Month: March 2013

Django unchained- My review

On March 24, 2013

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie fox, Leonardo diCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L jackson

Its showmanship at its best, in quentine tarantino’s Django unchained.

Normally, if you look at it, it’s nothing but the quest of black slave to reach out to his wife who has been enslaved by someone else with a background of an American setup which continues to provide them hardships.

Coming from director Quentin Tarantino, who makes sure that it look classy. And no points for guessing that he does it with finesse.

Django, played by Jamie fox, is a slave who is freed by Dr Schultz(Christoph waltz) in a rather dramatic way to help him catch some people for whom he has a bounty. Now our Bounty hunter, gets a partner for this assignment to catch hold of the “bounty”. Looking at the way django works, Dr schultz offers him to make his partner for other assignments as well. The extra thing, apart from money that Schultz would be offering to him is help to get back his wife.

After spending the winter, killing off their bounties and earning cash in the process by bringing back the corpses, they start on a plan to bring bloomhilda, django’s wife (played by Kerry Washington). After due, checks, they zero in on a certain Mr. Calvin Candie (played by Leonardo dicaprio).

The story revolves around this quest of Django to get her wife back, which seems to be some sort of a heinous crime. Slavery, at that point of time, was so deep rooted that each and every thing that Django does, was seen as a violation of something. The depiction is cruel to say the least. People staring with disgust to see him ride a horse, share a drink or even stand near them. The human race’s terrible age of racial abuse is something that is horrifying and has been depicted in the raw and cruel way, as it is meant to be.

Continuing his amazing performance in Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards, Christoph waltz gives out a performance of a genius in a role that has been hand-crafted for him. The easiness with which he shifts between the character’s seriousness as well as temperament is amazing to say it humbly. The opening scene in which he frees, or rather unchains Django makes a solid case for his sheer brilliance, not to mention each scene that he is part of.

Leonardo dicaprio, comes into a role, which is something that he has never done before, and makes it his own. He has a different story altogether deep in himself to let out of his character of a wicked businessmen, who loves to see fights between niggers where one ultimately kills the other and he makes money out of it. Such is his business mind that even with knowing that someone has betrayed him continues to skim out a profitable deal out of it.

Samuel L Jackson, plays the character of leonardo’s faithful black-servant, who is worse than the white-folks around. His look itself will tell you, as to what is going underneath his brains, which is dark and wicked to be generous.

Jamie fox, displays utmost showmanship, in playing Django. He not only brings out the fear, fun and seriousness of the character, but also does it by being the most entertaining one. A fast learner, from being just a suffering slave to being an accomplice of a bounty hunter to actually gathering the negotiating aura of his senior partner to turn the climax around, is something that his character makes a case for.

Although, almost each scene and each frame has something that will make you hooked onto it, but the one where a whole gang of white people, try to teach the “nigger and his nigger-loving-German” a lesson will make you laugh not at the stupidity they display but the amazing human nature of fun brought out by Tarantino.

Also, mentionable is the scene where the negotiable Dr Schultz displays his skills to get rid of a 100 rifles pointing out at them.

Its showmanship at its best, watch him Unchain to bring about a smooth 160 odd minutes of entertainment, and not to forget the Old-style-credits at the start and music in between.

Smile- coz, it costs nothing!!

By farooq

On March 24, 2013

In Random Philosophy

Standing at the door, with winds gushing through my hairs and striking my face on its way out, while I stand there holding the yellow handle-bars tightly on each side of the train. Linkin Park shouting out loud from the earphones. And yes, not resisting shouting myself out, without caring what other co-passengers might think. One other thing that I was doing is, smiling and waving at people next to the track.

It sounds silly, right ?

But the best part was, people would reciprocate back with the same smile.

Although, I must add that my smile was not without a reason. The reason was the train, which was taking me home for a vacation. But I came to know about one important thing that day. More than knowing, it was reiterating the fact that Smile is the best thing that a person can do for himself and others, without putting much of an effort.

Smile is when, after an Indian win in Cricket, your face naturally comes out with one. Smile is when you remember some crazy incident from your school life. Smile is when you get a message that bank account has been credited with your salary.

