tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310759232024-03-14T18:15:57.967+05:30Apurv's MusingsHi !I'm Apurv Nagpal, I orginally began this blog to review movies but now, after a decade, do so on my YouTube channel. Now it's just a platform to share my musings. The views expressed here are completely my own / personal and do not have any connection with my employers. Enjoy!Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.comBlogger733125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-65896664155383221842019-03-09T13:22:00.000+05:302019-03-09T13:22:16.264+05:30Kaptaan Marvel : Quickie Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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No, I didn't watch it in Hindi, but in a way, I wish I had, because in it's essence this is a classic Hindi movie. But done the classic Marvel way, with style, special effects and healthy doses of sarcasm and humour.<br />
<br />
Brie Larson has some gaps in her memory, ever since she washed up on planet Hala with no clue about who she was. She's a Kree super warrior (the Kree Kshatriya), being mentored by Jude Law to overcome her inhibitions, realise her potential and to fix her memory. She has dreams, usually of Anette Benning, and of flying fighter jets, but no recollection of anything else. The Supreme AI of the Kree is also trying to help, but all to no avail. And then there is a mission to fight against the Skrull, the shape-shifting enemies of the Kree, which goes wrong. And she lands up on planet C-53, Earth, with a younger Samuel Jackson & Clark Gregg of SHIELD for company. Cameos by Lashana Lynch, Ben Mendelssohn (he was great, especially with his distinctive voice) and Lee Pace (Ronan) help bring the movie to a predictable but rollicking conclusion.<br />
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Have always been a fan of Brie (pun intended), especially in Kong : Skull Island and she plays the role to perfection, at her best with the one-liners and deadpan humour<br />
<br />
But, there are gigantic loopholes (won't discuss for fear of giving away too much), you can see even the 'twists' coming a mile away and the conclusion is too neat, too pat, just simply too easy. <br />
<br />
If it weren't for the curiousity value of knowing where this big piece / superhero fits in the gigantic Marvel universe, Thanos fighting, Avengers series, I guess the rating would have been even lower. <br />
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It's not bad, as a one time watch. Nothing more.<br />
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<b>Rating : 6/10</b><br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-79290981755435069212019-02-14T13:47:00.000+05:302019-02-15T16:29:03.232+05:30Gully Boy Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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This isn't about the story - you've seen it, probably even heard a lot of the dialogues before. But not this way. <br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JfbxcD6biOk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Ranveer is a frustrated slum (Dharavi) dweller. With an angry father (impeccably essayed by Vijay Raaz), who's just married for a second time, sidelining his Mom. All he has is college, friends (stand out role by Vijay Varma), dreams of a better life. Some poems. And Alia. The scene where they're shown together for the first time is beautifully executed. She assists her father in his clinic, under the watchful eye of her mom (Sheeba Chaddha). Is studying to become a surgeon. And has a fierce temper, not shy of 'dhoptaoing' others who eye her Ranveer. He watches a rapper, Siddhant Chaturvedi, perform at a college fest. Gets to meet him later, understands how to rap. Does a video. Enter Kalki Koechlin, a student studying music in Berkeley. Who wants to help. But how to explain this to those against him and his music, like his father (who believes you shouldn't dream big), his Mama, Vijay Maurya, (who wants him to work in his office), all the while trying to take care of his Mom ?<br />
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Sounds boring, cliched ? It isn't !<br />
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I remember it was the wavy haired Farhan Akhtar, as a singer / actor, who brought rock into the Hindi mainstream domain, with Rock On. That, after changing the way storytelling was done in Hindi cinema, with Dil Chahta Hai, and it's contemporary dialogue, elite houses and rich kids with their entitled lives. Zoya does the same here - change the style of storytelling, but only, this time it's for those who don't have much else but their dreams. And the mode of communication is rap music. Buzzy, edgy, thumping, angry, vibrant, from the heart. It's about those who most of India choose to not see, hear in their everyday lives, the kind Aravind Adiga spoke about in his brilliant book, The White Tiger. The opposite of India Shining. "They danced all night ? And drank ? The women too ?", Ranveer's dadi asks in a shocked voice, when he returns after an all night stint as a driver for some rich folks. The lyrics (you have to hand it to Javed Akhtar for some of the poems) are touching, poignant yet fiery, provocative, the movie putting into words what millions of Indians feel, hear, think, on an everyday basis. An India waiting to burst free from it's myriad shackles. <br />
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There are bits that jar too. Thought they could've kept religion out of it, for example. And I didn't like the ending. But liked where Zoya ended the film. Go figure. <br />
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The supporting cast is great - Kalki, Vijay Raaz (outstanding!), Sheeba, Siddhant, Vijay Varma - no one puts a foot wrong. <b>But Ranveer and Alia simply slay it.</b> No praise is too high for them. Ranveer's impassive face and expressive eyes meet Alia's assured confidence and spitfire temperament. She's the one who gives him strength, while battling her own parents and making sure their future remains together, bright. And Ranveer is determined to grab the opportunity coming his way. All done with a healthy dose of humour. Please marry her, his friend pleads with Ranveer, because I couldn't deal with her.<br />
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But even more than the performances, what remains in your head as you walk out of the hall, is the music. Loud, brash, pounding, booming, energizing. This is one soundtrack that is going to stay for a while. Get ready for the new anthem of India. <b>Apna Time Aayega !<br />
<br />
Rating : 8/10 <br />
</b><br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-78545070305441584482019-02-03T18:19:00.001+05:302019-02-04T18:25:45.532+05:30Trouble In Stud-Muffin Land<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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He’d asked her to get a coffee for him from the Nescafe shop, while he picked up a snack from the adjacent shop, during the 20 minute break between classes. He then began chatting with someone else, forgetful of the time, while she stood holding the two cups. She tried shouting his name, twice, but somehow couldn’t get through. Mindful of the clock ticking, she then raised her voice and shouted <br />
<br />
“Oye, Stud-Muffin!’<br />
<br />
Bullseye<br />
<br />
He turned towards her immediately. But so did every other head, of the fifty odd other students milling around the café. And that’s when the trouble began. <br />
<br />
<b>Chapter One</b><br />
<br />
Anup stood admiring his scrawny, topless frame in the full length mirror he’d installed in his room, while Tanya, his girlfriend, snuggled under the covers and looked at him quizzically. Given that they’d been going around for a long time, a full month, she should’ve gotten used to this everyday ritual but it still amused, perplexed her. <br />
<br />
Anup had recently, a week ago, begun gymming. And he felt he could spot the first signs of a bulge in his biceps already. <br />
<br />
“Tanya, look !!”, he turned around, beaming, flexing his muscles, but she just dived under the covers. “Acchha, btw, you know what Astha called me today at the coffeeshop ? Stud-muffin !”, he said proudly. He hadn’t liked the moniker when it was uttered but was now beginning to warm to it.<br />
<br />
“Who called you What !!”<br />
<br />
Her tone should’ve made him stop but he hadn’t fully absorbed the recommended reading of “Corporate Lessons from the Five Warning Signs of Predators Before They Move In For the Kill” for last term’s Business Strategy Reinvented course. <br />
<br />
“What? Astha called me Stuf-Dummin. Why?”, he stammered<br />
“No, No, No, you don’t ask the questions now, Mr Anup Singhani, I’m asking them !”<br />
<br />
“Arre, it was nothing, Tanya, let’s go and have ice-cream”, The use of his full name alerted him to the full extent of his problem but it was too late. <br />
<br />
“Why are you spending so much time with Astha, by the waaayy ?”, she asked, stretching the ‘way’ a bit, “It’s always, Astha this, Astha that”<br />
“But she’s in my study group ! I have to meet her, talk to her”<br />
“There are 4 other people in your study group. I don’t ever hear you mentioning their names, Anup.” <br />
<br />
Tanya wasn’t in his section and didn’t like this fact. They’d both met as members of the debating club, the difference being that he was only there because a senior had told him it was a way to get into the coveted Consult firm’s shortlists, while she had been born to debate (voted Best Delegate, All India Washington Post MUN, 5 years ago). <br />
“In fact, do you even know their names ?” <br />
<br />
She was now warming to her task and akin to Botticelli’s Venus arising out of the water, she began to sit up and emerge from under the covers. <br />
“And what did YOU do to make her call you… that…” (she couldn’t bring herself to say it).<br />
“Nothing. Nothing…”<br />
“Aha, then you SAID something !! What did you say !? Tell me!”<br />
“Babe – I never said or did anything”<br />
“Don’t you ‘Babe’ me! You just admitted you said something. What did you say ?” (also winner, 3 years ago, Mock Courtroom Trial in Symbiosis Law School – the first time anyone from Symbi BBA won vs the lawyers)<br />
“Why would anyone just, out of the blue, call you that anyways ? Do you think I’m a fool ? What’s going on, Anup ?”<br />
<br />
Anup had the same ‘frozen deer in headlights’ expression that was usually reserved for the Accounting classes (despite having done a B.Com). <br />
“Are you serious about us or not ? You need to tell me right now”<br />
Tanya was sitting up straight now and had fully emerged from the blankets, wearing nothing but her bra. Anup’s eyes, almost involuntarily, strayed towards her cleavage. And she noticed. <br />
“You’re sick, y’know”<br />
“What – what did I do?”<br />
“You’ve done enough, Anup, enough !! You need help ! You’re disguuustiiingg”. She stretched the disgusting, making it last a full three seconds. And in less than that time, she’d donned her top and was out of the room. Even lesser time, as an aside, than when she’d been late for Prof Arvind Sahay’s class. <br />
The door slammed shut behind her and Anup winced at the sound. He didn’t know what had hit him.<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter Two</b><br />
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“Muffin ?”<br />
“Ooh, thanks !”, Astha said happily until she turned around and realized Tara was just pulling her leg. She offered her a candy instead as they both sat down, facing each other. <br />
“So what was that about ?”<br />
“What ?”<br />
“Calling Anup stud-muffin ?” <br />
“I don’t know, ya… just happened”, she shrugged.<br />
<br />
Her door flung open that instant and Tanya barged in. <br />
“Why are you trying to steal my Anup ?” she questioned aggressively. <br />
“What ? Steal who ?”<br />
“But she already has a boyfriend ?!” Tara chipped in<br />
“I’m not talking to you, thank you”, Tanya said abruptly.<br />
“But I already have a boyfriend !” repeated Astha<br />
“Yes, but he’s not on campus and we all know long distance relationships don’t work. You’ve had your eyes on Anup ever since Summer Placement, admit it !”<br />
“But she’s got a better summer placement than him ?” Tara stated the obvious<br />
<br />
“I told you, Tara, stay out of it”, Tanya wasn’t happy about her continued interference.<br />
"I'm not interested in Anup, Tanya"<br />
“I’ve heard you’re breaking up with your boyfriend ?”<br />
“Oh !”, Astha looked at Tanya evenly, “he’s coming over next week, you can ask him yourself” and she left her room, leaving the other two staring at each other.<br />
“And, as if you didn’t know, her boyfriend works in Matrix Partners”. Tara left the room too, leaving Tanya alone in Astha’s room.<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter Three<br />
</b><br />
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“She called you what ?”<br />
Anup was seeking advice from his two dorm sideys. One, an MTech from IIT, took things quite literally and was having trouble understanding the nickname. His social skills were also amongst the worst on campus and his probability of getting a girl-friend on campus was unanimously voted to be in the low first decimals. The other, from DU, could’ve had better luck with the ladies except he spent all his time smoking up a storm and watching movies on Netflix. He hadn’t stopped giggling ever since he’d heard the name. <br />
<br />
“What does stud-muffin even mean ?” MTech couldn’t get his head around it, setting DU off in a fresh round of giggles.<br />
“That’s what I’m asking you ?!!”, Anup said exasperatedly. “And you’re not helping”, he said pointedly to DU.<br />
“I think she’s friend-zoning you!”, said DU, pausing between chuckles.<br />
“Well, it is kind of cute”, MTech grudgingly admitted.<br />
“No, no – I think I didn’t say it like she said it. ‘STUDDD – muffin’”, Anup said, this time with feeling.<br />
<br />
“But – tell me something – why does it matter ? Why would she even look at you – isn't her summer placement better than yours ?”, said MTech, injecting a touch of practicality in Anup’s emotions.<br />
“That’s true ! And isn’t her boyfriend in a VC firm, the kind even McKinsey types aspire to?”<br />
“Yaar, my summer placement isn’t bad…”<br />
“Yes – but Tanya's is worse – maybe it’s for the best you broke up !”, DU tried to console him<br />
“Bollocks !! She’s a girl, be happy you have one ! You guys are killing the romance, placement - shlacement, doesn’t matter, you idiots don't know how lucky you are !!” said MTech, this time with true feeling<br />
“Guys – I’m asking about Astha and you’re still talking about Tanya !”, Anup protested. “I want to know one simple test, one question, something which will tell me for sure, if she has feelings for me or not”<br />
“Ok”, MTech said, with the air of someone about to apply his mind on the weighty problem at hand<br />
“Ohhhkkk” said DU, with the air of someone who’d finally understood<br />
<br />
“Ask her if she plays Fortnite”, said MTech, making a gesture with his hands, as if this was the final-best test possible<br />
“Oh, yes”, chimed in DU, “We’re a player short in our team anyways”<br />
Anup rolled his eyes<br />
“You can make her watch that YouTube channel about goats that you’re watching all the time – if she likes it too, it’s true love !”<br />
<br />
Both DU and MTech guffawed while Anup grimaced !<br />
“Why don’t you ask her to rank Emma Stone, Emily Blunt, Angelina Jolie and Monica Bellucci in order of hotness ?”<br />
Both DU and Anup looked askance at MTech who’d made the suggestion<br />
“If her ranking matches yours, it’s a match made in heaven!”<br />
“Guys – you’re not helping !!”<br />
<br />
DU finally spoke after two minutes of silence – “You know, you could do what they did in Dil Chahta Hai ?”. <br />
Anup, who liked the movie, was all ears. <br />
<br />
<b>Chapter Four</b><br />
<br />
“Muffin ?”<br />
“Shut up !! Enough is enough”, Astha snapped, until she turned around and saw someone was actually offering her one, while now looking bewildered.<br />
“Sorry, sorry – I thought I heard something else”, she placated her as they sat down and devoured two warm, raspberry muffins. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter Five<br />
</b><br />
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Anup waited at LKP, his heartbeat playing conga rhythms inside, increasing in tempo as he observed Astha walk towards him. Funny how, despite the years and the advancements in technology, some things like location (Louis Kahn Plaza, the central square of IIM-A) or the invitation (I have something serious to discuss with you) just don’t change.<br />
<br />
“Astha, I wanted to ask you a question”, Anup began without any preamble, as Astha looked at him with quizzical, big, round eyes which made him more even more nervous. <br />
“I want you to close your eyes and think of the answer to this question. Ummm, can you please close your eyes ?”. <br />
Astha looked at him warily but complied.<br />
“If… If you had a muffin”<br />
Astha opened her eyes in alarm<br />
<br />
“No no – eyes closed, eyes closed” and it was only after she’d closed them again, he continued.<br />
“If you had a muffin - then who is the first person in the world you would want to share it with ?”<br />
“But I just had one. I don’t want another”, Astha protested.<br />
“Oho, imagine na !! It’s a hypothetical question ! C’mon, Astha !”, Anup insisted.<br />
<br />
Astha closed her eyes for a few minutes and then opened them, ready with her answer. <br />
“No one!”, she said sweetly but with finality, “I don’t like sharing food”.<br />
<br />
<b>Final Chapter</b> <br />
<br />
Anup narrated the entire episode to his two sideys, who absorbed every word with the gravity they deserved. <br />
“That’s it, then” MTech said, “That’s pretty final”<br />
“Almost brutal”, DU added, before looking at Anup suspiciously, “why are you still smiling”, he asked ?<br />
“Guys – I think it’s a big hint !”, Anup said excitedly. “Don’t you get it ?”.<br />
“She completely gets me”, he continued, as both looked at him puzzled, “I don’t share my food too. Don’t you see ?? She knows that. Can’t you see – it’s a big hint !! She’s completely into me !!!”<br />
Both DU and MTech looked at him, with unalloyed contempt. <br />
<br />
“Tera kuch nahim ho sakta”, they exclaimed in unison before shutting their respective doors, as it was Anup’s turn to look puzzled. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YKMW9Up38qAhy-ymPG7Oeqha0nOGWvPFfB152dqfYwcjzBfhQXcjAB26n8N9YdIukTK55HOXpySyluuKrt3zaU_u-GU_DxdbJgHr0lnjFNGZfaFDD8mlhqL9nkcNRxsjDrGP/s1600/Stud+Muffin+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YKMW9Up38qAhy-ymPG7Oeqha0nOGWvPFfB152dqfYwcjzBfhQXcjAB26n8N9YdIukTK55HOXpySyluuKrt3zaU_u-GU_DxdbJgHr0lnjFNGZfaFDD8mlhqL9nkcNRxsjDrGP/s640/Stud+Muffin+5.png" width="640" height="640" data-original-width="300" data-original-height="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-88483292614660058652019-02-01T13:02:00.000+05:302019-02-02T10:35:58.635+05:30Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFVbS4P3FBi_QolVPpd_9EtD3Yi12xlozCgmfFaM_QjHPyZK3w5AtIMwoeH3ScwVhjS5pKV35SoL_5tZ8XileXkD-5n4_KIOci-XzePQ16FWQj2Kw6GsnVcr-k4b5ZC08MXh1/s1600/Ek+Ladki+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFVbS4P3FBi_QolVPpd_9EtD3Yi12xlozCgmfFaM_QjHPyZK3w5AtIMwoeH3ScwVhjS5pKV35SoL_5tZ8XileXkD-5n4_KIOci-XzePQ16FWQj2Kw6GsnVcr-k4b5ZC08MXh1/s640/Ek+Ladki+pos.jpg" width="640" height="420" data-original-width="670" data-original-height="440" /></a></div><br />
In the opening credits, all the women's names are introduced with a pink font. <br />
Men are given a yellow colour, but then (wait for it), with a pink underline akin to the title<br />
However, in a surprise twist, all the names burst into a glorious explosion of CGI generated yellow and pink petals<br />
<br />
If the above appeals to you, please stop reading this review now and go watch the film - there's a high probability you might enjoy it. Others can carry on reading.<br />
<br />
Sonam, who hails from Moga (Punjab), accidentally meets Rajkummar Rao, a drama writer (and son of a famous producer) while trying to escape from her brother. "Your drama, a modern love story, has a flaw", she sweetly tells him. "It contains no syaapa" - and how can there be true love without any angst (wasn't a similar line used in Rockstar?)? That's all it takes for Mr Rao to pack up bags and move to Moga, to develop his next play there, with Juhi Chawla (the drama's caterer and aspiring actress) in tow. Over there he encounters the weakly enacted brother, Abhishek Duhan, the father (Anil Kapoor), the Biji (Madhumalti Kapoor) and the long time domestic help (Brijendra Kala and Seema Pahwa). You see, Sonam Kapoor has a secret, which she confides only in her diary and it keeps her lonely (PS : the title contains a clue) (NB : If you still don't get it, there's a sledgehammer-esque hint in the trailer). If you haven't got it yet, after the above 2 clues, please go for the movie, you're definitely going to enjoy it !<br />
<br />
Let me try and think of the <b>good things</b> I can say about the movie. <br />
<br />
There are great performances by everyone except the lead actress and Abhishek. <br />
<br />
I liked the diary that the younger Sonam maintained - though arguably it wasn't really something someone of her age would've / could've done (the writing and drawing). <br />
<br />
Now for the <b>bad (and the ugly)</b><br />
<br />
It's cliched, predictable and has an irritating soundtrack that has all the subtlety of a bazooka<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yK6JxnABvz1nyWlxOCMXCi4wlbTJhVCMtsahyphenhyphenllCJu7A3hoUor5RA2DgakH3O1yKNwkiHKvhA0UCaiAgTh9NI2fq2sr1jEcHFWQc5ZSF5MeYeVeW1KbbTgUNdo0bpvne5yAJ/s1600/Sonam+still+Ek+Ladki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yK6JxnABvz1nyWlxOCMXCi4wlbTJhVCMtsahyphenhyphenllCJu7A3hoUor5RA2DgakH3O1yKNwkiHKvhA0UCaiAgTh9NI2fq2sr1jEcHFWQc5ZSF5MeYeVeW1KbbTgUNdo0bpvne5yAJ/s640/Sonam+still+Ek+Ladki.jpg" width="640" height="384" data-original-width="750" data-original-height="450" /></a></div><br />
And the biggest mistake the director, producers made is casting Sonam Kapoor in the lead role. Right from the opening few scenes, opposite Rajkummar Rao, it's painfully obvious she can't hold a candle to his acting skills. Then her father (despite his pathetic, mysteriously appearing -disappearing accent), the effervescent Juhi Chawla (was it necessary to make her say 'mind-shattering' 21 times ?) Seema Pahwa and Brijendra Kala continue to show her up. And finally, even the talented Regina Cassandra, who barely has a few scenes, completely shades her, with her expressive eyes speaking a thousand words in every scene. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfosOkS7zQn4xOxXvA_5DejCCMIOK4rHBDnf_ugOtZfE6qTF66UQyg0xYG2FeVxu3X-lAh3bynszwgYEXuU_-2VewT_jZfUppQMR6sOrZz4vMwj3MEgE4PQ_xdjR-GZyz1cEU/s1600/ek+ladki+regina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfosOkS7zQn4xOxXvA_5DejCCMIOK4rHBDnf_ugOtZfE6qTF66UQyg0xYG2FeVxu3X-lAh3bynszwgYEXuU_-2VewT_jZfUppQMR6sOrZz4vMwj3MEgE4PQ_xdjR-GZyz1cEU/s640/ek+ladki+regina.jpg" width="640" height="640" data-original-width="423" data-original-height="423" /></a></div><br />
The end is the very definition of hackneyed, stereotypical balderdash (the fact that they used a plot device first used in Karz, which was made all the way back in 1980, reveals the paucity of original thought). <br />
<br />
<i><b>You can also make out the shallowness, pretentiousness of the film by one simple fact. Apart from her orientation, you don't know a single fact about Sonam's character. In her diary, which has been written over years, there is nothing else mentioned - no hobbies, happy days - apart from her loneliness and desires. We know she (perhaps) wants to do an MBA - but even that is just a plot device to give her an excuse to go to Delhi. There's no clue about what she wants to do in life, her ambitions, what she has studied, her other interests - nothing ! It's as if there is nothing else to her persona apart from her 'secret'!</b><br />
</i><br />
Also, the makers attempts to talk about the 'secret' in the movie during the promotions were as laughable as anything in the movie - they probably realized the film had no hope for success unless they gave it all away. However, out of the 10 or so people in the hall, 5 had walked out shortly after the interval. <br />
<br />
I think the real 'secret' is that Sonam can't act.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating 3 / 10 <br />
</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWJjo02fsNeP3UA7kd04ZihS76_SSbcDoevkVV-fQ6KCLPbKGKYQck13ER34i4wXdjo3Fbjg3de1Rxsbg5SyUYUakTDfV8FtQFvlP5suoP3ghAUbsy2-h2gckSLJMK5FtG9co/s1600/Ek+Ladki+pos+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWJjo02fsNeP3UA7kd04ZihS76_SSbcDoevkVV-fQ6KCLPbKGKYQck13ER34i4wXdjo3Fbjg3de1Rxsbg5SyUYUakTDfV8FtQFvlP5suoP3ghAUbsy2-h2gckSLJMK5FtG9co/s640/Ek+Ladki+pos+2.jpg" width="640" height="356" data-original-width="759" data-original-height="422" /></a></div>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-49223281459764261582019-01-13T12:55:00.000+05:302019-01-13T13:00:39.844+05:30Uri (The Surgical Strike) Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60qCa2GanFY1FC6GRyDcJ4aZn4gtAaGYf7A98Wmd-UwvWcb-IFtkv6wRQRjdOkqyrHJyfuBx81HHLYGR2nE6aK7YPJfmmV5yQlVMLimc595vSHMNc11QrvZLhQ6PlLSilh8HD/s1600/Uri+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60qCa2GanFY1FC6GRyDcJ4aZn4gtAaGYf7A98Wmd-UwvWcb-IFtkv6wRQRjdOkqyrHJyfuBx81HHLYGR2nE6aK7YPJfmmV5yQlVMLimc595vSHMNc11QrvZLhQ6PlLSilh8HD/s640/Uri+pos.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="600" /></a></div><br />
I don't believe in jingoism. Which is why I wasn't sure whether I wanted to watch 'Uri : The Surgical Strike'. The thought of watching yet another variant of 'Let's go kill some Pakistanis', a film which could possibly be politically motivated, manipulative, didn't excite me. I expected the movie to have all the subtlety of Mjolnir (Thor's hammer). <br />
<br />
I'm so glad I was wrong. <br />
<br />
<b>Rating 7/10</b>.<br />
<br />
Vicky Kaushal is a leader in the Special Forces, comes from a fauji family, and even his brother-in-law (sister's husband), Mohit Raina, (remember him from the serial Mahadev?) serves with him. Vicky's forte is planning (and executing) counterstrikes. We get a glimpse of his skillset when he carries out a mission in Manipur, in response to a terrorist attack on an army convoy. Family circumstances compel him to move to a desk job, as his mother, Swaroop Sampat, has Alzheimer's and he wants to spend some time with her before her memory fades away completely. The top brass is supportive and a nurse, Yami Gautam, is provided to help care for her. Then the attack on Uri happens. And a decision is taken to execute a surgical strike. <br />
<br />
I loved the way they didn't make the film all about chest-thumping, Indian flag waving, anti-Pakistan rhetoric. I liked the way humour was brought in, on several instances (esp a junior official in Indian intelligence, who develops Garuda). I loved the variety of emotions displayed through the movie - a young girl, yelling even through her tears, her father's battalion's war cry. An officer worried about his mother. A quiet Air Force officer, Kirti Kulhari, biding her time on another desk job. <br />
<br />
But, most of all, I loved Vicky Kaushal. You simply can't take your eyes off him (is it too much to hope that our fake film awards recognize this performance?). In a fabulous understated performance, his usually impassive face shows only the barest change, emotion required, but it's enough. And he's very believable in his role, fantastic in the action sequences. I loved him in Raazi, even enjoyed his acting in Manmarziyaan and loved him here too !<br />
<br />
I wish there was more shown of the strategy / planning, yes, all of it can't be true / so simple, yes, filmy drama has been infused in adequate doses - but it still works, despite it's flaws. And special mention for the soundtrack (Shashwat Sachdev) ! <br />
<br />
Kudos to the supporting cast - Mohit, Yami, Kirti, Manasi Parikh Gohil (Vicky's sister), Dhairya Karwa, Paresh Rawal, Rajit Kapoor - and most of all to debutant Aditya Dhar, who has written and directed this film.<br />
<br />
I don't believe in jingoism. But stand proudly and sing the national anthem everytime it's played in cinemas. Not for the mess our country is in or the grubby, greedy politicians and bureaucrats (previously or currently in charge), mostly hell bent on robbing, dividing us. But I do it out of respect for our freedom fighters and armed forces, and their dream of what India could be. Uri, for all it's flaws, reminded me of that dream once again. To all my friends who've served, this one's for you !<br />
<br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-31036619799528147842019-01-08T02:17:00.000+05:302019-01-08T02:17:11.242+05:30Bumblebee Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx63S79XINt0pjjsR_U4-bBsl-fxw-g-svbBIhnjEZjLLJ2EMkO1RMOxeLA20qRE3ZSJqadEAkilcl8uDrrhzZkiDPHaYqyiehz75yhds_k0LChog-mkNcrKGkER0qoKvzlHO/s1600/Bumblebee+Movie+Pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx63S79XINt0pjjsR_U4-bBsl-fxw-g-svbBIhnjEZjLLJ2EMkO1RMOxeLA20qRE3ZSJqadEAkilcl8uDrrhzZkiDPHaYqyiehz75yhds_k0LChog-mkNcrKGkER0qoKvzlHO/s640/Bumblebee+Movie+Pos.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1417" data-original-height="1063" /></a></div><br />
Bumblebee, the prequel to the Transformers series (an entire collection based on toys created by Hasbro btw), tells the story of how / why the robots that convert into machines got on Earth. It all began with a cute, yellow VW Beetle. And cute, I guess, is the best one word description of the first 90 or so minutes of it's 154 minute running length. The other words could be cliched, predictable. But it somehow, possibly with the aid of a great 80's soundtrack, finds a way to keep you hooked. <br />
<br />
Hailee Steinfeld, the other key protagonist, has her own story. A father who died, a family (a permanently irritated mom, irritatingly sweet / dumb stepfather and younger brother) that doesn't really seem to care. She's stuck in a fairground job that's going nowhere and is miles away from the swish set she'd love to be a part of. And that's when the Beetle and Hailee Steinfeld discover each other, forming a bond that is strong, engaging and, at times, even funny. Jorge Lendeborg Jr is her neighbour, trying quite hard to be her friend. And John Cena is the big, tough, distrustful military guy who wants to blow all robots to smithereens. <br />
<br />
Towards the end, though, it becomes, for want of a better word, a Hindi film. Impossible stuff happens. Repeatedly. Kids transform into superheroes (pun intended). And the US Military is shown in a very unflattering light, still obsessed with the Cold War, amongst other gaffes (in a rather mean, unnecessary side dialogue, one of the Decepticons - the evil robots - addresses another one as 'Comrade'). <br />
<br />
So, cute, predictable, perfectly suited for young teens (especially those who adore Hailee) and perhaps a one time watch for adult audiences. <br />
<br />
<b>Rating : 6/10</b>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-21479309298972579382019-01-07T13:04:00.000+05:302019-01-07T13:04:57.055+05:30The Mule Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG0VXUL7P7v7x7n6BSXwu-3HuJ3g6Wve3iM_v0rABlwx-l4jmeXREHOutUwAIPsD5JrPFa1AFe_XRlXgCzAzg_wXqV0WyVCe_npLSIrYF_kpUpdRnUuY8V2rqs4EUowmRPbZv/s1600/The+Mule+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG0VXUL7P7v7x7n6BSXwu-3HuJ3g6Wve3iM_v0rABlwx-l4jmeXREHOutUwAIPsD5JrPFa1AFe_XRlXgCzAzg_wXqV0WyVCe_npLSIrYF_kpUpdRnUuY8V2rqs4EUowmRPbZv/s640/The+Mule+pos.jpg" width="640" height="425" data-original-width="775" data-original-height="515" /></a></div><br />
One of the best things about this movie is the new light you see Clint Eastwood in. You've become so used to see him be a cussed, grouchy senior, it's actually fun, especially in the opening few minutes, to see him laughing, chatting, joking, dancing with his peers. However, when faced with a downturn in the business, faced with the prospect of letting down his beloved grand-daughter (Taissa Farmiga, I'd liked her in At Middleton, along with big sis Vera, who's, of course, brilliant in Up In The Air) he turns into a drug mule. Someone who carries drugs for the cartel from one place to another. And becomes hugely successful. So successful that he gets to meet cartel head honcho Andy Garcia but also comes under the radar of DEA agents Bradley Cooper and Michael Pena, along with their boss Laurence Fishburne. <br />
<br />
How all this, along with solving the problems of his family including a wife, Dianne Wiest (remember her spunky turn in The Birdcage?), who hates him and daughter, Alison Eastwood (his feisty real life daughter), who won't speak with him or attend a party if he's there, is the story of the second half.<br />
<br />
I liked the way the film showed how easy it is to get sucked into becoming a drug mule. The works easy, the money's great and if you don't get caught (or until you do), it seems perfect. We see a number of young kids get entrapped this way, especially when they go for holidays to countries known for drug production. And while loving the slow, languorous pace and the fine performances of all concerned, I found the final act, the last third, so to speak, a bit too tame, too easy. Can't imagine that happening in real life (and this movie is inspired by a true story). That brought the overall rating down a bit, else it's good for a chuckle or two, or a relaxed evening watch. <br />
<br />
<b>Rating : 6/10<br />
</b>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-91454879666519332112019-01-05T10:29:00.000+05:302019-01-05T10:29:57.270+05:30Mary Poppins Returns Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPPCw-JnrM4ve6R5vwFvFFqRhLRp8CR0ApvgEaj8Tq2_FvDqvu9ayYiOGwJcmGEzb6C2SCL9F39lydljEidO9NOpUPojXBS-QId_d68Ec0wMWVJb3x40ZjgbxWXJv9KsoVkal/s1600/Mary+Poppins+Returns+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPPCw-JnrM4ve6R5vwFvFFqRhLRp8CR0ApvgEaj8Tq2_FvDqvu9ayYiOGwJcmGEzb6C2SCL9F39lydljEidO9NOpUPojXBS-QId_d68Ec0wMWVJb3x40ZjgbxWXJv9KsoVkal/s640/Mary+Poppins+Returns+pos.jpg" width="640" height="360" data-original-width="1280" data-original-height="720" /></a></div><br />
<b>Rating 5/10</b><br />
<br />
Confession - I've seen but don't remember too much of the original Mary Poppins. <br />
<br />
I get, like the overall message. How we lose our innocence, wonder, curiousity and sense of anything is possible, as we age, grow from being a child to becoming an adult. Am not sure the chosen style of storytelling is the best way to deliver it, especially in today's era. <br />
<br />
Mary Poppins (played by Emily Blunt), is a super nanny. For some reason she's connected to this particular family, had tended to the siblings Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer when they were kids and now arrives when trouble is brewing in their life. Ben's lost his wife, isn't doing too well financially (it's the time of the Great Slump), his house is about to get repossessed by evil bankers (headed by Colin Firth) and his 3 adorable kids are having to mature, become worldly way too soon due to their circumstances. Cue the return of Mary Poppins and soon the children are dancing, singing and believing in the impossible once again. The other characters include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep (in little more than a cameo).<br />
<br />
Emily Blunt is incandescent, am a huge fan and she didn't disappoint. The kids are lovely, everything you'd want them to be. But the rest of the movie meanders. Too much song, too much dance and too little story. I love The Sound of Music, has to be one of my, if not THE, all time favourites, so it's not that I'm against musicals but (I was mentally comparing) in Sound of Music, almost every song advanced / was critical to the story. Here, there were many instances of song for song's sake. And the story was too simplistic, highly predictable. <br />
<br />
Probably a one time watch if you're a fan of the actor or the genre. And definitely worth showing the young ones (upto early teens) - perhaps kids nowadays age too fast and this could be an antidote. Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-57948171211430896112019-01-05T09:59:00.002+05:302019-01-05T10:42:41.336+05:30KGF Mini Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblLLKMdtUyC4rvoiAAIE55mN8e-RimtMgNQRMFOFFPwADdHQ5C4a-3IjAT-F4BPCRCfte10Y-w7qk6j65etRebNxYUQdMZygC63UnewoTisbO3pY9KNZC_NklErH9AEcQ5Ulj/s1600/KGF+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblLLKMdtUyC4rvoiAAIE55mN8e-RimtMgNQRMFOFFPwADdHQ5C4a-3IjAT-F4BPCRCfte10Y-w7qk6j65etRebNxYUQdMZygC63UnewoTisbO3pY9KNZC_NklErH9AEcQ5Ulj/s640/KGF+pos.jpg" width="485" height="640" data-original-width="586" data-original-height="773" /></a></div><br />
<b>Rating 8 / 10<br />
</b><br />
I didn't have time to watch when it released and wasn't sure about making the effort to go to the cinema vs waiting for it to come on TV. <br />
<br />
Boy, am I glad I did! This movie is best enjoyed in the theatre.<br />
<br />
The story is implausible, from a macro perspective there is nothing new, yet it is engaging. And it unfolds at a breathless pace- there isn't a moment's rest, something happening on the screen literally every minute and there are enough twists and turns, revelations to keep you invested in the big screen (don't think anyone around me looked at their mobile phones through the film). <br />
<br />
Yash is a fatherless child, brought up by his feisty mom, who wants to instil bravery, fearlessness in her son and makes him promise to her, just before her death, that he will become rich and famous one day. His journey takes him to Bombay, begins working for a don and then makes a name for himself. His journey then takes him to Bangalore, where he meets his love interest (Srinidhi Shetty, who plays a spoilt PYT with elan). And then, finally, he arrives at Kolar Gold Fields. <br />
<br />
What keeps it interesting is the editing (frequent cuts back and forth, the story being told as a flashback, and even some future snippets - from Part 2), the action sequences (frequent slow mo, brutal, kept simple, and some nice touches of humour), awesome visuals (I think South Indian directors / camerapersons are ahead of their Hindi counterparts in this aspect of their craft) and the sequential introduction of villains. As a kid, Yash believes the Don he works for is the most powerful man in Mumbai. But then one day he sees him saluting someone else. And then, when that journey takes him to Bangalore, he realises there are even bigger fish (or crocodiles), and that he still doesn't have the big picture. Also, quite interestingly, they don't show songs in full, just a couple of minutes at a time, so keeps the engagement going, not letting the story or the tension flag. There are shades of Mr Natwarlal (the mining story), Deewar (Yash as a kid is a shoe shine boy) and the superhero persona of Amitabh Bachchan from his earlier action movies and it's all done well.<br />
<br />
Hadn't seen any of Yash's previous films but now want to. His presence, demeanour is spot on. And, given my body shape, am glad his physique isn't about obscene muscles but he's just well built with a family pack ! Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-4977361929186649472018-12-03T23:05:00.000+05:302018-12-03T23:05:26.394+05:30Mini Movie Review of Le Jeu (Nothing To Hide)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY491uUFjTfWPIvUpxe36CGAjp78Jcc8vP6zDo9aNpPex4COo84Iauu4G5FBnxWQ3uUv1LeODP5PVX4FmFxKGj0dcbHa3EGt64LaIqRhf6o78dM2eVNx28qkpYnBMxV1N6k9RT/s1600/Screenshot_20181203-225552%257E2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY491uUFjTfWPIvUpxe36CGAjp78Jcc8vP6zDo9aNpPex4COo84Iauu4G5FBnxWQ3uUv1LeODP5PVX4FmFxKGj0dcbHa3EGt64LaIqRhf6o78dM2eVNx28qkpYnBMxV1N6k9RT/s320/Screenshot_20181203-225552%257E2.png" width="236" height="320" data-original-width="1181" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Just how well do you really know your best friends, the one's you've known since third grade. Or your own spouse?<br />
<br />
A group of middle-aged friends, who've known each other from school, and their spouses, meet for dinner during a lunar eclipse, and decide to play a game.<br />
<br />
All mobile phones are placed in the centre, and every call or text is shared with the group and answered or read collectively. That is, no secrets. <br />
<br />
That's the fascinating premise of this Netflix French movie, a remake of an Italian film (Perfetti Sconosciuti).<br />
<br />
And boy, does it make you think. The twists and turns come thick and fast, catching you by surprise more than once. It's surprising how much can be revealed just through calls and texts in one night but the movie never feels contrived, thanks to the excellent execution (the camera never lets you feel the entire movie is set in one flat) and brilliant performances (Berenice and Stephane were the best, for me).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9Ty-Qxvc1N95q6Rt3FbsErf6JZc4LWH1WE45viMQrrGpSUw4PcJtbY8C9pjH-fVGdJOHu6wG8HO41tkCeB5LfGIf3mpjop2_zy9nz1d2mUA8RRdO7LnOO5XTfZ789a8NQV3j/s1600/Screenshot_20181203-225834%257E2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9Ty-Qxvc1N95q6Rt3FbsErf6JZc4LWH1WE45viMQrrGpSUw4PcJtbY8C9pjH-fVGdJOHu6wG8HO41tkCeB5LfGIf3mpjop2_zy9nz1d2mUA8RRdO7LnOO5XTfZ789a8NQV3j/s320/Screenshot_20181203-225834%257E2.png" width="320" height="184" data-original-width="1432" data-original-height="824" /></a></div><br />
Ritu's rating is 8/10, mine is 9/10<br />
<br />
Available only on Netflix, be ready for something different !<br />
<br />
Nothing to Hide<br />
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7489816/<br />
<br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-24448513611528299602018-11-10T11:23:00.000+05:302018-11-10T11:23:17.716+05:30Why, for me, India is still the best<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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Hello, Priya Ramani<br />
<br />
Just wanted to respond to your opinion piece in LiveMint (if you haven't read it, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/QJS9YRs2EXOCALp0fdhb4M/Opinion--A-better-life-outside-India.html">click here</a>) which talks about leaving India for a better life<br />
<br />
A little bit about me - have lived abroad for approx 11 years, travel very frequently (over 60 countries, been to all 7 continents) + and my son has just moved to London to study (had gone for a couple of weeks to settle him in, so some experiences are fresh in my mind). I'd returned to India in 2006 and, after stints in Gurgaon, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai, my home has been in Pune last few years<br />
<br />
Also, a disclaimer - all that I say, as in your article, applies only to people with means.It most definitely doesn't apply to our impoverished millions, those without access to sanitation, shelter and food / water. <br />
<br />
Now - firstly, the areas I agree with you. Intolerance is increasing. It has been for the last 10-15 years, and with the spread of social media, has spiked to unforeseen levels, the safety and relative anonymity of various platforms - Twitter, WhatsApp - making people indulge in name calling at the drop of a hat. I completely understand what you mean about living in a bubble - we live in a great one in Pune and it takes a lot to make me venture out. Also, our politicians and bureaucracy has completely failed us, over the last few decades - driven by personal aggrandizement and vested interests, rather than the greater good. <br />
<br />
So, why do I still feel India is the best place to be for Indians with means ?<br />
<br />
<b>Intolerance</b> - unfortunately, India isn't the only place to be afflicted with this malaise - it's on the rise all over, and I don't just mean in Trumpistan. The Far Right movement has been increasing in Europe too (read <a href="http://time.com/5395444/europe-far-right-italy-salvini-sweden-france-germany/">this article in Time</a> about Italy, Germany, France, Hungary and even Sweden) and is always rearing it's head in Australia as well. Brexit's immediate aftermath was a 30% increase in hate crimes in the UK (<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41648865">a BBC report based on Home Office statistics</a> - the biggest increase, btw, since they began to record these numbers). Idyllic Brazil just voted in anti-immigration right winger as President too. As history has repeatedly shown us, the slightest of economic downturns leads to a rise in xenophobia. Recent events conclusively demonstrate that we, the human race, hasn't improved on this front despite all our other advances.<br />
<br />
<b>Bubble</b> - don't people live in bubbles everywhere ? I remember walking around in Louisville, Kentucky, USA a couple of decades ago and it was startling how there was a complete ghetto like feel to one part of the town, where people of a certain skin colour lived and a completely different feel (with the manicured lawns, pretty sidewalks and white fences that Hollywood shows us) just across the street where people of a different skin colour lived. All cities have dodgy areas too - Los Angeles isn't all Pretty Woman's Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills and a neighbour recently scolded her daughter's fiancee for walking around in Queens at night, saying he was going to get mugged and he should stick to Manhattan. I remember, even in London, we lived in a nice, gated community - that spared us from the vandalism, graffiti and break-ins that afflicted neighbouring streets. <br />
