A lot and nothing

From my front yard...

2007-06-15T13:45:00.000-06:00

Aaj ki taaza khabrein...

2007-06-15T13:43:00.000-06:00

Wow. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve blogged. In the mean time, there’s been so much happening. Our loss at the Miss Universe Pageant disappointed me quite a bit, but I wasn’t extremely shocked. Frankly, I didn’t expect much from Puja Gupta after seeing her in Miss India. Then there was the fall of Miss USA. And in the end, Miss Japan (who didn’t have much going for her except her gown) took it all. Tragic! Hopefully, Sarah Jane Dias (my favorite) will be able to bring home the Miss World crown later this year.

There has been a lot going on in showbiz as well:

Ranbir Kapoor, son of Rishi Kapoor, has a crush on model turned actress Deepika Padukone.
By the way, I can’t wait to see her in Om Shanti Om which will be releasing this Diwali.
Celina Jaitley will be shooting with Alec Baldwin to promote the cause of elephants in Bollywood and Hollywood.
There’s a new it girl on the scene by the name of Sheyln Chopra, and she might be the next Mallika Sherawat.
Sivaji is playing all over the place, and people are fighting for tickets.
And now…the biggest and most important piece of news…Paris Hilton is in jail, and everyone seems to have an opinion about it!

Nothing much happening...

2007-04-17T21:53:00.000-06:00

It's been a long time since I last posted. I've been so busy with school...and this will probably continue till the second week of May. So, I want to apologize to the millions of fans that I have all over the world. But I promise I will return. In the mean time, check out pics of the Miss India 2007 winners here. Watching Femina Miss India on TV has been the only exciting thing in my life lately.

I Hate American Idol

2007-03-26T18:29:00.000-06:00

So there is this show called American Idle. I meant American Idol. They'll do anything to get to make it big on the charts.

Theres this comedian called Simon whose hobby is coming up with idiotic idioms to thrash contestants.

Simon apart, the one thing I'm most annoyed about is this. There are about 5-6 rounds before the contestants get the 'privilege' of singing before the trio. Then how come there are some seemingly hopeless contents who still make it to that live round only to get humiliated in national television? Only to make it a controversy and increase viewership - at the cost of misleading participants in the initial selection, giving false hope and crushing their dream. And they have the audacity to call it "Laugh Out Loud Videos" and host it in their website.

The most arrogant Simonism is revealed when he comments people's looks. Whatever happened to the belief that talent overrides physical appearance. So many world-renown musicians who were blind who would have not made it if there were enough Simons. If your show is all about talent and glamor, good, but don't qualify them, attack them and act like a smart ass on TV, you moron.

There's so much of 'unreality' for a reality show. A real contestant shares in the radio "They asked me to say 'Wow, this is the first time I'm flying thanks to American Idol, this is amazing'" only because the producers want to portray her as a village girl. The problem was, her mom was an air hostess'.

Now there's this Sanjaya conspiracy that is feeding their ratings. One theory is Sanjaya is still in the game because he is getting huge number of votes from people from India because they have US# phone lines. Well, its all a byproduct of globalization. You decided call ins decide the voting. Your show is popular internationally, votes are going to be international. Live with it.

A bunch of crazy maniacs who claim they are on hunger strike. One self proclaimed moron says "Sanjaya Malakar is still on American Idol. Therefore, I must do something stupid and moronic about it....eat as much unhealthy food as possible until he is voted off. "

Oh my God. So much crap for a silly TV program. I can't believe I'm writing about it. If only Malvi did not warn me that she'll boot me for not contributing!!

This guy is hilarious...

2007-03-22T16:54:00.001-06:00

I can so relate to this...I get my name butchered all the time.

