Happy Diwali -- 3 Reviews in 1 -- Loong Post

Diwali is a special time for most Tamilians. Apart from the celebrations, the pattasu, the sapadu, and the bakshanams, most Tamilians eagerly await the diwali film releases. This year, there were a number of releases around Diwali timeframe, we had Vedi, Velayudham,  7aam Arivu, Engeyum Eppodhum fighting it out for audience attention and appreciation. Naturally, I had to see all or some of them. Thanks to the Arien's enthu, we caught 3 of the 4 movies. Happy Diwali, you all!!

Vedi

This is an action movie starring Vishal, Sameera Reddy, and Vivek. Though the movie released almost a month before Diwali, I am including it here. This movie was directed by Prabhu Deva, who gave us Wanted, [Beeg Hindi Hit], Engeyum Kaadhal [Beeg Tamizh Flop]. I went to this movie with low expectations. This movie is typical of Vishal's movies and follows the regular tamizh masala movie template through and through.

Vivek, though he manages to bring a smile to your face, is hardly in his element here. His comedy  is a far-cry from his usual style and seems to follow the slapstick comedy of Vadivel. However, he was one of the bright spots of an otherwise absolutely blaaah movie.

Image Courtesy: http://www.tamilrelease.com/

Vishal beats up guys left, right, and center and they go flying across the screen, doing somersaults in the air, bouncing back from the ground.. Ufff!!Sameera Reddy first hates Vishal and then falls for him, as usual. She is the other bright spot in this movie. She looks very lean and quite cute. The first part is funny and moves at a fast pace. The second part got so boring that the Arien decided to leave before the film ended. For once, I did not disagree.

Verdict: Thumbs Down

7aam Arivu

This was a much-anticipated Diwali release starring Suriya and Shruthi Hassan. The masala movie template was thrown out of the window which was a welcome change. A R Murgadoss, known for Ghajini, is the director of this movie. Some of the songs in this movie were very different and reminds you of A R Rehman's songs. However, Harris Jeyraj is the music director for this movie. Except for the first song, which introduces present day Suriya and his circus, others seem disconnected and jarr a bit. Though the songs were good, well-picturised, it disrupted the flow of the story and looked as if it was forced into the script because they were already shot. (While this is the case in most movies - it seemed particularly out-of-sync in this movie). 

Bodhidharman, a tamizh pallava prince, goes to China to ensure that the epidemic that was killing most of the chinese people, does not reach India. He cures the chinese folks and also displays his martial skills when the village is attacked by a group of men. He teaches them these skills to protect themselves. He is fondly known as Damo. When he wants to return to Kancheepuram, India, the chinese decide to poison him because it was predicted that he must be buried in China so that the disease does not return to China. Knowing that he was poisoned, and realizing the reason for this, Bodhidharman eats the posioned food and is buried in China. This was well-shot and Suriya comes alive as Bodhidharman. In the next part, Suriya is a circus artiste or performer with the Great Bombay Circus.

The chinese villain, Dong Lee, is fantastic and has nearly as much screen space as Suriya and is outstanding. Shruthi Hassan is not a natural. She looks very pretty, slim, but somehow in the songs, she seems to be holding back. Lot of plot holes and an amateur Chinese conspiracy theory spoils the rest of the movie. While the movie shares information that would make most Tamilians proud, it was kinda done in a very prabhu deva style and so failed to make an impact. The ending is also slightly weird. See if you can catch A R Murgadoss in the final scene.

Verdict: 50-50

Engeyum Eppodhum

This is a movie that most people saw, liked, and recommended. It sounded so much like Engeyum Kaadhal that I was not sure. However, it was the best of the lot. There are two love stories, one involving Jai (Subramaniapuram, Goa) and Anjali (Angadi Theru, Mankatha) and the other involving Ananya and Sharavanand. Both stories strike a chord and are well-written as well as well-picturised.

