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Friday 28 October 2011

"24" (2001) Season 1

"24" was exciting from the word 'Go',in the beginning itself some clever wench on a plane explodes a bomb she comes down by parachute and plane bursts into flames crashing in a desert.The first season was very well written to the last detail.The concept of whole season about 24 hours in a man's life ,his one day making all episode is in itself was unique.Sarah Clarke plays Nina Myers and is lovely throughout but the writers had something else in mind when the turned her into a turncoat double agent.She is poised and exquisite and her eyes are really beautiful.She plays a pivotal role throughout.

Penny Johnson on the other hand plays a exasperating and nasty Sherry Palmer wife of Presidential nominee David Palmer.She is quite a maniac about seeing her Husband in White House and for fulfilling that dream she becomes totally unscrupulous,not even heeding her husbands words,always going against him and plotting and hatching underhand schemes behind his back.She even asks his secretary to seduce him but he eventually fires her.She is the most detestable character on-screen and constantly irritates viewers by her mean and conniving and deceitful ways.   


Daniel Bess as Rick Allen is quite good looking nice and innocent looking guy boy next door type.He is Kim Bauer's young friend,his pal gets killed by the gangster who asked them to bring Kim to him.He is quite unaware of his friend's plans.Plays an important part in rescuing Kim and Teri  along with Jack Bauer.He comes out as an amiable and lovely character.

Their are many other characters that excel and make this a wonderful season to watch.

Sparrow's nest on our Bathroom Window

Sparrows have but disappeared from Lucknow but last year when we had a cold  winter  after a long time  thaey again returned to the city.Air was alive with their chirping,Sparrows hopping around in the fields in the backyard.Its a joy to have them again.

Here Sparrows have made a nest with dry grass between the  window grills  and fiber plastics.Incessant chirping of baby sparrows could be heard even in the night seemed like full of joy of life.





Wednesday 26 October 2011

RA. One (2011) - Review

RA-One is not mind-blowing but still its good enough and not as good as Rajnikant's "Robot" who does a special appearance here.Though Kareena Kapoor looks fabulous here after her dismal performance in "Bodyguard".This is her second Diwali hit last year she gave os "Golmaal 3".The child actor who plays Shahrukh's son is not much good could have cast his own son Aryan here.

It starts with cheap double meaning humour.With Shahrukh fighting three Chinese Girls named "Iski Lee" ,"Uski Lee" and "Sabki Lee".Also funny is the special appearance of Sanjay Dutt.At dinner table Shahrukh who is a Tamil here eats noodles with curd.Power Yoga and Satish Shah bit too is funny.This humour does reminds me of Jeetendra's humour in 80's South hindi flicks with Sri Devi and Jaya Prada.The villain bit may remind you of Terminator,some starting action scenes make it look like Spiderman.Shahrukh's antics in Train sequence is also similar to"Robot".

This is director Anubhav Sinha's first release after "Cash" in 2007.And like "Tum Bin" his first directorial venture here too the lead actor Shahrukh dies in the beginning at the hands on RA-one.Vishal Shekhar's music is quite good three songs( Chammak Challo,Bhare Naina & Dildaara)are nice.Though in climax scene music is cliched.Dalip Tahil Shahrukh's co-star from "Baazigar" is here too as the head of his company.Arjun Rampal's role is quite short and he comes in the second half only.Kareena looks great in the negative bit where RA-one changes himself to her form also he mentally manipulates her to speed crash a train.

Shahrukh develops a video game where villain would  never loose.The villain RA-one comes out of the video game to search for his son when he leaves the game in middle.It kills Shahrukh.His female colleague brings G-one out from the video game who tries to save Kareena his wife and son.The train crash scene is done well where the train crashes into Mumbai Central Railway Station and blows it to pieces.Definitely a first of its kind.I saw it in 2D at PVR but advise you people to see it in 3D many scenes do seem to be crafted for 3D experience. I would certainly go and see it in 3D next week.

