tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193361122024-03-07T09:26:19.232+05:30Rex In The CityWannabe tragic heroine... the tales and woes... and inbetweens of uncharacteristic intelligent remarksAparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-22362324582722992532016-02-16T16:59:00.001+05:302019-07-16T11:46:23.247+05:30I have shifted to a new site <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">To read more articles by me please visit my website </span></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-37129401435667812922015-07-25T13:44:00.000+05:302015-07-25T13:44:00.138+05:30Top summer vacation spots in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Summer vacations are just round the corner and many are looking to escape the heat as the summer sun beats down on all and sundry. People are packing their bags and getting ready to leave the the hustle bustle of the cities to enjoy the beautiful tourist spots that are getting ready for the people to start pouring in this holiday season.<br /><br />Here is a list of the top destinations that people head for every summer:<br /><br />Shimla<br /><br />The favourite of every Delhiite this hill station is beautiful and boasts of being the top most visited spot in the summer. Whether it is honeymooners or just travellers from around the country, Shimla is one of the most beautiful places to visit this summer. Cool temperatures, lovely views and something to do for everyone. The touch of the British Raj and the architecture reflecting that era is fascinating as are the multiple small places nearby that one can drive down to.<br /><br />Mahabaleshwar<br /><br />Mahabaleshwar is famous for its temple and the fact that it is the source of the Krishna river. It offers a spectacular view of the Deccan plateau and is a preferred destination for the Mumbaikars. Surrounded by trees all around, the Venna lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar. Other places to visit are the fort of Pratapgad, Needle Hole Point or the Elephant Point, 3 Monkey Point and many others<br /><br />Ooty<br /><br />The queen of hill stations, Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri ranges. Like Shimla, this beautiful vacation spot is also accessible by train and the ride is indeed dreamy. Beautiful mountains, lakes, tea gardens sprawling the slopes of the hills, the heady smell of eucalyptus fascinated the British years ago and still captures the imagination of the romantics all over the world.<br /><br />Ladakh<br /><br />Ladakh is possibly heaven for all adventure sport enthusiasts and people who love driving to their destinations. Each of the mountains boast of a different colour and the lakes reflect the hue of the skies like a large mirror placed on the ground. Speckled with monasteries all around, Ladakh is every travellers dream destination and many go there every year in search of peace and revel in the wonders of nature.<br /><br /><div>
Gangtok<br /><br />The site of Kanchenjunga, a morning walk in fresh mountain air, flowers all around, beautiful music wafting through every cafe in the evening, along with the aroma of fresh Tibetan food, Gangtok boasts of this all. The capital of Sikkim became a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site after the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840. The diverse ethnic populace of the town keeps the colours of the town alive.</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-43078615594290348112015-07-21T19:25:00.000+05:302015-07-21T19:25:49.936+05:30Baahubali movie review: Visually spellbinding epic, worth a watch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As far as epics are concerned, Indian mythology is rich – whether in its characters or intricacy of plot. SS Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' borrows the essence of an Indian epic complete with a god-like hero and power-play of brothers fighting for the throne. Undoubtedly, he succeeds in making a great impression.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Both Prabhas and Rana Dagubatti play brothers-turned-foes and the larger than life story follows their path of fighting for the kingdom of Mahishmati. But the first part of the actual 290 minute period film just starts with how the struggle begins and it will leave you wanting more.<br />
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Firstly, the movie is not just 'large' in its scale, it is colossal. The visual effects and the action-choreography matches up to Hollywood. Once the war sequence starts, you would instantly remember period films like '300' or 'Troy'. In fact, in a particular sequence as the Mahishmati defense builds a wall against the enemy you would catch glimpses of both these movies. The bloody battle, the twists in the strategy as both brothers fight their common enemy - the tribal king Kalakeya, the detailing in armory and even the enemy will have you hooked.<br />
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The war scene will dazzle you, even the 40 minute-long battle will leave you wanting more.<br />
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The film's spectacular action sequences have been choreographed by Peter Hein and he has indeed put a lot of effort in making it look grand. The VFX by Srinivas Mohan adds to the entire experience. Both have put the Herculean vision of the director in place and formed a perfect team with the art director of the film, Sabu Cyril – creating everything from scratch - from building a waterfall, a mountainous terrain to creating an army of 30,000 people.<br />
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Prabhas and Dagubatti are perfect for their respective roles as Baahubali and Bhallala Deva. Chiseled bodies, powerful stance and they perform their stunts with elan. Each captures the entire screen keeping up with the grandiose of the film. Prabhas fails in emoting during the few love scenes though, looking positively out of place. Tamannaah, (as Avantika) is supposed to be playing an assassin but quickly loses sight of her objective and is sidelined to accommodate the hero into the main storyline. There are some laughable moments on the screen as these two interact but as the second half approaches these flaws can easily be forgotten--and action starts taking over.<br />
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Anushka Shetty (as Devasena) is disappointing in this film. The biggest wonder is that after investing so much on the sets and everything else, why did they not get someone better for make-up and age the character as it required? She not only looked bad, but her “Mera Beta Ayega” was reminiscent of Rakhee from 'Karan Arjun'. And with the Hindi dubbing, the scene was more unintentionally hilarious than emotional, as I presume the director wanted us to feel.<br />
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Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami is impressive and is the only female character who stands out. Veteran actor Sathyaraj is also great as a primary supporting cast.<br />
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The romantic song in the film was so unnecessary but the background score complements the film in every way.<br />
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The Baahubali of the film is the VFX which carries the film on its shoulders and the visuals will keep you totally spell bound in the second half. V. Vijayendra Prasad, has written this epic from scratch and the storyline is intriguing (even if you know who will win at the end).<br />
<br />
This film is worth watching simply to bask in the future of what Indian epics can be portrayed as, if only someone like Rajamouli can have the courage to visualise it! Watch it – you would want to hold your breath for the sequel. </div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-72678485160614154382015-07-21T18:12:00.002+05:302015-07-21T18:12:32.559+05:30Five women directors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Women are getting involved in
film-making more than ever before. Women directors are taking over
the industry by storm giving us some of the most memorable films in
the past decade. Be it masala blockbuster maker Farah Khan or Gauri
Shinde who made the beautiful 'English Vinglish' that touched our
hearts.</div>
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</div>
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But the industry has seen a lot of
female directors who have challenged the otherwise male dominated
B-town. Here is a list of some of the best the industry has seen:
</div>
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</div>
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<b>Deepa Mehta</b></div>
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'Earth', 'Water', 'Fire' – Mehta the
Indo-Canadian filmmaker has had her share of controversies as she
touches topics of homosexuality, partition and many others. But the
way she handles her subject, this talented director has received
heavy international acclaim as well. Both '1947 Earth' and 'Water'
were sent to be nominated for Oscars.
</div>
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</div>
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<b>Kalpana Lajmi</b></div>
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Being an artist is in Lajmi's blood.
