The Common Man Speaks

Sachin scores 100th century! I am pinching myself!

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There have been very few occasions in my life where I have pinched myself in disbelief! One such occasion was few minutes back when Sachin Tendulkar finally (I feel like repeating the word 5 times) scored his 100th international century against Bangladesh in Mirpur in the ongoing Asia Cup 2012. Finally!!!

The feat for which the whole of cricketing world and not just India was waiting since more than a year has just happened! During all these months, every time Sachin went into bat, almost every cricket fan from around the world expected to see his 100th century. However, it just refused to come. There is a saying in Hindi – Intezar Ka Phal Meetha Hota Hai. Well, this was proved today in Mirpur.

The Master Blaster did come terribly close to achieving the mega milestone on December 2011 when he dismissed for 94 in the third test match against West Indies in Mumbai. Never had I seen the crowd so stunned in disbelief before when the great man was dismissed in that innings by Ravi Rampaul. People from Sachin’s hometown had spent an abnormal amount to the blackers for the ticket of the fifth days play after Sachin was not out on 70 odd at stumps on day 4.

I was one among thousands who faced disappointment at not getting a ticket (at original price) for the fifth day. However, I plainly refused to buy the ticket in black and returned home khaali haath! How fortunate I felt later on to have such principles!

After that innings of 94, Sachin failed to achieve the feat in the whole of the tour of Australia. As he also started going through a bad phase, the expectations for the biggest achievement ever also fizzled out!

I guess it was the pressure of the expectations that got the better of Sachin. Now, that there were no expectations, he easily achieved the feat and how! I wish the people and media had controlled their excitement all these months! Anyways, it’s better late than never.

Hearty CONGRATULATIONS to the greatest cricketer for the greatest achievement any batsman can imagine. I repeat this – We have been fortunate to have got a chance to grow up along with Sachin’s career!

Have a look at the moment when Sachin achieved the feat and the world went in a frenzy. (Video of Sachin scoring his 100th run) : –

Pictures courtesy - espncricinfo.com

Music Has No Language!

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By: Keyur Seta

Music Has No Language – I have heard this phrase time and again but never really believed in it. In 2000, when I boarded a train for Jaipur from Mumbai Central station, I didn’t have an iota of idea that I would start believing in it after the end of the journey. Almost all pleasant experiences in my life have taken place in the most unexpected situations. This was one such instance.

When our train entered the territory of Rajasthan, I was all excited and eager to reach Jaipur. Just an hour or so before reaching the final destination, an usual sound startled me when I was busy appreciating nature during the journey. Initially it irritated me as I don’t like being disturbed when I am relishing nature from my window seat. I saw it was some performer playing a musical instrument in order to raise money (I will never call him a beggar).

After half a minute of or so, I started liking the sound. Then came the big splash! The man, while playing the instrument, also started singing. Within seconds my whole attention was hooked onto him as I was super impressed by his voice and style.

The passion with which he sang, the pain and anguish in his voice, his dedication, all sent me in a musical trance from which I didn’t want to return. It was that kind of satisfaction which one experiences at a concert after paying a hefty amount for the ticket. But here it was, all for free. Well, not quite. I paid him before he even asked for it.

But in all this, where does the phrase ‘music has no language’ fit in? It does fit in for the man was singing in Rajasthani language. As I don’t understand that language, I hardly understood the song or its meaning. But still, it produced one of the most long lasting and impressive musical effects on my mind. Hence, I started believing that music has no language. It all happened in a totally unexpected situation. Such is the magic of Indian Railways where almost every journey becomes memorable!

Kahaani Review

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Direction: Sujoy Ghosh

Production: Boundscript Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Pen India Pvt. Ltd

Cast: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Indraneil Sengupta, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Darshan Jariwala, Saswata Chatterjee

Music: Vishal-Shekhar

Rating: * * * *

Plot: Arnab Bagchi arrives in Kolkata from London for a two-week work related visit. During his stay in the city, he is constantly in touch with his wife Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan). However, all of a sudden communication between Vidya and Arnab ceases. Left with no other choice, Vidya arrives in Kolkata, in a pregnant condition, to search for her missing husband.

Sub-inspector Rana (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) helps Vidya as she struggles to find any trace of her missing husband. So, what exactly happened with Arnab? Is there something more than meets the eye?

Review: Let’s face it. There has been a dearth of quality edge-of-the-seat thrillers in Bollywood. In the last five years or so, only Johnny Gaddar (2007), Race (2008), A Wednesday (2008) and Maharathi (2008) have managed to impress in that genre. But finally, there comes a new addition in the list in the form of Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani, an applaud-worthy effort having all the necessary elements needed for a quality suspense thriller.

