Karl, aaj aur kal - Cyrus Broacha

Cyrus Broacha...one of the top 10 funniest guys of India - wait a minute - are there really even 10 funny guys in India? I mean, really funny? So - for me - he is the funny guy of India! Reason enough to try this book...And trust me - it is funny. Crappy, but fun crappy. Its like the way he talks, all shit and all crap and just nonsense, but funny!
The plot - if you would call it so - is thin air material - its about two friends - their life from birth to becoming actors to finally politics! You see the point Cyrus is making - think India - and what comes to your mind? Bollywood and politics (and cricket too, off course...sorry, to the cricket fanatic reading this!). And the book uses these two arenas as nonsensically as they are in real life.

Here is an excerpt to give you an idea of the shit lying ahead -
In many ways, Karl and Kunal were like most boys their age. They shared a passion for the four things schoolboys seem to love most: bunking class, films, food and pornography. And growing up in 1980s India when people went to the movies only to watch Amitabh Bachchan they must have been among Amitabh's biggest fans. That Amitabh was the King of the silver screen was a plain fact, just as night followed day, and Marlon Brando once weighed less than 400 pounds.

The two boys were entranced by a film called Amar Akbar Anthony in which Amitabh played a heroic vagabond, Anthony. It was at about this time that Karl discovered his passion for theatre. The noblest of reasons drew him to the stage: the need to perform and express himself but chiefly, the desire to bunk class. It was well known that anyone who was chosen for the school play would get to bunk the last two periods of the day, which were used for rehearsal.

Read this book, if you of the kind who have enjoyed hearing cyrus shit on TV. Read this if you of the kind who cracks shit jokes in class and laughs harder at other's shitty jokes. Read this if you believe, that the jokes are still not shittier enough! Read it, come on - if you shit, sorry, if you wish!

Back to the Future - movie review

Time travel - the idea that has fascinated scientists for last few decades now, has spawned a few movies as well. And this movie is undoubtedly the best of the species. Lets go back in time now (ironically) to 1985. The idea for time travel has only started taking birth in the minds of few eccentric minds. Now, watch as the writer and director Robert Zemeckis takes this idea and comes out with one hell of an entertaining tale of a kid who travels back in time and almost spoils the marriage of his dad and mom and endangers his own being born in the process. He then has to make them meet and fall in love, also changing some few crucial instances which changes how his whole life would be in the present (Butterfly effect, anyone?). Ok, that is a one line plot, but the movie is too funny and entertaining to be justified just by one simple line.
Also, watch this for the scientific touch. Logic and physics have been wonderfully ingrained into the way our future and our pasts interact with our present. Time is the 4th axis, according to Stephen Hawking, and the idea of our past being just a point on that axis, which stays and remains as a point in the progression of life permanently does make one think - is it possible?
Anyways, back to the movie - it is no surprise that it is another production from the stable of 'Steven Speilberg'. The name itself demands a one-time watch if you a big science fiction fan. If not, you still have to watch it for Michael J.Fox. He is one the better actors of those times. A natural and smooth player, he delivers his lines with a frankness and performs with a charm which would just appeal to any viewer's heart. Off course, while watching him, I could not help but get struck by the resemblance of our own King Khan's acting style with this guy. Do tell me, if you felt the same. And no need to mention the loosely inspired 'Action Replayy'.
So travel back in time to 1985 and then to 1955 (inside the movie) and have one hell of a 2 hours blast!

Some interesting trailers of the movie :

Road, Movie - movie review

Ok, a warning to you, before you read this review and watch this movie because of my review (I know, how dare I assume that?)...there is one hell of a chance, you won't like this movie. I mean, yes, if you want entertainment, mindless entertainment, songs, masala, action etc this is not the movie for you. Now, if you are the type, who likes cinema, who believes cinema has the potential to make people genuinely happy and who believes that cinema is almost heavenly, in the way, that it eases humanly sorrows and pains for the 2 odd hours that the viewer watches it, this is the movie for you.

This is Dev Benegal's love letter to cinema, his heartfelt tribute to cinema. The movie is highly metaphorical about life and happiness. The desert, the endless journey, the cruel thirst stand for life's hardships and then, the fair, cinema, love etc stand for the joyous moments in life. This is a movie for artists, for creative viewers, viewers who appreciate originality and creative expression, no matter how eccentric or weird.
The cinematography is the best point of this movie. The desert, the road, the locations, the people have all been wonderfully shot. You can't help but get lost in the camerawork and the locations.
Now comes my favourite part, the actors. Abhay Deol- he is our sole hope for Bollywood. The guy is a natural. Not once in the movie, does he seem to be acting. He is simply the character - Vishnu. He amazes with the ease with which he plays his part. He is 'the actor' to watch out for! Satish Kaushik is another superb and methodical actor. He is another character actor who delivers to the point of perfection. Other than these two, the child actor and Tanishtha Chatterjee were good and worth watching as well.

