were brave to put up the face and rendition you did, and heck, we know that.

If this is the Janta’s choice, then I’d rather not have it. Perhaps the wordsmith, the skylark sweetheart that gave us Made in India, the immortal vocals that rendered Pehla Nasha and the thief who hasn’t even spared the Israeli National anthem - should play their roles as judges. Let them bring their skill and judgement into play and pick the best Idol, and seriously, if this is the kind of voting that’s going to happen, democracy be damned to a bloody death that the people brought upon it.

Source: showbizia.rediffiland.com

Shyamalan’s bedtime tales!
I am curious about Lady in the Water. I have my reasons.

When I saw the trailer of Lady in the Water a few months ago, I wasn’t particularly thrilled. It didn’t grab me. Usually Manoj Night Shyamalan’s films bear a creepy air about them. Somehow Lady in the Water appeared to be quite watered down (pun unintended) in that sense. Of course this is a purely impulsive opinion based on something as deceptive as a promo. But then again it’s said to be one of Shyamalan’s worst reviewed movies wherein most critics have dubbed it “self-indulgent” (Variety Magazine) and “convoluted, ultimately preposterous” (Wall Street Journal). Quite a dampener, huh? Again, no pun intended.

It’s not like the India-born filmmaker hasn’t disappointed before. Unbreakable and The Village didn’t quite rise to the occasion. Even so, Shyamalan never fails to evoke curious speculation. There is always an impermeable secrecy with respect to his projects that one cannot help but anticipate spectacular level of awesomeness.

That said, have you read the book that started it all?

I got it recently as a gift and was fairly impressed with what I saw. Mainly because it has been superbly illustrated by Crash McCreery (a character designer of repute who has worked on films like Edward Scissorhands and Jurassic Park). His keen artwork lends the book a sense of mystery and enchantment.

Published by Little, Brown and Company and dedicated to his two children; Lady in the Water-A Bedtime Story is no glorious piece of literature. It’s not even a ‘bedtime story’ as it claims to be. It’s more of a fascinating introduction to the extraordinary characters –Narf, Vessel, Great Eatlon and Scrunt around whom the movie, eventually, revolves.

Though plainly told, the tone is dark and forbidding. Shyamalan’s offspring might be welcoming of their daddy’s eerie thoughts. But young children are best left unexposed to this dim fairy tale. It could really play havoc with the tender imagination and create unnecessary fears in the mind. The Scrunt is pretty scary, I thought.

Despite its vague setup and mediocre reviews, Lady in the Water has raised an interesting imagery in my head. Something its trailer had failed to do.

What I want to know now is what I think is what I’ll see.

July 28 (release date in India) holds the answer to this query.
Source: thoughtexpress.rediffiland.com

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