The love story between Jai and Anjali happens over a few months. Jai watches her across terraces and attempts to wave at her for a period of 6 months. Jai is soft-spoken, shy, and does not have the guts to talk to her. Also, from the distance, sometimes he is unable to differentiate between daughter and mother resulting in some funny scenes. Anjali is quite bold, visits him in his home one day, much to his shock. He is also not sure if she is the girl who he has been waving at. She tells him that on the fourth day, she went to the tea shop opposite his house and had a good look at him. She then waits for him to make his move but he seems to be happy waving at her frm his house. She orders him about mercilessly and both are a treat to watch. 

Image Courtesy: http://www.vadakudin.blogspot.com/

The love story between Ananya and Shravanand happens during the course of a single day. Ananya comes to Chennai to attend an interview and is suuposed to be picked up by her cousin who is called away because of a family medical emergency. Ananya wants to go back to her village immediately but the cousin asks her to attend her interview and shares the bus details. Ananya fears the travel and her cousin asks her to call someone to the phone who will follow her instructions and put her on the bus. The stranger she asks is Sharavanand. Her innocence, shock as she observes the goings-on in Chennai is a lil contrived but amusing nevertheless. Shravanand, as the patient, understanding guy, who takes an hour's permission, half-day leave and then finally full-day leave so he can drop her off at her cousin's place is good. Ananya refuses to take the job as it means she has to work in Bangalore. They do not meet after that but they both have slowly but surely fallen in lowe with each other. They finally decide to find each other with very few details.I do not want to share too much except to say - WATCH IT!

Verdict: Thumbs Up

Been there, Done that -- Bengaluru Metro

Finally, 5 days after Metro service was launched in Bangalore, I went on my first metro ride. It was a holiday and I was visiting my grandma and aunts who live in Cambridge Layout. Visiting them was never an issue before 'cos I had my two-wheeler. Last Diwali, I disposed off my bike. And, because I am not comfortable driving my car, I have to either wait for the Arien to pick or drop me or take an auto. You do not want me to rant 'bout the rampant auto issue that folks in Bengaluru face. I was quite glad I had another option. Yes - The Metro!

After a nice loong chat with my aunts, and my grandma, a bowl of papaya, hot chai and biskoot, I decided it was time to go home. While I could have taken the metro frm Ulsoor, I opted to walk up to Indira Nagar and then take the metro from that station. The walk was invigorating. It had jes stopped raining and somehow the place felt so much like Bangalore and not Bengaluru.

Image Courtesy: www.mrnewz.com

The metro ride was a joy. I have travelled on the Delhi Metro and so while the experience was essentially the same, I was so glad to experience it here. The ride from Indira nagar to Baiyappanhalli cost me Rs. 12.  "So cheap.. so so cheap" was all that was running in my head :D I wished I had taken the ride earlier, as it was becoming quite dark and I really could not appreciate the view. All the seats in all the coaches were occupied. And quite a few ppl were standing when I got on. It took me ~6 mts to reach the station. I was lucky enough to get on the feeder service that dropped me off right opposite my Dad's place. That cost me Rs.9. I got to spend some time with the Taurean and the senior Arien before the Arien landed up to pick me up. If I had taken an auto from Indiranagar to my home, I would have spent minumum Rs. 100. On top of that, I would have to listen to the auto drivers rant 'bout how IT folks who sit in AC rooms all day are mean (because they refuse to pay auto drivers their hiked up charges). Let me not forget to add that most times, they are positively rude and refuse to take you anywhere that you have to go to. The metro is such a nice solution to all those issues. I wish they hurry up and finish up all the other lines as well. I wish they had a station near K R Puram or B Narayanapura. There is some plan to extend the existing route to whitefield. I wish they do.

Go Bengaluru!! Very positive news for Bengaluru!    

Wordless Wednesday -- Aloo Gobi (North Indian Style) -- Yummy!

