tAgGeD pOsT

With due apologies to Anu and Satyam for me making a delay more than usual, I go here vroom...for the tagged post.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.
Grabbed! I have the September 2006 issue of @TCS, a monthly magazine of TCS (TATA Consultancy services).
Page 18>Line 4 says>>: “..dedication to the company’s vision, we will achieve our aim of…” :-p
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
Did as long as I could and my left arm is able to touch the enclosed soft wall of my cubicle. (I am in the workplace now!)
3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Announcement of Diwali Special Programmes in Sun TV at home. It was 2 hours back while I was getting ready to start to office .
4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
10.10 am
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
10.19 am, not bad enough!
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The sound of the door getting closed by the person who came inside the project quadrant.
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Before coming to work, went to Airport yesterday late night to receive Madan and Vishnu who came down for Diwali hols from Kolkata. My intention was to actually receive the Rosogulla Tins that they were getting for me. Havent opened them yet, waiting to go home and gobble them up!
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
The Chettinad Empire Community in Orkut
9. What are you wearing?
My favy Blue Polo T-Shirt and a pair of grey trousers .
10. Did you dream last night?
Yes and I don’t remember..Some vague mental images haunted me.
11. When did you last laugh?
Just few minutes back!
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
The decorative twisted colour papers adoring the front side of my cubicle wall, a cute baloon on the ceiling wall and to my right side there is a Marker write up board where the extension numbers of Pragna and Karthik are written and a paper notice stuck to the left cubicle wall .
Phew! Made a geographical kinda description!
13. Seen anything weird lately?
Yes, just some time back in U-tube. It was real WEIRDO, Boy! The performances of Lilia Stepanova, a Contortionist in "America's got talent" TV Show.
Do check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlaI4OxQqfo.
14. What do you think of this quiz?
Cool mamu. Would remind me this day vividly when I look back at this post some day later.
15. What is the last film you saw?
KD (Tamil Movie)
16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A house in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad perhaps next to Chiranjeevi or Chandra Babu Naidu’s! And then with the rest of money, would get set go for a World Tour.
17. Tell me something about you that I(Anu/Satyam) dunno.
@ Anu: I am Somu’s (who did his MS in Kansas State Univ) cousin’s brother-in-law(btw, bit long relation enough). And from his orkut page only, I got navigated to yours from where I came into Chennai Talkies. Found it to be really good from the perspective of a Tamil-Telegu-Hindi Movie Addict as your reviews gave a whiff of freshness far from the stereotypical reviews. In fact, your conversative tone in reviews is what I like the most!
@Satyam:
That I got a Rossogulla Tin yesterday and gonna eat it all alone! And gonna watch Vallavan or DON with friends here this weekend!!
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Take the world map, place Tamilnadu/A.P alaekka (read in Vadivelu’s style) near California/Maryland so that I would be close my Akka’s and relatives place and wouldn’t miss Tamilnadu/A.P either that way. And I am sure lot many ppl too that way get benefitted.
PS: Right thaane Anu?
19. Do you like to dance?
Yes. Dance by making my own random steps in house when I am in a Kushi mood. Would dance like no one is watching!
20. George Bush.
Where is Osamaaaa!!!!!
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Would extensively search along with my would-be in Internet Names directory when the occasion comes. But I would address her by calling Chellam or Kannu or Chella Kutty or Kannu Kutty! Like my dad/mom call my sister!
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Same as 21. May be Appu in home.
23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yeh! Not one country but many! Oh Almighty, Make me a world traveler before that.
24. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
God to Kasi: Sorry, you came here by mistake. Demons are waiting for you in the other gate!
25. 5 people who must also do this in their blog.
Vishwanathan (my coll senior, an ex IIM-B ite)
Vivek (subject to his approval)
Chaitu (Let him take his own time, he is busy with IAS Mains Exams now)
Arutperungo, a fellow Prowizard.
And Osama Bin Laden, if he writes a blog, LOL !!!

News, Books, Trivia, Movies, Lessons learnt and More..

Its been almost 2 weeks from my last post and Satyam has been pushing me to update this blog. I dont have any specific subject this time, so I am going make kinda mixture as the title of this post goes...

News
The hottest debate now: Should Afzal be hanged? Should he be pardoned from the death execution penalty and be given clemency? Check out more here, if you havent followed the news of late. BJP stauchly opposes seeking Presedential pardon for him.

