Recently I have been doing a lot of research on the DVD lending library :D
And actually stumbled on some must see-s. The place where I rent from has an excellent collection; I must say.
After HERO, I took an interest in movies from the east again. The seven samurai did more than it's part in reviving that interest. Now I have 4 oriental flicks lined up in my DVD selections, including Yojimbo and Rashomon. The latest movie I watched was Infernal Affairs, a Hong Kong movie, I had seen half of it more than a year back. It was aired after much hype on star movies and it sure was worth all that hype. Unfortunately I couldn't finish it that day due to a flight I had to take. But I found it this time in the library and Bingo...I get it delivered to my place!
It's a slick gripping thriller and the best cop movie I have seen of late...sure ranks along side the likes of L.A. confidential. Not a dull moment, excellent cast and a smashing ending. The movie catches you off gaurd right from the very beginning; the first scene when Sam is 'recruiting'...It's being made in Hollywood (The Departed slated for release this year) and is directed by none other than Martin Scorcese. Now you know what I'm talking about ;) The hollywood version has Matt Damon and Leonardo di Caprio in the lead(have you noticed; these 2 guys look similar), but though Damon is an excellent actor, it's hard to match what Andy Lau and Tony Leung pulled off in the original. Watch the original before the remake comes out (it's shame, the original is not even credited!...Boo Scorcese!). Class apart, highly recommended.
****Do not go into this movie expecting a marshal arts show down. It's a thriller and is set in very much contemporary times.****
The next set of movies I didn't explore much are the Brit movies, latest of which I saw, The Constant Gardner. Now when this movie released in UK, I had no interest in watching it thanks to the lousy title. But when I did actually see it last week...I kicked myself for having missed it in the theatres. It's so fresh in it's treatment, the location (mostly shot in Africa) and boasts of a heroine so powerful that she dominates the entire movie despite being entirely absent from the frame in the second half. Rachel Weisz took home a well deserved oscar for this one.
Up next on my list are City of God, Cinema Paradiso, Apocalypse now, the French Connection among others...though I've already watched half of them, can harldy wait for these titles to arrive...but not before I watch Infernal Affairs just one more time ;)

Posted by Sat at 3:01 AM
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Earlier in a blog of mine, I’d cribbed endlessly about my name. This is on similar lines.
My name’s spelt S A T H Y A. But often someone eats up the ‘H’ and it’s amputated to the unaccustomed length of Satya. So I often end up insisting that the H be there.
My northie friends were somehow baffled by the whole account; why does your name have a ‘H’?...you pronounce it Satya; (t as in Tava) and not sattthhhya.
Hey go slow on the ‘ttthhh’!!!!
Now it has become a habit for me to spell out my name, as there's a 100% chance they would leave the poor 'H' out...'Yeah Sathya..Sierra Alpha Tango Hotel Yankee Alpha'....'Yeah...H for Hotel!'
And one day on the corp bulletin board someone wanted to sell their ‘Maruthi’ and a debate followed soon enough on the presence or absence of h.
My friend shruti is often irritated that their southie colleagues fatten her name with the ‘h’ (that they steal from mine?).
One could say if a person is from the north or south merely by looking at how their name’s spelt…or rather mis-spelt :)
But then northies pronounce dosa as ‘Dose-a’ and the souties for their part make Dal sound like ‘doll’.
But then; this is one of those coffee/toffee arguments that go on….and is fun so long as they do :)