Mausam -- Movie Review

Over the weekend, we decided to take the Arien aunt out for a movie and lunch. The Arien aunt is back in Bangalore from Mumbai for a month. It was my idea to take her to Mausam because I felt it would be slow with no major dishum dishum. You may recall, she enjoyed Deivathirumagal. Both the Arien and self found it quite boring in some places and very slow. Anyway, come saturday, both the Arien and self book tickets for Mausam, and treat the Arien aunt to an interesting lunch at Gokul Kuteera, a veg eatout. Both self and the Arien aunt chatted nineteen to a dozen while the Arien watched us both, amused. My aunt was enjoying her timeout and was keen on having some fun. The mistake was taking her out to watch Mausam! *Spoiler Alert*

The first one hour of the movie moves at a languid pace and you enjoy the antics of the gaon ka handome chora (Shahid) as he tries one dare-devil stunt, runs across rooftops to catch sight of the love of his life (Sonam) using a pair of binoculars from a different era, teases his sister, makes fun of his would-be brother-in-law, and generally behaves like a naughty younger brother you may have. If you recall your first crush and your behavior at tht time - you may feel a lil indulgent. But, as the movie moves on, we now have Shahid as a smart ofser with a moustache and a vardi, both of which look very good on him btw, and Sonam in Scotland as a ballerina, that you wonder -- whaaattt??? You wish 7 or 9 years had such an effect on you :P

Image Courtesy: www.ibnlive.com

Anyway, they are apparently as crazily in lowe as they were then. Sonam seems to have developed her fashionista sense at Scotland and family members of Sonam are quite impressed with his vardi that they claim it is an honor that someone known to them is in a vardi! He is the absolute pukka sahib. But, somehow he comes across very serious for no reason. If he had come to announce someone's death - I can understand tht expression but seriously holding on to that expression throughtout the second half - killed the movie. On the day Shahid is supposed to meet Sonam's dad to ask for her hand, kargil war beckons and Shahid goes away before getting married. At this juncture, the movie becomes absolutely boring and you really want to go home - the Arien asks aloud "Where is the villain?" I had to shush him. The movie is far from over.

Image Courtesy: http://www.forevernokia.com/

After the war, Shahid has paralysis on his left arm and believes Sonam may not lowe him anymore. (Reminds you a lot of that Aamir Khan and Manisha movie). Are you dead yet? Well, believe me it goes on and on and on. Rather than boring you further, I will take you to the last but one scene :D This scene was largely mistaken for a dose of humor or slapstick comedy in an otherwise very boring part of the movie. In ahmedabad, there are riots going on and people are setting fire to houses, cars, people. Sonam has been living here for several years and Shahid has jes landed here to attend the wedding of one of his punju friends from the dare-deviliry days. Amidst all the confusion, Sonam runs out and meets Shahid who saves her. Shahid then goes on to save a horse, and a child from a giant wheel whose mother lies dead - all by himself with one paralysed arm. They decide then to set up home with the horse and the child. That was when ppl started walking out. My aunt said "Aiyooo - this movie will never work". And then the song "Malla Malli" is thrown at us - no one is keen on watching it at all and is quickly walking towards the exit sign.

I like Shahid. This movie did not work for me at all. While the initial part was nice, interesting, indulgent, and slow but still likeable - the rest of the movie went over the top with slow scenes, no impact scenarios, and the final saving scene involving a child, a horse, and the heroine was absolutely a throw-back from the 70s era. We now watch those scenes and laugh - It jes served to confuse the already confused audience. The arien summed it up in one word "BLADE". I have to agree. I hate to do this but watch this movie with very low expectations and you may not feel so bad.   

Wordless Wednesdays - Balmuri Falls & Ranganathittu

Wordless Wednesdays -- Smoothie made by the Arien

180 Not Out

Happiness need not be a beeg nice happening in the day - it can be one small happening - a word, a smile, a handshake, a chocolate, a cookie, a small accomplishment, a word of praise, a second look, a nice cuppa chai, anything.

Well, I jes submitted my 180th post!! Its a small accomplishment but it means a lot to me. Woohoo!! Woohoo!! Ya - you are allowed to shout from rooftops when you are happy. 

Ooops!! The Arien has the shocked look of someone who is on an important call and has to now explain why someone in his house is going Woooohoooo!!! His eyes are giving me the naughty smile: "I was dying there - thanks to ur scream - ppl woke up" while his mouth was saying "Sorry - tht was the TV in the other room - hahahaha - sorry again - haahaha".