<br />
Also, one point you don't mention at all is <b>racism</b>. Not saying that Indian's are not racist (or casteist) but have found other countries no better. Encountered multiple instances for self + numerous incidents for friends. <br />
<br />
Now, the points where I feel India scores over the West<br />
<br />
<b>Service levels</b> - if you want a cable connection, in India you can get one in a day. In Holland, in 2005, it took 3 weeks to merely activate a dormant one (was renting, and my landlord hadn't used his connection for a while) and no amount of pleading (my kids were arriving in a week) or offering to pay more led to even a day's reduction in the lead time. We arrived in Gurgaon just a year later and sure enough, it took just a day to get TV and internet (there were just 2 providers in Holland and the lead time there was 2 weeks). My son is still struggling to open a bank account in UK - the documents they want and the format provided by his Uni vary just a little and no, you can't combine document one with document two - the system doesn't allow it and common sense be damned. Meeting bank officials is out of the question as a) they open student accounts exclusively online b) even the officials we did meet informally said their hands were tied. Can you imagine this happening in India ? Here you can get a doctor to visit you, if you are unwell. There you have to make an appointment and it's highly possible, has happened to us, that if you have a cold you may get asked to visit after 2 weeks.<br />
<br />
<b>Warmth</b> - Am sure there is a study somewhere that links human warmth with the quantum of sunshine they receive (and if there isn't, there should be) - but that's what I missed the most while I was abroad and enjoy the most while I'm here. In Hindi, I would say 'wahan ke log rookhe hain'. Here, I find, overall, there is more warmth and love. The ability to just drop in to a neighbour's place, unannounced. The random chats on a train ride from Pune to Mumbai. The helpfulness of strangers. Imagine you're 5 bucks short of your taxi fare - where would you rather be, in India or the West ? <br />
<br />
Finally, being an eternal optimist, what gives me greatest hope for my country is the spread of the internet, and consequently of knowledge, thanks to the lowest data rates anywhere in the world (obviously doesn't include the countries where it's free). I feel the era of e-everything will help dramatically shake off the barriers of the physical infrastructures that have led to many of the ills that plague us. I envision a not so distant future where kids even in the remotest of locations will get access to free education via their mobiles, medical diagnosis will happen swiftly via video calls and for crimes, e-FIRs will be lodged instantly. Fingers crossed, but if e-courts happen (ie trials, at least of lower courts, begin to happen via the internet) + our politicians / bureaucrats are taken to task via the spread of data / <br />
information for failures to fulfil their duties, then our future is truly bright.<br />
<br />
I also think my ideal life, going ahead, once my daughter also leaves for college + we can find a solution for my sister (who is handicapped and in our care), would involve a 3 month in, 3 month out kind of format. Probably in places like Sri Lanka, Bali, Brazil, where I can be comfortable in my brown skin and maybe, being a sun-worshipper, in Europe during the summer (the people there change with sunshine). <br />
<br />
BTW - wonder how do you / anyone know that 17 million Indians left the country last year, especially as we no longer fill any forms while going out or coming in ? Wouldn't any number also include tourists ?<br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-74391501483771955252018-10-19T20:56:00.001+05:302018-10-19T20:56:22.672+05:30The Delhi Punjabi Party & #MeToo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<i>(This is a highly fictionalized, irreverent account of a party we, my wife and I, flew in to attend in Delhi, a couple’s silver jubilee anniversary. The trip coincided with the onslaught of #MeToo revelations on Twitter and so the conversation was dominated by that topic, in an inimitable Delhi way. Just sharing snippets. User discretion advised – my wife and daughter enjoyed reading it but for those who take offence easily best not to read further)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 1 : Setting The Scene<br />
<br />
Timeline : Number of accusers : MJAkbar 3, Suhel Seth 1, Bollywood 3 (one producer, one casting director and one director)</b><br />
<br />
We arrive at their place. My wife’s wearing what she wore at our first cousin’s wedding the previous year. When I suggest she may be a tad overdressed she rolls her eyes in exasperation. <br />
<br />
Our friends had sent their car to pick us up. We were staying in Gurgaon, they had just moved from Gurgaon to some swanky new pad in Delhi, overlooking the golf course. He was scrawny, diminutive and a Bengali, nerdy, techie types while she was sizzling, fiery, full-blooded Punjabi, taller than him by about 6 inches, chewed and spat out 4 men before breakfast and ran a boutique financial investment firm. They had moved to Delhi to be closer to her work, his office was still Gurgaon. Just like N D Tiwari, and more recently Anoop Jalota, had given hope to millions of Indian men, our BT (Bong Techie) friend had given hope to many in our circle, when he got married to FHP (Fiery, Hot Punjabi) – agar uska kuch ho sakta hai, to hum bhi umeed laga sakte hain (if something can happen to him, we shouldn’t lose hope).<br />
<br />
When I had messaged her, asking for their new address, she called back immediately. <br />
“Apurv, what’s your address ? I’ll send my car over”<br />
“(putting it on speaker so that my wife can hear too) Hi FHP ! Nice to speak to you after ages ! How are you ? Just message me your address na, I’ll just take an Uber / Ola ?”<br />
“Apurv – it’s Delhi – Uber / Ola aren’t safe ! Just tell me your address and I’ll send my driver over”<br />
(my wife’s gesticulating in the background – I told you it wasn’t safe and you never listen to me – I don’t know how she enacted it but I got it, loud and clear. The same wife who’s movies I never manage to get during Dumb Charades)<br />
“Oho – I’ll take the metro and come”<br />
“Apurv !!”<br />
(my wife rolls her eyes in exasperation. I can sense FHP doing the same over the phone). <br />
<br />
An hour later, her car had arrived. As we walked up to their flat, I realized eyes had been rolled at me thrice already. It was going to be that kind of a night. After the effusive greeting, I look over the crowd. 99.8% of the crowd was Punjabi (apart from his parents who were Bong), everyone was on their third or fifth (apart from his parents who were sipping nimbu pani). It was going to be that kind of a night. <br />
<br />
<b>***</b><br />
<br />
“Bhaktawar, Apurv ke liye drink bana na ?”, FHP yelled across the room<br />
<br />
Bhaktawar Singh, their fabled barman, who does all their parties over the last fifteen years. Legend has it he never forgets a drink he’s served you. Bhaktawar looks at me, from across the hall. It must have been 4 years since I attended a party at their place. He smiled a superior smile “Sir, single malt, lots of ice and Thums Up ?”. All the men and some of the women turn around to look at me, aghast. My wife, who drinks it the ‘approved’ way, with a solitary rock and a splash of water, slides her hand in mine. What, I never said she wasn’t supportive ?<br />
***<br />
Some of us are admiring the view of the golf course, while meditatively sipping our drinks. BT comes over and points out that it’s overlooking the 13th hole tee off and the 18th green. One of the women ask him if he plays. <br />
“Yeah, yeah,” he responds nonchalantly, “and now I’m going to get serious !”, in a Tiger-Woods-better-watch-out tone ! <br />
“You know, I just went and saw the Ryder Cup”, I pipe in, slapping him jovially on the back<br />
“Ryder Cup ???” BT looks at me quizzically ?<br />
<br />
<b>***</b><br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 2 : Hashtag MeToo makes it’s appearance<br />
<br />
Timeline : Number of Accusers : MJA 7, Suhel 2, Journalists 4, Bollywood 5, Chetan Bhagat 1</b><br />
<br />
“What do you think of this whole Hashtag MeToo, yeah ?”<br />
<br />
Tall woman in short, maroon dress is talking to tall woman in short, red dress and tall woman in short, rust dress. Yes, 21 years of marriage does that to you. Helps you distinguish colours. Anyways, I perked up my ears, stopped paying any attention to the group I was standing, chatting with, and single-mindedly eavesdropped. <br />
<br />
“I think it’s so sad, na ?” Red dress speaks out. <br />
“What’s sad ?” FHP joins in<br />