Posted by Sat at 4:43 AM
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A bright sunny day ; standing at the bus stand, waiting for the bus.
I'm busy contemplating that it's been long since I have commuted on a bus...of late which is ever since I started earning, I would call an auto rickshaw hop into one and hop away (things like that don't give you a smooth drive) to my destination...which might be 10 minutes walk from where I am!...my little luxury you see :)
My string of thoughts were interupted by my sister squealing in delight at something; I looked up and half expected to find John Abraham in flesh right there...instead she just said 'You got grey!'
'I got what???'
'Grey you idiot...grey...you got grey hair!'
Now for any normal person, that statement would have been at the most...trivial. But I am no normal person...I am obsessed with my hair!...of all things in the world...at least that's what my friends say, and I live up to it....and my stupid sister knows that.
Not a morning passes without me brushing my hair endlessly with my mother shouting endlessly that I would miss my breakfast in the process of 'setting' my hair!....
A tea break, lunch break, whatever it is, a comb almost immediately materialises in my hand...and well I am one of those people who wouldn't want to be caught dead with a single hair out of place! :D
My friends feel, with what I do with my mane, I would go bald pretty soon!
But now...of late this problem...I didn't know how to react...my sister was so pleased she almost wore that I-knew-this-would-happen-one-day look on her face...that drove me bonkers!
We reached the restaurant; with the whole group waiting; I walked a little ahead and one of my friends quipped 'Hey is that grey...' I turned on time to see that little nudge my sister gave him and the silly grin on their face!...aaarrgggghhh!
For the rest of the day i held it up in a knot.
The moment I reached home, I rushed to my room...complete with two mirrors opposite to each other (well I have seen one such setting only in a Barber shop!)...perhaps my father thought his daughter needed this!
Lights on...I started searching for this one culprit, who seemed to be so noticeable.
There, it didn't take a long time...right there, the lone long shiny silver strand...
Now that I did see it, I very much liked it...the only grey and the long healthy shining look of it almost had me bursting with pride!....it was a divine touch!
And hey, someone said that graying is a symptom of getting wise...these guys are incredible...what they do to one's self esteem!!!...you've got a set of teeth that's protruding a wee too much, hell, it's good luck!...you've got squint eyes...boy, you sure are lucky(guess that lousy actress Rambha proved just that..no talent, no face, but she still was one among the top!!!).
I felt good...IT felt good :)
Ever since, most people have been courteous enough to point out the grey element...but I kind of like the fact that it's such a stand out performance!
No straightening, perming, colouring expeditions, which would pull out most of what you got on your scalp down, could pull this jolly good fella out of his roots...I like this one :)

Posted by Sat at 3:27 PM
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There's no telling when this imp would strike. And when he does, you're doomed! The effects are catastrophic. No, this is not about the melting, rather boring, soul draining, sublime form of love, it's about something more lively and full of fun. Crush!
Which is before all that long mobile conversations and the longer mobile bills (seriously, what on earth do they talk???!); the non stop arguments and the meteor showers that follow. It’s when you see this person and you’re nothing if not Mr Drool Face or Miss Ogle n Swoon.
The fearless smooth talker is reduced to a babbling idiot. The otherwise Mr/Miss nerves-of-steel is a wreck of nerves. And your knees go strangely weak. You undergo an entire persona make over when in view of your Object of Adoration (OOA).
Now when was the last time you saw the girl in the bus or the guy you met briefly in a training session? You won't forget the way you felt the first time you saw them (neither would someone who saw you reacting!). Mouth agape, staring shamelessly and conveniently assuming no one has noticed it.
But in most cases they do not even know you exist, and in some you don't know even their name.

Disclaimer: These based on tried and tested fundas, however brickbats are welcome! Also remember that the line between harmless 'sight adichifying' and stalking is very thin!
Most important: Do not attempt these; extreme caution advised. Special thanks to all my friends and consultants for their precious views on this article; right from the theories to formatting!
I’m no expert on this, and if these suggestions might not win you any brownie points but are good enough for a few gags!

1. Confirm if OOA qualifies before getting ‘involved’. Check marital status. For the fairer sex, it's very obvious (lucky guys) but for men (again lucky guys!) it's way too tough. The best would be to try and spot a ring on the left ring finger; 90% this confirms a married or committed man.
   Corollary: Single men, do not wear a ring on your left middle finger, else you run a high risk of staying single forever!
   Longer than necessary hushed conversations on the mobile would give it all away for sure.Then the age, you don't want a la Apoorva Raagangal for sure (thoughit's just a crush, but you never know!), so please confirm this fact as muchas possible!Once you're through with this; you're ready to go.
   Note: People who have blogged ‘religiously’ on their crushes on their primary school teachers might disagree with me; but there always are exceptions. Besides, this one’s for grown ups :P
2. Make sure you know the name of your OOA. After all what's it worth running behind the nameless? And what would you tell your spouse in the future…I used to be crazy about…errr….don’t know the name???!
   If it's a colleague, the id card could be of great help (ekku thappa maati kittu udha vaangina naa poruppu illa) else listening to his/her conversation with their friends might be beneficial. Someone's going to say his or her name!
3. Once you fall head over heals and break your nose, make sure you letyour friends know. Discretion runs a high risk of competition among friends.They wouldn't tread your 'territory' once you let them know! And trust me,friends are your greatest allies in such things
4. Make sure you know some place that your OOA frequents, somewhere youcan catch a glimpse of them. This could be a coffee bar, bus or even violinclass! Your friends could be of maximum use while trying to find out such details. Carrying a news paper (a la Pink Panther…but watch out for the stairs!) might provide certain measure of security. Make sure you haunt those vicinities but be extra careful you're not discovered by your OOA. Additional cover can be found behind bushes and for men especially, spotting a mole or a beard would perfectly disguise you! (hey; it works in the movies!)
5. Then comes the time you should be noticed, that is gain OOA's attention. Do not break vases, shout or scream and break the sound barrier to achieve this. There are more effective ways of doing this. Like this friend of mine who would cross her OOA's cubicle in front of the pantry daily at 10 and empty an already full bottle of water and refill it. Try such harmless techniques rather than earning a black eye.
6. It's important now that you make yourself known to your OOA. This does not imply walk over blurt out who you are. Again let your friends do the honours. Have conversations audible enough esp. ones discussing about something good about you (if at all there's something...at least make things up…use your imagination!). If you have a friend who might bear the slightest grudge on you...DO NOT TAKE THEM ALONG!
   