2007-03-22T16:39:00.001-06:00

2007-03-22T16:37:00.001-06:00

Movie Review: The Namesake

2007-03-18T20:13:00.000-06:00

I read the book about a year ago, and I then found out that it was going to be made into a movie. Mira Nair has always been one of my favorites, so that added to the excitement. I feel like I have waited forever to watch this movie, and I had huge expectations. But it has exceeded all my expectations. The story is about an immigrant Bengali family that moves to the United States. Their son’s nick name becomes his official name, and it comes to affect several aspects of his life. Kal Penn has brought something to this character which no one else could bring. It’s definitely surprising to see him in a serious role; I never thought he would be this amazing. Tabu and Irfan Khan are extremely natural. One can’t tell that they are not Bengali (except that I’ve just told you). Mira Nair is a very meticulous director, and that quality is very much evident in the film. The accents, the walks, the wardrobes are all extremely real. The best thing about this movie is that it is appealing to all because it is about real lives of real people. It’s about losing a loved one, and wanting to hang on to the memory of that person. In an interview Nair was quoted saying, “The reality is that [in the U.S.] there are more [Indians] in Dhaka saris wearing their husbands’ overcoats, taking their stuff to the Laundromat than there are in Rolls Royces.” The film depicts this reality and much more beautifully, and that is why this film is a must watch.

Malvika-isms

2007-03-17T20:29:00.000-06:00

I’ve been told I have a split personality. Some times I can be extremely demure and quiet, and the next minute I turn into a rebellious, forthright person.

I hate talking on the phone for more than a couple of minutes.

I love hard rock which is hard for most people to believe considering I am a Desi girl. Apparently, I’m supposed to be listening to Bollywood music. And I’m also supposed to be crazy about John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan.

I am a threat to everyone around when I’m mad. When I was eight, I threw out my cousin’s shopping bags full of stuff (she had hidden my shoes).

I don’t take compliments seriously (not that I get too many). I always feel the other person wants something or is simply being fake.

I can’t stand people who crack stupid jokes and expect you to laugh at them.

I never initiate calls or messages to friends and acquaintances. I don’t know what it is. I just don’t.

I don’t like confrontation.

I have an underlying superiority complex.

My space is extremely precious to me. I don’t like people invading it. I let few people into it.

I believe violence can solve several problems.

I don't like irreverence.

Frivolous conversations and activities irritate me.

I can eat at Panda Express for the rest of my life.

I can sleep up to sixteen hours a day.

I can't stand people misspelling words and making grammatical errors. Don't hold me to it though.

I don't like answering irrelevant questions.

Some mornings I get up and feel like everything is happening to some one else. It’s surreal.

I'm told that I'm cynical. I'd say I'm practical.

A lot of people are intimidated by me. I call it "The Malvika Effect."

The Mind Is The Judas

2007-03-08T18:34:00.000-06:00

The man of understanding dies.
Dies to the past, and awakens to the future.
Disregard obedience, opt.
He who cherishes the vision of union-
the union of the ocean and sky,
he who does not look beyond,
he who lets showers drench him:
that is the poet.
Nourish the deposit of audacity within;
consciousness shall be born.
Soak up the sounds of existence;
silence shall be born.
And therein lies the secret of life.
Enlightenment awakens the soul,
frees the mind.
Follow your heart; the mind is the Judas.

Live And Let Live

2007-03-05T18:57:00.000-06:00

By now everyone is aware of Ann Coulter's intolerant comments on homosexuals. I don't want to pick on Coulter because there are so many Ann Coulters out there. And its really not their fault. It's our society that is intolerant. Simply talking about tolerance and putting the good old "equal opportunity employer" on every job application isn't good enough. As long as we consider homosexuality taboo and ridicule it, a lot of people will feel it acceptable to do what Ann Coulter has done. We should respect different people's backgrounds and choices, and teach the same in schools as well. A difference will be seen only when we make a sincere effort to teach kids not to use name calling. Only then will adults do the same. People like Ann Coulter think it is acceptable to make such comments, but it needs to be pointed out that it is in fact wrong. A lot of us claim to be tolerant, but as soon as we find out that some one is homosexual, the whispers start. I think that people who come out with their homosexuality should be applauded, not condemned. It takes immense courage to come out with it in a world full of Ann Coulters. So respect people who are different from you. Live and let live.

Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.
-Rene Dubos

Spring/Summer 2007 Trends

2007-03-01T17:40:00.000-06:00

Spring is around the corner, and people have already started their Spring/Summer shopping sprees. But for the fashionistas out there, I thought I'd put together some tips to get you started in the right direction. So here's what's in vogue this Spring:

Yellow is big this season. And so are blues, grays, whites and neutrals in general. Yellow is a little hard to wear for most people. You need to be careful or else you might not be able to create the right look. So I would stick to colors that are fairly easy to wear and that can be teamed with virtually all accessories.