Shashi Tharoor is out of the race for the coveted post of UN Secretary General after US said a NO. South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon, is seen as the possible occupant and favorite among the Security Council Members' for the hot seat. Despite getting 10 votes (9 is the threshold in the straw poll) from the 15 members of Security council, Tharoor made the wise decision of quitting the fray, giving way to Mr. Moon. Still, pats to you Sir for making to almost the finals of the race. We are proud of you.

Something this kind was ever unheard before -- India and Pakistan have joined hands together to set up a Joint Anti Terrorism institutional Mechanism. Stockholm syndrome kya? More here.

Books
Talking about Pakistan, I just remember that Pervez Musharaf has come up with a memoir called In the Line of Fire. From what I read on its review and postmosterm of the book, it seems to be an amazing piece of FICTION spun with real life characters. Disclaimers may perhaps be like this: " Resemblance to any characters living or dead may be purely coincidental." Musharaff has been described as a chronic liar. Google and find more abt it.

Trivia
Akira Haraguchi makes a world record by reciting the value of pi's decimal value to 100000 places from memory. The news here.

Megalomania: Anousheh Ansari, goes on her expedition to Space, reportedly the world's most expensive affair in paid tourism! More on her in Wikipedia. Dont miss checking her space blog

Movies and Lessons learnt
Did see only a tamil movie which goes by the name KD. It was hopeless and so am not putting any space or point for its 5 point review. There is actually no point in watching it. Ranju and me had to suffer while coming back from the movie, we got drenched heavily in the rain. Still to recover from the trauma caused by the movie and the side effects. Learnt a lesson for the n+1th time that dont watch without any preview or opinion. It was a blind selection for which we had to pay and suffer. Didnt see BOSS as I got bad exit review from my roomies. Thank god, saved 100 bucks in that way. Btw, heard excellent reviews about Nagesh Kukunoor's DOR, which is next on my mission. Shall see it next weekend when I'd be back to good health and goodwill.

Stalin and Em Magan

Adding two more reviews of the movies that I saw during this week...

Stalin [Telugu]
1) You probably would have heard of binary marketing or Referral marketing, (like Amway), where one sells products by referring 2 or more persons and they in turn do the same further to propagate the chain reaction; Stalin has a similar theme but on the social front based on the Hollywood flick Pay it Forward.
2) Stalin has all the elements of a Chiru fare – Action, Dance, Social message, Masala and loads of sentiments; and if you are keen on logic, then its not your game.
3) Plus: Main storyline, Chiru’s dance, Parare Parare song, Certain scenes that steal your heart (especially the running race scene of Physically challenged children, where a child gets tripped and falls to the ground seeing which the other children in the race come back, cooperate with him and they all together reach the winning post. Really touching..) and the climax.
4) Minus: Songs and their inappropriate timing of insertion, Brahmanandam (who was underutilized) and much violence.
5) Verdict: If you are a Chiru fan then, go ahead, it lives to the expectation offered by the MegaStar’s package.

Em Magan (Emttan Magan) [Tamil]

1) Metti Oli Thirumurugan’s maiden direction venture Em Magan is sprun across a village subject, where Bharat plays the subservient son to the loud and tyrant father (Nasser) and the plot ends with a smooth ending where Nasser realizes his folly and gets along well with everyone.
2) Em Magan has a whiff of freshness in its Senti cum Family fare that has all elements of a feel good movie and most importantly has the flavour and nativity of the rustic essence.
3) Plus: Clearly it is the omnipresent Vadivelu this time who has given a good comedy with his typical gramatthu dialect throughout the movie, the Gramaththu Saayal (its long time after Bharathiraja a nice village subject with picturisation has come), Bharat and Nasser’s diametrically opposite characters and Saranya who has a solid performance.
4) Minus: Nasser’s illogical histrionics at some of the scenes irritate you and the too dramatic consequential part after Bharat-Gopika affair when it gets noticed by the elder folks.
5) Verdict: I find it to be very good and give a full recommendation to watch it; also I find a personal attachment and belongingness as the movie is almost fully shot in Karaikudi, which is my hometown!

