Top Ten Films 2014

Best films seen by me this year (be it on the big screen or on home video/telly) are:
1. Boyhood (2014)
2. Ankhon Dekhi (2014)
3. Blue Jasmine (2013)
4. Miss Lovely (2012)
5. The Mudge Boy (2002)
6. Gravity (2013)
7. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
8. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
9. Finding Fanny (2014)
10. The Man in the Moon (1991)

Of Guys and Dolls

When I was growing up, if anyone dared to suggest that guys too love to play with dolls, he or she would have been spewed venom upon, or worse.... well, that still holds in the society I hail from.
Guys playing with dolls? No, no, no.... it is a big 'no' for goodness' sake!
But action figures.... well, they're fine of course. At least that's the evolved perception right now.
Reading comics from an early age, and being in close touch with the world scenario, although from a distance, I had known all along that guys of all ages can known to be passionate about action figures. The fact remains that still in some cultures it's very much a closet phenomenon.
Times are hopefully changing, mindsets are known to change slowly but gradually.
Even we Indians are wholeheartedly embracing the culture of men (adults of either gender actually) being charged up about collecting superhero action figures thanks to a chocolate major and its unique advertising campaign.
The manliness of the so called pin-ups is also not expected to be doubted by the impressionable majority when these models or actors are shown posing with their favorite action figures. I like it.

Best mini-series watched this year

The best television mini-series watched this year is undoubtedly 'A Young Doctor's Notebook'. It stars Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm, playing the different versions of the same character, the lead protagonist.

RinaDi Once More

Watching Aparna Sen (RinaDi to all who love her, adore her) on the big screen once again is what made 'Chotushkone' (Death... Fair and Square) so special to me. And as an ardent admirer, having observed her from close quarters almost all my life, I can't resist from sharing these stills from the movie... as words can't express the medley of feelings, some if which reside in the realm of inarticulate wonderment.

Khoobsurat: Pretty sweet

'Khoobsurat', the 2014 film is a delight. Yes, it is what's often called a chick-flick... yes, it's too much of a candy floss concoction without the characters or the situations making much sense... and, no, the reference to the Rekha starrer of the same name from the Eighties was not at all necessary. But, for the entire family that's on the lookout for a clean, hilarious romance at the nearest multiplex, this film is just the recommended fare.

Hail Freedom!

Freedom can be suppressed by the forces that be for a short while only, the rebellion of the oppressed, of those who have been gagged, is certain. The voice of sanity, the voice of reason, shall be heard once more, resounding far and wide, and it shall make all the difference. A change for the better will be an outcome for sure. So, all hail freedom, break free of the shackles, the fetters are going to give away in no time.

Finding Fanny

Watched 'Finding Fanny'... one of this year's best!
However, recommended only for those who felt Homi Adajania had defected to cocktailish Bollywood for good (even after having had a superlative directorial debut).
This one's exquisite brandy, make no mistake.

Asha-ji.... happy birthday!

Asha Bhosle.... the name spells music for me, she enchants me with her mesmerizing voice, her magically melodious numbers....
Here's wishing her a very happy birthday.

Lessons learnt

Learning lessons, I mean life's lessons and not the school lessons that we learn by rote, is actually fun and not boring when the lessons are packaged beautifully and are delivered to us in an endearing manner by our favorite films. Especially, the animation films from Pixar - which have been not only entertaining us but also making us learn and accept and welcome things for positivity and harmony, over the years. Here's taking a look, and taking a nod as well, this post is courtesy a mail sent to me by a friend as he found it in a compilation on the Net.

AK in and as PK

Never has a film's teaser and the subsequent trailer captured our imagination as much as Rajkumar Hirani's 'P.K.'. There have been all kinds of speculations prior to the release of the first trailer, and quite naturally, as the makers had their film's content strictly under wraps.
All we got to know was this: "A stranger in the city asks questions no one has asked before. Known only by his initials, P.K.'s innocent questions and childlike curiosity will take him on a journey of love, laughter and letting-go."
That's P.K.... in a nutshell.... and here is A.K. in and as 'P.K.' (or should I say 'pk'?)
How much the audience would accept him, only time will tell.