Polka dots are huge. This is quite obvious since half the racks of several department stores are full of polka-dotted clothing these days. A touch of floral prints also adds to the femininity of the outfit. You can even find the cute voluminous, babydoll type dresses with chic floral prints, dolman sleeves and empire waists in a number of stores. Abstract and retro prints are also a favorite. Femininity is the key this season, so look for outfits with bows, ruffles and other girly embellishments.

Stick to soft, airy fabrics. Linen is definitely in for loungewear a la drawstring linen pants. Linen shirts and skirts also seem to be popular.

Gold also ruled the runways. Everything from chain belts to bags is gold. All kinds of metallic bags rule this season. Metallic dresses especially with the whole space theme are a favorite among the designers. Wide leg trousers and jeans have emerged once again. Crochet and lace patterns, batik and other ethnic designs enhance elegant silhouettes. Finally, to complete the look, don’t forget the wedges and chunky heels.

Science Simplified

2007-03-01T17:02:00.000-06:00

Source: http://www.boreme.com/

Naeem Khan at New York Fashion Week

2007-02-16T20:13:00.000-06:00

Last week saw Fall/Winter 2007 New York Fashion Week. The event had dozens of designers showcasing their wares. Among them was our very own Naeem Khan. He launched his first collection about four years ago (before that he designed for another label), and he has already made a name for himself on the international fashion scene. Of course his work is hugely inspired by his home country India; he uses a lot of hand-crafted textiles. His work is also known for its intricate details. Khan’s clientele includes Beyonce, Princess Aga Khan, and a number of other celebrities. I’m not a huge fan of his, and I definitely didn’t like his Spring 2007 collection because of the heavy use of metallics. But this time around he surprises. I absolutely loved his recent prêt-à-porter collection which included a number of elegant gowns (did he have the Oscars in mind?). Here are some of my personal favorite pieces from this collection:

All images from www.style.com

By the way, you can find a lot of Naeem Khan’s clothes at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and some other upscale stores.

Coming soon: Spring/Summer 2007 Trends

Snow up to my knees...

2007-02-14T16:31:00.000-06:00

I couldn't even open the door all the way...that's Chicago for you.

India's image

2007-02-12T01:34:00.000-06:00

I was sixteen when I got my first job. The day I started my job, a coworker asked me if I was married. I was shocked that he asked me that because he knew that I was sixteen. But he told me that he thought that the custom of child marriage was prevalent in India. I said, “Sure, but that was eons ago!” Then he asked me if my parents had fixed my wedding as soon as I was born, and would I be married as soon as I turned eighteen. Once again I was speechless. I kept a straight face and replied, “No. I will get married as and when I want.” I had just immigrated to the United States and after a couple of incidents similar to this one, I realized that a lot of people here are very ignorant about India and Indians in general. I don’t know why this is, but I certainly feel offended when I am asked questions like “How are you fluent in English even though you are from India? Did you take English classes after you immigrated to the United States?” I mean, we do learn English in our schools. A lot of people think that the rest of the world is progressing, but India, for some reason, is still in the sixteenth century. That’s not true. India is indeed one of the fastest growing countries, and it is developing at a very fast pace. We do speak English very well. We are educated. We do not treat women like untouchables. And we do not get our children married forcibly.

“Do you wear turbans at work in India?”

“How does public transportation work? Where are the elephants and camels parked?”

“What are your hobbies? I mean other than snake charming.”

“You have cars there??”

Curious folks who want to learn about Indian culture.

In the yester decades India was projected with a very unbalanced image as a country with primitive people and cultures. Selective journalism carries news and documentaries about “unusual but sensational” pieces and as a result the overall picture is misconstrued.

We were independent only about 60 years ago, have been battling with the challenges of a large population and upbringing of rural India but have also been rapidly developing and shaping into a global economy. India’s rapid development in the recent years and being in the forefront of technology and manufacturing has slowly been changing the way rest of the world looks at her.

It’s high time we/they stop making documentaries about Indians on camel back and start making eye openers like these.

~Malvi and I

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi?

