Anjaani Anjaani ki kahani

Movie: Anjaana Anjaani

Director: Siddharth Anand

Actors: Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor

So, my first pre-release assessment of a movie hasn't been that accurate. From the promos on air, and considering the fresh casting in the movie, I'd deduced that Anjaana Anjaani would become another addition to the quintessential love stories in Hindi cinema, just like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Sadly, I was disappointed on that front. Anjaana Anjaani for me is a mesmerising tale of cosmopolitan romance, urban humour, fashionable characters and good music that'll stay around for a while. What's missing - the intensity of romance, which I'd primarily say is a scripting lack. The story is straightforward and vividly portrayed. And Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor have truly given memorable performances, perhaps by far their best. Sadly again, this isn't reciprocated in the script.

AA is the story of Kiara (Priyanka Chopra) and Aakash (Ranbir Kapoor), two defeated souls who meet on a bridge while trying to commit suicide. Catch 1: Does every Indian looking soul in the US necessarily speak Hindi? Anyway, so the two are unable to commit suicide, and part ways to end up in separate accidents which bring them to the same hospital. They decide to commit suicide together and having failed yet again deduce that they are supposed to live life once again. So, they set a deadline for the approaching New Year's eve and decide to do everything they wanted to before that and their impending suicide. Predictably, they fall in love during this time. While Aakash recognises this love, Kiara doesn't. It's this part of the movie that has the two actors at their emotional best.

The humour is good, not the uncouth types actually, and a few scenes actually remind you of SRK and Kajol's chemistry. In a particular scene, when Kiara wipes Aakash's face, you are almost reminded of the rain scene between Anjali and Rahul from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. There are a few inconsequential characters and the only other known face in the movie is Zayed Khan, who has done a decent role.

While the trailer misleads you into believing that AA is the stuff that Hindi love stories are made of, there's still something missing. It's a good tale told nonetheless and a good watch for the weekend. If nothing else, watch it for the Ranbir and Priyanka’s acting skills and the great wardrobe the two are sporting. Oh, and not to miss the cadillac in the movie.

What do you guys think of this (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Im-like-a-gypsy-Ranbir/articleshow/5972589.cms)

Heya. Another Sunday comes to an end without me cleaning my cupboard. Sigh. Convince myself on every Monday morning that it's not that big a deal. Anyway, today has been quite significant in a lot of ways. Spent the whole day chilling with mum, since bhai and shruts are outa the country. Feels nice to be back in mom's company... works snatches away many little pleasures of life from one.
Also saw Rocket Singh. The movie was quite slow actually, but Ranbir's acting was the saving grace. But, it's the couple of messages in the movie that I really likes. One - even Spiderman has to take a risk. How concise and cool is that!!! The other is about working hard and honestly. It's so surprising that many of us, even 'seniors' in hierarchies refuse to work ethically. Like always, am plagued with the existence of such folks around me, time and again. I dunno why it happens so frequently with me, or if I just have a painfully low threshold, but I can't seem to be able to tolerate insecure people. Be it personally of professionally, why can't people think about building their own capability, instead of feeling bad about someone else's work? The ways of the world are strange.
Nothing much to say now. Shall be back soon.

Ok. I am back. Again. With the same sentence. But on the positive side, at least there's consitency in my comeback, if not the comeback itself!
Anyway, crappy jokes aside, life's busier than it was the last time that I posted something on this blog. But you know what? It's fuller than it was ever before too. Of course there are certain elements who still bother me, but the gross result is that I'm smiling at the end of each day, smiling, as the cliche goes, from ear to ear.
In the past five months, many a thing happened, when I thought I should come here and write something, put my frustrations and joy in words and be done away with. But, I guess those things weren't compelling enough. Then again, the simplest thing brought me here today. Actually, two simple things - one that I got free from office slightly earlier. And second, that I saw the most quintessentially romantic thing take place today, without realising how it would push me into a thinking mode that was possibly buried for the last so many months.
Was travelling in the metro today, when a girl hurriedly made her way inside. As the doors were just closing, her boyfriend quickly grabbed her and gave her a quick kiss. While all the people near her kept staring at her for the rest of the distance, I don't think that beyond the intial embarassment, it really mattered to the girl. She seemed so unaware of public glares because, possibly, it was the kiss and the bigger emotion behind it that mattered.
It got me into a very strange mood - about love and my constant longing to be in a love relationship. Not that I haven't had my share of some of them, but in retrospect, those all seem so empty - and so created purely because of infatuation or strong emotion. But you know, there was this kind of pure, love relationship that I always envisioned myself in. Of course, it was full of corny and cheesy stuff, but, it also had the elements of ever lasting romance - the kind of stuff that makes you tickle even when you are 60.
Anyway, don't think that that sort of love is meeting me anytime soon. But when it does, I'll be back here. Again.

