Delhi's Belly is on fire... Delhi Belly film review

2011 has been one of the better years for Bollywood in the recent past. There have been some treats for cinema lovers with half of the year to still come. But Delhi Belly, let's just say, takes things to a completely different level! With it, a new era in Bollywood officially begins!

To start with, when I first came across the trailer, I couldn't help but admire how appealing and cult like the Music was. About the film however, I assumed that it would be a random compilation of abuses and double meaning jokes just to get people's attention. Well, I am glad I was wrong, and HOW! The story line is more or less a comedy of errors, replete with contemporary references and extremely realistic settings that urban youth can completely relate to. Not much to talk about the story line per se. So there is this package that needs to be delivered, and a lot of mess occurs as 'passing the parcel' is going on between the stars and the ensemble cast. Anyway, we really needn't veer in that direction. Here's stuff that you need to know- the cinematography is par extraordinaire. While that's almost a given every time the perfectionist Khan is producing a film, but some shots in this one are really breathtaking (albeit gross sometimes, like when they focus on Kunal Roy Kapoo's not so picturesque rear). These brilliant shots are more or less evenly distributed throughout the film. That, coupled with other strong technical aspects, easily ensures critics' liking for the film.

As for the masses, if my judgement is anything to go by, they are totally going to love it with lavish doses of humor through and through. Sparing some remotely lame jokes, most of the humor here is intelligent, boind to captivate urban youth! The actors have all done a great job. Kunal Roy Kapoor's performance totally stands out and this is definitely Imran Khan's best so far (Not like he has a flattering body of work but if anyone was planning to write him off, they surely need to press Ctrl+Z). Poorna Jagannath is convincing as the educated and fun modern woman and Vir Das is his usual funny self. Vijay Raaz shows why he is loved so much as an actor as there is no one else who could have done that kind of justice to the negative role. Shehnaz, I'm afraid doesn't match up tp the rest of the cast's performance but a good show by her too. All of the ensemble cast members also wholly justify their casting.

Let's move on to what, according to me, was the strongest aspect of the film. Got to be honest, the superhit songs had a massive role to play in mounting the film's popularity prior to its release. In the film, however, songs (including the cult hit DK Bose and the hummable Switty) have been sparingly used, mostly in the background. That does nothing to prevent them from standing out. The background score too is a jackpot! Especially the score associated with Vijay Raaaz and his gang, an absolute beauty! If people are meant to get what they deserve, Ram Sampath is going to get so damn big in the coming years... he has been seamlessly respected within musical circles but it was high time he got his due with the masses. And Delhi Belly has done just that. Take a bow, sir!

At this point, I can recollect many scenes that I wish to talk about but some of that might spoil the fun for those who haven't yet seen the film. So my best advice as of now would be, watch the damn film as and when you find the time! It'll be the best 96 minutes ever! WARNING: Not for those who find abusive language offensive. Also, the film has a more Mumbai twang to it rather than Delhi in more ways than one, but who cares? Mumbai and Delhi are going to love the film alike, I am sure!

So go right ahead, watch the film... My verdict: It is the closest to becoming a cult hit amongst the recent crop of films. Irrespective of what the Box Office tells us in the weeks to come, this one will be remembered and talked about for a long, long time; and a huge reason for that is the censor board's unbelievable kindness! Yup, this is a big collection of never seen before stuff and can't be missed at any cost. so Bhaag bhaag and catch the first show that you can (if you haven't already)! I, for one, am surely gonna watch it one more time at least!

Rating: 4/5

The man I wish existed...

Haven't blogged about something in what seems like a long time, but some great Music that I've been listening to lately inspired me to come up with this one. So, I was listening to "Your Song" by Sir Elton John. All over youtube and the internet, in general, people seem to be so concerned about his sexuality, the fact that he's gay. I say, so what if he's gay? Even if he writes all those sweet songs for a man, that's the luckiest man alive! Cos you know what? I'd kill for a guy who would write such songs for me...

And if that guy existed, it wouldn't matter a rotten pig's tail as to how he looked cos he would have to be the most beautiful human being around to come up with something so pure, so serene. Beyond which, everything else ceases to matter. Close friends of mine would swear and tell you with unbelievable conviction that I am scared to fall in love, that I am commitment phobic and all that jazz. To be fair to them and their judgments, maybe that's true. But as per me, the larger truth is that the right guy is almost impossible to find.

