Need for Change?

Ever notice how the energy in a room changes when someone who never opens their mouth, shares their astute thoughts. It is electric! I really enjoy the energy that that brings. Firstly, everyone is thinking - "Wow! X speaks"; "What did X say?.. What did I miss?"; "Everyone is staring at X and X does not care - how can I divert attention back to myself?". And a few are thinking "Gee- I did not know X had such a clear head".  The same is true when Y, who is known to be very traditional, suddenly chops of their long pinnal and comes to work in a very smart and stylish haircut. The sudden outburst or unpredictable action gives life to the otherwise routine, drab, boring schedule, meeting, or get-together :) 

X may have wanted to share his thoughts for a while but it happened on that particular occasion, either out of sheer boredom or simply wanting to express oneself. Y may have always wanted to go in for short hair but could not because of some restrictions - familial or otherwise. But, she did it on that particular day.

Sometimes, change comes to us - we are not expecting it - and we may not like it - but it comes all the same.  Our entire life goes through the motions as we adjust to the changing scenario. And sometimes, we need to bring change to our lives. When we bring change into our lives, we always think that we control all the aspects. Actually, change is unpredictable as always - whether it comes to you or whether you bring it to your life. In fact, the unpredictability and the energy it brings is the best part about change. I am not saying its easy but you have to and so why not with a smile :)

On another note, I saw Mystic River, it had be bawling! Seriously! Great movie. Watch it when you have the time.

Vishwaroopam - Movie Review/Rant

I am not a big fan of Kamal's recent movies - his overacting and his crooning are a major put-off. I know some of you really like his singing but I simply cannot stand it. Also, he dons various hats: such as Director, producer, actor, singer, stunt director, fight co-ordinator (Ok.. I am exaggerating a bit but you get the picture) that it feels that the entire film rests solely on his shoulders and a few others who shall go nameless or creditless! In his movies, the only role that is safe is that of the heroine - of course, he will ensure that she is nothing but arm candy - but since that is the way the whole indutry works - cannot really fault him too much with that. Ok.. enough of the rants. Now that you know, very well, about how I feel about Kamal's movies, I was pleasantly surprised to see the trailer of Vishwaroopam. Kamal plays the role of an effiminate kathak dancer with wavy hair and he blows you away with his performance.

Image courtesy: http://theviewspaper.net/vishwaroopam-a-review-2/

I saw this movie after the hoo-haa of the ban and the re-release of the movie. By then the numerous interviews with Kamal resulted in free publicity for the movie and sent Kamal laughing all the way to the bank which was what the movie was supposed to achieve.

The movie was engrossing, fast-paced, and apart from a few jarring bits caused by the actress who played Kamal's wife - quite good. It was almost a month ago that I saw this movie and while I am sure most of you have already seen the movie - this is more a rant and not a review - if you had any doubts :P

 

Image Courtesy: https://pagalhkya.wordpress.com/tag/vishwaroopam-enters-funny-jokes/

Another irritating aspect - cannot be attributed to Kamal tho'- was the number of  FB 'friends' who urged you to watch this movie to support kamal, support Tamizhs, etc. The movie was good - not great. The rest was - as the above cartoon mentions all 'bout the money! Feel free to disagree.

Resolutions for 2013

The beginning of a new Year always pushes me to come up with resolutions and I usually come up with a few interesting ones, a few boring ones, and a few repeats. None of that matters actually because so far I have rarely ever followed through on my resolutions. Shocking but true! However, this year, I thought I should come up with some practical New Year resolutions not the bucket list kind or simply too unrealistic. Here goes:

• Eat Healthy. I started on this 6 months ago and while I allow for some amount of binge eating, I take care not to make those frequent or periodic. 
• Stay Fit. A regular fitness routine, such as a 40 minute walk, makes me feel great. I must not forget that or let anything distract me from going for it. And, I should fit it into my schedule.
• Read. Reading got off to a decent start in 2012, but went off the tracks pretty quickly. The Arien presented me with two volumes of Sherlock Holmes at the beginning of this year to get me started, but I am yet to read them :( 
• Write more frequently. 2012 had the lowest number of blog posts in four years.While I do not believe that one should post just for the heck of it, it is important to stay connected to your blog. It is *[after all]* the one place where you can write what you want and not worry about what the editor says :)
• Infuse Discipline. I am quite laid back by nature and start on any task when the deadline is breathing down my neck. While I am very careful at work, in my personal space, chaos reigns. 
• Drive to work. I have a valid license and I can drive but I have never summoned the will-power or courage to brave Bangalore roads and drive the short distance to work. 

I think 2012 was a wake-up call of sorts. The loss of a relative (a few years older) made us re-prioritize our lives. If you want to do something, do it now. 

Here are some fun, possibly unrealistic resolutions for 2013:

• Get a Tattoo. Ya, this is the one I have been wanting since 2003. 
• Switch off the TV. Try this initially for a month or maybe two. This may help me achieve one of my practical resolutions :)
• Experiment with my looks. Now that, I no longer have a boy cut, and my hair is almost shoulder length, I should give different hair styles a shot.
• Buy Flats (footwear). I usually pick up heels, wedges, which look great but I cannot wear them for too long.
• Buy Jewellery. I have not purchased any gold jewellery in a looong time. Because Gold prices are always going up, sell the investment idea to the Arien while enjoying the beautiful piece of jewellery.
• Take up Dance classes with the Arien. This idea is almost 5 years old. I love dancing but the Arien is not too keen on dancing. So, this item may be there on future lists as well :)
• Go on a minimum of 3 treks per year. This was on our list last year and not even 1 happened.

The first post of 2013 - Finally!!!

Happy Diwali! - A very different Diwali

How was this Diwali different from the others?

• I did not shop at all. (If thats not simply shocking - you do not know me at all. Seriously!! A nice opportunity to shop also came up but I managed to side-step it).
• I did not buy shoes. (Even when an aboslutely tempting one sat right there - begging me to buy it.  I may buy it next week, I am sure :D)
• Did not burst a single cracker. (I do not usually -- but I am around when ppl burst crackers.  This time, it happened during the small time interval when I was not around.)
• Did not gorge on sweets and savouries as I usually do. (So so tough)
• My Diwali dress was not ready in time for Diwali (I will get it this week -- Talk of the busy tailor - thats him for sure).
• Did not visit my in-laws. (Shocking!! I was so caught-up with my relatives, I simply had no energy to visit anyone after coming back each day)
• Received some amazing news from my sis in the US (Yes, she is engaged.)
• We watched a movie (Argo - yet to write that review - be patient, you guys). 
• We visited Innovative Fim City (Most of the clan with the expected drop-outs.) 

So, how was your Diwali? Write in so we can share notes :)

Skyfall -- Movie Review

The Arien was not ready to listen to any excuses - he told me I could join him or he would go alone to this movie. What he did not know was that I was definitely not planning on missing this one :) I was reasonably thrilled at the prospect of catching my first ever Bond movie in the theatre. It was quite ironic then that this movie was quite unlike the usual Bond movies. What do I mean?

• There was exactly 1 big stunt right at the beginning of the movie which actually reminded me of the Bourne series. (It was a fantastic stunt btw).
• Not too many funky gadgets or women walking around in skimpy wear. (Was expecting my eyes to pop - sadly did not happen)
• Scenes where Bond is shown as a man with very human vulnerabilities, can be unfit at times, cannot always shoot perfectly (this was soo unexpected)

I actually quite liked the movie. Maybe it was because of the missing Bond stuff. It had an emotional quotient which made Bond more likeable. The Arien on the other hand was not too impressed - he whispered "This movie will go on record for being the lowest budget bond movie".  But, he liked the movie. In fact, he mentioned that Bond is always shown to be 100% fit, cannot miss a shot, etc. but he is never shown going to the Gym or working out. He added that this movie makes Bond believable because otherwise he would be robocop!