Daughter of painter Lalita Lajmi and niece of auteur Guru Dutt, she
has some of the best parallel films to her credit, the most famous of
which is 'Rudaali' starring Dimple Kapadia. 'Daman', a woman centric
film starring Raveena Tandon(who won a National Award for her role)
was highly appreciated by critics and audiences for the realistic
portrayal of marital abuse and its message of women empowerment.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<b>Aparna Sen</b></div>
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A big name in Bengali cinema as an
actress in her time, when Sen forayed into going behind the camera
the anticipation was huge. She turned out to be one of the best
behind as well. '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981) connected emotionally
with her audience and she has never looked back. 'Iti Mrinalini',
'Mr. and Mrs. Iyer', 'The Japanese Wife', 'Goynar Baksho' have all
been very well received by the audience and people are only waiting
for more.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<b>Sai Paranjpye</b></div>
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This Padma Bhushan Awardee has given us
some of the most memorable movies in the 80s and the 90s. The most
well known of them is 'Sparsh' which went on to win three National
Awards as well as three Filmfare Awards. Her comedy 'Chashme Baddoor'
remains a classic even today. Sai made another heart warming musical
film called 'Saaz' in 1997 which also starred internationally
acclaimed tabla artist Zakir Hussain.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<b>Mira Nair</b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Possibly the most well known female
director from India in the international circuit, Mira Nair is known
for portraying human stories on the big screen. 'Salaam Bombay', her
first film was successful in putting her on the map and her
subsequent work ('Namesake', 'Monsoon Wedding' etc.) has only
strengthened her position as one of the best filmmakers India has
produced. </div>
</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-25999245806329589352015-07-21T17:42:00.001+05:302015-11-09T23:57:15.761+05:30Top 5 Hrithik Roshan dancesCheck out my compilation:<br /><br />
<a href="http://englishadmin.zeenews.india.com/entertainment/slideshow/top-5-hrithik-roshan-dances_341.html#.Va43INTOmyw.blogger">Top 5 Hrithik Roshan dances | Zee News</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><center><a href="http://www.as-seen-on-tv-top-products.com/esteban-guitar-lesson.asp"><img border="0" src="http://www.pureairhits.com/clean.php?page=http://quixotic-deceit.blogspot.com/&digit=v10" alt="Esteban Guitar"></a></center>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-85434433082381031492015-07-21T16:19:00.001+05:302015-07-21T16:23:08.969+05:30Six offbeat movies to look out for in 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2015 is sure to be exciting with many
big releases scheduled and interesting pairs coming on screen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But many films which are off the beaten
track are releasing this year too. While some have already made a
massive impact in film festivals all over the world. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Liar's dice</div>
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<br /></div>
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Releasing in march this year, the movie
has already won accolades in many film festivals and received two
national awards in india. Geetanjali thapa and nawazuddin
siddiqui star in this geetu mohandas movie which is a human drama
dealing with the issue of migration, exploitation and revealing the
socio-political scenario of the subcontinent. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Margarita, with a straw</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This movie starring kalki koechlin is
likely to release in india in 2015. Directed by shonali bose, this
movie explores the story of a girl suffering from cerebral palsy and
her struggles with being accepted as a normal person in the society.
The trailer was very well received in india, and the movie itself has
garnered quite a few accolades world over. </div>
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X</div>
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<br /></div>
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Not one but 11 directors have made this
movie. It is one story being told by 11 different directors in part.
The experimental cinema is definitely a must watch with one actor
rajat kapoor and 12 lead actresses. Abhinav shiv tiwari, anu menon,
nalan kumarasamy, hemant gaba, pratim d. Gupta, q, raja
sen, rajshree ojha, sandeep mohan, sudhish kamath and
suparn verma are going to helm the different parts of the film.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tigers</div>
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<br /></div>
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Previously called 'white lies', this
emraan hashmi starrer is being directed by award winning
international film-maker danis tanovic. The movie is scheduled to
release on march 6, 2015. Based in pakistan, 'tigers' traces the
journey of a real life pharmacuetical employee who goes against the
big corporates. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Nyodda</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma in a Meghna Gulzar movie is sure to intrigue any movie goer. Vishal Bharadwaj has produced the movie, while Gulzar himself is penning the
lyrics. This movie is based on the real life infamous incident of the
arushi talwar murder case which happened in noida. Tabu is likely to
make a special appearance too. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Tumbad</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sohum shah who starred in the
successful movie 'ship of theseus', broke all stereotypes and cliches
in indian cinema. His next movie 'tumbad' is being looked forward to
for the very reason. The bar is set high for the actor and one is
only waiting to see what magic he can create in the horror epic being
directed by debutant rahi anil barve. </div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-57178153868152626152015-07-08T17:41:00.000+05:302015-07-21T15:05:50.952+05:30Sikkim Travelogue: Flowers, mountains and snow - a trip to remember<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<br /></div>
Planning a trip and checking boxes while travelling has never been my forte. What I do like is stuffing a few T-shirts in a backpack and taking off whenever I can get some days off. Alas! Growing up has its disadvantages – you cannot just up and leave as you want. And if you are planning to go to Sikkim – that is not an option anyway.<br />
<br />
Travelling with my recently travel bug-bitten husband, Sikkim required an advance planning by a few weeks. Not only because it is far from Delhi, which is my home, but you also have to take special permissions to go to the places near the border areas.<br />
<br />
After speaking to a couple of friends who had been there before, we decided <br />
<a name='more'></a>on a home-stay in Gangtok. The guy who arranged it all was a local, Jigme, who arranged for everything once we were in the state. Food throughout the stay, a car to take us for local sightseeing, a more experienced driver and a stronger car to take us to the more remote parts of the state--this young lad took care of it all.<br />
<br />
We had heard that all-vegetarian meals would be difficult to get in Sikkim, especially in the far north as vegetation is sparse and locals are all meat-eaters. But to my total surprise there was not only vegetarian food available all over the state, even Jain food (no onions and garlic) is not very hard to find--thanks to a boom in tourism for the state. Though the menu lacked variety, but the food was decent and no one took it for granted that their visitors were meat-eaters.<br />
<br />
After driving up to Gangtok from the New Jalpaiguri Station in West Bengal, we rested for the first night. The next day was spent around the capital city - the monasteries and the local market where you can walk about. The Rumtek monastery, largest in Sikkim, is tucked away near the city in a very peaceful location surrounded by mountains. The quiet of the hills added to the beautiful sound of gongs from the monastery, takes you on an inward spiritual trip. The mind gets cleared of its tensions and you can just sit and enjoy the serenity.<br />
<br />
Only regret is that the mighty Kanchenjunga decided not to show her face to us even though our hotel provided a panoramic view of where the peak is supposed to be. So, instead we decided to entertain ourselves with the rock-and-roll culture of the city. We visited several popular hangouts, most of which featured English music and live bands.<br />
<br />
Next on the list was a visit to Lachung and Zero Point. Unfortunately, Zero Point was inaccessible as the roads were snowed in, but the drive to Lachung was an adventure in itself. The roads are treacherous since they are damaged by snow in the winter every year and it takes a lot of effort by the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) to mend the entire state's highways. However, the views are breathtaking. Snow capped peaks, sharp slopes, small and big waterfalls spattered along the way.<br />
<br />
Lachung is placed at an elevation of about 9,600 ft at the confluence of the Lachen River and Lachung River, tributaries of the River Teesta. The sunrise at Lachung is awe-inspiring. The snow capped peaks reflect the golden rays of the sun onto the river which in turn looks like a golden piece of cloth lying on the valley. It was so bright that we had to wear our sunglasses to keep off the glare at 7 in the morning in February.<br />
<br />
We drove up to the Yumthang Valley – which in spring is a riot of colours. Although, when we went, it was covered with heavy snow. There are lots of trekking routes around Yumthang since we did not have proper permissions, taking up that challenge was not possible.<br />
<br />
The highlight of the trip was our drive to Tsongmo Lake (popularly known as Changu Lake) and the Baba Temple near the Nathu La pass.<br />
