BEAUTY KICKS THE BEAST

Beauty Kicks the Beast Flexing muscles, swinging a sword or jumping from one building to another is no longer the strong suit for heroes. They are facing a tough challenge from the Bollywood actresses who are increasingly embracing action-oriented roles. And what an aesthetic sight it is to watch the beauties take on the beasts Heroines are no longer satisfied with just dancing around trees or singing in the rain. Be it Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu, or Katrina Kaif , all are in a bid to compete with action heroes on their turf. "The trend of more heroines taking up action roles itself shows that with the progression of the Hindi film industry, women are wanting to go beyond being a beautiful furniture in the frame" Seema Biswas wielded revolvers in "Bandit Queen", a film-based on dacoit Phoolan Devi, Sushmita Sen gave an action packed performance in "Samay" and Esha Deol's and Aishwarya's racy acts proved a crowd puller for "Dhoom" and "Dhoom 2" respectively. Similarly Priyanka had some action scenes in "Krrish" kicked some real butt in "Drona" and when on to display some macho martial arts in the Don remake; Soha Ali Khan had some action packed scenes in "Khoya Khoya Chand", and kareena added the swowd to the oomph in the Shah Rukh- Kareena starrer Asoka. The list goes on, the theme remains the same. Life always comes in full circle. And so do trends. If you think Bollywood babes' daring deeds are only a recent development, think again! Way back in the 30s when Hindi cinema was just still in its nascent stages, the Australian born actress Nadia graduated from a circus girl to being Bollywood's first actress who could fight the baddies all by herself and convincingly so. She was best known for portraying the masked, cloaked adventuress Hunterwali in 1935. Her movie titles itself gives a clear indication of what her films were like - Hurricane Hansa, Pahadi Kanya, Lady Robinhood, Toofani Tirandaz, Stunt Queen and Tigress to name a few. Looks like the Hunterwali days are back. Our current crop of actresses could give the Fearless Nadia some lessons in bringing feminine grace to cinematic action. These women need no hunky heroes to protect them, they can do it themselves, in style!

MORAL OF THE STORY

WHERE IT HEADS: - Has Adam Sandler been defanged? "Bedtime Stories" is his first family-friendly comedy, not to mention his first for the Disney banner. But if Sandler can startle us in a dark, obsessive role like "Punch-Drunk Love," he can surprise us here, too. In a modern-day fairy tale about hopes, aspirations and family. The story line is Disney to the core: Skeeter is an underappreciated figure that - like Cinderella - has been misjudged by close relations, then gets a big chance to ascend the social and economic ladder. The stage is then set for a series of wild, mildly amusing and utterly implausible events - including, of course, love. Sandler is playing his usual underachiever, though a tad less angry and a bit more wistful than his raunchier characters. His dad once ran a motel in Hollywood. Alas, he was forced to sell to a germ phobic hotelier. His son now works as a handyman at the high-rise luxury hotel that occupies the spot.When his sister loses her job as a school principal, she pages her brother to share baby-sitting chores with a friend while she goes on a job interview out of state. Having been strangely estranged from his niece and nephew, his only child-minding skill resides in an ability to spin bedtime stories.These are particularly memorable since Sandler channels his career angst into these tales. They range from a medieval castle to the Old West and outer space, but the theme of the peasant who would be a prince is ever present. The hero strives to get a better job and win over a maiden, always besting an opponent that looks suspiciously like the hotel's obsequious manger.Soon the children are contributing to and even editing his stories. (They prefer happy endings.) Then, weirdly, the stories start coming true in real life. Or at least parts of them do. Now if Sandler could just figure out how this happens.
THE RIGHT: - There is one great Sandler moment, when he makes a desperate bid to evoke laughs from the unamused kids, by eating a toothpaste sandwich that comes with the automatic added bonus of not having to brush your teeth afterward. And a trained guinea pig, who plays the children's pet, is the go-to guy for all kinds of silly laughs.
THE WRONG: - But I'll pass on the Cinderella part, where in place of those magical shoes, Skeeter seems to be promising to keep lovingly sticking around 'like the stink on your feet.' Nose clips, please this line could be put in an emotional way.
WHERE SHOULD YOU HEAD: - The overall feeling engendered by "Bedtime Stories" is exactly that -- a story long on imagination and short on logic that brings on smiles and dreams of sugar plums dancing in the head. It winks nicely at parents and smiles broadly to children.

