Thursday, January 21, 2010

Signs - A must watch (short film) for all lovers of Cinema and Love :)



SIGNS is a must watch film for all lovers of movies and all lovers! ;-)

It is a film made by Patrick Hughes and was one of the 2009 Cannes film festival winners. The subject matter is Communications and there is not even one dialogue. Beautifully made, the film has a superb emotional & visual appeal and really brings home the message that sometimes Words are just meaningless...

Note: YouTube link

Friday, January 15, 2010

Param Vir Chakra: Title Song of Doordarshan Serial (Shaan Teri Kabhi Kam Na Ho) & Other Details



Found this very recently on YouTube. Many thanks to Amrinderpal for sharing this gem. The details of the song are:
Title Song: Shaan Teri Kabhi Kam Na Ho
Serial: Paramvir Chakra
Director/Producer : Chetan Anand

Brilliant memories came rushing back when i heard this song again. I remember the times when i used to sit glued to the television waiting for the episodes of this serial to come up. I became an avid watcher of Indian Armed forces after this serial was aired. There were times when my eyes were filled with tears on watching some of the episodes (I was very young then!!).

In fact i would request every Indian to at least read the basic facts about their Heroes who received The Param Vir Chakra - The highest military decoration in India awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice. Read about 2nd Lt - Arun Khetrapal, Major Somnath Sharma, Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Lance Naik Albert Ekka or the most recent Captain Vikram Batra (The guy whose war cry, "Yeh Dil Maange More" became the rallying cry of the Entire Nation during the Kargil War) and the rest of the Vir 21 and i promise you that you will be swept with emotion and patriotism.

Remember that most of these soldiers and officers gave their lives in making sure that we live with our heads held high. The least that we can do for them is give them our RESPECT...

Read Links:
1. Param Vir Chakra on Bharat Rakshak
2. Param Vir Chakra at Wikipedia

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Discovery Channel: Boom De Ah Dah - 2009

'Boom De Ah Dah' Part 2 created in 2009. This has also become a cult hit. If you love the world, you will love the song. :)

Check out more at the Discovery Channel Web Site for the "Boom De Ah Dah"

Must watch for all....

The World is just Awesome!! - Reason enough why all of us should do everything in our power to save it from destruction.

Discovery Channel: Boom De Ah Dah - 2008

Simply Brilliant...Probably the greatest advertisement ever. This was the first one created by Discovery channel in 2008. Check out more at the Discovery Channel Web Site for the "Boom De Ah Dah"

Must watch for all....

The World is just Awesome!! - Reason enough why all of us should do everything in our power to save it from destruction.



Just cannot get it out of my head :-)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Aman ki Aasha - An initiative of The Times of India Group & The Jang Group of Pakistan (Part II)



This is the second of the videos that i have seen today and this is even better in its portrayal of the sense of longing between the peoples of these 2 nations to achieve peace. It also features the music of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, someone who has become one of my all time favourite singers in Bollywood.

Aman ki Asha is a great start by the biggest media house in each country and would definitely help in furthering the cause of bringing stability to this region. More details and news reports are available on the TOI website 'Aman Ki Asha' and the Geo TV website 'Aman Ki Asha'. There is also a Facebook page to keep tabs on all events.

Aman ki Aasha - An initiative of The Times of India Group & The Jang Group of Pakistan (Part I)



I chanced upon this brilliant video (Song sung by Shankar Mahadevan)about an Initiative called 'Aman ki Asha' which talks about brotherhood between Indians and Pakistanis. It shows us how much similarity exists between us and how we should never let that go away. True, there are massive problems between us but some start needs to be taken and nurtured. And this seems to be a good one at that...

Everyone who wishes to see peace and happiness in India and Pakistan - and in the larger context, the world - should support this initiative. It is a great start by the biggest media house in each country and would definitely help in furthering the cause of bringing stability to this region. More details and news reports are available on the TOI website 'Aman Ki Asha' and the Geo TV website 'Aman Ki Asha'. There is also a Facebook page to keep tabs on all events.

Why Robin?

I have been asked this question so many times in the last 5 years that i think its better i will just lay bare the secret to this one...

Before the answer, let me tell you the reason for the question. I have a nickname 'Robin' which i have used for literally everything, from online and offline gaming, user profile to anonymous blogging...basically everywhere. Which brings us to the question...Why Robin? People have never been able to understand the reasons for me choosing such a nickname and using it so often. My friends even started calling me Robin instead of my real name.

