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This blog completes 1 year today

The number of views and posts have been beyond my wild imagination.  Am already reaching 400,000 (4 lakh) hits soon.  I do see that the frequency of posts have gone down post marriage.  I do agree that there is a very beautiful distraction in my life now, but i have no intentions of abandoning this very precious obsession of mine.

As we approach the 61st year of independence, its time to highlight some of the achievements and the things that make India that it is. Hope to put up more articles on the hidden gems that prop up the country inspite of the bad news all around.

Thanks for reading and all the support this past one year.  Made some great friends on the net through this blog.  Hoping for a continuation of this incredible journey.

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Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Naa

One thing that beats me completely is how can someone as perfectionist as Aamir Khan give nod to a lousy script as this one.  And how can someone like Abbas Tyrewala who has written some solid scripts like Maqbool and Munnabhai think of making a movie on this.

Honestly, had a lot of expectations from the movie considering the fact that it was an Aamir Khan production with such a solid assembly of technicians. Everything in the movie is great except the script.  Imran Khan is not your typical hero, Genelia is bubbly, vibrant and emotes well.  Surely she is one of the better prospects in the industry than bimbos like Katrina, Bipasha, Aishwarya etc.

Or then maybe i was too engrossed with wifey sitting beside me that i lost the plot of the movie.  Anyways, not a great prospect from the reputed Aamir Khan productions.  Better luck next time.

My rating:  (**) 2/5

The Dark Knight – Batman

Well, what should i say about the movie that hasnt been told before.  You can watch the movie for just one person, Heath Ledger. His Joker is creepy, violent, sadistic and sends a chill down your spine with his antics. Batman, unlike other superheroes has a dark side to him unlike the goody goody Superman.  And Christopher Nolan has exploited the same to the hilt.  Though the movie has a lot of messy and confusing sub plots, its a compelling watch.  A bit on the longer side, still surely one of the best big budget movie to come out of Hollywood in years. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent is too good.  But his transformation at the end was not so convincing.

Christian Bale as Batman is ok, but he is completely overshadowed by the Joker.  Sad, we will miss Heath Ledger. I havent watched Brokeback Mountain.  Believe, its time for me to go through his entire filmography and catch up on what i missed out.

But the icing on the cake?  I watched The Dark Knight in Prasad IMAX at Hyderabad (one of the biggest 3-D IMAX screen in the world).  And the experience.  Fabulous.  Simply mindblowing.  The ariel shots of Gotham city, the entire stunt sequence in Hong Kong…., they have to be seen in IMAX to be believed.

My rating (****.5)  4.5/5

Above pictures courtesy: Santabanta, Warner bros

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…this morning in Singapore.  It has been 17 days of hectic bliss back at home.  I got married on 14th July.  Cant believe that 13 days have passed since.  Had no time to go for a honeymoon as i had just 2 weeks of leave for the wedding.  All plans have been kept on hold for now.

Life post marriage is great. It took a bit of a time, but i slowly managed to get over the ‘me’ and have included ‘we’ in the decisions.  The journey has just started.  It was hectic shuttling between our homes even though both of us hail from the same city of Hyderabad. Visiting relatives, church, the customary introduction to the hundreds of people (faces and names of whom i dont even remember now) were just part of the schedule.

Managed to pull wife out of the crowd for some personal ‘alone times’ with her.  Managed to catch 2 movies in the process.  Jaane Tu and The Dark Knight in IMAX.  The IMAX was a hell of an experience.  Awesome screen and an equally brilliant movie. Reviews of both the movies will follow in the future posts.

Monday means both of us go back to our respective schedules of work. Its back to the rut, but its a happy feeling and the heart is naturally elated as i realise that my status has finally changed

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Iam flying back tonight to Hyderabad.  Oh yeah, am excited.  The 3 months post engagement have sped past and before i can realise, there is just 5 days to the wedding.

Will be back in Singapore on 27th July.  Blogging will be practically non-existent during this 2 weeks period.  Thanks once again to each and everyone for your wishes and blessings.  More stories when iam back.

Till then, be good

Above picture from TownofStMarys

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Just 15 days to go and the mind has started playing its games. Its actually a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. The final days of my bachelorhood are here. It feels strange that my status will finally change after 32 years. Am sure its going to be an interesting 2nd half of my life.  Honestly, am itching to get started.

Met up with a couple of friends over dinner on Friday.  As we lazed at the beach watching the waves and the ships in the background, my friends mercilessly kept ribbing me over my soon to be ex-single life. It was good fun.  Both of them are married and it was good to hear their experiences.  We went for dinner at a Kerala restaurant.  It was a funny bachelor’s party as hardly any booze flowed.  All of us had just one glass of beer each keeping in mind the tradition.  As one was working the next morning and the other was driving, none wanted to increase the intake of alcohol.  And i love such a scenario. Cost effective too, u see

My colleagues and friends are so surprised that my wedding is close by and iam so cool with no visible stress signs. They dont realise that all the tension of arranging stuff for my wedding has been outsourced to my parents and brother back home.  All i need is to do is to just laze my way into the wedding.  Will shop for my clothes in Hyderabad.  Clothes are damn costly in Singapore and also there is not much choice unlike in India.  Unless i want to shop for brands, which i dont.  Anyway the stuff you buy for the wedding just rots away in the cupboard once the D day is over.  That’s why i love the whole concept in Europe and America where people like to rent their suits, tuxedo, wedding gown etc for the day.  That’s very cost-effective.

Meanwhile, an interaction with Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Infosys on CNBC’s “Young Turks Tutorial”.  I cant seem to be able embed the video.  Click on the links here and here to watch it.  Quite a nice watch.

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