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The temple is not dedicated to a local deity or a known god or goddess, but Sikkimese people hold this temple in great reverence. This temple is dedicated to a ghost army officer – Baba Harbhajan Singh, who died in 1967 and it is believed that he still protects people from threats in the area. Indian army personnel testify to the fact that Baba helps protect them from getting lost in the inhospitable terrain and also slaps anyone who sleeps off during duty. The temple is surrounded by snow, and there is no human habitation for miles and miles. I was just awed by the dedication of the soldiers who are posted at this border during the harsh winter months, when temperatures drop much below the freezing point.<br />
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The visit to Tsongmo Lake is a prayer in itself – to mother nature. The beautiful lake is situated in the rift between two peaks. The water is crystal clear and you can almost see the bottom. The bluest of skies reflects on the surface like a giant mirror placed on the ground. One of the slopes of the mountain had fresh snow while the other lay bare – giving the feeling that we were right at the centre of the Chinese energy balance symbol - Yin Yang. There are yak rides available to go around the lake, but walking along the lake's side is also quite peaceful.<br />
<br />
Sikkimese people are very friendly and many have a lot of folklore to share, along with some delicious food. The Sikkimese cuisine has heavy Tibetan influences. Thukpa, momo, Saelroti, Phagshapa and Dal Bhat (Dal and rice) are the most popular, but no Sikkim visit is complete without tasting Chang – the local alcoholic beverage made out of cereals and traditionally sipped through a narrow-bore bamboo tube called a pipsing.<br />
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This little state of India boasts of grandeur of the mighty Himalayas and the peace of various monasteries. There are so many other places to visit in Sikkim including Guru Dongmar Lake and the tea gardens. Sikkim beckons us again. God willing another trip shall be soon!</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-14853283471096259802015-07-04T17:35:00.002+05:302015-11-14T21:08:05.526+05:30The fantabulous achievements of FTII chairman Gajendra Chauhan!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Protests over the appointment of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chairman are still going on. Students have come together to stand against the decision of the seat being taken by a certain Mr Gajendra Chauhan; as it is perceived that he was given the privilege of being at the helm of affair due to his political leanings and not experience in the world of cinema.<br />
<br />
While the general consensus on this issue is that it was done to 'keep an eye' on the institution, its students and faculty--there has been no move as such from the Information and Broadcast Ministry regarding the matter. It seems that things stand at a stalemate.<br />
<br />
Chauhan's experience has been questioned in this entire affair, but should that really be an issue?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Agreed that FTII does produce some of the best auteurs and artists that Indian cinema has seen since its inception in 1960 - Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jaya Bachchan, Om Puri, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, RajKummar Rao, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and the list goes on and on.<br />
<br />
But are they the people that have made Indian cinema proud? OK Yes, they have.<br />
<br />
Wrong question.<br />
<br />
Are they the people who are shaping our country's cinema? Yes, that too.<br />
<br />
OK, do they have the experience to shape the future of Indian cinema? Surely, but enough with the questions. My point is that these stalwarts don't stand a chance against Gajendra Chauhan's work experience.<br />
<br />
He was recently quoted as saying, “People of FTII have not seen my capabilities.”<br />
<br />
Come on! This man played Yudhishthir in the BR Chopra's epic 'Mahabharat', but people have been saying that this is his only big project! How dare they? How can they forget the great movies he has been part of?<br />
<br />
I understand that most of them were B-Grade – but surely all of us know that these movies do better than the 'artsy boring types' which are shaped by Shyam Benegal, Smita Patil and the likes. What chance does National Award winning 'Bhumika' have in front of the 2000 hit revenge saga 'Billa No 786'?<br />
<br />
If only that was it. He has played pivotal roles in 'Arjun Deva', 'Dharma Karma' 'Parwana', 'Vishwavidhaata' and the romantic movie 'Uff! Yeh Mohabbat'. By pivotal I mean not so much! It is not only B-Grade films that have starred Chauhan, there have been some hit Bollywood mainstream films too that featured him. He has done a variety of roles from being a car salesman in 'Baghban' to being a lawyer in 'Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat'.<br />
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How can anybody question the man who faced several challenges while preparing for all these character roles?<br />
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How can they say he does not have experience? Yes, compared to ex directors like Girish Karnad, Adoor Gopalkrishnan and most recently Saeed Akhtar Mirza, he does fall a tiny bit short. But it is certainly unfair to say that someone, who has been a part of the biggest epic Indian television saga but subsequently fallen flat on face, will not be capable of heading such a premiere institute of creative arts.<br />
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It is not for the lack of trying on Chauhan's part. After all, he did try to make it big on the small screen with 'Mohini', which was a TV movie, back in 1994, but his next big role on the 35 mm format came in the form of a horror show.<br />
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Are these contributions too small? Are these roles insignificant compared to the others' who were in contention for the post?<br />
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It is time that the high-handed film fraternity stops protesting against what can at most be called a slightly 'clouded' decision. And the intellectuals need to be brought down from high horses and made to realise that cinema for art's sake is but just a dream. We need the 'Hum Sab Chor Hain' kind of cinema too to make sure entertainment takes the forefront. To hell with being culturally superior!<br />
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-32441735767307341402015-06-01T19:31:00.000+05:302015-07-21T19:32:03.044+05:30Avengers: Age Of Ultron movie review: Superhero extravaganza<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The biggest superhero extravaganza is here in the form of 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', and it doesn't get better than this. The larger than life characters of Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow come together once more to save the world in the spectacular style as they have done before.<br /><br />Diretor Joss Whedon explores the theme of artificial intelligence taking over human interest (as have many before especially in superhero stories) in the second instalment of 'The Avengers'. His super-villain is not someone who wants world domination. His superhero is robotic Pinocchio who has warped Isaac Asimov's laws of robotics.<br /><br />The beginning of the film sets the tone for the rest of it. The superheroes are assembled trying to retrieve the Tesseract and the team finds itself in the middle of an onslaught. The film starts with an adrenaline rush that is challenging to match. And it indeed makes for one of the most arresting scenes in the film. The VFX is spectacular and you know that you are in for a joyride.<br /><br />As before, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is snarky, but what is entertaining is how Whedon has made sure that this time he has someone to match his wit. James Spader as Ultron (he also plays J.A.R.V.I.S.) brings more peevishness to the film that left the viewers in splits. The film also shifts a little from the last one in terms of tone.<br /><br />There is budding romance between Natasha and Bruce Banner. There are also several back stories that are revealed through the works of Wanda Maximof, better known as Scarlet Witch in the Marvel universe. There is also a lot more Jeremy Renner (playing Hawkeye) in this part of the movie. Captain America takes the lead justifying his character's qualities (as in the solo films) in subtle yet smart ways.<br /><br />This one is much more of the team (with some extra additions) than the prequel. They have their differences, they sort it out, they fight together, they save the world – that is what every superhero movie is supposed to be about, and this one hits that nail on its head.<br /><br />The film shifts from one masterfully directed action sequence to another. A special mention to the fight sequence between Hulk and Hulkbuster. It was perchance the most entertaining bit in the movie. The special effects are extravagant and taut, the execution is stylish. The performances are up to the mark but nothing beyond.<br /><br />The film suffers from a slightly drawn-out middle. Although that does not take away from the fact that the whole theatre booed when the interval started, yet the slightly stretched emotional scenes take away from the rush. The climax however makes up for the lost time.<br /><br />The film is sure to be an international blockbuster, and is worth every penny. Comic book buffs may be a little miffed with the small walk-aways from the original back stories. But the visual spectacle is going to keep the fans happy.<br /><br />There are subtle hints in the movie, as well as a teaser at the end (as is usual in Marvel Universe) that pave way for the next two instalments of the 'Avengers' and raising the expectations for all superhero movies to come.<br /><br />Not to be missed!</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-74460596289296011232015-05-16T01:29:00.000+05:302016-05-16T01:30:39.155+05:30'The Unwanted Shadow' book review: Short, crisp and thrilling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thrillers by modern Indian writers leave me skeptical. It is not everyday that you actually find one that is gripping.