People are getting addicted to Twitter and I am getting re-addicted to this blog :) After ideating, reporting, writing and ideating again at the workplace, it is quite difficult to write anything on your blog without journalistic seasonings... But believe me, I always try.
Spoke to a classmate from my school days after almost six years. As expected, the punjabi munda had gone to canada after +2 and has been working there since. I was duly informed that he has settled there and has come to India only a month ago to get married. When I asked him what he did, he told me that he is a journey man machinist. Now even with all my usable and only-for-pleasure-but-generally-unusable knowledge plus my googling skills, I could not understand the exact nature of the work he does. And when I asked him, he went offline. So, I checked with Tanya (closest friend from college). She always has a lighter take on things, which is more often than not, a blessing if I want to rave and rant (which I usually do). She believes that a journey man machinist is must be a new fangled way of referring to a cabbie. So much for my query!
Anyway, I have made no new year resolutions, like every year, but I have started making a to-do-must-do list. I will shortly put that along side the other lists on this blog. Here are the first two entries. Will add more in due course of time.

1. Visit New York for Christmas (the return ticket currently costs Rs 65,000, so alternative cities can be chosen )
2. Write a Mills and Boon type of novel

I just came back after watching 3 Idiots for the second time. And this time around, I could not wait to talk to my friends from college. College was over months ago... in this time, two batches of juniors have graduated... my juniors have come to third year and with the graduating batch this year, perhaps, my last connection with the college will cease to exist... perhaps...
For many people, 3 Idiots is a brilliant comedy. For me, it is nothing close to what my college life has been. However, there were moments during the movie, when I so missed college... and the people that I so willingly hung out with. One of my closest friends, Mervyn, called me today. We work in the same organisation. But I could not find time to go and meet him. Have my priorities changed? Umm... not really! But, the truth is... that I was so caught up in finishing work that I forgot. Mervs, I'll apologise in person.
Life's changed; in the last couple of months for the better. Perhaps, it was a good thing that I began working during college. Yes, there are moments (when even without being instigated by people), I terribly miss not being part of college fun. I don't think I ever mentioned to anyone what it felt like, when our farewell lunch was held. Yes, there was a bittersweet feeling. But more than that, it was shock and not being part of the batch's collective memory. Our juniors made a video, in sepia, of all of us from our batch. They picked photos from everyone's FB/Orkut profiles. The only pic missing was mine. From the whole movie. Even from NB's annual lunch, the only kid missing from the group shot is me -- because I had to rush to office; because I was too scared to ask for a holiday.
I know it pinched me on the day of the farewell. And it will pinch me years later when I read this blog or GD or even look at pics from college.
Gotcha run... will complete this soon

In the year gone by

I turned 24 on Thursday. It's certainly a milestone, but nothing as I'd anticipated it to be. For starters, I'd thought that I would win a Pulitzer or at least a Man Booker Prize for an outstanding novel by the time I am 25. I seem nowhere near that.
But, in more ways than one, this birthday has been one of the best in my life so far. I feet proud of my many achievements -- a new job, happiness, a bunch of precious friends and a new purpose. And since 've been missing from the blog for the last couple of months, I am using this entry as a make-do-for-all-previously-missed-posts.
On the career front, I have shifted to TOI and am immensely enjoying my work. In fact, there's so much more to learn here, everyday. Work's unending, but so is the learning. The avg age of the team is 24, in fact, half the team is younger than me. And boss wants me to take up a stronger, more evidently leadership based role. Though am still far that, but am trying.
On the personal front, all my best friends, from different phases of my life, have become friends. I could not believe that all of us as a group were capable of having a conversation for more than an hour. But I was surprised. On my birthday, we spent over six hours chatting on things both serious and trivial. Also, since everyone's love life is going fantastic, I guess all of us had a blast playing our version of 'truth and truth'. :)
On the gossip front, VB thinks that there is someone stalking me on my blog. We both mean to refer to the Mr Anonymous who keeps leaving comments overloaded with praise. Mr A, you have wished me both last year and this year through my blog. Considering you know the essentials details, why don't you also reveal your identity. If you want to say anything, at least say it with your name.
Life's pretty rocking otherwise. Now that the negativity of the previous office is behind me, there is an added punch to work. Days have become hectic and I generally reach home exhausted at midnight. But at least there is no dread when I wake up in the morning to go to work. In fact, this new opportunity has rekindled my desires for my own media enterprise. Let's see how things shape up in the coming months. Both astrologers say that this birthday has marked a shift in my life and I will shape my own future through the work that I do in the coming years. Isn't that true for life generally too?
But I do mean to kick some serious ass and find a position for myself. Anyway, lots is happening and I will be more regular for a while. post tom. To focus on new members of the Stairs Club.

tata
Sassy

OK. I need opinion. So I went against good advice and made friends in office. Unfortunately, they turned out to be the super clever sorts. So, I was tagged a certain kind and the good folks judged me. And I was too happy-go-lucky to notice that…like always.