2007-02-11T21:12:00.000-06:00

I was checking my email when I saw the ad for a matrimonial website on the right. The post was quite amusing so I clicked away to see if I can find more amusing stuff. Of course I did find some really hilarious posts, and here are a few that are sure to make you laugh:

Looking for Fair Complexion, Slim, Height = 5'4' - 5'8' (ok girls, get your fair n lovely out)

Well its really hard to write about your own and that 2 when you are really good Anyways i m Slim, Fair, ppl says not bad at all luk wise. Well nature wise i m the best. (ok then!)

Looking for Understanding, No tv saas bahu serials (hahahahaha)

sweet, charming, adjusting. naughty and should respect my family should be loving should be fair and should be of height between 5'2 to 5'5 (a combination of miss india and mother india?)

I will search partner ok culture brought by parents well I will tell more later as we agreed to get into relationship (what??????)

i am a goodlooking, wants a goodlooking life partner with good sanskari who is made for me cum my small family & know a family value. My Family: FATHER-SERVICE AT TALOD MOTHER-HOUSE WIFE BROTHER-Pvt.Service at Bombay SISTER-Merried (sister merried?????)

I adventure a lot and looking for partner to adventure and well educated and earning must be adjusting and beutiful (any takers?)

My Job: working As Territory Business Manager In Nicholas Piramal Ind. Ltd. Looking for: Beautiful (no comments)

My name is alok i am well satteld self (own) bussnes medicin manifactharing & wholsaling my own chemist shop lucknow (bharat drug house) my annual income rs,200000 above. Looking for: symply good looking goog natcher she understand me and my fellings (I need to sattle down after reading this)

hi I am ajay if you are like my profile please contact my mother as she will let you know more about me (namaste mummyji)

my self sameer from traditional upper middle class family I am looking forward for a person who can love, understand and corporate with me (…and they corporated with each other and lived happily ever after!)

Meryl Streep quote

2007-02-08T15:05:00.000-06:00

It's amazing how much you can get if you quietly, clearly and authoritatively demand it.
-Meryl Streep

The Mystery Of My Misery

2007-02-02T21:44:00.000-06:00

A struggle to make my way through the horde,
a struggle for breath,
a silent chill.
Incomprehensible adversities plague the soul.
Zephyr seeps in through the pane.
The splendor of metropolitan puts me into reverie
while life passes me by.
Solitude fills the heart.
Missed the place, missed the time.
Reminiscence is the backbone of my consciousness.
The mystery of my misery pleads me to build castles in the air.
The death of my essence walks me down derelicts,
begs for trinkets and chariots.
Gaffes I have committed, but I know not regret.

The don'ts of fashion

2007-01-30T23:22:00.000-06:00

This morning a girl walked into my Banking and Investments class with shorts on. She did have a long coat on, but why torture yourself like this when you know it’s freezing outside? And she was complaining about her legs being numb because of the cold! Recently, I saw an acquaintance wearing a short skirt teamed with a tank top and stilettos. Then there’s the never ending saga of men in falling pants...I won’t even bother with that issue because I thought we were done with those last year. But unfortunately, I still encounter this phenomenon time and again. I’ve given up voicing my opinion on that one.

I don’t know what’s up with people these days, but I have been coming across all kinds of fashion faux pas lately. So I am compelled to write this for the sake of a lot of people’s eyes. As is evident by now, fashion is one of my favorite topics to banter about, but for now, I want to focus on the don’ts of fashion. So here goes…

Don’t follow a trend blindly
Don’t wear something just because Lindsay Lohan wears it, and it looks good on her. Try to make your clothes and accessories an extension of yourself.
Don’t turn yourself into a brand ambassador. Being dressed in Louis Vuitton from head to toe is absurd.
Don’t be under the impression that expensive stuff is the best and is “in.” Give all stores a fair chance. You just might be surprised.
Don’t try to fit yourself into a pair of jeans that is one size too small (we all know about the muffin top syndrome, or do we?). Here are some great tips to help you buy jeans.
Don’t wear summer clothes in the winter and vice versa.
Don’t go for the Barbie doll look (short skirt & tank top). Pick one!
Don’t overdo embellishments and metallics. I know the metallic look is in but while the head-to-toe metallic look might look fine on the ramp, it’s an eye sore in the real world.