Its a good movie but not mind-blowing or even like "Robot".Think video-games would be in market soon and kids would make it a hit.Seems to be made for them in mind.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

The Golden Girls (SEASON 1) Review

Golden Girls is a wonderful light comedy show which tells the experiences of four women living together.Three of them friend and fourth one a Mother (Estelle Getty) to one (Bea Arthur) of them.I really like it find it funny slightly nostalgic its a eighties show references to Indira Gandhi's assassination and Food Fight in Calcutta are there plus other references to India.At first I did found their look and hairstyle,costumes bit dated but slowly adapted to it.Bea Arthur who plays Italian woman seemed like a Man to me with her tall body and heavy voice.

Rue McClanahan owns the house in which the other two live as paying guests.She is a female Casanova who has a affair with every man she encounters.She has a lively personality.They rise up at untimely hours in the night and and eat and talk till morning.I also used to wake up sometimes in the night and unable to go to sleep would make myself a little snack and watch television till early in the morning quite nostalgic.

Betty White is very funny she would always relate some anecdote of her country home in her childhood which will either bore the other two of them or make them laugh till their sides ached them trying very hard to suppress their laughter.She is kind of naive and simple.

Estelle Getty the star of "Stop or my mom will shoot" is the the funniest character here.Her dialogues are sharp loaded with wit and wisdom.She also gives examples from her past life as a young girl in Italy.She is the life of this show and touches heart too now and then.

Bea Arthur is straight forward.She is always having some confrontations with her mother which turns funnier.She is the intelligent and serious one.

Its a nice comedy series to kill time.Its title song is absolutely lovable.

Malcolm in the Middle (Season 1) Review





I used to watch it on Star World but sporadically.I loved it then whatever random episodes I saw.Recently I bought Season 1 set and it is just wonderful,its really funny also it reminds me of my childhood as we brothers used to fight a lot about trivial issues.

Bryan Cranston's roller skating dancing scene is just wondeful such effortless and poise on a disco track.these three songs feature "Enjoy Yourself" by The Jacksons (Skating Lesson #2) and "I'm Your Boogieman" by KC & The Sunshine Band (Skating Lesson #3).

Justin Berfield as Malcolm's elder brother is great and funny.His conflict scenes with his mother are worth watching. He looks good his interactions with Malcolm are really amusing,really like him here.

Bea Arthur from "Golden Girls" is in a special appearance here as Dewey's Nanny for a day.

Erik Per Sullivan is Dewey here he is kind of cute and his imagination is interesting and funny too.


Jane Kaczmarek is great as Malcolm's mother most of the engrossing situations develop around her.                        
Frankie Muniz is great as Malcolm.His talking into the camera to tell his thoughts really work here makes going on more interesting also present his view point of situations.

Christopher Masterson plays the eldest brother who is sent off to military school.He is funny too.Malcolm keeps asking his advice over the phone.






















Monday 17 October 2011

Pigeon's Nest (Palm Dove's Nest) North India Common House Pigeon

Their were two baby Pigeons in the nest.At night I thought I would clean the room.As soon as I moved the speaker ,A bird shot off into the ceiling fan and then resting on floor loosing few of its feathers though otherwise unhurt.I was quite taken aback soon the other baby too flew off hiding behind the cabinet.I thought the parent birds always be with their babies at night.But they were no where in sight and frankly I did not noticed them from below.

It seems after observing for few days Parent Pigeons remain with kids all day long and fly away someplace  at night.Now the Pigeon family has moved away and the Mother Pigeon is sitting in a fresh nest made over Carom-board.And well they leave the room spotted with bird poop.Their nest too seems stuck together with it.

Pigeon's Nest on top of our Philips Power House Speakers

The room on the roof was closed for a month in rainy season.the window was open.Pigeon couple thought it a safe place to nest.
The second Nest Pigeon Pair made on Carom-board.

Close view of  Pigeon's nest

Close view of  Pigeon's nest

Close view of  Pigeon's nest

Elusive Pigeons show mostly in the morning.

As they show up on east side towards Sun good picture is almost not possible.

Pigeon on neighbor's roof.

close view of nest


Pigeon Pair

Pigeon Pair

Nest on Carom-Board

Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011) Review


Its a very enjoyable movie with many lovable moments liked it very much.Movies on youth on college life had dwindled in last few years thankfully Yashraj films are making youth centric movies.After a long time a movie was not heavy on mind with characters that were reasonable and not complex music too is quite suiting to the overall atmosphere.And it was great to see Meeta Vashishtha as good as ever here,she has not aged a bit since her Swabhiman or "Ghulam" days hope she does more movies.

