Hadippa!! :D

Yesterday was a great day! To start with, I went to watch Dil Bole Hadippa and it was a fun movie, albeit a tad over the top, a tad too reminiscent of Chak de India and a tad silly. I'm just about to write a review but before that, guess what? I landed my first job yesterday! As an editor for a study-abroad consultancy. I'll be working part time from home over the internet and I'm nervous as hell about everything going all right but excited too! Really, God is great. :) (*Thank you, God, once again!*) Though perhaps watching Shahid early in the morning was kind of like a good luck charm too. :P
Right, so about Dil Bole..., I liked it for its girl-power quotient (we can do anything that we put our minds and hearts to regardless of what anyone thinks, says or does to hamper us) and the patriotic theme which not only evokes a rush of love and pride for our incredible India but also works in a spot of tenderness for our infamous neighbours across the border who, after all, are not much different from us once we put aside the age-old prejudices and really think about it.
Rani Mukherjee has acted well, but I do think she could have attempted to diguise her tell-tale voice while in her male avatar. Also, those shapely eyebrows could have been covered up with stick-on ones to make the character of Veer more convincing. As Veera, she looks beautiful and I love the colorful desi clothes that splendidly contrast with the picturesque green and gold backdrop of the sprawling fields of Amritsar.
As for Shahid Kapur, I can't promise to be entirely unbiased but he was amazing as the aggressive, bursting-with-testosterone, cricket coach from England who falls hopelessly in love with both his home country and the fiesty Punjabi kudi, aka 'buffalo-girl' Veera who introduces him to its myriad flavors.
(On an aside, I love Shahid's rippling muscles, the chiselled bod, the cool hair, the swift dance moves, the sharp acting skills, and that sweet smile that literally makes my heart flutter!)
I don't know why people are giving the movie so much flak just because it has a vague resemblence to the Hollywood flick She's the Man. For your information, people, She's the Man wasn't entirely original either. The premise was based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. If that's not a problem, then why is it always such a big deal when a Hindi movie takes inspiration from it's English counterpart? Besides, I read somewhere that no story is new. Everything has already been told before. What's new is the way it is told and the characterisation and dialog and settings. And as far as that is concerned, Dil Bole... is different and has a feel-good charm about it. There is no scene at all that is blindly copied from She's the Man. It's a story in its own right.
I also don't know why people give cricket so much flak. Big deal if it hogs all the limelight from other sports here in India. There must be a reason, right? Cricket is interesting; it's fun! I'm not a particularly great fan of the test and 50-over version but 20-20 is always exciting. And the cricket in the movie was just the same. Ok, so we knew all along it would be a nice happy ending but isn't that just the point? Don't we always expect and WANT a nice happy ending?
If you read (or in this case, 'observe') between the lines of the overall story, you find undercurrents of important messages about love, life, family, hypocrisy, discrimination against the fairer sex, unity and peace.
Sherlyn Chopra and Rakhi Sawant are mere decorations in the movie, quite garish ones at that.
Disco waale Khisko and the title track are nice, catchy songs, but Jhappiyaan se desh hai mera steals the show with it's beautiful lyrics and melodious flow.
All in all, Dil Bole Hadippa, even if it disappoints you, will at the very least make you fall in love with India all over again. After all, 'tu door jitna jaaye, ye paas utna aaye, kab dil tera le jaye, yahaan pe ishq hi hai rab aur khuda soniya!'

Writers are always readers first - the books that made me who I am

I've been quite cut-off from the virtual world this past week because:
a) I've had major computer trouble (the mother-board of my laptop needs to be replaced) and
b) Although I do have internet access through my brother's computer, I've been going nuts trying to complete Assignment #13 for my Writer's Bureau course. I'm supposed to be writing a plot for a novel as well as a short-story of my choice. As far as The Novel is concerned, I'd rather not say anything yet (I'll let the world know what I'm writing - or attempting to write - when I feel ready and, more importantly, have something concrete typed out.) But the short story is something I expected to complete long back yet am still struggling with. Back at school, I could write a story in a day, editting and all. And actually got good marks and praise for most of them. It used to be so damn easy. But now it's a lot more challenging - the hardest kind of writing I've ever attempted, in fact - and the stuff I wrote at school seems nothing more than a load of adolescent tripe. I can't believe Mrs. Sura (who by the way, is the best English teacher in the world...ok, the best English teacher I've ever had) made such nice comments about my work then. I guess she recognised the potential that lurked within and was just being encouraging. I don't think I'd be doing what I am today if it weren't for her.
Anyways, so as I was saying, the stupid short story that I should have ideally finished weeks back is really pissing me off now. I hope it somehow falls into place soon.
Not having my own computer means I've had lots of free time, which I've spent in front of the T.V. It's amazing how there can be over 80 channels to choose from yet not one airs anything worthwhile to watch. Everything is just plagued with unreal reality shows, so-not-funny comedy and the same music and movies playing over and over again. I wish I had a good book to read. I haven't been book-shopping in ages and am fed up of re-reading stuff from my collection. I do have lots of ebooks waiting to be read but that obviously would be impossible without my computer. One day, I'm going to own a swanky little ebook reader so I can carry around all my digital books with me. Ah, that's one more addition to my list of 'Things I want to buy myself one day'. It just keeps getting longer. Sometimes I think by the time I get around to being able to afford all the things on it, they'll probably be obsolete. And then I'll have to make a new list but won't be able to afford that and it'll turn into a vicious cycle with me never getting around to ticking anything off it.
Oh, there I go rambling again. I was talking about books. I really need something new to read. I wish I get one or two on my birthday in November, preferably romance or chick-lit, but heck, anything will do. Though, it's okay if I don't. There is only one thing that I REALLY want this birthday and it's neither materialistic nor for myself. It's for someone else but will affect me too indirectly and I'll just be happy if God grants me that one little wish.
Anyways, speaking of books, I was going to write about the books I grew up reading. The first real novels I delved into were by Enid Blyton: The Famous Five Series, followed by Malory Towers and St. Clare's.

