A wednesday

Watched 'A Wednesday' today. First review observation and a forthright one.............great movie. Do watch it. The only audience who won't probably like it might be those who only love mishy mashy lovey dovey type romantic stories and this is not one of them...quite the opposite, in fact, its got none of that....doesnt even have a 'female lead role heroine'. When you see the film you'll know that there are only 2 females in the film.....And another cool thing.........no songs to disturb the focus of the gripping story.....

This one is totally different....... Fresh idea for the story, based on the very serious topic of terrorism and which happens on a wednesday and hence the name. Strong character definition......Anupam Kher as a tough, responsible and a cool and level headed commissioner of police who knows how to handle his men and make his plans and run negotiations with the higher authorities in the face of hell shitty circumstances. Naseeruddin Shah, bad man or whatever (whatever? u must be wondering where did that 'whatever' come from......please see the movie before u form an opinion on his movie character !!!). Aamir bashir....a capable police officer and one of anupam's best men in the police department. Jimmy shergill.....ATS man who is known to be a man who rides an enfield and regularly beats the stuffing out of criminals !!! These 4 characters have made the movie worth its story, there's no doubt about that. The best thing about 'A wednesday' was that it turned out to be something totally different than expected. (For understanding this statement too, watch the movie). All in all.....raapchik movie as we call in mumbai hindi..!!! Well done Mr. Neeraj pandey!!! If I were to rate it on a scale of 5, I'd give it a 4. A four 'coz I would have loved to see a pretty face amidst the face of adversity!!!!

Simplicity.....the funda of life

It has always been my belief that I am a simple man, who is being led to live in a complicated world made that way by people who are abstruse with complex ideologies and puzzling mindsets. My biggest dream would be to build a world which is simple, non-complicated, pure, true and yet progressive in every aspect of its existence.

-By
Me.
(How? is the question.......But then dreams are dreams!!! They come true or they don't!!)

Three of my most favourite roadside foods!!!

There's a great variety of food in mumbai. Gastronomic pleasures are plenty. Wherever you go, whether the western suburbs or the great big ol' south mumbai or new mumbai. For the average mumbaikar, hardly does a day pass without the roadside chats, the bhel puris, pani puris or the pav bhajis. These are the delights enjoyed by the young and the old. There is nothing like the bhel puri, a colourful mixture of rice puffs and farsan, with a generous dusting of spices and dashes of mineral and rock salt. A handful of sev, further topped up with fresh coriander leaves. What you have is a blissful blend, a taste bud tingling and savouring recipe......created by the 'bhel wala bhaiyaa' who gives you a free 'masala' puri, so that the tingling of your tongue due to the spices is soothed, but the taste of that great dish lingers on for a sweet amount of time!!! And then there is the pani puri......edible little balloons filled with juices of tamarind and mint leaves which just pop in your mouth flooding it completely, the taste that follows make you want to close ur eyes......heavenly!!!
Pav bhaji....which i know is a maharashtrian dish.....,the aroma of pav bhaji is simply too irresistable!!! Made out of a variety of vegetables it is also a nutritious dish. Eaten with 'garma garam' pav which is buttered and golden brown toasted. Like these there are many other dishes. But these three, which have been described above, are something which have and will always have a place in my heart and my stomach as well!!! If someone hasn't tried (mostly not applicable to indian residents!!) any of these items please do...... ur heart and your taste buds won't regret it at all.......ur stomach just might, though!!!!

Emotional dependence....

One of our (human beings) greatest strengths and probably one of our biggest weakness would be our emotional dependence. A great strength because, without this element of our mental makeup we would'nt be called human beings. We would be animals. Our very existence depends upon the fact that we have an emotional support system. Be it your parents, your friends or any others . A great weakness because, being dependent makes us vulnerable, conquerable, fallable. At times, knowing that we have an emotional backup, we allow ourselves to drift away, become sensitive, lose control. I have always wondered......Can there be any person on this planet who can do without this kind of mental support system? Are there people who have lived; not only lived, but lived happily without being emotionally dependent? One can argue that, he or she is a very hard-hearted person ('pathar dil' as we call in hindi) and feels that he/she does not need anybody or does not need anyone's help at any time. But i am sure even these so- called hard hearted ones are not entirely truthful to themselves and the others. On the other extreme, there are ones who are called as 'emotional fools', who cannot do a thing until they have someone's mental backup. The latter case pisses me off.....I'd rather go with the former types..... What about you?

Wisecracking Barber!!

Going to the barber's is quite a regular activity for men who like to keep their hair trim. At times, there are some interesting conversations which go on between the barber and his customer......There was one such conversation today.........

Customer (after having his haircut done) : How much for the haircut?
Barber: Rs 40, sir
Customer: Rs 40!!! That's a bit high priced for a haircut isnt it?
Barber: No sir, prices of all the things have skyrocketed.
Customer: That's OK. But the other day...i went to this other place, he cut my hair for Rs 30.
Barber: Sir, our rate is fixed.
Customer (with a grin on his face): Even the amount of hair that grows on my head is somewhat more or less the same...still i have to pay more. Moreover, you cut my hair, so I give my hair and still have to pay for it??
Barber (with a grin on his face now): As i told u sir, whatever the amount of hair on your head, our rate is fixed and as for your hair which you dont have now or which you have 'given', do you want it back? Its right here on the floor....i can pack it up for you......
Customer (hurriedly hands over Rs 40 to the barber): Wisecracker!!!

Life is beautiful when there is laughter all the way......

I often have had these 'laughter' sessions with some of my friends who like me, love to laugh on what seems to be a 'whats so funny?' kind of statement or event. Today as we got along together in the evening......we thought about the great times we had in the past. My friend mentioned that, the way we still laugh at the smallest and the most absurd and ridiculous jokes, might probably make people think that we are being silly, but this very ability of laughing frequently and generally, making people laugh, is a real god given gift. I think he's quite right. Even the thought that we still laugh at the silliest of jokes, which only young kids would find funny makes me feel 'gifted'. Indeed laughing this way, takes away all my pains and relieves all the tensions and all the pressures of life (Do not misunderstand the word 'pressures' in this context). The feeling of elation and emotional 'High' that you feel after you have laughed ur guts out is unmatched!!! There are times, when people ask me........are you always like that? Do you always laugh that way? Or are you trying to cover up any deep hidden emotions? And the answer goes.........Yes, I do cover up deep hidden emotions at times, by laughing out.....and at such times laughter is the greatest let out for me......it does a hell lot good to you than any other means of venting out emotions......At other times, there are no hidden emotions, I just laugh. Many a times, I have hurt other's feelings by laughing and have'nt even realised it till they told me so.

As another of my friends had once told me...........Laughter is a free gift ......You dont have to pay a price for it...............nor do you have to pay any taxes!!!