All in all, it was time well spent. Although, the movie was a bit slow and could have been better with more crisp editing. But do watch it, for it's an experiment in cinema and worth a watch once, for sure!

Jerry Maguire - movie review

I know, this is too common a movie, too popular, too well-known to be writing a review about. But sometimes, I have to be selfish right? How can I not write a review on a movie, which still has the ability to make me cry , which still has the ability to make me miss my first love and still inspires me to give love another chance. I know, this sugary soft side doesn't suit my goofy image, but this is also a part of me, maybe not so prominent now and hidden away in the innumerable layers I chose to weave around myself, but then thats all the more reason to cheer for this movie, it still has the ability to reach my core and move me.
Should I talk about the story? I mean, if you not seen the movie yet, God save you.
The movie talks about love and inspiration for the underdog. How, Jerry Maguire, who is kicked by his company, after he suddenly starts developing a conscience and an ethical streak and left all alone to fight back his way to the top, does it with sincerity and whole-hearted determination. How a loving partner inspires him in the times of despair and how being true to his mission statement finally sees him through.
It has some golden lines which have been framed in the 'Hall of Fame of Hollywood Romance'. Yeah, I made that up, but if there was such a thing, these lines would surely have been there.
The scene which usually makes me cry :
Jerry Maguire: I love you. You... you complete me. And I just...
Dorothy: Shut up, just shut up. You had me at hello.

A few other golden lines :
Dicky Fox: Hey... I don't have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I have failed as much as I have succeeded. But I love my life. I love my wife. And I wish you my kind of success.

Dorothy: I love him! I love him for the man he wants to be. And I love him for the man he almost is.

Dicky Fox: If this
[points to heart]
Dicky Fox: is empty, this
[points to head]
Dicky Fox: doesn't matter.

It is one of the best performances by Tom Cruise. Renee Zellweger is gorgeous and delivers an extremely sincere performance. A most special mention to the kid in the movie. He takes your heart away and almost softens you to the idea that having a kid someday would not be so bad

I give it a rating of 6.5 out of 10.

Groundhog Day - movie review

What would you do if the whole equation of cause and effect was eliminated from this world, if whatever you did, did not affect anything, and every day you woke up, was a new day, a new beginning? Nothing you did ever happened in reality, and things just went back to what they were even after you messed with them? Confused? Interested? Fascinated? So was I by the plot of this movie.

The plot goes something like this, Phil (Bill Murray) is a weatherman and a news anchor, and is tired of his job and his routine and generally cursing everything and anything around him for his life's condition. Then he is sent on an assignment to a certain town to cover what is known as the 'Groundhog day' for the fourth consecutive year. He covers it with an over-the-top sarcastic streak and just can't wait to get out of the town. And surprise surprise, he finds himself stuck in the day. That is every morning that he wakes up, its Groundhog day, the time has stopped and he gets to live these 24 hours over and over again. Now begins the interesting part, for as he realises this, he starts experimenting with his days, he is free to do what he wants, to seduce women, rob banks, be good, be bad, cos nothing matters any longer. He then tries to seduce his co-worker Lita (Andie MacDowell), everyday but always messes up in the end and has to start all over again. In the process, he actually falls in love with her, and finally tired of not being able to win her, he tries ending his life, again failing, coming back to life the next morning always.

The climax is what makes this movie a winner. How does he break this cycle? What is the point of this plot? The message is extremely subtle and masterfully delivered. All it takes to make life meaningful is make an effort and constantly endeavour to make a positive change around you. Complaining about the negatives, being sarcastic (its fun, I know) doesn't really change anything.

The performances are natural. Bill Murray is a very competent actor and delivers one of his best performances. The plot of the movie is the real star. The concept new and amazing, though the movie is of the year 1993. All in all, a must watch this weekend.

I give this a rating of 7 out of 10.

'Big' starring Tom Hanks - movie review

'starring Tom Hanks' - reason enough for most of us hollywood lovers to check out this movie, I assume. But take my word, if you will that is, that is just one of the highlights of the movie. Check out this movie, for a ride back to childhood, for an insight into growing up and for finding out where you lost the kid in you while running along this path of getting all grown up and fitting into the society of manners and behaving yourself.

The plot of the movie is ironically the reverse of this all, its about a kid who wishes at a wishing machine (which works, something that only happens in movies sadly) to grow up into a man, and lo and behold, finds himself inside an all grown up body (Tom Hanks) the next morning. The movie goes on to portray how the kid inside Tom Hanks wins everyone around him by somethings we have been so taught to shed in the process of growing up, our innocence and honesty. He finds himself a job in a Toy manufacturing company, and off course soon rises to the top by knowing and telling which toy would work and which wouldn't, off course being a kid himself, it was easier for him. But more importantly (my opinion actually), it also is because he still played with those toys. That's how it is actually, being successful is that easy, if you work at something you are passionate about (off course we all know that, or do we really?). His room is full of the toys, he keeps on playing with them all the time, his mind on fun all the time. If only fun was not that underestimated in the real world, the world would be an infinitely happy place (oops, digression! but its fun :P).