Anyways so this the 'cheesy' yet true answer. My zodiac sign is Sagittarius and this Zodiac signifies the archer. Now, who has been called the greatest archer ever in the western world?...Er, Umm....Robin Hood!....and that is the correct answer.

Finally to round off my misery (er Mystery!) - This is as per Linda Goodman. No i do not read her books...i just happened to chance on one of her articles a long time back and quite liked reading about dreamy archers aiming for the stars...just that one time and never again.

I swear!!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Happiness Mask

I found this image (copyright @ Frank Renlie) when i was searching for a suitable image for my blog. Just one of those recent days when i was quite moody and didn't know what i was really searching for. After an hour i was about to leave the hunt for another day when i came upon this picture and it immediately struck me that it was exactly what i was searching for. If you have been to my movie blog (which is incidentally not quite updated regularly and that is an understatement!!) there is a similar but not quite the same mask picture. The difference between that and this is the presence of 2 masks in that picture which does not reflect ME...that is just a picture showing expressions reflecting theatrics in the sense that it is exaggerated and are exact opposites in their reflection of emotions.

What i see in this Frank Renlie masterpiece (I do not have a great fascination for paintings except for very few which are really fascinating) is not just a man holding a mask. If you look carefully there are a number of things which will strike you. Firstly, the happiness of the mask is not an exact opposite of the emotions of the man. True he is sad but not in the traditional sense of grieving. Here the grieving has passed. For the lack of a better word, there is a deadness. Its almost like his eyes are saying 'I am feeling helpless, I do not know what to do at all, I just do not know the next step, I just want to be away from it all, I am desperate for happiness but have absolutely no clue as to how to find it and I am sick of everything. Secondly the mask itself can be interpreted in three ways. Is the man trying to remove his mask and show what he is going through or is he putting it on while showing us the glimpse of his depth of sadness or is he undecided.

My thinking is he had the mask on himself for a very long time but removed it when he could not take the unhappiness anymore. Unfortunately, destiny is cruel and removing the mask does not mean happiness returns. And now he is unsure since even the sadness has become unbearable. He is holding it while gazing into the distance looking for a divine intervention or solution but he knows that the time is near when either the mask will have to be put on back again if he doesn't find happiness to smile from within. And you might ask, why does he have to put on his mask?...Well it is because you have to start smiling for your world around you. Your family, your kids, your closest friends. It is also slightly more peaceful that ways. You run away from the questions and the sympathies and the advices.

Next time look around you in this world and try too see this facade on people. And there is a good chance that you will find it amongst your friends and family and god forbid...You. They will not come across as clinically depressive, in fact they can come across as extraordinarily happy or cheery. Just that they are not so in reality. Its a Happiness Mask that has been put up to shield themselves.

Next time Empathize with them...

While writing this piece, i was wondering about whether it is me holding the mask in the picture (Mask). The truth is I don't know...

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Greatest Movies - My Pick!

There are some great movies that i have seen in these 25+ years and trust me, i have seen quite a few. Some of them are quite brilliant, some not so much but over the years i have found that my basket of movies tend to be split in generally three baskets;

1. Average and Bad movies - whatever the language,
2. Great Movies but which do not appeal to me, &
3. Movies that have really made me cry/ wonder/ gasp/ shout/ laugh/ feel intense happiness

I have also realized that most of these films in the 3rd category are those that deal predominantly with Fantasies - Magic & Wizardry, Surrealism, Extreme Romance, Resurrection of thy self. There might be a few exceptions but that is because the movies would have blown me away with the sheer magic of the acting.

I Present this list of top 25 movies and will also like to present a listing of top movies within each genre as i know it. One factor that i have kept in mind is that multiple parts have been clubbed as one movie preferably.