<br /><br />However, 'The Unwanted Shadow' by Bhaskarya Deka is not too bad. With just about 200 pages, the book doesn't seem heavy at the outset. You begin the book and you are left guessing where the story is taking you. It is not a whodunnit, it has a very realistic feel to it. The deaths are rare and well spaced throughout the novel.<br /><br />Deka has researched his characters well. The story revolves around a young man from a small town in eastern India. Mohan, has a past, and is moving on to the big glittering Delhi to make a future for himself. But fate, as always has different plans for him. His new-found love, success and happiness suddenly dissappears when a deadly attack takes away his life.<br /><br />His journey from thereon is one of self discovery. Within that self discovery he also finds a person who comes crashing back to his life. Whether this person is a friend or a foe is what the book explores.<br /><br />As a thriller, the book is not high on violence or death. Although, it will keep you more or less gripped, Deka has not gone too graphic with his depiction of murders. The book is short so it does not dwindle on the pace of the story. There is a certain amount of inspiration from various books of this genre, especially hotsellers. The depth of the central character is well etched. However the other characters don't share that quality. Also, certain parts of the book seem to be superficially chalked out.<br /><br />Deka has made sure to keep the relationship sides of the story crisp and to the point. He does not dwell on romanticising relationships and exaggerating scenes. Although, the story does come to a point where he makes the mistake of encouraging irrelevant character development, which ultimately can be a deterrent. The pace however rarely slacks.<br /><br />The first half of the book makes it seem that the book may fail in its genre, but the author makes up for it. It may also seem that the book has been written by one of those umpteen engineering graduates, who have fashioned themselves as writers after failing to make a mark in their own industry.<br /><br />It is a one sitting book. You wouldn't want to put it down as the shortness of it is refreshing. It also has some crisp and fresh language, especially for the young. Although it would not provide a very deep insight into psychology, it does touch some issues that young Indian authors are not very comfortable to delve into.<br /><br />'The Unwanted Shadow' has all the necessary elements of a thriller, and the author can go a long way ahead with his writing. It is a great book to pick up while travelling, and will definitely be a engrossing read.<br /><br /><br /><br />Published by: Half Baked Beans<br /><br />Price: Rs175</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-84471497271316702422015-05-12T17:01:00.001+05:302015-05-12T17:02:48.437+05:30Frida - The yoga dog<p dir="ltr">Every morning frida does her morning stretches... <br>
Forward, then backward.... Pulling her legs together to turn her spine... <br>
Then curls up to catch her tail... She does it, defying all norms... Every time.<br>
Then it is time to lie in her back... And stretch all four paws as far as possible... Time for morning ritual number 2. With that much yoga my dog should never have a bowel problem. <br>
Move over ram dev.. Time for sadhvi <u>frida</u></p>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-9246619187526962202015-05-12T15:51:00.001+05:302015-05-12T15:51:10.008+05:30Frida's morning ritual<p dir="ltr">After a good night's sleep who doesn't like a little cosying up and cuddling in the morning?<br>
Frida, it seems, has taken a special liking to cuddling.... Right in the morning she sneaks up between me and stupendous man.... Finds a sweet spot where she buries her head... And catches a few more hours of sleep right on top of my covers... <br>
You move and she moans in agony of how she is being disturbed....<br>
The tragedy of having a baby is that you know that she is comfortable, you are not.. And yet you don't move an inch so she could lie <u>in</u> a lil <u>longer</u></p>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-58867794356483898092015-05-01T19:33:00.000+05:302015-07-21T19:34:36.492+05:30Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! review: Suave, stylish edge of the seat thriller<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br />The television series directed by Basu Chatterjee starring Rajit Kapur and KK Raina has made it impossible to picture the Bengali sleuth Byomkesh Bakshi being played by any other actor on screen. But Dibakar Banerjee took on the challenge and cast a young Sushant Singh Rajput to play the role.<br /> <br />Byomkesh is India's answer to Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. Dibakar raised the expectations with his chic trailers, and smart marketing not revealing his plan with the detective's character.<br /><br />The film is 'Bakshy's' beginnings, the storyline of the movie is inspired by two of author Sharadindu Bandopadhyay's stories but with the director's own twist. The character grows throughout the film and Sushant has done justice to the responsibility placed upon him.<br /><br />The movie will keep you on the edge of your seats. The plot has twists and turns and doesn't slack off. The treatment is very Tarantinoesque with rococo style art direction, sharp dialogues, and heavy background music. It would have been unbelievable that heavy metal plays in the background of a movie set in India, in the early 1940s. But it has to be watched to be bound by the spell that all these musician's (the music has been given by various artists including Madboy Mink, Sneha Khanwalkar, Joint Family etc,) cast and the tracks hit the mark without overpowering the film. The soundtrack done by a ensemble of lesser known artists is a masterstroke played by Banerjee.<br /> <br /><br />Neeraj Kabi as Dr Guha is fantastic. He underplays his role throughout to emerge as one of the strongest characters of the movie. Sushant has played with a composure few actors can boast of.<br /><br />Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee,(as Anguri Devi) whose character was based on the notorious spy cum exotic dancer Mata Hari, is seductive at times, and at times she fails to make the impact which a layered character like her could have. Anand Tiwari plays the soft spoken Ajeet babu with panache.<br /><br />Dibakar has attempted to include deaths and murders in the movie without going 'Dabbang' on his audience. The gore exists but (partly due to censorship) it does not overwhelm the main theme of the movie. The 'whodunit' format of the first half is quickly twisted into looking at the larger picture. The one villain of the movie will be revealed pretty quickly, but for a reason. The people who have read the original books would probably predict the first half, but the second half is meshed in the first story with subtlety.<br /><br />The details of the movie are worth a mention. The costumes by Manish Malhotra prove that the go-to-glamour guy of Bollywood is more than just dressing up divas in fashionable clothes.<br /><br />Although not perfected, the research and the hardwork shows in the movie. The sets by Vandana Kataria is an ode to pop culture and fits the feel of the movie.<br /><br />The only qualm with the entire movie would possibly be the slightly long winded revelation in the climax. The explanation of the motive, as all detective stories must do could have been shorter and the mad man act by the villain was totally avoidable. The action sequence that follows is a fantastic tribute to the neo-noir cinema of the 40s and the 50s.<br /><br />That aside, the gripping story, and crisp editing makes it a nail-biting watch. The end points towards a sequel and one eagerly awaits it. The genre of crime thrillers has been oft attempted but only a few have managed to impress as much as Dibakar's 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' does.<br /><br />The film has managed to bring back a popular Indian character to the limelight, and the movie does justice to the genre. Watch it for the packaging of the movie, music, lights, art direction and the story – they all fit together for an experience to remember.</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-59681435355549843282015-04-28T13:41:00.000+05:302015-11-14T21:08:05.587+05:30Leonard Nimoy obituary: Adieu Captain Spock!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Pointy ears, upturned eyebrows, a smile that reached his eyes – Leonard Nimoy's spock is perhaps the most known and loved screen character of all times.<br />
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His death means an end of an era for so many in the world.<br />
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'Star Trek' is the benchmark of all science fiction work on-screen since its first season on TV and subsequent movies. People have grown up on it. We have cheered for Spock in his many adventures.<br />
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With its huge influence on pop culture, time and time again we would see Spock and his 'followers' pop up. Whether it is the animated series 'South Park' or the sit-com 'The Big Bang Theory' – his well known hand sign of spread out fingers would keep appearing. Often reminding us the need to be logical in this world of chaos, amusing us with his social handicap.<br />
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Spock became an icon for the nerds, inspiring the social misfits to use their intelligence to advance science. His words and his logical outlook pushed generations to science. Spock and his team made human imagination go far into outer space, looking for answers of the universe.<br />
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Nimoy definitely was perfect for the role. He made the character his own. He became an icon unto himself. But that was not all he was. A multi-talented actor, Nimoy also ventured in direction, photography, singing and poetry. He also was a champion in philanthropy, supporting The American Cancer Society as well has encouraging the work of artists through his own organization - The Nimoy Foundation.<br />
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The death of Nimoy will be devastating for many who considered him and his cult character as their life's motivation. Leo however will make sure to keep coming back to our lives through his various appearances and references in works of science fiction.<br />