Scenes which made this movie memorable for me -
The party scene where Tom Hanks arrives in a ridiculous tuxedo (compared to the standard black worn by the clones around) behaves all foolishly, like the kid he actually is and still leaves with the beautiful chick.
Then the scene where they just jump on the trampoline. How about that for a perfect date? We all have known cliches like the 'candlelight dinner' or the 'walk along the beach' perfect dates. But (my own experience as well), the perfect time is always when you are able to have fun with the girl, when you are just yourself.
And another where the beautiful chick explains what is special about Tom Hanks in just these simple words - 'He is so grown up' - this according to me is the best scene. The paradox of it all - the paradox of life according to me. Weren't we so grown up at thirteen (which is the age of the kid actually)? We did what we loved, never compromised, never said something just because its right!

And yes, now on to Tom Hanks, this here is his second best performance, according to me, right after Forrest Gump. With him, its difficult to rank his roles in all his movies, but still, this manages to just squeeze into the second spot. The way he gets his 13 year old behaviour on target everytime, the expressions, the joy he portrays while playing and the ease with which he displays discomfort (funny statement, ease and discomfort) of not being able to adjust with being a grown up. Full marks to Tom Hanks, but then, that is a given with him.

I give this a rating of 7 out of 10

English August - Upamanyu Chatterjee

For starters, how about I say 'The best book I have read by an Indian author till date'? or how about 'The Indian catcher in the rye'? If these two are not enough for you to try out this book, you might as well just skip the following review.

For the first time in my life, I read a book for about a month and a half. Why is that so dramatically put? Because, someone like me doesn't read a book for a month and a half. If its boring, I throw it away in a day or two. If its awesome, I finish it in a day or two. So what about this 'English August'? It was fucking awesome. It was so great, I just didn't want to finish it. On every page of this 300-something pages book, was a paragraph, which I read and reread, just to enjoy it thoroughly. Like the perfect drink in your mouth, which you wanna not swallow. Like the orgasm, you wish to extend it till eternity! And when I finished it finally, I wanted so much more of it! Again like the alcohol or the perfect night of making love.

So now to a more objective review, which itself is a paradox, because all throughout, the book is pointless. It describes everything, and yet it forces you to think nothing about it. Its about the lost youth, the aimless drift that life actually is, the pointlessness of routine and work and so on. And yes, most importantly, its Funny, with a capital 'F' as you might have noticed! Its humourous in an odd, caustic sort of way. Its dark but still you laugh. Its sarcasm at its best. Sarcasm which has given up, sarcasm which is sarcastic about being sarcastic. If you can follow this idiotic rant of mine, you would love this book. Its the other side of being an IAS officer, the revered position in India. Its about being confused, about always wanting to be on the other side, about India, the rural India, about unambition, about happiness and the pointlessness of happiness.

But all through this book, it leaves you to make what you want of it. You either enjoy the humourous view of the sad state of human life, or you get saddened by the reality that the book brings forth. Its very honest and frank, something that still our society refuses to accept, and above all, it laughs at it all. For instance, a very dark scenario about an officer's hands being cut has been dealt with a too realistic sense. How the protagonist (btw, English August is the protagonist, if you wondering :P), is first saddened and soon realises that its just another occurence, how a tragedy is not a tragedy until it happens with yourself. The book is shamelessly honest about everything like that. There are innumerable such instances, where you just can't help but laugh, and at the same time wonder, how shameless of the author to bring out the humour in such a scenario. A few of such witty excerpts from the book, mind you, I would have just wanted to go ahead and type the whole book, because its full of such gems, but here are just a couple of them.

Dhrubo (August's friend) : "I've a feeling, August, you're going to get hazaar fucked in Madna"
August (high with a joint in hand) : ''Amazing mix, the English we speak. Hazaar fucked. Urdu and American,a thousand fucked, really fucked. I'm sure nowhere else could languages be mixed and spoken with such ease.''

At another point in the novel, where August is all worried about where his life is going and he thinks to himself :
'Eventually, he knew, he would marry, perhaps not out of passion, but out of convention, which was probably a safer thing. And then, in either case, in a few months or years they would tire of disagreeing with each other, or what was more or less the same thing, would be inured to each other's odd and perhaps disgusting ways, the way she squeezed the tube of toothpaste and the way he drank from a glass and didn't rinse it, and they would slide into a placid and comfortable unhappiness, and maybe unseeingly watch TV every day, each still a cocoon'

Also, if you a big fan of Rahul Bose, like me, you have to read this book. Reading it makes you realise, why Rahul Bose must have chosen this movie as his debut break, at the same time, it makes you wonder, whether Rahul Bose has actually become this character, this character is so uncannily like him, he definitely has imbibed some traits of this character for sure. The same attitude, nonchalance, dark and caustic wit, the character being full of endless jokes running in his mind (Rahul Bose does this a lot in his movies). If nothing, read it for Rahul Bose.

I give this a rating of 11 out of 10!