Friday Review

15/11 (friday) 10 pm (IST)

Hey, hey, hey....It is friday evening. I am in a euphoric state. So I shall be looking into the left out movie reviews now ;-)

Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (Tamil)

1. Sillunu Oru Kadhal released just days before the wedding of the lead pair Surya-Jo has a surprisingly different package with a slight off-the-beat crux inside.
2. SOK doesnt disappoint as publicised which has a bold subject of a Wife(Jothika) going to the extent of making her hubby (Surya) to live at least one day with his former lady love (Bhumika) on knowing the same years later; and as expected Indian Sentiment triumphs! (Watch yourself to see how)
3. Plus: Music (New York Nagaram rocks all the way!), the child artiste (as Surya-Jo's daughter), -- she is choooo cute, Picturisation.
4. Minus: The drag in the second half, Vadivelu part -- Gosh, it was incongruent to the movie with crass humour, Conspiciously excessive Advertising of products (Maruti Swift, Pepsi, TVS Star, Boost, Aircel, Maggi, Head & Shoulders!! !)
5. Verdict: Personally I liked SOK, tho' few may not concur..In any case, it is definitely watchable despite the subtle flaws in the storyline.

PS - Trivia: I saw the movie shooting (and Surya as well) from very near while it was being shot in my college for few of the college locations in the movie..When the football ground (thats our hostel ground) sequence in Munbae Vaa..Anbe Vaa song, I was there seeing!


Lage Raho Munna Bhai (Hindi)
1. Mark my words, this movie absolutely rocks and promises to be on the line of its prequel MunnaBhai MBBS that does not miss the essence and mark of the Munnabhai brand's flavour.
2. Pats to the script writers who have contributed the fresh concept of Gandhigiri (with Satya and Ahimsa) possible to bring about peace in day to day problems involving people.
3. Plus: Gandhigiri, Novel approach in handling the story, the Munna-Circuit pair's Looti, the gorgeous and simple Vidya Balan and cast, which is almost same as that of version 1.0 (except for Vidya Balan)
4. Minus: At times, there are logical flaws (but very few). But overall, it doesnt matter though.
5. Verdict: Bindaas... Ekdum Solid Maamu


Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (Tamil)
1. Another episode in a Police officer's life: Kamal, a Crime branch Cop is in the hunt of a Psychopath who is behind a series of brutal murders. The Modus Operandi of Kamal’s investigation, his past and present personal life and the new lady love (Jothika) forms the rest of the story.
2. Many movies have come with similar story line before, but VV is fresh with its presentation, screenplay and photography but dont tend to compare with Kaaka Kaaka.
3. Plus: Music (Songs are hit since long back), beautiful picturisation of New York Nagaram and the stunt sequences.
4. Minus: Logic part -- Hard to digest that all alone 2 men take the New York Cops and Tamilnadu Police (force) in for a ride with a comfortably large number of murders all the way they go! And likewise many others
5. Verdict: Go for it! Disclaimer: Opinions vary

Bommarillu (Telugu)
1. A feel good movie that primarily portrays the bonding between an excessively caring dad and a son who wants to be independent, their aspirations and thinking.
2. Bommarillu has all the elements of a class movie with decent portrayal of characters, beautiful songs (literally all!) and most importantly promises to deliver more than what you expect.
3. Plus: Though Silly, Genalia is cute with her ChatterBox role; Prakashraj- Sidharth as father-son duo who have done justice to their roles, Music and Comedy.
4. Minus: Err....I dint find any.
5. Verdict: I recommend to all those who havent seen. Definitely a must see, I should say!

FWD-O-MANIA

It was Actor Surya-Jo's wedding yesterday and the affair ended well with the presence of all big-wigs of politics and Tamil cinema. And boy, the couple looked awesome in all the pics... At least a dozen of those forwards I recieved in my mail box today.

Good heavens, nothing this kind of crappy mail came for the past few days.. Gosh, I actually posted this comment on that blog (FYI given below) :

" I too am a victim of many such fwd mails — stuff like Ganesha Mantra, Microsoft and AOL pays u XX.xx $ for every x fwd, 5 yr old child being paid medical expenses for every nth fwd, lady seeking info on her hubby’s rare disease dated years long back, Promotional offer/ Ad campaign by giving free Nokia mobile, Laptops, IPods and whatnot for fwding their mails and the most irritating kind being ‘if u dont fwd within ___days/hrs; u will have bad luck for ___years (curse is at times elevated to even immediate death!) -- Kasi "

Fountain Head

Its been movie reviews all this time in my blog.. Actually I still have left Bommarillu, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and Lage Raho Munnabhai to be added..And Munnabhai was AWESOME!

But I feel this is going more kinda Movie Tabloid..So for a change I am not posting the reviews immediately...