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It has been an incredible trek seeing Mr. Spock go places, gallivanting in his adventures and the journey was as 'fascinating' as it can be. His life outside the universe of 'Star Trek' was in fact even more interesting – inciting you to try new things to push yourself to your creative limits.<br />
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His last tweet is as inspirational as his life had been.<br />
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The greatest tribute one can give to Nimoy is live by Spock's words – 'Live long and prosper' and possibly more so by his own words "I think it's my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may."<br />
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Let the adventure continue...<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This article was first published on Zeenews.com</span></i></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-87035672856715481312015-04-28T13:34:00.000+05:302015-11-14T21:08:05.636+05:30Fair and handsome Hrithik Roshan? Not you too!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is so disappointing when an actor you have liked and respected for so long goes to the dark side. Well in this case the 'light' side.<br />
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Indians have a racist streak in them. They all like fair people.<br />
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First there was a demand for fair girls. Now, the advertisement industry features girls who are so pale that they would give Bella of 'Twilight' a run for her money. <br />
<a name='more'></a>They not only look so fair that they reflect sunlight, they don't even look as if they are from the Indian subcontinent. Neither with their golden brown skin, dark eyes and dark hair, nor with their size zero figures (that is a rant I have already gone on, so I shall spare me the trouble here again).<br />
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Then came a controversial whitening cream for 'those' regions. Now, it seems that even dark men cannot get good wives. Even the men who could do anything before, (despite their skin colour), are now struggling with 'womanly' problems like dark, dull skin and colognes that evaporate too quickly.<br />
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One of the problems Hrithik seems to have set out to solve. The superhero of India, Hrithik 'Kkrish' Roshan has been roped in by Emami to be the 'fair and handsome' face of the brand. Because obviously stars don't go to expensive skin treatment clinics to make their faces camera ready, they resort to cheap gimmicky fairness creams for their dermal needs. Or so we are being made to believe.<br />
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Now, the fair skinned Jr Roshan is going to attribute his success to a skin whitening face wash that leaves him glowing and fresh after a dusty day in the studios. I wonder if his assistants are going to be offended by this - since his well-groomed look is the combined hard work of his nutritionist, make-up men/women, gym trainer, and the designers who dress him up in his suave style.<br />
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First, it was the 90s boy-next-door turned king Shah Rukh Khan telling the boys how his natural charm was a waste compared to the super powers of skin-whitening cream. Now, here is Hrithik on the verge of saying that women all over the world swoon over him not for his style and poshness, but more for his fair skin. His otherwise dull face till now has only managed a million fans – now his 'renewed brightness' is going to put Sirius (the brightest star in the sky) to shame.<br />
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Why do stars have to do this? Why do they endorse products that should have been banned decades ago? Why encourage this blatant racism and negative body image? He surely does not lack product endorsement offers. Why not take the high road like Kangna Ranaut or Ranbir Kapoor?<br />
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We in the subcontinent already face so much insecurity, added to this has come the pressure of being fair. The fans of these stars worship the ground they walk on and they just help the big companies capitalise on this gullibility. Being fair in a country that already faces so much bias is being encouraged by these stars, despite there being countless stories of how such products are actually harmful for the skin. What is unfortunate is that the country ends up consuming products that have chemicals like hydroquinone, mercury, unprescribed steroids, bleaching agents which will not make you fair but only expose you to skin diseases and rashes.<br />
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This kind of irresponsible advertisement plays on our insecurities and only increases societal pressures on young men and women who idolise these big screen heroes/heroines. More and more men and women are under pressure to use these products as the markets are flooded with them. Not only that, this adds to the underplaying discrimination that the country is plagued with.<br />
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These stars have no excuse today to not know the repercussions of the role these products play in the society. That being said, Hrithik is a star for whom endorsements are easy. But backing a fairness product may just be the low that his fans never expected him to get down to.<br />
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Coming from Hrithik who has been a strong supporter of good health and keeps posting about body work-outs and fitness, this is just sad. I wish he did stand up against this vile discrimination instead of joining in it.<br />
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Today, I lost respect for a man I always thought was great because of who he is. And not because of the colour of his skin!<br />
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<i style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This article was first published on Zeenews.com</span></i></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-28684976790902866402015-04-21T22:52:00.001+05:302015-05-11T21:41:14.694+05:30When Frida met the horse <p dir="ltr">While walking in the park today, frida saw a horse carriage passing by.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now horse carriages have a unique sound in india. A mix of the rhythmic trot and bells and an occasional 'hat hat' that encourages the horse the move forward.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Frida kept staring at the horse trotting by. No stick, toy or even food might have moved her from her position then. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Fascination glowing in her brown eyes, she suddenly realised she needs to bark at this big thing that is swishing its tail at her... And bark she did. So much that the entire neighbourhood joined in the chorus. It was almost as of she was informing them about this new animal she has discovered...</p>
<p dir="ltr">The only problem being that most of the other dogs had seen horses before, since there is a community centre doubling up as a wedding hall nearby... So they got bored and decided to bark at frida instead. Who got pissed or scared, said enough is enough and hid behind me... </p>
<p dir="ltr">Horses aren't worth it...</p>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-34849602320380414282015-04-19T13:32:00.000+05:302015-11-09T23:56:35.390+05:30Nirbhaya Rape Case: When a documentary becomes national shame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
“A woman is to blame for rape!”<br />
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“They provoke men with their short clothes!”<br />
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“They wouldn't dress up if they didn't want to be raped!”<br />
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“Don't resist rape– it would be simpler for you!”<br />
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Is the mentality ever going to change? Every few months we hear these statements from the perpetrators of rape in the country, and then the politicians follow. Even god-men have their opinions about how the woman should have called the rapist her 'brother' to avoid rape.<br />
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Two years after the horrific December 16 gangrape, here we are, debating whether a documentary on it should be banned or not, while one of the men who was responsible for the atrocity is still up and about giving us 'gyaan' on film, with not a shred of guilt in him. Apparently imprisonment hasn't changed a thing in him.<br />
<br />
I wish I could see the documentary before I outraged over what he said. But snippets of it have already shown me the hopelessness of it all. But why, I ask, is anyone surprised? Isn't this what many of our leaders have said time and time again? Haven't political leaders threatened to rape and murder people in their opposition, as if raping and murdering someone is not a big deal?<br />
<br />
'India' is more ashamed of a documentary on the Nirbhaya Rape case than the rape itself. Yet, steps to change laws, make their implementation faster have not been taken. The tragedy is now that the convict has said that she should not have resisted – the men with the sick minds will glorify him and use his statement as an excuse. And no amount of death penalty and stricter punishments will deter these would be criminals unless justice is guaranteed – and fast.<br />
<br />
The documentary, from what I perceive, presents the harsh truth that most people in India think like Mukesh ( the convict featured in the documentary). Educated, modern men and women have said that the girls need to understand what they wear makes men 'excited' – rape, it seems, is the obvious next step for these men. Obviously, we human beings have not evolved enough to keep our carnal desires in our pants.<br />
<br />
