Weekend Matinee: Dostana

            I am sure by now most of all know about the basic plot of this movie. But still I thought I would share my opinion.

Dostana is a movie about two guys, Samir (Abhishek Bachan) and Kunal (John Abraham) who pretend to be a gay couple in order to get themselves a house on rent. This house is shared by our female Protagonist Neha, ably played by Priyanka Chopra. The boys of course, eventually fall for the girl and then to add a twist to the plot, enters girls new boss Abhimanyu (Played by Bobby Deol), who seems perfect for her.

The highlight of the movie is not its slightly unique script but the presence of some sleek situational humor and relatively less bollywood treatment given to it. Both half of the movie has been more or less evenly balanced. The first half is sort of a laugh riot. But also there were times, when I felt that I was forcedly made to laugh. The second half is dragged at some places but is saved by some good humor, thanks to Abhishek's perfect comic timing. Contrary to some reviews by experts, I believe the humor in second half was of better quality.

Few scenes like the one where the Samir makes up a story about how he and Kunal fell in love with each other and the one where Samir's Mother (Kiron Kher) comes to know that her son is a gay is really wacky. Also in the second half, the situations created by the duo to cause confusion between Neha and Abhimanyu are excellent.

Another good point about the movie according to me is its non-bollywood style of ending, which is normally considered indispensable in Karan Johar production. The music by Vishal and Shekhar is peppy and has caught me more after watching it on screen.

Of the cast, Kiron Kher as Samir's mother managed to entertain the audience whole heartedly for around 20 minutes. Her performance was Hamish, but that is what the script demanded. Boman Irani in a small role was good, but with the kind of role he has done in past, expectations are always more from him. Priyanka and John have done great job but the real show stealer is Abhishek Bachan. I heard people laughing whole heartedly even after coming out of the theatre referring to some funny expression of his.

Even though its not a very great movie, All in all, this one is one of those feel good types, the one which would make you laugh and give you your money's worth.

How to beat the shit out of UPites and Biharis?

        Last time when I had been to my home town, the then railway minister was in the nearby town. The minister hailed from the Indian State Bihar. I heard my folks saying that he was there to lead his people into a virgin territory, which has not been forayed by migrant Biharis.

Few days later, I was listening to a talk show on our TV channel; the topic was 'Why Kerala, even after being the most literate state is not able to produce considerable number of IAS and IPS?". Many opinionated that civil service is a stream that is highly dominated by North Indian IAS/IPS kids (children of IAS/IPS parents). Surely this proves that favoritism is so predominantly existent in the Indian Job circuit. After all how can these Biharis/UPites who are believed to not even have the basic infrastructures and educational standards available to other pass the civil service exams with flying colors. It looked eminent that maybe Biharis and UP Babu's who are already on service were propagating favoritism.

Often our opinions and beliefs are based on what we are made to believe. Often it has huge influence on how we perceive or receive something prima facia. Years passed, I was now interacting with people from different walks of life and cultures. During my college days, I happened to study with highly committed Biharis who were at least 3-5 years senior to me sharing the same class room. They were studious and highly committed, though I wouldn't call them scholars. But, still in terms of their efforts they were commendable. I also came across Biharis and UPites who devote years into preparation of civil services. I personally have friends who have that level of conviction. Only then, I realized that Biharis and UPites have high regards for Civil Service and UPSC exams. They put in the most to achieve these targets.

To beat them in these arenas, we would need that level of conviction and dedication. Civil Service, UPSC and Railways are dominated by them, only because they yearn for it and work really hard for it. Rather than complaining that they are eating up jobs, we should counter them with same level of conviction and hard work.

Rather than instigating ill feelings among people, the so called thinkers and leaders of the society should build competitive spirits in people. Parents should teach their children to be sportive rather than pestering them with wrong attitudes.