Script is the most vital department in any flick of this genre. Ghosh, Suresh Nair and Advaita seem to understand this well as their writing manages to grip the audience from start to end. You instantly become a part of Vidya’s quest in finding her missing husband. Elements like twist, thrill, amusement, humour as well as shock are peppered very intelligently throughout. Since there’s unpredictability in plenty, it becomes a kind of a roller-coaster ride for the viewer.

But that’s not all; there is also a strong emotional connect which does the important task of making sure the audience feels for the central character.

(Review continued after picture.)

In such films, it is absolutely necessary for the climax to have a satisfying effect. No matter how good your efforts are in the first 80-90% of the film, it proves to be a waste if the end suspense becomes predictable. Thankfully in the case of Kahaani, that doesn’t happen as the final twist and the truth related to Arnab Bagchi takes the audience by surprise and shock. Job well done!

Having said all this, few incidents in the later part of the second half become complicated. Therefore, a section of the audience might have trouble grasping the events in this period.

It would have been a mammoth task for any director to handle such a film as a major part of its shoot took place in real-life locations in a city like Kolkata. Sujoy Ghosh not only manages that perfectly, he also creates a large number of praiseworthy scenes. Personally, I feel Kahaani is his best effort till date.

Other critical areas like cinematography (Setu), editing (Namrata Rao), action (Sham Kaushal) and background score (Sanjay Maurya and Allwin Rego) are praiseworthy too. Only two of Vishal-Shekhar’s well composed tracks (Aami Shotti Bolchi and Ekla Chalo) are used in the background. They suit perfectly to the mood of the proceedings.

Vidya Balan is on a roll. After giving an earth-shattering act in The Dirty Picture (2011), the actor packs in a powerful punch in Kahaani. Playing such a character would have been highly challenging for any seasoned actor. Vidya fulfills the challenge by displaying different emotions with perfection. This is another performance worthy of all awards!

Parambrata Chattopadhyay turns out to be a surprise package. Despite Vidya’s continuous presence, the actor impresses with his fine acting skills. There is Saswata Chatterjee who is another surprise element. It is amusing to see him do about his ruthless activities. Nawazuddin Siddiqui deserves equal praise too as a hot-headed intelligence officer. Rest of the cast including Indraneil Sengupta, Darshan Jariwala, Dhritiman Chatterjee, etc provides ideal support.

Overall, Kahaani is an intelligently crafted new age suspense thriller which shouldn’t be missed. The movie hasn’t had a very good opening at the box-office but there is a chance for the collections to rise if the word-of-mouth spreads.

(Filed under the section BOLLYWOOD.)

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna…

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All Good Things Come To An End – I have been hearing this proverb ever since my childhood. However, it is just since yesterday that I am truly able to feel the bitter feeling behind it. It’s the retirement of Rahul Dravid, one of the best cricketers ever produced by India that has enabled me to understand the true meaning of the above proverb.

Dravid’s greatness is such that by merely saying, “He was a great cricketer,” isn’t an enough tribute to him. Frankly speaking, it is not possible to explain in a few pages the career of a cricketer who took the very heavy load of expectations and responsibilities on his shoulders. Those like me who have followed his career throughout would understand this and agree with me.

Personally, I feel Dravid was the unsung hero of Indian cricket. I say this because a number of his achievements went unnoticed or didn’t receive the importance it deserved as it got overshadowed by an achievement by a fellow cricketer or due to some other reason.

For instance, in the famous Kolkata test against Australia in 2001, the Karnataka batsman played one of his finest knocks by scoring 180. However, VVS Laxman’s 281 is what people remember more from that test although Dravid’s innings deserved equal praise since it also played a vital role for India to turn the tables and beat the Aussies in one of the greatest fight-backs ever!

Another example is during the 1999 World Cup match against Sri Lanka at Taunton, England where Saurav Ganguly registered his highest one-day score of 183. He had a 300+ run stand with Dravid who scored a fabulous 145. But here too, it is Dada’s innings which is remembered more while one should also remember that Dravid’s score was at that time the highest by any wicket-keeper in ODIs.

I would also like to state Dravid’s most under-rated innings in ODIs. It was in the 1997 Independence Cup match against Pakistan, where the Wall scored his maiden ODI century (127) which didn’t prove enough. Since Saeed Anwar registered the highest ODI score ever earlier in the day with 194 and also because of the fact that Dravid’s knock was in a losing cause, it was forgotten soon.

Likewise, throughout his career, a number of innings by Dravid didn’t receive the due credit it so much deserved!

