Release date: 12th July 2013
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Rating: 4.25/5
With this review, I am forced to make parametric changes to the rating scale, making the 0.25 increments possible atleast for scores above 3. This is because I am an eternal optimist and hope that I am yet to see the 4.5-5 quality of movies.
It is implicit in the above that I really liked Bhaag Milkha... It is always pleasurable to see a movie where, from the word go, you are certain that the makers have done their research well and have put a lot of heart and effort in the movie. BMB is one such movie.
Right from the impeccable move to cast Farhan Akhtar to making him recraft himself into a veritable Greek God, from the dark gloomy scenes of pre-partition Punjab to shooting at breathtaking locales in Ladakh, the director left no stone unturned to bring his vision to fruition.
Farhan Akhtar completes his transformation from a director-actor to an actor-director with this one. If this doesn't get him a bagful of awards, I have no idea what will. The depiction of the coach-athlete or rather guru-shishya is heart warming. The movie also manages to pepper the heavy emotion plot with light humorous moments, especially from Milkha's regiment days.
What impresses one is the deft cinematography. Visuals of Milkha's ghosts from the past are haunting. One sequence I would want to mention here is when Milkha wraps his messages to his love interest in a rubber ball and throws it atop her balcony - the montage of scenes with the ball landing in a colourful array of things like red chillies, turmeric, splashing a bucket of water is camerawork at its best.
What could have made things better? A shorter run-time. There were things which could have been done away with, well, like Sonam Kapoor. What could have also made the story more digestible was showing some folly on the part of Milkha. I am sure the real life Milkha is a hero, but portraying him as a sort of a demi-god was avoidable. Another thing here - it is my request to stop depicting Pakistan as if it is a land of evil, bitter people. Although it might have been done as a stepping stone to Milkha's heightened patriotism, showing the Pakistani coach, the athlete, the press (save General Ayub Khan) as ruthless, foul-mouthed bastards while the Indian contingent plays victimized souls is extremely pathetic.
The background score is, unsurprisingly, appropriate. SEL all the way, baby! All in all , a definite watch this summer. A big thanks to the team for bringing out a good story from a less-talked about sport, and doing complete justice to it.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Food Review: Faaso's
Location: Right at your doorstep
Sooner or later, this page was going to move towards takeaway/delivery joints from the 'have it here' places. Well, here's your first digression then.
Faaso's motto is to desify your regular wrap/roll/frankie, and deliver it to you, right at your doorstep. It does pretty well at the quality of the wraps, with a fine assortment of non-vegetarian ones, and a good variety of vegetarian stuff too, if I can recollect well. Even a single wrap is filling enough, and for the more hungry ones, they have lite bites too, which are essentially smaller wraps.
They have recently introduced chicken/mutton biryani as well, which is recommended, if one is in luck and calls in when the Faaso's centre hasn't already run out of rice and/or mutton and/or chicken. The food is good value for money. Faaso's looks to have worked well at their innovative packaging- colourful, safe and peppered with witty one liners.
The problem, though this could be particular to the franchise I order from, is their delivery! On the face of it, the order-taker assures one of delivery within 30 minutes, and immediately sends you a number which could be used to track one's order online. However, on numerous occasions, I have been subject to a really long wait, inspite of having received a 'your order is out for delivery' message a few eons before I finally receive the order.
My recent experiences say they are working to make delivery more efficient. That done, this one is a convenient, good-quality food option.
Food: 6.5/10
Ambience: N.A.
Service: 6.5/10
Value for money: 8/10
Sooner or later, this page was going to move towards takeaway/delivery joints from the 'have it here' places. Well, here's your first digression then.
Faaso's motto is to desify your regular wrap/roll/frankie, and deliver it to you, right at your doorstep. It does pretty well at the quality of the wraps, with a fine assortment of non-vegetarian ones, and a good variety of vegetarian stuff too, if I can recollect well. Even a single wrap is filling enough, and for the more hungry ones, they have lite bites too, which are essentially smaller wraps.
They have recently introduced chicken/mutton biryani as well, which is recommended, if one is in luck and calls in when the Faaso's centre hasn't already run out of rice and/or mutton and/or chicken. The food is good value for money. Faaso's looks to have worked well at their innovative packaging- colourful, safe and peppered with witty one liners.
The problem, though this could be particular to the franchise I order from, is their delivery! On the face of it, the order-taker assures one of delivery within 30 minutes, and immediately sends you a number which could be used to track one's order online. However, on numerous occasions, I have been subject to a really long wait, inspite of having received a 'your order is out for delivery' message a few eons before I finally receive the order.