Thats my second accomplishment for today. Its very tough to faze the Arien. I jes did it!! woooohooo -- jes lowering the volume! Have to keep the peace in the house.

And if you are wondering what this shoe has got to do with it - Well, thats 180 Not Out. Go figure!

Image Courtesy: www.cricket-hockey.com

Callista -- Nice

Have gone past this restuarant every single day since we moved to the new office premises but the Arien did not budge. This month, the ofc junta chose that place to go for a lunch treat. The food was ok - they had a fixed menu. We had mushroom soup, one veg starter (veg coin), one non-veg starter (not sure wht it was). We had a bread basket and the veg dishes were jeera aloo, a panner dish, and another dish, which I cannot recall now. I think there was a non-veg side dish as well. This was followed by the biriyani (veg and non-veg) and finally dessert. Dessert consisted of fruit salad with ice-cream and gulab jamoon. Quite a mouthful. Not bad at all - in fact, quite good.The ambience would be much better later in the evening, was my thot. They had a huge projector and a few wall-mounted TVs. They also had a decent bar. From outside, it looks quite small but it is actually not that small. I actually enjoyed the place as well as the food though the music played was a bit loud and one waiter was a lil dim. I wanted to visit the place for dinner once before I gave my final verdict.

The same week, we were treating the Arien's bro and sil to dinner and I chose Calista. We reached the place around 10 pm for dinner. (Yupp! Thts a first - we are usually back home by tht time) We opted for the fixed menu again as they did not have a buffet in the evening. The Arien ordered for two non-veg starters (chicken) and was quite impressed. His bro was also happy with the food. I had ordered the Paneer Chilly which was quite spicy and tasty. We moved to the main course - bread basket with yellow dhaal (absolutely yummy), some paneer dish which had no specific taste, and a non-spicy vegetable biriyani which was tasty. The Arien had asked for mutton biriyani which was not available but the chicken biriyani was quite good, he said. The same dim waiter brought our orders. He  blinked when asked any question and then smiled. Next thing you know, he has left everything on the table so that he can call another waiter to answer our question. By then, it was 11 and everything was going to close. He quickly brought the dessert - fruit salad with ice-cream (no change since last visit). The bill arrived around 11:30 by which time most ppl were waiting at their table for their bill. We reached home ~11:45. The Arien and his bro watched a bit of the match on the wall-mounted TV because we were on the other side of the projector. It was a nice, lazy end to a gen day.  

Image Courtesy: www.bangalore.burrp.com

   

Mankatha -- Movie Review

A new movie from Venkat Prabhu, the director who gave us Chennai 28, Saroja, and Goa. It was also supposed to be Ajith's 50th movie. I am not a beeg Thalai fan but the Arien's bro was quite keen. So, 6 of us went for the movie.

The movie is fast-paced. It has shades of "The Italian Job". It is also an all-out guys movie with loads of action. Lot of shooting, guns, bad language, and reference to names given to the stars by their fans. A lil tiring but manageable.

The story is about Arumuga Chettiar, a rich man, who owns a theatre and is involved in a few shady deals in Mumbai. Trisha is his daughter. Ajith, a suspended policeman, is in love with Trisha. Arumuga Chettiar, decides to route 500 crore of betting money (IPL) through his theatre. So, the story is about this heist. 4 guys plan the heist - one is a henchmen of Arumuga Chettiar, other is a policeman who is regularly bribed by Arumugam. Another guy, who runs a bar and his IIT friend. Ajith comes to know of the plan and decides to join them. In another side of Mumbai, Arjun who is the Assistant Commissioner is working to unearth the masterminds involved in the betting scandal. What happens next forms the rest of the movie. 

Image Courtesy: www.latesthot.in

Ajith had absolutely no make-up on - no hair dye and appeared quite natural. Though he did not resemble George Clooney in the least - the salt and pepper hair, and unshaven look actually made him look quite good and required a lot of courage - which impressed me a lot. Trisha had a small, itsy-bitsy role which she handled in her usual style. Lakshmi Rai, was the manipulating bimbette. Arjun, looked his age, but did a good job.

