Missing those days !!!

I Want To Go Back To The Time

When INNOCENCE Was NATURAL,
Not FAKE.

When GETTING HIGH Meant On A SWING,
Not PROMOTIONS.

When DRINKING Meant RASNA ORANGE,
Not BEERS Or WHISKEYS.

When DAD Was The Only HERO,
Not Hrithik Or SRK.

When DAD’S SHOULDER Was The HIGHEST PLACE On The Earth,
Not Your DESIGNATION.

When Your WORST ENEMIES Were Your SIBLINGS,
Not Your MANAGER.

When The Only Thing That Could HURT Were BLEEDING KNEES,
Not The TEARS Falling Down Your Cheeks.

When The Only Things BROKEN Were TOYS,
Not The DYING HEARTS.

And When GOOD-BYES Meant TILL TOMORROW,
Not For YEARS & YEARS.

As Good as it gets!!!

13th August, 2009
TITLE : As Good as it gets.
GENRE : Family, Drama
CAST : Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt

MY RATING: 9.5/10

My second review on a Jack Nicholson flick. I am really starting to like this guy. Perhaps this movie made me laugh more than what I have for more than a year.

The dialogues were the key to this movie and no wonder Jack (Udall) and Helen Hunt were nominated for the movie. He is really a class act. Its an Amazing performance in his own typical charm and attitude. Helen Hunt (Carol), not the actress that I would say is the most glamorous but certainly caught the attention in this film.

The story is all about a guy who is suffering from obsessive impulsive disorder who lives in his own world and his slow transition into the normal world. Its because of this girl who is a waitress in a hotel where he takes his breakfast daily.

I have this weird habit of writing down some interesting dialogues that come across when I watch a film. This film had so many phrases I liked that I didn’t wanna disturb the flow and hence I had to see it again to write them down.

“Well am drowning here and u are describing the water!!!” – This one would have been what I should have been telling to the people who used to give me the so called advice when I was down reeling.

I will finish the post by quoting two of the compliments that Mr. Udall gives Helen. Perhaps these weren’t all that romantic like the “Walk to remember” or “Dance with me” stuff but I loved both of them and I thot it had a great deal of feeling behind those words. Here it goes,

Quote; “U make me wanna be a better man.” Unquote.

Quote; “I maybe the only person on the face of the earth who knows you are greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do. And every single thot that u have, how u say it and say what u mean and how u almost always mean something that’s all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you. And I watch them wondering how they could watch you bring their food and clear their tables and never get that they have just met the greatest women alive.

And the fact that I get it makes me feel good. About me!!!” Unquote

Ruthless and Inspiring - A Captain Indeed!!!

During the early days of Team Wabag, no one would have ever given it to even stand a chance to win corporate games of corporate. The previous year had been disastrous with the team thrashed badly in all 3 games and knocked out of the tournament.

A team which has no big names, no big time players with a cricketing history to compete against some big corporate giants like ICICI, TCS , EDS etc was an achievement in itself. Eventually the so called under dogs went on to win the tournament over the same so called big names.
Yes, time and time again we call this a team effort, a collective performance but, all this might be just the secondary reasons contributing to the success. There were some key names behind this success.

One of them is Sathish Iyer a.k.a Iyer. One thing is certain; if not for him there would be no Team WABAG today. The confidence and attitude of one person made the team. I will strictly define him w.r.t only cricket and will avoid running a character description here. Aggression, confidence, Ruthlessness, daring and bold. Every adjective here is synonymous to Iyer as a captain.

To be frank, initially I had no hopes that this team can win big tournaments or even compete for that matter. All it took was one game on the field with him as captain changed my whole perception towards the team.

I am a lousy fielder and not so intent on diving around the field scrapping my elbows and knees, At his age (40 mostly ;)) the way he dives around the circle which even most Ranji players are not capable of, He is a amazing fielder and this makes me look all the more lazy of the field.
He could be called a terror among the team. It was to an extent that the moment you feel you have dropped a catch; you can hear this voice inside you “Man u r dead!!! He is gonna screw you”. Such was his influence on each player on the field. Its players like him who add flavor to the game and make the effort worthwhile.

I had never wanted to emulate anybody as far as cricket is concerned but perhaps I will be happy if I can handle the team with such passion, aggression and commitment. He was the best captain I had played under.

It was a pleasure playing cricket with a person like him.

Movie Review - Twilight

9th August, 2009

TITLE : Twilight
CAST : Kirsten Stewart, Anna Kendrick ;)

MY RATING : 5/10

This movies promises a lot but doesn’t get past first base. I got to watch this movie after a lot of persuasion from Hari and the the hype given to it.
First thing that flashes about the movie is Bella Swan (Kirsten Stewart) and Anna Kendrick ;). The movie has a light bluish tinge to it giving it a cold feel. Quite a good intro and narration but then the movie never really takes off.

Sensitive sometimes, silly often. Perhaps just like the novels, the movie was mainly targeted towards the teen audience. You somehow don’t dislike the film though it doesn’t get you excited. Its quite unusual to see the modern day vampires walking in broad daylight, jazzy outfits, driving porches and the yeah playing baseball as well. Interesting imagination from Stephenie Meyer to portray vampires in a good light. ;)

Even such innovative thinking gets grounded by the niche format of the romance depicted. Initial denial, suddenly falling in love. Bella herself was different and perhaps we could ‘ve easily mistook her for a vampire if not the flying around stunts by the Cullen family. Another weird term “Vegetarian Vampires” ;).. Steel yourself, too, for some howlingly bad makeup: The vampire characters sport a marble-toned pallor that looks as if it was applied with a spray gun.