Saqib Saleem is good here very natural doesn't seem he is acting,looks good too reminds me of my cousin "Chotu" who was so much like the character he portrays.Nishant Dahiya is simple and handsome and nice.Saba Azaad too is good here.Nupur Asthana directs quite well here and the movie is quite memorable.


Movie is written well,situations and dialogues all come together to make this movie realistic.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Eraser (1996) review and rememberances of Mayfare Cinema Lucknow


I saw Eraser with Dada at Mayfare Cinema.Since then it has closed down but remain alive in Lucknowites memory as the most nicest Cinema,really classy.When you stroll along its corridor you see beautiful Pictures of Hollywood and Indian stars including Elvis Presley.It had relatively smaller screen compared to adjacent Basant Cinema which too closed down soon after..Mayfare's sound system was really good.It had no Balcony but instead the back seats were boxed of labeling them as Balcony.Ticket checkers were quite no nonsense type hooligans were made to behave contrary to other halls which were not very strict about audience's unruly behaviour.The first movie I saw their was "Hum se hai Muqabla" dubbed version of Kadhalan (1994) *ind Nagma,Girish Karnad and Prabhu Deva.The last movie I saw their was Star Wars.


I remember when I saw Eraser I was completely blown away by it.It was so thrilling and such pulsating action absolutely fabulous.


Recently I again saw it one month after seeing Desperate Housewives 7 th Season which starred Vanessa Williams too.Now I had completely forgotten she was their in Eraser.Found her extremely beautiful their,quite elegant with beautiful mesmerizing eyes.Her role too was quite strong in fact the  whole movie revolved around her.Movie also starred Oscar winning veteran actor James Coburn.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was really mind blowing here.Love this movie don't remember any movie that comes close to it where the story is concerned or charismatic on screen presence or pure entertainment value,best action flick.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

चौदहवीं का चाँद और लखनऊ

गुरुदत्त फिलम्स के बैनर तले एम० सादिक द्वारा निर्देशित सन 1960 में बनी फिल्म "चौदहवीं का चाँद" की पटकथा न केवल लखनऊ की पृष्ठ भूमि पर है बल्कि इसकी अधिकांश शूटिंग भी लखनऊ की सरज़मीं पर हुई.. फिल्म की पटकथा तबीश सुल्तानपुरी द्वारा लिखित है जबकि गीतकार थे मशहूर शायर शकील बदायूँनी और संगीत दिया संगीतकार रवि ने... फ़िल्म के प्रमुख कलाकार थे गुरुदत्त, वहीदा रहमान, जानीवाकर, रहमान, टुनटुन इत्यादि... इस फ़िल्म में शकील साहब का लिखा और बेमिसाल गायक मोहम्मद रफ़ी द्वारा सुरों में तराशा गया गीत "ये लखनऊ की सरज़मीं" बहुत प्रसिद्ध हुआ...

ये लखनऊ की सरज़मीं
ये लखनऊ की सरज़मीं

ये रंग रूप का चमन
ये हुस्न-ओ-इशक का वतन
यही तो वो मुक़ाम है
जहाँ अवध की शाम है
जवाँ जवाँ हंसीं हंसीं
ये लखनऊ की सरज़मीं

शबाब-ओ-शेर का ये घर
ये अह्ल-ए-इल्म का नगर
है मंज़िलों की गोद में
यहाँ हर एक रह-गुज़र
ये शहर लालदार है
यहाँ दिलों में प्यार है
जिधर नज़र उठाइये
बहार ही बहार है
कली कली है नाज़नीं
ये लखनऊ की सरज़मीं

यहाँ की सब रवायतें
अदब की शाहकार हैं
अमीर अह्ल-ए-दिल यहाँ
ग़रीब जाँ-निसार हैं
हर एक शाख पर यहाँ
हैं बुलबुलों के...

www.youtube.com
Song. Ye Lucknow Ki Sar Zameen (Mohd Rafi Sahab). Film......Chaudvin Ka Chand.