This pic is from his bike stunt that was simply fantastic.

Image Courtesy: http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/skyfall-trailer-2-sneak-peek/

While the movie was not quite what we expected it was pretty good nevertheless. Catch it!

 

English Vinglish -- Movie Review

When our trip to Chennai got cancelled due to the Nilam cyclone, we decided to catch English Vinglish at home. Too many ppl had given a beeg Thumbs Up for the movie for us to ignore the movie. Most ppl gushed 'bout the movie, Sri's performance, the story etc etc.


A stay-at-home wife, Sridevi, has a small home-run business making ladoos and sweets. The folks who buy her sweets sing her praises but her family, especially her hubby and daughter do not appreciate her or her efforts. Her son loves her unconditionally and her mother-in-law is quite supportive. When she is invited to her niece's wedding in the US, her husband asks her to go a month in advance to hep her sister while the rest of the family will join her close to the date of the wedding. While this makes Sridevi very uncomfortable, she goes ahead. After the initial gup-shup she feels a little left out and wonders how she will manage till her family joins her. After a particularly embarrassing episode at a road-side cafe that reduces her to tears, she opts to take up English classes without letting anyone know. The class helps her pick up English and builds confidence. With her simple, understanding, and sweet nature, she becomes quite popular in her class. The movie ends on a nice note.

The story is simple and touches your heart. Sridevi was not sridevi but the stay-at-home, unappreciated woman, Shashi. And you sympathise with and root for Shashi/Sridevi as she drives home her message of equality and respect without theatrics or melodrama.

While I would like to say Sridevi looks good for her age, I also thought she looked very plasticy in some angles. Her nose may not survive any more surgeries - her nose reminded me of Michael Jackson's nose and I wish she had left her nose as is.

A nice movie to watch on a lazy Thursday afternoon while having yummy lunch at home.

Looper -- Movie Review

After a loong time, we caught a movie at the theatre. Surprisingly both of us wanted to watch the movie. Usually, only one of us wants to watch the movie and the other kinda puts up with the movie :P There were only two shows (12:30 pm and 7:30 pm) and the Arien opted for the 7:30 show.

The movie is set in 2044, where the main character, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known to the TV buffs from the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun, and more recently from The Dark Knight Rises and Inception, earns his living working as a looper. A looper's job is very similar to a contract killer only his victims are from the future (30 years in the future). Time travel was invented but outlawed and so when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the person is sent 30 years in the past, to a looper whose job is to kill him. Loopers are a happy lot, earn quite a bit, and lead a good life compared to the others until they realize that someone in the future has decided to close the loop by sending the looper's future version to the looper to kill. The money for the killing is attached to the back of the victim, usually silver blocks. When the victim has gold blocks, it is a sign that the looper's future version has been killed by the looper, thereby closing the loop. Bruce Willis plays Joseph's older-by-30 version and does not let himself be shot by Joseph. This is not new, Joseph's friend, another looper, does the same and meets a horrific end, thanks to Joseph. Bruce Willis wants answers that he hopes to get here, in his past. He does not like his young self too much, considers him too self-obsessed. What happens next?

There is no amazing suspense nor are you left wondering whodunit? However, you want to know what is going to happen next and that makes this movie interesting.

Bruce has done a good job as he is known to do. Emily Blunt, the secretary from The Devil Wears Prada is good as well. The story moves well in the able hands of Joseph and while you are shocked at some of his actions, you feel happy that he will  care for a woman, his wife, more than he cares for himself -sometime in the future though it is not evident now (a short flashback from Bruce Willis).  