But does, smile have to come for a reason?? No, it shouldn’t be dependent on factors like that. Let it flow without a reason, because it costs nothing my friend.

The benefits of a smile are immense. It not only ensures that you get a return at the same time, but also makes sure to create an aura of friendliness around you.

It is required almost everywhere. To start off, our innocence as a child which was displayed by it and how elders used to be crazy for our smiles, when our toddler little versions used to give them smile. Remember that Dhara advertisement? or ads with cute little kids in it selling diapers to baby oil??

Growing up, don’t you remember how your first crush had the best smile in the world?? It’s another thing how that smile used to fade away from your face, when you saw them talking to others!! 😛

Looking at the health benefits of smiling, Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin which together makes us feel good. Not only that, our immune system is boosted by the same and it acts as a great stress buster too.

Well, counting and telling you about its benefit are not my task, or I rather not make it one. Thing is, there are of course times, when we are so down that just to move some muscles in our face (i.e. smile) seems to be a herculean task, which our mood doesn’t permit us to do. But if we really think hard, and analyze, do we really want to stay in that mood for long??

So, what stops us from smiling??

Nothing!

So, if it doesn’t then try spreading one, because believe me this is something that is contagious. You smile at others, they smile back. It’s a nexus, much more like yawning (try saying Y-A-W-N-I-I-N-G) and no one will advise you to do away with this habit.

Now, as a start, smile after reading this post, and let me know about it. After all, even I deserve some smiles, don’t I?? 🙂

Earthquake, Riots and Modi

By farooq

On March 21, 2013

In Politics & Social Issues

2001, just when the Earthquake happened in Gujarat, I was just a 10-year old. It was really sad to see all those people, their houses, shops being in that terrible condition as they were. Earthquake, from what we read in one chapter in a social science book some days back, was there to show me what it actually is, and how damaging it can be. But, who knew, there were more socially damaging things waiting to happen.

The very next Friday, the mosque’s moulvi requested each of us to pray for the souls of the deceased in the zalzala and help to the needful over there in Gujarat. Also, lined up were various people looking for donations for Gujarat victims outside the masjid. Schools, colleges everywhere people were kind enough to give away some of their stuffs for the needful.

It was the time, when we had only Doordarshan, unlike many in our neighborhood, and they had started these 2-minute news updates every hour. And every time there was a Gujarat earthquake related news coming, so it had become some sort of a routine to see Gujarat out there. The only things I knew about Gujarat were the earthquake and Amul, about which I had heard sometime from my dada.

I can’t gather the details now, but I am not pretty sure, as to what happened in almost a year. Whether DD continued to show its monotonous news stories only about earthquake, or not. But that image was still there. But then another incident happened, something related to train burning. As far as I remember, and there were riots.

Things started to come together, all those previous talks that used to happen in between conversations’ in dada’s oldie-addas or even sometimes when dadi used to tell some small stray incidents of chousath (’64) or Tiraasi(’83) ke riots. (Although, when she used to say it, it used to sound like Right). So, now, again another Riot had happened, and this time in Gujarat. I believe I didn’t understood most of the stuff that time, only thing that went in my head was the bafflement as to how and why certain people behave like that.

There were lots of things that were buzzing my little and yet-to-turn-teenager head at that time. I had already started thinking of myself as someone who is not a kid anymore. But then, I guess, most of us used to think like that. Suddenly, it struck as to why our relatives from the other part of the city, mainly around the industrial part of Sakchi( Where Tata Steel, or TISCO as it used to be called then was) to our locality Mango(where there was hardly any development at that time, and situation is not much different even now) which is a fully muslim-populated area to take a casual and safety refuge at every Ram navmi. The real reason, as I asked and could know was, about the fear of riots that they had.

With years passing by, my tiny little head becoming big, things were somewhat becoming clearer. Although, I must say, there are still little things that are not. Actually, there was just a little question, WHO are these people make these riots happen?? And WHY do they do that??

Going back to Gujarat, and the reason I had this long prologue to what I actually wanted to say.

Putting this one question of Why and who, which I mentioned above, I somehow got the answer.

The answer is not something to be said in mere words, because this is a perspectivial thought that came from this. And this answer didn’t come from asking that question just once, not twice but numerous times. I do advice, if you don’t have the answer, then please keep asking yourself.