VICTORY - NO CHANCE

WHERE IT HEADS: - 'Victory' is the story of a father, Ram Shekhawat (Anupam Kher), who saw such an impossible dream for his son! This is also the heroic story of his son Vijay Shekhawat (Harman Baweja) from the small town of Jaisalmer, Vijay Shekhawat becomes India's latest world-class batting sensation and is catapulted to superstardom!
Vijay Shekhawat manages to make it to the team after seven years of struggling. But with these 'good times' comes a sour apple in the form of team manager Andy Singh (Gulshan Grover), under whose influence Vijay goes off track. Name and fame goes to his head, Shekhawat is no longer the simple guy he used to be. Now described as overconfident and immodest, even his father Ram (Anupam Kher), friend Nandini (Amrita Rao) don't think highly of him...
By the time Vijay realizes the error of his ways, it is too late and he finds himself thrown out of the Indian cricket team because of disciplinary reasons. Suddenly the hero of the cricket crazy India becomes a villain in everyone's eyes. His father Ram Shekhawat's dreams are shattered and suffer a paralytic stroke.
Though there are zillion people who love cricket and movies based on cricket as a main theme; there's little doubt that the 'stadium' of masses won't be too impressed with this bat-n-ball fare.
THE RIGHT: - Amrita Rao helps in enhancing the commercial factor... with her ishq vishq pyar-vyar, and among the superfluity of great cricketers, Brett Lee, Sanath Jayasuriya and Ajantha Mendes have screen presence... A flawless performance by Anupam Kher and Gulshan Grover though.
THE WRONG: - Harman Baweja looks amateurish performing as a cricketer on the grounds. Perhaps, watching at least couple of real matches could've got him the psychological feel of emotions displayed on the grounds. Though predictable, one would think that Mr. Director would handle a subject such as this one differently, in order to give it an edge and a unique presentation. Unfortunately, he does nothing conjure, and fails in his deliverance. If compared to the likes of other cricket films like 'Lagaan' or 'Iqbal', Victory falls short of anything as outstanding and lacks gleam.
WHERE TO HEAD: - With the resources at Victory's disposal, the movie had great potential, but the makers lost a match on a winning wicket and it is advised that in case you have bought a ticket for the movie then you should too loose it!

LOVED BY ALL

WHERE DOES IT HEAD: - To a certain extent like Farah Khan (who made Om Shanti Om), Zoya Akhtar too draws upon her insight into the Hindi film industry and gives us a gem called Luck By Chance. This film is an insider's perspectives into Bollywood right from frame one. A ten on ten for the opening credits sequence, which takes you behind the arc lights and the glamour of showbiz. Followed by the credits come Sona (Konkana Sen) who arrives in Bombay with her dreams of becoming a film star. Wide eyed but ambitious, she does whatever it takes, to make it. She lives on her own in a rented residence - a luxury for most in this full of life city and spends her time with a diverse crew of loyal friends whose lives are also intertwined with Bollywood, each one in search of a bigger dream. Vikram (Farhan Akhtar) the protagonist has just moved to the City leaving the comforts of his parents Delhi Home. He is a mover, he is used to getting what he wants and is smart enough to know when to demand it and when to manipulate it. He is young and handsome, and full of promise. Sona begins to enjoy Vikram's attention and affections; they develop a romantic relationship. Rolly (Rishi Kapoor) is a successful though superstitious producer who only works with the biggest stars. He is making a prospective blockbuster launching the nubile Nikki, the 18-year-old daughter of 70's superstar, Neena (Dimple Kapadia). The hero of the film, Zaffar Khan (Hrithik Roshan), is Rolly's favorite superstar. He was launched by Rolly and went on to become a huge draw at the box office. The wheels of fate indeed continue to spin favorably for Vikram, as elsewhere in the industry, havoc spreads on the sets of producer Rolly's new film. Vikram is called in for an audition and uses this opportunity to the fullest. The film is about a slice of Bollywood life, in which luck plays a huge role. Luck By Chance is a current tale set in a world desperate to escape its own reality. THE RIGHT: - The highpoint of the film are its performances. There are some lovely little moments like the star daughter in a super short skin-tight outfit struggling to touch her producer's feet without splitting a closure. But what makes Luck By Chance compelling, is the layers beneath the laughs. Both Farhan Akhtar and Konkona Sen are complete naturals before the camera, just as Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia prove that vintage never does lose its flavour, does it! The taunts are gentle, the tone is warmhearted, yet firm. It shows that showbiz is a clinically cruel place. This is a world where fortunes change every Friday and as a dance director tells Sona, once you are successful, you belong to no one. This is a world in which privately, even a successful producer like Rolly weeps because a superstar whom he created, won't return his calls.But most importantly, the characters are completely real: lively and flawed, even as the end is bracing

THE WRONG There are parts of Luck by Chance that may not translate to outsiders and in long stretches, the film gets slow and clunky. But, you've got to cruise along patiently, since success and self-identity are things that cannot be attained in a split second. Not in reel or real life.

