Ye Dilli Hai Mere Yaar

Dilli (or Delhi for the English readers out there) for me, till now, is just a stop on my way to somewhere: An afternoon spent at the bus station on the way to Manali, a night and half-day spent on Hazrat Nizamuddin platform on the way back, when we missed our original train(It’s a long story: our bus was slow, and then the cops caught us for speeding. And that was just 2 events). And then an evening and night at the Indira Gandhi International airport when my flight to Paris was delayed by 6-7 hours. (Do you see a pattern here? Not sure, just checking…)

Not to mention the annual reports of airport closing due to fog, and the heat in summer.

So basically, Delhi 6 was a revelation for the ignorant me. Apart from many other things, I learnt that Dilli is a mehfil and a mastaanon ki basti (I should agree, if only from a foodie point of view. That aloo paratha and lassi was…).

But then I had another big surprise waiting for me today. Half-asleep, I plugged in my iPod in the bus, and the song started,

Iske baayein taraf bhi dil hai
Iske daayein taraf bhi dil hai

Never knew Dilli was a Time Lord. Now where’s that Doctor guy?

Billu Censored

We all know the fun times Censor Board brings us. The <PING> and <PEEEP> at strategic places have sometimes provided more entertainment than the actual dialog would provide. Kinda like how the fig leaf works, I guess. (I mean, we all know what naughty bits are covered there.)

e.g. Yesterday, I was watching Billu Barber. Now, we are all aware of the controversy created by the name, and how they solved it. And then I came across the song:

Billu se bada hajjaam naahi re
Saari duniya mein aisa kono naam naahi re (as heard on screen)

All this time, I was under the impression that they were applying layers and tonnes of maska to Billu in that song. Turns out, they were just going for some public roasting.

Like I told my friend, the song should have come with a P.S.: Knowledgeable persons should feel free to fill in the blanks.

And then I came acorss this:

Kisi raja maharaja ka raju raju kehke bulaoge ka?
Yeh Billua ko Hajjaam naahi
Barber keh kar bulaao
Barber aur voh bhi ijjat se
Billu Barber, samjhe ke naahi!

Priceless!

Un-balanced movies

Observed while browsing for new movies:

 

That’s some scary cemetery symmetry in there.

Who's Your Favourite Potter Character?

After (Harry) Potter and (Peter) Pettigrew, I think it's time for Miss Snape. Or will it be Mr. Granger next? Who are you rooting for?

The Marauders are missing a Miss Lupin and a Miss Black, too... Maybe they will get their chance.

AB is for Ayyar B

You may have already read my comments on Chandrakanta the novel (if you haven't, there's a not-so-subtle link in there). But still I believe, ironing out the "dated" parts, any movie or TV serial can be made very interesting if it remains loyal to the storyline (which the original TV serial did not).

Why did I bring this up? A new movie from Vidhu Vinod Chopra starring Big B is coming up. But I will reserve my judgement till I see it.

Because the movie is "inspired by Chandrakanta", and not based on it (the trailer confirms it, since the novel doesn't have any direct "wars", neither does it take place in english-speaking world).

Because the last movie from VVC with Big B is "Eklavya".

And then, there's the trailer:



I rest my case...

Supergirl is not Indian

Supergirl (or Super-Girl) = Kara Zor-El = Kal-El's biological cousin.

If Superman romances Supergirl, that would be the main reason the film will bomb at box office.

Also, Supergirl is from Krypton, not India.

Elementary, My Dear Watson

If you got less that 3 correct answers to this quiz on "Prince Caspian", that means you can't read.

Oh yes, quiz answers should be easily workoutable, but give us some challenge please.

Incidentally,

C S Lewis' adaptation of the children's fantasy series

I am pretty sure there is something wrong in that sentence.

Can anyone get dumber than this

Read this one:

...people are calling up the actor to know which team to bet on. After all, Emraan does play a bookie in the film "Jannat".

I mean, really? What next? Calling Aamir Khan to drive your taxi around?

Hair-raising Déjà vu

Just saw the latest hairstyle sported by Aamir Khan. Where have I seen something like this before?

Oh yes, got it...

The Year of Sequels

The year has been a sequel year (as truly all the years in the calender are, but that's not what I meant).

