Moi

This is me from my camera in Mumbai at a restaurant called stomach...More animals to follow soon.

The Godfather

I had picked this book out of sheer boredom. There was nothing else to do and I thought why not try it. I had got this book for a friend as he had gone crazy for books by Mario Puzo. Anyway I picked up this book with mixed feelings. I mean I have seen the movie atleast 3 times ( and this was a well made movie). What could the book possibly offer ?
But I was stunned to read the book. Page after page just floated by and I had to fight myself to not to read it. The finesse of presenting the various characters is too much to be portrayed on the silver screen. In fact a part of me believes that I enjoyed the book more because I saw the movie. There were many characters who had to be clipped off/ given shorter roles due to Cinematic restrictions. In the book they play a far more important role. They bring out the depth in the Don's thinking and far sightedness. One such character which was underplayed was "Jhonny Fontane".
I am glad I read the book and I am thinking if I should start The Sicilian or Fools Die. Thanks to Abhishek!
By the way Rohan, I see some hope for me reading the Trilogy. Especially now that I have discovered the joys of reading a brilliant book after seeing a well made movie made on it.
Cheers

We are an inspired lot

It seems that Bollywood cinema is doomed, or rather the people watching them. The common man is being duped and he does not even seem to care. People are making rip-offs like there was no tomorrow.

Starting from the movie which is yet to be released, Holiday....Oh my God! Is there no sanctity in this world....Two words : Dirty Dancing. The trailers are so suggestive...The dance sequences, the "holiday" mood. Thankfully, they didnt copy the name and keep it something like "Ganda naach" or something.

Next in line : Bluffmaster. This high ticket movie is a rip from The Game (starring Micheal Douglas). Though I must admit that it is a well made one. They have not copied every byte from the original and have tried to innovate.

This one is something so outrageous, that i am just gonna mention the name and the source. You detectives can think up the matter. Deewane hue Paagal - There is something about Mary.
I didnt like Something about Mary, dont like Farley Brothers' ( or some duo ) style. This movie inspite of having a class actor like Paresh Rawal has just debased itself.
Man, how does Kareena go for a loser like Shahid kapoor.

I was duped into thinking that Home Delivery was going to be a copy from Hitch but it was thankfully not so. But the movie was pathetic anyway.

Sarkar was something different. What I like about the movie is that, Ramu acknowledges that it is an inspiration from The Godfather, and that this was his tribute to him. This is acceptable. He is letting the people know.

There is some respite. Movies like Kalyug also exist which was based on the big bad world of Porn industry. The movie was not about sex or erotic art etc, but had presented the topic very tastefully. Interestingly "neal n nikki" had more skin on screen than visible on a cow. What was Kajol's sister thinking..

I bet it would have crossed your mind...Who is this guy who has watched all these useless movies..Man tell me about it!

Cheers

One night @ the Call Center

This one is a must avoid book. Crappy to the core. I have read it and now I know that I have wasted Rs 95. Well to be honest, this is the first book I have which has been signed by the author, so there was a certain charm in reading it. But that is it. His presentation style is very dry, I didnt find any realism in his writing. May be Tamal can comment on this better. But I still feel that the book was written with nothing specific in mind. It was easy to follow "Five point some one". But not a single part of the writing style has been carried forward. I do not mean to say that an author should stick to a particular style of writing but this book does nothing for the reader. Just to be sure, before I trashed this book, I had asked for feedbacks from friends of mine. End result - Bad book. One book ( signed by author) available for sale - Please contact blog owner!
Cheers

Five Point Someone - Chetan Bhagat

Seems like I am enjoying reading now. This post is about Five Point Some One - Chetan Bhagat. Though I read this book while I was reading A suitable Boy I am posting it now for one simple reason. I want the world to know what I have read. I dont know why, but I would just like to post a blog on all the novels I have ever read. Boy, that wont take much time. Anyway...
The other special reason why I am posting this is because, I had the opportunity and good fortune (it didnt feel like this later) to meet Chetan Bhagat in person at Crossword, Kemps Corner. He was there releasing his book, One Night at the Call Center (Tamal are you listening ??) . Fortunately/Unfortunately there was no crowd there ( 9.00 pm - Supposed be the time Bombay starts waking up...anyway). Seemed he didnt really care about his fans. I was in two minds whether I should take the book or not but I felt that if I dont buy the book and get it autographed, I might just regret it later on. Well there you go Crossword, your ploy worked. I wish I could get to meet Vikram Seth as well...hmm...
Five point some one is a good light hearted book. You are not bored for a second. But there are no ups and downs in the novel. It maintains its own pace and ends like a normal regular day life ( I wish with Sasi's paranthas ). By the way, the word Sasi just reminds me of Rani Mukherjee in Yuva...Sasi....Good book. I recommend it as light reading on a Volvo bus doing an over nite journey when you just dont enjoy the drab flick or the person snoring next to you. It is not a classy book so I would think there is no snob value attached with it, just the pleasure of reading and having read the book.
I guess you could soon expect a post one "one night @ the call center"
Cheers

An Equal Music

Hello World!
I just finished An Equal Music - Vikram Seth. I must say I am disappointed. Not by the novel but by myself. This novel was not meant to be read by me. There was so much which was beyond my comprehension. All the nuances which are associated with performing music , I could not identify with any of them. Sure there was a lot of emotional play also but I do not think that Vikram Seth would have that in his mind when he wanted to write this novel. I feel there is so much in music which I am totally unaware of. It is not that I know a lot but it felt like moving into the sea from the well....Anyway those who would be musically inclined would absolutely adore this book.
Cheers!

Novels

Its been some time since I have "reported" any thing, but things sure have happened in this time. For one I finally finished Vikram Seth's "A suitable boy". I took an awfully long time to complete this book, having started almost 16 months back. In the beginning I was dragging myself to read the book and then I just stopped reading it. I read Dan Brown and a couple of other novels before I decided to finally pick it up again. Once I started it again it was unputdownable.

I remember the time I was trying to find a good price for this book. As it turned out, a famed author like Vikram, his books were awfully expensive. Being the penny pincher I am, I desisted myself from buying the book at elite stores like Crossword, Oxford etc. I turned towards Fort and after some scouraging I managed a first hand edition for Rs 400. I would say, not a bad deal for a 1350 page saga.

I dont think I have the strength to write a review on the book but I can still go ahead and recommed it to the people I bump into. The one thing which struck me in his book was the lack of melodrama.

Having read A Suitable Boy, I am tempted to read other books by him. As a result I had trotted off to Fort again ( but this time the hawkers have been evicted, only a few daring remaining baring their trade on the pavement ). I managed a second hand copy of An Equal Music for 110. The original price is 500 and the book seems to be in a fairly good condition. I hope that this book will also turn out to be one of my long lasting memories. May be I am a little hasty in seeing that I find his style of writing, in this book rather uncomfortable. Well, time will tell.

Cheers
Aditya