Moving ahead, I have no qualms in saying that Dravid was victim of the idiocy of Indian selectors! Dravid resigned from the captaincy (both in tests and ODIs) in 2007 in the interest of the team as he wanted to concentrate on his batting. However, he was unable to concentrate on it in half or more than of the matches as the selectors dropped him from the ODIs!

Dravid during his innings of 145 against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup.

The move of dropping him from the ODI team is the biggest blunder ever by Indian selectors! Time and again Jammy had proved his mettle in ODIs as a quick scorer but the selection committee dropped him saying he is unable to score quick runs. Just some time before he was dropped, he had scored an earth-shattering 90 odd in just 63 balls in an ODI in England.

In fact, he has been handy even in Twenty20 matches. On numerous occasions in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dravid has proved how wrong the selectors were. Then in the 2011 ODI series against England, they picked Dravid as there was a dearth of quality batsmen in the team. Although the Wall played in the series, he announced his retirement from ODI cricket just after he was picked. A good indirect way of giving thumbs down!

Today, looking at the huge number of messages of praise that are pouring in for Dravid on social media and the internet, I get a feeling the world has understood his worth and importance. It is been proved that someone who is one-of-its-kind will never get overshadowed!

Although this is been said again and again today, I would still like to repeat that Dravid is irreplaceable!

I would like to wind up with a small shayari on the great man: –

Bahav Ke Sath To Har Koi Beh Sakta Hai,
Jo Bahav Ke Khilaf Bahe Wohi Farishta Kehlata Hai

 

Video of Rahul Dravid’s retirement speech: –

 

 

 

Chaar Din Ki Chandni Box-Office Prediction

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Star Value: With the star cast being Tusshar Kapoor and Kulraj Randhawa, along with few supporting actors, there isn’t much star value in Chaar Din Ki Chandni.

Hype: Despite no big stars, the promos of the movie have managed to interest the viewers. The humour factor has made sure the film has become somewhat well-known.

Music: ‘Kangana’ track has impressed. It has also been a good publicity material for the movie. The ‘Chandni’ song, originally from the movie Chandni (1989), is also been associated with the movie as it has been hugely used in the promos.

Prediction: Chaar Din Ki Chandni will, at the most, get an average opening at the box-office. The film needs to super impress the viewers and the critics in the initial days if it has to succeed.

Kahaani Box-Office Prediction

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Star Value: Vidya Balan has always been a terrific performer but she lacked the star value required to draw huge number of audiences to theatres singlehandedly. But things have changed for her drastically post the success of The Dirty Picture. Now, her star value has almost doubled. This will help Kahaani get good numbers initially.

Hype: The very first promo of Kahaani, which was wonderfully crafted, struck a great chord with the audience. The promos which followed had a similar effect with the junta. The makers have succeeded in generating good hype for the film as people are very much eager to know the suspense behind Arnab Bagchi (Vidya’s husband in the movie).

Music: ‘Aami Shotti Bolchi’, an unusual fast-paced number has managed to get heads turned. ‘Piya Tu Kahe Rootha Re’ is also well-received. Surprisingly, the makers haven’t used Amitabh Bachchan rendered track ‘Ekla Chalo’ as a promotional material.

Prediction: Kahaani will get a decent to good opening, although not extra-ordinary. It has more chances in multiplexes. Its initial response, and mostly the suspense factor, will determine whether it will be a winner at the box-office.

(Filed under the category BOLLYWOOD.)

Aayna Ka Bayna: Life is a dancing stage!

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Since recent years, Marathi filmmakers have started making films on subjects which were never touched before. One filmmaker who has also tried to do that is Samit Kakkad in Aayna Ka Bayna, a film entirely based on different forms of western dance. The film stars well-renowned Marathi actor Sachin Khedekar along with Amruta Khanvilkar and Raqesh Vashisht.

The makers have claimed that this is the first Marathi film to be based purely on western dance. Director Kakkad, whose last flick being Huppa Huyaa, further explains this by saying, “Aayna Ka Bayna is all about dreaming with your feet and winning.”

As dance is an important ingredient of the story, the makers have tried to make sure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to the quality of dance. They have roped in dancers from Rohan N Group. The group has managed to impress viewers with their moves in dance reality shows like Boogie Woogie and Chak Dhoom Dhoom.

And if there is dance, there has to be music. For this, composers Ajit Parab and Sameer Mhatre are being signed. There are also action sequences imbibed in the script which are handled by Javed-Aezaz.

Now, only the release of the movie will determine whether the makers will ‘dance’ all the way to the bank as well as audiences’ hearts!