Hercules

For the first time, an upcoming Bangla film has the same title as a latest Hollywood film & the posters are splashed alongside at 'plexes!
'Hercules'

Revisiting 'Chatroom'

"Ready for therapy?" asks William. A simple question? Well, no.

Seldom do I revisit movies that I have already seen. First, the time is too short to catch up with films, old and new - that's the principle a movie junkie like me abides by; plus, there is the risk of my love for a movie fading, at least marginally if not considerably, when I watch it again. However, recently I made an exception for a movie I had seen some time back (and liked) - called 'Chatroom' - and I am glad I did, because my love and appreciation for the movie - largely the premise and its handling - has grown manifold. It should be made compulsory viewing for young, impressionable folks, for obvious reasons, the chatting - as well as subverting and bullying - ways may keep dating with passage of time, and that too at a very fast rate, but the tale would definitely connect, it does make sense, it'll keep doing so.

Game over!

The curtains come down on FIFA World Cup 2014..... game over? Well, for now..... for me..... the soccermania that reigned for a month or so..... yeah, eyes glued to the tv set all night long, virtually getting transported to Brazil, the venues there, the beaches, the revelry, the madness of it all.

Transformers: Spruced up and how

'Transformers: Age of Extinction' is a lesson on how to spruce up an almost-on-the-verge-of-sagging franchise.

RDB @75

On the occasion of music legend R. B. Burman's 75th birth anniversary, here's me going down memory lane..... although I keep listening to his songs almost every single day, be it on the radio, on telly, or otherwise. I live, breathe, and thrive on Pancham-Da's songs like so many fellow music-buffs.
I have come up for this special 'tribute' post a selection of my favorite songs from Hindi films,
all of these are famous R. D. Burman compositions, and some have even been sung by him, in his inimitable voice.
I have limited the number of songs on this list to just seventy five, which was really a tough thing to do. I have also listed the movie titles along with the years, for easy reference. I must mention that the songs have been selected at random, and not in any order.
Here they are:

Hum dono do premi - Ajnabee (1974)
Yeh shaam mastani - Kati Patang (1970)
Chura liya hai - Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973)
Dum maaro dum - Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)
Dhanno ki aankhon - Kitaab (1977)
Aap ki aankhon mein kuchh - Ghar (1978)
Tum aa gaye ho noora aa gaya hai - Aandhi (1975)
Katra katra milti hai - Ijaazat (1987)
Mera kuchh saamaan - Ijaazat (1987)
Jaane do na - Saagar (1985)
Chehra hai ya chand - Saagar (1985)
Tum se milke aisa laga - Parinda (1989)
Pyaar ke mod pe - Parinda (1985)
Tere bina zindagi se - Aandhi (1975)
Sapna mera toot gaya - Khel Khel Mein (1975)
O hansini - Zehreela Insaan (1974)
Dil mein aag lagaye - Alag Alag (1985)
Mere naina saawan - Mehbooba (1976)
Piya baawri - Khubsoorat (1980)
Roz roz daali daali - Angoor (1982)
O maajhi re - Khushboo (1975)
Humein tumse pyar kitna - Kudrat (1981)
Khali haath shaam aayi hai - Ijaazat (1987)
Yamma yamma - Shaan (1980)
Mehbooba mehbooba - Sholay (1975)
Jaane jaan o meri jaane jaan -  Sanam Teri Kasam (1982)
Duniya mein logon ko - Apna Desh (1972)
Piya tu ab toh aa ja - Caravan (1971)
Aaj kal paon zameen par - Ghar (1978)
Humne tumko dekha - Khel Khel Mein (1975)
Jaane ja dhoondta phir raha - Jawani Diwani (1972)
Kitne bhi tu karle situm - Sanam Teri Kasam (1982)
Sab ko salaam karte hain - Jagir (1984)
Deewana mujhsa nahi - Teesri Manzil (1966)
Kya hua tera vada - Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)
Do naina aur ek kahani - Masoom (1983)
Tujhse naraaz nahin - Masoom (1983)
Roz roz aankhon taley - Jeeva (1986)
Ghar aaja ghir aaye - Chhote Nawab (1961)
Phir se aaiyo - Namkeen (1982)
Tu rutha toh - Jawani (1984)
Yeh ladka hai allah - Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)
Yeh din to aata hai - Mahaan (1983)
Aur kya ahede wafa - Sunny (1984)
Yun hi gaate raho - Saagar (1985)
O meri jaan maine kaha - The Train (1970)
Bachke rehna re baba - Pukar (1983)
Yeh zindagi kuchh bhi sahi - Romance (1983)
Tum kya jaano mohabbat kya hai - Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)
Kal kya hoga - Kasme Vaade (1978)
Chhoti si kahani se - Ijaazat (1987)
Kya yahi pyar hai- Rocky (1981)
Jaana o meri jaana - Sanam Teri Kasam (1982)
Khamosh sa afsana - Libaas (1988) 