“Shri Narendra Modi” once said something about action-reaction, displaying his immense knowledge about Newton’s law of motion. Not to forget his made-to-woo oratory skills, which he can use to talk about in colleges (where there might be protests outside the premises, but then his “intellectual” fans don’t mind that), or he can go globe-trotting to tell about it (provided he gets the visa, Oops).

I would just like to say, to him, the action that your government did, or didn’t do for some reason about which everyone knows and some try to act as if they don’t, will always have a reaction waiting for you someday. Not exactly in the manner that you made people of your own state to go through, but at least in making you get rejected for a visa (First CM to do that, Record!!), maybe getting “disinvited” to events, and more importantly getting the mandate of the people of secular India, where people have the guts tell it to you that what you did will always remain in their memories. And you will know about it soon. Kyunki bhai, 2014 door nahi.

Jolly LLB- My review

By farooq

On March 17, 2013

In Movies & Entertainment

It is amazing how Arshad warsi, fills in the jolliness and simplicity in order to display the complexities of the system and being a small town lawyer. It is sheer joy to watch him perform and he is no doubt one of the finest performers out there. It is his part that puts in the extra punch in this Subhash kapoor directed film.

Boman Irani (Tejinder Rajpal) , playing a shrewd lawyer who has a stature and power of the system in his pocket, which makes him manipulate anything to suit his taste buds.

Amruta rao (Sandhya), playing Jolly’s love interest and support in the movie, has a short role where she is a school teacher.

The plot involves a hit-and-run case of a rich dad’s kid, and how with influence and a lawyer like Rajpal (Boman irani), he gets away. The story takes a turn, when Jagdish tyagi (Arshad warsi) decides to file a PIL to open the case again, purely on the basis of media reports and zeal to be famous. But his idea actually gets remote controlled by the terrible law and order system. With a little hurdle where he is faced to choose between what’s right for him and what is actually right, he finally decides to fight for the cause of justice and prove that “justice milta nahi hai, ladna padta hai”. The story takes a hilarious yet introspective look at the judicial system of the country and how influence, power and money is used to change or completely kick it out.

Saurabh shukla stands out with his performance as a judge. The scene where he loses his cool is both hilarious as well as impactful. He presents with him, the character without holding back anything. Be it the dialogue delivery or the little miniature showdowns then and now.

Songs are okayish, but the movie didn’t need them at all. Rather could have benefitted better of leaving them out. Songs push in themselves between scenes, one song, “ajnabi” starts off when our lawyer Jolly is manaoing his lady love, whom he calls Sandhu (prem se) inside the school where she teaches. Now the precursor to the song involves a lot of nakhre from our heroine which takes place when she happens to be inside the school!! Imagine a teacher doing all that, in our school??!! But then, it’s a movie right??

One very important thing that was missing from this film was the shelf value of the characters. All of them did worked on to give you a decent movie, yet the idea of each character being there in your mind like Munna bhai’s parsi doctor, that sweeper in the hospital getting a jadoo ki jhappi from Munna or the patient Anand or be it the milimetre from 3idiots. These small characters are the backbone of a movielike this. and that’s what makes it fall short of a masterpiece. For instance, a notable actor like Sanjay mishra, who is seen playing a head constable conducting an auction involving lacks of rupees for senior inspector’s promotion!!!! There seemed to be something missing in terms of collaborative input and hence that is visible in the output. Although, with performances of Saurabh shukla as the judge and Manoj pahwa as Arshad’s onscreen brother in law adds value.

The best part of the movie lies between three characters. The judge, the prosecution and the opposition, played by Saurabh shukla, Arshad warsi and Boman irani respectively. The movie could have benefitted by developing other characters a little more to highlight the system’s inadequacy and plaguing nature. Yet, there is a silver lining in everything, and glimpses of good, even in places where it cannot be are shown every now and then in the movie.

I’ll give a “3 out of 5” for Subhash kapoor’s Jolly LLB and recommend you to take time out and watch a hilariously insightful film.

