Hurried note

Saw Zozo on Zee Studio. It does come up with offbeat films. It is a story of a young Lebanese boy, Zozo, moving from the civil war torn Beirut to Sweden. The film was selected to represent Sweden at the 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006) in the Foreign Language Film category. I found it poignant and moving. Great acting by the young talent, Imad Creidi.
e4m had this story on my imminent Moscow visit. Needless to say, I am looking forward to it. India’s performance at the Indies has been disappointing. Hope we salvage some pride by winning the last ODI. On which subject, I need to go and watch India’s batting. We have already lost Robin Uthappa for a duck. India is 23-1 with Dhoni batting at 13 in 15 balls.
Take care…

Snap it!

Don’t know what to say today but I feel the need to write. Have had two lazy days at home. Reading newspapers, watching cricket, surfing, reading poetry @ Caferati, staring at the idiot box, but somehow feeling a vacuity. Went to the VA flat bed launch party on Friday and it was nice to meet up with Sunshine Neha again. My friend, Deepa, who has recently shifted to Mumbai, is here and I am hoping to catch up with her at lunch tomorrow. Work is fine, but deep down that gratifying feeling is missing. There’s so much to be done. I want to fly but need to keep my feet on the ground. Need to also smoothen out some rough edges. Also need to pick up a book soon. Or muse?
Meanwhile, the Net remains a consuming mistress. Do check out Snap. Looks like a cool alternative to mainstream search engines. Here’s why. Take good care of yourself.

Lower Ground Floor

Dear Ma, Happy Mother's Day.
Yesterday the floor of the Lower Ground at our home was laid. S and I went in the evening and stayed at the site till about 10 pm. It was interesting to see tempo drivers and construction supervisors carrying mobile phones. It has certainly made their jobs easy.
Haven’t written a poem for some time. Keen that muse should strike again. Looking forward to the WI series. And yes, before I go, do check this out: “The BBC has staked a claim to a virtual tropical island where it can stage online music festivals and throw exclusive celebrity parties.” Second Life, anyone? Take care…

Iqbal

Saw Iqbal at home today. Though the film is slow paced, I really liked it for its story of an underdog aspiring to dream big and its overall earnestness. All the actors were good in their roles, but Shweta Prasad as Iqbal’s sister was simply brilliant. In some places, she even outsmarted the veteran thespian, Naseeruddin Shah. The young lady is sure to go places in Bollywood.
Changing tracks, do check out this Red Herring story on the Indian mobile gaming scenario. Cheers…

Escher and Opal

Dunno why we have a May Day holiday today but gave me some time to surf. Discovered the website of one of my favourite painters, M. C. Escher. Truly remarkable man, a genius. Some people call his work Op Art, but methinks it is certainly more than that. Do take a look at Three Worlds, a 1955 lithograph. And now I gotta go and get ready to meet my school friend, NAP (Nuclear and Astrophysicist), who is based in the US and is visiting his folks in Delhi. We are having dinner at our childhood friend, Ritu’s place. Looking forward to a good conversation and some great Single Malt. Cheers...:)
30 April 2006: Saw Zinda yesterday at home. The film is dark and pretentious and didn’t appeal to me. I thought the plot was rather contrived. Rediff reviewer Sukanya says: “…you have to be angry, demented, numb, a Sanjay Dutt fan or a movie reviewer to be able to enjoy Zinda.” I say: ditto.
Started When Opal Mehta…Quite enjoying its easy flowing narrative. Read this piece by Nina Martyris (she writes like a dream!) in SToI who has brilliantly put things in perspective regarding the whole controversy. Says Nina: “The most disappointing aspect to this whole dismal affair is that the quality of inspiration is so strained. Not one of those lines from McCafferty's books which have got her into so much trouble are beautiful enough or powerful enough to flash upon the inner eye in vacant and in pensive mood.”