I got the first three Malory Towers books bound into one thick edition as a prize for putting in good effort in the fourth grade. Somehow, the book ended up mysteriously disappearing from the shelf I stored it in. I never found out what happened to it but I wish I still had it as a momento.
Along with those, came books by Judy Blume: The Fudge Series, Blubber, It's not the end of the world, Then again maybe I won't, Tiger Eyes, Are you there God it's me Margaret, Just as long as we're together, Here's to you Rachel Robinson, and the most 'grown-up' book of them all, Forever.

Forever deals with teenage sexuality and I remember when we were immature pre-teens, there was a great fascination/obsession regarding this book. If another kid found out you'd borrowed it from the school library, word would spread and there would be a great hullabaloo about your choice of novels.
Then of course was my favorite series of books before I discovered Harry Potter: The Sweet Valley Series.

I guess it was all teenage chick-lit but I loved it, especially Sweet Valley University! Unfortunately, I never managed to read every one of the books like I'd wanted but I'm still hoping that one day I will. What's worse is that when I left Kenya, I sold off or gave away the few copies I did have. Today, I have only one left: Sweet Valley High: Elizabeth's Secret Diary. I like going back to its old, yellowing pages every now and then and being thrown back into that world of my adolescence. One day, I want to own the entire SVU series! (Yet another addition to the 'Things I want to buy myself one day' list. :P)
Then there were also a few books by Roald Dahl (like The BFG!) and the Goosebumps series by R.L.Stine and the Sweet Dreams romance series.
After all of those came Harry Potter of course. I was kind of late in getting around to giving them a try and now I'm a huge, huge, huge fan, just like thousands of people everywhere. I'm also running late to try the Twilight series. I've heard lots about it, want to read it, have the ebooks, but somehow, can't get around to doing it. I will, though. Soon. As soon as I have that ebook reader! :P Or, when I have the actual book. I wish I had a library full of racks and racks of my favorite fiction. Just like the library there was at my school. College libraries are so boring, full of thick textbooks and reference books and ancient journals and what not. Why can't they have a fiction section?
Wow, I've written such a long post. Better stop now before I bore you to death. Until next time, 'ajj disco waale khisko...bhai desi beat bajani!' (haha, it's a track from Dil Bole Hadippa which I can't stop singing. I have a feeling the movie will be pathetic but I'm going to watch it anyways because it's got my favorite guy in the whole world in it. I mean Shahid, by the way. Just thought I'd clarify since Rani is also a 'guy' in the movie. A very unconvincing one at that from what I see in the promos.)

The TV show I grew up on...and with!

I recently discovered that every weekday at 3:30p.m., Star World airs one of my favorite television shows - 7th Heaven. It's a show I used to watch years back, but still love just as much. It revolves around the Camden family of Eric (Stephen Collins), Annie (Catherine Hicks) and their seven children, and is basically a feel-good, 'clean' programme that the entire family can enjoy together. Because that is what it's about - family.
The theme song: 'When I see their happy faces smiling back at me...I know there's no greater feeling than the love of family...Where can you go when the world don't treat you right? The answer is home...it's the one place that you find...7th Heaven.'
I watched ir right from the time when there were just five children, with Matt (the oldest) being in highschool to after Annie had had twins and Mary got sent off to Buffalo and Lucy got married and had a baby girl called Savannah (beautiful name, don't you think?) and Matt was in medical school.
And of course, I watched it with family. On Satruday nights at 8 on KTN. A couple of friends used to watch it too and we'd discuss it at school on Monday. (We'd mostly discuss how totally cute all the guys were: Simon (David Gallagher), Robbie (Adam LaVorgna), Kevin (George Stults), Ben (Geoff Stults), Chandler and his twin brother whose name I've forgotten (Jeremy and James London) and - my favorite right from the first episode I saw - Matt! (Barry Watson))
I love how the series is about love and life and growing up and choices and remaining close despite being apart. I love how it's about family ties and being there for eaone another; about brothers and sisters looking after each other, loving, sharing, caring. I even love the moral messages that each episode gives out. It's rare to find a TV show that educates and addresses important controversial issues without being overly preachy. One day, I'm going to own all the seasons on DVD and watch them all over again. (If I get married and have kids, I'll make them watch it too!) 'Coz almost every episode leaves a smile on your face, even if it's a rueful or bitttersweet one at times.
Watching my fave show after so long got me thinking of other things that were an integral part of my growing-up years. For starters, there were the books I read: Enid Blyton, Judy Blume, and - best of all - the Sweet Valley series. Sweet Valley Kids, Teens, High, University...I loved them all! So much that the next post is going to be dedicated to a discussion of them (and other aspects of growing up in the '90s!)