My recent experiences say they are working to make delivery more efficient. That done, this one is a convenient, good-quality food option.
Food: 6.5/10
Ambience: N.A.
Service: 6.5/10
Value for money: 8/10
Monday, July 1, 2013
Food Review: Dakshinayan
Location: Walkeshwar, Mumbai
One simply does not walk into Sobo-land expecting a typical South Indian meal experience. But, then there is Dakshinayan.
I got acquainted to the eatery during my first trip to Mumbai, but it was only a month back that I, along with my flatmates from the 'South of Vindhyas' revisited this one. They love the food. And this is the first +1.
I have my favourites too. Having tried the rava dosai, mysore masala dosai, and the other permutations and combinations, I must compliment the preparation. However, one has to agree that getting the dosai right is like a hygiene test for an authentic South Indian food place. Dakshinayan has more to offer. One can get the mini idlis, which are nice to eat and rather cute! There is a spring dosai which has an average person's monthly intake of cheese as garnish.
Major attractions include 'Sweet Pongal', which is utterly true to its 'sweet' name. I found it pretty delightful, and again it has been hugely thumbs-upped by my Southie-tongued friends. Beverages obviously include filter coffee which I would classify as ordinary. I would suggest trying out the 'ginger ale' on the menu. Great fizz, a moderate dash of ginger and compliments the food very well.
The seating area is rather small. Try heading here on a Sat-Sun night and be prepared to wait for atleast 10-20 minutes. Also, remember that the place opens only at 11am, so it is not really your breakfast haunt. The interiors are anything but plush, and look more so considering the location of the restaurant. Also, this one's most definitely atleast a 15-20 min drive from your place of residence. If it is not, send me your number. I would love to mooch some money off your overflowing coffers.
Also, very easy on the pocket. Definitely, worth a visit.
Food: 7.5/10
Ambience: 3.5/10
Service: 7/10
Value for money: 8.5/10
One simply does not walk into Sobo-land expecting a typical South Indian meal experience. But, then there is Dakshinayan.
I got acquainted to the eatery during my first trip to Mumbai, but it was only a month back that I, along with my flatmates from the 'South of Vindhyas' revisited this one. They love the food. And this is the first +1.
I have my favourites too. Having tried the rava dosai, mysore masala dosai, and the other permutations and combinations, I must compliment the preparation. However, one has to agree that getting the dosai right is like a hygiene test for an authentic South Indian food place. Dakshinayan has more to offer. One can get the mini idlis, which are nice to eat and rather cute! There is a spring dosai which has an average person's monthly intake of cheese as garnish.
Major attractions include 'Sweet Pongal', which is utterly true to its 'sweet' name. I found it pretty delightful, and again it has been hugely thumbs-upped by my Southie-tongued friends. Beverages obviously include filter coffee which I would classify as ordinary. I would suggest trying out the 'ginger ale' on the menu. Great fizz, a moderate dash of ginger and compliments the food very well.
The seating area is rather small. Try heading here on a Sat-Sun night and be prepared to wait for atleast 10-20 minutes. Also, remember that the place opens only at 11am, so it is not really your breakfast haunt. The interiors are anything but plush, and look more so considering the location of the restaurant. Also, this one's most definitely atleast a 15-20 min drive from your place of residence. If it is not, send me your number. I would love to mooch some money off your overflowing coffers.
Also, very easy on the pocket. Definitely, worth a visit.
Food: 7.5/10
Ambience: 3.5/10
Service: 7/10
Value for money: 8.5/10
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Of proper countenance...
It’s an extraordinarily rainy Sunday in Mumbai. Well, it has been water and more water all through the weekend. Of course, it being a Sunday, things are much less painful as one can comfortably lounge at home and not brave the rain at all. My activities since morning have been on similar lines – lying around joblessly, eating, cursing the Mumbai infrastructure, and aimlessly flipping through TV channels.
Here is where a news channel caught my attention. Not that there was any revelation, but it made me wonder how the news anchor was right there, looking as prim and proper as one can be, her countenance not reflecting a sign of the pathetically gloomy, and gloomily pathetic, weather outside. I do not intend to say that this is the only profession which requires your unconditional presence, but the enormous amount of pressure a news anchor must face has struck me in the past as well.
Now, I work in an industry which, most people would agree, is extremely demanding both in terms of the hours and, on more than a few occasions, the pressure as well. In office, I am used to watching Business news anchors tirelessly dole out news, interviews, analysis – all while looking good at the same time.