But, I see it now. Just when I begun to say no (see how it relates to my last post ;), these CCs (clever colleagues), begun to throw attitude. While I would take it earlier for the sake of friendship and also because of the apprehension of antagonizing the few people I spoke to in office, I realized what a big fool I had been all along.

Now this is as honest a confession as it gets. Yes, I became friends with you when no one considered you worth the honour. You keep talking about your bf as if he is a local hero or a community deity. See, don’t misunderstand me. This is not a bitch session in progress. I would have been equally irritated had a boy friend behaved like this with me.

You did not become part of my joy. Instead, you gossiped about me behind my back. You sniggered when others asked me about the celebration.

Just because you rub shoulders with some biggies, you believe in renting a penthouse in the air. Please do. Just be careful. When you step out, the fall may be pretty steep.

For all that I care, live in your little pink paradise happily. It does not take long for any bubble to burst.

Believe me when I say that it is a challenge to write a post on one's blog after a hiatus of eight months.

Much has changed since the time I keyed in my last post. Bro found love and is happily married. I am inching towards fructifying ideas that have been haunting my sleep for months now. And, I have learnt to say no.

In many ways, this new office has been a roller coaster ride of lessons. Btw, on October 8, I'll complete a year here.

Now, what all have I learnt in this year?

1. It is best not to have 'close' friends in your own department. Most would be looking to screw you at the first opportunity

2. People like pretending to be poor. So, if you like enjoying a certain lifestyle, you'll be top on their list of anti-establishment. Funnily, even top shots in this office consider your family background and your resources before sending you on junkets or giving a raise. tch tch

3. Never discuss your personal life with anyone, especially if all your colleagues are like-aged. It is the only sure shot way of saving yourself from unwanted inclusion in stupid jokes

4. Do not add to or spread any rumour that you haven't seen from your own eyes.

This may seem like a rant, one that has only become more polished over the last three years that I have been at this place. But fact of the matter is that these golden rules by Sassy are thumb rules to survive in any media organisation today.

Anyway, there is much that I need to sort out today -- my closet to begin with. Will certainly be back in the evening with a more organised post.

Tata!

Lethargy is a tempting ally...more so when it inspires you to present innovative excuses everyday for not posting on your blog. So here I am, some 7 odd months later, trying to blog away to glory.
Circumstances have danced a whole new sequence and am left with some really weird queries to answer.
Details are best left unsorted for the moment, till the time that I actually dont sort them out in my head.
So the post's straight and brief at the moment, the best way to serve news hot ;-)

Am back!!!

Yep. Like I said in my previous post, I find it extremely difficult to maintain new year resolutions, especially those that require me to get bound to a form of disciplined action.
However, eight months is a pretty long time to abstain from writing (things that please me). So, when things began to seem mundane, I thought it is the right time to come back. So here I am. A little more patient (hopefully!!!), more vibrant (for sure) and more talkative than last time around surely.

Some things that I have realised in the last eight months:

1. I hate the Big Bindi with all my heart
2. HT is not going to shut down, in spite of what many think. The lady on the upper floor means business
3. I love colour, lots of it
4. Salman Rushdie is a magician -- love his work!

Rest of it later. On second thought, will soon post a pic of the first bag that I made.

Ringa ringa roses....

Have never been able to keep a new year resolution..infact..feel that the charm in defining a resolution comes with the thrill of breaking it...
Have deciced instead to create a wish list of sorts this year, where the first and foremost longing is to revive eternal temptations...
Amen...

THAT I did always love,
I bring thee proof: That
till I loved I did not love enough.
That I shall love always,
I offer thee That love is life,
And life hath immortality.
This, dost thou doubt, sweet?
Then have I have
nothing to show But Calvary.

Beautiful. Period

My Rishikesh trip

From the laxman jhoola, at eleven in the night...without a place, looking for something to while away time...

Har ki pauri..a different view







The beginning of the trip. Shiva's murti at Haridwar.
Look at the natural halo behind the destroyer

I really do not care two hoots about how twenty twenty is about players killing the spirit of cricket, but Yuvraj's sexy kick-in-the-arse sixers two minutes ago have left the Brits red faced ...seven sixers in 10 minutes...awesome!