Dil titli sa...? Sad. But cute, nonetheless :)

I love this new ad of Airtel Digital TV. Ok, so the concept isn't GREAT (I mean, you don't need mpeg4 clarity to notice the butterfly pendant!) but the music is awesome, the lyrics beautiful. And Saif looks oh so handsome! :)



It's supposed to be a secret but I can't help writing that I wish something like this would happen to me. I wish some amazing guy from my childhood would come looking for me again. Not that there was an abundance of amazing guys, (were there any at all?) but still. Though, in my fantasy, there is no Kareena-like goddess suddenly emerging out of nowhere and whisking my guy away. I mean, what is THAT about? :S

The Oceans Within Us

As children, we can't wait to grow up. But when we finally do, a lot of us would do anything to revisit those carefree days full of fun and frolic and mindless laughter. (Provided our childhood was actually like that of course.)
Because just a few years into legal 'adulthood', life begins to seem so mind-bogglingly complex, so overwhelmingly full.
Full of big dreams that hover somehwere in the distance, just waiting to be clinched yet tantalizingly out of reach; and of little hopes that 'everything' will turn out all right. Eventually.
Full of secret desires, buried deep within us; and desperate prayers whispered into the night.
Full of joys and sorrows, and the proverbial 'ups and downs'. Full of heartbreak and heartache that we come to believe make us stronger.
Full of rules and compulsions, duties and responsibilities. And expectations. Both our own and others'.
Full of unfinished business and incomplete stories; of relationships gone sour and niggling regrets.
Full of things we wish we had said or done. Or hadn't. And things we wish we could say or do now.
Full of suppressed anger simmering beneath the surface; and of repressed pain tucked away deep inside.
Full of truths we refuse to acknowlege, and of lies we talk ourselves into believing. Of fears that cripple us, of guilt that burdens us.
Full of unshed tears and forced smiles; of roles we enact and games we play.
Full of mundane activities and deadlines to meet; of time constraints and societal restraints.
Full of 'wrong' impulses and 'right' principles, and our own little biases and prejudices.
Full of memories: some fond, some bittersweet. And so many special moments we yearn to hold on to.
Full of people: those we love and those we avoid, and that rare little category of those we love yet avoid.
Full of cacophony around us, and silence within. And other times, silence around us and cacophony within.

To quote a line from the well-known Shantaram, 'We carry oceans inside of us'.
Yes, we certainly do. Some wide, some deep. Some raging, some calm. Some frozen. And some just still.
'And we are crying the oceans in our tears'.

If I could ask God just a couple of questions. . .

Dear God,

Ever since I was a kid, I have been ‘good’. I am kind to people (even those whom I don’t like) and never say or do anything to hurt someone on purpose (even those who don’t think twice about hurting me). I always put other people’s feelings and happiness before my own. I hardly ever lose my temper, and even when I do, I try not to be mean. But if by chance I am, I always apologize later and make it up to them. I never hesitate to say sorry first, even when I’m not in the wrong. I don’t spread rumors about people or break their trust. I don’t bitch.
You gave me unconventional looks, which are difficult to live with, but I accepted them and hardly ever crib about my limitations.
I’ve always been patient and understanding, caring and loving. I’m never selfish. And I try control jealousy whenever I feel it. I respect people and treat them well even when they’re just plain pissing off. (Sorry, that language is probably not appropriate in a letter to You but it’s the only way to describe them)
So, my question to You, what am I doing wrong? Why are You doing whatever it is that you are doing to me? What great wrong have I ever done to deserve this? All I wanted from You is one small, little, innocent thing. If life is all about spreading love and seeing it come back to you manifold, why am I sad? When all I ever did is love? If love is not a crime, then why do I feel guilty? Why do I feel stupid and alone? I’ve always had faith in you, God, but after all that has been going on, I can’t help but feel it ever so slightly waiver. Give me a sign, will you? That you’re there? That there is a purpose behind all this turmoil? Because all I can think right now is perhaps I shouldn’t be so good after all. ‘Coz good people are always the ones having bad things happen to them. And that sucks. Totally. And I’m fed up of it.