From http://www.facebook.com/meralucknowmerijaan 

Monday 10 October 2011

Love Breakups Zindagi (2011)

After two years since Blue (2009) we see here Zayed Khan in a leading role.He looks different seems very simple plus tries to do John's stuff from "Dostana".Well anyways it was nice to see him on-screen after such a long gap.I did expected some nice college nostalgia from the movie as the posters indicated.Though it turned out differently but still its a nice good movie to watch for romantic souls.The best part is the "Mai se Meena se na saki se" song from Khudgarz *ing Govinda performed here.Its done beautifully with lovely sparking decorated sets.

Diya Mirza too we see after a long time in a leading role.She looks lovely here.Cyrus Sahukar too is good here complementing Zayed Khan as his childhood friend.Tisca Chopra is also ok here but not as resplendent as she was in Immaduddin Shah starer "404".Vaibhav Talwar is also quite good.

Farida Jalal is good here as Beeji.Shabana Azmi is in a special appearance here though Boman Irani is better as Tisca's father.Shahrukh Khan is as himself here looking like a 55 year old haggard person.I was quite shocked to see him like this for he looks so different in "Ra-one" promos.Riteish Deshmukh too is good in a special appearance.

Ashok Kumar's 100 th Birth Anniversary on 13 th October

FROM AMAR UJALA

Sunday 9 October 2011

Pratibha Theatre Lucknow vandalized by drunkards

Did not knew Cinema Halls now show movies through satellites.

Rioting during "Hard Core" performance at Moti Mahal Lawns Lucknow


Durga Puja in Lucknow (October 2011)

Sri Onkareshwar Mahadev Temple Rajajipuram Lucknow
Railway Colony Durga Puja Pandal
Sahara State Jankipuram (Left) , Sewagram Colony ,Charbagh (Right)
People immersing Durga Statues in Gomti River(left) Playing vermilion (sindoor) after worshipping(right)
Women devotees lighting Diya (a small cup-shaped oil lamp made of baked clay) at Sundohan Devi Temple


Sundohan Devi Temple , Chaupatiyan
All Pictures from Amar Ujala

Saturday 8 October 2011

Becky Sharp (1935) Review ,Miriam Hopkins dazzles in this astoundingly written movie

I had this Mill Creek Family set for years today I chanced upon seeing this gem of a movie.Last few months I had seen generally boring movies that are totally uninteresting and bland.Visiting this wondrous movie was a welcome change.Also its the first movie in 3 strip Technicolor and Miriam Hopkins was nominated for Best Actress Oscar.

Miriam Hopkins is absolutely wonderful here.Her dialogues are full of wit,humour and liveliness her expressions equally engrossing and most of the time full of mischief and fun.She is not touched by hypocrisy of the world surrounding her and lives life on her own terms even if it is to hoodwink people or to be very clever in her dealings with them.

Elspeth Dudgeon plays Miss Pinkerton who takes in Miriam in her school only to save money as she teaches French and dancing for free.In her very cheerful jovial way with mocking expressions which seem so modern Miriam points that to her when Miss Pinkerton gives her a dictionary as a parting gift asking her to be grateful to her saying how she saved so much money for her. And while she is leaving she throws away the dictionary at Miss Pinkerton.

Nigel Bruce plays Joseph Sedley and reminds me of an Indian character actor who looked very much like him and even his voice was the same.Don't know his name but he was a common face in 1970's.

She takes up governess job at a place where the Maid says to Old Lady "She is on dark amorous errand".Then they bring her suitcase and search through it.Becky (Miriam Hopkins) come in finding the Old Lady of the house looking at a locket with her mother's picture in it which stated she was a dancer.Becky throws a big tantrum is very melodramatic howling and crying and bawling saying her Mother was a rich French Heiress whose wealth was taken away from her and she was exiled by Revolutionaries,that she danced only to clothe her to shelter her.She leaves them in tears,and as she closes the door she waits at the door listening to their tearful reactions smiling from ear to ear at her brilliant performance inside.Also references to India are numerous.

Movie is filled with her adventures and escapades and script is so well written her dialogues are sharp and full of direct wit.A movie that you enjoy every time you see it.Hope we would have a good subtitled version one day.


Quotes

"Royal heads have been known to hop away from their bodies especially in France"

"I was so sorry to hear about your mother's misfortune,I do hope the operation was successful,To think of her going blind at her age and now she can't recognize her acquaintances,these are glass you are wearing,I hope they would continue to attract men."