Dove- Story about my unimportant hairs

By farooq

On March 15, 2013

In Others

It was just a normal day, of a hectic schedule to round-about classes here and there. Got informed by someone, that there is a package waiting for me. With curiosity, opened the box right away, only to find a beautiful looking white bag. Opening further, to my utmost surprise, it was Dove!! Dove, as in Dove shampoo and Dove conditioner.

And then it struck, I had just playfully applied to free samples for it, to use them and review it. Although, I did felt that they were very generous enough to do so.

To say the truth, I didn’t intend to write any product review for it. Free stuff, use it and enjoy, is what I wanted. But, yet you find me writing about it. no, it’s not about the prize that I might get, for the contest, “beautiful ends to your beautiful braids”, which ultimately some women will win. It’s just a simple review of what I used all these days with the Dove shampoo and conditioner.

To start off, I have never been a big fan of cosmetics, especially hair-care products. It’s not about being a male, but just that the chemicals and stuff have a weird effect. Although, with the kind of lifestyle that we ultimately end up living, it does take up some space. Yes, I should add that I had never used any dove product before, and I used this only because it came for free.

But, I was surprised!! In a pleasant way, of course.

Why ? well http://www.dove.in/en/Products/Hair-Care/Split-Ends-Rescue/Dove-Split-End-Rescue-Shampoo.aspx is the answer for that.

To tell you about my hairs, there’s not much. It’s short and sometimes it grows a little too dense before the barber works around the bush with much difficulty to give it a decent look. It’s not completely curly, nor straight, but uneven with its ends a little weird. With dust and pollution following me, every now and then, over the years, dandruff as well as hair issues been there like forever.

I remember how I used to be the centre of jokes for my hairs in my school. Although, I used to resent them back them, but looking back, it was so much fun. But yes, at the expense of my poor hairs. Poor, lacking moisture and dry as a desert. Some of the many jokes that used to be centered around that time, included, as to the “level of difficulty that the barber will have to give me a haircut”, “how my combs would never be able to withstand usage, once I make them go inside my bush” and of course” getting my hands cut, if I make my hand go through them even once”.

To, technically define my hairs,

–> They are dry lacking moisture.

–> They are thick and wavy.

–> They have unusually weird ends

Now, using Dove has surprisingly brought about little changes. And this includes, the Dove shampoo and Dove Conditioner as well

–> Moisture, a little of it, if not a lot can be felt and they don’t feel dry.

–> The thickness is still prevalent but the waves have somehow become more structured and look neat.

–> And the weirdness in the ends is almost replaced by the changing quality of my hairs.

And believe me, I am sure, when I go to the store to buy out a shampoo. It would definitely be dove.

To learn more about Dove-Split end rescue system, click–> http://www.dove.in/en/Products/Hair-Care/Split-Ends-Rescue/Dove-Split-End-Rescue-Shampoo.aspx

However, if your issues are serious, then you should visit a dermatologist who can help you with your issues.

Water Management

By farooq

On March 15, 2013

In Others

Taking me out of bed to pick up the brush is a task in itself. Trying to do that early morning, is an addition that one hardly ever wants. At least for someone like me, this addition doesn’t sound good. And yes, I should add, lazy people like me. Or to make it sound more decent, those who do not consider themselves as “morning people”.

Now, when starting your day like this is tough enough to make you realize how “tough” our life is, imagine the day starting with a whole lot of expletives coming out of your Colgate-filled mouth.

Well, don’t mistake me for doing that because of the hardships that I mentioned before, about the getting-up and brushing stuff, as there is a reason.

The reason is a newly added course on Water management in our curriculum and which happens to be an exclusive one at that. Only for boys hostel!! Exclusivity in this is something I wouldn’t like to have. (And of course, there is a whole lot of exclusive stuff I would like to possess, but we’ll talk about that sometime later).

Coming back, onto why this course (let’s call it that), made me end up gulp in some of the colgate and mouth words which I won’t like to myself hear, and that too at the start of the day. Imagine, opening the tap and hearing some peculiar sounds of water doing some sort of dance on strange music and refusing to come out. Yea, it does.

The “morning chores” somehow got over with difficulty, difficulty of running to-and-fro to other rooms to gather the precious stuff. Even more precious than the “Lord of the rings’ ring” and no, it’s no effing exaggeration!! Believe me.

