Chop Chop Chop -- Snipe Snipe Snipe

Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not experiment with my hair - at all. So, when I uploaded my new look on social media - I knew everyone would be quite surprised. At that time, I wondered how long I would be able to maintain the same.

Well, not as long as I hoped... While I liked my previous  look, it was too much of a hassle and the length was totally in the way. In April, things just got out of hand with Kuku acting out, the weather which made me wonder why I did not chop off my hair, office stress, general irritation etc. So, I chopped off my hair in April. I did not go back to my old hairstyle but now have shoulder length hair. I like a no-fuss, easy hairdo for myself.

Now, I have hair that is easier to manage while not as long - Some folks did not like this look much - but, it is easy maintenance and so I am def happy :)

Update on my Classics Reading Spree -- So far so good

So, I am still into reading Classics. Maybe because I am reading a book from a different author, each time, I am able to continue doing so. What have I finished reading so far, you ask? Here you go:

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit  
• The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

I am currently reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I don't think I have read this book before. Nothing seems familiar or leaps to my mind as I read. I could not even connect to the title of the book. Hmmm.. thats nice in a way.

I have not taken up a challenge because reading a particular genre or author can get a bit boring after a while - this is more random and I can read as many as I like and go in any order I like. Maybe I should look up other folks's lists to identify the best way to go about this - Lets see. Too soon to talk 'bout it. My interest in Classics may wane anytime :(

Badlapur -- Movie Review

The Arien wanted to watch Interstellar and I wanted to watch Badlapur. Nowadays, realizing that we may not be able to watch either, we quickly agree to the other's choice. The subtitles for Interstellar were in Russian and so Badlapur was the chosen one. We knew we would not be able to watch the entire movie in one sitting- thanks to Kuku- but we were determined to watch as much as possible in 1 sitting :)

We had heard a lot of positive reviews 'bout this movie. I thought Varun's promotional activity would involve his carrying the co-star and he did not disappoint. Yami looked a trifle uncomfortable inspite of her winning smile :) Read on for the movie review *Spoilers Ahead* 

Image Courtesy: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/is-varun-dhawan-trying-to-break-a-world-record/16057190

The movie is a revenge saga. The story begins with a bank robbery and the escape vehicle chosen by the thieves belongs to a young woman (Yami Gupta) and her son. Police men are chasing after the thieves almost immediately and in the ensuing chase, the kid who was seated in the front seat falls off the vehicle and onto the road. This shocks the bank robbers (Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vinay Yadav). Yami Gupta is concerned for her child and screams for the vehicle to be stopped. The tension in the car as a result of the child falling off, the police chasing after them and their possible capture, results in increased tension and the death of Yami Gupta by a gunshot wound. It is clear that they cannot get away and so Nawaz tells Vinay to get off with the money at a corner and allows himself to get caught. He is immediately placed in Jail and beaten by the police officers but he does not reveal the name of his partner and pretends to be the driver with no idea that the gun was loaded.

Varun is the husband of Yami Gupta and he cannot believe the double tragedy that has hit him in an

otherwise normal day. He meets with Nawaz in the hope of getting the name of the partner but Nawaz spins the same tale to him. Varun does not believe him but he needs the name of the partner. Nawaz is sentenced to 20 years of Jail which was clearly unexpected. He does not contact his partner or reveal his name but he tries to escape every year and is caught everytime. Nawaz is diagnosed with cancer after 15 years and Varun signs his release order after getting the name of the partner from Nawaz's mom. Nawaz is not aware that Varun knows his partner's name. What follows is nail-biting and then a bit underwhelming, but good.

Image Courtesy: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/varun-dhawan-badlapur-huma-qureshi-nawazuddin-siddiqui-yami-gautam-divya-dutta/1/13582.html

I somehow did not expect Varun Dhawan to be able to carry this role - but he did a good job of it. Nawaz is an exceptional actor: he had the best dialogues and most of the funny ones. He ably supported the script. Seeing Vinay in a serious role after a long time, a good actor who played his part well. The women had only a small part to play and they did justice to it - they did not outshine the male actors - it was simply not possible with their part but they showed that they were willing to do anything for their loved one and there was no trace of the regular filmy heroine. Yami Gupta, Huma Querishi, Radhika Apte, and Divya Dutta were good.

Image Courtesy: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/varun-dhawan-badlapur-gets-a-certificate-for-too-much-sex-and-violence/1/417148.html

Wah Wah

• Almost  every scene in which Nawaz appeared.
• Dialogues were crisp and get full marks 
• Jee Karda song was lovely
• Varun's serious avatar - impressive for a person who is known for his romantic roles

Blah Blah

• Treatment of the women in the movie was a bit on the crude, thoughtless, and objectification side
• The 'second chance' dialogue towards the end was a bit underwhelming 

Go watch and share your comments!