   Note: While discussing this matter with a friend of mine, who could have been awarded a doctorate in this field if there was one, a SME, she came up with a very interesting theory; the Theory of ‘Tries’. Now this is contradictory to what I have mentioned above, but this makes perfect sense and coming directly from a guru, it just has to find it’s way into this article. In her own words:
   'Two Tries: If there is an OOA for a person, the steps can be broadly classified into 2; Try noticing the OOA and Try to be noticed by OOA. 2nd is very hard to achieve (Practical experience!!). So best thing to do - if you have the nerves to do it and if u wont be tongue-tied seeing him/ her. Go and introduce yourself to OOA. This is the only way to achieve Step 2. This suggestion is from a person who had failed bitterly in achieving step 2 (and 101% success in Step 1 ). If the approach mentioned here is not followed, OOA will always remain OU (Object Unreachable).'
7. Give your OOA your undivided attention, you see it's quite flattering if they're noticing! But in case you're a person that believes strongly in multi processing and back ups, never be in a place with more than one OOA. Better flee the scene before the damage's done.
8. And if your OOA is stupid enough to reciprocate (2 out of 10 times..we all know how to spot THAT don’t we???!), at any cost…do not grin from end to end and flash all 32!!! And worse still, if OOA speaks to you, stop staring, close that tunnel of a mouth and for heaven’s sake say something!!!

If by mistake you do succeed in winning over your Crush; apy flirrrrting :D

And if things get one step ahead and it does (rather accidentally) lead somewhere….what can I say…you went ahead and spoiled all the fun…you spoil sport :P

Posted by Sat at 2:28 AM
6 comments

License vaanga ettu podanumnu solvaanga theriyum (I have no experience of that, only ‘driving’ I can do is to drive people nuts!). But this is a different kind of eight that we Indians, southies in particular have mastered, quite unknowingly.
Anytime I respond to a yes/no question with that fabled ‘eight’ nod (just try and draw a faint horizontal 8 by nodding your head…that’s it…you got it!), the person is confused if that was a yes or a no and it’s always taken for a no! Most of my friends dread it and insist on a spoken yes or no. One used to say ‘Don’t loll your head in all directions; just do a this (moving her head quickly up and down) or this (moving it with almost same speed sideways).
My former Boss used to find this very amusing. And one day he said, ‘hey, I really don’t get it if it’s a yes or no, I take it for a no but your next statement and the look on your face is always contradictory. Can we have a global standard followed here???’ :D
Recently a cab driver in London was a victim of this 8 from me. He had to drive me right across the city and would point at each monument and ask ‘you been there, must see!’ I do a 8 in response and say ‘yeah, really good!’. The poor man was so confused that he couldn’t help asking after the third time, why do you say a no for a yes? Yikes! :D I explained to him that back home from where I come (yaawwwn), this eight is quite a habit with people. And he responded cheerfully with an eight and added ‘Got it!’ But this is one habit I can’t really shake off. And find it equally nice when someone responds to me with the same gesture. May be because it straight away conveys strong agreement, one that most people are rarely in with me :)

Posted by Sat at 1:24 AM
5 comments

You know there are times in life when you walk into something with zero expectations and it turns out to be absolutely stunning? Alright I’ll cut the chase. A rather bored me thought I’d seal this Saturday with a movie. The DVD rental library had dropped in a few for the weekend. I chose this one called Match point. I had heard it was good. So I decided to check it out. I knew the cast and the director and thought; well why not give it a try!
Good that I did it coz this was one movie I should have watched instead of those crazy romantic goofy comedies I had been watching lately. It’s yet another film on adultery; but what’s different about it is the treatment.
Set in London it tells the story of an Irish young man named Chris who finds his way into the wealthy Hewett family and gets himself into way too much trouble. When the movie began, I thought I was going to watch another one of those Wimbledon movies, turns out it’s more about lust and obsession and finally does an unexpected flip. The pieces fall together just fine!
Gripping narrative, excellent performances, interesting characterizations and above all a leading man who is so dark, selfish, brilliant and frighteningly likeable.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers(why does he remind me so much of Joaquin Phoenix?) is so convincing as Chris that you almost hate him by the end of it all. The man sure can use his eyes! Scarlett Johansson is awesome as the sensuous and vulnerable Nola. It’s a shame the academy, just as it does with all good performances, didn’t even notice it. Brian Cox doesn’t have much to do…in fact I almost forgot that he was in the movie! And god is that Emily Mortimer??? After Pink Panther I thought she was born wearing those glasses!
An excellent pick for a weekend. Arguably one of the best movies to have released last year.