If, this was just an orientation (or a trailer if you are watching a horror movie) of what was to come next, or what important lessons we were to “gain”, then it is very apt to put it that way.

When I addressed myself as a lazy bum, I actually forgot to add about the company that I enjoy over here. “It’s not just me” is what I will have to add too. Filling up water bottles is a task in itself, not to mention the fact that how your bottle, if it’s filled with the “precious”, is a magnet far more powerful than anything else.

Now, imagine, your bottle not being looked upon as the “precious”. Poor lad.

Damn, those water purifiers’ man!! Who have nothing much to do, except being empty.

Anyway, to talk about the water management course, I must say, it’s working quite well.

Some value has been added to our hostel-life with it. Like,

Instead of being lazy, we are even more pumped up to go into “water hunting”.
We have learnt to properly store the “precious” and with this slowly becoming a regular thing
We also have become dedicated to put more efforts into conservation and excel in this course of management.

Hope, you are enjoying by being part of this. If not, it’s never too late to start because this “precious” is someday going to make you run even more.

Kai Po Che Movie Review

By farooq

On March 4, 2013

In Movies & Entertainment

They say the film cannot be better than the book. “Kai Po Che” is one movie that proves otherwise.

Although, I must add the bar was not raised that high by Chetan bhagat in his book, “3 mistakes of my life”, on which the movie is based.

“Kai po che” is a Gujarati term used in Kite flying. When someone cuts a kite, thsi expression is cried out in excitement. The movie tries to co-relate this with the bond of friendship and their ups and downs.

Introducing Sushat Singh Rajput and starring a young cast, comprising of RajKumar Yadav, Amit Sadh and Amrita Puri being the female lead, the film is seriously one of the best offerings of this year.

The film, as the name is from, is based in Gujarat and the story revolves around three childhood friends and their ambitions. Govind (Raj Kumar Yadav), is someone who wants to be something big and has huge entrepreneurship goals but money is something that he falls short of to start off. Ishant (Sushant singh rajput) is a cricket-crazy lad, who was a district level cricketer too, but failed to make it further and Omi (Amit sadh), son of panditji whose mama(uncle), played by Manav kaul, always tries him to pull him in the Saffron party-fold of which he is a part of.

With family expectations and eyes on future, their business idea starts off with a sports equipment and cricket coaching centre , where Ishaan gives cricket coaching. Sabarmati Sports centre kicks off quite nicely, although to start it off they had to take help from Omi’s mama who belonged to a hindutva-ideology supported party. On Ishaan’s request, Govind, a part-time tutor had to take private tuitions for Divya (Ishaan’s sister played by Amrita puri). With an “over-active” and good looking student and with the Bro-code to keep intact, being the teacher becomes tough.

Even with issues, their lives were flying like a kite, but with an earthquake and a subsequent Hindu-Muslim riot, things turn ugly. With nature and situations taking regular tests of their ideologies, thinking, ambitions and more importantly friendship, they try to steer their kite. The film is all about that.

It raises a lot of issues in just a 2-hour stretch of a movie and its treatment is something that Abhisek kapoor has done brilliantly, with the cast giving it great support. Sushant Singh Rajput makes a great entry to the silver screen by being natural yet affirmative. Raj kumar yadav, whom we had seen in smaller roles before, makes a case for him by being the shy and low-key Govind. While, Amit sadh and Amrita puri too, do a commendable job in the movie. It’s not just the lead characters that fill in the movie, but actors like Manav kaul and Asif Basra who pitch in with performances.

The film doesn’t try to overdo anything and that is what stands out. The hindu-muslim equation and its complexities are depicted in a sensible manner without much drama. The sweetness of the story dealt with innocence is something that you would bring back, although there aren’t enough dialogues for which one can say the same. The music by Amit trivedi is amazing, with all the songs helping build the flow instead of being any sort of distraction. He is sure to give A.R rahman run for his money in the future.

Scenes involving cricket, are a treat to watch and instead of being any melodramatic, one enjoys it. The last scene, where Ishaan’s favorite student plays the cricketing shot in Team India colors, is something that is sure to make your eyes go wet.

A 4-out-of-5 for Abhisek kapoor’s Kai po che, which takes you back to Dil chahta hai and Rock on!!

A treat in the offing!!