Gaping Void

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Halloween @ Office

Pumpkin carving by Manasa and me at office. We won we won yay yay

Top Three Worst Movies

and the Winners are…

1] Shaurya

Horrible copy of my fav movie ‘A Few Good Men’. It’s unbearable from scene one (surprisingly even by Rahul Bose) and Painful narration. It’s so slow that you feel like completing the sentences. (Of course they are literal translation of the English version). I am angry that they could destroy such a popular movie. This is the only movie I walked out of during the break.

2] Drona

What the Hell were they thinking. Hot Priyanka Chopra is introduced in the movie with “Bauji kaha karte the ki….”  LAME. I think this film shows true potential of Jr. Bachan. (yes I dont think he can act. And dont argue about Yuva, Guru and blah blah. It’s simple: Boss if you cant deliver a good performance under Mani Ratnam, you may as well retire). It’s so silly that even the kids would find it tough to sit through the movie.  also, what’s with the blue rose.

3] Blue

Its high time Akshay Kumar stops trying so hard. He does not have to take his shirt off for every other scene and try giving those George clooney looks. It’s not working. Blue does not have a story and sounds like a dubbed movie. “Look out” translated to “waha dekho” and dialogues like “Aadmi  andhere mein kab baiththa hai” Ans: “Jab batti chali jaye” ITS NOT FUNNY.  Even Lara Dutta could not save the movie. And what happened to Sanjay Dutt??? The under water scenes are shot well but are so thanda that there is no excitement at any point of time. I want my money back.

The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga

★★★★★

I heard a lot about the book before I bought it. But this book blew me away completely with its narration and characterization.

Balaram Halwai is a villager who moves to the city as a driver with his master. The story is set in seven letters that he writes to the prime Minister of China before visiting India. Very unusual and interesting. Balram’s life starts with limited ambitions in his village but slowly sets out to the Capital – Delhi.  As days pass, he does everything that is expected of a loyal servant including taking blame for an accident.

But the conflict in his mind about making it big and getting away from the pathetic conditions of drivers in Delhi  is narrated very well. He can make it big and he has option to get there – by killing someone. Will his conscience give in?

There are other characters which may catch your attention as they are very close to the real ABCD’s (If you did not know – American born confused Desis). But Aravind nails it with Balram’s character, cunning and ambitious,  waiting for an opportunity.  India through his eyes – Pomeranians, Honda City, Servant quarters, Cockroaches, Government babus, bribes, drunken driving, Johnny Walker black label, Call centers, Pick and Drop, speed limits, – is the real India through a common mans eyes.

It’s a chilling narration and gripping all the way till the end. Its hard to find such a book everyday. Pick your copy.

Trust Me – Rajashree

★★★★★

I always make it a point to buy new books by Indian authors. This was one of those impulsive buys.  Trust me is a love story set  against the  background of big bad bollywood.  Paro (Parvathi) is the  heroine in the novel. After a  heart break  and abortion, the small town girl tries to move on with her  life in Bombay.

She quits her job after sexual advances from her boss and joins a production house as an assitant.    Enter Rahul the side hero of the movie whom she is totally attracted to. Then starts the dilema of  whether she should trust someone again or not.