I ve come to home this weekend.. Things on my agenda are to attend a wedding and Kumbabhishegam of my oor temple.. And last month, I finished reading Fountain Head by Ayn Rand which I started somewhere back in my B.E 1st year. The first 200 or so pages didnt delight me then and it was long kept unread. Add to it generous circulations among my friends and later getting fabulous reviews on it, I took a sudden interest and finished it in installments over the last few months. I just loved every page of the book in the last few chapters, in particular, when more of objectivism is enlightened through Roark. Got to know and appreciate as well lots of things about Architecture throughout the book... And I should say, Roark's speech in the Courtland Trial is a masterpiece.
I shall add more about it when I get time..

Parijatham

This weekend I had been to Madurai to attend one of my classmates brother's wedding.. It was all fun catching up class buddies after a pretty long gap...

Used the michhum chochham gap to come home and presented my mom a new DVD Player. It was an LG make with all the fundoo features. The player was inaugurated for its operations with the SPY KIDS DVD in the show room on demo[nstration] causa. May be the sales person forgot to remove it and the DVD came to our home along with the player!

Back at home, the first full length movie which we saw in it was Parijatham.. It was first time for me and I really wonder how come I missed watching it all these days... Boy, the movie was Enjoyable! And I declare open the review below!

1. Backiaraj's home Production Parijatham is a hit which also happens to be a launch pad for his daughter Saranya, who is cute with her pleasant demeanour.
2. The suave Hero Pruthviraj has done good job with his enjoyable Mallu'ed Tamil Accent and the Music is good, especially the numbers Unnai kandathum.., theme music et. al stay close to the heart (I ve made the next point lighter by putting this here!)
3. Plus: Backiaraj's subtle humour, etching and portrayal of characters and sensible dialogues topped with some good old sayings as a pleasant reminder to the situations in the movie; Pruthviraj's jovial protryal in the First half of the movie (for the fictitious Parijatham Novel penned by Saranya)
4. Minus: The hackneyed Niruthunga Intha Kalyanatha at the climax making a bakra and bakri out of might-be prospective bride/groom of the hero/heroine and Pruthviraj has nothing worthwhile to do in the second half, may be he could have been utilised better.
5. Verdict: I definitely would recommend watching this feel-good-and-leave-better fare, but dont get much deep into the logic part of the second half...

Marathon Movie Reviews

Hold your breath.. I am gonna post my trademark 5 point movie reviews - this time it is much much longer than ever. It almost accounts for the new movies that I ve seen in the past 2 months. Well, I am going in the reverse chronological order I saw.

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna [K.A.N.K] (Hindi)

1. Karan Johar's new venture disappoints with its weird storyline unlike his previous blockbusters KKHH, K3G and KHNH.
2. For a change, I guess SRK has taken Emraan Hashmi's job by fitting into his Infidelity bill!
3. Plus: Music - All songs rock especially Party song and Mitwa as well the Rock n Roll number, Comedy in the first half and cinematography
4. Minus: The story itself - fails to appeal and empathize the Indian Audience
5. Verdict: KANK may be a KALANK; but very much watchable once though .

Thimiru (Tamil)

1. Following successive hits - Chellamae and SandaKozhi, Hero Vishal comes all packed for yet another opening, which has all the ingredients of a racy masala cum action movie.
2. First half of the movie goes with ease when compared with second half, which drags with a unjustifyingly poor flashback with the acerbic Shriya Reddy (she does a very artificial and unconvincing Negative Role).
3. Plus: Stunts (Action), Vadivelu comedy, Vishals Background music and First half.
4. Minus: Songs (Except Manamadurey) and Second half.
5. Verdict: Can be watched once but dont expect it in the genre of Dil, Dhool or Gilli.

[Something..Something]Unakkum Enakkum (Tamil)

1. Yet another colour xerox copy from Remake Raja, this time from Prabhudeva's Telugu blockbuster Nuvostanante Nenodantana, which has a fine blend of DDLJ and Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya.
2. Has all the elements of a feel good movie, an impressive star cast and yup nice songs too!
3. Plus: Story, Music and Santhanam's comedy.
4. Minus: The drag in the climax and Jeyam Ravi's choice for the UK-returned-chilled-out character unlike Sidharth (with his long hairdo) in the original version which he did it with ease.
5. Verdict: Good. Watch it if you havent seen the Telugu version, else leave it as it is the same!