These are times when I cherish that, in all but a few moments, the only audience to my face is some lifeless excel sheet. Imagine the abandon my facial muscles enjoy. At most times, I can afford not to care if my eyes look groggy, or my lower lip is hanging pointlessly, or my palm has sunk too deep into my cheek. At, more or less, all times, I can, all of a sudden, decide to get up and get myself a cup of coffee.
How do the Shereens, the Sonia Shenoys, the Mitali Mukherjees look so damn perfect, all smiles, all interested in what they are saying and listening to, all the time? (Equal due to the guys too, but I choose the names I like to write!)Yes, they do have their off-screen time. But, as far as I believe, most of them hardly even have a complete Sunday off. And really, these HD screens only exaggerate the flaws – hell, I would probably see a 10-day old mosquito bite, or a lipstick gone astray by a millimeter. I do look very closely. True.
Well, limelight does come at a price. What comes for free? - The joy of typing away, lying on an untidy bed, in the most contorted of positions, with one’s laptop resting firmly on one’s belly. Happy, safe monsoon!
Here is where a news channel caught my attention. Not that there was any revelation, but it made me wonder how the news anchor was right there, looking as prim and proper as one can be, her countenance not reflecting a sign of the pathetically gloomy, and gloomily pathetic, weather outside. I do not intend to say that this is the only profession which requires your unconditional presence, but the enormous amount of pressure a news anchor must face has struck me in the past as well.
Now, I work in an industry which, most people would agree, is extremely demanding both in terms of the hours and, on more than a few occasions, the pressure as well. In office, I am used to watching Business news anchors tirelessly dole out news, interviews, analysis – all while looking good at the same time.
These are times when I cherish that, in all but a few moments, the only audience to my face is some lifeless excel sheet. Imagine the abandon my facial muscles enjoy. At most times, I can afford not to care if my eyes look groggy, or my lower lip is hanging pointlessly, or my palm has sunk too deep into my cheek. At, more or less, all times, I can, all of a sudden, decide to get up and get myself a cup of coffee.
How do the Shereens, the Sonia Shenoys, the Mitali Mukherjees look so damn perfect, all smiles, all interested in what they are saying and listening to, all the time? (Equal due to the guys too, but I choose the names I like to write!)Yes, they do have their off-screen time. But, as far as I believe, most of them hardly even have a complete Sunday off. And really, these HD screens only exaggerate the flaws – hell, I would probably see a 10-day old mosquito bite, or a lipstick gone astray by a millimeter. I do look very closely. True.
Well, limelight does come at a price. What comes for free? - The joy of typing away, lying on an untidy bed, in the most contorted of positions, with one’s laptop resting firmly on one’s belly. Happy, safe monsoon!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Movie Review: Now you see me (2013)
Release date: 31st May 2013
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: 3.5/5
Movies about magic are nothing new- some a work of art, others so ridiculous that watching them is worse than being under the Cruciatus curse. ‘Now you see me’ is somewhere there in the middle, slightly bobbing its head towards the former.
The plot is intriguing and fresh. The movie boasts of a more than remarkable ensemble, and none of the actors disappoint. Morgan Freeman, in a less flamboyant than usual character, unsurprisingly, impresses. The four magicians deliver well in a roles that demand showmanship flair – Eisenberg redoing a Zuckerberg – genius, and a certified a*hole. Fischer balances her demure looks and strong character well – her never ending legs do the rest! However, it’s Woody Harrelson as a mean mind-reader, with a caustic sense of humor, who steals the show. Most of the movie’s sequences are well-shot and dazzle one just the right amount for a movie about ‘magic’. Mark Ruffalo too leaves a mark with his portrayal of a harried cop.
That brings us to what keeps this one from inching close to the likes of ‘The Prestige’. Firstly, the plot leaves little scope for any of the characters to jump out and connect with the audience. There are a lot of occasions when you an anxious to know more about a certain guy, and are left clamouring. More so, the plot, the premise of which is so engaging, kills most of the good work when it tries desperately to contort itself into a flurry of twists towards the end. Most things in the movie point to an exciting and surprising climax. However, the element of surprise is taken too far leaving the viewer wondering if all of it even made sense.
All said and done, the movie is an honest attempt at a novel story, with the constant undertone of the age-old debate between the ‘believers’ and the nay-sayers. Creates the magic, but perhaps falls short of the finishing flourish.
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: 3.5/5
Movies about magic are nothing new- some a work of art, others so ridiculous that watching them is worse than being under the Cruciatus curse. ‘Now you see me’ is somewhere there in the middle, slightly bobbing its head towards the former.