I’m no style guru, but this is what I think. I know some of these points seem very obvious, but trust me, a lot of people need to be reminded of the basics. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but take a good look at yourself in the mirror before stepping out. There are no hard and fast rules; just follow your instinct, and you’ll be fine. And guys…go easy on those accessories. I see guys walking around with four to five accessories these days…watch, necklace, bracelet etc. Kuch zyada nahi ho raha?

Amisha, yeh tune kya kiya?

2007-01-24T22:59:00.000-06:00

2004
Amisha Patel says that Kareena Kapoor’s role in Chameli is a reflection of Kareena’s character.

2005
Amisha Patel criticizes Bipasha Basu’s role in Jism and says that she would never do such a role that requires so much exposure. She also criticizes Bipasha Basu’s “big hips.”

2006
Amisha poses for the cover of Maxim’s December issue:

Image Courtesy: Bollywood World

There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly behooves any of us
To talk about the rest of us.
--Edward Wallis Hoch

2007...the year of leggings?

2007-01-21T16:20:00.000-06:00

Image Courtesy: Fashion Wire Daily

Fashion experts have declared leggings the must-have look for men! This model was seen during the Fall 2007 Fashion Week in Milan, and apparently, this look is in. I am all for fashion and the multi-gazillion dollar fashion industry as also the folks in Paris and Milan who decide what’s in vogue and what’s not. But leggings? For men? Are you kidding me?

Guru review.

2007-01-17T00:15:00.001-06:00

I got a chance to watch Guru at the theaters – I like watching desi movies at the theaters and when it is a Mani production, its a double treat.

Saturday night, when I realized tickets were online at bollywooddc.com it was too late and I asked Ms. P who was at the theater to get tickets for me. By the time she found an ATM and came back to the counter it was house full. Damn.

Sunday around noon I had my tickets booked online for the 9 pm show. Got there at 8 to pickup tickets and there were about 60 people already on the line to catch the most optimum seats. Mr. S and I had to get dinner and as we strolled back saw 100s of people seated inside and also blocking 400s of seats for their relatives and friends who arejussssst on the way and jussssst in the parking lot. “This row all ours”- said a medium aged lady blocking an entire row in the middle section of the theater. Mr. S was agitated and wanted to fight. Only he didn’t.

Guru. Finally. I was excited.

The tale of a ruthlessly ambitious villager who rises to all from nothing by following his flare and passion. Becoming a bijinessman. All is fair in love and war. He plays business - his love, his war – as if there are no rules. He’s blind about his ambitions - sometimes pretentious, sometimes moving.

The first half is a lightning. Guru gets a chance to chase an average Indians’ dream of going to forin. Moves to Instanbul, works hard and makes his share of money. At his prime when he’s given triple the salary and a promotion, he declines it boldly and decides to go back to India with the dreams of making it big.

Things are not very favorable for a common middle-class man. Even his dad doesn’t support him. Guru kicks open the doors which don’t open up when he knocks at them. Challenges loudly and achieves silently. In a short period, multiplies his business by multitudes and rises fearlessly. Makes his identity, grows like nobody can stop him.

Along the way Guru takes some shortcuts to success and they are discovered and he’s put to trial. His mere existence becomes a threat. The remainder of the story revolves around how he takes on the world.

The movie concludes that

***may contain spoilers** (white text, select text with mouse to view)

Guru had to 'flow with the stream' to get where he was and it was not the best thing to do, but certainly the right thing to do. At one point, he marries Aishwarya for the dowry, so he gets the capital to his business. It may be hard to justify, but all said and done, he had more to give than to evade. One recalls Nayagan "Naalu berukku nalladhu nadakkumna edhuvume thappilla". If someone will benefit from what you do, nothing is wrong").

Ash adds color and Rahman spreads glitter. Somehow I think Ash is Asher in Mani's movies. Like in Iruvar, she was classy. Abhishek was terrific. Never before, probably never after. Rajiv Menon shines at cinematorgaphy.

Mani of course has signature moments like the train scene after Guru’s marriage. There’s a tingle of subtle comedy throughout.

It’s a nice story with a sharp screenplay. You can enjoy the movie if you really try and believe the initial “All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental” message without any reliance, you know, on living and dead.