Crossed Jerry in office today. He seemed visibly happier than his usual, silent self (don't know him much, but that's what I feel!). The conversation goes thus:

J: Hi!
SS: Hi! How are you
J: Good..How about you..
SS: OK..Heard you are going to INX?!
J: Yea...who told ya?
SS: Have a friend who is joining it too..heard there are a lot of people from HT too
J: oh..ok..yea..am going..probably a month more to go here
SS: That's why you seem s happy
J: I guess so...

End of the conversation

For a very long time after this I kept on remembering the initial euphoria I had felt on joining HT. Crossing Vir Sanghvi in the office...looking at Poonam Saxena..nalini..the very people whose stories I had read all my freaking life..I remember my second day in office. A senior colleague had told me that my Ed says that I bring bliss into the department. That my chirpiness brings ripples of spring into an otherwise staid department. A year and some months later, I dread going to that place everyday. Not because of its threatening walls and imposingly boring structure. But, because of the spirits that reside within. Colleagues, who I can barely call mine. People, who change faces at the distance of a cubicle. Over the past few days, the appearance of a new colleague has brought me tears unwarranted.
Irrespective of the fact that my Editor gave me everyday goddamn opportunity because I prove my competence for it, these certain guys (and girls included) have a problem. The only ground on which they find that they can pass sly comments (behind my back) is my educational background. The very fact that am still pursuing my undergraduate studies, while these guys are veteran journalists gives them an itch undefined. On top of the, it barely takes a sugared smile for them to ask for contacts and references and numbers for their stories..
So, for the past fortnight, every moment that I seem a little free, I have been the but of 'kiddie' jokes. The guy even went ahead to say that people should understand that there is a certain age for studies and a certain age for working. And one should not enter professional life, if there isn't quote unquote a problem. Really?
At times I just feel like going to my Ed and putting in my papers. But am I a loser? No. Am I someone who makes these people insanely jealous? I don't know. Am I a sleeping dragon, whom these guys are tickling? Yes..for sure....

Celebrity roof

There is a White House and then there is Arindam Chaudhuri’s Blue House, discovers Garima Sharma

While everything contemporary today necessarily connotes minimalism, Arindam Chaudhuri’s Chittaranjan Park residence gracefully disagrees. In a spectacular fusion of mute, bright, cobalt, azure and a kaleidoscope of other blues, the dynamic space resonates with warmth and welcoming love, in spite of a world of blue it is nestled in.
With its unconventional structure and spaces, the duplex is an example of excellent commercial creativity. In other words, while basic pillars and beams stand as expected, a swirling wooden staircase leading to the drawing room on the upper floor, a fiberglass partition (instead of a wall) between the drawing room and the gym and an old wooden table top converted to a magnificent glass dining glass table bring to life Arindam and Rajita Chaudhuri’s creative thoughts.
The house, as Chaudhuri tells us, was designed to do away with conventionality and make way for a contemporary space. But, the inviting intoxication of love was never compromised on. The Chaudhuris have a close knit group of friends and family and every Saturday, without fail is a get together day. Keeping this priority in mind, customised spaces were created. So, while son Che Kabir’s room is on the lower floor where kids can play, an extended azure blue sofa sits merrily in the drawing room, where all sets of parents can have a relaxed time.
The striking thing however, is the absence of a proper kitchen. Is a replacement pantry enough? Explains Rajita, “We prefer having meals with our parents, who reside on the first floor.”
A happy family that lives together and eats together? Quite literally, Chaudhuri explains, “My friends say that it is a racket in place. I have convinced all my close ones to buy space in Chittaranjan Park, so that we can all live together like an extended family.”
Like the various shades of blue in his house, Chaudhuri too is a single hued man, with varying shades of the palette. As he explains, “Blue and white are my favourite colours. Even if I go to pick something else up, I end up buying blue things.” No wonder then, that from wall colours to concealed lights and from artifacts to Swarovski crystals, everything is blue in the Chaudhuri residence. While renaissance paintings adorn the walls, a sparkly floor stone in dark blue, is quite a novelty.
The Chaudhuri residence may not have 132 rooms like the White House, but within its own confines, it is a reflection of identities both homely and attractive, modern and trendy.
Arindam Chaudhuri is a Management Guru and Economist

Blue bits

A grandfather clock bought for Rs. 15000
Hollow bricks were put in walls to support the staircase made of steel and wood
A modern piano, under the stairs — a gift for Rajita
A bed with concealed lights beneath it, seems to float in air
Arindam’s Sagittarian qualities and Rajita’s Gemini streaks seem abundant in the house