The plot is intriguing and fresh. The movie boasts of a more than remarkable ensemble, and none of the actors disappoint. Morgan Freeman, in a less flamboyant than usual character, unsurprisingly, impresses. The four magicians deliver well in a roles that demand showmanship flair – Eisenberg redoing a Zuckerberg – genius, and a certified a*hole. Fischer balances her demure looks and strong character well – her never ending legs do the rest! However, it’s Woody Harrelson as a mean mind-reader, with a caustic sense of humor, who steals the show. Most of the movie’s sequences are well-shot and dazzle one just the right amount for a movie about ‘magic’. Mark Ruffalo too leaves a mark with his portrayal of a harried cop.
That brings us to what keeps this one from inching close to the likes of ‘The Prestige’. Firstly, the plot leaves little scope for any of the characters to jump out and connect with the audience. There are a lot of occasions when you an anxious to know more about a certain guy, and are left clamouring. More so, the plot, the premise of which is so engaging, kills most of the good work when it tries desperately to contort itself into a flurry of twists towards the end. Most things in the movie point to an exciting and surprising climax. However, the element of surprise is taken too far leaving the viewer wondering if all of it even made sense.
All said and done, the movie is an honest attempt at a novel story, with the constant undertone of the age-old debate between the ‘believers’ and the nay-sayers. Creates the magic, but perhaps falls short of the finishing flourish.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Movie Review: Yeh Jawani hai Deewani
Release date: 31st May 2013
Director: Ayan Mukherji
Rating: 3.75/5
A KJo banner movie, with two budding 'stars' (I still feel it is early to call one of them an actor really!), directed by a guy who gave us "Wake Up Sid" - expectations were riding high on this one. Yet, the trailers showed little apart from the song and dance sequences, and I was carefully balancing my hopes to avoid being disappointed.
I wasn't. The movie, I would say, delivered on all the things it might have promised- joyful music, rightly timed humorous bits, a barrage of cheesy lines, new-age friendships and a whole lotta love and emotion. The story is little to write about: an overtly stereotypical and extreme nerd, a life-changing vacation, multi-year time jump, rediscovering love and an ever-so-happy climax. This is not what your average critic brands as "good" cinema. No reason not to watch this one, though.
At a 165min, the movie is a tad long, but leaves you smiling and energized at the end of it. Ranbir Kapoor makes a mark with his youthful charm. Not a remarkably difficult (or different) character to play keeping in mind his record, yet it is always nice to see him trying hard and succeeding in a line of B-town wannabe heroes who have little to offer. Deepika contributes with her stunning looks and manages not to screw up much else. Kalki, as always, is a fresh whiff of air, and seems to be the perfect person to depict the in-with-the-times, carefree girl. Meanwhile, Aditya and Kunal Roy make a statement or two, signalling the arrival of the 'other' Kapoor Clan in Bollywood.
The camerawork is brilliant. The locales are magnificent. The handling of relationships ranging from boy-girl, friendship to father-son and even a bit of son-stepmom is deft. This one's for the cheesy romantics, the 'one-for-all-and-all-for-one' group of friends, and a movie you can safely take home and introduce your parents to!
Director: Ayan Mukherji
Rating: 3.75/5
A KJo banner movie, with two budding 'stars' (I still feel it is early to call one of them an actor really!), directed by a guy who gave us "Wake Up Sid" - expectations were riding high on this one. Yet, the trailers showed little apart from the song and dance sequences, and I was carefully balancing my hopes to avoid being disappointed.
I wasn't. The movie, I would say, delivered on all the things it might have promised- joyful music, rightly timed humorous bits, a barrage of cheesy lines, new-age friendships and a whole lotta love and emotion. The story is little to write about: an overtly stereotypical and extreme nerd, a life-changing vacation, multi-year time jump, rediscovering love and an ever-so-happy climax. This is not what your average critic brands as "good" cinema. No reason not to watch this one, though.
At a 165min, the movie is a tad long, but leaves you smiling and energized at the end of it. Ranbir Kapoor makes a mark with his youthful charm. Not a remarkably difficult (or different) character to play keeping in mind his record, yet it is always nice to see him trying hard and succeeding in a line of B-town wannabe heroes who have little to offer. Deepika contributes with her stunning looks and manages not to screw up much else. Kalki, as always, is a fresh whiff of air, and seems to be the perfect person to depict the in-with-the-times, carefree girl. Meanwhile, Aditya and Kunal Roy make a statement or two, signalling the arrival of the 'other' Kapoor Clan in Bollywood.
