How much do you lowe ur hair?

I have never bothered too much 'bout my hair. I have always had ramrod straight hair, which turns wavy when it is left to grow too long. I keep my hair short, in what used to be known as a boycut, for several years now. Low-maintenance, easy to manage were my buzzwords when anyone asked me why I was not going in for a change in hair style. All that changed, thanks to the combined efforts of water, pollution, some amount of negligence, trying out various hair care products, indiscriminate usage of hair colour, and not to forget, age.

Wondering if I will ever find a product that would help my hair go back to soft and smooth was on my wish list for a while. I came across Dove shampoo which seemed like god-send to me. My hair was soft to touch and smelt divine. It seemed like I could finally put a check against this item on my wish-list.

This Diwali, when I had to decide on some nice gift for myself, I decided to pamper my hair. Yes, I got myself the Dove Hair Care products. Yes, all 4. Kinda too much?? Well, ya especially because I am still not sure how to use the serum or the mask. I saw the directions but am still a bit confused. The Arien has been teasing me -- "You got what you wanted and now you don't know what to do with it. Seriously?!!" I am sooo grrr.. that I wrote this post to ask for help. Do any of you use the Dove hair mask? Or the serum?

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!