The movie is kinda caught between the two genres. It doesn’t have the feel of a romantic movie nor gives the rush of an action flick.

Nevertheless its tale depicting the fact that sharp teeth and cold hands are no impediment to love. I love the tag line of the movie though

“When you can live forever, what do you live for?”

Keeping aside the overall picture aside, a few on the secondary concepts were interesting. A girl who cannot yield to her love though she wants to, only his eyes penetrate her. For now, that's enough.

Iit could have been much better. Hope just like HP series, it gets better.

Movie Review - The Bucket List

03rd August, 2009

TITLE : The Bucket List
CAST :Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman

MY RATING : 9/10

This is one movie which I somehow overlooked a long time though I have heard of it many times. Glad that I saw it anyway.

Perhaps this movie will go down as one of my favourite movies that I have seen. Beautifully scripted and filled with dry humour and emotions. The movie is all about two old men who decide to finally live out their last days doing what they wanted to do the most.

“The Bucket List” – Its suppose to be a list of things what we wanted to do before we kick the bucket. I somehow liked the concept. Its not too common, I mean the wish list concept but this one made an impact on me. Perhaps I would write a bucket list for myself.

Two old men who are about 6 months from their DEATH (I choose to put it very crude) sky diving, going around the world, racing and driving mustang somehow made me think. Maybe it affected me more so cos am bored to death in this place. I always had this philosophy of “Life can never be boring if u had the heart for it”. This movie stood perfect testimony for it.

It would be a mistake if I don’t mention the cast of this film and the awesome show they both have put on. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. OMG !!! I am easily carried away by Jack’s character in the film. Rich and lonely. I somehow found an affinity towards his character though maybe am not as rich as he is, atleast not yet.

“Am worried about being buried after my death, am claustrophobic” – Made me smile.

Being the nutcase as I am and the weird notions that my mind believe; given a chance I would go for Jack’s life than freeman’s. That’s me, maybe not.

In short, it’s a really nice movie and it made my evening.

The Next Ten Phrases…

This was quite an interesting thing to try. Try this only when u r in ur heights of being vetti. When I was just bragging about being bored and vetti, she asked me to list out the first ten phrases that came to my mind. Usually I don’t give into such cases of insanity but maybe I was so vetti that I started writing it down.

1. What sort of a stupid activity is this?
2. Gawd!!! My head is aching
3. Shit!!! I gotto go to office tomo morning!!!
4. I forgot to postpone my ticket...
5. Why am I not getting any nice thoughts? Pchhh…
6. Am I hungry? ;o)
7. Why is she laughing at me now? Do I look funny?
8. C’mon just three more only.
9. This is No 9… he he!!! Am smart.
10. Ok enough of this nonsense

I was then wondering how an otherwise confused mind with a lot of thoughts turned blank when I wanted to pen down wat I was thinking. Hmmm weird. Perhaps I must be even more insane to post it in my blog. Anyway if this one didn’t make any sense to u, don’t worry it neither made any sense to me.

Beaches Galore ...

17.04.2009

This is about my road trip to 3 of the most scenic beaches in Oman. I have gone for many road trips before but I was so excited for this one. Maybe ‘cos it’s been a very very long time since I have gone for any outing that is worth mentioning. It’s been almost 8 months since I went on a drive of any sort.

After the road trips of BBB and the group outings in my first year at WABAG this was the first time I was around a gang of my same wavelength. There is quite a prelude to this trip. Unfortunately I haven’t bunked even ONE day of office in my 7 month, 7 working days a week ordeal in Muscat. (Quite an incredible record for a person who attended only 26 days of classes in the 1^st sem of Engg). Finally we had to break the Jinx. We (Abu and me) asked permission for a day off and Friday was declared a holiday. We (me,abu,(shanu)², Gandhi, Sathya and KK) gathered for a two hour black dog session with me emptying their 7up cans.

We had planned to start by 8 in the morning and as usual the plan never took off as scheduled. Finally we managed to start by 9.30. By now all of us wer hungry and our first pit stop was at Saravana Bhavan. Then we set off to Qantab. The route was as beautiful as the destination. Being in Madras for over 20 years, beaches are not something new to me but Qantab was different with mountains hills surrounding the creek. The cruises and yatches added glitz to the shoreline. The boat ride was a nice experience, especially thro the caves. Perhaps Sathya will have a different perspective to the ride (he was totally petrified, maybe he’s hydrophobic ;o) )

Yitti beach was our next destination. Quite an interesting one. The shoreline was quite near the hills and the foothills were lined with tents. Hmmmmmm.. Our excitement to jump out of the car and run to the shore was stopped short by some seriously cooked up sand. The attempt to imitate “Uyirin Uyire” song was a memorable one. Crystal Clear waters was a sight to watch indeed.

Finally to As Seifa Beach. We were almost drained and tired and the heat was synonymous to the Glucon-D AD. Really hot Arabian weather and soooper hot European babes greeted us at As Seifa Beach.. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.. No further comments. Though there was not much interesting about this beach, but it will be remembered for what we saw there. Drained and exhausted we made our way back to the Prado and started our journey back to Muscat.

I stood testimony to the phrase “slept like a log” that evening. Maybe it was a combined result of the heat, exhaustion and the Nizam’s Dum Biriyani. Inspite of the exhaustion and heat, the fun we had at the trip was more than worth it. After all “The Juice is worth the squeeze”

Adios…