Paan Singh Tomar Review

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Direction: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Production: UTV Motion Pictures

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Vipin Sharma, Khan Jehangir Khan, Mahie Gill, Rajendra Gupta, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Music: Abhishek Ray

Rating: * * * *

Plot: The movie is a biopic on the life of the great Indian athlete Paan Singh Tomar who was later forced to become a dacoit. After enrolling in the Indian army, Tomar gets himself transferred to the sports department. Having the ability to run like a hare, Tomar soon becomes a National Champion in the sport and later leaves his mark at the international level as well.

But the big turning point in his life arrives when he gets into a dispute regarding his farm with his nephew Bhanwar Singh (Khan Jehangir Khan). Singh uses force to snatch away Tomar’s farm. Tomar runs from pillar to post to get justice but in vain. This forces the sportsman to become a dacoit and fight for his rights.

Review: Director Tigmanshu Dhulia has always narrated hard hitting dramas with maturity, right from his debut Haasil (2003) to his last flick Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011). With Paan Singh Tomar, the filmmaker tries to tackle his most difficult subject ever. It is believed that big challenges bring out the best in you. This phrase proves to be true for Dhulia as he comes up with his best effort ever in PST. In fact, personally speaking, it’s one of the most well made films to have come from Bollywood in recent years!

It’s a proven fact that the root of all great films is a powerful or a watertight script. Such is the case with the screenplay of the Irrfan Khan starrer courtesy Dhulia and Sanjay Chauhan. It was a very intelligent idea to have Tomar narrating his life to a journalist.

The unfolding of events as Tomar’s life progresses from being an army officer to a champion runner (in the first half) makes sure there isn’t a dull moment ever. It’s an amalgamation of well written and well directed scenes with terrific performances and dialogues.

The same continues in the post-interval section when the athlete starts a new chapter in his life as a dacoit. The way Tomar and his group take revenge and fight for their lives stays etched in your memory.

(Review continued after picture.)

In the end, your heart just goes out for Tomar and numerous other sportsmen (non-cricketers) who are just thrown away by the government and sports authorities as unwanted individuals after they brought glory to the nation. It really paints the sports authorities and system with shame to see such brilliant sportsmen been denied a meaningful life and even simple justice.

There isn’t any flipside as such. The only thing which can be mentioned under this is that the film might not appeal to those who are looking for feel-good or masala entertainers.

There is top quality work seen even in the technical departments like cinematography (Aseem Mishra) and background score (Sandeep Chowta). Those are vital areas in a film like this. The songs, which are only used in the background, suit the subject.

Over the years, Irrfan Khan has proved that he is one of the best actors India has ever produced. He proves this fact yet again in his act as Paan Singh Tomar, which can be rated as one of his finest ever! He skillfully gets into the skin of the character and portrays every emotion with ease!

Vipin Sharma, Khan Jehangir Khan, Mahie Gill, Rajendra Gupta, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the rest of the supporting cast also delivers quality performances.

Overall, Paan Singh Tomar is a film which can take Indian cinema to greater levels. Sadly, it hasn’t had a good opening at the box-office due to the lack of proper publicity. However, the collections might just increase in the coming days if it receives positive word-of-mouth, which it strongly deserves!

Mumbai Meri Jaan

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The magic of the city of Mumbai is such that even the simplest of every day scenes stay etched in your memory. Celebrating that magic of Aamchi Mumbai, I present some of the simplest yet memorable pictures from the great city. Have a look!

Army Restaurant, Kala Ghoda (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

View from Indiabulls tower, Lower Parel (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Outside Bandra station (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Outside Metro Adlabs (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Outside Metro Adlabs (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Dadar railway station (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Haji Ali sea face (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Churchgate station (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Shivaji Park maidan during monsoon (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Sunset at Shivaji Park beach (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Helicopter inside the premises of Chatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangralaya (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Sunset at Shivaji Park beach (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Sunset at Shivaji Park sea face (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Irani Restaurant near Shivaji Park (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

View from Bombay Natural History Society building (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya Box-Office Prediction

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Star Value: Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza aren’t big stars. In other words, they don’t have enough star value to attract audiences to a movie. However, the fact that the couple recently got married and the way their marriage was hyped has made them the talk of the town. The timing of their marriage is spot on, which is just before the release of their film.

Hype: As mentioned earlier, the hype for the movie is created due to the wedding of the lead couple in real life. However, one can’t deny the fact that its comical promos have impressed the audience.

Music: Apart from the title track, no other song has managed to gain popularity. The promotional material of the movie is only focusing on this song.

Prediction: Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya will fail to get a very good opening at the box-office. It will at the most have an above average run if it manages to impress at the onset.

(Filed under the category BOLLYWOOD)