BTW, what on earth is Meyers doing in a film like MI:3???!

Posted by Sat at 4:47 AM
6 comments

No Volcano this one :)
Just one of those bizarre cloud formations...

Notes: Pic taken 30 May 2005, Highlands, Scotland.

Posted by Sat at 4:29 AM
4 comments

I am not an avid reader. Hardly read one or two books in a year.
My appetite for movies and music leaves me no time for books (not that I regret it!)
So I try not to waste all that effort in anything less than a blockbuster :D
Had read 5 point someone last year. Decent.
One of my friends suggested the next book by the author; and I did read it.
Uh-oh…big mistake! Not my kind of book. No dark humour, or crafty writing could save something as weak as that. So, completely ‘blown’ away by this book, I needed something to get me back into the reading habit. Let’s say to get me believing that there’s something good in the literary world that remains(!). So I go to this book shop, gaze around and after almost an hour later I spotted a huge bulky book by the name Shantaram. Read the outline of the plot; interesting!
Picked it up, paid and walked out.
That was almost 3 months back. Excuse me but that’s how fast I read.
I finally completed the 900 pages long book.

I am not quite sure if it fits the good-in-the-literary-world bill, but what the heck, I was bluffing anyway! It may not be the one that would pull you out of the pits in your life, but this tale of strength and will packs such a mixture of all things good and dark that it’s almost unbelievable. The fact that this is true is all the more exciting. Even if you prefer the pot boiler thrillers, this one’s not going to disappoint you.

I personally have been a fan of gangster movies both in hollywood and bollywood (the ones that qualify). But in no movie I have seen the Mumbai underworld in the light as shown in this book. (Sorry, I have to draw my comparisons from movies, as I said, I do not read much!). It’s not the unscrupulous, cruel goons that you come across, but they are depicted just the same way as anyone you might meet in your normal life, men of values, men of wisdom. Just that their perspective of right and wrong and where they draw the line being different (this being one of my all time favourite subjects to debate on!).
But above all, I must admit that what I found most refreshing about the book was the picture of India. No turban wearing poeple, no 'rich' cultural heritage crap, no Indiana Jones temple of doom treatment (Don't get me started on this movie; it's infuriating to even think about it!). And what more, the Indians in this book are (thank god for that) not NRIs! Wowee Powee! It's the India we all know...and the kind of poeple we are familiar with. Oh what a relief. I’ll say no more…spoilers are sinful :)
Heard it would be made into a hollywood movie soon; with Depp in the lead (OMG!!!!). Finally a movie worth waiting for.
Strongly recommended read.

Posted by Sat at 10:14 PM
7 comments

Turned on the comments for the blog from this post on.

Posted by Sat at 7:12 PM
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Another assignment onsite and again I am out of Bangalore! :(
Much to my alarm I had found on my last trip that I had started awfully missing this crowded little place esp. certain things that I so used to hate about the city! This time it’s no different!First thing you miss; family
Then your friendsThen the rest about the city:
1. The cool weather that’s been prevailing in the city lately…amazing!
2. The mangoes!…ummmmmmmm! Though I’ve eaten more than my share, I just can’t get enough of this fruit :D (I learnt a nice recipe from my brother in law’s home…finely chopped ripe banganaballi/Alfonso mangoes and bananas with a little sugar. Leave it in the fridge and have it when cool. Heaven!)
3. The long and sudden shopping trips to Forum, Globus and Garuda mall (That pretty embroidered skirt I wanted to buy at Soch)
4. Shavarma and frankie rolls
5. Paapdi chat and aloo tikki at the chat place near national market…yummmm!
6. The movie-a-week routine
7. The long hours on hosur road with my ipod (it crashed recently :’( )
8. My blog on my office intranet (sorry that’s the main one…this had been sidelined for the time being)
9. My not-so-courteous Bangalorean self (can’t be that in London; but can’t help it either…I can’t play the calm and sophisticated to save my life!)
10. The radiocity super gurus; uncle Appukuttan Nair (love the way this guy goes …ello ello ellooo!), (one and a half) Altaaf, Babbar sher…apart from these, the radio station is trash!

Posted by Sat at 8:07 PM
6 comments