As I said, it wouldn't matter how he looked or how he dressed. All that I talk about is a person, who is full of love. Not just for his lover, but for everything and everyone around. Someone who can see and appreciate the beauty that so comprehensively surrounds us, craving to be noticed. Someone who would agree and respect the presence of God in everything that ever existed. But clearly, as you would agree with me, such a person would be a rarity, to say the least.

Guys keep complaining that girls are unreasonably demanding. Maybe it's true. My version, however is that the demands crop up because the more soulful needs are left untouched. Give a girl the love she deserves, and she will give you back more. I am not saying that demanding girls don't exist. They do and will always be around, but got to be fair to the many who wouldn't stop thanking God if they found a guy who loved and respected them for who they were. Cos ultimately, every girl would want a guy who could bring a smile to her face, simply because of the love that he is full of.
The sweetest line ever from "Your Song" to conclude:
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is,
While you're in the world :')

P.S.- Silly, who would mind that? <3

Short of laughs...

The face of Indian Television has undergone a significant change over the past few decades. We, the viewers, have been subjected to the "K" phase, the reality outbreak and the breaking news plague. Over the years, various domestic concepts as well as international formats got moulded into the Indian scenario. We have seen everything from the betis to the mothers to the mothers being exchanged :P However, despite so much experimentation, there is still that one void, especially in comparison to the American and other international telly zones. Where is the regular dose of rib cracking humor? You know, the kind of humor that you can call intelligent, witty, sarcastic... the kind where things are not funny simply because someone can't stop stammering or a fat dhoti clad businessman slips on a banana peel?!

When I think of quality humor on television, various shows come to my mind, only that most of them lead to the mental transcending of borders. Every episode of shows like F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Two and a Half Men, Yes Minister etc, ensures twenty awesomely funny minutes. I can't help but wonder how amazing it'd be if we had some kind of Indian parallel; because come on, it'd be so much funnier and easier to relate to if the cultural context was more oriental. Sure, a lot of the kind of humor we're talking about here would fall flat in a language like Hindi due to the oh so famous "lost in translation" syndrome. However, I'm sure the Indian context will open up a lot more possibilities of humor that suits our social conditioning (obvious, in-your-face done-to-death comedy excluded please!) I do remember some nice comic soaps like "Zabaan Smbhalke" being on air while I was a little kid but now, nothing really. By the way, Pankaj Kapoor is the ultimate :)

Anyhow, it's quite clear what I wish to convey. Although I am skeptical if wry kind of doses of wit would work with the masses in this part of the world, no harm being optimistic given that mentalities and sensibilities are slowly but surely changing (more often for the better, if I may add). So here's hoping that in the years to come, the Indian television arena would boast of some genuinely spine tickling, out of the (cliched humor) box quality comic shows. Let's hope we can have our own funny guys who can match the standards set by the super sarcastic Chandler or the uber awesome Barney a few years down the line. Cheers to the fulfillment of the void yet untreated.

Win some, lose some...

They keep saying, you got to do what you got to do. I could not agree more. Why I say this is because many a times in life, one stands at crossroads and every road tempts you. One of the infinite occasions when this happened to me was when I began my college life post Idol. On the one hand, there was the desire to capitalize on the new found (not to mention short lasting) fame that the dramatic face of television had given me and on the other, there was the conventional college life, acknowledged by most individuals as the most memorable years of their life. The decision was mind boggling to say the least. Struggling to find work in the many studios in the dingy by-lanes of Adarsh Nagar, or cherishing the never-ending classroom jamming? Networking tirelessly on the internet or savoring the unhygienic canteen food? :P Keeping the event organisers happy or keeping the professors content? I had to arrive at some conclusion for life wouldn't spare me otherwise...

I finally decided that on the musical front, I will accept whatever work I get, but will not let that affect my college life. That meant that I did not go about work hunting. Ever since my life after Idol, I have been fortunate enough to get shows and recordings frequently but I must admit that professionally, things could have been way better if I had tried harder. I could have been juggling crazy amounts of work if I had decided to give graduation a backseat. But I have no regrets. None, whatsoever; chiefly because I was determined to enjoy my college life. As a child artiste on stage, many a times I felt that I missed out on certain really beautiful moments of childhood. The stage matured me before I would have wanted to; involuntarily, that too. I was quite sure that I did not want to penetrate the big, bad world of glamor already, what with ugly cut throat competition out there with a fresh crop of singers with every reality show!