Rust dress “This MeToo thing – so sad that women had to go through all that and wait for so many years to speak up”<br />
“Oh, no no, no no”, Red dress speaks again “I think it’s so sad the women didn’t do anything about it then and waited so long to speak up!”<br />
“Totally, I don’t understand at all why they didn’t do anything about it then. I would have slapped them then and there”, FHP announces fiercely. The other women nod. She has. Rumour has it FHP has slapped 7 men. 3 she’s admitted to – one on a flight, one at office, one in a bar (apparently the outraged guy was wearing pink pants and took out a gun but slunk away when she glared at him).<br />
“But what if the guy is your boss and you need the job?” Rust dress wasn’t about to give up.<br />
“I think you owe it to womankind to just whack him so hard, he never tries this with anyone again !” <br />
“Amen !” Red dress<br />
“That’s what I tell my daughter” Rusty <br />
“Bilkul” Maroon agrees “And if you couldn’t do anything about it then, for God’s sake keep quiet now. Show some dignity, na ?<br />
Everyone clinks their glasses.<br />
“You know, BT wanted to put up a sign outside the house”, FHP whispers conspiratorially, “saying ‘#MeToo doesn’t apply to this party’. But I told him it our neighbours may feel we aren’t sensitive to the movement”<br />
“Oh no, we are, we are”<br />
“Totally”<br />
“Cheers !”<br />
<br />
<b>***</b><br />
<br />
“He’s going to be the next guy named in #MeToo” is how I was introduced to Burgundy shirt. Open to the fourth button, his chest hair clearly visible, a photo of the curly haired (no, not Suhel) Sai Baba nestled amongst his curls. He shook hands with me and turned to his accuser. <br />
“Arre nahin. My wife knows all about the stuff from 20 years ago. No problem even if they say something. My wife said ‘Main Hoon Na’, don’t worry”<br />
“What if they are from 5 years ago ?”, the gent on his right questions.<br />
“Right now they are happy. They’ll only speak twenty years later !! Then I’ll see what to do”. Everyone guffaws !<br />
Someone furtively points out to me a woman dressed in fuchsia. <br />
“She’s his mistress. His wife (points out another woman dressed in magenta) knows.” <br />
“Oh”, I marvel at both being there at the same party.<br />
“She (the mistress) works for his friend’s company, in marketing. Travels with him for all of his business trips. Even though she has no connection with his work. And on weekends, he’s fully devoted to his wife, doesn’t even look at his phone. Everyone’s happy, including the mistress’ husband (pointing out a tired looking, paunchy, balding guy who’s standing by himself in a corner, drinking).”<br />
“Oh”, I marvel at the arrangement<br />
Just then Study In Scarlett walks over and proceeds to shake hands with some of the guys in our circle (including me) and hug some of the others. But when she gets to Burgundy Shirt, he steps back just as she’s about to hug him and does a polite Namaste. She’s clearly taken aback. <br />
“What’s the matter, BS?”<br />
“Boss, now with Hashtag MeToo, that’s all I’m going to do with all women. Zamana kharab hai, don’t know who ends up complaining”<br />
“What the hell is wrong with you, BS !” <br />
They hug<br />
<br />
<b>***</b><br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 3 : MeToo Unplugged<br />
<br />
Timeline : MJA 12. Suhel 5. Journalists now lead Bollywood 7 to 6. Ad agencies and corporate also appear on the scoreboard. Chetan Bhagat does a +1/-1 ie one new accuser but he apologises to a previous accuser in the fourth para of a Facebook post promoting his new book. </b><br />
<br />
“But it’s so confusing now, you don’t know what to do anymore ?” says Man in Tight TShirt, placing his hands on the shoulder of Woman in Saree + a blouse that is two sizes smaller than the one Priyanka wore for Desi Girl. <br />
“I mean, is it ok to touch, hug, kiss or not”, another guy, wearing a Bow Tie (the only one in the party)<br />
“Yeah”, says a guy in a Hawaiian shirt, “and if I cracked a joke ten years ago, at office, everyone laughed then. How can someone turn around today and say it was sexist ? That’s cheating !”<br />
This group comprises these three guys and Desi Girl, who has an exasperated air about her. <br />
“Sexist is sexist”, she tells Hawaiian shirt, with a matronly air, while removing Tight TShirt’s hand from her shoulder. “Would you be comfortable saying the joke to your sister?”<br />
“It’s all about consent” she tells Bow Tie. “Bring your hand forward”, she commands him. He nervously extends his hand. “Now, if I bring my hand forward too and take your hand”, she says as she reaches forward and grabs his hand, “then I’m fine shaking hands with you. Else I’m not! Simple !”<br />
She pauses for a moment, eats a gol gappa, then yells – “Bhaiya – aap ko bola tha teekha zyada!”, waiting till she gets another one. Tight TShirt orders a drink refill from Bhaktawar before casually placing his hand on her shoulder again. <br />
“And you also have to be careful where you place your hand”, she tells him, removing his hand again.<br />
He now puts his hand around her waist “But what would be the fun in that ?”<br />
She first moves forward, really close but then smoothly untangles herself, “It has to be fun for both, darling”, she says, while carelessly tapping his face. <br />
Three expressions pass through Tight TShirt’s face, searching for a suitable repartee. But then, not finding one, he quickly takes a cube of ice, drops it in her blouse and before she can react, runs away. <br />
She shrieks, yells a couple of Hindi abuses and begins chasing him while he yells “But I didn’t touch you !”. <br />
The other two guys look at my shocked expression “I think they went to school together”, they shrug<br />
<br />
<b>***</b><br />
<br />
<b>Final Chapter<br />
<br />
Timeline : NGOs have also made their appearance. Chetan has gone all guns blazing after another accuser, sharing screenshots of a private conversation, instantly dividing Twitterati. Three people are sacked and the first defamation case is filed. </b><br />
<br />
Four women in various lengths of LBDs, from short to mini, are standing near the bar. I can hear them plainly, while getting a refill from Bhaktawar. <br />
<br />
“All these women coming out with tales of molestation”<br />
“So sad, na”<br />
“Yes – no one has ever tried anything with me”<br />
“I know, how boring, na ?”<br />
“I mean, hum mein kya kami hai ?”<br />
“Pehle we used to still get a little attention, now with #MeToo, bilkul khatam ho jayega”<br />
“What happened to your gym guy?”<br />
“Stopped since three months”<br />
“And your guy in office, the cute one with specs who used to sit opposite your cubicle?” <br />
“He used to ask me for coffee whenever he went to get one for himself. But now he’s stopped drinking coffee altogether after the office posted #MeToo guidelines”<br />
“So boring !”<br />
They all nod in vehement agreement<br />
“You know what”, one of them perks up. “We should start a #WhyNotMeToo movement”<br />
“Ooh, what a great idea !”<br />
“I agree, I agree” <br />
“Sign me up, Sister !”<br />
They all clink glasses<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
It’s time for the cake cutting<br />
BT and FHP come together and pose for photos, before kissing, cutting the cake, hugging and delicately feeding each other some cake. <br />
<br />
FHP moves away, to organize some food and shortly all hell breaks loose. Tight T Shirt runs in and smears BT’s face with cake. Burgundy Shirt goes a step further and arranges a meeting between the two - the cake and the face. Study in Scarlett comes in, taking advantage of BT’s temporary blindness, and smears cake inside his shirt, opening a couple of buttons in the process. Maroon and Rust Dress appear and rip his shirt off entirely. Desi Girl walks in and rubs cake all over his chest, Hawaiian Shirt dunks his drink over him, Bow Tie pulls down his jeans. <br />
<br />
I think more would’ve happened but FHP walks back in at that precise moment. Everyone freezes. Tight Tshirt takes a step towards her, with cake in hand but FHP locks eyes with him and glares fiercely, making him wilt away. Everyone moves away from BT, as he covers his bare torso with his hands, standing, smeared with cake, wearing Winnie The Pooh boxers, shrieking ‘MeToo, MeToo’ in his shrill voice as FHP looks on…<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
On the way back, I ask my wife how was the party ?<br />
She shrugs her shoulder, looking out of the window<br />
“Normal”, she said…<br />
<br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-65040934739170453652018-10-19T18:32:00.003+05:302018-10-19T18:32:53.509+05:30Movie Reviews Have Moved to my YouTube Channel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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I will no longer be writing any movie reviews, having succumbed to the lure of the quicker, easier video reviews<br />
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Those are available on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/apurvnagpal">YouTube Channel</a> <br />
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One of my recent movie reviews, Badhai Ho posted here<br />