Thursday 6 October 2011

Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster (2011) Review

This movie reminds me of Casino (1995) and like it this movie to has mindless killings throughout but that does not seem to effect for both sides are equally devious.Randeep Hooda is unexpectedly good here quite natural ,young and simply clever who tries his best to outwit everyone.Jimmy Shergill  is good in every movie and here too he is very different from any of his previous roles.His acting has got better with time and he plays his role to perfection.

Tigmanshu Dhulia's direction is good ,the movie is shot around Lucknow district and the locales have been used well in telling the story.Mahie Gill is as good as Tabu here.Randeep gets to sing a strange song here which amused lot of audience.People who were sitting with me liked the movie and found it interesting.It has been quite well written and is amusing at places.

Monday 3 October 2011

Force (2011) Review

Force really packs a lot of punch its highly entertaining roller coaster ride.Its witty well written fresh full of absorbing action.Vidyut Jamwal the new face is really good and agile.The chase sequence over the roof is reminiscent of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon".Hope we see more of such entertaining engrossing action in coming movies.He and John are quite a match.

Genelia D'Souza is really great here at her best.She has been given a well etched well written role and she performs so well with all her naturalness.She is funny,vivacious,witty,humourous,garrulous and chirpy young girl.She keeps thing bright and interesting not a single dull moment when she is around.

After a long time we see such a good action movie."Bodyguard" was such a disappointment.A person sitting behind me said they have made him into a Sunny Deol (Ghayal,Ziddi etc.).A group of 10 girls sitting in front of me couldn't stop giggling at Genelia's flirtations and John's awkward shyness.The theater was house-full.Everybody enjoyed the movie.

Saturday 1 October 2011

Birthdays in October

1 October Julie Andrews
                 Mazrooh Sultanpuri
                 Annie Besant
                Walter Matthau
                George Peppard  

2 October Asha Parekh
                 Mahatma Gandhi
                 Lal Bahadur Shastri
                 Groucho Marx
                  Bud Abbott 

3 Oct  J.P.Dutta
          Leo McCarey 
 
4 Oct Susan Sarandon
          Charlton Heston
          Buster Keaton   

5 Oct Kate Winslet
          Joshua Logan
          Louise Dressler
6 Oct Vinod Khanna
          Carole Lombard 

7 Oct Begum Akhtar
          June Allyson

8 Oct Raaj Kumar
          Sigourney Weaver
          Matt Damon

9 Oct John Lennon
         Alastair Sim
         Jacques Tati
         John Lennon   

10 Oct Rekha
           Henry Cavendish
           Helen Hayes

11 Oct Amitabh Bachchan
           Ronit Roy
           Joan Cusack
          Jerome Robbins 

12 Oct Marion Jones
            Hugh Jackman
            Luciano Pavarotti
            Tinu Anand

13 Oct Margaret Thatcher
            Ashok Kumar
            Cornel Wilde
           Yves Montand

14 Oct   Lillian Gish
              Roger Moore

15 Oct P G Wodehouse

16 Oct Hema Malini
            Angela Lansbury
            Oscar Wilde

17 Oct Jean Arthur
            Sanjay Kapoor
            Simi Garewal
            Anil Kumble
            Montgomery Clift
            Rita Hayworth 

18 Oct Om Puri
            Martina Navratilova
            Jean Claude Van Damme

19 Oct Sunny Deol
            Priya Tendulkar

20 Oct Virender Sehwag
            Tom Patty
            Bela Lugosi
            Anna Neagle

21 Oct Shammi Kapoor
            Samuel Taylor Coleridge
            Kulbhushan Kharbanda

22 Oct Kadar Khan
            Joan Fontaine

23 Oct Pele
            Deven Verma

25 Oct Pablo Picasso
            Lord Macaulay
            Aparna Sen
26 Oct Raveena Tandon
            Hillary Clinton

27 Oct Anuradha Paudwal
           Teresa Wright
            Irfan Pathan

28 Oct Julia Roberts
            Bill Gates
             Edith Head

29 Oct Salma Agha
            Fanny Brice 

30 Oct Diego Maradonna
            Dalip Tahil
            Vikram Gokhale
            Ruth Gordon
            Louis Malle


31 Oct John Keats