Life has been amazing after having made this decision. I go to college, hang out with my buddies, enjoy the vigorous and testing project work that comes along with the prestigious Wilson BMM, participate and scream my lungs out in festivals, chill out endlessly at the McKenzie premises and fool around the beautiful Wilson College campus, in general. Yes, it is hard to keep everyone happy and the professors don't exactly love me. After all, I can't let go of my first passion in life, right? I do the shows and go for the recordings as and when I find the time, which obviously leads to an attendance that I am not quite proud of. The defaulters' list loves m more than gravity loves apples :D And after every semester I hear those wise words from Prof. Sudhakar Solomon Raj, "You must learn how to balance the two things."

To that, well, what can I say? Dear Sir, it's not that simple... but I'll try :)

'MySha': My take on Aisha

Firstly, sorry for the gay title but I'm kinda sleepy. Secondly, three days after a film releases is not the perfect time to come up with its review of sorts but since 'Aisha' was an integral part of my day today, I feel the need to talk about it.

It is hard for me to begin without saying that Aisha lacks a concrete, well-written story! The resident 'Emma' is not quite a tale per se. The entire film revolves around 'Aisha' (Sonam Kapoor), the the typical spoilt, rich fashionista who, at the end of the day is very good at heart (wow, SO unpredictable). However, she has this unintentional tendency to take charge of others' lives and decide what they should do what they shouldn't. Not a healthy habit which she obviously realizes by the end of the flick (happy endings are mandatory here). So basically: Aisha, and her relationship with a bunch of rich Delhiites that form her folks is pretty much the entire 'story'. Planning to not watch it thus? Re-think! There are enough positives in the film.

The characterizations are beautifully done. Casting is near perfect. Arjun (Abhay Deol) is that witty, secure, caring and chivalrous guy that any sane girl will effortlessly fall in love with. Flawless acting by the hottest Deol yet (after Dharmendra of course). Amrita Puri has done a good job as the behenji- turned- babe 'Shefali', while Lisa Hayden is every bit the super hot 'Aarti'. Ira Dubey fits 'Pinky Bose's' shoes quite effortlessly with oodles of sarcasm. Sonam Kapoor however, falls flat. As if the bad acting isn't enough, the nasality makes life worse! Sadly, she is the lead :( Barring her though, every actor has done a great job which certainly makes the film watchable.

Amit Trivedi for sure deserves a very special mention for the breathtaking Music (both songs as well as the background score). A more than hummable title track, a soulful love song, a sensuous Salsa track, an infectious dance track, Aisha has it all. Music lovers are especially requested to go watch Aisha for the songs alone, if nothing else.

The stylists for this film need to take the bow of all bows. The characters are all very stylish, chic and sophisticated through and through. As far as the style and fashion quotient is concerned, Aisha establishes a benchmark and new standards for Bollywood to follow. At the price of one movie ticket, Aisha is a rather pocket-friendly crash course in fashion!

Another big plus would have to be the witty dialogues. The dialog writer has done quite a job with the pen. Arjun's lines are quirky and hilarious more often than not and Pinky takes the cake on more than one occasion with those harmless sarcastic remarks. Humor is an essential part of the film practically throughout, more so in the first half. One will definitely have a hearty laugh at regular intervals. In a crux, I could put the positives and negatives as follows:

Positives: Characterizations, acting (except Sonam), the songs, the background score, the styling, lavish doses of humor, the flawless look of the film, the feel good factor.

Negatives: No concrete story, pathetic acting by Sonam Kapoor, sloppy editing, very average script.

All in all though, Aisha is thoroughly watchable. You'll come out of the cinema hall smiling most probably. Don't expect to carry with you some great learning experience. Aisha is not one of those cinematic milestones. It's more of a feel good one time watch. Fashionable girls would more than adore the film. It's a chick flick in that sense. The last verdict: Watch it once if you're not terribly busy.

Bhavnaon ko samjho!

I just realized how hard it is for one to truly express what their friends mean to them. Nonetheless, I will try. Btw, what follows is NOT a poem. It's just a collection of super random comparisons. Also, if you ever have to judge my writing skills, DO NOT do it on the basis of this one! :D Ok, here we go.

When life is a turbulent stream, you are my ocean of tranquility.

When life is a bunch of cacti, you are my garden of roses.

When life is a ruthless little bitch, you are a blessing sent from heaven.

When life is a headache, you are my aspirin.

When life is Himmesh Reshammiya, you are my Asha Bhosle.

When life is "hunger", you are my packet of Maggi.

When life is boredom, you are my "How I met your Mother".