Saagar kinare dil yeh pukare - Saagar (1985)
Pyaar humein kis mod pe - Satte Pe Satta (1982)
Tu maike mat jaiyo - Pukar (1983)
Jaipur se nikli gaadi - GuruDev (1993)
Seeli hawa chhoo gayi - Libaas (1988)
O Maria - Saagar (1985)
Zindagi milke bitayenge - Satte Pe Satta (1982)
O mere dil ke chayn - Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)
Ek ajnabee haseena se - Ajnabee (1974)
Chand mera dil chandni ho tum - Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)
Kanchi re kanchi re - Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)
Hoga tum se pyaara kaun - Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981)
Rimjhim rimjhim - 1942: A Love Story (1994)
Saamne yeh kaun aaya - Jawani Diwani (1972)
Jahan teri yeh nazar hai - Kaalia (1981)
Dilbar mere - Satte Pe Satta (1982)
Tum bin jaoon kahan - PyarKa Mausam (1969)
O mere sona re sona re - Teesri Manzil (1966)
Tum ne mujhe dekha - Teesri Manzil (1966)
Kuchh na kaho - 1942: A Love Story (1994)

'Jhankaar Beats': the film was a tribute to RDB

Happy Birthday, Messi!

It's the World Cup fever in full bloom....
all the more buoyant hence,
the whole world wishes you the very best, Leo!

A year passes by without you

"Kaisi ajeeb daawat hai yeh...." 
A year passes by without you Rituda.... yet you are so much there in our souls, you always shall be.

Oh no!

Don't know about others, but when promotionals with our popular male icons scream 'ladkon_waali baat', the sexist bias just makes me cringe.

Those were the days of HP

HP - Harry Potter - those were the days.....

Henry in 'The Tudors'

Henry Cavill plays Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in 'The Tudors'

Seen as a playboy in the First Season, his character becomes meatier.

Must admit, that I warmed up to the series because of him. 
Yes, watched 'The Tudors' because of Henry Cavill! 

And was absolutely thrilled.

It is one of the best in the period series, costume drama genre.

Needless to say, it is absolutely fabulous.

However, I had been initially apprehensive of the series and did not get too excited because the history of the period, the reign of King Henry VIII having been the subject of many a tale already and I did not think that the lurid excesses, some of it fictionalized, and colored by contemporary biases, would please me much.

But as soon as I got know of Henry Cavill's inclusion in the cast, I became curious. 

I watched it from the beginning, with renewed zest, and felt rewarded eventually.

The series boasts of a terrific ensemble cast, led by Jonathan Rhys Meyers.