On another LEVEL

Yee-Haw! What a ride it was for all those who made it to the Avicii concert this balmy and breezy Sunde evening...It is definitely December and the festivities just won't stop!

A dear buddy of mine, (HINT: Heir to the read-to-eat industry's most popular company) introduced me to Avicii's delightful tunes about 6 months ago. Then it was E's epic dropbox of all the big ones from Avicii that got me hooked. This teenage sensation's music is for the yuppy youth (I am part of the youth brigade!!) of today that listens to house music. Un-complicated, melodious and dancy - his tracks are really addictive!
So as soon as I heard that he was coming to town, and not to some indoor cramped space, but in the heart of SoBo - there was no way I was going to miss this one!
Other than the silly bookmyshow policy of collecting tickets at the venue and the horrendous stampede-like entry....it was brillz....just the right number of people, super lights, decent organisation and an over-all homogenous crowd...it was one of the top 3 concerts I have been to ever!

However, the best part about the concert was the opening act by Deejay Miss Nine - This hottie model-turned dj really got the crowd going and set the perfect magical start to the evening. I thought her music and selection was original and beautiful...I slept last night haunted by it.

It was after a really, really, realllllly long time that I was completely relaxed, didn't care who was around or not around...it was connecting with one self and swaying in abandon. It was quite nostalgic for me as I was transported a by-gone era, and it was nice to be lost there, ever so briefly. I met people whom I hadn't seen in ages. I love concert energy and concert connections! I got reflective of all the things that were and all the things that are to come :)

I spent the before and after to the concert at the blessed Gazdar House. LUCKY ME, I was grateful to be part of the hand-picked few to hang there for the pre and the post....
I feel especially grateful for the post-concert save heaven that is was because leaving Turf Club turned into quite an adventure - cab rides et all! 

This week I ought to keep it low...watching MI4 is my personal M for the next few days. As is avoiding the bevvy's!

Let's see how I do on both counts....

'Tis the season y'all....spread the good cheer!

UGH - to GOa or not to GOa.............?

Krassy Karl

I cant believe it has taken him this long to be 'inspired' by India...Karl's "Paris-Bombay" collection  has come a tad late, me thinks. I can't understand why every one is going crazy about it.
I have seen pictures of the show and I find it tacky. There I said it - tacky!
 
The collection look is midway between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine He has got it all going - jootis, jodhpuris, kurtas, long jackets, saris, drapes and not to mention maang tikkas, which were definitely the high light of the collection. In terms of fabrics, I see a lot of jhataak golds, chinese silks combined with pearl-work embroidery....save a couple of the pieces, the rest just seemed like costume wear. Perhaps my opinion is biased, as being an Indian woman, my idea of Indian clothing is very different and maybe even tradtional. But I am trying to comment as a global gal whose idea of clothing and fashion is beyond country borders....I can't imagine the normal Chanel (chic) lady going paagal for any of these pieces. Wait let me think about it again, perhaps this collection is meant for the huge Arab/Middle Eastern clientele for the fashion house that might like this Bedouin ( more than Bombay-inspired) look. In that case, it could work....

Being a pukka Bombay girl, I like the fact that the collection connects the two fabulous cities together! It will definitely work in our favour and will get us more global attention. Ca c'est sur...

That being said, if I were a foreigner ready to spend that kinda $$$ with some sense of style, I would just jump on to a plane, come straight to the land of marvelous textiles and jewels and splurge!Dil kholke!

The last few years have seen all the top luxury and fashion brands selecting India as their mood board or at least launching limited edition pieces to India. I still think Hermes has paid India the best homage...as has Louis Vuitton for that matter.

Speaking about Louis Vuitton - I am addicted to their newly done up website and have spent so much time on the "Travel to India" section ( http://www.louisvuitton.eu/front/#/eng_E1/Collections/Women/Travel/stories/Travel-to-India ). Also check out the Cirque section which is utterly whimsical and playful.

Here is a brand that continues to rebel and put its detractors in their place at every step of the way...LV has been on the forefront of embracing technology and enhancing the brand experience for its customers. The new Vuitton website is truly a pleasure because its unusual, quirky, original, useful and still convetable! At the end of the day, LV remains the unanimous leader (in volumes and values) for high-end leather goods around the world. It has created an enviable position for itself for many reasons:
1. Its incredible retail network of stores around the world. All of which LVMH directly owns
2. Marc Jacobs!
3. Association with the world of the Arts
4. Association with Humanity and Ecological consciousness
5. The mass-market, logo-driven items
6. The high-end, exotic leather items

I am still waiting for the day that our land of plenty showcases itself appropriately and exports world-class products to the rest of the world. A few important names come to mind who have started doing this already (Manish Arora, Amrapali and the Bollywood brigade, of course!) and I am sure there will be many others very soon as well.....until then.

Raunchy Rasam!

Still reeling post a late nite watch of "The Dirty Picture' last evening. Not quite sure - did I like it? Did I not? Hmmm. Maybe I am some where in the middle because there were many parts of the movie I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated and there were many parts that I yawned through as well....

One cant deny that Vidya Balan is bloody bold. What a daring and risque performance she delivered as "Silk". Based on the tragic real life of 'Silk Smitha', the reigning cabaret queen from down under, who ruled the screens for the most part of the 1980's; Vidya Balan became her and spared no details in doing so!

Set in the 1970's, young village chokri Reshma has always dreamed big and bright. As soon as she can, she scampers away from her sleepy village to Chennai (Madras in those days). The girl, un-doubtedly has a raw and natural sexual appeal that she uses to her advantage. A devout fan of "Sir", she fosters a dream that countless other girls have - to be a famous movie star. After several attempts at auditioning as a part in dance troupes in the hope of getting her big break, Reshma's starry dreams are almost broken.

And then it happens. The point of epiphany. NAKKU MUKKA happens.....

Just when she thinks her hopes ought to be dashed, she realises that to prove that she isn't like those other girls, she has to do a little bit more than what the other girls do to make their mark. And boyyyy, does she show every one what she's got. She is the right girl at the right place at the right time. What she does is very revolutionary at the time because she just doesn't merely "sex up" the song sequence she gets her chance break in; she invents a market for a new genre of movies. A genre in between porn and main stream. She becomes IT. The producer wants her, the cinema owners want her, Suryakanth wants her, the audience wants her....and she plays it up. Crazed and cocky, Reshma is rechristened, "Silk" and she is on a rampage of sorts - heaving her ample bosom, jiggling her loose belly and gyrating from movie to movie setting hearts (umm?) on fire in her path. Her personal life revolves around Surya The Great, whom she has adored as a little girl. To now have him in her bed and dancing to her tunes...is the dream she has harboured all these years.

Naseerudin Shah is amazing as the narcissistic, arrogant hero. Garish get-ups, gold chains and a pencil mustache completes his look. He controls the biz. He takes Silk as his after-hours girl; whilst putting up an image of the Good Man with his wife and child.
It takes Silk a long time to realise that she means nothing more or less to him other than a pleasure-giver. For her it was love. Breaking free from him, she finds herself in the comfort of Surya's shy, reticent brother, Ramakanth, played by Tushhar Kapoor.

Silk's overnight fame is somewhat unbelievable because from being a nobody she is now a vital part of every movie. Movies that have remained canned for long periods of time now get resumed and become a hit with the masses simply by adding a Silk sequence in it. She moves from her seedy chawl dwellings to a swanky bungalow where she hangs out by the bar in tight and tiny clothes and is drunk by the alcohol and herself. She sits preening at her image, whilst collecting press cuttings of herself  and analysing them lovingly.Essentially she is a lonely girl seeking love and respect of her contemporaries but alas this is not possible as she is viewed as nothing but a cheap trick. A vulgar and daring woman who knows no moral bounds.
Meanwhile, Emraan Hashmi floats in and out of the movie, despite being the apparent hero of the movie. He cannot  stand Silk and hates the brand of movies she represents.

After irking the likes of women's rights groups and becoming a target of Anju Mahendroo who is the catty editor of the leading celebrity magazine,Silk's sun starts setting. She starts getting on the wrong side of a lot of the industry folks by becoming unprofessional and arrogant. After her split with Surya and consequently Rama, she is shunned by many more. She develops a drinking problem and is left at a worrisome crossroad. To payback Surya she is keen to strike yet again and turns to her mentor in the industry. She puts in her money and produces a dud of a movie.

And its all down hill from there on.

The movie kept my interest for the most part because I thought Vidya had truly out done herself (National Award in the bag!). I also enjoy "period" movies so that was another factor...However, period movies means greater attention to detail and this is where I found a number of little flaws. I found the sets and costumes way too gimmicky. Every thing was in technocolour. Sure the 70's and 80's was about rainbows and afros and flair pants and sorbet-coloured suits...but this was a bit much.

The dialogues were very "dialog-y". Silk is a villager girl who is uneducated but due to her native intelligence and ambition is able to carry herself off - her accent goes from vernacular to crisp Brit and back to verny from scene to scene. Every one talks as if they are being scripted and every line is empathic. So I didn't find that natural at all.

As exciting as the first 45 minutes of the movie were, the middle went on and on. The movie could have easily been made tighter by chopping off 20 minutes and also 2 out-of-place songs. Actually, I think other than nakka mukka (Silk's racy theme song that comes on every time she comes on) and Ooh la la la, there was no place for more songs. Too much happened in the last 20 minutes of the movie...the plot and story line ought to have been better planned.

And finally at some point I was just revolted by Silk's excessive skin show and cheeky mouth/tongue moves....the point had been made! I had gotten it!

So let's say, an ordinarily made movie with an extra-ordinary performance on an unusual subject.....definitely worth a dekho.

I also had to share some pictures of the original Silk whose life was marvelous and completely out-there. After learning about her life and circumstance, I was very moved. Again I must say, Vidya did an incredible job of getting the part right. I guess the only other actor who could do this role could have been Tabu?

Hmmm

1st day of the last month of the year

start

speed
day

distance

late

very late!

near

airplane

far

traffic

eat 

sleep

dream

BIG

small

run

rest

PING!

blink

focus

fade
night

jump
OMG

shout

done 

cry
musique

laugh

laugh a lot

smile

yawn

frown

heart

hurts

do

don't do

eat

yum!

fast

dance

too fast 

enough

NEVER enough!

F.I.N.I.S.H

always the beginning...

Gosh....just a few thoughts rushing through my mind before we dive into the last 31 days of 2011.
it's been a good year, I reckon by how it just zipped by.

I remember feeling very clouded and contemplative on the 1st of July 2011 when I launched into a personal 1/2 year review session. I fretted big time because the concept of time has become a joke. Where is the time?!
And I think I speak for every body when I say this...

Well here's hoping for a high finish to the year.

Cheers!

Inox Lovin' - 1er partie

Shawl --- Check
Salted Caramel Popcorn --- Check


Umm, I guess thats all I really need for 2 blissful hours a la Inox! Last week, I managed to watch two interesting movies. Let me get to them in order of viewing:

So serving as mid-week (or should I say, mid-shaadi) respite was 'Ides of March', starring the incredibly dreamy, Ryan Gosling as the main protagonist. I went to the movie half-heartedly and harrowed; imagining I would use that time for a quick snooze and instead found myself riveted and far from sleepy.

A dramatic thriller, set in a premise that I'm largely ignorant about - politics, and especially US politics, but dealing with emotions that I'm unfortunately, fairly familiar with - jealousy, corruption, ambition…
A stellar male cast comprising George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamitti; each one a strategic pawn in a dangerously close game of chess.
Slick, shiny and infallible, Clooney as Governor of Philadelphia is in the middle of his ambitious Democratic senator campaign trail (if he wins this one, he has a good chance at being the future Mr. President). By his side and working tirelessly are the team of P.S.H as Paul Zara, Campaign Manager to the Governor and the main protagonist, the young and restless Stephen Meyers (gobble-worthy Gosling) press secretary and chief assistant to Zara.
Adding an element of much-needed theta to all that alpha is pretty little, Evan Rachel Woods as Molly Stearns. Hitherto known to me as the kinky counterpart to the creepy artist Marilyn Manson; she had left an indelible mark in my mind as some freaky celebrity. Just as the two were set to get married, she broke it off on grounds of bi-sexuality!!
In any case, she was quite lovely as the not-yet-a-girl-not-yet-a-woman intern in the political campaign and incidentally, the daughter of a devout Catholic and chairman of the Democratic National Committee. She gets herself into a “light evening with the boss” situation one night when she and the Govenor spend more than necessary time over a “delivery” and as fate has it; the young girl finds herself in an immoral situation.
They say knowledge is power and this certainly holds true in the movie as Meyers has to quickly learn. The young girl looks to him for affection and soon tells him about her worrisome position. Gallant, upright and loyal; Meyers knows that this is the sort of fodder that can drive the Govenor right out of the race and moves into damage-control mode.
At some point; Meyers does something that changes the entire dynamics of the story line - He decides to pop by for a tete-a-tete with the competitor candidate, Arkansas Senator Pullman’s campaign manager, Tom Duffy ( Paul Giammati – restrained and awesome!).  

Whilst the candidates are campaigning in Ohio and are desperately attempting to enlist the endorsement of the North Carolina Senator; the mood tenses up as the race gets tighter.
Whilst cleaning up the governor’s dirty laundry, Meyers is suddenly found in an unforeseen situation of his own. A New York Times reporter (Marisa Tomei – old and not so gold); threatens him to blurt that he was caught having beer and buffalo wings with the competition. Suddenly Meyers is found jobless; getting kicked by Zara and the Govenor for showing a lack of loyalty and conviction.
Meyers then does what he has to do…plays hard ball right back with the Govenor. (Go Gosling!)
Well, I would rather not say more; lest I give it alllll away….
After getting home, I just had to Google the title of  the movie and this is what I got:
<< The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martiae) is the name of the 15th day of March in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. The word Ides comes from the Latin word "Idus" and means "half division" especially in relation to a month. It is a word that was used widely in the Roman calendar indicating the approximate day that was the middle of the month.
In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. Caesar was stabbed (23 times) to death in the Roman Senate by a group of conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. The soothsayer's warning to Julius Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March," has forever imbued that date with a sense of foreboding. >>
How allegorical and apt!

Go catch it if you haven’t already!

AFTERMATH!

NIKAMBI kiya is dil ne......

I smell...............mehendi!

Hold up! I first need to first to lighten my conscious - Sorry! I have been utterly bad  and I haven't made the effort to update my space in close to a month.
No excuses. So tsk tsk away...
To my defense - it really has been a manic month with practically no "me time". I have been up to so much and come home in a state of collapse so there, that is my pathetic attempt to cover my behind.

Now that I have given my cursory apology - let me shift back into happy news. Shikari (Sh)Ambu's getting wedded...yes, another one bites the dust!

After a whirlwind of a romance with Nikhil...this day has come so very fast.Their story is really quite special and I feel lucky to have been a sidekick during the fancy-schmancy proposal in Dubai over New Years eve. Nikhil aka ND, went all out - limo, yacht, champagne at sunset, candle-lit dinner for two et all - all this planned well in advance, completely glitch-free.
How could Ambu say no?!

9 joyous months later - one bundle of joy is on its way...ha ha ha....not a baby, but a weekend of absolute mayhem, starting today.
I must admit, I am going through pre-performance jitters! The line-up tonight is pretty amazing. ND's friends are particularly awesome dancers, not to mention ND himself is the Disco King. When I didn't know him (not sure if he and Ambu had met then. It was at another wedding last year. The wedding was over and the young folks were letting loose...ND took this seriously and enthralled us with some noodle-esque dance moves! He also inspired this blog and featured in one of my first blog entries!)
In any case, we girls better hold Ambu's fort up and be able to keep up with the rest by putting on a memorable performance. Last night we had a mega practice so I hope the valiant effort shows and none of us freeze under the arc lights...


Mean while, The Chuchmeister is gearing up for his insane sangeet on Monday. I'll have to chammak challo my way from Ambus to his band baaja. I can't be sure of what to expect, after all, he has given us so many stellar performances right from Yogesh's wedding in Goa, to his own roka in Mumbai, back to Goa for his pre-wedding bash and most recently, at a Diwali party where he teased (or should I say, threatened?) to remove his kurta and shimmy away....I am still reeling....so one really cant be sure what to expect on Monday night.
Got to hand it to his lovely lady, Vijeta. She is the picture of grace and feminity. She always paints a pretty picture and calmly lets Chu Chu do his thing. I asked her how she doesn't mind his crazy antics...she thoughtfully replied, "Chu Chu is very different when we are together. Besides, he should have fun when we are out with his friends. He is serious when he needs to be" I found that remarkable and it showed how confident and mature she is about it all.

So there you have it folks - two very dhamakedaar couples, beginning a dhamakedaar new journey....so lucky to know them. I can't wish them enough happiness and madness in this chapter!

Well I better scoot now before I miss my cue!

Ra.None

Atrocious
Disastrous
Nonsense

I would love to elaborate, unfortunately no time. Rather no inclination.......

Live Light ;)

Dhanteras is here commencing the official 5-day Diwali Dhamaal...for a city that really doesnt need any real reason to party, this is another one!

Must say that this Diwali has been rather thandaa, with not that much of shor-sharaaba and dhoom-dhaam. Usually the city is flooded with fairy lights - from stores to homes to even the small shanties all lit up with strings of flashing lights. Even the humblest of humble of homes, has a solitary diya at the doorstep; burning the night away signifying that no matter how bleak the situation, there is always hope.

So why do I find this Diwali so lack luster? Why am I so out of it? Well, the usual palpable Diwali spirit is definitely not in the air. The infectious feeling of bonhomie and good cheer is lacking. Now, people tend to use the long break to break free and leave the city scapes. It used to be people coming together to celebrate, now it is people getting away and finding solitary comfort and solace. So by default, the city has fewer people in it (which actually, is never a bad thing in Mumbai!) and festivities have decreased.
Given the volatility of all the markets, economic activity isn't exactly the same as it usually is, either. Traditionally, Dhanteras is when the Gold and Silver rates sky rocket, as demand jumps to crazy heights. But this year, gold and silver rates have anyway reached unprecedented heights since the past few months, leaving most who have invested, kadkaa...with not that much surplus to buy this festive season.
Speaking of soaring rates, even the phatakaas are ridiculously expensive! Not that I mind, since I am not the bigegst fan of the noisy fire crackers; ladis in particular. I can not understand what "joy" people receive lighting bombs and the like - as if we dont live in a noisy, messed-up, war-torn world. Aren't there enough of the real bombs exploding else where that ought to put us off this stuff?!

My mum was definitely not pleased by my lack of enthusiasm and effort this Diwali and remarked to me the other day that I hadn't even paused from my "busy" life to take part in the usual festivities at home.She made sure all the lights were put out,  the colourful paper kandils were flying in the gentle Arabian Sea breeze, the toran had been put up, the deities had been dressed in fresh flowers and every one in the family had a new outfit to mark this important day.

Out of utter guilt, I determinedly took on the job of buying the Diwali faraal items yesterday. The only task that had remained pending and a task that she loves to do as it takes her to her favourite part of the city - Girgaum. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of Girgaum, is a tiny little store, Satish Ladoo, where we buy all the maharashtrian/gujju items from - jars filled with boondi ladoos, besan ladoos, karenjis, sahakar pali, tikhat sev and the like, ensure that all our regular dietary patterns are done away with!
When I went there last evening, I first went with the mere attention of completing a duty - pick and go! But when I reached, I was instantly softened by the mood and atmosphere there. It was exactly how it usually was - busy, bright and festive. It was nice to see families dressed up in their best, talking excitedly, collecting last minute things, laughing and essentially enjoying the holidays...it was a moment that I got a bit of a reality check and a moment of "putting all in perspective". It was the simple life, the happy life.

So now that I am feeling appropriately festive, I am gearing up for my first Diwali party of this season. A party started by a few class friends and that is soon acquiring an "annual" status. It ought to be veryy fun!

Next on my festive lineup is the F1 in Delhi - vrrrooom vroooom vroooom..! I am no F1 fanatic that is for sure, but I have been very keen on going to the first ever Indian F1. I am sure we will put up a super event. I believe I have very good seats near the flag off, and after the pit stop....but what has gotten me most excited is that Lewis Hamilton will be there sans the pussycat doll!
;)

I hope for a truly prosperous and bright Diwali for all of us. Make sure to turn on all the lights!

O Meri Chammak PillO

Miloni and me were in class together from grade 5. At the time, we were rather, um, different?
There was Miloni, all cocky and confident, messy ponytail, short uniform, low sash et all....and there was Aru, neat braid, sash on my waist, shy-ish and unsure. Milz was the cool girl who had a loud voice, used all the cuss words before many of us had even heard them and who could negotiate her way through any situation - thick or thin. She was the one with the speedy internet connection whose home became an ICQ den. It here that all the JB girls would hang out to talk to the opposite sex freely. Milz would be the official ICQ and "blank call" guru - she would dictate the "appropriate dialogue' we had to exchange when communicating with the boy. Over happy hours filled with Ramu's special coffee, khakra and chakli...we passed all those innocent days. Milz was also well known for her errrrr original (?) choice of clothes and accessories and we used her home as our dressing room as well. For many of the girls, it was the ideal "changing room", as they would slip out of what they had left home wearing and into something they had actually wanted to wear! Milz would cut in by providing her expert opinion and would enjoy putting the finishing touches for all of us. Milz also happened to be a braniac and genius, making her personality even more exciting. Plus, to add to everything, she was a loving daughter and was always there for her family when need be.

What I am trying to say is, Milz has always been a coolio. A Rebel for the Right Cause. An original.

Me and her got very close 8th grade on as we chose the same subjects, lived fairly close to one another and has therefore fixed up all our tuition groups together.It was during those long hours together, did we bond big time.
That together with a few life-altering trips we made during our early teen hood together, ensured that we were formally bonded for life!

So even when Milz left good ol' Mumbai for whatever Charlotesville in 2005, we never really parted. Sure, we did have a significant change in our communication. There were phases that we lost touch and were not in sync as usual, but that is life after all. Unfortunately, I never made it to her <questionably awesome> campus and life om UVA, but I did make it to her totally awesome life in the Big Apple - the city of her dreams.
One afternoon, as we drove around in one of our friends stolen cars at the tender age of 6, Miloni looks at us and said to us, with a determined glint in her eye, "So guys, I am going to be an i-banker and live in New York....what do you want to do in life?"
Steumped. Stuck. Stutter.

The rest of us just about knew what we wanted to do the next day, so "life" was a bit of a heavy question. We didn't even know what an i-banker meant! She pitifully explained to us and we all rolled our eyes. "Hard core Milz...using big words she has no idea about...." is what we thought. But she did that all and is living her dream. She showed us. And how!

Playing the perfect host, I shared a very special summer with her in 2009. She had a fabulous apartment located smack in the middle of things (but of course!), a great job, fun friends, a loving boy friend and a sparkling future plan...the girl was on a roll. She made sure, despite her manic work hours, she would meet me and take me out to all the coolest places in town. Never comoplaining, always cheerful and gracious...I had a wonderful stay at Casa Miloni.
Fast forward to summer 2011, we added an incredible chapter to our story, this time, a car trip in the South of France that went from Nice to Naughty (pun intended!). A few weeks later, I managed to catch her in London Town, where she is currently at. Ok, so this isn't the city of her dreams and unlike in NYC where Milz felt on top, she was a bit blah. None the less, we got up to our usual antics and made sure the trip was wonderful.

Now, finally, Milz is coming back to the Bay. It has been 7 years since she left it and sadly, the city hasn't advanced as Milz is...But what is important, Miloni is coming back to where it all started. This time, it is me who has to make sure her estimated cost-benefit analysis and the RoR is >1  !

Happiest Birthday Milzy - You are one of the most solid people I know. Never static, filled with ideals and ambitions and the best party mate ever!

From 1652 to Infinity: Hope we remain as connected and concerned with one another as we have always been. Cant wait to have you home!

Chutney Podi

I could her my name being announced over the PA system urging me to rush to board the flight. The gates were ready to close and I was the only passenger that was yet to board.

Oopsy.

What was I doing whilst I ought to have been scurrying toward the gate? I was busy trying to gobble up the last of  my Andhra delights - Mysore sada dosa with a colourful array of various chutneys and gunpowder as the accompaniments.

Oh well, I made the flight and despite the rush and panic, it was totally worth it!

In fact, my day and a half trip to Hyderabad was totally worth it. It was my second visit to the Andhra capital and although I was mostly confined to a hotel room; the excursions from Saturday night gave me a good idea of life in the Hills.
My brother in law is from Vizag and at the time my sister and him were getting married, I got my first jhalak into that region.

People make the place, 'tis is true and this applies in Hyderabad as well. Every one here is fairly simple, relaxed, and helpful. Be it the driver, who enthusiastically points out the local attractions to us or the hotel staff who willingly replenish our non-stop demand for the (free) cookies and fruits in the room or the Bollywoord-struck bangle seller driving a hard bargain on his shiny ware, or the strangers I met out at night who treated me as a part of their group.

For instance, on my last visit, I was complaining aloud how I had had no time to pick up packets of the gunpowder for my family and I was devestated by this! The next morning, a heavy parcel is delivered to me from my friend's mum. In the parcel were packets of the stuff in a variety I didn't even know existed! This time, a new friend of mine collected me and took me out. On an earlier conversation, she had mentioned how the night life of Hyderabad is nothing less compared to Mumbai and I better make sure that on my next trip to save a night to experience it. So this trip, she collected me and we went to "N Grill and Lounge." It was rocking! Forget that the Telengana protestors were rampant or that there was a city-wide transport strike, forget that it was the eve of Gandhi Jayanti and definitely forget that the standard Hyderabad night dead line is midnight....the night shone on.
"N" stands for Nagarjuna - the actor - he owns the place and I was ever-so-lucky to catch him and his crew partying at N. He may not be Arjun Rampal, but the place was better than Rampal's Lap in Delhi. The space is distributed into 3 distinct areas - the back with its sandy floor, has a more romantic vibe, the music is less audible and it makes for a great dinner spot. The middle area has a fabulous Champak tree serving as a center piece, around which the bar is designed. Finally the outer courtyard area has a big Buddha head (but of course!!) and this is where all the action takes place!

I got there a bit late, after a wonderful dinner at a terrace restaurant called "So". The food was so-so but the ambiance lovely. One could see the neat and compact city twinkling down below. Really pretty!

As I said, the usual time a club closes is 12 am, but I seemed to have added luck since N stayed open till 1.30 am after which all the Bentleys, Cayennes and Audis headed to Begum Pet for an after party. Now this is where the real partying happen. In the privacy of their wonderful homes, the Hyderabadis crank it up and go wild. Known for their love to dance, the Hyderabadi guys shake it and sweat it out on the latest tracks. Finally when it hits 5 AM, the same cavalcade heads back into town to "finish the night" with dawn dining. And the food of choice is (obviously!) Hyderabadi biryani!

Deadly or what!?

Well I skipped the last part, to save it for my next visit. The next day I did however, visited a Hyderabad must-visit joint- Fusion 9 (or F 9 in local lingo). It is Hyd's version of Indigo. The Sunday spread was terrific....very original array of salads (Tendli salad anyone?) and I also sampled a bit of the world-renowned spicy hummus and khausey (a let down).

The best meal however was at the Taj Deccan - Spice Junxn. If you like Andhra khaana then this is where one should go...amazing food! 

With a take-away parcel of biryani firmly in hand, I left the city feeling well-fed and well taken care of...can't wait to go back!

Decadence

Delhilicious

I consider myself quite lucky as I hastily type this, totally overwhelmed in my present surroundings...sitting in one of the many sunny spots of the Imperial suite of the Imperial Hotel.
More than decor or even the various objets d'arts, I think it's the sublime light that bathes this massive space that makes it unlike any other suite I have ever visited before. The Imperial Hotel is a grand testament of the Art Deco style of design. Personally I love the geometric lines and unusual shapes of the art deco period, not to mention the outrageous fashion!
I first came to the Imperial Hotel years ago for the launch of Chanel in India. What a perfect setting this was to the brand! I was younger and less exposed, so what the I saw at the event left an indelible mark upon me.

I am so glad to be back here and shall be camping out in this suite for the nest 3 days on work. This is definitely one place I don't mind being held hostage in!!!

GG for Life

i thought she had gone...she had thrown her away her crochet top and long ghagra skirt. She had grown up, travelled and had decided that those days were childish and now part of a distant memory.

But alas, the GG lives and has perhaps changed a lot from those early years, she is more GG than ever before!

I can't describe it. It's beyond words for me since I can never fathom what it is that makes Goa so special. It's a connection so deep and strong, and no, it's not that I'm high on the good stuff, it's more 'spiritual' than that.
I have been visiting Goa since I was literally born and I yet haven't actually discovered it. I think that's the best thing about Goa - I can never get enough of it! Every time I visit, I discover something new, and always something wonderful. So it leaves me with a valid reason to return. Yet again!
What's interesting is also that I have had various 'goa phases' . For each period of my life I have lived and loved a different Goa. Each trip is memorable and distinct for some specific reason. Each one is engrained into my mind with a vivid association of colours, foods, songs and of course people....
I remember faces and places very well. Actually it's often quite bizarre because it could be a person I might have bumped into amidst a colourful array of scarves at a stall in the flea market, only to bump into him or her at some other unrelated place at another point of time. For the most part, these completely random "meetings" have always been positive. These people have been good to me or shared with me or helped me or better still, have taught me something I have treasured ever since. So what might appear at first as "random", have been significant and valuable little postcards that make it such a sweet memory.

I won't pretend, but I also do associate goa with an air of mystery and the unexpected. I become another person the moment I land at Dabolim Airport (which has remained the exact same since time immemorial). This Aru is definitely lighter, looser and lives on the edge! Ok, it isn't as if I indulge in particularly dangerous activities all of a sudden, but I most certainly am less cautious than the original me. I live by the sun, the moon and the elements. It is as close as I can go to living au naturel...I love that I have windy, salty, matted hair and that I'm in my favourite (totally fatela) mulmul pyjamas. I don't need to tan, but I still sit in the Sun to get "colour". I love to leave Goa with the shape of my watch as the official souvenir from that visit.

My last visit was the previous weekend and was it fun! I went there on a girl's DND ( do not disclose) trip so this blog post can't reveal what went down there but I'll share all the safe parts.
For starters, we made a call to stick to the basics and stay at the Taj Village.

Now that is a place that I have intensely strong memories of (for all that transpired there!). God, from days spent eating Tom n Jerry chicken at the Kiddies Corner in between blissful hours spent at the pool, of nights spent dancing to the macarena, to the Tambola games I would happily lose at every evening at the Caravela, to Chef Rego's heavenly local fare, to volleyball games to MTV The Grind like mojito-filled sunsets to villa 7, 8 and 9 to the Bidappas, to post board exam mayhem and destruction (the general going on's of my batch that year led to a blanket rule laid by the village on having a parent accompany the group on future exam celebration groups!) to bike rides, to the storm of 1997 that brought ashore the big oil tanker that now is a permanent part of the shoreline......and I could go on and on!
Well after dedicating all my family summer holidays within the happy confines of the village, we all experimented and have since found other places that seem more fitting to the change of plans. The girls thought returning to the comfort zone made sense since it was technically off season and it would be nice to be in a known space.
I must admit, although the village will always hold these wonderful memories, it as now lost its magic. Not that it is run-down, rather, it has run-out. By which I mean, it hAs gotten dated and left behind amongst the many newer resorts in goa that have come up since. The location of the hotel is no longer ideal since it is away from the Baga strip and cab rides are ridiculously expensive. The rooms are okkkk, the khaana is as expected, the pool bar plays soft music and saddest of all, there is NO beach!
In any case, we weren't going to let off-season or an off-location deter our lot from the good times. We were determined to make it work, especially since the groom to be was living it up and how in Thailand!

After gathering necessary information from the all-learned Goa cab drivers, we were directed towards the only "on" scene - the infamous Tito's lane.

That's another thing that one will hear a lot whilst in Goa, "Dude what's on tonight?" and "Where's the party?"
As in most seasonal party towns around the world, in Goa depending on the time of the year / the night in the week and the occasion; certain locations are "on" or not. The "on" place is the spots that shall remain on till late at night or even the next day.
Another useful word to throw into your party lingo is "canned" which would mean that due to some reason, the "on" scene has been unceremoniously stopped early.

In Goa, usually the best way to find the party is to stay in touch with the savvy cabbies and to keep your ears alert to catch the thump of the bass.
What deliciously exciting times I have had following the traffic towards what is hopefully an "on" scene. Sighhh - good times indeed


I think the bride ended up trading her angel wings for devils horns by the end of it all.......

That brings me to the end of this nostalgic post.

teşekkür Ambush and the crew...we did well!

Cannot wait for my next adventure - I hear the waves calling.

ENDourage

So long fellas....

I am quite sad as I typed my farewell to Vinny Chase and the boys. It has been an exciting 8 years with them.

I must admit, I have always been starry-eyed and have secretly longed for a taste of the life of the Hollywood Brat Pack and watching the 22 mins of Entourage was the closest I got to it.

I remember when the show started, I was instantly taken into the world, living vicariously through them - chilling in the pad, shopping with them, going to the parties with them, rolling through town in one of their awesome cars (I had a soft spot for the yellow Hummer though) and basically living it up with them!
I remember the first time I visited L.A was in the second season of the show and by then, I had my hit-list of entourage hot-spots to go to. Luckily, my friends there were super savvy and bigger fans than I was, so I got pretty darn lucky and spent those days blissfully at the Urth Cafe (Vinny's all time favourite cafe!!), hoping for a sighting of any one of them!

That didn't happen but the love affair continued...

It is difficult for me to pick my favourite character; although I love me an Ari Gold. Whattaguy!
Despite his garbage-filled mouth, his utter disdain for society at large and his serious anger management issues; Ari Gold is a gutsy workaholic, a family man and a live-wire of a person, who ends up showing rays of humanity when it really counts. His dialogues are epic and worthy of a compilation!
Of course, you gotta love Vinny Chase - the man with the entourage. The best thing about Adrian Grenier is his eyes. The boy hardly has to do more than look at you ( or rather, the camera); to get your heart to burst with love . I must say, as the show went on, the Vinny Effect did start to wear off. His character was written weakly and became less and less charismatic. Also, after a point he got fairly side lined and irrelevant. But not matter what, Vinny remained a "chick magnet", gathering into his coterie most of LaLa's finest....But always, making sure to share the wealth with the rest, along his conquests.
And who made sure to be around Vinny at all times, especially when the girls were around: Johnny Drama and Turtle, of course. The most endearing of the lot, these two play the Laurel and Hardy duo in the show. Drama, Vinny's older sibling, makes one ponder of the wonderments of genetics. How can a Vinny have a Drama as a blood brother is quite a thought. Johnny Drama is one of its kind - brimming with inner confidence and self belief as an Academy award winning actor who for some strange reason hasn't received the kind of acknowledgement he ought to have by the industry in general. A fierce protector of the brood, Drama is the official nourishment provider to the entourage, whipping together the most delicious looking breakfast spreads. Whilst Drama tries to spread his positive cheer, Turtle tries his best to "score". Literally speaking! In his signature cap and sneakers uniform(with Arnold his massive Rotweiller in tow), Turtle ends up as quite a "chick magnet" himself getting Jamie Lynn Sigler as one of his serious girlfriends. I think it was that relationship that serveed as a turning point in Turtle's personality since he had started out as Vinny's Man Friday, the official driver and provider of the herbal stuff  in the crew. He swiftly graduates to become an astute businessman and independent individual, trying to break away from Vinny's shadow.
hat leaves me to Eric Murphy. E, oh E! Principally, he serves as the Voice of Reason to thr group, often popping them out of their self delusions and self indulgences. E is the most stable and conventional of all the characters. Eric is the good guy, the hard working guy, Vinny's best friend and manager. He and Ari remain at loggerheads with another through most of the show, but end up joining forces in the end. Eric gets his dream girl (of course!!!) and alls well that ends well....

With a smattering of several other incredibly memorable characters (Llyod and Shauna particularly). Not to mention, the self-starring appearances, every episode was smart and with it. You really did feel like you were with them.

All in all, a disappointing and anti-dramatic final season to my favourite show, I will miss all of them dearly.Oh well, I guess I can always turn to Californication and Weeds, any time I need to connect with the West Coast sunshine. That's before either of them (Moody or Botwin) don't entirely crumble in their own mess.

Oh, Oh, Oh --- but this weekend, I know I can definitely turn to Paris Hilton to bring the LA Times to a TV screen near me, Welcome to the Bay Ms. Hilton.....That's Hottttt! ;)

Week Excuse

Wow - this feels strange, yet wonderful. It has been so long since I last posted. Over the past week, a lot has happened and I got so caught up that I didn't get a chance to write at all...

Here goes my attempt to put it all together.

                                                                      Morbid

The later in life one has to attend a funeral, the better. I know many people would disagree - after all, death is the biggest fact of our lives and the earlier one accepts it, the better.
True........I suppose. But I feel that as important and necessary that acceptance is, its alright to not have to attend funerals until and unless you really must be there.

I frankly haven't been to several funerals (thank God, touch wood); but I have been deeply shattered and moved to complete discomfort by all those that I have had to be present at.
The sight of seeing a "body" is highly troublesome. An active, ticking and thinking human gets reduced to a piece of mass in a matter of a few seconds just seems terribly off.

Growing up, I was never taken to any funerals and it was only in my later teen years that I first did, and it was a hellish half hour spent at the crematorium.

I strongly and deeply believe that knowing about the transience of life - how precarious and delicate it really is; is one thing we should all bear in mind. One never really knows about his or her time on Earth....as with most things, we don't come with any guarantees. But at the same time, for the more faint-hearted, it is OK and fine to be scared. It is scary.
For others, it is sort of therapeutic to be present and see it all happen. It closes the chapter. For Good. It is a social and community binding exercise - to express solidarity with the affected family and the rest of the mourners.

Me thinks, to each, its own...

I for one, am till wondering when it was that I grew up and had to deal with these harsh realities?

Ready or not - the pungent smell of anesthesia confronts my greatest fears!!

LATE POST: Well done Weekend

Satisfied and Recharged.

Wow! I feel good....almost forgot how this feels. Clearly I had a good weekend. It was well-needed and welcome.

I made sure to catch two super movies: 'Meri Brother ki Dulhan' and 'Friends with Benefits' - and enjoyed them immensely.
Both were romantic comedies and despite their simplistic premises, they did what movies are supposed to do - entertain.

I will start with MBKD -
Kat in the Bag again! That girl is really something because this movie is another winner. I was thoroughly impressed by her performance. In addition to being her usual, lovable, cuddly self - she had a well-defined role which demanded more than her smiling and getting away with it. Dimple was a build-up on Laila (ZMND) and one could really see the hardwork Katrina has put into her diction, emotions and dance skills. She and Imran were well cast and had amazing chemistry between them. Imran with his molten chocolate eyes, was lovable and believable. Despite the fact that her wore plaid shirts throughout the movie, he gave yet another commendable performance.
The dialogues, back ground score and screen play were terrific. Particularly, all the various movie references that were thrown in rather subtly and cleverly. Although, the first half was faultless and well-paced, the second half did get draggy and repetitive and could have used tighter editing.
Music was lovely, with "Dhunki" and "Choomantar" as my two top picks...

In general, the movie was completely realistic and credible. The characters were well-written and well-cast, ensuring the movie was easy to relate to. The trick is to get the basic details and lifestyle nuances correct, which gets audiences nodding and thinking, "Arey, I would have done/said/worn the same thing yaar...."
The director, Ali Abbas Zafar, who's been an assistant director on a number of Yash Raj Films productions such as Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Tashan, New York and Badmaash Company, makes his feature writing and directing debut with this film. Incidentally, Zafar has spent many years in Dehradun and has used this town as the setting for the movie.
YRF that has produced and distributed the movie, has picked a gem, keeping the "Band Baaja Baarat" legacy going.

My verdict: Popcorn time at MBKD!

Only this deadly duo could pull it off!

Next up - "Friends with Benefits" starring hotties Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.
I went in hoping that my hopes wouldn't get dashed with a cheesy, over-done "chick-flick", that would annoy me and leave me in an "aargh!" mood. And it certainly did not, in fact, I left the cinema feeling deliriously hopeful about love, life and all that jazz....

JT and MK were fantastic together. The movie had a fair bit of hype surrounding it and all the interviews I have read basically ask the starring couple how difficult or awkward shooting the intimate scenes were. Yes there was a fair amount of that involved, but the both of them were in perfect physical shape and had a palpable chemistry between them, that the scenes came out natural and aesthetic. Watching them romp about made me wonder, if in the real world did such perfect bedtime action take place with ordinary folks too, or was it just limited to wonderful-looking people?
I don't think the friends with benefits plans can ever really work...by and large (save a few stone-hearted animals), human beings relate intimacy to emotions, so conducting relationships for purely physical purposes, is some what of a sticky situation leading to the crumbling of at least (if not both) the participating parties.


I suppose I enjoyed the movies so much because I felt a strong connect with the generation they were set with?

They were both movies that essentially dealt with the boy/girl equation. In MBKD, the boy and girl had found themselves and were now finding one another. In FwB, the boy and girl were finding themselves, but have found one another.
Both the movies show their personal journeys in understanding their basic requirements from their 'should-be' partners.
East or West, the premises and circumstances might be different, but universally, everyone is looking to find a correct match. As simple as that goal is, the search remains fairly complicated.
So here's hoping that in the crazy scheme of things, most of us make the Right Pick!

Divine Intervention

We live in truly troubled times there is absolutely no denying that. pardon my language, but   it is totally messed up. what is weird is that we have be fairly accustomed to the twisted ways of the world and our definition of what is ‘normal’ has definitely broadened to include the conventional ‘abnormal’!

As the news gets grittier and more gruesome, our sensitivities gets hardier and more seasoned. Even the most shattering occurrence now gets acknowledged by a mere widening of one’s eyes. What to do? So much evil, so little time. Lick the wounds and get on with life...pronto. Time is money, honey!

So amidst all the horror, we continue to exist to the best of our sanities and whilst we hope for the greater good of humanity, we mostly just hope to see the next day, all goods in place!

I sound like I had a bad day?

Not at all.....quite the contrary actually. All I’m doing is saying it like it is...

Before you think I am all tainted and pitted, let me share my “happy moment” with you:

Faith is what keeps every one of us going. Religion is a classic example of “faith” and although I am not supremely ritualistic, I do like to pray and thank God every now and then. My basic philosophy is to believe in whatever makes you happy and to hope for the best, Inshahallah!

Its Ganpati time in Mumbai and I just love it! Over the years, people have gone all out, bringing in such crazy and whimsical Elephant Gods. I have seen BIG ones and little ones,   movie star inspired ones (Titanic ganpati wins this category hands down!!!!), cricket cup ones, Himalayan ones (with super cold temperatures et all), Eco-friendly ones...and...the most powerful one, aamcha Lalbaug Cha Raja (LCR)!

My annual darshan to the Lalbaug Ganpati is the only pilgrimage I have made so far  and This little ritual is very precious to me - the few seconds that I get, give me immense joy. It started close to 10 years with 3 of my girl friends. We all loved Ganpati dearly and these 10 days would be an absolute blast for us as we went from pandal to pandal and house to house, meeting him. It was Puja’s family relative who had organised our first visit to LCR. It was all rather exciting as the 3 of us gathered the family’s mithaai and farsaan shop at the foot of the gully, amongst the thousands of devotees that were in line! As we waited for the uncle to give us his neighborhood pass, we would watch the people around us in awe wondering how much devotion and passion they had to stand and wait endlessly in the lines...all for that one, brief sighting. What got to me then and continues to now, is the sight of new parents with their tiny little babies, all decked and bundled up by them, to offer to their favourite deity and pray for a full and prosperous life for their little one.

That tradition continues to this day, but alas, the mithaai shop no longer exists, so neither does that “community” pass. We have had to resort to other, “more privileged” manners of getting there (because there’s no stopping us now!).

Two years ago, I missed out on a particularly enthralling darshan, as the girls went as part of Himesh Reshammiya’s troop (wonder if they had to do any nasal sounds to make the cut?!). So it was the 3 of them, Himmy bhai, Raakhi Sawant and their cronies in a protected troop, marching their way in. Not only did they made it all the way to the stage, they also enjoyed a spontaneous jig from the awesome-twosome! Did they luck out or what?

However unfair and wrong it might appear for many, I don't feel that guilty about using these routes. We are a country of contradictions and un-equalities, and there is always a short-cut to be found. As long as I never do anything immoral or harmful to any one else to get somewhere, I am not riddled by guilt. 

We got a midnight darshan yesterday. it was the first year that i had seen close to a lakh of people in the serpentine queues that went on for miles and miles...all the way down to Byculla. People were dressed up in their best, and the mood was upbeat and jovial. The best part was that the Raja is now set on the ground level and is accessible to all so everyone who made it in, got his/her up-close and personal moment with him.

I too, had the chance of a private tete-a-tete with him...I threw in my demands, and now await the Raja’s orders. Lets hope we attain a resolution!

Bolo, Ganpati Bappa Moryaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

JulLEH

To think that just 48 hours ago, I was on top of the world (literally!), is difficult as I look around at my present surroundings. Back at work, back to the grind and back to the humdrum of daily life, this all feels terribly wrong. Life in the mountains is so wonderful and self-gratifying. Your life is made around all the elements of nature. Your body follows the Sun; often taking its cues from the winds and the water. The birds might distract you, and if they don't, then the yaks most certainly will! Ohhhh, lovely Ladakh, how much I miss you already.

In just a matter of 6 short days, I dare to say that I have turned from beach bum to pahadi pagli. I always thought that my ideal holiday was set along the coast of the sea, lazily lying on the beach, wearing as little as possible and soaking in the UV’s. In fact, it was just last February when I saw my first mountain when I took a ski trip to Chamonix in the French Alps and I barely survived the after-effects of that overwhelming experience! I just wasnt prepared for the mountain magic to cast its spell over me. 

Travelling up north in india had become some what of a mission for me since I didn’t have enough of friends showing interest in going there and this was one trip I was finding it difficult to coordinate with my family. I had always wanted to go to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Manali....the winds were just beckoning me. A few months ago however, Energetic E, put together a group for Ladakh and I jumped in, no questions asked. I told myself that this was the moment and it needed to be seized and that’s that! After a series of manic convincing, re-confirming, booking and other dizzying activity, a group of 8 people made it to the Ladakh Residency in Leh and embarked on a series of adventures amongst the Karakorams...

Here are some pictures from the travels:

Amidst a flurry of emotions, I suppose the most strong after-thought remains the goodness of the mountain folk. I have never come across such kind, gentle and decent people in my life time. The population of Leh and Ladakh is roughly 20,000 people and about 80% of them are Buddhists. They lead startlingly simple and spartan lifestyles. The region being a desert, there is not much that can be cultivated, taking agriculture out of the picture. Also, as it borders both China and Pakistan; it has a lot of the sensitive points of military control and so most people (I should say, men) are occupied in and around the military forces. Smiling and ever obliging, all the “locals” that I crossed paths with, overwhelmed me by their innate simplicity. I felt that they were so lucky to be sparred of the complex world I consider “normal”. Here they were, tucked into the sharp mountains and valleys, sipping on chai, and amusing themselves with the tourists that made it up into their world.

Another noteworthy mention has to be on the road makers of the region. Called as Project Himank, it was impossible to marvel (and chuckle!) at the amazingly developed roads, particularly the NH1. Of course there were bits and areas that were mostly kuccha roads that were bumpy and made for an uncomfortable ride, but remember we are talking about roads made on the Karakorams at altitudes of 14,000 feet and beyond! Given that Leh-Ladakh is a region that one can principally exploit in a vehicle (there’s nothing like our Super Scorpio), one could think the drives would be arduous. But the road-makers definitely made sure to ease that problem by creating not just great roads, but the greatest road signs one has ever read! Here are a couple of my fav-favs:

It is so difficult to select a few photos from the lot as almost every picture is postcard material....Going to end this post with a photo that I would like to title "euphoria":