Rich cinematography, pragmatic storyline, stunning screenplay and gorgeous music make it a Mani classic once again. Guru will beg you to watch it again. Maybe again.

The Uncomparable

2007-01-16T16:12:00.000-06:00

Hurricanes of tribulations,
Constant denigration of the populace,
Yet he remains resolute
To reform, revolt, and rebel;
To clutch the orb in his palm;
To leave behind a trail,
For they dread the indefinite.
His footsteps they shall follow
In pursuit of the truth:
The truth that prevails in his eyes,
In the periods of toil,
In the affluent feats,
In the conqueror that lies within.
The sun has set,
Dark clouds disembark,
But he remains intrepid
Of the unfamiliar path that lies ahead…

This one's for my best friend...Mr. Cool Dude Jee...Anoop.

The hair-band bug

2007-01-15T22:25:00.000-06:00

I think Farhan Akhtar is one of the most talented directors in Bollywood. I have loved all his films, and I like his look. He always comes across as a confident person and someone who is comfortable in his skin. The hair-band makes him look suave, but what’s with all these Bollywood actors trying to emulate his look? People give Upen Patel the credit for introducing Bollywood to this trend, but I definitely think it was Farhan. Arjun Rampal has been wearing his hair-band for quite some time now. I need not mention Abhishek’s obsession with his. Yes Abhishek, we do know that that’s your look for your forthcoming movie Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, but is it necessary to sport that piece of wire everywhere you go? I just hope he didn’t wear his hair-band to his engagement which took place at Amitabh Bachan’s residence yesterday. Even John Abraham and Ashmit Patel have been seen with this new “metrosexual accessory.” If you tune into Bigg Boss, you will find Rahul Roy doing the same. Farhan Akhtar actually needs the hair-band because his hair is curly and a bit unruly, but what's wrong with all these other boys? Here’s what well-known fashion designer and style guru Prasad Bidapa has to say:

“Hairband as an accessory for men is big NO. It looks silly on men. It does not belong to the metrosexual man. I think John Abraham’s long rebonded hair looks like straw now and Abhishek Bachchan has the worst hairstyle. Long hair is so out. It makes you look like yesterday. I think Shah Rukh Khan has fabulous hair. Brad Pitt’s short hair style is good. Don’t sport styles of celebrities who have challenged hair.”

Coming back to Farhan…he was also responsible for starting the “ponytail” trend a couple of years ago, and then we saw actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Bobby Deol with ponytails too. All of this makes one thing very clear: Farhan is a trendsetter!

Chinese Fortune Cookers

2007-01-11T17:40:00.000-06:00

Isn't that what Chinese Fortune Cookie writers are called? That should be the biggest occupation in China. And the most challenging. Competitive. The demands are insurmountable. These dudes have to cater to i-donno-how-many-billion Chinese and about 280 countries where Chinese food is a hot favorite owing to immigrants. I mean Indian immigrants. We Indians like it cheap and like it lot. And Chinese somehow can produce cheap lots.

Going by unverifiable statistics and projections, this calls for 638,346,236,756,442,750 fortune cookies per day. (rounded to the nearest 2,750, give or take 22,000 to account for people who buy Chinese food just to read the fortune in the cookie and make wise investment decisions)

I wonder which is the bigger industry in China. Writing fortune cookies or making golden "Made in China" stickers.

Due to these unrealistic expectations, Chinese Fortune Cookers (CFCs) are forced to either repeat fortunes (but that is against the law and they may be forced to eat stale cookies life long) or come up with really lame fortunes (thereby killing two birds with one stone - they can express their discontent globally and demand more money to come up with normal ones). So understandably they choose to write lame fortunes.

Here are a couple that I was blessed with recently:

"Success is defined by the number of successful days you have"
"Be direct, usually one can accomplish more that way"

Ms. S was really upset with her unfortunate cookies. "seriously... all we ask is a little slip of paper to tell us that our lives will be filled with happiness.... now is that too much to ask for...." I hear ya!

"There's no time like the pleasant"
"Your true fortunes lies in another cookie"

Here are some more, thanks to sites that are devoted to spread CFCs.

Its half as fun if you know..

Oh great. Even the cookies know I am a natural weapon of mass destruction.

They forced this comedian guy to write these things.