WHERE TO HEAD: - Watch Farhan Akhtar and Konkona Sen grow from nobody to somebody in an industry which is harsh, brutal, nasty and non-compromising, and you are sure to get your paisa vasool

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

“The rein of fear”. No, it is not a new Hollywood caper, it is what 2008 will be remembered as, if at all. While our country was attacked in a blatant and brutal manner, the story of fear within the film industry started much earlier, and that too cloaked in the corporate garb. It was like a alien attack from Mars on the unsuspecting mortals of bollywood. The corporate tentacles moved fast and ruthlessly without caring if any one was crushed or killed. The giants moved around with huge bags stuffed with what seemed to be like endless amounts of money, sharp teeth and a hunger which defied logic.
The hearts, souls and minds of a few stars were the first victim, their hefty demands the price for their loyalty. Money was literally thrown all over without knowing what they were doing, where their money was going and what their money would yield.
“There is a answer for need, but none for greed.”
Over time it was as if a industry which had so far run on passion had suddenly gone blind, lost its senses. Then fate stuck its first blow. Film after film met its doom at the box office. The industry was sent staggering.
As if that was not enough, the global recession, the biggest financial depression since 1929 raised its hood. It was as if a villain had adopted Shar Rukh Khans dialogue and was saying”Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost” The industry had no chance to wake up to the new challenges, effect some kind of damage control. Suddenly the giants were seen reeling and looking for cover. Soon the flow of money stopped and desperate heads of the corporate world were looking for ways out but it was too late. The end of 2008 almost saw the beginning of the end.
It was during this dark hour that two good films brought some light back into the industry. ‘Rab ne bana di jodi’ and ‘Gajini’ released towards the end of 2008 which were very big hits and gave the industry a new lease of life and some reason to rejoice
The worst though is still not behind us. The financial crunch is reaching critical proportions. A large number of films have stopped mid way. New films are not being launched, shooting schedules getting postponed.
It is said that there are some lessons for which one has to pay a price. The price of greed has been paid, hopefully the industry will remember the lesson for the future.

why do we greet with a namaste?

Indians greet each other with “Namaste”. This welcoming is for all – people younger than us, of our own age, those older than us, friends and even strangers. There are five forms of formal traditional greeting enjoined in the shaastras of which “Namaskaaram” is one. It refers to paying homage as we do today when we greet each other with a namaste.

Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural principle or an act of worship. However there is much more to it than meets the eye. In Sanskrit “Namaha” literally is interpreted as ‘na ma” (not mine). It has a spiritual connotation of reducing one’s ego in the presence of another. The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet another, we do so with namaste, which means “may our minds meet”, it’s a form of extending love and humility. The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the holiness, the self or the lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness we salute the holiness in the person we meet. The gesture is often accompanied by words like “Ram Ram”; “Jai Shri Krishnna” ; “Hari Om” etc….indicating the recognition of this holiness.

When we know this significance; our greeting does not remain just a superficial gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper spiritual union with another in an atmosphere of love and respect.

Why Do People Blog?

It is said, first there was a word and from it the world was bornIn the modern era, first there was the Internet and in that Blogs galore were born is more apt.A blog is the evolved version of a personal diary. Its a space where in a person can write anything, personal thoughts, articles, infotainment, general rambling or even venting out their frustrations at large.With no set format and the freedom to express, the blogger can use the written word in any manner they so choose.Blogging has become a booming new internet phenomenon for the writing community for many reasons. First of all, by definition, it offers writers freedom of speech in a published format for any viewer to read. Any thought, any emotion, any artistic piece can be posted within minutes giving a writer an immediate sense of gratification for their work.A blog promotes a sense that one's words are valuable and meaningful to viewers who often become loyal readers of some bloggers sites.Then there is also a financial angel to it. Especially if a blog attracts eyeballs, it also attracts advertisers willing to pay per click on their banners. Often blogging site offer it's blogger a percentage of this ad revenue.Blogs are a boon for people aspiring to take up serious writing in the future. They help such aspirants gain confidence in their writing skills. Consistent reader interest or viewer traffic to any page is like a proof of concept, an indication of the works potential.It is one thing to sit diligently, in solitude, typing away with perseverance and dedication, one's treasured novel or poem, believing one's work is great, but it is another when readers, people one does not know, actually take the time to read one's work, come back and read the posts regularly, and even take the time to leave a comment.This can do wonders for a writer's belief in their self and their dreams.Beyond the serious writers, a blogging site also offers a platform for people who just want to express their "voice". People who are passionate about something as use the blogs as a tool to get their message across the world.And finally, blogs with their infinite reach are a favourite as a free advertising vehicle. If you have something you are trying to promote on a limited budget, what better way to achieve this than to write a post. This instant reach does not cost the marketers a single penny!So, whatever be your trip in life, it pays to have a blog