Top 25:
  1. Forrest Gump
  2. Vita e bella, la (Life is Beautiful)
  3. Shawshank Redemption
  4. Godfather Series
  5. Lord of the Rings Series
  6. Wall - E
  7. Before Sunrise/ Before Sunset
  8. Jaane Bhi do Yaaron (Forget about it, friends)
  9. Kannathil Muthamital (Kiss on the cheek)
  10. Rocky Series
  11. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (Yup i am Mad ;-) )
  12. Requiem for a Dream
  13. Saving Private Ryan
  14. Usual Suspects
  15. Raat (Night)
  16. Laberinto del fauno, El (Pan's Labyrinth)
  17. The Terminal
  18. Gandhi
  19. Gladiator
  20. Braveheart
  21. Dumb & Dumber
  22. The Dark Night
  23. When Harry met Sally
  24. Wall Street
  25. The Exorcist
Genre Wise:
  • Romance - Before Sunrise/ Before Sunset & DDLJ
  • Fantasy - Lord of the Rings & Pan's Labyrinth
  • Action - Matrix & Rocky
  • Historical - Gladiator & Braveheart
  • Comedy - Dumb & Dumber & Jaane Bhi do Yaaron
  • Animation - Wall e & The Lion King
  • Resurrection - Forrest Gump & Shawshank Redemption
  • Drama - Godfather & The Pianist
  • War - Saving Private Ryan & Full Metal Jacket
  • Horror - Raat & Exorcist
  • Business - Wall Street & Barbarians at the Gate
  • Superheroes - The Dark Knight & The Iron Man
  • Western - Once upon a time in the West & The good, The Bad and the Ugly
  • Musical - Sound of Music & Singing in the Rain
  • Biography - Gandhi & The Pursuit of Happyness
  • Sci fi - Star Wars & Back to the Future
  • Sport - Rocky & Remember the Titans
  • Thriller - Psycho & The Usual Suspects
These are the movies that i will be writing more about in this blog and the blog Reality on 35mm, a blog where i talk about and review movies but do not update that often! :) (In my defense, i have to say that reviewing movies is hard work!)

These are the movies which have really shaped my viewing paradigms. Some of them might not be liked by many folks but that is understandable. According to me, movies are the world that we escape to when we are tired of the 'outside' world. And hence a lot of external attributes define & refine our tastes. Everyone has the right to create his/ her own world.....

However as i have said it earlier, this is my real world......Hope you Enjoy it!!

Plight of an Indian Soldier - Part II

DJ, who regularly comments on my blog articles had these incidents to narrate to me about why it sometimes feels that Indians in general and the bureaucracy specifically does not care about our Armed Forces. The best that we do is give 'Lip Service' about how they are the pride of our eyes, and even this comes out only in the week when we find that some of our bravest men have laid down their lives for OUR FREEDOM & SECURITY...then its back to a Normal Life and I don't care a damn attitude....

Shall we call it an Indian Shame?

Date: 2 Oct 09, Scene: Flood relief activities (Karnataka, India)

1. Mr X in the Administration gets a call to help the Indian Air Force. It's 10 pm, His Son offers to drive to the Air Force base. Mr X needs more assistance. So he calls his senior officer. He says he's drunk and can't help!! (I find him useless at his job in the administration department. I got an alternative career plan for him; graze donkeys). With limited resources they managed to do a good job. We return home at 3 am. Next day, Mr X asks a subordinate to stay back late night to work with the armed forces. The uxorious moron says his wife has asked him to get back home by 6 in the evening; they got to attend a wedding reception. And he promptly leaves at 4!! (why not become a 'house-husband'??)

2. And while the army was at Bijapur, helping the victims, the district administration made no arrangements for their food! The apathy of the administration is baffling. The few in the administration who worked for relief hardly slept in days. The others always slept. I wished water flooded the houses of the apathetic officers 'neck-deep' and they were stranded without food, sanitation,sleep ...for days and were afflicted by the diseases the flood-hit people feared...(I know, I couldn't have got more evil.. but...). The armed forces provided every possible aid, as they always do. When they need help from the civil services, it's really sad that the administration shirks from its responsibility.

3. Later, an Air Force personnel was telling Mr X that his baggage was stolen by a civilian driver assisting them...How sick can it get!

4. A captain who had broken his leg (while playing basket ball) told me that the medical facilities provided by the government were abysmal. He had to take a transfer to private hospital.

Someone who would not think before laying down his life to save you, deserves much better...

Thanks DJ for sharing these thoughts
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Earlier Article - Plight of an Indian Soldier

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Choose Life

Anyone who knows me well and understands what i have been through over the last couple of years would agree that things have not been...well, let us just say 'Normal', something that i desperately wish for. But lets keep that for later. This is my first post after the end of the 'noughties' era and i would at least try and make a positive beginning on my blog...even if that is someway off the radar in real life....

The quote that i post here is from a movie called 'Trainspotting' by our very nearly own Danny Boyle (yeah...the man who gave us the multiple Oscar winning and Indian branded Slumdog Millionaire). Somehow this movie is in some ways a reflection of the pain in life and what people including myself go through. However, it also has a quote which i have always found extremely reinvigorating if you think about it....Something that should 'probably' be my new year resolution...

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself.

Choose your future.

Choose life.

That is the end of my liking of this brilliant dialogue but there is more to it, and for people who chose that...well...To each their own!!

.....But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?

-----John Hodge

Let this year be the year of choosing LIFE...