If there is an outrage on social media and in parliament – there should be. Not to ban the Nirbhaya documentary, but to take all steps necessary to stop these crimes. There need to be support groups to help and rehabilitate women who have been victims of these heinous crimes and don't get accepted by their own families. There need to be fast track courts, and not just in name. We need to immediately take action against leaders, men and women who decide to blame the victims instead of taking responsibility.<br />
<br />
The film needs to be seen by as many people possible – simply because we need to know what depraved minds such as these think and the people who defend them can be made to shut up once and for all. The glorification of the convict however could be curtailed if the media just uses a little bit of self censorship. A fact that we all know for a very long time, but can't resist sensationalising of a brutal crime.<br />
<br />
The focus has shifted again. The film has been banned. The culprit still sitting and smiling inside the safety of his cell. For once, to my mind, public lynching of this sick sick man doesn't seem like a bad idea. Once again, all we are doing in outraging and wondering what happened to all those promises of women safety.<br />
<br />
Celebrating Woman's Day this week with all this looming over our heads is a mere farce. It is a lie that we want to weave around ourselves that everything is glorious in this wonderfully beautiful country. The reality is women are not respected here, and a few flowers and making your wife/mother/sister feel special by making her breakfast is not going to change that.<br />
<br />
We women are all just subconsciously living a life of fear. Every day when I walk down a dimly lit street, or when I see some guys loitering around and talking, or a guy walking behind me – all I can hope is I wouldn't be next.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This article was first published on Zeenews.com</span></i></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-66285790396312402112015-04-18T13:29:00.000+05:302015-11-14T21:08:05.606+05:30Talai, Himachal Pradesh: Travelling into the cloud factory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4fkZKSltUej-tddMvjTbLovwbahyphenhyphenJD94_3IqUi0vPf4mJ-Ut5IdSYArcqRxstSiTNWH_EtmGXydj0ykzkwcH4DDRqHl7Kxhhk56SjPrxvhpTSQYJEjOxvoNbcRhS7RJeObt-/s1600/Talai-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4fkZKSltUej-tddMvjTbLovwbahyphenhyphenJD94_3IqUi0vPf4mJ-Ut5IdSYArcqRxstSiTNWH_EtmGXydj0ykzkwcH4DDRqHl7Kxhhk56SjPrxvhpTSQYJEjOxvoNbcRhS7RJeObt-/s1600/Talai-2.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
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When the cottony clouds overcast the skies, remember wanting to reach out to them, plucking them out and eating them like cotton candy? Remember lying on the grass and looking up with your friends trying to plant stories, finding bunnies and dragons in the shapes of floating clouds? What if you could touch them in real?<br />
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Driving into a village called Talai, near Fagu was like climbing the stairway to heaven, and reaching paradise, sitting on the clouds.<br />
<br />
A few miles from Kufri (the famed ski destination in Himachal Pradesh), this little hamlet is straight out of a Ruskin Bond book. A total of five houses strewn around the mountain top, in the middle of an apple orchard, a family with little children who walk down to school every day and a big mountain <br />
<a name='more'></a>dog keeping guard – Talai is a perfect destination to relax your mind. Located at a height of 7550 ft, it is cool in the summers and is snow covered during winters.<br />
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There is only one home-stay option in this beautiful village nested in the Himalayas called the North Moon Home Stay. The owners are warm and welcoming and one must try the Himachali food which they provide.<br />
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Spend a few days at this place to revive your mind from the worries of city life. It is so serene and peaceful. Sit outside on the balcony for a glorious view of the valley and beyond that lies the Churdhar peak and other snowcapped ranges.<br />
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Brilliant hues of blue streak the sky with an occasional gleam of gold reflected from the mountain ranges. If it is slightly overcast, the clouds float down to where you are, and you can almost feel them. Sometimes, they also float down to the valley and you may feel like an omnipotent looking down at the world from the heavens.<br />
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<b>What to do there?</b><br />
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Relax! Such places are the best way to take time off from the hustle and bustle of our exhausting lifestyle. Walk in the apple and cherry orchards and if it is in season, the owner of the orchards may even let you pluck some juicy fruit off the trees.<br />
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Have a romantic stroll through the foggy pine forest or explore it to feel the glory of nature. There is a lot of flora and fauna to take note of in the forest nearby.<br />
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If you go during the festival time (Navratra or other Hindu festivals), there is a mela and local wrestling bouts that take place very close to the home-stay, which you can just walk down to.<br />
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If sitting at one spot is not your thing, drive down to the number of temples strewn around the hamlet. They are located at spectacular locations and have their own folk tales behind their origin.<br />
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<b>What to eat?</b><br />
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The home-stay owner provides you with delicious vegetarian home-cooked meals. If you want to savour non-vegetarian food, just get to the nearby hotels and resorts which offer fine dine options. However, with the delicious Himachali cuisine, you probably wouldn't need it.<br />
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<b>When to go?</b><br />
<br />
Talai is divine almost all through the year. The only time to avoid it is the Monsoon, as hilly areas are prone to landslides and you might get stuck at one point for quite some time.<br />
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The area faces below freezing point temperatures during the winters and it would be snow covered throughout the season. But the cosy hamlet looks impressive in white.<br />
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<b>How to get there?</b><br />
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By train – Take the Shimla Kalka train and drive 25 km from Shimla Railway Station.<br />
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By road - 385 km from Delhi.<br />
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6 km from Kufri<br />
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140 km from Chandigarh.<br />
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By air - 35 km from Shimla airport<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This article was first published on Zeenews.com</span></i></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-2033492303903037902015-04-17T19:46:00.001+05:302015-04-17T19:53:21.768+05:30Which animal is Frida?<p dir="ltr">My darling dog is Gemini on the inside. She has multiple personality disorder and can't decide which animal she is on different occasions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">When she is eating, she is a shark.<br>
When she is running, she is a horse<br>
When she decides she wants to come and meet you she becomes a bull charging you and hitting you right in your gut. In case of the target being stupendous man, then it is his balls she decides to punch.<br>
She easily shifts to being a cow around soft juicy grass<br>
And she can laze like a slug ( as she is doing now as I write this)<br>
There are other animals inside her... Will keep writing as they appear.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMKNWi6tLZ4ZFS7piqidwhXyClKTayZGhmEAXmRhjHQmae1QMS2sVnhO2mEGQgG0BWTwfg9EW2ujF7WpVaQ_y9ZeZSWeFvStbQzislA-Ny3j_FyS6P4tD8z_nzr0v1IRGERJk/s1600/1429280391590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMKNWi6tLZ4ZFS7piqidwhXyClKTayZGhmEAXmRhjHQmae1QMS2sVnhO2mEGQgG0BWTwfg9EW2ujF7WpVaQ_y9ZeZSWeFvStbQzislA-Ny3j_FyS6P4tD8z_nzr0v1IRGERJk/s640/1429280391590.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnUF83krUGsTmvk4NTI3KhTmk-IYwMJF7IHZJPpYGBBMgV0Aj4ffvcBbU2zqHXLNFaMmkX-VPPG4_17TdGOm4hlFx2oydAA_uhwN50kS31wRX1ETCECzRT6uqt-S9WJt2rssB/s1600/1429280508070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnUF83krUGsTmvk4NTI3KhTmk-IYwMJF7IHZJPpYGBBMgV0Aj4ffvcBbU2zqHXLNFaMmkX-VPPG4_17TdGOm4hlFx2oydAA_uhwN50kS31wRX1ETCECzRT6uqt-S9WJt2rssB/s640/1429280508070.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><center><a href="http://www.as-seen-on-tv-top-products.com/esteban-guitar-lesson.asp"><img border="0" src="http://www.pureairhits.com/clean.php?page=http://quixotic-deceit.blogspot.com/&digit=v10" alt="Esteban Guitar"></a></center>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-68347497543602297612015-04-15T03:51:00.001+05:302015-04-17T19:54:22.423+05:30When Frida decides she needs petting<p dir="ltr">Having a dog is immensely satisfying. After a tiring day, you come back to someone who looks as if you coming is a party. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Apparently not a good thing with dogs. It increases separation anxiety. But once she calms down and I pet her, she licks me all over the face. Delhi traffic craziness forgotten in a second... </p>
<p dir="ltr">She still follows me around till I give her a nice belly rub.... The cute thing is how lately she has realised that lying down as soon as I get in is the easiest way to catch my attention... She is smart... <br>