Omkaara (Hindi)

1. Vishal Bharadhwaj's Omkaara is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello confining to a UP village with power, politics and lust in the game.
2. The movie has an impressive star cast and there are no songs here.
3. Plus: Definitely Saif with his Langda character, Ajay Devgan and the typical deep rooted Hindi dialogues with the flavour of authentic-rustic-ambience of rural UP/ Bihar .
4. Minus: A conspicious drag through out the movie, love making scenes and incoherence at times in the movie.
5. Verdict: Not a family movie, watch it if you have inclination for such bold movies.

Amma Cheppindhi (Telugu)

1. A novel attempt in presentation, Amma Cheppindhi is an off the beat movie sans masala, the whole story which is spun around the colony and people of a fictious Nuclear Power Plant Nagar.
2. Central theme focusses on the sacrifice laid by a Not so intelligent, funny and adorable Hero Shravan.
3. Plus: Picturisation, Clean presentation, First half and Suhasini's character.
4. Minus: The not so convincing melodrama in the climax and drag in some of the scenes, esp. the senti ones.
5. Veridict: Amma Cheppindhi may be like Amma Champindhi, but it is definitely bearable on the whole.

Uyir (Tamil)

1. Hmmm.. Uyir is on the lines of 'Vaali' or the recent 'Kalabhak-Kadalan', only change this time is it is the female who has an incest love on her young brother-in-law.
2. Apparently, the movie has done good business without getting stuck into any kind of controversy and if I am not wrong it has got rare reviews too.
3. Plus: The electrifying Sangeetha's Arundhati Character (she shadows Srikanth in the movie!) and two of the songs that are quite melodious.
4. Minus: Samvridhi, the actual Heroine and some of the irritating kinda Sangeeta's expressions.
5. Watching Uyir is not suicidal ;-) though one gets to see too many suicides in the movie which noticably starts with a Non Suicidal note !

Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi

1. One of the best movies made in recent times, Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi with the ambience of an East Man colour movie has all the flavors of a quintessential Comedy hit.
2. Though I am not an ardent fan of Vadivelu, I find him good in this movie where he does both the roles with finesse and comic mettle (Vadivelu has double Action here).
3. Plus: Comedy,dialogues, the chaste Tamil used in the movie which one rarely gets to hear these days and yeah Vadivelu, of course.
4. Minus: The heroines who had nothing worthwhile to do and though I appreicate the language used, I personally found tad difficult to follow some of the dialogues.
5. Verdict: A roar out laughter riot, 23 aam.. definitely is the watch of the season.


Vikramaarkudu (Telugu)

1. Vikramaarkudu is again another Masala Mass movie from Ravi Teja which has all the proscribed dance, crass comedy, masala songs and yeah dialogues so much typical in any telugu mass movie.
2. Movie has no great plot, it simply is a fine mixture of previous movies, but yes, it has a refreshing element in it with Anna Ravi Teja is double action for the first time.
3. Plus: Ravi Teja as Rathore and his dialogues
4. Minus: Songs that doesnt match the pace of the movie, Crass comedy and Violence part.
5. Veridict: Hmm.. I wouldnt really advocate to watch it, but if you are simply left with nothing to do and laze away around 2 and a half hours, then go ahead!

Thiruttu Payalae (Tamil)

1. With a refreshingly new plot, the movie is certainly far away from the cliched approach when looked at any angle.
2. The way the characters are etched, especially Jeevan's is fabulous and things are presented nicely without much boisterous screenplay.
3. Plus: The gorgeous Sonia Agarwal, songs especially the opening number Thiruttu Payalae and Poi Solla poraen.. which pulsates me even now and the climax that goes totally unexpected.
4. Minus: Not much though and its quite long time since I had seen the movie that I am unable to ponder upon its minusses!
5. Verdict: Watchable once and even twice, pats to Susi Ganesan (director) for the good job that has a good message in the climax.

Godavari (Telugu)

1. This is one of the best movies that I must say I ve seen in the recent years; surely it is a landmark in the annals of Telugu Kollywood's 'Klass' movies.
2. Watching the movie is a treat to enjoy Godavari's splendid picturisation and the movie goes in a decent pace, doesnt make you bore throughout the fare.
3. Plus: The Godavari backdrop with beautiful lightening and cinematography, pleasant songs, the suave Kamlini Mukherjee, soft spoken but bhatka and confused sa Suman and also the doggy that speaks gr8 thought provoking dialogues!
4. Minus: Couldnt find any, the story was natural and it was a wholesome pleasure in watching it.
5. Verdict: Hats off to Shekhar Kammulla, the young director who has presented us such a wonderful movie that has a long lasting impression. Go and watch the movie, if you havent!