Joseph looks a lot different - I think they added some prosthetics to make him look more like Bruce - not sure. It doesn't really work - you only wonder if he had a bad botox job or bad face-lift. At least, I did. I was actually not a 100% sure if he was who I thought he was. All b'cos of the prosthetics. Here is a pic of the actor from the movie. You can judge for yourself. 

Image Courtesy:  http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/10/looper.html

Watch it wen you can - I liked it.

My colorful salad -- Wordless Wednesdays

Baked Onion Pakoda Snack -- An attempt at Eating Healthy

I have been reading ( a lot, according to the Arien), but I am yet to update the blog with my book reviews. Don't hold your breath - I probably will not be updating the blog with those reviews :) Finding time to read the books consumes all my free-time and so writing has taken a back-seat. Anyway, today I am back with a recipe for a baked snack. The Arien has been pushing me towards the whole diet thing but I have always found some way to escape -- not this time and I am glad I was open to the idea.

If you have issues getting out of the fried snacks mode, this recipe may help you. What you will need:

• Convection microwave or oven, baking tray
• Besan, 1 cup 
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• Corriander leaves, finely chopped
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• Red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp
• 3/4 tsp baking powder or 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp melted butter, or oil, and salt as required
• Aluminium foil

How to:

Mix besan, onion, chilli, corriander, baking powder, salt and a little water to make a thick batter. Add the oil to the batter and ensure the oil is spread evenly on the batter. (You can also add oil initially but I prefer to do it in the end). Pre-heat the oven at 400 F. Add aluminium foil to the baking tray and grease it with a lil butter. Take small portions of the batter, arrange them on the tray in a manner that they do not mix. Add the tray to the oven and bake for 20 mts. 

You can turn the pakodas over in between so that they do not turn dark brown on only one side. However, if you have not greased the aluminium foil, this may be a difficult task. 

They will not taste like the fried onion pakodas but you are eating healthy and also satisfying a craving for the pakoda! If your portions are big, you may feel that the pakoda is not cooked -- so look at creating smaller portions so that they are completely cooked. 

The pic on the left shows you how mine turned out :) Happy cooking you all!!  Try it and let me know how you like it.

Wordless Wednesdays -- Won the Kimberley Griffiths Little Giveaway!

The Help -- Movie Review

This was on the list of movies that I wanted to catch during the Oscar frenzy phase in March. Knowing that the Arien will not be interested in watching this movie, I saw it while he was away on his Himalayan Odyssey.

The movie is set in the early 1960s in Mississippi. A young white woman, Skeeter, returns home after graduating from the Mississippi university to find most of her friends are married (happily or otherwise) and her maid Constantine has left. The movie is set at a time when racism was rampant and the black maids were treated abominably. Skeeter is embarrassed to see her friends treat their maids with disrespect and scant regard. Most of these maids had started work years ago as a nanny and inspite of the role they played in bringing the kids up, the kids grow up and treat their nanny (now maid) very badly. Skeeter decides to write a book from the maid's point of view but none of the maids are willing or interested and are in fact scared about the consequences of sharing their thoughts about their employer with another white woman. This changes and Skeeter compiles the opinions of two maids, Aibileen and Minny. Skeeter mails the copy to an editor who tells her to get a few more stories, a dozen or so, and then she could think of publishing it. As the racial tension increases, more maids are willing to share their stories. As Skeeter compiles the stories, she finally asks her mother about Constanine and is shocked to hear the truth and decides to include it in her book.

Watch it during a lazy afternoon or evening. While the movie does not make you weep a dozen tears, or make you laugh uncontrollably, it is a well-woven together movie and Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter are great.

Minny (Octavia Spencer) won the oscar for the best supporting actress. Aibileen (Viola Davis) deserved the best actress award but it went to Meryl Streep for her performance in the Iron Lady.

Image Courtesy: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679960/oscars-2012-octavia-spencer-best-supporting-actress-win.jhtml

Catch it and let me know what you think :)

Wordless Wednesday -- Another Conqueror

Wordless Wednesday -- The Conqueror