Already knows the sit, down, and come commands. Trying to reach her rollover... Let's see how long that takes... Rest of them were <u>easy</u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOZh1uiF9q_TqOpZ-dztT9k4XTOg5WZqyIhyS7MaKb6XIUdbyuysU9ix5vtEtfHkrkuoBLPaImLQYWuTciyuyQKWuCl1CS0UKyTzGmYziw5aFXeIfhzIQ34jkd7HdCtz4dZVh/s1600/IMG_20150221_222403033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOZh1uiF9q_TqOpZ-dztT9k4XTOg5WZqyIhyS7MaKb6XIUdbyuysU9ix5vtEtfHkrkuoBLPaImLQYWuTciyuyQKWuCl1CS0UKyTzGmYziw5aFXeIfhzIQ34jkd7HdCtz4dZVh/s640/IMG_20150221_222403033.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.as-seen-on-tv-top-products.com/esteban-guitar-lesson.asp" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pureairhits.com/clean.php?page=http://quixotic-deceit.blogspot.com/&digit=v10" alt="Esteban Guitar"></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><center><a href="http://www.as-seen-on-tv-top-products.com/esteban-guitar-lesson.asp"><img border="0" src="http://www.pureairhits.com/clean.php?page=http://quixotic-deceit.blogspot.com/&digit=v10" alt="Esteban Guitar"></a></center>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-15860164555173326562015-03-29T17:31:00.000+05:302015-03-29T18:03:37.530+05:30Meet Frida Kahlo!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For those who know me in RL, they would
know I got a dog recently. She goes by the name Frida Kahlo Kukur
(named after the painter and the fact that she is a black dog -Free
'da' Kalo Kukur)
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We adopted her from this lovely couple
who stay in a farmhouse near chhatarpur. A gaddi pup, she is going to
be massive. But a big dog for big people like us is I guess apt.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Beautiful as she is – this one does
behave a quite a lot like a cat much to my frustration. But also that
gives me the kind of space I could not have hoped for from another
dog. Ram milaye jodi for us!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is fun to see Stupendous man take up
responsibility. He tries really hard. Most of the time getting
annoyed after she refuses to eat vegetarian rice and pumpkin (partly
also because she is teething), or when she munches on his bathroom
slippers.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
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Even more fun when he gets jealous of
me, after Frida follows me around the entire house like a tail – no
matter what I am doing!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My friends have started coming home to
meet me and stupendous man (but actually we are just an excuse to
meet madam).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I will have a section called the
adventures with Frida soon. Maybe keep updating them as they happen.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
</div>
</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-88686000694412091082015-03-14T15:18:00.000+05:302015-04-18T13:48:25.757+05:30Aamir Khan on AIB: Taking the high-road or hypocrisy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
All India Ba****d roasted actors <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/tags/arjun-kapoor.html">Arjun Kapoor</a> and <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/tags/ranveer-singh.html">Ranveer Singh</a> as they sat and guffawed at all kinds of abuses being hurled at them. An incident that has grabbed the headlines since the last two weeks made everyone have an opinion about it.<br />
<br />
Some loved it. Some lodged an FIR saying it hurt Indian sentiments. The end result – the show was taken down from YouTube and later an unconditional apology was issued to (specifically) the Christian community.<br />
<br />
While the entire film community has supported Karan, Arjun and Ranveer's stand for the show and said things that amounted to 'don't like, don't watch', Aamir recently said in a press conference that he found it abusive and violent. The result is that now Aamir is being criticised.<br />
<br />
Aamir Khan is one Khan in Bollywood, I have always been fond of. As a child I used to like him because he was cute. Now I like him because of the causes he supports and that he has grown a conscience. Perhaps, something that irks me at times that he acts 'holier than thou'. I personally think that his tone at every press conference has been a lot more condescending.<br />
<br />
In an episode of 'Satymeva Jayate' focussing on 'When masculinity harms men' they showed a clipping which also featured Aamir himself. He also said that he now understands that the scenes he has acted in were in poor taste and harmed the community. Hmmm...so a man actually accepted that he has done movies in poor taste – he had showed something that was against 'Indian culture' and was willing to take responsibility for it.<br />
<br />
In the press conference Khan said 'I WAS deeply affected by that (AIB Show)', 'I didn't find that funny'. 'I PERSONALLY have a problem with what they have done' He said that he felt there was a lot of 'violence' in the event in the form of abuses – and since he is not 14-year-old anymore, he did not find it funny. Notice how in every statement he talks about himself and his opinion and not of his 'community' and 'culture'? Or have we all just learnt to ignore the context? His right to criticise the AIB show is as much a freedom of expression as AIB's right to roast Ranveer-Arjun.<br />
<br />
Or can't the 'liberals' who support AIB's 'freedom of speech' take anyone's opinion that differs from theirs? Or have we all just decided that you must support our stance or be called either 'libtards', 'sickular' and 'against Indian culture' or be called 'uncouth', 'right wing extremists' and 'hypocrites'?<br />
<br />
What most people seem to be saying now is that since Aamir acted in 'Ghajini' (a very bad violent copy of 'Memento') he has no right to criticise the verbal abuse of AIB. Also, since he backed 'Delhi Belly', an adult comedy featuring the famed 'Bhaag DK Bose' he now has no right to say that he did not like the blatantly racist or sexual jokes.<br />
<br />
Incidentally he also said, 'I believe that there must be many youngsters who would have enjoyed the roast and they have a full right to their opinion.'. May be many did not really reach this point of the press conference before outraging and venting on Twitter. Because that seems to the newest thing with all of us. Most people would happily abuse a star because he said something differing from what the herd is saying before even hearing him through because he 'deserved it' and he's shielded by the fact that he is 'rich and famous'.<br />
<br />
What he said about AIB – I don't fully agree with that. I, in fact, quite enjoyed the roast. The humour was not in the abuses but the fact that here were a bunch of 'superstars' bearing the brunt of some really clichéd jokes on themselves and joining in the 'roasting'. Sanjay Kapoor stood up and cheered himself when one of the roasters indicated that he was the worst actor in the Kapoor dynasty. Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi and Deepika all joined in with peals of laughter when all kinds of nasty things were being said about them. I loved most of it.<br />
<br />
All the classless humour was directed at people willing to take jokes on themselves. If Aamir is not happy with it – it is his opinion.<br />
<br />
As far as the teams’ apology is concerned – I wish they hadn't but I am not at the receiving end of the death threats they must have been receiving from religious extremists. I am no one to judge.<br />
<br />
The 'lynching' AIB and the stars are receiving is also something that Aamir condemned. He said there was nothing wrong in telling people if you didn't like something they did. But one should limit their interference there. Why is this point being ignored?<br />
<br />
One thing must be said– Aamir is being attacked today because there is no other scapegoat for the social media outragers right now. Give me a new star who says that she doesn't want men to say sexist things about her and front pages of leading dailies will again tell you about the last movie she featured in where she played a belly dancer showing off her midriff and say that she is an actress who deserves sexist attacks.<br />
<br />
Note to Aamir: Even if you did not want to watch the entire video you should have watched the beginning before saying that they did not give a public warning before airing the roast (like you did “going out of your way” for 'Delhi Belly') – they did. You could have stayed away from this with just scolding Karan and Arjun. Be careful, Shah Rukh and Salman may be offended by that. It is a season of taking offence.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This article was first published in Zeenews.com</span></i></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-24721799913553381072015-03-11T15:04:00.000+05:302019-07-16T11:52:51.919+05:30The fatmospheric existence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you ever been approached by a random person in the Metro and told how you are unhappy? Has some child just randomly been rude to you and called you names because you were walking by? Have you by now turned a bully after years of being tormented as the <a href="http://englishadmin.zeenews.india.com/tags/fat.html">fat</a> one because you figured out that life is a 'jungle raj' – you either bully people yourself or they mock you till you want to curl up and die?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
In the three decades of my existence now, I have come to terms with it. I have also started getting used to the people around who sometimes stare incessantly till you actually raise your eyebrows and ask them whether there is something wrong with them.<br />
<br />
It has taken some time – most of it fighting the loopy loop of exercise, diet, failure, misery, self pity and back to exercise.<br />
<br />
I like to eat – and I have given in to making it as healthy as I can.<br />
<br />
The truth is being fat in this world is worse than being a member of the biggest terrorist organisation.<br />
<br />
This is not a rant – it is simply a fact that from the time I gained weight during my puberty I was told how I would never get a good guy. Then I ended up in a bad relationship because of low self esteem where the guy knew how to take advantage of it. In hindsight I wish I had more supportive people around me who did not let my body image decide how I dealt with relationships. Things became so bad that I clamped down and went on a spiral of depression in my college days.<br />
<br />