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Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-48745765969197775192016-11-25T20:33:00.000+05:302016-11-25T20:33:28.996+05:30Arrival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MSjegtmXoOO89hq8rdEGOzpxbLhXm1aQf0u-jXZYy1sdxXIAU07Y5Zvt4IfmqGX1BRJgMjufgA6Tp3wlRJdPilZwaoBRdAEEjanYurotqOnZ2BouyjzSIWl4f7OIPkpWhv4_/s1600/Arrival+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MSjegtmXoOO89hq8rdEGOzpxbLhXm1aQf0u-jXZYy1sdxXIAU07Y5Zvt4IfmqGX1BRJgMjufgA6Tp3wlRJdPilZwaoBRdAEEjanYurotqOnZ2BouyjzSIWl4f7OIPkpWhv4_/s640/Arrival+pos.jpg" width="410" height="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tFMo3UJ4B4g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review<br />
</b><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dtinAX37NCg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-43834053504702922862016-11-25T19:58:00.001+05:302016-11-25T19:58:22.074+05:30Dear Zindagi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuZ-ocOCW0MFHrrdEFT7IKHFtlXevEb5bqVC_v5E_tvHNeO9FC5C_WmCrGFaVNNjCyCh91_oJVaLQ-jK0d_1b3wE7RJ_Fd5wiq7QaoeK79i9eJmKFwOBMbZTjEG8AKENm-KjW/s1600/Dear+Zindagi+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuZ-ocOCW0MFHrrdEFT7IKHFtlXevEb5bqVC_v5E_tvHNeO9FC5C_WmCrGFaVNNjCyCh91_oJVaLQ-jK0d_1b3wE7RJ_Fd5wiq7QaoeK79i9eJmKFwOBMbZTjEG8AKENm-KjW/s640/Dear+Zindagi+pos.jpg" width="640" height="360" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5DkO7ksXY8E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review<br />
</b><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DKtJ278kCGs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-73759374409814737722016-11-11T19:50:00.000+05:302016-11-11T19:50:00.611+05:30Rock On 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN-xBd-ITp_nj6_1ohLcE8cvD8_qoIXwyAT7iCROcc0NMhZ_En-hVBAWBBCP9pXF4MZrkOXYRo_8e8eMADyaAH49cgL3q4uitgMh6nVdhtekeL-F4Ck7uVYpf_198jgpZJgNa/s1600/Rock+On+2+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN-xBd-ITp_nj6_1ohLcE8cvD8_qoIXwyAT7iCROcc0NMhZ_En-hVBAWBBCP9pXF4MZrkOXYRo_8e8eMADyaAH49cgL3q4uitgMh6nVdhtekeL-F4Ck7uVYpf_198jgpZJgNa/s640/Rock+On+2+pos.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0IlxnwQyUIQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review<br />
</b> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hKbpiiC1okc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-39284131127614251462016-11-04T21:25:00.000+05:302016-11-04T21:25:57.709+05:30Doctor Strange<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZPT_LjJsmtXbn2Age61cignn6ixJqRDIJJKIoEfdKqR-iefDZSRWKmNWQf_Jc2tBLB62mVXsXY9SYoZdJCXFsJX1hAexjd0sI9qbxnHyFCdmlottklXMCQxnpPCirSsfOra4/s1600/Doctor+Strange+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZPT_LjJsmtXbn2Age61cignn6ixJqRDIJJKIoEfdKqR-iefDZSRWKmNWQf_Jc2tBLB62mVXsXY9SYoZdJCXFsJX1hAexjd0sI9qbxnHyFCdmlottklXMCQxnpPCirSsfOra4/s640/Doctor+Strange+pos.jpg" width="431" height="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer<br />
</b><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HSzx-zryEgM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review<br />
</b> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HltuzZBa72U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-72263362938132880542016-11-04T21:14:00.000+05:302016-11-04T21:14:12.909+05:30Trolls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrLyWBgZoVy_h84cIixytVFreEL-ErVyJuedTjB2i93dCHQwPI4CyiqtiFT-TDupd0quEqz7vP58AAa-IB4I53ES6CyKuZgo2h4PNqcCoa_BD3IWHS_El4Q-Uqw6b6SqOI93j/s1600/Trolls+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrLyWBgZoVy_h84cIixytVFreEL-ErVyJuedTjB2i93dCHQwPI4CyiqtiFT-TDupd0quEqz7vP58AAa-IB4I53ES6CyKuZgo2h4PNqcCoa_BD3IWHS_El4Q-Uqw6b6SqOI93j/s640/Trolls+pos.jpg" width="432" height="640" /></a></div><b><br />
Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyjm5VQ11TQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review<br />
</b> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-cm3DbLdWL0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-47707841526327460882016-10-28T19:28:00.000+05:302016-10-28T19:28:15.355+05:30Shivaay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0QdIuEytbv9IUYurSRR3IIi5Uql9tOD67OQmviPtZSw_KMIcqYOUcDCun5Q8JyqJlN3pZoBGPrp7dsvbmXt5RMuw-_uBpjdbo6KWVVwB15FHnN1d2eIWUDjLQ0pjaAbsloel/s1600/Shivaay+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0QdIuEytbv9IUYurSRR3IIi5Uql9tOD67OQmviPtZSw_KMIcqYOUcDCun5Q8JyqJlN3pZoBGPrp7dsvbmXt5RMuw-_uBpjdbo6KWVVwB15FHnN1d2eIWUDjLQ0pjaAbsloel/s640/Shivaay+pos.jpg" width="520" height="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/poLjq0u4_5A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review<br />
</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hNH009w-ugo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-15639746152695813522016-10-28T19:23:00.001+05:302016-10-28T19:23:45.602+05:30Ae Dil Hai Mushkil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeafgHlBP-n9UPhL90usJGR1yuUX29g7ypeMqISDVHrSQYKk60-xO8BlPit7v9PGfp7OUE3ast8HWRJUeICMUl2fXY5VzCdDjPniyCY28GFNeAvG2Mnt3804BnganDAPffBPF/s1600/ADHM+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeafgHlBP-n9UPhL90usJGR1yuUX29g7ypeMqISDVHrSQYKk60-xO8BlPit7v9PGfp7OUE3ast8HWRJUeICMUl2fXY5VzCdDjPniyCY28GFNeAvG2Mnt3804BnganDAPffBPF/s640/ADHM+pos.jpg" width="640" height="360" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_PODraXg4E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ULxpvlMEgh0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-77578008873727240062016-10-22T16:34:00.000+05:302016-10-22T16:34:24.909+05:30Jack Reacher : Never Go Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssNxfKmG5iJYSAvd_N3wSYWAEUVIvdQ2SDFBKhncy_1LAT-YIJoQXrgbIIVptoj-y5B0zhy9QUIJLAmMSyBdCTecZDp992Zw0HQuW-397RwxG7UChmC3uwqYwx1p5dnRZW8mz/s1600/Jack+Reacher+2+pos.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssNxfKmG5iJYSAvd_N3wSYWAEUVIvdQ2SDFBKhncy_1LAT-YIJoQXrgbIIVptoj-y5B0zhy9QUIJLAmMSyBdCTecZDp992Zw0HQuW-397RwxG7UChmC3uwqYwx1p5dnRZW8mz/s640/Jack+Reacher+2+pos.jpeg" width="410" height="640" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><br />
<b>Trailer<br />
</b><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aRwrdbcAh2s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mb52YoZ5Gqg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-55517985830640049422016-10-20T12:12:00.000+05:302016-10-20T12:12:40.666+05:30What Is A Date ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>Three coauthors of #EighteenPlusDuets and I have a discussion on what actually comprises a date<br />
<br />
Sounds simple, doesn't it ? But with our group, it just never is<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VLZ-J9pjLK8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-82156419436193314232016-10-15T12:56:00.000+05:302016-10-15T12:56:09.886+05:30Girl On The Train<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZenlT-xUj9OLVRwBZsZ1tZrsNbWwyexwuJJeBPz030xKph-n4MpMTlxkMOjCs9KRy_VndRoCUcXgK5kbdfHv6hP1DiKcthk9jh3SEliugeRN7bOOHSiXi791XGAiIN0d1kHF/s1600/Girl+On+The+Train+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZenlT-xUj9OLVRwBZsZ1tZrsNbWwyexwuJJeBPz030xKph-n4MpMTlxkMOjCs9KRy_VndRoCUcXgK5kbdfHv6hP1DiKcthk9jh3SEliugeRN7bOOHSiXi791XGAiIN0d1kHF/s640/Girl+On+The+Train+pos.jpg" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><b><br />
Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-CKPj4O5_9s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AYRWxTTJwfM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-26901006675265868112016-10-15T12:29:00.001+05:302016-10-15T12:29:52.438+05:30The Accountant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdPTeDQSUVJv6cM6-4A9OFQVwjCRA9aZcEJpMpFNkNz0xDkv-lLt3_t_wXOSp333AAD-h3Z72OHQccL2Imv877-21cVMzTgJU9o9Mx4YYdHbXRWiBqkUGB3YCVW0pUhjjoQX7/s1600/Accountant+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdPTeDQSUVJv6cM6-4A9OFQVwjCRA9aZcEJpMpFNkNz0xDkv-lLt3_t_wXOSp333AAD-h3Z72OHQccL2Imv877-21cVMzTgJU9o9Mx4YYdHbXRWiBqkUGB3YCVW0pUhjjoQX7/s640/Accountant+pos.jpg" width="481" height="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fkPJ3aENjvM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9SiIG2pqUE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31075923.post-57361897065342059412016-10-09T16:41:00.001+05:302016-10-09T16:41:20.648+05:30Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBZGIwyzEk_KwGvZeAUptJdKWCb7rrTVYhT7UVxWe701dhEVxagzMWDzhEAFSzEVb1lpPi1mXnHHHgUmXxlyKmiMcgbIl6h8ZLpbemaxy97UPhOCWOjd2G4o5rbA8XbCYOd1Y/s1600/Miss+Peregrine+pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBZGIwyzEk_KwGvZeAUptJdKWCb7rrTVYhT7UVxWe701dhEVxagzMWDzhEAFSzEVb1lpPi1mXnHHHgUmXxlyKmiMcgbIl6h8ZLpbemaxy97UPhOCWOjd2G4o5rbA8XbCYOd1Y/s640/Miss+Peregrine+pos.jpg" width="640" height="396" /></a></div><br />
<b>Trailer<br />
</b><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tV_IhWE4LP0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Movie Review<br />
</b><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wC4DeDPkUdI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Apurv Nagpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06264478278944585815noreply@blogger.com6