Same guy. Then he quit.Oh hang on, next week it will be

What??

They blame everything on Confucius.

No comments.

You need to be reminded, you know.

This guy was really pissed with his girlfriend, as far as I can tell

I don't even want to know what it means.

Images courtesy http://weirdfortunecookies.com/

Pull up your socks Bollywood!

2007-01-11T16:58:00.000-06:00

What’s wrong with Bollywood? We are talking about an industry that churns out over four hundred films a year. But why do I feel so disappointed after watching most of the films made these days? Bas Ek Pal, Rehguzar, Aryan…I could go on. Rehguzar was by far the saddest. For the first time, I fell asleep while watching a movie. Better luck next time Jimmy! Then there was Rocky. Zayed, I have one question for you: what were you thinking? Don’t even get me started on Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana. All I have to say is that Nikhil Chinappa better stick to veejaying. And how can I forget Mera Dil Leke Dekho? Koel Puri was rather annoying throughout, and the reviews said “don’t bother,” so I’m sure most people didn’t. There might be a few exceptions like Rang De Basanti, Omkara, Lage Raho Munnabhai and a few others. But more often than not, I find myself asking, “Why have they spent all that money and made this?” Only the filmmakers have the answer to that question, but seriously, something needs to be done about the talent level in Bollywood.

Missed Miss India

2007-01-11T16:48:00.000-06:00

From left to right: Maureen Wadia, Shilpa Singh (winner), Pallavi Walia Raj (first runner-up), Lakshmi Nijjar (second runner-up)
Image courtesy: SmasHits.com

I am obsessed with beauty pageants. Today I watched Gladrags Mrs. India 2006. I was very happy to see this celebration of married Indian women. The winner of the contest was Shilpa Singh. She looked stunning, and spoke confidently on stage. I think her final answer did it for the judges. When asked how she would react if she caught her husband in bed with another woman, her answer was that she would kick him and slap him because according to her, the building blocks of a relationship are honesty and loyalty. Bravo, Shilpa! What’s interesting is that last year’s winner’s name was also Shilpa. I was glad to see Shilpa win although my favorite was Pallavi Walia Raj who won first runner-up, and the second runner-up was Lakshmi Nijjar. The contestants strutted their stuff first in a ghagra choli round, then in an evening gown round and finally in a sari round. The clothes were fantastic- very Indian, yet modern. And guess what…they were all made to dance to Kajra Re. One of the contestants was even a grandma! The brain behind this contest, by the way, is Maureen Wadia. She is the creator of Mrs. India, and has discovered several people including Aditi Gowatrikar who went on to become Mrs. World, John Abraham and Dino Morea. For the ignoramus, Maureen Wadia is a style guru, the editor of Gladrags magazine and one of Bombay’s favorite socialites. Rumor has it that Maureen’s son Ness Wadia is dating Preity Zinta, and apparently, Maureen isn’t too happy about it. Hmmm. I wonder why…

Way to go Japan!

2007-01-10T19:09:00.000-06:00

We all know that schools these days emphasize academic excellence, and that’s great. But I’ve always had a problem with how the education system of many countries tends to neglect the importance of etiquette. That’s probably the reason that we constantly encounter people blocking the entrances into buildings to have a chat with some one. I don’t know about everyone else, but that really annoys me. What’s sad also is that even seven to eight years ago, the corporate world was associated with strict adherence to etiquette and socially acceptable behavior. Needless to say, that’s changing very quickly. I mean, can a good pair of jeans really get you anywhere? And would a client really want you to manage his million dollar retirement portfolio if you can’t manage to get that spaghetti into your mouth without painting your face red with sauce? I’ve always maintained that teaching children etiquette and the correct protocol to follow in different situations is very important if you want to see them achieve something. So I was happy to read an article this morning that talked about Japanese schools testing applicants on chopstick etiquette. This is definitely a step forward. Albeit it a very small one, but forward, all the same. Hopefully, other countries will soon start encouraging schools to incorporate etiquette into their education programs.

Starch makes the gentleman, etiquette the lady.
- George Bryan Brummell (Beau Brummell)

Let Go

2007-01-09T00:39:00.000-06:00

‘Twas born with wings; a free being.
Yet, you cage it.
‘Twas created to fly.
Yet, you avert the evident.
Vindictive are your ways, unapprised you remain.

