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!