The movie was not at all a typical Tamizh movie that I have to say "Go and watch it!"

Ganesh Chaturthi

I had missed celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi last year thanks to the golden triangle trip we went on. So, I was quite keen on not missing it this year. For the first time, the Arien insisted that I take an off on Wednesday (ytdy) so I do not feel hyper stressed on Ganesh Chaturthi. I think that idea was good. After cleaning up the house, we went out for a drive and purchased Ganesha idol, the go-green one as usual, and all the other misc stuff. We were actually back home before 6 pm on wednesday. Thats a first!

We made Kothhu Kadala shundal, sweet Kozhakattai, and Vadai. The Arien forgot to get Vermicilli. So I could not make Semiya Payasam. The arien suggested Gulab Jamun as an alternative and I agreed. If I mentioned that to any of my aunts especially my periamma - she will burst into laughter and I will never hear the end of that for the rest of my life. So, I did not call her or anybody else to discuss the dishes I made :D

It was a nice celebration - no tension, no stress - jes the way I wanted. Yeah!!! Thanks a lot to the Arien, of course, without whose help I may not have been able to celebrate it - the way I wanted to :D

Wordless Wednesdays -- So Cute!

Zafraan Divine Cuisine

After a marathon run of eating only home cooked food, I rebelled. The Arien acquiesced. It was yet another one of those rainy days. I actually wanted to curl up in bed with a good book and order in food. The Arien wanted to shop and because he had agreed that we could eat out - I was ready in a jiffy. We decided to try Zafraan, which was enroute.

The ambience at Zafraan was quite nice, welcoming, and cozy. The chairs were a bit severe. We should have chosen the sofa but it was already occupied. There were only a few folks arnd and we were late and so I was sure we would be served quickly. We took a few minutes to identify what we should eat and then waited for the waiter to take our order. He took forever to take our order. The Arien was ready to lose his cool when the waiter appeared and took our order. After that we had another looong wait. I noticed that most of the folks who were seated had been waiting a loong time. Some of them were slowly losing their temper. We waited for ~40 minutes before our dishes made an appearance. The food was piping hot and tasted quite different. We actually enjoyed the food a lot. Definitely a lot more than we had expected to. The Arien was also pleasantly suprised.

Image Courtesy: http://bangalore.burrp.com

We had not ordered very spicy dishes and the Arien had also not tried the Non-Veg items on the menu. So, I think Zafraan deserves a second visit from us. Nope, I am not going soft in my old age - I liked the food and really wanna visit again to see if they ever serve on time. While I agree that food gets the highest preference, ambience, and service play a very important role in making you re-visit the restuarant. Making your customers wait 40 minutes is taking the customer for granted.

Locked Out

Today, I forget my keys at home. I did not even realize that I had done so until I got off the bus at the bus-stop near my house, in the evening. I called the Arien instantly b'cos this was only the second time in 4 years that I have done something so foolish. The Arien was going for his Chai break but sweetly agreed to come home immediately. I was glad because Dad was coming home only after 9 pm and I really had nowhere to go and no vehicle either.

Immediately is subjective. That is what I realized after sitting outside my apartment for more than 45 minutes. Before coming home, I even went to the local Bakery and purchased sm general items. I spent the 45 minutes sitting on the stairs playing Global Bloxx to while away the time. A thoughtful neighbour asked me in but I had one of my TB coughs going on and they have a chuntu baby. I really did not want to be blamed if the baby fell sick. As a general rule, I do not venture into the neighbouring apartments and chit-chat. So, their invite made me feel quite awkward. I probably ended up sounding rude. While I was wondering 'bout tht, the Arien called and told me he would be home in 5 mts... and he was.

I did not realize how much of a haven my home was until I was stuck outside with no way of getting in. Oh Oh! This is the first time I have posted on the first of the month -- Woohoo!! Its a blooper post of mine -- Boohoo!!