She is her own. Let go.

Her back has no key.
Nor is she flawless.
Her eyes tell a story.
A story of twinge, of roots of the scars:
Scars imperceptible, for they lie within;
Within the beauty,
Within the tranquility,
Within the woman;
The woman you fail to comprehend.
Gift her to fate, and she will care for the brown-eyed beauty.

She is her own. Let go.

Give her back her wings,
Give her back the liberty:
Liberty to experience the waterfall,
Liberty to learn from the blunders.
Liberty to respire.

She is her own. Let go.

The complete woman

2007-01-08T19:50:00.000-06:00

India has given birth to several women who have managed to put themselves on the map through their tremendous achievements. Shobhaa De is one of them. She began her career in Journalism in 1970. She edited a few magazines one of which was Stardust. De was responsible for the birth of “popcorn journalism” in India. Currently, she writes a column called "The Sexes" for a magazine called The Week. Obviously, I am a huge fan of her work; I have been for years. She is the author of several books, but my personal favorite is Surviving Men. As Ekta Kapoor aptly said in an interview, “Surviving Men should be like a Bible to every young girl who gets married.” In this book and in many of her columns, De demands equality among men and women. Because of this, she is stuck with the “feminist” tag. As she says in her recent article, “The word feminist comes with its own baggage.” I am completely in agreement with her on that one. People usually attribute a feminist with being hateful toward men. I beg to differ. I consider myself a feminist, and I have nothing against men. We just want equality, that’s it. In fact, I think that most women who are being dominated by men (husband, boyfriend, boss...whatever) are themselves responsible for their condition. They do not understand that it's all right to voice one's opinions and stand up for yourself. So its great that women like Shobhaa De are using various mediums to encourage women to be independent and fearless.

Shobhaa De is a name that stands for sophistication, class and beauty. The most remarkable thing about her is that she does not hesitate to speak her mind, and she doesn’t care about what people will say. Through her life, she has set precedent for other Indian women. She has taught us that a woman does not have to choose between her career and her family. She can have both. Shobhaa De truly epitomizes the modern day Indian woman. I wish we had more women like her. Ms. De, you rock!

A lot and nothing

2007-01-08T19:39:00.000-06:00

We've been contemplating the name for this blog the whole of 2006. I'm glad we have the best of names now.

It signifies life. It signifies the world. It symbolizes the philosophy of our mortal existence. In the world around us, we see full tea cups, empty tea cups. The full moon, no moon. Days when you feel you have everything, days which are filled with void..

Who am I kidding? Let me get to the real deal.

So we wanted a name for this blog. Preferably a cool name, so it was Malvi's job.
She's the coolest girl ever. She's a combination of conflicts. She's smart, but can act silly. She's funny, yet serious. She's talkative but you can barely hear her. She's a girl but she's not complex. She's hot headed, at the same time, she's cool.

Donno what she was thinking, but I think it says what we got to offer.

Malvi has a lot and I have nothing.

Incomprehensible Serenity

2007-01-08T00:51:00.000-06:00

Bitter-sweet tears,
pearl-like rain drops,
demoralizing snowfalls,
alien faces,
intemperate gluttony.
This is my new world.
Peril reigns; terrifies me.
Opportunity knocks,
I take her in.
I shed my inhibitions,
battle providence, race time,
and grow relentlessly.
Frenzied times,
decadent deeds,
peccadilloes and tragedies,
secluded souls.
Exorbitant stones, luxurious garbs.
Copious opulence and endless covets.
Timeless emptiness distorts my essence.

What can i say? I'm a wannabe poet.

New Beginnings

2007-01-08T00:33:00.000-06:00

2007 didn’t really start with a bang. Most people I know stayed home on new year’s eve and had a quiet family dinner. There isn’t much happening in the world except a few depressing issues which I don’t usually follow (wars, people injured, more people being sent to the Middle East). Sigh. There isn’t much happening in my life either, so maybe creating a blog isn’t a bad idea. Who knows what might come of it. And who better than Sri to create it with? We’re both equally crazy, brutally honest, and we both know how to pen down our some times wacky and some times profound thoughts. Here’s to new beginnings, cheers!