Time and time again many experts reiterate - being fat is different from being unhealthy. Fat and obesity contribute to a lot of diseases, no doubt. But a healthy lifestyle is so much more important than berating a child (or anyone else) for being overweight. Instead, try introducing your children and yourself to a nutritious diet and daily mild physical exercises to keep diseases at bay. It is so important that you let your child know that looks should not be the scale by which your peers treat you – and no amount of bullying should be taken lying down.<br />
<br />
My coping mechanism was getting apologetic or joking about it myself before others could. There are many who can't and suffer even more.<br />
<br />
It is sad that more and more people now adhere to the western image of beauty, health and beauty magazines all promote the thinnest of people. India, where a woman with girth was always in demand has now become a term of 'abuse'.<br />
<br />
Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra and Vidya Balan are criticised by the fashion police for looking fat at events. Some of them fight back, some choose silence and then feature in photoshopped covers of popular magazines where they look all skin and bones. The heroines of movies have started looking like clones of each other and more and more people are following that trend.<br />
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A movie like 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' featuring the very real and overweight Bhumi Pednekar may just be the refreshing change in that image. But I am not very hopeful. After all Vidya, Sonakshi, Parineeti have been the leads in some really good flicks and I don't see anyone backing down with their insults when their 'fat' shows through their designer clothes in award shows.<br />
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Their careers, their work, their talent get overshadowed by the weight. Something that is splashed across page 3 every few days. These talented ladies face the wrath of the very people they are trying to impress.<br />
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Bollywood continues to mock overweight characters in their movies, and very few manage to stay away from that stereotype. The fat one in the movie is always alone, stupid and mostly just shown lying around in a sofa unable to do anything other than getting joked about. And in a country that worships their movies – that is indeed a sad image to portray.<br />
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People, who otherwise won't move a muscle to save a dying man on the road come looking all concerned trying to sell me the latest weight loss technique their fat cousin used and how has had a makeover a la Hrithik Roshan in 'Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gam'. Some just openly laugh.<br />
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Most are so insensitive that they would stare and point as if I was a caged animal in the zoo. I mostly take it with a pinch of salt and laugh it off. But, I can imagine how it must be for those who can't laugh when they are at the receiving end of constant prodding and interference from people who say they care about them. Things would not change – most of us live with our prejudices and pass it on to our children.<br />
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There is no reason why my weight should define who I am. I have a career, I am intelligent (so one hopes), and pleasant – yet the first thing most notice is my weight.<br />
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Not caring about what people say is the best way to take them off guard. As long as you are comfortable with who you are – life becomes like sprinkles on a chocolate ice-cream. Which reminds me I am hungry!</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0New Delhi, Delhi, India28.6139391 77.20902120000005228.1680166 76.563574200000048 29.059861599999998 77.854468200000056tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-8202213364989638102015-03-08T15:02:00.000+05:302015-03-08T15:02:46.411+05:30'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' review: The magic of the 90s<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A good cast is the best thing that can happen to a movie. It is especially great when all of them not only look perfect for their respective roles but also individually give their best to the film. 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' is the perfect example of this fact.<br /><br />The effort that has gone in to making this sweet romantic comedy set in the small backdrop of Rishikesh and Haridwar, is apparent.<br /><br />The plot is easy to predict but the performances would blow your mind. Whether it is Ayushmann Khurrana as a good-for-nothing dreamer or Bhumi Pedneker playing the strong willed educated girl with a dream of being a school teacher.<br /><br />Bhumi is perhaps the best debut actress that Bollywood has seen in the past few years. She is genuinely a good actress, has a great screen presence and looks beautiful as Sandhya. Her struggles with being fat does not curb her spirit and that is what the audience will take from this movie.<br /><br />The straight from the heart storyline will take you back the memory lanes. The director has taken his time to wind you in his 90s memorabilia starting with the charm of listening to cassettes – complete with how we wound them up patiently and how our favourite songs were put together in one cassette with stickers telling us the playlist. There were also the scooters which one had to carefully balance upon to get from one place to another. All in all the nostalgia of the last decade of the 20th century has been beautifully recreated in the film.<br /><br />The director has kept the characters strong and the story concise. Even with the predictability of the movie the growing chemistry between Ayushmann and Bhumi is worth watching.<br /><br />Sanjay Mishra, Sheeba Chadda, Alika Amin and Seema Pahwa (one who played Mishra's wife in 2014's critically acclaimed movie 'Aankhon Dekhi') are perfect supporting cast for the love story.<br /><br />Sharat Kataria who is known for his quirky endeavours 'Bheja Fry' and 'Bheja Fry 2' has proved his genius once more with 'Dum Laga ke...'. While his last ventures focussed on urban characters, his now semi-urban story also is spot on.<br /><br />The movie steers clear of exaggerated feelings and speaks of some real situations and real disappointments without being didactic. The fat girl, who has to overcome the prejudices her husband has about her, is not however the unimaginative loser that we have seen in Bollywood so far. She is educated and has an ambition – therefore lucrative for her in-laws. But they don't take advantage of her. Even with the usual Indian taunting by the Bua, the family mostly supports her and considers her feelings. The girl herself knows how to stand up to the world.<br /><br />This modern thinking without the preachiness is refreshing. Kataria has excelled in making you feel for his characters.<br /><br />The background score by the Italian composer Andrea Guerra is perfect and Anu Mallik's comeback is laudable. While 'Moh Moh Ke Dhage' (both Monali Thakur's and Papon's versions) is perhaps his best composition till date, the quirky 'Sundar Susheel... ' (Malini Awasthi, Rahul Ram) sets the mood of the film pretty nicely. The Kumar Sanu fandom has been revived in this film and he brings back the memories of his heyday..<br /><br />The shots (Manu Anand) of the Rishikesh and Haridwar too are beautiful and one wonders how they found the two towns empty enough to shoot since they are thronged with tourists throughout the year.<br /><br />This movie is a feel good package and a must watch for those born in the 80s and the 90s simply to relive the decade. For those who are not, go for the performances. It is rare that a Bollywood movie makes you all warm, fuzzy and gooey from the inside – the experience is a must for those who love cinema.<div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This review was first posted on zeenews.com</span></i></div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336112.post-35461787079704484222015-03-01T16:12:00.000+05:302015-07-21T16:12:57.858+05:30Five reasons to watch 'Ab Tak Chhappan 2'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ab tak chhappan 2 will release on
february 27, starring Nana Patekar, Gul Panag, Ashutosh Rana and Vikram Gokhale. Here are five reasons why you must watch the movie.</div>
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Nana patekar</div>
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Patekar is possibly on of the most
revered actors today. He has several great roles to his credit and he
is indeed an incredible actor. It is always a pleasure to watch him.</div>
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The film</div>
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The prequel to this movie (12 years
ago) did not do too well at the box office, that is true. But, the
kind of response it received from the critics was unparalleled. The
gritty performances aside, it was one of the first gritty cop films
that bollywood rarely saw before that.</div>
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The stunts</div>
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This time it wont be just a lot of
shootouts, ab tak chhappan 2 has patekar do some bike stunts as well.
The sequel of the movie will see the actor get on the high octane
ride, it sure will be fun to watch this method actor take on the
young guns</div>
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Supporting cast</div>
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Ashutosh rana, vikram gokhale and the
others have pivotal characters in the movie and are sure to stun us
with their talent yet again.</div>
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The director</div>
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Ejaz gulab is now a film director. Bur
before this gulab has worked as a stunt director in some of the best
movies bollywood ever produced including 'sarfarosh' and 'lagaan'. It
will make for a interesting watch when someone with an action
background attempts a gritty film!</div>
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the world isnt centred around me....i cant allow it to...im too individualistic for that</div>Aparna Mudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09991410465117278264noreply@blogger.com0