The camerawork is brilliant. The locales are magnificent. The handling of relationships ranging from boy-girl, friendship to father-son and even a bit of son-stepmom is deft. This one's for the cheesy romantics, the 'one-for-all-and-all-for-one' group of friends, and a movie you can safely take home and introduce your parents to!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Food Review: Summer Park
I really have to begin the food section with this one. Not because it offers the most amazing of food, but, because of it being a stone’s throw from our apartment, it has been a lifeline for me and my housemates (who, for perspective, are similarly-aged guy friends who sing better than they cook. And they don’t really sing much).
Coming back to Summer Park. It is not uncommon to find restaurants like this one in Mumbai. Located close to a residential area (this one being in Worli), good footfall, strictly vegetarian, Summer Park is a restaurant with an inclination towards South Indian cuisine, but one that has a fine assortment of north Indian preparations too. It has a separate menu for ‘Jain’ dishes as well, for the relevant populace.
The restaurant has very ordinary interiors- seating for, say, 20-25 people on the inside, a similar number on tables laid in the outside shed, and a sneaky, yet more ‘formal’ seating area upstairs where the room height makes you believe it was the original residence of the Hobbits. The menu for the segment upstairs is the same, with a surprise alcohol serving. Taking this seating, however, is not recommended, (1) because it takes more time for the food to be served with the kitchen situated downstairs, (2) the idea of eating at Summer Park is basically agreeing to a compromise on ambience for simple food, so trying to get formal seating beats the purpose, and lastly, (3) it can be a fatal exercise for claustrophobics.
It is advisable to settle for ‘mendhu vada’, fried ‘idli’ and more from the family if one is in for snacks. Some of the north Indian curries are good too- a trifle less oil and spice, and they would be as ‘home-like’ as restaurant food gets. Some of the pluses are the fresh fruit juices ranging from pomegranate to black grapes (one of my friends actually convinced them to make a customized spinach juice), a very filling chickoo shake and the availability of palatable tea till past 11 in the night. The very sensible ‘khichdi’ also deserves a mention. Also, the quantity in the dishes is more than value for money.
Summer Park is your no-nonsense go-to restaurant. The staff is friendly enough. Nobody really pesters you with too many choices, and sticks to what you order rather than confuse you with a zillion additions and variations. They also deliver within reasonable vicinity, and they open from 8 in the morning and close only past 11pm.
It might make sense to reiterate that with the not-so-spectacular seating, the location jutting out right into the road, this is not your impress-my-friends eating joint. One of the wall posters (pictured) pretty much sums up the purpose of the place!
Food: 6.5/10
Ambience: 3.5/10
Service: 7/10
Value for money: 7.5/10
Coming back to Summer Park. It is not uncommon to find restaurants like this one in Mumbai. Located close to a residential area (this one being in Worli), good footfall, strictly vegetarian, Summer Park is a restaurant with an inclination towards South Indian cuisine, but one that has a fine assortment of north Indian preparations too. It has a separate menu for ‘Jain’ dishes as well, for the relevant populace.
The restaurant has very ordinary interiors- seating for, say, 20-25 people on the inside, a similar number on tables laid in the outside shed, and a sneaky, yet more ‘formal’ seating area upstairs where the room height makes you believe it was the original residence of the Hobbits. The menu for the segment upstairs is the same, with a surprise alcohol serving. Taking this seating, however, is not recommended, (1) because it takes more time for the food to be served with the kitchen situated downstairs, (2) the idea of eating at Summer Park is basically agreeing to a compromise on ambience for simple food, so trying to get formal seating beats the purpose, and lastly, (3) it can be a fatal exercise for claustrophobics.
It is advisable to settle for ‘mendhu vada’, fried ‘idli’ and more from the family if one is in for snacks. Some of the north Indian curries are good too- a trifle less oil and spice, and they would be as ‘home-like’ as restaurant food gets. Some of the pluses are the fresh fruit juices ranging from pomegranate to black grapes (one of my friends actually convinced them to make a customized spinach juice), a very filling chickoo shake and the availability of palatable tea till past 11 in the night. The very sensible ‘khichdi’ also deserves a mention. Also, the quantity in the dishes is more than value for money.
Summer Park is your no-nonsense go-to restaurant. The staff is friendly enough. Nobody really pesters you with too many choices, and sticks to what you order rather than confuse you with a zillion additions and variations. They also deliver within reasonable vicinity, and they open from 8 in the morning and close only past 11pm.
It might make sense to reiterate that with the not-so-spectacular seating, the location jutting out right into the road, this is not your impress-my-friends eating joint. One of the wall posters (pictured) pretty much sums up the purpose of the place!
Food: 6.5/10
Ambience: 3.5/10
Service: 7/10
Value for money: 7.5/10
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