When life is a bad hair day, you are the most amazing wig.

When life is a tooti hui chappal, you are my adorable mochi.

When life is a tasteless salad, you are the thousand island dressing.

When life is a massive stair case, you are the fastest elevator.

When life is an undesired drought, you are my incessant rainfall.

When life is a super tense moment, you are my Dairy Milk Bar!

I don't know what the hell I'm saying out here but the bottomline after all this trash is that you make all those tough moments so much easier to live through. You bring zing into the uneventful phases of my life. You solve all my problems and make me smile when it (smiling) is the last thing on my mind. You make every moment worth living for me. YOU COMPLETE ME!

And the fact that you've actually read through all of this bull crap just goes on to show how much you love me. Thanks for being there whenever I thought I needed you, and even when I didn't :P Thanks for all the girl talks (only the girls re), all the free food, all the counselling, all the gyaan on life... Thanks for acknowledging my presence even when I majorly embarrassed you (Shadu and Ally. LOL) Thanks for like EVERYTHING! Thanks for just being there... Gosh, I've really momentarily lost the ability to express myself but damn, you know what I wanna say. I don't need to actually tell it out loud for you to know and that's why you're my friend. I don't know if I'm the best friend ever, but you surely are! *Bear hugs*

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY!

Sleep deprived... Forever!

If there is one thing that takes up as much or more time in my life as my Music, it has to be SLUMBER! I could well classify it as my alternate passion, if it wouldn't be too quirky to do so. Just give it a thought. I am one of those people, who can sleep, sleep, sleep some more and then just catch up on some remaining sleep. It is NEVER the wrong time for me to say, "I am sleep deprived", and NEVER the right time for me to say "Ah, enough of sleep. Can't sleep any more." I mean, I know of people who love sleeping, but I take it to a whole new level. I never fail to amaze my self with my "slumber stamina" to be precise. But then what to do, the satisfaction that 9, 10, 11, or how many ever hours of sleep gives me is so incomparable! It is like I am in some faraway la la land... Perfect escape in this weather. Rainy, gloomy, boring and dull all the time. On a breezy, rainy day, a cozy blanket and my comfy bed are my best friends :) Well, they are so most of the times but just more so on the kind of day mentioned above.

Every morning, I make myself get up some-freaking-how, but it is so much easier to just slump back into the dreamy world. I pity my alarm clock's snooze option. There's every chance that it is the world's most overworked gadget. Every morning is a disastrous attempt at reaching college in time. My Mom really astonishes me with her body clock. Alarm or no alarm, she is up before five every morning. Looks like the love for prim and proper surroundings is not the only positive I failed to inherit :P If there are people out there, who completely relate to what I'm trying to convey, they'll also know how hard it is for things to not be the way they are. I mean, it's not like I haven't tried or anything. I have even tried putting Himesh Reshammiya's tracks as the alarm tone. Damn! How I love to sleep.

I am quite unclear about why I love to sleep so much. My laziness of course is the direct logical connotation here. Let's just face it, I'm one of those people who love to run away from work and love to procrastinate, unless of course, we're talking Music. So laziness, yes, definitely. But beyond that, there could be a reason more complex, and I swear whatever I am going to say is not necessarily in my defense or just for the heck of it, there could be solid reasoning involved here. What if I love to sleep because my sleep transports me to a place much more desirable? Like, a world full of Music, free of corruption, a world where everyone can just be their own selves and not give a damn to what the 'messiahs' of social conduct have to say, a world where I have already accomplished my long list of dreams I am striving hard to achieve. What if even when I am in my senses, I want to sub-consciously ward off to that Utopian paradise? Think about it. I could be telling more than just my story here.

Sure enough, a day full of work leads to an instant, dreamless sleep but that is not routine you know. On other days, there could be different reasons for one to take to the best almost instantaneously. For me, it is almost like, if I am done with my Riyaz, there is nothing else that needs to be done and I doze off. I am the champ at finding excuses to sleep! Probably it is about prioritizing one's life. There are a million things out there that I could give importance to, like cooking for my family sometimes, taking a lesson in a foreign language etc but sleep is just so much more important. Wow! Back to square one, aren't we? But I am inspired to change somehow. Won't stop trying, never will. Hopefully, tomorrow I might have a tale to tell about how I made it to the 7:30 am lecture. Jesus, that's almost unimaginable! So while I am at it, pray for me people and while you're at it... ah, forget it, I am so bored, I think I need to sleep :D zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz