Just Another Love Story - Movie Review

This one took a month to complete - not because it's boring (it's anything but that) but simply because it happened so. It's a Danish film with English sub titles. Opens dramatically with the narrator lying in a pool of blood in the rain. Turns out he is Jonas, a police crime scene photographer with two kids and an attractive wife.When Jonas's old car stops on the road suddenly, it leads to a car crash that leaves one car occupant instantly dead...

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The Paradoxes of Our Lives - Happiness Comes When You Accept The Other

Happiness is easier found when you accept sadness. If we accept that life is hard, then all the moments that are not hard appear relatively good. That could lead to a happy state of mind.On the other hand if we are constantly seeking happiness then perhaps we could never find happiness because everything looks like a let down. We would be sad at not finding 'enough' happiness.To be happy then, accept the sadness, the dullness, the boredom, the lack...

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Osho Teerth Park, Pune

On one of those lazy afternoons in Pune, Shobhs, Anjali and I went to the Osho Teerth park which has been languishing on the list for sometime. The park is open from 6-9 a.m. in the mornings and 3-6 p.m. in the evenings. It was constructed in 1994 by the Shunyo Foundation which I guess is a part of the famous Osho International Commune. The Osho Teerth park is famously called the nala park (drain water stream) park having been conjured out of a dirty nala by the inmates of the Osho commune.Having thus done our homework we started off sometime before...

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The Pune Hyderabad Route - Wait Another Year

After almost two years I tried the Pune-Hyderabad highway in my car twice in the last two weeks. Having done that I would say that unless it is absolutely mandatory you wait another year before you venture out on this highway in your car.The big surprises are that the road between Hyderabad and Sholapur which was previously in fairly decent condition, has gone bad. The section in Karnataka is a disgrace with potholes all over the road making driving at 30 mph rather difficult. And its a long stretch mind you. This stretch of road disgusted me so...

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Anjali's First Blog - My 1st Class

I was writing my blog when Anjali asked if she could write her blog too. I guess there's no better time than now. So here's her first blog.hello it,s me anjali i am 5 years old  my dad is a writer my mom work,s for therpy  my 1st class will be nice i think new class mates and a new class room i love it all. the best thing is new teacher,s. did you now that? i know it will be very very good.nice read and write new very new best now....

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Google and Dumbphone Take Over My Life

After many months and years I bought a smartphone recently. I am however not too inclined to believe it is smart. If it is smart it will make me believe that I am smart. But it goes to great lengths to make me feel dumb. It moves too quickly and goes off into modes that I don't know where to find, does all kinds of things by itself, makes funny noises, sends of messages, changes settings and has secretly taken over all my information and my life. I have this constantly amazed look on my face these days as I try to figure out how to undo the damage...

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Big Revelation of The Day - We Can Be Happy For No Reason!

I just realised that I could be happy for no reason.Why did I spend all my life thinking that I need a good reason to be happy?And a better reason to be more happy?And that big reason to be happiest?Errr. It appears that I don't need any reason to be happy. I don't need to weigh, judge and then barter my happiness for the 'right' stuff. I don't need to save it up for when the 'happy' stuff happens. Very businesslike I have been I think. Too smart.Let...

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Why We Love Corruption

Let us accept this fact first. We all love the word 'corruption'. See how our eyes seek that word in the newspaper, how our ears perk up, how our netas and the media use that word to seduce and incite us.It is a multi-billion dollar word. Not just for the actual corruption but for all the tamasha that happens later. The blackmailing, the fixing - surely it does happen after the news of corruption is flashed? Why certain reports get leaked, why certain people get targeted and why certain people get protected. Is that not corruption?But the point...

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Empire of the Moghul, Brothers at War – Alex Rutherford

The sequel to the first in this series 'Empire of the Moghul - Raiders of the North' is equally impressive. This one tells the tale of Babur’s son, Humayun (1508-1556), the forgiving, soft spoken, star gazing emperor, and it is a fascinating tale and one I never knew or expected. Humayun was chosen as the Emperor (December 1530) by his father Babur and fought the first battle of Panipat when the small Moghul army defeated a much larger army of Ibrahim...

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The Aga Khan Palace, Pune

I am glad I visited the Aga Khan palace this trip now, when I am more aware of Indian history (and even more in awe) than a photo clicking tourist that I might have been a few years ago.The Aga Khan palace, PuneAlso known as the Gandhi National Memorial this magnificent palace was built by the 3rd Agakhan Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan in 1892 to create employment for the famine struck people in and around Pune. Built over an area of 19 acres and...

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Epic - Movie Review

Another 3 D movie. These movies are getting on my nerves. I think Anjali actually saw most of it with her glasses off. But certainly this one was much better because it involves tiny people, the Leafmen, and their enemies, living in the colorful forest. So the 3D was pretty with flowers blooming etc.Based on a William Joyce children's book 'The Leafmen and the Brave Good Bugs', Epic is about tiny forest people called Leafmen who protect the forest....

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Chota Bheem and the Throne of Bali - Movie Review

I'll keep this short. I'd rather have the target audience speak. I watched the movie with Anjali who is a major Chota Bheem fan - just as so many other kids who showed up. Good show guys - having an Indian animation icon is brilliant. Am happy and proud of Rajiv Chilaka and his team!Interesting feature. I saw many fathers coming to watch the movie with their children solo. Also kids have no volume control when something interests them they let go...

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Arunima Sinha - A True Champion's Inspiring Tale, A Breath Of Fresh Air

After the tales of human greed, weakness and mediocrity over the past few days comes a story that's like a breath of fresh air. Arunima Sinha, all of 25 years old, a young volleyball champion with big dreams in her mind, scaled Mount Everest. So what's the big deal one may ask. The big deal is that Arunima scaled the Everest on a prosthetic leg.Hmmm, so? Check out the story.It was in 2011 that the young national volleyball player was thrown out of a train by chain snatching criminals when she was travelling from Lucknow to Delhi. Hit by a passing...

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The Great Gatsby - Movie Review

Firstly, why is this movie in 3D? I could not for the life of me figure out why I was sitting and watching this movie with those glasses on. The story unfolds as it does in the novel by Scott Fitzgerald, with the narrator recounting the circumstances in which he met  his rich, party-throwing neighbour Jay Gatsby at Long Island, New York in 1922 when there was money to be made everywhere and life was one big party.  Gatsby's party's were...

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Panhala Fort, Kolhapur

Some 20 odd kms on the Kolhapur-Ratnagiri road you veer off into the hills and land up at the Panhala fort It is a short ride and a small climb and we find ourselves at the entry point of the fort - called the char darwaza - of which precious little remains. However there are enough signs of the fort of Panhalgad. Panhala apparently means home of serpents!Shiva Kashid's statueThe fort was built in the late 1100s by Bhoja II, the Shilahara ruler....

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Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur

I made up my mind to visit the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur when I first read 'The Music Room' by Namita Deendayal. I loved reading that book and wonder every day at the dedication and commitment to excellence that the masters had towards their art. One can only hope to imbibe some part of that spirit and create a space so wonderful as Dhondutai Kulkarni and her gurus did.This summer is hot and everyone looks at me strangely when I talk of a long road trip. But the Gods were with us it seemed as we set out on a cloudy morning which...

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6 Keys To The Champion's Mindset

The 6 Keys to the Champion's Mindset.Key 1. The DecisionThis is the moment when you tell yourself that you will achieve this, whatever it takes. It is a firm, strong, unalterable thought. Key 2. The Goal ClarityYou know exactly what you want, how much, how it looks etc. You know you will get it - however long it takes. The goal inspires you to achieve it, no matter when.Key 3. The ProcessYou figure out how to get it in the best possible manner. You figure out your strengths, areas to watch out for, help to ask, ways and means to learn how to do...

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Anjali - So Be Happy Na! (Or, enjoy the moment)

Anjali and I were playing a game of cards yesterday. It's a simple game where we keep throwing down one card each and the one who throws down the card that matches the earlier card gets the entire loot. Anjali explained the game - Shaukar-Bhikhaar. Also gave her impressions on how I normally don't win etc etc. (How did she know?)Much to her surprise and mine, I started  winning heavily. She was pretty surprised at this. 'Wow' she said. 'You...

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It's Complicated - Movie Review

It certainly is. Jane (Meryl Streep), meets her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) ten years at their son's graduation ceremony, and sparks fly. They start having a lusty affair, flab and cellulite and all and love it, unknown to their three children and Jake's young wife. The "affair" continues and Streep is thrilled that she is now the other woman to the other woman who had caused their divorce. Their affair has its ups and downs though. Streep is also...