Those who have read my previous post would wonder why am i being so critical one time and then defensive. Actually, i admire UPites and Biharis for what they nuture within themselve. To spare your 2-3 years for a such a cause is really appreciable, especially when you can easily chase more achievable and greener career options like IT Sector available. We all Indian should take this as a good example and foster our young minds with such ambitions.

Now regarding the question posed at the talk show. I feel the following line by some respectable thinker justifies it which goes like this...."Being Literate doesnt mean being educated".

I believe Literacy is just one milestone towards achieving the ultimate goal of being Educated. It should be noted that most Biharis/UPites are trying to be Educated and thats what we all should learn for a better future of our country.

By beating someone up i dont mean literally....but what i mean is we should give them some hard punching competition.

A line from my Favourite movie "Rang De Basanti" goes...No country is perfect, It has to be made Perfect.We all should strive for the same!

About the Title of this post...Please forgive me for it as i am too naive, i know its a Yellow Journalistic attitude. I am just trying to make everyone read!!.

A City paralyzed…..Well almost

It's a special day for me. But also, it's been a day of ironies. 21^st of October 2008, a prominent political leader is arrested for whatever reasons. He and his ideologies might be right and also may be that of his political opponents. I am nobody to comment on any political alignments and thoughts. But as a common man, I have few neutral concerns. I am trying to voice that and there are no offences meant. I am a person who has spent his life across the length and breadth of this country. Born in Kerala, I have grown up in western, eastern and northern part of this country. I believe I am an ideal person to be named as a neutral Indian, with no cultural, ethnical and religious biases, a true INDIAN. Maybe the gentleman in the centre of controversy is right or maybe he is generating momentum as part of vote bank politics. I don't Care!!

I started my day early, as I mentioned it was special day for me. But in the quest to accomplish many activities, I missed my company bus and had to arrange for an alternate means to make it to next nearest pickup. This bus which I boarded was a Karnataka state transport bus to Mumbai. I believe they are not allowed to take passengers for short distance travels within Maharashtra, as that service is catered by BEST service. There were no tickets issued either. Stop to think of it, this is one of the instance were outsiders/outside entities are being parasites. But where doesn't that happen?

I found one of my colleagues, a cheerful, maharastrian gentleman with whom I share the company bus. But today he looked really tensed. He had left his office late the previous day and hence didn't mind carrying his Laptop home. It was supposed to be with him all the time as his nature of work demanded it so. It turned out that an urgent work came up when he was leaving his house. Had he had his lappy, he would have connected to the office network and attended to his work. He really needed to make it fast to office and he missed the bus. On the State transport we were discussing this and just then the traffic came to a halt. We were expecting disruptions but not in this part of city.

We saw a mob that halted the traffic, shouting slogans in support of the leader, who is opposing the influx of north Indians and their culture into this very city. Call it irony or unity in diversity, the slogans were in Hindi!! A few even enjoyed the show. The trouble makers were people who visibly looked laymen, who would hardly seem to have been affected by the political potboiler. Also it included few college going students, who seemed to want to bunk their classes and wanted to make this moment cherish able.

At least, around hundred people from different walks of life's, different ethnicities irrespective of a Marathi, Guajarati or Malayali were stuck up with not knowing what to do. By now, I and my friend decided to board the train rather than chase to the next pickup. I started having a double mind and decided to go back home. My friend had no option rather than going to office. The road block had caused a sense of urgency in him which I didn't find in any other person around.

I entered the railway station and saw people in panic caused due to the jam. Women were on mobiles informing their loved ones about the situation, Men calling up offices, students finding a way out. Suddenly a mob of at least 20 men came running in like a herd wild bulls, screaming and causing chaos. Later it turned out that they were just doing that for their amusement.

When a mob protests comes in the form of hooliganism, the real reason behind the protest is not any cause but it's just a sheer act of disrupting normal life, committed by people who either enjoy doing it or have been brainwashed.

Finally we both reached the platform and I informed my friend "Hey, by the way it's my Birthday today". My friend was elated and said "Then you sure have a reason to be home. Enjoy!!!"