There were direct sequels, like Hera Pheri II, Dhoom II and Munnabhai II (though the names were slightly different). In Hollywood we had Pirates of Carribean II, Saw III, Santa Claus III. Not to mention nth Superman movie, and nth Rocky movie.

Then there were remakes (which are let's say sequels of cast and crew of the original). Sholay (though it is yet to be made) and Casino Royale to name a few...

Last but not the least, there were titular sequels (nice term isn't it? I coined it), i.e. the movies which "sequelled" the name of the original. To give an example, in Bollywood "Main Hoon Na" became "Tum... Ho Na".

All in all, it seems it was A Good Year for Deja Vu (though apparently, both these movies tanked at box office)

Spoofs?

"One Ring To Rule Them All, One Ring To Find Them,
One Ring To Bring Them All and In The Darkness Bind Them..."

My friend heard his wife and her friends say this yesterday. Later, she asked her since when they were interested in LoTR so much. She looked confused, and told him that they were discussing about wedding rings and husbands.

I have been thinking about that since morning. It started with why I haven't tried spoofs yet (which is not true, I have written a spoof story). Then, I thought I should do some spoofs, like LoTR or Harry Potter (Sherlock Holmes was discarded on count of being my role model). Then I thought of this joke. And more I think of it, less funny it gets.

Now I know how spoofs (and jokes) can tank. So, I am reserving my judgement on this:

Epic Movie Trailer

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It can be good, or it can be hilariously bad. Some parts of Scary Movie series were pretty good, though.


P.S. Remember Monica's worst Thanksgiving? I almost enacted that scene all by myself. All in all, not a good day for me, though my toe just missed beheading (denailing?) by an inch.

Looking Forward To...

While I am not watching many movies lately, I mean, in theatres, there's a movie I am looking forward to watching next month (hope I can hitch a ride). The books are great (despite many claims to contrary), and if the movies are executed on the similar level to Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings trilogy (which the trailers lead me to believe it is), then this will be a treat to watch. The trailer is here:


And the book review is here.


Also, one more date I am looking forward to is 13th July, which is way away. We will get more trailers and (fingers crossed) title of the seventh book before that, but I sincerely hope that Harry Potter franchise gets back to its glory days of "Prisoner of Azkaban". I will hate to see another scene where Dumbledore looks so helpless (teaser trailer bodes pretty well though). Here's the teaser trailer for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix":


Hope I don't have to write a review for this series. On second thoughts, that's a thought...


P.S. 50th post here too... Many more to go before I "sleep"...

Bollywood, Hollywood...

i.e. about two good Hollywood movies and their Indian counterparts....

1. A recommendation for all those people who remember who is Yeda Anna, Chhota Chhatri and not to mention, Guru Gulab Khatri... watch the original.
   "Awara, Pagal Deewana" is one of the comedy movies you enjoy for about 1-2 more times than normal hindi movies (i.e. you watch it about twice) for all the madcap madness going on. But believe me, "The Whole Nine Yards" is way better. It's not exactly a news that Matthew Perry is funny as usual, but other actors also do not let you down. If you have watched the hindi copy, you know the story, but even then the comedy timing of all the actors is too good to watch. Even the sequel is good, though not upto the first part.
   The only worry I had after watching this, hope Bollywood does not come out with a copy of "The Whole Ten Yards", maybe named "Awara, Pagal, Deewana, Aashiq"


2. One more good Matthew Perry movie is his latest one, "The Ron Clark Story". It is based on a real life story of a high school teacher who took on the toughest class in the toughest section of New York, and pulls their test grades above average. Matthew Perry can act serious too, you know, and act real good. The dedication of the teacher and the general story line reminded me of the marathi movie, "10 F". That movie too is about how with a dedicated teacher's help, a class of students generally considered pretty much "gundas" turn their lives over, and make a contribution.
   And when I say the marathi movie is not a copy, it's not just because my friend's brother acted in that movie, but the fact is that the movie came out in 2003. Also, the stories are slightly different. The Ron Clarke... is about how the teacher improves the class' attitude towards learning, and helps them rise from district's bottom class to the topmost class. In 10 F, the students trash the school after getting punished for a crime they didn't do, and the teacher helps them to earn money to repair everything, while helping them to continue their studies. Both movies, worth watching guys...

Recommended for all...