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Lincoln - Movie review

Lincoln is an epic.It draws you into a part of history that was so important and depicts how the 13th Amendment or the Anti Slavery Bill was passed. It shows the last four months of Lincoln's life when he brought the historic Bill into place. They were troubled times then - the United States fighting the Slave States - days of Civil War in the 1860s. the Civil War claimed more than 600,000 they say and much credit must go to President Lincoln and...

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Bombay Talkies - Movie Review

This one is a must watch. A least three of the four films are simply out of the world. Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap and Zoya Akhthar soar high in this anthology of short films celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema. The one by Karan Johar falls flat and I didn't know what it was all about.So thankfully we start with Karana Johar's movie about a young gay man who befriends his boss Gayatri and then hits on her husband. Turns out that the husband...

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Thought For The Day - What Makes You Happy?

I was wishing Medha on her birthday when this thought came up - what makes one happy? If pursuit of happiness is our goal then we must first find out what makes us happy. Do gifts make us happy, cakes and chocolates, new clothes...what what what? I guess this calls for a pen and a paper so we can quickly make a list of things.Okay my quick list as they come to mind.The External List (or the OMG! list)Good FoodPeople who make me happyPeople who make me laughThoughtful GiftsWell fitting ClothesUnexpected Free stuffGenuine ComplimentsGoing OutTravelPeople...

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Crazy, Stupid, Love - Movie Review

A romantic comedy drama ? I don't know what to make of it but I did not really care for this movie too much. I am not sure if it is a comedy either.There are several people in love - in different kinds of love.A married woman tells her husband she has had an affair with her colleague and he jumps off the moving car. While he is moping about his wife's affair loudly in a bar, a young Casanova helps him and tells him how to seduce women.The middle...

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Argo - Movie Review

Adapted from CIA operative Tony Mendez's book 'Master of Disguise' Argo is a real life story of a rescue operation of six American diplomats from Iran in 1979. It's set in the time when the Shah of Iran has been given asylum by America during the Iranian revolution. The irate Iranian rebels storm the American embassy and take over 50 diplomats hostage - six escape into the roads and are given shelter by the Canadian ambassador.To rescue the six diplomats,...

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Before Sunset - Movie review

'Before Sunset' picks up some nine years after the two protagonists meet in the first movie 'Before Sunrise'. The American boy Jesse (Ethan Hawke) has now become a writer, and has written about his experiences with a young French woman Celine (Julie Delpy) he met on a train and who spend a night roaming around Vienna, talking to each other and enjoying one another's company. He is now on a book tour to Europe and in Paris, he bumps into Celine at...

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A Clockwork Orange - Movie Review

Saw this movie in the early 1990s and figured nothing much from it. I knew it was a cult movie by Stanley Kubrick then. Saw the 1971 movie again the other day. Now I appreciate what Stanley Kubrick did to the Anthony Burgess novel.A bunch of deviants, led by a sex and violence crazed gang leader are on a spree. First they beat up an old drunk, then knife a rival gang, then they steal a car, cripple a writer, rape his wife and then a lady artist....

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The Passion Test - Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood

This is a New York Times Bestseller and talks a language I like. 'The Passion Test - The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose' is a nice, simple and easy read and one that could well put you in touch with your passions and your life purpose. After all what's a life that is lived without passion?Penguin, 291 pThe authors, Janet and Chris, are co-founders of an online magazine Healthy Wealthy nWise and partners in Enlightened Alliances,...

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40 Year Old Virgin - Movie Review

You can guess pretty much the entire story even as you see the title. It goes in pretty much the same vein. A middle aged virgin at 40. Shy. Does not meet women. Has his own little habits. Cooks, cleans, plays with GI Joes and is hopeless with women. Cannot drive. Rides a bicycle.His friends from the store find out and try to help him - not always with the best results. The virgin however finds a woman in all this - a grandmother technically - and...

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A Visit to the Alma Mater - St. Gabriel's High School, Kazipet

No trip to Warangal can be complete without stopping by at my old school, St. Gabriel's Boys High School of the Montfort Brothers. I joined the school in the 5th class (1975) after doing my fourth at Fatima Girls High School. For some reason St. Gabriel's only took in students from their 5th class and luckily for us, Fatima Girls would allow boys to study till the 4th. I went first and then Ram joined me.Outside Fatima School gateBeing my first experience...

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