All about living in this crazy, wonderful city called Bombay

August 27, 2006

Kabhi Alvidaa...

Finally, finally, finally managed to see Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. Have been wanting to see this film forever, and thankfully, did not come away disappointed. Despite what various people told me, its a beautiful film. Yes, it may not be as powerful as Kal Ho Naa Ho, but its a far more real movie.

In how many houses across the world people are living together in limbo, the frustrations of one or both partners quitely destroying a marriage that once seemed perfect to start with. Yes, SRK is a footfall megastar, but he could just as easily have been a corporate executive whose career has slipped down the drain, or a businessman who has lost everything at a stroke. There are so many resonances here from real life.

What I loved most about this movie is that Karan does not try to be moralistic or justify the protagonist's actions. There are no explanations - things happen, our actions spin out of our control. Such is the story of KANK. And such is life.

August 22, 2006

The end of vacations :(

I seriously dont know what's worse - not going on vacation, or coming back from one to tackle a work desk that inevitable piled to tottering heights :(

Right now I am trying to prolong the escapist feeling just a bit more by immersing every non-working minute in my latest Bill Bryson find - I'm a Stranger Here Myself. One of the great pleasures of travelling to foreign shores is the chance of discovering an absolutely brand new book by a favourite author that's not yet been heard of in India. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is one book by Bryson that I still haven't read....any chance that there are any new Dan Browns' or Sophie Kinsellas' out there as well????

Another discovery that's always heartwarming - seeing a fully India-grown brand in positions of prominence abroad. Did you know that the very first shop that you encounter at the Concours of Petronas in Kuala Lumpur is our very own Himalaya skincare?? And that the brand is consistently placed at top positions by readers and editors alike for various beauty awards??

PS: While we are on the subject, do you know that the famed Petronas towers themselves are owned by an Indian??

One more stunning revelation - there is actually one city in this whole wide world where you can go for a full 48 hours without seeing a single image of Aishwarya Rai?? Disbelievers may please visit Genting, an hour out of Kuala Lumpur!! Its not that I have anything against Aish, but just that wherever I go - from New York to Dubai - she is sure to be gazing out of a hoarding or shop window within an hour of my arrival, so her absence was almost surreal. In fact, I made a little bet with myself that I would see her within 4 hours of arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and London. The results - within 15 minutes at Kuala Lumpur, 8 minutes in Singapore and at the airport itself in London :)

August 16, 2006

Vacation Time :)

Why is it that time away from home, work and the city that you know like the back of your hand always gives you a fresh perspective on your life???? Three days away from Mumbai, and I had managed to pinpoint exactly what was wrong with my life (or at least, most of it) and how to set it right. Or, more to the point, it helped me refocus on what I want out of life right now, and chart a path along the correct course. There are some major changes in the offing, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out the way I envision it!!

Vacation-time is almost over, and I just dont feel like going home :(